Best West Wing Quote from Alan Alda's character Arnold Vinick

[NNguyenMD]

"I don't see how we can have a separation of church and state in this government if you have to pass a religious test to get in this government. And I want to warn everyone in the press and all the voters out there if you demand expressions of religious faith from politicians, you are just begging to be lied to. They won't all lie to you but a lot of them will. And it will be the easiest lie they ever had to tell to get your votes. So, every day until the end of this campaign, I'll answer any question anyone has on government, But if you have a question on religion, please go to church. "

-Alan Alda playing California Republican Senator Arnold Vinick on The West Wing

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. I almost said "Amen"

But, here we go - will we end up rooting for the Republican on West Wing next season?

[Lisa]

16. yeah -- that or "hallelujah!"

Well, at least they didn't show him as being opposed to ice cream. (One food historian made a prediction a while back that Americans would sooner pick a leader who was an agnostic than one who didn't like ice cream.)

[stray cat]

2. Arnold Vinick would be one republican I might vote for.

If he wasn't make believe.

I would actually enjoy him on West Wing - it would be interesting to watch how they would have him interacting with certain wings of the republican party.

[Tactical Progressive]

9. I do not want to see a fake 'good' Republican

pretending to be concerned with the real problems in our world.

If they want a corrupt tax-cut-for-the-wealthy, deficit destruction of America, let America get attacked by terrorists, lie to start wars, torture approving thug as a representation of true Republican ethics, then fine.

But a thoughtful, decent, caring Republican portrayal of the Presidency? Get someone else to watch propaganda inversion of reality.

[stray cat]

11. There may have been a few good ones in the past.

Lincoln for example. Certainly I haven't been to impressed with the group in the recent past.

[K-W]

19. You are battling a windmill.

It isnt in any way shape or form propaganda it is very obviously a fictional show that makes absolutely no claims or insinuations about reality, it has always been idealized, both democrats and republicans. You are the one who is stuck to propaganda trying to smear anyone who calls themselves a republican, even fictional people, with guilt by association. Republicans come in all shapes, sizes, and ideologies, whether you want to believe that or not, many of them voted for Kerry.

Please do not cry propaganda uneccessarily, there is enough real propaganda out there.

Meanwhile West Wing is giving America liberal talking points by the boatloads and you want us to tune out. Sigh.

[rinsd]

20. The show is about the idealized versions of the party...

...you don;t think the Democrats actually have a Santos or Bartlett do you?

If anything, the "kinder gentler republican" will make folks wish we had at least that type of leader instead of the asshat.

[K-W]

21. ignore mispost

[mattclearing]

3. Alan Alda is not a Republican; he just plays one on TV.

Drudge said that the White House was pissed off about that.

You'd think they'd have something better to do than bitch and moan about fictional politics.

[stray cat]

5. Alda's character makes Bush look bad

A republican with ethics who cares about people versus Bush Co. Bush is the real imaginary character - image and propaganda and no soul.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. They were pissed off about that?

Wow. That's really telling. Maybe he hit home eh?

[Spinzonner]

8. Well, they practice the politics of fiction so much

it probably hits too close to home for them.

[Poiuyt]

15. Like Murphy Brown?

[Ilsa]

4. Excellent episode.

Bartlett knew he was right. Santos knew he was right to stand by his principles and not endorse govt-funded ethanol programs. He was pretty cool. Too bad he's so conservative.

[Demit]

6. Imagine, a race with two worthy contenders, both with integrity...

I swear, I watch that show & cry sometimes. I feel so wistful, like, just think, if only it was really like that...if only...

[LdyGuique]

10. Perhaps, integrity has always been a fantasy?

[hootinholler]

13. I tried to imagine that once,

and then my head exploded.

I've been hoping that the show will be used to point out the um, inconsistencies of our current leadership.

I really don't care for AA as an actor (or maybe it's the parts he accepts), but I think he has great talent and respect it. (if that makes sense)

I do like Jimmy Smit and his roll in this series.

They've really surprised me this season in setting up the plot and I'm looking forward to where they take me on this ride. My kids know that Wed eve is taken, Dad's TV night, and not to talk during WW, it requires my full attention to really get the dialog.

-Hoot

[sundancekid]

12. and to think NBC will preempt WW reruns with forking "revelations"

ANOTHER tv slice of their own version of armageddon -- an extremist CULT behavior, let alone any type of "culture." I bet it will concide near the Waco anniversary too at some point in one of the upcoming Wednesdays.

[Blue Belle]

18. Oh yes... "Revelations"....

Written by the people who brought you the "Left Behind" series... Brought to you by the GE Corporation. Wonder if it's going to have some sort of Religious/Conservative/ Patriotic slant??

Yeah. That's "Must See" TV.

[knitter4democracy]

14. I loved that speech.

I practically cried at Santos's speech at their convention, though. Why can't we have Dems with backbone like that?!

If they make the Republican win, though, that'll be the last time I ever watch that show. :grr:

[Blue Belle]

17. I'm so glad you pulled this up.

I kept thinking about this speech during the whole Terry Schiavo debacle... the whole "Bush using the Pope's Funeral for Political Gain" extravaganza that we all just experienced.

I also liked the speech Santos made at the Democratic convention where he stood up and railed against the story that broke about the governor's wife's issues with Depression. He made the point that no candidate is infallable... and it's a mistake to make them out to be. I wish I had the transcript to it... because after it was over, it made me wish that every politician in America could see it.

[NNguyenMD]

22. my pleasure, I got it off the "West Wing Spoiler" site to get episode

summaries whenever I miss an episode. Glad you liked it.