political intrigue

I remember laughing about some government agency, some Senatorial hopeful who had done something stupid again, all while slowly sipping a glass of Cliquot in a back room of the restaurant and wondering who might have overheard. When was the last time that so-called important elections hadn't ended up as freakshows? When had it not been expected that one candidate would make an ass of himself on television and someone else would dig up dirt on the other guy to make him look just as bad? At least the government employees still get paid every other Thursday no matter who wins the race. So just like that, life in the metro area of the White City goes on over expensive drinks in dark restaurants: smart people laugh in hushed tones over their beautiful food.