Fine. Let Bush be the next president. If history repeats itself, he is destined to live in fear of an assassination attempt. Since 1840, every president elected in a year ending in "0" has died in office, with the narrow exception of Reagan, who almost died. Most have died at the hands of an assassin. Not that I relish the idea of a President Cheney, but I suspect that being the wizened political veteran that he is, Cheney would do less damage to the office than Bush.

Actually, what they should do is just call it a tie, and let Bush and Gore settle the issue with a duel at twenty paces. (It's not as if a President has never engaged in a duel; our 7th Prez, Andrew Jackson, actually killed a man in a duel over his wife's honor). They don't have to use real guns; give them paint guns or something. And run the loser out of town; maybe like out of some campy Western; strap him backwards on a horse and whip the horse, get him running at a full gallop (poll) right out of town.

Well, it would be better than letting the lawyers settle the issue. Let the courts settle it, and we lose all sense of dignity; at least a duel evokes some lost vision of honor.