Time to Resign: March to the U. S. Capitol

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Epilogue

Chapter 1

China claims Yellowstone National Park,, the sign read.

The thin, red-haired man put down the sign and held up another one: Japan claims Yosemite National Park,.

What the hell’s that about? Jamie asked.

Just watch, sweetheart, Angie said as she turned up the volume on the TV. This is a live rally in Richmond.

The man put the sign down, grabbed a microphone, pranced across the stage, and said in a loud voice, "My fellow Americans, you owe China and Japan two trillion dollars! You can thank your wonderful politicians in the United States Congress, and they’re getting ready to ask China to buy more treasury bills so we can owe them an additional two trillion on our maxed out credit card.

"If China and Japan want to be paid, how do we pay them? We don’t have any money in our piggy bank; the United States Treasury is broke; the Social Security fund is empty; and there’s no slush fund.

"China and Japan knew that when they loaned us the first two trillion dollars but, my fellow Americans, they knew we had Yellowstone; they knew we had Yosemite; they knew we had land and buildings.

"So if they ask us to pay up and we can’t, they can claim Yellowstone National Park. Wait! Wait! That wouldn’t do it. We’d need four hundred and ninety-nine more Yellowstones to give them just to pay our first two trillion.

"What if we just give them some houses? Yeah, that’d do it! Okay, let’s give `em some houses. What? How many you ask? A few hundred? No, my fellow Americans, we’d have to give them eight million houses that cost an average of a quarter million dollars each just to satisfy our present two trillion dollar debt. If they dip into their savings to give us another loan, we’ll owe `em sixteen million houses.

What about giving them a state? he asked and held his head and rubbed his brow. "No! No! One state won’t do it. We’d have to give them all of Delaware, all of Connecticut, and all of New Jersey to settle our debt.

Or we could just give `em half of California or maybe half of Texas.

No! No! the crowd chanted.

Is this guy for real? Jamie whispered as he seated himself in a side chair.

He is, sweetheart.

And that’s not all, my fellow Americans, the red-haired man yelled, China and Japan is only one- sixth of what we actually owe. If we want to pay our total debt, then we need to give up forty eight million houses! Yeah, forty eight million. That’s half of all the houses in our country. We’d own half, and our creditors would own the other half.

Pausing for a moment, he scratched his head, held the rim of his eyeglasses, and said in an apologetic tone, Well, that’d do for now, but a year from now, we’ll owe another two trillion, and that’s another eight million houses…sorry.

He looked out into the crowd. I don’t know my country! he screamed. It’s being destroyed before our eyes by inept lawmakers. He pointed toward the northeast and yelled, "They have to resign…every member in the United States Congress has to resign! They have mismanaged our money; they have grown their own net worth; and they have broken this country.

"When they are replaced, the replacements must be required to sign a contract with their individual Secretary of State agreeing to reduce the size of the government by 30 percent over a period of two years, and to reduce the government payroll by the same percentage. They must not compromise our safety by cutting the military.

"They must agree to limit spending to 90 percent of present tax revenue and apply the remaining 10 percent to the national debt.

"They must agree to cut welfare by 30 percent over a period of two years.

"They are not allowed to cut social security or medicare.

"They must agree to sell 30 percent of government land to American investors and use the proceeds to pay on government debt.

"They must agree to ban unionization of federal employees.

"They must agree to limit tax increases to 1 percent annually for a period of ten years.

"They must agree to be subject to legal action by their state’s attorney general for mismanagement of government funds.

"They must agree that they will serve no more than twelve years in the Congress.

And they must agree to vote according to the majority of their constituents.

Angie turned to Jamie and said, He’s right about the Congress. They do need to resign.

"Yeah, but he’s never going to get things done just hootin’ and hollerin’. He needs to sound more aggressive…more powerful.

He needs to look out over his audience, hold his fists above his head and yell out like a mad general. To illustrate, he jumped up from his chair and waved his fists in the air. With dark blond hair that looked as if it had been tousled by the wind, he stood erect at six-foot-two. His flat stomach and muscular torso were definite indications of his 15% body fat. And he was confident in his demeanor. Over the last seven years, he had grown even more confident than the quarterback-in-charge that he was in high school and college.

You make a good, mad general, sweetheart, Angie said.

Chapter 2

There should be a camera up there, right in the fork of that tree, Jamie said, pointing to a slingshot-like fork about fifteen feet from the ground. The next time some son of a bitch with a grenade launcher comes up here, we want to know about it.

I love Holly Hill, Angie said, even if we have to endure bad guys with grenade launchers.

They walked slowly across the lawn.

The noise of a car caused them to turn quickly.

What’s this?

Might be a nosy neighbor, sweetheart.

Whoever he is, he’s getting out. Let’s spread out a little bit just in case.

They walked away from each other until they were about twenty feet apart.

Looks like an ordinary guy, Jamie said. Ordinary with dark-rimmed glasses.

Maybe he’s a librarian. No! Wait! He’s the guy we saw on TV. He’s the guy that wants Congress to resign.

I believe you’re right. What’s on your mind? he asked as the man came within six feet of him and stopped.

Uh, I came to talk with you. He looked at Jamie, then turned to Angie. I know both of you. You’re Angie, he said, then turned. And you’re Jamie.

What else you got?

I know you from the firefight you and Angie had down in front of the monument. Man, that was a real live movie. Bullets were flying all over Constitution Avenue. I saw all those cars on fire, and I saw you chase that guy into the monument. Only you came out. He stopped long enough to search their faces. So I got your license plate number. As soon as I got home, I tapped into the Transportation Division’s database at General Services Administration. He looked at them again. That’s where I got your name.

You hacked in, Jamie said, correcting him.

Man, that’s such a nasty word, but anyway, I got your names. Then I tapped, uh, hacked into the CIA’s database and got your address. So, here I am.

Jamie looked at Angie, then turned back to the man. Well, you’re good. We think we saw you on TV yesterday…down in Richmond. Your name’s Ben…

Ben. Ben Jefferson.

Any kin to Thomas?

Some say I’m a distant, distant, distant, but I’ve never been interested enough to find out.

So, why were you so interested in tracking us down like a hound dog?

Ben grinned. I’m concerned about our country.

So are we.

I’m so concerned that I’m going to do something about it.

Like?

Like recruit patriots to walk with me.

To do what?

To ask the entire United States Congress to resign.

Jamie looked at Angie. Babe, that sounds like treason or some other kind of nasty crap, doesn’t it?

She shrugged and looked at him without expression.

Jamie looked back at Ben. How’re you gonna do that, Ben?

I’ll be happy to tell you but like I said, I’m recruiting patriots. That’s why I’m here to see you.

You mean to recruit us?

To ask you to join me.

Ben, you’re gonna get your ass in the jail house.

I love my country. That’s why I’m so passionate about this. And I’m not going to jail. Nor is anyone else. Everything I do will be legitimate and legal.

So what has created this…this passion in you?

Jamie, he said, and then he turned and looked toward Angie, "and Angie, since 1970 four trillion dollars have left these shores to buy foreign oil. In present day dollars, it’s eight trillion and Congress has done nothing.

"In the last fifteen years, more jobs have gone overseas than were created right here on our own soil. Congress has done nothing.

"In the last fifteen years, our borders have become so porous that any hoodlum could come to our land. Congress has done nothing.

"In the past fifteen years, we’ve allowed every poor person from all over the world to come here and suck off our welfare system, our health system, and every government program that’s available. Congress has done nothing.

"The good people of this country have lost trillions of dollars in their retirement accounts, their investments, and their real estate holdings. Why? Because Congress did nothing. And why did no one point fingers of blame? Because they were all complicit. They knew in 2005 there were problems, but they did nothing.

"They all did nothing. They were flagrantly negligent in their duties and responsibilities.

This country has been sucked dry by Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, South Korea, and Mexico. We’re only a shell of a country. As soon as we allow our military to become weak, we’re going to fall as a country. Our loans will be called, and we’ll be officially bankrupt. We have allowed our citizens to service each other, to manufacture nothing, and to be consumers of the world. We have allowed our congress to pull this country to the edge of the cliff. So, I’m going to do something about it.

Ben, would you like some lemonade? Angie asked.

He looked at her, and he appeared stunned. Her coolness appeared to unnerve him.

She turned to Jamie. What about you, sweetheart? Would you like some lemonade?

Jamie appeared as if he were exiting from a trance. Yeah. Yeah, that might be, uh, good. What about you, Ben?

Uh, yeah. I’d like that.

Gentlemen, proceed to the front door. I’ll go through the back door and let you in.

Ben, the front door has an explosive device rigged to it, so don’t touch anything until Angie opens the door.

Ben’s eyes opened wider. Yes, sir.

They walked to the door and waited for Angie to open it.

Come in, gentlemen, Angie said.

Let’s go into my study, Jamie said.

Ben followed Jamie into the house. My God! he said. Oh, I’m sorry but what is that?

That’s our indoor waterway, Jamie said. Angie throws knives. She throws from this end to that bull’s-eye board at the other end. Wanna see everything up close?

Absolutely.

They walked back to the right side of the waterway and Ben’s eyes followed the marble steps up to the Jacuzzi ten feet above.

There’s a story to this, Jamie said. Almost a year and a half ago, we were sitting around about to have dinner when a grenade came flying in here. They blew our waterway all to hell. I had just had a Jacuzzi installed just like that one up there, he said, pointing up to the Jacuzzi, and they blew it right off its pad. Water was halfway up to our knees. Our house manager, Mandy, got her leg hung under a rafter, and I got a knife, some morphine, some tape, and was about to cut off her leg. But a miracle popped up. One of the grenades blew a hole in the floor and freed her leg. Should’ve had a movie camera in here.

What a story! You were brave to keep your cool.

Jamie breathed deep and his chest heaved out a bit. Well, it comes with the territory, he said. You know, that’s what we trained for. Come on, let’s go to my study.

I’m following you.

They went into the study and Angie joined them carrying three glasses of lemonade.

From Angie’s kitchen, gentlemen.

Jamie took a glass, took a long drink, then looked at Angie. Babe, you make a helluva drink.

Thank you, sir.

Turning to Ben, Jamie said, Well, Ben, tell us how you’re gonna get the congress to resign without causing a revolution.

Ben looked at Jamie, then at Angie and back at Jamie. I’ve written a book, he said. "It’s called Great American Patriots. My grandfather has advanced the sum of fifty thousand dollars to promote it. TV commercials start running in every major city west of the Mississippi except California next week. I, of course, have a website where I’ll promote the cause. The commercials will attract patriots. I need ten million."

You need ten million—?

Patriots.

Damn, Ben, I doubt if you can find ten million patriots in the country, Jamie said. Whatta you think, babe?

Sweetheart, I’m sure he can find eight million just in Texas.

Jamie’s eyes grew larger. Yeah, you’re right. At least eight million. Hell, Ben, I think you can make it, he said, then looked around the room and back at Ben. After you get the ten, whatta you goin’ to do?

I’m going to ask for groups of two hundred and fifty thousand each to march to the Capitol. One group from the north down to New York Avenue, one group from the east using South Capitol Street, one group from the west using Constitution Avenue, and one group from the south using the Fourteenth Street bridge. We’ll join forces, march to the Capitol, and request that all of Congress resign. Of course, they won’t. So the next day another million will join the first. Day after day, another million will converge on the Capitol.

Ben, the CIA will have killed you by then.

That’s why I’m here, to ask you and Angie to join me. I have no motive except to save this wonderful country. But I’m no fool. I know that each breath may be my last. If you join me, future history books will rank you as two of the greatest patriots the world has ever known.

Babe, you have any thoughts?

Why don’t we sleep on it, sweetheart?

Good idea. Ben, why don’t you come back here tomorrow morning for breakfast? And don’t bring no goddamned grenade launcher, `cause you’ll piss us off.

It’s a deal. I’ll be here tomorrow morning. What time?

Eight, Jamie said. Turning to Angie, he said, That okay with you, babe?

That’s fine.

Ben held out his hand and shook Jamie’s hand, then Angie’s. Thank you. Thank you, he said. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Eight sharp. It’s cool.

I’ll show you to the door, Jamie said.

Ben left and Jamie returned to the study. I’m going to check him out, babe. Whatta you think of his plan or of the whole damned scheme?

I think somebody has to grab hold of this country. It’s sliding off the cliff.

You’re right. I’ll let you know what I find out. I’ll be in the lab on the computer.

Okay, I’m going to throw some knives.

Jamie left the study and walked to the opposite side of the house and into the lab. He booted up the computer and tapped into the FBI database. Oh, Ben Jefferson, he said. "Six foot, one inch; 170 pounds; reddish-brown hair; wears corrective lens; IQ, 159. Lotta gray matter there, Ben. What else?

Attended University of Pennsylvania and George Washington University School of Law. Has a degree in accounting, degree in law, worked as an auditor, worked as a congressional aide, never married, never traveled abroad. Background check for United States Senate. No red marks on his record.

He logged off the computer and walked out to join Angie. Babe, he’s innocent as a newborn baby and clean as a whistle. Whatta you think?

I think we should help him pull this off.

Yeah.

Chapter 3

The intercom sounded promptly at eight.

I’ll get it, Jamie said. He walked to the front door, opened it, and looked into Ben’s face. You’re on time, Ben.

My only virtue, Ben said, grinning.

Come on in, my man. Let me introduce you to Mandy, our house manager.

Man, this is like living in a park with a roof on it, Ben said as they walked along the waterway.

We call this Holly Hill number two. The first one, as I told you yesterday, was blown up, and then we imploded the damn thing with the shooters in it. We never did find out how many shooters we deleted, but we know we got one because the son of a bitch was on the inside of the house shooting grenades at us, Jamie said as they arrived at the kitchen.

Mandy, this is Ben. Ben, Mandy. She’s the boss around here.

Mandy has been with me for almost half my life, Angie said. She was with me before Jamie and I married, and she has shared my ups and downs, cried and laughed with me, and I regard her as my second mother.

What did you do before you became Angie’s mother? Ben asked.

I was a school teacher in an economically depressed school district. It got to be too much for me.

Happy to meet you, Ben said and extended his hand.

Mandy appeared to blush, then shook his hand. I’m very happy to meet you, she said. I made a special breakfast for everyone. It’s buffet-style. We all eat healthy here so everything is nutritious.

Ben’s eyes grew large as he looked at the counter stacked with food. This is awesome. He gasped. I’ve not seen a spread like this since I left the law firm, he said, then turned to Jamie. You, know, of course, that I worked for a law firm. You checked me out on the FBI’s database last night. His brow wrinkled as if to say, Didn’t you?

Me? Jamie asked, appearing innocent.

Yes, sir. I tapped into the FBI database at the same time as you. I just couldn’t penetrate your firewall. You’re better than the FBI.

Jamie laughed. Turning to Angie, he said, He’s good, babe.

Angie smiled.

Fill up your plate, Ben. I have some ideas I wanna run by you.

Ben selected an omelette, baked tomato, fresh fruit, orange juice, and dry wheat toast.

We’ll just sit here in the kitchen, Ben. That okay with you? he asked, looking at Angie.

Sure.

You’re next, babe. Then you, Mandy.

Are you sure, Mr. Jamie? Mandy asked.

I’m positive.

Everyone filled their plates and seated themselves at the kitchen table.

Ben, we’re gonna throw in with you. We’ve got to save this republic. Now, when you round up all your patriots and march into D.C., you need to hold a rally—right in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Can you imagine it? Looking out with the Capitol in front of you and seeing a million patriots cheering you and ready to change the path of this country for all eternity?

You might have a good idea because I have a message I want to deliver.

What’s that?

I believe we can have a great manufacturing revolution in this country. It’s essential to save this country.

How would you go about it, Ben? Angie asked.

I would challenge every patriot in this country to walk into Wal-Mart, into Best Buy, into any department store, pick out one item that was made outside the United States, and go make it in their own hometown. The patriots would have to have their own seed money or be able to borrow it. Next, I would ask five thousand engineers to be on call to help the startups. They would amortize or prorate their fees over a period of five years. They would develop whatever technology is required for the new business to manufacture products that would compete in any domestic or foreign market.

Damn, I like it, Ben. I’m getting really excited about this.

I like it, too, Angie said. It sounds like a fresh start for our country.

Ben, when you develop your message, we have to give you a prop that will emphasize your message. I’m gonna suggest a billy stick, but make it fat, paint it silver, and glue a large colored stone right on top of the stick. That’ll soften the image of it. Whatta you think, babe?

Well, sweetheart, it all sounds good, but what’s Ben going to do with the, uh, prop?

I’m glad you asked. He’s gonna stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, look out into the crowd, and tell them why Congress should resign, then lift the prop high over his head, crash it down on the podium, and yell at the top of this voice, IT’S TIME THEY RESIGN! And repeat it at least two more times. IT’S TIME THEY RESIGN! IT’S TIME THEY RESIGN! Then look toward the Capitol and yell, IT’S TIME YOU RESIGN! IT’S TIME YOU RESIGN!"

He looked around the room searching each person’s eyes. Well, whatta you think?

I like it, Ben said quickly. It provides a great platform for our cause.

It’s also about the time the CIA will shoot your ass off.

We can’t have that. Do you think you could prevent that?

With the help of five thousand police officers who’re experienced in crowd control.

All right! I’ll recruit them using my website.

"Ben, this is not going to be as easy as you getting up and making a speech or marching on the Capitol. We need to infiltrate the Congress, the Pentagon, and the CIA if possible. We need to know immediately of any government plans to derail the marchers or maybe to jail the organizers. If we were to get word of any shenanigans, we’ll cease communications and get you and anyone else that’s involved out of town.

I’ll start it by sending someone into the Congress as an employee. That someone can gather invaluable information.

Who is that person, Jamie?

That person will remain nameless, but we need to find someone to be a civilian administrative assistant to a general or at least a colonel. They would have to get a Top Secret clearance. That way they can snoop all over the Pentagon. There’s an outside chance that the army could be mobilized to stop your little march. So we need to know what’s about to happen before it happens.

Ben’s eyes grew large, and a broad smile flashed across his face. Man, you are good, he drawled.

I hate to break up this admiration society, but why don’t you guys take a stroll out in the yard while Mandy and I clean up the kitchen?

Ben, I think we’re being chased out. Come on.

Jamie got up and walked toward the front door and Ben followed.

Ben, tell me about yourself, Jamie said and laughed. "I mean some of the things that aren’t in the