Oops! The secret's out on plan to slam Bush, GOP; Father Gay; Banning Clinton; Brass knuckles; Friends in need; Daschle bedevils his GOP foes; The vets' long war; Hiring binge; Afghan soup line; Watts's audible; Curse of CNN
The vets' long war
American troops battling in Afghanistan take note: Some Persian Gulf War veterans are still fighting to have the Department of Veterans Affairs cover their war-related ailments--specifically, Lou Gehrig's disease. While the department is treating the 40 to 50 Gulf War vets who are afflicted right now with the disease, it's unclear if it will care for those who contract it later. In a letter to Secretary Anthony Principi, the American Legion asked the VA to make that pledge. But the VA, saying that vets deployed to the gulf are "nearly twice as likely" to develop the disease, says it will only "consider" the request. Look for Congress to step in.
Hiring binge
The surge in hiring by federal police agencies due to September 11 is only now coming to light. Topping the list: Some 5,000 federal air marshals are being hired, and that's just the first phase. Then there's the U.S. Secret Service. That agency is hiring a whopping 500 agents, in part because some agents are leaving instead of working 80 hours of overtime each month.
Afghan soup line
They've won their freedom, but what many Afghans want is a steady meal. The wait could be long. The United Nations World Food Program says its Afghan food cache is 60 percent short of the needed $285 million. Don't blame Washington, which is supplying nearly all of this year's donations. Look overseas, says Ken Bacon, president of Refugees International. He blames the "donor fatigue" of nations hit up for other Afghan programs. Nonetheless, the U.N. plans an urgent appeal for money.
Watts's audible
College football star turned No. 4 House Republican leader Rep. J. C. Watts wants his team on offense. Armed with a new Winston Group poll that finds Hill Democrats and Republicans locked in a dead heat, he says now's the time to lay out the GOP vision. In a memo, he urges Republicans to brag on their ideas, not bash Democrats. His is a wake-up call to Republicans who have become "too content" with a tiny House majority.
Curse of CNN
The GOP whisper campaign to boycott CNN's political show Crossfire has become official policy. Top leaders have told members not to go on the show because they feel cohosts and Democratic activists James Carville and Paul Begala are unfair to them and their views.
Sign up for the weekly Whispers E-mail newsletter: www.usnews.com/whispers
In Quotes
"If the perception is that foreign policy isn't working well for them politically, what else can they run on?"
JENNIFER PALMIERI,
Democratic Party spokesperson, sizing up the Republicans' fall election platform and issues
"When my son is mad at me and he looks at me and says, `Mom, don't spin me,' it just hurts me."
KAREN HUGHES,
White House communications chief, who prefers the term "persuasive communications" to "spin"
"He held the leader's coat. He was a great assistant . . . not a leader."
ANDREW CUOMO,
New York Democratic gubernatorial hopeful, saying foe Gov. George Pataki's 9/11 leadership was dwarfed by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
"I held his coat as often as he held mine."
RUDY GIULIANI,
denouncing candidate Cuomo's comments
Sources: USA Today, Roll Call, Associated Press (2)
With Mark Mazzetti, Suzi Parker and Edward T. Pound
advertisement
