imkittymyers at hotmail dot com
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
I REMEMBER MARTHA
Last night's episode of 24 was another white knuckle experience.
Writing in NRO, William Hawkins sees the character of President Logan as Clinton:
The Clinton Show
Even 24 can’t top the crazy things Clinton tried.
Logan was more often compared to another Republican president, Richard Nixon. … But it seems there is a closer comparison between Logan's plot and reality. It was revealed by new Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times reporter James Risen in his book State of War. And it involves former Democratic president Bill Clinton.
I always viewed the character of President Logan as Jinny Carter; they're both spineless and out for only themselves. (And don't give me this Habitat for Humanity business, either!) Logan is married to an on-again off-again basket case named Martha. Martha drinks and can do and say stupid things, although she seems to possess a real patriotism and can be strong, unlike that f'n weasel she's married to. In fact, she reminds me of another Martha, who died 30 years ago: Martha Mitchell.
Martha Mitchel was married to the then U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell, of Watergate fame. When the scandal hit the fan, Martha was sent into an absolute tizzy. Rumors began to circulate that she was drinking as she attempted to save her husband.
[S]he began to call other reporters, sometimes in the middle of the night. John Mitchell knew of his wife’s shenanigans, and at first defended her, accusing the press of exploiting a naïve Southern girl. Soon Nixon was on his case, however, and John reportedly went so far as to lock Martha in a closet to keep her from phoning the press.
In fact: "If it hadn't been for Martha there'd have been no Watergate," Nixon said in an interview with David Frost in 1977.
Last night in a moment reminiscent of Watergate, that smarmy Logan had his wife Martha locked up, too.
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