ABSTRACT
In recent years, elections have become less decisive as mechanisms for resolving conflicts and constituting governments in the United States. As a result of the development of new weapons of political warfare, political struggles have come more frequently to be waged elsewhere and crucial choices more often made outside the electoral realm. Simply put, the 2000 election was a disaster. In the public eye, the contested result has weakened the presidency at a moment when the office needed refurbishing after the Clinton scandals. In government, it has produced an enormous amount of bitterness and partisanship which, despite the best efforts of Mr. Bush to lessen tensions, are unlikely to ease the poisonous atmosphere that has transformed politics into a form of entertainment as seen on programs like The McLaughlin Group, Capital Gang, and Crossfire. The poisonous atmosphere has been accentuated by cries of foul play during the postelection period.
