For The Record - US political events - Brief Article

President Clinton flubs line in State of the Union: "The vice president launched a new effort to make communities more liberal livable-liberal, no." Cato Institute counts 104 new or expanded government regulations or spending programs in 89-minute address. "That's 1.17 initiatives a minute," says press release . National Taxpayers Union tallies $126 billion in new spending. "That breaks down to $1.6 billion in new spending a minute," says statement . New York Times: "As Mr. Clinton heads into the eighth and final year of his presidency, he is a blur of motion-but he is also very alone. His only child is away at college. His wife has moved out to start a career of her own. His vice president is on the road seeking to become his successor. Left behind, at least, is Buddy the Labrador, who now spends all night with the president when Hillary Rodham Clinton is away." In Southeastern Legal Foundation poll, 58 percent of American voters say President Clinton should be disbarred for lying under oath and obstructing justice . Mrs. Clinton, on her husband: "I certainly intend to spend the rest of my life with him."

Al Gore on Iowa caucuses, in 1988: "an arcane procedure that produces crazy results." He says he has changed his mind . Michael Whouley, Gore's Iowa field chief, on eastern Iowa, in New York Times Magazine: "Why does this region have so many [expletive] knuckleheads?" Bill Bradley to Gore in New Hampshire debate: "Why should we believe you will tell the truth as president if you don't tell the truth as a candidate?" Bradley, in post-debate appearance: "I think Al will have to go a long way to demonstrate that what he said tonight was true and that he has not lied in this campaign." Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21, in Washington Post: "Gore's statements about Bradley's record [on campaign finance] in the Senate are not true." In Voter.com poll of Hispanics, 38 percent have unfavorable view of Gore, 42 percent have unfavorable view of Pat Buchanan. In Washington Post/ABC News poll, Buchanan earns 55 percent unfavorable rating among conservatives, up from 39 percent before leaving GOP.

Bob Kerrey (D., Neb.) deals Democratic chances for Senate majority in 2000 a blow by announcing retirement. State trending Republican. Campaigning in N.H. for Bradley, Kerrey spots George W. Bush in restaurant: "You probably don't want me to say nice things about you. Well, you're the real thing. I trust you." Former secretary of state Zbigniew Brzezinski becomes foreign-policy adviser to John McCain. Orrin Hatch, Jack Kemp, John Sununu endorse Bush. Rep. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) and House impeachment counsel David Schippers endorse Keyes .Trent Lott, on Steve Forbes: "Alan Keyes is more qualified to be president than he is." McCain, on whether he'll ever run again for president: "I would never do this again. I'm too tired." So much for President McCain's second term.Lowell Weicker endorses Bradley.

Rep. Virgil Goode (Va.) bolts Democrats, joins GOP caucus, and promises to support Speaker Denny Hastert, but remains technically unaffiliated with either party. Former University of Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne says he will run as Republican for seat of retiring Rep. Bill Barrett (R., Neb.). Republican National Committee co-chairwoman Pat Harrison travels to Costa Rica, France, Italy, and Japan to persuade expatriate Americans to vote by absentee ballot, believing as many as 80 percent of 6 million citizens living abroad favor GOP, reports Fortune. In near-unanimous vote, New Mexico Senate condemns Gov. Gary Johnson (R.) for supporting drug legalization. Ward Connerly comes out against California initiative banning gay marriage. FCC withdraws rule that would have forced religious broadcasters to buy expensive commercial licenses or to run more secular programming.

Juan Miguel Gonzalez, father of Elian, on Nightline (speaking through a translator): "Sometimes what I would like to do is go down there [to Miami] with a rifle, I don't know to get rid of how many people." Former New York Times editor Max Frankel, in Tikkun: "I have grown certain that humanity invented God." Walter Cronkite, in BBC interview: "I think we are realizing that we are going to have to have an international rule of law. We need not only an executive to make international law, but we need the military forces to enforce that law." Marta Brown sues Wal-Mart for sex discrimination after store relieved her following first day on job as Santa Claus, says tots "don't care if Santa is a man, woman, or donkey." Child's complaint led to dismissal . Brand-new $1 million fire station in Charleston, W.V., cited for fire-code violations.

Fidel Castro permits deep-water oil exploration by foreign companies in Gulf of Mexico . Pirate attacks in some of world's busiest shipping lanes jump by nearly 40 percent . Vatican says it would never sever ties with Taiwan to improve relations with Beijing . Russia plans Mars space- probe launch in 2005 . Ashes of Adolf Hitler were tossed in East German river in 1970 under orders of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, say documents in Moscow archive.