friendly fire {McFadden vs Sartorius debate}

[k!ah]

a r c h i b a l d .

"Think back on a time when you experienced great difficulty. How did you get through it?"

Arwen's death.

Having to raise three children on his own.

He he failed, turning to the sweet release of alcohol.

For sometime he failed. He let his kids down. he let himself down. He lies his death wife down. But then he got through it in the end. His children got him through it.

Archibald struggles for a moment, trying to find the right words. "My wife... her death would have to me one of the toughest experiences in my life, to this date. To lose someone on a day which was supposed to be the celebration of a new life... It was heart breaking. My heart did break. I couldn't save her, no one could..." His voice trails off as he remembers the blood that soaked the sheets, the dyed his hands.

"I loved my wife with my whole heart... Losing her... Loosing her and the way I handled it will always be something that I regret." Maybe he was about to make a mistake, being so brutally honest. But in the end the district deserved to know his story, therefore it was better coming from his lips and not some tabloid they read in the newspaper. "For too long I was lost, I drank away my sorrows, until I felt numb. It was the darkest time in my life and I turned to booze to try and take away the pain. I neglected my family. I forgot who I was."

He pauses, clearing his throat nervously. "But I picked myself back up. For over two years I have not had one drop of alcohol. I have started progress towards funding a school so that my children can get the best possible education. Every day I work to atone for my mistakes. I am not proud of my past behaviour... But people change and I truly believe that I have turned over a new leaf. That with the strength and support of my three gorgeous children have made me a better man."

[charade]

m a r l b o r o .

When I need a hand to hold
Someone to tell the truth
Would it be okay if I came home to you?

Now there’s a question.

I’ve been around the block a few times. I’ve lost things. But Hearing Sartorius talk about the loss of his wife in childbirth is another thing entirely. The pain is evident in the way he carries himself. In the timbre of his voice. The man’s trying to better himself and I don’t have any disparaging remarks about that. Hell, I don’t even have a rebuttal. There was nothing wrong in those words. He’s a man trying to atone for his past by building his children a future.

I could say something about him cracking under pressure. The question was asking what a candidate would do to help the district get through the hard times. Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. But good times create weak men, who then go on to make times hard again. It’s a vicious cycle. A treadmill that people have a difficult time getting off. I think he might have hurt his image there.

Now, I’m all for honesty, but it might get folks to thinking that the next time things get tough in our district, that he’ll drink the problem away. And when your opponent is making a mistake, it’s best to just let them follow through on that. I’ve got my own problems. Tabloids have run away with a story that I’m making time with a woman half my age. It’s turning into a scandal. And I honestly don’t know where they got this idea.

First of all, my love life is nobody’s business.

Second of all, I don’t have a love life.

Thirdly, my plumbing needs a tune up if catch my drift, so I don’t know how I’m supposedly messing with any women.

Goddamn journalists.

When it comes time for my rebuttal, I tip my hat at him.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Mr.Sartorius. That’s a heavy burden for a man to shoulder.” I turn to look at the crowd. “Family is important. Children like his are our future after all.” I smile genially. “That’s why I’m going to match the funds he’s raised for that there school he wants to build. The sooner we get it built, the better for everyone in the district.” I nod friendly-like at him. He’s a good man. If I lose this election, I hope it’s to him.

elegant