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... from Barbara Boxer's forthcoming novel:

"You are a liar. You've lost respect for the truth in the service of your, your ... your thing," Ellen yelled at Senator Dott, her finger stabbing the air with angry condemnation.

Dott was unsettled by the confrontation with this courageous, strong-willed woman. A finely-groomed product of the medieval southern aristocracy, he wasn't used to dealing with a female that showed such courageous independence - or courage. Grasping for a defense, Dott attempted a classical diversionary debate tactic.

"Now Ellen, I will not have you impugn mah credibility. That is simply over the line, Senator," simpered the sexy southern senatorial smoothie with mock indignation.

"I'm not calling you a liar! Don't misrepresent me Senator," countered Ellen. "And please address the issue at hand. On December 14, 2004, you held the door open for me at a closed session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, walked me to my chair, and pulled it out for me until I sat down, winking as you finally took your own seat. On December 18, 2004, you told me, and I quote, 'you have beautiful eyes.' Not 'nice,' not 'pretty,' but 'beautiful.' These are your words, Senator Dott. On December 21, 2004, over appletinis and crusted-lime seabass at Citronelle, you indicated to me that your wife didn't 'understand' you, or your enduring love for the five-star French-Californian cuisine pioneered by Michele Richard. I could go on and on. And finally, on January 15, 2005, you had your way with me, plundering my womanly treasures like a rapacious multinational oil conglomerate."

"Now, I voted 'no' on this proposal, but my body - and the good Senator from New England - voted 'yes,' and the authorization for this action was solely based on the assumption that you would leave your wife, and that we would embark on a long-term relationship of mutual love and respect. Yet after the act, if it served your purpose to downplay the possibility of a relationship, you said, "I never said I was going to leave my wife anytime soon." And then later, when you seemed to want my intimate company, you'd reverse course, complimenting my outfit, my eyes, or my 'luscious milk wagons,' in your deceptively charming regional vernacular.

And you don't seem to be willing to, A, admit a mistake, or B, give any indication of what you're going to do to make it so we can be together forever. As a matter of fact, you've said more misstatements and lies. So I am deeply troubled."

Dott was clearly frightened by the devastating litany of facts.

"May I respond? Ellen, I have to say that I have never, ever, lost respect for the truth in the service of anything, least of all, my pickle. It is not my nature. It is not my character. And I would hope that we can have this conversation and discuss what happened before and what I said without impugning my credibility or my integrity.

And frankly, you are freaking me the Hell out," responded Dott.

"I never called you a liar or indicated that you lied, Senator!" Ellen shot back, tears misting her gorgeous blue eyes.

I don't know about any of you, but I'm preordering this thing from Amazon. Gripping.

Read the first excerpt here.

Posted by Bill at January 27, 2005 09:01 AM | TrackBack (6)

Comments

Posted by: MarkX at January 27, 2005 11:10 AM

Posted by: Bill from INDC at January 27, 2005 11:17 AM

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Posted by: King of Fools at January 28, 2005 04:39 AM

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Posted by: bsp at January 28, 2005 01:45 PM