Re-watched "The American President" last night

[demtenjeep]

It is a great movie with a LOT of points to ponder.

[Zoeisright]

1. I think the President's speech should be required viewing for kids.

I love that line, 'My name is Andrew Shepherd and I AM the President of the United States.'

[demtenjeep]

2. I almost put that in the OP

I like the line

"I was so busy trying to do my job, I forgot to DO my job"


It really shines a light on the "politics" of being president. Also, how the opposite side works to create diversion and doubt.

I love the message that if we Value the Constitution, we need to follow it no matter if we agree on what others are doing.

The line about the ACLU...their sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights!

[demtenjeep]

3. Here it is from the imdb

For the record: yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU. But the more important question is why aren't you, Bob? Now, this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights, so it naturally begs the question: Why would a senator, his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for President, choose to reject upholding the Constitution?


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112346/quotes


This describes the republican party in a nut shell!


He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character. And wave an old photo of the President's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism and you tell them, she's to blame for their lot in life, and you go on television and you call her a whore. Sydney Ellen Wade has done nothing to you, Bob. She has done nothing but put herself through school, represent the interests of public school teachers, and lobby for the safety of our natural resources. You want a character debate,

[demtenjeep]

4. America isn't easy!

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've got to want it bad, because it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who is standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the 'land of the free'? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the 'land of the free.'"

[demtenjeep]

5. America isn't easy!

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've got to want it bad, because it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who is standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the 'land of the free'? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the 'land of the free.'"

[Bertha Venation]

6. I love Aaron Sorkin.

A good movie, followed by a great TV series.

[demtenjeep]

7. Did West Wing stem from this movie?

I didn't realize that.

[Bertha Venation]

8. Not a spin-off, but they're both Aaron Sorkin projects. n/t