[War] US: Election Aftermath

[pentaj2 at Scranton.edu]

"Election Aftermath"
8 November 2006
Pres. John Williams
US
===================
<0100 EST>

   Williams watched the results settle with a shrug. "Well, the 
Republicans got smacked in the House." Pause. "And the Senate is going 
to be 49-49, til Virginia and Montana get settled." Pause. "I don't 
mind the House, but the Senate fucking annoys me."

   Kay smiled, wrapping an arm around her husband as they watched TV 
from bed. "I noticed you put the Republicans in third person. 
Switching parties?"

  A chuckle from John. "No...I've pondered it, on occasion. But, no." 
Pause. "However, I should call Nancy Pelosi."

 He reached over and picked up the WHCA (pronounced WHAKKA by those 
who work at the White House) device on the nightstand. "G'Mornin', 
Sergeant. If you could hook me up with Nancy Pelosi?" Pause. "Secure 
or unsecure, her choice." Pause. "Alright."

A moment's pause.

"Mr. President?" spoke the voice of Nancy Pelosi.

"Madam Speaker. Congratulations on tonight; Twas a well-fought 
campaign. You deserve the win, in the House at least."

"Thank you, Mr. President. Your side made a worthy opponent."

"You're welcome, and thanks." Pause. "Madam Speaker, when do you think 
you'll next be in Washington?"

"Tomorrow, probably."

"Alright, good. What about Hoyer, Harman, Skelton, Levin, and Lantos?"

"Should be able to round them up by, say, Thursday."

"Good. We need to meet ASAP. No press, no leaks. I'd like to discuss 
some things with all of you."

"I understand. Mr. President?"

"Yes, Madam Speaker?"

"I notice you left out Alcee Hastings."

"We need to talk about him."

"I understand."

"Tomorrow evening over dinner sound like a good idea?"

"Yes, should be agreeable. What about my Senate colleagues?"

"If they wind up with 51-49, then OK. Even 50-50."

"OK then. Wait, why not do it Friday?"

"Tom has Shabbat, remember?"

"Oh, right."

"With that, just to give you something to whet your appetite: I have 
some ideas on the minimum wage."

Nancy Pelosi nearly squealed like a schoolgirl. "Oh? What?"

"I'd tell you, but my wife is giving me evil eyes and mouthing for me 
to get off the phone. So, sorry, Madam Speaker. It'll have to wait for 
tomorrow at 6," Williams replied, winking and smiling at Kay.

"Oh, fine. Good night, Mr. President."

"Good night and congratulations, Madam Speaker."

With that, POTUS hung up the phone.

"What *are* you thinking in terms of the minimum wage?" Kay asked.

John smiled, reaching out to rub his wife's shoulders. "Giving them 
this minimum wage increase, in return for passing a law to index the 
minimum wage to price inflation."

"Taking the issue off the table."

"Yup."

She kissed him with a smile. "You're so sneaky when you're doing good."

He blushed at that. "I try," he offered modestly.

"Now then," she purred to him, "Non lumos." She spoke at a more normal 
tone of voice. They'd managed to figure out a voice-recognition system 
that would let them turn the lights on, dim them or brighten them, and 
turn them off with voice commands; It had been $500 from unspent FY06 
construction funds, a 10-minute convo with the relevant Congressional 
appropriators, who appreciated their coming to them with even such 
minor expenditures, and 20 minutes training the system. The 'lights 
off' command was, in part, a tip of the hat to the Harry Potter 
series, which both POTUS and FLOTUS had grown to love over the years.

As the lights went out, John could feel his wife tug him to lay back, 
and drifted off into a gentle sleep.
---
Actions:
1. Just some time-bridging. The Dinner Post will come out tonight.