The Reliable Source

After a 25-year career as a distinguished editor, feature writer, investigative reporter and war correspondent, Rich Leiby has never, ever won the Pulitzer Prize. Now he's found his life's calling as a gossip columnist. He'll take your tips, chew the fat, discuss the dish and babble in cliche-ridden prose right here once a week.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Richard Leiby: I'm not assuming anyone is online today, on this Federal Holiday, but we'll get right to the only story gripping the nation, at least according to a press release I just received here at the Quidnunc Bunker:

"This summer, felines will have the entire spotlight! With Garfield appurrrring on the big screen June 11th and Halle Berry pouncing on as Catwoman July 23rd, cats everywhere will be meowing with excitement. Luckily there is a way to make your cat feel like a movie star too!

"Panic Mouse Inc. is pleased to announce the arrival of its Garfield line of products. The electronic interactive Garfield Cat Toy creates random 'mouse-like movement,' changing directions in unpredictable jerking motions. Panic Mouse has won numerous awards in the industry and was voted the most enticing motorized cat toy on the market by Catnip Magazine! This fun interactive Garfield toy will keep your kitty busy for hours with the most infamous pop culture cat in America."

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Iowa: Des Moines is hosting the World Pork Expo. This includes skateboarding pigs, barbecue contests (presumably not involving any of the porcine performers), and all manner of hog production accessories. Does Washington have any comparable events?

Richard Leiby: I'm certain there is an upcoming convention for lobbyists that would feature comparable events, including a competition for Best Wallowing at the Public Trough. Or an Olympics for defense contractors involved in the multi-billion-dollar reconstruction of Iraq. Around here we call them "The Coalition of the Billing."

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Alexandria, Va. : Watching the TV these past few days has been a blizzard of memories of a better time in our history. Ronald Reagan was the second greatest leader in the history of the world (second to only Jesus Christ our Lord), and he has done so much for us. While the liberals carp about minor details, we should all be reminded of the greatness of this man.

We should leave him permanently in the Capitol building, and rename it for him. Then congressmen would have to walk past him every day and be reminded of his greatness forever. Before they raise taxes or prevent a righteous war, they would have to reflect on the legacy of Reagan. We would have a better country if Reagan became a permanent part of the Congress in this way.

Richard Leiby: Let me just quote a very heartfelt commentator I heard on the radio today (it was WTNT-AM, I think) andhe was covering services at National Cathedral. Birds were chirping in the background, and the correspondent duly took note of that. Then he intoned: "Even in death, he brings us life."

I THINK he was referring to Mr. Reagan, and not to Jesus Christ, but I wouldn't swear to it.

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Arlington, Va.: Hey, I'm here. The corp execs decided we didn't need the day off, but I don't see many of them around. Hmmmm. Wish I had a question for you!

Richard Leiby: Arlington: I'll take ANY questions, except from the Ballston guy who's still fixated on the Olsen twins. Can't that dude get a Catwoman fetish?

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Capitol Hill, D.C.: Hi, Richard.
I'm watching the Reagan funeral; very moving. Whatever happened to Nancy's best friend, Betsy Bloomingdale? Is she in town for the funeral?

Richard Leiby: She was scheduled to attend, according to our very reliable wire services, which reported:
"Nancy Reagan's friend, department store heiress Betsy Bloomingdale, will also attend as will several former California governors...." But we have to rely mainly on watching TV like everyone else. Even I don't have the guest list! Imagine that.

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Los Angeles, Calif.: Have you gotten Fawn Hall's observations about the funeral? She's living in L.A. with Doors manager Danny Sugerman.
CLUE US IN! before she shreds it all up.

Richard Leiby: I sure wish I had Fawn Hall's phone number, but I don't. I can't verify this alleged "Sugarman" connection, either.

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Langley, Va. (or, perhaps not Langley, Va.): Have you noticed there hasn't been a single proposal to rename the CIA headquarters after Ronald Reagan.

Richard Leiby: Yes, and that worries me. We have done so little to recognize Mr. Reagan. I'm personally eager to see a bill renaming Iraq "Reaganstan."

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Charlotte, N.C.: Doug Thompson, writing in the June 4th, edition of Capitol Hill Blue, cites White House aides and GOP political consultants as being concerned with the president's recent behavior. Behavior that is described as "erratic" and "paranoid", and prone to "obscene tantrums."

Is there a grain of truth to these charges? What is the likelihood that the strain of Iraq, and the campaign, could be getting to President Bush?

P.S.: Capitol Hill Blue (June 4)

Richard Leiby: That Web site story you cite has this quote: "It reminds me of the Nixon days," says a longtime GOP political consultant with contacts in the White House. "Everybody is an enemy; everybody is out to get him. That's the mood over there."

Now, I can't vouch for the "truth" of somebody else's reporting, but I would direct you to a forthcoming book that I wrote about this week. It's called "Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President," by Dr. Justin Frank. According to the PR release from ReganBooks in New York, "He tackles the ultimate question: Is our president psychologically fit to run the country?" I've read portions of the book and talked frankly with Dr. Frank. Bearing in mind the Dr. Frank, a psychiatrist in Washington with 35 years of experience, has never met President Bush, I still find his theories are interesting. He is harkening back to Dr. Freud's efforts to psychoanalyze historical and public leaders from a distance. Dr. Frank told me he's NOT a strict Freudian but is focused on behavior patterns. He claims Bush suffers from delusions of omnipotence, paranoia and megalomania.

But I'm not a doctor, as you know, nor an expert on remote psychoanalysis.

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Clifton, Va.: Not to be too catty and critical on this day of all days ... but what's with Patty Davis's look? Can anyone say split ends?

Richard Leiby: Anne weighs in: "She's never been a conformist." That's Anne's way of NOT being catty.

Fear not: I started with the Garfield post, giving you a subtle mental cue that it's okay to be "catty."

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Rockville, Md.: So when are you going to report on the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's "coronation" at the Dirksen Senate office building? Seems to me this would be right up your alley. There's video of bashful congressmen carrying the crown and everything!

Richard Leiby: Please send us the Web site address. But meanwhile, here's a wonderful picture of the event. Rocci is posting now.

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washingtonpost.com:

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Toledo, but not the good one, you know, in Spain: We have recently gotten word here in the hinterlands that Reagan died. But can he ever really die, living on as he does in the hearts and minds of a grateful nation?

Speaking of which, what are the best things folks have suggested naming after him? I mean, nothing will ever approach the glorious irony of renaming National Airport for the dude who canned the air traffic controllers, but what are some candidates?

Richard Leiby: I think the great unwashed public should speak on this urgent matter. Please provide some suggestions!

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Long Beach, Calif.: Doctor Smut,

I assume that you, like Ollie North, will be avoiding the Reagan funeral, so as not to take away any of Ronnie's thunder, or to distract the audience from the focus of the ceremonies. Is there any chance that you and Ollie could watch it together on TV? I'd love to hear his witicisms and astute observations. Perhaps he will be wearing a spear-proof vest, in case he needs to take another one for the Gipper?

Richard Leiby: Just why do you consider me "Doctor Smut"? Do you have access to my video-rental records?

Oh, on Ollie: I'd LOVE to do radio with him. He's got a far larger broadcast audience than I do. Right now I've got one spot on 630-WMAL AM that happens to be at 6:37 in the morning, on Thursdays, in case you EVER want to listen.

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In Leesburg, Va. you could have ...: The Ronald Reagan Air Traffic Control Center

Richard Leiby: Noted. But redundant in terms of ironic value, given the National Airport renaming.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Huh? From Alexandria, "the second greatest leader in the history of the world." Please tell me you were joking. Perhaps in the modern, U.S.-centric view of the world, but even then I'd put Roosevelt above him on the list. Reagan was a great man, but there are many other great men throughout history. What about past leaders of the Roman or Ottoman Empires?

Richard Leiby: I think Alexandria was being what we call "ironic." Regardless, there was a groundswell to kick FDR off the dime and replace him with The Gipper. I read somewhere that Nancy herself vetoed that idea.

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Tenleytown, Washington, D.C.: Quid Nunkypoo: 6:37 a.m. on Thursdays? No wonder you can't do a column on Friday.

Richard Leiby: My greatest achievement on Thursdays is Lunch. And, given my enormous expense account--it's the size of the Iraqi reconstruction budget--I'm happy to take any of you chatters to lunch, if you happen to have a justifiable story tip for me.

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Renaming: Metro=Reagan Mass Transit System or some such

Richard Leiby: "Ride ReaganRail." I like the poetry of it.

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Or perhaps: Teresa Reagan Kerry

Richard Leiby: That just might help the ticket. (Oh, wait, there's NO Dem ticket yet.)

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Washington, D.C.: Will The Post be printing a list of the people who attended the funeral? Inquiring minds want to know!

Richard Leiby: I'm sure, if that list is available, we'll print yet another special section, listing every single name in BOLDFACE TYPE, for reasons of posterity.

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Casbah, S.A.: We hear there's a new documentary about the late singer of your favorite band, Joe Strummer of the Clash. What do you know about it?

Richard Leiby: Oh, are we done with Ronnie? Okay, I know it's playing at the Silverdocs festival in Silver Spring next Friday. Info at silverdocs.com. I'm definitely going to see it. And I'm going to be on a panel Thursday evening involving Al-Jazeera. I assure you there is NO connection.

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Richard Leiby: LET'S ROCK AGAIN

Dick Rude
USA, 2004, 67 MINUTES
"For discerning music fans and radio disciples alike, former Clash singer Joe Strummer is a rock icon on par with (or higher than) Pete Townsend and Bruce Springsteen. But as he embarks on tour with his band the Mescaleros, he's just another guy handing out flyers and trying to promote his band. Part of Strummer's reality is a sign of the times-in the nostalgia-choked new reality, people favor reunions to fresh starts-but part of it is an endearing testament to the humble man that Strummer was throughout his lifetime and right up to his untimely death during the making of LET'S ROCK AGAIN! Strummer's longtime friend Dick Rude takes a poignant look at the Mescaleros' last tour, capturing moments that reveal Strummer to be a profound artist and an incredibly warm human being. In the Behind The Music world of rise-fall-repeat music documentaries, Rude's touching portrait truly goes behind the music and finds the man to be as great as the legendary musician. Join SILVERDOCS for a FREE outdoor screening of this special tribute film. Bring your friends to the Silver Triangle in downtown Silver Spring and set up as early as 8:00 p.m."

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Charlottesville, Va.: At work here too.

I say let's rename the coin after dear Ronnie. Let's see if he is any more popular that Susan B. and Sacajawea

Richard Leiby: The Gipper as a feminist icon? Take a look at my Thursday column. I quoted Lynne Cheney on that very point. She says he aided "the struggle" for women's rights.

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washingtonpost.com: SilverDocs

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washingtonpost.com: Rx for W: Electoral Surgery (Reliable Source, June 10)

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Baltimore, Md.: Just read the Capitol Blue item you linked to. The scary thing is that it totally fits with the "campaign thug" image that Bush had when he was in his dad's '88 campaign. His behavior also mirrors something that folks in AA call going on a "dry drunk," where your system is free of alcohol, but you behave irrationally the way a drunk does. At this point, you are really, really, really supposed to go to meetings. Don't think that will happen, do you?

Richard Leiby: Dr. Frank, who told me he regularly treats and assists alcoholics in recovery, devotes a chapter in his book to this topic.

I don't want to speculate on ANYBODY's psyche. I have enough trouble doing my own "inner work." Ya know?

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Cal: You'd make a great sidekick for Ollie North, don't you think? The question is who would play Bonzo's part? I'm glad you like Ollie! Ollie shreds! Let's see you get your own show on Fox! HA! Make your move! He'd listen, as he's a good Christian, and would not want to hurt your feelings by blowing you off too quickly. Be brave! Ask him!

Richard Leiby: Ollie is truly a righteous shredder. He is so rad. Didn't his Iran Contra testimony hugely ROCK?

Thanks for your vote of confidence. All I need now is a agent and Ollie's number.

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Missoula,Mont.: Richard, With all the discussions about renaming things for Ronald Reagan, has anyone considered renaming Afghanistan, Iraq, El Salvador, or Guatemala ... Reagania. As an ally, he did so much for them. While we're renaming things, perhaps Nicaragua would like to be Ollieland.

Richard Leiby: It's tough to have national or regional names cross continental borders. So "Reagania" would be unworkable. But Nicaragua as "Ollieland" is a natural, I think.

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Springfield, Va.: My husband, a federal worker, sat up most of last night watching the mourners on C-SPAN, and is sitting home today watching the funeral. Neither of us are/were huge fans of Reagan. No question, just wanted the taxpayers to know what one of their employees is doing today. I had to go to work.

Richard Leiby: And I think the taxpayers are getting every penny's worth today. Please thank your husband for helping to unite America.

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San Diego, Calif.: Joe Strummer: Saw the Mescaleros in San Diego. Their sax man didn't show up, and they asked anyone in the audience if they played sax! That was cool. Also saw Joe Strummer at the Desmond Dekker show in L.A. at the Whiskey A Go Go. He was a fan of music as much as a performer. He had taste!

Richard Leiby: Thank your for that eulogy. On Dekker: We all know, from hearing "White Man in Hammersmith Palais," along with other great Clash songs, Joe was a HUGE roots-reggae fan. As am I.

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The Airport: How the heck did they slip the renaming of National to Reagan National past the people of this area? I for one will NEVER, EVER in life call it anything other than just National Airport, but I feel like that renaming was done on the sly as I have lived here all my life, read the news regularly and didn't see much on it til it was done.

Richard Leiby: Like you, I woke up one day and it had just happened. We'll endeavor to find out if it was a conspiracy, like Iran-Contra, or just a natural, spontaneous political development.

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Arlington, Va.: Whatever happened to Secord?

Richard Leiby: We think Richard Secord is retired an living in Florida. Any other '80s trivia questions?

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K Street Corridor: All the first borns in California for the next 90 days should be named Ronald in tribute.

Richard Leiby: We had a great story today profiling a Florida congressman who considers Reagan "our Moses." So that first-born thing...well, who knows. Maybe we can link it.

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Ancient History: Put on your old foreign correspondent hat: I remember a brief front page article in the W.P. about a small plane going down in Nicaragua with an American on board and thinking, "What the hell is a small plane doing in Central America under these odd circumstances?" Clearly, an editor had the same thought, even though there was no clear narrative, just the hint of something. Sorry, not gossip, just a reminiscence.

Richard Leiby: That was a famous incident. Hasenfuss, wasn't he the pilot? Anybody remember? This is REAL deep 80s trivia, people. Kind of like, "Name me two songs by The Blue Nile."

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Burtonsville, Md.: Reagan helped women's rights? In what way? By setting up roadblocks to make the fight so much more meaningful?
That Lynne Cheney is such a hoot.

Richard Leiby: But Reagan DID nominate Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court -- and before that, no woman had EVER been nominated.

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Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Does this dress make me look fat?

Richard Leiby: Yes. Why do you ask?

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Cattyland, USA: The only reason to watch the funeral is to see how Tipper's hair looks, how bad Hillary looks and who that is sitting next to Prince Charles.

Richard Leiby: See, look what I've gone and done! You people are so disrespectful.

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Iowa: Interesting comments on gauging the president's mental state, either from up close or at a distance. Any word on whether he's talking to the White House portraits a la Nixon? And if so, whose portrait(s) would he choose for a heartfelt conversation at this juncture?

Richard Leiby: I have no way to know who the President is talking to, dead or alive. I just know that if the Reagan coverage continues much longer, I will be talking to portraits of Garfield. And I don't mean James Garfield.

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washingtonpost.com: The Reaganest Republican (Post, June 11)

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Secaucus, N.J.:
Did you hear that during Vice President Cheney's speech, MSNBC accidentally showed three minutes of Chris Matthews eating pizza? Surprising, viewers didn't complain until the picture was reset back to Cheney.

Richard Leiby: I'm not going to vouch for the truth of your statement, but I am making note that Garfield eats pizza too. I like these chats for their artistic unity. Don't you?

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Train in Vain: How about calling V-8 juice Reagan Salad?

Richard Leiby: A toast to you, Train.

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Did you see: Did you see Laura Bush pinch Tony Blair as she walked by? That was great ...

Richard Leiby: Look, I can't type, annoy Anne and Rocci, listen to pealing bells AND watch TV at the same time. I'm only human, born to make mistakes. Name that tune!

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Los Angeles, Calif.: Two songs by The Blue Nile: 2 out of 3?
1. I love you more than my Camel
2. Aswan damn my eyes!
3. You pup my tent

Richard Leiby: I guess you win, but I don't know all their stuff. I do know "Human" by The Human League, and that's the last '80s trivia we're doing today, my peeps. Please have a restful weekend. Masalaama. Quid.

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