She caught me

I didn’t expect her back from the store so soon.

Hi, babe. I’m back.

Uh oh.

Babe? Where are you?

I’m in here. In the bathroom.

What are you doing in there?

I flushed the toilet. Nothing!

Are you okay?

I’m fine! I’d been caught.

Sounds like you dropped your laptop.

I’ll be right out!

As soon as my back is turned. Why? Why do you need to look at it?

I’m sorry.

You know none of it’s real. It’s all staged. It’s fantasy.

I know! Some days it’s all that keeps me going. And I know you watch it, too.

What were you looking at?

West Wing.

Which one?

Season 2. Episode 3.

Don’t tell me…I know that one…Was it “Midterms”?

Yes!

Aaron Sorkin. The best. President Bartlett use his survival of an assassination attempt to take on extremists, right?

Yes! Yes! It’s so good. With Trump in the White House I desperately need to see a smart President who governs wisely. I need my GGP.

Your what?

Good Governance Porn.

Martin Sheen’s “Bartlet” is the best.

When our world seems to be ruled by the worst I need to remember what the best looks and sounds like.

Season 2, Epsiode 3…That’s the episode where Bartlet goes after a religious fundamentalist radio talk show host, right?.

We remember that scene. The President enters a crowded room and the talk show host remains seated. We recite every line together. Verbatim. It begins with Bartlet addressing her directly.

I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an abomination.

I don't call homosexuality an abomination, Mr. President, the bible does.

Yes it does, Leviticus.

18:22

Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7 . . . While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it OK to call the police...

I love those lines. And the punch line?

One last thing, while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tightass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.

West Wing Dr. Jacobs

West Wing In Excelsis Deo

Good Governance Porn. I love it. I need it.

It’s easy to forget what good governance looks and sounds like. I need a dose daily. I need to be reminded there are elected leaders who do their jobs well. I need to see it and hear it on those days when the nightly news may as well run clips from “Idiocracy”.

I know it’s a fantasy, but I need to see government leaders do the right thing. In a world where each cliffhanger crisis is smartly resolved, assholes are shutdown and the bad guys lose.

The Diplomat.

Created by Deborah Cahn who got her chops writing for the West Wing.

Keri Russell is Kate Wyler, a career diplomat, who lands a gig as the American Ambassador to Great Britain in the midst of an international crisis and unlike Trump resolves it with intelligence.

Madame Secretary.

Is a political thriller starring Tea Leoni

As Elizabeth McCord a former CIA analyst and poli-sci prof who is reluctantly appointed as Secretary of State following the suspicious death of her predecessor.

Hamilton

I’ve seen it staged twice and watched the film at least 40 times, mainly during the first Trump adminsitration, as an antidote to the dark anti-immgrant years when the Consititution and our Founder’s intentions were dismissed and discounted. Wathcing the musical became akin to attending a religious service, a Mass dedicated to memorializing our founding values performed and celebrated by the descendants of slaves and immigrants.

Borgen

The Danish word Borgen means "the castle". It's a nickname for the houses of government in Copenhagen. The story, rich with more twists and turns tha Dnemark has icicles, follows a brilliantly agile idealist, Birgitte Nyborg, as she becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark. Brilliant, agile and idealistic. Three words that will never describe the current moron in the White House. 

But wait there’s more!

As well as TV shows and streaming series I’ll stream old feature films that are shameless “feel good” tales that feel naive in this dark age we’re living through. I don’t care. I need my good governance porn.

Dave

I love sappy drivel like this flick called “Dave”, starring Kevin Kline. This nineties favorite features a surly President played by Kevin Kline who has a stroke. The President’s body double, a sunny every man, played by Kevin Kline, replaces the surly Commander in Chief and governs with the common sense one would expect from an all American every man. Easy to imagine Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn in the roles.

The American President

A nineties romantic comedy classic with President Andrew Shepherd played by Michael Douglas. Written by Aaron Sorkin. This president is not a predator, a pig nor a rapist. So refreshing.

Zero Day

A cyberattack thriller with Robert DeNiro portraying a former President who is-dare I suggest it is possible?- trustworthy. And virtuous. Go ahead. Treat yorself to the fantasy. Streaming now on Netflix.

Air Force One

Imagine Harrison Ford as the President of the United States taking on terrorist hijackers on board his Air Force One and kicking ass. When the President’s jet is hijacked by Gary Oldman, and his malevolent minions, the President goes Tom Cruise on the whole gang in one preposterous and wonderful stunt after another. Spolier alert: President Ford wins. America wins. The bad guys lose.

Designated Survivor

A bomb kills the government, Down the line of succession is the designated survivor, the Housing and Urban Development Secretary, who has the Presidency thrust on him. Another feel good rooting for the President show. Good Governanace Porn at its most shameless. Whether preserving the Union or overseeing a SEAL operation to capture a terrorist the comic book dialogue leaves you longing for West Wing. I think a President William Shatner cameo would have worked.

https://youtu.be/YRA1gb3SJtw?si=oZpuy2EvT-rdDP0m

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Nominated for 11 Academy Awards and thought by some to be one the greatest films of all time this 1939 politcal comedy drama directed by the great Frank Capra, stars Jimmy Stewart as a naive, newly appointed Senator who fights to exhaustion and tears against government corruption. This is a time machine that will transport you back to a time when Americans appeared to care about corruption.

In the trailer below, when Jimmy Stewart as “Mr. Smith” takes the oath of office I actually believe he respects the oath he’s taking. Imagine that. A political figure swearing to defend and uphold our Constitution today and meaning it. Pure fiction.

I’m going to lock myself in our bathroom now and watch it again. Until I believe once again that it’s possible.

What are your favorite examples of GGP, Good Governance Porn?

Leave them in the comments field below. It’s going to be a long 4-years. Maybe.