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My Personal Opinion of the West Wing Characters

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Welcome to my online opinion of those we all know and love, (or hate for that matter). Personally, I hate no one on the West Wing. But hey, who am I to argue with strangers who choose to hold a grudge against fictional characters. I could let myself be angry that all of Sorkin's charcters were created to hate Republicans. Thus, if they did exist in real life, they would in turn, hate me. And even if they did, I still wouldn't hate them back. Anyway, enough of my philosophizing! Let the analyzing commence!!

Joshua Lyman
Bradley Whitford

“Josh, Josh, Joshua, Josh.” By far my favorite character on the show. In my opinion, Josh Lyman, the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Bartlet Administration, provides most of the humor on the show. Granted, most of the other characters have their moments of hysteria, but Bradley Whitford honestly cracks me up. Whether he spits out coffee or falls asleep in fishing gear at his desk, he always seems to “bring the funny.” Although, the talented actor that he is, Bradley Whitford has no problem bringing the serious side to his character as well. I also feel that Josh is the most developed character on the West Wing. We know he likes coffee (much to Donna’s dismay). We even know that he likes his hamburgers burnt. So far, the viewer has been allowed to see pieces of Josh’s past, as well more personal moments in his life. Of course it goes without saying that when you mention Josh Lyman, you have to also mention his Assistant Donnatella Moss, or as she calls herself, the Deputy Deputy Chief of Staff. Their Working relationship has what can only be discribed as a Dance. I like to compare Donna and Josh to Shakespeare’s Bennidict and Beatrice from Much Ado about Nothing. Two people whose banter only serve as a type of flirting with each other. I think the majority of the people watching this show are dying to see them get together somehow, yet I think Aaron Sorkin will continue to drive us crazy by watching them struggle to keeps things at a safe distance.

BARTLET: C.J., on your tombstone, it’s gonna read, “Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.”
C.J.: Okay, but none of my visitors are going to be able to understand my tombstone.
BARTLET: Twenty-seven lawyers in the room, anybody know “post hoc, ergo propter hoc?” Josh?
JOSH: Uh...uh...post, after, after hoc, ergo, therefore, after hoc, therefore, something else hoc.
BARTLET: Thank you. Next?
JOSH: Uh, if I’d gotten more credit on the 443...



I felt that an example of Josh/Donna banter must be displayed upon my humble site. And yes, this is the entire quote from a scene in the episode "17 People!" I laughed so hard when I first watched this dialoge being played out, that I had to write out every bit of it. In fact, I had to listen to it many a' time just to make sure that nothing was missed. Could you imagine trying to say these lines without stuttering? Ha, Good Luck! To, Bradley and Janel: Great job you guys!

Donna: Hello.
Josh: How ya doin'?
Donna: Fine.
Josh: Did you get the flowers?.
Donna: Yes I did..
Josh: Did you like them?.
Donna: They were very pretty..
Josh: Do you know why I sent them?.
Donna: I know why you think you sent them..
Josh: It's our aniversary..
Donna: No its not..
Josh: I'm the sort of guy who rembers those things..
Donna: No, your the sort of guy who sends a woman flowers be mean, and you're really the only person I ever met who can do that..
Josh: I'm really quite somthing..
Donna: Yes..
Josh: I sent them to mark and occasion..
Donna: Are we really going to do this every year?.
Josh: For I am a man of occasion..
Donna: I started working for you in Febuary, this is April, and you are an idiot!
Josh: Well, you started working for me once in Febuary and you stopped for a while..
Donna: Yes..
Josh: Then you started working for me again in April. That's the one I choose to celebrate, because its the only one were you started working for me, and it wasn't followed by not working, but rather going back to your boyfriend, and how in comparison to THAT and HIM you can call ME mean is simply another in a long series of examples....
Donna: OH SHUT UP! Honest to God, do you ever get tired of the sound of your own voice?.
Josh: NO.No..no. .
Donna: Wha-Where are you going now?.
Josh: Sam am I are going to punch up the thing for tomorrow. Hey! We need funny people..
Donna: Yeah?.
Josh: Do you know any? See, right there is a joke, it's the oldest joke in the book..
Donna: I'll say..
Josh: You know what, Ado Annie? I sent you flowers. I think what you are trying to say is, "Why Thank you Josh! They're Beautiful! How very thoughtful of you! Not many bosses would have been that thoughtful!".
Donna: Really, because what I think I was trying to say was SHOVE IT!.
Josh: OK, well then I guessed wrong..
Donna: (sigh) Do you want help with the thing?.
Josh: Yes I do, because YOU are such an hysterically funny person. Did you notice how I used "an" there properly?.
Donna: Yes I did..
Josh: You crack me up..
Donna: You know there are times...
Josh: Yeah?.
Donna: When I put it quite simply, I hate your breathing guts..
Josh: So the flowers really did the trick, huh?.
Donna: Oh, yeah.

Donnatella Moss
Janel Moloney

Donnatella Moss became a part of the regular cast during the second season. I feel that she adds a bit of common sense to the otherwise brilliant minds of the West Wing staff. Donna is a very caring and compassionate person, and very capable of handling the most difficult people, including her boss Josh Lyman. Maintaining a delicate balance of order to her job and her boss's never ending chaos, Donna finds solace in the fact that she does her job and does it well. She also serves as a way for Aaron to explain the inner workings of politics to the viewer, since she commonly asks Josh how and why the Bartlett Administration does the things it does. Donna, on many occasions, has served as the strength for other cast members, especially Josh. Whether it was after Josh’s surgery or the First Lady’s decision to lose her medical license, everyone, including the President, thinks of Donna highly. All the characters on the show seem to have an unspoken respect for Donna’s determination; a girl who never graduated from college, yet who has become an important part of their administration.

JOSH: You just lurk there in the shadows, like... Whatever. What are you doing?
DONNA: I'm doing things, things with paper.

JOSH: Victory is mine! Victory is mine! Great day in the morning people. Victory is mine!
DONNA: Good morning, Josh.
JOSH: I drink from the keg of glory, Donna. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land.
DONNA: It’s gonna be an unbearable day.


Toby Zeigler
Richard Schiff

Richard's character, Toby Zeigler, is a man of little words. Ironically, he is the man who ultimately writes speeches for the president. Being the Communications Director, he works closely with Leo, the President, Sam, and C.J. Toby is the pessimist of the West Wing. He feels that it is his job to point out that there is a negative side to everything, which is sometimes what the people of the West Wing need to hear in order to make important decisions. I like Toby for that. There are so many "bouncy" moments in the West Wing, that the seriousness of Toby's character can be refreshing at times.

I like to call him "the sad clown" because something is not quite right with the world if Toby cracks a smile. Little is known about Toby’s past except on how he was picked to be the major speech writer for the Bartlet campaign. At first glance, Toby appears to a be a lonely man, enjoying his own company more than being social. However, I feel that Toby longs for a happiness that he beleives is beyond his reach.

Lastly, when an important issue is at hand, Toby relieves his stress by bouncing a ball and catching it over and over again, a characteristic that I find endearing.

TOBY: Still, eighty-one percent. . .
SAM: You're moved by the the show of support.
TOBY: No, I'm thinking we got shot and 19% of the country still hates our guts.
SAM: Well, you're a glass-is-half-empty kind of guy.
TOBY: No, I'm a who-cares-how-full-the-glass-is-if's-it's-filled-with-turpentine kind of guy.
(Season Two, "The Midterms")

Josh: Toby, come quick, Sam's getting his ass kicked by a girl!
Toby: Ginger, get the popcorn.


Sam Seaborn
Rob Lowe

Sam Seaborn was the White House Deputy Communications Director.(Up to season Four) He was pulled from a promising career in a law firm to work on the Bartlet campain by his friend, Josh Lyman. Sam could be decribed as the nice guy. He may act tough in most cases, but underneath he’s a softie. He cares deeply for his co-workers, and will go to all extreams to follow his heart on the issues he believes in. Loyal, determined, patriotic, and intelligent would all describe Sam’s Character. The only problem is that though these characteristics are good, they sometimes hinder his efforts in the ruthless game of politics. Still, if there is a question in the legality of a certain issue, Sams’ the answer man.
UPDATE: Sam Seaborn is no longer part of the West Wing Staff, as you might already know. In real life Rob Lowe left over contract/ money issues. In the show Sam left due to a promise he made with William Bailey, a campaign manager for a California Democrat who died before votes were cast. Sam, true to his word, left to run in this now vacant spot. William Bailey was appointed Deputy Communications Director mid season #4.
I will miss Rob's character terribly. His humor went well with the other members of the White House Staff. Sam's character was the person that everyone came too if they needed sound advice on a personal issue. A true friend. Of course, my conservative background will not miss his very liberal takes on most things, but I love and miss him all the same.

TOBY: We're Batman and Robin.
SAM: Which one's which?
TOBY: Look at me Sam, am I Robin?
SAM: I'm not Robin.
Toby: Yes you are.
SAM: Okay, well, let's move off this.
TOBY: You bet, little friend.
(Season Two, "The Fall's Gonna Kill You")

C.J. (Claudia Jean) Cregg
Aliison Janney

Allison Janney plays CJ Cregg, the no nonsense woman of the White House. The stressful job of being a Press Secretary may be slowly taking its toll on her, but her fiery attitude and quit wit saves White House blunders from becoming “a thing”. I think Allison has made her character a role model for many young women. She remains a strong, intelligent, witty, and professional all while maintaining a strong sense of femininity in an otherwise masculine profession. C.J has to be careful about what she says about any activity in the White House, and especially to whom she releases inside information to.

DONNA: CJ, I can't...
CJ: What?
DONNA: I can't lie like this anymore.
CJ: Are you saying it was you?
DONNA: I feel horrible. I should've said something before, but I was afraid of what you'd...
CJ: No, it's okay.
DONNA: No, let me get this off my chest. It was me. I called Terry Cashin.
CJ: Why?
DONNA: I don't know. Why does anybody do anything?
CJ: (in disbelief) What are you talking about?
DONNA: I'm a madwoman, CJ - and it doesn't stop with the leak.
CJ: (horrified) What do you mean?
DONNA: Call the authorities. Send them to my parent's house in Madison.
CJ: Why?
DONNA: They'll find the Lindbergh baby in the basement.
CJ: (finally catching up) Okay.
DONNA: Also some Post-Its reminding me where I put Jimmy Hoffa.
CJ: Get out.
DONNA: I framed Roger Rabbit.
CJ: Get out!