Looking Back - George W Bush Wins Second Term

On this day in 2004, George W Bush won a second term as president of the United States, beating his Democratic rival, John Kerry, by a comfortable margin. Mr Bush won about 51% of the vote and at least 274 electoral college votes against John Kerry's 48% and 252 votes. Results were still awaited in New Mexico and Iowa but they could not affect the outcome.

Mr Bush's victory was announced after Mr Kerry phoned him at the White House to admit defeat. In a four-minute conversation, Mr Kerry congratulated the president, while Mr Bush called the Democrat "an admirable, worthy opponent". In his victory speech, Mr Bush said, "I am proud to lead such an amazing country and I am proud to lead it forward." He said tax reform, social security and education would be priorities for his second four-year term. He also said the US would "help the emerging democracies of Afghanistan and Iraq to grow in strength and freedom".

The result meant Mr Bush had a stronger mandate than four years earlier, when he won only after a 36-day legal battle over a recount in Florida. Florida used electronic voting machines this year to replace the punch cards which created so many problems in the last poll.

World leaders congratulated Mr Bush on his victory, although some warned of the major challenges facing him in the Middle East.

You can watch more of this story by clicking the video link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6760000/newsid_6769000?redirect=6769091.stm&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&news=1

The Golden Years

Did You Know?

The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

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The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. (Good thing he did that).

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The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

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There are more chickens than people in the world.

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Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

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Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Cool Garage Doors

A German firm called 'Style Your Garage' creates posters for garage doors that make it look as if your garage is where all the action is. Made for up-and-over garage doors common in Europe, they mount with Velcro and can be adapted to fit sectional garage doors.

If you've got a two-car garage, no worries they can make posters that span both doors. Prices range from 199 euros to 399 euros for the double door, and the company can also turn a photo of yours into a garage poster, but you'll want to be careful with this, not everything can be blown up to 6 feet without looking weird.

What a great idea to freak out the neighbours. A police car would be a great deterrent for burglars!

Love Story

LOVE STORY

I WILL SEEK AND FIND YOU.

I SHALL TAKE YOU TO BED AND HAVE MY WAY WITH YOU.

I WILL MAKE YOU ACHE, SHAKE AND SWEAT

UNTIL YOU MOAN AND GROAN.

I WILL MAKE YOU BEG FOR MERCY,

BEG ME TO STOP.

I WILL EXHAUST YOU TO THE POINT THAT YOU

WILL BE RELIEVED WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH YOU.

AND, WHEN I AM FINISHED, YOU WILL BE

WEAK FOR DAYS.

ALL MY LOVE,

THE FLU

NOW, GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER AND GO AND GET YOUR FLU SHOT!