Mullings A Political Cyber Column By Rich Galen

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Oh, Denise, Oobi-doo

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

The op-ed piece Bill Clinton rushed into publication in Sunday's NY Times had exactly the opposite of its desired effect. Rather than tamping down the discussion, it has given the story legs for at least three more days as the Clinton team has had to back and fill on the meaning of various statements, mis-statements, and non-statements contained therein.

Speaking to a big-time Democratic operative the other night, we agreed that the idea to write the piece probably came from the lawyers. Indeed, there have been reports it was drafted by Clinton's chief counsel, David Kendall.

We also agreed that the best interests of American politicians are never served when lawyers concerned with the legal issues feel they have to give political advice.

On Geraldo last night, he asked me why, in the context of the Clinton-Rich pardon, no one was talking about the pardon granted to Jimmy Hoffa by Richard Nixon.

"Because, Geraldo, they're dead," I said.

If the Clinton defense has collapsed to the "He's no worse than Richard Nixon" stage, this may be worse than I thought.

Enough.

President George W. Bush is getting excellent marks for his domestic swing. The "Daily Oklahoman," in an editorial about the President's dedication of the memorial to the 168 people killed in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building Monday, wrote:

"A reverent Bush made his first post-election visit here to dedicate the Oklahoma City National Memorial Center Museum. He was touched by the new museum and awed by the impact the bombing continues to have on those who lost loved ones, those who survived and those who were impacted forever."

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on a visit to a school there: "Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat, joined the Republican president Tuesday and praised him for supporting states, rather than mandating policy. But the governor said much of what Bush is proposing is already being done in Missouri, including recent investments in reading programs."

Not bad. We'll take it from Dick Gephardt's home state Governor.

Following the school visit the President visited a hockey rink in suburban Kirkwood at which children 7-and-under were practicing. According to reports he received: A hockey jersey with a K (for Kirkwood) on the front, with G.W. Bush and the numeral 1 on the back. He also accepted a bouquet of flowers in a skate boot, an autographed a jersey, a stick, and a cap.

[Pause here for jokes about taking a hockey stick and one skate boot back to Crawford, Texas after he leaves the White House.]

President Bush will address a joint session of Congress on the evening of February 27. This will NOT be called the State of the Union Address. Incoming administrations don't feel comfortable officially fulfilling the requirements of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, "He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union�"

But, for $100,000 plus expenses I think I know were we CAN get someone.

I am a NASCAR fan in the same way I am a horseracing fan and a college basketball fan. I watch the Daytona and Indianapolis 500's; I watch the Kentucky Derby and maybe one of the other two Triple Crown races; and I watch the NCAA men's basketball tournament games.

So, I was watching the Daytona on Sunday and being thrilled about the win by Michael Waltrip once I learned he was the Zippy Chippy of motor sports having gone 0-for-462 in previous races.

Listening to older brother Darrell urge him on through the last five or six laps was as riveting television as I can remember. And Darrell's tearful "My daddy'd be so proud," was as poignant as any scene in a Faulkner novel.

The death of Dale Earnhardt, however, turned it into something which might have been written by Euripides.

This. This was reality TV.

One joke making the rounds yesterday: Dale Earnhardt was such a potent cultural force in the South that many children learned to count: "One-Two-Earnhardt-Four�"
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Copyright © 2001 Richard A. Galen

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