Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Bush taunts the Post Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 16:10:35 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Bush taunts the Post \SH Feisty demeanor belies the blues \BY Frank J. Murray \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES A feisty President Bush, far from acting depressed over his recent defeat as suggested by some reports, defended his "gloves-off" campaign tactics yesterday. "If The Washington Post doesn't like it, too damn bad." Apparently without realizing a reporter was present, the president complained to diplomats about the length of an 11-week turnover of White House power that he called "laborious." "I've concluded that the interregnum is . . . too ungenerous and too long," Mr. Bush said at a Blair House reception Monday night, according to United Press International. Mr. Bush was receiving an award for "outstanding diplomatic service" from the Council of American Ambassadors, honoring not his presidency, but his 1970s work as U.N. ambassador and liaison to China. Mr. Bush arrived at the party invigorated by two hours of tennis in the Hart Senate Office Bulding with an adviser and two senators. White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said Mr. Bush has been planning for his life after the White House, helping where he can in his aides' job hunting and telling foreign callers to expect little change in U.S. foreign policy in President-elect Bill Clinton's administration. "They call to talk about events and how they might relate to the new administration and U.S. foreign policy. I don't think anybody expects any major policy shifts, at least for allies and friends," Mr. Fitzwater said. UPI reporter Steven Heilbronner, who was admitted by the hosts, said Mr. Bush mused a bit but seemed "defiant around the edges" as he sought to justify both his place in history and his campaign style to the ambassadors, Cabinet members and other guests. "The gloves came off and we went at it, and hard, and that's the way I like it. [That's] the way it ought to be, and if The Washington Post doesn't like it, too damn bad," Mr. Bush said. He accused the newspaper of vendetta tactics toward him over questions of governing style, staffing choices, his Iran-Contra role, campaign financing and a raft of other topics. Mr. Fitzwater told reporters yesterday that Mr. Bush has gotten past his emotional response to the election but was a bit put off by the lack of work for him to do. In the 15 days since Election Day, he has taken two vacations totaling nine days and plans to take another five days over the Thanksgiving weekend. "The feeling is once you've lost, and once the change is made, it's best to get on with it," Mr. Fitzwater said. Even the ceremonial photo-opportunity visits dwindled to virtually nothing. "A good part of the president's day is meeting with constituent groups or associations wanting to talk to him about one problem or another. You don't have that now. They're waiting for the Clinton administration," Mr. Fitzwater said. The spokesman portrayed the outgoing president as preoccupied with planning his new Houston office and transfer of his papers to the presidential library at College Station, Texas, but anxious to avoid any misstep that would appear to hinder the transition. "We don't want to do anything to tie up the new administration and prejudice them . . . [or] establish policies they'd have to undo," Mr. Fitzwater said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM