A Peaceful Revolution

A Peaceful Revolution

By Donald Simmons

Copyright 2010 by Donald Simmons

Smashwords Edition

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one

No matter the route taken, or the weather encountered, the drive from Portland to the Oregon Coast was usually one to which he looked forward. Driving west, his destination varied from Astoria in the north to Gold Beach in the south, as he wanted and needed to hear from his constituents. He barnstormed the Coast and Eastern Oregon, what with their sparse populations; most of his time at home was spent in the Willamette Valley stretching from Ashland in the south to Portland in the north. Once every three months he met with a bipartisan group of state legislators in Salem; otherwise he was home every other weekend

Thom Stone loved this state, it had everything from surfing, great golfing to fabulous snow skiing, boating, fishing and anything that could be found in other states. As a kid growing up in the Portland suburbs he often wondered why when the adults talked about visitors from out of state enjoying themselves as tourists, they always added, But please don’t stay. He graduated from the University of Oregon, first with a degree in political science and three years later with his law degree. Knowing he wanted to go into politics somehow, some way, he took a job as a field staffer for a Congressman from Portland. After two years in the field office he was offered a position with the congressman’s committee in Washington. From there he became the congressman’s chief of staff, directing all the congressman’s employees. At the behest of his boss he would travel to Oregon with him on his visits home where he was able to meet and get to know the people who made his boss’ re-election possible. After six years his boss retired; Thom ran and won his seat. Six years into his Congressional career, one of the Senate seats became available when the incumbent was killed in an automobile accident in Eastern Oregon. Thom ran for, and won that election.

Thom Stone has been the junior Senator representing Oregon for seven years now. What made this trip home more enjoyable for him was his wife, Donna being with him. Her busy law/lobby practice in Washington, D.C. had, in the past precluded her from accompanying him. Today their destination was Lincoln City and Astoria, where his Portland staff had arranged two town hall meetings for him to interact with the residents and find out what was on their minds. The last time Thom had made an official visit to the North Coast, six or seven months ago; the only thing people wanted to talk about was the ballooning budget deficit and what was being done to get it under control. Since then a bilateral agreement was reached in Congress to begin the painful cuts in Government spending and increased taxation in order to balance the budget.

Thom, let’s stop for lunch some place; I’m famished.

Thom knew of a little restaurant up ahead serving breakfast and lunch. Entering, some of the customers did a double take; knowing they knew his face from somewhere, but not being able to place a name with it. Thom wasn’t easy to miss walking into a room; at 6’2, 220 pounds with an olive complexion and brown wavy hair, he carried himself as though he were an athlete, which he was in college, lettering in football and baseball. Donna, on the other hand, was only 5’2, long blonde hair and a body the result of four mornings a week spent in the gym. Looking into her blue eyes, no one doubted why she was a finalist in the Miss California contest her senior year in college.

After ordering breakfast, a man approached Thom and sticking out his hand asking,

I believe I’m addressing my Senator?

Thom started to rise from his chair, but the man, putting his hand on Thom’s shoulder said,

Please, don’t get up. I just want you to know I think you are terrific politician and I wish you would do something about Congress. I don’t think the way it operates is what our Founding Fathers had in mind. Keep up the good work and thank you.

Smiling, Thom thanked him and introduced him to Donna. As the man had been sitting facing Donna’s back, this was the first time he was looking at her. He turned red, and sucked in his belly; trying to look twenty years younger…it didn’t help.

Donna Pitt maintained her maiden name as her practice was not what you knew but who you knew. She was not tall, almost petite, but had the body of one who was diligent maintaining her firm body. The dress she was wearing showed every one of her beautiful curves. She was a thing to behold. No man without self-confidence would have dared to approach her; that Thom wasn’t lacking. She and Thomas Stone had met three years ago at a reception held at the British Embassy, welcoming the new Ambassador to the United States. Thom was a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and Donna was there as a guest of a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Thom had seen her across the room at the same time she saw him; neither doubted the animal attraction. Thom went straight to her, asking if he could get her a fresh drink. She responded in the affirmative, volunteering to accompany him to the bar. On the way Thom suggested they find a more ‘conducive’ place to drink. They were in his bed before midnight. Within three months they were married; Donna’s practice, having doubled since then, gained her a full partnership in the Firm.

The meeting in Astoria was, as usual, well attended; mostly the retired and the unemployed attended these events, even though it was a Saturday. Following four complaints about Unemployment Insurance not lasting long enough, and three from retirees about their Social Security and Medicare problems (which Thom asked his staff member to look into) the discussion turned to the Congress and the people’s collective dislike as to the way it operated. Each speaker commenced their remarks by saying they thought Thom was the exception to their complaints, thereby not embarrassing him in front of his wife.

After listening to almost an hour of citizens petitioning their Government, Thom had to excuse himself for another town hall meeting in Lincoln City, turning out to be similar to the previous meeting.

Thom was hearing the same things, no matter where he traveled in his home state. People were disgusted with the behavior of their elected officials and were resentful of the ways their tax dollars were being wasted. He was even hearing complaints as to the way the Supreme Court Justices conducted themselves. As did his constituents, Thom always assumed the Court to be above the political fray taking place around it; of late he and many others found themselves having to re-examine their assumptions.

During the judicial nomination hearings before the Judiciary Committee, all the Senators said they were questioning the nominee’s ‘judicial temperament’ and their ‘judicial philosophy’; it didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand they wanted a political philosophy that mirrored that of the majority member’s.

Well Donna, what did you think of democracy in action? It’s kind of neat that people can and do stand in front of their public servant and complain about the job he’s doing. It’s sort of like a mid-term grade; we better do something or come election time, or we’re outta there.

Can’t they just write you a letter? The things I heard today certainly don’t justify you having to fly across the continent and then drive an hour and a half, every other weekend.

What are as important to me are things I don’t hear as well as the things I do. I didn’t hear any complaints above our foreign policies, immigration problems, unfair imports, and on and on. There are lots of things I’ve heard complaints about these past few years, many of which aren’t on the radar in Washington.

Speaking of radar, Richard called during your last meeting. I need to get back to Washington tonight. We have to have a brief in a judge’s hand by 10:00 Monday morning. It has to do with a hostile takeover, so I’m sure you understand. When we get back to the condo I’ll make arrangements to get a flight out this evening. I’m really sorry; I was looking so forward to eat at that place you like so much.

Richard was Richard Sullivan, her Managing Partner and titular boss. She and Richard went a long way back; he was the one who took a chance on the young, pretty, law school grad who had finished near the bottom of her class at a third rate law school.

That’s too bad; I was looking forward to your company tonight and especially the after dinner-back-at-the-condo dessert. I’d like to travel with you, but I’ve got more town hall meetings scheduled for tomorrow. I think I’m booked to fly out on tomorrow’s redeye.

Donna was on her phone for the remainder of their trip back to Portland, finding a flight out that evening, and arranging for a limousine to meet her at the airport in Washington. Arriving at Thom’s condo, taking the elevator up to the sixth floor, Donna hurriedly packed as she had booked a flight leaving in two hours. Thom drove her to the airport returning an hour later, finding himself alone that evening, and trying to decide whether to have dinner out, eating alone, which he didn’t care for, or ordering in pizza or Chinese.

It suddenly dawned on Thom that Bob Kelly, the senior Oregon Senator and recently widowed friend was supposed to be in town this weekend also. Picking up the phone to call Bob, Thom tried to think of a place to eat half way between Portland and Salem, where Bob resided.

It’s Thom Stone; do you have dinner plans?

Hey Thom; yes I do; my daughter’s home from school, semester break, and I’m going with her and her sister for dinner up in Wilsonville. Why don’t you join us? We have reservations for 7:00 at a place called the Seafood Place. Do you know where it’s at?

Thanks, Bob; I’ll be there a little early; I’ll be waiting for you at the bar.

two

Arriving at 6:30, Thom found a place at the bar, the only empty seat next to a ravishing beauty with long blonde hair, brown eyes and skin like alabaster. As he sat she glanced up at him, smiled, and went back to her drink. Wanting a little conversation with his drink, but not knowing what was acceptable behavior in this situation, his problem was solved when the bartender, recognizing him, asked, What’ll you have, Senator? Out of the corner of his eye he saw the young lady next to him whip her head around.

Give me a Glenlivet neat, would you please?

‘Senator Stone?" asked the woman.

Yes; now that you know my name, what’s yours?

Is that a pickup line or are you just curious?

My apologies; I was just trying to be friendly.

I’m pulling your leg, Senator. I believe you and I will be dining together this evening.

I’m sorry; I’m meeting some friends. Otherwise I’d take you up on your offer.

At this the lady threw back her head and gave out a belly laugh that Thom was sure the whole restaurant heard and assumed he had asked her some stupid question, as though he were trying to pick her up and she thought the idea ludicrous.

No Senator, I’m Bob Kelly’s daughter; I didn’t mean to pick you up, although I’m sure you run into that a lot.

Thom saw the humor in this situation, but was a bit embarrassed at the fact he would have accepted her offer if he weren’t already spoken for.

Putting his hand out, Thom said, Let’s start fresh; I’m Thom Stone.

I’m Catherine Moore. It’s nice to meet you Thom."

Taken aback at the surname ‘Moore’, Thom had a puzzled look on his face.

"I’m still carrying my married name. I’ll probably go back to Kelly at the end of the month. I haven’t made up my mind yet; all my legal things are ‘Moore’.

Thom, scrunching up his nose said, Divorce?

Catherine nodded, smiling, We met in our third year of law school. After five years we both realized lust wasn’t a good reason to get married. Without embarrassing myself, I can only plead stupidity. And you Senator; I see you’re not wearing a ring.

I am married; three years. My skin is allergic to base metals. I could wear an aluminum one, but my wife thinks that might be tacky.

Hearing his named called, Thom turned around to find Robert Kelly and his younger daughter walking toward the bar. He arose and shook Bob’s hand, Thanks for inviting me, Bob; I ran into your Catherine.

Turning to the young lady next to Bob, Hi, I’m Thom Stone; you must be Carla.

They have our table waiting for us, folks; follow me.

Bob led them into the dining room. Waiting for Catherine to grab her purse, Thom took her drink in one hand and offered the other arm. During their dinner, Catherine and Thom were talking with their eyes to one another. Since getting married Thom had willed himself not to flirt with any woman. He thought he had that all out of his system being single for what, 36 years?

In his single days, Thom was a lady’s man and made the most of it. When he first came to the Congress he didn’t care anything about their marital status, but as time went on he became a bit more discerning. After being counseled by his Leader that his escapades were doing nothing to enhance his professional reputation, Thom had decided to put the brakes on his libido and spend a more time working and schmoozing with his colleagues.

Following dinner, Thom said his good-byes to his dinner companions and drove to his condo in downtown Portland. He hadn’t looked at another woman since he and Donna were married, and thought he wouldn’t ever again. When they sat at dinner, Thom made a point of sitting directly across from Catherine, who smiled when they all had finally sat down. She knew what he was doing. A couple of times after she had spoken and the stick was handed to her Dad or sister, he unthinkingly found himself still staring at her; she looking at him as if to say Thom, you’re really being obvious, but I like it.

On being asked by Bob Kelly as to when he would be flying back to Washington, they learned they were both on the same flight. They promised to have their seats next to each other as Bob wanted to discuss something with Thom, and could find no better place to do it, having a captive audience for five and a half hours.

Following four town hall meetings on Sunday, Thom took the MAX train to the airport, meeting Bob Kelly at the boarding gate. Bob, using his accumulated frequent flyer points got them both first class seats next to each other.

After they were in in the air and a scotch in hand, Bob offered, Thom, I’ve decided I’ve had enough; I’m not running for re-election; I’m four years into my fourth term and I need to let the State party know they need to find a candidate for my seat.

I’m sorry to hear that, Bob.

Well don’t be. I’m proud of my accomplishments and I’m tired, physically exhausted. Thom, in the aftermath of 9/11, the American people were subjected to the most outrageous behavior by their Government in the history of the Republic. Between the ideologues, who believe the ends justify the ends, to politicians who know better, but all took an oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend’ the Constitution but broke that promise usually, because it was politically expedient to do so.

Bob, you have to admit that, as a country, we were going through a period of unprecedented trauma. The Government was doing what had to be done in order to protect the citizenry.

In March of 2003 George Bush took the country to war without a Declaration of War by the Congress. Both Houses of Congress, since Vietnam, and the War Powers Act have abrogated their duty, allowing the President to decide unilaterally whether or not the country should be dragged into war. The Founding Fathers felt it best to leave that decision to Congress; allow them to decide with debate and cool minds, not the Commander-In-Chief who has a huge military and sometimes can’t wait to use it.

You have to admit though, when we attacked Afghanistan and drove Al-Qaeda and the Taliban back to the Stone Age, the President did the right thing, and had the entire country behind him.

"No doubt; the President had the right and duty to counterattack the terrorists without consulting with the Congress. But from that