'West Wing' Lessons for Bush

According to a recent Cindy Adams column, President Bush has been watching re-runs of "The West Wing" on Bravo. I wish he was watching this season's episodes on NBC (Sundays at 8:00 P.M.). If he was watching this season, he would have learned what West Wing staffers should do when they leak classified information to reporters. In episode four this season, Toby confessed to the chief of staff that he did it. In episode five, Toby offered his letter of resignation to the president, who refused to accept it and fired Toby on the spot. Toby marched out of the White House on his way to being indicted. By flipping over to "The West Wing" after "60 Minutes," Bush could have learned that the right thing for West Wing staffers to do is quit/get fired before getting indicted -- that the violation of the president's trust and the public trust is more than enough reason to leave the White House. That is something Karl Rove is never going to tell him.

"West Wing" DVD sets are always a good Christmas present (which is why we release the new sets in December), and they seem particularly welcome in the real White House this year, so if you're wondering what to get the man who has everything, get him a fresh set of season five for Air Force One.

(Full disclosure: I am embarrassed to have to admit that I don't make a dime from "West Wing" DVD sales. No, not even a penny.)