Strangest Dream

I dreamed a series of alternate-history stories. The book apparently had been commissioned to mock Obama, but the editor was Reihan Salem, so the focus of the stories actually turned toward some combination of Howard Waldrop sensibility, and a desire to mock some of his nearest and dearest. Hence:

It was 1846 and President Obama was in the White House.

In the basement of the Capitol, Congressman Ross Douthat was playing poker. "I sure do admire that President Obama," he said. "Anyone who invents the martini is alright in my book. Somebody pass me another one of those delicious things. One pair."

"The martini is OK," said Congressman Peter Suderman. "I'm more impressed with the fact that he tinkered up the movie camera, and then invented the film genre. What did we do on Saturday nights before he came to town? Two pair."

And so on.