Triplehorn walks out. Josh says that nothing is being dragged anywhere. Josh follows him out. Triplehorn says it's about the future of the party. Josh: "Yeah, how about we enjoy the present for a few hours?" Triplehorn: "You agree with Hoynes on guns? On trade? On school choice?" Josh: "Did I just fall asleep for three and half years?" I know I might. Triplehorn wants to know whether Josh thinks a minority leader is irrelevant. Defensive, much? I don't hear Josh suggesting anything of the sort. Triplehorn insists that he can affect the President's agenda: "I'd like you to be for me, Josh. Not because you're good at what you do. Because of your beliefs." Josh says he's not for anyone: "I barely unpacked from the last campaign." Triplehorn: "Well. Hoynes is going to have to release those precinct captains or we're, uh..." He just shakes his head in a way that's meant to be intimidating. Or what? You'll bust him like a piñata? Make him eat a spaniel? Josh: "Keeps getting earlier, doesn't it?" Triplehorn: "Yes." He walks off.

Margaret is walking with Leo, going over his schedule. She mentions that he has a meeting on "ways to fight a possible recession." Leo chides her: "What did we say?" Margaret: "'Don't say "recession" in this building.'" Leo: "You just did it again!" Margaret wants to know what she's supposed to say. He wants her to call it "the robust-economy meeting." She nods and goes to her desk. Toby's arrived, and follows Leo into his office to tell him Josh is sorting things out with Triplehorn, and that Karen Croft wants the Parks job. Leo tells him she can't have it, because the bill POTUS just signed on it makes the job Senate-confirmable, and it's retroactive, and they missed it somehow amongst the ninety amendments to the bill. I notice that near Margaret's desk, there's some framed pastel poster of sky and water that looks like it has some sort of inspirational saying on it or something that I can't read. Weird. Toby follows Leo and suggests that they put her up anyway. Leo says no: "She led the charge for a higher gas tax." God, I'm having trouble caring about this storyline. Toby says they asked her to do it. Leo growls, "I understand, but the U.S. Senate isn't gonna -- plus the Minority Leader's already pissed at us!" Leo takes off.