Inside Washington: Patriotic advertising

AMERICANS still love their flag, but feel it’s been over-used with patriotic-themed advertising.

A new Adweek poll finds that three-quarters of the respondents felt that "patriotic ads have overstayed their welcome," endless repetition of Sept. 11 references and stars-and stripes themes had dulled emotional relevance and no longer performed "an important service," the survey said.

The poll is ongoing at Adweek’s website: www.adweek.com.

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For Clinton, the saddest loss

"EVEN BILL Clinton’s most curdled critics can summon up a little sympathy for him. He has lost his beautiful, beloved dog, Buddy. Life holds few bleaker moments. Wisecracks about Buddy’s being his only true friend are out of order. Buddy was a credit to his master and the White House," writes Mary McGrory in her Washington Post column.

"Buddy had a gleaming chocolate coat, a glad heart and an acute understanding of Clinton’s bottomless need for unconditional love. He did his White House job superbly as a mood-altering and ice-breaking presence. The self-indulgent Clinton was an indulgent dog-parent, giving the animal the run of the Oval Office without a care in the world about priceless furniture coverings. Buddy followed the sun around the room.

"He was like Clinton, too, in not wanting to be left out of any gathering. Many an international parley or down-and-dirty session on domestic politics was suspended while the chief executive went to admit a whimpering Buddy for a high-level ear scratching under the eye of his beaming boss."

McGrory writes that Buddy was unhappy when he had to share Clinton. "He set up a yelping with a clear message that started everyone laughing: ‘I am here, your pet, your pal. Why are you wasting time on these nobodies?’ Clinton would call, ‘Hold on, Buddy, I’m comin’.’

"And when he did, Buddy jumped up and planted his paws on the president’s shoulders, and covered his face with kisses. Clinton inhaled. Buddy and he had bonded during impeachment. Alex Munthe, author of a book about the Villa San Michele, has studied monarchs’ dogs and writes about the role of a Buddy during a sad and troubled moment: ‘He creeps up and lays his head on his lap. . . . Never mind if all abandon you. I am here to replace all your friends and fight all your enemies.’

"Now Clinton is condemned to relive Buddy’s last hours, when inattentive caretakers failed to thwart his dash for freedom that led to a rendezvous with death on the highway. When he goes home he sees Buddy everywhere, and for weeks, he will make wide arcs around Buddy’s favorite flopping places, still trying to avoid stepping on paws. He waits in vain for the delicious sensation of the cold snout in the palm of the hand that signals the arrival of the number one fan, the ecstatic welcome at any hour of day or night."

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PETA furs keep homeless warm

LADIES, here’s an idea for that fur coat in your closet! Animal-rights activists last week gave about 30 paint-stained fur coats to homeless people in Washington, DC, saying they doubt the furs will encourage would-be robbers to target the homeless.

The message PETA wanted to send through the giveaway was that the homeless are the only people who have an excuse to wear fur because they have no choice in what they wear. All the coats given away had been donated by people who had "moved on to kinder, gentler garments," said PETA, who says it has received thousand of coats from people, including Barbara Bush, and Hugh Hefner’s daughter Kimberly — all of whom have been sickened by exposes of cruelty to animals caught in leg hold traps and driven mad in tiny fur farm cases.

The homeless recipients were overjoyed to receive the coats; some said it was all they had to keep them warm this winter.

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Some folks really know how to show their appreciation

HOW LUCKY some people can be! We’re really envious, for example, of the folks who work at ABC.

Robert Iger, president of the Disney subsidiary, has issued a memo detailing the awards for longtime employees, based on years of service.

Iger’s list: "5 years — Donald Duck lapel pin. 10 years — Castle lapel pin and Mickey Mouse plaque. 20 years — Mickey Mouse lapel pin and 10-karat-gold ring. 30 years — Jiminy Cricket lapel pin and bronze statue."