+Jonathan Gwynne - Love your comment. The only question I have is do politicians have the ability to distinguish the good people from the bad ? Especially in the current political climate.
THIS IS WHY - GOOD PEOPLE- do not trust all politicans? It is simply, the ancient question dating back to Plato. "What is the Truth?" I worked in D.C. for three years, and it was certainly quite a rare thing, to find a "honest" member of both houses of Congress. Mark Twain, said it best (How do you know when a member of Congress is lying? Answer: Their mouth is moving.
"We'll take a five-minute break. Please, let's keep it to ten minutes." Everybody in this show had good dialogue, not just the stars. And you're right, this is a great quote! Thanks for the clips!
I really love this show, partly because it's the snappiest, snarkiest show ever written, but also because of moments like this. Moments where that stereotype that politicians are only in it for themselves, only in it to win, gets torn to pieces by those who are in it for the right reasons, who are in it to push what is right, to stick their necks out on matters of principle.
It is a fictional show. It is written deliberately so that the Dem ideology(back then) won a debate 99% of the time. Agree with the writers views or not, it was an excellent, entertaining show.
@@dangeroreilly2028 I agree with you for the most part, but Aaron Sorkin did write really good republicans, but later seasons ( when he wasn’t on the show) definitely do what you said.
@@NozzleDog07 I disagreed with 90% of what the Bartlett White House did. But I loved the show. I thought Ainsley Hayes and Joe Quincy would be all we would ever get in the gesture of “yeah, we allow some good Republican moments”. But I liked that Santos was more conservative than Vinick in the election in Seasons 6 and 7. I thought the winner of the election was a no brainer. This was WW, of course the Democrat was going to win. I was surprised to read that the writers had originally planned for Vinick to win. But after John Spencer’s death they decided it would be too ‘emotionally taxing’ for Santos to lose Leo and the election. I’m not sure I believe that. But they got Alan Alda to portray a Republican. Shoot, I would have voted for Matt Santos.
It is to the unbelieveable credit of Sorkin and the other showrunners that of all the republicans portrayed in the show, only one of them is an evil scumbag. This wasn't from some idealized time of political harmony. This was shortly after 9/11 and only a few years after Clinton's impeachment. And yet only one republican is evil, and the other republicans in the room are eager to shut him down. That is so unrealistic as to be laughable. The Cliff Calleys and Arnold Vinnicks and Joe Quincys of the republican party were all driven out a long time ago.
James Handy, who plays the grey haired senator here, is the stepdad of a good friend of mine. Great character actor, and a very nice gentleman to boot.
Just going along minding your own business checking out a political story or two on youtube ... then BAMM .. two hours and 106 West Wing clips later .....
@@MichaelLee-dt1iw Interestingly enough there is a scene in one of the episodes of The West Wing where VP Hoynes is asking Sam how a hockey game was that he went to and proceeds to say that he was never able to get into hockey because the scoring seems to come out of nowhere and then gives a made up play by play from the commentators. So....that's probably how you ended up here lol!
Everyone is raving about the conversation between majority counsel and the senator and rightfully so. One of my favorite scenes in the entire show. But 0:28 is some phenomenal acting. Two fantastic expressions that went "what's going on?" with the reply being "you're guess is as good as mine." All within a second and all without saying a word.
I'm a Democrat, but this is proof positive that "The West Wing" had Republican heroes, too... Calley here, and Ainsley Hayes... It really tried to show the core virtues of both parties, as well as how they can and, sadly, do go awry too often today... Bartlett 2012! Who's with me! BARTLETT FOR AMERICA! :D
That's the beauty of the show. It shows politics where you have people who actually care about their civic duties, instead of people who are only gunning for re-election, or just winning.
There was a time when decency and statesmanship genuinely existed. In my lifetime. I feel for the current generation. They cannot miss what they never had. We, OTOH, can only quietly mourn.
Here we see the 2 faces in politics. the face of truth and honor (Calley) and those who'll everything for political gain.Even in my country (Belgium) the hearing about the 22/3 Brussels attacks were almost hyjacked by the opposition for political gain, that made my sick about politics, but the Calley's of the real world are still there.
This show was brilliant, and sadly it feels almost quaint circa 2021. Sorkin wrote TWW as a sort of Camelot about a Platonic ideal of a government that's never existed yet all of us want to believe it does. Bartlett is of course a Democrat but the Republicans aren't cast as villains for the most part but as the noble opposition. Of course back then we still had some sense of shared ethics and civic responsibility, notion that we all served democracy.
And you actually had moderate republicans who mostly level headed on social issues and where just fiscal small government people unlike 98% of the current lot
In this fictional world, the Republicans never adopted the Southern Strategy or fell prey to its long-term consequences, and never sold themselves out to their Megadonors.
No corrupt politicians taking bribes from big corporations. All of them from representatives to POTUS. This is fantasy land! Wake up America! Stop feeding this corruption.
I'm a lifelong Conservative.....and I absolutely loved WW. I have voted several times in my life for Democrats when I felt they had more to offer than the "other" choices. It's my opinion that if today's Democratic Party matched the one portrayed on WW they would be hands down unbeatable. Unfortunately both parties have diverged so much they have us at each others throats.....and that is NOT GOOD.
They have us at each others throats by design. The more they keep us butting heads with each other, the less we are watching them. And, yes, I do mean ALL of them, because you're right; both parties are SO far out of synch with what either are "supposed" to be about it's not even remotely humorous.
I have to disagree here. I'm not American, I'm watching your politics from the outside and to be honest neither of your two parties is too palatable to me. I dislike them both. But I'm Italian, and I've studied our history, and I have to tell you that as bad as the Democratic party can be the GOP has gone full fascist to the point that I get scared everythime I hear the "both parties are bad" rhetoric. It worked here in Italy 101 years ago and it's horrifying to me to see it happen again. As bad as the Democrats can be they aren't actively denying anyone's right to exist. Think about it.
@@CBeard849 Heh, not really, what the Republican party is doing in Florida and pretty much everywhere they are in power is actively putting minorities lives at risk. Ron DeSantis rethoric is the closer thing to Mussolini I've seen in the west since Francisco Franco died in 1975.
Well, the party is dead, and around 2008 it came back to life as some kinda monster, and in 2016 someone decided to give the monster steroids and meth.
The party has been dead since Rush Limbaugh and the Southern Strategy (courting racist white voters in the South). Trump just said all the quiet parts out loud.
I was channel surfing one night, that's what they called it back then, when I stopped on this show for all of two minutes tops and had that line, that exact line seared into my brain, to remember it ever since every time a similar situation arose. Oh, and never knew what the show was or anything else about it. SEARED. Just like you too I guess. Beautiful line right up there with the rest of the best!
We need men and women in the GOP with that kind of decency. It's been lacking for a long time, especially the last four years. And yeah, that is why people hate the Republican Party.
@MikeJames6 it would be better to do away with the Party system and actually make individuals represent themselves and present their own platform instead of saying "I'm a (insert Party)" and then let the Party platform carry them through all issues. Vote for the individual, not the Party they claim.
You're working under the delusional premise that there are very few, if any, people in the the Republican/Conservative Party that are like the person portrayed. Your Idea is that All are like the Antagonist in this scene and that No-one in the Democratic/Liberal Party could ever be of such ilk. There are a LOT more of the honest and integrity driven type people on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately none but a few hold office. By the very definition, psychologically wise, none who hold office are worthy of our vote through the make up of what it takes to run for or desire to hold office. The last great Presidents were Lincoln, Grant(maybe), and Theodore Roosevelt. The last good Presidents were Franklin D. Roosevelt, his successor Truman, and Eisenhower. The first three through intent for the betterment of the country. The second three for the same reason despite party affiliation. After that, integrity, party affiliation notwithstanding is up in the air. Not to say that they didn't do good things for the country. But the state with which they left office and the turmoil they brought forth while in office were really more of a detriment to the American People and the Country, much less the world, than anything else. We haven't had a Candidate to vote For, so much as candidates to vote Against in quite a while in this country. I Dare say since the first of the last century.
Funny comment coming from a supporter of a party that willingly violated State and Federal constitutional law in the last election by using tyrannical governors and activist judges. Don't act like you're apart of a pure party. The Democrats are just as robbed of morals as you claim the GOP currently is, their choice of Speaker of House and Senate Majority leader should be case enough.
@@montieluckett7036 the issue is that people with integrity are smart enough NOT to run for office, maybe we should start a draft for elected federal officials. People who want the job shouldn't be anywhere near it, and randomly forcing someone in will prevent a good old boy system from being established. Better yet, Congress will literally get NOTHING done and they'd actually have a legit excuse since no one has any ideas as to what they're doing.
"Wait in the tall grass" refers to jungle cats who stalk their prey by waiting in tall grass undetected until the prey are close enough that the cats can run and pounce on them.The Republican counsel is threatening the Congressman that the counsel will ruin the Congressmans political career when he least expects it if the Congressman continues with his line of questioning. The scene is written so well, and I'm no fan of actor Mark Feuerman(the Republican counsel character), but this is was one of the best acted and written scenes on a show which had many of those. Not only written well for the Republican characters, but written sympathetically to better understand them, too. Another Republican character acted well and written well for is the deputy White House counsel Ainsley Hayes (actor Emily Procter). I could go on about all the rest of the cast and the mostly fair treatment of their characters, regardless of political party.
+MichaelDXavier - I loved Ainsley and her introduction to the show. Tobey, come quick, Sam is getting his a## kicked by a girl....get the popcorn. I also liked the addition of Lionel Tribbey.
+Theo Lamp ,the Leo/Ainsley interview, the Sam Seaborn preparation meeting with Ainsley to meet the President(and his sudden appearance, much to her unwelcome surprise, all of the CJ Cregg nightime press briefing centered around the Presidents assasination attempt and CJs solemn spin on controlling guns, CJs 'math lesson' and 'hunting season' lecture aimed at a TV reporter who carelessly embarrassed CJ in public. Great writing and performances throughout.
I would also highlight "President Walken". And the whole subplot for those episodes where everyone is worried about the Republicans... as much as the later seasons lost me, that was the last bit I remember watching and enjoying immensely. ... but hey, this show had a lot of people coming and going through it who were awesome. Clark Gregg shows up on and off for a while :)
There *are* other politicians in West Wing like the one here, the one who just wanted to win. Those ones are all over the plotlines of WW -- like the jerk who leaked Leo's rehab stint, and the one who came back at Sam with the video, and the one who had pictures taken of Sam with the Laurie the call girl, and the Senator who was trying to take Toby to task over something very small -- all of these were career politicians who are just there to win, and it does create a lot of issues for the staff. Leo actually STOPS Josh from becoming one of those in the first season by reminding Josh that "it's not how we do things".
Did we watch the same show? Because the Leo leak was a minor intern/worker in the West wing and the Photos with Laurie was her "friend" trying to get a quick buck,,.. Neither of them were career politicians. I have watched the entire Series at least 3 times
@@scotthartman8993 I'm gonna be real, I've tried to watch the full show twice and I always get lost in the middle of the fourth season because I can't get through the middle of the fourth season. This comment is from nine years ago, which sounds like the middle of my first attempt watching all of the show, and I've completely forgotten most of the details of the points I was trying to make here.
It wasn't just that Cliff Calley was a mensch. Leo wouldn't have been spared this embarrassment if Bruno hadn't been one as well. My favorite thing about this show was their ability to show good and bad people on both sides of the aisle.
I actually used the 'tall grass' line on someone once. If you do it with your best Clint Eastwood impression, it can bring a lump to someone's throat. The guy I said it to NEVER forgot it. And I never had issues with him again. Yeah, I stole it from this episode as it'd just aired a few days before that.
Partisanship is fine as long as you recognize it. I recognize mine; however, let us admit that both sides have good players and bad players. Instead of rooting for party, let us root for country. A few weeks ago on his show, Maher said that he wished for a recession because it would hurt Trump. He could survive a recession. Could we? Every two years, we have an election and that is the best way to effect change that we desire.
Be aware; the death rate increases during a recession (this is actually cited in an episode of the West Wing.) So Maher was wising for more people to die just so get his own way.
bovnyccc operalover I would be and am happy to root for country over party. If both are, however imperfectly, working for the good of the country. But clearly, the Republican Party, no longer has the interests of our nation or our people in mind. Republicans break the law hourly and at will. They blackmail, take bribes, threaten civilians, military officers and enlisted, and other government officials. Republicans openly conspire and coordinate with America’s self-declared enemies. When caught, they work together to cover up their traitorous actions. At one time, it was possible to find people of good will on both sides of the aisle, but not today. Not today.
The republican party was waiting in the tall grass for men like this counsel, and expended great effort in making sure they never left the tall grass alive.
Maybe because I'm on the opposite team but. You are killing the party really hits home. I grew up feeling republicans had a different definition of victory but overall we're good people. I want to still believe that and I do for the most part on an individual basis however as a party I honestly don't know what they stand for except winning.
Do I like Rudyard Kipling. I dunno. I never have Kippeled For the innocent knee-high grass, For the ditch that never tells, Look out! Look out ere you pass- And look out for everything else! A sign mis-read as you run May turn retreat to a rout- For all things under the sun (Chorus) All Patrols look out! Royal Pain?
The most fictitious part of the show was the principled Republicans who kept popping up to say "winning isn't everything let's take the high road." This very day, the GOP leadership officially declared that the attempted coup d'etat last year was 'legitimate political discourse'
Correction to your “title” of I will wait in the tall grass for you, Senator” SHOULD be “...and I will be waiting for you in the tall grass, CONGRESSMAN...” "in order to distinguish who is a member of which house, a member of the Senate is typically referred to as Senator (followed by "name" from "state"), and a member of the House of Representatives is usually referred to as Congressman or Congresswoman...” He was a US Representative who is referred to as a congressman.FIFY
I would like to think that right now, there are a bunch of moderate Republicans who are "waiting in the tall grass" for Senator Ted Cruz to make a mistake.
When you see a newsreel tribute of somebodies famous last words. You think, "I'm sorry that it's over." Well, I'm sorry, but it's over. These kind of discussions don't take place anymore. Not in the Congress, the Supreme Court nor the Oval Office. Who decides about Ferguson, Iraq or pipelines? It's Wall Street. Senator Cruz, Governor Walker or Mayor Quimby's success or failure in the ballot box have become irrelevant. The "hard" choices are now being made by Rupert Murdoch, Jamie Dimon, Charles and David Koch.
I miss my Republican friends. We often disagreed about policies, but rarely about principles. Most are still in a state of shock or denial about how thoroughly they let the extremists steamroll them.
Because this was broadcast TV, they had to have Calley use the phrase "this is bush league". I imagine if this was a bit more true to life, he would have used another term that starts with the same syllable. ;-)
sadly, these "ethical" Rs died waiting in the tall grass, because the current Republican party no longer has any such people (well, maybe a few, but they are not in the majority)
@@dennissimo7546 relative to the Rs, yes. As is said, when you and someone else are running away from a bear, you only need to be faster than the other person...
@@TheLibran38 Funny, relative to the D's, the R's are a little more palatable to me. Both parties will lie to you but the D's will get as much money from and give you some of it back as if they are such humanitarians
If you think that "your party" (whichever one it is) is the "godsend" that's going to be what keeps America standing...you are THE problem. All political problems derive from tribalism. Tribalism is the evidence that a person does not actually believe in Democracy...they only believe in THEIR tribe being in power.
@@TheLibran38 Jesus christ... Perfect summation of the current Democratic party--you just need to be faster than the other guy. Works for both parties atm, but at least with the Republican they MIGHT stand their ground and fight.
I miss this show. And in this part of the show the actor playing the young Congressman Calley is handsome. He has been in several other shows but he is that business looking handsome guy who is very cool.
Thanks. I thought that actor was playing the Congressman role or even a young senator. But thank you for letting me know role he was playing playing. He is a good actor from other shows he has been in. And again he is a handsome guy.
In the era of Trump and Mitch this is so unrealistic as to be utterly laughable. Cally may as well has transformed into the Hulk and it still would be more realistic. The orange man won't even admit he lost so he can scam money from his base
There are a lot of people in Washington who are like this. The problem is that they aren't ruthless enough to become party bosses, they aren't narcissistic enough to get on the news very often, and they aren't corrupt enough to get mega donors behind them. As a result, they rarely last more than a couple of terms. It's a shame that honorable conduct just isn't rewarded in congress.
