The limousine was spotless, the black paint a perfect mirror for the hazy DC skyline. Cheney's secretary holds the door open for me.

"The Vice-President sends his regard but will be delayed. He is in the hospital for a small procedure."

"Is Dick ok?"

"Yes, just an outpatient thing. No big deal."

I get in the armored vehicle and suddenly the past few weeks make more sense. Cheney's out of the loop with health problems. He would never have let some of these things happen. Perhaps his health problems stem from having argued to strenuosly in opposition to the great disaster that will be the close of the Bush presidency.

"The President has instructed that I bring you to the White House for your meeting. We will be there in about seventeen minutes."

I look at the blue velour and the Vice-Presidential seal emblazoned on the door. It all means less now - or perhaps more - as the nation becomes a socialist hellhole. I try to enjoy the ride, but I find it unbearable. Traffic on 395 crawls to 25 mph and I see a mini van alongside with kids making faces at other drivers. They spot me by the window, make faces at me as well and stick out their tongues. I return the favor. They laugh. I envy them their youth and complete isolation from the terror that is now damning their futures.

"How long has Dick been ill?"

"It's been coming and going for awhile - the past two months."

I think of FDR at Malta, so ill he handed Stalin the keys to eastern Europe and who almost single-handedly started the cold war. His own press photographer declaring ten years after FDR's death that he was so ill there was only a single usable photo of the meeting and he had to doctor that one to make FDR look even halfways presentable.

We past Freedom Plaza and Pershing Park and the one secret service escort vehicle falls out on 15th street making it's way back to the corral. The street between the OEO building and the oval office is lined with trees, primarily on the side of the oval office to act as foil for potential disgruntled federal employees working at the OEO with a sniper rifle.

"We've arrived sir."

I wait as the secret service driver's partner exits and opens my door. I step out and in short order I find myself in the oval office with President Bush. He is on the phone.

Ten minutes later the call is concluded.

"Well, it's good to see you again. You're looking well."

"Yes, I feel great. I wish Cheney was feeling better."

"Me too. But none of us really know when God will call us home, do we?"

It is painful to see. The George I knew and first met 10 years ago in the Texas Governor's mansion is gone. His mind sufficiently warped now by religion and the puppetmasters that use religion for their own enrichment and empowerment.

I smile. "Actually, I do know when I'm checking out, but that's not a big concern. How could you let this happen?"

"Let what happen?"

"The bailout. The socialization of the US - finshing up where FDR left off? The George I knew would never let this happen."

"I made a choice. I could let the banks fail and put 75 million homeowners out on the streets and collapse the entire small business sector which would find finance and capital nonexistent - or I could let the government prop it up. Don't think I didn't agonize over the decision. It's an election year and our party would be devastated at the polls with such a prevailing economic situation. I have the party leaders already despising me and blaming me for the collapse of the party. Now I have you joining the chorus. Cheney already gave me an earful. There's nothing you can say that he didn't already cover. BUt go ahead tell me what I am overlooking."

"First things first. To HELL with the party. The nation comes first. Your oath comes to the nation and not the party. The party has abandoned you and allowed your name to be sullied by the sleaze that opposes them. Forget the parties entirely. Neither the GOP or the DNC will even exist in ten years time. Now's the time to save the nation. Forget the banks. Your responsibility is to the SYSTEM. You've compromised the system and that is what is unforgivable. Socialize the banks and businesses and in twenty years time we will be the godless Soviet empire, in all but name."

I see by Bush's reaction the last line was one Cheney didn't use. That's the weak spot. Socialism and godlessness.

"Yes, socialism leads to a nation of pacifist slugs with no spirit. God is the first thing that will be dropped and in its place will loom the almighty state. Would God want you to cripple the last nation on Earth that was inspired by men of spirit! It's not too late. Let me write several prototype bills to amend the bailout. Let me compose a few executive orders that can be signed which can secretly curtail the socialism that threatens to turn the US into a godless nation. Let's put some time-bombs into the socialism already instituted and instill a bunch of measures and safechecks to kill the parasitic infection before it consumes the body of the nation and the people. After you are out of office - who will, so well, act as an instrument of God's will? Obama? McCain?"

I can see by his face and thoughts that I have finally reached him. Cheney is good, but being able to read minds give me a much greater advantage.

"You have a very short time to leave this nation healthy...in Spirit. The body, the banks and the businesses come second to the spirit of the nation and the system that permits this spirit to flourish. Spirit moved me to come to you in this, your hour of greatest need, so I can help you see what is truly willed for the United States of America."

"I believe you are inspired. I've always believed that. That's why I have kept you within reach the past 8 years. You are one of the few people who speak honestly to me and your convictions never falter."

"When you leave this office, your power to do good will be diminished. Obama will take the socialism implemented and run with it all the way to the finish line. In no time the churches will be closing, the people will sit in apathy awaiting their handouts from the state - and you now know how these people around you are the most immoral, godless kinds - who, if anything, are agents of darkness who work steadfastly against the light. My polling indicate Obama will win the election by 7 points. So you know exactly who will inherit this office and what he will do when he is here."

"It's out of my hands."

"Sure, the election is. Not how you spend these next few months. That's completely in your hands and is why God sent me to you today."

"Okay. Write up a bill. Compose some executive orders and transmit them to me them on my private correspondence channel. I will review them and if I believe they are in the nation's best interest I will sign them."

"I know it hasn't been easy. You've been tested, re-tested and put through the wringer. Snakes with persuasive tongues who pretend to seek the best interests of others ring their words against your ears every single day and you must try to seek within and discern what holds the greater good and which holds the greater evil. You have Laura, Jenna and Barbara to help you with your task and you have been blessed. I'll tell you something I haven't told you before. I have walked with you up in heaven long before you were born into this world. These events and happenings were forgone and written then. All who deal with me have the same relationship. I act as a catalyst for internal change for people with serious problems to confront and overcome. I give others the strength they need to find within and overcome the obstacles they have created for themselves by their own minds and actions."

"I believe it. God is strong with you."

"And with you. He is within all of us. Once we understand this we can overcome all obstacles and the trials of Job will be as easily shrugged off as a bit of mud on one's shoes. You want to leave this nation stronger and prepared for the future. A future in which darkness will continue to pound against the cliffs of our nation unceasingly and the light house of truth will need to be stronger and fortified to guide the masses safely throught these torrents and riptides that seek to pull them under."

"I've tried so hard to do the right thing. To reduce suffering. To protect the world from evil in all it's forms. I look forward to leaving this office and the responsibilities that are on my desk every morning. Laura and the girls, bless them, have been troopers through it all, but they look forward to the days when we are free of this imposing burden. Laura wants to get back to Crawford and sleep in. We'll invite you over once we get resettled."

"I'll have those EOs in your computer to review in two days time. I'm going to talk with Condi while I'm here as well about the Russian situation."

"Yes, I've been distressed about the way things are moving. I thought I could trust Putin, but he has disappointed me. He listens when we talk on the phone, but he doesn't hear - if you know what I mean. Condi has a whole bunch of resolutions she wants me to peruse, but with this domestic situation I just haven't had the time. If you would go through them with her and go ahead and forward the ones you think might be effective and constructive when you send me the EO's - I'd appreciate it."

Bush stands up upon the arrival of his personal secretary. He has another engagement and I've already taken two minutes of his personal time between scheduled events.

"God bless you," Bush reaches out his hand across the desk towards mine.

"And you."

I grab his hand and he looks relieved.

My work though, is just beginning.