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The Fourth Wall was
established to provide a
responsible forum for dialogue
within the student community
and for the free expression of
considered ideas; to build
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and to disseminate information
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what we really think.
Editorial
Travis Johnson
The
election is
over, the
results
are in—
George
W. Bush
will serve
four more
years as
ihe
United States president. In an
election battle that was
projected to be perhaps the
closest in the nation’s history,
the votes weren't as close as the
2000 . election in which
republican Bush defeated
democrat Al Gore after weeks
of recounting in the state of
Florida. November 2 was a
disappointing defeat for Bush’s
opponent, democratic
candidate John F. Kerry, who
conceded to the president close
to noon the day after the votes
were tallied.
Bush won by a narrow
margin and was able to retain
the presidency once it became
clear that even the provisional
ballots in Ohio would not
yield its 20 electoral votes to
Kerry. A candidate must receive
270 electoral votes to win, with
each state worth a different
number of electoral votes based
on population. The victory in
Ohio pushed Bush over the top,
giving him 274 electoral votes
to Kerry’s 252. Ohio could
have been the Florida of 2004
where only 500-some votes
decided who would occupy
the Oval Office; however, Kerry
and his campaign asked for no
re-count.
In his concession speech at
Boston’s Faneuil Hall, Kerry
told Americans he was proud
to have run, but began his
speech by apologizing, “I’m
sorry we got here a little bit late
and a little bit short.” He also
noted, “The outcome should be
decided by: voters, not a
protracted legal process. I
would not give up if there was
a chance we could prevail.”
Perhaps the most important
message derived from Kerry's
concession would be his call for
a healing process, noting the
division of America the two
campaigns had caused over the
past months. “Today I hope we
can begin the healing.”
President Bush acknow-
ledged his
re-election
in Wash-
ington
D.C. at the
Ronald
Reagan
Building
about an
hour after
Kerry had
delivered
his con-
cession
speech.
Tih oe
President
also called
better I will need your support,
and I will work to earn it.”
The gap that separates
Americans may be hard to
bridge after so many people
work and vote for what they
believe is right so passionately.
Not everyone can win. Not
everyone will agree. All
must all continue to support the
ideals that make America the
free nation it is. Candidates and
political parties are mortal
things. The ideals of America
will live on forever. All voters
had the chance to uphold the
ideals of America on Election
Day; now it is in the hands of
our president. It will be George
W. Bush’s job to lead us during
the next four years.
Kerry supporter,
Nader lover, or
even David Cobb
enthusiast,
America must
remember that
these candidates’
jobs are to uphold
the American
message, to defend
the American
dream, and to
attempt to spread
freedom and
liberty throughout
the world. Bush is
the man now; we
for unity after the divided
election: “...today I want to
speak to every person who
voted for my opponent: To
make this nation stronger and
able to support the fact that we
inueed all are Americans. We
are free-thinking people who
love freedom and equality.
Republican or Democrat, we
must support the ideal he
represents. Unite America; we
need it more than ever.
Library 204.
The Fourth Wall