Subject: Press Release
>
> 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, 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.
>
> * 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.
>
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