As involved and interested as I am in politics, it’s kind of surprising that I had never gotten into The West Wing until the past Christmas break. I bought the Season 1 DVD set for my mom, and started watching it after I finished the full first season of Lost (another show which I’ll hopefully write about soon).
One of the things that I particularly like about The West Wing, other than its brilliant writing and liberal politics, which are often blatant but sometimes subtle, is how it shows, with much realism, the inner workings of the White House. Sure, it’s TV and some of the issues are sensationalized. That’s to be expected. But a lot of it is true.
That’s why, when reading the news for today and seeing the headline “Laura Bush Backs Domestic Spying Program” I (a) wasn’t surprised and (b) thought immediately of an episode from Season 1 of the West Wing where the first lady leaks her preference for an appointment to the Federal Reserve Board, causing a shitstorm of havoc for the White House Staffers who have to deal with it.
One of the greatest things about The West Wing is that it shows exactly how the White House works in our state of modern politics. The importance isn’t really on what or how a decision is made, but rather that everyone lines up behind that decision, whether they agree or not.
Granted, there has been fire from both sides over the Domestic Spying issue. Sen. Specter has recently come out expressing his skepticism, and he’s joining a number of other high-profile Republicans (including, interestingly enough, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, one of the more conservative members of Congress) who are questioning the legality of the program. But imagine if Laura Bush, or any of the top White House Aides to the President came out with anything less than full support. It’d shake up and tear everything down, and the administration would likely fall apart.
Of course, this also points out a big weakness in our system as it is: that independent thought takes a back seat to following in line.
The words of Ben Franklin ring eerily true in these times: “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”
Will people get what they deserve? Or will things make a change for the better? Only time will tell, I guess.
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