Special Sid Blumenthal Book Preview #1 (released each day this week on ABC.com at Mid Morning)

'The Note' ABC News Political Tip Sheet Exclusive ^ | April 28, 2003 | Mark Halperin, Marc Ambinder, David Chalian and Brooke Brower

[ewing]

In August 1997, after a career in journalism, Sidney Blumenthal joined the Clinton Administration for its duration as assistant and senior advisor to the President.

He was given the name 'G.K.' for 'grassy knoll' due to his strong belief in the vast right wing conspiracy.Mr. Blumenthal is also a playwright. His work 'This Town,' a satire about the White House press corps, played to audiences in Los Angeles and New York.

Blumenthal became well known during the Clinton impeachment trial. He was one of only three witnesses to testify before the house managers prosecuting the case in the US Senate.

As the trial was winding down, it was that testimony that became an odd coda to the saga.

In his new book, 'The Clinton Wars,' El Sid provides his eyewitness to history.

In excerpts obtained by ABC.com's Political Unit, Blumenthal writes about Dick Morris's freakout at the 1996 Democratic Convention, Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist's allededly 'chilly and inexpressive' behaviour towards President Bill Clinton at the second inagural, and Bill Clinton's coaching of his wife for her Senatorial announcement speech.

[ewing]

The orginator of the VRWC?

[ewing]

Sound like its time to grab muh beer for some Dick Morris NYC convention toe sucking!!

[Seeking the truth]

No, he was not the originator of the VRWC - I was!

Vast Right Wing Conspiracy HQ

[ewing]

LOL..I defer to you, the one with the original credentials!

[Wright is right!]

I don't think we are enjoined from posting articles from abcnews.com. Why not post the article? I tried the link, but a cursory glance didn't reveal anything about Blumenthal.

Michael

[Free State Four]

the one with the original credentials!

Yes, but I know the secret handshake!!!

[Pete]

After all the major pubs passed on previewing his new book, it looks like Sidney was forced to resort to ABC.com's 'Political Unit'. Talk about desperation.

[epluribus_2]

wasn't it a bad day for Dems when they found out that the VRWC consisted of soccer moms, average american normal people, and news outlets that occasionally tell the truth.

[ewing]

That was the whole thing, just a tease for Monday.

[ewing]

I thought 'Salon/bankruptcy.com' was going to have excerpts as well this week.

[Seeking the truth]

I actually had a woman call my office last week at least a half dozen times over two days. She sternly warned me that I should not contact her ever again and that she has already gotten her lawyer involved.

In subsequent calls, she raised the ante by saying that "if another member of my group (the VRWC ???) contacts her, she will turn me over to the authorities for "hate crimes".

She never did leave her name and I was out of the office when she called so she just left messages on my machine.

I have a tape recorder sitting next to my phone to record these leftist, wacko calls/threats.

All I can deduce is that someone sent her something with one of my Vast Right Wing Conspiracy 0cents Stamps attached and she assumed that I was the leader of this VRWC orgainization!

[ewing]

Did you tell her that unless she stopped calling the black helicopters were coming after her?

[Interesting Times]

In subsequent calls, she raised the ante by saying that "if another member of my group (the VRWC ???) contacts her, she will turn me over to the authorities for "hate crimes".

Perhaps posting audio files of her messages would have a theraputic effect on the poor confused thing...

[ewing]

Go down to the end of the article.

[Howlin]

Well, this is kind of disappointing from old Sid, isn't it?

We here at FR could have done better than this.

[mewzilla]

The orginator of the VRWC?

Swamp Thing? He wishes.

[Interesting Times]

Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist's allededly 'chilly and inexpressive' behaviour towards President Bill Clinton at the second inagural...

Not surprising that the Chief Justice would be uncomfortable in the presence of a multiple felon and serial sexual predator.

[ewing]

Maybe Hillary giving Sid marching orders on how to play the VRWC in the Media

[ewing]

I wonder if the Chief Justice had already heard the stories..

[ewing]

Only the build-a-burgers know the correct secret handshake.