President-elect to be sworn in after controversial election

By David Drucker
Daily Bruin Reporter

President-elect George W. Bush will be inaugurated Saturday
among well-wishers and protesters alike as the nation’s 43rd
chief executive.

While there is usually intrigue surrounding any new
administration, the recount and court-riddled post-election period
has lent unusual attention to many routine transitory events. This
weekend’s swearing-in on the Capitol steps and subsequent
parade to the White House will be accompanied by nationwide
demonstrations.

While a Bush victory was sure to disappoint Democrats, said
Bruin Democrats President Melanie Ho, the controversial outcome
only magnified those feelings for her and many others on the
left.

“People definitely have a legitimate reason to
protest,” she said. “But what’s important for the
left to do is organize around the important issues and ensure that
Bush can’t do too much damage over the next four
years.”

First-year political science and philosophy student Ben Shapiro,
a politically active conservative, said challenging Bush’s
legitimacy is excessive.

“People have the prerogative to protest if they want
to,” he said. “But the contention of some that
Bush’s victory is illegitimate is ridiculous.”

Shapiro mentioned last week’s Palm Beach Post recount of
votes in Miami-Dade County that showed Bush with a net six vote
gain over Vice President Al Gore.

Adding additional significance to this inauguration are
Bush’s loss of the popular vote despite winning the electoral
contest and the fact that he is only the second son of a former
president ever to win election to the office.

Florida’s 25 electoral votes helped Bush secure victory in
the electoral college, 271 to 267. But Vice President Gore won the
national popular vote, making Bush the first president elected
under such circumstances since 1876.

Consequently, there has been talk in political circles of the
former Texas governor’s ability to lead from a position of
strength and effectively deal with a Congress that, while
controlled by Republicans, is virtually split.

“Considering the extraordinary set of events surrounding
Bush’s election, we don’t quite know how he’s
going to do,” said School of Public Policy and Social
Research Professor Mark Peterson, who studies presidential
politics.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had
somebody squeak into office who lost the popular vote, and
it’s the first time we’ve had a house of Congress
divided,” added Peterson, referring to the Senate, which is
split among Democrats and the GOP 50-50.

But professor and foreign policy expert Amy Zegart said she
doesn’t think this will affect Bush’s effort to
successfully craft international strategy or deal with other world
leaders.

“There is a much greater concern domestically rather than
internationally over the circumstances of Bush’s
election,” said Zegart, who was a member of President
Clinton’s National Security Council staff during his first
term.

Zegart said she expects to see two major changes in the attitude
of U.S. global strategy.

“I think we will see a much greater sense of policy
stability and consistency,” she said. “I also believe
the Bush administration will display a greater degree of caution in
terms of troop deployment and diplomatic pressure.”

Zegart added she supports Bush’s proposed policy of
re-examining the current military deployment in Kosovo.

“He’s gotten a lot of flak on speculation that he
may withdraw our troops from the Balkans, and I think that’s
unfair,” she said. “The issue with peace-keeping
missions is what to do once we’ve secured the peace, and I
think it’s good that the new administration may review our
policies in this regard,” Zegart added.

Despite the potential domestic pitfalls which may confront the
son of President George H. W. Bush, Peterson said, there are
factors in his favor.

“The bar has been set so low for him, whether because of
his perceived intelligence or the divisive election, that any way
he can manage to work with Congress will be chalked up as a success
for him,” he said.

“And if he can make a strategic decision to focus on
things that both parties tend to agree on, such as eliminating the
inheritance and marriage taxes and improving education,
that’s a way to set up the impression that he can get things
done,” he continued.

Original graphic by MAGGIE WOO/Daily Bruin Web adaptation by
ROBERT LIU/Daily Bruin Senior Staff