| The Reliable Source -- Live
Hosted by Lloyd Grove
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 31, 2002; 11 a.m. EDT Got a rumor to dispel or confirm? Looking for dirt on your favorite or most-hated Washington celebrity? Ask "The Reliable Source" columnist Lloyd Grove, online Fridays at 11 a.m. EDT. Grove, a 20-year veteran of The Washington Post, has been writing The Reliable Source column in the Style section since May 1999. Grove grew up in Los Angeles and Greenwich, Conn. He was an English major at Yale and worked for the Kansas City Times (now defunct, we think), the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and the Dallas Morning News before joining the Post on the Weekend section, where for a few years he reviewed practically every live theater show that opened in D.C., including a few in church basements. From there, he joined Style as a general assignment writer with a special interest in politics, and spent a year and a half covering the 1988 presidential campaign for the National staff. In 1991 -- after an ill-advised book leave -- he returned to Style and served as a political reporter, with occasional detours into television and movie coverage. He also has written extensively for Vanity Fair magazine. 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. Lloyd Grove: Good morning, everyone. How come this short week has gone on so long? I am ready to relax this weekend, for sure. So, it seems, is that left wing Web site that last week was inciting an e-mail campaign against me for that "tell-all Washington memoirist David Brock in Sibley psychiatric ward" item. The e-mails seem to be fizzling out and I haven't noticed any new diatribes on the site, like the one comparing Brock to a courageous Soviet dissident and me to a Stalinist thug. Maybe the author of these learned pensees received a chilling phone call from his book publisher about the catastrophic consequences of yet another missed deadline. Anyhow, let's meet OUR deadlines right now.
Washington, D.C.: While I support your right to publish the David Brock piece in question, can we please just let him slide into obscurity? I'm so tired of reading about these has-beens and never-wases. Whenever I see David Brock's name, I turn the page - just not interested in the slightest. Ann Coulter and Arianna Huffington, too. Please let's just throw them in a river and be done with them. Lloyd Grove: I would never throw Arianna into a river unless she explicitly told me that she wanted to get wet.
Silver Spring, Md.: Hi Lloyd. I read your article yesterday re: the African women that were duped out of thousands to come to this country to sell their wares. I feel awful! Can't their country pay their way home? What kind, if any, recourse do they have? Thanks. washingtonpost.com: Ugandan Craftspeople Stranded by a Scam (Post, May 30) Lloyd Grove: I should have been clearer in the item that they do have return tickets to Uganda, but they feel that if they go home without recouping their losses, they face divorce, financial disaster, debtors prison or worse. Thus they are stranded here, until they can make back the money they've lost. The Ugandan ambassador, who was very elusive when some of the folks helping the Ugandans tried to enlist her aide, suddenly got very interested when I called so maybe that will result in some good. Meanwhile, they are supposed to be selling their wares starting today and through the weekend out at Capital Plaza Mall in Landover Hills, Md.
Arlington, Va.: Lloyd, Which station and which weather personality do you gain your morning daily weather predictions from? Lloyd Grove: Oddly, I never listen to that stuff and the weather sometimes come as a huge shock to me when I step outside.
Washington, D.C.: Lloyd, I'm speechless. Anna Nicole Smith is going to have her own reality show, a la "The Osbournes." Will you be watching? Lloyd Grove: If somebody sends me a dub, I'll certainly watch a few minutes of it. I will leave it to lisa de Moraes to tell me if the show is culturally significant.
Somewhere, USA: Close to the Supreme Court: C SPAN has had cameras in the Supreme Court Chamber "dozens" of times, covering lectures and other non-judicial events. Some of these are programs of the Court's Historical Society. But cameras in the SC for oral arguments or "non-argument sessions", when decisions are handed down? Not likely any time soon. Lloyd Grove: We shall see, my friend. Brian Lamb is a very persuasive man.
Washington, D.C.: Hey Lloyd: First thanks for responding to my question last week regarding race relations in D.C. Would you support a sort of March like thing for "Unity in D.C." -- for White and Black people to come together and also the have and have nots, or is this just too far fetched? My God Lloyd, did you hear they're trying to bring guns back to D.C.? There goes the neighborhood! Lloyd Grove: I see nothing wrong with a March, but I somehow doubt that such an event will have lasting impact on race relations. That is too tightly tied a gordian knight to come loose in one fell swoop, or for that matter, in a thousand fell swoops. Can you loosen knots in fell swoops?
Maryland: Eastern snore: Say, Lloyd, whatever happened to Lizzie "It's Groobman, you white trash" Grubman, the fastest SUV in the Hamptons? As your faithful readers will recall, the bottle blond publicist backed her giant vehicle into a nightclub crowd last summer, causing much mayhem. Did she ever go to trial? Did she wave a magic wand and make the whole painful incident disappear? Am I waiting in vain to see hubris punished? Whaddup? I trust you to know, Mr. G! Lloyd Grove: I leave Lizzie to my colleagues up North, but I think I read somewhere that the trial is about to start.
Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Hi Lloyd, I was feeling rather perky about the consumer confidence index the other day (don't ask), so I decided to look into it. Do you know what government agency issues the report? Nada. It's a private company (The Conference Board, Inc.) that offers consulting to corporations. They send out a questionnaire with 16 opinion questions, then magically calculate that we are exactly 127.325 on the confidence scale. No wonder we always seem to be optimistic. What a joke. I propose we have a Consumer Confidence Confidence Index, and see how good everyone feels when they find out a private company that works for big moneyed interests is telling us how confident we are. What do you think? Feeling confident? Lloyd Grove: I doubt this group has a monopoly on the consumer confidence numbers. Alan Greenspan wouldn't permit it.
Washington, D.C.: Huffington is great. She's one of the few Republicans to wake up and see that the super rich (not the mere millionaires, but the gabillionaires) are ripping off both Republicans and Democrats alike. It isn't about Democrat and Republican anymore. It's super-wealthy (.001% of us) against the rest (99%). Once we all wake up to their scams and rip-offs, and join together, we'll all be better off. Can't we all just get along?
Lloyd Grove: I agree. By the way, I apologize for my sluggishness. I'm at home and my phone line is a bit degraded for some reason--hey aren't they charging me enough?--and I've had to sign off and on again.
Arlington, Va: Yes, I think the Conference Board took over the consumer confidence index duties from the bureau of Labor statistics or the University of Michigan but it's definitely private. Lloyd Grove: Interesting. Somebody should an expose of this secretive economic cabal.
Washington, D.C.: Apparently, the prestigious law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering has decided to cancel its usually lavish holiday party (a huge buffet at the Four Seasons plus dancing and much alcohol) in a cost cutting measure. Of course the firm's partners made more money last year than they ever had before. Lloyd Grove: Well, that will at least spare the local merchants from a major shakedown by blue chip lawyers trying to gouge out freebies for their underpaid support staffs.
Maryland: Do you ever eat cheeseburgers, Lloyd? If so, which of the major fast food chains has the best cheeseburger? My vote is for Burger King. Oddly, Tom Sietsema never answers this question. Lloyd Grove: Every so often I do eat a cheeseburger but I don't go to fast food joints. I don't eat 'em enough to have a favorite place, though.
Annapolis, Md.: How old is Mark Geragos, Gary Condit's new "lawyer"? I see him on TV all the time -- does he really practice or is really a PR type? Lloyd Grove: Mark, who I believe is around 48, is a full-service celebrity-media lawyer, who litigates equally before a court and before the court of public opinion.
Somewhere, USA: re: Ugandan Craftspeople Story: I read that story, too, Lloyd. Quick question, though -- why was this in your column as opposed to Metro? A story about a bunch of Ugandans hardly quantifies as gossip to me. Lloyd Grove: Well, I write about a lot of stuff that could appear in any and every section of the newspaper. In this case, walter Fauntroy tipped me to it and got me interested so I reported it out and printed it. I like to do a whole bunch of different things in the column and keep you guessing. But you're right, it wasn't gossip.
Washington, D.C.: I keep reading that Chelsea Clinton has a drinking problem. Given the fact that there were alcoholics in her family, are the Clintons concerned? Have you interviewed either of the Clintons with regard to the reports and have you heard that Chelsea may be attending a rehab center this summer? Lloyd Grove: Neither of the Clintons seem to want to touch me with a barge pole, let alone sit down for an interview with me. I've been reading as well about Chelsea's alleged drunken misadventures in Europe. I have to say that when I was her age--if any tabloid reporters had been paying attention--it would have made for some rather ugly double-truck spreads.
Washington, D.C.: What is Diana Davis doing now? Has VF done a follow-up? How about YOU do a follow up, Lloyd? Love ya! Lloyd Grove: I haven't heard a peep from her since January. My instinct is to let sleeping dogs lie. Not that I'm referring to anyone as a dog here.
Plano, Tex.: Shouldn't America Be even more concerned if Cheney's defense that he didn't know that company he was running, Halliburton, started cooking its books by 100 million when its total was only 438 million in 1998. If a CEO doesn't know where 1/4th his company's income comes from, he is grossly inept at his job. His is also not being an adult, or responsible or earning his 36 million compensation package. If your pay is nearly 10% of the company's gross income, you sure as hell should know where a major junk of its income comes from. Lloyd Grove: That's a very substantive observation for this show, and one that, if true, will undoubtedly get its fair share of attention.
Alexandria, Va.: If Chandra Levy was murdered somewhere else and taken to Rock Creek Park then doesn't that suggest premeditation? Who else would have been motivated to kill her besides someone in the Condit family? Maybe Mrs. Condit? Just because there was a motive doesn't mean the motivated person is guilty, but does it look worse for Condit the more premeditated the act appears? Lloyd Grove: Well, I've read that the police want to re-interview Gary Condit--who may not be out of the woods yet in terms of his own legal troubles--and I expect that will happen.
Potomac, Md.: Lloyd: Lots of buzz about an energetic dance performance and after-show reception Wednesday night at the Kennedy Center and Brasserie, respectively. The Gus Giordano Dance Co., from Chicago, and Tony Powell/Music and Movement performed before a sold-out Terrace Theater audience who hooted and hollered and gave a standing ovation! Giordano, members of his dance company, members of Tony Powell's company and several other society folks gathered at the Brasserie afterwards. Just FYI. Lloyd Grove: Clearly, a lot of people who have a lot more energy than me at that time of night!
Washington, D.C.: Why did Clinton refuse to appear on Saturday Night Life? The cast is pretty liberal like himself. Lloyd Grove: I assume he has a standing invitation that he may, one day, say yes to.
Washington, D.C.: Heard on the radio this morning that Jamie Fox is set to play Marion Barry on a cable movie, you got any scoop on this one? Lloyd Grove: Hadn't heard that but maybe this is the vehicle that Chris Rock has been trying to develop. Marion is certainly worth a cable movie at minimum.
Washington, D.C.: What has happened to Mike Lynch, Mike Dayton and the other staffers for Condit....You were all over them last summer and now -- nothing? Lloyd Grove: Well, they get to work for congressman Condit until the end of the year, when the office turns into a rotting pumpkin and they turn into field mice.
Arlington, Va.: New Ashcroft rap: I'm the king of crock,
there is none higher,
Citizens groups call me a liar I place spies in your mosque (say FBI)
I place spies in your churches (say FBI)
I tap your phone and your e-mail (say FBI) Raise your hands in the air
And keep them up (we don't care)
Your a suspect, just for being there
Ooops, sorry Tony Blair!
Lloyd Grove: Can you work in the phrase, "the threat is imminent and we're going to code yellow"?
Washington, D.C.: Lloyd: Speaking of Condit, I was surprised to see him sitting next to Ben Affleck at last week's premiere. Did you report on this? Lloyd Grove: You gotta be kidding! Are you sure? I can't imagine that Affleck would have allowed that. Sure it wasn't Mike Ovitz? Or harrison ford? Hahahaha.
Washington, D.C.: Hey Lloyd,
I saw a guy who looked familiar and was surrounded by what appeared to be fans on the sidewalk in front of Lebanese taverna in Woodley park the other evening. When i got home, I realized he was Mark Russell(?) the pianist/comedian I vaguely remembered from bad PBS specials and a Simpsons parody. Can you tell me more about him, what he's most famous for, what he does now? My fiancee has absolutely no idea who I'm talking about. Lloyd Grove: He's a Washington political satirist who makes up funny lyrics to old standards and then belts them out while standing at the keyboard--usually in buffalo, where he tapes a show for PBS. or has taped. don't know if it's still on the air.
Cupu de Mundo: Lloyd, Do you have World Cup fever? Lloyd Grove: I don't feel so hot, maybe that's it.
Boonies in Virginia: Two human interest stories in one week! Are you feeling in need of a change of pace? I loved the Margeret Bush blurb. Too bad I don't get Hallmark. I hope the show will convince more people to choose adoption over abortion. Lloyd Grove: Very well might be. Unfortunately, the Hallmark channel is available in only 44 million homes, I hear. Thanks for reading.
Virginia: Lloyd - nuts, I just forgot my question. Oh, here's another one: What's the deal with Harrison Ford? I mean, the earring, the 1980s-style spiked hair, Calista Flockhart? He used to be cool. Lloyd Grove: I would never say that Harrison is having a mid-life crisis of thermonuclear dimensions and I think the earring looks cute.
Bethesda, Md.: Follow-up on the Wilmer, Cutler holiday party. In exchange for no holiday party, the WCP attorneys and staff get to be business casual all the time. I might make that trade, especially with summer approaching. Lloyd Grove: Are they billing at business casual rates as well?
Arlington, Va.: Huffington can well be against the super rich - she's already set for life. And she's another one of those types (male and female) who are famous simply for being themselves. What is she known for other than being on tv and marrying rich men (some of them gay)? Washington has way too many of these types. BORING! Lloyd Grove: Arianna who is a terrific melder of people and a witty writer with impassioned ideas, needs no defense from me.
Washington, D.C.: Amadeus on 13th street at I has the best hamburger I've had anywhere downtown. They are grilled over an open flame and are really cheap--carry out available! Lloyd Grove: Thanks for the information. Maybe if I'm feeling really sinful and undisciplined, I'll give it a try.
Washington, D.C.: Who is your pick to win the Soccer World Cup? Please tell me that you follow the biggest media event of the year.
Go Portugal! Lloyd Grove: My intrepid producer Eleanor - who is taking my responses by dictation due to a criminally degraded phone line - advises me for some reason not to pick France. But despite the recent state of French bashing from everyone from Howard Stern to President Bush, I can't get over my deep love of everything French. Vive la France! (Oh, they lost?)
Somewhere, USA: Am I missing Something?: Ashcroft and FBI want to do more spying to prevent terrorist attacks, but they had pretty good information six weeks before 9/11 without trashing my privacy. I don't think they need eavesdrop on my phone calls. They just need to read their agents' reports. Lloyd Grove: Fair point.
Long Beach, Calif.: Do you think the Larry Rivers retrospective will be avoided by conservatives based upon the fact that Rivers is gay? Do conservatives go to any modern art openings in Washington D.C.? Lloyd Grove: This is a question that might be better directed to Blake Gopnik but given that one of Larry Rivers more famous paintings is of Stars and Stripes, I can well imagine that conservatives might not only want to go to the show but, if they are rich enough, collect from Larry Rivers' paintings.
Washington, D.C.: Any new drink specials at Nathan's? Lloyd Grove: I haven't kept up with that but I'm sure there's an endless supply of funnily-named drinks available at the bar. I know that Carol Joynt, who like a lot of restaurateurs, has been facing heavy weather since 9/11, has issued an all-point bulletin for deep pocketed customers and drinkers.
Somewhere, USA: Re: super rich: There is a big difference between the millionaires and the super-rich. Millionaires are mere commoners. Michael Eisner made about $280,000 in 1998... per hour. That is obscene, even for a mousketeer. These folks make up a sliver of one percent of the US population, but own and control almost everything. The next world war will be a class war, not anything to do with terrorists. And the super duper rich, well, they should worry. Lloyd Grove: I hope this is not Al Gore test-marketing some new Bob Shrum populism for 2004. In fact, I'm sure it isn't. Might be possible house candidate Karenna.
Washington, D.C.: We hear that Peter Beinart's job is being shopped...in New York. Can you comment? Lloyd Grove: News to me. But the longevity of New Republic editors is not usually as long as Peter has lasted already. Meanwhile, the longevity of this show is cruelly interrupted. I have to go and Eleanor has had quite enough of me shouting into her ear. Have a great weekend and I hope to see you back here next Friday at 11 a.m. EDT. Bye.
washingtonpost.com: That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.
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