Bob Russell quotes from The West Wing

Bartlet

Are you a horseman Bob? I'm looking at your boots.

Russell

Oh, I love to ride.... No, I wear these boots, um... Oh, I could give you some crap about remembering my roots, but I wear these because I've got flat feet and they don't hurt my arches.

Toby

In a triumph of the middling, a nod to mediocrity, and with gorge rising, it gives me great nausea to announce Robert Russell -- Bingo Bob, himself -- as your new Vice President.

Will

This lapdog of the mining interests is as dull as he is unremarkable...

Toby

...as lackluster as he is soporific. This reversion to the mean...

Will

...this rebuke to the exemplary...

Toby

...gives hope to the millions unfavored by the exceptional...

Bob Russell

not the worst, not the best, just what we're stuck with.

Russell

I admire speech writers. They have to have the tendency to doubt and the capacity to believe in equal measure.... I'm playing with a handicap.... Spare tire on the automobile of government. Heartbeat away from having a heartbeat.... I may need more help than that dead guy you got elected in Orange County, Will. I may need some political life support myself.... I'd like you to be my Communications Director.... I know I'm not the best politician, but here I am Vice President of the United States.

Will

Sir, I'm a special assistant to the President.

Russell

Chief strategist and senior counselor to the Vice President.

Will

Are we playing poker?

Russell

I'm showing you my hand.

Will

You're looking for your own Toby Ziegler.

Russell

I'm looking for someone who can beat Toby....

Will

Thank you, sir, but I'm not interested.

Russell

I like loyalty, Will. I respect loyalty. But you can run out the clock on a Bartlet Presidency that in effect is over. You can finish something that you never started in the first place.... Or you can shape the next presidency from the ground up. Total access. Coach of the team.

Russell

How's the President doing?

Leo

He's fighting a cold.

Russell

Think it's about time for me to talk to a few of my former colleagues in the House?

Leo

Mmm, not yet sir, no.

Russell

I served on energy with Haffley.

Leo

I appreciate that.

Russell

I sang in the Congressional Quartet with the majority whip. I've gotten drunk on fact-finding with most of the guys...

Leo

[interrupting] With all due respect sir, we can't send mixed signals.

Russell

You saw their deal two days ago and turned them down. If you're waiting for Haffley to call, you've misjudged your man. You can't treat the Speaker like...

Leo

[interrupting again] The President will decide the terms.

Russell

No, he won't! Like it or not, we have a Republican Congress. They get to write the budget. The President only gets to edit it a bit. You want to blame someone, call James Madison.

Leo

Thanks for the history lesson, sir. I'll be sure to pass it on to the President.

Russell

[pause] You know what they call a leader with no followers? Just a guy taking a walk.