James held on to the natural optimism of the politician, that politics could and would unravel the increasing hatred and persecution of the Catholic Church. He, a prominent Catholic in a pagan city, was popular and rising in stature in Congress. He was on the key committees, being the youngest man ever to be on the select committee on Intelligence, and he was on the Appropriations Committee. He was rumored to be the next chairperson of the latter committee. That he was from a western state held him back from other considerations, but the fact that he was the leader of the new Amendment Party made him an interesting duck in city of conformists. That he was a genius as well as charming, was acknowledged even by, or especially by, his enemies. James could also "play" the media game. He was being called the new Buchanan, smart, sharp, respected, yet quirky to some. He was a regular on one main stream media panel on Sunday mornings.
He had a website, three books on the Bill of Rights in great detail and reflection, and a collection of essays from various periodical and magazine articles he had written in the past ten years. Most people either did not know, or forgot how young James actually was.
That James' father was a famous general was being forgotten as well. That James' ancestors were Irish was always recalled by the press. Some compared him to Jack Kennedy, except for the fact that his new party sat firmly on the far right. The Amendment Party was the brain child of those who split with the GOP and the Tea Party. Most of the members were young and bright, and of course, conservative. The split had occurred over the impeachment of the former president. The GOP was left licking its wounds when this new party rushed to number one over both the traditional Dems and GOPs.
James symbolized the growth of the Amendment Party in two years, from an idea in someone's living room in West Virginia to a major, indeed, highly successful national party.
That James was a bachelor was a problem for the right. Why was this handsome, talented young man not married with at least one child or one on the way? Some Evangelicals who voted for him had brought this up on the election trail. James merely said that he did not have time for a family, which would have to sacrifice too much for his manic work schedule.
The truth was simpler. James knew he had a vocation, a call from God, to be a celibate. Like his brother, Father Andrew, James felt the call to love God with his whole heart, whole mind and whole soul. That James loved Christ and His Church with a passion underlined all the politician's work. That James was one of the "new men" in the Catholic Church, totally orthodox and liturgically traditional, made him more attractive. Many hearts of young women who attended the TLM in a suburb of Washington D. C. sighed over this too eligible man.
That James was so politically successful had surprised him as well. He was, unusually for a man or woman in Washington D.C., incredibly humble. Success had always surprised this young man, in school, at university, and in his chosen career. Father Andrew had remarked years ago that James was more humble than he was. Andrew said that was why God trusted James in Washington instead of Rome. They had both laughed.
To be continued....