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 Readin', Writin', 'Rithmetic
* Let's see, according to the calculator function on my Palm Pilot, the GOP field for President was reduced this week by 16.67 percent.
* Bob Smith leaving the Republican Party is like me announcing to my fraternity brothers "I am opposed to that beer mug party favor you have chosen, so I will not be attending the spring formal and you're really gonna miss me, boy." Their answer would have dealt with doors hitting me on the way out.
* I like John Kasich. It is a reflection of his political acumen that he realized his campaign was not likely to catch fire in time to forestall huge debts. Kasich is a true boomer in the best sense and utilizing John to provide a cultural connection between the campaign and the electorate will be a wise move for George W.
* The Hillary Clinton for Senate listening tour generated a lot of press but didn't exactly have the desired effect on the voters. According to the latest Marist College poll, NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani now leads Hillary Rodham Clinton Rodham by six points, 47-41.
* The poll was taken this past Sunday and Monday so it was in the middle of Hillary's most assiduous listening. For comparison, in April, the last time this poll was taken, HRCR was leading Giuliani 44-43.
* Mrs. Rodham Clinton Rodham is pursuing the New York Jewish vote with such vigor that she and President Bill Rodham Clinton are entertaining the new Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak, and his wife at camp David this weekend.
* Mrs. Barak has promised to teach Mrs. RCR how to make knadlach that are lighter than air.
* Bill Clinton, who cannot keep his nose out of the Presidential race, has announced he will do a fund raiser in Arkansas for and with Al Gore. As if Gore doesn't have enough problems.
* First, Gore gets caught chain-hiring tobacco lobbyists, and now Bill has decided to become the campaign's designated attack dog.
* Those of us who have been in politics for more than seven minutes know that the people who help raise the money assume the right to tell the campaign how to spend the money. Helping Gore's sagging fund raising is guaranteed to lead to ever more Clintonian interference in the operation of his campaign.
* Let's take another look at this Smith business: It will be very, very difficult for the Democrats to say that George W. - or whoever the ultimate nominee is - is the captive of the vast right-wing conspiracy if some of its most vocal conspirators have run off to form their own party.
* Not only that, but the arithmetic calculation is as follows: Bob Smith, et. al. may take about one percent of the GOP vote away from the Republican nominee. By moving to the center, the Republican party is likely to pick up an additional 15-18 percentage points simply by attracting new voters into the process.
* Even I don't need my Palm Pilot to figure out that's a good deal.
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