EFTA00260078.pdf

ITEM WAS NOT SCANNED DESCRIPTION 0 Aiewspap, EFTA00260078 The Palm Beach Post B TUESDAY. JUNE 23. 2009 PalmliteachPost.com OCALA BUSINESS Guard the assets: Alleged Epstein victim asks a judge to appoint a receiver. Story, 26 No Jobs, no worries: Apple thrives despite the absence of its ill CEO. Business, 60 North Palm's quarantine kids return to U.S. By KATHLEEN CHAPMAN Palm Reach Post SlcelVnter FORT LAUDERDALE — Elizabeth Doane came home to South Florida on Monday carrying an unusual souvenir from her trip to China: the face mask she was forced to wear during a week of quarantine. The Chinese govern- ment detained Elizabeth 18, and her brothers, Bryan, 16, and Randell, 13, because they sat by a man who had swine flu on their flight to Beijing. For nearly eight days, The Benjamin School stu- dents were confined to a sweltering Beijing hotel, where the air condition- ing ducts were covered to prevent transmission of the HINT virus, guards prevented their escape and workers in biohazard suits took their tempera- ture twice a day. Their strange trip ended Monday night in the Fort Lauderdale-Hol- lywood International Airport, where they were greeted by a pack of televi- sion cameras and one very relieved mother. Rebecca Doane, a North Palm Beach estate and trust attorney: said she couldn't wait to see her kids — and find out more about their trip. "I can't wait to get them in the car, and say tell me what really happened. Tell me what it was like. Was it realty as bad as it sounded?'" She plans to celebrate their arrival today with a party for Elizabeth and Randell. Bryan is headed to Nairobi, Kenya, where he and his father are doing volunteer work. The Doane siblings ar- rived in China two weeks ago with a group of 28 high school students and three teachers from the People to People Ambassador Pro- See QUARANTINE. 58 Ilk MIOUEL F WPM' c • ‘p,,,no Rebecca Doane (right) and her children Elizabeth and Randell face quarantine questions at the airport on Monday. 'The air just seems hot — like you're standing next to a furnace or something.' RICHARD PIPPIN, president of Ray Roofing Company W. Palm weighs 16% tax rate hike With tumbling property values, city officials expect to cut another $7 million from the budget. By TONY DORIS Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BF.ACII — Property val- ues in the city have plummeted even more steeply than expected as recently as two months ago. That means more budget cuts next year and a property tax rate that could rise as much as 16 percent, officials said Monday. Finance Director Randy Shen EFTA00260079 The Palm Beach Post B TUESDAY. JUNE 23.2009 PalingeachPost.com LOCAL BUSINESS Guard the assets: Alleged Epstein victim asks a judge to appoint a receiver. Story, 2B No Jobs, no worries: Apple thrives despite the absence of its ill CEO. Business, 6B North Palm's quarantine kids return to U.S. By KATHLEEN CHAPMAN Palm Beach Post Staff Writer FORT LAUDERDALE — Elizabeth Doane came home to South Florida on Monday carrying an unusual souvenir from her trip to China: the face mask she was forced to wear during a week of quarantine. The Chinese govern- ment detained Elizabeth 18, and her brothers, Bryan, 16, and Randell, 13, because they sat by a man who had swine flu on their flight to Beijing. For nearly eight days, The Benjamin SchOol stu- dents were confined to a sweltering Beijing hotel, where the air condition- ing ducts were covered to prevent transmission of the HINI virus, guards prevented their escape and workers in biohazard suits took their tempera- ture twice a day. Their strange trip ended Monday night in the Fort Lauderdale-Hol- lywood International Airport, where they were greeted by a pack of televi- sion cameras and one very• relieved mother. Rebecca Doane. a North Palm Beach estate and trust attorney, said she couldn't wait to see her kids — and find out more about their trip. 1 can't wait to get them in the car, and say 'tell me what really happened. Tell me what it was like. Was it really as bad as it sounded?'" She plans to celebrate their arrival today with a party for Elizabeth and Randell. Bryan is headed to Nairobi, Kenya. where he and his father are doing volunteer work. The Doane siblings ar- rived in China two weeks ago with a group of 28 high school students and three teachers from the People to People Ambassador Pro- See QUARANTINE. 5B ► MICHAEL F. *ELROY/Sun Sentinel Rebecca Doane (right) and her children Elizabeth and Randell face quarantine questions at the-airport on Monday. The air just seems hot — like you're standing next to a furnace or something.' RICHARD PIPPIN, president of Ray Roofing Company W. Palm weighs 16% tax rate hike With tumbling property values, city officials expect to cut another $7 million from the budget. By TONY DORIS Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BEACH — Property val- ues in the city have plummeted even more steeply than expected as recently as two months ago. That means more budget cuts next year and a property tax rate that could rise as much as 16 percent, officials said Monday. Finance Director Randy Sherman delivered the bad news at a city corn- owth3.:Inti uatritqlinit un JIM luativirst year EFTA00260080 Finances imperil high school games across county, state IN SPORTS PalmBeachPost.com Get updates on today's scheduled execution See photos and special features on Death Row CURL UP WITH OUR SUMMER BOOK QUIZ Can you match the excerpt to its source? IN ACCENT Williams sisters reach quarters at Wimbledon IN SPORTS The Palm Beach Post • Tuesday, July 1, 2008 West Final 50 cents -r Phase II of Scripps project unveiled A hoped-for biotech hub could emerge on the Briger tract. B ALEXANDRA CLOUGH rounding Scripps Florida. after we picked Scripps to be at Ju- • Scripps discovery may help piter," Palm Beach County Corn- Alzheimer's fight. Local, 18 missioner Karen Marcus said. But details of the plans have not family. which owns the Briger lx.en mad, public prop,rty. aim to jointly submit a Developing the tract • 1.6 million square feet on 70 acres lor The Scripps Research Institute is 2.4 million square feet on 100 acres 201 0 ;on ,,„. lap otos 'as wog won N., ips EFTA00260081 TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2008 / Partly sunny. 8 Lo e child Ashley (above) in OK! Magazine. NATIONAL EDITION DELAWARE & PHILADELPHIA SELECTIONS FAT ZERO Bunglers scrap plans for WTC In a staggering and embarrassing move nearly seven years after 9/11, the agency respon- sible for rebuilding the World Trade Center yesterday scrapped its timetable for complet- ing the massive project. In fact, Port Authority officials need at least two more months just to figure out how late and overbudget it is. 1 EFTA00260082 I 3 I C k NATIONAL EDITION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2007 / Cooler: a shower In the morning, 66 / Weather: Page 24 sr as C & AQUEDUCT SELECTIONS www.nypost.com *1.50 ()ELT Yank fan Rudy pulls for Bosox Holy cow! Yankee fanatic Rudy Giuliani revealed yester- day that he is backing the hated Boston Red Sox in the World Series. The world's biggest Bomber fan dropped the bombshell while cam- paigning in Boston. win- ning praise from GOP leaders in nearby New Hampshire. but draw urt the wrath of Yankee rooters back home. BREEDERS' CUP 24-PAGE PULLOUT GUIDE tr. WM. tr" • 4, - t 'f • EFTA00260083 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2007 / Cloudy. 54 / Weather: Page 20 ** LATE CITY FINAL - www.nypost.com Obl'Boyz! Bumbling Giants lose to Dallas Gov aide: EXCLUSIVE Darren Dopp (left), a former top aide to Gov. Spitzer. asked another senior staffer to lie about the plot to smear Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. The Post has learned. 25 CENTS SEE SPORT!' Robeil M Pier. EFTA00260084 PalmBeachPost.com Cerabino takes on all things Trump at the ADT Watch kids' impressions of Hannah Montana Ricky Williams to practice Monday, could play Nov. 26 IN SPORTS 5 PLACES TO EAT ON THANKSGIVING IN TGIF GUV, GAL PAL SPLIT Lake Clarke Shores mom, Crist no longer dating JOSE LAMBIET'S PAGE TWO, 2A The Palm Beach Post Friday, November 16, 2007 Final Edition 50 cents Bush hurries to put holiday flights into express lane Other moves to cut delays will take longer to implement. By MICHAEL I. SNIFFEN Associated Press WASHINGTON — In a year of record delays, President Bush stepped forward Thursday to try to speed air travelers to their Thanksgiving gatherings and back home on time. Bonds indicted in steroid probe The baseball star is charged with perjury and obstruction. By PAUL ELIAS The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO - The home run king wasn't home free after all. Barry Bonds, baseball's ca- reer home run leader, was in- dicted Thursday on charges L22 p Anhir eijury °cobs:ruction of Declaring that "business as usual is not good enough for American travelers," Bush announced at the White House a se- ries of detailed technical steps to reduce air traffic congestion and long delays that have left passengers stranded and turned holiday travel into "a season of dread for too many Americans." In the most innovative move, the Pen- tagon will allow commercial airliners to use two air corridors off the eastern See FLIGHTS, 9A Is Opening up airspace, other measures to keep planes moving Opal lases: The Pentagon will open unused mitary airspace from Florida to Maine to create 'a Thanksgiving express lane' for commercial airliners. Incentives: The Transportation Department will propose an increased bump fee that airlines must pay to ticketed travelers who wind up without a seat. Preiects:The FM is imposing a holiday moratorium on nonessential maintenance projects. p Two Kims tied for ADT lead Wired: An FAA Web site, www.fly.faa.gov, will provide up-to-date information about airport delays. Passengers can sign up to have delay notices sent to their mobile phones. Runway use: New runway use patterns have been instituted at New York's JFK that allow four to six more planes to arrive each hour, and Newark is about to add new takeoff routes. Cubans swim to shore, freedom Thirty-four safely land in Palm Beach, but a man, 39, drowns. A smuggling suspect is detained. it EFTA00260085 PalmBeachPosteco e reeter • ray, st do Pilfts ateas:dt trenceipAeDsi guide to 1-1" /" g tu Seer Leslie; holiday gi Palm Beach County revamps marinas to make room for more MEGAYACHTS IN BUSINESS IN FANS GO BANANAS SMILE, ADO! 1! gallery of ginning dogs IN ACCENT COLLEGE FOOTBALL SECTION i s FLORIDA 59 Ta cp. FAU 20 1-N VIRGINIATECH 44 -• MIAMI 14 r"z RORIDA STATE 24 AU MARYLAND 16 The Palm Beach Post Sunday, November 18, 2007 Final Edition C $1.25 U.S. helped Pakistan guard nukes Debate swirls about security after the millions in aid, which officials say was secret. By DAVID E. SANGER and WILLIAM.' BROAD 7hr New York Times WASHINGTON — During the past six years, the Bush administration has spent almost $100 million on a highly classified program to help Pakistan's president secure his coun- try's nuclear weapons, according to current and former senior adminis- tration officials. But as Gen. Pervez Musharraf's troubles leave the future of that country's leadership in doubt, debate is intensifying about whether Wash- ington has done enough to help pro- tect the warheads and laboratories, and whether Pakistan's reluctance to ■ U.S. warns reveal critical details N1usharraf on about its arsenal has emergency undercut the elle°. rule, 5A tiveness of the secu- rity effort. The aid, buried in secret por- tions of the federal budget, paid for training Pakistani personnel in the United States and the construction of a nuclear security training center in Pakistan, a facility that US. officials say is nowhere near eo!iipletion, even HEROES OF THE EPIDEMIC HIV IN THE CARIBBEAN sem/wooer, pare though it was supposed to be in op- eration this year. A raft of equipment, ranging from helicopters to night-vision goggles to nuclear detection equipment, was given to Pakistan to help secure its nuclear material, its warheads and the laboratories that were the site of the worst known case of nuclear prieliferation in the atomic age. See PANSTAN, 5A ► Haitian prison spreads disease, but a doctor does what he can Realtors aim to alter luck at Las Vegas convention The spirited event sets an attendance record as agents seek an edge. By MARILYN GEEWAX Palm Brack Post-Cox News Stater LAS VEGAS — With so many homes and condos sit- ting on the market month after month, their fresh-paint smell fading and owners' costs rising, Realtors must fund a way to sell. They must. For many, the two-year sales slump is cutting commissions and straining nerves. To re- store their spirits, more than 30,000 members and guests of the National Association of Re- altors arrived at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino last week for their annual conference and expo. The record number of participants came seeking information on their industry and craving the crazy energy of the never-sleep city where luck can turn in a blink. Among the most enthusias- tic was John Mike, chairman of the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches. While home sales have dropped nationwide, they have plum- meted in Florida, which is I. EFTA00260086 Isles hope not to trip on the road By DAN MARTIN 'led Nolan saw lots of empty seats at Nassau Coliseum last year, his first as Islanders head coach. "Early last year. it seemed we couldn't get more than 5,000 or 6.000 fans at games." Nolan said of playing in front of a nearly half- empty house. Now. were getting 14. 15, 16 [thousand) almost every night. It makes a huge difference. Getting fans in the building means a lot and it helps. Were trying to bring hack the glory days here, know- ing where we came from and knowing where we have to go to." But right now, after rolling off four consecu- tive wins at home to pull within two points of first-place Philadel- phia. the Isles have to venture out on the road for four straight. The first is tonight against the Flyers, who have played three more games than the Isles. Despite good results so far, Isles right wing Miro Satan isn't ready to call his team one of the best in the league — not until it wins consis- tently on the road. "We have to take the same attitude with us." Satan said of the Isles, who haven't left Long Island since Oct. 18. -If you want to be success- ful and be at the top, you have to be able to do the same things away from home. That's what good teams do." The Isles will find out soon enough . if that's ISLANDERS FLYERS Lco_ Tonight — 710 ESN WBBR (1130 AM) what they are, as to- night's game.in Philadel- phia will be followed by ones in Pittsburgh. Newark and at Madison Square Garden. The Islanders have been solid and Nolan isn't overly concerned that a change of scenery will hurt. "It doesn't matter where we play, whether here or in Africa. if we play like we have been. we'll be fine," he said following yesterday's skate. "Everything's fall- ing into place right now." Satan has played a sig- nificant part in that, tal- lying the game-winner in each of the last three matches. "I've never done that before," Satan said. "I'm just glad I'm helping out." • Bill Guerin's status for tonight's game is un- certain after he leR Sat- urday's 2-1 win over the Devils because of a cut. He will be reevaluated today.... Freddy Meyer, reacquired after being waived by the Isles earlier this year. skated yesterday and will be with the team tonight. dammaronenyposteom L.. \-4,v GOAL POSTPONED: Martin Brodeur makes a save Saturday in the Devils' 2.1 loss to the Islanders, a defeat that postponed the goalie's quest for his SOOth career victory until tonight in Pittsburgh, at least. Getty Images MARTIN SHORT Brodeur goes for 500th win again By Pyrut Devils Brodeur years. for his tory he owe hit 'I'her his fan night, close back som vole ized al 1 agai tali adv sco Nas Br only NIIL gam Bre crate mast cling days of practice. leading to Thursday's victory over the Flyers. Brodeur has started eight straight and 14 of 16 this season for the Devils, 5-8-1. with that mile- me slow in arriving. -le has one edge on Roy, his chase for the record. iy notched his 500th vic- ry in his 993rd game: odeur has played 905. 'odour. however, has col- cted 18 of his 499 victo- L•s via shootout, an al/c- m unavailable to Roy. hose des ended as tlei. Roy played 1,029 games •r a record of 551.315.13, DIGIT TIM FRIDAY AL 30 imsausistt and Brodeur stands 499-271-121. Though the Devils re- verted to their inoffensive ways against the IsLanders, they can take encourage- ment from the three goals in two games they've re- ceived from previously goalless Dainius Zubrus. Jamie Langenbrunncr also is close to making his sea- son debut after September hernia surgery. The Devils. 3-5.2 in their last 10, could use any help they can get. One of their six triumphs this season came here on Oct. 17, with Arron Asham netting the winner. ■ The Devils play host to the Rangers on Wednes- day. ... John Madden sat out practice yesterday, as well. mark mversontnypost.com 75 New York Post, Monday, November 12, 2007 EFTA00260087 1 • iret svc-,3-t arkittaigatedi _ 9 and HICKEY- FREEMAN J.C. Fairvalley of Hickey-Freeman will be in our shop to personally present their new clothing collection. Stop by for a preview of this fine clothing and save $100 when you order a custom suit; also savings on sport jackets and trousers. • If you wish, call us for • 1n appointment. Saturday, November 10 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 312 Worth A;enue, Palm Beach (561) 655-1141 PALM BEACH • BOCA RATON • FORT LAUDERDALE • NAPLES• SARASOTA .SINE•m•••••=srme--,—... FRENCH CONNECTION Specorto rno Post Palm Beachers were wethrepresented at lliesday night's White House state dinner honoring French President Nicolas Sarkory in D.C. In addition to Bocibizman Mark Guzzetta and his date, Leigh Martin (pictured here with Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne), other guests with local roots included GOP-supporting Palm Beach- ers Gay Gaines and her hubby, Stan; Chief of Protocol Nancy Brinker and her son, Eric; and Washington Redskins minority owner Dwight Schar and wife Martha, newcomers to The Island. 04 11 2040 2 2 20 2020 * 2 02 2200 es THE LOWDOWN .. Farewell to WPTV-Chan- nd 5 General Manager Brian Lawlor, who% headed to the station-owner Scripps TV groups head- quarters in Cincinnati to be- come the chain's corporate sales boss. Lawlor was a visible GM, Lamm fronting public service an- • nouncements at the perennially No. 1 local broadcaster. Lawlor, who has been here on-and-off since 1991, just presided over sweeping changes at the WPB station, including the addition of HD technology ... Former Palm Beach Gardens Council- : • woman Annie Delgado, who lost her seat 21/2 years ago to Jody Barnett after shifter campaign, has packed her bags and left town. She landed' .in Ocala, in Central Florida, where the set up another real estate company :., Resounding success Wednes- dy night for the first Patin Beach Food and Wine Festival, which brought an unusually high number of young faces to Worth Avenue. Thirty top area chefs dished out their fare to nearly 600 people alongside the shopping gallery at 150 Worth. The shindig raised nearly 20 G% for the Peggy Adams Ani- mal Rescue League ... • EPSTEIN HAS ONE LESS WORRY THESE DAYS Theragood news, and some bad, for a Palm Beach billionaire accused of paying o underage suburban girls, one as young as 14, for sex. • The good: Jeffrey Epstein's a no longer looking at the 2 possibility of a lengthy sentence. The FBI is off his back. Is The bad? The redusive 54-yearold is still expected * to spend up to 18 months . • behind bars and could be Epstein 0. legally branded a sex of- , fender. • "This case is absolutely going to end without a trial within the next two • months," said the Wall Street prodigy's • legal eagle in WPB, Jack Goldberger. a Seems that Goldberger, and Epstein% 0 dream team of lawyers that includes media darling Alan Dershowtz and former Bill Cat- o ton prosecutor ken Starr, have delivered for the politically connected Epstein. ° . In September, Dershowttz commented • that there were constitutional issues with 0 the case, including the feds' involvement a • The G-men came in after a livid Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter — whose crew spent 11 months in 2005-06 watching Epstein house and sifting through sex ' toys in his garbage — requested their help. * Reiter and State Attorney Barry Krischer feuded over charges for Epstein, with • Reiter accusing Krischer of going easy on Mr Moneybags. Now, said a source close to Epstein who asked to remain nameless, federal au- thorities have agreed to allow Krischer to proceed solo. "The feds were overreaching the whole • time," the.source said. "I think they're now • satisfied with the resolution we're about to • reach in state court" That includes, according to the source, • a guilty plea to one count of felony solicita- • tion of prostitution. • The case has drugged on in the court • system for nearly 17 months. • • • Got a news tip? CaN lose at (361) 820.4725 or e-mail jose_lambiet@pboost.ccm CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS Cultomer Service Because of a reporting error, The Palm Beach Post on Wednesday gave incorrect information in a story about the death of Boca Raton lawyer Eric Glatter in a scooter accident in Nassau, Bahamas. The story incor- rectly said that Glances fiancee told colleague ?Ina Lekiert that the scooter% steering column did not seem to be working properly. In fact the fiancee told that to a hospital volunteer, who repeated it to Lewert. The error appeared on Page 7B of the Local section. a Because of a reporting error, Ike Rd on ittesday incorrectly named West Palm Beach-based Sohtron De- vices as a subsidiary of Honeywell In- ternationaL Solitron never has been a part of the Honeywell corporate struc- ture. The error appeared on Page 3B of the Local section. The PalmBeach Post Florida Lottery EFTA00260088 IM THE PALM BEACH POST • SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2008 WSeN The Palm Beach Post DOUG FRANKLIN. Publisher JOHN BARTOSEK, Editor CHARLES GERARD', General Mono., BILL ROSE, Managing Editor RANDY &HUM. Editor WU, Editorial PIN JAN TuCKWOoD. Associate Editor BARRY BERG, VParatlation IARRY SIEDLIK VP& Treasurer JOILN KELLY. VPAdvertaing GALE 110VMEN, IT Community Relations and Mantes* . LINDA MURPHY. VP Human Resources BOB MIFF, VPOperatimo TIM BURKE. VP Digital Media JAURA DECK CUNNINGHAM. Dirrctor, Marketing Service 10th-grade FCAT scores show problem with test In 2001. just 37 percent of Florida 10th-graders could read on grade level. This year, according to FCAT results released Tuesday, 10th-grade students reading on grade level had increased to a whopping 38 per- cent. Give them credit for scoring 4 points higher than last year's sophomores. But the overall "gain" since 2001 again calls into question Florida's focus on one test. The fact that reading gains in other grades over the same period have been substantial is yet more evidence that something is screwy with the FCAT. Either the test isn't providing the information and in- centives schools need to figure out how to teach high school students to read, or the test isn't accurately measuring how well high school students can read. Gains in other grades are fine. But if they erode be- fore students get out of high school. they're not of much use. Tenth grade also is a key year, since that's when students may decide to drop out if they don't think that theyll be able to graduate. Last year, the state asked experts to study whether the 10th-grade test is scored too strictly, and expects re- sults this summer. Now there's even more reason to wonder. This year's 10th-graders — the same ones who did characteristically poorly on the reading FCAT — scored a huge, 11- percentile increase over last year on a national reading exam. Something else in this year's FCAT results is screwy. Reading scores for Florida fifth-graders fell to 67 percent on grade level from 72 percent last year. Experts can't explain why those scores fell while most other scores were increasing. This anomaly involves the same class that — as third-graders in 2006 — was given a reading test that the state later admitted was too easy. But at least in that case. Reading results for crucial class are awful. the state eventually pinpointed the problem. This time, the best explanation state Education Com- missioner Eric Smith could offer was that it was part of a normal statistical fluctuation. This year's results also perpetu- ated the perennial head-scratcher. How can so many students who can't pass the reading test do such a stellar job on the writing test? As- noted above, just 38 percent of 10th- graders could read on grade level, but 78 percent of them could write on grade level. And while we're on the subject, we'll mention just one more screwy thing about the FCAT: Although high school students supposedly have to "pass" the FCAT to graduate, the passing grade for the 10th-grade reading ECAT is set below grade level. So although just 38 percent of 10th-graders can read on grade level, 57 percent "passed" the read- ing FCAT for graduation purposes. The graduation standard for Florida seniors thus is something below a 10th-grade reading level. Under Gov. Bush, the FCAT changed from a test that was sup- posed to guide a student's education into a test used to shame "failing" schools into somehow doing better, and to award vouchers. The Legis- lature, at long last, began to back away this year from that failing model and reduced the importance of FCAT scores in school grades. But the grades still are there, and so is a basic question about the FCAT: Does the test accurately measure the reading ability of 10th-graders? If it doesn't, that's bad. If it does. that's worse. DIESL 37 FUELE. MADE FROM AND FRENCH HAMBURGER PEP GALLON FRY GREASE' Gail Collins 7 YOU Dimir KNOW? THE SAUDIS ewswT EVEN FASEFOOD RESTAURANT • IN AMERICA! Obama's post-primary crisis Everybody knows that the first rule in picking a vice presidential nominee is to do no harm. Really, you can choose anybody. I low dumb would you feel if it turned into an embarrassment? This is why the careful, modem candidate sets up a screening system. Now ask yourself: How dumb would you feel tf you got in trouble over your selection for the vice presidential screener? Barack Obama is having the first post-primary crisis, a moment in which the only conceivable response is: What was he thinking? James Johnson, who resigned Wednesday from the Obama vice presidential selection committee, is an old Washington hand who had helped Walter Mondale and John Kerry with the same task. His aura of experience apparently was not diminished one whit by the fact that both his candidates lost and that one of them ran into embarrassing contro- versies over his running mate The immediate cause of Mr. John- son's downfall was a charge that he had been given a sweet deal on three home loans by the head of the Coun- trywide Financial Corp.. which Sen. Obania has criticized (or its role in the subprime lending crisis. Since Coun- trywide seems to Maybe Al Gore will change his mind. But there's all this other stuff. Mr. Johnson is the former head of Fannie Mae, which under his direction, reg- ulators say, engaged in accounting practices that were, at best, sloppy. At the same time, he sat on the boards of five corporations, where he ap- peared to serve as cheerleader for the theory that executives deserve to be paid obscene amounts of money. How does someone go up to Barack Obama, who once sponsored a bill to curb excessive executive compensa- tion, and say — "You know the vice presidential search committee? For chairman, how about Jim Johnson? Remember, the guy who tried to give the head of UnitedHealth Group $1.4 billion in stock options?" When Mr. Johnson quit. McCain headquarters issued a statement saying that the fact he had been se- lected in the first place raised "seri- OUS questions about Barack Obamis judgment" Not a great avenue of at- tack for a campaign in which a large chunk of the top staff recently was dismissed for being lobbyists. nun to be the public face of the search. You hire experts to do the back- ground checks. You would want your own trusted advisers sitting in on the interviews. The other two committee members, Caroline Kennedy and a former deputy attorney general, could have managed on their own. But no, we have to have a seasoned wise man whose standing among the movers and shakers of the business and political elite seemed to hinge on the fact that he feels every single one of them deserves more money. Gentle spirits may decide that it's a good thing that the Obama cam- paign is getting this sort of thing out of the way early. Crueler ones may note that at least they can't blame this one on Hillary. Rather than falling into complete depression at such an early point in the game, let's work under the as- sumption that the people involved were so tired that they didn't know what they were doing. Just before the final primaries. I spoke to George McGovern, who is the gold standard when it comes to .disastrous vice presidential selec- tions. If Sen. Obama ever asked hind for advice, Sen. McGovern said, he'd tell him to avoid exhaustion. EFTA00260089 FRENCH CONNECTION Palm Beachers were well-represented at 'Iliesday night's Wtiite House state dinner honoring French President Nicolas Sarkozy in D.C. In addition to Boca bizman Mark Guzzetta and his date, Leigh Martin (pictured here with Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne), other guests with local mots included GOP-supporting Palm Beach- ers Gay Gaines and her hubby, Stan; Chief of Protocol Nancy Brinker and her son, Eric; and Washington Redskins minority owner Dwight Scher and wife Martha, newcomers to The Wand. 0004 00 00 0 00090 10 00000 000 00 THE LOWDOWN .. .. Farewell to WPTV-Chan- ..of HD technology ... Former nel S General Manager Brian • Palm Beach Gardens Council- who headed'to the station-owner • Scripps TV groups head- rs in Cincinnati to be- come the chain's corporate sales boss. Lawlor was a visible GM, Lawlor fronting public service an- • nouncements at the perennially Na 1 local broadcaster. Lawlor, who has been here on-and-off since 1991, just presided over sweeping changes at the WPB station, including the addition s- woman Annie Delgado, who lost ' her seat 2)i years ago to Jody Garnett after fl itter campaign, hag packed her bags and left town. She landeckin Ocala, in Central Florida, wheie she set up another real estate company :.:,..Resounding success Wednes- day night for the first Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival, which brought an unusually high number of young faces to Worth Avenue. Thirty top area chefs dished out their fare to nearly 600 people alongside the shopping gallery at 150 Worth. The shindig raised nearly 20 Gb for the Peggy Adams Ani- mal Rescue League ... • a a ♦ EPSTEIN HAS ONE LESS WORRY THESE DAYS +here% gwd news, and some bad, for a Palm Be w.h billionaire accused of paying underage suburban girls, one as young as 14, for sex. The good: Jeffrey Epstein% no longer looking at the O possibility of a lengthy • sentence. The FBI is off his • back. The bad? The reclusive 54-year-old is still expected reclusive , • spend up to 18 months behind bars and could be Epstein • legally branded a sex of- - f • ender. "Thil case is absolutely going to end without a trial within the next two • months," said the Wall Street prodi6y's o legal eagle in WPB, Jack Goldberger. Seems that Goldberger, and Epstein's dream team of lawyers that includes media 0 prosecutor Ken Starr, have delivered for darling Alan Dershowttz and former Bill CNn- ton the politically connected Epstein. • In September, Dershowitz commented that there were constitutional issues with O the case, including the feds' involvement. ♦ The G-men came in after a livid Palm Beach Police' Chief Michael Reiter — whose crew spent 11 months in 2005-06 watching Epstemb house and sifting through sex • toys bilis garbage — requested their help. • • Reiter and State Attorney Barry &isobar • • feuded over ch rges for Epstein, with • Reiter accusing Krischer of going easy on - • • c Mc oneybags. - • • said a source dose to Epstein who asked to remain nameless, federal au- thorities have agreed to allow Krischer to proceed solo. "The feds were overreaching the whole time," the.source said. "I think they're now satisfied with the resolution we're about to reach in state court" That includes, according to the source, a guilty plea to one count of felony solicita- e tion of prostitution. o The case has dragged on in the court • system for nearly 17 months. • • • • • • ' • • 14137 .-:=11 013:7,1=arnmnril3SIarantr -ark-naLT e4 I Got a news tip? Cail Jose at (561) 820.4725 or e-mail Jose_lambiet@pbpost.com EFTA00260090