For the Record

■ Too much of a good thing? Even liberal commentators may soon grow tired of warm bath of media approval for Bill Clinton and A1 Gore. Washington Post, reporting on bus tour: “The images and the message are always the same—youth, vigor, energy. And change.” . . . Eleanor Clift on McLaughlin Group-. “Reporters were oohing and ahhing. It was almost embarrassing.” . . . Now that Gore is national candidate, his environmentalism will receive closer scrutiny. Julian Simon, in Human Events, details Gore’s errors on DDT, soil erosion, Love Canal, dioxin, and more; concludes: “Although the senator undoubtedly cares sincerely about the environment and natural resources, his ignorance is willed.” . . . National gay-activist publication The Advocate said Clinton’s choice of Gore means he is trying to appeal to mainstream rather than to minority groups. (Horrors!) But it noted that during last session of Congress Gore received 100 per cent favorable rating from Human Rights Campaign Fund, a gay lobbying group. . . . R. M. Van Horn, in Florida Today, recalls that during 1988 Democratic debate on Firing Line, Wm. F. Buckley Jr. asked each candidate whose picture he would hang in Oval Office. Gore said, “That great Tennessee President, James Knox.” Gore not being Dan Quayle, his truncating of James Knox Polk did not make headlines.

■ Political consultants have lots of helpful advice for George Bush. “He’s got to change perceptions about himself at the Convention,” was John Sears’s contribution. Sears, remember, was fired by Ronald Reagan on New Hampshire primary day, 1980, after loss to Bush in Iowa caucuses. . . . Kevin Phillips says 40 per cent of Republican voters are disaffected; the President “has got to get down to the psychology of people—many of them in his own party—who don’t like him.” . . . Democratic strategist Greg Schneiders thinks Bush can win if he can successfully dramatize the Democrats’ agenda: “Republicans will try to drive up the risk factor.”

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William F. Buckley Jr.

Presidential Election

■ Too much of a good thing? Even liberal commentators may soon grow tired of warm bath of media approval for Bill Clinton and A1 Gore. Washington Post, reporting on bus tour: “The images and the message are always the same—youth, vigor, energy. And change.” . . . Eleanor Clift on McLaughlin Group-. “Reporters were oohing and ahhing. It was almost embarrassing.” . . . Now that Gore is national candidate, his environmentalism will receive closer scrutiny. Julian Simon, in Human Events, details Gore’s errors on DDT, soil erosion, Love Canal, dioxin, and more; concludes: “Although the senator undoubtedly cares sincerely about the environment and natural resources, his ignorance is willed.” . . . National gay-activist publication The Advocate said Clinton’s choice of Gore means he is trying to appeal to mainstream rather than to minority groups. (Horrors!) But it noted that during last session of Congress Gore received 100 per cent favorable rating from Human Rights Campaign Fund, a gay lobbying group. . . . R. M. Van Horn, in Florida Today, recalls that during 1988 Democratic debate on Firing Line, Wm. F. Buckley Jr. asked each candidate whose picture he would hang in Oval Office. Gore said, “That great Tennessee President, James Knox.” Gore not being Dan Quayle, his truncating of James Knox Polk did not make headlines.

■ Political consultants have lots of helpful advice for George Bush. “He’s got to change perceptions about himself at the Convention,” was John Sears’s contribution. Sears, remember, was fired by Ronald Reagan on New Hampshire primary day, 1980, after loss to Bush in Iowa caucuses. . . . Kevin Phillips says 40 per cent of Republican voters are disaffected; the President “has got to get down to the psychology of people—many of them in his own party—who don’t like him.” . . . Democratic strategist Greg Schneiders thinks Bush can win if he can successfully dramatize the Democrats’ agenda: “Republicans will try to drive up the risk factor.”