XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED, AUGUST 18, 1999 20:58:09 ET XXXXX BUSH ANSWERS 'DRUG QUESTION' George W. Bush gives in and answers a drug question. Gov. Bush tells Thursday's DALLAS MORNING NEWS that he has not used drugs in the last seven years. According to publishing sources, Bush's statement came in response to a question from the paper about whether, as president, he would insist that his appointees answer drug-use questions contained in the standard FBI background check. "As I understand it, the current form asks the question, 'Did somebody use drugs within the last seven years?' and I will be glad to answer that question, and the answer is 'No,'" Bush told the NEWS in a report set for publication. Bush would go back further than 7 years but he told the paper that it is important the White House is a drug-free zone. "It's important that the president be assured that people are not using drugs on the White House staff," Bush explained. "It's a legitimate question to ask to make sure there are no drug users on the White House staff." X X X X X NEXT RUMOR TO HIT BUSH: ABORTION Here we go again. Now that Bush has answered a 'drug' question, the next wave of George W. Bush rumors will involve: abortion. >From senior White House staffers, to editors in Tabloid Valley, Florida, stories have been swirling in recent weeks about Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush -- and a possible abortion. "A question should be asked of George W. Bush and these candidates, 'Have you ever caused an abortion to happen,'" NEW YORK OBSERVER's Joe Conason declared on MSNBC Wednesday evening. Conason has been talking to White House friends who have been telling tabloid reporters who -- surprise -- have already been put on the 'abortion hunt' by their editors. Conason's outburst on Wednesday should be viewed like a coming attraction preview for the next Hollywood hype project. "Somebody floats a rumor and causes you to ask a question, and that's the game in American politics. I refuse to play it," an obviously irritated Bush said. "That is a game. And you just fell for the trap. I refuse to play it." Bush also accused unidentified political opponents of planting drug questions. "I know they're being planted," he said, refusing to elaborate. "They're ridiculous and absurd and the people of America are sick and tired of this kind of politics... and reporters asking these types of questions." But sharks respond to kicking. And the press is ready for new feeding. X X X X X STARR OUT BY OCTOBER Ken Starr will be quitting as early as October, the NEW YORK TIMES is reporting Thursday editions. On the day that the three judge panel voted 2 to 1 to continue the five year old investigation, Starr associates told TIMES scribes Neil Lewis and David Johnston that Starr will clean out his office and head back to the private sector as soon as he puts "his personal stamp on a final report" summarizing the findings of his inquiries. But Thursday's WASHINGTON POST reports that there is more than just a "final report" -- left to complete. Starr informed the judges that "considerable work remains" to be done in his investigation of Clinton administration scandals, the WASHINGTON POST is reporting in Thursday runs, including "decisions on whether to proceed with possible indictments on matters so closely related to the White House that the inquiries could not be turned over to the Justice Department without raising a clear conflict of interest." Starr has told associates he expects to return to his job as a partner at the Washington office of Kirkland & Ellis. Developing... X X X X X CHINA NOT AFRAID TO LAUNCH 'HORRENDOUS WAR' OVER TAIWAN China on Wednesday warned against U.S. involvement in any future conflict with Taiwan, saying its troops are not afraid to wage a 'horrendous war' and that Beijing would never back down in the face of intervention from Washington. "Military experts say that history is a witness to the fact that China would never retreat because of U.S. intervention," said the CHINA BUSINESS TIMES, an official newspaper. In 1995, People's Liberation Army Gen. Xiong Guangkai told a US official: "You won't intervene because you care more about Los Angeles than Taipei." X X X X X D.C. CITY OFFICIALS WARN OF RABID BATS D.C. authorities are warning residents of an increase in the number of bat sightings because of the drought. Some of the winged mammals are rabid, the WASHINGTON TIMES reported on Wednesday. The city health department says there have been 49 bats captured in homes and apartments in the city this year. Five have tested positive for rabies. Screens should be used for all open windows and other openings should be closed. A bat bite sometimes is not visible to the naked eye, so precautions should be taken if anyone has had an encounter or been in an enclosed space with a bat. If a bat enters a home, it is important to avoid contact with it, and try to keep it in one room of the home. Rabid bats... ...lla ti snialpxe taht ----------------------------------------------------------- Filed by Matt Drudge Reports are moved when circumstances warrant http://www.drudgereport.com for updates (c)DRUDGE REPORT 1999 Not for reproduction without permission of the author
