WASHINGTON, D.C. - The mood at CPAC was downtrodden, as the Democrats looked to soon be in control of all Congress after a twelve-year absence. What was just as disconcerting was the way the Republicans behaved during their decade in power. The Republican Party was now stacked with moderates who conducted themselves little differently from their counterparts in the Democrat Party on most pressing issues. Unfortunately, a majority in Washington on both sides of the aisle was beholden to the media, because without the support of the press most recognized they would not win reelection. This threat was why so many Republicans were towing the line on many progressive issues.
The press viewed weak moderate candidates as preferable to traditionalists, and their election tinkering resulted in both parties behaving increasingly like liberals. The result had been the Republican Party ran up the nation’s debt, created a new bevy of entitlements and did nothing to stop the looming "Subprime Loan" crisis. To make matters worse, the Republicans had taken few steps to consolidate, or invigorate their voters; instead, they adopted a policy of laissez-faire and hoped for the best. The Republican Party had become inept, seeking only to placate its political enemies with kindness. As the fabrications surrounding the economy and war grew in audaciousness, enough voters became persuaded their party needed to be replaced.
What’s more, a majority of Republican voters saw many of their representatives undermine attempts to secure orthodox judicial nominees, but worse still, many were behind an amnesty bill that, if passed, would have permanently put the power of future elections in the hands of the Democrats. The actions of the RINOs (Republicans in name only) had predictable results; their constituents had not turned out and the opposition now controlled both Houses of Congress.
American businesses were expeditious in reacting to the shift in power, and unemployment was already beginning to rise. Soon people’s incomes would also be seen falling as companies began tightening their belts to weather one more spate of control by an otherwise antibusiness political party. The one redeeming factor was the moderate in the White House who still possessed the threat of veto power. Unfortunately, Senator Rooney could now override McKinley’s veto with his sixty votes in the Senate.
Both Victor and Jack had traveled the world and seen first hand the human misery and true inequalities fanaticism spawned. In the Far East, the extreme form: communism created a ruling class of bureaucrats and politicians who lived opulent lifestyles at the expense of the cheap labor the Chinese people provided. Work conditions mirrored scenes from the early Industrial Revolution.
In the Middle East, except for Israel, Victor saw appalling third-world living conditions for all except a few members of a ruling caste. The basic necessities of palatable drinking water, sewage systems, electricity, never mind automobiles and flat-screen TVs, things Americans took for granted, did not exist for the masses.
In Europe, Victor had seen countries that transitioned to government-driven economies where politicians and bureaucrats represented the rich ruling class. Once-prosperous industries were now owned by the government because of tax foreclosures, and most were being sold off piecemeal to foreigners to keep the charade alive. It was nothing more than a temporary fix and would eventually come down around their ears.
Jobs and the private industry were leaving the worst of those countries including France, Italy, Spain and Greece, as businesses relocated overseas to escape onerous taxation, the high labor costs and inefficiencies created by the unions. The private sector had become not the engine that drove the economy, but the water trough wherefrom broadminded elitists sought to quench the ravenous thirst of their out-of-control programs. Those once-democratic societies were on the brink of disaster and when the money ran out, would face riots and chaos like that now being seen in Greece.
The more the CEO had seen abroad, the more he had come to loathe the anarchists and the chaos they created. Victor was never more convinced that the American people needed to be aware of what was in point of fact happening around them, and why.
America stood alone in the world. It was the last beacon of hope. It was the last nation to embrace capitalism in its truest sense...and the American people needed to be aware that their way of life was now at stake.
The driver spoke up as they pulled up in front of a massive glass and steel building.
“We have arrived, Mr. Newman.”
“Don’t bother getting the door,” Jack said to ward off any undue attention.
The company president knew of how well Victor kept his identity hidden from the public. Victor was not like most of the high-profile executives, those who sought out the spotlight, who danced for the press, so they could see their mugs on the front page of some tabloid, or magazine cover. Victor worked behind the scenes and could walk about in public without the consequences that accompanied success.
Jack was not so lucky; after all, it was his job to be the face of MEI, which meant he would also become the occasional target of the news media. As far as the president could tell, they were mostly goofballs who were convinced business successes only occurred because someone else was taken advantage of, either through theft, or servitude. How they could be Americans and arrive at these conclusions was puzzling.
Both executives saw a throng of people with cameras hovering around the main entrance of the center. CPAC not only attracted mainstream Americans, the event also attracted droves of journalists who, at the orders of their editors, were there to create news.
"Probably reporters," remarked Jack. "Looking for someone to descend upon, I suspect. Let's take the side entrance and avoid that rabble."
Victor nodded.
Jack had the distinct impression he and Victor were being studied from afar, by the hungry eyes of a meandering mob of journalists. Wearing business suits for the occasion the two executives stood out like sore thumbs among the more casually dressed CPAC attendees.
“Tickets please...”
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Later that afternoon...
The Senator’s thoughts, as of late, centered on his time in Congress - how that time now appeared to have been all for nothing. Burton knew, however, he was too old to continue fighting the good fight, and his days in politics were at long last over. In many respects, he was very happy those days were now behind him.
Senator Burton’s first term began during the wave of patriotism following Ronald Reagan’s climb to the White House. Now, over three decades later, it had been much too long to have someone of Reagan’s caliber missing in the Republican Party. Reagan had done so much to reverse the trend of decline, and it had been a great time to be a Republican, to know that someone was in the office who could really articulate the reasons for America’s greatness, a person who could defend the principles that led to that high standing among a sea of dissidents.
Senator Burton agreed to see the two executives from Magnason Enterprise for one reason: they offered the possibility of hope. The face to face was arranged by Katharine Tate who was quite persuasive in getting that point across.
The Senator entered the private conference room an hour after his stage event and was greeted by Jack and Victor.
“Good afternoon Senator Burton, I am Jack Newman and this is Dr. Victor Magnason.”
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” the Senator replied with a shake of each man’s hand.
The Senator’s handshake was firm, his eyes clear and alert, but his overall countenance telegraphed that his body was running on reserves. The point of this meeting needed to come up early.
Jack motioned to an empty chair at the head of the table. "Please, take a seat, Senator.”
The politician slowly sat down smiling, "Thank you, I don’t mind if I do. It has been a long day."
Victor remained silent, doing what he normally did in meetings with Jack - playing the role of silent partner.
“We saw your presentation and I must say we were both taken aback by your passionate plea for more government restraint.”
“That has always been one of my pet peeves, Jack...may I call you Jack?”
“Certainly Senator, and please refer to my partner as Victor.”
“Yes, of course,” the Senator smiled. “Boy, could I tell the two of you some stories.”
The light banter went on for several minutes, each man feeling the other out with words as their rapiers, each seeking to gauge the objective(s) of the person before them. All the while, Victor remained quiet, listening. Finally, a point was reached when the Senator believed he’d sized up Jack. Victor, however, remained a mystery.
“Jack, enough about Washington. What is it that you two sprites want from this old dog?”
The politician smiled, now waiting politely for an explanation on what for.
Jack responded to the Senator's silence with the reason, “I’m sorry, but we must be a little vague in our response. It is because we expect to rock quite a few boats up in Washington with what we’re doing. There are quite a few people up here who would want nothing better than to see a new project of ours fail.”
“Okay, you have my attention.”
“Senator, Dr. Magnason and I are in the midst of creating an innovative news company that we are convinced will rock the industry. I can’t go into details at this time except to say that the news company we are planning we believe will put today's cartel out of business in time.”
The Senator’s eyebrows rose just slightly for a moment.
“I am talking about a news company with a traditionalist viewpoint.”
Senator Burton suddenly looked skeptical; he realized just how much of a long shot this whole idea really was.
Jack continued, “One of the panelists, I forget who, hit on the one point the media most fears, a challenge to their position of dominance...”
But, even as Jack continued talking, he did not realize the Senator’s mind had begun to wander. Victor had picked up on the subtlety by his slight eye movements.
Senator Burton was a realist and while he understood there were many in his party who wanted the same things for the country, they had always been reacting to the one element they all feared, the press. The kind of misapplications the press could heap on any unfortunate politician who became a target was unfathomable. They were like a pack of wild animals running about the country and as with all wildlife, you were never quite sure what they were going to do next. One minute, they were amiable, harmless, purring little kittens. The next, snarling, foaming at the mouth, rabid dogs. The Senator understood in his heart that they were the primary reason conservatism was losing ground. For Republicans, it was every time like walking on eggshells. You didn’t want to make too much noise, otherwise you’d wake up the beast.
“Jack, that is very interesting and my guess is you need someone to help you navigate Washington. Have I got it?”
“Yes, Senator, but we don't just need someone with connections, we need someone who, like ourselves, understands the kind of danger the country is in and is motivated to do something to change it. Our biggest obstacle and fear is the one mentioned by Professor Hayden, the part about how the establishment, with the help of the Democrats, brought about the demise of The Daily. We won’t have the issue of the unions as The Daily did, but any legislation involving the internet could negatively hamper our efforts. We, of course, don’t want to see the same thing happening to us that happened at The Daily.”
“It sounds fascinating Jack, but I don’t know how I can help.”
Victor understood some of what Jack had been discussing was getting through to the Senator, and all the politician needed now was a little nudge.
Victor now spoke up for the first time. “Senator Burton, what we need is someone who can tell us what’s going on behind closed doors, especially as it relates to the news business we’re developing. Jack and I need to be prepared, financially, legally to take on the challenges that will surely be thrown our way. You heard what the other panelists had to say. The country is going off the deep end if we continue along this same path...it is only a question of when.”
“Jack and I know the reason for the country’s demise, and I suspect you know the reason, too. Americans need the option we will offer now; they need to know what is really taking place. Damn it! We want to turn the tide before it’s too late. You are the one man we’re missing to pull it off!”
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As Jack and Victor made their way to the waiting limousine they could not help but notice a crowd of journalists gathered around a group of protestors waving banners, and chanting incomprehensible slogans. Victor recognized one of protestors off to the side being interviewed by a news reporter and film crew. He was the thirty-something-year-old who had seen shouting out “Liars! Liars! Liars!” during the Senator’s presentation.
"Jack, the young man with long, stringy red hair."
"There's our problem in America. The radicals in this county are given just too big a voice.”
“Yes, Jack, especially when you consider just how small a minority those people really are."
THE RAID
LIARS the News Industry Page 8