Posse Comitatus (The West Wing)
Encyclopedia
"Posse Comitatus" is episode 66 of The West Wing
. The name of the episode refers to the Posse Comitatus Act
of 1878.
must decide the fate of Abdul ibn Shareef
, the defense minister of Qumar, who has been using his position to plan terrorist attacks against the US
. Military advisers counsel the President to authorize his assassination
, which would be disguised as a plane crash. Because the Posse Comitatus Act
prohibits the military from enforcing civilian law and US law prohibits assassination on US soil, the assassination must occur in a third jurisdiction, with Bermuda
being selected.
Meanwhile, the President and his staff are planning to attend a performance in New York which the opposition candidate, Governor
Ritchie, is expected to attend. Toby
and Sam
manipulate the press to discredit Ritchie. Ritchie tells the press he is going to see a Yankees
game before heading to the performance, and says that going to baseball games is what ordinary Americans do (a slap at the perceived elitism of the President). Toby and Sam joke about sending the President's motorcade into the Bronx and thus hold up Ritchie in traffic for a few hours. Bartlet encounters the late-arriving Ritchie, the two men converse briefly, and it is evident there is no love lost between them. Ritchie appears to despise Bartlet's erudition, whilst Bartlet challenges Ritchie for deliberately dumbing down his campaign.
Josh
's continued support of a key welfare reform bill that his girlfriend, women's rights activist Amy Gardner
, opposes causes increasing problems between them. Josh eventually cuts a deal with Amy's boss that allows the Administration's version of the bill to pass. Amy castigates Josh for not supporting her and knows she has to resign her position.
The flirtation between C.J. and her Secret Service bodyguard, Simon Donovan, is limited by their professional relationship, but after C.J.'s stalker is arrested in New Jersey while armed and trying to travel to New York City, they agree meet later to have drinks. Later in the episode, Donovan walks into a convenience store in the midst of a robbery. He disarms one thief and is then shot dead by a second who was hiding in the back, and C.J. breaks down in tears when she hears the tragic news.
As the search continues for a replacement for the deceased Mrs. Landingham, Charlie
recommends Deborah Fiderer
, who embarrasses herself in an initial interview with the President. President Bartlet is aghast and can't believe Charlie would promote her as the top candidate, but Charlie tells him that Ms. Fiderer was fired from her job because she got him hired at the White House in the first place.
Near the episode's end, President Bartlet has given the difficult order to assassinate Shareef. As Bartlet listens to a performance of The Wars of the Roses that he had earlier praised, a montage
cuts between the stage performance and Shareef's assassination.
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
. The name of the episode refers to the Posse Comitatus Act
Posse Comitatus Act
The Posse Comitatus Act is an often misunderstood and misquoted United States federal law passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction. Its intent was to limit the powers of local governments and law enforcement agencies from using federal military personnel to enforce the laws of...
of 1878.
Plot
In the season finale, BartletJosiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
must decide the fate of Abdul ibn Shareef
Abdul ibn Shareef
Abdul Ibn Shareef, former defense minister of Qumar, is a fictional character played by Al No'mani on the television serial drama The West Wing.-Character history:...
, the defense minister of Qumar, who has been using his position to plan terrorist attacks against the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Military advisers counsel the President to authorize his assassination
State terrorism
State terrorism may refer to acts of terrorism conducted by a state against a foreign state or people. It can also refer to acts of violence by a state against its own people.-Definition:...
, which would be disguised as a plane crash. Because the Posse Comitatus Act
Posse Comitatus Act
The Posse Comitatus Act is an often misunderstood and misquoted United States federal law passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction. Its intent was to limit the powers of local governments and law enforcement agencies from using federal military personnel to enforce the laws of...
prohibits the military from enforcing civilian law and US law prohibits assassination on US soil, the assassination must occur in a third jurisdiction, with Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
being selected.
Meanwhile, the President and his staff are planning to attend a performance in New York which the opposition candidate, Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Ritchie, is expected to attend. Toby
Toby Ziegler
Tobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler is played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. For most of the series' duration he is White House Communications Director.-Creation and development:...
and Sam
Sam Seaborn
Samuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a fictional character portrayed by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is best known for being Deputy White House Communications Director in the Josiah Bartlet administration throughout the first four seasons of the series.-Creation and...
manipulate the press to discredit Ritchie. Ritchie tells the press he is going to see a Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
game before heading to the performance, and says that going to baseball games is what ordinary Americans do (a slap at the perceived elitism of the President). Toby and Sam joke about sending the President's motorcade into the Bronx and thus hold up Ritchie in traffic for a few hours. Bartlet encounters the late-arriving Ritchie, the two men converse briefly, and it is evident there is no love lost between them. Ritchie appears to despise Bartlet's erudition, whilst Bartlet challenges Ritchie for deliberately dumbing down his campaign.
Josh
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
's continued support of a key welfare reform bill that his girlfriend, women's rights activist Amy Gardner
Amy Gardner
Amelia "Amy" Gardner is a fictional character on the American television series The West Wing, portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker. Politically skilled and a strong advocate on feminist causes, the character holds various jobs throughout the timeline depicted on The West Wing, both in public-advocacy...
, opposes causes increasing problems between them. Josh eventually cuts a deal with Amy's boss that allows the Administration's version of the bill to pass. Amy castigates Josh for not supporting her and knows she has to resign her position.
The flirtation between C.J. and her Secret Service bodyguard, Simon Donovan, is limited by their professional relationship, but after C.J.'s stalker is arrested in New Jersey while armed and trying to travel to New York City, they agree meet later to have drinks. Later in the episode, Donovan walks into a convenience store in the midst of a robbery. He disarms one thief and is then shot dead by a second who was hiding in the back, and C.J. breaks down in tears when she hears the tragic news.
As the search continues for a replacement for the deceased Mrs. Landingham, Charlie
Charlie Young
Charles 'Charlie' Young is a fictional character played by Dulé Hill on the television serial drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he is the Personal Aide to President Josiah Bartlet.-Creation and development:...
recommends Deborah Fiderer
Deborah Fiderer
Deborah Fiderer is a character in the NBC television series The West Wing. She is Executive Assistant to the President, and is portrayed by noted actor and comedienne Lily Tomlin. The character first appeared during the program's third season and remained until its finale.After the death of...
, who embarrasses herself in an initial interview with the President. President Bartlet is aghast and can't believe Charlie would promote her as the top candidate, but Charlie tells him that Ms. Fiderer was fired from her job because she got him hired at the White House in the first place.
Near the episode's end, President Bartlet has given the difficult order to assassinate Shareef. As Bartlet listens to a performance of The Wars of the Roses that he had earlier praised, a montage
Montage
-Filmmaking:*Montage , a technique which uses rapid editing, special effects and music to present compressed narrative information*Soviet montage theory in the 1920s-Other:* Montage , Documentary television series from 1960s and 1970s...
cuts between the stage performance and Shareef's assassination.
Trivia
- The song "Hallelujah" performed by Jeff BuckleyJeff BuckleyJeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
plays after Simon Donovan is shot and killed and over a montage of C.J.'s reaction to the news of his death.