Commander in Chief (2005) s01e13 Episode Script
State of the Unions
previously on "commander in chief" the president has had a stroke.
This not the time for a woman as the leader of the free world.
I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to take the oath of office.
I want you to be my chief of staff.
Make me a part of this administration,or this isn't going to work professionally or personally.
I'm moving rod into the west wing.
It's quite a deal the american people got-- two for the price of one.
I'd like to introduce richard mcdonald.
Are you going to run for reelection? I'm not saying it's going to be easy if she runs.
It's not just the election.
This could be the next ten years of our lives.
What do you think? I think she's digging her own grave.
Tomorrow's papers are going to be full of attacking editorials.
You want to be president because you want the power to control the universe.
-That's not me.
-Well,that's the problem.
the constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress.
We are all trustees for the american people, custodians of the american heritage.
It is ask to report the state of the union.
To improve it is the task of us all.
a president's hardest task is not to do what is right but to know what is right.
I see a new america.
I see an america in which we have abolished hunger.
I see an america in which we've made great strides in stopping the pollution of our air, cleaning up our water.
And most important, I see an america at peace with all the nations of the world.
only from a position of strength can we negotiate a balanc agreement to limit the growth of nuclear arms.
Only a balanced agreement will serve our interests and minimize the threat of nuclear confrontation.
our problems are too complex Let us so conduct ourselves that two centuries from now another congress and another president, meeting in this chamber as we're meeting, will speak of us with pride, saying that we met the test and preserved for them, in their day, the sacred flame of liberty-- this last,best hope of man on earth.
God bless you and thank you.
mr.
Calloway.
Hello.
I must say,I do respect the president on this one.
It's not a done deal, mr.
Chairman.
We've done our own head count.
The president's homeless initiative will be law by week's end.
You know the president spending political capital on something like the homeless-- over at headquarters,we have a word for people like that-- democrats.
got the chairman right here.
You raise your right hand, swear on a glass of champagne,she's got our party nomination.
I think the president's comfortable as an independent.
When's the last time an independent got elected outside of vermont? Rod,meet the future of the democratic party-- courtney winters.
It's a pleasure.
By that,mr.
Chairman means the girl who makes copies of "the note" and "the hotline" for the senior staff.
courtney,could you grab me a glass and one for r closet democrat here? Thank you.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
248,gentlemen.
According to an in-house count, that's the number of electoral votes i have today.
We need 271 to get to the white house.
So do the democrats.
So does our incumbent president.
I don't follow.
Well,in a 3-way race, where do you think it all ends up? The house of representatives.
Where I do believe i will get a favorable ruling.
I'd rather lead with my homeless initiative, set the tone with a bipartisan victory.
Might be considered counting your chickens.
Well,the latest head count looks good for passage.
Both sides want points for helping with the homeless issue.
All the more reason to shine a light on it.
Neither party can afford to dismiss the problem, and the public wants to see it fixed.
But does the initiative match the theme of the address-- the courage to act,if the easy choice is just to vote yes? Well,they're going to need plenty of courage to get behind my proposal to curb nuclear proliferation.
Oh,speaking of which, I found a quote-- the director of the I.
A.
E.
A.
Once said,"there are some who have continued to dangle "a cigarette from their mouth "and tell everybody else not to smoke.
" It's perfect.
Put it in.
You're already at about 6,000 rds,you know.
Oh,that reminds me.
I want to move up the section on raising the minimum wage.
If I'm going to call on congress to immediately increase it by a dollar, I want to do it while they're still awake.
Hey,rod.
Dickie.
Hey,my man.
Um,you have a good night tonight? -Yeah,fine.
Fine.
-Great.
Great.
Need some help? No.
No.
I'm,uh,I'm good.
-Okay.
-All right.
Hey.
You're not leaving, are you? Yeah.
I'm parked down the block.
I don't suppose you valeted? Mm,no.
Sort of.
This is my ride right here.
-it's freezing,isn't it? -Yup.
You can just taste the potomac.
-You know what I'm saying? -Yeah.
Oh! I'm sorry.
Oh,man.
I've got such a headache.
I'm not surprised.
What's going on? What the hell is this? Slow news day,apparently.
Oh,come on.
This is nuts.
You know that.
If it were the tabloids, maybe we could assume it was photoshopped.
This is unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
I lose my balance, and they do this? They've got to be desperate.
I'm sorry,are we talking about the same "they" who got you drunk last night? I wasn't drunk.
I had one glass of champagne-- -barely drink.
-Morning.
'Cause I'd imagine an expression like that would be pretty hard to fake.
I was tired.
I don't know.
I skipped dinner.
Maybe it went to my head a little bit.
-Look,it wasn't that big of a deal.
-It's a big deal now.
Honey it was an opportunistic distortion.
I-I stood up.
She turned around, and I found myself-- touching her breast.
I can see that.
Oh,you're kidding me, right? -Oh,my god.
-About what? What,do you honestly think that I'm going to put my hand-- -this is absolutely ridiculous.
-It doesn't matter what I think.
All a reporter has to say is "intern.
" -Rod would never do that.
-One drink and I lost my footing,damn it! -Mom,do you mind? -I mean,this is some sort of a political party -just the fact that you were willing to drink -or some sort of paparazzi bent on making a buck.
-In public makes you vulnerable.
are you guys seriously fighting? Wait.
Is this for real? it's not.
I tripped,and someone snapped a photo.
Uh,let's eat breakfast in the family room.
Here,baby,take that.
This is not my fault.
Commander in Chief Season 01 Episode 13 "Intern redux.
" That's almost literary.
Somebody's read updike.
"Is the first gentleman a gentleman?" That comes in a lot of versions.
It would have been a lot more fun if they'd caught him in the backseat of the presidential limo with a hooker,but hey, he's managed to humiliate the president, and that's all that counts, right? And pushed her homeless bill right off the front page.
Mm-hmm.
Head count holding steady? It'll pass both houses.
The photo was taken from an angle that made it appear as though mr.
Calloway's hand was touching miss winters inappropriately.
Kelly,are you saying he didn't touch her? Mr.
Calloway had no intention of touching miss winters.
He tripped, and he caught his balance.
-kelly! Kelly! -Uh,yeah,jim.
Kelly,how much had mr.
Calloway had to drink when he tripped? He had one glass of champagne,jim.
He had not eaten dinner.
He was not intoxicated.
-right here! -Over here,kelly.
Are you aware that "the post" is carrying an interview tomorrow with miss winters in which she says, "mr.
Calloway was drunk as a skunk.
" I've already answered that question.
And caused her mental distress by fondling her.
That's one way to sell newspapers.
I'll be sure to read "the post" tomorrow.
I love fiction.
A rider just got annexed to the homeless bill-- an appropriations amendment.
Appropriations for what? Prison construction, to pump up the war on drugs.
My bill is about families, housing,jobs.
It has nothing to do with prisons.
Who's the sponsor? Frank devane.
He's a 2-term republican from upper michigan.
He's showing a lot of clout for a 2-termer.
The speaker never misses an opportunity to hurt you,ma'am.
Betting I won't veto my own bill.
I refuse tlet it be subverted by a 35-year-old policy that's a total failure.
We've already built more prisons than schools.
Hasn't made a dent in drug use.
We need to find out what we can do for mr.
Devane to get him to withdraw the amendment.
I'll go and talk to him.
I can't spare you,jim.
Your priority is the state of the union.
Rod can do it.
-Under the circumstances,ma'am-- there are no circumstances.
There's a photo.
He tripped and caught his balance.
But if he lays low today, it's going to prove he's as guilty as he looks.
How was the briefing? I could take this binder and smash it over your head a few times if you want a sense.
it's,uh, a 1-day story.
Hell of a day to pick.
We're days before the president lays out her agenda for the year, and all anyone in the briefing room cares about is how much the first gentleman had to drink.
It was one glass of champagne,kelly.
-Mr.
Calloway-- -I wasn't drunk.
-Sorry.
I was just-- -listen, I don't know what happened.
I think I should put out a statement.
Denying that you were drunk? Not exactly a position of strength.
We got more important business.
The president needs you on the hill to deal with her homeless initiative.
-The devane rider? -Yeah.
We need to get that removed.
It's all hands on deck.
Well,congressman,let's be straight with each other.
You waited until the president almost had the pen in her hand to sign her homeless bill before you loaded up on it.
That could give the impression that you're looking for attention.
I put some teeth in that bill,mr.
Calloway.
We have a homeless problem because of the drug problem that made so many of them homeless in the first place.
-40% of them are children.
-With drug-using parents.
-Not to stereotype.
-Tends to be accurate.
Look,this bill provides for the most comprehensive drug treatment care-- like rehab works?Come on,I want roofs over these people,too, but prisons get more people off drugs than shelters.
-It's the stick and the carrot.
-Well,the president disagrees.
And she is asking you to withdraw the amendment,congressman.
My constituents need to know i'm working hard on issues that matter to them.
In other words,your numbers could use a bounce.
Always true.
The president wants to know what she can do to help you.
And how many people can the shelter hold on any given day? As many as come through that door.
I've had people sleep on the couch in my office.
-Morning.
-Good morning,everyone.
good morning.
Madam president, this is lucinda walker.
Nice to meet you.
-It's an honor,ma'am.
-Thank you.
oh,dear.
That's okay.
I'm sorry.
This is our financial assistance workshop.
It's the last stop before guests like lucinda head back into the world.
We help them with bank accounts, health care well,I know you're going to do just fine.
Nice to meet you all.
Good luck.
Thank you.
We have been here for 14 years now, but this has to stand out as a red-letter day for D.
C.
Outreach.
We are so grateful to you, madam president,for your support.
Ms.
Clarke.
But don't thank me yet.
Congress still has to pass my initiative first.
Madam president, with this morning's allegations, has your husband become a distraction for your administration? I'm not going to let anything distract me,sy, from keeping the homeless off the streets.
My initiative reflects, on a national scale, the step-by-step approach so effectively demonstrated-- madam president,do your children know about the photograph? Does your husband have a drinking problem? Will the first gentleman be sleeping on the couch tonight? He may choose to,but only because there hasn't been a new mattress in the residence since nixon.
thank you.
just got a call.
Apparently the first gentleman came up the hill today.
To fetch a pail of water.
He paid congressman devane a visit.
of course he did.
Bloodied but unbowed.
What do you suppose he offered him? Oh,I'd guess he blew some serious presidential smoke up devane's chimney-- promised him legislative support down the road, a photo op with the president.
he better stand on a box the president's 6 inches taller than he is leading by example requires the courage to act.
After extensive talks with the joint chiefs, the secretary of state and my national security advisor, I have crafted a plan to unilaterally destroy a significant portion of america's nuclear warheads and materials.
Excuse me.
I would like to exert my maternal authority to remind you to eat.
You are a sight for sore eyes.
Put your glasses back on.
Thanks.
it's been a tough day, I know.
How are you two doing? I don't know.
You know what I remember most about you and dad? The kisses.
He was always coming in for the hug, always holding your hand.
For the longest time i thought it was so silly.
How did you do it? How did you manage it? Staying in love? easy-- mutual respect.
Compromise.
That,and remember that he spent half of every year on a ship in the pacific.
Eat.
This,too,shall pass.
mr.
Speaker? Congressman devane.
I thought we had ourselves an understanding.
We did.
I--I didn't-- you know,I've built a long career,some even say a distinguished career, on one philosophy-- you're either with me or you're somewhere else.
Are you somewhere else, congressman? I,of course, stand with the party.
The party supported your rider.
Which was mutually beneficial.
I mean,the original goal-- is still the goal.
Yes,but unfortunately, I gave my word.
To the town drunk,frank.
To the town drunk.
Will you let an old man give you a piece of advice? Never give up a plum committee assignment for a photo op and pair of presidential cufflinks.
No.
I-I'll call and cancel my meeting with the president.
No,no,no.
No.
She's a terrific woman.
She admires directness.
I know how much she would appreciate the courtesy of you telling her yourself.
Homework? Working on the travel schedule for after the state of the union.
It's ironic.
You make a speech with all the pomp that the capitol can offer.
Then you have to go out and peddle the programs like willy loman.
Get the word about devane? I did.
It's good news.
What did you have to give him to drop the rider? Oh,just a photo op with you in the oval.
Plus you'll have to stop by his district for a cup of coffee.
It's a big weight off.
Thank you.
So any changes in the scheduling? I'm adding a west coast leg-- L.
A.
,San francisco, maybe seattle.
So what does that make it, four days? That's awhile to be out of town,isn't it? Whatever it takes to get you and ms.
Winters off the front page.
Sure.
Yeah,you're right.
It's A smart move.
I don't want to fight anymore.
Neither do I.
Madam president, how's the new draft? The staff's done a great job with it.
We're getting there.
We're getting closer.
But? For one thing,I'm-- I'm getting hung up on I am the first female preside.
So do I talk about that,or do I ignore it because it shouldn't matter? That's entirely up to you.
Anyway,the speech just isn't there yet.
I hope we're not interrupting.
Mac,congressman devane.
Congressman, the president of the united states.
An honor to meet you, ma'am.
Pleasure.
Mr.
Gardner.
-How you doing,frank? -Fine,fine.
Please.
Uh,yeah.
So you're here to talk about the initiative.
And to invite you to visit upper michigan's 14th district.
In return for which,frank has agreed to table the amendment.
Wonderful.
I can't tell you how grateful I am to have this bill pass in its original form.
Actually,I haven't had the opportunity to mention this to mr.
Calloway, but I've been doing some soul-searching,and and what,frank? I've decided that I can't, in good conscience,reverse course.
-Excuse me? -I'm sorry.
-I don't want to waste your time.
-You already have,congressman.
And I don't think I need to remind you that a president's endorsement of any future bill will almost always guarantee its passage.
Any other president,maybe, because he has party loyalty.
But outside of this building, you don't have a party.
-Who do you think you're talking to? -I should go.
Congressman, we had an agreement.
I'm sorry.
What the hell was that? So by devane pulling the amendment, the administration avoids its first veto.
Or less cynically,ushers a signature bill to passage.
-kelly! Kelly! -Steve.
Devane's always banging the same war on drugs drum.
How did the president get him to change his mind? Well,obviously she was able to convince him that this so-called war needs to be fought by other means and through other bills.
But let's let the congressman tell you himself.
-Good morning.
-good morning.
I've just come from a meeting in the oval office to discuss H.
R.
1468-- known as the president's homeless initiative.
In that meeting, the president asked that I reconsider the amendment now attached to the bill, one that speaks to the correlation between substance abuse, the lack of prison space and homelessness.
And while compelling arguments had been made, I informed the president that I would not alter, retool or withdraw said amendment.
-congressman! -Yes? How did the president respond to your refusal to back down? I imagine she was quite disappointed.
Son of a bitch gave me his word.
Which obviously wasn't worth much.
Devane's wanted in on the appropriations committee for the last four years.
My guess--the speaker found a spot for him.
I had him.
He was fully on board.
Templeton must have come in at the 11th hour.
Then why go through the motions? Why did devane come to the oval? So he could tell the white house press corps himself.
-Did he? -Yeah.
In other words,the congressman wasn't here to make a deal.
He was here to make a scene.
Somebody explain to me how we can get the north koreans to stick to an agreement, but we can't get a 2-term congressman to honor his word for more than 24 hours.
Because we have no recourse,mac.
We have no allies, no infrastructure.
I mean,we can't do anything to keep him or anyone else in line.
Guys,we need a minute.
Of course.
-You can't talk to me like that.
-What,I can't tell you the truth? It's inappropriate,and it makes the staff uncomfortable.
Oh,come on.
I didn't say anything that any one of them wasn't thinking.
It's not what you said,rod.
It's how you said it.
Oh,so now how I speak, that's a problem? -Listen,I am your husband,and if I can't speak-- -that's right.
You're my husband.
That's the problem.
It's always been the problem.
I have supported you.
I have worked for you.
I have backed you up your entire political career! And I did it because i thought that I brought something to the table this cannot be seen as an extension of our marriage.
The lines are getting blurred,rod.
I mean,have you heard them fighting about it? No.
It's just it feels kind of weird around here with this intern thing going on.
Yeah,well,maybe it wouldn't if mom would just cut dad some slack.
I mean,not like it hasn't been totally blown out of proportion.
Pretty big deal,if you ask me.
Mmm,wellhe tripped,horace.
but he had to have done something to end up so close to that woman in the first place.
It was an accident.
Yeah? I guess.
You think they're in trouble? Maybe.
Me too.
Jayne.
Figured you'd be heading straight back to the white house, so I ordered you a club soda with,yes,two wedges of lime.
Good memory.
what's up? The speaker would likeo know if he's getting an advance copy of the state of the union.
Uh sorry,no.
No,but,embargo till she gives it.
We've gotten one in the past.
Under bridges.
Same chief of staff.
Come on,jim.
Jayne,we're up to,what,draft nine? Ten? I'm hoping we have we have the speech ready for the president,let alone giving out copies beforehand.
Mmm.
All right.
Well,still,it's going to be a cold room-- a lot of sitting on hands.
A lot of poker faces.
I'll keep that in mind.
So are you seeing anybody? I really have to get back.
Thanks for the soda.
Um,mr.
Gardner? Yes? My name is sherri dalton.
I've been interning at the D.
N.
C.
, But I would like to make the move to the white house.
Uh,you should contact our personnel office.
They'll tell you everything you need to do.
Actually,sir,I've already done that.
I thought if I could get your recommendation-- you should know there's a fine line between assertive and inappropriate.
I wouldn't have said anythin if I didn't have something to trade.
I have information.
I'm sure you do.
No,really.
This whole thing with the first gentleman? I know who did it.
Did what? Spiked his drink.
The speaker's here,ma'am.
It's good to see you.
A lot of anticipation about that.
Is there? Oh,sure.
It's the state of the union.
The yardstick against which presidents set themselves to be measured.
It's always illuminating.
I hope you'll do us a favor and keep it under an hour.
The sciatica you get sitting in the house is murderous.
I'll do my level best.
I take it you've seen your colleague's press conference? on white house grounds.
No class.
Vulgar.
Really vulgar.
I'm going to speak to him about it.
Conversing with a low-level congressperson twice in as many days? That's not like you,nathan.
I talk to everybody who needs talking to, five times a day if I have to.
Got to run a tight ship.
I have no intention of perpetuating the status quo of a failed policy.
Well,that's where we differ from you.
And when I say "we," I mean me and every president who's come before you since richard nixon.
The war on drugs must not be abandoned.
Drugs are at the very heart of what's eating away at our society.
And part and parcel of what you call a failed policy is the lack ofrison space for drug offenders.
And I'm all for addressing the problem,just not as part of my initiative.
Let me--let me say something to you, and I say it with all sincerity.
Your bill is a good bill,and with this one small concession it'll pass the house.
A concession that has nothing to do with the issue and costs more than the bill itself.
Politics is compromise.
You know that.
This isn't a compromise,mr.
Speaker.
This is a hijacking.
I refuse to give in.
Is he on the appropriations committee now--mr.
Devane? I had heard words to that effect,yes.
Well,I'll see you tomorrow.
I look forward to it.
Be good to have you in our neck of the woods for a change.
So what was it,some kind of liquid tranquilizer? Muscle relaxant.
Ketamine,sherri thinks.
She's promised to testify to that in exchange for a job.
And this source of yours is-- she volunteers at the D.
N.
C.
Along with this other intern,courtney winters.
They're best friends.
Obviously in the washington sense of the word.
I mean,is this really what it's come to--spiking the first gentleman's drink? This is just the beginning.
Mackenzie allen scares the democrats.
Yeah,but what happened to "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"? Democrats know that in a 3-way race,they'll get 25 on the far left.
Templeton will get 25% on the far right, and the president will get the middle 50% and sail to victory.
Dems' only shot is to take her out.
Yeah,but why attack rod?I mean,just to score some cheap political points? And to dominate the headlines leading up to her state of the union.
Knocking me down a peg knocks her down by proxy.
You want to get the service in on this,press charges? Yeah.
And I want to talk to this girl.
Rod,her lawyers are making noises about a lawsuit.
Last thing you need is more contact.
I'll do the talking this time.
What about the president?Should we-- yeah.
Tell her.
mr.
Gardner,courtney winters.
Close the door,vince,would you? I'll be outside if you need anything.
So you wanted to see me? Do you have aspirations,miss winters? Pardon me? Political aspirations.
I was hoping to-- because we're talking about felonies here.
Excuse me? And that's a problem.
Because not only will you never be able to vote again,but you'll likely do time.
For what? I was groped,and there's proof.
Possession of a schedule iii controlled substance.
Delivery of a controlled substance.
Conspiracy to threaten the first gentleman.
Assault.
I don't need to sit here and listen to this.
Sit down! I can pick up the phone and have you arrested right now.
How old are you? How old are you? They're going to let you go to jail--your superiors.
Know that.
If you give me a name,your career in politics may be over, but at least you'll be able to walk out of here.
I was just going to say good night to the kids.
Well,I'll walk with you.
I heard about the democratic operative.
I'm not sure of all the details or how high up it goes.
Doesn't matter.
I never set out to hurt you,mac.
Ever.
I know.
I'm sorry,too.
Well,I've got an appointment.
Okay.
Kiss the kids good night for me.
All right.
it's okay.
Baby,what's wrong? Nothing.
She just heard some things.
What kind of things? You and daddy are getting a divorce.
Oh,baby.
Why in the world would you think that? Horace and rebecca said.
No,we didn'T.
Amy just kind of heard us talking.
Amy,listen to me--all of you.
Mommy and daddy are fine.
We just--sometimes people argue,that's all.
But you never argued as much as you have since we've been here.
Oh,baby.
I'm sorry.
sir? Mr.
Calloway? Let me call you back.
Sir? Membership registration is on the first floor by the elevator.
We've been friends a long time.
I'd like to think you had nothing to do with this.
What are you talk-- I was set up,and your political director masterminded it.
I have no idea what you're talking about,but whatever it is-- richard laughlin.
And we have a sworn statement from the girl that he roped into helping him.
Look,rod,if that's the case,we will-- I remember when this was once a great party--the party of ideas.
Now I guess you've run out.
My family expects a public apology.
here we go.
Vince,could you let mr.
Calloway know? Tell him what? D.
N.
C.
'S chair is on live feed.
mr.
Chairman! good morning.
As democrats,for years,we blamed the republicans for creating a climate in which the politics of personal destruction flourish.
Today,sadlyturn that up,kelly.
Some of our own have stepped far over the line of civility in politics.
An employee of the D.
N.
C.
--Without my knowledge-- is alleged to have encouraged a young intern to place an illegal substance in the drink of first gentleman rod calloway.
We are cooperating fully with the proper authorities.
As chairman I apologize for the rogue actions of these individuals.
And I wish to convey my most sincere regrets to the first gentleman,the president and their family.
Thank you.
jim,how do we want to respond? The only way we can--in kind.
That's not what I meant.
I know what you meant.
We have to retaliate.
You an do the same kind of dirty work with our own goons? I prefer to call it a political S.
W.
A.
T.
Team.
Dickie? Ma'am? Can I have a moment? Close the door.
This has been one of the most frustrating weeks of my presidency.
I'm sure it has.
I've been played,circumvented,publicly embarrassed,privately hurt-- all in the name of politics.
If I can't take the high road to the presidency, it's just not worth the journey,at least,not to me.
And if you are incapable of traveling that road in the fashion to which i'm committed,then I don't want you representing me.
I don't want you working for me.
I don't want you around.
Yes,ma'am.
Good.
Then we're in agreement.
Yes,ma'am.
Ma'am the house closed voting on your homeless initiative.
It passed 238 to 109.
Sorry.
Richard laughlin.
Dickie mcdonald.
Would have figured you'd be over the border by now.
I have good lawyers.
The D.
N.
C.
Will make this go away.
no,man.
You're kidding yourself.
You committed a serious crime.
D.
N.
C.
,They're going to feed you to the dogs.
What the hell were you thinking? Nothing you wouldn't have thought of.
Actually,I draw the line at felonies.
I did what needed to be done.
She's splitting the party.
The party can't afford to be split.
She keeps this up,she's gonna bring the whole system down,the whole damn country.
You know what's funny,richard? Never would've pegged you for a true believer.
As opposed to being paid to be one.
The truth is,we're a lot alike,dickie.
Trust me.
what makes you think she won't veto? Well,she mayet.
But we can always override.
In any event,she won't be talking about it tonight.
She can hardly claim legislative victory when it's been usurped by a costly rider.
She's going to be forced to talk about the economy, which is always in the crapper at this time of year.
So if I were you,I would wear a warm coat.
It's going to be a very cold room.
Should we get some dinner beforehand? Once she gets the floor,god knows how long she'll be up there.
Oh,look at this.
Better them than us.
Amateur hour.
hello? You've got to be kidding me.
What is it? Send it over A.
S.
A.
P.
Thanks.
They're messengering over the president's state of t union as a written report.
I don't understand.
She's not addressing the house.
She's going to do the speech from the oval office.
She can't do that.
They're citing article ii,section 3,clause 1.
She has to give a report to congress.
Doesn't have to be in person.
But the joint session,the supreme court justices diplomatic corps,I know.
She's calling them all off.
She is spitting in the face of history in the face of every president since woodrow wilson.
Hey,you should let that rest.
It's a good speech.
What's a 5-letter word for "highway"? I should have known.
It's better than biting my nails.
You're going to be great.
So I am moving my things out of the west wing and back into the first gentleman's office.
Ro we can talk about--you don't have to-- mac,mac,you're the first woman president.
You need to stand taller and be stronger than any man who's come before you.
And with me by your side,you can't do that.
It's not fair.
It's not right.
But it's the truth.
It'll be better that way.
For us,too.
And you only have eight minutes left.
And that's your husband talking.
Thanks.
Oh,it's route,by the way.
What? "Route"--it's a 5-letter word for highway.
in three.
Two my fellow americans, tonight,I have the honor of reporting to you on the state of our great union.
And I've chosen to do so not before the people's representatives, but directly to the people who are watching this on television in living rooms and workplaces across the country.
The past year has been one of tragedy,of both pain and pride, of victory and uncertainty.
Despite this,the american economy is strong, the will of the people unbending and its conscience clear.
I wish that the same could be said of our elected officials in washington.
As witnessed recently,tactics ofgliness and deception have prevailed.
Earlier today,bill H.
R.
1468 was passed by congress-- a bill that was designed to help men,women and children across the nation find jobs,find homes and build lives.
But that bill doesn't exist any longer.
It was hijacked and inflated by ideology,by a system,by personal agenda.
It was amended not because it needed improvement, but because it could then pave the way for special interest groups to make money, for them to treat poverty with prison terms.
It was business as usual.
It was politics as usual.
In the next ten days,I will be vetoing H.
R.
1468--a bill I myself sponsored.
It's important that you,the people, let your representatives know that our government, that our liberty and that our rights are not for sale.
If you do,i promise you this, The end of the politics as usual and the beginning of the true political independence.
This not the time for a woman as the leader of the free world.
I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to take the oath of office.
I want you to be my chief of staff.
Make me a part of this administration,or this isn't going to work professionally or personally.
I'm moving rod into the west wing.
It's quite a deal the american people got-- two for the price of one.
I'd like to introduce richard mcdonald.
Are you going to run for reelection? I'm not saying it's going to be easy if she runs.
It's not just the election.
This could be the next ten years of our lives.
What do you think? I think she's digging her own grave.
Tomorrow's papers are going to be full of attacking editorials.
You want to be president because you want the power to control the universe.
-That's not me.
-Well,that's the problem.
the constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress.
We are all trustees for the american people, custodians of the american heritage.
It is ask to report the state of the union.
To improve it is the task of us all.
a president's hardest task is not to do what is right but to know what is right.
I see a new america.
I see an america in which we have abolished hunger.
I see an america in which we've made great strides in stopping the pollution of our air, cleaning up our water.
And most important, I see an america at peace with all the nations of the world.
only from a position of strength can we negotiate a balanc agreement to limit the growth of nuclear arms.
Only a balanced agreement will serve our interests and minimize the threat of nuclear confrontation.
our problems are too complex Let us so conduct ourselves that two centuries from now another congress and another president, meeting in this chamber as we're meeting, will speak of us with pride, saying that we met the test and preserved for them, in their day, the sacred flame of liberty-- this last,best hope of man on earth.
God bless you and thank you.
mr.
Calloway.
Hello.
I must say,I do respect the president on this one.
It's not a done deal, mr.
Chairman.
We've done our own head count.
The president's homeless initiative will be law by week's end.
You know the president spending political capital on something like the homeless-- over at headquarters,we have a word for people like that-- democrats.
got the chairman right here.
You raise your right hand, swear on a glass of champagne,she's got our party nomination.
I think the president's comfortable as an independent.
When's the last time an independent got elected outside of vermont? Rod,meet the future of the democratic party-- courtney winters.
It's a pleasure.
By that,mr.
Chairman means the girl who makes copies of "the note" and "the hotline" for the senior staff.
courtney,could you grab me a glass and one for r closet democrat here? Thank you.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
248,gentlemen.
According to an in-house count, that's the number of electoral votes i have today.
We need 271 to get to the white house.
So do the democrats.
So does our incumbent president.
I don't follow.
Well,in a 3-way race, where do you think it all ends up? The house of representatives.
Where I do believe i will get a favorable ruling.
I'd rather lead with my homeless initiative, set the tone with a bipartisan victory.
Might be considered counting your chickens.
Well,the latest head count looks good for passage.
Both sides want points for helping with the homeless issue.
All the more reason to shine a light on it.
Neither party can afford to dismiss the problem, and the public wants to see it fixed.
But does the initiative match the theme of the address-- the courage to act,if the easy choice is just to vote yes? Well,they're going to need plenty of courage to get behind my proposal to curb nuclear proliferation.
Oh,speaking of which, I found a quote-- the director of the I.
A.
E.
A.
Once said,"there are some who have continued to dangle "a cigarette from their mouth "and tell everybody else not to smoke.
" It's perfect.
Put it in.
You're already at about 6,000 rds,you know.
Oh,that reminds me.
I want to move up the section on raising the minimum wage.
If I'm going to call on congress to immediately increase it by a dollar, I want to do it while they're still awake.
Hey,rod.
Dickie.
Hey,my man.
Um,you have a good night tonight? -Yeah,fine.
Fine.
-Great.
Great.
Need some help? No.
No.
I'm,uh,I'm good.
-Okay.
-All right.
Hey.
You're not leaving, are you? Yeah.
I'm parked down the block.
I don't suppose you valeted? Mm,no.
Sort of.
This is my ride right here.
-it's freezing,isn't it? -Yup.
You can just taste the potomac.
-You know what I'm saying? -Yeah.
Oh! I'm sorry.
Oh,man.
I've got such a headache.
I'm not surprised.
What's going on? What the hell is this? Slow news day,apparently.
Oh,come on.
This is nuts.
You know that.
If it were the tabloids, maybe we could assume it was photoshopped.
This is unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
I lose my balance, and they do this? They've got to be desperate.
I'm sorry,are we talking about the same "they" who got you drunk last night? I wasn't drunk.
I had one glass of champagne-- -barely drink.
-Morning.
'Cause I'd imagine an expression like that would be pretty hard to fake.
I was tired.
I don't know.
I skipped dinner.
Maybe it went to my head a little bit.
-Look,it wasn't that big of a deal.
-It's a big deal now.
Honey it was an opportunistic distortion.
I-I stood up.
She turned around, and I found myself-- touching her breast.
I can see that.
Oh,you're kidding me, right? -Oh,my god.
-About what? What,do you honestly think that I'm going to put my hand-- -this is absolutely ridiculous.
-It doesn't matter what I think.
All a reporter has to say is "intern.
" -Rod would never do that.
-One drink and I lost my footing,damn it! -Mom,do you mind? -I mean,this is some sort of a political party -just the fact that you were willing to drink -or some sort of paparazzi bent on making a buck.
-In public makes you vulnerable.
are you guys seriously fighting? Wait.
Is this for real? it's not.
I tripped,and someone snapped a photo.
Uh,let's eat breakfast in the family room.
Here,baby,take that.
This is not my fault.
Commander in Chief Season 01 Episode 13 "Intern redux.
" That's almost literary.
Somebody's read updike.
"Is the first gentleman a gentleman?" That comes in a lot of versions.
It would have been a lot more fun if they'd caught him in the backseat of the presidential limo with a hooker,but hey, he's managed to humiliate the president, and that's all that counts, right? And pushed her homeless bill right off the front page.
Mm-hmm.
Head count holding steady? It'll pass both houses.
The photo was taken from an angle that made it appear as though mr.
Calloway's hand was touching miss winters inappropriately.
Kelly,are you saying he didn't touch her? Mr.
Calloway had no intention of touching miss winters.
He tripped, and he caught his balance.
-kelly! Kelly! -Uh,yeah,jim.
Kelly,how much had mr.
Calloway had to drink when he tripped? He had one glass of champagne,jim.
He had not eaten dinner.
He was not intoxicated.
-right here! -Over here,kelly.
Are you aware that "the post" is carrying an interview tomorrow with miss winters in which she says, "mr.
Calloway was drunk as a skunk.
" I've already answered that question.
And caused her mental distress by fondling her.
That's one way to sell newspapers.
I'll be sure to read "the post" tomorrow.
I love fiction.
A rider just got annexed to the homeless bill-- an appropriations amendment.
Appropriations for what? Prison construction, to pump up the war on drugs.
My bill is about families, housing,jobs.
It has nothing to do with prisons.
Who's the sponsor? Frank devane.
He's a 2-term republican from upper michigan.
He's showing a lot of clout for a 2-termer.
The speaker never misses an opportunity to hurt you,ma'am.
Betting I won't veto my own bill.
I refuse tlet it be subverted by a 35-year-old policy that's a total failure.
We've already built more prisons than schools.
Hasn't made a dent in drug use.
We need to find out what we can do for mr.
Devane to get him to withdraw the amendment.
I'll go and talk to him.
I can't spare you,jim.
Your priority is the state of the union.
Rod can do it.
-Under the circumstances,ma'am-- there are no circumstances.
There's a photo.
He tripped and caught his balance.
But if he lays low today, it's going to prove he's as guilty as he looks.
How was the briefing? I could take this binder and smash it over your head a few times if you want a sense.
it's,uh, a 1-day story.
Hell of a day to pick.
We're days before the president lays out her agenda for the year, and all anyone in the briefing room cares about is how much the first gentleman had to drink.
It was one glass of champagne,kelly.
-Mr.
Calloway-- -I wasn't drunk.
-Sorry.
I was just-- -listen, I don't know what happened.
I think I should put out a statement.
Denying that you were drunk? Not exactly a position of strength.
We got more important business.
The president needs you on the hill to deal with her homeless initiative.
-The devane rider? -Yeah.
We need to get that removed.
It's all hands on deck.
Well,congressman,let's be straight with each other.
You waited until the president almost had the pen in her hand to sign her homeless bill before you loaded up on it.
That could give the impression that you're looking for attention.
I put some teeth in that bill,mr.
Calloway.
We have a homeless problem because of the drug problem that made so many of them homeless in the first place.
-40% of them are children.
-With drug-using parents.
-Not to stereotype.
-Tends to be accurate.
Look,this bill provides for the most comprehensive drug treatment care-- like rehab works?Come on,I want roofs over these people,too, but prisons get more people off drugs than shelters.
-It's the stick and the carrot.
-Well,the president disagrees.
And she is asking you to withdraw the amendment,congressman.
My constituents need to know i'm working hard on issues that matter to them.
In other words,your numbers could use a bounce.
Always true.
The president wants to know what she can do to help you.
And how many people can the shelter hold on any given day? As many as come through that door.
I've had people sleep on the couch in my office.
-Morning.
-Good morning,everyone.
good morning.
Madam president, this is lucinda walker.
Nice to meet you.
-It's an honor,ma'am.
-Thank you.
oh,dear.
That's okay.
I'm sorry.
This is our financial assistance workshop.
It's the last stop before guests like lucinda head back into the world.
We help them with bank accounts, health care well,I know you're going to do just fine.
Nice to meet you all.
Good luck.
Thank you.
We have been here for 14 years now, but this has to stand out as a red-letter day for D.
C.
Outreach.
We are so grateful to you, madam president,for your support.
Ms.
Clarke.
But don't thank me yet.
Congress still has to pass my initiative first.
Madam president, with this morning's allegations, has your husband become a distraction for your administration? I'm not going to let anything distract me,sy, from keeping the homeless off the streets.
My initiative reflects, on a national scale, the step-by-step approach so effectively demonstrated-- madam president,do your children know about the photograph? Does your husband have a drinking problem? Will the first gentleman be sleeping on the couch tonight? He may choose to,but only because there hasn't been a new mattress in the residence since nixon.
thank you.
just got a call.
Apparently the first gentleman came up the hill today.
To fetch a pail of water.
He paid congressman devane a visit.
of course he did.
Bloodied but unbowed.
What do you suppose he offered him? Oh,I'd guess he blew some serious presidential smoke up devane's chimney-- promised him legislative support down the road, a photo op with the president.
he better stand on a box the president's 6 inches taller than he is leading by example requires the courage to act.
After extensive talks with the joint chiefs, the secretary of state and my national security advisor, I have crafted a plan to unilaterally destroy a significant portion of america's nuclear warheads and materials.
Excuse me.
I would like to exert my maternal authority to remind you to eat.
You are a sight for sore eyes.
Put your glasses back on.
Thanks.
it's been a tough day, I know.
How are you two doing? I don't know.
You know what I remember most about you and dad? The kisses.
He was always coming in for the hug, always holding your hand.
For the longest time i thought it was so silly.
How did you do it? How did you manage it? Staying in love? easy-- mutual respect.
Compromise.
That,and remember that he spent half of every year on a ship in the pacific.
Eat.
This,too,shall pass.
mr.
Speaker? Congressman devane.
I thought we had ourselves an understanding.
We did.
I--I didn't-- you know,I've built a long career,some even say a distinguished career, on one philosophy-- you're either with me or you're somewhere else.
Are you somewhere else, congressman? I,of course, stand with the party.
The party supported your rider.
Which was mutually beneficial.
I mean,the original goal-- is still the goal.
Yes,but unfortunately, I gave my word.
To the town drunk,frank.
To the town drunk.
Will you let an old man give you a piece of advice? Never give up a plum committee assignment for a photo op and pair of presidential cufflinks.
No.
I-I'll call and cancel my meeting with the president.
No,no,no.
No.
She's a terrific woman.
She admires directness.
I know how much she would appreciate the courtesy of you telling her yourself.
Homework? Working on the travel schedule for after the state of the union.
It's ironic.
You make a speech with all the pomp that the capitol can offer.
Then you have to go out and peddle the programs like willy loman.
Get the word about devane? I did.
It's good news.
What did you have to give him to drop the rider? Oh,just a photo op with you in the oval.
Plus you'll have to stop by his district for a cup of coffee.
It's a big weight off.
Thank you.
So any changes in the scheduling? I'm adding a west coast leg-- L.
A.
,San francisco, maybe seattle.
So what does that make it, four days? That's awhile to be out of town,isn't it? Whatever it takes to get you and ms.
Winters off the front page.
Sure.
Yeah,you're right.
It's A smart move.
I don't want to fight anymore.
Neither do I.
Madam president, how's the new draft? The staff's done a great job with it.
We're getting there.
We're getting closer.
But? For one thing,I'm-- I'm getting hung up on I am the first female preside.
So do I talk about that,or do I ignore it because it shouldn't matter? That's entirely up to you.
Anyway,the speech just isn't there yet.
I hope we're not interrupting.
Mac,congressman devane.
Congressman, the president of the united states.
An honor to meet you, ma'am.
Pleasure.
Mr.
Gardner.
-How you doing,frank? -Fine,fine.
Please.
Uh,yeah.
So you're here to talk about the initiative.
And to invite you to visit upper michigan's 14th district.
In return for which,frank has agreed to table the amendment.
Wonderful.
I can't tell you how grateful I am to have this bill pass in its original form.
Actually,I haven't had the opportunity to mention this to mr.
Calloway, but I've been doing some soul-searching,and and what,frank? I've decided that I can't, in good conscience,reverse course.
-Excuse me? -I'm sorry.
-I don't want to waste your time.
-You already have,congressman.
And I don't think I need to remind you that a president's endorsement of any future bill will almost always guarantee its passage.
Any other president,maybe, because he has party loyalty.
But outside of this building, you don't have a party.
-Who do you think you're talking to? -I should go.
Congressman, we had an agreement.
I'm sorry.
What the hell was that? So by devane pulling the amendment, the administration avoids its first veto.
Or less cynically,ushers a signature bill to passage.
-kelly! Kelly! -Steve.
Devane's always banging the same war on drugs drum.
How did the president get him to change his mind? Well,obviously she was able to convince him that this so-called war needs to be fought by other means and through other bills.
But let's let the congressman tell you himself.
-Good morning.
-good morning.
I've just come from a meeting in the oval office to discuss H.
R.
1468-- known as the president's homeless initiative.
In that meeting, the president asked that I reconsider the amendment now attached to the bill, one that speaks to the correlation between substance abuse, the lack of prison space and homelessness.
And while compelling arguments had been made, I informed the president that I would not alter, retool or withdraw said amendment.
-congressman! -Yes? How did the president respond to your refusal to back down? I imagine she was quite disappointed.
Son of a bitch gave me his word.
Which obviously wasn't worth much.
Devane's wanted in on the appropriations committee for the last four years.
My guess--the speaker found a spot for him.
I had him.
He was fully on board.
Templeton must have come in at the 11th hour.
Then why go through the motions? Why did devane come to the oval? So he could tell the white house press corps himself.
-Did he? -Yeah.
In other words,the congressman wasn't here to make a deal.
He was here to make a scene.
Somebody explain to me how we can get the north koreans to stick to an agreement, but we can't get a 2-term congressman to honor his word for more than 24 hours.
Because we have no recourse,mac.
We have no allies, no infrastructure.
I mean,we can't do anything to keep him or anyone else in line.
Guys,we need a minute.
Of course.
-You can't talk to me like that.
-What,I can't tell you the truth? It's inappropriate,and it makes the staff uncomfortable.
Oh,come on.
I didn't say anything that any one of them wasn't thinking.
It's not what you said,rod.
It's how you said it.
Oh,so now how I speak, that's a problem? -Listen,I am your husband,and if I can't speak-- -that's right.
You're my husband.
That's the problem.
It's always been the problem.
I have supported you.
I have worked for you.
I have backed you up your entire political career! And I did it because i thought that I brought something to the table this cannot be seen as an extension of our marriage.
The lines are getting blurred,rod.
I mean,have you heard them fighting about it? No.
It's just it feels kind of weird around here with this intern thing going on.
Yeah,well,maybe it wouldn't if mom would just cut dad some slack.
I mean,not like it hasn't been totally blown out of proportion.
Pretty big deal,if you ask me.
Mmm,wellhe tripped,horace.
but he had to have done something to end up so close to that woman in the first place.
It was an accident.
Yeah? I guess.
You think they're in trouble? Maybe.
Me too.
Jayne.
Figured you'd be heading straight back to the white house, so I ordered you a club soda with,yes,two wedges of lime.
Good memory.
what's up? The speaker would likeo know if he's getting an advance copy of the state of the union.
Uh sorry,no.
No,but,embargo till she gives it.
We've gotten one in the past.
Under bridges.
Same chief of staff.
Come on,jim.
Jayne,we're up to,what,draft nine? Ten? I'm hoping we have we have the speech ready for the president,let alone giving out copies beforehand.
Mmm.
All right.
Well,still,it's going to be a cold room-- a lot of sitting on hands.
A lot of poker faces.
I'll keep that in mind.
So are you seeing anybody? I really have to get back.
Thanks for the soda.
Um,mr.
Gardner? Yes? My name is sherri dalton.
I've been interning at the D.
N.
C.
, But I would like to make the move to the white house.
Uh,you should contact our personnel office.
They'll tell you everything you need to do.
Actually,sir,I've already done that.
I thought if I could get your recommendation-- you should know there's a fine line between assertive and inappropriate.
I wouldn't have said anythin if I didn't have something to trade.
I have information.
I'm sure you do.
No,really.
This whole thing with the first gentleman? I know who did it.
Did what? Spiked his drink.
The speaker's here,ma'am.
It's good to see you.
A lot of anticipation about that.
Is there? Oh,sure.
It's the state of the union.
The yardstick against which presidents set themselves to be measured.
It's always illuminating.
I hope you'll do us a favor and keep it under an hour.
The sciatica you get sitting in the house is murderous.
I'll do my level best.
I take it you've seen your colleague's press conference? on white house grounds.
No class.
Vulgar.
Really vulgar.
I'm going to speak to him about it.
Conversing with a low-level congressperson twice in as many days? That's not like you,nathan.
I talk to everybody who needs talking to, five times a day if I have to.
Got to run a tight ship.
I have no intention of perpetuating the status quo of a failed policy.
Well,that's where we differ from you.
And when I say "we," I mean me and every president who's come before you since richard nixon.
The war on drugs must not be abandoned.
Drugs are at the very heart of what's eating away at our society.
And part and parcel of what you call a failed policy is the lack ofrison space for drug offenders.
And I'm all for addressing the problem,just not as part of my initiative.
Let me--let me say something to you, and I say it with all sincerity.
Your bill is a good bill,and with this one small concession it'll pass the house.
A concession that has nothing to do with the issue and costs more than the bill itself.
Politics is compromise.
You know that.
This isn't a compromise,mr.
Speaker.
This is a hijacking.
I refuse to give in.
Is he on the appropriations committee now--mr.
Devane? I had heard words to that effect,yes.
Well,I'll see you tomorrow.
I look forward to it.
Be good to have you in our neck of the woods for a change.
So what was it,some kind of liquid tranquilizer? Muscle relaxant.
Ketamine,sherri thinks.
She's promised to testify to that in exchange for a job.
And this source of yours is-- she volunteers at the D.
N.
C.
Along with this other intern,courtney winters.
They're best friends.
Obviously in the washington sense of the word.
I mean,is this really what it's come to--spiking the first gentleman's drink? This is just the beginning.
Mackenzie allen scares the democrats.
Yeah,but what happened to "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"? Democrats know that in a 3-way race,they'll get 25 on the far left.
Templeton will get 25% on the far right, and the president will get the middle 50% and sail to victory.
Dems' only shot is to take her out.
Yeah,but why attack rod?I mean,just to score some cheap political points? And to dominate the headlines leading up to her state of the union.
Knocking me down a peg knocks her down by proxy.
You want to get the service in on this,press charges? Yeah.
And I want to talk to this girl.
Rod,her lawyers are making noises about a lawsuit.
Last thing you need is more contact.
I'll do the talking this time.
What about the president?Should we-- yeah.
Tell her.
mr.
Gardner,courtney winters.
Close the door,vince,would you? I'll be outside if you need anything.
So you wanted to see me? Do you have aspirations,miss winters? Pardon me? Political aspirations.
I was hoping to-- because we're talking about felonies here.
Excuse me? And that's a problem.
Because not only will you never be able to vote again,but you'll likely do time.
For what? I was groped,and there's proof.
Possession of a schedule iii controlled substance.
Delivery of a controlled substance.
Conspiracy to threaten the first gentleman.
Assault.
I don't need to sit here and listen to this.
Sit down! I can pick up the phone and have you arrested right now.
How old are you? How old are you? They're going to let you go to jail--your superiors.
Know that.
If you give me a name,your career in politics may be over, but at least you'll be able to walk out of here.
I was just going to say good night to the kids.
Well,I'll walk with you.
I heard about the democratic operative.
I'm not sure of all the details or how high up it goes.
Doesn't matter.
I never set out to hurt you,mac.
Ever.
I know.
I'm sorry,too.
Well,I've got an appointment.
Okay.
Kiss the kids good night for me.
All right.
it's okay.
Baby,what's wrong? Nothing.
She just heard some things.
What kind of things? You and daddy are getting a divorce.
Oh,baby.
Why in the world would you think that? Horace and rebecca said.
No,we didn'T.
Amy just kind of heard us talking.
Amy,listen to me--all of you.
Mommy and daddy are fine.
We just--sometimes people argue,that's all.
But you never argued as much as you have since we've been here.
Oh,baby.
I'm sorry.
sir? Mr.
Calloway? Let me call you back.
Sir? Membership registration is on the first floor by the elevator.
We've been friends a long time.
I'd like to think you had nothing to do with this.
What are you talk-- I was set up,and your political director masterminded it.
I have no idea what you're talking about,but whatever it is-- richard laughlin.
And we have a sworn statement from the girl that he roped into helping him.
Look,rod,if that's the case,we will-- I remember when this was once a great party--the party of ideas.
Now I guess you've run out.
My family expects a public apology.
here we go.
Vince,could you let mr.
Calloway know? Tell him what? D.
N.
C.
'S chair is on live feed.
mr.
Chairman! good morning.
As democrats,for years,we blamed the republicans for creating a climate in which the politics of personal destruction flourish.
Today,sadlyturn that up,kelly.
Some of our own have stepped far over the line of civility in politics.
An employee of the D.
N.
C.
--Without my knowledge-- is alleged to have encouraged a young intern to place an illegal substance in the drink of first gentleman rod calloway.
We are cooperating fully with the proper authorities.
As chairman I apologize for the rogue actions of these individuals.
And I wish to convey my most sincere regrets to the first gentleman,the president and their family.
Thank you.
jim,how do we want to respond? The only way we can--in kind.
That's not what I meant.
I know what you meant.
We have to retaliate.
You an do the same kind of dirty work with our own goons? I prefer to call it a political S.
W.
A.
T.
Team.
Dickie? Ma'am? Can I have a moment? Close the door.
This has been one of the most frustrating weeks of my presidency.
I'm sure it has.
I've been played,circumvented,publicly embarrassed,privately hurt-- all in the name of politics.
If I can't take the high road to the presidency, it's just not worth the journey,at least,not to me.
And if you are incapable of traveling that road in the fashion to which i'm committed,then I don't want you representing me.
I don't want you working for me.
I don't want you around.
Yes,ma'am.
Good.
Then we're in agreement.
Yes,ma'am.
Ma'am the house closed voting on your homeless initiative.
It passed 238 to 109.
Sorry.
Richard laughlin.
Dickie mcdonald.
Would have figured you'd be over the border by now.
I have good lawyers.
The D.
N.
C.
Will make this go away.
no,man.
You're kidding yourself.
You committed a serious crime.
D.
N.
C.
,They're going to feed you to the dogs.
What the hell were you thinking? Nothing you wouldn't have thought of.
Actually,I draw the line at felonies.
I did what needed to be done.
She's splitting the party.
The party can't afford to be split.
She keeps this up,she's gonna bring the whole system down,the whole damn country.
You know what's funny,richard? Never would've pegged you for a true believer.
As opposed to being paid to be one.
The truth is,we're a lot alike,dickie.
Trust me.
what makes you think she won't veto? Well,she mayet.
But we can always override.
In any event,she won't be talking about it tonight.
She can hardly claim legislative victory when it's been usurped by a costly rider.
She's going to be forced to talk about the economy, which is always in the crapper at this time of year.
So if I were you,I would wear a warm coat.
It's going to be a very cold room.
Should we get some dinner beforehand? Once she gets the floor,god knows how long she'll be up there.
Oh,look at this.
Better them than us.
Amateur hour.
hello? You've got to be kidding me.
What is it? Send it over A.
S.
A.
P.
Thanks.
They're messengering over the president's state of t union as a written report.
I don't understand.
She's not addressing the house.
She's going to do the speech from the oval office.
She can't do that.
They're citing article ii,section 3,clause 1.
She has to give a report to congress.
Doesn't have to be in person.
But the joint session,the supreme court justices diplomatic corps,I know.
She's calling them all off.
She is spitting in the face of history in the face of every president since woodrow wilson.
Hey,you should let that rest.
It's a good speech.
What's a 5-letter word for "highway"? I should have known.
It's better than biting my nails.
You're going to be great.
So I am moving my things out of the west wing and back into the first gentleman's office.
Ro we can talk about--you don't have to-- mac,mac,you're the first woman president.
You need to stand taller and be stronger than any man who's come before you.
And with me by your side,you can't do that.
It's not fair.
It's not right.
But it's the truth.
It'll be better that way.
For us,too.
And you only have eight minutes left.
And that's your husband talking.
Thanks.
Oh,it's route,by the way.
What? "Route"--it's a 5-letter word for highway.
in three.
Two my fellow americans, tonight,I have the honor of reporting to you on the state of our great union.
And I've chosen to do so not before the people's representatives, but directly to the people who are watching this on television in living rooms and workplaces across the country.
The past year has been one of tragedy,of both pain and pride, of victory and uncertainty.
Despite this,the american economy is strong, the will of the people unbending and its conscience clear.
I wish that the same could be said of our elected officials in washington.
As witnessed recently,tactics ofgliness and deception have prevailed.
Earlier today,bill H.
R.
1468 was passed by congress-- a bill that was designed to help men,women and children across the nation find jobs,find homes and build lives.
But that bill doesn't exist any longer.
It was hijacked and inflated by ideology,by a system,by personal agenda.
It was amended not because it needed improvement, but because it could then pave the way for special interest groups to make money, for them to treat poverty with prison terms.
It was business as usual.
It was politics as usual.
In the next ten days,I will be vetoing H.
R.
1468--a bill I myself sponsored.
It's important that you,the people, let your representatives know that our government, that our liberty and that our rights are not for sale.
If you do,i promise you this, The end of the politics as usual and the beginning of the true political independence.