L’Observateur / December 16, 2000

The long, national nightmare of Election 2000 is finally over and George W.

Bush has emerged the winner of the quest for the White House. Vice-President Al Gore stepped aside, and one of the closest races for our nation’s highest office has ended. Without a doubt, Bush will inherit aCongress sharply divided and splintered, the challenge to maintain America’s prosperity, and the hopes of a nation to measure up to the job at hand.

We can all now move away from the election jokes and proceed instead of supporting the nation’s new leadership, no matter which party one belongs to. The process has named the new president and we must accept that. Thebumper-sticker talk should end – no more “My president is Charlton Heston.”Our president-elect is George W. Bush, just as the current president isWilliam Jefferson Clinton. The President of the United States is elected forall of us, regardless of party affliation or political stripe.

It’s been said many times that America, despite its flaws, still has the best governmental system in the world. Many countries, faced with an electioncrisis similar to what we have survived, would have been thrown into revolution, with tanks in the street and open civil war. A military dictatorshipmay have stepped into power, and America’s freedoms and civil rights would have become dust.

Instead, we have lawyers argue the issues in court, the military are not on alert and the bloodless assumption of the presidency in this country continues to amaze the world with its ease.

The world was on its edge in the first hours after the assassination of John Kennedy in 1963. At that time during the Cold War, such an event in almostany other country would have pitched it into chaos. Here, we had an orderlytransfer of power and the nation mourned, then moved on together. Wecontinue to provide the example for the world, and we can be proud of America, as we should.

One promising note to come out of this election is the national prominence of Sen. John Breaux. Prior to the settlement of Election 2000, he was beingcourted for a possible cabinet position. With Bush to enter the White House,centerist Democrat Breaux remains the man to know on Capitol Hill.

That speaks well of Breaux and the position he has made, not only to represent his party, but also to represent Louisiana. Whether he accept acabinet post or remains in the U.S. Senate, Louisiana will continue to be well-represented.

On the down side for the Democratic Party, should Breaux depart the Senate, not only would Louisiana lose the seniority built up by Breaux, but also Gov. Foster could appoint a replacement, likely a Republican. Likewise,that’s a plus for the Republican Party, should Breaux move to the Cabinet – the party would gain both a Republican senate seat and Breaux’s influence and authority in a Republican Cabinet.

However it all comes together, Louisiana will remain a winner with a strong voice in the corridors of power.

Finally, we hope Florida learns from this election mess and speedily reforms their process. One positive move would be the change to new voting machinesand dispense with paper votes, dimples and chad. Another positive movewould be for the nation, as a whole, to agree upon how to handle absentee ballots. In Louisiana, they’re due by election day and they are counted at thesame time as everyone else’s. What’s hard about that concept?Doubtless, the talk-show pundits and late-night comedians will find plenty to talk about in the coming four years under a new Bush Administration. Wehope it’s to the good, and we wish our new president the best of fortune for a peaceful, properous and happy term in office.

America needs this peace.

L’Observateur

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