PART TWO - NOTABLE QUOTES OF CATCHER McCALL
Obamanation versus Romneyville
Famous Catcher McCall quotes in the context of being a candidate for the presidency of the United States.
"In politics there's no such thing as a Republican solution or a Democratic solution, only the right solution. Without a doubt, overall policies have no relationship to morals as a means to control many at the privilege of a select few. According to Obamanation, the rich will pay for everything, which means the poorest are included. Meanwhile, Romneyville is afraid of the future. Each candidate for the presidency is merely a hyped public relations geek who spends most of his time kissing, flattering and buying people for the privilege of shitting in the White House towel bowel for four years."
The following excerpts from gave new meaning to the substance of morality, while understanding the truth behind the noise.
"Mr. President, Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Members of the Congress:
I present myself [Catcher McCall] with a sense of deep humbleness and pride – humbleness in the privilege just to be here, pride to be an American. Receiving the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States of America, is an entitlement only deserving to a true hero. I merely did my duty as a soldier protecting the interests of my country.
Thank you for the opportunity of me being here today."
Dressed in formal Army blues with three rows of citation bars and two ribbons, I am wheeled away from the rostrum by a military aide. My 83-word speech is over before the peanut gallery has time to fart. As the customary clapping subsides, I am removed from the august setting like a used postage stamp.
It’s over! I received my Medal. Obamanation made his remarks and even Chaplin Rutherford blessed me. ... [A]nd assorted mucky mucks were there to shake my hand. What more does an ex-soldier want? The Medal’s not bad; a gold star surrounded by a wreath, topped by an eagle on a bar inscribed with the word “Valor” and it’s hooked to a light blue silk neckband. The thin leather case looks good too.
"Maybe I can sell the Medal on Craigslist?"
Not in my wildest imagination did I expect to be instantly propelled into the country’s national consciousness. Granted, the White House bash gave me enough fame to buy a ham sandwich. For sure this is a banquet beyond compare. The HBO documentary - Catcher McCall and The Medal of Honor - made me a folk hero of sorts.
With cynical remarks about the war and the country’s preoccupation of global involvement for no other purpose than to waste money, my off-the-cuff anecdotes and quirky delivery has motivated converts, not from the intellectuals, politicians or the MIC, but the little guys, the mom and pops who struggled to make ends meet in a troubling economy and the rest of the wounded sitting on the sidelines looking in.
Poking fun at Wall Street gangsters, politicians, government agencies, especially the NSV, DHS was easy as if I had a script or something. Just talked until the director signaled me to cut.
Media shills are in field day mode; claim I’m attempting to garner sympathy. More noise, and I don’t care to explain. In a week this too will be old news and with it, I’ll be reduced to immaterial. Just like the Medal, the American people jump from one event to the other as if it’s a continuous commercial. The HBO documentary is nothing more than disposable content without shelf life.
I am wrong. HBO claims it’s the top rated documentary in the history of the network and is willing to pay me seven figures for an encore. I jumped on it like a rooster on a hen.
Even [Congressman] Baker is in the act, wants me to campaign for him. I don’t understand why, incumbents seeking re-election have a 94% chance of winning? Even that’s rigged. With over six years on the hill, [his aid] gave me a picture I do not want to keep. Money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice by lying to influence whoever are merely a small part of a congressman’s bag of “honest” tricks.
Public corruption is so widespread that if the Justice Department effectively cracks down, the United States Congress would have sixty percent less members and government, as we know it would stop on dime. How the hell did this happen?
“Congress is small potatoes, I can make it as an independent.”
Karen interprets, “Independent what?”
“President.”
She laughs. “Are you serious?”
“Serious as a virgin tryin’ to get laid for the first time.”
“Stop with the smut. It’s not funny all the time, especially now! Running for president? You would need to file papers with the Federal Election Commission.”
“So. There’s time. My issue is the states. I would need to gain ballot access in 50 states.”
“Wow! You are serious. Been checking it out, I see?”
“Halley’s the big dog on this. Each state has rules for listing in the primary and general elections. Some states can put you on the ballot just for being recognized by the public.”
“Which one,” asks Karen?
“Massachusetts for one. As for being recognized, the PR firm HBO hired for me gets 25000 letter and emails a day that 5000 more than Obamanation gets.”
Moving to the refrigerator for a container of milk to pour into a glass, she said, “You should stop calling him that! You want anything while I’m up?”
“He’s just a cheerleader with a hidden agenda. Anyway, I like how ‘Obamanation’ rolls off my lips.”
“Halley, Bob Halley, how well do you know him?”
“Good enough to know I can win. I like it – President Catcher McCall. It’s got the right ring.”
“Like Humpy Dumpy?”
“Fuck you! You don’t think I have a chance?”
“That’s the problem, you do. The Constitution said you qualify; a natural born citizen and 35 years old in January. “Let’s think, or maybe let’s stink?”
“Karen, what the hill is the matter with you?”
“Don’t mind me. Filing with the Federal Elections Commission is a non-brainer. You become an official candidate with $5000. For the rest, I need to check the net.”
“I have it; the filing, the money even the statement of organization. The tricky part is the states. Each one is different, but Halley has the organization. He managed more than a dozen state campaigns mostly in California and Oregon.”
“What, no federal experience?”
“He said you don’t need it. The action is in the states, control the money and you control the votes. It’s all in advertising. I have their backs, not like Obama who talks the talk but traps on the walk. Halley’s political adviser, Vaughn Allbright …”
“Wow! He’s got Allbright. He has power and big money sources, especially with super PACs. My opinion, Super PACs should be outlawed; these non-campaign organizations that can raise and spend unlimited funds. You talk about influencing elections, super PAC money is like buying out the candy store before the kids can get in.”
“All the bases are covered. I’m going to be the next president.”
“I like you Catcher. You’re a great guy with a heart as big as … whatever. They’ll eat you alive. You said it a hundred times; the power is not in the presidency or the morons on Capital Hill. ‘Influence is more important than power.’ You said just yesterday in New York Times commentary. This country runs a trillion dollar plus checkbook. You think the MIC is going to rollover because you decide to reduce foreign entanglements?”
“My entire campaign platform is based on a simple premise – America first. Take care of the home front. Our economy is consumer drive with 80% of every dollar fueling domestic consumption. You know what that really means? We have reached a tipping point; any further increases will create so much pressure on our infrastructure, education and healthcare that there will be no means to pay for them.”
“I don’t understand?”
“Karen, here’s a simple example. Let’s assume there’s a giant shopping mall with the best products at the lowest prices, but it is in the middle of no
where. Building roads from all directions to it would be the answer. Right? Okay, who pays for the roads, not just construction but maintenance and management? Then you have the police and fire departments, local governments and hundreds of more cost related services just to support the giant shopping mall. Property taxes from the mall, sale taxes from purchasers and other revenue streams don’t cover the cost. So what does the local and state governments do? Raise taxes and borrow more money. But never cut or reduce services that support the mall. So there’s a gap between money out and money in. U.S. state debt surpasses $4 trillion and that number doesn’t include $3 trillion in deferments. Taxpayers don’t have a clue and even worse, Congress doesn’t care. If MIC needs a trillion dollars for a new weapons program, it’s done without Congressional appreciations and appears only as a line item.”
“So why don’t people see this?”
“Good question with no answer. Maybe it’s how the general public is being manipulated. All the noise that this country is free with abundant opportunities, but that’s just a big lie. We are not free. Our lives are controlled every second and everybody is on the clock, Not an ordinary clock but a money clock – ticking away and if you are not fortunate enough to possess it, you are not free and subject to the restriction placed on the less privileged by a government that doesn’t care, only tolerates. Right now, the government can tolerate. What happens if employment drops 25% and consumer spending contracts an equal amount? State and the federal government will take away your current freedoms, strict your movement, your ability to make choices, and legislate or imply certain actions illegal.”
“I sorry to interrupt. What would you like for supper?”
“See what I mean? Just your tiny question is the issue. Average citizen are so preoccupied to survive, they cannot afford to devote immediate energy because every minute is required to survive. Is that freedom?”
“Repugs can sure use you. Mitt doesn’t have the right mix. Do you really believe this country wants to elect a Wall Street financier as the President of the United States? Hell no! Then you got Santorum, Gingrich, Paul – three monkeys each with a different pose. They’re dead in the water. You! I see you right there – in the White House and be a real leader without the puppet masters.”
“You should be a political writer, you miss your calling.”
He slows the van and said, “I’m serious!”
“Just drive the fuckin’ van!”
“Come on, level with me. I don’t want to play you, but the GOP, no way. The interviews and your porchside chats speak volumes for all things except the Repugs.”
A run for the White House requires a woman like her [Jessamine Forbes] – at my side, polished with enough mystery to enthrall any man and make all women envious, dressed for the moment as if the appearance is worth the effort; her voice carries a Southern charm with a New York City swagger and Northern California innocence.
Ninety-five days later I turn from a contender into a force that money cannot buy. Meanwhile, Bob Halley jumped from an exploratory committee host to filing Statement of Candidacy forms with the Federal Elections Commission as campaign treasurer. At the moment he is managing a 150 deep and counting professional staff. With my national following a given, the emphasis is gaining ballot access in 50 states. Each state has a different set of rules and to maneuver behind the scenes, filing process requires the finesse of a Burmese python. Handling the heavy squeezing is Philbert Forbes, Jessamine’s father. Yep, you have it right! She wants what I want, maybe more. When first approaching her old man, he discounted me as just another cock working the hole game. Being daddy’s only little girl she won him over by saying the magic words “test the waters.” Usually an exploratory committee is organized to test name recognition. When Philbert checked me out, he tripped over his money. He has it so high; standing on it allows him to see Washington DC from Dallas without an artificial satellite.
To me his claim to fame is Jessamine. Big money muscle buys any prize, but the only real value is the daughter. You can’t take it with you, he keeps telling me. Yet the older he gets the more money shows up. Rich old men have a smell that all women find compelling. Philbert not only has the smell, he’s chairman of the Flyswatters’ Club. He stopped asking for it 50 years ago, and now it’s pissing him off. Nevertheless, he’s a walking industry with 105 accountants, 69 lawyers, 13 investment bankers and two million serfs grinding in his gold and copper mines. Eight generations of taking from the earth has made the 84-year-old Philbert Forbes the last of his kind. Whether his daughter wants to dig in the trenches is not likely. He should have spermed more candidates. Why does a man consider the mistakes of youth when he’s about to die? Old age use to be wrinkles, gray hair and fat; Philbert gave that up fifteen years ago. Today, he’s bald, frail and afraid. Connections ranks number three on his depth chart - Jessamine and money are one and two. He can make or break any man, anywhere, anytime, never with violence, only with the dull point of a felt pen or a whisper.
With Philbert, I don’t have to worry about money. For his daughter he’ll blow five billion larger just to have her shit in the White House toilet for the next four years. Money is merely a commodity to barter. Influence is the true marker. Back the right face and your “taking head” becomes president. Many of games are played, concessions bargained and the public never gains the truth. Obama understood the rule of compromise and became the echo of someone else’s words, a marionette on invisible strings dancing to a beat out of step with his conscience. Chameleons are influencing the thoughts of his time and in doing so have changed the future to the steps of the creator. Obama is only evil to himself since all presidents are basically tools in the systematic manipulation of judgment.
“Stop! Stop!” I beg. “I don’t want to fight you. Our foreign policy is not complicated. We already have created controversy with the military establishment while the citizens on the street understand our arguments. In the 2008 election, the candidates focused in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the economy. They basically said the same thing and the people were indifferent about the message. Obama won with only 53% of the votes. Three other parties nominated candidates with ballot access in enough states to theoretically win the minimum 270 electoral votes needed to by president. Let see – Constitution Party, the Green Party and Libertarian. Even Ralph Nadar ran his own campaign. If these four entities polled their voters and collective support they had the power to pick the winner.”
“What are you saying,” she asks?
“There’s my point. We can win if our message is simple and pure. I’m the most recognized face on the planet and with the right message, not a complicate mess; we’ll be in the White House this year and stay for more than one term. How does eight years sound?”
She smiles and jumps from the chair to kiss me. I push her away and need less distract to conclude my argument. Knowing how this girl plays, she’ll press her box into my crotch and believes al is well. No can do, today. She either understanding my thoughts or this entire exercise is a waste of time.
“Sit down and listen, really listen to my message on foreign policy. I’m going to read it.”
From my vest pocket I remove a tightly scribbled single sheet of paper. Unfolding it, I smile at her and read:
“Since the end of World War II, containment was the foreign policy of the United States to prevent the spread of communism not in our country by abroad. The result was a Cold War, wherein the Soviet Union responded in kind to protect their communist influences in Eastern Europe, Chine, Korean and Vietnam. By détente and rollbacks the United States and the Soviet Union coexisted until Cold War ended in 1989 with the collapse and eventual breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Today our defense budget and global military spending excesses $2 trillion per year in real dollars not the off-book and ledger omissions to placate Congress and the American people. Since 1991 our military commitments have increased each year and our foreign policy is to back up our $18 trillion econ
omy. The United States has become the big bully on the block. We flaunt our presents in whatever form is necessary to sell our brand of national interest. Global governments deal with the United States out of necessity, not because they like us or trust us. Protecting foreign oil and other natural resources is our foreign policy.
As president, I will material shift our foreign policy from offensive to defensive. All military contingents, diplomatic staff and personal will be withdrawn from all international sectors with 24 months. Military aid in any form to a foreign government or entity will be illegal. Only economic assistance will be available and supervision by the United States Agency for International Development USAID.
The term “defensive” shall mean – protecting from any direct attack all territories of the United States, overseen directly by the federal government and not part of a U.S. state. The entire defense and military budgets will be devoted to only defensive protection and vigilance – USDPV. The U.S. Secretary of State will be sanctioned to submit its budget and appreciation to Congress each year, fully disclosed and made part of the public record.
With the USDPV initiative, the United States will save the tax payers $1.2 trillion per year and still have the capacity to challenge and repel any aggressor.”
“It’s not as radical as it sounds. Granted, American industry must adjust to substantially less military spending. Other sacrifices would also be necessary. Less military and international personnel, and global logistic support means fewer jobs and higher unemployment in the short term. With an outstanding public debt of $16 trillion and increasing at $5 billion a day since 2007, we need to act quickly or this thing called the United States of American will be relegated to the strap heap of history.”
“Wouldn’t foreign powers like China take advance?”
“No!”
“Just like that? China is building a military machine and buying world resources. Philbert said they’re cornering large chunks of South American as if it’s a fire sale.”
“Treasury Department places our debt with China at $1.3 trillion. It would cost every American $18,000 to pay it off. No, China has too much to lose. Our national debt is larger than the total economies of China, the UK and Australia combined. Our foreign policy requires that we become a creditor nation.”
“If we spend less on the military wouldn’t others consider us venerable?”
“Perhaps. But, we’ll let the world know, that a provoked attack against the United States means instant annulations of the aggressor without debate or political noise.”
“This is it, Catcher, our first primary state – New Hampshire. Media coverage is not an issue, it’s how you respond against these heavy weights.”
Bob Halley is beyond nervous. For months he’s pumped Fox News, CNN, NBC and ABC with positions papers, inside stories and whatever tidbits to air hot noise. “Media bites are what we need,” he keeps repeating. “Watch ‘em, don’t get trapped; you’re in with heavy weights.”
“Fuck these guys. Heavy weight more like heavy cream. Just talking heads with no idea how much shit we’re in.”
“Don’t get too cocky, babe,” whispers Jessamine.
“All set? I’ll be out front. Good luck,” offers Halley.
“Fuck luck!” I reply. “No smiles or signals, you got it!”
Halley quickly nods his head and is out the door.
Youthful political consult, Martin Dorsey, said, “The moderator is instructed to give you limited opportunities, so make the most of it.”
“To got script.”
“The Party allowed you to participate. Lunceford is only accommodating. ”
“Stop! How many more time are you goin’ to repeat it?”
Allbright said, “You can gauge the tenor of their remarks by the applauses.”
“Hell no! Check the crowd! Kids, college brats still farting in bottles and smelling the fumes. Allbright, most of the times you confuse me. Hey, take a walk and bring Dorsey with you!”
A scheme is played on the American people, I reason. The public psyche buys the flash with imprints of a face, a phrase, a smile, even a mistake, to propel the want-to-be into national prominence. Millions of dollars are spent on less than 200,000 voters out of a million eligible means it’s a media circus without value except to sell commercial time and for the puppet makers to decide which strings to pull. To the countrywide public this mickey mouse state becomes more than what it is – a pisshole without a pot. Adding to the insult is the use of dead bodies to vote; a Democratic Party trick since the Kennedy days of 1960s. Photo ID for anyone casting a vote is a simple solution. Somehow discrimination against minorities claimed by the DP mixes the idea. This excuse smacks of racial profiling, but so what, the opinion is only in the mind of the beholder. Here’s another reason why the country’s frozen in the shit of unintended consequences.
I’m at the campus of Saint Anselm College in a utility closet off the main stage. Since the ‘50s, the Catholic college hosts the run through and every four years enjoys the few hours of fame.
Jessamine looks sharp in a black classic sheath dress shaped in soft stretch wool. A single back slit adds that degree of mystery, I love. Over her arm is a black tailored wool jacket.
“Are you ready,” she asks?
“Most definitely. From Armistead lips, we’ll win this.”
“So confident?”
“You know the score, all light weights. I’m glad you’re here to see ‘em fall.”
Dorsey reminds me. “The deal’s the same.”
“You still here? I told Halley to take you outside.”
“Lunceford is here.”
“So!” I bark. “I know – don’t win I closeout my run and endorse the Repugs.”
The auditorium is full – mostly college kids upfront. Clapping irrupts as the other debaters enter the same time and proceed to their assigned chairs. The moderator, a spindly old lady who’s named is Fay Wray. I wonder if she was in the ‘30s King Kong movie?
“By agreement, Mr. McCall, we begun with you, sir.”
Her voice sounds as old as she looks. Fortunately, I know the layout, but let’s slow this down a bit. Part of the bargain to get here requires me to go first. Fuck it! I decide to defer to Newt Gingrich. Halley and Allbright have a fit. Their faces express annoyance. Only Jessamine is cool, legs crossed and patiently waiting as if a fashion show is about to begin.
“That’s … that’s not allowed Mr. McCall.”
Gingrich echoes in. “No problem, madam moderator, I’ll start.”
She hesitates. Upon receiving a nod from an unknown male figure standing at the curtain’s periphery, she stutters, “Con-Congress Ging-rich, we-we begin with you, sir.”
“I’m Newt Gingrich. And I’ve developed a program for America energy so no future president will ever bow to a Saudi king again and so every American can look forward to $2.50 a gallon gasoline.”
A signal facing the peanut gallery in a concealed box flashes – APPLAUSE.
$2.50 a gallon, what happened to a buck thirty?
The 500 strong actors clap together like a colony of seals. Jessamine throws a wink in my direction. I follow with a nose gesture like Paul Newman in The Sting. When the noise subsides, the next candidate said, “I’m Congress Ron Paul, a congressman from Texas. I am the defender of the Constitution. I am the champion of liberty. I have a roadmap to peace and prosperity.”
A signal facing the peanut gallery in a concealed box flashes – APPLAUSE.
What the hell is this ‘A roadmap to peace and prosperity’? Paul is one horse short for a merry-go-round.
“I’m Rick Santorum.” After fiddling with his glasses he continues. “We have a lot of trouble around the world, as you see, the Middle East in fames, and what’s going on in this country with gas prices and the economy? And I’m here to talk about a positive solutions that confronts this country that include everybody from the bottom up.”
A signal facing
the peanut gallery in a concealed box flashes – APPLAUSE.
This guy still has shit in his pants. ‘Middle East in fames’ how do you think that happened, asshole?
Mitt Romney is next, anxious to get this over with, believing he has a lock atop the Republican ticket and to be the next president. In private he calls Obama “the blackie with BO that’s got to go!”
“I’m Mitt Romney. And there was a time in this country when you knew that if you worked hard and went to school, and if you learned the values of America in your home, that you could count on having a secure future and a prosperous life. That was an America promise, and I’m going to do that.”
A signal facing the peanut gallery in a concealed box flashes – APPLAUSE.
The ovation has all the marking of the next president.
Not bad, simple, to the point and he hit the rights buttons.
“I’m Catcher McCall, ex-Army helicopter pilot and born right here in the U.S.A. Once I was proud to be an America. Somewhere along the line, I discovered that our country doesn’t belong to us. If you own a house and have mortgage on it – do you own that house? Hell no! If you don’t pay someone can take it away from you. That’s what’s going on in our country. With $16 trillion … just hear it again … we owe sixteen trillion dollars to other countries, to other people. It would cost every American $18,000 to pay it off. Do you have $18,000 to give to your country right now, to bailout the politicians, and whoever is in Washington that caused this mess? With your help we can get back our country.”
The applauses are so deafening that the walls and floor vibrated for at least six minutes. From outside I can hear people cheering. The statement I made is not new, why the sudden eruption?
The moderator, Fay Wray said, “Let's get started on the important issues with a question from our audience.
A slight man stands and waits to recognize him.
“Sir, please tell us who you are and state your question.”
“My name is Gilbert Feldner from Claremont, New Hampshire, and I'd like to ask this question to all the candidates if I could? Since the first time in 65 years our national debt exceeds our gross national product, what are you going to do to bring down the debt?”
After a ‘thank you’ by the mediator, Senator Santorum begins to speak.
“Thank you, Gilbert. I put together a specific plan that cuts $5 trillion over five years, that spends less money each year for the next four years that I'll be president of the United States. So it's not inflation-adjusted, it's not baseline-budgeting. We're actually going to shrink the actual size of the federal budget, and we're going to do so by dealing with the real problem.
“And here's where I differentiate myself from everybody else, including, obviously, the president. I actually have experience on tackling the toughest problems that we have in this country, and that's the growth of entitlement spending. Obviously, the first thing we need to do is repeal Obamacare. That's the one entitlement that we can get rid of.”
Idiot box applause sign is flashed. For a touch of drama media cameras scan the clapping heads.
Santorum continues, “And that's a couple trillion dollars in spending over the next 10 years. But there's bigger issues. When I was born, less than 10 percent of the federal budget was entitlement spending. It's now 60 percent of the budget. Some people have suggested that defense spending is the problem. When I was born, defense spending was 60 percent of the budget. It's now 17 percent. If you think defense spending is the problem, then you need a remedial math class to go back to. Defense spending will not be cut under my administration, but we will go after all of the means-tested entitlement programs -- Medicaid, food stamps, all of those programs -- and do what we did with welfare.
“We cut the welfare -- we cut spending on welfare, froze it and then we block granted it to the states and gave them the flexibility to run that program they way they saw fit with two provisos.
“Number one, there would be a time limit on welfare and a work requirement. We were going to said that poverty is not a disability. That these programs need to be transitional in nature. We need to do the same thing with Medicaid. We need to do the same thing with -- with food stamps. All of the other means tests of entitlement programs.
“And unlike the Paul Ryan plan -- I see I'm out of time, but unlike the Paul Ryan plan, we also will deal with Medicare and Social Security, not 10 years from now. But we need to start dealing with it now because our country is facing fiscal bankruptcy.”
Applause has zip and goes to prove that sound bites sell, even if he can’t change the direction of an ocean liner with a wooden paddle.
“All right, thank you,” utters Fay Wray. “Governor Romney, I'm wondering if that answer satisfied you? Just in recent days you said this, quote, ‘If you want a fiscal conservative, you can't vote for Rick Santorum because he's not.’ Did he answer your questions there?”
Mitt Romney shows a half-ass smile and said, “Well, I'm looking at his historic record, which voting for raising the debt ceiling five different times without voting for compensating cuts. Voting to keep in place Davis-Bacon, which cost about $100 billion over -- over 10 years. Voting to fund Planned Parenthood, to expand the Department of Education. During his term in the Senate, spending grew by some 80 percent of the federal government. But I -- but I want to respond to Gilbert's question, which I think is a critical one.
“And that is as you -- as you look at this country, I'm a guy who has lived in the world of business. If you don't balance your budget in business, you go out of business. So I've lived balancing budgets. I also served in the Olympics, balanced a budget there. And -- and served in the states. And all four years I was governor, we balanced the budget. Here's what I'd do at the federal level, I would divide all of the programs into three major places for opportunity to reduce costs.
“Number one, I'm going to go through every single program and ask if we can afford it. And if not, I'm going to said, is this program so critical that it's worth borrowing money from China to pay for it? And if not, I'm going to get rid of it.
“Number two, I'm going to take programs...”
Romney is interrupted by mild applauses and in due course continues. “I'm going to take programs that are important, but that could be better run at the state level and send them back to the states as a block grant and that included Medicaid and -- and housing vouchers and food stamps. These programs for the poor, to be run more efficiently and can be run with less fraud and abuse at the state level.
“And then finally number three, with what's left of government, I'm going to cut the employment by 10 percent. And I'm going to link the pay of government workers with the pay in the private sector. Government servants shouldn't get paid more than the people who are paying taxes.”
Applause has depth with more enthusiasm. Good start but still on the same ocean liner.
To Rick Santorum, Fay Wray declares, “Well, the governor talks about raising the debt ceiling. There was a debt ceiling vote this summer and the governor was asked the question whether he would have voted to raise the debt ceiling ultimately and he said, yes. What are you take?”
Santorum clears his throat and offers, “Because government has to pay their bills, we can't default. What happened the -- the 12 years I was in the United States Senate, we went from the debt to GDP ratio, which is now over 100 percent. When I came to the Senate it was 68 percent of GDP. When I left the Senate it was 64 percent of GDP.
“So government as a size of the economy went down when I was in the United States Senate. Sure I had some votes. Look, I think we've all had votes that I look back on I -- I wish I wouldn't have voted -- No Child Left Behind, you're right, it lead to education spending. That's why I've said that we need to cut and eliminate No Child Left Behind and -- and education funding from the federal government, move it back to the local level where it belongs where parents and local communities can deal with that.
&n
bsp; “But if you look at my record on spending, on taking on entitlements, never having voted for an appropriation bill increase. You look at -- at my record of never having raised taxes. Governor Romney raised $700 million in taxes and fees in Massachusetts. I never voted to raise taxes. Governor Romney even today suggested raising taxes on the top 1 percent, adopting the Occupy Wall Street rhetoric. I'm not going to adopt that rhetoric. I'm going to represent 100 percent of Americans. We're not raising taxes on anybody.
To Mitt Rommey, the moderator sneers, “There were so many misrepresentations there, it's going to take me a little while. Number one, I said today that we're going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 percent. So that's number one. Number two, I said yes we should increase the debt ceiling in this last vote, but only if we have a cut, cap and balance provision put in place. Only in that case. And, therefore, I did not agree with the deal that was done in Washington. That was the wrong way to go.”
Checking her notes before continuing, Fay Wray said, “and finally, Senator during your term in Congress, the years you've been there, government has doubled in size. You voted to raise the debt ceiling five times without compensating cuts in spending. In my view, we should not raise the debt ceiling again until we get compensating cuts in spending. A cut, cap and balance approach must be taken.”
Perfunctory applause.
I like her spunk. Poked him right in the eye. Good girl!
Fay Wray continues to speak. “Mr. Speaker, join the conversation. Address Gilbert's question and if you so choose, address some criticism you've received on this issue from this state's senior Senator campaigning for governor Romney. He questioned your credentials on fiscal conservatism.”
Gingrich said, “Well when I was speaker, as I'm sure he remembers, we balanced the budget for four consecutive years, the only time in his lifetime. So I think that's a good place to start with Gilbert's question. We're meeting tonight on the 280th anniversary of George Washington's birth. You go back and look at the founding fathers; they'd have had very clear messages. Hamilton would have said you have to have jobs and economic growth to get back to a balanced budget. You're never going to balance the budget on the back of a highly unemployed country. And so I would be committed, first of all, to a program of jobs and economic growth.
“Second, the energy issue is enormous. The leading developer of North Dakota oil estimated recently that, if we would open up federal land and open up offshore, you would have $16 trillion to $18 trillion -- not billion -- trillion dollars in royalties to the federal government in the next generation, an enormous flow which would drive down prices to $2.50 a gallon, would help us balance the budget and would create millions of jobs.
“Finally, I agree generally with the need to reform government. I think that, if we were prepared to repeal the 130-year-old civil service laws, go to a modern management system, we could save a minimum of $500 billion a year with a better system. And if we then applied the tenth amendment, as Governor Rick Perry has agreed to head up a project on, I think we can return to the states an enormous share of the power that's currently in Washington, D.C.”
Dead fish applause, why? He has it straight and the only one up here, besides me, with an honest plan.
The moderator doesn’t allow the noise to completely stop before saying, “Congressman Paul, you've questioned the conservative -- fiscal conservative credentials of all these gentlemen but particularly this week Senator Santorum. You have a new television ad that labels him a fake. Why?”
Ron Paul answers, “Because he’s fake.”
Laughter ensues from the peanut gallery.
“I’m real, John. I’m real,” insists Santorum.
Paul smears. “Congratulations!”
Laughter continues.
Ron Paul responds further, “No. I find it really fascinating that, when people are running for office, they're really fiscally conservative. When they're in office, they do something different. And then when they explain themselves, they said, ‘Oh, I want to repeal that.’
“So the senator voted for No Child Left Behind, but now -- he voted for it, but now he's running on the effort to get rid of it. So I think the record is so bad, you know, with the politicians.
“And, you know, nobody accuses me of not having voted for too much. They're always accusing me for not voting for enough. And I've been running in office, in office off and on for a good many years, and over all those years, I've never voted for a budget deficit. I never voted to increase the national debt.
“As a matter of fact, there's only one appropriation bill I voted for, and that was for veterans. I assumed, from the 1970s on, that we were embarking on a very dangerous path, and we're involved in that danger right now.
“So this idea of being fiscally conservative now that we're running for office and we're going to repeal something that we did before, I mean, this -- it loses credibility is what our problem is. The one thing that I think should annoy all Americans is the voting for foreign aid? I mean, just think there are foreign aid packages that are huge, and when the member votes for it, they don't said, well, this money is going to A, B, C, because I love that country, but it's the principle of the way the government works. You vote for foreign aid because, for some weird reason, it's supposed to be good for America, but then it goes and helps all our enemies. That's what I disapprove of.”
Wow! Paul is on the money. He’s has the right approach to make everyone accountable. I would vote for this guy, not because he’s from Texas.
Moderator said, “Senator Santorum, respond quickly.”
Santorum offers, “Ron, The Weekly Standard just did a review, looking at the National Taxpayers Union, I think, Citizens Against Government Waste, and they measured me up against the other 50 senators who were serving when I did and they said that I was the most fiscally conservative senator in the Congress in the -- in the 12 years that I was there. My -- my ratings with the National Taxpayers Union were As or Bs. They were very high from the Citizens Against Government Waste. I got a hero award. I was a leader, as you know, on taking on tough issues, which is the entitlement programs, not just welfare reform, but I also worked on Medicare reform and Medicaid reform and also was a leader on trying to deal with Social Security. And I did that not representing one of the most conservative districts in the state of Texas but in the state of Pennsylvania, with the second largest per capita population of seniors in the country. And I can tell you those seniors really cared about Social Security. Why? Because all my rich seniors moved to Florida and New Hampshire. And ...”
Laughter interrupts to underscore the lies.
Santorum continues with “... and what's left -- what's left in Pennsylvania is folks who relied on Social Security. And I was out there as a Republican senator, a conservative voting record, over a 90 percent conservative voting record from the American Conservative Union. … By the way, Ron, you ranked 145th in the bottom half of Republicans this year in a conservative voting record from that same organization. We had a strong record in a tough state to be a conservative. If I can stand up in the state of Pennsylvania, which hasn't elected a Republican president since 1988, and have a strong principled voting record on issues that were tough in my state, senior issues, imagine now, as president of the United States, with a Tea Party movement and a conservative -- a riled-up conservative base, what we can accomplish in Washington, D.C.”
Ron Paul said in a clear even voice, “You know, that's always a cop-out when you compare yourself to the other members of Congress. The American people are sick and tired of the members of Congress. They get about a 9 percent rating. But this whole thing about comparison of conservative votes, I think you make a very important point. I don't rate what, at the top. If it's spending or on taxes I'm at the very top because I vote for the least amount of spending and the least amount of taxes, which means that some of the conservative ratings -- you have to realize sometimes conservatives want to spend mo
ney, too. When it comes to overseas spending, you vote for the foreign aid. Conservatives are quite pleased with spending money overseas. But if you're a strict fiscal conservative and a constitutionalist you don't vote for that kind of stuff and so you can't just go by the ratings.”
Fay Wray looks in my direction as if offering me passage on the Titanic. “Mr. McCall, you are an outsider, so to speak, with a most unusual background. Without experience in public office what would you do?”
Applause explodes as if the entire peanut gallery is thrust from a cannon.
I raise me hands with a back and forward motion to quiet the crowd. Eventually they regain their seat nad reduce the noise volume. I said, “Lincoln said, ‘It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.’ You have all the reflections, all the good intentions, but in the end the results from your efforts are simply the experiences I call mistakes. We got here as a nation on our success to effectively manage natural resources for the good of our citizens. Today we have become the wasters of the world’s resources and have manipulated events to insure instability to protect, what we consider our god given rights, to oil, and the fruits of our desires. The only way to finally become an equal partner with the world is to materially reduce our dependence to debt and start living within our means. You don’t have to look far, every day someone is complaining of the high cost of living, the inefficiencies of government and the reckless borrowing to support our consumer driven economy. Just look in your homes, there must be at least 500 items you cannot do without, and still have 99 percent more than the average world occupant. The policy of the United States government is based on waste. Waste creates jobs, jobs create consumers and consumers spend, usually on things they don’t need. I am not saying we should live under a rock, only that we must understand that always taking without giving back means a bigger, and bigger government that eventually cannot print enough money to support our collective life styles.”
Robust applauses are so fanatical; I stand up to calm down the spectators. The other candidates look on in amazement. At length, I am finally allowed to say, “In conclusion, we must reduce out national debt, consolidate government to condense unnecessary costs and to retool our citizen to survive a 21st century world. I have a plan, and with the help and understand of all of us, we can find a way to become a passionate creditor nations, free of foreign entanglements, living as a beneficiary of the world’s resources to support mankind as an equal inhabitant. ”
The applause constantly rumbles until the audience exhausts its energy and then they start to hum ‘God Bless America.’ The sounds takes the form of a prayer as the chorus calls out ‘as we raise our voices in solemn pray for God’s blessing and peace for the nation’ … ‘stand beside her and guide her through the night …’. Many spectators of all ages begin to cry, along with members of the camera crew and media handlers.
Fay Wray attempts to gain control of the audience by repeatedly banging her gavel. Program mangers at Fox News, CNN, NBC and ABC keep the telecast live without commercial interruption as hundreds of thousands of viewers jam telephone lines and the Internet. A news reporter at Fox begins to cry on national T.V. Similar acts across the nation signal a new consciousness last witnessed after the Japs attacked Pearl Harbor.
There’s nothing Fay Wray to do, but allow the audience to exhaust themselves, which they did not do.
“We did it,” declares Halley from the command center in Dallas. “You’re qualified for the minimum 270 electoral votes and will appear on the ballots of all 50 states.”
Martin Dorsey said, “Too bad direct election is not allowed. Our consensus numbers show we can win in a landside. Check this,” He fingers to the last page of the computer printout sheet. “Right now by popular vote we’re 2.7 to 1 favorite over Repugs, all candidates combined, and 1.9 to 1 favorite over Obamanation.”
“Stop wasting time,” challenges Allbright. It’s the Electoral College that counts. The voters of each state and DC pick electors. Without an amendment indirect voting rules. Why the debate, here?”
Jessamine said, “You said earlier, Vaughn, that the swing states disproportionately influence the selection process?”
Allbright rolls back on the leather chair. “As I said, California, Texas, New York and Florida are the key swing states. Collectively they have 151 electors. Carry their electoral votes and we win!”
“How does that figure,” I ask?
Halley answers. “The most populous states have the most seat in the House of Representatives, they also have the electors. The process is innately unfair.”
“Why?”
“Catcher, anything can happen in the dark. Electors are free to vote for anyone eligible, but in practice they pledge to vote for specific candidates.”
“True,” said Allbright, “but its also winner takes all.”
Jessamine interrupts with a question. “Is that the same as a short ballot?”
“Yes. Voters choose among a slate of candidates for electors. 48 states and DC employ the winner-take-all method. Maine and Nebraska have a districting scheme.”
I’m confused. “Why the debate? Winner-take-all means with a popular vote the electors must go with the majority.”
“Yes and no, Catcher,” said Halley. “ The presidential election of 1968 ended with Nixon receiving 301 electoral votes to Humphrey’s 191. Here’s the topper – Nixon got 511,944 more popular votes than Humphrey, equaling less than 1% of the national total.”
“Tricky Dick still won?”
“True. If the numbers are rigged swing states can turn an election.”
Allbright offers. “Majority of voting machines are electronic with optical scanner, which can be programs to create any result, and I mean any result. Take California for example, last major state for polls to close with 25 million eligible voters. You have 55 electoral votes up for grabs; winner of the popular vote takes all. That single popular vote guarantees where 55 electoral votes go.”
“You’re telling us the votes are rigged?”
“Yes, Jessamine. Their rigged and everybody knows it.”
I ask. “What do we do?”
“More so in close contests,” adds Allbright.
Halley responds to Jessamine’s question. “Vigilance at the local inspection centers and the primary calculation points. Heinz Hughes, our resident specialist, checks any anomaly; foremost software engineer whose Big O notations are the basis of algorithmic technologies used in the voting machines. He claims that since the advent of high-speed composition 29% of all congressional races are rigged and at least two presidential contests. As for the primaries – all of them are not reliable for a variety of reasons.”
“Wow!” The more and more I am exposed to the underbelly, the less I believe in my country. To me it’s like a giant shell game where lies win. Truth is no longer the alternation option for sound government.
“Let’s speed this up a bit,” said Allbright while down the remainder of his beer. “John Stevens from the RNC will be arriving shortly. It already 3 o’clock and we have at least 15 more items to cover. Okay Bob, the VP slot.”
Halley distributes resumes of two potential running mates.
“Irene B. Rosenfeld is currently Chairwoman and CEO of Kraft Foods, Cornell University Board of Trustees. Second most powerful women behind Michelle Obama, mother of two grown daughters, knows the business landscape, great speaker, competitive, excellent work ethic, Jewish. She has our position pages on military appropriates on the defensive initiative, the proposed Health Care Alternative Option Act, Federal Tax Reform Advantage and repeal of the Federal Reserve Act, Clear Air & Water Improvement Initiative and amendment of the Homeland Security Act. She’s in accord with our platform except FRA. She believes the modification of the dual mandate would reduce abuses and the Act is viable.
“The second candidate is Susan Elizabeth Rice. Currently she’s American foreign policy advisor and Ambassador to UN. Married to ABC News pro
ducer, at National Security Council for 4 years. On board with the platform but not too keen of ‘defensive initiative’ claims not appropriate with China emerging as economic power and would seek oil resources at expense of US interests. … Okay any ideas?”
“Wasn’t Billy Baker up for consideration,” asks Dorsey?
I shot back, “Hell no, the guy’s get his hand out for any deal. I believe he’s the worst on the Hill. Claims he can win in ’16 and wants a cabinet seat from Obama to give him more reorganization.”
“You did make him famous, catcher,” said Jessamine.
Dorsey laughs. “Yah, the guy’s a tick.”
“All right,” said Allbright, “Rosenfeld is my choice. She adds business experience and counter-balances your middle-road appeal.”
“No problem with me,” I said. “But let’s hold off until Syd gets back.”
The buzzer rings and Jessamine answers it.
“John Stevens just arrived.”
Before Allbright exits for the National Republican Party Chairman, he said, “Check off the points on my list, but we need to decide today what to do about the HBO mini-series - The Life and Times of Catcher McCall. I know Catcher, you’re not shrilled, but will not hurt.”
“No. I settle right now. Pass.”
“It’ $5 mil,” reminds Jessamine.
“Like we need it?”
“Honey, just being frugal.”
That evening I’m at a dinner party with Jessamine and her father, Philbert. The occasion is another fundraiser, like we need the money? As it stands we have sufficient funds to carry the campaign to fruition. To date $600 million has been pigeonholed with a complete paper trail. In the 2008 run to the White House, Obama spent $750 million of which much of the reporting documentation failed to disclose all the sources. Our auditing staff claims Obama spent over a billion. That’s a big chunk of money for a puppet sitting on the White House toilet for a mere four years.
As I said before, Philbert Forbes funded most of my march to the purported candy store. What’s heartwarming, the little fundraising we have done shows loyalty to our cause. A simple program initiated by Dorsey – Send a dollar and support Catcher for President – generated $81 million and growing by $5 million a month. Even thought it’s a drop in the bucket, the response confirms an audience beyond the questionable fame I garnered from the Medal and ...