Now that Bush is our president-elect, I asked several Fairbanksans the question: NOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED IN FAVOR OF GEORGE W. BUSH, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIM AS OUR NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT? Here are some of the responses.
"Not much."
"Of George Bush? I didn¼t like either candidate. I don¼t like the Texas death penalty situation, so I don¼t like George Bush."
"I like Bush better than Gore, but I didn¼t vote for him."
"He¼s a sock puppet that does what the party dictates to him. Hopefully, we¼ll have Hillary after him."
"I think that Bush is a moron that will embarrass the hell out of America."
"What do I think of him? I think he likes to execute people. That¼s all I know of him since he¼s been govenor."
"I wish I could come up with something witty, but I can¼t. I don¼t feel like being political."
"He¼s just messed up enough that he might do something interesting, you know, on account of all those drugs he did."
"Oh, God, I thjink he¼s scary. I¼m afraid that Roe V. Wade will be reversed."
"They¼re both jackasses as far as I¼m concerned. I think they should have had two six-shooters and walked ten paces to figure it out."
"I really don¼t like either one of them. I voted for Nader. I¼d rather have Bush than Gore, though. Gore is more of a robot than Bush."
"He¼s certainly better than the alternative. Plus, I think he¼ll be able to work with congress. He made a point during his campaign that he wanted to work with both parties."
"Well, I don¼t think there¼s much difference between Bush and Gore. But George Bush and Tony Knowles are both friendly with the oil companies, so I¼m afraid for Alaska¼s future. Oil whores die now."
"I don¼t think anything of him. He¼s the same as the others that preceded him."
"Oil."
"I think he looks like Orson Welles without a beard."
"Some people rise to the demand of the roles they must discharge. I think that George W. Bush has a lot of rising to do."
"I think less of him than of Al Gore. I think that Gore is more knowledgable."
"Hopefully, with the combined efforts of a republican house, senate and president, they can accomplish something in a positive and definite direction. Even if perhaps you don¼t consider the liberal lifestyle, maybe they can continue to push our country in a positive direction as far as education, economy and social reform go. And maybe, if for some God-graced reason they realize that gay people should be able to marry, that would be even better."
"Well, there¼s two sides to this whole thing. The environmental, spiritual and natural part of my being is definitely in sorrow. On the other hand, the very western, financial, aggressive and undoctrinated self is elated. I know for a fact that on a later date I will be sad when I see the environment and what has happened to it."
"I don¼t know. I haven¼t really studied up on what the candidates are for. I voted for Gore. I learned from my mom that democrats are better than republicans."
"I think he hasn¼t said anything. He¼s had an opportunity all this time to be laying down policy, and he¼s done nothing."
"I don¼t."
"I think that World War III is coming. I also think that he¼s a pompous ass."
"He¼s got more education, more scholastic ability and is braver than Gore. Al Gore flunked out of divinity school. George got Bs and went to Yale, whereas Al Gore was protected by bodygurads as a journalist. George has a hell of a lot more going for him. He¼s certainly more capable."
"I¼m going to try to move to Canada."
"It¼s pretty much inconsequential, what with the deadlock in the Senate and all."
"There¼s no difference between the two, except that Bush avoids lying and Gore has no problem flat out doing it."
"He¼s going to open ANWR and that has to do with my subsistence. It¼s going to be a disaster. He didn¼t even come up to Alaska to talk to us about it."
"I think I could take him at arm wrestling and an intellectual debate any day."
"I think his first act in office should be to redo the electorial process. He should only be President over the states that carried him."
"Oh, God."
" åGod and Country.¼ That¼s all I heard in his speeches. That and the useful myth that America is one people with common interests."