Bush Supporters Celebrate High Court Ruling

W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 13 -- As Al Gore and his advisers tried to decipher the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that appeared to end his chances of winning the presidential election, George W. Bush’s jubilant supporters loudly called for the vice president to concede.

When Bush’s supporters realized late Tuesday the Supreme Court had overturned the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to order the recount of thousands of disputed votes, cheers erupted outside the hallowed halls of the high court. The court, which had been silent all day as observers waited for the justices to render their decision, suddenly erupted with applause and roars of approval.

Bush backers may get what they want tonight, when Gore is scheduled to deliver a speech announcing he’s bowing out of the race.

This morning, two lone demonstrators stood outside Gore’s private residence at the Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington. Holding signs reading “Gore 2004” and “Impeach Bush,” they seemed to acknowledge that the Texas governor would be the next president.

Bush Backers Taunt Gore

But Tuesday night, the scene outside Gore’s residence was raucous. Bush supporters honked their horns and called for him to bring an end to the election controversy.

“Five to four, no more Gore!” Bush supporters chanted in reference to the Supreme Court decision. “Concede now! Concede now!”

Bush supporters also appeared to have fun taunting Gore, standing outside the residence and calling on him to start packing his bags and relinquish the keys to the man they want as its new resident: Bush running mate Dick Cheney.

“Get out of Cheney’s house! Get out of Cheney’s house!” they chanted.

40 Acres Meets Superman

In the days leading up to the decision, the chanting and shouting by Gore and Bush supporters was good natured. Hundreds of protesters collected outside Gore’s residence and on the steps of the Supreme Court in downtown Washington.