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The West Wing Season 2 Episode 6

The Lame Duck Congress

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AIRED: 11/8/00

The president considers recalling the Senate to push ratification of a nuclear-test-ban treaty. Meanwhile, Donna lobbies new legislation introducing ergonomic standards in the White House; A Ukranian politician shows up at the White House drunk demanding to see the president.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

12 Unemployed Men.

9.0

By kickdoor, May 26, 2010

Donna's griping about carpal tunnel syndrome was funny. Seems like it's been awhile since things had been calm enough for her to come to Josh with one of her inane and off-the-wall complaints. Josh's reaction was perfect,

Josh: "People that lose the ability to pinch? I gotta tell you, I don't know from where they summon the ability to go on."

Margaret's slow typing was hilarious as well. Ainsley is definitely growing on me. She was great in her scene with Sam on the Hill about the Test Ban Treaty. Plus getting him to change his mind on the position memo to congress was pretty impressive. I love her and Sam's chemistry, leads to some great back and forth.

Sam: "Wherever it was that you studied baton twirling."

Ainsley: "That'd be Harvard Law School."

On the subject of the Test Ban Treaty, that's the kind of politics that would drive me insane. Fighting a political battle on two fronts(Sam & Ainsley and Toby & Josh, until Josh got sidetracked by the mad Ukrainian), only to get hamstrung by the one you never saw coming. However, I did really respect Senator Marino for abstaining because he had been voted out.

Senator Marino: "'Nobody expects.' Toby, it seems to me, that more and more we've come to expect less and less from each other, and I think that should change."

He reminded me of Mr. Willis from Ohio in that scene. A great man who would actually make a good contribution to politics, but is leaving. At least with Marino's case it's probably only temporary. Still it was a tough beat for the team, especially Toby.

The drunk Ukrainian politician, who wanted to meet Bartlet, got some good laughs. Reminded me of an uncle who shows up at Christmas with his less than virtuous girlfriend and proceeds to get a little too drunk and stays longer than anyone would like.

As far as CJ and Danny go, I'm not sure. I'd rather Danny stay in the West Wing(versus taking the job offer), than him and CJ have a romantic relationship, but that would probably mean they would have less scenes together. Guess I'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.

Plenty of comedy and some political drama as well. Good episode.moreless
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Ukrainian politic wants to see the president... and they try to call a Senat..

6.9

By Parricida, Nov 29, 2007

I won't say it was bad episode but it did miss something - the sparkle was missed. Donna little annoyed me - her idea that she can say everything and hope it passes.. I do not know. Sometimes her char seems to have deeper story but this time it was just another pointless storyline.

The Ukrainian politic's storyline was much more interesting and showed lovely dilemma - they like him as he is reformer but there is no way to show it in public but he just needed to see the president. That storyline really had something.

Also Sam and Ainsley - their storyline was enjoyable but nothing too special.moreless
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The Lame Duck Congress shows us more about the relationship between the President and the Legislature, and how each can try to influence the other.

8.2

By atlantisceo, Oct 06, 2005

With Congress in transition between outgoing senators and newly elected members President Barlett ponders calling a Lame Duck Congress - calling back the current members - to vote on an international treaty. The Presidential staff learns of changes in their support.

At the same time they must also deal with a political reformer from Ukraine who happens to arrive at the White House drunk. He is not an official representative of his government and thus cannot be given an official meeting with the President, but Bartlett meets with him by "accident." Josh and his boss, Leo, must also contend with an organized protest of the the clerical staff supporting OSHA standards on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

As with many West Wing episodes the viewer probably learned something about the process of government in the United States. Let's hope that they continue this process of educating while entertaining.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Martin Sheen	President Jed Bartlet
Dule Hill	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
Rob Lowe	Sam Seaborn (Episodes 1-84)
Richard Schiff	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	Leo McGarry

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Eugene Lazarev	Vasily Konanov	Guest Star
Mike Starr	Tony Marino	Guest Star
David Kaufman	Bob Fowler	Guest Star
Emily Procter	Ainsley Hayes	Recurring Role
Nicole Robinson	Margaret	Recurring Role
Melissa Fitzgerald	Carol Fitzpatrick	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Goof: Senator Tony Marino states that he had ten weeks of his term left to serve after being voted out in the general election.
  US elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November and a Senator's term expires on January 3. If Senator Marino had ten weeks of his term left to serve after being defeated in the election, he would have been defeated in late October not early November.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Sam: Wherever it was that you studied baton twirling.
  Ainsley: That'd be Harvard Law School.
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- Senator Marino: 'Nobody expects, nobody expects.' Toby, it seems to me, that more and more we've come to expect less and less from each other, and I think that should change.
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- Josh: People that lose the ability to pinch? I gotta tell you, I don't know from where they summon the ability to go on.
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- Ainsley: You want me to summarize your recommendation and give it to the President.
  Sam: Yeah, then I want you to skip to Tijuana in a Dirndl skirt.
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- Sam: I don't need your help. I'm asking for your help so let's not make a federal...
  Ainsley: [into her phone] Dad, it's me. Sam's asking for my help.
  Sam: Put the phone down.
  Ainsley: [into her phone] Gotta go, dad, I need to help Sam.
  Sam: That must have rolled them in the aisles back in Georgia.
  Ainsley: I'm from North Carolina.
  Sam: Wherever it was you studied baton twirling.
  Ainsley: That'll be Harvard Law School.
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- Bartlet: Charlie!
  Charlie: Yes, sir?
  Bartlet: Could I have a couple of aspirin? Or a weapon of some kind to kill people with?
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NOTES (1)
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- While Toby is having lunch with Sen. Tony Marino about calling Congress back into session, Marino says: "It seems to me that more and more we come to expect less and less from each other."
  
  As Aaron Sorkin does throughout his writing tenure on "The West Wing," he steals a line from his previous show, "Sports Night." Josh Charles, playing Dan Rydell says basically the same line in the Season 2 episode, "April is the Cruelest Month."
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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