Jose Caliente and I met again at the Restaurante Mexicana per usual. I said, Yo, Jose! Long time no see.

Jose was shivering from the cold. He said nothing while he took off two coats, a muffler, and believe it or not, one of those old leather pilot hats with the goggles that pull down over your eyes. He waved at the waitress and said, Mara! Trigame por favor una jarra de chocolate caliente.

He said nothing until Maria came with the hot chocolate. He said, Otra, Maria!

Half way through the second mug of cocoa Jose said, I was on temporary snow detail. The wind was fierce.

He sipped the cocoa. We have no power at out house and the kids are out of school because of the storm. Veronica is going bonkers.

Veronica is Joses wife. She is from Ecuador and an art potter. She works at home. No power and a houseful of kids couldnt be good.

I decided to let Jose warm up. After he had eaten his tamales, enchiladas, beans, and rice, he felt better. I said, So whats new in the White House?

Jose nodded his head, Nada! Es el mismo camelo viejo.

Same old stuff.

I said, Hows Dick Cheney after his hunting accident in Texas? Hes been getting a bunch of crap from the media.

Jose said, Who is getting a bunch of crap? Its not Cheney. Hes only a donor.

I said, Well, you know. Scotty McClelland.

As you readers know, Scott is the Presidents Press Secretary.

Jose said, Scot McClelland plays the White House moron. He takes lessons. They tell him nada.

I said, Why does Bush keep him?

Jose said, You know damn well why the President keeps Scot McClelland.

I said, Because he makes the President look smart in comparison?"

"Harriet Miers says the President is one of the smartest men she knows. Jose said.

That was no kind of answer. I wondered what Jose was up to.

I tried a loaded question: Do you think the Vice President and the rest of the hunting party were drinking?

Jose said, Who told you that? Youve been watching Letterman and Leno again, havent you? Great Hunters like the Vice President dont drink while hunting.

I said, Some of them do in Idaho.

Jose said, The Vice President of the United States does not booze while hunting.

I said, Hey! Are you trying to get Scottys job as press secretary?

Jose said, Well, I have been boning up. Ill do anything to keep off the White House snow detail.

The End