Girl Power (28 page)

"Call me Ian, please."

"All right. And you can call me Debra. I think maybe next time you will

have better cards, and with your help, the whole country will have better cards—

they need them. I look forward to working with and against you."

~ * * ~

After Debra Sholtz Water's conversation with Ian Rich, everything fell into

place. On January 20th, Chief Justice Robert Johns swore Sally Cummings in as

President and Winfred Opry as Vice President. That night the 'Equality for All'

celebration on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial drew over a million people of

all colors, genders and orientations, while almost a hundred million viewers

watched the proceedings on TV.

~ * * ~

It took Sally and her staff a week or so following the inauguration to settle

into the White House. Nevertheless, on her second day, Sally held a lengthy

cabinet meeting, urging Cabinet members to outline any perceived problems

their department faced and make suggestions.

Afterward, Sally asked Lee, her Chief of Staff, to arrange with Speaker

Balmer and Senate Leader Rede, to schedule time for the President to deliver a

speech to the joint sessions of Congress. Sally, when she could, and Carla worked on the speech.

Though Sally's speech was for Congress's benefit, it would be televised, so

the speech was also crafted for the nation's consumption.

~ * * ~

The Speaker of the House scheduled the speech for 9:00 p.m. February 19th,

and invitations were sent out to all members of Congress.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. members of the House entered and took their

seats. 101 SAFE representatives sat in the middle with the Republicans on their

right and the Democrats on their left.

Loudly, Deputy Sergeant at Arms addressed the Speaker. He announced

the Vice President and members of the Senate as they entered and took their

assigned seats. Vice President Opry sat next to Speaker Balmer on the rostrum,

behind the lectern.

The Deputy Sergeant at Arms subsequently announced the arrival of the

Cabinet, some of whom had yet to be confirmed.

Just after 9 pm, the Sergeant at Arms enthusiastically announced Sally's

arrival. "Mister Speaker, the President of the United States!"

To applause and cheering, the President stepped through the doorway and

walked toward the Speaker's rostrum, followed by members of her

Congressional Escort Committee. As was typical, her approach slowed from

pausing to shake hands, hug, kiss, and autograph copies of her speech for

Members of Congress. From the House Clerk's desk, she retrieved two manila

envelopes containing copies of the address and handed them to the Speaker and

Vice President before taking her place at the lectern.

When the applause died down, the Speaker introduced the President to the

Representatives and Senators. "Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you, the President of the United States."

"Thank you." Smiling and waving through another round of applause, Sally waited for them to calm.

"Mister Speaker, Vice President Opry, Members of Congress, distinguished

guests, and fellow Americans:

"I requested time before this august body and the diverse and talented

people of the United States for numerous reasons. Since I'll be around for four or more years, it is important that you get to know me and what I stand for. True,

my opponents spent record amounts of money telling you who I am and what I

stand for, but frankly, about the only thing that was true is that I am a woman."

Slight laughter intruded on Sally's speech, but she continued quickly. "Since I am a former member of the House, many of you already know me, but for the

benefit of those who don't, and for the American people, I will tell you.

"Money and power doesn't impress or influence me. Obscene amounts of

unattributed campaign money have no place in politics and I will propose

legislation that will ban it forever." Sally slowed for strong applause among SAFE and Democratic members.

"I live by the golden rule as every person of worth should, and I pick no

favorites."

Sally spoke through the mild clapping that ensued. "Among other things,

my party stands for women's rights and equal treatment under the law. In fact

we have our own Women's Bill of Rights, for which I will seek inclusion in the

original Bill of Rights."

Enthusiastic applause followed that pronouncement, but mostly along

gender lines.

"I will seek the repeal of any Federal laws which adversely affect women in our society. Common sense laws, including, but not limited to, laws restricting

equal pay for equal work, workplace discrimination, family planning,

contraception, and abortion will replace them. Moreover, I will hold counsel with the various Governors to urge their legislators to do the same."

Sally had to wait half a minute, for the fervent women's applause to die

down.

"As everyone in America knows, we are trying to drag ourselves out of a

massive recession. If this recession had been an earthquake, it would have

registered an eight on the Richter Scale, like the earthquake that decimated

Japan—it was that serious. Worsening the recession, is an income equality gap so extreme that we haven't seen the likes of it since the robber barons of the early nineteen hundreds just before the even more devastating Great Depression. The

truth is, history almost repeated itself and we're not out of it yet."

Sally took a sip of water while the applause passed.

"In the last thirty years while average incomes of the super rich have grown a ridiculous two-hundred and eighty percent, middle class income has gained

less than one percent a year—a paltry eighteen percent. This, even though

worker productivity has increased fifty percent. So much for trickle down.

Consequently, middle class families are inevitably slipping below the poverty

line. Unless we are trying to recreate a middle age feudal system, this is

unsustainable."

The loudest applause came from the center and left of the hall.

"That is why, going forward, we have to work together, for the benefit of

every American. We will no longer tolerate gridlock, and for those who think we

Pinks will rubberstamp Democrat bills, let me correct you. Republican,

Democrat, or Independent, we will work in good faith with whomever we agree

with." That brought a response from the Republicans, too, as the entire body stood and applauded.

"Our country needs us like never before. We must stop thinking as

Republicans, Democrats, or Pinks and start thinking as Americans. We need

common sense fixes to our massive problems and politics be damned. Revenue,

spending cuts, whatever's needed, we must act.

"That is why I propose reenactment of the financial transaction tax. A

quarter of a percent tax on all investment transactions would raise over two

hundred billion dollars a year. We had this before and it worked fine, so there's no reason not to do it again."

Standing applause from the center and left followed her tax the wealthy

plan. "I also propose a yearly recurring luxury tax of twenty-five thousandths of a percent on all second, third or more homes in America. If you lucky enough to

afford two or more houses, you can afford to pay a little more. This would bring an extra one-hundred-forty billion dollars yearly to the Treasury coffers."

Left and center clapped.

"But revenue isn't the only answer. We must create jobs so those collecting unemployment insurance can, instead, work and pay taxes. That is why I will

seek passage of a three hundred and fifty billion dollar infrastructure repair bill to fix our crumbling roads, substandard bridges, and put people back to work."

A few Republicans joined the rest in clapping for this suggestion.

"But I'm not stopping there. We have many more problems that need

addressing, one of which is education. We used to be the education standard of

the world with our fine school and university system, but no more. America now

ranks seventeenth in science and twenty-fifth in math. We can't compete with a

fast-rising, innovative world like that. I will ask Congress to fast track and pass a half a trillion dollar education bill."

Widespread applause ensued.

"Together, we must root out the pervasive fraud and waste. We also need to

pinpoint and address our weaknesses. That is why I'm appointing a committee of

six, three senators and three representatives, one from each party to identify our problems and make recommendations."

Everyone stood and applauded.

"Americans aren't dumb. Rich and poor, they know we're in trouble and, if

need be, they are willing to suck it up to bring prosperity back to our country.

No one person, no one faction built this country. The creation and building of

our great Nation was a monumental joint achievement. That is why, if we once

more join together in resolve, there is nothing we can't accomplish. If we do this we will polish our image and reclaim the glory of our most wonderful, United

States of America."

The crowd rose, clapping wildly. Sally shouted over the noise and into the

microphone, "Thank you all, God bless you and yours, and may God grant peace and prosperity upon this exceptional land of ours—the United States of

America."

The End

WOMEN'S BILL OF RIGHTS

1.

Men and women are created equal and therefore must receive

equal treatment.

2.

Only women shall write legislation, which directly affects women.

3.

The workplace must be free of discrimination and sexual

harassment against women.

4.

Men and women must receive equal pay for the same job.

5.

Women can join any club or organization she chooses (No all male

clubs).

6.

Woman shall not be required to pay more for a service or product

than men do.

7.

Women shall receive access to the same levels of education,

training, employment and housing as men.

Other Novels and Novellas by Dee Dawning

• Fortune Cookie Magic

• Getting Naked at the Hilton

• Love & Seduction in Las Vegas

• Sister Laurel & the Atheist

• Naked Research

• Blind Date

• The Bastard Preacher

• April Showers *

• Angel Love *

• Mysta Ree *

• Dumped

• Duped

• Groovin in Waikiki

• Playing with the Band *

• Felicity Jones

• Felicity Jones – Rendezvous

• Hollywood Witches

• Alice in Eroticland *

• Dreams

• Forbidden Passion

• Seducing a GeeK *

• & several shorter works

* Erotica

Mainstream Books by Dee Dawning

Smooth, handsome, and self-serving, Jamie Lee Vincent decides there's easy

money in religion after attending a big tent revival in his home town of Tyler,

Texas. Catching the interest of Reverend Sonny Riverton's youngest daughter,

the lovely and vivacious

Missy, he charms his way into her bed and in short order the Riverton clan.

Utilizing his charm and natural-born talent for chicanery, Jamie Lee takes

over the ministry, and when his popularity soars finds himself among the most

revered of television preachers. However, the wealth, fame, sex and power he

now enjoys isn’t enough—nothing is ever enough!

Wildly attracted to each other, can a beautiful, shy sister and a devilishly