> December 30, 2004 / Washington, D.C. (Associated Press)
>
> After four years of legal wrangling, George W. Bush was
> finally declared the winner of the 2000 presidential election
> yesterday. Bush, a Republican, will take the oath of office
> at noon today and serves until January 20, 2005, a term of
> about three weeks.
>
> Then he gives way to the winner of the 2004 presidential
> election, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Greenspan (formerly
> Clinton). Facing a drastically shortened presidency, Bush
> attempted to strike an optimistic tone last night. "We have
> a lot to accomplish in the next three weeks," Bush said.
> "Reforming Social Security alone is probably going to eat
> up four or five hours. Let's get to work!" Aides yesterday
> were calling temporary employment agencies in a frantic
> effort to fill Cabinet posts.
>
> Bush's victory ends a four-year court battle between him and
> Democratic candidate Al Gore over the results of the 2000
> election. While the dispute raged on, the nation installed
> an interim president - New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre.
> Torre admitted that running a country and a baseball team
> simultaneously has been a strain. "At times, it's been
> difficult to keep the two things straight. Although, in
> retrospect, trading Jesse Helms to the Red Sox turned out OK."
>
> Torre's four years in office were marked by continued
> prosperity at home and relative calm abroad. His most
> controversial move was appointing Yankees bench coach Don
> Zimmer to the Supreme Court. Critics charged that Zimmer
> lacked experience. He also spit tobacco juice on Antonin
> Scalia's shoes, angering conservatives. Torre's boldest
> foreign policy initiative was making Cuba the 51st state
> in an effort to improve U.S. pitching.
>
> Torre was planning to vacate the White House by midnight
> tonight, with Bush moving in immediately. Eager to give an
> aura of permanency to his three-week administration, Bush
> rebuffed suggestions that he sleep on a bare mattress on the
> floor and live out of suitcases.
>
> Gore, meanwhile, has yet to concede defeat. The former Vice
> President issued a statement today saying, "It would be
> improper and disrespectful to the democratic process to act
> hastily before all the facts are known."
>
> The legal tangle over the 2000 election began with a Gore
> lawsuit over the confusing design of ballots in Florida. When
> the courts sided with Gore, Bush filed suit, arguing that the
> Oregon results were invalid because some ballots were yellow
> and others pink. Gore counter sued, charging that the West
> Virginia results should be thrown out because some people failed
> to receive "I Voted Today" stickers.
>
> Through the years, various officials proposed compromises to
> resolve the impasse. All were rejected, including:
>
> *** Establishing a co-presidency, with the two men sharing
> duties and splitting the White House. Although never
> implemented, the idea gave rise to a hit TV show,
> East Wing, West Wing.
>
> *** Establishing temporarily separate nations, with each
> candidate ruling the states he won in the 2000 election.
> Gore, who failed to carry his native Tennessee, balked
> at the idea because it would mean showing a passport
> every time he went home.
>
> Observers said the biggest challenge for the Bush administration
> will be working with Congress, which adjourns tomorrow and isn't
> expected back until after Bush's term ends. "One day may not be
> quite enough time to overhaul the tax system," a Bush aide
> admitted. "But maybe we can get started and then finish it later
> with a big conference call or something."
>
> Meanwhile, Bush also must work on his legacy and prepare to
> transfer power to President-elect Greenspan. She yesterday wished
> Bush well and asked if she could start moving some boxes into the
> White House basement.
>
>
>
>
> ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø |