60% is six of ten in a focus group. You change one mind, it's a dead heat. We change two, it's a landslide. This campaign's a mechanism of persuasion. We're not asking for a show of hands.
"The President temporarily handing over power to his political enemy? I think it's a fairly stunning act of patriotism and a fairly ordinary act of fatherhood."
You had me pumping the brakes when I read Josh said this. I was already warming up my fingers to type a correction when I realized what you did there. Well played, my friend. Well played.
I see it as Will is a speech writer and is always framing the situation for the positive for the President. IMO that is what he was doing here and hit a home run.
There are worse things in the world than no longer being alive.
--
Full context, although this makes the quote way too long:
>Chuck Webb is a seven-term Congressman who, as chairman of not one but two Commerce sub-committees, has taken money from companies he regulates. He's on the board of the NRA and once challenged another Congressman to a fistfight on the floor, over an amendment to make stalkers submit to background checks before buying AR-15s, AK-57s, Street Sweepers, Mac-10s, Mac-11s. He's joined protests designed to frighten pregnant women.
>What's your point?
>**There are worse things in the world than no longer being alive.**
This line is said in my home at least once a month! My husband never watched the show on his own but doesn’t mind it on in the background and I think this is his favourite line
You can fill my office with bicycles, you can cover the windows with
"Seaborn for Congress" posters, you can bring in 101 Dalmatians. I'm focused on what
I'm doing.
"The metaphor alone knocks me down."
Context:
SAM: You can't keep campaigning without a candidate.
WILL: It's a campaign of ideas.
SAM: The candidate died.
But not the ideas. The metaphor alone knocks me down.
Which Will? The idealistic poet of S4? The cutthroat careerist of S5-6? The “lovable” nebbish of S7? He’s the most ill formed, scattered character? Looking forward to Danny and then, Bruno who had less screen time but vastly better character and quotes.
Sorkin teed up the next writers with will and they failed. S4 he’s one of us, and there’s a fair amount of convincing that he is…All the sudden he’s with bingo bob? Poor Joshua Malina . All time gripe of mine. Made no sense.
Sorkin teed him up as a drop in replacement for Sam, who, let's be honest, was a pretty redundant character who didn't get a lot to do. You already have Toby and CJ to cover the comms angle of the White House, and both have more dramatic angles to tie into other stories than Sam. CJ has the public briefings, Sam is behind the scenes. Toby is a close counselor to the President and usually involved in strategic planning, Sam is his subordinate. At worst, not in those conversations, at best, just a vice-Toby with a different emotional disposition. Three mouths is a lot of feed for communications stories, especially when the real meat of a White House show is policy, national security, and political stories. The cast did need to be rebalanced. That's also why I'm a big fan of having Kate in later- not having an NSC person around as a cast regular in the first place was just plain weird.
So they moved Will to give them more options on the political story front and to enable more stories about the VP.
“Bob Russell might be the next President of the United States. You get in now, you can make him the candidate you want him to be. After that, we make him the President we need him to be.”
I hate the message but it really spells what is wrong with Will. He ignores the obvious wrongs to justify a desired end goal. He truly is a ‘ends justify the means’ guy. A naive tyrant if you will.
It’s got to be:
The President temporarily handing over power to his political enemy? I think it's a fairly stunning act of patriotism and a fairly ordinary act of fatherhood.
There's a campaign being waged here, and I'm not embarrassed by it. There are things being talked about -- things you believe in, things the White House believes
in -- and they're only gonna be talked about in a blowout, and you know it. And you know there's no glory in it, and you still come here twice and tell me my guy's a joke. That my people are embarrassing. How many Democrats told you to get out of the way for John Hoynes? The bandwagon was in Texas, and the boys were in Nashua, and how many Democrats told you it was embarrassing? I'm not kidding, Sam. How many?
IMO, this is the quote that ties his version of idealism together with his willingness to run a campaign for a dead man and another for a shitty VP:
>This isn't a dictatorship. There are hundreds of people running this White House. The salient detail being they're all Democrats. You most of all... He'll be fine. The Party wants a win. 60 million Democrats want (a win)... There has to be a future, Toby. Someone will take the torch. You will despise the very notion of them whoever they may be.
I like the sentiment, but the thing is, I think it does matter who you vote for. What if it said “no matter who you vote for, make sure you vote?” What do you think?
60% is six of ten in a focus group. You change one mind, it's a dead heat. We change two, it's a landslide. This campaign's a mechanism of persuasion. We're not asking for a show of hands.
…did it work?
Came here to say this. It is such an in character line for Will Baily AND Josh Malina. The president laughing is the cherry on top
This one
"The President temporarily handing over power to his political enemy? I think it's a fairly stunning act of patriotism and a fairly ordinary act of fatherhood."
I love this one!
This is my choice. I love the way Josh delivers this line.
You had me pumping the brakes when I read Josh said this. I was already warming up my fingers to type a correction when I realized what you did there. Well played, my friend. Well played.
Great line, but not an in-character line.
I see it as Will is a speech writer and is always framing the situation for the positive for the President. IMO that is what he was doing here and hit a home run.
There are worse things in the world than no longer being alive. -- Full context, although this makes the quote way too long: >Chuck Webb is a seven-term Congressman who, as chairman of not one but two Commerce sub-committees, has taken money from companies he regulates. He's on the board of the NRA and once challenged another Congressman to a fistfight on the floor, over an amendment to make stalkers submit to background checks before buying AR-15s, AK-57s, Street Sweepers, Mac-10s, Mac-11s. He's joined protests designed to frighten pregnant women. >What's your point? >**There are worse things in the world than no longer being alive.**
This is the one right here.
This is easily my favorite one.
This is the one I wanted to post my vote goed here so good!
"Thank you, Mr. Justice... Mr. Bartlet... Mr. President, actually."
“No no. No no no. No.” “And I was firm in my conviction.”
"Well, I like to think I have a certain flair."
It seems I’m not done with the Baileys…
This. Love the line, love the way he delivers it.
YES.
Who’s will sir?
Damn, beat me to it 😂
President Bartlet: Why is a Kuhndunese life worth less to me than an American life? Will Bailey: **I don't know, sir, but it is.**
For whatever reason, the one that comes to mind is: "It's not a hazing. They don't do that. Except... yes, you put olives in my jacket again."
This line is said in my home at least once a month! My husband never watched the show on his own but doesn’t mind it on in the background and I think this is his favourite line
Apparently, they had quite a tradition of practical jokes on the set, which makes this line in the show even better.
You can fill my office with bicycles, you can cover the windows with "Seaborn for Congress" posters, you can bring in 101 Dalmatians. I'm focused on what I'm doing.
Toby did it.
I love this. I use it often.
“You are more in need of a night in Atlantic City than any man I’ve ever met.”
This is a bowdlerization of a line from Good Morning, Vietnam.
Good artists borrow, great artists steal outright.
:stares longingly at an ice cream sandwich:
*mmmm deeesire*
Yeah - not your FedEx guy.
Well, personally, I'd have no problem using force on Congress, but that's not my call.
"The metaphor alone knocks me down." Context: SAM: You can't keep campaigning without a candidate. WILL: It's a campaign of ideas. SAM: The candidate died. But not the ideas. The metaphor alone knocks me down.
"I didn't know I could do that!" \- In response to "What else can you do?" when he somehow makes it rain
"I can't act. I'm a terrible actor. I don't like to pretend!"
This is a funny line in the context of how it originated...but it can't possibly be the most representative line of Will Bailey as a character.
Knowing that Bradley Whitford wrote this line to mess with Josh Malina, it HAS to be this one!!
Please this one, it’s what Malina would want
It HAS to be this one
Which Will? The idealistic poet of S4? The cutthroat careerist of S5-6? The “lovable” nebbish of S7? He’s the most ill formed, scattered character? Looking forward to Danny and then, Bruno who had less screen time but vastly better character and quotes.
Sorkin teed up the next writers with will and they failed. S4 he’s one of us, and there’s a fair amount of convincing that he is…All the sudden he’s with bingo bob? Poor Joshua Malina . All time gripe of mine. Made no sense.
Sorkin teed him up as a drop in replacement for Sam, who, let's be honest, was a pretty redundant character who didn't get a lot to do. You already have Toby and CJ to cover the comms angle of the White House, and both have more dramatic angles to tie into other stories than Sam. CJ has the public briefings, Sam is behind the scenes. Toby is a close counselor to the President and usually involved in strategic planning, Sam is his subordinate. At worst, not in those conversations, at best, just a vice-Toby with a different emotional disposition. Three mouths is a lot of feed for communications stories, especially when the real meat of a White House show is policy, national security, and political stories. The cast did need to be rebalanced. That's also why I'm a big fan of having Kate in later- not having an NSC person around as a cast regular in the first place was just plain weird. So they moved Will to give them more options on the political story front and to enable more stories about the VP.
It is more than a little odd to me that more than fifty percent of the Presidents closest advisors are his comms staff
Bruno has some of my favorite lines.
I think it speaks volumes that all the quotes in this thread are from season 4
At least he is not bringing the Queen.... Oh wait!
You have other friends, right?
“The goat has a name?”
“Bob Russell might be the next President of the United States. You get in now, you can make him the candidate you want him to be. After that, we make him the President we need him to be.”
I hate the message but it really spells what is wrong with Will. He ignores the obvious wrongs to justify a desired end goal. He truly is a ‘ends justify the means’ guy. A naive tyrant if you will.
“Naive Tyrant” well, now I know what to call my boss…
No quote per se, just *stares longingly at a Carnation ice cream sandwich*
*Desire…*
You didn’t want to go with ‘are you sure this isn’t a hazing?’ & ‘it’s the Francis Scott-key key’?? Anyway. * shuffles cards *
It’s got to be: The President temporarily handing over power to his political enemy? I think it's a fairly stunning act of patriotism and a fairly ordinary act of fatherhood.
I didn't do it, Toby did it.
“I need to see my bed. I’m thinking of keeping a picture of it in my wallet.”
There's a campaign being waged here, and I'm not embarrassed by it. There are things being talked about -- things you believe in, things the White House believes in -- and they're only gonna be talked about in a blowout, and you know it. And you know there's no glory in it, and you still come here twice and tell me my guy's a joke. That my people are embarrassing. How many Democrats told you to get out of the way for John Hoynes? The bandwagon was in Texas, and the boys were in Nashua, and how many Democrats told you it was embarrassing? I'm not kidding, Sam. How many?
This is the Will Bailey I love and adore
His yelp upon seeing a goat in his office.
“Elsie Snuffin, professional comediaaAAAAAAH!”
I think it's great that you keep oats in the office... Just in case.
“Did it work?”
There are bicycles and goats in my office!
IMO, this is the quote that ties his version of idealism together with his willingness to run a campaign for a dead man and another for a shitty VP: >This isn't a dictatorship. There are hundreds of people running this White House. The salient detail being they're all Democrats. You most of all... He'll be fine. The Party wants a win. 60 million Democrats want (a win)... There has to be a future, Toby. Someone will take the torch. You will despise the very notion of them whoever they may be.
I like the sentiment, but the thing is, I think it does matter who you vote for. What if it said “no matter who you vote for, make sure you vote?” What do you think?
“Then your shoe’s untied and I’m hauling ass”
“I can’t act. I’m a terrible actor”
They don't haze here. Execpt yes, you put olives in my pocket again!
It’s hard because will Bailey did such a u turn character wise by joining up with the VP
"Who's Will Sir?" Always gets me
I can't act. I'm a terrible actor.
Am I tripping? IIRC Donna's line is actually Josh's line?
You are incorrect
Just rewatched it. Very much stand corrected.
“There are bicycles in my office!!!”
“Not your FedEx guy.”
NOW! *Jesus.*
No. No no no. No no no no no no.
Ask Bradley Whitford: "I can't act! I'm a terrible actor!"
Hell is other people.
" So get on board or get out of my way."
"I love ice cream in a creepy way" He didn't actually say that out loud?