Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.

I was sitting in my kitchen this morning with Sylvester and Amanda, both drawn to my table by the smell of fresh coffee. The conversation swung to the lamentable state of affairs in Washington.

As an advertising account executive with a wide ranging portfolio I have, of course, given helpful support to many in the corridors of power. I often operated in those passages behind the scenes offering that intangible touch on the scales of power that might tip them this way or that. Yes, my explanations of those back passages has been quite extensive, you might say. Yet even for one as adaptable as myself, it’s increasingly clear we are moving toward some dark political times.

I always tell my friends to remain optimistic, and to keep a stiff upper lip — or anything else that comes to hand, for that matter. We should, after all, have faith in our democracy.

“It’s not really so long ago,” I mused, “that if a leader let down his tribe we’d find a convenient cliff and throw them from it.”

I paused a moment, sipped my coffee and then added, “it seemed to incentivize the next incumbent to do a little better.”

“I can see how it would,” said Amanda. “But was that democratic?”

“I’m sure they could have a vote to decide which cliff to throw them from,” I replied.

“I like that,” said Sylvester. “Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.”

Amanda was looking a little awkward and uncomfortable, having the unique distinction of being the editor of the first publication to publicly endorse Donald Trump in the 2016 election disaster.

“We at Pig And Pig Farmer Weekly,” she began managing to sound both pompous and defensive simultaneously, “feel that this is a time for reflection.”

Sylvester and I glanced at each other.

“Well, reflection’s all well and good, but anyone who has a son who served in Syria alongside the Kurds isn’t going to reflect for very long,” mumbled Sylvester from behind his coffee cup.

He was referring to one of his staff who has a son who served.

“I say cliff ‘em,” he concluded.

“Cliff ‘em,” I agreed.

Amanda grumbled about something and then reluctantly said, “Cliff ‘em.”

Fiona Dobson — the crossdressing blog you’ll love even if you’ve never tried on your sister’s panties.

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