“The Portland Trip” quotes from The West Wing

Bartlet

The Assistant Energy Secretary is flying to Portland in the middle of the night so he can meet with me on Air Force One on the way back?

Charlie

Yes sir.

Bartlet

The day-to-day experience of my life has changed in many ways since taking this job.

Sam

Oratory should raise your heart rate. Oratory should blow the doors off the place. We should be talking about not being satisfied with past solutions. We should be talking about a permanent revolution.

Toby

Where have I heard that?

Sam

Permanent Revolution?

Toby

Yeah.

Sam

I got it from a book.

Toby

What book?

Sam

The Little Red Book

Toby

You think we should quote Mao Tse-tung?

Sam

We do need a permanent revolution.

Toby

Still, I think we'll stay away from quoting Communists.

Sam

You think a Communist never wrote an elegant phrase? How do you think they got everyone to be Communist?

Bartlet

A long flight across the night. You know why late flights are good? Because we cease to be earthbound and burdened with practicality. Asking important questions. Talking about the idea that nobody has thought about yet. Put it a different way...

Sam

Be poets.

Donna

I have an excellent sense about these things.

Josh

Actually, you have no sense about these things. You have no vibe, you have terrible taste in men, and your desire to be coupled up will always and forever drown out any sense of self or self-worth that you may have.

Donna

You're a downer, you know that? I'm calling you Deputy Downer from now on.

Danny

[asking why C.J is going on the Portland Trip] Are you being punished?

C.J.

I'm not being punished. I'm going on the trip.

Danny

If the whole bus goes off the record, will you tell us why you're going on the trip?

C.J.

[hesitating] I made fun of Notre Dame. [the journalists collectively groaned] Usually I get away with it.

Danny

They're playing Michigan tomorrow.

C.J.

I know that now.

Danny

You can't do that when they're playing Michigan.