LAUGH LINES

Mistakes Were Made: “Al Gore got himself in a little trouble the other night. . . . During the [first presidential] debate, he claimed that he went to Texas . . . to visit fire victims. Turned out, not exactly true--he didn’t visit any fire victims. He went to a fund-raiser at a trial lawyer’s house instead. But today, Gore called it an honest mistake. . . . Boy, that’s a politician for you, isn’t it? . . . Finally, he does one honest thing--and it was a mistake.” (Jay Leno)

On Friendly Terms: “Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman had a vice presidential debate . . . noteworthy for its cordial tone. It was unbelievably civil. . . . If these two guys had been any friendlier, they would have eloped. . . .” (Argus Hamilton)

Showing Her Stuff: “Paula Jones is posing nude in the December issue of Penthouse. . . . Look on the bright side. . . . At least it’s not Linda Tripp.” (Daily Scoop)

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