The Right Wing, starring Mitch, John and Mr. President

The Speaker's office.

"This is going a lot better than I thought it would," says John.

"Maybe too good," says Sen. McConnell, reading a Sarah Palin newspaper quote: "John Boehner is a decent fellow." "Our biggest job," says Mitch, "may turn out to stay in control of the thing."

"Oh," says John. "This is for you." He hands Mitch a 5x7 plain wood picture frame. "Lucretia made these up for us."

Mitch reads the framed material, printed in a formal font.

"The New Real GOP
1. Take the real GOP back from the tea party.
2. Meet Obama halfway to achieve 'A New Era for America,' real progress in the next four years in the economy, health care, immigration reform, women's issues.
3. Claim credit for the 'New Era' in the 2016 campaign.
4. Nominate a viable presidential candidate for a change.
5. Crush the tea party."

"Lucretia thought it would be a good idea for us to have the guiding principles handy, just to look at once in a while," says John. "We're going to be working in a huge field of weeds, all the details that go with the fiscal cliff, the economy, health care, and the rest. We don't want to lose sight of the main goal."

"I can see that," says Mitch. "It will also be helpful when events start happening so fast, as they have been this week. Everyone seems so hell-bent on decontaminating the party, after the election. We need to have something" – he brandishes the frame – "to help us keep our eye on the real prize."

"Yes," says John. "We need to stay in control of the rogues like Roskam," referring to Illinois GOP Rep. Peter Roskam, who appealed to President Obama "to rise above partisanship. President Obama has an unbelievable opportunity to be a transformational president, that is to bring the country together."

"The way we frame it," looking at the frame again, "is to say the President is going to transform the GOP, bring the party together. Unbelievable as that sounds."