Salon.com > Dave Shiflett

It ain't gospel

Thu, 17 Feb 2000 17:00:00 +0000

As the co-author of Donald Trump's latest book, and a hack writer who takes pride in offering literary services to a diverse clientele (in exchange for cash, preferably upfront), I sometimes find myself wondering where I'd draw the line. A book for Hillary Rodham Clinton? I'm not of her political stripe, but she seems a decent enough person. Besides, maybe she'd dish a few hot tamales on Bill. Augusto Pinochet? Hmmm. He is a somewhat important historical figure, and I somehow doubt all those people he killed were really commies, hell-bent on turning Chile into another North Korea. Still, how much dough would he be willing to part with?

Snake eyes

Wed, 27 Oct 1999 16:00:00 +0000

Recent surprise defeats of organized gambling (in Alabama at the polls and in South Carolina in the courts) have been an authentic David vs. Goliath story -- which is especially pleasing for the victors, many of whom hold to a literal belief in David and Goliath.

But this is not merely another case of Southern upheaval. While Goliath -- powerful national gambling interests -- is hardly down for the count, these defeats should force presidential candidates to address the dramatic nationwide expansion of gambling. The discourse not only should provide amusing rhetorical acrobatics, but could perhaps help Bill Bradley -- who has opposed organized gambling -- permanently relocate Al Gore
back to Nashville.

The anti-gambling victories have been portrayed as the work of conservative Christians, but in fact they represent a larger political trend that cannot help but pierce the bliss of Gambling Inc. The belief that organized gambling corrupts both individuals and the political process has drawn a widening swath of voters -- a broad coalition that reaches all the way from Focus on the Family chief James Dobson to Ralph Nader. As one anti-gambling advocate says, "You can fit all of America between Dobson and Nader."

“A noble hypocrisy”

Tue, 24 Aug 1999 11:00:00 +0000

George W. Bush's first dance in the frying pan has been rewarding for Democrats, but they're not alone in savoring the sweat on his brow raised by persistent media questions about his past drug use. Many conservative-leaning observers, including this writer, welcome the heir's long-awaited appearance in the hot seat, mainly to see what "the boy" (as George Will has pegged him) is made of.

Some Republican and conservative operatives believe the heat may have lasting effects. "Initially he had a plausible and workable strategy," says Roger Stone, a veteran of eight Republican presidential campaigns. "There is a growing feeling that the media are out of control, that political leaders and celebrities have a right to privacy."

But Bush stumbled, Stone believes, when he began "answering by degrees. That raises additional questions." What about lasting damage? "Way too early to tell," says Stone, but the possibility definitely exists. "The danger is that he is largely an undefined commodity. People are still forming impressions. At this time a discussion of cocaine is not a positive."