-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 DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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