Tales

The Time: 1.00pm,  Saturday October 28th, 2006

The Location: Oro Valley Library, Tucson, Arizona

So there I am , sitting at a foldout table in Oro Valley Library. In front of me is a laptop connected to the Electoral Roll Database. Around me are the infamous Diebold Voting Machines plus a line of 5 voting booths. Next to me is Mel, nice guy from N Dakota. He’s the Republican. I , of course , am the Democrat.

Its now our last day of manning the Early Voting Site for the 2006 Elections. We started in August for the primary then Oct for the full election cycle. 3 weeks each time.  We have told each other our life stories several times during the waiting around.

I must have greeted thousands of residents of Oro Valley and the Tucson area. Most were cordial. Despite being a strong Republican area , we saw about a 40/40/20 Dem.Gop.Ind  split.

Anyway, the point of this story is we talk about the 2008 elections and whether we will be back volunteering for that.

On our last day, Mel says to me, ” so I guess you will be voting for Hillary then in 08?”.

I turned to him and remember what I said in response, word for word.

I said “Remember this name, B-a-r-a-c-k  O-b-a-m-a, he will be the next president”

Mel laughed as I am prone to humor( or my version of it).  He both  thought I was kidding and   that I had made up the name ;).

This year, I was working so could not spare the time to volunteer again.  I have not seen or heard from Mel since.

But this Tuesday Nov 4th, I will be thinking of the expression on his face, that day back in Oct 2006.

“ok, so check this one more time for me John please. ” he moved away to look out the window of his Jet parked on the runway. In front of him running up the corner wall were a series of wires.  The technician pulled back the panel and squished them into the recess. He checked the phone recessed in the wall in front. He dialed in a sequence of commands. “Thanks Doug ” he said and replaced the phone in its cradle. “I just spoke to my contact” said John. “All set. Just dial in this sequence to listen in . There is no mike in this phone so you wont ever be overheard.” Now you know  what they are thinking, before they do”

A thousand miles away, Doug put down the phone. He updated a few things. removed his secure usb device from the machine. he picked up his ID card and jacket while he powered down the systems on his desk. He took the elevator to the ground floor, passed the two guards in the hallway, and walked across the giant seal in the foyer floor and out the door. The weather in Langley this morning was cool.

A few minutes earlier, the tall thin candidate was sitting in his Maryland hotel suite. He was discussing strategy with his advisors. Having just got the nomination, they were planning out the next 4 months. He did not notice the two cell phones on the table suddenly blink for under a second.

Jan 13th 2002.

“What time does the Miami game start?” he asked, trying to interrupt the mindless drone of demands from his overweight bully colleague.

“Look, I dont give a rats ass about the law, we need to keep control” the other person in the room continued,” and all I am telling you is that we now have a way to listen in on every plan or decision any democrat makes. All of them, anywhere …anytime..” He was about 9 inches away from George’s face now, almost ready to explode.

“I dont want to get caught on this shit Dick, this sounds like its fucking communist china to me. I’m the decider here and I say this is not to be begun!” he angrily retorted.  He then thought for  a few seconds, pushed up off the couch to get some distance between himself and the aggressor sitting next to him.

Dicks face suddenly turned from pale putrid white to deep red. He viscously spat out his thoughts…”Look fuckhead, you will do as I say. I got you and gave this power, and I can take it away if I need to!”.

There was silence in the room, a silence that lasted about 3 seconds..

Suddenly the room span as a clenched  fist swang through midair…..

hitting George squarely on the lip.

He twisted slightly as he fell between the coffee table and the couch.

His arm reached out to save his fall, but only managed to scatter the bowl of pretzels nearby.

“Go Fuck Yerself” said the piglike attacker, ” you dont decide anything!!” But his comments were not heard , as George was now out like a light. The blood on his lip now starting to drip onto the carpet as he lay there.

As Dick stormed out the room, across the main foyer, and down the steps to the waiting black tinted windows limo, Laura , in an adjoining room, wearing oversized headphones, continued sewing…..oblivious to all this.