West Wing finale..."President" Sheen invokes 25th. Hastert look-alike John Goodman takes over.

[ken5050]

In case you all missed it, the West Wing ended its season last night, and obviously Aaron Sorkin has been smoking 'shrooms again. Sorkin has also left the show, as writer and creative force, but he's leaving his peculiarly distorted vision of political reality for the next group of writers to untangle. If you're interested, let me summarize events for you...

[TomGuy]

do you concur with my assessment that Goodman casting is inspired...that's he's definitely playing Hastert?

Yes, it did seem "close." Although the Goodman character seemed to be able to definitely exude "control."

[theDentist]

I saw it. Yes, I watch it every week. I watch '24' also. Not much else though.

Anyhow, with a new Presidential Election cycle coming up, there'll be a whole new season (and a summer of repeats) to show an evil, gruff, Republican in the West Wing. I can see it now: a President who was not elected through the Popular vote, an "illegitimate President" (where have we heard that before) who will dismantle the safety nets of compassion that only Liberals would understand, that will begin shucking out tax breaks to multi-millionaire oil barons, who will have entire forests cut down in a swath, and will personally shoot koala bears in zoos for the thrill of it.

This could also be their way of taking the heat off Sheen because of his stupidities, and getting him out of their limelight for a while. But he'll be back, like an unwanted wart.

[mabelkitty]

Rumor has it Martin Sheen is going to carpet-bag it to Ohio and run for George Voinivich's Senate seat.

If you know of any Ohioans, it might be good to let them know this.

I also read Rob or Chad Lowe, or Phil Donahue were also considered.

[Savage Rider]

Why did the VP resign? I missed that part. The only thing I know about WW is the promo ads they show.

[ken5050]

I got hooled on the show last season when then had the Ann Coulter-like character....it was good TV...

[smith288]

Ok, let me ask again... Is Goodman portrayed as evil on the show?

[ken5050]

MIss Marple will now excoriate you.....(g)

[ken5050]

It's a plan.....

[TomGuy]

Why is the Speaker of the House sworn in? What about the VP?

VP was forced to resign a couple weeks ago for ethic violation. Goodman's character is Speaker of the House, and the House has a Republican majority. So Goodman's character is Republican.

[mabelkitty]

How about the nasty smear job he did of Linda Tripp?

He's a dirty scumbag.

[smith288]

You have to be kidding.

[carton253]

Yes, since to Sorkin all republicans are evil. He doesn't know how to portray them any other way.

[ken5050]

Too early to tell...it was just the last 5 minutes....he came across as strong, and commanding...

[maxwell]

shucking out tax breaks to multi-millionaire oil barons, who will have entire forests cut down in a swath, and will personally shoot koala bears in zoos for the thrill of it.

Oh yeah... I forgot the dadburned environment in my little scenario above...

[maxwell]

he came across as strong, and commanding...

Yep-- which is why, for once, I sat up and paid attention. Nice ending. I'll savor it, for now.

[smith288]

True. But in the day, I thought they were humorous. (i was in high school and couldnt have cared less about Tripp)

[dpa5923]

Wait a second here. Is Goodman suppose to be the Speaker of the House? If so, under the 25th Admendment, the president is not succeeded by the SOH, but by the VP when the Pres submits to the SOH and Pres Pro-temp of the Senate written declaration that he will not serve as president. If there is no VP then the speaker moves up.

Granted I haven't watch this crap in awhile, so I am assuming from comments on this thread that Goodman is playing the SOH and not VP. Who is the VP and why isn't he taking over the presidency as required by the 25 admendment?

[ken5050]

Well, there are obviously lots of folks here who don't watch the show who have strong opinions about it..or who just tune into Law&Order an hour early. Moi, I tape it, like I said...eliminated 20 minutes of ads, and I can fast-forward through the ideological diatribes..

[smith288]

Reread this thread.

[mabelkitty]

I'm serious as a heart attack. I read about the balloons from a political writer.

Seems Bernie Kosar laughed at the Democrats when they asked him, and called George Voinivich to tell him. They are friends.

Ohio will elect Jerry Springer before a carpet-bagger, but I would like other Ohioans to join in on this.