Real characters episode 9 Phone Calls

                Bob Mueller is giving a press conference about his probe.  He first states that he is not going to take any questions nor testify.  He wants his report to speak for itself.  In it, Bob Mueller insinuates that the only reason he didn’t charge President Trump with obstruction is because of the OLC rule that you can’t indict a sitting president.  Mueller then resigned and went into the sunset leaving the media and the anti-Trumpsters to use his speech as fuel to rally for impeachment. 

                Bill Barr was one of many listeners to the press conference.  He tells a staffer, “You know I asked that man three times if that’s why he didn’t recommend obstruction.  All three times, he said no.”

                The staffer said, “He told the DOJ and Rosenstein that that wasn’t why as well.”

                “It looks like I have to respond to this.  Can you call an interview?”

                “Yes, who do you want to do it with?”

                “One of the fake news network.  Basically not Fox, I need to take oppositional questions otherwise I’m just doing what Mueller just did.”

                The staffer set up the interview and Barr sat down and answered the questions.  He focused on his investigation in that he believes some people thought they were doing something for the greater good but instead undermined the entire system.  The interviewer kept hinting that they were going to try to destroy his reputation and humiliate him but Barr just replied that everyone dies sometime.  Barr has already been attorney general and he has nothing to lose, which is why President Trump nominated him 

                When the interview was over, Barr talked with his staffers who told him that it went over well.  Barr said, “What I wanted to say was what they did was immoral, unethical and illegal.  Their only justification, and it’s a bad one, is that they were blinded by an overinflated sense of worth.”

                “It’s good you didn’t say that.  That probably wouldn’t have gone over well.”

                Barr laughed and the staffer smiled.  Barr went back to his office and went back to work on the task he was hired to do in getting to the bottom of the origins of the spying of Donald Trump.

                Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, Congressman Justin Amash is watching Bill Barr’s interview.  Amash has always called himself a libertarian and he has relied on the support of libertarians.  Lately, however, a lot of them have turned their back on him for supporting impeachment.  Amash calls Rand Paul who has been the tip of the spear for the libertarian movement.  Rand Paul answers and says, “Hello”

                “Hey Rand, it’s Justin”

                Paul knew who it was as Amash’s number is saved in his phone.  His tone is annoyed but he continues, “Oh hi, how may I be of assistance?”

                “Well, I feel like libertarians are supporting Trump.”

                “I wouldn’t go that far.”

                “Well you know how horrible he is.”

                “He’s a braggart, abrasive, aggressive and takes up too many petty crimes but he did lower taxes and deregulated a lot so that appeals to some libertarians”

                “Right, somebody can’t be all bad.  Bottom line though, you do support impeachment.”

                “Oh no sir, I can’t do that at all.  To be honest, I would be surprised if any Republican supports you on that.”

                “Why’s that?”

                “It wasn’t a legitimate investigation.  The investigation into Trump may be the most un-libertarian thing that has ever happened.  You have a government that is spying and attacking anyone close to you just because of personal animus.  You have people in government lying to courts to make this happen.  What happened to Donald Trump is one of the biggest fears libertarians have.  That’s why we don’t want government to have these powers because they abuse it.  That’s why I ran to make government so small, it would be microscopic.”

                “He thought about firing John McGhan”

                “Who cares?  One, that is his subordinate, he’s allowed to do that.  But, more importantly, he didn’t.  You don’t get prosecuted or punished for thoughts.  You get prosecuted, charged or punished for actions.”

                “What about how he talked about firing Mueller?”

                “You can change the name as much as you want, the answer is the same.  These are objective values so they’re not dependant on the person.  I fear many people have forgotten this with the President”

                “I’m disappointed you aren’t supporting me on this.”

                “I’m disappointed you abandoned the libertarian cause just because you can’t get over your personal problems with the President.”

                “Good bye Rand”

                “Good bye Mr. Amash.”

                With that the conversation was over.  Rand Paul wasn’t done with his phone calls.  He called the President and said, “Mr. President, it’s Senator Paul”

                “Yes Senator Paul, how are you doing today?”

                “I’m doing okay.  I wanted to go on the record and express my disapproval for your idea to establish tariffs on Mexico.”

                “Duly noted that you are on the record with your disapproval.”

                “You’re a business man sir.  You know tariffs are bad for the economy.”

                “I do know that but sometimes it’s the lesser of two evils.”

                “I will admit that the problem at the border is getting incredibly dire.  It is a very untenable situation that needs a quick remedy.”

                “Do you have one Senator Paul?”

                Paul contorted his face as he knew how the conversation was going to go but he couldn’t just outright say ‘no.’  He said, “Well, you have the funds in other sources.  You could build the wall”

                “The Democrats are blocking that at every turn.  They are doing everything in their power to halt construction.”

                “Respectfully sir, you’re the president.  You can do it without their authority.”

                “Although I get accused of being a tyrant, I am a believer in our system of checks and balances and that this office should not be unilateral.”

                “Well you know I agree with that sir.”

                “Yes, I do, which is why I was surprised you brought it up.  I even tried that amnesty cases couldn’t be done in America and needed to be done in Mexico.”

                “The courts blocked that order.”

                “They did, so I’m at a loss.  What else can I do except circumvent congress by having the country they’re coming from or crossing through block them?”

                “It’s just weird that you’re asking them to solve a problem we can’t”

                “Their government allows for it.  Quite frankly, they’re aiding and abetting it so I don’t think it’s too big an ask.”

                “Do you think this retribution for saying that they were going to pay for the wall?”

                “No, I’m a deal maker.  That’s how deals are made.  It didn’t work and that’s fine.  Speaking of my being a negotiator and deal maker, I’m open to ideas that you or any of the other Republicans or Democrats in congress has that’s better than the tariffs.”

                “I will think about that sir.”

                “Or, you know, you could use your influence over the Republicans who may not like me as much to put aside their hatred for me and do what’s right for the country.  Stop the tariffs, build the wall.  Or Stop the tariffs, allow amnesty trials to be done off our shores.”

                “Alright, I do have some work to do.  Thank you for your time Mr. President”

                “Thank you for the call Senator.  I am always open to suggestions from rational people.”

                They hung up the phone and President Trump called Governor Cuomo in New York.  He said, “Good day Senator”

                “Hello Mr. President.  I’m still not supporting your wall.  You’re hurting yourself with these tariffs”

                “We shall see.  If you’re right, then you can have a good day at my expense”

                Curomo laughed nervously.  He asked, “Was that the purpose of your call?  To ask me to reconsider my position on the wall?”

                “Not at all.  I’m curious about this problem you have with the teacher’s union.”

                Cuomo frowned.  He knew what he was talking about.  He said, “Well, a lot of people are a little hesitant about single payer healthcare.”

                “Yea and Mayor De Blasio has been pushing it even though it failed in Vermont and California miserably.”

                “Well, this is New York.  We succeed where others fail.”

                “You should know how strong the unions are in New York.  All those retired teachers enjoying health care that they fought so hard for.  Now they have to share it with the entire world since you allow it for illegal immigrants too.  I don’t envy you.  I’ve had to battle unions my whole professional career, they are worthy opponents.”

                “I appreciate your concern for our problem sir.” Cuomo said with obvious sarcasm and disgust in his voice.

                “Who knows?  If Bernie wins the primaries, it might be the first time that Union leaders like Diane Savino votes for a Republican”

                “I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

                “We’ll see.  Good luck governor.  I think you’ll need it.”

                “Thank you sir”

                President Donald Trump went back to work.  It was hard work running the country when you were attacked from every direction but it was a fight he enjoyed and he would have it no other way.