Where I Stand -- Ruthe Deskin: Trip to Northern Nevada puts politics in its place

WHO SAID cats don't have feelings?

According to the cat sitter, my black cat Pug has been pouting and unhappy all the while I was on vacation in Northern Nevada.

It must be so because he trails me constantly and leaps into my lap the minute I take a break.

So while Pug moped away at home, I enjoyed the wonderful climate and the unparalleled hospitality of the folks up north.

The Clinton affair seems to get short shrift from the residents of the cow counties. They are too busy with everyday activities to be glued to the television as the sordid details unfold.

One oldtimer is worried that "if Clinton lied about the Lewinsky affair, who knows all the other matters he might have been untruthful about?"

I missed Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., in Lovelock, although he did give the natives a boost when he announced that Lovelock was on the move and had a good future.

Some of us took a ride around the valley to see whether we could find some substance for his statements. Sure enough, more homes are being built, possibly to accommodate workers at the Lovelock prison and the mines that are still operating.

But downtown Lovelock is a disaster.

I suggested to one official that they might need a Fremont Street Experience.

A week at home is a priority vacation. That's when one gets to read all the newspapers and listen to TV.

The political ads are a great source of amusement. Some of the claims candidates make are so far-fetched they would be laughable if the situation weren't so serious. Taking matters out of context is common practice as is taking credit for single-handedly accomplishing reforms or public improvements.

The voter has a real problem in sifting through the claims and counter-claims of all the candidates.

At last, a role model for our children.

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, who have broken the all-time home-run record for a season and are in a race to see who will finish with the most home runs, are gentlemen on and off the baseball diamond.

Las Vegas' loss is Washington's gain.

Prime Cable General Manager Harris Bass will be leaving our town for the nation's capital.

Bass has made hundreds of friends in Las Vegas and has been active in community affairs. He will be missed.

National polls show President Clinton maintaining a high rating in spite of his problems.

A poll also had Aaron Russo running neck and neck with Kenny Guinn for the Republican nomination for governor.

We all know how misleading that poll was.

Something has to be done about county commissioners and city councilmen being required to abstain from voting on important matters if their friends are involved.

Almost anyone who runs for office and is elected has friends who are prominent in the community. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't be elected.

If a public official has a monetary interest in a matter that comes before him or her, it is proper to abstain. But this business of friendship opens the possibility of important public matters being voted on by only a few. There's a distinct possibility that business actually could be brought to a halt.

It's a sticky question that needs to be addressed.

Southwest Airlines is a good way to fly.

There's only one objection. They do not assign seats.

Because I believed the early bird gets the worm, I decided to get to the airport early and check in so that my boarding pass would be in the low numbers.

It doesn't work. In spite of being the sixth person to check in, I was handed number 40. Asking for a lower number didn't help. I was told, "There aren't too many on this flight, so you won't have to worry about being too far back in the plane." That didn't turn out to be the case.

Southwest must have a reason for not assigning seats, but I haven't figured it out yet.

An Associated Press story in the newspaper has me somewhat baffled.

"The optimistic outlook for budget surpluses in coming years is based on forecasts that rely heavily on surpluses generated by Social Security.

"Right now, the government collects more in Social Security payroll taxes than needed to pay current benefits. The excess money is used to finance other government programs."

Looks like masterful manipulation.

From Joe Hickman comes this admission: "I really have a photographic memory, but my flashbulb doesn't always work."

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