-Caveat Lector-
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1999 21:49:56 ET XXXXX
PLANNED TABLOID HIT ON BUSH FIZZLES
**Exclusive**
One of the nation's top tabloids was ready to rock the George W. Bush 2000
campaign with an exclusive shock story -- a story that fizzled out just
hours before publication, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
"Bush was going to get a blast from his past," a top editor at the tabloid
explained on condition that his identity or the identity of the publication
not be revealed at this time.
The tabloid was planning to unleash its story on Bush next week, accompanied
by a stunning photo.
But as the editor told the DRUDGE REPORT, "One source we were working with
turned out to have credibility issues... we will continue to investigate."
The editor was clearly disappointed that his story fizzled out, but he
added: "This is going to be a long political season. And it appears that
Mr. Bush is going to be great fun and great for business. We'll just have
to wait and see."
"How sad," one BUSH 2000 adviser said Wednesday night from Texas. "The
governor has been out on the campaign trail for less than a week and already
they are pulling this shit.
"I think the voters are fed up with this kind of stuff. Really sad."
Established Washington journalists and main media outlets may agree with
Bush and his staffers that the "gotcha game" of scandal and rumor should
have no place in the 2000 race -- but less conforming reporters have begun
waving around money and digging for Bush dirt all over the state of Texas.
Apparently, no oil strike yet.
X X X X X
STARR GRAND JURY HEARS FRESH TESTIMONY ON TRAVEL OFFICE; 'FIRE THEIR ASSES'
FIRST LADY SAID TO HAVE TOLD AIDE
The Office of the Independent Counsel has subpoenaed three local Nashville
businessman who played a round of golf a few summers ago with former Clinton
Aide David Watkins, a newspaper will report on Thursday. During the game,
Watkins reportedly told them that Hillary directly ordered the White House
Travel Office firings.
Hillary Clinton has denied in sworn statements making such an order; Watkins
himself testified under oath before Congress that the decision to fire the
travel office staffers was his, and his alone.
Mike and Terri Patton were interviewed by investigators working for Starr at
their Nashville home "a few weeks ago," according to Terri Patton. Patton
confirms she and her husband have been subpoenaed to testify before a
federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. in the coming days.
In addition to conversations that are said to have taken place on the golf
course, investigators are pursuing post-game conversations that took place
at Patton's home. Those conversations included Patton's wife, Terri, the
NASHVILLE SCENE will report on Thursday.
Patton has told Starr investigators that she clearly remembers Watkins
telling how Hillary had called him about the travel office staffers.
According to Patton, Watkins said Hillary told him to "fire their asses."
Terri Patton said she and her husband expect to testify about what Watkins
allegedly said during that fateful round of golf and a later chitchat at the
Pattons' home.
The narrative of the golf game is certain to receive widespread attention as
Starr prepares a final report on his investigation.
Starr and his prosecutors may be trying to hit Watkins with a perjury
charge, reports the paper.
X X X X X
RADIO WAR: GERALDO RIVERA WANTS TO TAKE ON RUSH LIMBAUGH
NBC's $5 million man Geraldo Rivera wants to do a radio show because he
believes that there's a real need for an "aggressive, populist alternative"
to Rush Limbaugh and other conservative hosts, the ASSOCIATED PRESS will
soon report.
Rivera opens up and lashes out with the AP's David Bauder in Thursday PM
runs, according to publishing sources familiar with the wire's budget.
"It's time for liberals to stop being embarrassed about their political
philosophy," Rivera declares.
Rivera tells the wire that frustration over the lack of prestige airtime at
NBC is partly why he's considering a daily radio talkshow.
[Rivera's feelings were hurt by the treatment of his RIVERA LIVE Kosovo
reports. He hoped they were good enough for attention on Tom Brokaw's
NIGHTLY NEWS.]
"The motivation, honestly, was, 'OK, you don't want me, I know a lot of
other people who do,'" he said.
But as the DRUDGE REPORT revealed last week, Rivera recently hit a wall on
the talkradio front.
WNEW in New York has balked big at the amount of money that Rivera was
asking to host a nightly radio show. And a dramatic split recently
developed inside of corporate ABC over bringing in Rivera. ["This will
happen over my dead body," said one senior ABC executive.]
The Limbaugh Era looks likely to continue...
X X X X X
TIME WARNER BLASTS TIME WARNER; CLOONEY NOT $2 MILLION AN EPISODE MAN
In its current issue, TIME WARNER's PEOPLE magazine broke news that TIME
WARNER star George Clooney "will reportedly receive a whopping $ 2 million
an episode" to make several guest appearances on TIME WARNER's ER next
season.
The Clooney flash spread to newspapers across the world.
[The LONDON EVENING STANDARD headlined "GEORGE CLOONEY GETS $2M TO BE ER
GUEST STAR" in Tuesday editions.]
But late Thursday, TIME WARNER's press department was busy giving TIME
WARNER's PEOPLE a severe sibling synergy spanking.
TIME WARNER's David Stapf issued a strongly worded press release accusing
TIME WARNER's PEOPLE of fabrication.
WARNER BROS. TELEVISION STATEMENT REGARDING GEORGE CLOONEY AND "ER"
"Recently published, erroneous reports indicating that George Clooney is
returning to ER next season for two million dollars per episode are
completely fabricated. No press representative confirmed this information
with either WARNER BROS. or the actor. Throughout his five-year tenure on
the show, and now, following completion of his contract, salary issues never
played a factor - as evidenced by his decision to never ask to renegotiate
his original contract. If and when he does return, it will be for reasons
other than salary."
X X X X X
NO LIVING LA VIDA LOCA FOR POP STAR MARTIN ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
Ricky Martin will not be posing in photo shoots or signing autographs at
superstores or sitting for entertainmentmedia interviews on Millennium Eve.
Martin says he will take a pause and celebrate the historic date by --
meditating on a mountain in Tibet!
"I want beautiful serenity. It should be an important moment in every
person's life," explains Martin.
"I want to be sitting in the middle of the Himalayas in a tent with no TV or
loud noises."
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
---------------------------------------------------------
Filed by Matt Drudge
Reports are moved when circumstances warrant
http://www.drudgereport.com
(c)DRUDGE REPORT 1999
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