US Government [Friday, February 23, 1st period]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh was on his cell phone when the government students began arriving. "Ron? Where are you?"

A pause.

"You knew about that bookstore. And the coffee shop."

A longer pause.

"I didn't exactly ask for a class this early in the morning, you know."

He clicked his phone closed.

A tall man with a serious expression on his face and a buzz cut poked his head into the classroom, glanced around and then walked to the back of the room.

He had an earpiece and a dark suit. Anyone who had ever watched the news could probably guess who was going to come in after him.

Josh bounced to his feet, grinning. "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States."

A distinguished looking man with a warm smile came into the classroom and shook Josh's hand, clearly thrilled to see him. They exchanged pleasantries before he turned towards the students.

"My name is Jed Bartlet," he said, "and I'm the President of the United States back where Josh comes from. Someone else is apparently President in this dimension?" Josh nodded, looking a bit pained and Jed paused for a moment, clearly mulling that concept over. "I understand that you are learning about the Executive Branch. Josh decided to call in a favor and get me to guest lecture."

He sat down at Josh's desk and smiled. "I'm here to answer any questions you might have about the historical powers of the presidency or my experiences with the job in particular." He looked around the room. "Don't be shy."

Comments

Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

If he doesn't know the answer, he'll totally make it up. Possibly including a folksy story.

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

At her diplomatic best, Irulan nodded to Bartlet but asked, plainly, "Do you really find democracy beneficial to your government?"

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Jed nodded. "I do. I've seen what happens around the world with other forms of government: wars, famine, poverty for billions. Democracy asks a lot from its people--they have to participate in the process for it to work--but I think the long-term benefits are impossible to measure."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

Cedric raised his hand. "How can one man run such a large country?"

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Jed burst out laughing. "I hardly do it alone, young man. There is an entire executive branch of employees to help carry out my plans--thousands of workers."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle raised her hand and had a very specific question. A very important one. "Can I get your autograph, Mr. President, sir?"

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Of course, young lady," Jed replied as Josh came over with a piece of paper. "Anyone in particular I should make this out to?"

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

At first, Turtle thought maybe she'd like on for herself, but then, after a moment, she thought of someone else who'd appriciate an autograph from a president from a weird sort of alternate United States reality than hers. "Yeah, to Sandy McSouthers."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Jed scrawled out the autograph, signing his name with a flourish. "Anything else I can help you with."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[likethegun]

Sam raised his hand. "Did you always want to be the President? I mean, was that always your childhood aspiration, or did you see yourself doing something else?"

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"I always felt that I had an obligation to help as many people as I could," Jed replied. "Public service isn't as terrible a calling as many believe it to be, you know."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[likethegun]

"Oh, I totally agree," Sam replied. "I think wanting to help people is one of the best goals you can have. But not everyone can get your job to do it though," he added.

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"That is very true," Jed said with a rueful smile. "No one thought that I would get to my job to do it. But serving your fellow man, either through the church or through public service or by not killing the man who cut you off on the way to this island even though we were in a motorcade, right Ron?--it all serves to bring us closer to one another."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

"So what are the chances of wifi being available everywhere?" Broots asked.

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh leaned in and gave Jed a quick briefing.

Jed smiled. "I think we'll have to wait until there is cellular phone coverage in the far Western States," he said. "And working electricity and running water for everyone. Technology is important, but I believe that we need to take care of the least among us before those of us fortunate to be blessed with disposable income for gizmos can move faster on the Information Superhighway."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Broots looked a bit disappointed. "Wait...there's isn't cellular phone coverage in the west? Like...California and Oregon west?"

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[keds-champion.livejournal.com]

Pam raised her hand. "How did you pick your VP?"

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Political necessity," Jed said honestly. "Hoynes had political capital that I needed--especially in the South."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[keds-champion.livejournal.com]

Pam nodded thoughtfully, and then asked, "What's your favorite kind of bagel? I'm Mr. Lyman's TA and I brought them today."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"What are you going to do when you're done being President?" Dawn asked.

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Jed smiled. "You know, I haven't really thought about it."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

She grinned at him. "It's too bad you don't like weird and wacky languages and historical stuff and myths and legends," she said, making some assumptions based on the current president in her universe, "or I could offer you the dorkiest job on the planet."

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[fat-halpert.livejournal.com]

"Do you have any ideas in mind for your Presidential Library?" Jim asked.

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"One on land not owned by a convict or declared a historical landmark would be a start," Jed told him.

Re: Ask Bartlet a question

[fat-halpert.livejournal.com]

"That's a good call, sir," Jim said. "Do you have any preference on where it'll be beyond that?"