This may have nothing to do with the discussion at hand but one thing POTUS said to Josh that has ALWAYS stuck with me as a perfect, in my mind, description of who Josh is.
"You want to know the difference between you and me? I want to be the guy. You want to be the guy, the guy counts on."---President Bartlett
There is an episode where the President is speaking with Josh and he tells him that Josh doesn't want to be the man, he wants to be the guy that the man cannot live without, the behind the scenes who makes it all happen. This explains it all, CJ could be the face of the administration but Josh is the guy who makes it all happen.
shareIf you noticed in Both the Bush2 and Obama White houses, as the second term wound on, and COS 's departed, the new appointee was less and less powerful and capable. The job devolves as the term winds out. Less and less actual governing will take place, the focus is on the election. In Bartlett's case husband increased disability, made COSmuch mire about communicating with Abbey and Dictors, much less about policy. Finally , CJ was perfectly well placed to manage communication, and political, especially with Josh Toby and Sam gone.
I thought CJ was surprising but logical.
It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.