C.J.’s First Filibuster, and Everyone Wants to Leave | The West Wing

“This was a good day, because something got done. The problem is, we only thought it was done.”
Season 2 Episode 17: The Stackhouse Filibuster
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[@davidfrederick9973]

Never underestimate an old man with zero F's left to give.

[@AnderBRO2]

parthenogenesis

[@BronzeRivet]

The filibuster doesn't work this way anymore, alas.

[@tpl608]

Moscow Mitch McTreason McSedition McTurtle.

[@timmadigan]

actually it can. you can stand on the floor and hold off the vote if you so choose. What we have added is a cloture vote that ends the discussion using a 60% of the senate agreeing to it. it used to be 67% from 1917 to 1974. Before 1917 - no cloture vote. Anyone could hijack the floor and, yes, they did. the did it more and more after the start of directly electing Senators and then it got bad during the debate about joining the UK/French/etc. alliance in World War One and thus, the cloture vote rule was formed.

[@andrewgundy3045]

Really?

[@aure9495]

@@timmadigan and also made it so that you don't need to stand up, you can just announce your intention to filibuster, which is why the number of filibuster exploded.

[@integritymatters5114]

Yeah bring back the older version and stand your arse up and talk. None of this low effort derailing show your commitment and if the other side of the argument really wants it they will stick around and wait you out.

[@Mediaright]

This is my chicken soup episode. ❤

[@LordOfNothingreally]

Okay, okay fine West Wing clips! If you really insist I will re-watch the entire series!

[@Valehass]

all for his grandson.

[@catherinewilliams9680]

I was upset that the grandfathers in the senate (of which there were several) had to be reminded about the grandson of the Senator.

[@VaterAyotte]

And so began the greatest multi episode arc to a season finale in television history.

[@robotsongs]

"Nah, I'm white, no one's gonna mind." 😂😬

[@MarkLewis...]

"Noel" is the best WW episode.

[@bobmald13]

Assuming these were the rules in this tv universe, the main story problem is that no politician would do that without saying why. On the floor. When he has the podium. Still love the drama.

[@ER1CwC]

I haven’t watched this show in a few years, and this channel suddenly pops up. It’s like reuniting with a long lost friend. The quality of Sorkinks dialogue here is not even funny.

[@jimreily7538]

He didn't write humour very well

[@ER1CwC]

@@jimreily7538 I think it depends on which context. The humour in the West Wing, A Few Good Men, Charlie Wilson’s War, etc. is great. But apparently the humour in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a train-wreck.

[@KellySedinger]

This was the first episode I disliked, sadly. I didn't like that it took everyone however many hours before someone thought to wonder WHY the Senator was filibustering, nor that it took that much longer before someone happened to remember the exact obscure rule that gave them a way out. This episode is what Roger Ebert called an "Idiot Plot": everyone in the story is precisely as ignorant as they need to be to keep the story going for its allotted time.

[@timmadigan]

they knew why he was filibustering - he wanted things added to the bill at the last minute after the agreement was done. what they didn't know is why the way because a) he didn't talk about it and b) he didn't allow the grandchild to be used as a prop so figuring out it was actually personal to him was tough.

[@KellySedinger]

@@timmadigan Right, they just thought he was asking for this specific stuff, no reason at all, it was just a random dude asking for random stuff. And it didn't occur to them until HOURS into the filibuster to think "Huh, maybe this is actually personal to the guy." They should have recognized that he was asking for something personal right from the get go, but no, the episode requires everyone in the White House to be idiots until the right moment to drop the reveal.

[@mode9800]

Cjs line "i dont even know what hes fighting for" is what kinda ruins this all for me. if hes not talking aboht autism whats the point here

[@PoorChoices1967]

He really, really, really wants to make sure that they know the rules to card games.

[@jamietodd2560]

I think she knew the "what (autism funding)" just not the "why (autistic grandson)"

[@eldersprig]

great bit of TV, but no basis in reality since the filibuster rules had changed. Based on the scenes in Mr Smith goes to Washington.

[@ScorpiusZA.]

As far as I know, this is how it was for a very, very long time. It is only in the 8 or so years when it was turned into the obstructionist rule rather than a legitimate exception it was meant to be where the 60% was needed to get the person off the floor.

[@Mediaright]

I mean, it’s from 2001 haha. No kidding it’s not current anymore.

[@eldersprig]

@@Mediaright they changed the rules in the 70s

[@mountaineergirl255]

@@eldersprig Fun fact: the 70s are closer to 2001 than we are. 😮

[@TheStuport]

@@mountaineergirl255 Wasn't Fun and absolutely is not a Fact.

[@stephenmason9527]

Even back then the Democrats would rather see an unborn child killed rather than born and placed into a loving family. Some things never change.