# West Wing: 20 Hours in America **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277 "2002-09-23T15:14:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/21 "2002-09-26T17:51:50Z")
Corn’s harvested at all times - depends on when you plant it. As for the BBQ, I’m not too familiar with southern Indiana to be able to recommend anything. But I bet a few phone calls to various Chambers of Commerce would do the trick. But make sure you figure out what time is local where ever you’re going! “Welcome to Indiana! Please set your watch back 62 years.” ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/22 "2002-09-26T19:35:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\* > If he’s governor of a state like Florida, he didn’t get there by being stupid. I wonder if that’s a slam on the Bush brothers? \*\* Duh. I think yes. And being (intellectually) stupid has never stopped a politician from getting elected. However, not being smart enough to surround yourself with intelligent people has caused elections to be lost. I think it is pretty clear that references to stupid comments are aimed at the Bush brothers. I also have a sneaking feeling that the vast majority of the viewers of West Wing have never voted for Jeb or W. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/23 "2002-09-26T21:59:30Z")
**DMark** - Actually, I am very conservative politically, but I love West Wing. I like the idealism and enthusiam (if, in my opinion, misguided notions) with which the staffers do their jobs. They feel priviledged to serve the public. I doubt this is the real attitude of most politicians and staffers, but it makes good fiction. The writing is very sharp and the show doesn’t talk down to viewers. It will also occassionally show both sides of an issue, with different staffers having different opinions. They aren’t just cookie-cutter liberals. StG ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/24 "2002-09-26T22:29:06Z")
StGermain I hope you are right and that more political conservatives like yourself DO watch the show! ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/25 "2002-09-26T22:32:48Z")
Arrghh. My VCR screwed up (because, obviously, it wasn’t anything **I** could have possibly done… :)) and I missed nearly the whole episode. Could some kind soul please send me a copy? I’ll cover costs, but more importantly, you’ll be my new best friend. 🙂 Please drop me an e-mail. Eric ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/26 "2002-09-27T00:51:21Z")
Normally I would, but unfortunately I forgot to flip the little switch that allows me to tape from cable. I’m hoping they’ll re-air it, if not soon, then around Christmas time when they’re not showing new episodes. ---
**Author:** ![king\_of\_spain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@king\_of\_spain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/king_of_spain)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/27 "2002-09-27T02:47:29Z")
Well, that was oddly depressing. I do not want to think about September 11 while I’m watching what’s supposed to be entertainment. I don’t want to hear about terrorist attacks or war with Qumar or Bartlet going on about evil and heroes running into fires in the West Wing universe. If probable war with Qumar is going to be the major plotline this season I’m actually not sure I’m going to watch. I don’t know. There was a lot of stuff I’d usually have enjoyed - Mallory showing up was nice and unexpected, Charlie actually got a plotline, etc. - but overall it seemed kind of curiously lifeless. I’m not sure if that’s just because I was bummed about the Qumar plotline, or I was just in a bad mood last night, or what. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/28 "2002-09-27T06:10:43Z")
The main Indiana nitpick I had was that when they were in Dearborn county and needed the nearest commercial airport, they went to Indianapolis instead of Greater Cincinnati! I used to live in Dearborn county, and there ain’t no way we’d’ve gone to Indianapolis… And dry rub RULES! ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/29 "2002-09-27T07:50:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > **I caught that part about Sam feeling a bit out of things. It sounds like the beginning of a long story arc that will end in May (sweeps) with Sam deciding to run for Congress or something.** Ah, but Lowe is not going to be on the show that long. He may make it to February sweeps, but I don’t think he’s even got that many shows to do this year. I think it’s only 14 or 16. I’m thinking post-election breakdown/blowout that will see his role slowly but surely diminished to the point that he walks away. I don’t know how kind Sorkin will be to him since he’s walking away. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*I have to agree about the portrayal of Ritchie. I know Sorkin is a die-hard liberal, but not all conservatives are “Whoo, what we gonna do now?” good ol’ boys. If he’s governor of a state like Florida, he didn’t get there by being stupid. I wonder if that’s a slam on the Bush brothers? \*\* That’s **exactly** what it is. There is absolutely no question. And given that, I’m going to be watching solely to see how Sorkin is going to wend his way around making the conservative Republican candidate increasingly idiotic while trying to keep his liberal Democrat president (who will obviously win the election) on the side of the angels when that’s the man who just orchestrated a wholly illegal assassination (carried out by military special ops, too, not even the CIA) and cover up - then went back and enjoyed a schmalzty Broadway musical immediately thereafter. He is a liar and a criminal, but in a few weeks we’ll watch the episode where he’s re-elected, and it’s almost a given that he’s going to continue to be portrayed as a hero and excellent leader who everybody (but bassackwards people in rural bughump Indiana and yokel idiot conservative governors who are all style and no substance) loves. That’s pretty disgusting. Captivating, and good television, but disgusting nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/30 "2002-09-29T23:23:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oblong \* > \*\* > Sorkin’s going too far with his Richie, or Ritchie portrayals. Don’t insult our intelligence like that. If the guy’s governor of Florida and the candidate for half the country, he must have some decent qualities. \*\* If you think it impossible that a complete moron could go from governor to president…[Fool me once…](http://www.comedycentral.com/includes/rpmdirect.jhtml?ram=dailyshow%2Fheadlines%2F7034_headline_56.rm) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/31 "2002-09-29T23:32:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > \*\* > > …, and it’s almost a given that he’s going to continue to be portrayed as a hero and excellent leader who everybody (but bassackwards people in rural bughump Indiana and yokel idiot conservative governors who are all style and no substance) loves. > \*\* I think you completely missed the point. The ‘yokels’ in Indiana had legitimate complaints that the Washington insiders (represented by Toby & Josh) were completely out of touch with. As usual, it’s Donna that yanks them back to reality. Funniest line: “300 IQ points between them and they can’t find their way home. If Donna wasn’t with them they’d have to buy a house there.” ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/32 "2002-09-29T23:48:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > \*\*then went back and enjoyed a schmalzty Broadway musical immediately thereafter. \*\* In all fairness, it was actually a Shakespeare play with schmaltzy musical numbers added… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/33 "2002-09-30T04:52:59Z")
Every politician, conservative, liberal, democrat, republican has at least a few redeeming qualities. Something where you can say “That’s why they elected him/her”. Well, maybe not all but all the candidates for the presidential office do. If Sorkin plays this off as the hero vs bad guy, then it’s pretty cheesy and not something I’d expect from someone who’s called a genius. Give me political drama, not propoganda or preaching. (I know I say this every time there’s a TWW Thread) I saw where Sheen said his portrayal is a mixture of Clinton, Kennedy, and Carter. I find that combination very odd. I’m still in the minority regarding CJ. She looks like a man in drag. Every time there’s a scene with her in a dress I see about 15 comments about how stunning she looked. You know in real life that’s not PC, right? Nobody would comment on how Mike McCurry looked in a tux. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ghost\_Tracker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@Ghost\_Tracker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghost_Tracker)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/34 "2013-05-08T02:09:58Z")
Hoping somebody will see this - When Debbie Fiderer was first hired by Bartlett, she refused to tell him why she was fired from the first job, and tells him the first person considered for Charlie’s position was “David Dweck - - I used to call him, 'David Dwink Want a Dwinka Wa-Wa.” Bartlett orders her to tell him and finds out that his powers of Ordering are apparently to be mocked. But, he reminds her that his powers of deduction are NOT to be mocked. Interview (apparently) over, she leaves. He figures it out and chases after her, and tells her, “Brian Dweck, CFO of Colfax and contributor to Representative Mark McKittridge whose brother is the Director of the White House Office of Presidenial Personnel, wants a job for his son, David-- ‘Wants a Dwink of WaWa.’ My powers of deduction are NOT to be mocked!” I don’t get it. :dubious: How did he get the one from the other? Apparently my powers of deduction are to be mocked! :smack: lol! And also, was this a tongue-in-cheek nod to some sort of character that Lily Tomlin used to do? For example on Laugh-In? 🙂😛 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/35 "2013-05-08T04:19:04Z")
Zombie thread, and you asked the same question here, **Ghost Tracker** : [Question about a Season 4 episode of "The West Wing" - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=690325) Not quite kosher. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277/36 "2013-05-08T11:40:54Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, **Ghost\_Tracker**. Since you have already asked this question elsewhere, I’ll close this thread. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-20-hours-in-america/129277.md?page=1)