New York Times columnist offers election, other insights

By: Krista Seymour

Posted: 10/4/02

Listening to William Safire’s speech proved to be much like reading his column: humor and intelligence laced together.

“I’m a registered pundit, which means that I have answers and opinions about everything,” Safire, a renowned New York Times columnist told a Syracuse University audience at 7 p.m. Thursday in a full Hendricks Chapel, as the first lecture in the University Lecture Series. “And if I don’t have an answer or opinion, you’ll see one appear right before your very eyes.”

Safire’s role as a pundit was clear as he stated who he believes the candidates will be for the 2004 presidential election, including Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.).

“Hillary (Clinton) won’t run,” Safire said decisively. “She will run in 2008, and her opponent will be Condi Rice. How do you like them apples?”

Safire’s pick for the 2004 election is Al Gore, because after “a successful war” from the Bush administration, a “sloppy economy” will ultimately be their demise.

As a New York Times columnist, Safire is unapologetic in his support for a swift war against Iraq. He said that there is a wall up between Arab and western nations that the Arab nations want to keep, because it shields them from the rest of the world discovering the discontent of their people.

“If we can have a military victory and reform the country, along with the Kurds, the Turks, the Sunni, and the Shi’ites, we would be able to develop a parliament,” Safire said. “It’s not a wild dream, but a real possibility. Government reform was possible in both Germany and Japan. If we are successful in instituting a new government in Iraq, that example will be immediately followed by a successful change in Israel, with a real parliament, and a real peace. We would also then see changes in Saudi Arabia. We don’t have to have a war against Islam forever. It’s idealistic, but there is no alternative.”

Safire said that the Bush administration isn’t effectively using the media to present a convincing argument for a war in Iraq, but feels that there is ample evidence to support it. He referred to the discovery by weapons inspectors that Saddam Hussein was at one point a mere six months away from developing weapons of mass destruction, and that since the weapons inspectors haven’t been allowed for some time, he could be just as close now.

“If we wait to go to war, (Saddam) could develop weapons of mass destruction and decide to blow up New York City, or Washington (D.C.),” Safire said. He said weapons inspectors will be irrelevant when the time comes that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction and decides to blow up cities whenever he wants.

“He criticized the administration for not using the media as well as they could,” said Amy Widestrom, a first year PhD student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. “I was glad that he said that they haven’t presented a good enough case, but he didn’t talk about an exit strategy. He talked about democratization, but not really how we get to that point.

“He was very enjoyable, though. Very eloquent and funny.”

Patrick Farrell, SU’s Academic Affairs information officer said having someone with Safire’s stature speak on campus allows many students to get an interesting take on current events.

“Safire is a wry, compelling and sometimes controversial observer of the American political scene,” said Farrell. “Having him appear in person as part of the University Lectures affords the entire university community an opportunity to hear first-hand about the current climate in Washington from a true D.C. insider.”

Safire admitted that he is indeed an SU drop out, but encouraged students to continue in their studies.

“I could have stayed in school for two more years,” he said, referring to his decision to quit and work for the Syracuse Herald-Journal. “I could have waited to go to work for two more years. If I had stayed in school for two more years, I just would have won my Pulitzer two years later.”