Bartlet Rejects Energy Compromises, Defiantly Reiterates Ritchie Gaffe
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Bartlet arrives late to the Oval Office, immediately diving into pressing matters with Leo regarding the Michigan delegation's demands on energy policy.
Leo briefs Bartlet on political pushback against his energy plan, highlighting industry resistance and union concerns about Saudi jobs.
Leo reveals the GOP's plan to reprimand Bartlet publicly for his 'impolite' comments about Governor Ritchie.
Bartlet mockingly repeats his 'dumb' comment about Ritchie, demonstrating his unrepentant attitude.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Calmly focused amid high-stakes rhythm
Interrupts Oval huddle with precise announcement that C.J. is ready, prompting shift to outer office where strategy talk continues amid TV observation.
- • Facilitate seamless transition to press briefing
- • Keep presidential schedule on track
- • Timely coordination anchors White House operations
- • C.J.'s readiness signals controlled narrative spin
composed
conducting press briefing on TV, deflecting questions about Bartlet's gaffe on Governor Ritchie with non-apologies
- • spin and mitigate fallout from the President's gaffe
Insistently probing with journalistic tenacity
Via Oval TV, greet C.J. in briefing, barrage her with pointed queries on gaffe's implications for Ritchie's fitness, negativity, and intelligence comparison, capping with chaotic calls as she deflects.
- • Extract admissions on campaign negativity
- • Amplify gaffe's political damage
- • Hot-mic slips reveal true private sentiments
- • Presidential fitness demands public scrutiny
Professionally terse and unflappable
Confirms Bartlet's arrival from outer office threshold, issuing directive to send C.J. in, bridging administrative flow as group watches TV.
- • Enforce Oval access protocol
- • Propel briefing commencement
- • Presidential presence dictates operational cadence
- • Seamless handoffs sustain command structure
Sharply accusatory with media edge
On TV feed, pierces C.J. with direct probe on whether Bartlet echoed gaffe remarks privately, heightening hypocrisy hunt amid Oval viewers' gaze.
- • Force revelation of private consistencies
- • Undermine White House spin integrity
- • Privacy shields damning repetitions
- • Gaffes stem from authentic disdain
Defiant amusement masking unyielding principled resolve
Enters Oval late with casual apology, strides to desk, firmly rejects Michigan demands as polluter-driven, reassures on union priorities, prioritizes CAFE surge, mockingly repeats gaffe twice amid reprimand warning, watches TV spin intently before exiting to work.
- • Solidify aggressive energy policy against compromises
- • Dismiss gaffe fallout to maintain campaign momentum
- • Polluters must be barred from shaping environmental laws
- • Ritchie's intellectual weakness warrants unapologetic mockery
significantly referenced as target of Bartlet's '.22 caliber mind' gaffe and subject of press questions
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Pan sweeps to TV in outer Oval, beaming live C.J. briefing where reporters grill gaffe details; Leo and Bartlet pause to observe her deflections on Ritchie slam, Leo growls 'Nice' approval, underscoring spin's efficacy before Bartlet exits—serving as real-time verdict mirror amplifying Oval strategy's stakes.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Looming as tomorrow night's House floor battleground for GOP's orchestrated reprimand speeches pummeling Bartlet's gaffe, invoked in Leo's briefing to frame partisan peril, heightening Oval tension where defiance hardens against congressional thunder.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Leo relays their imminent push for voluntary, industry-led reforms sans mandates or timelines; Bartlet eviscerates as polluter puppets, door-slam rejection crystallizing White House defiance and fracturing constituency loyalties amid energy war.
Leo conveys their query on targeting Saudi jobs over American; Bartlet affirms unequivocally, forging alliance bulwark against Michigan pleas and GOP tempests, prioritizing domestic shields in energy independence thrust.
Leo warns of their House floor reprimand lineup via order speeches blasting gaffe impoliteness; Bartlet scoffs, Leo notes Whip's Democrat rebuttals and smart-no-show ploy, framing partisan siege Bartlet shrugs off.
Narrative Connections
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Key Dialogue
"BARTLET: "Polluters aren't going to write the environmental laws.""
"LEO: "You're going to be reprimanded tomorrow night on the house floor." BARTLET: "For what?" LEO: "It's not nice to call people dumb." BARTLET: "Let me ask you something. You're pretty dumb, did you take offense? Look at that. I did it again.""
"LEO: "Nice." (reacting to C.J.'s TV spin)"