December 30, 2004
WASHINGTON -- 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 Jan. 20, 2005, a term of about three weeks. Then he gives way to
the
winner of the 2004 presidential election, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham
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-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 countersued, 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, includ-
ing:
* 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.
* Letting Jimmy Carter sort it all out.
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 Clinton. Clinton yesterday wished Bush well and asked
if
she could start moving some boxes into the White House basement. |
