Kicking the Can Read Online Free PDF Page A

pattern on his practice pad with Vic Firth sticks.
    “Americans communicate and receive information differently today. I think we should compile a video—think of it as a movie trailer. We’ll keep it short, ninety seconds, a total sensory experience. We’ll stream it on the White House website. Voters can ‘find us’ on Facebook and ‘follow us’ on Twitter. We can launch it before the televised address. A compilation of images, sounds, and events—streaming America’s consciousness—that captures moments uniquely American and is so powerful it will stir the continuum of human emotions: triumph and defeat, doubt, shame, disappointment, sadness, hope, courage, and pride.”
    Three days later President Cannon joined Mitchell in the video conference room in the basement of the West Wing to preview his masterpiece.

13
    P resident Cannon slipped off his suit coat and placed it on the bed. He undid his red necktie and pulled it through his buttoned collar, depositing it on top of his coat. He then unbuttoned his white shirt. Visible blots of sweat had soaked his underarms. He felt the aftermath of a post-adrenaline high—his body sapped of energy—drained by the intellectual and emotional toll of the State of the Union address. Staring in the mirror, he looked meager, having lost nine pounds since taking office, something the White House physician indicated would be monitored closely. The president washed with soap and warm water and applied a generous amount of lotion to soothe his raw hands. His stamina for palm pressing had been built up by months of campaigning that enabled him to shake hands with several hundred people over the span of one hundred ten minutes, but it was murder on his skin. He reapplied antiperspirant, replaced his undershirt, and slipped on a crisp white shirt and navy cords. He paused to look at his watch before lacing up his shoes—six minutes to join Sebastian and Mitchell in the basement of the West Wing. Cannon did not relish the feedback.
    The president should be fitted for a Teflon suit by the White House tailor
, he told himself, a reminder the media could be cruel. The pretense of journalistic professionalism had long ago been replaced with partisan remarks, personal insults, and unscrutinized blathering. Everything about him was fair game.
    “My preference is to start with the unpleasant,” Cannon said as he walked into the video conference room. Four different broadcast stations were airing. Mitchell picked up the remotes and tuned the jumbo panel in the center of the wall to CNN and cranked up the volume. The others were muted. The news anchor was moderating a discussion among three journalists dissecting the address. Cannon directed Mitchell to dim the lights to cloak his anxiety.
    “This Presidential Challenge is a gimmick,” Blitzer said. “The president’s focus should be on jobs creation. According to the Census Bureau, the health care industry employs fourteen million people. Decimating the health care industry with an austerity program will increase unemployment by several million. Sources tell me it could shave two percentage points off an already anemic GDP, tipping us into negative growth and a prolonged recession.”
    Cannon twirled his index finger, signaling Mitchell to change channels. The center screen was tuned to CBS. Speaker Bennett was giving an interview.
    “Fixing health care is indeed a priority,” Bennett said. “In fact, I met personally with President Cannon and his advisors to discuss the situation. Our party intends to create a super committee to study the health care situation.The committee will include nationally recognized health care experts, including industry leaders. Our first order of business will be to grant congressional authority to the committee to provide oversight and to implement all policy solutions. The committee will have broad powers and the authority to shape all health care reforms, including future spending