Posted on 03/31/2002 9:28:41 AM PST by Bubba_Leroy
Ex-President Bill Clinton has told friends that he intends to replace his dog Buddy, who was tragically run over in January while running loose near the former first family's Chappaqua, N.Y., mansion, with another labrador retriever from the same breeder.
During a conversation with former Texas Governor Ann Richards at a gathering at a Manhattan restaurant this week, Clinton reportedly grew morose when asked about Buddy. "But he brightened up, saying he would get a new lab in June from the late Buddy's breeder," reports gossip columnist Liz Smith.
The revelation came as the president announced he was "sprucing up" his image, Smith said.
In February, Clinton told a Woodbury, New York audience that he liked living in tony Westchester, N.Y. because it reminded him of the Arkansas of his youth.
"I love living in Westchester County. I like living in a little town again where I know all my neighbors."
Then, turning maudlin, Clinton added, "I like it [but] I miss my dog ... I miss my dog."
Buddy was the second Clinton dog killed while roaming unattended. The first, a cocker spaniel named Zeke, was hit by a car while running loose in 1991 near the governor's mansion in Little Rock, Ark.
It was then that the former first family got Socks the cat, who, according to then-Clinton press secretary Susie Whiteacre, was to be their second and final pet.
"Socks is pretty much Chelsea's cat and I don't expect them to get another dog," Whiteacre told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette at the time.
During the 1992 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton explained to an acquaintance that Zeke was killed "after years of near misses," according to Newsday.
"We still miss him, especially Chelsea," she added. "We haven't even tried to replace him, but have a great cat named 'Socks!'"
The Clintons gave Socks away to longtime Clinton aide Betty Currie in January 2001.
A few days after Buddy's death, Ingrid Newkirk, president of the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, complained publicly that the Clintons had failed to take "adequate precautions" to prevent Buddy’s death.
"We understand that Buddy is the second Clinton family dog to be killed in traffic," Newkirk wrote at the time. "Please let him be the last."
Newkirk was unavailable for comment on the news that Clinton intended to get yet another dog.
How does she know about all these near misses? Hmmm? Can't whack hubby so whack his dog? There's more to all of this than meets the eye.
"I love living in Westchester County. I like living in a little town again where I know all my neighbors."
I'll bet Slick misses bar hopping with Virginia Kelly, too.
Why even take him home first? - can do it on the way home! She has enough trouble in her house without another leg-humper.
It's hard to get to know the neighbors when you spend all your time overseas collecting $300,000 payoffs for inane speeches. Please tell us, Ken, what a good neighbor x42 has been. I'm sure all the folks in Chappaqua plan to have him over for barbecue this summer.
That would make sence. Puppies are better chic magnets than adult dogs. That's why he has them knocked off after they are no longer cute.
I bet he wishes he could do the same thing to Hillary.
.......is not dead, yet.
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