"Let Bartlet Be Bartlet"

[bobbolink]

In the episode of the first season of West Wing, the President is forced to see that his playing it safe.. playing to the middle.... is losing the support of the people.

He starts repeating, "This is more important than re-election... I want to speak now." "This is more important than re-election... I want to speak now."

His Chief of Staff tells the staff, If we're going to walk into walls, I want us running into them full speed."

"We're gonna lose some of thee battles and we might even lose the White House, but we're not going to be threatened by issues. Put 'em front and center. We're going to raise the level of public debate in this country. And let that be our legacy."

Worth a rewatch.

[elleng]

1. Yes it is; got it coming from Netflix.

[Johnny Harpo]

2. Same Episode On DADT

"The West Wing: Let Bartlet Be Bartlet (#1.19)" (2000)

Major Tate: Sir, we're not prejudiced toward homosexuals.

Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: You just don't want to see them serving in the Armed Forces?

Major Tate: No sir, I don't.

Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: 'Cause they impose a threat to unit discipline and cohesion.

Major Tate: Yes, sir.

Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: That's what I think, too. I also think the military wasn't designed to be an instrument of social change.

Major Tate: Yes, sir.

Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: The problem with that is that's what they were saying about me 50 years ago - blacks shouldn't serve with whites. It would disrupt the unit. You know what? It did disrupt the unit. The unit got over it. The unit changed. I'm an admiral in the U.S. Navy and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... Beat that with a stick.

[elleng]

3. ...

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[bobbolink]

9. That's a wonderful scene, too. They also make the point about women being raped and harrassed!

[Aristus]

4. Some of Aaron Sorkin's best writing:

"If we're going to walk into walls, I want us running into them full speed. We're gonna lose some of these battles and we might even lose the White House, but we're not going to be threatened by issues. Put 'em front and center. We're going to raise the level of public debate in this country. And let that be our legacy."

Right before some of his worst:

Every staff member repeats, in turn:

"I serve at the pleasure of the President."

"I serve at the pleasure of the President."

"I serve at the pleasure of the President."

"I serve at the pleasure of the President."

If it had been said just once by one of the staff, with the rest of the staff nodding in agreement, or offering an "Oh Hell, yeah!" it would have been perfect.

But the rote repetition was just awful. I always turn the sound down for the minute or so after Leo's spectacular monologue.

[JamesA1102]

5. Yes if only everything was like a TV show! nt

[Melissa G]

6. Unfortunately, Bartlet is a liberal DU dream. I loved that episode!

Personally, I think we have Obama being Obama and it just upsets a lot of us here who are just more liberal than he is.

[maryf]

7. Would be nice

k&r

[niyad]

8. would be nice, wouldn't it