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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2000)
News Diciest ■The Supreme Court meets today to decide the legality of Florida's recounts. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - A1 Gore is contending that George W. Bush’s lawyers are improperly trying to “smuggle in” an issue that is not part of the case the Supreme Court agreed to hear Friday - whether the Florida Legislature can step into the disputed presi dential election. Gore wants the justices to ignore that question in the show down session and stick to a nar row review of a ruling by Florida’s Supreme Court that extended the state’s deadline for conducting manual ballot recounts. “The validity of speculative future conduct by the Florida Legislature is not before this court," the Gore lawyers wrote Thursday, in the last round of legal filings before today’s 90-minute high court session. Perhaps in a measure of the issue’s growing importance, Gore addressed it twice Thursday. He raised constitutional and legal questions about the Legislature’s involvement in his main written arguments filed early in the day, then followed up with the claim that Bush is trying to pull a fast one. Bush argued in his own filings that the Legislature does have the authority to appoint its own set of presidential electors if it chooses. Florida’s 25 electoral votes will decide the election. Bush has won state certification, but Gore has sued to overturn that outcome A committee of the state Legislature voted Thursday to rec ommend a special session with the idea that the lawmakers would Robert IGng/Newsmakers A rental trad carrying presidential election ballots from West Palm Bead) County is escorted by law enforcement officers at the beginning of its trip to Tallahassee, Fla. appoint their own slate of electors if hie issue is still unresolved by the Dec 12 selection deadline. The Electoral College meets Dec. 18. Democrats say they are concerned the Legislature would act if Gore prevailed in his court challenges and captured the regu lar slate of electors. Both sides addressed the role of the Republican-led Florida Legislature in written legal argu ments to the court In their first filing Thursday, Gore’s lawyers said Congress set Election Day as a uniform nation al date for selection of electors, and that Florida made its presi dential choice Nov. 7, “although by a vote so close and under a count ing process so flawed that the state’s courts are still attempting to ascertain... what the choice was.” “Any state legislative attempt simply to appoint electors after the fact would appear to be feder ally pre-empted,” Gore's lawyers wrote. Gore spokesman Chris Lehane said legislative interven tion would be meddling on the part of Florida Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, die candidate’s brother. "The real issue here is the Bush brother brazen power play designed to circumvent the counting of the votes in our court system,” Lehane said. Earlier in the week, the Bush team had raised the idea that the Supreme Court could forestall an “impending constitutional crisis” over the appointment of electors. Powell pays Bush a visit THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CRAWFORD, Texas -With retired Gen. Colin Powell at his side, George W. Bush expressed frustration Thursday that legal challenges in Florida are persist ing but said he is moving ahead on preparing a new government. "We're open for business," the Texas governor asserted. Powell, die presumptive sec retary of state in a Bush Cabinet, congratulated Bush "on your suc cess in your election” and said he was delighted to be able to advise him on foreign policy matters. At a brief news conference with Powell and running mate Dick Cheney on his central Texas ranch, Bush suggested his patience was wearing thin. "I’ve won three counts, and I think it’s time to get some finality to the process," Bush said. Weather TODAY Snow high 36, low 22 TOMORROW Foggy high 39, low 24 SUNDAY Partly cloudy high 45, low 28 “Election Night we won. And then there was a recount, and we won... I believe one of these days that all this is going to stop, and Dick Cheney and / will be the president and the vice presidents George W. Bush GOP presidential candidate Even so, Bush indicated he would not attempt to announce a Cabinet or White House staff until legal obstacles can be cleared. The U.S. Supreme Court has a hearing today on the case. The carefully orchestrated photo session with the popular retired four-star Army general came as the Bush camp contin ued to wage a public relations war, both in effort to put a mark of inevitability on a Bush presidency and attempt to increase pressure on Gore to stand down. Powell, Cheney, and wives Lynne Cheney and Alma Powell arrived on Bush’s 1,500-acre spread in a seven-vehicle caravan after flying from Washington, D.C., in a private plane to nearby Waco, Texas. They spent the afternoon on the ranch, having lunch and dis cussing transition planning with Bush and Andrew Card, Bush’s choice to be White House chief of staff hi a brief session before cam eras; Bush and Powell strolled to a fence in front of the ranch house and answered reporters' ques tions under clear skies, with a brisk breeze blowing. Cheney stood off to one side. “The reason why we’re moving forward with our discussions and the transition is because, when the counting finally stops, we want to be prepared to lead this nation,” Bush said. "Election Night we won. And then there was a recount, and we won. And there was a selected recount as a result of different legal maneuverings, and we won that. And I believe one of these days that all this is going to stop, and Dick Cheney and I will be the president and the vice president,” Bush added. Powell was asked if he had been asked by Bush to serve. "I have not yet been asked, and if that question should be posed to me I think I should answer it directly to the governor at that time before answering it to any one else," he replied. Still, other Republicans close to the process said that both men have long had a clear understand ing that secretary of state was the only Cabinet job Powell wanted At campaign events, Bush fre quently made playful allusions to Powell's possible role in a Bush presidency. Palestinians reject peace proposition ■ Prime Minister Barak tried to recognize an independent Palestinian state. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Barak declared Thursday he was prepared to recognize an independent Palestinian state, but said sensitive issues, such as control over Jerusalem, should be set aside for up to three years. It was the most detailed description yet that Barak has given of his peace proposals, and it was promptly rejected by Palestinian leaders, who said it failed to address their main con cerns - including control over Jerusalem and the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees. Two months of violence have derailed peace talks, destroyed Barak’s political support and placed Israel on the road to new elections, probably in April or May. The bloodshed, which has claimed nearly 290 lives, most of them Palestinians, has abated in recent days. However, Palestinian areas remain tense, and previous lulls have been followed by renewed spasms of violence. In a goodwill gesture, Israel is allowing the Palestinian airport in Gaza to reopen today, said Fayez Zaidan, head of the Palestinian civil aviation authority. The air port has been closed for more than a month. The prime minister said the looming election would not change his approach to peace negotiations, though he trails in the polls, and many analysts say he’s unlikely to be re-elected unless he can produce some sort of peace deal “I never said that I'm going to speed things up in working toward an agreement, as a result of the elections,” Barak said in a speech to Israeli journalists in Tel Aviv. “I also said we won't reach an agreement close to election time that would be different from one reached without elections.” Barak spoke of a “phased agreement” and said he was pre pared to recognize a Palestinian state on land in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But after seven years of interim agreements, the Palestinians are insisting on a final, comprehensive deal The Israeli leader said the emotionally charged question of sovereignty over Jerusalem and the return of Palestinian refugees should be put off. The proposals got a cool reception from the Palestinians. “The ideas which Mr. Barak claims could be a new initiative are not new at all,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, the Palestinian min ister for information. “His main interest was and is to save himself, not to save the peace process.” Lto/Yj'Nebraskan Managing Editor Associate Naws Editor opinion cQixon Sports Editor Arts Editor Copy Dask Co-Chief: Copy Desk Co-Chief: Photo Chief: Art Director: Design Chief: Web Editor Assistant Web Editor Sarah Baker Bradley Davis Kimberly Sweet Samuel McKewon Matthew Hansen Dane Stickney Lindsay Young Danell McCoy Heather Glenboski Melanie Falk Andrew Broer Gregg Steams Tanner Graham Questions? Comments? Ask for the appropriate section editor at (402)472-2588 ore-mail: dn@unl.edu General Manager Publications Board Chairman: Professional Adviser Advertising Manager Assistant Ad Manager Classified Ad Manager Grculation Manager Dan Shattil Russell Willbanks, (402)436-7226 Don Walton, (402)473-7248 Nick Partsch. (402) 472-2589 Nicole Woita Nikki Bruner Imtiyaz Khan Fax Number (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web: www.dailyneb.com The Daily Nebraskan (USPS144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday during the academic year weekly during the summer sessions. The public has access to the Publications Board. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by calling (402)472-2588. Subscriptions are $60 for one year. Postmaster Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588^0448. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2000 DAILY NEBRASKAN WTO rally relatively peaceful THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE - Several hundred people held a peaceful downtown rally Thursday to mark the anniversary of riotous protests that shut down World Trade Organization meetings a year ago. Despite the vandalism of several Starbucks coffee shops earlier this week, the demonstrations were quiet and even lighthearted - a far cry from the tear gas, riot squads and chaos of 1999. Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske even pro vided a motorcycle escort for a cardboard anniversary cake - 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide - that was carried to a park by about a half-dozen activists. “We're not here celebrating rocks being thrown at Starbucks,” said Brian Derdowski, a former city councilman who now helps organize activist groups. A mile away, about 300 people held a separate rally and made plans to march downtown and join the celebration. Marijuana smoke wafted through this crowd, which included members of the Seattle Lesbian Avengers with slogans on their nude upper bodies: “End corporate greed" and “WTO hurts this vegan body.” “The reason we’re going topless is because it affects our bodies,” said Molly Bolt, whose back read: “WTO IMF World Bank Amerikka - the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.” The WTO, a trade alliance of 140 coun tries, has become a target for a wide range of activists who believe it represents cor porate globalization and gives short shrift to the environment and workers. Last year, 50,000 protesters crammed into downtown and shut down WTO ses sions as overwhelmed police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. There were some 600 arrests and $3 million in property dam age. Police Chief Norm Stamper later retired. World/Nation The Associated Press ■New Mexico Weapons lab workers win $131 million jackpot ALBUQUERQUE - Fourteen workers at the Sandia nuclear weapons lab will see their bank accounts mushroom: They won a $131 million lottery jackpot Duane Carr, one of the people who pitched in $10 each for the Powerball tickets, was skeptical when one of the others called to drop die bombshell that they had won. “I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, right'" he said. “I didn't want to get too overexcited until I went over to his house and confirmed the num bers for myself. Then the cham pagne started popping.” The employees work in secu rity for the government’s Sandia National Laboratories. They were so excited that they arrived at die lottery office before lottery workers showed up for work Thursday morning. The winners can choose a pretax lump sum of $703 million or take die $131 million prize in 25 annual installments. ■ Washington, D.C Bayer disputes proposed ban on poultry antibiotics A major drug manufacturer on Thursday challenged die gov ernment's attempt to ban an antibiotic given to poultry-a ban proposed because of evidence that the drug's use in chicken causes people to get sick from drug-resistant bacteria. Bayer Corp. formally asked the Food and Drug Administration for a hearing to challenge the proposed ban of its poultry antibiotic Baytril, an agency spokesman confirmed late Thursday. At issue are a family of antibi otics called fluoroquinolones. Some fluoroquinolones are sold to treat animals, but others are a leading treatment for thousands of Americans who get food poi soning from Campylobacter, bac teria found mostly in chicken. Cases of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter are rising, federal health statistics show - and an FDA investigation concluded that use of fluoroquinolones in chick en is one significant cause. ■Great Britain Miss India wins Miss World for second year in a row ‘ LONDON - Miss India, paying tribute to Mother Teresa as the woman she most admired, was crowned Miss World on Thursday - the second consecutive year India has carried off the title. Priyanka Chopra, 18, was chosen from among 95 contest ants who posed in evening gowns on a chilly night at London’s Millennium Dome. In second place was 18-year old Giorgia Palmas from Italy. Third was 20-year-old Yuksel Ak from TUrkey. Chopra said she would use her success as "a platform to influ ence people’s thoughts, minds and actions.’’ She won $100,000 in prize money. ■Germany Flying pastry doesn't deter ex-chancellor's book signing BERLIN - Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl was hit in the face by a cream pastry during a book signing session on Thursday. Police said they detained the sus pected assailant A spokesman for the Dussmann bookstore in Berlin said Kohl, 70, was not injured and didn’t miss a beat “The chancellor reacted calmly, wiped the pastry remains from his face and kept on auto graphing,” store spokesman Thomas Greiner said. “He didn't say a word.” Correction Because of a reporting error, the time listed for an Angel Tree Project celebration sponsored by the Residence Hall Association and the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska was listed incorrectly. The Dec. 8 cele bration will be held from 2-4 p.m. at the Culture Center.