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What he said, what he meant Poppy to the RescueBy Rick Horowitz
(It might have happened something like this...)
"Rrrrrinnng. Rrrrrinnng. Rrrrri -- " "Hello?" "Hey, Pops -- it's me." "George! How are -- Bar, pick up the extension! It's George!" "No! I mean, don't put her on yet." "What?" "I just need to talk to you." "Well, OK, if you -- Bar, he says he'll catch you later. It's a president thing. Anyway..." "Thanks, Dad -- I appreciate it." "Not a problem. So, your mother and I are pretty much packed, ready to go. Had a great week, all of us did. We -- " "It's about the speech, Dad." "Very inspiring. Very poetic. I was telling your mother just the other day -- it's one of those 'one for the books' speeches." "Yeah, but I'm getting bashed for it. I mean, I wanted it to sound historical, but now everyone's saying I went too far! You know, 'End tyranny,' 'We'll deal with foreign countries according to how they treat their own folks' -- that kind of stuff." "And you didn't mean it." "Sure I meant it! Didn't you mean 'Read my lips -- no new taxes'?" "Watch it." "But now they're saying I'm naive -- or a hypocrite! Like I can't possibly live up to what I promised, or else they're saying I'm gonna be invading places all the time!" "Makes them pretty nervous." "No kidding! I even had a couple of our guys talk on background, put out the word that it wasn't that big a deal. Just some ideas in a speech, you know?" "And that didn't quiet it down?" "Have you had the TV on?" "Well, not rea -- " "And I was feeling so good about it, too! 'Great speech!' 'Terrific speech!' 'Sounds like Lincoln!' It didn't take them long to turn on me, did it?" "Now, take it easy -- the last thing you want is to start feeling sorry for yourself." "It is?" "Wouldn't be prudent. Wouldn't be useful either." "So what do I do?" "You're asking me?" "I guess." "You're not consulting with some 'higher authority'?" "Dick's out of town." "I meant some higher father?" "Jeez, are you still sore about that? I only meant -- " "Never mind. It's fine. Water under the bridge." "So..." "So maybe I could do a drop-by in the briefing room. You know, tell 'em how it wasn't any new policy, certainly wasn't arrogant or anything like that." "I hate having you have to bail me out." "Wouldn't need to be anything formal. I could just be coming by for a visit, giving somebody a tour, something like that. I'll even keep my overcoat on, look like I just wandered in for a sec." "Impromptu." "Exactly." "You think they'll buy it?" "Certainly worth a try. Now, understand: I'll do what I can. But if I can't calm things down, you know who goes out there next, don't you?" "Aw, Dad! Do I have to?" Posted 1/27/05. Give
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Rick Horowitz
