If I remember right, Vermont and SC were two of the first states they called. I think it was their effort to make us think anyone could win this one. Anyway, that's nothing compared to Santos now apparantly offering Vinnick the VP next week, because that's incredibly realistic.

I'm really not that shocked that the writers are doing that. It's the moderate/centrist thing to do. Welles and O'Donnell have made the show much less liberal.

To be honest, though, I kinda like the idea. Having the loser of the election harkens back to the early days of our republic (granted, not specifically labeling the Presidential and VP candidates as such caused a lot of problems -- re: Aaron Burr -- but I love the political intrigue).

eh, i still don't like it. i agree it's not surprising given how the show has been going, but it's still not realistic. When's the last time that happened, Andrew Johnson? Anyway, mostly it bugs me because now it's going to become a big storyline and we only have a couple more episodes left. I want to see time devoted to people we haven't seen in awhile like Toby and Charlie and all the oldies; I couldn't care less about the next administration.

I agree. We need some nice goodbye time with the whole cast. As much as I liked the season of the election, I would have preferred them to have gotten it over with long ago and focused the rest of the season on the last two months of the Bartlett Administration. Remember that time last year when Leo came back and took out the white board and had the staff list things they'd like to see get done in the home stretch? I realize the leak happened, and the Russia-China thing, but what happened to all those plans?

Exactly. What about Charlie? Last I remember months ago he was getting together with Chloe, what's going on there? etc., etc., etc.

I finally got a chance to watch Sunday's episode yesterday because I've been swamped with school (i have a master's degree now, woo-hoo!). Anyway, I didn't think there was anything special about it, but it was so stinking nice to have one focus again on CJ and Toby. Looking forward to the end this weekend, but I sure hope the inauguration is only a small part.

Congrats on the masters, Kinglsey!

I liked the episode for the most part, back in the West Wing. But no sign of Josh and Donna. Still on their vacation, I guess. That's fine, b/c his character deserves one, but I want to see an episode (not much time left of course) with all the major characters having good screen time. I do hope the finale will give good air time to ALL the charactrers.

Thanks Kumar. This from Richard Schiff in today's Washington Post:

Situation he'd like to set straight: No matter what those &%$! scriptwriters make him say, Toby would never, ever have been the one to leak classified information about the space shuttle (See: Season 7).
Says Schiff: "I don't think that Toby would betray the man he respects and loves most in the world," President Bartlet.

I don't know if you all caught the finale but I think I watched it the night before I flew out and overall thought it was pretty good. What was there I really liked; however, it pissed me off that Tobey wasn't in it at all. Come on, just show one scene where CJ or someone calls and tells him he got the pardon, that's all I ask. I still hate that the last season neutred many of my favorite characters.

Being at my folks with the magic of Bravo everyday, I again find myself watching old episodes and get reminded that I really loved this show, especially early on. Therefore, I'm really looking forward to Sunset Strip, I can't remember who all they landed for it, but I seem to remember really liking everyone besides Amanda Peet.

I had the same thoughts about the finale. CJ should have called Toby. I also liked Sam's "Home sweet home" line.

hellacious emailed me that he rented a couple of seasons, and he got addicted.

i got to thinking...i miss it. so i rented s1d2 and s2d1, and i caught myself all CRYing and LAUGHing all in the same parts i did on first run and everytime i watched a rerun on bravo.

i miss it so much. tsk.

"WHY WOULD YOU THINK I WOULDN'T SCREAM WITH PEOPLE AROUND?!!!"

love her.

also, reinforced my thoughts that mandy's character was embarrassingly unnecessary and must have been someone's ex-girlfriend, much like she was josh's and so got a job at the white house.

the holiday rare books run. made my fingernails detatch from under my cuticles. and tried to leave my hands altogether. she bugs. she bugs bad.

where's kingsley?

I bought the first two seasons a while back, and I've watched them 3 times since. I just can't get over how good they are.

Of course, my love for Mallory was only reinforced.

I watched season 3 recently too, and it was the first time I had seen many of the episodes, and as a whole, it just wasn't as good. The first 2 season finales were some of the best television ever, for completely different reasons, and the 3rd season finale just bugged the hell out of me. I knew I didn't like Brolin's character from what I remember about Season 4, but the meeting between the 2 candidates was just such a let down.

Yeah, that Brolin character was a little too easy. I wasn't wild about the Goodman character, either, both seemed so contrived. Seemed like they were a little more fair when they created Republicans for Seasons 1 & 2, and got more and more ... something after that.

Mallory.

I remember that one ep where Leo and the President colluded to keep him from going to the no-after-sex Japanese opera. "Birthday message." Such a perfect, odd phrase. I liked Mallory more (obviously) than Mandy, but I still liked Ainsley so much more.

I still liked all of the main characters in later seasons, but I was so invested in them by then. I remember my friend -- I used to tape them and send them to Irvine when she taught Wednesday nights for a quarter, ha -- started to slowly but surely despise Toby. That was a sad thing to watch happen. It's hard to defend Toby sometimes. But I tried. Unsuccessfully.

I would've loved to see more stories involving the Supreme Court. No one got to pop the Prez in the nose quite like they did.

"I wanted to retire five years ago, but I wanted to wait for a Democrat. I waited for a Democrat, and instead I. Got. YOU."

Amen, brother Justice.

And in reality: Scooter got a commuter. Ha. I'M SHOCKED!

Don't get me wrong, I love Ainsley too. There's just something about Mallory -- well, several things, and I'm sure it doesn't hurt that she's the boss' daughter (always a fun fantasy) and a teacher (an even more fun fantasy).

Re: Scooter. What bothers me is that there are so many deserving people of pardons and commutations, and hell, I'd be fine with Libby getting a full pardon. I just don't have the energy to care about the guy. What I want is a president who is willing to to pardon and commute people the first day he steps into office. Pardon some of those people faced with essentially life in prison for minor drug crimes because of mandatory minimum sentences. That's one of the president's actual jobs, and none of them are willing to do it. Juries can get things wrong, and congress can write some pretty fucking stupid laws. That's why you have the powers you do as president. Not to save your friends.

Ha. And I like Sam because he's so vulnerable to arguments and his naivete/eternal optimism. Also because he's Rob Lowe, but that's a whole 'nother video. I mean, that's a whole 'nother post.

About Scooter, I dig what you're saying.