[Newspoetry] Breaking News

[Joe Futrelle]

Terre Haute, IN (Associated Poets)

In a shocking development today, there was no news about Oklahoma City
bomber Timothy McVeigh or his upcoming execution.  Not only were there
no McVeigh-related events, but no one was interviewed and there were
no reports about the ongoing review of documents previously withheld
by the FBI, or reminders that McVeigh's execution is imminent.

Stock footage of the lethal injection table at the federal facility
here, which is ordinarily run within 15 seconds of the beginning of
each network's prime-time news broadcast, was shelved and the networks
led with other stories.  The slick three-dimensional logos normally
used for lead stories were replaced by hastily-drawn sketches, in what
was clearly an eleventh-hour effort to fill the news vacuum.

Many analysts seemed unprepared for this development.  When asked
about the Italian election today, NPR commentator Daniel Shore's eyes
darted nervously around the room as if searching for a copy of the New
York Times which might provide him with hints.  White House spokesman
Ari Fleischer abruptly called off today's press briefing after
responding to several reporters' questions with "we are not prepared
to comment on that issue at this time."

"Does anyone here have a question about Timothy McVeigh?" he finally
asked the crowd of reporters, who looked back and forth at each other
and shrugged.  "Anyone?  No?"

--
Joe Futrelle
editor-vis-a-vis-chief
Newspoetry . calm