Straining to Be in the Spotlight

When Vice President Al Gore wanted a photo to show what an environmentally-minded politician he is, he decided a canoe trip on the Connecticut River would do. But to make the photo better, 4 billion gallons of water was released from a dam to bring the river’s water level up far enough so Gore’s canoe wouldn’t get stuck in the mud. “They won’t release water for the fish when we ask them to, but somehow they find themselves able to release it for a politician,” complained John Kassel, director of the Vermont Department of Natural Resources, to the Washington Times newspaper. Kassel later denied making the remark, but the paper stood by its story. Meanwhile, ex-Vice President Dan Quayle is proud that he is the butt of jokes by TV comedians. “In the Leno poll, I’m number one,” Quayle proclaimed, referring to the host of The Tonight Show who, he says, has made at least 52 jokes this year at his expense. They don’t bother him? “Oh, I love those jokes,” Quayle insists. (AP, 2) ...At least, the ones he understands.