Julie,
Yes, I did hear about that Pew poll saying that the weather holds more interest for Americans than Washington sex scandals. But this competition for attention between weather and D.C. sex–one whose outcome the media will be obligated to reflect in space allotment once the winner is definitively determined–I feel is not over yet. Those rooting for D.C. sex to hold first rank can take heart from information offered today in the Chicago Tribune. It turns out there will be more D.C. sex coverage in 1999 if Larry Flynt has anything to do with it.
Today’s Trib contains a choice interview with Flynt by Cheryl Lavin (no relation) headlined “Smut is my job, politics is my hobby,” about future revelations coming from Flynt’s research into extramarital sex on the part of government higher-ups. It’s full of great info and quotes, which of course I wouldn’t be repeating if I didn’t feel they weren’t absolutely necessary to air for the moral future of our country. Especially our children’s future. God knows they need to hear more of this.
How about this teaser? “Q: Were you surprised when Livingston actually resigned? A: No, I knew when he announced his affairs that he wasn’t telling the truth. He said he had never been involved with an employee and that wasn’t truthful. He considers himself a real Romeo. He makes Bill Clinton look like Mary Poppins.”
In about a week, Flynt says, he’ll name names of 12 other Congressmen and government officials engaged in extramarital sex (only 12?), all but one of them Republicans, no women, no gays, no Ted Kennedy.
Evidently there’s no need to falsely hope that in the New Year the sex in Washington/impeachment stories will soon be over and we’ll be seeing more media space devoted to weather and even other issues begging public discussion like Social Security and health costs. Still, Larry promises that “there’s some pretty kinky sex,” so we may find out more things to do with cigars.
Yours starting out on a high note, Maud
