030 The West Wing Podcast – The Portland Trip

In this episode of The West Wing Podcast Maggie and Anne-Sophie share their thoughts on The Portland Trip.

While President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and some of the staff are en route overnight to Portland for a major education speech, Leo (John Spencer) remains behind to monitor a tense situation in the Persian Gulf when a foreign tanker is suspected of smuggling contraband oil and fires on U.S. Navy helicopters sent to investigate. Elsewhere, Josh (Bradley Whitford) is on a tight deadline when he debates with an opposing party’s congressman, Matt Skinner (Charley Lang) — who happens to be gay — the merits of a bill brought before the President that would prohibit same-sex marriages. On the plane, Toby (Richard Schiff) tries to re-work Sam’s (Rob Lowe) questionable speech on education while Charlie (Dulé Hill) offers a novel idea that would result in more teachers. In addition, new hire Ainsley (Emily Procter) is content to perspire freely in her overheated office while secretary Margaret (NiCole Robinson) worries that her boss, Leo, might be tempted to take a drink after he signs his divorce papers.

Stuff we mentioned:

http://www.westwingepguide.com/S2/Episodes/29_TPT.html

http://westwing.bewarne.com/second/29portland.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0745702/trivia

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/leg23.htm

http://www.teachforamerica.org/

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pocket+veto

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresca

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

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A good resource for The West Wing fans: