Bartlet Sarcastically Mocks Bizarre Weed Alliances
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Bartlet processes the revelation about Ellie's defiance while Josh updates him on political fallout from Griffith's statements.
Bartlet sarcastically remarks about the bizarre political alliances forming around the marijuana controversy.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
N/A (mentioned off-screen)
Sam mentioned by Charlie as waiting outside, positioned in queue amid the Oval's escalating crises but sidelined during the Surgeon General briefing.
- • Consult President on ongoing strategies
- • Strategic restraint navigates scandals
Neutral and focused, attuned to presidential rhythms
Charlie briefly interrupts the briefing to notify Bartlet that Sam awaits, standing attentively before agreeing to summon Ellie's presence and promptly exiting to execute the order.
- • Manage President's schedule amid crisis
- • Promptly fulfill summons for family reconciliation
- • Loyal service demands immediate action
- • Personal crises intersect with official duties
N/A (mentioned off-screen, inferred tension)
Ellie invoked as 'middle daughter' in Bartlet's post-briefing directive to Charlie, her public defiance against firing the Surgeon General amplifying the personal stakes trailing the political briefing.
- • Defend Surgeon General publicly
- • Assert independence from father
- • Policy conviction outweighs family loyalty
- • Marijuana stance merits bold advocacy
N/A (mentioned off-screen)
Danny Concannon referenced indirectly through the lingering heat of Bartlet's prior fury, now contextualized as the recipient of Ellie's defiant call fueling the broader scandal.
- • Pursue explosive stories on White House rifts
- • Journalistic access trumps protocol breaches
Calm professionalism veiling underlying tension from recent family scandal
C.J. remains poised in the Oval Office during Josh's briefing, offering a concise 'Yes sir' affirmation to Bartlet's aside on movie denunciation, maintaining professional composure before politely thanking the President and exiting alongside Josh.
- • De-escalate presidential agitation
- • Facilitate smooth staff transitions
- • Presidential authority must be respected amid chaos
- • Team solidarity buffers political absurdity
angry
Rants angrily about Danny Concannon contacting his daughter, sits at desk upon learning she called first, receives briefing from Josh on political opposition and pro-weed defenders of Surgeon General, delivers sarcastic commentary on bizarre alliances gained, instructs Charlie to summon his middle daughter immediately.
- • Vent fury over daughter's involvement with reporter
- • Assess political fallout from Surgeon General controversy
- • Summon Ellie for confrontation
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Bartlet sits behind the desk immediately prior and throughout Josh's briefing on congressional foes and pro-weed defenders, its imposing bulk symbolizing presidential power as he absorbs threats to the Surgeon General's budget and unleashes sarcasm on freakish alliances, grounding his authority in the face of absurdity.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Christian Right hailed sarcastically by Bartlet as improbable backer alongside pot fans, a staff 'miracle' clashing with weed warriors in the briefing's absurd climax.
Senate Appropriations Committee spotlighted for controlling Surgeon General's budget, prompting Bartlet's sharp 'Appropriations?'—a visceral underscore of fiscal vulnerability fueling the crisis as Josh briefs, blending into the absurd defender litany.
Judiciary Committee named first in Josh's roster of congressional assailants targeting Surgeon General Griffith over marijuana remarks, igniting Bartlet's probing reaction and framing the institutional siege on her nomination amid the Oval's sarcasm-laced damage assessment.
Government Reform and Oversight cited alongside Judiciary as key foes in Josh's briefing, bolstering the narrative of unified congressional fury against Griffith's stance, heightening the stakes in Bartlet's reactive sarcasm.
Cannabis Coalition listed among Josh's parade of pro-marijuana defenders rallying to Griffith, catalyzing Bartlet's ironic praise for staff-engineered freak alliances with Christian Right.
E Cannabis Unum invoked in Josh's rapid-fire defender list, exemplifying the bizarre pro-weed vanguard that prompts Bartlet's sardonic nod to political impossibilities.
American Hemp League rattled off by Josh as Griffith ally, feeding the Oval litany that births Bartlet's hilarious disdain for stoner-Christian fusion.
Friends of Mary Jane caps Josh's defender roll-call, embodying the pothead parade that ignites Bartlet's peak sarcasm on unprecedented alliances.
Cheech and Chong Fan Club skewered in Bartlet's zinger as twin pillar to Christian Right support, capping the briefing's revelation of cultural-political bedfellows.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Leo's revelation about Ellie's defiance leads directly to Bartlet's outburst in the Oval Office, escalating the personal stakes."
"Leo's revelation about Ellie's defiance leads directly to Bartlet's outburst in the Oval Office, escalating the personal stakes."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"Bartlet's order to summon Ellie leads directly to their tense reunion in the Oval Office."
Key Dialogue
"BARTLET: "Who's against us so far?""
"JOSH: "The Judiciary Committee, Government Reform and Oversight, Appropriations...""
"JOSH: "The Cannabis Society, The Cannabis Coalition, E Cannabis Unum, The American Hemp League, and Friends of Mary Jane.""
"BARTLET: "I've got to hand it to you guys you've pulled off a political first. You've managed to win me the support of the Christian Right and the Cheech and Chong Fan Club in the same day.""