(Ring) “Hello?”
“Bob, it’s Sam. How are you enjoying your vacation?”
“Sam! My esteemed colleague and fellow member of Congress. Good to hear from you.”
“Thanks, Bob. Before I forget, I need a little favor from you. If you should happen to speak with my wife, you and I were fishing yesterday.”
“Sam, you dog. What did you catch? A blonde?”
“Actually a redhead, Bob. She was wild! She had tattoos in places I didn’t know they could put tattoos.”
“Whoa, Sam! No details! If I don’t know nothin’, I can’t spill nothin’! However, we do need to talk business. You got any hot issues we need to look at when we get back in session?”
“Nothing major, Bob. I owe the environmental lobbyists a bill to celebrate ‘National Snail Darter Day.’ The bankers want another bailout so they can give each other big bonuses. Just the usual.”
“Now tell me honestly, Sam, are you planning on doing anything about the budget?”
“Hahahaha! Bob, you slay me. Why in hell would I want to do that? The stalemate has made my base solid. You’ve never seen a happier bunch of cranky old white guys. The campaign contributions are rolling in and the PACS are already working on new issue ads. I sure don’t want to derail that gravy train.”
“I hear you, Sam, but my party needs to make it look like we’re really trying to solve the financial crisis. I going to have to lay it on thick that your party is only capable of saying,’No!'”
“Bob, we’re big boys. We both know how the game is played. I don’t take it personal any more than you do when I accuse you of being a ‘Tax and Spend’ advocate. The battles aren’t important. It’s the war we want to win and when both sides are after the same end, it’s a wonderful thing. Everything else is just showmanship!”
“Great, Sam. I hate to see my vacation come to an end, but I guess that’s the way it is.”
“And don’t forget that we were fishing yesterday.”
“Right, Sam. I won’t tell your wife what you caught – only the one that got away.”
(Connection terminated)
sfnowak 