Reply #569: I was hoping you'd weigh in on the delay in Condi's hearings.

[bleever]

Firstly, I may have erred in using "Pickles" interchangeably with "Sweetness"; I thought both referred to Condi but I'm seeing my error now.

And okay, maybe it was a weird thought, or maybe they're putting something in the water here, but I got a picture in my mind, all at once, that looked like this:

Junior, upon reaching the pinnacle of his dreams, finally proving to 41 that he's not a wimpy one-termer, finds at the top of the mountain...nothing, really. It's pretty much only down from here. Somehow, the thrill drained out real quick-like.

And without the buzzing of that thrill in his head, it's kinda hard to ignore the worm of guilt squirming in his tummy, that just doesn't seem to leave him alone anymore, now that the deed is done.

And he knows that in his life, there is only one source of unconditional, uninterrupted support and warmth. (Hell, Hitler loved his dog, right?) And he's on the verge of giving her the biggest goddamn diamond friendship ring a guy can give a gal, the State Department, and he feels the worm kick. And the horrible thought wriggles across his brain that it would break her heart and her pride to be confirmed as Secretary of State of the United States of America, only to see the election fall apart in reeking ruins around them, like the buckets of blood falling on Carrie after she's crowned prom queen in that creepy movie.

And he tells Karl, we'll delay Dr. Rice's hearings til January. And Karl starts to answer, and Junior cuts him off: no discussion.

Karl shuts the door behind him on the way out. Junior leans back in his chair, brow furrowed but with his lips pursed with satisfaction. He's done a good thing.