I’m a Sorkin originalist

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Since I did all that typing over on Twitter, I thought I’d share this exchange I had with Bryan.

Ainsley, look all modest as she kicks Sam's butt...

Ainsley, look all demure as she kicks Sam’s butt…

7 thoughts on “I’m a Sorkin originalist

  1. Bryan Caskey

    I remain unpersuaded. Sam perhaps condescended to Ainsley, not because she was a woman, but because she was a Republican.

    “Get the popcorn” or the similarly related “Pass the popcorn” simply references someone’s enjoyment of an event. In this case it was my enjoyment of watching Avanetti being indicted by multiple federal prosecutors for different crimes almost simultaneously.

    1. Brad Warthen Post author

      Well, she was a Republican, but I think the condescension came more from the fact that she was young and beautiful. Not just that she was a “girl,” but a member of a particular subset of that set. With a Republican who did not fit that description, I think Sam would have been more on his guard.

      As she was later described by President Bartlet himself, “Yeah Ainsley, I wanted to say hello, and to mention, you know, uh, a lot of people assumed you were hired because you were a blonde Republican sex kitten, and well they’re obviously wrong. Keep up the good work.”

      The evidence as to whether she was or was not “a blonde Republican sex kitten” starts 19 seconds in:

      Whether this argument leads to a meeting of the minds is irrelevant. I could talk about Ainsley all day…

      1. Brad Warthen Post author

        Oh, and it’s not just a guy thing. I think C.J. Cregg might have underestimated Ainsley under similar circumstances. It’s just funnier when it’s a supercilious man getting his comeuppance….

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