-Caveat Lector-
Electronic Telegraph-Tuesday 14 November 2000
Republicans begin to air doubts over Bush tactics
By Toby Harnden, in Austin
GEORGE W BUSH was facing increasing criticism from his own party
yesterday for his handling of the post-election struggle for
Florida.
Some Republicans even criticised him for turning to James Baker
III, one of his father's most steadfast allies, to represent him
in Florida. Mr Baker's bid to prevent hand recounts failed
yesterday, giving Democrats a potentially crucial advantage as
final vote totals were being calculated.
William Safire, the New York Times columnist and former
speechwriter for President Nixon, wrote that Mr Baker was "always
more of a lawyer than a politician" and had made tactical errors
in Florida. Despite his vast political and governmental
experience, Mr Baker, 70, a Texas lawyer who became Secretary of
State during President Bush's administration, seemed to have
miscalculated public opinion in Florida and to have been
outmanoeuvred by his Democratic adversaries.
Having initially portrayed Mr Gore as the candidate who trusted
lawyers rather than the electoral process, the Bush campaign made
a volte face on Saturday. Alarmed that hand recounts in four
Democratic counties would hand Florida to Mr Gore, Mr Baker
announced a lawsuit aimed at stopping them.
The Bush campaign's initial error was failing to request
recounts in Republican counties within the stipulated 72 hours.
In the early stages of the election aftermath, Republicans were
so sure they had won they did not consider this necessary.
Saturday's decision appeared to compound this mistake.
Instead of calling for the 72-hour deadline to be waived so that
hand recounts could be held in all 67 Florida counties, Mr Baker
sought - and failed - to prevent the four already applied for
under the usual procedures. Members of the Bush campaign admitted
yesterday that this was not only a risky legal gambit but also
one that had forced Mr Bush to cede the moral high ground he had
occupied earlier in the week.
Mr Baker, a constant behind-the-scenes figure during the
campaign, has now indicated that the Bush campaign may be forced
to look for extra electoral college votes by demanding recounts
in Iowa, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Oregon. The chances of Mr Bush
winning all these states through recounts are remote. Moreover,
having argued that it was Mr Gore who was prolonging the nation's
agony, any such move could be politically disastrous for any
Geroge W Bush presidency.
Mr Bush may have offended the natural instincts of his party in
being seen as the first candidate to rush to the courts.
Republicans tend to trust the political rather than the legal
process, although Bush aides responded by arguing that they were
merely responding in kind to the eight lawsuits filed by Gore
supporters.
Mr Baker was also facing the difficult prospect of having to
apply belatedly for hand recounts in all 67 of Florida's
counties, even though his argument in court yesterday was that
hand recounts were intrinsically unfair and time-consuming. There
were mutterings within the Bush camp that the Texas governor's
leaking of White House appointments and attempts to persuade the
public that he was concentrating on planning for his presidency
were beginning to look foolish.
They could also alienate the moderate opinion he would need
behind him if he were to govern the country. Last Thursday, he
decided not to dispatch a team of some 70 lawyers and campaign
workers from Austin because his brother Jeb told him the state
party had enough strength on the ground.
Jeb Bush had assured him in advance that he would carry Florida
and, on election night, that the vote was his. Some Republicans
winced when they heard that Mr Bush had quoted his brother in his
second conversation with Mr Gore - prompting the Vice President
to remark that Florida was not in Jeb Bush's gift.
Mr Bush's apparent complacency since the election mirrors his
approach in its closing days. Nine days before the vote, he took
a full Sunday off to spend time at his ranch and spent valuable
time in states such as California, Oregon, Washington and New
Jersey that he was unlikely to win. On the night before the
election, Mr Bush returned to Austin at 11pm while his opponent
travelled to Florida for midnight and dawn appearances.
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
*Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
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