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Nader's Nadir

By Jeremy DerfnerUpdated Friday, May 19, 2000, at 9:30 PM ET

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New Republic, May 29

The cover story urges Rudolph Giuliani to stay in the Senate race, arguing that his candidacy would let voters decide if infidelity really matters. No other high-profile adulterer has run again after being caught. … An article argues that potential Giuliani replacement Rep. Rick Lazio would make a better candidate. Less polarizing than the mayor, Lazio would focus the campaign on Hillary Clinton's vulnerabilities. … A piece traces the evolution of Ralph Nader from a reformer who tried to make the system better to an irresponsible revolutionary whose screeds against Al Gore serve no progressive purpose.

Economist, May 20;American Prospect, June 5

The Economist's cover editorial urges Congress to grant permanent normal trade status to China. It would benefit both countries economically and help curtail human rights abuses in China by westernizing it. … American Prospect's cover story argues the exact opposite: Permanent normal trade relations won't significantly help the American economy because the Chinese market is not as strong as advertised. And it will throw the Chinese economy into turmoil, fostering nationalistic fervor instead of liberalization.

Elsewhere in the Economist, an article claims that Yasser Arafat is plagued by the same domestic problems as Ehud Barak. His supporters want results (land and hostages), but they refuse to give concessions (also land and hostages). … A piece says Sierra Leone remains a mess, despite the capture of brutal rebel leader Foday Sankoh. The U.N. troops stationed there have neither the mandate nor the firepower to prevent future violence, and the government is in shambles.

{{NYT#82718}}New York Times Magazine, May 21

The cover story marvels at the new crop of reality TV shows and Web feeds. Big Brother, which is already popular in Europe, locks 10 people in a house and films everything, while Survivor strands a group on an island. Hundreds of people broadcast their home lives over the Internet via Web cams. Conclusion: It's weird but addicting. … An article about the United States' 50 million (!) bird-watchers notes that they outnumber fishers and hunters combined, yet have failed to spearhead a conservation movement that would save endangered bird species. … A piece applauds the late Cardinal John O'Connor for opposing both abortion and the death penalty. Few politicians abide by this "seamless garment of life" philosophy. Bill Clinton leads the "double deathers" who support abortion and the death penalty.

The New Yorker, May 22

A long article charges that soldiers under the command of now-drug czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey slaughtered retreating Iraqi troops two days after the Gulf War cease-fire. According to Seymour Hersh, the reporter who exposed the My Lai massacre in Vietnam, dozens of veterans of the Battle of Rumaila say the 24^th Infantry Division murdered Iraqis who posed no threat. Some claim that McCaffrey intentionally placed his forces in the way of retreating Iraqis. McCaffrey is accused of telling his brigade commanders "to find a way for him to go kill all of those bastards." McCaffrey says his forces were provoked. Several veterans also assert that McCaffrey's troops killed a group of perhaps 200 Iraqi troops who had already surrendered. The Army investigated the charges after the war, but did so half-heartedly.

Time, May 22

The latest installment of Time's Visions 21 series predicts the work, war, politics, and economics of the future. Prison guards will be replaced by microscopic implants that control criminals. Socialism will stage a comeback, technology will make soldiers invisible, ads will be everywhere and you'll like them. … A piece reports on the popularity of hacking in the Third World. ILOVEYOU came from the Philippines, and hacking communities thrive in Pakistan, Serbia, and China. Hacking is a great way to flip the bird at the first world.

Newsweek, May 22

The cover story on Parkinson's disease describes recent advances in its treatment, including better medicines and a new brain operation that controls symptoms. The most exciting technology, still in its early development, would replace dead brain cells and reverse the condition. … Competing commentaries from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Justice Department antitrust chief Joel Klein argue the cons and pros of a Microsoft breakup. … An article predicts that George W. Bush will struggle with the gun issue during the campaign. He made his political career walking in step with the National Rifle Association, but the hundreds of thousands of moms who marched for gun control last weekend represent a critical swing vote.

U.S. News & World Report, May 22

The cover story explains why early detection of prostate cancer can make coping with the disease more difficult. Many middle-aged men are discovering they have it, but the treatment options are many and the side effects—impotence and incontinence—may be worse than the disease. (David Plotz wrote this "Assessment" of the prostate gland three weeks ago.) … A piece questions the Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press story about the supposed massacre of North Korean civilians by American troops during the Korean War. Evidence shows that three of the 12 veterans cited in the story may not have been at the site of the alleged massacre. Five more disagree with the thesis of the article. And Edward Daily, a major source for the AP article, has a long history of fabricating his war record.

Weekly Standard, May 22

The cover story sticks up for suburban sprawl. It may cause traffic jams and social isolation, but people like it. Critics of sprawl must accept that Americans want their own suburban homes, big backyards, and two-car garages.