@SuperJackmehoffer Well....9/11...A "50 Buck Crime"....Funny how when everyone was watching those people having to jump to to their death, because they didn't want to burn alive it didn't seem like a "50 buck crime". So what does it really take? A "100 Buck Crime" or a "1000 Buck Crime"?
I've watched this a whole lot of times, and on reflection I think my very favourite moment is around 4:30 or so when Bartlet asks McGarry "how this works" but the response comes from the military. There's nice little comments implied there about Bartlet's own psychology, McGarry's less-than-unusual control over this story arc, the finality of action, and the relationship of politicians with the military.
This scenario excludes the entire rational response that Bartlet asked for. You do not have to retaliate with a $5000 response to the $50 crime - but there are $100 responses, $200 responses, $500 responses, etc.
Were I Bartlet, I would have told them to come up with one of those - instead of a totally disproportionate response that they KNOW I willnot select.
@PeterFormaini Exactly my thoughts. A large military strike on non-civilian targets that would inflict large military loses would have been more appropriate, rather than a public air terminal.
@Iamthereaperable Fly a pair of B-2s fully loaded with cluster bombs and deep penetrators and turn an airfield into a massive scrap pile. Destroy a tank staging facility with 500 tanks of various soviet makes and models, kill the bastards left and right and leave nothing left. Then tell Israel they can have the Golan Heights, fuck the UN. America will not be made a mockery of, it's great weapons and technologies will not be held back against the tide of evil, and no death shall go unavenged.
These were really great moments between President Bartlet and the Joint Chiefs in these scenes. I think that "The West Wing" was one of the greatest series ever made and it was one of my favorite series as well. I also enjoyed that the writers of "The West Wing" used these events in "The American President". I really hated that Admiral Fitzwallace was killed off instead of being written off of "The West Wing". Thanks for posting these scenes.
@ChortortleC I don't think Fitz is seriously suggesting attacking the airport; he offers it up and points out the civilian deaths to remind Bartlet of Bartlet's own beliefs about overuse of military force. So, yes, Fitz is being an ass, but he's doing so because it's just about the only way to make his point to Bartlet. After all, as an advisor to the president, Fitz has to make sure he does he damnedest to make sure Bartlet really understands his options. I think it's Fitz's finest moment.
@SCE2AUX That was the whole point of this scene, I believe. The US has the ability to do all of that, but what would be the consequences? What do you think the consequences of the US unilaterally hitting the Syrian Ministry of Defence would be?
@alvarojneto Syria hit first, and it was the Syrian Ministry of Defense that did it. Blow it up, and the people responsible will have been punished. They need to know what the consequences for hitting the United States are.
Someone should have told Bush what Fitzwallace told Bartlett.
SuperJackmehoffer 3 weeks ago
@SuperJackmehoffer Well....9/11...A "50 Buck Crime"....Funny how when everyone was watching those people having to jump to to their death, because they didn't want to burn alive it didn't seem like a "50 buck crime". So what does it really take? A "100 Buck Crime" or a "1000 Buck Crime"?
Blain1971 1 week ago
I've watched this a whole lot of times, and on reflection I think my very favourite moment is around 4:30 or so when Bartlet asks McGarry "how this works" but the response comes from the military. There's nice little comments implied there about Bartlet's own psychology, McGarry's less-than-unusual control over this story arc, the finality of action, and the relationship of politicians with the military.
favouritedress 1 month ago
lol "Mr President, are you suggesting we carpet bomb Damascus??"
tyu3456 1 month ago 2
FUCKING YES!
spahjrp 3 months ago
This scenario excludes the entire rational response that Bartlet asked for. You do not have to retaliate with a $5000 response to the $50 crime - but there are $100 responses, $200 responses, $500 responses, etc.
Were I Bartlet, I would have told them to come up with one of those - instead of a totally disproportionate response that they KNOW I willnot select.
PeterFormaini 6 months ago 9
@PeterFormaini Exactly my thoughts. A large military strike on non-civilian targets that would inflict large military loses would have been more appropriate, rather than a public air terminal.
Iamthereaperable 6 months ago
@Iamthereaperable Fly a pair of B-2s fully loaded with cluster bombs and deep penetrators and turn an airfield into a massive scrap pile. Destroy a tank staging facility with 500 tanks of various soviet makes and models, kill the bastards left and right and leave nothing left. Then tell Israel they can have the Golan Heights, fuck the UN. America will not be made a mockery of, it's great weapons and technologies will not be held back against the tide of evil, and no death shall go unavenged.
Historianization 3 months ago
@Historianization
I don't know why you mention Israel but don't you know they already have the Golan Heights.
bornbillsmith 3 months ago
@PeterFormaini I was thinking the same thing.
bornbillsmith 3 months ago
@PeterFormaini I totally agree they don't have to bomb every building in Damascus to find a more lucrative target.
egzy101 1 month ago
One of my favorite episodes. Thanks for posting.
Moakist 6 months ago
srsly .... what"s with the coffee????
ipekatomang 6 months ago
These were really great moments between President Bartlet and the Joint Chiefs in these scenes. I think that "The West Wing" was one of the greatest series ever made and it was one of my favorite series as well. I also enjoyed that the writers of "The West Wing" used these events in "The American President". I really hated that Admiral Fitzwallace was killed off instead of being written off of "The West Wing". Thanks for posting these scenes.
NX74656 6 months ago
Sorkin has Sheen repeating Douglas in this episode.
pepsibookcat 6 months ago
@pepsibookcat from The American President? What's the line?
IdeaAndDeed 6 months ago
@IdeaAndDeed It's not in this scene. It's elsewhere in that episode.
pepsibookcat 6 months ago
@pepsibookcat Ah, I see. I only asked because I like tracing those little things from Sports Night, etc, into the West Wing.
IdeaAndDeed 6 months ago
"... we come BACK! with total disaster!" I love that quote.
alvarojneto 6 months ago 4
this show is too damn excellent
MrAllad 6 months ago
Attack an airport? Fitz is just being an ass. Obviously there are bigger targets than the four for Pericles One that aren't primarily civilian.
ChortortleC 8 months ago
@ChortortleC I don't think Fitz is seriously suggesting attacking the airport; he offers it up and points out the civilian deaths to remind Bartlet of Bartlet's own beliefs about overuse of military force. So, yes, Fitz is being an ass, but he's doing so because it's just about the only way to make his point to Bartlet. After all, as an advisor to the president, Fitz has to make sure he does he damnedest to make sure Bartlet really understands his options. I think it's Fitz's finest moment.
paxpaul 7 months ago
Why they didn't just blow up the Syrian Ministry of Defense (which supported the original attack) in Umayyad Square is beyond me.
SCE2AUX 8 months ago
@SCE2AUX That was the whole point of this scene, I believe. The US has the ability to do all of that, but what would be the consequences? What do you think the consequences of the US unilaterally hitting the Syrian Ministry of Defence would be?
alvarojneto 6 months ago
@alvarojneto Syria hit first, and it was the Syrian Ministry of Defense that did it. Blow it up, and the people responsible will have been punished. They need to know what the consequences for hitting the United States are.
SCE2AUX 6 months ago
@SCE2AUX With catastrophic international results at best.
Ares99999 3 months ago
@Ares99999 If the rest of the world gets pissed at us for a perfectly justified retaliatory strike, then fuck the rest of the world.
SCE2AUX 3 months ago
Didn't the Syrians kill his doctor?
dmc31400 9 months ago
LOL love this scene
stringerboi 10 months ago
a powerful scene!
ensergiog 11 months ago