In a message dated 97-07-23 11:27:19 EDT, Katherine Dettwyler writes:

<< I liked her column, too, but isn't she some wacky California new-age
 politician's wife (or ex-wife) who's been involved in a bunch of scandals
 and weird religious cults?  Somebody please help me out here, I'm wracking
 my brain trying to figure out why that name rings big alarm bells.  Am I
 confusing her with someone else? >>

Ariana Stassinopoulos Huffington - Greek born (1950), Cambridge educated
Republican activist.  Senior Fellow of the Progress and Freedom Foundation,
chair of the Center for Effective Compassion, a nationally syndicated
columnist, and the author of six books. She developed and hosted her own live
talk show, "Critical Mass," which focused on such themes as renewing values
and revitalizing communities, and which aired on National Empowerment
Television from December 1993 until December 1994.

Came to prominence in 1994 when her millionaire husband, Michael Huffington,
spent about thirty million of his personal fortune trying (and failing) to
acquire a seat in the U.S. Senate (he lost to Democrat Dianne Feinstein).

Made the news in about July 1996 when she broke ranks with her fellow
Republicans and demanded that Bob Dole withdraw from the Presidential race
and be replaced by a new nominee---preferably her pal, Newt Gingrich.

At the time, the newspapers made much of her former association with
California cult leader John-Roger.

She later abandoned Gingrich after he ran into ethics problems and stated
publicly that he should have stepped down instead of hanging on and damaging
the conservative cause.  Arianna also made the news by slamming Pat Buchanan
and Rush Limbaugh.

Appeared on television in bed with co-host Al Franken (author of the book
Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot) during the running sketch "Strange
Bedfellows" on  Comedy Central's "Politically Incorrect."  She and Franken
went on to cover the Republican and Democratic National Conventions for
Comedy Central.

Arianna and her husband, Michael were divorced in June of this year (they
were wed in 1986) after becoming estranged in 1994 when Michael lost his
Senate race.  They will share custody of their daughters, Christina (6) and
Isabella (8).

Rita