Slate's Bizbox




the breakfast table: An e-mail conversation about the news of the day.

Timothy Noah and Marjorie Williams

from: Timothy Noah

Photojournalism

Posted Monday, July 6, 1998, at 5:59 PM ET

Dear Marjorie,

As usual, I accept without question your sharp analysis of l'affaire Burleigh. Except: I don't think I am a pig for wanting to know what Burleigh looks like. This Mirabella story isn't about Most Favored Nation status for China; it isn't even about a woman feeling victimized by an inappropriate sexual advance from her president (and I hasten to add that a brief, sexually-charged moment of the type she described--and, conceivably, only imagined--does not constitute an inappropriate sexual advance). It's (in part) about glorying in your sexual attractiveness. Also about the president's taste in women. So sue me, I want to know what she looks like. Plus, she told Howie Kurtz "I'd be happy to give him [oral sex] just to thank him for keeping abortion legal." (Is this a line Mirabella edited out of the story?) That alone should get us a peek.



I've done a little research and am informed that, yes, Nina Burleigh is cute.

Incidentally, I need to revise slightly my disquisition on the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. I've now been told that since Albert Shanker's death the AFT has backed off a bit from education reform, while the NEA has taken a few steps toward reform. So conceivably it was a BAD thing that the unions didn't merge. The larger point remains that the papers didn't give us much help on any of this today.

Sorry to hear about Roy Rogers.

Happy Trails,

Tim

from: Timothy Noah

Photojournalism

Posted Monday, July 6, 1998, at 5:59 PM ET
Print This ArticlePRINTDiscuss this in The FrayDISCUSSEmail to a FriendE-MAIL
Share on FacebookPost to MySpace!Share with MixxDigg ThisShare with RedditShare with del.icio.usShare with FurlShare with Ma.gnolia.comShare with SphereShare with Stumble Upon
Timothy Noah writes Slate's "Chatterbox" column. Marjorie Williams is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair.
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES




Washington Post
The Washington Post
OPINIONS
Over the Line
Harold Ford Jr. | I know what it's like to be smeared by your opponent.
: The Positive in Negative Ads
PLUS » Milbank: The President's Lullaby