I think you should. I think ambition is good. I think overreaching is good. I think giving people a vision of government that's more than Social Security checks and debt reduction is good. I think government should be optimistic.
“100,000 Airplanes” · Season 3
In this episode: Sam Seaborn (4), C.J. Cregg (3), Josh Lyman (2), Josiah Bartlet (1), Toby Ziegler (1), Leo McGarry (1), Donna Moss (1), Joey Lucas (1)
[on the President] He's all right?
He's about to be censured, and then he's gonna deliver the State of the Union, and then he's gonna run for reelection. My guess is, that there are some things on his mind.
[after the State of the Union speech] Congratulations, boss!
Nice job. Take the rest of the night off.
Yeah, it's one in the morning.
Well, you've earned it! Sam, Sam, the sunshine man. Get on the couch, I'm gonna do you right here.
Okay.
Sorry, I was still talking to Carol.
What is wrong with you?
We really don't know.
Hey, I'm just, you know. Anyway, congratulations. And if you're serious about that thing with Carol, I can just sit in the corner and not even say–
[laughing] Get out!
I'm seeing Amy again tonight.
Second date?
First date, really. Last night was more of a ... you know ...
Scheme.
Yeah.
Good, 'cause the second date's usually where the wheels come off the wagon for you.
[reading an excerpt rejected from the State of the Union speech] Over the past half century, we've split the atom, we've spliced the gene and we've roamed Tranquility Base. We've reached for the stars and never have we been closer to having them in our grasp. New science, new technology is making the difference between life and death, and so we need a national commitment equal to this unparalleled moment of possibility. And so I announce to you tonight that I will bring the full resources of the Federal Government and the full reach of my office to this fundamental goal: We will cure cancer by the end of this decade.
A President stood up. He said we will land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. You know what we knew when he said that? Nothing. We didn't know anything. We didn't know about the lunar surface. We didn't know how to land one of these things. All we'd ever done is crash it into the ocean. And God knows we could figure out how to land soft. We didn't know how to blast off again, but a President said we're gonna do it, and we did it. So I ask you, why shouldn't I stand up and say we are going to cure cancer in ten years?
[Silence in the room. No one responds.]
I'm really asking.
Well, how close are we to really being able to do this?
Nobody knows.
Then...
Toby.
It'll be seen as a political ploy.
Why?
It can be seen... [to Toby] Excuse me. [to Bartlet] It can be seen as self-serving.
How?
Using cancer to deflect attention from MS.
You think people with cancer care what my motives are? You think their families do?
I'm saying...
Joey?
I agree with everything that's been said, except, I don't think they'll see it as deflecting the MS. I think they'll see it as deflecting the censure.
Once again, why would somebody...?
Everybody cares about motive, Mr. President.
I didn't...
KKenny
She said, "Everybody cares about motive," sir.
Sam.
Yes sir?
Why shouldn't I do it?
I think you should. I think ambition is good. I think overreaching is good. I think giving people a vision of government that's more than Social Security checks and debt reduction is good. I think government should be optimistic.
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