San Francisco Chronicle 18nov00

"Worth Less than a Pitcher of Warm Spit."

Editor - I agree completely with Cynthia Tucker's "Why Does Either Man Want the Job Now?" column in the Nov. 14 Chronicle. Indeed, with a vote "mandate" that's completely absent and a Congress virtually evenly divided, the next occupant of the White House will probably be remembered only for coining a catchy phrase describing his presidential power as being "worth less than a pitcher of warm spit."

Further, with such a close popular vote, we're going to have a 2004 presidential challenger that, unless something dramatically changes, is going to be Al Gore or George W. Bush. And that person, starting the day after somebody makes a concession speech, will be waiting to pounce on each and every executive and congressional misstep. Picture Al or "W" as Snoopy, when our favorite beagle fancied himself a vulture, perched menacingly in a tree.

Add to this the 2002 congressional elections and the fact that by then newly drawn reapportionment maps will be in play, maps drawn along fiercely fought political lines. You can take to the bank that congressional incumbents and candidates are already putting their 2002 campaign machinery in place. So with all these factors in play, can you think of a "bright" person who would want to be president for the next four years?

As a lifelong Democrat, I confess that the only thing that frightens me as much as Bush in the White House for the next four years, is the thought of Gore running for president for the next four years. What did we do to deserve all this?

JERRY REYNOLDS
Sacramento

Bush's `Gored' Ox

Editor - It is the height of irony that George W. Bush's very first act as self-proclaimed president-elect was to urge a federal court to declare Florida's vote recount law unconstitutional. So much for Candidate Bush's commitment to limiting federal powers. So much for his belief in state's rights.

It just goes to show, principles have no place in mainstream politics. It all boils down to whose ox is being "gored."

STEVE; BAUGHMAN
San Francisco