West Wing Episodes Discussion - Essay Example

The West Wing, is a television series, created by Aaron Sorkin, that is a dramatic depiction of the workings of the United s government through the eyes of chief White House staff. In Episode 95 of The West Wing, “Separation of Powers”, The Bartlett Administration wants the frail, elderly Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to resign so it can appoint a new Chief, while Legislative advisor while Angela Blake grapples with the budget conference logjam. Democrat Chief Justice Roy Asland is taken ill and rushed to the hospital. He has become very elderly is not expected to recover. The Bartlett Administration sees an opportunity to begin considering a replacement for Ashland which is one of the powers of the President. The selection and appointing of a new Chief when there is a vacancy of the Supreme Court. When Ashland regains consciousness and is reported to make “a full recovery”, the White House thinks they’re bluffing and devices a plan to find out if he’s really at death’s door. They know Ashland is so elderly that he’s rumored to be having memory lapses and they are concerned about having an “empty robe” on the bench when they know this could be their chance for Bartlett to make a historic appointment. Conservative Council Joe Quincy works for the White House and when WH Communications Director Toby Ziegler finds out he used to clerk for Chief Justice Ashland, Toby accompanies him to the hospital to find out his true condition. Joe goes in alone and reports back to him that Ashland is fine even though he is clearly incapacitated. Under the Constitution, a Chief Justice is appointed for a lifetime appointment and the seat becomes vacant only when they decided to leave it. Under the Separation of Powers, the office of the President cannot influence or persuade a Chief Justice what to do, they can only nominate a replacement and the Congress then votes to confirm (or reject) the nomination. When Joe goes back to visit the Chief Justice, he is actually coherent and talking. He then comes to visit President Bartlett, who is an old friend. Ashland arrives in a wheelchair, but then walks into the Oval Office. He concedes to Bartlett that his health is failing but after he privately offers suggestions for his replacement he knows won’t get confirmed by the Republican majority he growls, “On my worse day I am better than the amped-up ambulance chasers you could get confirmed by the Senate.” Meanwhile, the Angela Blake is in conference with members of the opposition party, which have the majority in Congress, trying to come up with an agreement on the Federal Budget. They are at an impasse, a logjam, and the President weighs in on what to accept and refuse. He agrees to drop the College Tuition Tax Credit that was an earmark of his re-election campaign, which is disenhearting to his staff. At the end of the episode, the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader, the President pro Temp and other Senators meet with the President and the Vice-President to establish an Act of Congress, a continuing resolution to extend the budget for one month, at a 1 percent cut, as already agreed upon. But the Speaker interrupts this and says that after meeting with his party, they can’t agree to less than a 3 percent cut. When Bartlett refuses to be railroaded, the Speaker tells him they won’t back down and that “the President will be responsible for shutting down the Federal Government“, because they have no agreement and the resolution is not enacted to extend the budget pass midnight to the beginning of the following year. Bartlett says, “Shut it down.” In Episode 96 “Shutdown”, the Operating Budget of the Federal Government is reduced to zero and the government is forced into a temporary shutdown after President Bartlett refuses to any further Budget compromises, which puts him in a very unfavorable position. Without the operating budget, the Chief of Staff sends everyone home who is non-essential personnel, including non-national security and public safety employees. Speaker Haftley begins turning the shutdown to his party’s favor by speaking to the press on the White House lawn. Press Secretary C.J. Cregg begins to recover some ground by addressing the White House Press core inside. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Leo McGarry attempts to talk to the President in his private quarters to convince him to sign a deal at 2 percent by midnight to stop the shutdown. But he doesn’t succeed and the shut down begins. Vice President Russell meets with McGarry and offers to speak with his former collegues in the House that includes Speaker Haftley and the Majority Whip, but McGarety refuses, saying it will make Bartlett look bad. The Vice-President reminds him that “the Republican Congress gets to write the budget and the President only gets to edit it a bit.. If you want to blame someone, call James Madison.” (Actually, the President has the power to Veto it.) Twelve hours passes and in the War Room the White House key staffers discuss getting the President to accept 3 percent. The President still won’t concede saying, “We has a deal at 1 per cent!” The staff realizes that if the Shutdown continues, over 11 million people won’t receive their Social Security checks because even though it is an entitlement, the employees who print the checks are laid off. They work hard to get the President to concede because they know that his favorability is taking a drastic hit. After 3 days, The President decides to accept what the Speaker and Majority is offering at 3 per cent and decides to go to Capital Hill to accept there. He and his staff get out and walk halfway, as a show of strength, which wins him back public approval. Speaker Haftley then makes the President wait on the Hill, while they quickly scramble. After seven minutes, the President leaves and the majority leadership ends up looking bad. When the Speaker comes to meet the President at the White House, Bartlett tells him he won’t make a deal “with a gun to my head.” They meet for over an hour and the President then announces to his staff that instead of another continuing resolution, they have a new budget, one that both sides can live with. Read More