LIMBAUGH BOOK SIGNING IS WEDNESDAY

From 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday ... DAVID LIMBAUGH (new father of Scott Armstrong Limbaugh, born May 4 and weighing 9 pounds, 10 ounces -- congratulations LISA and DAVE) will be autographing his book, "ABSOLUTE POWER: The legacy of the corruption in the Clinton/Reno Justice Department," which has been on the best-seller list for over five weeks.

It's a good book to read or purchase for a gift and have as a memorial historical remembrance.

To my knowledge, David is only the second Cape resident to ever hit and be sustained on the best -seller lists, AND one of the rare brother combinations from anywhere on the best-seller lists along with his brother, RUSH LIMBAUGH ("The Way Things Ought to Be").

Let's turn out to congratulate David on his book, his new son and his increasing appearances as a guest on national television talk shows. This takes a lot of time and effort. And let's show we appreciate his contribution to the political and moral dialogue necessary for a free country.

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A week ago I attended the Newspaper Association of America meeting In Toronto, Canada, ... the "most multiculturally diversified city in the world." This 2.5 million-population city (4.5 million in greater Toronto) is the home for 400,000 Chinese, over 200,000 Italians plus Portuguese, French and many other ethnic groups. It is also a major corporate growth city helped by Montreal and Quebec's French language mandates of about 10 years ago.

The most fascinating non-business occurrence on this trip was in reading about the energy speech of Vice President DICK CHENEY at which I was in attendance.

This rational, balanced, fact-laden speech was heavily applauded by representatives of the larger newspapers or newspaper groups of the United States and Canada (on average more liberal than conservative).

The headlines in the newspapers the next day omitted the meat of his remarks and spun (out of context) his comments that conservation (only) was not a solution. Also the television highlights excerpted a one-liner on the same subject, taking it out of its context.

To bring this reporting tendency discussion back to Missouri, I am continuously amazed at the SELECTIVE REPORTING of the news media, particularly when it comes to what's going on in state government.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a five-person, experienced staff in its Jefferson City bureau. Its editorial board met with state Sen. PETER KINDER for almost two hours over four weeks ago (I was in attendance).

A major portion of the meeting discussed a handout by Kinder on the tobacco lawyers' fees, Kinder's bill to limit those fees and the legal arguments. Although there appeared to be nodding support for his position, other than brief one-liners in other related editorials the subject has not been investigated, reported on or editorialized about.

Anywhere from $200 million to $300 million-plus of state money is at stake -- all to go to the lawyers or a $30 million cap (not a bad pay day even at this lower number) in Kinder's bill.

The most recent FORBES magazine runs a feature on the wealthiest trial lawyers in the United States and their major sources of income ... many from class-action suits against large corporations.

I would be very comfortable if every voter in Missouri viewed the legislative debates and hearings, but I am increasingly uncomfortable with the selective reporting of the same.

We are constantly making suggestions and criticism to The ASSOCIATED PRESS, which provides the majority of state, national and international news to the U.S. populace ... by radio, television and newspapers.

Along with St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia and St. Joseph, the Southeast Missourian is one of only five outstate newspapers that provides additional Jefferson City coverage (MARC POWERS lives in Columbia, Mo., and maintains an office in the capital).

For the record, JIM GREBING, former Southeast Missourian political writer, is now the communications director of the Missouri Democratic Party after serving in the same capacity for Secretary of State Bekki Cook, a Democrat.

CHUCK MILLER, a former Southeast Missourian reporter, is now communications director for State Treasurer NANCY FARMER, a Democrat, after serving in that capacity for then-State Treasurer BOB HOLDEN and briefly in a similar capacity for former St. Louis Mayor CLARENCE HARMON.

MARC POWERS, our current Jefferson City reporter, had a fling in the political arena as communications director for congressional candidate EMILY FERGUSON FIREBAUGH, a Democrat.

We don't ask our reporters their religion or politics, but we do expect them to gather and report the facts, not to just interview, select and spin as too many do. They and we are open to your letters and Speak Out criticism on just how well we are doing.

Gary Rust is chairman of Rust Communications.