The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Words I did not fully understand until our daughter was taken from us three days ago. But now we can rejoice and be glad, for that which was lost has been found. That my child is back in her mother's arms is serendipity and grace, a second chance that will not slip through our fingers again. I wish I could tell you there is some new policy, some new weapons system, a silver bullet perhaps that could meet this moment, that could keep us safe from the terror that is now among us. But if I were to say that I'd be lying. All I can promise you is that I will fight with every fiber of my being, with every weapon in our arsenal, and with every ounce of God's grace to keep us strong, and free, and safe.
S5The Dogs of War
So, where are we?
ABAngela Blake
Tomorrow's New York Times CNN poll has his approval rating up to 76%.
And in ten days?
ABAngela Blake
His numbers are gonna crater. Not level off, crater, like a failed Mars probe. Today it's, "He lost his daughter. What a shame. We're pulling for him." and in two weeks, it'll be, "I don't want a President I have to pull for."
He did what was constitutionally appropriate. He upheld his oath.
ABAngela Blake
If you want a constitutional debate, you should call the Dean of Columbia Law. Our guy quit when things got tough. Josh must be going nuts.
He thinks we need to put a poll in the field.
ABAngela Blake
The White House can't be caught putting a poll in the field. [pause] Okay. I'll call you when it's done. We need photos, Bartlet on the phone with world leaders, conferring with military advisors, looking resolute.
He won't do it.
ABAngela Blake
You've been a good friend to him, Leo, but you have other responsibilities. The people need to believe that when he comes back, he'll be able to govern effectively, even if he can't secure the safety of his own family. They need to know he's willing to sacrifice his own child's life for his country.
Would you be?
ABAngela Blake
I wasn't stupid enough to run for President.
Deficit projections don't look great. We're gonna need a stimulus package.
Or revenue enhancements.
Significant tax cuts. Reduction in discretionary spending. You have something on your mind, Leo?
So, now what?
You have a suggestion?
This office isn't always about doing something. Most of the time it's about not doing something.
Steve, give us a minute.
[Steve leaves.]
What's your point?
You're meeting with Republican leadership again without any Democrats or Cabinet members present?
What are you accusing us of?
You weren't elected to this office.
Neither were you!
I have a responsibility to President Bartlet and...
Don't lecture me about the responsibilities of this office!
Then start acting like you understand them!
If you're uncomfortable serving as my Chief of Staff, Leo, then feel free to recuse yourself until I'm gone.
Thank you, sir.
We started this, Leo.
This isn't about Shareef.
You're right; it's not. It's about our allowing situations in these countries to develop in the first place.
I'm not gonna let you do this.
We choose the order and certainty of petty despots over the uncertainty and chaos of developing democracies.
Shareef ordered the assassination of women and children. He wasn't a nationalist or a fledgling Democrat. He was a cold-blooded murderer.
Six more American boys are dead.
And that doesn't make you angry?
[yelling] Of course that makes me angry! [pause] "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral. Returning violence with violence only multiplies violence adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars."
Dr. King.
I'm part of that darkness now, Leo. When did that happen?
Dr. King wasn't wrong. He just didn't have your job.
[reading] "This isn't about partisan politics. It's about what's best for the country. However long this crisis lasts we're fortunate to have President Walken here to lead us." That's a great quote.
SASteve Atwood
Thanks.
"However long this crisis lasts..." That's a nice...turn of phrase. Of course, a more accurate description of that period of time would be "Till President Bartlet signs the second letter and boots Walken's fat ass out of our White House."
SASteve Atwood
What the hell are you going on about?
You're campaigning in the middle of a national tragedy. Zoey Bartlet's out in the field, breathing through a straw; you're test-driving sound bites for the next election? Straight answer, Steve, once in your life. What are you guys up to? Closed-door meetings, planting quotes in the Times... What's next? Spontaneous speeches on the House floor questioning President Bartlet's fitness to lead?
SASteve Atwood
You don't get it, do you? Republicans are in awe of Bartlet. He recused himself in the only way he could. In the way envisioned by the Constitution.
None of the framers were afraid of the President's daughter being kidnapped at musket-point.
SASteve Atwood
The whole notion of the 25th Amendment is that the institution matters more than the man. Bartlet's decision was even more self-sacrificing because he willingly gave power to his opposition.
The institution may matter more, but it's your guy protecting it, not ours.
SASteve Atwood
A truly self-sacrificing act usually involves some sacrifice.
So now you're going to nail us to the cross?
SASteve Atwood
No. You beat the terrorists at their own game. We're not stupid, Josh. We try to use this to our advantage, it'll blow up in our faces. We'd seem callous and unfeeling, in contrast to Bartlet's extraordinary gesture of courage and patriotism. And anyone who thinks otherwise, has a particularly craven way of looking at politics.
S5Jefferson Lives
Diane Frost is a serious name.
Diane is a serious loon of the left.
I love Diane Frost. I'd marry Diane Frost if I were a member of her stated sexual preference, but Diane is the definition of unelectable.
We're having trouble with the Democrats.
Wow, along with the Republicans. That's kind of everyone.
Mrs. Bartlet, I can't tell you how hard I prayed for you.
I appreciate that.
Well, you shouldn't. I'm not very religious. So there's the risk that my praying could be taken as insincere or even an affront, which, if it's a vengeful God, could have made matters worse.
Well, it didn't, so maybe there's a clue.
Are you a horseman Bob? I'm looking at your boots.
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.
[about Haffley] What the hell just...
Will. In the Oval, and grab C.J.
We just... we got tagged. [They walk into the Outer Oval Office.] Idiot thinks he tagged us.
He did.
...
He's bluffing.
We don't blink.
What the hell is he thinking? Is he just in over his head?
He's an idiot. And he's bluffing.
We put up Berryhill and we wait for the Republicans to self-destruct.
If we have the time.
He's an idiot, he's bluffing, and we're going to destroy him.
You worried about it leaking or are you worried about our numbers?
Both. How long can we spin this so our numbers hold? If it drags on and gets ugly and people have time to worry...
We've got a fight; with this list it's a joke. August Adar would bore the country into a stupor and Starkey is, forgive me, sir, more likely to keel over in the next three years than you are.
That's what Haffley's counting on. The longer he drags this out, the longer he's next in line.
Diane Frost is a serious name.
Diane is a serious loon of the left.
I love Diane Frost. I'd marry Diane Frost if I were a member of her stated sexual preference, but Diane is the definition of unelectable.
That's their agenda: sniper anyone who looks hard to beat next time around.
I thought this choice wasn't about partisan politics.
It is now.
I hadn't heard you were thinking about New Hampshire. That might be the best...
I moved the meeting up because I didn't want you here.
In the meeting?
In the Residence.
Yeah. I've been trying to... I thought... you need some space.
She's back. She's safe. She's going to stay safe.
We all want what's best for Zoey.
You laid us open. You laid me and my daughters wide open. And God knows what else there is that I don't know about.
There is nothing else.
I swear to God, Leo, don't... 72 hours; the bruises aren't even... did you see her face? For God's sake, don't ask me to trust you.
I'm not.
And don't think you took the bullet. I blame Jed. He did this.
Wait, the Democrats actually like the list?
They aren't wild about Berryhill. Donna!
Our esteemed Minority Leader thinks it's not a bluff and we won't win a battle in the House.
Our esteemed Minority Leader is running for President in three years. Donna, get me Leo!
[pokes his head in] Donna went to the bathroom.
She's not allowed to do that. Just get me Leo.
Uh, Leo McGarry?
Yes, Leo McGarry.
[enters] They leaked the list; the Starkey Russell list.
Is that bad? It makes Berryhill look even better.
Guys, we can't confirm Berryhill.
We can't?
We're having trouble with the Democrats.
Wow. Along with the Republicans, that's kind of everyone.
We've got to move on.
Move on? We don't move on from our first post-Walken showdown. This is the single, most defining decision the President makes.
No kidding. And time's running out and if we don't find someone they'll confirm by tomorrow...
We had other names.
[comes back in] Hey, uh, sorry. Does anyone know Mr. McGarry's extension?
S5Han
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.
This lapdog of the mining interests is as dull as he is unremarkable...
...as lackluster as he is soporific. This reversion to the mean...
...this rebuke to the exemplary...
...gives hope to the millions unfavored by the exceptional...
not the worst, not the best, just what we're stuck with.
We've certainly come a long way from "Give me your tired, your poor." If we don't allow this defection, if we blithely exploit this young man's ignorance, then I don't know who we are anymore.
By refusing to put language to it, we pretend it does not exist. But it's something. Even if we don't know what to call it. I just think it's time to start working on a language plan for whatever it is we're doing, too.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's The West Wing pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.