Washington DC: It's a bright sunny January day in the city, as President Elect Jeb Bush and his VP Elect John McCain approach the podium to be sworn in. Outgoing President Barack Obama and VP Joe Biden are already present.
In attendance are Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner. Presidents Bush 41 and Bush 43, prospective officials of the new administration, senators, representatives, Justices of the Supreme Court, and state governors are also in attendance.
President Elect Bush carried 49 out of 50 states, with Hawaii going to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who ran on the Green party ticket with Ralph Nader as her vice president. Conspicuously absent are former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, former Senator Chris Dodd and former Congressman Barney Frank.
Ms. Pelosi, running as a Socialist, had challenged Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco CA. The vote difference is so small that the election results, recounts, etc are anticipated as being in the California courts for a long time.
Mr. Reid has been seen as a pit boss in a well known casino on the Las Vegas NV strip, Mr. Dodd is managing a rural branch of the First National Bank of Connecticut and Mr. Frank has opened a residential real estate office in Boston MA.
