For the Record - News Briefs - Brief Article

National Review, Jan 24, 2000

--[middle dot]At White House Christmas celebration, California children's choir sings politically correct song as President Clinton and First Lady smile their approval: "On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me/ 12 eco-days/ Safe spotted owls/ Homes for the homeless/ Food for the hungry/ Produce organic/ No cauliflower/ Seas I can swim in/ Air I can breathe/ All solar power/ No rush hour/ Good guys on TV/ And a world where people are free." Clinton says he will miss the White House movie theater more than anything else when he leaves office, in People magazine interview. Little Rock plans to divert millions from local parks to purchase land for Clinton library, with Little Rock Zoo expected to suffer most. Says animal-rights activist Ingrid Newkirk: "Those poor animals are starving and abused. The idea that money is going to be taken away from them to fund Clinton's library is an abomination." In CNN/USA Today poll, 50 percent approve House impeachment decision, up from 35 percent one year earlier. Clinton ponders seeking federal reimbursement of more than $5 million for Lewinsky- and Whitewater-related legal fees. Ken Starr teaches weekly class at George Mason University law school titled "Advanced Problems in Current Constitutional Law." Vernon Jordan on New York Senate race, in Time: "I'm praying, of course, that Hillary will win. If she doesn't--Lord, I'll have to call Revlon again."

--[middle dot]After Bill Bradley proposes expanding earned-income tax credit, Vice President Gore describes his role in its creation: "I was the author of that proposal. I wrote that, so I say, 'Welcome aboard.' That is something for which I have been the principal proponent for a long time." Bradley counters by noting credit became law in 1975, one year before Gore was elected to Congress. Gore raises more than $1 million to refurbish official residence. Says Peter Eisner of Center for Public Integrity: "For donors, this is a better deal than giving to the campaign. Money is used to make Gore more comfortable. It won't pay for television advertising, but it is something that Gore would probably remember--like the pool table." Shelby Steele, in Boston Globe on ideas of Bradley adviser Cornel West: "They will be seen as far left, and kooky, and they will hurt Bill Bradley."

--[middle dot]Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on her son: "He has his dad's brains. That's the good news." George W. Bush on himself: "They said, 'He's got an empty suit.' And I said, 'Well, at least it's not an empty earth-toned suit.'" McCain says gay could serve as president, but not in military. More McCain: "If I could think of a way constitutionally, I would ban negative ads." New York Times headline: "With Eyes on Vice Presidency, Elizabeth Dole Plans to Endorse Bush for President." Lamar Alexander endorses Bush. The Hotline estimates 6 percent of New Hampshire population participated in media polls in final three months of 1999, assuming no person participated more than once. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R., Md.) endorses Steve Forbes. Pat Buchanan, on leaving the GOP: "The further I move away from it, the more I feel I've done the right thing and the less the emotional ties that exist to the old party."

--[middle dot]In Rolling Stone, soul man James Brown names 97-year-old Sen. Strom Thurmond (R., S.C.) one of his heroes of the 20th century. In Zogby poll, 36 percent say assassination of JFK is "crime of century," followed by 24 percent naming Oklahoma City bombing, and 11 percent picking Martin Luther King Jr. assassination. Home of late Sen. Barry Goldwater (R., Ariz.) goes on market for $4.5 million. On C-SPAN, Brian Lamb asks Nancy Reagan whether she can "have a conversation that makes sense" with husband. Says Mrs. Reagan: "No, not now."

--[middle dot]In ruling against lawsuit claiming Christmas holiday for federal workers violates Constitution, Judge Susan Dlott writes: "The Establishment and Santa [are] both worthwhile Clauses." Biweekly liberal magazine The American Prospect makes a remarkable admission: "You can hardly blame the conservatives for their dudgeon about American movies, however ineptly and demagogically it is articulated. When's the last time you saw a baldly right-wing American movie?"American League of Lobbyists president Kenneth E. Feltman bemoans "the slanderous reputation that we have been given by self-serving politicians and reporters." Internal Revenue Service cuts back: Fewer than one in 300 tax returns to be audited this year, down from one in 217 two years ago and one in 63 in 1981, says New York Times. Omni Hotels decides to stop offering pay-per- view porn in rooms by June. Jacob becomes top baby name for boys, ending 45-year streak by Michael. Emily leads for girls.

--[middle dot]German officials crack code identifying code names of 47,000 East German spies active between 1950 and 1989, reports Der Spiegel. Palestinian journalists seek to review membership of their professional organization, believing it filled with Palestinian Authority agents who stymie independent media. In twelve-month period, Russia's U.N. cars in New York City rack up 14,437 parking tickets. Pope John Paul II plans trip to Holy Land from March 21 to 26, first by a pontiff in 36 years.