From Bartcop.com:

Subject: Fwd: December 30,2004

December 30, 2004

WASHINGTON -- After four years of legal wrangling, George W. Bush was finally declared the winner of the 2000 presidential election yesterday.

Bush, a Republican, will take the oath of office at noon today and serves until Jan. 20, 2005, a term of about three weeks. Then he gives way to the winner of the 2004 presidential election, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Facing a drastically shortened presidency, Bush attempted to strike an optimistic tone last night.

"We have a lot to accomplish in the next three weeks," Bush said. "Reforming Social Security alone is probably going to eat up four-five hours. Let's get to work!"

Aides yesterday were calling temporary employment agencies in a frantic effort to fill Cabinet posts.

Bush's victory ends a four-year court battle between him and Democratic candidate Al Gore over the results of the 2000 election.

While the dispute raged on, the nation installed an interim president: New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre.

Torre admitted that running a country and a baseball team simultaneously has been a strain.

"At times, it's been difficult to keep the two things straight. Although, in retrospect, trading Jesse Helms to the Red Sox turned out OK."

Torre's four years in office were marked by continued prosperity at home and relative calm abroad.

His most controversial move was appointing Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer to the Supreme Court. Critics charged that Zimmer lacked experience. He also spit tobacco juice on Antonin Scalia's shoes, angering conservatives.

Torre's boldest foreign policy initiative was making Cuba the 51st state in an effort to improve U.S. pitching.

Torre was planning to vacate the White House by midnight tonight, with Bush moving in immediately. Eager to give an aura of permanency to his three-week administration, Bush rebuffed suggestions that he sleep on a bare mattress on the floor and live out of suitcases.

Gore, meanwhile, has yet to concede defeat.

The former vice president issued a statement today saying, "It would be improper and disrespectful to the democratic process to act hastily before all the facts are known."

The legal tangle over the 2000 election began with a Gore lawsuit over the confusing design of ballots in Florida.

When the courts sided with Gore, Bush filed suit, arguing that the Oregon results were invalid because some ballots were yellow and others pink.

Gore countersued, charging that the West Virginia results should be thrown out because some people failed to receive "I Voted Today" stickers.

Through the years, various officials proposed compromises to resolve the impasse. All were rejected, including:

* Establishing a co-presidency, with the two men sharing duties and splitting the White House. Although never implemented, the idea gave rise to a hit TV show, East Wing, West Wing.

* Establishing temporarily separate nations, with each candidate ruling the states he won in the 2000 election. Gore, who failed to carry his native Tennessee, balked at the idea because it would mean showing a passport every time he went home.

* Letting Jimmy Carter sort it all out.

Observers said the biggest challenge for the Bush administration will be working with Congress, which adjourns tomorrow and isn't expected back until after Bush's term ends.

"One day may not be quite enough time to overhaul the tax system," a Bush aide admitted. "But maybe we can get started and then finish it later with a big conference call or something."

Meanwhile, Bush also must work on his legacy and prepare to transfer power to President-elect Clinton. Clinton yesterday wished Bush well and asked if she could start moving some boxes into the White House basement.

-- I'm Here, I'm There, (I'm Everywhere,@So.Beware), December 07, 2000

Answers

ROTFLMAO-good laugh to start the day.

-- SydBarret (dark@side.moon), December 07, 2000.

Trivia question: What is Don Zimmer's nickname?

Bonus question: What former Red Sox pitcher gave him this moniker?

Extra credit: What is the pitcher's nickname?

The first person to correctly answer all three questions wins a walking tour of Capitol Hill led by yours truly. (Airfare not included)

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 07, 2000.

Rich,

Popeye

Bill Lee?

The Spaceman

-- J (Y2J@home.comm), December 07, 2000.

Torre would get my vote. We *definitely* need that Cuban pitching.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), December 07, 2000.

Popeye is not the nickname I was looking for, J. Your 2nd and 3rd answers are correct.

Thanks for playing. Don't forget to pick up your parting gifts in the lobby on your way out. ;)

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 07, 2000.

But, but, but, Popeye IS a Don Zimmer nickname. I was just guessing on the Bill 'The Spaceman' Lee answers. : )

-- J (Y2J@home.comm), December 07, 2000.

Just my luck, first my "Popeye" answer is wrong, and then my : ) doohickey gets split by the end of the line in the post above.

-- J (Y2J@home.comm), December 07, 2000.

Popeye is a Don Zimmer nickname, but it wasn't given to him by Bill Lee.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 07, 2000.

Rich-

The Gerbil?

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), December 07, 2000.

Right on, Bee! BTW, early April is the best time to visit Washington D.C. The cherry trees are in bloom. :)

Bill Lee gave an interview in High Times magazine in which he revealed he sprinkled marijuana on his pancakes. I suggest anyone who's interested in using pot in their food heat the crushed buds first in a skillet until whisps of smoke rise from the pan. Food for thought. Literally!

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 07, 2000.

Rich-

I'll see if I can clear my schedule for a tour come April! Still chilly then, I imagine.

Roasting herbs has long been known to bring the oils to the surface, and emphasize their properties. Never considered herb pancakes before though. Hmmm...crepes de MaryJane? With perhaps a cepes veloute? Has possiblities!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), December 07, 2000.

Bee,

Why not experiment with a Frittata Pomodoro con Maria {tomatoes & stuff lightly fried in a pan, with eggs thrown over the top - lazy gal's omelete}.

& don't forget to report back -

-- flora (***@__._), December 08, 2000.

Flora-

What's the other "stuff? Tell me and I'll try it!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

Aunt Bee,

I was just making it up from Bongo's cooking tips. For regular ol' frittatas IRL I take some olive oil; onions; tomatoes; oh heck, you can even throw your fresh ceps in there, if you insist. Saute' the mess up with some herbs such as leaf oregano, basil, or thyme {then I throw a bunch of scrambled eggs over the top & let her cook - sometimes I cover it to cook the top more efficiently, or I just sling the whole pan under the broiler to finish off the top. Not real big on inverting stuff if I don't have to 'til the end - if ever!}. I just find that I can do everything in one pan, not make a huge mess, it looks pretty yummy & tastes great.

This is the part that got me thinking - bingo's buds are most likely a dominant influence in a dish. Like most everyone here - I enjoy food that actually tastes good. I was trying to think of something that could handle the strong flavor well.

Instead of me confusing y'all by telling you how to make a frittata, I found a simple one on the web. Improvise to your hearts' content - eggs are forgiving. You don't have to stick to veggies, add sausages & almost anything but the kitchen sink...

Category: Vegetarian Ready In: 20 minutes Servings: 4

Ingredients:

6 large eggs

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

3 zucchini, finely sliced

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 garlic clove, chopped

Directions: Beat eggs with salt and pepper. Beat in Parmesan cheese. Melt 3 Tbsp butter with oil in a heavy 8 or 10 inch skillet. When butter foams, add onion. Saute over med - low heat about 1 minute.

Add zucchini, parsley and garlic. Saute 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove zucchini mixture with a slotted spoon. Stir into egg mixture. Cook over med. heat 4 to 5 minutes or util bottom of frittata is lightly browned. Place a large plate on top of skillet & turn frittata onto plate.

Slide inverted frittata bach into skillet. Cook 4 to 5 minutes longer. Slide frittata onto a warm serving dish. Cut into 4 wedges, serve hot or at room temperature.

*Editorial note* - For starters, I'd cut the the butter & use a bit more olive oil. To offset or enhance the Maria or Mary Jane - I'd go toward the Greek, Spainish, or Latin ends of the flavor realm -

Serve with a big loaf of rustic bread, possibly salsa, & maybe even some the capn's vino - but first you might want to register yourself as a force to reckoned with.

Your next assignment - should you choose to accept it - is to prepare for the coming onslaught of the munchies...

Bee: I was just thinking {damgerous!}. A strata could be something similar that you could throw together ahead of time and hold in a casserole dish until the oncoming hordes were at the gate. Then toss it in the oven to bake & ol' Genghis would be putty in your hands. Bwahaha.

-- flora (***@__._), December 08, 2000.

Hey flora-

Thanks!

I'll give it a whirl!~ But since I can't travel to Bingo's for the buds right away, it will have to be a "straight" frittata! I have a fav I like to do with Black Forest Ham, fresh tomatoes, green onion, gruyere and cilantro-yummy! I appreciate the tips! Keep 'em coming!!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), December 09, 2000.