Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

The West Wing, Season 2, Episode 6 (Patreon)

Published:
2023-04-06 18:47:05
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Content

Lame Duck Congress

Files

Previews only

The West Wing, Season 2, Episode 6

Comments

Weird Magic

Originally airing on November 8, 2000, 'The Lame Duck Congress' is Episode 6 of Season 2 of The West Wing. It is the 28th episode overall and has an IMDB rating of 7.7, placing it as the #22 ranked episode of this season and #130 out of all 155 episodes.

Weird Magic

Interesting you asked who the press secretary was at the time of this episode - as I posted above, it aired 11/8/00 which was the day after (and while the chads were being counted/discussed) the 2000 Presidental Election between Bush and Gore..... The Press Secretary for Bill Clinton on this day was Jake Siewert....he spent the next 8 years with Alcoa, before joining the Treasury Department in 2009 under Obama. In 2012 he left for Goldman Sachs.

Skinny_Obelix

Wasted potential is one of the most frustrating things in life. It's often infuriating to watch the West Wing and comparing it to real life. But at the same time it's comforting to know that there is so much potential in politics. Not to this utopian extent, but still. There's so much room to get better.

Balazs Foldes

I think this episode is a little lighter in terms of content - only a nuclear test ban treaty, an essay about lame duck sessions and the mechanism of politics, a little philosophy about elections, voters and officials, with fun added bit like a visitor from Ukraine (very much fitting the main theme: a guy who wants to deal BEFORE he is voted into position by the people), carpel tunnel symptom, and small business fraud. Oh, and Danny-CJ, plus the whole workplace efficiency drive. So, a light day. ;) So, because it is a lot of smaller, lighter themes today, the episode is a perfect specimen to enjoy and observe the technicalities of how Sorkin writes. The rhythm, the contarsts in plots, the foreshadowing ('who did we lose? Marino is gonna now'), the repetitions, the beautiful (if unrealistic) banter and dialogue... it feels like a beautifully structred piece of architecture, pleasing to watch, and wonderfully efficient at the same time. You gotta love it.

Joy M

I attended a national security presentation at The Aspen Institute where Condoleeza Rice told a story about Boris Yeltsin showing up drunk at the WH while mayor of Moscow (while running for Russian president). The deeper she got into the story the more I realized that’s what this storyline was based on.

Joy M

DeeDee Myers who was press secretary under Clinton, worked on the West Wing.

Jack
>>105801873

But also worth noting that the press secretary at the beginning of Clinton's administration, Dee Dee Myers, was the inspiration for C.J. and that her relationship with Todd Purdum is the basis for the relationship between C.J. and Danny.

Jack
>>105804007

Yeah, I think that particular visit is what this particular story is based on, but there were so many more drunk stories about Boris Yeltsin and resulting diplomatic incidents, culminating in him wandering the streets of Washington D.C. in his underpants, trying to get a pizza (this is once he was President of Russia). They're very entertaining stories, but do take on a darker tone once you realise that his absurd failure was a major contributing factor to the rise of Putin, to the popularity he enjoys in Russia now, and ultimately to his decision to invade Ukraine. Just as Hitler may never have become Chancellor without the failure of Weimar Germany, Putin may never have become President without the failure of Yeltsin's government.

Luca Siracusa (Bob)

"It's a short day, Ainsley, and a big country. We've got to move fast" I think this is the perfect line to work around this episode. Season 2 did not slow down, but they matured in a way that they can do a lighter episode like this one and work around it with incredible wisdom. The last two scenes of the episode (Sam-Ainsley and Toby-Jed) show The West Wing in a calmer behind-the-curtains at the end of the day. We had a frenetic day with a lot of storylines and almost no dead moments and we can see what happens in the last minutes inside those walls Ainsley continues to get pieces of how things are, and her love for the Administration is even stronger here. She feels not enough to have a say on what will happen: as soon as she realizes Sam, Leo and the Presidents will follow her suggestion, she panics not knowing if her idea is REALLY what is best for the nation. But isn't this fear of not being good enough just another way to express your dreams of living in a better world? I think it is and Ainsley looks around to a bunch of people that work to do that, people that with a minor suggestion could change the world for the better On the other hand Toby and Jed prove that they want to win, but they can't bare to do it against someone who wants to hear his people. I love when Jed says they're not doing it because of the 82% because nor me or you guys would know anything about nuclear weapons. They are doing it because they think it's the best thing, but the Senator wants the democracy to win and you can't blame his decision. Technically the shots around ainsley and turning off the lamps in the oval are calm, way calmer, but fill your heart with a sense of peace: the episode and the day are over and we live to fight (and watch) another one

Pam Nail

Sorkin hasn't really done anything in television since The Newsroom. His most recent was a West Wing "reunion" special for HBO, which was just an adaptation of an already existing episode of the show (season 3) and which they produced as kind of a PSA in 2020 to encourage people to vote in the upcoming election. His most recent project has been a new Broadway revival of the musical Camelot, which officially opens in about a week (it's been in previews for a while already).

MarkyO

Interestingly, not my favorite episode... in fact I usually skip it whenever I do rewatches.. but I do really love the ending with Ainsley. About Sorkin writing... I could be wrong, and I'm just going off memory. But he was interviewed about that about who writes the show and how he cranks shit out.. he basically said he just locks himself in his room and doesn't come out. Sure he has help but mostly it's him. But you're also right. Fun fact, Cocaine Bear was originally going to be about Sorkin. Just kidding. I really do recommend Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip.

MrRuss50
>>105817894

They would certainly love Sudio 60. Most people wont give it a try because they know it was cancelled after only 22 episodes. Why get invested in a show that you know only lasts 1 season. Well for those of us thats seen it the answer is because its SORKIN! It's lighter with more comedy than WW. The cast he manages to bring to the table is nothing short of amazing. Oh and Matthew Perry's character has to be inspired by the man himself.

Zachary Loeser

I feel like I won't be alone in saying that if you loved this episode... Man, watch out. Out of the 22 episodes of this season I'd rank it like... 19th. Enjoy the next four episodes, any one of them are probably and (legitimately) someone's favorite episode. And as much as everyone (again legitimately) raves about the season finale, "17 People" is still *my* favorite episode.

jimmy2k4o .

Wouldn’t be an issue if you done it like the uk. The day after we have an election anybody that lost their seat is out of work the morning after Election Day. The PM has to move out by lunch time even though the full results aren’t usually known until 7am the next morning. We don’t have lane duck parliaments/ministers or prime ministers.

jimmy2k4o .

The part where Bartlett indirectly directs Ukraine to give up the nuclear weapons they had control of sure aged well……..

Jack
>>105870382

Very sensible decision if you believed the Russian guarantees...

Youtalkingtome
>>105801873

Wow what a career! Also I didn't even think about the show airing while the election was taking place. That must have added another layer to the show as well.

Youtalkingtome
>>105803781

The structure is unreal. I wish I could be a fly on the wall in the writers room. Must be absolutely incredible. These writers are smarter than 80% of people working in the business.

Youtalkingtome
>>105811801

Love that he dabbles in and out of the theater! Kevin was lucky enough to see his version of To Kill A Mockingbird with Jeff Daniels!

jimmy2k4o .
>>105870382

But is it sensible to believe those guarantees? Would you guys give up your nuclear weapons if other countries made a guarantee not to attack you? Doubt it. Neither would mine, we have those guarantees from countries already, but by keeping nuclear weapons we have our own guarantee and need nobody else’s.

Roland Cooke
>>105868011

You should check out the original House of Cards, it's only three or four episodes (x3 seasons), you'll love it. As for interaction with the British government...stay tuned, one of everyone's favourite guest characters will eventually show up. :)

Roland Cooke

Senator Marino versus State Representative Tricia Cotham....only their mother can tell them apart.

JVTrickypants

Another amazing comedic delivery by John Spencer, "Hey how ya doing, Dalai Llama!" Side note, the meeting with the Russian is based on Boris Yeltsin showing up drunk at George Bush Senior's White House lol.

JVTrickypants
>>105804695

Yes as an advisor, and others like Lawrence O'Donnell who worked for a senator (whose name I can't recall at the moment) before obviously going on to do his TV show.

JVTrickypants

Regarding Moira Kelly being off the show, both Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme have said that they love her but there are actors who just have problems with Sorkin's dialogue. There are just some who can do it very well, which Joshua Malina (who has been with Sorkin for years) calls The Might Sorkin Players as they tend to crop up repeatedly in his work. They also both said that frankly Moira Kelly wasn't having much fun on the show herself. Sorkin also blamed himself for failing to write her character properly to where she fit in well in the show.

Taylor

I just looked to see what the next episode is, and I ended up scrolling through the rest of the episodes of this season. I know I’m not the first to say it, but damn are you guys in for a fantastic run of episodes coming up. I haven’t done a full rewatch in a while, and I genuinely forgot just how many of my favorite episodes are in this season. Excited to watch along with you!

Brendon Waldron

"We play with live ammo around here" I love that line...

Youtalkingtome
>>105895418

Mandy did run her course. He can write great characters, but she unfortunately just didn't gel with the rest of the show.

Sandee B

I’m catching up on these reaction videos. If it hasn’t already been mentioned to you, there’s a great podcast called The West Wing Weekly where you can hear a lot of great behind the scenes interviews. With regards to your question about the writing team on the show, my recollection is that there were several writers and Washington consultants in the writers room. Their job was to “feed the beast” (ie Aaron Sorkin) They would use their expertise and knowledge of the political landscape to feed him actual stories that they experienced. From there, Aaron would shape and write the episodes.

Cristy

Just catching up on these episodes now and love your thoughts on my favourite character (besides CJ of course) Ainsley. Emily Procter (who played Ainsley) said on a podcast that she and Rob Lowe were told off repeatedly by Sorkin for flirting in their scenes. It's pretty funny watching though because they still seem to be flirting.