DG Farnsworth
HISTORICAL FICTION: Bombastic Gadflies
Bombastic Gadflies
This well-researched novel falls in the category of historical fiction: it reveals Kentucky political history and presents real historical figures alongside fictitious characters. What makes the novel most noteworthy and newsworthy: this congressman pocketed the largest pool of money of any departing member of Congress, free to take his campaign chest by not running for office. In the House probe of check writers, this U.S congressional representative still remains among the worst abusers of the House Bank overdraft system scandal -- guilty of 83 bad checks. The book blends imagination to portray ideas, attitudes, and tendencies of my life with a corrupt U.S. Republican congressman and his daughter. And while "fiction," I rarely stray far from the essence of the truth observed, myself, or experienced from the mouth of the congressman's daughter...
Congress in November of 1989 prohibited House members from pocketing any campaign money when they left office. However, there was a loophole: those in the House since January 8, 1980 could keep the money if they left Congress by 1992. Carey Lucas’ term ran through 1992 -- first elected in 1978. Most of the PAC money was derived from special-interest contributors -- those that would gain/lose from federal legislation. All during his Kentucky gubernatorial campaign, Lucas repeatedly promised he would not keep the campaign PAC money for personal use...and to those questioning the former congressman about it, he quipped, "My word is good enough to dispel doubt." (Taking money became an "option" when he decided he wouldn’t seek reelection to Congress...then, ran for Kentucky governor.)
The Kentucky congressman who inspired Bombastic Gadflies repeatedly reported to the public that George Herbert Walker Bush urged him to run for governor...and he used the same "Reagan Bible of Distress" that helped George Herbert Walker Bush win the presidential election: This political period reflects a watershed moment in America's political history; where we witness the inception of the tactics, mudslinging, etc. -- taking the focus off the issues -- that currently remain the norm in politics today .Personally, I had been reluctant to release the book. As a roman à clef -- or autobiographical fiction -- the novel mirrors much of my life. I wrote it before I wrote my second novel -- the more creative, imaginative Superstar Passage The Reincarnation of Karen Carpenter. Basically, Bombastic Gadflies consists of more "autobiographical" material...and yes, imagination comes into play. But this book is defined as more "imaginative" by the stringing together of my actual life events -- and the Kentucky gubernatorial race between my (former) best friend's dad (US congressman) and the millionaire horse breeder -- to make a cohesive, entertaining "fictional" portrayal...
I wrote this book over 10 years ago...rewrote it at least four times. In the the final edit, I removed a substantial portion of the novel -- re-arranged it from top to bottom. The final edition maintains an anorexia nervosa theme -- modeled after the Anorexia Multiforme research of Montreal mentor psychiatrist Dr. Vincenzo Di Nicola.
SYNOPSIS
The menu needed altered severely. Not fit to consume or eat: that's how folks viewed the politics served to them in Kentucky. Candidates didn't level with the people. Dishing out negative advertising throughout the campaign sickened voters. Forking over the most massive helpings of money -- the key ingredient -- enabled a Carey Lucas and Hayward Thomas primary victory. A diet of deceit and greed -- consumed by the congressman and his daughter, Myra (the apple does not fall far from the tree)...
The congressman's daughter and best friend, Royce VanArsdale, lead exciting, rich, tumultuous lives in the Bluegrass of Kentucky's thoroughbred horse-racing world. Royce VanArsdale and Leila Nichols share a rich lifelong history of eccentric, family secrets among the Bluegrass elite. Their friendship tears apart as the congressman's daughter weaves a web of deceit and lies. US Congressman Carey Lucas pockets the largest pool of money of any departing member of Congress -- $700-thousand -- free to take his campaign chest by not running for office. Corruption of the Highest Order.
Congressman Carey Lucas' actions reflect one of the reasons why the public holds Congress in such low esteem: it validates their concern that there are a lot of people who get into politics to benefit themselves financially. The money, contributed expressly for a congressional election campaign, was not deemed to be a special-interest pension fund. By running for governor against the millionaire horse breeder, Congressman Lucas was able to pocket that money (by not seeking another congressional term).
The US representative broke the repeated promise he made while running for governor -- to "not keep any of that money." The former congressman -- at one time the third highest ranking member on the Armed Services Committee -- pocketed what remained of his congressional campaign fund...bad politics, bad taste, and bad for the Republican party. The congressman misleads the public with press releases -- including remarks about a missing Lexington pilot in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War (misinformation used to unethically benefit his campaign).
Protagonist Royce VanArsdale, along with assorted characters, fight anorexic behavior -- struggling to tame a fight for perfection, demanded by extremely wealthy and successful families who often expect too much. The politics, itself (along with substance) is purely anorectic….
