1/10/01

Yes, it's me. It really is.

Anne's Journal of Minutiae

Wednesday
January 10, 2001

From the Karma-Is-A-Bitch Department: "The game in Washington is a game of search and destroy..." so sayeth Linda Chavez, Dubya's pick for Secretary of Labor, as she withdrew her name from consideration for the post. It appears that the "small" matter of haboring an illegal alien from Guatemala (and paying the woman for "occasional" housework) was all that stood between Linda and a cabinet position. Linda, Linda, Linda. Can you say: "Zoe Baird"? Yeah, remember her eight years ago? You know: Clinton's first pick for Attorney General? Seems she had an illegal-alien-housekeeper problem too. The Republicans flushed the information out into the public and she withdrew her name from consideration just like you had to, Linda. Along with a few more Clinton cabinet candidates in fact. You didn't know that the Republican party actually patented the Search 'n Destroy™ method of character assassination? Jeez, Linda -- where have you been?

She also added that she didn't want her...ummm...situation to be a "distraction" for George W. Bush. Huh???? Like that Florida mess isn't still a distraction? Like the fact that people (and our numbers are legion) do not consider a Dubya presidency legitimate because he didn't win the popular vote? Oh, Linda -- your case is only a minor distraction, tiny blip. A "distraction" -- jeez, did she really say that? Let's hope it's an epiphany.

You see, Linda, what goes around eventually does come around. Despite the GOP mantra: "Do as I say, not as I do."

Well, Bill Clinton's days as President are winding down... Dratted 22nd Amendment. Okay. I'll confess that it came in handy after Reagan's second term. But now... Sigh. Even with all the...ahem...personal problems, I'm going to miss the guy. Whatever his...ahem...personal problems, you have to admit he's been an effective, efficient president. What Rob said goes double for me. (And thanks to The Book of Rob, I found this video of Clinton's "last days" made for a White House Correspondents' Dinner.)

Republicans resent Clinton because they wish he was a Republican. They resent him because they will never, ever have a candidate with Bill's level of charisma. It just sticks in their craw. They thought they could fudge a little with George W. Smirk -- but his "charm" is merely at face value. Bill Clinton's is real. I got to shake hands with candidate-Clinton at a 1992 rally held in the South Bay. I can tell you that even in a crowd, the man looks every person in the eye -- and his handshake is fir The People's President. m. Despite protests from the Secret Service guards, Clinton went through the line twice -- making sure that he didn't miss anyone. I pleaded with him, "Governor -- you've got to beat Bush -- you have to." He looked me in the eye and replied, "I'm trying. I'm really trying." Man, that was a great day. And just think, in a few months he really did it.

So I don't give a rat's ass what the Clinton-haters might say. I'm going to miss President William Jefferson Clinton. He will always be MY president.

The Aw-Shucks Department: New WebRat, Hilary Moon Murphy, has offered my 12/17/00 entry for the Diarist Award's Best Account of a Public or News Event category:

"Hello Awards Panel--

I would like to nominate Anne Hutchins's December 17th entry, "The guy with the least votes 'wins.' Yeah, that makes sense." I could see this one in contention for Best Account of a Public or News Event, or possibly also for Best Rant. http://ahutchns.tripod.com/12-17-00.htm

What appealed to me about this entry was Anne's use of photographs, her layout in this entry, and the obvious passion with which she wrote about her subject.

Hilary Moon Murphy"

Of course, I have barely the slightest chance of winning -- but it's nice to know that an entry of mine made an impression. Thanks, Hilary!

I can wear contact lenses again! After six months of mostly wearing my glasses, my right cornea is now sufficiently healed. So, armed with a fresh set of contact lenses, I can now go back to wearing them full time. 'Course now I have to get re-used to them -- especially focusing. Oh well.

In an earlier entry I mentioned my corneal edema problem. I also mentioned my difficulty in locating Bausch & Lomb's Muro 128 ointment. Well, I eventually found a local source -- good thing, because that stuff ROCKS!!! I would not be seeing this clearly (20/15 with my contacts) right now were it not for Muro 128 (both the ointment and the drops). I'll have to use the stuff for the rest of my life -- but as long as it continues to help me, I'm very grateful.