Power Games: Operation Enduring Unity I (2 page)

“Society was cut in two: those who had nothing united in common envy; those who had anything united in common terror.”

– Alexis de Tocqueville, Recollections on the French Revolution

8 November
 

“This isn’t news Chris. It’s just a rumor, at best. You can’t run that!” Jessica Sinclair folded her arms and glared at her producer. The man just shrugged his shoulders and poured his sixth cup of coffee. He grinned wide, without the slightest bit of self-consciousness.

“That’s why it’ll be aired as an ‘unconfirmed report,’ and that’s why you’re going to get me some other sources.”

Jessica let go her indignation long enough to give into curiosity. “Me? Why do you want a financial correspondent to report on a political story?” Her boss gave one of his rare smiles.

“Come on, Jess. Politics, finance… if you really think there’s a difference nowadays, then maybe you’re in the wrong line of work.”

Jessica snatched her purse and stormed out, only to throw it back at the tacky faux-leather chair she abandoned.

“What I mean,” she crossed her arms and began with more patience than she felt, “is how can anyone prove overnight that Senator Dimone was behind the assassination of his rival, huh? This is just mudslinging at its worst. That’s the sort of gossip politics any loud-mouthed dick could cover. I don’t see how I can add any value.” She finally sat down with a satisfied grunt.

“Your value comes precisely from
not
being one of those loud mouthed dicks. No other news outlet is giving this official coverage. By giving these allegations a fair hearing, by examining the facts involved, you can add that edge of legitimacy that’ll turn readers from the competition.”

“What damn facts? That’s the one thing these claims are short on.”

For the first time he took his other eye off the TV in the corner and gave this skeptical blonde his full attention. Not a good sign. He never notices a woman unless he wants something from her.

“Jessica, do you think a newspaper, even one as old as ours, runs on facts? It runs on advertisement and advertisement runs on getting attention. In the TV age, we had the edge by offering more detail than the boobtube. Now, in the internet age, we’re even getting whooped on that front. All we can offer is speculation or scandal, same as them, but from a respected source. Even better, speculation about a scandal. Let the reader make up their own mind.”

He tsked. “Jesus Christ, when did you get so naive?”

Instead of slamming her head against the brick wall of profitability, Jessica changed tack. “My readers aren’t going to care after the election results come in tonight. It’s the hot topic at the moment, sure, but the outcome changes nothing. What does it matter who’s president anyway? Everyone says the same thing. Congress is just going to sit on their collective do-nothing asses. The figurehead occupying the Oval Office is small change.”

“Jessica, this has nothing do with the individual candidate. This, like everything else, is all about money. Do you have any idea how much has been spent on these two campaigns? Add in the PACS on top of the direct donations and we’re at two billion dollars for
each
contender. Wars have been fought and nations conquered for less than this election cost. Do you really think people, especially the power-brokering types involved here, are just going to write off a multi-billion dollar investment without a fight? I don’t know how it’ll all go down, but my gut says the real campaign is just beginning.”

He downed his coffee like a shot and hooted.

“I’m telling you, this is going to be an epic story and it’s going to happen with or without you. Will you be a part of it, or just watch on television like everyone else?”

As disgusted as she was, Jessica was still a professional. She kicked his desk and grunted. “Fine. When do I leave?”

10 November

The experts on the bi-partisan panel were in top form. Each talking head was carefully screened to ensure only the most radical pundits were available. The famous talk show hadn’t climbed the charts by indulging in moderation. The producer’s last minute change to the lineup, by replacing that boring constitutional law professor with a more media savvy ex-politician made the difference. Ratings were up a good two points higher than expected.

“The election results are neither unconstitutional nor without precedent. As I wrote in my new book, the
Dark Side of Power
, available at all major retailers for only $29.99, this has happened twice before in American electoral history. In 1800 and 1824, neither candidate won a majority in the Electoral College. In accordance with the 12
th
Amendment, the House of Representatives chose the next president, just like they’ll have to do now.”

The debate moderator didn’t bother pointing out that no one claimed the election outcome was either unconstitutional or new. It wasn’t his job to keep the talking heads grounded. Only to keep them arguing. He stoked the coals some more.

“So, a Republican will be chosen by the Republican majority in Congress and the Democrats just have to take it?”

A disgraced former congressman gesticulated the loudest, which meant he got the camera close up. “Absolutely not! Senator Dimone might not have won the electoral majority, but he received far more votes than Scott’s running mate. We cannot allow the Republicans to upturn democracy and install Mr. Pierce into the Oval Office against the will of the voters. This is the defining moment of our age. My fellow Democratic colleagues have a mandate from the people to make sure the right-wing fascists can’t steal this election like they have so many others. We’ll fight tooth and nail for the honor of our republic!”

An ultra-conservative, ex-politico turned reality TV star grabbed the spotlight. “
Reallly
? That’s exactly why we need to have faith in our conservative leaders. We can’t let these iddy biddy, left-wing communists derail the democratic process. The government has been lying and spying for eight years now. I say it’s time for freedom to stop dying and time for Washington to start crying!”

The debate moderator wasn’t sure what the hell she was talking about, but it got a standing ovation from the audience regardless. He tried to give her time for another sound bite when the unthinkable happened. Despite his reputation as a kook, the old Libertarian masquerading as a Republican dropped some buzz kill bombs.

“This whole argument is irrelevant anyway. This decision won’t be decided along party lines. The Republican majority was always pretty slim. The swing votes will be coming from the dozens of incoming congressional members. By the Constitution’s rules, only the new Congress gets a voice. This all-important vote will be their first taste of power. You can bet the outgoing politicians will be bitter, and oh boy, how! They’ll do whatever they can to influence this historic decision they legally can’t make. Mark my words, this will be a ‘corrupt bargain’ the likes of which our country has never seen. Democracy will be the loser, regardless of who wins the White House.”

The moderator was totally unprepared for this onslaught of reckless logic. He expected the old man to babble on about gold or the banking system or something. Thankfully, the producer in his control booth was always ready. He cut the uncomfortably accurate “crazy” man’s mike and switched the camera to the conservative, but feisty ex-vice president. The audience went back to cheering or booing while the experts grew even more provocative.

The show was saved.

2 January

Jessica kept her smile and pretended not to understand the congressman’s not-so-subtle sexual innuendo. This was her fourth interview with a House member in the last week. She was getting used to the gentle harassment by now. Her curves and not being part of the usual Washington reporter crowd greased the wheels of exclusive access. The downside was looks and novelty attracted these Type A personalities like buzzards to road kill.

“That’s nice, sir, but let’s go back a bit. It’s just that many people are shocked to see the House select Congressman Scott’s running mate for president. Pierce is a Libertarian, after all. This would be the first third-party president since the 1850’s. During the campaign you yourself spoke, shall we say… critically about him. You accused his deceased predecessor of selling out the party. I think my readers are confused. Why the sudden change of heart, sir?”

The young man’s well-rehearsed lines still came off naturally. He was good, she had to give him that much. He tore his eyes from her legs and poured on the dimples. “In times of crisis, our leaders must put aside partisanship bickering and do what’s right for the country. We’ve reached a grand compromise that looks after the interests of both parties and best serves the American people. If only Senator Dimone would accept that and respect the will of the people. His continued legal challenges are an affront to democracy and are dangerous attempts to usurp the lawful transfer of presidential power.”

Jessica let him drone on about the other candidate for a few minutes. You couldn’t interrupt an interviewee of this caliber. She had to admit, the whole thing was a masterful display of public oratory. He stayed 100% on message, never deviating from the talking points and buzzwords his media people vetted in focus groups, yet he still twisted a display of “bipartisanship” into a diatribe about the opposition. Impressive, even if it gave no real information.

“Yes sir, all of your colleagues have given me the same reasons. Verbatim. I was hoping you might be able to speak more… frankly. With all due respect, this is your first term. You’ve been in office barely two weeks. You don’t have the, ah, political entanglements of some veteran members. Far from losing any political capital, you stand to gain the respect of the nation if you could shed some light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations that went on.”

The politician’s handlers tried their best to kill her with their eyes. One flapper came over and whispered something in the frowning congressman’s ear. Her interview style might be effective with executives in the business world, but it was an incredible breach of political protocol in DC. A Washington reporter’s job was either to push an agenda or to help push the interviewee’s agenda. Relentlessly pursuing facts was far more shocking than spouting conspiracy theories. As great a social faux pas as showing up to the interview naked.

Jessica wasn’t stupid. It was clear she’d crossed some invisible line. She changed course to what was surely a safe subject. “Let’s come back to that. How do you respond, sir, to the Supreme Court’s ruling that the House’s candidate of choice is ineligible for the presidency?”

Back on familiar and prepped-for ground, he wasn’t so shy. “First, Mr. Pierce is not a ‘candidate.’ He is now the legally chosen president-elect of the United States and will be sworn in later this month. The House of Representatives is the only government body empowered to select the president in the event of a hung Electoral College. The 12
th
Amendment to the Constitution is clear-cut and not open to interpretation.”

“But Congressman, isn’t it the job of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution? They didn’t simply decide the House’s chosen successor is ineligible. The Court ruled that the Republican National Convention failed to nominate Pierce properly in those hasty hours between Scott’s death and Election Day. They have firmly and definitively stated that, due to this technicality, Senator Dimone is the rightful winner of the election.”

She pushed her luck and went on as the congressman opened his mouth.

“According to the highest court in the land, this isn’t a constitutional question at all. As such, Congress has no say in the matter. If you look at the opinion polls, nearly 30% of the population sides with the Supreme Court. A further 40% agree with the current president’s call for new elections and only 30% think Congress should choose the next president.”

The righteous indignation in his voice seemed genuine. His deviation from the carefully defined talking points was further proof. The congressman shifted his wry bulk in the “statesman” padded leather chair. Not to try to dissemble, but to appear calmer than he felt.

“This isn’t about poll numbers. I know it might sound trite to you, but I came here to clean up Washington. Whatever supposed corruptions some people accuse us of, that’s small change compared to what the Court is trying to pull off. A tiny cabal of nine old, unelected judges is blatantly defying the will of the people and their
elected
representatives. They are mounting a historic and direct challenge to democracy in this country.”

Jessica wasn’t so easily swayed. “Some would argue it was the historic levels of corruption among our elected representatives that forced the Court to act.”

One of the staffers couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Who? The same people that published a three-page conspiracy nutjob piece about Dimone ordering the assassination of his rival? You ran that crap on the cover of the largest paper in the country! Even when the FBI finished their investigation, where was the retraction? Was that headline news? No, you buried it on page 30 something between lingerie ads! Where was your vaunted investigative journalism there?”

Jessica blushed deeply, more from anger than shame. For a change of pace, it was the congressman that spoke up and defended her. “Cut the camera off. Look, I understand. Whether in business or politics, reality is complicated. We’re forced to compromise our principles sometimes. No one here is a saint. Politicians need to do some unsavory things to stay in office so they can make a real difference later. Don’t smile; we do more good than bad.”

He patted her knee this time, instead of her upper thigh like usual. Jessica raised an eyebrow at the strange sympathy in his eyes.

“And you news people need to do the same, if you’re going to stay in business long enough to expose real corruption. It’s a screwed up world we live in. Sure, the game’s crooked, but it’s the only game in town.” He looked about as close to a normal human being as a politician could.

“Here, and it should go without saying that this is way off the record. If this gets into print, your entire paper will never have a chance to report inside the Beltway again.”

He leaned close and whispered, but kept his hands to himself. That shocked Jessica as much as if he’d groped her. “Honestly, I don’t want to see Pierce become President of the United States any more than the Supreme Court does. The man is an old-school political operator embodying everything that’s wrong with our governing system. Sadly, the cold reality of the current political situation is that we have no choice. The only way to break the gridlock in Washington is to bring in a strongman. Someone that can bring both parties together and force them to cooperate.” He stretched back into his chair and puffed out his cheeks. “Even if the only reason is because he knows where all the bodies are buried.”

The congressman forced out a smile, his eyes pleading with Jessica for understanding.

“Look on the bright side. By caving in, we’ve already won the key legislative points on our agenda. The leadership of each party hammered out the details of who gets what as part of the ‘Grand Bargain.’ Both liberals and conservatives just hit the political jackpot. If we had gone with Dimone, we would have seen another four years of hopeless legislative stagnation. The political ill will would be unrepairable.”

A staffer tried to shut him up and Jessica pumped him for more questions, but he was in the zone. Some of that idealism and energy from the campaign trail seeped back into his voice.

“It may be the stereotypical ‘smoke-filled backroom deal,’ but that’s the only way to make progress nowadays. I don’t mean just more convenient, but the only way. Come on, you’re in the news business. You know the effect those cameras have on people: instant radicalization.”

Jessica chewed on her pen. “So this is just business as usual?”

“Not at all. We’re on the verge of a renaissance in American politics. You’ve seen how things have been. If the Japs had attacked Pearl Harbor this last year, we never would have declared war. We’d still be debating and accusing each other of this and that while the Japanese occupied California. Our legislative system is a joke these days, but we finally figured out how to break the logjam. How to usher in a new golden age, and this black-robed mafia wants to throw away all that progress.”

He sprang out of his chair, shaking his fist harder than his head. “That cannot be allowed. I tell you all this because I want you to understand what’s really at stake when you’re spinning your coverage. Congress and the American people have little to lose and everything to gain. No matter how things turn out, the presidential succession won’t be decided in the courts this time. It’s with us or in the streets, and wouldn’t you prefer an orderly, even if distasteful election, to mob rule?”

If her networked had aired the entire interview her cameraman secretly obtained with his hidden digital recorder, people would have been relieved at his honesty. Since Jessica’s chief editor decided to run with a few cherry-picked blurbs, the context was thoroughly lost. Of course, that didn’t matter as much as the spike in sales generated by the headline: “
Congress has nothing to lose and everything to gain” by defying the Supreme Court.