(posted Monday, Oct. 28)
Both magazines all but concede the presidential election to Bill Clinton. Time's cover story admits that the race "seems like a rout." It then compares Clinton and Dole's "visions," trying (halfheartedly) to find some reason the campaign still matters: "It may not be much of a race anymore, but it certainly is a choice."Time's none-too-startling analysis: Clinton welcomes change, Dole fears it. A chart compares the candidates' positions on 15 issues. The magazine features a local election guide, publishing a separate supplement for 26 regions of the country. Also, a story examines the raging conflict between local school districts and the parents of special-ed kids. And Time celebrates the flood of Shakespeare movies. Newsweek doesn't even bother to put the presidential election on the cover. The inside stories pile on Dole. "Inside the Dole Meltdown" chronicles "the final, bitter days." Another story quotes Dole's former chief strategist saying, "I don't think [Dole] would be a particularly good president." Gay parents are the cover. Newsweek concludes that gay families are slowly gaining acceptance, but still face suspicion. (The magazine, of course, urges tolerance: "Ultimately, it is the quality of the parenting--not the parents' lifestyle--that matters most to kids.") A squishy interview with lesbian singer Melissa Etheridge and her pregnant partner accompanies. Also, an article asserts that there is probably no stash of Nazi gold in Swiss banks: Most of the booty was removed from Switzerland by foreign bankers before war's end. And Newsweek touts London as the coolest city in the world.
U.S. News also buries Dole with a cover story about a second Clinton term. The magazine predicts that Clinton will be a "pointillistic president" who will govern with the same small, pragmatic ideas he's campaigned with. A story reveals how Taiwan and China give aid to poor African nations in exchange for support at the United Nations. And the magazine interviews Dr. Benjamin Spock, 50 years after the publication of his first baby book: He says you should discourage--but not forbid--your kids from piercing their nipples.
The Standard, which gave up on Dole last week, urges readers to vote for him anyway in order to defeat the "Demagogue President." Clinton, the editors declare, is dangerous because he invariably panders to popular sentiment, and never takes a position out of conviction. The magazine explains why Strom Thurmond--though ancient and out of it--deserves re-election. (The reason: He's a nice old coot who's witnessed history.) An article pegged to the Lippo scandal says that America must inject morality into its economics-driven foreign policy. And a story ridicules Clinton's proposal to wire all schoolkids to the Internet: "Is there [anyone] who believes that our children are in educational trouble because they are data-deprived? Because they lack sufficient opportunities for chatting online?"
(posted Friday, Oct. 25)
A German issue. The cover story and lead editorial assess the record of Chancellor Helmut Kohl, now the longest-serving German leader since Bismarck. Kohl handled unification magnificently, says the Economist, but he will secure his legacy as a statesman only if the European Monetary Union succeeds. Kohl's girth and appetite are the subject of numerous wry comments. Also, the lead business story says the privatization of the German telephone company reflects the maturation of German capitalism. German businesses are finally learning the importance of efficiency and equity.
The New Republic endorses Bill Clinton. A long editorial praises Clinton for "restor[ing] public trust in government" by tackling deficit reduction, pushing free trade, and agreeing to welfare reform. On the downside, the president has ducked the entitlement crisis, and the magazine predicts that a Democratic Congress led by "old-school liberal barons" could "sink a second Clinton term." The editorial also slobbers over TNR favorite son Al Gore. Also, the agenda for the next four years: Eleven writers tell Clinton why he should push their pet project. (Andrew Sullivan urges a saner gays-in-the-military policy, Gregg Easterbrook urges a saner environmental policy, etc.)
The Times Mag advocates national-education standards, arguing that standards are the best way to guarantee more students learn the basic math and reading required for the information economy. The article rips the voucher programs favored by Dole (they might destroy public schools) and tepidly recommends the charter schools favored by Clinton (they won't be effective without standards). Also, an interview with Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Doris Meissner, filled with softball questions. ("Q: A lot of proposals floating around state legislatures are aimed at throwing the children of illegal immigrants out of public schools. Do you find such ideas helpful?") A photo essay observes the Secret Service on the campaign trail. And, the country-music industry searches for the Next Big Thing (enough of Garth Brooks, already).