The last few weeks of The West Wing have been pretty effective. While I’m not sold on the idea of a Press Secretary being promoted to Chief of Staff, the writers have played it well. What does irritate me is the new character of Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits. First, Congressman Santos is a Democrats wet dream: a handsome, well-spoken centrist from a red state? And one who is willing to cross party lines? Yeah, that happens often, don’t it? Just as often as America votes overwhelmingly for an erudite, obviously elitist liberal New Englander who can trace his lineage back to the Revolutionary War.
Secondly, I was reading the TV Guide this week, and in the annual “Can the West Wing be Saved” article they mention that Santos will most likely win the next election. He'll take Bartlett’s place and do so by beating Alan Alda’s character, a moderate Republican from California.
Okay, Okay, I get it! This show has always been about liberal wish-fulfillment, but c’mon… to so obviously misjudge the overall rightward shift this country, and more importantly that of the GOP is just ridiculous. There are no more “moderate” Republican candidates for President. A GOP nominee is automatically a conservative. Really, if this show were at all realistic, the VP would be in control. He's moderate, if not really loved, and has wrapped up most of the money and major endorsements.
At least Alda won’t be a thinly-disguised Dubya stand-in again. That was embarrassing.
Posted by Frinklin at November 24, 2004 10:59 PM