Politicians hiding medical things (NOT a political thread)

[SereneHome]

I have just finished watching all 7 seasons of West Wing. I loved LOVED LOVED that show. It was recorded 20 yrs ago and yet, it could have been recorded today, bc almost all the issues they were dealing with we are still dealing with today. And even though I am on the "other" side politically, I really enjoyed how they were debating and handling issues.

Now, for the interesting, to me, part. Part of the story line was that president hid his disease (MS) while running for office and when it came out, he had to answer before Congress and there were some other consequences.

I am not sure what is the point of my post, but 1) I just can't get over how much I loved that show and wanted to talk to someone about it 🙂 and 2) I can't get over how much a show made 20 yrs ago still relevant today.  Oh and my husband was diagnosed with MS last year, so there is that too.....

Anyway.....

Edited October 4, 2020 by SereneHome

[J-rap]

Oh my goodness, my dh and I are watching West Wing now too, about to start the last season.  What a great series!  And lots of interesting food for thought.  Times have changed so much.  In the 60's, JFK had health issues and affairs that even journalists agreed to keep secret.  But times have changed.  The public wants and expects more transparency now.  Especially if it's related to ongoing current events, like Covid.   

Probably nearly every president had some health issue that they kept undercover (most people do once they're in their 60's, anyway)...  

[SereneHome]

I read somewhere that if there was today's news coverage in times of FDR, he would have never gotten elected.

[Terabith]

I love West Wing.  Its depiction of PTSD is the best I've ever seen in any popular media, and Leo's speech to Josh about "a man falls in a hole," is one I've used a lot in regards to grace.  

 

[SereneHome]

Oh I can not, can not explain how much I loved Leo. I loved how he had no ego after he came back and didn't demand to be Chief of Staff again.

I also loved that they didn't have any stupid love stories ruining the show

I watch a lot of crappy TV, but I think this show was just spectacular!!

 

Edited October 4, 2020 by SereneHome

[Pam in CT]

K, y'all have convinced me.  Once I finish Rita, which is evidently the Danish version of Jane the Virgin  ( 💗 ), I'll give it a go.

[Frances]

20 minutes ago, Pam in CT said:

K, y'all have convinced me.  Once I finish Rita, which is evidently the Danish version of Jane the Virgin  ( 💗 ), I'll give it a go.

I loved both Rita (although I’ve yet to watch the most recent season) and Jane the Virgin, but I’m not sure I’m seeing the similarities.

I started watching West Wing a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Ultimately I couldn’t finish it as it made me too sad to see how far we are now from that ideal.

Edited October 4, 2020 by Frances

[Terabith]

43 minutes ago, Pam in CT said:

K, y'all have convinced me.  Once I finish Rita, which is evidently the Danish version of Jane the Virgin  ( 💗 ), I'll give it a go.

Wait.....Pam, you haven't seen it??  Oh, you are in for a treat!  It's wonderful and the perfect balm for today's political climate.  

I also highly recommend Buffy and Angel, but West Wing was made for you.  

[Ausmumof3]

This kinda reminds me of “Lincoln in the Bardo” also.  I didn’t know his story well and didn’t realise how much he was going through and having to try to keep together while the civil war etc was going on.  

[SanDiegoMom]

We recently rewatched it and I found it so comforting to see real debates about philosophical and political differences rather than just polarizing ad hominem attacks.  I know it was fiction, but I felt like if SOMEHOW we could go back to the good old days... knowing full well that it is FICTION.  But one can dream. 

[Pam in CT]

re telenovelas with over-the-top female protagonists with hopelessly complicated lives, hilarious meta-narration and 1,678 episodes

3 hours ago, Frances said:

I loved both Rita (although I’ve yet to watch the most recent season) and Jane the Virgin, but I’m not sure I’m seeing the similarities....

That's too funny -- I feel like it's the SAME essential story -- long slow very messy and implausible crawl toward ethical redemption through connection and affiliation with family and ever-closer friends -- that just starts at opposite ends of the experiential spectrum, lol.

 

re shoals of disillusionment

3 hours ago, Frances said:

...I started watching West Wing a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Ultimately I couldn’t finish it as it made me too sad to see how far we are now from that ideal.

Hmm. That is a risk.

 

 

3 hours ago, Terabith said:

Wait.....Pam, you haven't seen it??  Oh, you are in for a treat!  It's wonderful and the perfect balm for today's political climate.  

I also highly recommend Buffy and Angel, but West Wing was made for you.  

Until COVID I watched very little TV; too busy frittering away time on the interwebs, but these days I have plenty of time for both...

[Ausmumof3]

2 hours ago, SanDiegoMom said:

We recently rewatched it and I found it so comforting to see real debates about philosophical and political differences rather than just polarizing ad hominem attacks.  I know it was fiction, but I felt like if SOMEHOW we could go back to the good old days... knowing full well that it is FICTION.  But one can dream. 

Maybe more training in logic and better vocabs meant better discussion and debate techniques 

[mathnerd]

It's one of my favorite TV serials of all time. I watched it when it was on primetime tv and was impressed with how dignified and well spoken all the characters were. My favorite characters were Leo and C.J.

I don't watch any sort of TV anymore, but this thread has inspired me to go back and rewatch it again. (Thanks for starting this thread, OP! It has been almost 20 years since the show ran!)

[PinkTulip]

Where are you watching The West Wing? I started the series when this thread started, but Netflix dropped it right around Christmas and I hadn’t finished it yet. I would love to find it somewhere for free!

[Farrar]

I really liked West Wing at the time. I can't stand it any time I see it now. Some of the elements of Sorkin's writing always rubbed me the wrong way and is now just... bleh. A big no, essentially.

I think we're just in such a different era now. Whether or not a medical issue harmed a politician would depend on the politician's style way more. 

[Pippen]

The West Wing is my go-to show when nothing else sounds good, or I'm not in the mood--or don't have the attention bandwidth--for something new. My kids bought me the DVD set for Christmas once they first heard it was going off of Netflix. I will say I'm going to miss the convenience of streaming though. First I'd have to haul the DVD player out of the closet.

 

[ktgrok]

On 10/4/2020 at 4:34 PM, Frances said:

 

I started watching West Wing a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Ultimately I couldn’t finish it as it made me too sad to see how far we are now from that ideal.

I never watched it, and then lately, couldn't bring myself to for this reason. Soon, I may be ready. 

On 10/4/2020 at 4:58 PM, Terabith said:

Wait.....Pam, you haven't seen it??  Oh, you are in for a treat!  It's wonderful and the perfect balm for today's political climate.  

I also highly recommend Buffy and Angel, but West Wing was made for you.  

My two favorites!