:: Has the whole world gone mad or is it just me. ::

:: Monday, February 16, 2004 ::

Saturday, February 14, 2004:

A.P. WIRE: Sad. Reporters were camping out near the home of Alex Polier's parents in Malvern, PA.

We did get a few biographocal details about Alexandra Polier, however. Graduated high school in 1995. Was a cross country runner. Went to the Columbia School of Journalism.

And, she's a tall blonde. That's in the same ball park as the 1998 rumor floated by Mickey Kaus (scroll down to "Kerry advisor.") from the Boston Globe. Except that young lady was described as a Harvard gradutrae, 22-years old (about the right age), and a SOUTHERNER.

UPDATE: Here's an article with her photo (supposedly). In it, she's not blonde. But, of course, people can change their hair color.

What's fascinating about this article, however, is that it quotes a "American friend" of Ms. Polier saying "This is not going to go away . . . What actually happened is much nastier than is being reported."

OK. What happened? Who is this "friend?" And is it the same person described by George W. Bush's cousin, John Ellis thusly (who doubts the story after replacing John Kerry with Colin Powell in the narrative, and determining how he'd react):

"Let's say that there is a woman who has approached numerous media organizations and every Republican [Democratic] political opponent of Mr. Powell's [Kerry's] with a story. The story is that her "best friend" or her "close friend" (who used to be a reporter with the AP and at some point worked for Mr. Powell [Kerry]) had an affair with Mr. Powell [Kerry] and was shipped off to Africa when Mr. Powell [Kerry] decided to run for President. What is known about the source of this information is that she has a major axe to grind; she hates Powell [Kerry]. She really, really hates him. She is grinding the Mother of All Axes. "

Sure sounds like it's the same "friend" to me.

It would be interesting to discover more about this putative Lucianne Goldberg/Linda Tripp figure, wouldn't it?

ANOTHER UPDATE: A Columbia Jouranlism School classmate of Polier's had this to say:

"[I]t's hard to believe Alexandra Polier ever had an affair with US Democratic presidential frontrunner John Kerry.

For one thing, at the time my former journalism school classmate was supposed to be sharing intimate moments with the senator, she was working up to 80 hours a week on student assignments and dating one of our classmates.

If she had time to manage an affair as well, that would have made her one hell of an overachiever."

He also goes on to say that, according to the school's yearbook, Polier was voted "'most likely to be sent an anthrax letter' in [her] reporting career . . . ." Ummm...OK.

As her classmate pointed out, it's "unclear if this should be interpreted as malice or flattery."

Speaking of Columbia Journalism school, here's the enlarged class photo of the 2002 graduating class. Polier, I believe, is the one on the lefthand side behind the left shoulder of the girl in front with the plaid skirt. I could be wrong, of course. So if anyone spots a more suitable candidate (using the Telegraph photo as a comparison) let me know.

Incidentally, Polier does bear a slight, and I emphaqsize slight resemblance to John Kerry's first wife, Julia.



UPDATE: Someone going by the name of "Ambrose" posted the exact same comment from Alex's "friend," as the one quoted above, on the FreeRepublica board.

And "he" did it a day before that article was published.

Ambrose? Hmmm....

That wouldn't be "Ambrose Evans Pritchard" by any chance, would it? If so, it sounds like the old anti-Clinton cabal is getting back together.

Now all we need is Chris Ruddy!

Also, someone on the Drudge Retort message board has been posting what is designed to look like inside info on the allegations. Go here, here, here, and here.

UPDATE: Someone over at Kos posted Alex Polier's alleged Friendster profile! If you have a Friendster account, this is the supposed direct link to it.

FINAL UPDATE: Wonkette claims that Ms. Polier is denying the whole thing. And, more corroboration:

"Missy Keehn Ritti of Pottstown, a former intern for Kerry, was skeptical of the allegations.

"Obviously, it is impossible for me to say," she said in a telephone interview. She is a former Daily Local News reporter.

However, she said, during her tenure in Kerry's office, he acted professionally and gave no indication that he would become involved in an extra-marital affair.

[...]

Daily Local News reporter Jessica M. McRorie, who interned with the East Whiteland woman at ABC News in Manhattan in 2001, also questioned the reports.

"When I heard the news ... I kind of laughed to myself because I know this person," she said. "And it just doesn't seem logical.

"But then my immediate reaction after that was how hard it must be for her now ... to just try to keep sane because there's going to be a media circus in this because John Kerry's big in the news."

In the more than two years since she has known her, McRorie said she never heard her friend mention Kerry.

"As a member of the media, I know we jump on certain topics," she said. "And this really hits home."

McRorie, who still keeps in touch with her friend, heard from her about six months ago.

"The last time I talked to her she'd sent me an e-mail from Israel where she was honeymooning," she said.

McRorie said her friend is a hard worker. She is a former Associated Press reporter who put in long hours as a reporter, McRorie said.

"She's one of the brightest and strongest people I know," said McRorie. "And I'd hate to see this happen to someone if it turned out not to be true."

Indeed.

I think we can probably put this rumor to...ahem...bed now.






Hesiod // 2/14/2004 07:35:23 PM



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