Even before the votes have been completely counted, George W. Bush may already
be the worst president this country has seen in over 200 years.  Aside from the duties outlined
by our constitution, the most important functions of the President of the United States are to
calm public fears, to present an image of competent efficiency to volatile foreign governments,
and to use the "bully pulpit" to forge a coalition of support for consistent and logical domestic
and foreign policy.  Instead, the Texas governor has parlayed a simple problem, easily overcome
by following simple procedures, into a national crisis that causes international embarrassment.

While George Bush hides out in Austin, his "handlers" venture forth to foment discontent and
destabilize national unity.  Snubbing the majority of the electorate who voted for Al Gore,
Bush looks for every excuse to ignore the few remaining uncounted votes, to subvert the will
of the people for the will of the Republican party.

        While we have had closer national elections, never before in our history has the naming
of a President Elect relied on as few as a couple of hundred votes in just one state.  Never has
it been so important to the credibility of whomever the selected candidate may be to make sure
that all of the voters have been heard.  George's response to this circumstance has been to
attempt every frivolous maneuver to quell the voices yet to be counted.  He has bullied local
election commissions with threats from biased state officials, and he has delayed recounts through
court actions, and then avoided certification of recounts by arguing that they occured too late.
Before the Florida Supreme Court, he argues that it is unfair for three counties to conduct
recounts when the remaining Florida counties will not.  This is tantamount to arguing that if in
any given group, the majority fails to assert their rights, the minority cannot do so because it
would be unfair to the majority.  Any individual or party who would make our liberties perch
on such precarious reasoning does not deserve these liberties for themselves.
 
     Instead of recognizing the split of popular support, and joining with his opposition to assure
the electorate that while issues may divide us, we are united in support of our democratic principles,
he sends his minions forth to turn Bush supporters against Gore supporters, and to increase the
vitriol toward dangerous levels.  He is either unwilling or unable to moderate the immoderate
within the party that he heads.  We have even heard right wing rants on talk radio asking for a
military coup to prevent manual recounts and to summarily install a Bush administration.
James Baker has threatened that the Republican legislature in Florida will assert themselves
ahead of their constituency to overturn a voter mandated victory for Al Gore.  Tom Delay issued
notice to the Republicans in congress that if Gore wins in Florida, the House will de-certify Florida
electors and install a Bush presidency through the Republican congressional majority.
And George W. Bush does nothing to tone down these wild eyed radicals to allow for cooler
heads to prevail.  Taken in context with his prior intent to overturn an election where Al Gore
won the Electoral College but Bush the popular vote, Bush has put us all on notice that the
people's will and the law of the land are merely obstacles to be overcome by the divine right
of Republicans to hold the Oval Office.

        All the while, Bush remains in cocooned seclusion like a two bit banana republic general,
expecting to emerge like a butterfly as leader of the free world.  He answers no questions,
and only surfaces to complain of the injustice of American justice.
        Today, it appears that Bush has succeeded in his assault on the electorate.
Miami/Dade county, after holding up their recounts until the courts had spoken pursuant to
Bush initiated legal actions, is pushed up against a final deadline set by the state Supreme Court.
On January 20, George W. Bush will take the oath of office for the President of the United States
of America, and deal with a deeply divided government, spliced further by this same unprincipled
manchild, who is completely devoid of patriotism and historical perspective.  And somewhere,
buried under the ashes and waste, are the hollow promises of "trust in the people," allowing the
states to manage their own affairs, and political unification.

Perched boldly on the piled remains of our democracy is a stinking elephant
who whispers proudly, "Divide et impera*we will have power at any price."