Review of The Indians in the Lobby
Written by Toniann
Let me just point out that Toby was the only staff member to formulate an effective plan for avoiding the Turkey Lesson. The president may have thought that pre-emptive psychology wasn't working, but it was. Also he distracted Bartlet by raising concerns about the stuffing. Good job, Toby.
As a side note, we watched Martha Stewart cook her turkey the other night and she certainly didn't cook the stuffing outside the bird. And while we're on the subject, I really don't like oyster stuffing.
There's nothing I like more than an episode that makes use of the word "schlepping".
Although I didn't react much to the fact that everyone thought Josh's telling them that there were two Indians in the lobby was the beginning of a joke, I did crack up when Sam thought it was a code phrase. Sagittarius.
The four million new poor people "generated" by the OMB's new formula didn't strike me as all that surprising. What did surprise me, but shouldn't have, was that the formula hasn't changed in so long. Then again, this is a TV show -- I'm not up on the Real World facts. How is the poverty level calculated currently, and how much of what we heard in the episode is based in fact?
And is there any possibility that this new number could somehow be fought by the president's secret plan to fight inflation?
Just give me a moment to vent here: I'm *so* with Toby on this one. Out of nowhere they changed the SAT scoring system and now I'm suddenly not as smart as I once was. Aggravating. Not to get into this too much, but the people who came up with that plan *are* aware that college admissions boards took and still take the fact that the numbers are, so to speak, inflated into account, aren't they?
Question: the "Indian in the Lobby" (and can I just say that I feel like I should be saying Native American, here, but I'll quote the show for clarity) mentioned the Dawes Act repeatedly. Curious if anyone knows what year that was passed.
So Josh forgot where his mother lives, huh? I liked the banter between Josh and Donna this week. I certainly didn't see any residual tension from The Diary Incident. That bit about "you're the girl I made fun of in elementary school, you know that? "yes, I do" was pretty cute. I especially liked when he tried to get her to call his mother and say he'd be late.
Josh and his international flavor weren't aware that the Pope is also called the Bishop of Rome?
The Little Red Lighthouse, by the way, can be found at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152470409/qid=1006399065/sr=1-1/ ref =sr_1_2_1/103-6195870-9757402
It was in smaller doses than last week, but I have to mention that I still love the relationship between Charlie and the president. One of my favorite things on the show these days.
But my favorite bit in this episode was the president's absolute awe and ensuing glee upon learning of the existence of the Butterball Hotline. And I got a kick out of the whole phone call from Fargo, North Dakota.
Are there no chairs in the White House lobby? Seriously, that was a long time to stand. I was a little disappointed in Leo's reaction to CJ when she brought the problem to him. For one thing, he wasn't giving her any other option to his taking a meeting with them, even assuming that was a bad idea. And was it, really? I don't know. Anyhow, she handled the situation rather well, I thought, considering.
Bartlet: Get out of here!
Toby: Hand to God.
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