Vitality was great, especially during a campaign, but Administrations need people who know what they�re doing. Josh and I know what we�re doing, at least as far as domestic matters go�which makes me wonder what the hell we�re going to do about the ninety percent of the President�s job description that is foreign policy since we�re sorely lacking in foreign policy advisors�and, from what I know about her, Lou knows how to spin, which is very high in importance as far as qualities in a Communications Director go, but the others, the speechwriting staff especially, are all ignorant virgins as far as policy goes, not to mention that, with Josh being Chief of Staff, Santos doesn�t have anyone in the thick of the battles with Congress and the Senate to tear the heads off unwilling Representatives.
Santos was going to need someone like Josh�only it couldn�t be Josh�to be his attack dog. Josh was Bartlet�s Bulldog, a nickname that he was thoroughly proud of�one drunken night he wanted to get a bulldog tattooed on his ass, though, thankfully, the guy at the tattoo place refused to �ink� someone as falling-down drunk as Josh had been�and there was no messing with him. He was ruthless, though he had things that he just didn�t do because he wouldn�t be Josh if he did them, and Santos is definitely going to need at least one bulldog in the Senior Staff.
�I�m sure that�s true. Still, I�d like to get at least one more recognizable Democrat on Senior Staff. There�s someone I know who would be perfect, but his name escapes me. It�s been bothering me for weeks.�
At least one more recognizable Democrat for Senior Staff was a good idea, and would help if I were to find someone to be the bulldog for us, but the fact that Santos was the one telling me this was disconcerting. �Sir, has Josh spoken to you about the things you will and won�t have time for?� I asked.
�Several times,� Santos chuckled. �Something about Christmas cards and turkey stuffing. I didn�t fully understand what he was talking about but he was very adamant that I not obsess over those two things.�
�Also carving knives, school board elections, national parks, and pretty much any other obsession you can imagine and probably quite a few you can�t,� I said.
Santos frowned. �Carving knives?�
�President Bartlet takes carving knives very seriously.�
�And yet people have a hard time figuring out why the US government never seems to get anything done,� Santos said, rolling his eyes. �I assure you I have no strong feelings about carving knives, municipal elections, or national parks. Besides, I don�t think I�ll have time for obsessions.�
�No one has time for obsessions, sir. They just sort of sneak up on you,� I pointed out.
Santos considered that. �Fair point,� he conceded. He looked at me for a minute. �You knew Leo, right? I mean, you knew him for a while?�
�Yes, sir,� I said, only slightly thrown by the change in subject. It seemed that a lot of people were slipping into thoughts about Leo in the middle of other conversations lately.