Lexington

摘要

Americans are accustomed to dramatic makeovers. They regularly watch plastic surgeons, real or imaginary, demonstrate their skills on "Extreme Makeover" and "Nip/Tuck". They get to gawk at Michael Jackson on a daily basis. But even in a country where personal reconstruction is routine the transformation of Senator Bill Frist is attracting attention. Two years ago, when he was elected majority leader, Mr Frist was widely heralded as the face of the New Republican Party. Out went nasty old Trent Lott with his racist faux pas. In came nice Fristy (as George Bush calls him) with his moderate politics and telegenic smile. The doctor came from the safe patrician-cum-business wing of the Republican Party: his family, one of the poshest in Tennessee, founded HCA, a huge private-hospital chain. He was also the living embodiment of compassionate conservatism: a heart-and-lung surgeon who performed 150 transplants during his career and who continues to exercise his skills, even nipping off to Africa during his holidays to do some charitable operations.