long enough to fully understand the dynamics.”
Kate was nearly over the edge. “Why don’t you give me a crash course, Walter?”
Her comment seemed to excite him. He struggled to cross his legs. “Politicians are really gymnasts. We are forced to juggle voters while balancing on a very narrow platform. If we lean too far right, we alienate the liberals. And if we lean to the left, the conservatives are up in arms.”
“Sometimes it’s good to fall on your ass. It puts things in proper perspective.” She could see Owens’s face flushing. “Instead of waltzing around the issue, Mr. Vice President, why don’t you save both of us a lot of time and tell me what’s on your mind.”
His forehead was dripping wet. He blinked several times and folded his hands. “Introducing the Healing of America bills is a huge mistake. There is a vast difference between ideology and reality. Initiating drastic policy changes is a tricky business. Legislation is a slow, tedious process. One cannot approach delicate and sensitive issues so recklessly. Your Healing of America bill tries to tackle tax and welfare reform, a Medicare and Social Security overhaul, and reducing the national deficit, all at the same time. That’s a tall order, Madam President, and it places lawmakers in a precarious situation. Voters get their dander up.”
“If my bills are good for the country, why shouldn’t I move forward in a timely manner?”
“Because journalists and naive voters do not understand the complexities of running a country. Not everything is black and white. They see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear. They don’t bother to examine a bill line by line. They blindly endorse any proposal having to do with tax reform, the environment, or health care, whether it’s practical or insane. It’s all about voter perception.”
She pondered his speech for a moment, desperately wanting to give him a tongue-lashing. But her father had taught her to count to ten. “You make some good points, Walter. But is this what government is all about, treading water for four years? Is getting reelected more important than doing what’s best for the country?”
“Madam President, getting reelected is
everything
. If you believe differently, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
Counting to ten didn’t always work, especially when she was dealing with a pretentious clod. “When the time is right I have every intention of introducing these bills, Walter, and I don’t care how much resistance I get from Congress.”
His hands tightened around the armrests. She could see his knuckles turning white. With an unsteady voice, he said, “I have been asked to advise you, Madam President. If you introduce the Healing of America bills to Congress...They’re going to be dead on arrival.” Owens’s face looked like it was going to explode.
“So you and the boys on Capitol Hill want to play hardball?”
“I’m merely giving you a reality check, Madam President.”
“Are you familiar with these bills, Walter?”
“Not in great detail.”
“Has
anyone
in Congress bothered to examine the bills thoroughly?”
He blinked nervously. “That’s unlikely.”
Her eyes narrowed with contempt. “So what you’re saying is that even if these bills have tremendous merit and could effect necessary changes in government that would be beneficial to all American citizens, Congress isn’t interested?”
“It’s not that cut-and-dried, Madam President.”
Kate was seething with anger.
He sighed deeply. “What shall I say to my constituents?”
“Tell them to load their six-shooters, Walter, because there’s a new sheriff in town and she doesn’t take prisoners.”
He didn’t look flustered. There was a hint of joy in his brown eyes. It seemed to Kate that he’d wanted her to stand her ground.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” he said, his voice affable. He didn’t offer his hand.
“It was my pleasure,
Kate was nearly over the edge. “Why don’t you give me a crash course, Walter?”
Her comment seemed to excite him. He struggled to cross his legs. “Politicians are really gymnasts. We are forced to juggle voters while balancing on a very narrow platform. If we lean too far right, we alienate the liberals. And if we lean to the left, the conservatives are up in arms.”
“Sometimes it’s good to fall on your ass. It puts things in proper perspective.” She could see Owens’s face flushing. “Instead of waltzing around the issue, Mr. Vice President, why don’t you save both of us a lot of time and tell me what’s on your mind.”
His forehead was dripping wet. He blinked several times and folded his hands. “Introducing the Healing of America bills is a huge mistake. There is a vast difference between ideology and reality. Initiating drastic policy changes is a tricky business. Legislation is a slow, tedious process. One cannot approach delicate and sensitive issues so recklessly. Your Healing of America bill tries to tackle tax and welfare reform, a Medicare and Social Security overhaul, and reducing the national deficit, all at the same time. That’s a tall order, Madam President, and it places lawmakers in a precarious situation. Voters get their dander up.”
“If my bills are good for the country, why shouldn’t I move forward in a timely manner?”
“Because journalists and naive voters do not understand the complexities of running a country. Not everything is black and white. They see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear. They don’t bother to examine a bill line by line. They blindly endorse any proposal having to do with tax reform, the environment, or health care, whether it’s practical or insane. It’s all about voter perception.”
She pondered his speech for a moment, desperately wanting to give him a tongue-lashing. But her father had taught her to count to ten. “You make some good points, Walter. But is this what government is all about, treading water for four years? Is getting reelected more important than doing what’s best for the country?”
“Madam President, getting reelected is
everything
. If you believe differently, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
Counting to ten didn’t always work, especially when she was dealing with a pretentious clod. “When the time is right I have every intention of introducing these bills, Walter, and I don’t care how much resistance I get from Congress.”
His hands tightened around the armrests. She could see his knuckles turning white. With an unsteady voice, he said, “I have been asked to advise you, Madam President. If you introduce the Healing of America bills to Congress...They’re going to be dead on arrival.” Owens’s face looked like it was going to explode.
“So you and the boys on Capitol Hill want to play hardball?”
“I’m merely giving you a reality check, Madam President.”
“Are you familiar with these bills, Walter?”
“Not in great detail.”
“Has
anyone
in Congress bothered to examine the bills thoroughly?”
He blinked nervously. “That’s unlikely.”
Her eyes narrowed with contempt. “So what you’re saying is that even if these bills have tremendous merit and could effect necessary changes in government that would be beneficial to all American citizens, Congress isn’t interested?”
“It’s not that cut-and-dried, Madam President.”
Kate was seething with anger.
He sighed deeply. “What shall I say to my constituents?”
“Tell them to load their six-shooters, Walter, because there’s a new sheriff in town and she doesn’t take prisoners.”
He didn’t look flustered. There was a hint of joy in his brown eyes. It seemed to Kate that he’d wanted her to stand her ground.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” he said, his voice affable. He didn’t offer his hand.
“It was my pleasure,
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