The Administration has continued to streamline the Federal Government and spending. We have managed to cut five point five trillion off of the national debt since we have made the changes we felt were necessary to protect and prosper the future of the country.
Recently we announced that we intend to be independent of foreign oil. How many times have you heard Presidents say that but how many have actually done what was necessary to ensure the future needs of America? We have already started granting offshore drilling rights to American companies. We have also approved two new pipelines to transfer oil from the rich fields of Alaska. It is time to quit talking about it and act.
It is my understanding that Congress, unhappy with my actions, have decided to start debating my impeachment. I can certainly understand their desire to rid the White House of me. They simply cannot stand someone who is taking action rather than talking about it. Congress no longer takes the consideration of the people seriously. It has become an old boys and old girls club that affords them the opportunity to get rich. The Constitution is no longer their priority. They would rather spend time making deals and cooking up ways to line their pockets.
They have grown rich while effectively achieving little in real accomplishments. The tax laws continue to burden Americans. The legal system is in shambles. The criminals are afforded more protection and rights than the victims. Colleges and Universities allow your children to take classes like ‘The importance of Star Wars’, the movie. Professors are allowed to spew whatever is on their minds and are not held accountable for what they teach.
What has Congress really accomplished? They cost the US tax payers trillions of dollars each year and to what end? They do not have to pay into Social Security or Health Care plans. They get a ridiculous amount of perks and pension when they finally leave office. Congress has become a bloated, self-serving organization that offers little in the way of service to the American people.
This ought to give them some to talk about,” she said and smiled.
Laughter ran through the room. It was clear that she was taking congress on head to head and wasn’t about to back down.
“America needs a strong government that is willing to act and not just posture and talk. If everything had been done in line with the wishes of Congress we would still have a high crime rate, be dependent on foreign oil for the next decade and you would still be paying huge tax bills because we are spending more than we need to as a nation.
Tonight I am announcing a new tax incentive. In part, as an answer to the NRA, to every citizen who turns in a weapon, legal or not, a tax credit of one thousand dollars will be given. That one thousand is per gun. If you turn in two, you will be afforded a two thousand dollar tax credit. The number you turn in doesn’t matter. Also, no reprisal will be taken against anyone turning in the weapons. The ISS does not have to hold raids to get guns off the street. The law abiding citizens of this country already know that they are an unnecessary hazard.
The Administration’s goal is to reduce the number of guns in American homes by twenty million within the next year. The Administration has an ambitious program that will make America debt free, free of foreign oil dependence, and safer for all citizens. If that is offensive to Congress then by all means, start the impeachment proceedings. If you want the same thing for America that I want, join me in fighting impeachment by calling, writing or e-mailing your Representative and Senator and demanding to know where they stand on this issue.
We are at a critical point in this Administration. We have the ability to turn the corner on high taxes, oil dependency and becoming debt free as a nation. That is our desire for the future.
Thank you, goodnight, and God bless each and every one of you.”
****
Senators Volter, Decker, and Zeek were stunned at what they had just listened to on the television. No one even moved a muscle when the President turned and walked away from the podium.
Finally Zeek said, “My God. Did you hear what she just said?”
“Of course we did,” Volter replied sarcastically.
“I mean...”
“Yeah, we get it. She basically challenged the House to start proceedings to impeach her. She is putting the old Washington spin on everything,” Decker replied.
“The woman is crazy. No, more than that, she is dangerous and crazy.”
“We need to do something to expose her,” Zeek said.
“You’re right, but ‘what’ is the real question? She seems to know everything we do and say. You mark my words, it won’t be long before the ISS is nothing more than a facsimile of the Nazi SS. They seem to have the same power even now.”
“The only way to stop what is going on is to get the American people involved. They need to be made aware of what is really happening,” Decker added.
“Yes, but they control the media. How do we do that?”
“We ask for equal time on television. They can’t stop congress from having access to the American people,” Zeek told them.
“Yes they can. If Jack Ekman says no, we won’t get access.”
“There has to be a way,” Zeek replied.
“Sitting here wringing our hands won’t do much good. I say we approach Ekman first. See if he will let us have access to the media.”
“Listen to what we are saying. We need permission to even be on television. That is crazy. We have to find a way or it will be too late,” Decker said.
“It may already be,” Volter replied.
****
“Mr. Ekman, Senators Zeek, Volter and Decker are here for their ten o’clock appointment.”
“Good. Show them in,” he said.
The secretary ushered them into the room. Ekman’s office was spacious without being pretentious. A picture of the President was hanging behind his desk and another of him shaking hands with her, probably when he was named the Media Czar.
“Please, have a seat,” he said graciously.
“Mr. Ekman, we have some concerns and we would like to discuss them with you,” Decker said.
“Concerns. Well, let’s see if we can alleviate those ‘concerns’.”
“Last night the President made a major speech. While interesting, it was controversial to say the least.”
“Really? In what way?” he asked.
“It made it seem like congress was against everything she was attempting to do. That is simply not true. What we are opposed to is the way in which it is being done. She attacked the integrity of the House and Senate by saying all we did was get rich while doing nothing. Those are pretty harsh words.”
“I see. Obviously you don’t agree, being some of those people,” he said.
“Mr. Ekman it would be no different than our saying that your office was self-serving and getting kickbacks from the media. You would be mad as hell.”
“Yes but we aren’t getting kickbacks and are serving the American people.”
“Sir, we are doing exactly the same thing. Anyone that says different is a blatant liar,” Volter jumped in.
“We could debate this all day but to what end? What exactly is it you want?”
“We would like to have one of us go on television and have a chance to tell our side of the story, so to speak. A chance to balance some of the allegations the President made.”
Ekman sat back in his chair rubbing his chin for several seconds just looking at the three of them.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said finally, “That can be arranged. The caveat being that I would require an advanced copy of the address.”
“But that would only give the President advanced notice and she would immediately attack again.”
“Those are the terms. You can take them or leave them.”
“So this is your form of censorship.”
“Goodness no. We just don’t want an outright attack on the President.”
“That is censorship in its rawest form,” Decker said getting hot.
“Well gentlemen, all I can say
is, take it or leave it.”
“And if we just hold our own news conference and tell the papers what is happening?”
Ekman smiled.
“All I can say is good luck with that. I think you will find it very difficult to get any major newspaper to print what you have to say. That is, without our approval.”
“You are not going to get away with this. You can’t control everything. There are other forms of media. We will find a way to get to the American people,” Volter said rising out of his chair.
“Yes. You may find some avenue but I can assure you, what happens after that may not be so pleasant unless you have the proper authority.”
“We’ll just see about that,” Volter said as the three stormed out of the office.
Ekman was just smiling as he held the door open for them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ed Harrison had been a collector and restorer of WWI and WWII weapons since the mid-eighties. Many of the weapons had only been test fired to make sure they were cycling correctly and still safe to use.
People from around the country knew of his reputation as a skilled gunsmith and a meticulous restorer. He spend a good deal of time researching every rifle that was sent to him so that it was sent back in as authentic condition as he could possibly make it.
It wasn’t a large operation by any means. It was just him, although his wife took care of the bookkeeping and mailing of the finished rifles. She was also very good at digging out research on the various weapons that were sent to Ed for restoration.
“I know it is a Russian SVT-40 but the muzzle break doesn’t look right,” he muttered as he was checking in the latest rifle that had come in the mail.
“What are you babbling about?” Edina asked.
“Oh just grumbling. I think someone did a Bubba on this gun. I just don’t understand why people do that.”
“Cause it’s their gun and they can.”
“Doesn’t make it right,” he argued.
“Humph,” was all she said, sitting down at the computer and doing a search for SVT-40 Russian rifles.
“Well you’re right. There are essentially three different models but none of them have that kind of muzzle break. Someone must have put it on.”
“Jackasses,” Ed said disgustedly.
“Is it homemade?”
“Probably. Pretty well done though. Maybe someone sells them. Can you check that online?”
While Ed disassembled the rifle, Edina surfed the web looking for a muzzle break for that particular rifle.
“Hey. Look at this. It’s not for the SVT but it fits on the Russian Mosin-Nagant rifle.”
“That’s it. Someone has modified it to fit on the SVT. I need to contact this guy and find out what he wants me to do. Also the receiver isn’t original. The color is all wrong.”
“Give him a call,” she said going back upstairs to make supper.
****
“Ed, do you hear that?”
“Yeah, someone is outside. It sounds like more than one person. Call 911. I’m going to take a quick peak.”
“You be careful.”
“Just make the call,” he said getting his .40 Glock from under the shirts in his dresser drawer. He put a bullet in the chamber and carefully made his way to the front room. He could see a shadow cross the closed curtains.
At least one person was on the porch. He could hear whispering so that meant there was definitely more than one. He ducked down behind his Lazy-Boy recliner and aimed at the front door. If anyone came through the door they were in for a hell of a surprise.
Ed almost jumped out of his skin when Edina bent down and whispered in his ear.
“They are on the way.”
“Jeez Edina. I about peed myself.”
“Sorry. I thought you would want to know.”
“Just get back in the bedroom. Lock the door and get the shotgun. If it isn’t me, shoot first and ask questions later.”
“You just be doggone careful,” she said scurrying back to the bedroom and locking he door.
Edina had been around guns all her life and knew how to use them. She even had a concealed carry permit the same as Ed.
“GO,” Ed heard someone shout and the front door was kicked in.
Ed yelled, “Stop or I’ll shoot.”
“ISS,” someone yelled.
Three men rushed in the room.
“Freeze or I’ll take you out,” Ed shouted.
“Mr. Harris. ISS. We are here on official police business.”
“Bullshit. It’s 3:00 a.m. and you just kicked my door down for no reason. Now you drop those weapons or you are as good as dead.”
“This is going to end badly if you don’t come out from where you are hiding.”
“Don’t try to bullshit me. My wife has you all covered with a 12 gauge. Even if you get me she is going to take a bunch of you with her. Now drop your weapons and then I’ll talk.”
“That isn’t going to happen.”
Sirens could be heard getting closer and Ed knew it was just a matter of time now. They would either fight or flee. He got ready.
“Take him,” the leader said.
The men started to bring their weapons up. Ed could see where they were pointed by the lasers. He reached around the corner and fired three quick shots. At least two were hit and the third turned and opened fire on full automatic. Ed had gone to the floor as soon as he fired and shot off two more quick rounds low. It must have caught the man in the leg because he suddenly went down on the floor screaming in pain.
Sirens came to a screeching halt and within seconds they were in the house, guns drawn.
“Police. It’s me. Ed Harris. My wife called. These men broke in,” he shouted.
“Where are the lights?”
“Just behind you on the left,” Ed told them.
“Do you have a weapon?”
“I certainly do.”
“Place it on the floor,” the cop said just as the lights came on.
“I don’t want to get shot. My wife called for you. We are the ones that were attacked.”
“That’s fine Mr. Harris but you need to put the gun down and stand up.”
Ed knew he had to make a decision. Finally he put the gun on the floor and shoved it out in front of the chair. He stood with his hands in the air.
Six police officers were in the small room and three men with ISS vests on were lying on the floor. One was holding his leg the other two were not moving. Ed could see that he had been hit in the head.
A couple of officers were checking the ISS men out.
“Alright Mr. Harris. Where is your wife?”
“In the bedroom.”
The officer motioned with his head for one of the men to get her.
“Don’t. She will shoot anyone that comes through that door unless it is me,” Ed told them.
The cop just looked at Ed for a minute and then said, “Okay, you can go with him to bring her out. Tell her to leave the gun behind.”
****
An hour later Ed and Edina sat on the couch with a detective telling their story for the fifth time.
“And they just crashed in the door and came in?”
“That’s what I said. I had no idea who they were until they were already in the front room. I told them I was armed and to lay down their guns but they had to go and play big shots. I opened fire when the leader said to take him out. By take him out, they meant me.”
Did they announce they were ISS?”
“Nope. Just busted down the door.”
“What about after they were inside?”
“I don’t know. I was too busy trying to figure out what to do. It was 3:00 a.m. I thought it was someone just breaking in. Don’t you usually say something before you break down someone’s door?”
“You know the ISS is going to send more agents to collect you,” the Detective said.
“Can they do that with no reason?”
“Oh they will come up with
a reason. I’m sure since their men didn’t report back they are working on that as we speak.”
“How do I get protection?”
“Let me make a few calls. We are going to piss some people off waking them up this early but what the hey,” he said pulling out his cell phone.
****
“Captain Drew, I’m Agent Crossman with the ISS Division 101. We went out to collect Mr. Ed Harris and were told that we would not be allowed access without your consent. I have to assume that was some sort of a miscommunication.”
“No. No miscommunication. That was their orders.”
“Surely you know ISS has authority over the local police.”
“That is what you seem to think but I don’t happen to agree with that. Your men busted into a house, totally unannounced at 3:00 a.m. That is trespassing, breaking and entering, and your men also had fully automatic weapons. Those are against the law Agent Crossman.”
“Captain, I do not want to see this escalate but you are wrong on all counts. ISS officials do not need permission to enter a home. They do not need permission to have fully automatic weapons. We do not need to have your approval. It is as simple as that.”
“If that were only true. You see, Agent Crossman,” the captain said opening the side door as a short, middle-aged man entered the room, “Our Governor is refusing to recognize your authority over the local police.”
“You’re Governor Quinn?”
“That’s correct Agent Crossman. I am only going to tell you this once. You get your tail out of my state and take your henchmen with you. If we find any ISS members in this state they will be arrested on the spot. You will not come in here giving orders like you are some Gestapo agency. This is still America and we have a thing called due process. After hearing the entire story, we are putting you on notice that Mr. and Mrs. Harris are under our protection.”
“Surely you don’t really think you can stop the ISS. We will roll over you like you are nothing more than a small sand castle on the beach. In a few days there will be nothing left,” Crossman threatened.
The Governor turned to the police chief.
“Does that sound like a threat to a government official?” he asked.
PROJECT BlueBolt - AMERICAN GULAGS: BOOK I - AMERICAN GULAGS Page 14