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Matt Cooper and Harry Shearer

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from: Harry Shearer

Mental-Health Care for Republican Candidates

Posted Friday, Jan. 7, 2000, at 4:15 PM ET

For some reason, I find it easier to think about Relenza and antibiotics right about now than--ugh--another Republican debate tonight. What colorful tie will Orrin Hatch break out as he talks about himself in the third--or perhaps by now, the fourth--person? How many boxes will Gary Bauer be standing on? Will Alan Keyes finally go back on his medication?

OK, I'll admit it, I almost never read the Los Angeles Times (I'll tell you sometime the whole reason--it has to do with finding out how the paper is edited), but there was a cute story in there today about the police arresting seven people for feeding the homeless in downtown's Pershing Square. The police explained that the seven were interfering with the temporary ice-skating rink. Now, it helps to understand that there is no more desolate example of urban-renewing a place into the ground in all of Los Angeles than the once-charming Pershing Square. Green space was removed (attracted the homeless). My nomination for the unspoken issue of the year in both parties' debates is--what does society do with the mentally ill that we kicked out of mental hospitals two or three decades ago and who have become, willy-nilly, the homeless? Not to mention the fact that "a history of mental problems" turns up in the résumés of more and more troublemakers, like the guy who attacked George Harrison last week.

Just saw a news conference featuring Jesse Ventura and Donald Trump, and it makes me salivate with anticipation of the Reform Party convention this summer. Those two, plus the Buchanan brigade--personally, I hope it's in Long Beach, so I can drive down there, but wherever it is, it'll be the summer's best show.

Did you hear the story about Monica Lewinsky's sending notes to the White House recently? Can't quite pin it down (heard it on Paul Harvey, which doesn't say much for its accuracy, but, hey, those airbeds are great). But on the subject of "those gals," if I paid the kind of money Linda Tripp's supporters must have paid for her makeover, I'd be expecting the surgeon to keep his mouth shut.

It's been a variety of fun. Thanks for the ride.

Harry

the breakfast table
entries
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from: Harry Shearer

Mental-Health Care for Republican Candidates

Posted Friday, Jan. 7, 2000, at 4:15 PM ET
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Matt Cooper, a part-time comedian, is the deputy Washington bureau chief for Time magazine. His comedy can be seen on Slate. Harry Shearer is an actor and director, the voice of a dozen characters on The Simpsons, and the author of It's the Stupidity, Stupid (click here to buy it).
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