The Great West Wing Rewatch: 3.4 "On the Day Before"

Joel: Last episode we saw that the White House is getting hit in several different directions. They say it plenty of times, but currently, with everything that’s going on, the White House is weak, and people all over Washington are trying to take advantage of it. That the case at the start of this episode when we learn that an override attempt is taking place. Which is why I love the whole “throwing an elbow” concept they talk about in this episode. This is the episode where our guys stand and fight. And I don’t just mean on the veto. Sure it’s great that Sam and Toby figure out a way to not only get the votes they need, but do it in a way where they’re not being held hostage by a Congressman trying to take advantage of the situation. But “elbow throwing” is all throughout this episode. CJ’s storyline is a great example. You have a reporter trying to get one over, and CJ shuts the whole thing down completely and thoroughly. Any other reporter in the room will think twice about trying to make a name for themselves by taking her on directly now. And Charlie is another great example. There’s a moment when he talks about people telling him “Don’t be a hero” only to respond “why not?” He’s not the President, or the Chief of Staff or the Secretary of anything, but in that moment Charlie proves himself to be a person who is someone you want working in the White House.

Chris: As the president goes, so goes his staff. When the president is tired of being pushed around by other politicians, the media or whatever the case may be, Bartlet stands his ground and lays down the verbal law that leaves his adversaries looking silly where they stand and the same can be said about CJ in this episode when she shuts down the entertainment reporter. The previous episodes of season three have shown a repentant staff that was merely keeping their head down while knowing the country was upset with the president. Finally, on this episode, the staff regains that authoritative demeanor that's almost a necessity to do the job of running the country effectively.

A good president throws an elbow once in a while.