First, November by MARK WATKINS Wednesday, January 24, 2001 Our new President inherits a bushel of problems. He will solve some but not others. Let us first be patient, for there is a learning curve. As Stephanopolous et al recently disclosed, the confusion and disorganization of 1993 proved the early Clinton administration wholly unprepared to assume office. Happily, Mr. Bush arrived much better prepared. At the very least, his assembly of stellar advisers will keep him from driving us off into the ditch. There is one bit of unfinished business which this President should address immediately: last November's election debacle. Many argue against scratching an old wound, but this is no simple paper cut. It is a gaping wound and it must be treated. The treatment is straightforward, but it must be done quickly.

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Mr. Bush should appoint a liberal but respected Democrat and give him six months to come up with a solution. (Six months is enough time; we want action here, not wordy condescension.) The enabling legislation -- clean and true -- should be co-sponsored by the Congressional leadership, properly debated, then passed and sent to the President within a year. A pipe dream? No, an attainable objective. First, it is sorely needed. We Americans were stunned at what we learned about our election process: in this freest of all nations it is incredibly screwed up. We don't ever want to go through Florida again. Second, the political landscape demands reform. Even in his inaugural address Mr. Bush clearly acknowledged his unconventional ascension. Moreover, the disputed election lies at the center of the Democrats' game plan. Last month Democratic leaders dutifully enunciated a desire to "work together," but the confirmation hearings proved them liars; they intend to fight the President from Day One. For two reasons, mostly: (1) they now have the political clout to do so, and (2) they believe they got shafted in November. Mr. Bush cannot change the balance of power on the Hill. He must therefore persuade Gephardt and Daschle that fighting for political purposes is pointless. No one will get anything. Neither can Mr. Bush resolve whether the Democrats got shafted in November, but he can affect change in how Presidents and Vice Presidents are elected in the future. No one can argue against such an improvement. There may be nothing politically more dear than a fair and proper election process. Plainly, the system we have now is neither. Last November I wrote that most of us Americans were too busy to pay much attention to our civic duties. Having failed to do our pre-Election Day homework and -- worse -- having abandoned our obligation to take elections seriously, perhaps we deserve the confusion and missteps spotlighted in Florida. I stand by that. Having just let the car run out of oil and damn near burned up the engine, we should all agree that now is the time to fix it. You want to drive, Mr. Bush? First, a trip to the repair shop. First, November.

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