HOUSTON NOTEBOOK : Flying to the Rescue

Among the Houston-area business enterprises that have signed on as commercial sponsors of the GOP convention, one seems to be in a class by itself. Billed in full-page newspaper advertisements as the “Official Airline of the Republican National Convention,” Continental Airlines has been operating under bankruptcy court protection since December, 1990. Continental is one of Houston’s biggest employers, with an estimated 12,000 people on the payroll.

Pushing Buttons

As the Republicans called their convention to order, they were confronted at every turn by buttons bearing a cacophony of political slogans. For the traditionalists, there are dozens of variations on the basic “Bush/Quayle ‘92” button, including “Barbara’s Husband for President.” For the more daring, there are buttons that bash the Democratic ticket, such as “Adulterers for Clinton” and “Clinton--Broccoli; Does He or Doesn’t He?” Some buttons suggest an undercurrent of GOP dissatisfaction: “Unhappy Camper,” for example, and “Quayle/Sajak ’96.” One dark horse entry says, “Tanned, Rested and Ready” and bears the beaming face of Richard M. Nixon.

The Street Scene

While the Republicans followed their convention script Monday night, the action outside the Astrodome was less rehearsed--and more confrontational. Hundreds of gay rights activists clashed with police when about 50 demonstrators lay down in the street and refused to move. As protesters threw police barricades into a bonfire, officers pushed the crowd away from the Astrodome entrance. The incident led to six arrests.