I love The West Wing, but one thing that gives me trouble every so often is imagining this parallel universe with a totally different White House, Congress, etc, yet where everything else, I assume, is the same as it is in real life. However, I can suspend my disbelief enough to get past this.
Periodically, the show will make reference to past historical events, events that took place in our “real world” just as they did in the “West Wing universe.”
But something Toby said last night (4/4) threw that all out of balance. He made a reference to President Bartlett running for re-election in 2002.
Huh?
Unless Aaron Sorkin had the gall to shift our nation’s entire history (and with it, world history for the past 300 years or so) forward/backward by 2 years, it’s impossible to have a presidential election in 2002.
I don’t care what would happen – assassination, resignation, a plane crashing into the State of the Union address while the lone cabinet officer left behind dies of a sudden heart attack – the Constitution ensures there will ALWAYS be a presidential election every four years, starting in 1788, with the election of George Washington. There is nothing that could throw this cycle off.
Or is there?
Yeah, I know it’s “just a TV show”, but it’s really bugging me!
Great show… I like it too. My WAG is that the writers put that in there to see if anyone would notice. Since it’s purely fiction (although based on a real country) they could change the constitution if they wanted to. I know its hard, but try to get past it… it’s just TV.
Great show… I like it too. My WAG is that the writers put that in there to see if anyone would notice. Since it’s purely fiction (although based on a real country) they could change the constitution if they wanted to. I know its hard, but try to get past it… it’s just TV.
I don’t recall anyone specifically mentioning “2002” but rather “next year.” I seem to recall Leo or Toby saying that the Iowa caucuses were 7-1/2 months away. Keep in mind that the show debuted in 1999, just as Bartlett was being elected, so obviously the timing is off.
Great show… I like it too. My WAG is that the writers put that in there to see if anyone would notice. Since it’s purely fiction (although based on a real country) they could change the constitution if they wanted to. I know its hard, but try to get past it… it’s just TV.
I don’t think it was just to see if anyone notices. I think it was very deliberate. This way, they can have the show take place in the present time, and refer (if usually obliquely) to current issues, without having to follow the real election schedule. They can address their election issues between real elections, for a little added distance and perspective.
You did notice that last fall while we were waiting for the presidential election results, the west wing staff were waiting for the results of the midterm elections. And when the show started they alluded to the fact that it was their first year on the job. And during the Thanksgiving show (fall 2000) CJ mentioned it was their second Thanksgiving in the White House. (And there have been various other clues over time) So, up until now it has been heavily heavily implied that in the West Wing universe, presidential elections take place on even years not divisible by four rather than even years divisible by four. I am pretty sure that last night was the first time that they just came out and gave a year.