It's kind of extra dumb because, really, without the Democratic Party, the mayor of Chicago is no one's boss; it's a weak-mayor system, it's just that all the big Chicago mayors also controlled their party's GOTV and slating operations. So leaving the party out of it is really weird.

Well, pictures were basically taken- it's not like they've ever been confused about the camera crew.

Well, the point of the book/idea has never been to not get good players- indeed, there's a pretty big section on how the A's drafted (I believe they were going after Nick Swisher). And honestly, when it comes to the top players, "Moneyballers" wouldn't disagree with the "old schoolers" very much- you'd still see…

We mention this every time: statistical analysis necessarily breaks down in the playoffs, especially the early rounds, because the sample size is much, much smaller.

"I think colby doth protest too much"

"You seem to be missing my point."Maybe! My interpretation of your point is that there should've been the threat of electoral consequences for Bartlet because without them, it's easy for him to "choose" to be smart. If that's not what you're saying, I'm willing to read a clarification.My critique of THAT argument is…

"You seem to be missing my point."

I dunno, I think in the black-and-white language of polling, if it's worse to cut something, then it's NOT too high.

I dunno if that fills in the whole timeline; I got the impression (though it's not explicitly stated) that the Not-Reagan-But-Close-Enough President immediately proceeded Bartlet, and Cromwell's Not-Carter-But-Oh-Fine-Why-Not immediately proceeded him. That gets us to about 1986, which still leaves plenty of room to…

Don't they secretly rescind that EO? And isn't that the grossest sounding thing ever?

"why Bartlet can't choose smart over uncle fluffy"

"But the problem is that if Ritchie is not a serious antagonist then there is no internal drama for Bartlet either."

"Bartlet's usual response when somebody gets killed is to yell "Damn it!" and then throw some things."
To my memory, that was always in response to a failed military operation- which is quite a different situation. Anyway, it's not about articulation; it's about trying to, or wanting to, or paying lip service to…

"The problem he wants to say yet again is that Republicans are inarticulate and lack gravitas"

If you're so inclined, you can kinda trace Sorkin coming to grips with the War on Terror/Bush regime as season 3 goes on. He starts maudlin (I&I), moves in to just scared and unwilling to engage on anything but domestic and procedural issues (the estate tax fight, the MS arc) to, if I may borrow my favorite album…

Not saying otherwise, just saying, Bush played the red/blue culture warrior more than any other recent President, and he still went to see the Yankees. So it's not a taboo for a "good ol' boy" type of candidate.

I always thought TWW could've benefitted from a few off-format episodes- like one following Ritchie's staff or something. I know Welles tried some in his tenure, but they were all either awful ("Access") or didn't actually give us an outside look at Bartlet (the first episode focused solely on Vinick, which was fine,…

I think that's a pretty good read. I mean, there was no real suspense that Bartlet could lose the election, and no real sense that Ritchie could come off as even half as smart as him. So, to make that storyline ANYTHING worth watching, it had to be about something else- hence, "The Two Bartlets" and "Night Five" and…

Eh, even Down Home Country Fried George W. Bush went to Yankees games. As much as some of those culture warriors bitch and moan about coastal elites or big city liberals or whatever, New York City is still in the top five of things everyone thinks of when you say "America".

BTW- Bernie Williams is and was and forever shall be fucking awesome, and if anything, the Yankees are to be commended for going and getting him.