Biden Gets Impeached
“Why should I register as a Republican?” Juan sensed he was being signed up for something he didn't want. “Maybe I want to vote for somebody else?”
Hector leaned back and held his hands up, “OK, Señor Torres. Look, nobody’s making you do anything. I’m just here to help.”
He’s back to calling me ‘Señor Torres’ again. Juan felt that was more appropriate.
“But think about this,” Hector continued, “Joe Biden was betrayed by his own son, who’s taking a plea deal to keep out of jail. He’s confessed to taking millions in bribes so that his family can get richer.”
Juan nodded his head and looked away, “I know.”
“Now Congress has impeached him.” Hector wagged his finger, “Is that the kind of man you want running our country?”
“I heard that the Senate would never vote to convict him,” Juan offered.
Hector swung his fingers around his head to indicate Juan was crazy. “You don’t think so? You’re loco! They got so much dirt now even the Democrats are going to turn on him. And even if they don’t, what does it say about the man’s character?”
Juan scowled. Something about Hector’s arguments bothered him. The Democrats don’t want Biden anymore because they see him as a weak candidate, he thought. “They’re only turning on him now because they want to get somebody better in there to go against Trump.”
Hector grinned maliciously, like he’d been waiting for a chance to enumerate the sins of the devil. With his right hand, he dramatically grabbed the forefinger of his left hand. “One! Hunter Biden’s company, Owasco, made direct monthly payments to his father.”
Then, Hector grabbed his middle finger, “Two! Joe Biden sent out over 80 thousand pages of emails using a fake name. A fake name! Why would he do that if he wasn't dirty?"
Juan was getting uncomfortable and got up to get a glass of water. Hector followed him into the kitchen, bending his ring finger back as he announced, “Three! Biden received forty-thousand dollars of laundered money from the Chinese.”
Juan slammed down his water cup, but Hector continued to advance and shoved his hand towards Juan’s face. Now Hector was holding his pinky finger. “Four! That cabrón went on TV and bragged about how he got Victor Shokin fired for investigating his son!” There was a strange gleam in Hector’s eye. “We have bank records, emails, and phone calls that prove all this. You can’t tell me that the Senate’s going to save him this time!”
“I think it’s time for you to leave. Now!” Juan pushed Hector’s hands away from his face.
For an instant, Hector seemed to be struggling with an impulse to escalate the confrontation. But with visible effort, he took a deep breath and stepped away. Once again, Juan sized the big man up, noting his powerful build and youthful energy.
“I’m so sorry, señor,” Hector hung his head and moved to pick up his tablet from where it lay on the dining room table. “My behavior is inexcusable. I meant nothing by it. It’s just that I get so passionate when I think about the danger this country is in with that man…”
Juan cast a glance at Maria. She nodded silently. Then he turned back towards Hector and patted him awkwardly on the shoulder, “It’s OK. I feel that way too, sometimes.”
Hector was making his way towards the door, and he stopped to give Juan a wry grin, “You do?”
“Yeah, sometimes,” Juan lifted his chin and shrugged his shoulders.
“Then is there any chance I could sign you up with the Republican Party?” Hector lifted his tablet hopefully.
Wow, this guy never gives up! Juan thought. But he said, “No. That’s OK. I want to just vote for whoever I think is the best.”
“Hmm…” Hector considered this. “You’ve got an independent mind. I like that. But you have to register if you want to vote. I could sign you up as an Independent.”
“What’s that?”
Hector leaned against the couch, “An Independent is someone who can vote in the general election in November. But you wouldn’t be able to vote in the primaries.”
Juan glanced at Maria again. She shrugged. “Yeah,” he’d begun to reach a decision. “Yeah. I like that. Maybe I’m an Independent.”
“OK,” Hector made a show of firing up his tablet and rapidly typing a few quick lines. “No problem. I’ve listed you as an Independent. Your ballot will come in the mail in a couple of weeks. OK?”
Juan breathed a little easier. “OK,” he said. It really was helpful to have this man take care of the computer stuff for him. I ought to be grateful.
“Now then,” Hector said. “Before I leave, are there any other members of your household that still haven’t registered?”
Before Hector left the house that day, Juan, Maria, Sofia, and Carlos (who would receive a military absentee ballot) were all signed up.