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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 6, 1992                   TAG: 9202060510
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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CAN'T GET STOMACH VIRUS AND ENJOY IT

I THREW UP the same day President Bush did, on Elvis' birthday. Doug Wilder rescinded his bid for the presidency on Elvis' birthday. The co-occurrence of these events must have some meaning.

The stock market fell due to Bush's stomach virus. Dan Quayle could have taken the reins for a while as Bush recovered (ugh!). The media spouted "post-puke analyses" on what President Bush's under-the-table activity would mean not only for his public image, but also for his second-term aspirations.

Can a person get a stomach virus and enjoy it these days, especially our president? Evidently, no. Perhaps the public has expected our leaders to be superhuman for so long that our politicians have to be and sometimes believe they really are. It is nice to know that Doug Wilder has finally conceded he took on too much responsibility while running for president.

I must confess. I really did not throw up the same day as the president, despite media coverage causing sufficient nausea. I did get a bellyache that day.

So I fibbed. I guess my honesty is worthy of a politician. I fib, get bellyaches and sometimes take on too much responsibility. These are only a few of my traits. Oh, well. I am only human, perhaps human enough to be a politician. But I'll never admit it in public, only to Elvis. HANS BERNHARDT BLACKSBURG

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