Political intrigue in ‘0-0-4

The 2004 presidential election was won by Bush…George W. Bush.  He won his first term in 2000 through the electoral college, after narrowly losing the popular vote.  Republican Bush seemed assured of a second term with a 3-million vote edge over Democrat John Kerry.  But before the Electoral College met in 2004, third-party candidates and Jesse Jackson wanted an investigation of the counting procedures and crowded polling places in states such as Ohio.  Kerry would have won the election if he had taken Ohio’s 20 electoral votes, but the state went to Bush.   

A Hooters restaurant was opening at 3rd and Jay in La Crosse, but without artificial palm trees outside.  The city board of public works voted against the fake trees.  

“Zuzu” came to La Crosse that Christmas of 2004.  Karolyn Grimes, who played Jimmy Stewart’s little girl in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ in 1946, helped La Crosse Community Theatre open a holiday production of George Bailey’s life story.   

And the Heart of La Crosse comedy group did a holiday show, with jokes about retiring Mayor John Medinger, a school holiday concert, and a song about a James Bond type manning a red kettle: “Bell-Ringer,” to the tune of “Goldfinger.” Agent 0-0-4 on duty at Christmas, yesterday in La Crosse.