Well, Carl is still alive, and apparently the Vice President. What kind of trouble will he get into now? There will be surprises coming up, and Carl goes to a dark place. You’ll know soon.
For the nitpickers on 135: It would be Cheney as Secretary of State who would have chewed on the Nicaraguans about the warrant. Bush might be President but Cheney would have the State Department make it work.
I received a couple of notes that after 18 months Charlie would have made it to E3, Lance Corporal. In my defense, I reply that I had earlier received a note that he wouldn’t have made it by then but would certainly make Lance Corporal by the end of his first hitch. I am leaving it as it is. By the next time we see Charlie, he will be a Lance Corporal.
For those curious about the statement that Doctor Buckman was qualified to teach half a dozen subjects, this is accurate. At one time I was an adjunct at a community college. The big thing about teaching college is the degree the teacher has. A master’s degree is needed at a community college and a doctorate at a four-year school, but once you’re in, it doesn’t matter what you teach. He would certainly be qualified to teach mathematics and computer science. Being a self-made multibillionaire qualifies him to teach business or finance. Being a vet with a medal lets him teach military science (ROTC). Five terms in the House and election as Vice President would let him teach political science.
Quite a few readers have wondered how much influence Carl will have on Bush. Some have envisioned him being the eminence grise, the power behind the throne. The role of Vice President has varied greatly in the last century. John Nance Garner was one of FDR’s Veeps and he described the office as ‘not worth a bucket of warm piss’, usually euphemized as ‘spit.’ FDR changed his VP candidates twice and never had much use for them. Truman wasn’t even told about the atomic bomb until after being sworn in as President. Likewise, JFK and Johnson despised each other, and Johnson was cut out of most things. On the other hand, Cheney and Biden were highly trusted advisers and intermediaries. Cheney eventually fell out of favor, but he had a long run pulling Bush’s strings.
For those who think I am being too hard on Bush 43, sorry, but every interview and report I have read on the man shows he was not intellectually gifted. Even some of my readers have met him and agree with that. He had wonderful political instincts, a photographic memory for names and faces, and could schmooze with the best of them. Otherwise, he really didn’t know the difference between a Gentlemen’s C and a real C and thought the degrees his father bought him were earned.
And finally, for everyone who wondered if the twins were going to show up anymore, you are getting your wish, in spades!