Will It Play In Peoria

One Year Earlier. ...

This particular May had been exceptionally mild and beautiful in Peoria, Illinois. Thomas and Mathew Anthony sat on the veranda of the Peoria Country Club peering over the tops of the budding trees. The scene was captivating as their eyes tracked the Illinois River twisting through the heartland of America and the farmers on the far-side of the river creating earthly carvings with their John Deere tractors as part of their spring planting ritual.

The identical twin brothers, Thomas and Mathew Anthony, had grown up to be extremely handsome, successful men who had earned credibility and respect from Wall Street to Main Street. Their facial features were as appealing as any male model who graced the fashion rags. They had a crop of coal black wavy hair as thick as any briar patch. Their eyes matched their hair. Each sported a Roman nose of prominence and distinction which highlighted their Italian-Lebanese heritage. The final touch was their sturdy chin, strong necks which rested on chiseled, athletic bodies. The men stood six feet two inches tall with broad shoulders, narrow waists and shaped lean, muscular legs. Their molded, muscled, chiseled, athletic bodies had been sculpted by regimented diet, running and weightlifting but often were masked by their expensive tailored attire they wore.

They were as comfortable directing multi-million dollar deals as hunting with the good ole boys on the Illinois River. They were confident, purposeful, commanding, yet without the hint of any arrogance or entitlement of position or wealth. They were accessible and approachable. When you interacted with them, you immediately felt you knew them. They always seemed interested in what you were saying and listened to every word that was being spoken to them. They did not play to their audience, they interacted, provided their positions whether you agreed or not, but were respectful of yours.

The waitress took a double take as she walked up to solicit these two gentlemen's lunch order. She had seen twins before, but normally, there were slight differences in appearance; weight, voice, mannerisms. But not these men. Other than the color of their suits, these two Italian Adonis' were truly identical, carbon copies. She could not take her eyes off them. Was there a word for such masculine, handsome, and stately individuals? The only word this 21 year old could concoct was "hunk-a-licious". "Gentlemen, your order will be out shortly. Again, my name is Gina. If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask." She really did mean anything, as she headed for the kitchen to place their order.

"Tommie, Washington D.C. is a city where one tends to forget its past, over indulges in the present, and continually strives to jeopardize the future. Tourists go there and only see a town of majestic, somber and historical monuments, memorials and statures. The crusaders go to conquer like the British in the 1800s only to end up like Don Quixote chasing windmills. Then we have our illustrious career diplomats and statesmen with their inflated intellectual prowess who arrive to espouse and debate their manifestos and views of Utopia. Washington's political and social establishment has endured and withstood the test of time, evolved from America's Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. But we have strayed from the very foundation of the United States of America. America was meant to be governed by the best and brightest, to the best of one's ability, for the good of its people. Tommie, should you go to Washington D.C., you must go there as the messenger, the messiah for this country, consumed with the gift of freedom. President Bush went too far right, President Obama went too far left. Both forgot the fiber of what made America great, the hard working, loyal, middle class. They have been forgotten, they are hurting. Rural America is crying out, 'Remember Me?' Core politics, pollsters and media cannot continue to manipulate American values and beliefs. Big cities cannot continue to mute the voices of the rest of the state's inhabitants. You have to be perceived as the ref lection of the ideals of our forefathers, humble as you honor the brave, and the strongest of leaders who are part of a movement to throw out the false prophets that have been in office way too long. I wonder what Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln would say about the state of affairs now in Washington D.C. from their eternal resting place?" Successful business executive, Mathew Anthony, Mattie 'only' to his brother, had finished his red, white and blue editorial and gazed across the table at his brother waiting to hear where the direction of this luncheon was now going to head.

Thomas Anthony smiled and was so proud of his brother. Mattie was so carefree, opinionated,...