Surely know that "gritting" feeling! In the meantime...Bush Warns Terrorists
Bush Warns Terrorists
washingtonpost.com|/Program
By Tom Raum
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000; 3:44 p.m. EST
AUSTIN, Texas –– George W. Bush warned would-be international
adversaries Wednesday not to see this period of election uncertainty as
an
opportunity to attack U.S. interests abroad.
"I have all the confidence in the world that the Clinton administration and
the next administration, which I hope is the Bush administration, would
do
whatever it takes to send a chilling signal to terrorists that we'll protect
our
property and our people," he said.
Bush issued the warning from the living room of the governor's mansion
as
he sat alongside his presumptive national security adviser, Stanford
University administrator Condoleezza Rice.
"The warning ought to be that, as we decide this election, people ought
not to take advantage of our nation," he said.
Bush commented after receiving his second regular intelligence briefing
from the CIA. He did not mention any specific threats.
The Texas governor also said he's about settled on a White House staff
and, although he's not ready to make any announcements, Rice is "on my
list."
With the incoming Congress to be near-evenly divided among
Republicans and Democrats, Bush said it was "a very unique moment in
American history to promote a foreign policy that is bipartisan."
He said he is optimistic that court battles over the unsettled presidential
election may soon be over. "I hope we can get this over with quickly.
There's a lot of work to be done," Bush said.
The meeting with Rice was the latest session intended to portray him as
busy forming a new government and to showcase its would-be leading
members. Bush met last week with retired Gen. Colin Powell, his
near-certain choice as secretary of state.
"I could name a few folks pretty quickly, if I so choose to do so," he
said.
There had been plans to announce White House staff selections this
week,
before potential Cabinet nominees, but Bush's advisers feared they
would
have looked overly confident had they done so during continued legal
wrangling over the election. Announcements are now expected next
week.
In another sign that Bush's team is trying to dial back its confidence,
advisers quietly signaled Florida legislative leaders that they would prefer
a
go-slow approach on the prospect of calling a special legislative session
to
name presidential electors. They feared the move was looking too
heavyhanded.
Some advisers raised the possibility that Bush might wait and announce
multiple Cabinet selections at once, possibly during a trip to Washington
if
he gets a decisive court verdict or a concession from Al Gore. Such a
trip
also might include a courtesy call on President Clinton and a visit with
congressional leaders of both parties, the advisers said.
Bush indicated he was further along in picking a White House staff than a
Cabinet.
"When it comes to a White House staff, I've pretty well made up my
mind
on who should serve," Bush told reporters. "I've spoken fairly directly to
people about possible service in the White House. And there will be an
appropriate moment to name those people, and Condi Rice is on the
list."
Rice, 45, was a Russia expert on the National Security Council for two
years during Bush's father's presidency and was candidate Bush's top
foreign policy adviser.
Bush already has named Andrew Card as his prospective White House
chief of staff.
Economist Lawrence Lindsey was believed to be in line for a top White
House economic job – either chairman of the Council of Economic
Advisers or the chairman of the National Economic Council. He also is a
possible candidate for treasury secretary, some aides suggested.
However, Bush was believed to be looking elsewhere for the Treasury
assignment, perhaps to Wall Street. Among those most frequently
mentioned by Republicans close to the process were Jack Hennessey,
former CEO of Credit Suisse First Boston, and Walter Shipley, the
retired
chairman of Chase Manhattan Corp.
Rep. Bill Archer, the retiring chairman of the House Ways and Means
Committee, is also a possibility, as is Donald Marron, chairman of
PaineWebber Inc., though other GOP operatives have minimized his
chances.
Those close to the process said Bush was near final decisions on some
White House staff jobs.
– Karl Rove, the Bush campaign's chief political strategist, was said to
be
in line either for a top White House strategy post or a similar berth at the
Republican National Committee. The most likely scenario, officials said,
was for him to have a White House role combining policy and politics.
– Karen Hughes, Bush's spokeswoman and longtime adviser, seemed
more likely to receive a title such as "counselor to the president," instead
of becoming White House press secretary or communications director,
aides said.
– Ari Fleischer, a campaign spokesman who now handles media for the
Bush-Cheney transition office in McLean, Va., was viewed by
colleagues
as most likely to become press secretary, with the daily responsibility for
briefing the White House press corps.
– Mindy Tucker, another campaign spokeswoman now assigned to
Florida, was likely to be offered a top communications job in a potential
Bush administration, aides suggested.
© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press
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