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THE STACKHOUSE FILIBUSTER

This week's The West Wing offered a refreshing change from its usual portrayal of the White House staff, working at a frenetic pace, as they engage in all business and little pleasure. Instead of the "impress the President (or rather, the viewers) by working-around-the-clock" mentality, the primary staff (C.J., Sam, Josh, and Toby) have personal plans for the weekend and are anxious to depart from the White House. Unfortunately for them, however, a Senator decides to filibuster a bill sponsored by the President. As a result, the staff has to stick around until the filibuster ends and there is a vote on the legislation.

The subplots in this show are narrated by staff members, as they each type E-mail to family members. Although this was a great way to recount the various events, any real staff member should seriously think twice before typing personal E-mail on White House computers. All E-mail created at the White House are considered public record, and if scandal erupts, the public will enjoy reading the content of these E-mails in the morning paper.

This week's main plot has to do with the Senate and its rules regarding a filibuster. C.J. provided us with several interesting factoids regarding filibusters, such as the rule that prevents a Senator from going to the bathroom, sitting down, or even leaning on something during a filibuster. This also made for a good lesson in legislative procedure, even if it did steal the show from the generally more exciting portrayals of working in the West Wing. However, there were still some good scenes that provided some insightful commentary on working in the West Wing.

In a scene set in the Roosevelt Room, Sam is reviewing budget issues for the General Accounting Office (GAO) and is dismissing different government programs and research projects, when his ignorant positions are challenged by a GAO intern. It is very unlikely that a GAO intern, or an intern from any other government agency, would have access to a meeting in the Roosevelt Room. Moreover, the Roosevelt Room is a place of ceremony or high-level meetings. Working meetings like this one do not take place in the Roosevelt Room.

In the scene with the Vice President, viewers may have noticed the beautiful, large office used by the Vice President. The real Vice President has at least four offices: one in the West Wing, one in the Old Executive Office Building, one in the Senate, and one in the House of Representatives. The office portrayed in the television show appears to be the office in the Old Executive Office Building, which is a very large, ornately decorated office.

Regarding the gift that C.J. was suppose to have delivered to the President on behalf of an Egyptian dignitary, it is very unlikely that what was portrayed (C.J. breaking the gift) would happen in real life. The staff is generally very careful with any gifts handed to them on behalf of the President, especially if the gift comes from a foreign dignitary. C.J. also referenced the Gift Office. There is such an office in the White House. It has a full-time staff that catalogs all gifts sent to the President and the First Lady.

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Finally, viewers may have caught Donna's comment regarding having some "video feed sent up." What Donna was referring to was a service at the White House operated military office known as the White House Communications Agency or WHCA. WHCA videotapes almost all news shows and provides them to the President and White House staff upon request. Almost every office in the White House has a television that can receive and air the video feed. However, even though C.J. referenced a press room "bullpin" with 14 televisions, there is no such place in the real White House office, especially in the tiny West Wing.

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