XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN FEB 18, 2001 08:02:31 ET XXXXX

TIME MAG: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING EX-PRESIDENT: EVEN DAVID GEFFEN FREEZES HIM OUT!

Pleading bewilderment over the scandals surrounding his exit from the Presidency, Bill Clinton has told friends that if he were trading pardons for money, wouldn't he have helped out his DREAMWORKS buddies, who wanted him to pardon Native American activist Leonard Peltier? "David Geffen will barely talk to me!" Clinton is quoted as saying upcoming TIME magazine runs.

The mainpress media turn on Clinton moves into fifth gear. In its cover story, "THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING EX-PRESIDENT", TIME concludes "Clinton's ex- presidency is shaping up to be a shriveled version of his presidency."

TIME reports on Clinton's life now: his lieutenant, a former White House valet named Oscar, his imperfectly-mastered PalmPilot, red-faced rages over the Rich scandal and other assorted "familiar themes" The "setups", the "overzealous prosecutors", the "unfair legal cases that never should have gone to indictment, " etc..

TIME's cover page art showsa tiny figure of Clinton dressed in sweats and sneakers under a huge headline as "THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING PRESIDENT."

A former Cabinet secretary who has canvassed half a dozen other secretaries says the reaction to the pardon and gift scandals is "total disgust," TIME reports. "They want no part of it," says the Cabinet secretary. "They have had it with both of them [Bill and Hillary]."

MORE...

TIME claims Clinton is dragging down Democratic fundraising. In Florida where Democrats say they need at least $12 million to defeat Governor Jeb Bush in 2002, a moneyman told TIME normally dependable givers are refusing because of the allegation that Clinton gave pardons for campaign cash.

"One problem with the Clinton defense that he pardoned Marc Rich to please Ehud Barak is that Israelis downplay the former prime minister's role, saying it consisted of a brief mention during one phone call, TIME reports. Sources close to Clinton contend there were at least three calls. The Rich effort paled next to Barak's effort on behalf of jailed spy Jonathan Pollard.

YALE BAIL?

Yale University is skittish about its invitation to Clinton to help commemorate its 300th anniversary this spring, "We hope it blows over by then," says an organizer. "He is an alum, so there's not much we can do."

SHOULD PLAY THE APOLLO

Of Clinton's $100,000 speaking fee from Morgan Stanley, TIME suggests "he could have pocketed a lot more if he had just packaged himself somewhat differently. Bill Clinton Live at the Apollo could gross 10 times that with an extended run!"

Hitting racks Monday.

TIME MAGAZINE: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING EX-PRESIDENT: EVEN DAVID GEFFEN FREEZES HIM OUT!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 18, 2001

Answers

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 18, 2001.

Barbra Streisand has threatened to move to London if Clinton does not return the silverware.

-- (nemesis@awol.com), February 18, 2001.

Oh, Hell !

-- Chris (enquiries@griffenmill.com), February 18, 2001.

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), February 18, 2001.