True Grit: I could hardly breathe. Gulping for air, I started crying...

I could hardly breathe. Gulping for air, I started crying and yelling, "What do you mean? What are you saying? Why are the Clintons back again?"

Interviewing Hillary Clinton last Sunday night about her book Living History, ABC's Barbara Walters began with such hardball questions as:

Hillary dealt with it. Hillary is a survivor. As Walters said, Living History is a "wife's deeply personal account of being betrayed in front of the entire world." In fact, it was so deeply personal, it took several ghostwriters to get it right.

Walters brazenly probed the question on everyone's mind: How could Hillary be so brave, so strong, so downright wonderful? As Walters recounted, once our brave heroine even lived in Arkansas! Summarizing Hillary's sacrifice, Walters said: "You were young. You were smart. You had a future in Washington. But you gave it up to be with Bill Clinton, to move to Arkansas. ... Why on earth would you throw away your future?" Admittedly, even Bill Clinton couldn't wait to get out of Arkansas. Manhattanites cannot conceive of a greater hardship.

Walters also astutely observed that "in addition to being first lady, you're a mother." Will Hillary's mind-boggling feats never end? Usually such phony liberal amazement at the staggering heroism of women ends with the woman drowning all her children.

Describing interviews like these, New York Times television reviewer Alessandra Stanley said that Hillary was finally able to show her "grit, an outsize will and discipline that has nothing to do with gender." This, Ms. Stanley said, was a welcome change from Hillary's more recognized role as "an emblem of the modern female condition." So on one hand, Hillary has grit and determination. But on the other hand, she is a living, breathing icon. It's good to see the New York Times really going the extra mile to give both sides these days.

In "her" book, "Hillary" explains that the story of how Nelson Mandela forgave his jailers inspired her to forgive Bill for his infidelity. OK, but they locked up Mandela only once. Revealing more about herself than Hillary, Ms. Stanley claims that "millions of women have forgiven far worse of philandering husbands." Far worse? Really? No wonder liberal women hate men so much.

If you credit news reports, the public can't get enough of Hillary. The crush of ordinary people buying Hillary's book seems baffling in light of recent polls. According to an ABC poll, 48 percent of Americans have an unfavorable impression of Hillary, 53 percent of Americans don't want Hillary to ever run for president, and 7 percent of Americans have been date-raped by Bill Clinton.

First in line for Hillary's book at Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center on Sunday night was Charles Greinsky, who told the New York Daily News he rushed out at midnight to get one of the first books because he supported Hillary's health-care plan. A few years ago, the Associated Press identified Greinsky more fully. It turns out he is "a longtime Clinton campaigner" from Staten Island, who has been the Clintons' guest several times both at the White House and at their home in Chappaqua, N.Y.

Lining up at midnight to buy Hillary's book is street theater for liberals. I suppose shelling out $30 to support the concept of Hillary is less dangerous than the pernicious nonsense liberals usually fund. Hillary has already gotten a record $8 million advance from Simon & Schuster for the book – the most anyone has ever received for rewriting history. Hillary's acolytes could buy enough copies of her book to rebuild the World Trade Center, and she's not going to pocket more than that.

Another average individual eager to get Hillary's book was Greg Packer, who was the centerpiece of the New York Times' "man on the street" interview about Hillary-mania. After being first in line for an autographed book at the Fifth Avenue Barnes & Noble, Packer gushed to the Times: "I'm a big fan of Hillary and Bill's. I want to change her mind about running for president. I want to be part of her campaign."

It was easy for the Times to spell Packer's name right because he is apparently the entire media's designated "man on the street" for all articles ever written. He has appeared in news stories more than 100 times as a random member of the public. Packer was quoted on his reaction to military strikes against Iraq; he was quoted at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Veterans' Day Parade. He was quoted at not one – but two – New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square. He was quoted at the opening of a new "Star Wars" movie, at the opening of an H&M clothing store on Fifth Avenue and at the opening of the viewing stand at Ground Zero. He has been quoted at Yankees games, Mets games, Jets games – even getting tickets for the Brooklyn Cyclones. He was quoted at a Clinton fund-raiser at Alec Baldwin's house in the Hamptons and the pope's visit to Giants stadium.

Are all reporters writing their stories from Jayson Blair's house? Whether or not it will help her presidential ambitions, Living History definitely positions Hillary nicely for a job as a reporter.

The New York Times, June 10, 2003

June 10, 2003, Tuesday, Late Edition - Final

SECTION: Section B; Page 4; Column 1; Metropolitan Desk

LENGTH: 822 words

HEADLINE: Senator Says Bill Clinton Read It and Recommends It

BYLINE: By JAMES BARRON

BODY:

First there was Barbara Walters. Then there was Katie Couric. And then there was Greg Packer.

Hillary Rodham Clinton did interviews with the first two about her memoir, "Living History." For Mr. Packer, 39, a highway maintenance worker from Huntington, N.Y., she did autographs.

Mr. Packer had spent much of Sunday night and most of yesterday morning outside a bookstore in Manhattan, waiting for her to sign the title page in a somewhat sloppier version of the same handwriting that appears in gold print on the book jacket.

After he got the three-word autograph, in black ink, he headed outside to do some interviews of his own. Reporters wanted to know why he had wanted to be at the head of a long line of book buyers on the day the 562-page volume (Simon & Schuster) went on sale at a list price of $28 a copy.

"Because, you know, I wanted a chance to see her on a more personal basis than saying 'hi' to her at the Puerto Rican Day Parade" on Sunday, he said. Several hours later at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, he explained, he became the first person in the line for the book signing at the Barnes & Noble store at Fifth Avenue and 48th Street.

Thirteen and a half hours later, the television cameras were packed in tightly and Mrs. Clinton was answering questions from reporters crouching in what was supposed to be a walkway.

Had her husband read the book? "He has read it," she said, "and he's urging everyone to buy a copy." He did not have to wait for publication day: He had read the manuscript, draft by draft, she said.

Did she plan to run for his old job in 2008? "That's obviously flattering," she said, "but I have a wonderful job."

Soon Mr. Packer was across the table from Mrs. Clinton, who had pen in hand. And a few minutes after that, having left by a side door with not one but two copies of "Living History" (and two autographs), Mr. Packer was fielding questions as coolly and confidently as anyone who ever sat down with Ms. Walters or Ms. Couric.

"I'm a big fan of Hillary and Bill's," Mr. Packer said. "I want to change her mind about running for president. I want to be part of her campaign."

.....

________________________________

The New York Times, January 1, 2002

January 1, 2002, Tuesday, Late Edition - Final

SECTION: Section A; Page 1; Column 4; Metropolitan Desk

LENGTH: 1059 words

HEADLINE: A Subdued Hurrah for 2002 In a Patriotic Times Square

BYLINE: By DAVID W. CHEN

BODY:

The ball still glittered atop Times Square last night, but this year, some of its crystal triangles honored the World Trade Center, the hijacked planes and the Pentagon. The party paraphernalia were as ubiquitous as ever, but this year, the colors were red, white and blue.

The crowds still complained about the bitter cold, but they didn't gripe about the extra security or the metal detectors. And though plenty of smiles could be spotted, it also was not hard to find people whose faces betrayed introspection, if not a tear or two.

If 2000 was the year of millennial hype, then New Year's Eve 2001 in Times Square had an altogether different texture, dominated by the aftermath of Sept. 11: an occasion that felt less like a boisterous party and more like a muted gathering to remember, respect and reflect.

Patriotism was the dominant theme this year. From Anchorage, where a Canadian rock band played "The Star-Spangled Banner," to an interfaith service in Baltimore, the events of the last four months -- the terrorist attacks, the anthrax scare, the war in Afghanistan and the would-be shoe bomber -- all weighed on many people's minds.

Some celebrations, including Denver's citywide party and First Night events in almost two dozen American communities, were scratched because of terrorism worries or a lack of money and volunteers. Other events had a much more intimate or low-key tone, with many people opting to celebrate near their homes, with relatives and friends.

Perhaps nowhere was the celebration more anticipated or more scrutinized than in Times Square, the traditional epicenter of New Year's Eve.

Some people said that it felt almost disrespectful to party too heartily. A few who had come to New York thinking that they would watch the ball drop at midnight even changed their plans and chose instead to devote most of their sightseeing to ground zero.

Others, though, said that they decided to spend their first moments of 2002 in Times Square precisely because they wanted to demonstrate their support of New York City and America, in numbers and in spirit. But many said that they were just not sure how to feel, or to act.

"I was so torn, because it's one of the best years to come, and one of the worst years to come," said Donna Larkin, a 26-year-old resident of Maplewood, N.J., who, with her fiance, Scott Jenkins, took advantage of a hard-to-beat (and readily available) New Year's package at the W Hotel.

"We want to show support for the city, but when that ball comes down, I'm going to start crying."

Like many revelers, Greg Packer, a Huntington, N.Y., resident who has been to the last 10 Times Square ball-dropping parties, said that he would scale back his normal routine out of respect for Sept. 11.

Instead of accessorizing with his usual kazoos, horns and other noisy doodads, Mr. Packer wore three pins: "NYC Stronger Than Ever," "God Bless America" and one in the shape of the twin towers.

Even his "2002" glasses, in red, white and blue, were the smallest size possible, he said, because big and loud didn't feel right.

"It should be quiet and simple, because we're here for a feeling of togetherness, of unity, to celebrate the spirit of America," he said.

Asked if he minded that the police were confiscating alcohol from revelers in Times Square, Mr. Packer, 38, said: "There should be more candles than beers this year. Normally, if I see a beer, I'll grab someone's bottle and take a swig. But tonight, if I see a candle, I'll grab it."

Beyond that, there were plenty of signs that this would be an atypical New Year's Eve.

.....

___________________

The New York Times, December 31, 2001

December 31, 2001, Monday, Late Edition - Final

SECTION: Section B; Page 5; Column 1; Metropolitan Desk

LENGTH: 752 words

HEADLINE: A NATION CHALLENGED: THE SITE; A Viewing Stand Brings Pilgrims to Ground Zero

BYLINE: By MICHAEL COOPER

BODY:

The days of craning necks and peeking through gaps in plywood fences ended yesterday when the city opened its first official viewing stand for the World Trade Center site, and thousands of New Yorkers and tourists braved frigid winds and six-block-long lines to get their first unobstructed looks at the devastation.

They wore New York Police Department and Fire Department of New York hats and American flag scarves. They sobbed, prayed, whispered, gawked, snapped pictures and bought souvenirs. And by midday the crowds of people thronging lower Broadway had grown so large that the police set up new rules: people walking downtown were asked to stick to the west side of the street, and people walking uptown were asked to use the east side.

When people finally made their way up the long wooden ramp to the new viewing area, which is on an elevated platform on Fulton Street between Broadway and Church Street, they found a site transformed, even from the days after Sept. 11. The four-story piece of jagged steel that had been the last recognizable section of the towers was taken down weeks ago. The low black building that once housed a Borders bookstore was gone as well.

Had it not been for the pockmarked buildings lining the perimeter, the area would have looked almost like a giant construction site, or, more accurately, a demolition site.

The bells of St. Peter's Church were ringing out "The First Noel" shortly after 9 a.m., as the first people made their way up to the platform. The line was already several blocks long.

The first to set foot on the new platform was Greg Packer, 38, of Huntington, N.Y., who said that he arrived at 5 a.m. It was not too surprising, given his history. In recent years, Mr. Packer had appeared in dozens of newspaper articles for being the first in line to get tickets to the opening day of baseball season, to the World Series, to a Sheryl Crow concert.

This experience, Mr. Packer said, was entirely different. "You feel violated looking at that, and knowing that thousands of people perished," said Mr. Packer, who wore red, white and blue sunglasses in the shape of the numbers 2002, a hat with the lettering of the Police Department, the Fire Department and the Yankees on it, and a "W.T.C. 9/11/01" pin. "The thought of it angers me. I wanted to really take a good look for myself."

.....

_______________

These are the 3 Greg Packer citiations that I found in the NY Times archive. Repeat: I searched only the NY Times. According to Ann Coulter, however, Packer is cited by other papers.

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