Forward Spin

By Janice Castro

BORN IN A LOG MANSION?

George Herbert Walker Bush will never be able to claim the trendiest qualification for high office: childhood deprivation. It worked for Clarence Thomas. Mario Cuomo rattles on about it (the apartment-over-the-gr ocery-store bit). Tom Harkin now hopes to ride it to the White House.

UNEXPECTED FORCE

What a difference a year makes. In the peace and quiet of his Supreme Court chambers, unassuming Justice David Souter is emerging as a candid, erudite and surprisingly forceful leader. Expect eventual consideration as Chief Justice.

THE MOM BRIGADE

Ferne Milken, Molly Pollard and Sophie Altman are pulling out all the stops to defend their sons -- junk-bond king Michael, convicted spy Jonathan and former U.S. B.C.C.I. counsel Robert. Better watch out for Fannie Gotti.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Before their political campaigns, David Duke had cosmetic surgery and Doug Wilder shaved off his mustache (no one with a mustache has won the White House in more than a half-century). Next: the new Ted Kennedy, who is said to have lost 35 lbs. preparing for his Palm Beach testimony.

EXCUSES

Guns don't commit crimes, parents do. From tales of incest and divorce to complaints of less serious parental shortcomings, everyone seems to be blaming Mom and Pop for whatever ails. Get ready for lawyers pleading the Dr. Spock Defense.

WEIRD FOOTWEAR

Last summer's fashionable footwear was the hiking sandal, cute but not much good on rocky slopes. Now women are wobbling around again on those high- altitude platform shoes. Here comes a boom in orthopedic practice.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart