The Week

■ Scolding the Republicans for opposing his budget, President Clinton reasoned: “I mean, the Senate’s got a swimming pool, doesn’t it? . . . built with taxpayers’ money.” Yes, but aren’t the cities in enough trouble without modeling them on the U.S. Senate?

■ A funny thing happened in Los Angeles after the latest Rodney King verdict: not only were there no riots, but the crime rate dipped sharply. On Saturday night, the streets were actually safe. CNN showed South-Central residents remarking happily on the unusual number of police around. “It’s safe,” said one black man, “but I don’t see why we can’t have this sort of presence all the time.” Well, the last time we had urban riots, back in the Sixties, we decided to reorder our priorities.

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William F. Buckley Jr.

■ Scolding the Republicans for opposing his budget, President Clinton reasoned: “I mean, the Senate’s got a swimming pool, doesn’t it? . . . built with taxpayers’ money.” Yes, but aren’t the cities in enough trouble without modeling them on the U.S. Senate?

■ A funny thing happened in Los Angeles after the latest Rodney King verdict: not only were there no riots, but the crime rate dipped sharply. On Saturday night, the streets were actually safe. CNN showed South-Central residents remarking happily on the unusual number of police around. “It’s safe,” said one black man, “but I don’t see why we can’t have this sort of presence all the time.” Well, the last time we had urban riots, back in the Sixties, we decided to reorder our priorities.