if

t was summer, but there would be
no vacations for the politicians. With
the party conventions of 2004 just
around the corner, the presidential
campaign rhetoric was as hot and
depressing as the weather.
Voters were in a bad mood — and
with good reason. Medicare and
Medicaid were in receivership, the budget
deficit had reached the $100 trillion mark, and
the Russian bear was out of hibernation and
drooling over Germany.

Christian groups were protesting Fox's in-
troduction of full frontal nudity and Sen. Ralph
Reed (R-Va.) was demanding a congressional
investigation.
In Congress, legislators were well into their
usual election-year frenzy over campaign fi-
nance reform, deficit reduction and term limits.
"In all my half-century in the Senate, I've
never seen such determination to do the will
of the people in these areas," said Sen. Strom
Thurmond (R-S.C.), the 102-year old legislator.
And the presidential race was heating up.

. Will a Jewish

candidate

ever lead

the party?

th ri Ve

