sinkwriter | Put down the baseball bat, Bartlet.

For the lovely

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?