America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 400 Abel Smith's Status

  Meeting with Joan Irvine Smith and John Smith was neither accidental nor accidental.

  According to Abel's plan, he will see the couple in a few days.

   But his plan was broken by a person.

  From the perspective of Little Laura.

  This person is his elder, the 43rd President of the United States, who lives in the white house, dear Mr. George Bush.

  This "blessing in disguise", because of the September 11th incident last year, the commander-in-chief who quickly grasped most of the power in the United States has been in office for a full year.

  In the first half of the year, it can be said that he did nothing. Just getting familiar with the work of the White House while doing some irrelevant things that the Grand Commander can do.

  For example, to visit middle schools and elementary schools in some states, to make his personal image of being friendly to the people...

  At that time, many media in the United States already selected George as the most ineffective general in history, or the most powerless general in history.

   It wasn't until that major event happened that he quickly became one of the most powerful leaders in American history with the support of public opinion.

  He even launched a war last year.

   This can be regarded as the traditional art skill of the shrub family in the position of commander.

  When Herbert was in office, he launched a war without hesitation when the time came.

  Father and son are quite similar in this respect.

  In recent days, George left the White House and toured California for the first time in the name of the Grand Commander.

   This is also one of the jobs of the US President.

  Although the states in the United States enjoy great autonomy.

  In most cases, the commander-in-chief has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the states.

  But after the Civil War, the federal government to a certain extent tightened the local power significantly and strengthened the federal government's control over the states.

  After more than two hundred years of development, the United States currently has two red lines for state power.

  First, the sovereignty of each state cannot override the federal government and the US Constitution.

  Second, the legal authority of each state cannot exceed the overall sovereignty of the country.

  As long as the states do not touch the above two red lines, the federal government has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the states.

  In this special situation, the laws of every state in the United States today are different.

  For example, some states have the death penalty, while others do not.

   Gambling and seqing services are legal in some states, and prohibited in most states.

  Even the taxes of each state are different, such as real estate tax, the amount collected by each state is different.

  As the commander-in-chief of the United States, the only thing George can manage in name is the dozen or so ministries under the federal government.

   And the most powerful force in the world at present.

  But in fact, as the general, George still has some influence on the states.

   This is mainly because the federal government has money.

  A large part of its annual budget can be used for the construction of the states and support for them.

  Like the future of California in parallel time and space, it is said that a high-speed rail between San Francisco and Los Angeles will be built.

  According to the budget in the plan, the state government only needs to pay 30%, and the remaining 70% will be paid by the federal government.

   At the beginning, the federal government agreed, but later got stuck in various ways.

  The expenses here are part of the federal government's annual budget as expenditures.

  Dayi is great, and there is still money to send money.

  So when the vital interests of the state are not involved, the states still listen to the words of the federal government.

  This is also the reason why the fifty states, which seem to have their own masters, can appear in front of the world in a relatively united manner.

   In other words, one day the federal government will have no money to send, or the money sent will be useless.

   Or the stick loses its damage.

  Federal government has only righteous words left.

  The United States of America, the only thing left is to split.

   Now George is in full swing at the White House. He can decide which part of the federal government should have budgeted for the states, which state should be given more, or which state should be given less.

   However, his reputation is growing day by day, he made a bad decision, and no one dares to criticize him for the time being.

  It’s not like before, you can still scold me if you don’t have enough money.

   Therefore, facing George's arrival and inspection.

  This place in California also showed a great welcoming attitude this time.

  The current governor of California, Davis, is a professional official with a certain reputation in the Donkey Party. He was elected as the governor of California in November 1998 and is seeking re-election this year.

   Logically speaking, as the governor of the donkey party, Davis should not show too much enthusiasm for George's arrival.

  But this time, Davis showed an enthusiastic attitude towards George's arrival that a leader of the party who is the target of the donkey party should not have.

   This move is said to have caused Davis a lot of criticism within the donkey party.

  But many people also know that it was out of necessity that Davis greeted George so warmly.

  Because Davis is in a bad situation right now.

  He took office when California's economy was the best, when the Internet bubble was the worst, but at the same time it was also when the appearance was the most beautiful.

   At the time, California’s GDP looked horribly strong.

  Similarly, the Internet bubble also burst during his tenure.

  As the location of Silicon Valley, the area most affected by Internet fragmentation is undoubtedly California.

  Last year, California’s economic GDP even went backwards.

  As the governor, Davis cannot absolve himself of the blame.

  In the past 4 years, except for taking advantage of the dot-com bubble, Davis has done nothing economically in California.

   Now that he encounters this kind of crisis, he has no countermeasures.

   Many people in the state are already seriously dissatisfied with this.

   Actually this has nothing to do with Davis. Because this is the general trend of the economy, even the U.S. government cannot rescue the market.

   Davis's California government, what can we do? ,

  But the public doesn't care about this, they know that it was Davis who took office and this happened.

  This makes Davis, who is now suffering from a crisis of confidence.

   If it is not resolved, Davis' re-election this year will definitely fail.

  Davis could only go to the doctor in a hurry at this time, and chose to show his favor to George, the leader of the Elephant Party.

   It is hoped that by doing so, California can receive more economic assistance from the federal government.

  He is the governor of the donkey party, and the leader of the target party arrives, showing extreme enthusiasm.

   So that George came for several days and was pestered by Davis.

   To the day before the Grammys are about to start.

   When George was about to leave California, he finally stopped being pestered by Davis.

  George knew that Abel was also in California, although the two had only met in the days after Christmas.

  But maybe George wanted to see him, or maybe he wanted to do something.

  Mr. Grand Commander summoned Abel to San Francisco, which is the city of San Francisco.

  As the core of Northern California, San Francisco is also the state capital of California.

   January 19, 2002.

   It was a sunny day in San Francisco and the weather was quite good.

  However, the temperature is a little low today, about 18°C.

   This is the coldest possible day in San Francisco's warm winter this year.

  Around 10 am, Abel looked out the car window at the brilliant weather.

   Along the way, he saw parked military Humvees and military police on duty at various intersections on his way to his destination.

   "It's really in full swing..."

  Abel lay lazily back on the car seat, complaining with emotion.

  After 9/11, in order to prevent KB attacks.

  As the commander who has shown the toughest attitude towards KBFZ, George's security has risen several levels.

   It can even be said that he is one of the most important commanders in history who value security.

  And he was not afraid of being known by the public, but took the initiative to let the public know that their commander-in-chief is "like an enemy" to KBFZ.

  White House did this, and Abel could understand it.

  This is George's White House, exaggerating the threat of KBFZ to the country to the people.

  Look, even the commander-in-chief is on guard against this. So what should KBFZ be like?

   September 11 was not long ago!

   Should we unite under George's command and launch a strike against KBZY around the world?

  The extra security funds are not so much security funds.

   It might as well be that the White House spent a little more money on publicity...

   It can not only improve your own personal safety, but also have a role in this regard.

  George and the White House, of course, will not be polite.

   It's taxpayers' money anyway.

  David, who was sitting in the co-pilot, turned to Abel with a smile and said:

   "This is also something that can't be helped. Mr. President announced that he would start to tour California on January 15. On the Internet and internationally, some KBFZ said they would attack him."

"Mr. Datong showed a fearless attitude and came to California despite the risk of an attack. Naturally, the locals in California, the FBl, and the Secret Service were very nervous, and they were always in a state of emergency. Where Mr. Datong is located, the nearby All commanding heights are occupied by agents and agents, two people in each group, monitoring the surrounding area."

  Abel pouted slightly.

  My family knows my own affairs.

  He knew that George's White House did this mainly to exaggerate the degree of danger and continue to gather American public opinion.

   Seriously, America in its current state.

  If those so-called KBFZs are really capable of launching attacks.

  That's either this country, which has reached the edge of doom.

   Either you have to think about whether these guys who attacked are really KBFZ!

  David looked at the disdain on his boss' handsome young face through the rearview mirror.

   As one of Abel's most trusted people, David also knows something about the practice of the White House.

   But the boss can make such an expression, but he can't.

  Just as the person who was the first to talk to Abel, and also the person who knows Abel best.

   Looking in the rearview mirror, the boss looked calm.

  David still had eyes of admiration and admiration in his eyes.

  David felt that, I am afraid that in the whole world, there will be no young man as awesome as his own boss.

   beep beep—

  Abel's convoy stopped with the sound of a whistle, and two special service members walked over quickly with a team of military, police and police dogs to check the vehicle.

  Dangdang—

brush…

  Hearing the knocking on the car window, Abel lowered the car window and looked indifferently at the secret service personnel outside the car window.

  The other party saw that it was Abel Smith, and immediately smiled and said, "Sorry, Mr. Smith, routine inspection."

  Abel just nodded indifferently, then ignored him and raised the window.

   Inspection is easily over.

  Whether it is the Secret Service or the FBl, who would not know the relationship between the Smith family and the Bush family?

  Who would not know the relationship between Abel and Commander George?

  Group photos of these two people on different occasions and from different angles can be seen everywhere in the Internet world.

  Anyone can attack the bush family.

   But definitely not Smith.

  This time George was in San Francisco, and he stayed in a hotel.

  The name of the hotel is Pansy Hotel. It was originally a luxury residence, bought by Herbert Shrub in 1966, invested in the construction and modified it into a B&B hotel.

   Simply put, it is the shrub family, one of the few industries in California.

   This is like what Ikana's father did after he became the Grand Commander in the parallel time and space.

  Every time the commander-in-chief travels, every time he travels, he will definitely live in his own hotel or golf course.

  Anyway, as the commander in chief, all the travel expenses can be paid directly by the white house.

  Since the money is going to be earned by others, why not just earn it for your own family...

  Ordinary people live for $100 a night, and the commander is noble, so $130 a night is not expensive, right?

  At least compared to Ikana's father, the Pansy Hotel where George lives is much cheaper.

  The entrance of the hotel.

  ka—

  The car door opened, and Abel lifted his foot to get out of the car. The cool morning breeze refreshed him physically and mentally.

  He stretched out his hand and lightly tightened himself, the red tie in the black suit, looked around at the secret service personnel and military police around him, and said to Edward and David beside him: "You don't need to follow."

  David smiled, Edward looked stern, but both nodded.

  However, they and a group of bodyguards followed Abel into the lobby of the hotel.

   Watch Abel walk into the elevator until the golden elevator door closes.

  Edward took the people and followed a secret service officer to the rest area to wait.

Ding-

  The elevator door opened, and Abel saw George's current chief of staff, Freddie Ford, waiting in front of the door with a smile on his face.

  The Chief of Staff of the White House, also known as the Chief of Staff of the White House, is the highest-ranking official of the United States General Office.

   This is a position with a lot of power, known as "the second most powerful person in Washington", often referred to as "the gatekeeper", "the real deputy commander".

   This is also the position of the Grand Commander, who can be easily changed at will.

   Only true cronies will hold this position.

  Freddie Ford's predecessor was Andy Card. He was no longer trusted by George and was resigned two months ago.

  Freddie Ford had just taken office not long ago, and he was a close friend of the Bush family before.

  As George's confidant, he certainly knows Abel's position in George's heart and in the shrub family.

   For this reason, he rushed to meet Abel at the elevator entrance in front of everyone.

  Abel smiled, and shook hands with Freddie Ford who also smiled, "Good morning, Mr. Ford. Your complexion looks much better than at Christmas."

   "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Haha, this way please, Mr. President already knows you are here."

  Abel nodded with a smile, and followed behind him, passing through the busy hotel corridor with people coming and going. Everyone smiled at Abel.

  咚咚—

   "Mr. President, Mr. Smith is here."

   "Bring him in"

  Abel stood tall and tall at the door with a slight smile on his face. Hearing the voices coming from the room, the corners of his mouth involuntarily raised slightly.

   "Mr. Smith, the commander in chief please."

"thanks."

   Abel smiled and nodded at Freddie Ford and said.

  Then he stepped into the room and saw George standing in front of the desk in high spirits, with a smile on his face and big white teeth.

   Having said that, in the United States you want to see a person's class, and sometimes you don't need to look at the appearance and clothing at all.

   All you need to do is look at the teeth that are exposed when he laughs.

  The better the teeth, the richer the person is in the United States.

  In the United States, the cost of good dentists and dental hospitals is sometimes unaffordable even by the middle class!

   Abel's gaze skipped over George.

  He saw Secretary of State Powell standing beside George, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, as well as several other staff who looked younger, and an older "staff".

   "Haha... good morning, Abel." George said cheerfully.

   "Good morning, Mr. President. And Mr. Powell, Mr. Rumsfeld, and other gentlemen."

  Abel responded with a smile, but he only responded to Mr., not Ms.

  Because there are no women, in this period, the elephant party and the high-level elite still have no place for women.

  Abel stepped forward, very calmly and proactively embraced George.

  And then shake hands with other people, smiling one by one.

   After everyone exchanged greetings, they sat down on the sofa.

  George didn't wander around, and he didn't have the image of a great commander at all.

  The owner of the white house sat on the desk and said with a smile:

   "Sorry, Abel, I have to catch a plane in the afternoon and go to Wisconsin. I can only let you come here by yourself. Originally, I wanted to go to your mansion in Beverly to see the prosperity of Hollywood!"

   "It's nothing. You are the commander in chief, you are the biggest." Abel joked solemnly with a faint smile on his face.

  Everyone in the office burst into laughter. George's eyes shone brightly, and the smile on his face became brighter and brighter. He shook his head with a look of helplessness.

   Between the two of them, this kind of family-like easy-going look.

  All the surrounding staff and high-level Americans are envious.

  George is very easy-going. But to others, he is at best just an easygoing friend.

  Meet Abel, but he is no different from his family... Well, Abel Smith, who has already announced the marriage news in the high-level, is indeed one of George's real close family members now.

  After everyone finished laughing, George looked at Abel who took the coffee cup from his secretary. He casually pointed at the oldest member of his staff, and introduced him:

   "I haven't introduced you yet. John Snow, my new Treasurer!"

   "Oh?" Abel raised his eyebrows. He smiled and said, "You finally fired that old bastard? That's really congratulations!"

  Everyone in the office, including John Snow, laughed again.

  Because everyone knows who the old **** Abel is talking about.

   is Paul Henry O'Neill.

  This excellent technocrat once served as Herbert's Minister of Defense.

  After George took office, there is a high probability that it is due to his father.

  Invite Paul Henry O'Neill out of the mountain and let Paul be his treasurer.

   But I don't know why George couldn't control Paul Henry O'Neill.

   Or Paul Henry O'Neill himself.

  George’s treasurer, the most important thing he has done since he took office is to often criticize George and White House in front of the media!

  In the parallel time and space, Paul Henry O'Neill has always been against George and the White House.

  George endured for two years before replacing him.

  In this time and space, with Abel, the situation is different.

  After 9/11.

  Paul Henry O'Neill represented the White House and assembled a group of Wall Street giants and American financiers.

  In that meeting, Abe felt that he was clearly targeted by Paul Henry O'Neill.

  Who is Abel? He is a man who has a vengeance.

  It didn't show much at the time, but afterwards, in front of George, Abel had been putting eye drops on Paul Henry O'Neill.

   George has always been dissatisfied with this old guy.

   But the old guy is an old subordinate of George's father. Without his father's permission, this "father boy" would not dare to directly fire Paul Henry O'Neill.

  It was very simple, Abel went to Herbert to apply eye drops to Paul.

  Maybe it's to get closer to the grandson-in-law.

   It may also be that Paul Henry O'Neill is dissatisfied with George and the White House.

  George was able to fire Paul Henry O'Neill a year earlier than the parallel time and space.

   Let John Snow take over a year early.

   From this perspective, John Snow must thank Abel.

   If it weren't for Abel's displeasure with Paul Henry O'Neill.

  John Snow will have to wait at least a year, and it may not even be possible.

   After all, the butterfly effect.

   "Okay." George said with a relaxed tone: "The rest are real people. At Christmas, you can tell me and my staff if you have something to say. Dear Abel."

George spread his hands: "I am much busier now than last year. So are my friends. So there are not many opportunities for everyone to gather together like this now. Dear Abel, just say something here Say it!"

  Hearing what George said, everyone looked at Abel and George in surprise.

  They didn't expect that George would call them together who are currently among the best in the world.

   Actually said something to George just to listen to Abel.

   This made everyone realize again Abel's status in the hearts of George and the bush family.

   It also made them curious about what Abel might have to say next.

  Call the leader of the United States and his most trusted and powerful group of people together.

  This famous Mr. richest man in the world, what exactly does he want to say, or do he want to do?

   Suddenly, everyone in the office focused their attention on Abel.

  (end of this chapter)