US Election Ends (extended coverage) – Lily Bing – Russian Adoptions –Yellow Triangle Stickers
US ELECTION ENDS: America and the world waited 36 days now he must prove it was worth it. George Bush is now officially
President elect. Al Gore rang Bush and promised not to call him back. George Bush received a standing ovation. His
speech was humble. He said he was thankful. It has taken 36 days to determine the Presidency. Ultimately it came down to
a court decision yesterday. “Let there be no doubt that while I strongly disagree with the Courts decision, I accept
it.” Both candidates talked about duty to country. Both Gore andBush said they now wanted to put politics behind them.
US ELECTION ENDS - WASHINGTON LIVE: Al Gore lost in fairly questionable circumstances? I would say he is probably upset
behind the scenes. He said he was disappointed in the decision but would accept it. He didn’t talk tonight about winning
the most votes. What is reaction? Mixed feelings. There are some people still very angry with the court decision. They
say the image of the court has been tarnished. On Capitol Hill they are trying to pull everything together. It will be a
big ask.
US ELECTION ENDS - TEXAS LIVE: In Austin it was rather remarkable. People spontaneously came out on the streets in front
of the mansion taking pictures. While there is no officially sanctioned celebration today. Was Bush deliberately low
key? The purpose was to set the tone and to send an olive branch to Democrats. If this nation doesn’t come together he
is going to have a very hard time getting his Programmes through. No names coming out on cabinet yet except Colin
Powell. He has indicated he may appoint a couple of Democrats.
US ELECTION ENDS - NZ REACTION: Neither Helen Clark nor Jenny Shipley think the relationship with the US will change as
a result of the outcome. Helen Clark says Bush will have to make the best of it. Australia’s Alexander Downer says the
US will remain stand-offish with NZ because of the ship visits policy. Downer says that as a very long-standing ally of
the US Australia stands to do well under a Bush administration. Jenny Shipley says Bush is pro-free trade and that is
important for NZ.
US ELECTION ENDS - BUSH THE MAN: The 43rd President of the US. It is only the third time the son of a President has been
elected. Bush pitched himself as a compassionate conservative during the campaign. His strength is folksy charm his
weak-point is a concerns about his intellectual capacity. A supporter says it is not important for the President to know
anything – it is to know the people. Educated at Yale and Harvard. He is closely allied with the arms industry and the
gun lobby. On Foreign Affairs he has called on Colin Powell to counterbalance his inexperience.
LILY-BING: The court hearing in Masterton heard today from the grand-mother of Lily-Bing. She told of the shock of the
site of her grand-daughters body. And of confronting the accused and asking them what had happened. They told her that
Lily-Bing had fallen over on concrete three times and missing skin was due to medical treatment. Marks on her groin were
said to be caused by eczema.
RUSSIAN ADOPTIONS: Russian adoptions will be allowed to resume.
YELLOW TRIANGLE STICKERS: A car-sticker scheme in Christchurch has come unstuck. The Police say they will not make
decisions on the basis of the under-25-year old yellow stickers anymore following a Human Rights Commission decision.
Campaigners against the programme feel vindicated. 50,000 stickers are on cars. Only 30 cars wearing the sticker have
been stolen in the last two and half years. The stickers won’t be disappearing overnight.