TWW看得累死，总统女儿被绑架，都快变成24小时了。跟24小时一样，ZOEY是不会死的，但由于的确不是24小时，所以结束地真有点莫名其妙，当然，本来绑架也是。总统一家人在教堂祈祷后（含硬币？我不是很懂）镜头转向CIA，然后就说绑匪喝醉了酒（翻译不太好，我已经累死了，也没有仔细听），ZOEY自己出来打了911（翻译说是110，我倒），与先前一枪正中特勤局探员的眉心也相去太远了吧，而且该探员也曾经铺垫过，身手了得，反正很扯，难道是祈祷感动上帝让绑匪失去理性，玄。
    当然剧情主要要集中表现总统在父亲和总统角色之间的选择，美国宪法第25条：当总统被免职、亡故或辞职以及不能履行职责时，由副总统接替其职务，然后很戏剧地先前副总统因为出轨辞职，现在总统也辞职只能让众议长来接替。剧里提起过数次农业部长，他的前面似乎有18个人，哈哈。总统向国会提国情咨文的时候，好像也是他留在白宫，如果前面18个都被炸了以后他就是老大了。由于剧中民主党的总统是国会少数党，而副总统（参议长）也辞职了，众议长也就是反对党就入主白宫了。看着真是乱啊！中国的一朝天子一朝臣根本就是小菜，这里摆明各为起主，真刀真枪啊。对了，剧中的顺位第四号，也就是参议院临时参议长由于是多数党任时最长的人来担任，是个90岁的老头，也可以看出参议院老人院的性质啊。
    看白宫风云，即使是如此美好的理想化的政治，也不免让人产生政客皆谎言家的感慨。

  印象一，LEO云，世界上两种东西的产生最好不看，香肠和法。
  印象二，BARTLET云，古时候，罗马人走在世界的任何地方，谁都不敢去伤害他，因为他们知道，只要谁伤害了罗马人，就会付出惨重的代价。（废话，美国就是古时候的罗马）
  印象三，共和党想要一支强大的部队，但不派到世界的任何地方，民主党只想要一小支强大的部队，但派往世界的各个角落。
  印象四，谁说民主好，只要让他跟选民在一起5分钟，但没办法，民主比其他任何方式要好。似乎用的是丘吉尔的话。

    后记：原来这么扯的剧情是因为换了金牌编剧的缘故，对自己的鉴赏能力深表赞赏。起先以为看不下去是因为审美疲劳的缘故呢，吼吼！

     我对政治的事情稍稍感点儿冒，所以上手的比较快。但是，很难说如果你对政治不感兴趣，那么你是否还会喜欢它。
     Mr.President很是完美，我可以说他没有什么人性的缺点，完美到即便他犯了错误，你都会甘心情愿原谅他；
     VicePresident虽然戏份很少，但足以见得他是跟正头儿有区别的，所以他是个二把手；
     Mr.President手下的人，就是所谓的幕僚们，虽然各自有各自的弱点，但也不至于说成缺点，因为每集的故事情节、镜头跟进都很是紧凑，所以对于个性缺点没有展现得很透彻；
     所以，整体看来就是这些人怎样处理政府与群众、共和党与民主党(Mr.President是民主党的)、民主党议员之间、国与国之间的纷争的。从我个人的角度来看，此剧完全可以很大幅度地提升民主党政府官员的形象。(但现在共和党地Bush当政，就不知是否有作用了)

     此剧有几个特点值得说明：
1.如果你希望从中得到什么"内幕"，那就适可而止吧。毕竟是Drama又不是记录片，所以没什么太多的真实性可言。不过，有些剧情和安排还是可以满足你这方面的要求的。比如，动不动就到地下室与军队的最高长官商量拯救地球的事。(发生的事情有时候跟美国没什么关系，但是得靠他们解决)

2.如果你极度爱国，又极度反美。劝你不要看，至少不要看全，此剧中几乎政治大国都有所涉及，并且情节设计的有点随意；及时是真实事件，但对有些对极度爱国的人来说还是受不了的。

3.不过确确实实的抛开国籍而言，对Mr.President实在是佩服，他的幕僚们个顶个的将，所以可以称之为理想白宫

我对政治没兴趣不表示没想法，同理，我不懂政治但不意味着我不能瞎侃几句和政治相关的话。

《白宫精英》(又名白宫风云)是我正在看的一部连续剧，按理说，有些年头了。这部戏获得艾美奖8项大奖的时候，还是2001年。截至2005年，共播放了六季，共120集。

白宫精英写的是美国总统幕僚班子的故事，因为我不知道美国政治的实际运作，因此这部电视剧就当成了我学习美国政治的资料。

其实，别人向我推荐这部电视剧的时候，主要是当作英语学习资料，结果我发现，由于大量的新闻词汇和政治词汇，以及政治人物的语速和辩论，这部电视剧如果没有字幕我根本看不懂。尽管学英语的目的没有达到，但故事情节和内容却吸引了我。

故事的主要人物包括总统、幕僚主任和副主任、新闻办公室主任和副主任、白宫新闻发言人。他们的工作地点位于白宫西侧的行政办公室。因此，其英文名称叫做The West Wing。

在第一季中，至少还有我感兴趣的几个配角，鼓吹互联网但不得志的副总统、总统的黑人贴身助理，和总统黑人助理谈恋爱的总统女儿... ...

故事的内容一句两句就说不清楚了，给我的感觉是围绕政治生活作文章，关键字包括选举、法案、议院、大法官、新闻、政敌、飓风、局部军事冲突... ...

尽管第一季播出应该是2000年左右的事，但从我对美国新闻的了解程度上看，上述关键字基本也就是美国人民的政治生活，并且年复一年日复一日的上演。

这部电视连续剧对我的政治影响在于，美国总统尽管权利很大，但是要依法治国。他和他的幕僚所做的主要工作，都是想法设法利用白宫的力量影响两院，通过并执行对美国人民、对执政党有利的法案。

这部电视连续剧对我的第二个影响是政治没有对错，只有辩论和权利分配、妥协和平衡。美国人民关心的枪支管理、同性恋、减税、堕胎这些老生常谈的问题，无论什么时候，都可以成为大专辩论会的题目。但就是这些其实和国民生计没有直接关系的话题代表了两党的不同立场，人民不同的人生观和世界观，政治领域里你死我活的斗争。

这部电视连续剧对我的第三个影响就是美国人民很享受世界警察、世界工厂、世界农场等这些称号和地位，他们确实不理解第三世界对他们的看法和自己的追求。

说到第三点，我必须承认，这部连续剧也算是主旋律，他宣扬美国式的爱国和民主，但不那么直接和赤裸裸，而是寓教于乐，试图间接达到和平演变、传达美国价值观的目的。

当然，这些看法和观点都很粗浅，因为我们讨论是一部电视连续剧，归根结底，是娱乐。但是这种娱乐充满了知识和智慧的角力，因此我看得有点兴奋，并且觉得有点意义。

这个意义就是：政治是一种特殊的专业，政治要达到的目的不是统治，而是服务和发展。

当然，也许美国真实的政治生活远没有这部电视剧那么牛叉，或者比这部电视剧还要黑暗，但我觉得，这部戏的价值观还是对的。因此，对政治和新闻感兴趣的人，都应该看看这部连续剧，在忍受一两集略显沉闷的对白后，你一定会发现他和其他美国肥皂剧的娱乐功能类似，让你欲罢不能。

主旋律这种东西，甭管中国外国，一样让人无法忍受。

偶尔拔高一回也就算了，这样时刻不忘展示美国精神的崇高，把好好的政治题材剧毁成了样板戏，可惜那么多精致漂亮的细节。

考据癖如我，边看片子边看剧本边google或wiki整出来的东西，本来只是for my information而已，很不系统，九牛一毛，主要是第二,三季中提到的一些话题或语句。

12. Non-binding Resolution

　　A non-binding resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body that cannot progress into a law. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion.
　　
　　This type of resolution is often used to express the body's approval or disapproval of something which they cannot otherwise vote on,[1] due to the matter being handled by another jurisdiction, or being protected by a constitution. An example would be a resolution of support for a nation's troops in battle, which carries no legal weight, but is adopted for moral support.
　　
　　 Use
　　Non-binding resolutions are usually specific simple or concurrent resolutions that are not passed on to the president to be signed in to law.[2] These resolutions differ from pure concurrent resolutions (that are used for various procedural requests such as adjourning sessions) in that they are designed to formally express and document opinions, not initiate a process.
　　
　　These resolutions offer a means for elected officials to publicly air the concerns of their constituents[3] and are closely followed by major media outlets. Additionally, these resolutions can be used to state the position of congress, showing a preview of how they will vote on future legislation and budget allocations.

11.KeyWord: Ways and Means Committee

In the English Parliament (later the British Parliament and UK Parliament) between 1641 and 1967, proposals for raising taxation originated in the Committee of Ways and Means, where they were initiated by a Government minister. The committee was copied by the legislature of the United States where it currently exists as the powerful U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means.

With effect from 1967 that Committee was abolished. The Chairman of Ways and Means presided over that Committee; and though Speakers have sometimes presided at Budgets since abolition of the Committee (as, for example, in 1968 and 1989), the Chairman does still generally occupy the chair during the speech.

The Chairman of Ways and Means is the title given to the Deputy Speaker who is appointed on a motion tabled at the beginning of each Parliament by the Leader of the House. The Chairman of Ways and Means has two deputies: the 1st and 2nd Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means. Thus there are three deputy Speakers who may take the Chair in the place of the Speaker.

In the British Parliament, the Speaker and his deputies are considered independent and as such they do not normally vote, except for casting votes, and they are not included in the figures of party strengths within the House of Commons.

The term "Ways and Means" refers to the provision of revenue to meet national expenditure and to forward the objectives of economic policy. Ways and Means are principally provided by the imposition of taxation - the Budget resolutions are Ways and Means resolutions, upon which the Finance Bill is based - but also by the raising of loans and provision made as occasion arises for the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund or the National Loans Fund.


10.KeyWord：Giselle

在《West Wing3》中，Sam告诉Josh黄石国家公园发生大火。Josh一本正经地问他要去灭火吗，Sam则一本正经地回答说自己不是专业消防员，然后随口说自己小时候倒是想当消防员。这时Josh也顺嘴说他小时候想当芭蕾舞演员。过后Josh意识到说漏嘴了，于是警告Sam不要把芭蕾舞演员的事说出去。过了几幕，CJ要找Tony单独说话，但Josh正好在旁边。于是CJ低声对Josh说：Giselle~，果然很见效，Josh立刻就走了。

Giselle是一个著名的浪漫主义时期的芭蕾剧的名字，也是剧中女主角的名字。剧情是由Slavs神话改编而来的，它的内容梗概为：
In the first act, a young, innocent village maiden named Giselle is in love with a man she knows only as Loys. In reality, the man is Albrecht, a nobleman disguised as a peasant, and who is betrothed to Bathilde, daughter of the Duke. When Giselle discovers the deceit, she is inconsolable and goes mad, then dies of a broken heart. In the second act, her undying love for Albrecht saves him from the wicked magic of the wilis, vampiric ghosts of betrothed girls who have died before their wedding day. Though their leader, Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, forces Albrecht to dance again and again, Giselle intervenes long enough to spare his strength and allow him to survive until the dawn. At sunrise, wilis must return to their grave; Giselle must return as well but not before showing Albrecht that she forgives him for his treachery. The two pledge their love to each other and she descends back into her grave, but will forever be separated. Giselle is now a wili for the rest of eternity.

Slavs神话是3000年前由东欧起源的神话传说，在这个神话里，上帝让魔鬼用大海海底的沙子建成陆地。而作为一个宗教，Slavs是一个二重体系。它有两个神：黑上帝管诅咒，白上帝管仁慈；另外雷火神也占重要地位。

关于Slavs里的精灵，这里着重介绍一下：

歌声甜美的Wila
In Polish mythology, the Wila (VEE-lah) are believed to be female fairy-like spirits who live in the wilderness and sometimes clouds. They were believed to be the spirits of women who had been frivolous in their lifetimes and now floated between here and the afterlife. They sometimes appear as the swans, snakes, horses, falcons, or wolves that they can shapeshift into but usually appear as beautiful maidens, naked or dressed in white with long flowing hair.

It is said that if even one of these hairs is plucked, the Wila will die, or be forced to change back to her true shape. A human may gain the control of a Wila by stealing feathers from her wings. Once she gets them back, however, she will disappear. (Compare Swan maiden.)

The voices of the Wila are as beautiful as the rest of them, and one who hears them loses all thoughts of food, drink or sleep, sometimes for days. Despite their feminine charms, however, the Wila are fierce warriors. The earth is said to shake when they do battle. They have healing and prophetic powers and are sometimes willing to help human beings. At other times they lure young men to dance with them, which according to their mood can be a very good or very bad thing for the lad. They ride on horses or deer when they hunt with their bows and arrows and will kill any man who defies them or breaks his word. Fairy rings of deep thick grass are left where they have danced which should never be trod upon (bad luck).

Offerings for Wila consist of round cakes, ribbons, fresh fruits and vegetables or flowers left at sacred trees and wells and at fairy caves.

捉弄旅行者的Vila
The Vila, or Willi or Veela, are the Slavic versions of nymphs, who have power over storms, which they delight in sending down on lonely travelers. They are known to live in meadows, ponds, oceans, trees, and clouds (cf. Leimakids, Limnades, Oceanids, Dryads, Nephele). They can appear as swans, horses, wolves, or, of course, beautiful women.

The Vilia is the Celtic version of this woodland spirit. She enjoys captivating passing men with her beauty, but then abandoning them. In a love song titled Vilia, from "The Merry Widow" by Lehar and Ross, a hunter pines for Vilia, "the witch of the wood".

女吸血鬼Wili
Among the Slavic creatures of folklore, for the English-speaking world the wilis are indelibly connected with the Romantic ballet Giselle, first danced in Paris in 1840, with its spectral wilis, young girls who have died on their wedding days, who almost snatch away the hero's life-breath, but must disappear at the break of dawn.

These wilis have been adapted from a poem of Heinrich Heine, who claimed to be using a Slavic legend. Meyer's Konversationslexikon defines Wiles or Wilis as female vampires, the spirits of betrothed girls who die before their wedding night. According to Heine, wilis are unable to rest in their graves because they could not satisfy their passion for dancing when they were alive. They therefore gather on the highway at midnight to lure young men and dance them to their death. In Serbia they were maidens cursed by God; in Bulgaria they were known as samovily, girls who died before they were baptized; and in Poland they are beautiful young girls floating in the air atoning for frivolous past lives.

湖中魂魄Rusałka
In Slavic mythology, a Rusałka was a female ghost, water nymph, succubus or mermaid-like demon that dwelled in a lake. She was considered a being of the unclean force or нечистая сила (nechistaya sila). The ghostly version is the soul of a young woman who had died in or near a lake (many of these rusalki had been murdered by lovers) and came to haunt that lake; this undead Rusałka is not invariably malevolent, and will be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged. In most versions, the Rusałka is an unquiet dead being. According to Zelenin, people who die violently and before their time, such as young women who commit suicide because they have been jilted by their lovers, or unmarried women who are pregnant out of wedlock, must live out their designated time on earth (срок, srok) as a spirit. Another theory is that rusalki are the female spirits of the unclean dead; this includes suicides, unbaptized babies, and those who die without last rites. (Under this theory male unclean dead were said to become vodianoi).

深水精灵Vodianoi
The vodianoi is a male water spirit of Slavic origin. He is viewed to be particularly malevolent, existing almost exclusively to drown swimmers who have angered him by their boldness. Reports of his appearance vary; some tales define him as a naked old man, bloated and hairy, covered in slime, covered in scales, or simply as an old peasant with a red shirt and beard. He is also reported to have the ability to transform into a fish.

The vodianoi lives in deep pools, often by a mill, and is said to be the spirit of unclean male dead (this definition includes those who have committed suicide, unbaptized children, and those who die without last rites). As previously stated, the vodianoi would drown those who angered him with boasts or insults. However, this was no certain protection, as the spirit was particularly capricious. Peasants feared the vodianoi and would often attempt to get rid of the spirit or, failing that, appease him.

The only people who were generally safe from the vodianoi's anger were millers and fishermen. Millers in particular were viewed to be so close to the vodianoi that they often became seen as sorcerous figures. This may be influenced by the belief that millers yearly drown a drunk passerby as an offering to the vodianoi. Fishermen were somewhat less suspect, offering only the first of their catch with an incantation. If a vodianoi favored a fisherman he would herd fish into the nets. [1]

The Czech and Slovak equivalent is called a vodník. A similar figure appears in German mythology as a Wasserman or nix.

风雪女神Sky Women
In Polish mythology, sky women were the warm-weather incarnations of the rusalki. Slavic women would go out in the first snowfall and build snow women to honor them, as snow is believed to be brought by the sky women. One belief has it that the thunder and lightning of springtime are brought on by Sky Women mating with the thunder gods; hence spring festivals included a celebration of the return of the rusalki from the waters with the placing of wreaths on the waters, and with circle dances and fire festivals.


9. KEYWORD: line-item veto

In government, the line-item veto is the power of an executive to nullify or "cancel" specific provisions of a bill, usually budget appropriations, without vetoing the entire legislative package. The line-item vetoes are usually subject to the possibility of legislative override as are traditional vetoes.


8. KEYWORD: ERA

ERA是Equal Rights Amendment 的缩写。具体来说，它主张的是：Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex。所以它相当于是一个妇女平等权利和义务修正案，而它也是一个备受争议，至今仍未批准通过的宪法修正案。不要从字面上以为广大美国劳动妇女都积极拥护支持它，因为它不光使得男女权利平等，也使得男女义务平等。一方面它能够促进女性在许多社会领域获得更平等的机会；另一方面它无视男女天生的差异，尤其在劳工、军役等对女性有特别保护的领域里，它大大削弱了女性的权益。


7. KEYWORD：Mary Jane

大麻的俗称。


6. KEYWORD: ALMA MATER

指母校。Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother". It was used in ancient Rome as a title for the mother goddess, and in Medieval Christianity for the Virgin Mary.
This term is taken from the motto ("Alma Mater Studiorum") of the oldest European university, the University of Bologna, in Italy, founded in A.D. 1088, and located in the city of Bologna.
In many modern languages it is usually and principally heard as a term of academia; thus, in the English language, it is used as a sobriquet for the university or college a person has attended. In American English, it is also heard in reference to a high school or elementary school.


5. KEYWORD: Bob Marley ，Wailers

Bob marley is a reggae singer, songwriter, guitarist. Wailers is a musical group founded by Bob Marley. 他和他的组合信仰一种宗教叫astafarianism. 这种宗教遵循一种严格的规定：他们拒绝酒精和毒品，但是崇拜大麻，他们认为大麻是一种圣草能够给人以启迪。这就是为什么Josh和刚刚对外流露支持大麻合法化意向的卫生部长的对话：

JOSH
Did you know that 69% of Americans oppose legalization? Only 23% support it.

DR. GRIFFITH
The number gets a lot higher than that if you ask people under 30.

JOSH
Well, that's a shock. Did you know that the number gets even higher than that if youlimit the polling sample to Bob Marley ad the Whalers?


4. KEYWORD: FILIBUSTER

以前对这个词的理解仅仅是单词书上那个莫名奇妙的解释“阻碍议案通过”。这才知道原来它是这么的搞笑。

filibuster是最大化地利用了“议员在议会上发言，想说多久就可以说多久”这个规矩，片中的老议员为了抗议政府没有给自闭症儿童拨款，站在讲台上夜以继日不眠不休不上厕所地发言（读菜谱，狄更斯，打牌规则等等...），这样拖延时间，使议会无法进行下面的议程。本来看片时有点儿怀疑此招的真实性，后来查了一下才发现真实生活中还有更有光泽、更持久的议员。最长的个人演讲历史纪录创造于1957年，一位议员为反对民权法在讲台上说了足足24小时18分钟。当然还有更有组织有纪律的filibuster，那就是一帮子议员联合起来拖时间：你方唱罢我登场。众人拾柴火焰高，这个法子显然更有效。下面是wiki上列举的许多filibuster的案例：

In 1789, the first U.S. Senate adopted rules allowing the Senate "to move the previous question," ending debate and proceeding to a vote. In 1806, Aaron Burr argued that the motion regarding the previous question was redundant, had only been exercised once in the preceding four years [4], and should be eliminated. The Senate agreed, and thus the potentiality for a filibuster sprang into being. Because the Senate created no alternative mechanism for terminating debate, the filibuster became an option for delay and blocking of floor votes.
The filibuster remained a solely theoretical option until 1841, when the Democratic minority tried to block a bank bill favored by the Whig majority by using this political tactic. Senator Henry Clay, a promoter of the bill, threatened to change Senate rules to allow the majority to close debate. Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton rebuked Clay for trying to stifle the Senate's right to unlimited debate and he was unsuccessful in eliminating the filibuster with a simple majority vote.
In 1917 a rule allowing for the cloture of debate (ending a filibuster) was adopted by the Democratic Senate[5] at the urging of President Woodrow Wilson.[6] From 1917 to 1949, the requirement for cloture was two-thirds of those voting.


3. KEYWORD: LSD

应该是迷幻药的意思。Lsd is the abbreviation for lysergic acid diethylamide, a synthetic hallucinogenic drug discovered by Albert Hofmann in 1938. By disrupting the action of serotonin in the brain, LSD produces markedly abnormal behavior, including psychotic episodes that can last anywhere from hours to several days. The drug is usually administered through the tongue, although it can be absorbed through any of the mucous membranes.


2. KeyWord: Algonquin Round Table

The Algonquin Round Table was a group of New York City writers, critics, actors and wits that met from 1919 until about 1929, though its legacy endured long afterward.
They met for lunch every day at a round table at the Algonquin Hotel and traded quips; many of these sayings are still repeated today. The group began meeting in June 1919 when several of its members returned from World War I where they met on the Army newspaper Stars and Stripes.


1. KeyWord：Puerto Rico，statehood，commonwealth:

波多黎各原为印第安人居住地。1493年C.哥伦布航行至此。1509年沦为西班牙殖民地。1869年波多黎各人民起义，宣布成立共和国，遭西班牙殖民军镇压。1897年实现内部自治。1898年美西战争后成为美国殖民地。1917年美国把“美国公民籍”加于波多黎各人民。1950年人民武装起义，宣布成立波多黎各共和国。1952年美国给予波多黎各自由联邦的地位，实行自治，但外交、国防、关税等重要部门由美国控制。1977年美国总统G.R.福特向国会提交了《1977年波多黎各立州法》，主张把波多黎各变成美国的第51州。1982年11月R.W.里根总统发表声明，支持波多黎各成为美国的一个州。1993年11月，波多黎各再次就与美国的关系举行全民公决，结果多数人仍主张维持美国的自由联邦地位。1992年佩得罗·罗塞洛当选为总督。根据1952年由美国制定的宪法，总督为最高行政长官，由选举产生，任期4年，下设部长会议。美国国会有权废除波多黎各议会通过的法律。议会分参、众两院。该岛选举出地方专员常驻美国国会，但只能在众院委员会参加表决。主要政党有：①人民民主党，执政党。成立于1938年。主张维持波多黎各“自由联邦”地位，要求在美国主权下成立地方自治政府。②新进步党，1967年成立。主张波多黎各成为美国的一个州。③波多黎各独立党，1946年成立。主张波多黎各独立，建立社会主义民主共和国。

The West Wing里有这么一个情节，一位国会议员刚刚病逝，职位出现空缺，白宫公关部副主任（Deputy Communications Director）Sam Seaborn满腔热诚地说服自己的老友——身为民主党的检察官参选议员，声称白宫会为他提供一切帮助。参选的过程中爆出这位候选人有潜在的种族歧视倾向，获胜机率稀微，白宫立即对他弃之如履，在没有任何表示的情况下全身而退。Sam向这位候选人告知结果的时候受到其夫人的怒斥，Sam无奈地回答，That's how we do it.事实上，这部剧还经常出现的一句台词是This's the way it is.

这就是政治的运作方式。这就是我们想象中政治的运作方式。没有永远的朋友，只有永远的利益。

当然这只是剧集中一个无关紧要的细节，也是政治取舍中最低级的表现形式，与全剧主旨无甚关系。编剧波澜不惊地处理这个情节，没有任何评价或者指责，This's just the way it is.力图精微的刻画和客观的描述，这便是这部剧集吸引我们的其中一个原因吧。

既然是民主党政府（据说主创是一群好莱坞民主党人），可以想象白宫的政策重心集中在提高医疗服务和公共教育发展上。剧中随时穿插着民主党和共和党关于医疗、教育以及税减无休止的争论。剧中有一个情节是Sam在电视辩论中被一个共和党金发美女驳斥地哑口无言，论题便是两党关于教育经费的不同运作。

事实上，编剧的野心远不仅于此，The West Wing既是关于美国政治的宏大叙事，同时也具体至每一个政策和行动，每一个表征和指涉。在民主党政府的背景下，我们可以看到三权分立的操作方式，可以看到每一个政策和法律制定前各个政党和体系的博弈，可以看到世界警察在外交上的指手画脚，可以看到权力争夺的残酷，可以看到利益的锱铢必较。甚至可以说，这部剧集完成了我们对美国政治全部的想象，指引了我们对西方价值观的完整印象。

除了自由、民主等等普世价值观，剧集还分别讨论了各种个人和群体权利，其中鄙人最感兴趣的是以下两种。

隐私权（the right to privacy）。白宫提名新的大法官名单，最后时刻发现属意人选对隐私权表示怀疑，认为隐私权不受宪法保障，政府有权侵犯个人隐私权。Sam与这位大法官候选人展开激烈辩论，言辞恳切，最终使得总统决定提名新的候选人。Sam 打动总统的说辞如下：“It's about the next 20 years. Twenties and thirties,it was the role of government. Fifties and sixties, it was civil rights. The next two decades,it's gonna be privacy. I'm talking about the Internet. I'm talking about cellphones. I'm talking about health records, and who's gay and who's not. And moreover,in a country born on a will to be free, what could be more fundamental than this?”一个以自由意志为基础而诞生的国家，有什么比隐私权更为重要呢。相反，在隐私权被肆意践踏的某国，可以想象，普世价值永无希望。

同志权利（gay rights）。一个十七岁的同志男孩被一群学生殴打致死，在这件事情的刺激下，总统打算对仇恨罪（hate crime）立法，并请来被害男孩的父母帮忙宣传造势。新闻发言人（Press Secretary）C.J担心受害男孩的父亲因为自己的儿子身为同性恋而感到羞愧，却得到这位父亲出人意料的回答：Gays in the military, same-sex marriage, gay adoption, boards of education - where the hell is he? I want to know what qualities necessary to being a parent this President feels my son lacked? I want to know from this President, who has served not one day in Vietnam - I had two tours in Vietnam. I want to know what qualities necessary to being a soldier this President feels my son lacked? Lady, I'm not embarrassed my son was gay. My government is.
共和党意图推行法案，禁止同性婚姻。前来游说白宫幕僚的共和党人本身却是同志，不啻为极大的讽刺。副幕僚长（Deputy White House Chief of Staff）Josh Lyman如鲠在喉，不能理解对方为何身为同志却加入否认同志权益的共和党，遭到对方讥讽：个人性向与政治理想并无关系，性向不是人生的全部。Josh无言以对，无论幕僚与总统多么不情愿，对此法案却无能为力。
这部剧集不断借总统之口对同志权益进行声援，无论是总统与反同女主播的辩论，还是对这部法案的愤怒，所有这一切都掩饰不了一个事实：无论口号多么激扬，为了避免激怒人数众多的保守派人士，民主党人在同志权利这个问题上，依然不会有任何作为。这让人不禁想起Queer as folk这部剧集里Brian Kinney的话：You know, whether it’s the democrat who pretends he likes you, or the republicans who hates you and let you know it. Either way,once they’re in office, they’re not going to do a goddamn thing.So I say, may the best self-serving son of bitch win.

除了政治风云之外，剧集不乏温情与反思的时刻，比如说白宫公关主任（Director of Communications）Toby Ziegler假借总统名义，为冻死的越南老兵举行军方葬礼。比如说白宫总幕僚长（Chief of Staff ）Leo McGarry对待酒精、药物成瘾问题的坦荡：I drank and took drugs because I'm a drug addict and an alcoholic. I'm not cured. You don't get cured. I haven't had a drink or a pill in six and a half years, which isn't to say I won't have one tomorrow. The problem is, I don't want a drink, I want ten drinks.这可能是我看到的对于酒瘾问题最坦诚的回答。

另外，这部剧集吸引人的地方，还在于俯拾皆是的各色直白或者隐藏的幽默，包含着关于美国社会和文化的各方面信息，反复咀嚼后别有风味。仅举两个对话作为例子：
LEO：How the hell did they find him in Nova Scotia?
JOSH：They have telephones in Nova Scotia, Leo. It's not Amish country.

JOSH：No, we're gonna do good cop, bad cop.
TOBY：No...we're really not.
JOSH：Why not?
TOBY：Cause this isn't an episode of Hawaii 5-0. How about you be the good cop,I'll be the cop who didn't go to the meeting.

当然，还有各种讥讽，天朝首当其冲，承担大部分火力，比如说：I think it would be a good idea, as a symbol... to signal that China is serious about their relationship with us, if they stopped running over their citizens with tanks.

可以说，这部剧集是一场关于政治的盛大想象，一则完美的自由主义童话，一出美妙的民主党政治泡影。无论如何力图写实，仍然不过是电视人的政治幻想，苍白的虚张声势。我们都知道现实不是惺惺作态，政治都是dirty的，政客都是ugly的。但是至少，米国人民可以借助电视这种媒体工具书写这种幻想。而身在天朝的我们，只能在别人炮制的电光幻影了，想象着别人的水月镜花。

 　　终于到了说再见的时候了。我已经忘记了是什么时候什么情况下看了这部剧集的第一季第一集。
　　
　　不过今天终于和它说再见了。
　　
　　第7季。它肯定陪伴很多人从1999年走到今天，从那个克林顿时代走过来。当然我不是。顶多，陪了我四年了，当然，这也不是一段很短的时间了。忽然我想起，其实我在上海时候就开始看这部剧了，算来到现在，真的不止四年，而刚才某个刹那，我几乎要打出两年来。时间仿佛停顿了好几百天似的。
　　
　　leo终于离去。他是真的离去了。当john spencer离开我们的时候，leo也注定成为他最后一个，也是最出彩的一个角色。心脏病，可以这样轻易的夺取spencer的生命，就好像同样的夺走了leo的生命一样。没有他的第七季真的让我黯然。他没有出场的那场死亡之戏，真的让我流泪了。因为，早在那之前，他，已经死去了。如果没有他的bartlet for america，又哪里来的the west wing。
　　
　　josh和donna终于走到一起。当我对其中的政治争论有一点点厌倦的时候，他们之间那种似有似无但又好像可以生死相许的感情让我不知道google了多少回，而且我知道不仅仅是我一个这么着迷于编剧设计的这一对终于可能的impossible couple。他们是一起成长的患难之交。彼此最艰难的时刻，从没有离开过彼此，除了那一次，josh那样的对前来应聘的donna说，i can make some call。donna噙着泪离开的背影。不会忘记。
　　
　　当cj对那位老人说，她不在白宫工作的时候，她终于可以不再做一个全美国最忙碌的女人了。她可以拿着那一千万美元去修补这个破烂的世界了。她终于可以当某个人的妻子某个人的母亲了。8年的黄金时光，就此完结。并不是没有遗憾的，但，就好像bartlet说的，我们想的，应该是明天。
　　
　　toby。你可曾后悔过，做了那样一件事情。也许事情重来一遍，你还是会做那样的选择。你还是会忠于你的宇航员哥哥，你还是会由着你那火爆性子。总统赦免了你。他必定想起了，当年，你是唯一没有被leo解雇的助理。我到现在还记得你那时候脸上的表情呢。想起来就要笑。
　　
　　sam。你老了。你回来了。你曾经也给我留下深刻的印象。可惜，你后来离开了。我几乎都淡忘了你。即使这一次你是以和当年如出一辙的方式回来。但是，这已经是第七季了。你不觉的遗憾么。
　　
　　charlie。你不再是那个只是来应征一个信差工作的高中毕业生了。你带着这么多年的在白宫的工作经验，去读法学院。也许某天，你又回回到这个你熟悉的白宫来，以另一种身份。
　　
　　vinick。你是我非常非常喜欢的总统。虽然你从来没能够当上过总统。也许那是因为你过于追求完美。也许，你聪明但不够残忍不够卑鄙。难道你还不明白政治的血与肮脏么。也许，编剧在你身上也还是寄托了他一直在寄托的某种理想的完美的政治理想。这样的总统，是国家之福还是国家之祸？即使，你最后变成了你竞争对手的国务卿，我也依然认为，你才是那个真正的总统。是的，我是这样认为的。
　　
　　santos。原谅我。我无法喜欢你和你的夫人。不是因为你不够帅，当然，你也的确不够帅。你不但不够帅，你有时候还非常冷血，薄性，缺乏礼貌，你的夫人，她有时候有点见识短浅，过于执着某些鸡毛蒜皮，有时候又和你一样缺乏礼貌。你们两个，那种骨子里的缺乏底气的傲慢。如果是你们塑造出来的，那我恭喜两位演员。你们，真的太成功了。因为我太讨厌你们了。
　　
　　bartlet。我那么喜欢你的手下们。不过，我可没有喜欢你的属下那么喜欢你，当然，你比santos好很多。我倒是很喜欢你的夫人。她是一个聪明的骄傲的美丽的女人。总之，你何其有幸。有那么好的手下和爱人？也许完全是因为你的那些我看到的和我没看到的魅力和美德。我祝你在新罕布什尔的农场里过的快乐，建个巨大的总统图书馆。
　　
　　到此为止吧。我爱的你们。我恨的你们。感谢你们陪伴我的四年时光。一生中最难忘的四年。