All the Presidents' Pets Read Online Free PDF

fair to say, loves the President,” added Laurie.
    â€œThe President believes that that would be a logical extrapolation,” Condi confirmed, before reaching a final computation. “Therefore it is the position of this administration that true Americans love the President.” Case closed.
    The network backed up Condi’s contention with regular polls. A weekly Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll asked Americans if they liked Barney. An average of 94 percent said yes. A nearly equal number answered yes when asked if Barney liked the President.
    In his lone appearance on
The Dig Story, Newsweek
’s Jonathan Alter questioned how America could be sure that Barney supported privatization of Medicare, a doctrine of preemption, and a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage. He was promptly shouted down as a cat person by former Dukakis campaign manager and Fox News contributor Susan Estrich.
    The political analysis sometimes took a darker turn. Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris occasionally dropped in to explain exactly how Hillary murdered Bill’s Labrador Buddy in 2001.
    But the emphasis of
The Dig Story
was upbeat and informative, and Laurie guided it all very skillfully. She’d brought the same enthusiasm and pearly white wattage to her earlier coverage of the standoff in Kashmir. Mr. Ailes and the rest of the News Corp. suits took notice. As for the locals, if Hindus and Muslims could agree on one thing, it was that Laurie’s career was going nuclear. Their predictions were right on: within a year she was covering Barney and Fox News had increased its lead over CNN considerably. Fawning Internet bloggers instantly crowned her “Miss Shock and Paw.”
    The executives at CNN sniffed at their rivals’ “craven disregard for hard news.” “A full hour on a dog?” network president Jim Walton scoffed to a group of television critics not long after firing Connie Chung for the second time. CNN’s coverage of Barney was only a half hour each day, he haughtily assured them, “unless of course a canine emergency warrants expanded coverage.” Otherwise CNN would not give short shrift to the stories that mattered. “A little blond girl could very well be kidnapped in the next few weeks. Then once again people will discover that they can depend on CNN.”
    It was easy to get caught up in the insular world of cable news concerns. Yes, America did love Barney. He was an adorable dog. And apparently America couldn’t get enough. But I couldn’t help but wonder if that made him
newsworthy.
I needed to maintain perspective, so I called my father to get his reaction to my job offer. I suspected that he’d be disappointed, which might not be such a bad thing. I might then have the courage to hold out for something better.
    â€œWow, Laurie Dhue has very big lips,” he murmured, before snapping out of his reverie. “Well, son, you made it to the White House. I’m proud.”
    â€œBut, Pop, I’ll be covering a dog.”
    â€œWho doesn’t love dogs?” Then he sounded suspicious. “What are you, son? A cat person?”
    â€œNo,” I answered defensively. “Of course not.” My head was spinning and I needed a special kind of counsel. I hung up, then dialed a number I knew by heart and waited for the soothing voice on the other end. He picked up.
    â€œWolf, it’s me,” I said. “I need to see you.”

5
    The Karate Yid
    Â 
    As soon as I pulled into Wolf Blitzer’s suburban Maryland driveway I began unwinding. Perhaps it was the balmy breeze blowing the chimes at the front entrance or the smell of jasmine in the air. I removed my shoes, placed them alongside two other pairs, took a deep breath, and rang the bell.
    The door opened and immediately the smile warmed me. In his dragon-patterned kimono, Wolf was the personification of peace.
    â€œMo-san,” he sighed, opening the