The week's big news, and how's it's being spun.
Sept. 13 1998 3:30 AM

Frame Games on the Starr report: Weak charges.

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Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr submitted his report to Congress. Click here for a software-generated summary, a downloadable condensed Microsoft Word document of the entire report, and links to the full report online. (FRAME GAME: Point-by-point analysis of Starr's charges and the political dangers they pose to President Clinton.) (9/11/98)

Primakov with Yeltsin
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Russian President Boris Yeltsin nominated KGB veteran Yevgeny Primakov as prime minister. Spins and counterspins: 1) In dropping his bid to put former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin back in office, Yeltsin showed that democratic compromise can work in Russia. 2) But the end result is to put a Politburo-style, anti-West government back in power. 3) That's not so bad, since Russia needs a strong government to keep it from total economic collapse. 4) But Primakov knows next to nothing about the economy, and what he does know is outmoded statist isolationism. 5) Can that be worse than the chaos and corruption that the free-marketeers and their robber-baron cronies have produced? (9/11/98)

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Northwest Airlines reached a tentative settlement with its striking pilots. While waiting for details of a final deal, commentators noted that: 1) No matter what, the strike will be costly for Northwest as it tries to woo back irritated customers and placate its near-striking machinists. 2) President Clinton took time out to announce the likely deal on the White House lawn. 3) This unusual presidential attention still failed to make a bigger story out of the good news. (9/11/98)

Mark McGwire and his son Matt celebrate No. 61
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Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs in a season. After belting his 62nd and circling the bases, McGwire hugged, high fived, and/or gestured reverently toward God, Maris (in heaven), Maris' family (in the stands), McGwire's son (at home plate), Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa (who came in from the outfield), and all the St. Louis fans in attendance. Sports pundits seized on these gestures as further evidence for McGwire's canonization, calling him a model player, father, ex-husband, and all-around human being. The media played up his heroism as a welcome change of subject from President Clinton's perfidy. Front pages around the world joined in celebrating McGwire's feat. He has 18 more games to set the new record. (9/9/98)