The Steves discuss the 1995 American classic, the American President, along with what's making them happy in pop culture today.
What's making us happy?
Movie Discussion includes:
Ending- Any music or audio clips were borrowed from the original source material.
The Steves discuss the 1995 American classic, the American President, along with what's making them happy in pop culture today.
What's making us happy?
Movie Discussion includes:
Ending- Any music or audio clips were borrowed from the original source material.
Hello returning happys and new listeners. This is Steve Bennet- Martin,
Stephen:and this is Stephen Martin-Bennet. And welcome to a
Steve:lifetime of happines. The podcast where we take you on our journey through some of the movies, TV shows, and other bits of pop culture that are helping to keep us happy will hopefully bring a smile or two to your face along the way.
Stephen:And today we're going to continue our month of looking at a better America with the 1995 classic film, the American president,
Steve:because politics is perception. Yes I learned something yay. But before we get into all of that, what's been making you happy. My love. So
Stephen:I. Recently binged the first season of a show on Hulu called only murders in the building. You mean
Steve:the show that made your grandma know all about podcasts?
Stephen:it actually skews much younger than you would think? Yes. But it's interesting because it's all about true crime podcasts and how that's become an obsess. With most of America and Steve Martin, Martin short and Selena Gomez all live in the same building in Manhattan and somebody in their building dies. And the police say, oh, it's a suicide. And all of them are like no, you can see here, here, here. And. From listening to podcast things that they were able to spot that show that it's clearly not a suicide. So they decide to start their own true crime podcast. And solve the murder themselves and Martin Short's like, well, we could also do this other murder that was down the street. And Steve Martin's like, no, no, no only murders in the building. And that's how they get their title. Gotcha.
Steve:Yeah. Yes. Well, I'm glad that you were able to enjoy that while I was doing meetings and recordings. But what I did enjoy getting the chance to binge with you was the umbrella academy. Season three.
Stephen:And I honestly think this is probably their best season yet. Yes. I thought it was more thoroughly enjoyable than the first two seasons. Yeah.
Steve:They definitely have found their footing. It also was just really interesting to see where they're gonna go from here. Yeah. But yeah, it was, it was definitely enjoyable. I feel like they did a really good job of handling Elliott's transition.
Stephen:Absolutely. And how it was just. Nothing at all for the other siblings. And they also took my least favorite character in the show. Number one. Yeah. And turned it into one of my most favorite characters. I've just never enjoyed him before. And this season, they, they went in a goofier, doer direction with the charact. And all of a sudden I was like, yeah, that I get that character. I enjoy that character. Yes. And
Steve:meanwhile, on the flip side of that, they took one of your favorite characters. Oh. And turned her into the worst.
Stephen:Oh, what you did to rumor was just awful.
Steve:Oh, yes, it was very rough, but yeah, all the, all it was fun. Seeing all the siblings and how they dealt with the Sparrow academy that we heard at the end of season two. Yeah. And so I definitely love how they like lean full on into like the wacky and the weird. Yes. A lot of times people are tempted, like when they're TA turning comics into shows to try and. TV, is it, or make it more realistic, realistic, realistic. And this they're like, no, we'll have a talking
Stephen:box. Yep. There's a talking box and a, a robot mom that worships a glowing orb.
Steve:Yeah. Yeah. So, and that first episode when they had the dancing with Footloose was really funny. So you loved,
Stephen:like that is a scene that, you know, me and dance and music scenes and leaning into the absurd and going all in. Yeah. And to have every single actor. Just commit to that scene.
Steve:Yeah. And then to go right into a fight scene, that was also amazingly choreographed. Yeah. With so many people, you know, if you haven't checked out the umbrella academy yet there's three seasons that you could binge on Netflix. We definitely recommend checking it out. If you enjoy superhero movies or films or,
Stephen:and it just gets better as it goes on. So. Keep
Steve:watching. Yes. I don't even think it was really that week to begin with. No, but it just definitely keeps on getting better. Yeah,
Stephen:no, like it was always good. It was just this season. Is one that I would tell people, oh my goodness, you have to watch it.
Steve:Yes. And something else that you have to watch is one of your favorite romantic movies of all time, the American
Stephen:president. Ugh. It's just so damn good.
Steve:Yes. And for those of you, not in the know, it is about to be fully spoiled, so watch out. Yeah. But it is about a widowed us president running for reelection and an environmental lobbyist. And they fall in love. It's all above board, but politics' percept. And the sparks fly anyway.
Stephen:And Ugh, that's a, that's a very good summary. It's such a good movie. It's so well written, so well acted, so many great scenes that people remember. Like it's, it's one that I've just watched so many times it's in my top five favorite movies of all time. And with clue death becomes. the princess bride, the American president and Fargo. Those are my top five.
Steve:All right. Well, I guess we need to watch out for Fargo on the upcoming list, cuz we've already covered the rest of them. And if you like any of those movies, go back and check'em out. Yeah. Cuz they're
Stephen:all good.
Steve:Yes. Now why do you love this movie? I know you went a little bit into it, but
Stephen:gosh away. So it's funny. It's sweet. It's endearing. It makes you have hope in politics and the presidency, like one of the scenes. later Lewis says, I don't know anybody that has more of a love for a country than the president does. And you can see that even in his interactions with his daughters, when he is talking about the bill of rights and the declaration of independently, yeah. He truly loves the country and believes that it can be the best that it can. Like that sort of optimism.
Steve:Yeah. So that's his fiction for sure.
Stephen:you know, America is a big dumpster fire right now. We're on the fire as a country.
Steve:That's why we turn to fiction. Yeah. And I mean, this is like politics for me, but sweet. I know that like the first five to 10 minutes of the movie, I'm just like, oh my God, my head's gonna explode. There are just so much jargon and so many characters and so many words that are like, I'm not a poly sci major. I. Only recently you did
Stephen:not watch the,
Steve:West wing. I did not. I only, when I was dating you learn the difference between a Republican and Democrat. I used to just call them good guys and bad guys. so you know, I struggle at first, but once you get into like the romance of it, it is really sweet movie.
Stephen:And then, and you can actually like, you get invested in the different bills. One being weaker, one being better for the country. And you're like, I do want that.
Steve:Sure. yes. I think that by the end of the movie, I had my head wrapped around both of those bills, at least enough to follow the romantic
Stephen:plot. Well, why don't you tell us a little bit about the behind the scenes stuff? Well, it was
Steve:a 1995 American romantic comedy Dred directed and produced by Rob Reiner from all in the family and written by Aaron Sorkin who went later, went on to do the west wing.
Stephen:Yes. And it has Michael Douglas as president Andrew. She. Annette Benning as Sidney Ellen, Wade of the Commonwealth of Virginia Martin sheen as AJ McInerney. Michael J. Fox as Lewis and Richard drefus as our villain. Bob
Steve:Rumson yes. And most of those faces you've probably heard or seen before that has a really impressive cast. Yes, the movie was a success. It grossed 107.9 million on a budget of 62 million and is ranked by the American film Institute as the 75th greatest American love story.
Stephen:And it's very interesting. So popular democratic president, Andrew Shepherd, prepares to run for reelection. The president of his staff led by chief of staff and best friend from before politics. AJ McInerney attempt to consolidate the administration's brand new and wonderful 63% approval rating. Bypassing a moderate crime control bill. However, support for the bill in both parties is te conservatives reject it. No you're going after our guns and liberals think it's too weak. You're not going after the guns. So if past however Shepherd's reelection is presumed to be guaranteed because politics is perception. Yeah. Shepherd resolves to announce the bill and have the congressional support to pass it. By the state of the union address in 72 days.
Steve:Nice. And is 63% a good approval rating for a president?
Stephen:It's huge. Okay. Because if, if you're thinking that means, if let's, let's just say that Democrats and Republicans are evenly split 50 50 in the country, and let's assume that all Democrats approve of him, that gives him a 50% approval rating. This means that. 13%. The other 13% comes from the Republicans. So to get that sort of approval rating means that you are going across the aisle in your popularity, which doesn't happen anymore. Yes. And I know
Steve:we're trying to stick into fantasy, but just as a comparison, looks like Trump, when he was in office's average was 41%.
Stephen:It and that was its high.
Steve:Yeah. Or, yeah. Yeah. And then currently. Bidens is at 30%. Yep. So 64% is like double those. Yes. Or 63%. Yes. Now what were your first impressions of the president?
Stephen:So he seems relatable. He seems likable. He seems intelligent. What about you? Like, cuz you know, I've seen this a whole bunch of times. This is your
Steve:first time. Well, I'm glad it started off with him. Like instantly cracking a joke. Yeah. With his assistant lady person. Yeah. You know, she talks about how he's gonna be presented with like a 200 pounds Hal and he's like, you know, remind me to, I want more press events where I get gifted big fish. Yeah. Yes sir. And then he is like, no, I'm. Yes, sir. And it, you know, I'm glad that that happened before they went into the room and started talking like politics, numbers bills, because it, it definitely instantly puts you on his side. What do you think of his staff? Because I it's harder for me, especially at first to kind of make opinions of them
Stephen:all. So Samantha Mathis plays the assistant that we just saw and she is absolutely incredible because as they're walking One of the landscapers says, good morning, Mr. President, she gently whispers the landscaper's name so that the president can call him by his first name. She says, because she walked into the room first happy birthday. So and so, so that the president could say so and so happy birthday, and you could see the person's face light up. She has a very important job to know things, to know the things that will make him. He's obviously a nice guy, but he has so much going on. He's not gonna personally know the landscaper and that it's Janet's birthday and things like that. Yeah. And so she's great with that. Then we're also meeting Lewis who is kind of his domestic policy person, but he also seems to be the speech writer. Yeah. And so he's very big on staying on message. We've got AJ McInerney, the chief of staff who. It's his job to wrangle the circus. Yeah. Robin McCall is the press secretary. And so she's the one that has to take all the questions from the press, both sides where they're like, I hate him, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And she doesn't get to say, screw you. You're an idiot. She has to find a way to say nice things about that. And then you've got Leo whose main job. Is running the numbers. And he's the one that was able to find out the 63%. He has a great staff. It's a great cast of actors and actresses that you've seen in other things. So as you see these people, you may not know like you may go, oh, Michael J. Fox. We love him, but you may not see David PAER as Leo and be like, oh, it's David PAER, but you're like, I've seen a movie with him and I enjoyed. It's well cast and the staff is excellent.
Steve:Yes. And the staff is actually scolding or kind of giving the president a hard time because in a speech where he starts off by saying Americans cannot afford to pretend they live in a great society. He then dropped the next
Stephen:paragraph. Right. And I think it's funny because you could nowadays say Americans cannot afford to pretend they live in a great society. And it's still true.
Steve:I think a lot of less people are pretending nowadays though. that's very true. Now, I, as I mentioned am not into politics and I can't seem to wrap my head around it, no matter how hard I try to the point where my head was spinning. And I was like, how am I gonna get through this movie and take notes? Why do you think that I have so much trouble with politics when I can memorize the names of almost every Pokemon?
Stephen:I think it deals with your interests. as well as how you were brought up. Mm-hmm I was brought up with these were discussions at dinner and we like did a whole, like one summer, we went away for three weeks and did a tour of historical political things. and then of course I did watch all the seasons of the west wing. That is quite
Steve:different. Yes. Cause my mom was a liberal. My dad was a conservative and so they didn't talk about politics at all. Growing. So maybe I will blame them. okay. Consider them blamed. Now, one thing that I also resonated and I actually followed was when he said for some reason, Americans don't relate guns to gun related crimes. And even I know that that is still true today, unfortunately.
Stephen:Yeah, because you get to hear the phrase, these. Guns. Don't kill people. People kill people. People kill people with guns, though. That is very
Steve:true. Now, when the unmarried president's cousin, Judith is sick and unable to act as hostess at the state dinner for the French president shepherd realizes his staff's public portrayal of him as a lonely widower or is true. He spends some time with his daughter, Lucy, who is struggling at school with social
Stephen:studies. And I kind of think that she's struggling with social studies because even though her dad is the president. That's also kind of a little embarrassing for her. Like she can do well in science and math and that's her own thing. But social studies is all about history and politics. And of course the president's daughter wants to raise her hand and be the, know it all. Like the teacher said she doesn't raise her hand and I think it's. Possibly because of his job that she wants to
Steve:hold back. Yeah. And I definitely love the relationship. Before I realized her name was Lucy, I was really concerned when he called her loose But once I figured out the reason why, you know, they definitely have an amazing relationship. I mean, even with how busy he is as the president of the country, mm-hmm he still makes time in the afternoon to like sign her permission slip or to check in on her, give her a gift. Yep. So you could see how much of a caring father he really is. Yes. now soon after shepherd meets and is attracted to Sydney, Ellen Wade, a lawyer employed by an environmental lobbying firm that is working to pass legislation to reduce fossil fuel emissions by 20%, which would substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Stephen:Yes. And she works for the global defense council. And during a meeting, shepherd strikes a deal with Wade. If she can secure 24 of the 34 votes that the environmental bill needs before the state of the union, he will deliver the last 10 votes. AJ McInerney believes that it's destined to fail, to obtain votes and shepherd agrees. And says, you know, then we will not have the responsibility. If the bill fails to pass at that, then we can come in with their idea of a 10% reduction and get it pushed through easily and still look like heroes.
Steve:Yes. Now with Sydney. Being the main love interest of the movie. Yeah. How, how do you feel about their chemistry? I mean, at first it starts off by her basically belittling him and calling him an idiot.
Stephen:Yeah. Just because he is a nice guy and he's done better than his predecessors. Your boss is the chief executive of fantasy land.
Steve:Yeah. And I mean, with that, do you feel like friction creates sparks when it comes
Stephen:to love? I think it does in fiction things. It's what they refer to as a meat. Cute. Yeah. Where, and we've seen it in other romantic comedies and things where the two people have a misunderstanding when they first meet and then they're reintroduced again later and near like, it's you, it's you. And then they realize they have so much in common. And with this it's especially cute. Whenever she goes, Mr. President, if you don't hold up to your end of the bargain. By the time New Hampshire comes around, we'll go shopping for a new president and then she walks out the wrong door. Yeah. Like it's just cute because she's trying to be a big bulldog and he's a little bit patronizing, which isn't great, but it's patronizing in not a mean way. I do see their chemistry immediately.
Steve:Yeah. And I mean, with him being, you know, known as the lonely widower, do you think that people can have more than one great love in their life?
Stephen:I do think so. Especially people like that. So he obviously met his wife when they were in their teens or their twenties. They had a marriage he's now in his forties. He's divorced. He still has 16 years. Oh, he's widowed. Yes. Sorry. Widow not divorced. And he still has roughly 50 years ahead of him. I think in instances like that it can happen. We had a guy in my hometown wonderful guy. His wife was amazing. She died of cancer, just like president Shepherd's wife, and a couple years later without really even trying meets this woman. They fall in love and they're still together. So I do think it is possible in instances with death like that and stuff.
Steve:Well, it's good to know if I die. You'll move on quickly. I did not say that. I know I'm kidding. I put that question in though, just to see what you would say. Well, what do you think? I, I agree. I definitely feel like, you know, You know, while you're my one true love while you're here. If you were, you know, it would take some time to grieve if you were like hit by a bus tomorrow or died of cancer, but I'd have too many years ahead of me just to live in solidarity with just Remy and I, yeah, now what first I think it's funny, cuz he said let's go somewhere less intimidating for a meeting place and he takes her into the oval office. I'm pretty sure that that's more intimidating. Yes, but why is the oval office oval? My love.
Stephen:So it was. Built in its shape in 1809, I believe. But one of the things that they do is that it creates a head and a focal point in the room that nobody can really be to this side or that like, if it was a square and you were at the head, somebody could possibly be in the corners. Being like this, there is no corner. And the president is the focal point at the head of the room. I think that it really does create a all energy and everything focused towards that. All right. Wow. And also because it doesn't have any visible doors, it does create that semblance of all connected to
Steve:yes. And being that this is fiction and I don't know what happens in reality. Has the bill like this been passed. With like global warming, reducing emissions by 20%.
Stephen:So two things like back in the nineties, we did get rid of assault weapons. But that has since expired and that's why they're back. And we can't seem to get rid of'em again. And as for the emission things, no, we've never been able to do a 20% re. And do you remember the Paris climate Accords that were a big deal that came about whenever Obama was president. And then when Trump took over Trump, we became the only major country to not to back out of the Paris climate Accords. And we were standing, you know, the cheese stands alone and the Paris climate Accords were only about reducing emissions. So that we don't die. Like, and it's been hard as a country because of so many special interests between auto manufacturers, which are slowly moving towards electric vehicles. But coal has such a big power. You see that with Senator mansion out of West Virginia, who keeps voting against his party because of hi, the money that he's receiv. From special interests in coal companies and the money and the companies that he has ownership of. So no, like how much time before global warming destroys us. Not soon enough. Okay.
Steve:Well, good thing. We're not procreating anything more than dogs so yeah, shep and Wade have their first date at a party for a French president that was recently elected. And this is the second official state dinner. They begin seeing each other and they fall in love presidential hopeful. Senator Bob Rumson steps up his attack, focusing on Wade's activist passed and claiming she traded sexual favors for voters back in the day, even calling her the first mistres and maligning Shepherd's ethics and family values. The president's refusal to refute rumon's aspersions, lower his approval rating in a road, crucial political support that threatens the crime bill along with his reelection.
Stephen:Yep. And at first one of the funny things is she gets a call to the president, calls her because he wants to invite her to be his date for the state dinner. And she thinks it's a prank from her friend. Richard. And she won't believe that's who it is and tells him that he has a nice
Steve:ass. Yeah. And I mean, have you ever put your foot in your mouth like this when talking to someone? I have.
Stephen:So I, we were hanging out as a group at a job that I worked at and I made a comment in front of a boss that these days, if you don't have a college degree or trade certifi, That you should pretty much just apply at Starbucks. I found out soon after that the boss was not a college graduate and in, and is very sensitive about not being a graduate.
Steve:Yes. And that's always interesting when you have someone like that in a position that requires a degree. Yes, Now I put my foot in my mouth regularly. No, nothing ever to this extent with someone so important as the president. But I definitely put my foot in my mouth quite regularly, as I think you're aware. Yes.
Stephen:Now I love at the state dinner. When Sydney says 200 pairs of eyes are focused on you with two questions on their mind. Who's this girl. And why is the president dancing with her
Steve:and the president replies? Well, first of all, the 200 pairs of eyes, aren't focused on me. They're focused on you. And the answers are Sydney, Ellen Wade. And because she said, yes, SW. Now should a single president be able to date? Well,
Stephen:AJ thinks that he should just get a call girl. Well, I
Steve:think that that might be worse.
Stephen:Yeah, no, I mean it, well, it depends like the president is saying, I want a relationship companionship and AJ thinks that he just wants sexual companionship. I think the president should be able to date, but perception is reality.
Steve:Yeah. I think that a president should be able to date. And I know that this isn't fair saying it, but I feel like he should date, like, and like be serious about it. Like, you don't want to have like a, a Playboy president. That's like having a different girl on his arm at every single state dinner. But if it was like one person and they stick around, I mean, of course you can't guarantee after a first date that it's gonna turn into something. That's exactly.
Stephen:It that's exactly what I was thinking. Like he lucked out with this. How many first or multiple date? Do you go on before you find someone that you're like, this is the one, oh, this is the one I want to spend time with. Like that would like, I can understand it. Not looking good with the president if he's like, I'm going out with Jane and tomorrow. Oh, Jane and I didn't really hit it off. Well, so I've got a date with Susie. Ugh, Susie and I didn't hit it off. Well, so there's Cindy and he and Cindy date for a couple months, but then it doesn't work out like that doesn't go well.
Steve:Yeah. So, but like when they were attacking his values, because he found one woman, I was just like, well, what's the big deal he's falling in love. It's gonna live happily ever after. Yeah.
Stephen:And where people are like, oh, you need to is anybody concerned about Lucy? The girl is just down the hall from Emilys having sex with this woman. Well, Yeah. If it was his wife, you wouldn't care. Yeah. And it's one woman that you've been watching for two months now, and nobody's seeing that they're having family game night and meatloaf, and that they're watching Lucy practice her trombone before her recital. Like, and it's also because the president's being secretive. And not wanting to put it out there. So everyone's getting to make up their own opinions.
Steve:Yes. Now it also is a great scene when he was trying to order flowers and it kind of just shows you how different the life of a president can be. Yeah. He's like, where's my credit cards. And they're like all locked up in storage somewhere. Yeah. Like, and when he tries to say, well, bill it to the white house, they think it's a prank phone call But I also learned that the dog would is a tree and a.
Stephen:Yes, because he was trying to be sweet because she's Sydney, Ellen Wade from the Commonwealth of Virginia and wants to know what the state flower of Virginia is because he wants to do something besides roses. And it becomes a big thing because obviously flowers shops are not going to stock dog woods. Yes. Like nobody gets that as a flower.
Steve:yeah. And I mean, if you were president, would you still wanna do normal everyday things like order flowers for me or would it be okay to have people staff'em out.
Stephen:so I think it would be like, if I could say, I want this flower in this vase type of thing, like if it was something I picked out and then they did it, I would be okay with that. Because like now, after watching this, I see how it goes wrong. But then I also am like, well, I wouldn't want somebody else to go to yogurty. And make my yogurt bowl for me. Like, yeah, I wanna do that. And you know, you're not gonna get to do that.
Steve:Well, I think that I was born for a life of luxury that I just have not found yet. and I'd be more than happy to outsource everything to my people. good to know. Yes. Now Sydney hesitates at first, because of the implication of dating the president, when he is getting ready to run for a second term, would you date the president?
Stephen:Like this president of Andrew Shepherd. Yeah. But like I personally wouldn't have an issue with it being the president like just like her, I would understand that it's a big responsibility and you are stepping onto the world stage and you have to make a good impression and all that, but. I also know that the life I've lived up till now would screw his reelection chances at a
Steve:heartbeat. I was gonna say nowadays, I'm like, Nope. When I was single, I sent way too many nudes. This would not work out for me. and
Stephen:her boss doesn't think it's a good idea either. Cuz he says the amount of time it'll take you to go from a political player to a cocktail party. Joke can be measured with an egg time. And then she receives a Virginia ham via messenger because he couldn't get flowers. Yeah. And her boss says where's an egg timer when you need one.
Steve:Yes. And another quote that it shows that politics haven't changed the past couple decades is when he says the American people have a funny way of deciding what is, and isn't their business. Absolutely.
Stephen:And you see that all the time. Yes. Now
Steve:is politics perception. My
Stephen:love 100%. And there's a quote in the movie that is very clear where it says if there had been a TV in every living room 60 years ago, this country does not elect a man in a wheelchair. Absolutely like that. It just wouldn't happen. I mean, it's also one of the reasons why It took that long to elect a black man as president, like perception is key. People have their feelings about what a president should and should not look like should and should not act like. And perception is reality. What it, it may not be what is true, but what someone perceives. Is their belief and you're not, you're gonna have a very hard time changing that. Yes.
Steve:Now every good movie needs evil villain. Yeah. How does Rumson stack up as one? Oh, he
Stephen:is immediately loathsome. Like you don't like him. And he finishes all of his speeches as I'm Bob Rumson and I'm running for president and the president at one point says, thank goodness. He clarified that that room was about to buy some am. And now for those that are younger, Amway is a multi-level marketing scheme. Like you see pyramid schemes these days. That's what Amway was. Oh, okay. Back in the day, for
Steve:whatever reason I thought was like, am Scott you're okay
Stephen:with us? No, it was a multi-level marketing scheme. Rumson goes after her character. And she says to the president, how do you have patience for people who claim to love America, but clearly can't stand Americans.
Steve:Yes. And we see that a lot these days with quote unquote Patriots.
Stephen:Right. Which, you know, we were talking and you could say, oh, it's both sides. Except that these days, the people that are most mad at things like the left don't really claim to love America right now. Yeah. They say that we live in America, but they don't really love
Steve:America. Yeah. And I think that goes back to like how he even says at the end, jumping ahead a bit, but like that we have people. In power who used fear of looking back on a better time Uhhuh. And I think that that is unfortunately true in the real world too. Yep. Now, Wade, Wade is dejected after her failed meeting with three Michigan Congressman to discuss the environmental bill. When she tells shepherd about the meeting, she inadvertently mentions that the Congressman wants to defeat the president's crime bill, but wants Wade's environmental bill defeated even more. shepherd and AJ are conflicted about how to deal with this sensitive information because it's, you know, something that she clearly, isn't supposed to be telling him if they were just professional, but she wasn't acting professional. She was talking to her boyfriend. Right. And you know, do they use this opportunity to pass the crime bill? Even if it means going back on his deal with Wade, what would you do?
Stephen:See that's like, So he's doing it. Like he's working so hard to keep his job. And he thinks that the crime bill, no matter what state it is in, will get him to keep his job. And then he can do more things in his second term. While I personally would look at the state that the crime bill is in now and say, it's not going to do any good. You've taken out everything. That matters. And for once in a lifetime important legislation has the chance to pass. I would hope that I would be able to look at the situation and realize that my personal legislation of the crime bill is empty and to be able to support the environmental bill. What about you?
Steve:Sure that, I mean, it's politics. That's why I don't do it. I tell, you know, before we go in and place our ballots, I'm just like, what do I vote for again?
Stephen:so the president is losing support, right? And left because of his relationship with Sydney and rumon's lies and things. And it leads to Michael J. Fox playing Lewis, having this convers. because they have just reached front. They were at 63%. Yeah. Now they're at 41%, which is a lot. Yeah. That's a 22% drop in two months.
Steve:Mm-hmm Yeah. And he says,
Stephen:but we're not gonna stay at 41. The numbers are gonna go back up, but they're gonna go back. All right. George Congressman, Congressman Jared, look, George, listen to me. It's crunch time. It's personal. This is one of those moments. It's just you and the president now. What's it gonna be? Yeah. All right, George, can I tell you something? We're gonna win this thing. We're gonna get the votes we need and we're gonna win this thing. And you know what I'm gonna do after that? I mean that very night I'm gonna go to salmon. Harry's I'm going to order a big steak and I'm gonna make a list of everybody who tried to fuck us this week. We'll just vote your ConEd, you chicken shit, LA ass. We lost Jart.
Steve:I hope so. Cuz you know, if that was undecided, then we really need to work on your people skills.
Stephen:I love that
Steve:scene. Yes. Now eventually Wade secures enough votes for the environmental bill. While shepherd is three short, he can only obtain them by shelving the environmental bill to solidify the three Michigan congressman's votes for the crime bill, which he agrees to do. Wades firm fires her for failing to achieve their objectives and seemingly jeopardizes her political reputation. She goes to C shepherd to end their relat. And says she has a job opportunity in Hartford, Connecticut, while he defends the crime bill as his top priority, she criticizes it as a weekly worded with little chance to actually prevent crime. Oh, now she has the ability to tell when the president is holding something back, just like you do with me, how do you know when I'm holding something back because,
Stephen:You have this thing with your face. Like you have a. Vein blood vessel that goes from your hairline down to the bridge of your nose. And whenever you are holding something back or fibbing or something like that, it bulges. Directly out. And that's why you're not good at like cards or lying or anything like
Steve:that. Good thing I'm working a program or lying is bad. now, now there's another quote that
Stephen:you love so much. I do. And Michael J. Fox Lewis tells him you have a deeper love of this country than any man I've ever known. And what I want to know. What it says to you that in the past seven weeks, 59% of Americans have begun to question your patriotism and they don't have a choice. Bob Rumson is the only one talking people want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership, and they're so thirsty for it. They'll crawl through the desert toward a Mirage. And when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.
Steve:And president Andrew Shepherd says Lewis. We've had presidents who are beloved and who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because they don't know the difference.
Stephen:And that's huge. And you see that a lot today with some of the news outlets that are just publishing. Lies or you have people that come back at true things and say, that's fake news. Like what's sand, what's water. Some people don't care.
Steve:Yes. Now, prior to the state of the union address, shepherd makes a surprise appearance in the white house press room with one of your favorite movie speeches of all time, just after Wadsworth explaining who done it in clue. Yes. So I know better than to try and read this next paragraph. It is all you, my love.
Stephen:For the last couple of months, Senator Rumson has suggested that being president of this country to an extent was about character. And although I have not been willing to engage in his attacks on me, I've been here three years and three days. And I can tell you without hesitation being president of this country is entirely about character. For the record. Yes, I am a card carrying member of the, a C L U, but the more important question is why aren't you Bob? Now this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the bill of rights. So it naturally begs the question. Why would a Senator his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for president choose to reject upholding the constitution? If you can answer that question folks, then you're smarter than I am, because I didn't understand until a few hours ago, America isn't. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, cuz it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say you want free speech. Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil. Who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs. That which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this is the land of the free. Then the symbol of your country, can't just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens, exercising his right to burn that flag and protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classroom. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free. I've known Bob Rumson for years, and I've been operating under the assumption that the reason Bob devote so much time and energy to shouting at the rain was that he simply didn't get it. Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it. We have serious problems to solve and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He's interested in two things and two things only making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for. That ladies and gentlemen is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle-aged middle class, middle income voters who remember with longing an easier time. And you talk to them about family and American values and character and wave an old photo of the president's girlfriend. And you scream about patriotism and you tell them she's to blame for their Latin life. And you go on television and you call her a whore. Sydney Ellen. Wade has done nothing to you, Bob. She has done nothing, but put herself through school, represent the interest of public school teachers and lobby for the safety of our natural resources. You want a character debate, Bob, you better stick with me cuz Sydney, Ellen, Wade is way out of your league. I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer and I lost the other cuz I was so busy keeping my job. I forgot to do my job. Well, that ends now. We've got serious problems and we need serious people. And if you wanna talk about character, Bob, you better come at me with more than a burning flag and a membership card. If you wanna talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This is a time for serious people, Bob and your 15 minutes are up. My name is Andrew Shepherd and I am the president. Thank you. I'll be accepting trophies and awards later
Steve:on. All right. Yes. And as he speaks out, he also declares that he'll send the controversial environmental bill to Congress with a massive 20% cut and fossil fuels. Furthermore, he's withdrawing the crime bill for a stronger one with significant gun control measures, his passion, galvanizes, the press and his. Shepherd and Wade reconcile and the president accompanied by Wade enters the house chamber to a thunder, a applause, as he's about to develop the state of the union address. And that's it now, do they live happily ever after? Yes. They get married. Do they get married in time for her to be the first lady or do they wait until he is done in office?
Stephen:No, they get married before the. November election, because then they can't say anything else about her compromising his beliefs and things that she's a lobbyist, blah, blah, blah. Because once they're married, she's the first lady and they lose all of those character things.
Steve:Gotcha. And does he win the
Stephen:election? He does because. while reinvigorating his party and his base and their belief in him. It also reminded him why he was doing this. And he starts again, acting like the president that he was three years ago.
Steve:And do the bells pass and lead to a brighter future than the one that we're looking forward
Stephen:to. So the environmental build definitely passe. And he and Louis worked together to come up with a crime bill. And I do believe that sometime during his second term, they do pass a crime bill that gets rid of assault weapons. I don't know if they're able to get rid of the handguns, but they did get the assault weapons. All right. And would
Steve:you live in this world? Yes. Okay. Alrighty. Then any final thoughts on the movie? My
Stephen:love, I enjoy it very much. It. Is romantic to me because while it is based around politics, it's still emotions that are things that everybody deals with. And it also gives you optimism about things that are so depressing these days.
Steve:Yeah. I mean, I love how much this movie makes you happy. I mean, the amount of politics I just learned about and talked about makes me wanna take a. But before I take a nap, do you wanna know who I love even more than the American president in this movie? Me. Yes. And also our listeners. Oh, and if you, we would love to hear what you think about the episode. You could do that by emailing us directly at happy life, pod, gmail.com,
Stephen:or you can get in touch with us on all the socials, whether that is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, happy life pod.
Steve:And until next time everyone stay happy.