Westman, Part II: The Rising

[Mechaman]

June 7th, 1979
Fairfax, Virginia
Westman Townhouse:

Westman is lying down in the living room on his couch, getting drunk out of his mind (like usual).  Today had been yet another very unproductive one, with not even another bill of his getting shot down in flames.  Though with the new Republican Senate he hoped that there would be enough crossparty support to get some of his liberalization bills passed.
Funny, never realized I would get along this well with them.
He wasn't depressed, he wasn't moaning and weeping over missing his daughter, he was just freaking tired.  Last thing he wanted to think about or do was work on his Energy Legislation Package, which included yet another attempt at his ambitious "Green America" program.  At the moment, even with Mark Hatfield as the Senate Majority Leader, it was hard to sell it.  Some Republican lawmakers out East seemed hell bent on making sure Westman stayed a one term Senator with no significant legislative accomplishments.  Some Democratic lawmakers out East wanted Westman in Senate, but as long as he was a good little Boy Scout and did what he was told.
Westman hated both of these mentalities and it hamstrung not only him, but dozens of others from out West who felt that the Easterner's model of governance was flawed and in need of some drastic reforms.
Calpernia comes out of her bedroom, clothed real casually with a long sleeve black shirt and some basketball shorts, and sits down next to him.
Calpernia: Hey baby.  You look a bit stressed, was work okay?
Westman felt peeved.  Hey baby?  If a girl is calling me baby I would expect them to be more courteous than this continual cock tease.
Westman blurted it all out.
Westman: Why yes, honey, I do feel stressed.  For one thing, nobody and their removed cousin wants to deal with my Green Legislative Agenda.  Not the hacks out east and not even my allies!  Old Marky Mark thinks it would be too haphazard and would send a wrong message!
Calpernia: Aren't you a Democrat?
Westman looks at her funny.
Westman: Yes!  Is there something off about that?
Calpernia: Well, I mean you're a Democrat.  Hatfield is a Republican.  Why do you feel like you have to listen to and heed his advice?
Westman: Well, I mean in this reality he is the closest thing to a mentor and ally I have right no-
Calpernia: Well then, why aren't you a Republican?
Westman laughs uncontrollably.
Westman: Well are you?
Calpernia: Ugh no.  Pretty partisan Democrat here.
Westman: You're not just saying that are you?
Calpernia: Well I believe in a strong healthcare system and civil liberties.  Hallmarks of California liberalism.  But, I don't worship a man from the other party.
Westman: Seriously?  What's wrong with you?  Do you know nothing!?
Calpernia gets an angry look on her face.
Calpernia: Suddenly I know nothing!?  Scott Westman!  You are one of the most ignorant men I've ever met!
Westman, sensing what she was going on about, grabbed her hand and looked her in the eye.
Westman: Calpernia. . .. I know it's hard for you.  I mean, I've known girls in your situation.  It's not exactly uncommon now days and there are groups that can help you-
Calpernia:-just shut up now.  You're only going to sound like a f***ing idiot.  Seriously.
Westman puts a finger to her lips.
Westman: We all have things we like to keep secret Calpernia.  I should've known something was up earlier.  However, I was too damn selfish.  I forgot what it was like to be a true friend to a person like you-
Calpernia looks at him confused.
Westman: I mean, a girl.  A woman.  I'm too used to getting every single one of them and having my way with them.  I never once thought about what it would be like to truly be a friend to one, to be caring to one.  TO think of her as something more than just sex.  Never thought about her own feelings-
Calpernia looks like she's close to crying.
Westman: I'm not going to judge you.  Nobody is going to judge you around here!  You think you're the first girl to ever fall in love with another?
Calpernia suddenly stops looking like she's about to cry, and gets a really confused look on her face.
Calpernia: WHAT?!
Westman: I mean, that explains your behavior doesn't it?  I can't imagine how hard it must've been, how confused you must've been.  Know that no matter what happens, you got a place here.
Calpernia moves a front bang out from her face. . . . and then laughs.
Calpernia: You know what, I was right Scott.  You are a moron.  But thanks.
She quickly pecks him on the cheek, laughs, and then gets off the couch.  Westman watches her move, taking in her app-wait a second.. . . . . is that?  No, no way.  You really need to cut back on the drinking man.
Calpernia turns around, grinning, towards Westman.
Calpernia: You look really cute when you're being stupid Scott.
Westman, more peeved than ever, inquired:
Westman: Well then what the hell are ya?  A nun?
She laughs even harder.
Calpernia: Well let's just say I'm a puzzle.  It'll take you months to figure me out.  Besides, I prefer you this way.  You look cute when you're confused.
She closes the door as Westman beings to feel agony.
He pulls out a cigarette and then heads towards the front door.
Another long bar night.

[Mechaman]

Later that night
Fairfax, Virginia
The Drunken Dutchman:

Westman: It's just so bizarre, how she is acting.
Herschelwitz: Maybe she's off her meds?
Westman: Can't believe she's not a space biker man.
Herschelwitz: Maybe she's just lying to you because she fears you'll kick her out?
Westman stammers.
Westman: But man, she's been really toying with me!  Would any sane space biker do that?
Biden: Don't know dude.  Don't run into many lesbians.
Hatfield: What the hell am I doing here?
Westman notices that Mark Hatfield is there.
Westman: I don't know dude.  Hey, why is he here?
O'Connor looks up, totally confused.
O'Connor: Well, I was given the impression that this was a work related talk.  You know about your recent green jobs package.
Westman sighs.
Westman: Well that is one reason why this day kind of sucks, but more to the point this chick is really cruel man.  I mean, she's holding back for something, I just don't know what.
Biden: Doesn't sound like she's that gay, based off of what you told me.
Herschelwitz: Or else she's either a really good or a really bad liar.
Hatfield: Can't believe I'm here to hear Westman's story of being blueballed.  Son, you got hands for a reason.  Anyway, what in the Hell reasoning would you let some random chick who showed up at your doorstep who you met while you were sloshed one night at the Norfolk Hilton live with you?  On a whim?
Westman stammers.
Hatfield: Further, wouldn't you think that she would use you more as a sugar daddy than pursue an actual relationship?  I mean, you're like 15 years older than she is right?
Westman smiles.
Westman: Well, she has been living here for free-
Hatfield: You let here live with you for free?  My god man, you really have died and gone to nutter heaven!
Westman: You are suddenly one for discussion Mark!
Hatfield: No, just commenting on how odd it is that some chick you hung out with for three hours suddenly has free rein to live with you.
Westman: Okay it's a weakness I have!  Anything female that walks into my domain is free of charge.
Herschelwitz: He really does have a compulsive weakness for the opposite sex.  Even for the gay ones.
Westman: Dude she isn't gay!
Herschelwitz: Oh, so you're just taking her word for it?
Westman: I'll take her non-stop flirtation as evidence of the fact.
Biden: I don't know man, women are really good liars.
Westman raises a glass.
Westman: To Joe Biden!  May his ever large intellect be praised amongst us mortals!
Everyone drinks.
Biden: Seriously man, she's probably afraid you would kick her out.
Westman: How so?
Biden: Well, it's common knowledge you are a virulent womanizer.
Westman: That is real verbose of you.
Herschelwitz: I once went to a party with this man.  There were about 12 different girls there.  Some married, some single.  This dude came in there and he slept with them all!  All of them!
Westman: Bullsh*t-
Herschelwitz: Oh no I don't think so!  Some men are mass murderers, you are a mass f***er!
Table dies laughing.
O'Connor: Well, does anyone else think she's a man. . . . baby?
More laughter from everybody, except Westman.
Westman: Dude not funny.  Seriously, don't even joke about that sh*t.
O'Connor: Okay, sorry.  Maybe the chick is a nun.
Westman: That's what I said!
Herschelwitz: Telling you man, she bowls for the other team!  She was afraid if she confessed to crazing carpet that you would only kick her out due to not having any chance of sleeping with her!  And everyone knows you offer free housing to those who look pretty!
Westman: Carl, shut up!  Anyway, this Green Jobs issue.
Hatfield: I said it once before Scott I'll say it again: we don't have the capital to support such a bill.
Westman: Can't or won't.
Hatfield sighs.
Hatfield: Look kid, you got a lot to learn.  You can't just come out with some legislation like this, which would create 200,000 new jobs in little known energy industries, and expect it to work out like a charm.  We need time and development for such a grandiose scheme.
Westman: News Alert!!  Gas is about 67 cents a galloon!  That's outrageous!  And as long as the US is addicted to Persian and Arabian oil it will be that high!  FOr a long time.
Hatfield: I know Scott, but not everybody can afford a solar powered car.  Get realistic here.
Westman: I'm not proposing creating solar powered cars, I'm proposing spending capital on producing jobs in alternate energy.  Why is this so hard to understand?
Hatfield: Son, get back to me when there are better days ahead.  We are currently about $150 plus billion in the debt hole, due to decades of interventionism.  Once we stop spending more money in Iraq than we do in California, then get back to me about this plan of yours.
Biden: Should've figured it was a deficit hawk thing.
Hatfield: Hey Joe, I'm not exactly a strict fiscal hawk, but even you have to admit that it's fiscally imprudent to spend $25 billion to uphold undemocratic regimes in Baghdad?  Especially after the fall of the Soviet Union?
Biden: Obviously not, but when you let deficits become a top issue. . . . lot of people suffer.
Westman: I've always argued that the best advantage a government has is it's ability to accumulate debt.  With that said, however, I completely agree with Mark's point about our bloated foreign policy budget.
A glint in Hatfield's eyes.
Westman: I mean, it makes no sense.  We are literally throwing enough money over to those nations to build our own!  Rather than spend that much money over there, we could simply eradicate 70% of the current foreign budget and have more than enough left over to properly fund social welfare services!  So come on Joe, helps us vote against Reagan's destructive Baghdad surge!
Biden: My hands are tied.
Biden gets up.
Biden: I'm sorry gentlemen, wife is expecting me at home.  It's a long way back to Delaware.
He walks away and out the door.
Westman: Coward!
Westman drinks the three shot glasses in front of him and then takes a long drag on a smoking cigar he had in his left hand.
Westman: Unbelievable.  Where have the balls gone from this party?  How many we got now?  ten!
O'Connor: If it makes you feel any better, we are responsible for reducing your numbers out west to where a lot of your voices against this sort of thing would be louder.
Hatfield: I've talked to Eddie Derry in the House.  He said he would try to rally some troops to support a future filibuster attempt.
Westman: That's awfully sweet of him Mark, but there's not much influence that a House member can have on these proceedings.
Hatfield: He's a former Colonel, Scott.  They tend to have considerable influence amongst the public.
Westman: Oh yes an army officer!  What a great idea!  That'll instantly get public sympathy on my side!
Hatfield: Don't be a smartass.  We need about all the help we can to stall the Baghdad surge.  The Iraq Intervention is proving a big failure and must be nipped in the bud before we lose even more "advisors" over there or the incumbent government lends itself over to overwhelmingly anti-American sentiment.
Westman: Okay okay.  I'll get right on it.  Hey Prince Charming, I'm giving you a ride home.
O'Connor: Yeah, but you're drunk too.
Westman sighs as Hatfield grabs them and Herschelwitz, pays the bill and leaves a tip, and takes them outside.
Hatfield: Oh hell, you all are plastered as sh*t!  I'm taking you guys to the HQ center to rest!
The door closes behind them as Hatfield escorts them into a Jeep and drives off into the night.
Time to meet. He thought.

[Mechaman]

The Ladies of Westman:

Ford Modeling Agency's Calpernia Weils of Los Angeles, California:



CNN Reporter Laura Hennigan of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:



Sister of the Governor, Nora Westman of Kalispell, Montana:



First Daughter of Montana, Brea Westman of Helena, Montana:



Director of East Coast Early Aid, Kathleen Westman of Erie, New York:



Hellgate High School History Teacher Marci Flounders of Missoula, Montana:



Montana State Senator Helen Brisco of Billings, Montana:

[Mechaman]

October 4th, 1987
Denver Municipal Museum of Cultural Art
Around 4:15 pm:

Westman is observing a piece of traditional Native American Art when he feels a hand on his forearm.  He turns around and sees Eddie Derry, the Governor of Colorado.
Westman: Eddie, what're you doing here?
Derry looks around and then comes in.
Derry: Listen, we need to talk.
Westman shrugs.
Westman: Alright then, let's go.

McGills Bar and Grill
5 pm:

Westman and the Governor are left surprisingly unmolested as they sit in the bar.  Having a drink from his Coke and Whiskey, Derry looks at Westman and speaks up.
Derry: Look, Senator Hart is going to be at your court tomorrow.  As a show of moral support.
Westman laughs.
Westman: Opportunist son of a bitch.
Derry: Don't we all think that?
Westman: Guy wasn't even in the Senate when they had the vote on the DAA.  Lucky him, I could easily see him coming out all for it otherwise.
Derry: He's trying to make a play for your support in the Primaries.
Westman: It's too late Ed, I'm alread supporting Mo.  I can't just Indian Gift my endorsement.
Derry: Well okay good.  Just thought you should be prepared for him so you don't come out sounding like an-
Westman:-asshole?  Right?
Derry: Yeah that, but at the same time you should hear him out.  After all we might need his support in the future.
Westman: Well, well well.  I knew there was something to this.  Question is why should I even give the hint of an endorsement to him?  That I am a proponent of blatant moderate heroism?
Derry: Well, because we need all the help we can get.  Giving the man a handshake and announcing that you appreciate his service to the people of his state will give us major points on this front.  It will make us look like a unified front to the media.
Westman: Judges aren't the paparazzi Eddie.
Derry: True, but it is no longer true, nor has it been true, that the rule solely on their own merits or expertise.  Many of them are indeed swayed by the swings of the moment or the public perception.  We need to paint you up as a total cool guy right now.
Westman: Given how weak the government case is, I don't suppose it would hurt to have an extra voice of support.  No offense Eddie, but I'm getting sick and tired of Denver.
Derry laughs.
Derry: Understandable.  I can't stand the big city.  Too much traffic.  Too many assholes around.  You name it.  I much prefer the feel of Boulder.
Westman: Same, though Helena is nicer.
Derry: Well aren't you the small city aristocrat?  Anyway, what're you doing later?
Westman: What do you think I'm doing?  I've been here for several days and I ain't had anything to scratch yet.
Derry chuckles.
Derry: Good heavens Scott.  Go to a clinic or something.  Hell DIY if you have to.  So, anyone else coming over?
Westman: Well there's my daughter and then there's Calpernia.
Derry: Jeez dude, when you said you had an itch I didn't know it was that bad.  Press would be salivating if they saw her here.
Westman: Don't know why they are so obsessed about this sh*t.  She's just a woman who is coming to support a close friend-
Derry:-a lover. . . . .as the media will see it.  You really need to get cracking on your contacts and sources at CNN Scott.  You've been lucky before that the public has five minute memories.  Not so much now, given the proliferation of news channels and cable tv.  You got damn lucky with that meeting a few weeks back.  Any moron could've found out about it after the story about the estate being sold.
Westman: Don't remind me of that. . . . . . .
Derry: So Kathleen just decided to sell the property without your consult?
Westman: Pretty much, and I don't want to see her for awhile.  At least not until me and Caroline end this sham marriage.
Derry: Oh really?  Things not working out?
Westman: I had to end a great relationship with someone I truly cared about for that woman.  And she shows no sympathy, no remorse, or no caring.  It is obvious I'm being used to get her to the White House.
Derry: Don't give yourself that much credit.  Anyway, it would be good to meet one of your close media sources and try to paint a favorable tale of the trial.  And before you say anything, remember: We are a machine.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979
A Dark Room
3:30 AM:

Westman wakes up on a couch in a darkened room.
Man, Cal picked me up again and had them drag me to the couch?  Not fair.
It was then, when his eyes opened, that he realized the room was about twice as large as his living room.  He gets off the couch. ..  . and then trips over a large object in the middle of the floor.
O'Connor: Oh sh*t!  My head!
Westman: Thad. . . what the hell are you doing here?
O'Connor: I don't know man. . . . must be headquarters.
Westman: What?  You mean Republican headquarters?
O'Connor: Yeah. . . . this is the drunk room.  This is where they take Senators who had too much to drink.  Neat huh?
Westman: Ingenius.  If only you people had the same genius when it comes to economic reforms.  Hey where's Carl?
Westman finds the light switch and scans the room.  No Carl.
O'Connor: He might be asleep in the supply closet.
Westman chuckles.
Westman: Whatever.  Who needs him here anyway?  At 3:33 in the morning?  Where's Mark?
O'Connor: Gone home to the missus probably.  Will be up here later in the morning to check up on us no doubt.
Westman: Well sh*t man, you know where the kitchen is?  I got a raging hangover and I could really kill for some deep black coffee.
O'Connor points towards a door on the south side of the room.
O'Connor: No kidding.  This way.
O'Connor opens the door to a dark hallway that looks like it belonged in a church.  He takes Scott to the left and then takes an immediate right into a dark room that is supposedly the kitchen.  He turns on a light as Westman takes in the aesthetics of the dark brown construction.
Westman: Man. . . . . this room looks like sh*t.  Where's the coffee?
O'Connor goes to a cabinet and brings out a coffeemaker and some grounds.  He plugs in the machine and then prepares it.  Westman takes a seat at a nearby table, pulling a pack of Kamel Red cigarettes out of his back pocket.  He gets one for himself and then motions for Thad.  He hands Thad one as he approaches, and then lights both of their cigs as they begin to smoke.  Conveniently, someone left an ash tray on the table.
Thad takes a seat across from him, smoking as well, with a reflective look on his face.
O'Connor: Hey man, sorry about freaking you out last night.
Westman looks at him funny.
Westman: I'm sorry, what?
O'Connor: Well last night, when we were talking about Calpernia you seemed a bit jumpy. . . .
Westman takes a puff of the cigarette and then grins.
Westman: Don't worry about it.  It's just really stressful now days without knowing what to expect from her.  I mean, she's giving me really mixed signals: playing with my hair, snuggling with me, being flirty with her compliments-
O'Connor: Sounds like your daughter.
Westman looks at him offendingly.
Westman: Excuse me?
O'Connor, sensing Westman's irritation, expands.
O'Connor: Well I mean, I remember that one time we were visiting Nantucket with Mary (Sears Lodge) and her she did similar things with you.  Hugged your head from behind while you were seated at the first mate's chair, played with your hair, calling you "handsome"-
Westman:-yeah well she's my daughter.  It's expected of daughters to do things like that.
O'Connor: Well maybe she sees you as a father figure.
Westman looks like he's choking.
Westman: What!?
O'Connor: I mean. . .  you are 15 years older than she is.  It's only natural.
Westman: Bullsh*t!  There was obvious attraction when we first met!
O'Connor: Well I mean. .   did you guys talk a lot?  Hang out?  Or was she constantly stroking your hand and sh*t?
Westman laughs.
Westman: No, she seemed content to playing billiards and smoking and drinking the night away.  She was like, well, one of the guys!
O'Connor: Well, since you seem to be like a drug to most women who you even put the most minimal of effort towards I'm assuming she probably saw you as a friendly father figure.  Or a sugar daddy.
Westman laughs.
Westman: Oh great, not you too?  You agree with Carl?
O'Connor: Oh no, I don't think she's a Hoover, Scott.
Westman: Well ain't that a f***in relief!  Mr. Lonely Hearts here thinks the girl who has been blueballing me for months is not a space biker!
O'Connor: Well I mean, do you guys talk much?
Westman groans.
Westman: Oh yes, all the time.  All the time!  About my work, about my job, about my exes, about my kid, about my family-
O'Connor:-anything about her?
Westman ponders.
Westman: Well not really.  She's told me nothing about her childhood except that she's from Scotland.  Everything from then to America is a blank.  She sometimes talks about her work but she seems to prefer hearing about my day.
O'Connor: Maybe she doesn't like to talk about her childhood because it was not so pleasant, don't you think?  Maybe she's using you as a replacement for her father?
Westman: I really hope not, I'm in love with her!
O'Connor looks like he just heard a criminal confession.
O'Connor: Maybe she's in love with you too man.  But she doesn't know how to react.  Maybe it's a new feeling for her, she's only young after all.  Speaking of which, how's Brea?
Westman: Well she's coming over for a month and a half before school starts up again.  Yep, I get to see my princess.
O'Connor: Oh cool, you got room in your townhouse for her?
Oh sh*t, did I really not think that far ahead?
Westman: Well, she usually just shares the bed with me.
O'Connor gives Westman a funny look.  Westman looks offended
Westman: Well, she's my daughter of course!
O'Connor: I didn't mean to judge. . . . . . . what if she gets jealous of your roommate though?
Westman laughs.
Westman: My daughter isn't that petty.
O'Connor: No, but she loves her father.  And if she sees a young woman sharing a townhouse with him she's going to be mighty antsy about it.  Just saying.  When does she get here?
Westman: Oh, the 13th.
O'Connor: Well. . . . . maybe you can convince Calpernia to move into your room.  Shouldn't be too hard.
Westman nods.
Westman: Yeah, I guess.  Hey I think the coffee is ready.
O'Connor notices the pot stops simmering as the liquid stops pouring in.  He goes over, retrieves some coffee mugs from the cabinet, and pours the steaming hot liquid into two cups.  He comes over and hands Westman a big one.
O'Connor: Drink up my friend, there is a lot more where that came from.
Westman: When the hell should Mark or somebody show up around here?
O'Connor: 6:45ish. . .  .I think.
Westman swears under his breath.
O'Connor: Of course, we could just take a day off.  It's not like they hold us accountable to that anyway. . .  unless it's election time.
Westman: I don't have the luxury to waste time Thad.  Got important bills up, like the new anti-surge one.
O'Connor's face lights up.
O'Connor: Really?  So you're going to address it soon?
Westman: I hope. . . . . pending the procession of the current Game and Wildlife legislation.  Man this is lame, what're we going to do?  Sit around until 6:45?
O'Connor grins, before reaching into his pocket and revealing a pipe.  And some pretty green material.  Westman smiles back.
Westman: That's more like it.

[MATTROSE94]

As always, one of the best timelines on the site! BTW, who is ahead in the polling for the 1988 Republican and Democratic primaries and in what years were Charles Percy and Ronald Reagan initially elected to the Senate?

[Mechaman]

As always, one of the best timelines on the site! BTW, who is ahead in the polling for the 1988 Republican and Democratic primaries and in what years were Charles Percy and Ronald Reagan initially elected to the Senate?

Thanks MATTROSE!  I was beginning to feel really lonely in this thread!  You got me right in the middle of a new entry!  But, I will be more than happy to address this immediately!

As of October 4th, 1987 the following candidates are ahead in the Primaries:

Republican
Oklahoma US Senator Francis Keating, who surged ahead of Rockefeller after the break out of the Westman controversy.  He is ahead due to attacking Rockefeller for a perceived lack of competence in the court case, lack of communication with Lloyd Donlon, and the perception that in his position he's very weak and not at all focused on what needs to be done.  It's a pretty small lead though, and some pundits are skeptical of his ability to keep it up given how similar it sounds to Rockefeller and Kemp.  Texas US Senator Ron Paul is falling behind, given that his policies are considered "fringe".  Georgia House Rep Newt Gingrich and Kemp are in the single digits as well.  HW Bush and Percy are both fighting it out for third and fourth place.

Democratic:
New York US Senator Daniel Moynihan, though barely.  Former Secretary of State Robert O'Sullivan is right on his heels, surging ahead on his "unique ideas" platform.  He's the wildcard of the race, and it's really showing given his independent views on many issues that resonates with a large base of the public.  He's also cutting in on the anti-DAA vote that used to be hardcore Udall by stressing that he would've "used caution" when the DAA vote came up.  In effect, he didn't take a "yes" or "no" position on the vote, something that is helping him rally independent voters.  Udall has been removed to third, a position he is fighting tooth and nail with Randle Delaney for.  Newcomer Gary Hart is in the single digits, desperate for anything to bring up his numbers and make him an effective western candidate.

As for Charles Percy and Ronald Reagan, hmmm. . .  I'd probably say that Percy got into the Senate in 1955 and Reagan got elected to the Senate in 1963.  Yes, Percy was a one termer when he was running in 1960 and Reagan had about 9 years of experience.  Not really career politicians.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979 Cont.
4:35 AM:

O'Connoor: And then she is like all over me ya'know?  Just grinding my balls over this Nora bullsh*t.
O'Connor looks over at Westman, who looks like he's about two seconds away from exploding.
Westman: Wait. . . . what "Nora bullsh*t"?
O'Connor looks at Westman with concern, apparently unaware that he was protective of Nora Westman, his younger sister, who slept around like the Black Plague.  And used up drugs like it too.
O'Connor: Look man, I didn't know it'd be uncomfortable for you.  Hell, she gave me the impression that you knew.
Westman is glaring at O'Connor.
Westman: Well buddy, she didn't tell me sh*t.  So tell me, what exactly is this "Nora bullsh*t" that's got Mary hot and bothered.  Tell me everything, you little sh*t!
O'Connor looks alarmed at Westman's aggressive behavior at the hint that anything was going on between Thad and Nora.  He knew Westman for years and was shocked that he was this angsty over what some guy did with his sister.
O'Connor: Man, I never thought you'd make a big deal of this-
Westman: OF COURSE WHY WOULD I!!!!!?  SHE'S ONLY MY F***IN SISTER AFTER ALL!!!!!
For a second O'Connor could've swore that he heard the voice of an angry lover, not that of a protective brother, in Westman's voice.  He sits down next to Westman, and puts a hand on his shoulder.
O'Connor: Look man.. . . . . .she forced herself on me.  Multiple times.
Westman laughs.
O'Connor: If there is any case for a woman to be a rapist, your sister has a pretty good one.  She practically forces herself on dudes. . . . especially ones with coke.
Westman, looking a bit uncomfortable, looks up with pure concern in his eyes.
O'Connor: Look, you know me I'm not really that horny at all.  Your sister, man, she is like a rocketship when she's got a few grams in her, okay?  I didn't want this relationship with her, she forced it on me.
Westman looks like he's accepting the unsettling truth.
O'Connor: Anyway, Mary doesn't want to talk to me anymore.
Westman: What a prude!
O'Connor looks at Westman with amusement.
O'Connor: I'm a little confused by you Scott.  Just a second ago you seemed like you were about to kill me for sleeping with your sister but not you're calling my girlfriend, well ex-girlfriend I guess, a prude for being angry at me.  Really, what's your deal?
Westman: Getting angry at you for having whacked Bush.  That's pretty pathetic.
O'Connor: Yeah, but you. . . .
Westman: Forget it man, I didn't have much sleep.  It's a stupid thing to get mad about.  I mean, I always knew she were a druggie and sh*t.  Of course she would be all over you-
O'Connor: What in the hell is that supposed to mean?
Westman laughs before taking another puff of Mary Jane.
Westman: Well come on dude, look in the mirror.  You are a total Jane follower.
O'Connor laughs, feeling happy to see that Westman was just a bit on edge about everything that was going on.  Even when he was high.
O'Connor: I don't know why Mary is so like that.  I mean, yes I did sleep around in the past.  But come on, did she expect me to be a virgin?
Westman: Well, is she?
O'Connor blushes.
O'Connor:. . . . yyyyyes?
Westman: Should've figured Thaddeus.  Your girl is jealous of you.  She knows that when you get married and she finally loses it on the honeymoon that you will already be comparing her performance to previous lovers.  The idea that you been with others makes her uncomfortable.
O'Connor: But, when I'm with her I'm faithful.  I never slept around when I was seeing her man.  I never forced myself on her.  If she wants to remain celibate I'd be more than happy to.
Westman laughs, before pulling out a whiskey flask and pouring some in his coffee.
O'Connor: Jeez Scott, IT'S 4:39 IN THE MORNING!  You're drinking already?
Westman looks at him irritably.
Westman: What kind of Irishman are you Thad?  Dude, this is like barely enough to buzz a cockroach.  Long day ahead besides.
O'Connor laughs.
O'Connor: Seriously though, you need to get yourself checked.  Drinking that much a day can't be good on your liver.
Westman laughs.
Westman: Coming from you?  Wow O'Connor, wow.
O'Connor: What's that supposed to mean?
Westman takes another drag of the Mary Jane.
Westman: Dude. . . . . . you pregame more than anybody I know.  Half the time you bum rides off of people to the Dutchman because you are so wasted.
O'Connor: PREGAMING!  DUDE YOU ARE JURASSICGAMING!  WHO DRINKS AT FOUR F***ING FORTY IN THE MORNING!?
Westman grins.
Westman: I do, but I'm an effective drinker.  Unlike you, Mr. Soddy Pants.
O'Connor: Alright. . . .  enough.  Enough of this personal bullsh*t.  Onto business.  You say you plan on being in today?
Westman grins.
Westman: Damn straight I do.  We got real bills we need to pass pretty soon man.  The window on addressing the Iraq surge is growing smaller by the minute.  It's insulting how little focus the Senate is giving on this issue.  Do half the people in the chamber even know where Iraq is?  Or heard of Baghdad?
O'Connor: Haha, probably not.  All they know is that if it starts with an "Ir" it's a hell land that must be regulated by the world policeman.
Westman: What concerns me is that nobody has yet addressed why we are sending $25 billion over there.  I mean, that's an astronomically high number. . . do we even spend that much in Oklahoma every year?
O'Connor: We spend about $21.7 billion in Oklahoma a year.  Welfare recipients and what not.
Westman: Poor proles.  Government has no sympathy for them.
O'Connor: Maybe it's just me, but I'm kind of concerned when the federal government is spending more money on some states than the amount of taxes they get from them.
Westman: A noted concern. . . . given the inflationary costs of interventionism.  Without such warmongering and nationbuilding we'd probably only be spending $8 billion a year in Oklahoma. . . . and it'd be more than sufficient at addressing the problems there.  And believe me, there are many.
O'Connor: Current foreign budget is about $432 billion or so, for the record.
Westman: The Government has been running massive deficits for years.  The current revenues we get are barely enough to pay for our domestic budget.  What're we sitting at again?
O'Connor: 1978 generated a budget deficit of $108 billion.
Westman puts his face in his hands.
Westman: Christ Almighty on a pogo stick.  That is incredible.  How can this nation expect to thrive when our government is $400 billion plus in debt to British and German bankers?
O'Connor: Beats me man.
Westman: Yet fools like Kemp want to keep up the interventionism while massively decreasing rates?  Fools!
O'Connor: Don't you yourself want to do away with income taxation?
Westman: Yes and replace it with a more fair Georgist tax structure that taxes the elites more heavily.  After all, land in Newark is more expensive than land in Kalispell.  As well, I would do away with the massive interventionism that drains our budget dry and the business subsidies.  I would be as left wing as possible on social welfare while draining the corporatist lobby and a stronger tax structure.  So yeah, I believe that my system is better than those Randist morons.
O'Connor: If you say so.
The two have a drink.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979 Cont.
5:50 AM:

Scott Westman and Thad O'Connor have both passed out in "drunk room" once more after the effects of lack of sleep caught up with them.  This time Westman was on a pool table while O'Connor was passed out on the couch that Westman was on earlier.  Unknown to them, Carl Herschelwitz had actually gone back to Westman's townhouse in Fairfax.  Hailing a cab the night before, waving off Hatfield's suggestion that he come along, he decided to spare himself the druggie excesses of Westman and O'Connor.  That night he would go to Westman's townhouse and crash on the couch.  Calpernia Weils, who was in the house when he came back, gave him a cursory "hello" and went off to bed.
Back at the Republican Party Headquarters in DC, however, Scott Westman and Thad O'Connor were left in the converted Episcopalian church building to go through their withdrawals.  No one knew why Hatfield took them there instead of to his house in Falls Church, but the purpose would be made clear later on.
Around 5:50 AM on the 8th, a dark figure unlocked the front doors of the headquarters.  The figure, lean for it's age, made it's way toward the big room in the back of the converted church.  He opened the door, and then turned on the lights.
Scott Westman and Thad O'Connor, not ready for the sudden appearance of Mark Hatfield and the shining lights at 5:51 AM, flipped out.
Westman: Christ son!  You trying to blind us!
O'Connor: Oh my head!
Hatfield: Shut up the both of you!  And don't call me "son", boy.  I was probably in college when you were born.
Westman chuckles.
Hatfield: I suppose you want to know why you are here instead of back home in Fairfax?
Westman: I guess if that's what you call "home".  I only live there for cost of living anyhow.  Much cheaper to live there than on the Maryland side or in DC.
Hatfield: Tell me about it.
Westman: You know I could buy about 20 acres of land along Flathead with a three story fuel efficient house for the price of a two story "brownstone" in the downtown area?
Hatfield: Wouldn't surprise me.  Anyway, I suppose you want to know why I brought you here, Scott.
Westman: Well I was kind of wondering why I woke up in a place without a beautiful woman asleep next to me-
Hatfield:-very funny Westman.  All three of us know you haven't gotten much since that girl moved in with you.
Westman: Smartass.
Hatfield: I'm indeed smarter than you.  But, let's get down to the brass tacks.  First off, Thad. . . . . you can go take a shower and be on your merry way.  You are not needed for what comes next.
O'Connor gets up and heads towards the locker rooms on the east side of the building.
Hatfield: You. . . you stay.  You're necessary to our plans.
Westman looks at him with confusion.
Westman: I'm sorry. . . .plans?
Hatfield sits down on the other end of the pool table, facing Westman.
Hatfield: I understand you might be a little confused right now.  And when you hear why I brought you here even a little upset.  It's just better that what happens today is more organized and all the actors are on the same page.
Westman: Go on then.
Hatfield: Well alright. . . . we are going to get the Senate to put the Game and Wildlife legislation on hold.  Instead, we are going to bring the surge issue forefront.  This is where you come in.  Naturally in this environment we're going to have to rely on mostly Republican help to oppose the surge.  We can expect some token Democratic help, but not nearly enough unless we coordinate it effectively.
Westman: Wait dude, you're not seriously going to be using me as some Republican campaign tool?
Hatfield: Your concerns are understandable my boy.  However, this goes beyond scoring cheap partisan points.  We currently got a plurality, a slim one, in the Senate Chamber.  We got better numbers in the House.  With that said, however, we can't guarantee that every single Republican will vote against the surge.  Truth is, and I hate to say this about my own party members, we got some corporate stooges in both chambers that would more than happily agree with the Democratic minority to an increase of the Iraq surge.  Today at ten me and the Republican leadership will announce our intentions to oppose the President's surge.  This will put immense pressure on most in our ranks to side against the surge, maybe about 70% of both chambers at the least.  The part where you come in is playing the head of the Democratic Senators in opposition to the surge.  We can never predict how the Constitution Party is going to react.
This is political reality: we can't effectively guarantee any significant anti-interventionist policy victory without significant help from New Left Democrats such as yourself, McGovern, Gravel, and others.  Hell, I even believe that Proxmire and Church will be effective allies on this front.  I don't pursue this strategy to divide the Democratic Party or of pure electoral advantage to the Republicans but merely to provide a united front against the Iraq surge policy.  As it is, the President is likely to have a team ready to defend his own surge policy, maybe even selecting a Republican Senator to show that it's "bipartisan" support for the surge.  We need to show that our side not only has more votes, but that the consensus opposition to the surge is larger.
Westman is intrigued.
Westman: Very well.  I'll get my points ready for debate.
Hatfield: You shall be the pointman in today's debate.  Nothing should drive in the point stronger than having the successor to the Senate seat of the previous Democratic Senate Leader take the stand opposing President Reagan's foreign policy.
Westman: Very well.  Now if you don't mind I'll take a shower and be on my way.  Got to get this stench off of me.  Anyway, we'll get together over lunch to go over the finer details of the procession.  See you later Mark.

[Mechaman]

For Convenience:

US Senate as of June 8th, 1979:

Alabama:
Class 2: Howell T. Heflin (Democratic)
Class 3: George Wallace (Democratic)
Alaska:
Class 2: Theodore Stevens (Republican)
Class 3: Mark Gravel (Democratic)
Arizona:
Class 1: Morris Udall (Democratic)
Class 3: Barry Goldwater (Republican)
Arkansas:
Class 2: William J. Clinton (Democratic)
Class 3: Dale Bumpers (Democratic)
California:
Class 1: Ricardo Montalban(Republican)
Class 3: Bill McKay (Democratic)
Colorado:
Class 2: Carlos Mendez(Republican)
Class 3: Gary Hart (Democratic)
Connecticut:
Class 1: Lowell P. Weicker (Republican)
Class 3: Thomas Dodd (Democratic)
Delaware:
Class 1: William V. Roth (Republican)
Class 2: Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (Democratic)
Florida:
Class 1: Lawton Chiles (Democratic)
Class 3: Claude R. Kirk (Republican)
Georgia:
Class 2: Sam Nunn (Democratic)
Class 3: Herman Talmadge (Constitution)
Hawaii:
Class 1: Spark M. Matsunga (Democratic)
Class 3: Daniel Inouye (Democratic)
Idaho:
Class 2: James A. McClure (Republican)
Class 3: Frank Church (Democratic)
Illinois:
Class 1: Farley H. Murray (Democratic)
Class 3: Adlai Stevenson III (Democratic)
Indiana:
Class 1: Richard Lugar (Republican)
Class 3: Charles A. Halleck Jr. (Republican)
Iowa:
Class 2: John Kyl (Republican)
Class 3: Jack Miller (Republican)
Kansas:
Class 2: Robert J. Dole (Republican)
Class 3: Keith Sebelius (Republican)
Kentucky:
Class 2: Walter Huddleston (Republican)
Class 3: Carl D. Perkins (Democratic)
Louisiana:
Class 2: Moon Landrieu (Democratic)
Class 3: Joe D. Waggonner (Constitution)
Maine:
Class 1: Monteaux LeDeax (Republican)
Class 2: William Cohen (Republican)
Maryland:
Class 1: Sargent Shriver (Democratic)
Class 3: Charles Matthias (Republican)
Massachusetts:
Class 1: Daniel M. Lynch(Democratic)
Class 2: Edward M. Kennedy (Democratic)
Michigan:
Class 1: Lenore Romney (Republican)
Class 2: Henry Claymore (Democratic)
Minnesota:
Class 1: David Durenberger (Republican)
Class 2: Walter Mondale (DFL)
Mississippi:
Class 1: John C. Stennis (Dixiecrat)
Class 2: James O. Eastland (Dixiecrat)
Missouri:
Class 1: John Danforth (Republican)
Class 3: Thomas Eagleton (Democratic)
Montana:
Class 1: Scott Westman (Democratic)
Class 2: Max Baucus (Democratic)
Nebraska:
Class 1: Virginia Smith (Republican)
Class 2: Paul Mercanti (Republican)
Nevada:
Class 1: Mike O'Callaghan (Democratic)
Class 3: Paul Laxalt (Republican)
New Hampshire:
Class 2: Doloris Bridges (Republican)
Class 3: Norris H. Cotton (Republican)
New Jersey:
Class 1: Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr. (Republican)
Class 2: Bill Bradley (Democratic)
New Mexico:
Class 1: Raul Ramirez (Democratic)
Class 2: Harrison Schmitt (Republican)
New York:
Class 1: Daniel P. Moynihan (Democratic)
Class 3: Jacob Javits (Republican)
North Carolina:
Class 2: Jesse Helms (Constitution)
Class 3: Robert B. Morgan (Democratic)
North Dakota:
Class 1: Robert Stroup (Republican)
Class 3: Mark Andrews (Republican)
Ohio:
Class 1: Robert Taft Jr. (Republican)
Class 3: John Glenn (Democratic)
Oklahoma:
Class 2: James Robert Jones (Democratic)
Class 3: Patrick McPherson (Democratic)
Oregon:
Class 2: Mark Hatfield (Republican)
Class 3: Robert Packwood (Republican)
Pennsylvania:
Class 1: H. John Heinz III (Republican)
Class 3: Richard S. Schweiker (Republican)
Rhode Island:
Class 1: John Chafee (Republican)
Class 2: Ruth M. Briggs (Republican)
South Carolina:
Class 2: Strom Thurmond (Constitution)
Class 3: Ernest F. Hollings (Democratic)
South Dakota:
Class 2: Larry Pressler (Republican)
Class 3: George McGovern (Democratic)
Tennessee:
Class 1: Bill Boner (Democratic)
Class 2: Howard Baker (Republican)
Texas:
Class 1: Lloyd Bentsen (Democratic)
Class 2: James Wright (Democratic)
Utah:
Class 1: Orrin Hatch (Republican)
Class 3: Jake Garn (Republican)
Vermont:
Class 1: Robert Stafford (Republican)
Class 3: Richard W. Mallary (Republican)
Virginia:
Class 1: William B. Sprong, Jr. (Democratic)
Class 2: Tobin MacMahon (Democratic)
Washington:
Class 1: Allan B. Swift (Democratic)
Class 3: Harry Callahan (Republican)
West Virginia:
Class 1: Robert Byrd (Democratic)
Class 2: Alan Mollohan (Democratic)
Wisconsin:
Class 1: William Proxmire (Democratic)
Class 3: William R. Goodman (Republican)
Wyoming:
Class 1: Alan K. Simpson (Republican)
Class 2: Beauregard D'Israeli (Republican)

Republican Party: 48 Seats
Democratic Party: 46 Seats
Constitution Party: 6 Seats

President of the Senate: James "Jimmy" Carter (D-GA)
President Pro Tempore: Norris H. Cotton (R-NH)
Senate Majority Leader: Mark Hatfield (R-OR)
Senate Majority Whip: Howard Baker (R-TN)
Senate Minority Leader: Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX)
Senate Minority Whip: Tobin MacMahon (D-VA)

US House Standing:

Republican Party: 235 Seats
Democratic Party: 181 Seats
Constitution Party: 19 Seats
Other: 3 Seats

Speaker of the House: Gerald Ford (R-MI)
House Majority Leader: Jack Kemp (R-NY)
House Majority Whip: John N. Hanson (R-KY)
House Minority Leader: Jonathan LT Debs (D-CA)
House Minority Whip: Tip O'Neill (D-MA)

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979
Ten O'Clock
Capital Rotunda:

This is NBC News at Ten in the Morning.

Reporter: We are here live at the Rotunda building where Republican House and Senate leadership are poised to make an announcement.
Camera goes over to Senate Majority Leader Mark Hatfield, flanked by Speaker Gerald Ford, President Pro Tempore Norris Cotton, Senate Majority Whip Howard Baker, and US House Majority Leader Jack Kemp and House Majority Whip John Hanson.  Along with them is RNC Chairman Bill Prentiss Shaw.
Hatfield: Today, we the Republican Party leadership have decided to unanimously oppose the Administration backed Iraq Surge.  The Republican Party leadership believes that if the surge were initiated, and cutbacks on the Iraq question aren't immediately pursued, the consequences would be felt most severely.  This "surge" will do nothing more than ship billions more of American money overseas while doing little to help those struggling.  The GOP will continue to oppose policies such as this by the president that put us further in debt and push inflation even further.  Sympathetic Democrats in the Senate hearing this: this is your time.  The American public have continually condemned your fellow lawmakers who have continued to push these inflationary interventionist bills that leave less money on the table for Americans.  Stand with us, stand with the public, and oppose this boondoggle.
Reporter: The Democratic Leadership is more divided over this.  Senate Minority Leader Lloyd Bentsen has come out in favor of the surge, as has his Whip Tobin MacMahon.  House Minority Leader Jonathan LT Debs has come out against the surge as has his Whip Tip O'Neill.  At the moment it seems that Republican leadership has the advantage with their unified front.
More will come later as the Senate debates the Iraq Surge.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979
12 O'Clock
The Smokey Dog:

Mark Hatfield is at a booth with Scott Westman.
Hatfield: Okay, so after lunch recess we are going to go back and call for the Surge vote.  I will bring the session to order and then have the pro-surge advocates send their man up to sell us on the surge.  That way we can have the advantage of responding to whatever they may say.
Westman looks up from his prepared speech.
Westman: Well okay then.  Sorry, I was just under the impression that I'd be selling my piece on them and then we would go on from there.
Hatfield takes his paper and looks at it.
Hatfield: Well, just use this as a blueprint to address whatever claims they may throw out there.  Look, perception out there is that you are an anti-cultural hippie from the west.
Westman: Tell me about it.
Hatfield: This is your opportunity to prove your skills as an effective policy debater.  Sure, you did it before with overwhelming majorities against you.  However, now you got some strong backing behind you.  And frankly, we chose you because we know you're the best possible candidate to get votes over to the no side.
Westman: Really?  You couldn't get McGovern or Gravel to do it?
Hatifled: Mark, bless his heart, just doesn't have the energy or enthusiasm.  People will take hearing George as too much of beating a dead horse.  He's too old and already has kind of a perception of being the odd man out.  You however are a young energetic charismatic face of the New Left.  And, you have some of the strongest debating skills I've ever heard.. . . . if only people would listen.
Westman: Well okay. . . .  sounds good.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979
US Senate Chamber
About 1:25 PM:

Senate Majority Leader Mark Hatfield takes the stand.
Hatfield: Today I'd like to change focuse to a very pressing issue that faces this Senate: the Iraq Surge.  Both sides are present today and will present their cases before the assembled Senate.  Senator Danforth, you have the podium.
John Danforth takes the podium.
Danforth: Good afternoon fellow US Senators.  Today I'd like to talk to you about the recent surge proposal.  Those who are against it have argued that increasing the amount of money we send into Iraq every year will lead to more inflation and ever increasing amounts of debt.  This is not true.  The purpose of this surge is multifold.  First, the increased surge, that is the increase in advisors and monetary and educational resources, will help the population of Iraq be on guard against the forces of tyranny and communism.  The revolutionaries over there have an abysmal record of human rights and stand against everything the capitalistic west stands for and must be opposed with all of our available resources.  A victory in Iraq on the side of the incumbent government, which has provided American businesses and politicians with many benefits, would be a massive blessing.  We need an ally in the Middle East and Iraq is one of our strongest.  We should not withdraw so revolutionary radicals can take over and destroy our operations over there and control the oil supplies.
We can't let the ZAWAS influence spread.  We are sending billions of dollars, yes I know, to set up the foundation for a successful education program to instill millions of Iraqi children with the fundamentals that make ours great.  The less money we send over there, the more likely the ZAWAS are to come to total victory and institute a reign of terror.  This group is known for it's acts of extreme prejudice against minority groups like Iraqi Jews, going as far as to bomb villages down to nothingness.  Further, ZAWAS militia action has proven harmful to our own oil operations in the region and a total government takeover is the last we need as they would likely execute every last oil worker on tv to make a point.  These are ruthless animalistic killers who don't need to be treated with kid gloves.  We would be called monsters if we never intervened in World War II, we deserve to be called monsters if we don't increase our aid to Iraq.
The stakes here are high.  If we give up now, if we don't increase the numbers then we risk losing everything.  THe short term costs, though high, will pay off in the long run.  As we get these nations up and running and in compliance with American standards expect to see well received tax dollars coming into this country from profitable American companies that are helping rebuild the nation of Iraq.  This makes as much sense as the Marshall Plan, if not more so.  We are preventing the spread of tyranny and of communism while also giving American companies a fair shake in expanding their markets.  That is why I believe you should vote for this surge.  It's really the most fiscally responsible long term thing we can do and it's a shame that my party is so stubborn in opposing Reagan that the leadership doesn't see the economic merits of it.  I now yield the rest of my time.
Danforth takes a seat as Hatfield comes up.
Hatfield: Okay, let's here from those opposed to the surge.
Westman gets up on the podium with his assembled docket.  He takes a peek at it for a second, before throwing it out into the open to a mixed reaction.  He has a puzzled look on his face.
Westman: I'm sorry fellow Senators, but did you just hear what I just heard?  Was what the Senator from Missouri said even real?
Hatfield: Scott damn it!  Show a little tact!
Westman: I'm sorry, this is shocking.  Unbelievably so.  You see fellow Senators, I actually had a bullet point by bullet point presentation on the negatives of the surge.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would hear anybody, especially the hand chosen seer of the Reagan Court, come up and openly admit to supporting "police action" and "nation building" in the name of businesses and corporations!  I mean that is what you said. . . . isn't it John?
Room quiets. . . . real quietly.
Westman: You silence is deafening.  Gentlemen, I don't need to real go that much further in my speech today.  It is quite clear from the case presented to us by the defenders of the Iraq surge policy that it is immoral and unjustifiable.  This surge, as it is called, isn't really in place to protect the rights of citizens, it's in there to protect the rights of American companies.  You know it, I know it, and the people know it.  Every dollar we send over there goes to Citgo and Exon.  And before anyone gets onto me with some high and O'Mighty rant about the need for the democracy around the world or that America needs to stop evil everywhere it appears. . . . let me ask what good are we doing by keeping in a criminal tyrannic regime like the Galmini?  People don't even have basic voting rights over there and Captain Westinghouse over there wants to lecture us about letting the "bad guys" win?  Forget that!
Westman points at Danforth.
Westman: I realize what you are doing.  You are trying to give us all the perception that support of ill founded interventionism is something people in both parties can agree with.  However, I am here to prove you decisively wrong.  If anything, opposition to nation building policies is the bipartisan agreement.  For far too long we have gotten it in our heads that we as Americans must rule the world. . . . while neglecting to properly take care of our own.  Every dollar that goes overseas is a dollar that could've been spent better here.  Yet, every year we take on more and more debt.  But it's always the same with you people "well we don't have the money to feed the poor!  We don't have enough money to shelter the weak!  We spent it all on warfare!"  What bullshit!  It makes me mad!  Does it make you mad!?  I hope it freaking does!  I am so mad right now looking out at this sea of Senators and seeing glaring stares from members of my own party who have forgotten the meaning of the word "liberal", who instead us it and abuse it like it's some cheap marketing word.  Sending billions of dollars a year to corrupt maniacal regimes is not "liberal", it's anything but liberal!  But instead we give this run around by all of you about how we should send money over because "hurr hurr the other guys are worse!"
What's more?  We are discussing tossing billions more dollars over there to support army action without the declaration of a war!  There is no war Mr. Danforth.  This is no freedom fight.  You know it, I know it, the American people know it.  There is no war because your side couldn't sell the public on one.  There is no war because there is no moral justification for one.  There is no war, yet you act like it is a war.
Here's a unique concept for you guys: don't pick sides!  That's right you heard me!  DOn't pick sides in a war between asshole one and asshole two!  You would think it would be an easy concept but we seem to screw it up!  I say enough is enough, it's time to make a stand!  Are you for the American people. . . . . or are you for spending more money creating pro-America nations than you do on our own states!  Make a choice Senate!  I'm not going anywhere!
Westman shoves the mic aside and stomps back to his desk to ravenous applause.

[Mechaman]

Further Speeches:

Barry Goldwater: Belive me gentlemen, this is one conservative who is in favor of a strong military and effective army action.  However, this isn't an effective army action.  This isn't even a declared state of war.  The recent police action in Iraq is unconstitutional and should be done away with.  Senator Westman is right, if you wanted a war over there Mr. Bentsen, you should've told your House allies to vote for one.  However, I hear you and Jonathan (Debs) aren't on speaking terms. . . . . so too bad.  Further, if this was a declared state of war, if the ZAWAS gave us sufficient reason to be in one, I would support not just a surge, but an overwhelming one.  However, as it is this operation is costly and has little to show for the money we threw at it.  Opposed.
George McGovern: The hypocrisy shown here today is astounding and really a symptom of the problem with America today.  Party leadership expects us to blindly agree with them no matter how horrible, ill thought, and reprehensible the idea is.  The "surge", the "police action" in Iraq is a proven failure.  I took this same stance with the War in Persia and our recent intervention in India.  All of these were fruitless efforts that caused unnecessary bloodshed and resulted in the deaths of thousands of our nation's finest young men.
Morris Udall: Let me tell you a story about a boy named Larry.  When Larry was 14 years old his older brother, his hero, took up the call to serve his nation, just like his father before him.  The brother, Charlie, though he disagreed with the policy of war in Persia heeded the call and he went to serve his nation.  Over there he served with great distinction, saving many lives and being a hero to his crew.  One day, however, while he and his crew were hiking in the Zagros, they were cut down by machine gun fire by the revolutionaries.  Mercilessly slaughtered like animals.  Larry is in this same building today.  And while it's nice, it's kind to hear that his brother was a hero, that he died in the name of freedom, it'd be a lot nicer if his brother was still here.  Or at the very least it would've been a lot nicer if the cause for which he had died had meaning.  Well as we all know full well today, it didn't.  Let me ask all of you assembled here today, how would you feel if in the end your brother's death was thrown into the dustbin of history?  All because of some flawed logic of some misguided politicians who have been using the same tired strategy since Korea.  It could be your son, it could be your brother dying in that surge.  Is it really worth it, to sacrifice your own blood, without even the declaration of war to preserve a corrupt tyrannical regime?  Is it?
Theodore Stevens: It never ceases to amaze me how quick many of us here are to damn any and all necessary police actions.  Need I remind everyone that American interests are at stake in this conflict?  As for those crying about the lack of a declaration of war. . . . well you can't expect us to outright declare a war when an effective quick military surge would do the trick.  This isn't World War II or Korea.  We aren't sending in armies by the hundred thousand fold, this is merely a reinforcement policy to reinforce the Iraqi army as well as to provide necessary infrastructure and aid.  Opposing this surge, in my opinion, would be like cutting off a finger.  Sure, it looks like we have nothing to gain from this policy, but in the long run we will be feeling the effects for a long time.
Edward Kennedy: What an absurd metaphor Senator!  Cutting off a finger won't seem like a loss in the short term?  It'd hurt like hell! (chamber laughs)  But seriously though, this surge policy is more like running along a trail and coming across a chasm and deciding against your better judgement to jump across it even though it's much too wide.  You had this readily available trail behind you, yet because you have this strange notion that jumping across the chasm would help you get to your destination, you jumped across it.  And then you fell woefully short of the other side and land in the chasm, crushing your right leg, hips, and shoulder bone to pieces!  A surge policy here sends a very dangerous message: that we would support borderline fascist regimes as long as our interests are upheld.  That in cases of evil vs. evil we would support the less evil.  I object to that notion.  In my mind, no government that isn't democratically elected should get our support.
Bill McKay: Have you been listening at all?  ZAWAS is going around killing people.  Left and right.  The Galmini government, while it doesn't have the greatest human rights record, hasn't been going out of their way to murder people.  It's like ZAWAS gets a thrill out of murder!  Tell me gentlemen, if you heard of some Austrian dude moving his army place to place mass murdering people would you stay quiet?  Would you do nothing?  These are outrageously blatant crimes against humanity!  And the UN Council agrees!  What more reasoning do you need than that?
Howell T. Heflin: Bill, it's obvious that these people aren't using their brains now days.  A ZAWAS Iraq is a clear threat to democracy worldwide.  And a quite godless one too.  Just a few years ago we finished a long war with an evil godless empire. . . .and we saw the results of their rule in quite a few places.  Burned out crops, large scale famines, gulag camps. . . . . need I go on?
Beauregard D'Israeli: Oh here you go again with your holy roller crap!  Can any of you morons seriously tell me with a straight face that ZAWAS is anywhere near a threat as Hitler or Stalin?  Or that this excursion has more need of more dollars than our own people do?  We are about $400 billion in the hole to British and Swiss bankers with little to show for it except a declining economy, high inflation, and record low confidence in American government.  Please spare me this "God" crap, it's not helping in "real" debates like this.
Patrick McPherson: Who elected this jackass?  I mean really?  Do you have any idea how much oil comes from Iraq?  Yes I did just admit that we need to be over there to protect our oil!  Unless of course you want to wake up one day and be spending $1.92 a gallon on oil!  Oh but surely, Mr. Awesome over here is developing some kind of hippie fuel powered by angel farts and doesn't have to worry about things like commodities controlled by a few nations in the Middle East!  Why, let's just sit over here, by our lonesome, and don't do anything in the world!  That would solve all of our problems!  What drivel.
Thomas Dodd: It's quite clear that the ZAWAS have committed evils that are on par with the very worst listed in the Geneva Convention's definition of "crimes against humanity".  I was a Nuremberg gentlemen, and I was in Iraq a few months ago.  The current regime is not perfect, but it's a far cry from the atrocities committed by the ZAWAS.  I am no oil company stooge, I am a devoted follower of good.  To do nothing here would be to welcome such evil with open arms, to let evil triumph.  I shudder at those who can sleep at night with such a thing.
Lloyd Bentsen: If ZAWAS succeed in Iraq, it is quite likely they will expand their influence into other states.  We must prevent this possibility at all costs.  You guys can cry all you like about the debt or helping retain a corrupt government.  Well at least that corrupt government isn't positioning itself to force it's will on various other states.

[Mechaman]

US Senate roll call on Iraq Surge
June 8th, 1979:

Alabama:
Class 2: Howell T. Heflin (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: George Wallace (Democratic) Nay
Alaska:
Class 2: Theodore Stevens (Republican) Aye
Class 3: Mark Gravel (Democratic) Nay
Arizona:
Class 1: Morris Udall (Democratic) Nay
Class 3: Barry Goldwater (Republican) Nay
Arkansas:
Class 2: William J. Clinton (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Dale Bumpers (Democratic)Aye
California:
Class 1: Ricardo Montalban(Republican) Nay
Class 3: Bill McKay (Democratic) Aye
Colorado:
Class 2: Carlos Mendez(Republican) Nay
Class 3: Gary Hart (Democratic) Nay
Connecticut:
Class 1: Lowell P. Weicker (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Thomas Dodd (Democratic) Aye
Delaware:
Class 1: William V. Roth (Republican) Nay
Class 2: Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (Democratic) Aye
Florida:
Class 1: Lawton Chiles (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Claude R. Kirk (Republican) Aye
Georgia:
Class 2: Sam Nunn (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Herman Talmadge (Constitution) Nay
Hawaii:
Class 1: Spark M. Matsunga (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Daniel Inouye (Democratic) Aye
Idaho:
Class 2: James A. McClure (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Frank Church (Democratic) Nay
Illinois:
Class 1: Farley H. Murray (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Adlai Stevenson III (Democratic) Aye
Indiana:
Class 1: Richard Lugar (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Charles A. Halleck Jr. (Republican) Nay
Iowa:
Class 2: John Kyl (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Jack Miller (Republican) Nay
Kansas:
Class 2: Robert J. Dole (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Keith Sebelius (Republican) Nay
Kentucky:
Class 2: Walter Huddleston (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Carl D. Perkins (Democratic) Aye
Louisiana:
Class 2: Moon Landrieu (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Joe D. Waggonner (Constitution) Aye
Maine:
Class 1: Monteaux LeDeax (Republican) Nay
Class 2: William Cohen (Republican) Nay
Maryland:
Class 1: Sargent Shriver (Democratic) Nay
Class 3: Charles Matthias (Republican) Nay
Massachusetts:
Class 1: Daniel M. Lynch(Democratic) Aye
Class 2: Edward M. Kennedy (Democratic) Nay
Michigan:
Class 1: Lenore Romney (Republican) Nay
Class 2: Henry Claymore (Democratic) Aye
Minnesota:
Class 1: David Durenberger (Republican) Nay
Class 2: Walter Mondale (DFL) Aye
Mississippi:
Class 1: John C. Stennis (Dixiecrat) Aye
Class 2: James O. Eastland (Dixiecrat) Aye
Missouri:
Class 1: John Danforth (Republican) Aye
Class 3: Thomas Eagleton (Democratic) Aye
Montana:
Class 1: Scott Westman (Democratic) Nay
Class 2: Max Baucus (Democratic) Aye
Nebraska:
Class 1: Virginia Smith (Republican) Nay
Class 2: Paul Mercanti (Republican) Nay
Nevada:
Class 1: Mike O'Callaghan (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Paul Laxalt (Republican) Nay
New Hampshire:
Class 2: Doloris Bridges (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Norris H. Cotton (Republican) Nay
New Jersey:
Class 1: Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr. (Republican) Nay
Class 2: Bill Bradley (Democratic) Aye
New Mexico:
Class 1: Raul Ramirez (Democratic) Aye
Class 2: Harrison Schmitt (Republican) Nay
New York:
Class 1: Daniel P. Moynihan (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Jacob Javits (Republican) Nay
North Carolina:
Class 2: Jesse Helms (Constitution) Nay
Class 3: Robert B. Morgan (Democratic) Aye
North Dakota:
Class 1: Robert Stroup (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Mark Andrews (Republican) Nay
Ohio:
Class 1: Robert Taft Jr. (Republican) Nay
Class 3: John Glenn (Democratic) Aye
Oklahoma:
Class 2: James Robert Jones (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Patrick McPherson (Democratic) Aye
Oregon:
Class 2: Mark Hatfield (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Robert Packwood (Republican) Nay
Pennsylvania:
Class 1: H. John Heinz III (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Richard S. Schweiker (Republican) Nay
Rhode Island:
Class 1: John Chafee (Republican) Nay
Class 2: Ruth M. Briggs (Republican) Nay
South Carolina:
Class 2: Strom Thurmond (Constitution) Nay
Class 3: Ernest F. Hollings (Democratic) Aye
South Dakota:
Class 2: Larry Pressler (Republican) Nay
Class 3: George McGovern (Democratic) Nay
Tennessee:
Class 1: Bill Boner (Democratic) Aye
Class 2: Howard Baker (Republican) Nay
Texas:
Class 1: Lloyd Bentsen (Democratic) Aye
Class 2: James Wright (Democratic) Aye
Utah:
Class 1: Orrin Hatch (Republican) Abstain
Class 3: Jake Garn (Republican) Nay
Vermont:
Class 1: Robert Stafford (Republican) Nay
Class 3: Richard W. Mallary (Republican) Nay
Virginia:
Class 1: William B. Sprong, Jr. (Democratic) Aye
Class 2: Tobin MacMahon (Democratic) Aye
Washington:
Class 1: Allan B. Swift (Democratic) Aye
Class 3: Harry Callahan (Republican) Nay
West Virginia:
Class 1: Robert Byrd (Democratic) Aye
Class 2: Alan Mollohan (Democratic) Aye
Wisconsin:
Class 1: William Proxmire (Democratic) Nay
Class 3: William R. Goodman (Republican) Nay
Wyoming:
Class 1: Alan K. Simpson (Republican) Nay
Class 2: Beauregard D'Israeli (Republican) Nay

Ayes: 42
Nays: 57
Abstain: 1

The Iraq Surge is defeated quite decisively.

Breakdown by Party:

Republican Party: 3-44-1 (6.25%-91.67%-2.08%)
Democratic Party: 36-10-0 (78.26%-21.74%-0%)
Constitution: 3-3-0 (50%-50%-0%)

[Dr. Cynic]

A very interesting vote there...

[Mechaman]

Warning: This is all there is to know about the Crying Game.

June 8th, 1979
Westman Townhouse
Fairfax, Virginia
6:20 PM:

Scott Westman, filled with sexual confidence, burst open the door of his townhouse and walked into the living room to find Calpernia Weils watching tv in a blue t-shirt and black panties.  She looked up at him with some alarm.
Calpernia: Scott, I thought you'd be going to dinner with your rich DC buddies to celebrate.  What're you doing here?
Westman sits down next to her and wraps an arm around her shoulder.
Westman: I just had my Senate moment baby.  57%!  57%!
Cal looks at him funny.
Calpernia: Okay. . . . . . so?
Westman moves in closer to her, enough to breathe in her scent.
Westman: Why the hell would I celebrate by drinking with a bunch of boring old fossils and urban elites when (moves his other hand to her exposed left thigh, stroking it) I got you?
Westman, overcome with horniness and being blueballed for several months, forces himself onto Calpernia, planting himself between her legs and laying her back on the couch.  He forces his tongue into her mouth while moving his hands up and down her body.  Calpernia, unprepared for his advance, screams into his mouth.  His hand is going down her stomach, touching her bare skin, when she slaps it hard.
Westman manages to pull himself off of her while she looks at him flustered.
Calpernia: You got some damn nerve!
Westman: Me?  What about you!?  You been blueballing me for months and now when I am king of the world you are going to kick me off of you?
Calpernia looks at him, with a look of hurt, confusion.  . . . and want.
She puts her hands together and then just comes right out with it.
Calpernia: Look Scott, there's something you should know.  I'm sorry for not telling you earlier but ya' got to understand. . . .it's a freaking difficult thing to confide with somebody.  I thought I could keep it secret but the more and more I stay here the more and more I find myself. . . . well. . . . caring for you.  Having feelings for you.
Westman looks shocked.
Calpernia: I imagine this surprises you, given my behavior.  However, know that my behavior wasn't meant to seduce you or to torture you sexually.  It was to see if you felt the same way about me that I do about you.  To determine if you would be there for me and not abandon me or hurt me.. . . .
A tear falls down her face.
Westman wipes it away.
Westman: Look babe, you know a lot about me.  You know I've been with hundreds of other girls.  You know my arrest record.  You know things I would never tell another living soul.  I put that much trust in you, now put your trust in me.
Calpernia chuckles nervously.
Calpernia: Well I never did this before.  Well, actually I have, but not to someone like you.  Not to a man who I. . . . well I love.  (giggling)  Wow, I feel like such a little girl saying that.
Westman holds her hand, interlocking the fingers.
Calpernia: Well okay, Scott. .  .  .you see there is this thing. . . .no no bad way to say it.  Well, you know how people are born differently?  How some people are Arabic some people are black. . .  .nah, f*** that's not it either!  Ugh god!
Westman can tell she's very confused.
Westman: Well just be blunt dear.  Just say it.
She looks him in the eyes and just says it coldly.
Calpernia: Alright, I got balls.
Westman is a little confused to say the least.
Westman: Wait. . . . . so when you say you have balls. . . . are you saying you are a really spunky woman or-
Calpernia: No, more like I'm a woman who has spunk.
Westman looks at her, and then gets off the couch with his hands over on the top of his head.  He looks like he's going insane.
Westman: WHAT!!!!?  WHAT!!!!!!?  ARE YOU F***ING SERIOUS!?
Calpernia looks like she's dealing with an irate customer.
Calpernia: I didn't expect for this to go well.
Westman: You think?  "Hey baby I love you.  Oh by the way I got a Dewey!"  WHAT!?
Calpernia: I'm sorry, I should've told you sooner.  But. . . . you seemed so happy!  And I didn't want to ruin the joy you were feeling.  I just didn't know that you thought of me like-
Westman: You didn't think I was going crazy for you?  That every night I longed for you Calpernia!  The hunger I felt for you the moment I entered this room!
Westman pauses, and then speaks from his heart.
Westman:  You know what hurts the most though?  That even after all this secrecy, after all of the lies..  . . I'm still in love with you.
Calpernia is red with tears and emotion.
Westman: Time will heal the wounds, darling.  However, at the moment I really need a drink.  Please, give me some space.  This is a lot to take in.
Westman walks out the door as Calpernia starts sobbing uncontrollably.
Women.
He goes over to a telephone booth outside his townhouse.  He goes inside and dials a number.
Thad O'Connor picks up the phone.
O'Connor: Thad speaking.
Westman: Hey man, I could really use a drinking buddy right about now.
O'Connor: Scott?  What happened?  You sound pretty unwell right now.
Well, my girlfriend is pretty nutty. . . . . but other than that I'm fine.
Westman: Look, something's come up between Cal and me.  I really need somebody to talk to.  I'm so f***ing confused man.  I'm so f***in confused.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979
The Drunken Dutchman
Fairfax, Virginia
6:45 PM:

Thad O'Connor is waiting at a booth when Westman shows up and sits down with him.  Once there he motions for a waitress.
Waitress: Hey handsome.  What can I get ya?
Westman: A Dark Morgan's and Coke on the rocks.
She smiles at him.
Waitress: Really Senator?  Not even an offer to meet you at the inn across the street?
Westman gets a look of spite.
Westman: Just give me the goddamn drink, Sarah.
Waitress: Geesh, okay!  What about you hun?
O'Connor: Oh I'll have a Pepsi!
Westman looks at him strangely.
O'Connor: On second thought, make that a Pepsi and Jaggermeister.  Looks like we got a long night ahead of us.
The waitress goes off as O'Connor and Westman are sitting at the booth.
O'Connor: Dude where'd you go?  Everybody was waiting for you to celebrate with them.
Westman: You know me man, I don't like going to fancy restaurants when I feel like celebrating.  This was the moment of my Senate career man.  You think I was going to celebrate with a bunch of old hardons at Gellys?  F*** that!
O'Connor: Well. . . .  let me guess you went home and-
Westman: Yes, I tried to screw Calpernia today.  Heaven knows I'd been waiting to do that for ages.
O'Connor sees an unsettled look in Westman's eyes.
O'Connor: So man, what happened?  Did she yell rape or something.
Westman laughs.
Westman: Maybe we should wait until we get our glasses, huh pal?
O'Connor: Really that bad?  What did she have like a third arm or something?
Westman chuckles.
Westman: It's really quite ironic now that I think about it.  Talking to you. . . . . anyway, you'd see the game last night?
O'Connor: Yeah what bullsh*t.  Wait it's June man there are no games.
Westman looks deflated.
Westman: Oh right.  Well other business. . .  .  . . .how's the drug reform bill coming.
O'Connor: Facing large obstacles I'm afraid.  I'd have better luck convincing these guys to eat a turd steak than vote on this issue.
Westman: Figures.  You know, Governor Schumacher faced a similar situation a few years ago as I did.  He wanted to legalize marijuana.  However, he was blueballed by the legislature.  Bunch of moralists they were, Democrats.  He could only get the support of the GOP and some Missoulans.  Tea bagged by his own party.  Shame.
O'Connor: By the way, did you notice that the vast majority of GOP Senators opposed the surge?
Westman sighs.
Westman: Yes I am more than aware of that Thad.  And if you plan on using that to recruit me forget it.
O'Connor: Why man?
Westman: Because I'm a Democrat.  A Democrat I was born, a Democrat I shall die.
O'Connor: Hey my dad's a Democrat!  I'm a Republican!  You can change!
Westman snorts.
Westman: You are forgetting that it the root of it all the parties are opposed on socio-economic grounds.  In a few years time when there is a Republican President in office I don't expect to be at all surprised when the GOP starts voting 75% to authorize the use of force in Random, Africa with 84% of Democrats opposing it.  The only thing that is different from the parties once in power is the faces of them.
O'Connor: Fair enough.
Westman: Yes, Reagan is a horrible President who has raised warmongering to unprecedented levels.  As much as I liked to think of him as a dover back then, I must confess that RFK was a horrible corporatist monger too.  However, let us not pretend that Percy and Morton were peaceniks.  It's a pretty common cycle as you can tell.  What needs to happen is this nation grows out of the Cold War generation mentality of declaring war on every tinpoint dictator in fear of them becoming Reds.  As it is, I don't have much hope for this current generation, but in a couple of decades?  Maybe so.
O'Connor: You are awfully somber mate.  You just helped lead the most decisive legislative defeat of the Reagan Administration.  Yet you remain your old cynical alcoholic self.
Westman: Honestly, a lot of that has to do with facing down the vast majority of your own party on an issue.  It's never easy, telling them that they are wrong, misguided, and headed down the wrong path.
O'Connor: We don't have such problems in the GOP.
Westman laughs.
Westman: You surprise me Thad.  The GOP is every bit as fractured as we are. . . they just give the illusion of good PR to cover it up.  Sure, we got our gangsters, our racist paddy machine bosses and labor unionites, but at least we don't hold up a shield to the public.  While the divisions in the Democratic Party are loud and obvious, at least at the end of the day it's stable disunity.  The kind of unity you guys have is the kind that looks good while rafting under it, but will crumble like a house of cards if car drives on it.  But enough of that, let's drink.
The waitress shows up and gives the men their drinks.  Westman downs his in under a minute while O'Connor has barely sipped his.  Westman motions for him to drink more.
Westman: Come on man, drink up.
O'Connor looks at him funny.
O'Connor: Seriously man, what the hell happened back there?
Westman looks like he's about to throw up.
Westman: Dude, I can't believe I never noticed the obvious signs man!  I mean, there was never tampons in the restroom!  And she never smelled funny!  Should've been so obvious!
O'Connor is confused. . .  .but a part of him knew what was coming next.
Westman: I mean. . .  man I consider myself a pretty straight arrow!  You shoot me from a bow and I will hit the target!  I just don't understand!
No tampons in the restroom. . . . . what does he-WHOA.  WHOA!
O'Connor has a glint of understanding in his eyes.
O'Connor: So wait. . . . . . are you saying that she actually has a-
Westman:-a Dewey?  Yes that's exactly what I was saying!
O'Connor looks speechless.
O'Connor: Wow dude. . . . .  wow!
Westman: I know right?!  What the f*** do I do?
O'Connor: Well you seem a bit confused-
Westman: I MADE OUT WITH A MAN DUDE!  A very gorgeous, sensitive, lovely, perfectly haired, nice ass.. . . . man!
Westman puts his head in his hands.
Westman: Please God!  DON'T LET ME BE GAY!
O'Connor felt like he was in an awkward position.  It seemed like that Westman was conflicted on his feelings towards Calpernia post revelation.  Back in Bangor, when he went to university, a professor had told Thad that many individuals are born as different genders in their bodies.  In other words, someone could be of the female gender and be born in a male body.  From the perspective of a lot of these individuals, post hormone treatment, it's not at all gay to date a person of the same sex but of a different gender.  Apparently Calpernia was one of these, a transwoman if you will.  At first O'Connor was confused with this information, but he had to admit that given how Calpernia was acting around Westman it made perfect sense.  Only problem was getting Westman to get over his confusion and understand that just because he loves a woman who happens to have equipment doesn't mean he's a flamer.
O'Connor: Dude. . . . . it's alright!  You're not gay!
Westman looks up at him, confused.
O'Connor: Listen, if someone is born in Russia, is born a Russian citizen, but moves to America and becomes an American citizen. . . .are they not instead an American?
Westman: Well that depends, many have an ethnic centric iden-
O'Connor: Alright alright screw that.  Okay, if you're born into an atheist family and you convert to Christianity are you still an atheist?
Westman: Heavens no man!  Of course no!
O'Connor: Well suppose if you will a person is born a boy.  However later on in life they want to become a girl. . . . . .  they undergo hormone treatments and surgeries.. . . etc etc etc. . . .would they not be a girl?
Westman: Yeah but she hasn't been under the knife yet man.
O'Connor: Oh use some tape or something man.  There are ways to adapt to every situation!
Westman looks like his mind was blown.
Westman: Well the thing is man I'm still in love with her-
O'COnnor: You see you can't be gay!  You keep calling her "her"!  To you she's always been a woman and still is!  I know you Scott Westman, you can't stand the fags.
Westman smiles.
Westman: Yeah that's right!  No queers better touch me!
O'Connor: I mean I wouldn't really advertise this to the world man.  But yeah, you're okay!
Westman: But man. . . . if she doesn't have traditional plumbing. . . how would I. . . how do I. . .?
O'Connor gives him a puzzled look.
O'Connor: I don't know man.  Improvise!
Both of them down whatever was left of their drinks.
O'Connor: You know, I'm kind of surprised you were the first Senator to end up with a transgender Scott.
Westman: How'd you think it would be?
O'Connor chuckles.
O'Connor: Oh, Clinton of course!
Westman laughs.
Westman: Yeah, he certainly looks the type.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979
The Drunken Dutchman
Fairfax, Virginia
6:58 PM:

A lull in the conversation.  O'Connor looks oddly intrigued by Westman circumstance.
Westman: You think is is fascinating?
O'Connor used to saying the wrong things around Westman, comments.
O'Connor: Well to be honest yeah.  I mean, this isn't a typical scenario you know.  You're the first guy I know who ended up with-
Westman looks frustrated.
Westman: I did not ask for my girlfriend to have balls, Thad.  Stop acting like I'm some cool or hip science experiment.
O'Connor: Well, frankly I think it'd be fascinating to hear about your relationship.  I mean, from a psychiatric perspective it's fascinating.
Westman looks at him funny.
Westman: When did you suddenly become a Psych MD?
O'Connor: Well, human sexual identity is a very murky area in the area of psychology.  As you know many people typically associate sexual attraction on the genetic "sex" of a person.
Westman groans, this is really not helping me Thad.
O'Connor: However, many psychologists and the like believe that what really determines a "man" from a "woman" is their "gender".
Westman looks even more confused.
Westman: Call me ignorant Thad, but I thought that was the same thing.
O'Connor laughs.
O'Connor: Well, you wouldn't be the first.  But, you seem to be more understanding of gender concepts than many other normative heterosexuals.
Westman: Thad, you're not going f****t on me are ya?
O'Connor: No not really.
Westman: You seem to place a bit of emphasis on this "normative heterosexual" term, like they are ignorant.
O'Connor: Well they are.  Unlike you, they haven't had enough experience with non-normals to reach logical conclusions based on interactivity.
Westman: Hey smartass!  Small words here!
O'Connor: Okay, fine.  Anyway, back to the gender thing.  You yourself seemed to be able to differentiate very well between genetic sexuality and gender identity, given your continued usage of the pro-nouns "her" and "she" when referring to Calpernia.  You seem to recognize, subconsciously, even after the revelation that she was genetically male that she is a gender woman.
Westman: Well, I certainly don't want to start thinking of her as a man.  Just saying.
O'Connor: Further, given your staunch masculinity and attraction to feminine qualities, I don't think it's surprising that you still have feelings for her.  What I'd be interested in is now that the white elephant is out in the open, if this will proceed like a normal heterosexual relationship. . . . with some improvisation needed in the bedroom.
Westman laughs.
Westman: At least she doesn't have that time of the month.
The two men clink glasses together.
O'Connor: So, are you going home after this?
Westman sighs.
Westman: Well, I've decided that I'm not leaving Calpernia, Thad.  I have feelings for her that have not gone away even after the fact.  However, I can't go back this soon.  Things are still too awkward between us.  You don't mind if we go back to your place and I crash do you?
O'Connor laughs.
O'Connor: Here's the thing. . . . . I don't have a place.
Westman looks at him funny.
Westman: What?
O'Connor: Not sure if you notice Scott, but I'm not exactly rolling in the doe.  I'm just a small town fisher, honorably discharged from the Persian War who got laid off in the middle of his congressional campaign.
Westman: Well then where do you sleep?
O'Connor: Well. . . . . . in Falls Church.  Mark and his wife. . . . they let me stay in one of their guest rooms.
Westman shrugs it off.
Westman: Whatever man.  He'll be cool with me coming by.  Worst case scenario I sleep in the car.
O'Connor: If you insist.  Anyway, did you see the Star Trek film?
Westman laughs.
Westman: Wish I didn't.  It's boring as hell.
O'Connor: Really?  I thought it was an ingenious usage of special effects and space shots.
Westman: Porno is more exciting than the Start Trek film.  My goodness, somebody needs to be shot for this atrocity.
O'Connor: Well, it generated some good box office receipts.  The might have enough for a sequel.
Westman: More power to them.  Sequel couldn't be much more boring than this one.  I mean what was the plot even about?  Some weird soundwave eating worlds or something?
O'Connor: I don't really remember.
Westman: That's the problem, the had a real lackluster story to this without a powerful maddened antagonist.  Did you ever seen the episode "Space Seed"?
O'Connor: I think I did. . . .  is that the one with Romulan Bird of Prey?
Westman looks amazed at O'Connor's stupidity.
Westman: No, no no!  That was "Balance of Terror" you nimrod!  Space Seed was the one with the genetically modified crew of humans.  Senator Montalban was the head bad guy!
O'Connor looks like he's about to die laughing.
O'Connor: Really?
Westman: Yes really!  He did a badass job of it too!  Seriously, the guy needs to just retire from the Senate, go down to Paramount Studios, and talk to the people there about returning as the baddie in the next Star Trek film!
O'Connor looks dumbfounded.
O'Connor: That's the most insane thing I've ever heard Scott.  Nobody in their right mind is going to drop out of the US Senate just to star in a Star Trek film!
Westman laughs.
Westman: You are no true believer, obviously.

[Mechaman]

June 8th, 1979
Hatfield Residence
Falls Church, Virginia
Around 9:32 PM:

Thad O'Connor unlocks the door to the house with Westman in tow.  Luckily for them, the house was dead silent and the lights off.
O'Connor: Lucky you.  Mark and his wife are asleep.  I would pity you if they weren't.  Alright, let's go into the basement
Westman follows O'Connor into the basement, which was stocked with what seemed like at least a hundred different types of hard liqour.  O'Connor goes between the stock of alcohol and eyes a few brands.  He comes back to Westman with some brand of coke flavored vodka, Kraken Black Rum, and some Michael Collins Irish Whiskey.  Westman smiles.
Westman: Read my mind.
The two go into Hatfield's kitchen and look in the refrigerator for something to mix in with the drinks.  Looking towards the back O'Connor spots some Florida's Best Orange Juice and some fruit punch.  He procures a couple of 12 oz glasses.  He turns back to Westman with the choices.  Westman shrugs.
Westman: A little fruity, but it'll have to do.
The two men head upstairs to Thad's room.  The room is very disorganized, with clothes lying all over the floor, and very spartan.  What few suits and button up shirts Thad had were hanging on the doorknob.  From what Westman could ascertain O'Connor was a man of very limited means, with the only signs of a hobby being his full bookcase next to his bed.  There were a few framed items. . .  a picture of his squad in Persia, a copy of a university degree, and an invitation to the 1972 Republican National Convention where he was a Maine delegate.  Next to his single size bed was a lampstand that had a photo of Mary Sears Lodge on it.
Aww, that's so sweet Thad.
O'Connor points at a couch on the other end of the room.
O'Connor: There.
Westman takes a glass and fills it up with whiskey and fruit punch.  O'Connor takes some of the rum and mixes it with orange juice.  The two men take a drink.
O'Connor: Man, we really need to cut back.
Westman: Hey man, whatever helps you sleep at night.
O'Connor: Man, that was pretty incredible what you did today you know?
Westman: Don't tell me I'm brave for having feelings for Calpernia man.  I can't help how I feel about her.  No matter how hard I have tried.
O'Connor: No man, the vote!  It was incredible I never could've predicted we would have decisively defeated Reagan and his cronies on it.
Westman: Elections have consequences dear Thad.  Elections have consequences.  Shame that most of the support came from your end and not mine.
O'Connor: Cheer up mate.  Some day things will be better.  I am certain that if things continue on this trajectory, in a few years time you will be moving up real fast in the world of politics.
Westman laughs.
Westman: That's flattering Thad, but I don't feel anywhere close to being a hero.  Or a grand game changer.
O'Connor: You really underestimate yourself.
Westman puts his glass down on a nearby coffee table.
Westman: Look man, I'm just an anti-war man from Missoula.  People like me aren't meant to be presidents or revolutionary party leaders.  My election was a pure fluke.  I bust my ass off now with this sort of thing so that I can get as much done before my inevitable loss in '82.
O'Connor: You know that's not true. .  
Westman: It's quite easy for you to say, you don't have as nearly the amount of controversial crap as I do.  This nation is full of holy rollers and they aren't forgiving of sex addicted Catholics IN Name Only.  And now with Calpernia. . .  .  .I would rather be in Washington for one term than give her up.  And I would feel vindicated if in 1983 I'm back in Missoula.
O'Connor felt very moved by what Westman was saying.
O'Connor: Wow man. . .  . . . . . that's a pretty brave statement.
Westman looks over at him.
Westman: Tell me man, would you do the same for Mary?
O'Connor was struck by Westman's question.  Thad really didn't know how to answer.  Unlike Calpernia, Mary was well ingrained into the political world almost by birth.  She was a child of prominent political dynasties in Massachusetts.  While Thad felt that his relationship with her was very pure and that her feelings towards him were quite true and real, he couldn't imagine her every being attracted toward him if he weren't an officeholder.  After all, that was how they met in the first place.  Calpernia, on the other hand, was very much an "other" who had no connections with DC besides her modeling contracts.  She could've easily fallen for Westman in any other situation.
O'Connor: Not sure I would.  She's too much in the polical world for me to think about any situation besides it.
Westman: Figures.  She's in the world and so are you.  Too much a part of it to think about anything else.  You've found yourself in a most envious position Thad: being romanced by the politics.  If you got a sane head on your shoulders you will stick to her like glue.  Me, I'm probably doomed because of love, not saved by it.  Because that is what this feels like.  I'm not sure how I know this, how I am certain of it, I just do.  I never felt this way about anyone before, not even Catalina.  Hell, I didn't even really care for her that much when I was still alive.  It was just something I did because of fear for my manhood y'know?  If I wasn't shotgunned into the whole affair I probably would've just gone to college and sh*t.  Oh well, that's how the dice ro. . . . . zzzzzzzz
Midspeech Westman just happened to fall asleep.
How?!
O'Connor laughed as Westman fell asleep, likely to his own excessive boozing.  He turned towards the picture of Mary Sears Lodge, picking it up and holding it in his hands.
Would you do the same for Mary?
O'Connor looks at her eyes deeply.  He had known for awhile that he had loved her and that she had some strong similar feelings for him.  Strangely enough, he found himself in a similar boat as Westman: he had no idea how to show Mary how much he felt for her.  Especially with their chastity vow.  He just knew that when he was with her his heart skipped beats and he felt truly happy.  Unlike Nora Westman.
O'Connor lays back, with the photo over his heart, and falls asleep.

June 9th, 1979
6:48 AM:

O'Connor wakes up as the sunlight is hitting him through the windows.  He glances around, noticing the glasses and punch and alcohol on the ground.
Sh*t, Mark is going to kill me when he finds out I left the juice on the floor.
He gets up and notices that Westman has disappeared during the night.  On the couch he notices a little note:

Hey Thad,

Hey man thank you for being an ear last night.  I really needed someone to talk to to sort out this mess in my head.  The last few hours have been really trying on me. .  .as has the whole day.  Look, I know I can be a handful sometimes and that my personal issues might get to your head.  I'm sorry if I seemed a bit invasive with questions about you and Mary.  I promise you that soon we will get our beloved political discussion back and that we will get back onto the issues.  I just want you to know that for the first time in a long time things are making sense.  Today when I woke up I had a hangover but never had I had more clarity and more peace.

Your friend Scott Westman

P.S.: Here's fifty bucks.  For smoke and drinks.
O'Connor laughs.
O'Connor: Thanks pal.

Meanwhile. . . . in Fairfax:

Westman had arrived at his townhouse with the nascent scent of Michael Collins on his breath.
Man, Thad is right.  I really need to cut this sh*t out.
Westman had woken up at about 3:12 in the morning and for some reason sat still for about thirty minutes before deciding to write O'Connor a letter thanking him for being a "listening ear".
What dorky words.
The note took Westman about thirty minutes to compose and he decided to leave a fifty for Thad for drinking and smoking.
Compensation.
When Westman was done he decided to go back to drinking some more orange juice with whiskey.  He had about three glasses while he was enjoying an hour long read of one of Thad's psychology books.  In it he found nothing useful, but he enjoyed the sensation of having a drink and reading a book.  Then he decided to leave the house, taking the Micheal Collins with him.  He took a long drive back to Fairfax where he decided to stop at a breakfast diner to have some eggs and sausage with some biscuits and gravy.
All American Meal for the All American Champs he thought.
While there he would slip some more whiskey into his orange juice, to the chagrin of the owner.  However, Westman was a regular there, so no charges were pressed.  While he was there he started reading through part of a book called "The Zemoski Experiment", a sci-fi book dealing with human cloning.  He had read about 50 pages of it when he noticed the time on the clock said 6:46 AM and he really needed to get home.
So here he was.
Westman exited his car and made his way to the front door, whiskey in hand.  He blindly pulled out his keys and started randomly attacking the door knob with it, expecting one of his random jabs to find the keyhole.  He finally finds it and twists it in the lock, unlocking the door.  He twists open the door and enters.
He expected:
To see Calpernia sitting on the living room sofa eagerly waiting for him to come back and rushing into his arms, crying into his hair.  He would welcome her back with an emotional kiss and the two would profess their undying love for each other.  He would then get ready for work and brush off the alcohol from his breath.
What actually happened:
He entered the living room/den area and saw no sign of activity whatsoever.  He went into the kitchen and put his whiskey in the freezer, extra cold, the way he likes it.  Figuring that Calpernia already left for work he headed to his room.  He opened his bedroom door to find her in an emerald green sleeping gown, curled up underneath the sheets.  He pulls back the sheets of the bed, climbing in next to her, and then wraps his arms around her in a spooning postion.  Like him, she smelled strongly of booze and likely drank herself into a stupor.
Before Westman could have a witty thought he passed out once more from the booze.  Man, he's got a problem, it's not even 7:15 yet!

[Mechaman]

October 4th, 1987
The Denver Hilton
Denver, Colorado
Room #809
Around 9:30 PM:

What a long flight. The woman thought as she brushed her hair.
The flight from Jersey City had wrecked hell on her neck.  Leaving me in a not so good mood tonight.  Well, I should at least try to be in one for him.  It's a special day.
She examined herself in the mirror as she applied her makeup and glossed her lips.  Getting herself ready for a very passionate night.  Fortunately for her, her man had pretty simple tastes.  Just bring the woman with you, Cal.  Just bring the woman.
She left the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door to keep out unwelcome visitors.  She would know he was here when she heard the knock at the door.
Her plan of seduction was simple: a pair of black lingerie bra and panties with a garter belt, stockings, and some high heels underneath her bathrobe.  No need to go extravagant with a teddy, bodysuit, or anything too excessive.  All he needed to see was her, exposed, under that bathrobe and lose his mind.
She heard a knock on the door and gleefully got up, ready and willing for her man.

In the hallway:

The secretive man in the shades walked suspiciously up to the door.  Double checking to see if he was followed or if there was anybody in the hallway.  A few times he got a bit well.. . . . sloppy and ended up with a body count too high.  Or in some cases, regrettably too low.  This number, however, he'd been tracking for weeks.  This number, would be the kill of his lifetime and of the lifetimes of many.
He was going to kill a supermodel.
Weeks of preparation, and this was the perfect opportunity.
He had started to miss his old hobby, given the amount of time he had to work at BankCorp to fund his new BMW addiction.  It's really hard to do killing when you're making a killing, after all.
So the question is: Why was he doing this?
Well, there were certainly plenty of reasons for him to be doing this.  Most would figure that he is motivated by hatred and rage, by a bigotry against those he kills.  That his actions are motivated in part by his disgust at society.
Those assumptions would be incorrect.
He doesn't kill out of insecurity or bigotry.  He kills because it is fun.  And he chooses his victims not out of personal spite, but out of the pure dare he say. . . .sexual thrill of butchering them.  And besides, with so many "serial killers" out there he needed his own unique target market, his niche.  Killing ex-wives, ex-husbands, children, dogs, cats, the elderly, Jehovah's Witnesses gives some people kicks but not him.  For him he needed a new thrill, a very unique target.
He didn't ask much of his victims, except that they are docile like women but fall like men.
Which is why he was here.  Usually he had his trusty .90 Ingram with Silencer, a most effective tool that puts them down quick and easy with little fuss.  However, due to recent airport regulations he determined that the risk factor of the police lining up the bullets in his gun with previous murders was just too high.  Instead, he would need to go for a quick knockout followed by a neck breaking and then the operation could begin.  For that purpose his tools were quite simple: an ether covered rug and a razor sharp Remington Combat Knife.
He walks up to the door with the "Do Not Disturb" sign and knocks.
Let the fun begin, he maliciously smiled.
The door opened wider than he was expecting.  From the way it was opened, and the presence of a woman throwing open her bathrobe revealing her sexy underwear. . . . . it was quite obvious she was expecting someone else.  Almost as if the "Do Not Disturb" sign was to keep solicitors away and only for the right person to knock.
The door was open for barely a second when the man charged forward with his rag of ether, knocking the woman unconscious as she breathed in the fumes.  In about 20 seconds she was stone cold silent, dead asleep from the contents of the rag.  Immediately the man closed the hotel room door and brought her further into the room, preparing himself for what needed to be accomplished.
Petting the woman's hair, he gazed into her blank unmoving face.
Killer: You've always wanted to live as a woman, now you can die as one.
Overcome by his own bloodlust, the killer pulls out his knife and takes off the woman's panties.  Then he prepares to make his fatal strike.

Room #807:

Officer Donald A. Russo of the Denver Police Department was on suspended leave for excessive property damage while foiling a robbery.  During his time off he was busy getting drunk and lonely at the Hilton while his wife was probably screwing some company executive.  He didn't know why be moved out west except maybe as an act of self loathing.
The faucet turns on in the bathroom.  He looks over and sees the scantily dressed blonde woman washing parts of her body.  She exits the room and sits down next to him, stroking his shoulders and back before kissing him on the side of the head.
Loretta Mancino: Come on baby. . . . you're better off without that slut.  I gave you good time no?
Loretta Mancino was a stripper at a local night club that Russo met about five years ago.  Whenever he had a fight with his wife, which was often, he went there to blow off some steam.  It wasn't until recently, however, when the two of them advanced beyond the customer-client relationship.
Russo takes her hand off his shoulder, poised to say something.
Russo: Look. . .
He hears a noise that sounds an awful lot like a door being slammed open and bodies falling onto the floor.  On instinct he reaches into the jacket near his head and pulls the gun out from the holster.  He turns to Loretta.
Russo: Stay there alright?  DON'T.  MOVE.
Russo goes into the hallway and observes room #809.
Looks closed.  This is only a hunch though, is this good enough reason to barge the door down?
Russo gets the idea to check to see if the door is locked or not.  He turns the knob. . ..  .slowly and quietly.  The door opens as he stealthily opens the door.
What he sees before him looks like something from a crime thriller.  He sees a man, a very creepy thin white guy who looks to be in his thirties with big ass nerd glasses, staring obsessively at a woman with a pretty damn big knife in his hands.  On impulse Russo yells.
Russo: DPD!  DROP THE F***ING KNIFE!
The crazed man goes for a strike at the woman that is stopped in mid air by a bullet from Russo's gun.  The man yelps in pain.
Russo: Motherf***er!  Don't make me kill you!
The killer looks at Russo with an animalistic fury and then charges at him full force.  As the killer is a few feet from Russo, Russo fires a bullet straight into the man's forehead.  The man falls down, pretty f***ing dead or in a coma.  He goes over to check the man's vitals.
No pulse.  Nothing.  He's deader than the f***in' dinosaurs.
Russo is conflicted over this.  For one, some bleedingheart moron is going to charge him with being a fascist and try to get him suspended for "excessive use of force".  However, another part, a much bigger part, of him is brimming with joy because he killed this scumbag before he could have the decency of a criminal trial.
And hopefully, he saved a woman's life today.  A woman who would've otherwise been dead if he didn't trust his instincts and investigate what was happening in the room next to his.  He hears footsteps behind him, he turns around with a gun in his hand to see Loretta standing there.
Russo: Loretta, get the f*** out of here, NOW!
Loretta, though still shocked by the scene before her, runs out of the room back to her own and starts packing up and getting dressed.  Russo picks up the hotel room phone and dials a line to the 911 First Responders.
911: This is dispatch, how may I help you?
Russo: Yes this is Sergeant Donald Russo I would like to report an attempted murder at the Denver Hilton!
It was then that Russo went over to the woman and decided to check her out head to toe.
Well she's a stunner alright.  Would rate an easy 9.5 if not a perfect ten.  He takes her pulse.
Thank god, she's still alive.
Russo: Victim is still alive!
911: Sergeant, details.
It was then that Russo started looking lower on the woman.  He noticed something quite odd.
What the f***?
Russo: Ugh. . . victim is.. . .   .a ugh. . . . a woman.  About 6'1", very white, black hair. . . . looks like a model.
911: Sergeant you sounded a little unsure earlier.
Russo: Forget it, just get some people over here to the Denver Hilton, room #809.
It was then that Russo realized the kind of knife the killer had. . . .and some disturbing coincidences.
He puts the receiver up to his mouth and says somberly.
Russo: Listen, I think this might be related to the Nightstalker cases.

[Mechaman]

A little later:

Sergeat Russo is hunched over the woman when he hears a noise behind him.  On instinct he turns around and whips out his gun.
Russo: DON'T.  F***ING.  MOVE.
He sees a tall man with long red hair in a Randy Rhoads Experiment shirt and a leather jacket.  In his right hand are flowers.  The man looks distraught.
Must be lover boy.  Well he definitely underdressed for the occasion.
Russo laughs.
Russo: Figures.  Look, there was a breakin tonight.  She'll be alright, Mr.-
Russo suddenly has a brain explosion.  He realized he's seen the man before.  Heard about him on the news hundreds of times (poor schmuck, that's what happens when you marry into the Kennedy family) and even saw him today on the news.
Lover boy was Scott Westman, Governor of Montana.
Russo: Governor. .   .  . look, this is a very bad situation as it is.  We don't need to make it much worse with you being at the scene when the police and press get here.
Westman is dead silent and unmoving, lost in the scene of the moment.  Russo is getting irritated.
Russo: Look man, you only got one chance.  I'm sure with everything you've done you're feeling bulletproof.  Well man, I'm not sure how you're going to spin this one.  I mean, this isn't normal adultery, now is it?
Moron, they tried this same trick before. . . . . though sans a dead guy.
Westman: Can I see her first?
Russo, feeling a bit peaved, relented.
Russo: Okay, fine.  She's not dead anyway.  Just don't do anything that would raise eyebrows.
Westman kneels down next to Calpernia, carresses some of her hair and holds one of her hands.
Westman: Darling, you'll be fine again.  I promise you.
Westman gets up and turns back towards Russo.
Westman: What is your name?
Russo: Sergeant Donald Russo, Denver Police.
Westman: YOu know, I'm not really a fan of authority figures.
Russo: No sh*t?
Westman: However, I like you Russo.  Like you very much.
Russo does a clicking noise and does a shooting motion with his right hand.
Westman exits the room and makes his way to the elevators, with a world of worry rushing through his head.  He felt somewhat responsible for what happened.  After all, she put herself in this situation for him.  To give him comfort, to soothe him before he went before the wolves of the court.  And now she was. . . . . still not dead dude.  Relax.
Westman had began to worry about her safety after the Nightstalker killings, calling her every other weekend to see what her plans were, to see if she wasn't doing anything alone and was with friends, family, or guards.  He couldn'tve guessed that something similar to the Nightstalker, if not the Nightstalker, would've striked again.
Westman reaches the elevator, luckily with no one in the halls looking out their doors. Shocking considering that the policeman discharged his gun.  Would've thought that would've had everybody on the floor out of their rooms.  Or did those three happened to be the only people on the 8th floor at 9:30 at night?  The elevator door opens as he exits through the night.

Meanwhile:

Russo is looking through the drawers of the room looking for some identification for the woman.  Finally he spots her purse underneath the sink in the bathroom.  He ruffles through the contents before finding a State of California Driver's License:
Calpernia Siobhah Weils
118 S. Riverdale Lane
Alameda, California

Date of Birth: October 9th, 1960
Hair: Black          Height: 6'1"
Eyes: Brown        Weight: 132 lbs
Sex: F
Russo has a loud laugh.
Like most women, she seems to be an excellent liar.  Besides the obvious elephant in the room, there's no way a woman is 6'1" and weighs 132 lbs.  That's practically starvation!  This gal has some nice curves.  Whoa what?
After his moment of confusion, Russo gets back to looking through other parts of the room for more evidence.  He gets back to the dead guy and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his wallet.  He opens it up and spots his license plate:

Harold Francis Wahlberg
871 S. Sheridan Ave
Scranton, PA

Date of Birth: May 11th, 1958
Hair: Brown     Height: 5'9"      
Eyes: Green     Weight: 135 lbs
Sex: M
Well I guess lying isn't something only women are good at.  This man is obviously only 5'6".
A few minutes later the squad arrives with Captain Gene McCluskey.  Russo gets up and nods.
Russo: Sir.
McCluskey shakes his hand.
McCluskey: Congratulations Donny, you just got rid of yet another scumbag.
McCluskey had long been an advocate of Donald Russo.  Being a results man, he strongly disagreed with the department's decision to suspend Russo after Russo drove his car through the front part of a bank to foil a robbery.  Well that, and it pissed that hard on Gardino, who has had it out for Russo since he went out with his daughter.
McCluskey: Awful quiet around here isn't it?
Russo jumps at the opportunity.
Russo: Yes, I found that odd Captain.  You would've thought that the 8th floor would've had more people on it.
McCluskey chuckles.
McCluskey: Bad economy.  Only the rich and privileged can afford to sleep at Hilton now days.  Thanks Republicans. .  and Crane.
Russo didn't really care much for McCluskey's politics.  The Captain, a diehard Democrat, didn't let any opportunity go to waste to remind everybody that the Republicans were the source of all the world's evils and suffering.  He was sure that if you asked him, McCluskey would even connect Robert Taft with Adolf Hitler and that Dewey secretly negotiated with the Soviets to make the Cold War longer.  Yeah he was that kind of hack.
Not to mention that he made the comment about only the rich and privileged being able to afford to sleep at the Hilton when he bankrolled Russo's week long stay there.
McCluskey: So tell me Donny, was there anyone else here?
Sh*t, it's the captain.  I can't lie to him.  I have to tell him something though.
The question was difficult in his mind.  For one, he didn't want the knowledge that he was seeing a stripper to get back to his wife and family.  Even though his wife was a non-paid whore who was probably doing his boss as he was working this case.  On the other hand though. . . . . . . .  .if he told the Cap about Scott Westman being in the hotel room that could lead to a press nightmare if it's not covered up well enough.  That, and it could potentially destroy Westman's career, something Russo being a troubled man himself wasn't in favor of.
What the hell?  It's the captain.
Russo: Okay, I know this was the wrong way to act. . . . . but Scott Westman was here earlier.
McCluskey looks shocked.
McCluskey: What!?
Russo looks down at the ground, suffering inexplicable hurt of pride.  He had just admitted to an unethical course of action.
Russo: He was here. . . . and I let him go.  But I saw the perp with my own eyes trying to kill the girl. . . so I thought-
McCluskey puts a hand on his shoulder.
McCluskey: Look man, it's protocol.  You can't just let a witness go, even if they had nothing to do with the crime.  It's about getting as much useful information as possible.  Besides, this isn't the first time Westman has met a woman at a hotel.  Hell, I think this might even be the same one from several years ago!  You know when he ran for the Vice Presidential nomination?  I mean look!
Suddenly Russo remembered the bit of news that hit in the last week of the general campaign.
McCluskey: Look, we'll just keep this between us.   No need for you to get yourself into further damage control in order to preserve your career.  Trust me.  We'll question Westman later, after all, he knows the.. . . .girl.
Little did they know that the hotel room was full of it's own eyes and ears.

[Mechaman]

Link to first part:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=119018.0

For future convenience.

[Mechaman]

October 4th, 1987
Hilton Hotel
Room 412:

Brian Schweitzer is watching tv as the door opens and Westman walks in.  Schweitzer seems surprised to see Westman come into the room since he was given the impression that he already had lodging plans.
Schweitzer: Uh.. . . . .  .what're you doing here?
Westman is pacing back and forth in the room.
Westman: Man. . . . 
Schweitzer notices the look of shock on Westman's face.
Schweitzer:. . . . . . what happened Scott?
Westman: She's. . . . . . .she was attacked tonight Brian.
Schweitzer knew what Westman was talking about instantly.  Ever since the Nightstalker killings throughout the Rocky Mountain West Westman was paranoid about Calpernia's safety.  So paranoid that he called her everyday for about a year to see if she was with friends or if there were police around.  It was a terrifying time for him, as Westman was in the midst of a Gubernatorial campaign and the woman he loved was in jeopardy.
Of course, he lied to himself back then about that as well.  Scott was fool enough to believe that he and Caroline were destined to be together back then.  However, if he was actually so in love with her why was it Calpernia he was calling every day to see if she was safe and he didn't even know where Caroline was half the time?
Anyway, as time went on the FBI got involved and a year after the initial murder the authorities arrested a man they believed was responsible for the killings.  While he was on trial, however, several more murders happened that fit the Nightstalker's MO.  The paranoia was at a fever pitch.  18 people had already been murdered up to that point: 15 transgendered and 3 gays.  Most of the killings the Nightstalker used a silenced handgun, a .90 Ingram, to inflict a fatal head shot.  And then he proceeded with something much much nastier.  Over time, news about the manhunt for the most wanted serial killer in America had fallen on the wayside as much more pressing issues came up.
America had forgotten about the Nightstalker.  The only relief that Brian felt is that Westman's first words weren't "she's dead, Brian".
Schweitzer looks at Westman.
Schweitzer: She's alive?
Westman nods.
Westman: Yes, but not conscious.  I arrived at the door, there was an officer and a dead man in the room with her.  The officer told me to get out of there.
A tear falls down Westman's face.
Westman: He at least allowed me the decency to hold her, if only for a moment.
Schweitzer gets out of the chair he was in.  He walks over to Westman and embraces him like a brother.  Westman starts crying.
Westman: Man, I feel like such a f****t!  Crying and hugging with another grown man?
Schweitzer laughs.
Schweitzer: We must all do things we don't approve of once in awhile.  You really needed this brother.
After thirty seconds Schweitzer lets go of Westman.  Westman lays down on the bed as Schweitzer goes back to his chair.
Westman: I'm really glad you were here Brian.
Schweitzer: Don't get too comfortable there Scott.  I'm not into sharing my bed with dudes.
Westman: Haha asshole.  Me neither.  I expected to be somewhere else tonight.  Anyway, Nora is in town.  I'll stay with her.
Schweitzer looks shocked, as he had no idea that Nora was still in Westman's life.  Yes, she was his sister, but the two had a pretty dysfunctional relationship.  Her sudden appearance in Denver caught him off guard.  He was even more shocked that Caroline didn't bother to fly over from Hyannis to at least show some moral support to Westman during the trial.
Schweitzer: Where is she staying?
Westman: At the Sheridan Downtown.  A one bedroom with a King size bed and some alcohol in the mini-fridge.  A pretty cozy way relax after this mess, no?
The news comes on.
New Anchor: Tonight at the Hilton, an off duty police officer kills a man caught in mid assault of a transgender model.  We will keep you updated as more details of the story become available.
Schweitzer: Sh*t.

[Mechaman]

June 19th, 1979
McGuinn's Grill
Fairfax, VA:

Thad O'Connor is at a table with Mary Sears Lodge.
Mary: So wait. . . . . .Calpernia Weils is staying with Scott?
Thad laughs.
O'Connor: Oh I guess I forgot about that.
Mary: Well it's not like we talk about him that much.  He seems to talk about himself enough.
O'Connor: Very true.
Mary: Nice of him I guess.  Don't really see why he would randomly let a model like her live with him.  I mean, it's not like he's going to do anything with a-
O'Connor: She's his girlfriend Mary.
Mary Sears Lodge looks shocked.
Mary: I'm sorry, but Scott Westman?  With her?
O'Connor: I know.
Mary: I mean he just seems like a very meat and potatoes kind of guy.  I mean she's very beautiful-
O'Connor:-so wait, how did you know?
Mary: I'm close friends with the owners of Ford Modeling Agency.  She's their top model.  Do the math.
As they are speaking Westman and Calpernia show up, taking seats at the opposite end of the table.  He was in a black button up short sleeve shirt with a bolo tie, black jeans, brown cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat.  She was in a very seductive black romper and had knee high boots on.  As she walked by Thad noticed several men, some of them married, staring after her.  The two looked like they couldn't keep their hands off of each other.  Man, has Scott gotten over his qualms already?
Westman: Evenin Thad.  Evenin' Mary.
Calpernia extends her hand to Thad.
Calpernia: Calpernia Weils.  I hear that Scott confides a lot in you.
O'Connor nods.
Calpernia: Well that's good.  I hear you talked some sense into him.  Thanks.  Hi Mary.
Westman: Wait, you know her?
Calpernia laughs.
Calpernia: Of course I know Mary!  She's on the board of directors for our company!  We have coffee sometimes!
O'Connor: I thought you said you didn't know she was in DC!
Mary: Well, she said she was staying with a prominent politician.  Didn't know it would be Scott.
Calpernia: You sound so shocked?  That I'd be with the best looking politician in DC?  Who were you expecting?  That creep Clinton?
Everyone laughs.
Calpernia puts her hand on Westman's upper thigh, stroking it intently.
Mary: Someone is a bit cocky.
Calpernia moves her hand. . .. . . closer.
Calpernia: Am I now?  Scott is giving me a much different impression at the moment.
Her hand hits the jackpot.  Thad and Mary are looking mortified.
Calpernia: Hmm yes, someone is hungry.  Down boy, you'll get the dessert course eventually.
Mary: Well, how's work guys?  Any bills coming up?
O'Connor: Oh yes I got the Decriminalization Bill coming up.
Mary: Silly Thad, so obsessed with pot.
Westman and Calpernia give her a look that tells her she's being a prude.  She looks irritated.
Mary: What!?  I mean, it's not something that civilized people do a lot of!
O'Connor: Really Mary, calm down.
Mary: And it makes you smell horrible!
Westman: Yes, and it makes you quite the annoying little sh*t Thad.
O'Connor laughs.
Westman: But seriously, kudos man.  Meanwhile, I'm pushing for efforts to not just prevent raises for the Iraq surge, but to defund it entirely.  We had a mandate on the eighth, 57% against.  It was quite clear that the "police action" is quite unpopular.  And once this is over .  . .. . it will soon be "goodbye India!"
Calpernia: And people say I'm cocky.
Westman: A new foreign policy revolution is happening.  The partisanship of fellow Democrats on the issue is discouraging, but I believe that there is enough across the aisle support to defeat intervention now.  Hell, there is even strong support amongst the Constitution Party!
The waiter comes by.
Waiter: Sorry for the wait.  Today's special is the Gourmet Roasted Sauteed Italian Sausage with Pecking Duck special and a side of oudevres.  Interest anybody?
Mary: No thanks, I'm vegetarian.
Westman gives her a look of disgust.
Westman: This place is called "McGuinn's"?
Waiter: Yes sir.
Westman: With all this fruity French sh*t I almost forgot.  I'll pass on that.
Calpernia: Hmm, sounds tempting.  However, I'm already having sausage later this evening.
Waiter chuckles.
Waiter: Well. . . . . .  .
O'Connor: Yeah sure, I'll try some.
Waiter smiles.
Waiter: Great!  You folks want any drinks?
Westman: Yes, me and the young woman with me would like a bottle of Jameson-
Waiter:-sir, we don't carry whiskey by the bottle-
Westman: "McGuinn's Grill". . . . . ha!  You got about the worst ass advertising in the world.
Waiter: Sir, I will not tolerate your hostile attitude.
Westman laughs.
Westman: You're right.  I apologize.  Do you have Hennessy at least?
Waiter: Yes we do.
Westman is slightly impressed.
Westman: Alright, now we're getting somewhere.
Calpernia: Well, sh*t alcohol is better than none I guess.
O'Connor: You want anything Mary?
Mary shakes her head.
O'Connor: Alright, I'll take a rum and coke, if you have it.
Waiter nods before walking away.
Westman: You're a bit of an odd woman out Mary.  No drink?
O'Connor: Give her a rest!  Not everyone is a major epic gamer you know?
Calpernia: Prude.
Calpernia gets out a cigarette and lights it.  Mary coughs.
Mary: Seriously!  Would you stop it with the smoking!  You do this every time we have coffee!
Calpernia: That waiter had quite the mouth on him Scott.  Are you really going to let him talk to you like that?
Westman: Cal I was being an asshole.
Calpernia: Still you know he can't just threaten customers like that!
Westman: Hey, it's within the rights of businesses to throw people out for whatever reason.  Their loss if they do.
Calpernia: Jeez, you think "customer service" would be natural to these people.
Westman: Well, only people who really REALLY want tips do that.  Average restaurant worker makes at least $5/hr.  At 40 hours a week that's $200 to deal with sh*theads.  Well above the minimum wage.  I wouldn't treat these jerks with much respect if I worked here.
Calpernia: Such a pity you think that.  You could've talked him down.  After all, you got quite the talented tongue.
O'Connor: Yeah, you were quite incredible at winning people over to oppose the surge.  If you tried hard enough Scott, you could get enough votes for a Green Energy Bill.
Westman: Enough Thad.  Energy lobby is much too big now days to get respectable opposition.
O'Connor: Whatever.

(to be cont.)