Mullings A Political Cyber Column By Rich Galen

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OK. Good Meeting. Thanks. See Ya.

Wednesday, May 10, 2000

Let me start by saying I was in New Jersey having an early Mother's day lunch with my mom yesterday and if I were to win a 350 million dollar lottery, there would be absolutely no changes in my life. Except, I will never work another day as long as I live. And, I will get a car and a driver tomorrow morning. And, I will get my own jet plane and issue myself frequent flier miles. And, I will not talk to anyone who doesn't address me as "Your Majesty." But that's all.

Whew! At long last. The meeting of the century. The political summit of the ages. The most eagerly awaited political event since Fanne Foxe showed up in DC Municipal Court. George W. Bush and John S. McCain met in Pittsburgh. And they talked to each other. And McCain endorsed Bush. Thank you. Move on.

McCain understands what many of the major daily newspapers, at least two of the three cable news networks, and several reporters for the major newsweeklies are finding it difficult to accept: McCain lost.

The four most powerful words in politics are: "You Won." And, "You Lost." Getting reeeeeeeealy close in an election doesn't get you sharing time in the House or Senate office buildings and certainly doesn't give you visitation rights to the Oval Office.

Say; How many times have Al Gore and Bill Bradley met? Gore won the Democratic nomination on Super Tuesday. Bush won the Republican nomination on Super Tuesday. Why isn't anyone hanging around Bill Bradley's house in New Jersey to see whether he agrees with Gore on Social Security, Cuban Parental Rights, Taxes or, oh yes, Medicare?

Who do we think is more simpatico: McCain to Bush? Or, Bradley to Gore.

On Boston radio yesterday morning and on Chicago radio yesterday afternoon I was asked whether this endorsement would provide Bush with the momentum he needs to attract the all-important independent voters. I answered both the same way: Bush appears to be leading in every poll. It is GORE who needs to figure out how to attract these folks. And McCain is no fan of Al Gore.

As an example, yesterday a CNN/USAToday/Gallup poll asked an "open ended" question about the Presidential election. "which candidate running for president do you plan to vote for in November?" in which neither candidate is mentioned by name. The poll showed Bush leading Gore - even without their names - 35 percent to 28 percent. More bad news for a sitting Vice President.

An interesting AP lead, "The 84-13 roll call by which the Senate rejected a Democratic compromise proposal to consolidate more than 40 federal education programs and target money to the poorest students:" contained the Senator-by-Senator vote. Two points: One: something which loses 84-13 doesn't qualify as a "compromise." It qualifies as a screwball idea which couldn't get 15 percent of the Senate to accept it. Two: Note the language of "compromise" "consolidate" and "target money to the poorest students" attached to "Democratic."

Al "I'm-In-Charge-Of-ReInventing-Government-In-This-Administration" Gore should answer for these two items:
    Madeline Albright blamed everyone else for laptop computers,
    containing very highly classified information, growing legs and
    walking out the door as part of a general diatribe about the
    Department's blatant disregard for even the most elementary security
    procedures.

    The Congressional Budget Office released a report on the state of
    the books in the Defense department with the following statement:
    "To date, no major part of Department of Defense has yet been able
    to pass the test of an independent audit."

Let us remember, we are in year EIGHT of the Clinton/Gore administration. These are not left over problems. Why do we think Al Gore would be better at fixing these things as President if he couldn't get his arms around them when they were part of his portfolio as Vice President?

"Hardball's" Chris Matthews on Al Gore: "Al Gore is Walter Mondale in Earth tones." Chris Matthews on Michael Dukakis in 1988: "Dukakis is a hand calculator with legs." Chris Matthews, for the record, was Tip O'Neill's press secretary.

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Copyright © 2000 Richard A. Galen

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