The West Wing TV show was ahead of it's time

[Bill219]

Watching it this morning on BravoHD and President elect Santos was just talking to the guy that wants to be the Senate leader that the first bill he wants brought to the floor and passed is "Lobbying Reform". A ban on all lobbyist contributions.

The guy asks why he wanted to waste his time on a bill concerning procedural issues banning "martini lunches"

Santos says that "we don't allow bribery" The other guy tells him that he could fight him on constitutional grounds. Then he also says that it would kill them in fund raising

Santos points out that if they shut out the lobbyists then that helps them to pass health insurance and every other bill that he wants to get passed. The other guy tells him that he won't do it if he is elected Senate leader because he is trying to hold together the first Democratic majority (by 4 votes) in ten years

I have to wonder if this is the same type of garbage President Obama has had to deal with since day one.

[Clio the Leo]

1. Funny how often the shows parallel isn't it? NT

[Bill219]

3. Yes...kinda freaky

We probably could have had single payer health/ universal care passed by now if the lobbyist had been shut out like Santos wanted to do.

[elleng]

2. Watching the same thing, with same thoughts.

:hi:

[Bill219]

4. Next week we can watch it from the beginning all over again

[elleng]

10. Thank goodness we can continually refresh ourselves.

[ChicagoSuz219]

5. You do know that Josh's character was based on... wait for it...

Rahm Emanuel?

[Aristus]

6. There were a number of episodes in which President Bartlet's worst enemies were

conservative Democrats, and best allies were moderate and liberal Republicans. Not an exact parallel with President Obama in real life, but it's close...

[DrToast]

7. No, I think that just shows how long we've had that problem

West Wing took stories from the headlines of the day.

[DaveinMD]

8. it wasn't Senate Majority Leader

it was Speaker of the House. Best tv show ever.

[poverlay]

9. Best show ever. I never tire of it, and yes, it was and is ahead of it's time... n/t

[elleng]

11. I'm sure Prez O has had to deal with similar stuff all along,

which is one reason 'new' anti-Pres.O is so frustrating (and short-sighted.)

[timeforpeace]

12. It certainly got a TV-addicted nation to want this type of presidency.

[cally]

13. Santos was based, in part,

on Obama. There was a thread here with some quotes from the creators that they were inspired by Obama when he was a state legislator.

[Arkana]

16. Yep. Aaron Sorkin and David Axelrod were friends.

Ax told Sorkin about this young state senator he'd found named Barack Obama, and thus Matt Santos was created--the Hispanic Obama.

[davidpdx]

19. I think that became public either during the GE or after the election

I'm almost sure it was after the election though. It kind of shocked me, but the more I thought about it Santos too was someone who was young, very unknown and down to earth like Obama.

[LeftyAndProud60]

14. I swear I was going to make this topic yesterday. I was thinking the same thing watching on Bravo.

I've been up early lately and watch this after the Sopranos on A&E. It really reminded me of Obama. But a republican winning California and a Dem winning Texas? That's a lil over the top.

[Born_A_Truman]

15. I cried when it ended...

For me, it was MY administration during the nightmare of Bush.

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. We used to watch the show with our neighbors - brother to Bradley Whitford (Josh)

Great show. Great times.

[MadBadger]

18. Josh some say is based off of Rahm, but dont we all with Rahm was much more like Josh?

[DCBob]

20. Spectacular series. I miss it.

Wish they could revive it with new stories reflecting current political situation.