HOW SHE SEES IT Bush spins the results of the election

By MARSHA MERCER
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON -- Now that the campaign is over, President Bush said at his post-election news conference, "Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort and results."
Most Americans aren't expecting any such thing. They're far too savvy to think the poisonous atmosphere in Washington will lift simply because a campaign ends, especially after the bruiser we've been through.
What the president was doing was spinning the election results. Bush, flush with victory, is casting his re-election as a nationwide referendum that endorsed his campaign platform.
"When you win, there is a feeling that the people have spoken and embraced your point of view," he said. "And that's what I intend to tell the Congress, that I made it clear what I intend to do as the president ... and the people made it clear what they wanted -- now let's work together."
That sounds nice and conciliatory. Bush suddenly wants to "reach out." He says so repeatedly. But he has given no sign how he might do it or to whom he might reach.
'Our goals'
At the news conference, he said: "I'll reach out to everyone who shares our goals."
That sounds a lot like the old "my way or the highway" George W. Bush.
Four years ago, Bush came into office after the most disputed election in history and having lost the popular vote. He said then he was going to be a "uniter not a divider." Aside from early success with tax cuts and the "No Child Left Behind" bill, though, there was less uniting than dividing.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., did shepherd the "No Child" bill through the Senate, but just two months after Bush signed the measure into law, Kennedy charged that Bush had refused to put enough money in his budget to pay for the legislation.
Kennedy charged that the administration was failing to match its rhetoric with resources. Bush's budget was "a severe blow to our nation's schools," Kennedy said.
It didn't get any better after that. The president's domestic agenda had stalled by Sept. 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks gave Bush a war to fight and with it renewed focus and determination.
To be sure, the 2004 election was a different story. More than 59 million Americans voted for Bush last week. He won the popular vote and the Electoral College.
Kerry's support
But it's important to remember that 55 million other Americans also spoke on Election Day -- and they voted for Kerry.
Bush now says he'll use the bipartisan approach of "No Child Left Behind" as a model in his second term. This assumes he chooses to solve programs that will draw wide support -- like education -- and that Democrats are willing to work with him.
That's where the bully pulpit comes in. If Bush can create an environment in which his proposals are "the will of the people," then whoever opposes him is by definition "out of step" with mainstream America and thwarting the voters.
Assuming that Bush is sincere in his desire to build consensus, he faces a dilemma. He must find ways to deliver on promises he made to his core conservative constituencies while gaining broader support. One in four voters said they were white evangelicals or born-again Christians, and 78 percent of them voted for Bush, according to exit polls.
Many of these voters expect Bush to press Congress to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. And yet, doing so would alienate many others.
Bush says he's ready to spend some of the political capital he gained in the election.
Moderate Republicans are worried that he'll over-reach his mandate. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who is likely to become Judiciary committee chairman next year, suggested that Bush proceed cautiously, particularly in his selection of judicial nominees.
Bush last week reiterated his campaign pledge to pick for the Supreme Court "somebody who knows the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law."
He also said the American people want to reform Social Security and the tax code, improve education, fight terrorism and expand the economy.
To do most of that, Bush will need Democratic support.
X Marsha Mercer is Washington bureau chief for Media General News Service. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.