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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune OPINION Monday, June 8, 1998 AQ Delay of Starr Investigation Might Not Be Good News for Gore WASHINGTON — The White House is supposed to be pleased that the Su- Starr’s request for a quick hearing on whether Bruce Lindsey can avoid testify- deal with the question while running his own campaign. It could be extremely awkward for a politician who is not always at his best in dealing with awkward questions. along, is that the longer the special prosecutor’s case is delayed, the better for sioned because of the Supreme Court ruling may be exaggerated. It is hard to imagine, for example, that special prose- preme Court has turned down Kenneth ing byciting an attorney-client privilege The theory there, as it has been all President Clinton. With this decision, there is a realistic possibility that the privilege issue won't be settled until af- ter the midterm election in November. But Vice President Al Gore could be excused if he doesn’t join in welcoming the prospect of a long delay. If the issue of Clinton's culpability, if any, isn’t resolved by November, it won’t happenuntil the 2000 presidential campaign be- gins immediately after the midterm election. And that, in turn, raises the prospect of Gore, nowthe odds-on favorite for the Democratic nomination, being obligedto JACK GERMOND JULES WITCOVER As a practical matter, the delay envi- cutorStarr's case will standorfall on the up: Linda Tripp. And such a case would not have to await some reinforcing testimo- ny from Lindsey or the Secret Service agents whose claim to a privilegealsois awaiting action in the courts. Who’s Predatory Feds Shouldn’t Regulate Airlines It is also possible that Starr could write an interim report to Congress on the whole episode and thus invitea deci- sion by the Houseof Representatives on whether to impeachthe president. There is little sentiment for such drastic action even among Republicans except for a and Kahn and Department of Transportation officials are now proposing gov- ernmentinterferencein the airline marketplace because some airlines have managed well under deregulation. Under closer scrutiny, however, their latest proposals amount to de facto re-regula- tion — even moreironic when these same people admit that consumers have benefited to the tune ofbillions of dol- lars under airline deregulation. Government doesn’t intervene in other marxets. I can almost hear the public outeryif a Kmart openedin aparticular neighborhood and the local Wal-Mart was prevented by the federal govern- ment from underselling or matching prices in order to compete. Yet, this is exactly what the Department of Transportation is threatening to do. This discriminatorypolicy results in a government-created playing field that onceagain isn't level, astheselatest gov ernment threats are unfairly directed onlyat a certain segment of the industry — the established carriers. And, once personal and working relationship, and Gorehas every reason to be grateful for the political help Clinton has given him in preparing for his own campaign. So enormousadvantagegoingintothepresidential election. But he doesn't need seekingone, for the vice president to dis- stories about Clinton’s problems cluttering up the front pages — or the debate uesat currentlevels, Gorewill enjoy an there is no reason, even if Gore were about whoshouldbe our next president tance himself from the president [Bruce] Lindsey or [Sidney] Blumenthal MARIE COCCO fall under the executive privilege.” Not a helpmate or a hostess. Not the nation’s mother nor its mannequin. She is a senior presidential adviser who acts in an official capacity, just as a federal appeals court said she was back in the health-care days, when the Clin- NEWSDAY tons’ political opponents tried to claim she wasn’t the same as a real government official, entitled to carry out policy de- as she is so often these days by adorable tots ed for soft-focus appeal, a federal judge in Washington cleared up the rector of the Air Line Pilots Association. Here we are 20 years down the road In the end, the Lewinskyaffair may have no bearing on either the 1998 or 2000 campaigns. If the economycontin ate. Gore and Clinton have had a close care and children’s health, surrounded DREecnse law scholar at Georgetown University Law Center, who said this ruling is consistent in acknowledging the same circumstance that confronted the jurists in the legal dispute over Hillary Clinton’s again, this warning carries with it the genuinepotential to hurt certainairlines ceive — deals that include taxpayer-fi- first to testify before a grand jury. The Backin 1978, critics correctly predict- ments to entice them to enter markets The politicians can’t have it both ways We should either haveairline regulation for her choice in china but for her trad- and damage manyworkers’ lives ed that deregulation would result in air- line industry consolidation, but no one wantedto listen. Instead, people such as Kahn sold a bill of goods to an unsuspecting Congress and public. Now, these same individuals are attempting to correct their mistakes by punishing the suc- cessful airlines. or deregulation. There canbe nofair mix of both. A basic precept of business is the capabilityto set the price for one’s product in order to protect one’s market. This Department of Transportation proposal would greatly limit that concept Back in 1978, U.S. airlines were thrust And, once again, in order to accom- plish this latest scheme, thefalse claimis again being madethat the onlyresult of this new discriminatory policy will be lower airfa: nanced airport and terminal improve- Where were the Depart- ment of Transportation and Kahn with their charity only a few short years ago when there an overabundanceof un: filled seats and the established airlines werelosingbillionsof dollars? into a totallynewball game with a brand newset of rules. The deregulation archi- tects like Kahnthenretired to their secure, tenured positions in academia while theairlines and their employees did battle in the newly created market- place. Whenthingsdidn’t quite turn out exactly as they thought they would, a whole newset of unfair rules were proposedto “correct” thesituation — per- It’s also strange that there is no men- ceived deficienciesin a systemtheycreated. carriers such as Southwest utilize when they enter a new market — items like a It never ceases to amaze me that most Americans believe in andlive by the cre do, “Youget what youpay for." But, due to government rhetoric, some apparent- tion of the gimmickssuccessful low-fare free ticket for a companionor charging unrealistically lowfares in order to gain a foothold in the new markets Also not addressed are someof the other “goodies” newentrant carriersre- lythink this truism doesn’t applytoair- lines, Andthat is truly a sad commentary ‘It is a bit of a surprise, but not a big one,” said Susan Bloch,a constitutional past six years has had the nation positively panicked. This first lady is a senior adviser to the president, Judge Norma Holloway Johnson ruled, entitled to the protection of executive privilegeto shield from prosetop White House aides. Just another first for Hillary Rodham Clinton. She's the first first lady to be targeted by a special prosecutor. The ntl liberationsin secret cultural confusion that at times in the cutorial scrutiny her conversations with Manypeople, myself included, urged the CABto slow downits airline deregula- many airlines and workers’ lives. whateverhas beenrevealedat that time about Clinton's conduct? be in a position quite different from any Democrat running for the Houseor Sen- Add another page to the unfinished historyof the Hillary paradox. As Hillary RodhamClinton was in California one day recently discussing child Kahn, the original architect of airline deregulation — only confirm this When airline deregulation was originally enacted in 1978, I was aneight-year veteran EasternAir Linespilot and a di- told that under these circumstancesair- personal reputation is above reproach and his wife and children are great assets. But can he avoid as a candidatesay ing what he thought or thinks about Really Is Akin to a Co-President partment — in concert with formerCivil Aeronautics Board Chairman Alfred ing with a level playing field. They were is little likelihood of the House swinging back to the Democrats and thus insulating the president against impeachment would haveplenty of time to prepare a As It Turns Out, This First Lady the Department of Transpor.ation's proposal to police purported “predatory pricing” by the largerairlines is no more than a thinly veiled attempt at partial reregulation of the airline industry. The ideas and remarks put forth by the de- line deregulation carried with it the very real potential to damage or destroy response. Gore himself has a measureofinsula tion fromClinton. The vice president's KELMX, AND ENUOV THE COMPLEMENTARY PENNUTS. AY The recent announcement concerning such questions with ease andself-assur- ance, althoughin this case he obviously factor in the political calculus. Opinion polls don’t show the various investigations of Clinton to be a concern of many voters making choices on Congress. The president's problem has not yet become WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PAVING, JO KICK PACK, FOR NE} duct in the Oval Office. And Gore has shown in the past that he does not handle In anycase, there is no demonstrated reasonfor the midterm elections to be a But runningfor president, Gore would CHICAGO TRIBUNE SERVICE TWO (YOUR CAPTAIN THANKSFOR FLYING PREDATOR NIRLINES.... LIKE YOUWAD ACHOICE.. WELLGE CRUIDING AT NBOUTS300% ABOVE BY GEORGEJEHN tion efforts, as the airlines weren’t start- few extremists who have been frothing at the mouth for months. a Democratic Party problem. And there testimony of Lindsey, the man who has s been closest to the president and surely the last one who would give him If Starr has a case of committing or suborning perjury that can be made against anyone, the key obviously would be the testimony of Monica Lewinsky and her tape-recording erstwhile friend Nonetheless, it is not hard to imagine himbeing asked by Democratic competi- tors in the primaries — andthere surely will be twoor three — if he approvedor disapproved of Clinton's personal con’ first to cause a Washington tempest not ing in cattle futures. She's the first to have caused something just short of a political insurrection by trying, and failing, to write and shepherd through Congress a major piece of legislation. She’s the first to travel so widely abroad on her own, without the pomp or political cover of a full presidential entourage. She'sthefirst to go on TV andtry to save her husband's presidency by denying on his behalf that he had an affair health-care role, “I guess one could imagine a spouse who only talks about the children and the meals and bakes cookies,” with a pretty intern less thanhalfhis age. House luncheon honoring Redbook magazine’s “Mothers and Shakers,’ and Now, the pastel silks and pearls she took to wearing after her power suits stoked fear and loathing across the land are acknowledged, finally, publicly and jurisprudentially, to be costumes. Mrs. Clinton is widely seen as an adviser to the president and Congress itself has recognized that the president's acts as the functional equivalent who once could provoke a media frenzy over the way she wore her hair generat ed nary a comment when she laid before the courts a question of constitutional and historical consequence. Maybe we've all grown up and gotten used to Hillary Clinton, just as she has grown tant to the president,” John- son wrote in her May26 decision on the White House’s attempt to prevent top aides fromtestifying before Kenneth r’s grand jury. “The courtfinds that conversations betweenthefirst lady and pushing for more and better child care. Morecurious,still, is that a woman inuredto us. Still, it would be nice to believe that she and Johnson have brought us that muchcloser to the day when we'll ask a first lady what she intends to do before critiquing what she intends to wear. WERE CELEBRATING CLEAR ACROSS THE CO CAN BLOG GET $50 IN GIFT CHECKS DURING OUR NATIONWIDE GRAND OPENING. Stop by any of the locations below and help us celebrate that Sprint PCS Centers are now nationwide. 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And in that case, the person wouldn't be the president’s confidante.” It is a cruel twist that Hillary Clinton has won from the judge presiding over a case stemming from her husband's alleged infidelity the respect she’s worked so hardto gain. She is one ofthe big boys. Johnson ruled, even as she jets around the country doing women’s work. Last week, Clinton lent her prestige to the Sara Lee Corp.'s announcement of a big gift of fine art to major museums; the day before, she was hostess at a White Sprint PCS Center 6556 South State Street Salt Lake City 293-1900 : _ Sprint PCS Sprint PCS Express Center Trolley Square Downtown 530-1027 |
