Five Votes Down

The beauty of this show was the amazing insights into the political world, the bluster and the deal making that is part of their world. Bartlet is trying to get a mediocre gun bill passed and the usual back slapping and quid pro quo goes on. We also see the human element here as Leo has his wife leave him because of his all consuming political drive. Very sad episode and very real.

What goes on behind the scenes in getting a bill passed is Sorkin's subject, and the issue of wheeling and dealing as well as the strong-armed aspect of politics (think of the skills of an LBJ in corralling votes in Congress) is presented powerfully.

But what makes this episode work is of course the personal problems and interactions of the White House staff, something the public doesn't get to see but which makes all the difference in a dramatic presentation. Some of it is comical, especially as the foibles of Whitford and Schiff make them the butt of jokes, while even Sheen as president is amusingly cut down to size when he takes too much drugs to ease his back pain.

John Spencer is magnificent in his commanding role as the real adult in the room, shown at his most vulnerable when his dedication to his job and the president more than threatens his marriage (kudos to the fine actress Sara Botsford in a small but effective role as his neglected spouse). After the frivolity and light-hearted moments, it's a bittersweet ending and a Pyrrhic victory when the sought-after bill passes but no one except the power-hungry veep Tim Matheson has reason to celebrate.

This episode endeared me more to the characters. I love how they fight so hard for a bill that they know isn't even what they really want, because they have to save face and get what they can. Just seems so fruitless, its hard not to feel for them. Then they don't even get to enjoy what little victory there would've been thanks to Hoynes(really speaks to how upset Leo was that he would still go to the VP's AA meeting after that). I swear, after five minutes in politics I wouldn't have a single strand of hair left to yank out in frustration. Just makes me wish they could get a real solid win. And as Josh said,

"Sam, LBJ never would've taken this kind of crap from Democrats in congress. He would've said, 'you're voting my way in exchange for which I might remember you name, pal'."

I wish the other dems. would just get behind their administration. They've made it clear that Bartlet does what he wants whether that goes against party politics or not, but he also always does what he thinks is right. That's better than a Pres. who does something he knows or feels is wrong just because it's what is expected from a democrat. As when Leo is telling Rev. Al in the first episode that Bartlet went around the country trying to convince teen girls not to get abortions, I strongly disagree with that, but I respect him for not acting like a machine that just spits out a leftist's agenda. Josh's meetings with Katzenmoyer and Wick were great though,

"President Bartlet's a good man. He's got a good heart. He doesn't hold a grudge...that's what he pays me for."

"You know, I realize as an adult not everyone shares my view of the world, and with an issue as hot as gun control I'm prepared to accept a lot of different points of view as being perfectly valid, but we can all get together on the grenade launcher! Right?"

Leo's personal stuff brought the episode down a little, just never cared for romantic relationships in my dramas, but the in office scenes were great. Coming off the excellence of A Proportional Response might have also taken some of the shine off this one, but there really are no bad episodes of Sorkin's West Wing.

This level of insight into the inner circles of the White House is either quite genius or just bogus. I vote for genius.

The whole cast is just shining and showing small excerpts of what is to come. Both on a personal and a general level each of them are just brilliant.

The awesome John Spencer with his domestic issues conflicting with his professional ones. Just brilliant. John Spencer is such a tremendous asset to this series and I still feel sad over his too early departure. Richard shiff is brilliant too. Never saw him better before or after this show. He's awesome in the good doctor though. Bradley Whitford and Rob Lowe also show signs of how their characters will evolve in episodes to come. A super ten out of ten.

Should have been a Grade A Actor, never quite made it. But this is "his show" without him it would not work. He is Simply Brilliant, the speeches. I am late to the party on this show, very late like 22 years :-( But better late then never The scenes without Martin are a 7 with him they are a 10 Rob Low I'm not a big fan, as for the others, take or leave them. I don't know if this was written for Martin, but it fits him like a glove I think they should bring it back with Donald's president run, now that would be rather entertaining :-) Mind you move to 2024 and who knows if he will be back ????