Xref: news.nzbot.com alt.fan.prettyboy:20790
Path: news.nzbot.com!spool1.sonic-news.com!pull-news.sonic-news.com!news.astraweb.com!border5.newsrouter.astraweb.com!not-for-mail
Subject: +*+*+*+ Solomon's Private File #129 "The Supremes" +*+*+*+
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 23:26:08 -0500
From: " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant>
Newsgroups: alt.fan.prettyboy
Reply-To: +Grant.
Organization: .
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit
X-No-Archive: yes
Lines: 313
Message-ID: <567dd091$0$43702$c3e8da3$5e5e430d@news.astraweb.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: 1388ccb7.news.astraweb.com
X-Trace: DXC=a:Kb06kbOOFc_WgCkn9MLEL?0kYOcDh@JVEml2?d:RZ@]QE`fi=n]\N;n^U31oXNSJ=];:;21V0CA1o7Mdg9nhYD6oNEFilJ_BNXo3dU35Wb>J
Solomon's Private File #129
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 19 in this story, in the Fall of 2045.
Solomon's Private File #129 "The Supremes"
START Page
I asked to meet with the President of the US for an emergency. I
said, "We're going to need a new Supreme Court Justice. One got drunk
and drove into a bridge abutment last night. Bridge wasn't hurt much.
Judge died practically instantly. Lonely area. Wasn't discovered by
authorities until this morning. They still don't know who he really is.
Soon, they will. Thought I'd warn you, so you can get your speech
writers working. Probably won't headline it, serial rapist is dead, but
that wouldn't be altogether inaccurate." He knew then who I was talking
about, and said, "A lot of people suspected." I said, "He gave that up
when he was confirmed, but most people would NOT like his kind of porn.
His computer is wide open. Up to you if you want to mess with that." He
said, "Your opinion?" I said, "Smearing a dead person doesn't look
good, and worse for a political enemy. Even without that, I think it's
not good for the country to so devalue the Supreme Court for a non job
related issue. The Judges are people first, and so are personally
fallible. That's why we have a bunch of them in that position, so the
bad parts can cancel each other out." He said, "Wise council. Thank
you. Approval for nominee candidates?" I said, "Sure, but still not
political." He said, "Understood. Would be interesting if you were on
the Senate nominating committee." I said, "Not for ME!" He laughed. I
said, "Better not let me in that room, or there are going to be some
really burning ears and slack jaws." He laughed really well.
He said, "What would you do?" I said, "Whatever, it would all go
public. There are some things I could offer that could really help them
in their jobs, but that would cut down on their excuses, and
manipulation and lying, too." He asked for specifics. I gave them. He
was in awe. He said, "We need that! It would really help!" I said,
"Almost as much as putting mousetraps in lobbyists pockets." He laughed
hard at that one. I said, "Hawk's got you beat." He said, "What does he
think of your congressional ideas?" Hawk said in the air, "Great!
Likely they'll ever agree to something good they didn't think of
themselves, not so good. And trust Sol? Very unlikely. Unless he can
present it to them in person on live TV, and with the demanded vote in
his favor, instant implementation." I nodded and said, "People seldom
use the resources that center on me. Wise of you." Hawk said in the
air, "Sorry, but not really. Sol already thought of all that, and would
have told you the same thing. He's our best thinker by far, and because
of him, practically all his generation are much better than all of our
past generations, including me and mine, and we love that. Er, and
embarrassing him." I said, darkly, "He USED to be our best martial
A man walked into my temp office at the Bureau. After polite things
he said, "Why here?" I said, "Job's in this city, otherwise we'd have
to do this at the Navajo Convention Center. And here they are secure
and have secretaries. Complaint?" He said, "Now that you've explained
it, no, those are valid reasons." I said with a smile, "And if this
location didn't meet with YOUR approval?" He looked a little startled,
and then a little embarrassed. I said, "Right. A supplicant making
demands is a little off." He said, "If you don't approve me, I'm off
the list?" I said, "I don't make that determination, but you being the
conscious master of your fate, including where you are and why, is not
a er, killer. How you chose to handle it, is something to explore." He
said, "I see you're more than I thought." I said, "Yes, I'm a real
psychologist. Multiple doctorates, and considered one of the best by my
peers in the field. When they're not shaking in their shoes that I'll
definitively prove their vaporous pet theories wrong. I'm an actual
scientist. I deal with measurable reality, not flights of indulgent
fantasy. Oh how I wish Chad were still around to see and hear him howl
convulsively." He grinned. I said, "Big egos on the bench. Cowed law
clerks. Public never satisfied. Pressure to be perfect, with decisions
and opinions that will stand up for all time. What do you think about
all that?"
He said, "Are you trying to convince me not to take the job?" I said,
"Is that possible?" He gave me another appraisal. He said, "You've done
this for all the President's major hires?" I said, "Adjusted to their
positions and individual psychological factors, yes, as he has
announced." He said, "Then we've got good people on the job." I said,
"That was our intention. This is more than a general approval that we
would still do on personal request. I'm like a contracted employment
agency for this." He nodded. We did some tests. Then he answered my
previous questions. I said, "Is there anything in your background that
could be uncovered that could ruin everything?" He said, "No, not that
I can think of." I said, "Before that, we were doing what any qualified
shrink could and would do. I've been asked to do it, because I can tell
when people are lying. Anything you've said so far you want to er,
modify?" He hesitated. I said, "I'm clergy, too. We can go privileged
at any time." He said, "Your monitors?" I said, "There was one time
their curiosity got the better of them. I block them now. I won't stand
for that ever again." He nodded. He said, "In my youth, I bullied some
kids in school. Mostly for being different. Poor, usually." I said,
"Any harmed?" He said, with some tears, "Yes. Broken arm, but not
intentional. No police reports or school records. My family was very
powerful." I said, "Looking back on those situations now, disregarding
how powerful and respected you are now, do you now wish you had faced
some consequences for that at the time?"
He looked surprised, and then said, "Yes!" He sobbed. I went around
my desk and hugged him. Back at my desk, I said, "Catharsis therapy
said, "If I could say that, I might not disagree if you assumed that
similar situations happened er, often. It can be safely assumed that
almost everything I do with people, even offplanet, usually involves
some kind of counseling and personal improvement." He nodded and said,
He said with a smile, "Maybe." I said, "I can't include this in what I
forward to the selection team, being privileged. That would be up to
you. I recommend it, though. I suspect you won't be alone in that kind
of er, disclosure. You can tell them you told me in a privileged
communication, and that counseling was successful, if you want to. And
it's not going to negatively affect this interview." He said, "I don't
know how to thank you enough for this!" I said, "Yes you do. Be good,
ethical, and help people. Ready to go off privileged?" He said, "Yes."
I said, "And now for something different. If nominated, you will face
the inquisitors." He grinned. I said, "I will play them here, and you
will act like you would then. Willing to make this real?'" He said,
"Bring it on!" I took on the appearance of the worst people on the
committee, from his perspective, and quizzed him on his past decisions.
He was totally astounded at that at first, but played along, and then
actually enjoyed it. Back as me, I said, "My approval is not political,
and they know that, so the specifics of what was said in the practice
round won't be part of the report. Please don't reveal to the public or
possible nominees the specifics of what we did here. Shouldn't warn my
possible next victims. One consideration. If you don't get nominated or
approved this time, I expect there will be other times this interview
will be used for." I stood, and so did he. He said, "You won't tell me
if I'm approved?" I said, "Procedure. Correct. But if you don't already
know, I need to change something I was going to write." His grin almost
broke his face in half. I offered to hug, and he accepted. I could hear
him muttering in the hallway, "What a man!" At least I'm not chopped
liver. My note about him practically glowed. "He is a formidable
individual; Compassionate, well oriented to place and time, and fully
aware of all he should be, and more, and with a sense of humor. He is
highly intelligent and perceptive, not limited to his areas of primary
interest. He is highly skilled, and through a practice run, I believe
he can more than hold his own in any conformation hearing. Highly
recommended." I got an immediate reply of, "Wow!"
My next one was a woman. After introductions, I said, "Why do you
want the job?" She said, "It's the ultimate position a lawyer can have
as a lawyer." I said, "In government, yes. What about the private
sector?" She nodded and said, "I've thought of that, but corporate
review isn't nearly the same as judicial review. I expect I would have
to compromise my ethics. That's not who I am." I said, "So, who are
you?" She looked surprised, and said, "Wow! That's a tough one. I don't
know how to answer that." I said, "It shows in your decisions. Totally
clinical, and unusually narrow. Confirmation inquisition is going to
hound you for you to show them the real you. You could crack under that
pressure. He who would nominate you, doesn't want to deal with a
nomination getting shot down in flames. Want to work on the answer, and
come back tomorrow? The delay won't negatively reflect in the report."
She said, "I think I should rethink the whole idea." I said, "I suggest
you work on the answer to the question first, because the result of
that could affect your rethinking." She looked at me, and said, "I see
something. You do counseling in these things, too." I said, "Actually,
in practically everything I do with people. I help. It's who I am." She
said, "It is. Yes. I'll do as you suggest." She left. That evening, she
sent a note. "I'm withdrawing my name from consideration. I realize you
were right. I wouldn't do well in the conformation. I know who I am
now, and I like me, which I didn't know I didn't before. Thank you very
much, for me, and for all you do for others. Yes, I have found my
humanity, and I'm going to enjoy very much my exploration of it." Galya
said to me in contact, "Wow!" We shared love.
A woman came into my temp office. I said, "You! What are you doing
here?" She laughed, and sat down. I said, "You don't like your current
job at DOJ?" She said, "I do like it. But this is a once in a lifetime
opportunity." I said, "So is going over Niagara Falls in cement shoes."
She laughed again. I said, "I'm partially serious. Opportunity is
insufficient to attain approval here. Inquisitors will want much more."
She said, "Oh. You want to ensure confirmation." I said, "Well, what's
the point in just nominating a shooting target? Everybody gets hurt
then. I want you to consider something very carefully. Prestige and
authority aside, do you want this one job for the rest of your life?"
She said, "Wow! I see something of what you mean. If I have to quit, I
probably can't work as a judge again, or a lawyer." I said, "Usually
they teach, write boring books, and do commencement speeches, if they
can do anything at all. I'm not saying you aren't qualified and
wouldn't do very well at the job, but I'm not sure you want it for all
the right reasons, or that you have fully considered all the life
changing implications of the position. I care for you! I don't want to
assist you to possibly make a mistake of this magnitude. I want what
YOU are sure is the best for you and your future. Want a day to think
it over?" She said, "I think I do." I went around my desk and said,
"I'm sorry if I burst your bubble. Er, wherever that is." She grinned
and said, "Don't be. You're right, as usual." We hugged with love. She
withdrew her name from consideration. And sent me a big thank you note.
Pres asked to see me. I said, "I know what you want. I didn't make
them change their minds. It's just that during the interview, they
became aware of more of what the confirmation and job entails than they
had fully considered. I can't say more than that, but you can ask them,
if you want your ear bent for a while." He said, "I think I understand.
Are they better people now?" I said, "Usually happens in contact with
me." He smiled with approval, "I don't doubt that at all." I said, "Got
any more, toss 'em my way."
A Congresswoman came in. After introductions, I said, "You're an
unusual person. A Superior Court Judge turned Congressional. Why?" She
said, "I found the criminal justice system to be more flawed than it
should be. I decided to try to do something about that from the other
branch. Oh boy was I naive!" I said, "No kidding!" She nodded glumly. I
said, "Let me say it. Your fellow legislators had NO clue. Not a one.
In fact, when you wanted to discuss it, all you got was a blank stare."
She said, "You DO know!" I said, "This new thing is an escape?" She
said, "No. I feel I can make a greater difference there, than where I
am now." I said, "One of nine egoists, bossing terrified law clerks,
slaving over every word that will live forever in infamy. Well, to
some. Can't please everybody." She said, "Well said. I want it. Those
back room discussions are going to be VERY interesting!" I said, "And
you will make sure of that." She said, "Absolutely!" I said, "Fine
there, but really NOT fine in confirmation. Going to be tough for you
not to bite back and draw blood, which I KNOW you can, and really want
to." She laughed. She said, "I haven't seen this side of you before,
but yes." I said, "That's more of a problem than it seems. They already
know you. Just that alone is going to make you a big juicy target for
the other side. They'll think you're their worst nightmare, which could
actually be true. And we both like that. Well, I kinda like debate a
lot." She grinned and said, "And you haven't kicked me out yet, so you
have a plan."
"First we do the required tests." Which we did. I said, "I have to ask
this, and I will know the truth. Do you have anything at all in your
past that vetting could choke on?" She said, "Everybody says no at
first?" I said, "Yes, and similar attempts at evasion, too. You don't
have to tell me, and if you did, it won't go in the report, but you
should tell them if it exists." She said, "One, and it's already known.
My ex-husband molested our daughter." I said, "No court record of it."
She said, "Sealed divorce papers." I said, "May I look?" She said,
"Yes." I said, "Evidence is only shrink's report. Where's husband?" She
said, "Suicide." I said, "May I discuss this situation with my mother?"
She said, "Oh. Yes."
I said in contact, "Mom, You heard?" She said, "Yes. Problem?" I
said, "Yes. Father didn't do it. Uncle did. Made the kid lie. No court
acceptable proof, and the girl is an adult now. Question is, do I tell
her mother?" She said, "Tough one. I'm not sure. And it would be
different coming from me. Telling her could ruin her application." I
said, "Yes. Please stick around." I said to the applicant, "There is
more to that case than you know about. My question is, do you want to
know about it? And if so, now, or until after this present thing is
resolved?" She said, "If it all came to light, would it kill my chances
of conformation?" I said, "It doubt it will get light unless you make
it so, but public interest in it, probably would. Vetting won't find
this new thing. Telling you might be a distraction, though." She said,
"Do YOU think it should disqualify me?" I said, "No." She said, "Than
don't tell me now."
I said, "Then, next, we do an exercise. I'll be the inquisitors in
the confirmation hearing. I'll even look like them. You defend. It's
going to be as rough as I can make it. Agree?" She grinned and said,
"Bring it on!" I said, "Oh no. Wrong attitude. You fight, even your
supporters will vote against you. For this situation, you need to show
them you can be calm, cool, and collectable." A small smile. I said,
"You need to be unflappable. No flaps at all. Showing brilliance in
response is fine, but no gloating, and no anger, or even irritation.
They have the power. There, you have less than none. You want something
from them. Help them to WANT to give it to you. Show them you will
bring honor to the Supreme Court, and extend that to be from your
current job, too. Play on the fact you know how life is from different
perspectives, which would make you very valuable in that position. Got
it?" She said, "Wow! Yes, got it!" I really tore into her, and as more
then one questioner at a time. When she faltered, I used an image of
her right next to her, to show her alternative responses. After an hour
and a half, I said, "That's enough. Tiring, isn't it." She said,
"Right. And days of this, too." I said, "I think you can handle it
now." She said, "Does this mean you will approve me?" I said, "You know
I can't tell you that." She got a crafty look, but before she could say
anything, I said, "You need to refine your poker face. A big tell when
you're planning to be crafty." She grinned, and said, "Thanks, I'll try
to remember that. Would you do this practice session with anybody you
weren't going to approve?" I said, "If you don't know the answer to
if I don't get it, I'm going to treasure this day as long as I live." I
said, "If only I believed in revenge." She laughed very well. We hugged
with love.
Mom said to me, "After she's ready to be told, I want to nail that
man." I said, "Going to be difficult. He's not currently doing
anything. No evidence. Er, wait. He's got a computer. Not on it. An
external drive. Three of them. Nope, not even encrypted. Got it! Did a
scan of the whole house and grounds. Garage. A hidden memory card, and
told her, and she said, "Oh that's bad! I like it!" I said, "Thought
you would. One thing extra. I'm going to make some with him in them, as
if they were from a nanny-cam." She said, "Even better. Too bad we have
to wait." I said, "Not long. If she's nominated, it's going to be VERY
interesting." We shared our grins with our love.
END Page
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant
|
|