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 It Would Take the UN to Clean My Office
* Sandy Berger, National Security Advisor, the other day
compared the situation in East Timor to his daughter’s
messy dormitory room. Remember the Riady family? Of Indonesia? Where East Timor is? How
the Riadys were implicated in the Clinton/Gore fundraising scandals? Talk about dirty laundry.
* For those who ever doubted there is a chromosomal difference between people who run for
public office and the rest of us, how else to explain former Senator John Danforth pitching a
perfect game this weekend by appearing on all five Sunday shows. That ties the record set
William Ginsburg who was, at the time, representing Monica Lewinsky’s. Maybe it’s not elected
officials. Maybe it’s lawyers.
* The other day a woman called into David Gregory’s show on MSNBC saying the “whole world is
laughing” at the US because of the Danforth probe. We ran out of time before I could respond
thus: It is precisely because we can, and do, demand that our government explain its actions that
America is America. Messy and uncomfortable as it may be, it is the sum and substance of our
Democracy. If the rest of the world wants to laugh at us for that, let them. They don’t laugh when
they need our help.
* Tim Russert’s interview with released FALN terrorist, Ricardo Jimenez, on Meet the Press might
have been the strongest possible testimony showing the error of Bill Clinton’s decision to grant
clemency.
* That sound coming from the Oval Office is Bill Clinton praying – every day – that none of these
newly released Puerto Rican terrorists commits another act of violence between now and election
day 2000.
* Jesse “The Expanding Body” Ventura has set himself up as the arbiter of who shall run as the
Reform Party’s nominee for President. Pat Buchanan may have to beat Donald Trump for the
nomination. I’m not sure which of them – Ventura, Trump, or Buchanan – should be the most
embarrassed.
* Pat Buchanan said that he would not support the Republican nominee if it’s not him. Shouldn’t
there be some agreement that if you participate in the Republican primary process you should
have to pledge to support the ultimate nominee? Or, am I wrong about this?
* Note for the next meeting of the Beatty Boomers – the Warren Beatty for President organization:
We have to get Cybil Shepherd out of the race to keep the path clear for Warren. Can Bruce Willis
help?
* Over the weekend I got two books: John McCain’s “Faith of My Fathers” and a galley proof of the
NY Times’ Adam Clymer’s biography of Senator Edward Kennedy. The Vietnam War and the
Kennedy family have pretty much defined politics in my lifetime.
* Maybe this is wrong in an age of absolute political correctness, but when it came to a rooting
interest in the Women’s final at the US Open on Saturday, I wanted the American to win. I was
thrilled when Serena Williams won and, by the way, acted like a happy 17-year-old.
* I was going to let the appearance of James Carville and Mary Matalin on Sunday go, but I have
to disagree with something The James said: “If you take all the accomplishments of all the other
candidates in this campaign they would not match the accomplishments of Al Gore.” The James
is wrong. Know who has EXACTLY the same curriculum vitae as Al Gore? Dan Quayle.
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