Let’s assume, just for the sake of the thread, that Bartlett was to get his ass kicked in the upcoming election on “West Wing.” The Republicans take the White House and we’ve got to cast a new show. Can we do it? Would anyone watch? Are Republicans entertaining? We already know who the President would be (James Brolin), how 'bout the others? I don’t know the politics of any of the current stars (except for Martin Sheen, who was instrumental in having Malibu declared Nuclear Free Zone), but they all make convincing Democrats. Who just “looks” like a Republican?
subtle hijaack-
but wouldn’t having bartlett lose the election be the most fabulous tv strategy move ever? it’s completely unexpected (despite the fact that i actually WANT to keep seeing this cast do shows) and if people realized that the writers and producers were that brave, they’d have armies of new viewers, just to see what they would do next. leaking the story about rob lowe leaving would be a really sneaky thing to do if they were actually planning on everybody leaving.
back to OP-
i have a suspicion that this won’t happen though (sigh, chickenshit networks) and we’ll keep the old crew. i just hope they can keep it relevant as the WW White House pulls further away from reality.
Assuming you want real Republicans to be in the cast (in the same way that Sheen’s personal beliefs are largely reflected in Bartlett), you’ve got a limited pool of applicants.
Arnold Schwarzenneger – probably wouldn’t do it, since he still makes bucks at the box office and TV would be a step down. Plus, he’s grooming himself for a real political career.
Sly Stallone – wouldn’t do TV. Plus I don’t want to see him in anything without explosions.
Bruce Willis – also wouldn’t step down to TV, even if it is where he started. But he can act. Could be a good chief of staff.
Bo Derek – not unless they switch the show to Cinemax.
Tom Selleck – probably WOULD do it. Mebbe a Republican Tobey?
Charlton Heston – obvious problems with his health, and even absent that is probably to old to keep up with the hectic pace of filming weekly. Guest shots periodically as an aging mentor, perhaps?
Fred Thompson – on breaks from Law & Order, could play a Republican Senator from Tennessee. 
The main reason I watch WW is the fantastic writing and acting. If you replace the cast, I think it would be very hard to come up with another cast that has the same chemistry.
Secondly, Sorkin would be WAY out of his element writing for a Republican perspective and would probably do a really horrible job at it.
So take away the two reasons I watch West Wing and I’m switching to “Birds of Prey”.
Maybe Bartlett will lose the election, and the cast will shuffle aimlessly for a couple of years, then go to work for Sam as he challenges Richie in 2006!
Bruce Willis would be the guy (was it G. Gordon Liddy?) who mistakenly things the President wants someone offed and the staff notices he left the meetting…
Let the Scientologists win the White House! Tom Cruise is President.
Chuck Heston seems to be developing the qualities necessary to accurately portray a former president.
Man, that’s cold.
I’d love to see this just to prove that the writers/creative folks could do it. A friend of mine went to some institute to learn how to be a political consultant. Part of the training was to work on a campaign. She didn’t get to choose the campaign, but they were graded on how well they did. She ended up working on something that was the opposite of her own views and it passed. She felt a bit conflicted in having helped the political process against herself. So it can be done, if you are willing to sacrifice ideals for your other goals.
Anyway, West Wing is often an idealized version of the Democratic party, why not an idealized version of the Republicans? You could still present a balancing liberal view via Sam in the House. Just not in a way so as to shoot down Republican ideals.
I wonder what the cast’s real political affiliation and leanings are, away from the set. I’d say that besides a name or two you’d anyway do better with a young, unknown cast.
Whitford, along with Sheen, strongly campaigned for Gore.
But it’s FUNNY.
What would be funny about a TV show where the Democrats took all the rich people’s money away and gave it to poor folks who spent it all on beer and cigarettes? Or Republicans taking everybody’s money and giving it to the Enron guys?
Er, who’s Whitford?
whitford is the actor who plays josh lyman.