(Final) Draft Aaron Sorkin

Our nation is at a turning point; economically, socially, politically, environmentally, technologically. From here on out, things are going to be different, and it's up to us to decide whether it is for our betterment or detriment. We've already taken the first political step. Al Gore used to say about the climate change fight that the only resource we lacked was political will. Well, that fight as well as many others has been given the green light by the election of Barack Obama, often times erroneously called the most liberal Senator, as well as a vitally important symbolic figure of change, in addition to the election of an even greater majority of Democrats in the House and Senate. Millions of people have been awoken from complacency, many finding out that they now have a lot of free time because their company has gone under and will no longer be needing their services. This Democratic revolution has been mobilized and now awaits instructions.

Unfortunately, we have too many big problems and almost none of them can be put on the back burner. If we focus on the economy, the environment will suffer even more destruction and inalterable damage. If we focus on the global terrorist threat, millions of Americans will be jobless and American companies will vanish in the turmoil. If we focus on health care, social security will be irreperable.

So, it's a good first step that Barack Obama has created from the most well-oiled campaign in history the most well prepared, organized, and funded transition team in history and that he's assembled a virtual dream team of Democratic executives for his cabinet to each lead a massive charge in each of their respective areas of expertise. Hitting the ground running is an understatement. Like a jet refueling mid-flight, they will be matching speed and altitude long before inauguration day.

Already they've been closing ranks and preparing for an accelerated agenda, even letting Joe Lieberman stay in the clubhouse so he'll keep quiet and not muck things up too much. Bureacracy, willingness, and know-how won't stand in the way, so now really the only thing that could derail these necessary actions is a faltering of the American will and the distractions that play so well on television ("Monica, have you met Joe the Plumber?"). Barack Obama has a lot to accomplish, and though he's already proven his media savvy and political transparancy with his podcasts and new weekly radio/webcast address, he simply doesn't have time to stop what he's doing to convince busy Americans to get on board with every proposal he makes.

So what we need, more than ever, is someone to present the issues to us in context, in easy-to-understand language that also doesn't cut out any of the complexity, and does so in an entertaining way so that we will actually pay attention. We need someone who can present both sides of the issue, much like the news, without feeling a false need to present all arguments as equal for fear of being labeled "biased." What we need, is The West Wing: The Next Generation.

Aaron Sorkin has had his troubles lately. Charlie Wilson's War wasn't as big a hit as he'd probably hoped, and Studio 60 couldn't help but collapse under the post-West Wing expectations and the competition of 30 Rock, not to mention his repeated plagarizing of his own material, a problem that also plagued his stage production of The Farnsworth Invention. Now is just the time to revisit one of his greatest successes and bring us a new West Wing. I think Jimmy Smits would be available to return as President Santos, and Bradley Whitford could probably clear his schedule.

The great thing about The West Wing was that every week it presented issues without making the show ABOUT those issues. In the normal course of their jobs, the characters would discuss and debate issues, taking every side, playing devil's advocate, and generally giving an excellent primer to the underinformed viewer. Now, more than ever, that's what we need on television. We need someone as poetic and persuasive as Aaron Sorkin articulating the debate on both ends of the spectrum with humor and drama and all in an easy-to-swallow capsule. Tell me NBC and Warner Bros. wouldn't be thrilled to have The West Wing back with it's original creator, especially during a time when Democratic values on experiencing a new vogue.

So, fade in, President Santos sits behind the Resolute Desk, awaiting his Chief-of-staff Josh Lyman who at that very moment is in his office talking to his serious, live-in girlfriend Donna Moss, who has just made a passing comment about marriage that has left the two of them in awkward silence. Just then, Sam Seaborn, Deputy Chief-of-staff walks in with Communications Director Louise Thorton in tow. They are in a heated argument...maybe about federal regulation of banking institutions or windfall profits taxes or possible even incentives for green technology producers. Just then, Congressman Will Bailey calls!

See, it practically writes itself, Aaron.