What I'm Watching Now - West Wing

For the past few years we have been loyal viewers of the alternate reality known as The West Wing. I first became clued into the show when I read an article stating that West Wing shared viewers with Star Trek because they both depicted an idealized captain and crew, one leading a starship and the other steering the ship of state. We started tuning in, and after catching up on the various characters and histories, were addicted. During the first term of the Bush administration we would sit rapt in front of the TV, our packed suitcases beside us, crying "Take us now!". It never happened, and despite some flailing during the immediate post-Aaron Sorkin era, the show has regained its footing and is now our favorite alternate reality on TV. Just like with a real presidential candidate, I gradually warmed to Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits), and now am a huge fan. Where do I send my Santos for President donation? I was never convinced that Leo McGarry (John Spencer) was the ideal VP candidate. It seemed like too tidy a solution during the frenzy of the Democratic Convention. I could see where the show's creators were inviting parallels to real-world VP Dick Cheney, but I never got it. Maybe I didn't know Leo's backstory well enough, but he seemed frail after his heart attack. Sadly alternate reality and reality merged before Christmas when John Spencer died of a heart attack (only 58 in real life to Cheney's 64). I'm sad that John Spencer died, and also very concerned for the Santos campaign so close to the election. West Wing has that confusing effect on me.