Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Headline Article Date: Mon, 2 Nov 92 15:45:13 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION;INSIDE THE BELTWAY \BY John McCaslin \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES BECAUSE WE CARE Jesse Jackson is urging the city's religious leaders to participate in a twilight prayer vigil this election eve at Freedom Plaza in opposition to the D.C. death penalty referendum proposed by Sen. Richard Shelby, Alabama Democrat, and the U.S. Congress. Members of the Coalition to Vote No on the Death Penalty Referendum, in a letter signed by Mr. Jackson, warn the clergy that executions ordered in the District could be carried out in other states, where among the methods are "firing squad and hanging." Not to worry. Utah, the only state with a firing squad still on call, gives evil wrong-doers the more humane option of lethal injection. And while one can still insist on being hanged in Montana, Delaware and Washington state, officials also will let you depart by way of needle. TUESDAY BREAKDOWN There's a lot more at stake tomorrow than the heated presidential and congressional contests. The National Conference of State Legislatures says voters will decide on a total of 6,255 state legislative seats that are up for reelection. Of the current 7,461 legislative seats, 4,419 are held by Democrats, 2,966 by Republicans, and 11 by independents. Currently, the Democrats control both chambers in 29 states, and the Republicans control both chambers in six states. And if you're fed up with the mudslinging of the warring sides, consider Nebraska, where the legislature is nonpartisan and unicameral. I SAY They're having a jolly time in London betting on the Bush-Clinton battle, and by lunchtime tomorrow British bookmakers expect $2 million in bets. "We originally expected to handle $1 million in bets, but now we expect to reach the $2 million barrier . . . when the book closes," said Ladbrokes' Paul Austin. Fun-loving Bill Clinton has remained the favorite among Britons with Ladbrokes offering odds of 1-3, although odds against his majesty, President Bush, retaining the throne had closed to 2-1 and were narrowing. The little prince, Ross Perot, is way outside, with only a 33-1 chance of winning. THEN AND NOW Sen. Al Gore, as quoted during the 1989 Senate hearings on the nomination of John Tower to be Secretary of Defense: "Even though we may feel that personal issues . . . ought to be kept entirely out of consideration unless brought into play by conclusive and overwhelming evidence, these issues [womanizing and alcohol abuse] have nevertheless made their marks. Are we entitled to ignore them? "Are we entitled . . . because of uncertainty and uncomfortableness over the nature of the evidence, are we . . . entitled to completely ignore the matters which have been brought to the attention of this committee, albeit in an unsatisfactory form? "I believe not." PARTY PARTYING Beer Drinkers of America, a national consumer organization, has sent "Election Night Survival Kits" to congressional candidates and their staffs, sans suds. Instead, the beer drinkers are promoting responsibility during tomorrow night's celebrations, and to drive home their point they've sent each candidate a breath tester to estimate blood-alcohol levels. MOLES BEWARE The American Federation of Government Employees - Local 2607, in its current Department of Education newsletter, the New Word, announced that six unnamed education managers have received union nomination for the Viper Award, which is reserved for "managers who exhibit behavior like snakes that are famous for their meanness and sneak attacks on unwitting victims." The union also issued a "Mole Alert" directed against political employees in the current administration who might soon be out of a job: "These creatures of the dark are everywhere this political season. As the election nears, political appointees . . . will all be seeking 'non-competitive,' competitive appointments to career slots. Once these creatures burrow-in, they are hard to locate. Please be sure to let the union know if there are moles in your [workplace]. The New Word will be listing mole sightings as they are reported." Rest assured, taxpayers, The New Word is published with union funds. NO KIDDING From a conservative Heritage Foundation news release: "With Patrick Buchanan's isolationism, Dan Quayle's 'family values,' Jack Kemp's empowerment strategy for the poor and William Weld's mix of economic conservatism and social liberalism, there is much confusion over just what it means to be a conservative these days." So in an attempt to define a conservative, Heritage will bring together some of the best conservative minds in the nation for a series of lectures over the next few months. Might we suggest including a so-called "leader" of the conservative movement, William F. Buckley Jr. Here's a guy, New American magazine points out, who has long advocated the legalization of marijuana, agreed with the Panama Canal giveaway, said he would probably join the Marxist-dominated African National Congress if he were a black South African, has endorsed homosexual rights legislation, pushed for foreign aid giveaways to Russia, charged Pat Buchanan with anti-Semitism, wants national service for youth and favors legalized prostitution. Still confused? This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM