03/11/2004 5:49:46 pm
Kerry Conceded and Bush Wins. A few minutes ago, Senator Kerry called President Bush and congratulated him on the victory. The tension and interest here at the great Heritage Foundation in Wasington DC is obvious. The fact that Kerry conceded means that there will be no long process of recounts, courts and judges like in 2000. Now the Bush team can focus - after some rest - on the coming four years. They have an agenda they want to pursue, not least concerning economics, social security and health care. But they have to do it in a way that is more bipartisan like the "no child left behind act" for school reform. Hopefully, the rumours that said that Bush is going to be bolder on domestic issues now that he doesn?t have a re-election to worry about can come true. He has to reduce the budget deficit and since taxes are not to be raised - rather further reduced - government has to be reduced. My strongest criticism of Bush has always been the big government conservatism. Now he has to take a more Reaganite direction and reduce government size. Privatising parts of social security may be one step. But more has to be done.


The White House as I passed it after the Election Nigh Party last night, totally quiet and surrounded by fences - but with the lights on as President Bush awaited the results.