This has been a wonderful show from the beginning. The primary writer, Aaron Sorkin, left the show about a season and a half ago. Some people think it’s gotten worse since then. I’m undecided. I have mixed feelings about the direction the show has taken this season, but with the two term limits for president they were going to have to make a change to maintain a semblance of reality. I was appalled when they said Jimmy Smitts was coming on the show, but he has significantly surpassed my expectations. His character is essentially the Howard Dean of the West Wing world. It would be incredibly satisfying if he were to become the next president on the show. My husband predicts that the John McCain-like moderate Republican candidate, played by Alan Alda. Despite my affection for Alan Alda, I hope he’s wrong. I can’t take any more Republicans in power, real or not.