sinkwriter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sinkwriter) wrote2008-12-17 05:59 pm
sinkwriter) wrote2008-12-17 05:59 pm
Put down the baseball bat, Bartlet.
For the lovely ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jordle, who wanted a good Leo McGarry quote. (Per her own post here.)
There are so many terrific Leo quotes and this is definitely more than a quick quote, but I do enjoy this particular moment from episode 1x03. It's remarkable because the President (Bartlet) is getting a long-needed reprimand from his own Chief of Staff (Leo), and it's a testament to their rich friendship that he finally hears what Leo is trying to say. When you see the scene, as acted by the magnificent John Spencer and the marvelous Martin Sheen, you'll realize how truly unforgettable this exchange is.
From The West Wing, "A Proportional Response":
LEO: We are behaving the way a superpower ought to behave.
BARTLET: Well, our behavior has produced some pretty crappy results. In fact, I'm not a hundred percent sure it hasn't induced them.
LEO: What are you talking about?
BARTLET: I'm talking about two hundred and eight-six American Marines in Beirut, I'm talking about Somalia, I'm talking about Nairobi!
LEO: And you think ratcheting up the body count's gonna act as a deterrent?
BARTLET: You're damn right.
LEO: Then you are just as dumb as these guys who think that capital punishment is going to be a deterrent for drug kingpins! As if drug kingpins didn't live their day-to-day lives under the possibility of execution. And their executions are a lot less dainty than ours and tend to take place without the bother and expense of due process. So, my friend, if you want to start using American military strength as the arm of the Lord... you can do that, we're the only superpower left. You can conquer the world, like Charlemenge. But you better be prepared to kill everyone, and you better start with me 'cause I will raise up an army against you and I will beat you!
BARTLET: He had a ten-day-old baby at home.
LEO: (softly) I know.
BARTLET: We are doing nothing. They dest--
LEO: We are not doing nothing. Four high-rated military targets.
BARTLET: And this is good?
LEO: Of course it's not good, there is no good. It's what there is. It's how you behave if you're the most powerful nation in the world. It's proportional, it's reasonable, it's responsible, it's merciful. It's not nothing. Four high-rated military targets.
BARTLET: Which they'll rebuild again in six months.
LEO: (yelling) So we'll blow 'em up again in six months! We're getting really good at it. (pauses, quiet now) It's what our fathers taught us.
BARTLET: (ruefully, as he calms down) Why didn't you say so? (pauses) Oh man, Leo. When I think of all the work you put in to get me to run... when I think of all the work you did to get me elected... I could pummel your ass with a baseball bat.
(they both bust out laughing)
***********
Too long of a quote? What do you want from me? It's an amazing scene, and that was only a portion of it!
Okay, okay. Here's a quick and easy one:
LEO: Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his White House, had a big block of cheese...
From 1x05, "The Crackpots and These Women." If you want to know more about Andrew Jackson and his big block of cheese, you'll just have to watch the episode. Trust me, it's funny. ;)
So... what are your favorite Leo McGarry quotes?
jordle, who wanted a good Leo McGarry quote. (Per her own post here.)There are so many terrific Leo quotes and this is definitely more than a quick quote, but I do enjoy this particular moment from episode 1x03. It's remarkable because the President (Bartlet) is getting a long-needed reprimand from his own Chief of Staff (Leo), and it's a testament to their rich friendship that he finally hears what Leo is trying to say. When you see the scene, as acted by the magnificent John Spencer and the marvelous Martin Sheen, you'll realize how truly unforgettable this exchange is.
From The West Wing, "A Proportional Response":
LEO: We are behaving the way a superpower ought to behave.
BARTLET: Well, our behavior has produced some pretty crappy results. In fact, I'm not a hundred percent sure it hasn't induced them.
LEO: What are you talking about?
BARTLET: I'm talking about two hundred and eight-six American Marines in Beirut, I'm talking about Somalia, I'm talking about Nairobi!
LEO: And you think ratcheting up the body count's gonna act as a deterrent?
BARTLET: You're damn right.
LEO: Then you are just as dumb as these guys who think that capital punishment is going to be a deterrent for drug kingpins! As if drug kingpins didn't live their day-to-day lives under the possibility of execution. And their executions are a lot less dainty than ours and tend to take place without the bother and expense of due process. So, my friend, if you want to start using American military strength as the arm of the Lord... you can do that, we're the only superpower left. You can conquer the world, like Charlemenge. But you better be prepared to kill everyone, and you better start with me 'cause I will raise up an army against you and I will beat you!
BARTLET: He had a ten-day-old baby at home.
LEO: (softly) I know.
BARTLET: We are doing nothing. They dest--
LEO: We are not doing nothing. Four high-rated military targets.
BARTLET: And this is good?
LEO: Of course it's not good, there is no good. It's what there is. It's how you behave if you're the most powerful nation in the world. It's proportional, it's reasonable, it's responsible, it's merciful. It's not nothing. Four high-rated military targets.
BARTLET: Which they'll rebuild again in six months.
LEO: (yelling) So we'll blow 'em up again in six months! We're getting really good at it. (pauses, quiet now) It's what our fathers taught us.
BARTLET: (ruefully, as he calms down) Why didn't you say so? (pauses) Oh man, Leo. When I think of all the work you put in to get me to run... when I think of all the work you did to get me elected... I could pummel your ass with a baseball bat.
(they both bust out laughing)
***********
Too long of a quote? What do you want from me? It's an amazing scene, and that was only a portion of it!
Okay, okay. Here's a quick and easy one:
LEO: Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his White House, had a big block of cheese...
From 1x05, "The Crackpots and These Women." If you want to know more about Andrew Jackson and his big block of cheese, you'll just have to watch the episode. Trust me, it's funny. ;)
So... what are your favorite Leo McGarry quotes?
no subject
But now I want to rewatch it!
I highly recommend it. And now I feel like rewatching it, too. ;)
Glad to hear from you!
no subject
Same here, it seems like a lot of time since I last entered TJ's message board. I don't know why I stopped going in there, it must be huge now.
How are you?
no subject
How are you?
Well, that's a complicated question. *GRIN* I've been pretty depressed lately. Still no new job. I've had some interviews, come close on a couple of jobs, but in the end they went with someone else. It's disappointing and frustrating and stressful, and I've struggled with that all year. I'm really hoping this upcoming year will be much, much better. I'm ready for positive changes.
Other than that, not much going on with me. I'm looking forward to spending the holiday with my family, who are all coming to visit and stay at my grandmother's for Christmas. Should be fun. Especially to see my nephew and nieces, who are always entertaining and funny.
How are things with you? :D
no subject
I'm sorry to hear you haven't find a job yet. It's good that you focus on good thoughts for the year to come, after all the ups and downs it's the only way to get through. You know what they say, the last thing to lose is the hope. :) And celebrating the holidays with your family will be good too, that will cheer you up.
Me? Well, let's see...I went to Spain for a little less than two months and I visited incredible places and I had a little reunion with some friends from childhood that went to live there when I was 10. It was amazing (I have pictures in my facebook account). I still can't believe is gone and all I have now are the momories I wrote down on a journal I kept. Besides that, the trip helped me to soothe things with my mom, we were having some really bad time before I went away, fight after fight. But now it's getting better.
I had only one more subject from highschool (Math) to sit for a week ago and I failed it, which made me a little bit sad but I can re-take it on February and I know that I'll pass it then.
And what else? I started working a few months ago in my brother's business. He owns a catering company (I'm a waitress at the events they run), and although it's not much what they pay me, because I only have 1 event per week more or less, at least I have fun and I'm gaining some working experience.