BUSH HAS THE BEST VISION FOR AMERICA

On Election Day, Americans will vote in one of the most crucial elections of our lifetime.

On the line in this year's national election isn't just the presidency, but control of all three branches of the federal government. The next president will probably appoint two or three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. Control of the legislative branch rests on the knife's edge.

These facts alone set this election apart from most others.

There are stark issue differences between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

Gore has years of Washington experience

Voters for whom long experience in Washington and the federal government is important will likely pull the lever for the vice president. Gore went to Washington after the 1976 election and has been there ever since.

Gore has carved out a position of leadership on environmental issues. Eight years ago he wrote a book, "Earth in the Balance," that many cite as authoritative.

During the impeachment saga of 1998-99, Gore stood solidly behind the president, deflecting criticism as unwarranted partisanship. Gore delivered his unforgettable bouquet to President Bill Clinton from the White House lawn on the day the president was impeached, calling Clinton "one of our greatest presidents" ever.

Signature campaign issues for Gore include backing the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance bill. From his days as a solidly pro-life member of Congress, Gore has evolved into the pro-choice mold of the Clinton-Gore administration. Gore has pledged that his judicial appointments will reflect this view. Gore also favors restrictions on gun rights and has indicated his judicial appointments might reflect those views. And Gore is against any privatization of the Social Security system.

Gore can fairly be expected to follow Clinton's lead in the foreign-policy and defense arenas, including peacekeeping deployments of U.S. military forces and a Middle-East peace process that seeks Israeli accommodation of that nation's Palestinian foes.

Bush has record of bipartisan cooperation

Bush came to government service only six years ago, when he defeated an incumbent to win the first of two terms as governor of Texas. He has established a record of cooperating with, and winning the support of, Democrats and independents as well as Republicans.

His education reforms have the test scores of Texas' minority students rising the fastest of any state's. He has cut taxes more than once. He pledges across-the-board tax cuts for all American taxpayers

Bush has remained pro-life, pledging to sign a bill banning partial-birth abortion. He has said he will appoint judges who understand their role to interpret, and not to make, laws. He has stressed his respect for Second Amendment rights and signed a right-to-carry law in Texas. Bush's environmental policy is solidly within the mainstream.

Bush lacks extensive foreign-policy experience. He has surrounded himself with a team that includes retired Gen. Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice and running mate Dick Cheney, who as his father's secretary of defense led America's multinational coalition during Desert Storm.

Social Security reform is an example of Bush's willingness to tackle tough issues. He is proposing that a tiny portion of each wage earner's Social Security taxes could be placed as an option in a private account to be invested in mutual funds or in direct stock ownership.

In addition, Bush supports expanded parental freedom to choose their children's schools. He would allow parents of children in failing schools to use federal money to go to any school that could meet the children's needs.

Base your choice on candidates' goals

Voters will have an opportunity to choose the next president based on the vision and goals of the two major candidates. While we clearly favor the Bush agenda, other voters will prefer the ideas espoused by Gore. Either way, voters will be making a critical choice and will need to carefully evaluate the positions of both candidates.