Real Characters episode 15 Brainstorming

                Project Veritas is a group that goes undercover and gets corporations to admit their shady, often unlawful, business practices.  One of their more recent operations was to find a high level vice president of Google at a café.  They start talking to her about how the Google algorithms work and if they purposely discriminate against conservatives.  She admits it on camera and a former Google employee acts as a whistleblower as he testifies with his face and voice altered to conceal identification.  This is how the undercover Project Veritas people knew which questions to ask and target.  The video quickly went viral and it made its way to Capitol Hill where there will now be a hearing for conservatives to air their frustration with big tech acting like big brother.

                As the elected members of congress are gathering to listen to interview various people, someone has CNN on in the background.  CNN proving their biased and partial views is showing Chuck Todd castigating them for meeting with conspiracy theorists.  This proves that CNN is not interested in free speech but they, like Big Tech, want anyone right of center silenced and shun from society.  There are many examples of this in literature from the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter banning words like “Voldemort” to Orwell’s 1984.  CNN is the new Pravda of Communist Russia that purposely and systematically ignored the atrocities of Stalin. 

                The congressmen bring in such conservative leaders as Dan Bongino and Dennis Prager.  After a thorough field of people, they are discussing what they want to do about it.  The Democratic congressman are all united in pretending that it never happened and calling them all whiny conspiracy theorists.  Quickly, the Republicans realize that they’re just going to have to talk amongst themselves as the Democrats are too eager to insult rather than strategize or debate.  One member starts off and says, “Now, the main issue is whether we should rescind the Communications Decency Act from Facebook, Twitter, and Google for being biased.”

                Congressman Haley proposes, “I say we draft a bill that will rescind the Communication Decency Act if their algorithms are discriminatory against any group”

                A member retorts, “I don’t think that’s a good idea because someone could easily use it to suppress groups.  Remember, in 2012 when Romney was running against Obama and they made the word ‘binder’ a chauvinistic term.  They could easily say that ‘binder’ discriminates against women, which is a group, thus they lose their communication decency act protection.”

                Haley responds, “Well, we need to make strict language.”

                “It’s been tried before. There are always loopholes especially if the interpreter is a progressive.”

                A Democratic congressman asks, “What exactly is the Communication Decency Act”

                The same congressman against Haley’s bill expresses, “It protects platforms such as phone companies and the post office from getting trouble if something malicious is sent over their system.  If someone calls someone and tries to organize a violent bank robbery, the phone company isn’t liable for allowing the two people to speak.”

                A Republican female member offers, “Also, you will have people blaming the algorithms for getting less traffic than others and it’ll lead to historic failures such as the fairness doctrine.”

                Tennessee Senator Martha Blackburn pronounces, “Narrowing the language could work.  Why don’t we just keep the same rules that we have for elections?  You need to give equal time to Republicans and Democrats.  Big Tech can’t manipulate political speech to suppress a candidate.  We should force big tech to run FEC ads on social media.”

                The detractor rejoins, “I don’t like the idea of forcing a private company to do anything.”

                “We already do with TV”

                “It’s just that if the conservatives don’t like it, they can just get a new platform. President Trump has already said that he’d join a new platform if it was created.”

                Blackburn fires back, “What if I told you that all the phone companies were banning you from making or receiving phone calls?  Could I tell you to suck it up and get over it and just not use the phone?”

                The Democrat exclaims, “I don’t even think we should’ve interviewed those conspiracy theorists.  I mean guys like Bongino are so fringe that nobody in America cares about him.”

                A member fires back, “Bongino’s podcasts get more views than CNN’s weekend shows and that’s with YouTube suppressing them.”

                The Democrat voices in a lower defeated tone, “YouTube doesn’t suppress Bongino.  They only demonetize him for 24 hours and then he gets to keep any money he gets after that”

                “Were you listening?  It’s a daily podcast.  90% of listeners are in the first 24 hours.  Sponsors don’t want to be on when the viewership is 90% decreased”

                “It could just be the content.  Ever think of that?” he snarked

                “Then why would the audio listeners increase for the exact same show?”

                “I’m not a marketing genius, I don’t know.”

                It quickly becomes apparent that a solution is not obvious and this may take a while.  Congress recesses with no solution in sight. 

                Meanwhile, Trump and his team are discussing what to do now that the Supreme Court has struck down their citizenship question on the census.  Trump, being the transparent President that he is, has allowed interns in on the brainstorming session so they may learn.  He has encouraged them to speak up and not to be afraid to be wrong because that’s how people learn.  An intern asks, “Was the citizenship question ever asked?”

                A trusted Trump aid says, “Yes, Obama eliminated it.  He’s the only president to do so.”

                “Why would he want it gone?”

                “That’s the real question isn’t it?” the aid says with a smile then continues, “See the Democrats are losing voters as people break out of the ghettos and start making their own money rather than be suppressed by the government.  Their new strategy is to bring in illegal immigrants so they have more people to vote for them by exploiting them and seducing them with welfare money.  The more people that are counted, the more electoral votes they get and the more electoral votes they get the more power they have.  Remember, Democrats aren’t about making money, they are about garnering power.”

                “So if we include the citizenship question, then the Democrat’s strategy is foiled?”

                “Precisely.  That’s why they are fighting so hard for it.”  The aid turns to President Trump and opines, “What if you just write an executive order sir?”

                “Fake News and liberals will say I’m abusing my power.”

                “Why do you care what they think Mr. President?”

                “I don’t, but I love beating them at their own game.” The president says with a smile

                A female aid offers, “Well, do other government organizations ask citizenship questions?  I feel like with all the data we collect, someone else must have thought of this.”

                The male aid replies, “Yes, several of them do but the liberals and Democrats have no problem being hypocrites.  Pointing out their calling the census question ‘racist’ but not batting an eye to all the other ones won’t hold traction.  If it did, there’d be no liberals”

                “Yea, I guess you’re right.”

                President Trump’s eyes widen and retorts, “I think you missed the point of what you just said.”

                The female aid says, “Who?  Me or him (the other aid)?”

                “You”

                “How so?”

                “I’ll write an executive order mandating the census be cross referenced with the other organizations that ask citizenship questions and get the data that way.”

                There’s silence in the room as the aids and interns try to think of a problem with that.  Nobody can.  They agree it to be a good plan and the President executes that order. 

                The room is emptied and legal advisors come in to brief the president.  Trump sits down and faces them.  He asks, “Do you have the news about Mike Flynn’s case?”

                “We do sir”

                “Alright, let me hear it”

                Flynn’s new lawyer Sidney Powell has submitted in court documents that there are troubling issues that should concern any legal court with this case.”

                “Bold statement.  I like it.  Did he back it up?”

                “He did Mr. President.  He is alleging that the government forced Flynn to sign a FARA form that he works for a Dutch firm.  The form is usually straight forward but they made it convoluted and complicated.  Flynn did take precautions by having lawyers read through it before they signed it but the government is contending that he lied when he said that the firm is not linked to a foreign government.”

                “How is that a lie?”

                “The government alleges that the firm is tied with the Turkish government.”

                “And how would they know that?” the President inquires with a wry grin

                “That’s what Powell is getting at.  They could only know that if there was a FISA on Mike Flynn or they were spying on him in a different way and using the two hop rule that when he talked to a member of the firm, they monitored who the people in the firm contacted.  This could rope in hidden connections with foreign governments.”

                “And Flynn would not have known about it so he didn’t really lie.”

                “Right, to support that theory, the government asked Flynn to sign a form that said he knowingly lied and are offering reduced sentences and other deals to make him sign it.”

                “Well, they do get ruthless.  They went after his family and bankrupted him before.  I don’t blame Flynn for giving in but what was the result?”

                “At the request of his attorney, he refused to sign it.  Now that they’re going to court, various things are coming up in discovery including that the government doesn’t even know how to explain to a jury what Flynn did wrong.”

                President Trump laughed hard.  He shook his head and cried out, “That’s great, just great.  Powell is wonderful.  Well done.  Nobody is a more dogged defender than Powell.”

                “It’s still early Mr. President but it’s looking better for Flynn”

                “I agree.  I know I need to pardon him but I’d rather have a trial that exposes these jerks for what they did.  Still nobody has suffered more than Mike Flynn during this witch hunt.”

                “Your enemies seem to be slipping.  They are accidentally revealing their plans”

                “Who else?”

                “AOC’s chief of staff, Sailat Chakrabarti was asked about the Green New Deal”

                “They’re still on that?  I thought when it got 0 votes, they would give up on it.”

                “Nope, still doubling down.  Anyway, CHakrabarti admitted it had nothing to do with green energy but was a ‘change the economy’ thing.”

                “You can bet that if a Republican said something like that it would be on every news outlet in the world but since it’s that child, nobody cares.”

                “Right”

                “The tide is turning though.  Of the 28 judges on the 9^th Circuit, I’ve appointed seven of them.  If I win reelection, then I’m on pace for eight more, which means, a majority of them will be my judges and they can stop inhibiting the country from being great and legislating their progressive policies that are always squashed in a real vote.

                The legal advisor is excused and in walks Trump’s cabinet member Acosta.  President Trump asks, “What can I do for you?”

                Acosta frowns and hands the president his letter of resignation.  Trump frowns and articulates, “You don’t have to do this.  The Epstein thing is backfiring as it’s exposing Bill Clinton.  Pursuing this will hurt a hero of the Democrats.”

                “I think they’re willing to do that to hurt you sir.”

                “I can handle it.”

                “I can’t.  You know how they are.  They go after your family and relentlessly attack you like a swarm of mosquitoes.”

                “Trust me, I know very well.”

                “I don’t want to put my family through it.  I need to resign and go to a peaceful life.”

                “I’m very disappointed to hear that.  Keep in mind you can change your mind at any time.  It is never my intention to force people to work against their will so I will begrudgingly accept this letter of resignation but I strongly urge you to reconsider.  You’re a good man and we need good men in this fight.  You only let Epstein off with a lenient sentence because you were pressured by liberal superiors.”

                “I know that, you know that, but the mob and court of public opinion don’t know that.  I need to do this sir.”

                “Alright, good luck to you” the President uttered as he got up and extended his hand.  Acosta shook it and then walked out of the Oval Office.  The President frowned and shook his head.  This was a setback but he needed to get refocused and get more victories. 

                President Trump turns on the TV and sees Joy Bahear saying that the ICE raids are the equivalent of NAZI Germany raiding homes and rounding up Jews.  President Trump laughs and before he can say anything he realizes that conservatives are quickly pointing out that’s it’s the opposite of NAZI Germany’s raids.  The NAZI’s took people from their homes and forced them into countries and camps that Germany owned.  Basically they were forcing them to emigrate to German controlled countries.  The ICE raids are taking people who illegally came into America and sending them back to their homes.  NAZI’s forced them to come, ICE forces them to leave.  This is not to mention the obvious that the illegal immigrants chose to be in the detention center and could leave whenever they want so long as they go back to their countries whereas the inmates in the concentration camps were forced to stay there.  As the President listened to conservatives come out against this he was baffled how people couldn’t see how stupid people like Joy sounded.  Then again, maybe they could and that’s why Trump loved when they spoke.  It exposes them for their ignorance for all of America to see and maybe on election day they vote against them when they cast their vote for Donald Trump and other Republicans running. 

                It is now time for the President’s economic advisors to meet with him.  The President sits down and declares, “So the economy is at an all time high.  We are booming at a rate that Obama’s advisors deemed impossible and I’m waving that magic wand that Obama spoke about again and again.”

                “Sir, although the revenue is at an all time high, so is spending.  The national debt is still rising.”

                The smile left the President’s face and he snatches the file to look at the numbers himself.  It’s not good.  He shakes his head and exclaims, “Damn the Democrats and their spending.”

                “Sir, we need to find a way to curb this debt or at least stop adding to it.  The financial apocalypse is imminent.  Eventually countries aren’t going to want to lend to us anymore.  Once they no longer believe they are going to get their money back, interest rates will skyrocket.”

                “We are still by far the greatest economy so I don’t see that as an imminent threat”

                “Why should we measure ourselves relative to everyone else?  Why not thrive to expand our gap with everyone else and take care of things that are objectively a problem?”

                “I don’t think paying the debt is a priority now.  All big companies have debt, it’s not always bad.  It doesn’t need to be paid off right away, it can linger.”

                “’All debts are paid either by the debtor or the creditor.”

                “Oh now you’re quoting Milton Friedman”

                “Yes sir, he’s one of the greatest economists that ever lived.”

                “Well, I’m in negotiations with Pelosi.  We’re going to have to make a deal to get what we both want.”

                “Respectfully sir, just let the debt ceiling rules expire so that they’re forced to cut everything 15% across the board.”

                “That will hurt the military too.”

                “You took care of the military last year.  You can’t let congress seduce you with that this year.  You promised last year that you wouldn’t sign another omnibus bill.  Keep the promise, let the spending caps expire and go back to 2011 budgets.  With the economy soaring the way it is, we can start picking away at the debt if we continue this growth.  Even if we don’t, at least it won’t be bad relative to spending.”

                “I’ll take it under advisement but I think I can work on a deal with Pelosi.”

                “Just keep in mind that Democrats practice a new form of socialism.  Pelosi isn’t really one of them but many in their party are.”

                “What do you mean by ‘new socialism’?”

                “Well, it’s no longer the government controlling the means of production.  Now they regulate and tax companies to death to force them to do what they want.  So, basically the government is still in charge of the means of production but since they aren’t on paper, when the companies fail, the government just blames the corporations not themselves.”

                “That is why most of my administration has been about deregulation.”

                “I know sir.  But the one knock against you is the debt.  You start chipping away at that by the election, then you have no weaknesses on the economy.”

                “I see your point. I need to think on it.”

                “Yes sir” the financial analyst replied as he leaves the room.  President Trump immediately gets to work on other things.  He has a lot to think about in trying to keep America great.