Power Games: Operation Enduring Unity I Read Free

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