winterbadger: (leo mcgarry)
winterbadger ([personal profile] winterbadger) wrote2006-03-31 12:57 pm
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Aaron Sorkin at his best....

...is a genius writer with a conscience and a wonderful sense, not only of how people *are* but how they _should_ be, and aspire to be.

I was looking for another quote, adn I came across this one from The West Wing. Leo McGarry, the president's chief of staff, is trying to persuade the president that sending American troops into Colombia en masse is a very, very bad idea.

"I fought a jungle war. I'm not doing it again. If I could put myself anywhere in time it would be the Cabinet Room on August 4th, 1964, when our ships were attacked by North Vietnam in the Tonkin Gulf. I'd say, 'Mr. President, don't do it. You're considering authorizing a massive commitment of troops and throwing in our lot with torturers and panderers, leaders without principle and soldiers without conviction, with no clear mission and no end in sight."


It wasn't political. He wrote that scene 2-3 years *before* we invaded Iraq. But damn if it doesn't resonate today.

[identity profile] pusscat.livejournal.com 2006-03-31 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
The West Wing really is the business. Life is not going to be quite the same when it finishes.

[identity profile] azbound.livejournal.com 2006-03-31 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Leo's is the ultimate voice of reason.

Your Sorkin analysis is totally spot on.