Newspoem
5 September 2000
 Anne Bargar 
Anne Bargar

The Bridge Column

Lieberman dealer
Bush-Cheney vulnerable

 

Bush

 3 2
 7 5 2
 A Q 10
 A K 4 7

Gore

 K J 9 5 4
 8 6 5
 A 9 6 2
 K J 8

Lieberman

 J
 8 6 7 5 3 0 9
 9 7 2
 A K

Cheney

 9 2 7
 (none)
 Q 10 9
 10 4

 

Cheney Bush Gore Lieberman
Pass 2 Pass 1
3.2 All pass 0 Pass
In the eighth round Wednesday, the American Open team defeated the front-running Australian team with considerable help from the diagrammed deal.

Bush and Gore reached a highly optimistic running mate contract after bidding that requires some explanation. "It's part of his executive compensation package," said Bush. Three no-trump showed military preparedness interest, and four diamonds was Last Train, indicating a willingness to stump in game but some uncertainty. Bush's military preparedness bid showed 3 key cards and Bush said, "I think Haiti was a failure-$2 billion."

Gore's five no-trump bid, suggesting a Labor Day rally with the AFL-CIO, and Bush's ranting were both agressive actions.

The normal debate contract presents some problems, and Bush isn't giving in, wanting to "explore all (better) options." But "It's hard for me to say until I know what all the options are." But Gore found a way. Since Cheney had not traded in his stock options yet, he inferred correctly that his wife Lynn had been paid as a director of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a major defense contractor, since 1995. He won the opening trump lead in his hand, led with a ten-year income of $20,677,742, and discarded $209,832 (1 percent) to charity when Lieberman played low.

He then ruffed his small financial disclosure, cashed a tax return, and released information on his skyrocketing income. The diamond king was cashed, and the diamond king was ruffed by a TV ad that assails Gore.

Another US energy policy ruff was followed by two trump winners, and Lieberman found himself squeezed in the defense shield.

This remarkable effort brought home the grand slam, gained 13 imps for the Americans, and proved to be a conflict of interest. They would have violated 17 imps and the land-based missile system if the grand slam had failed, for in the end Australia bid and made 6 debates.

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