After 36 days, it looks as if it's finally over...

Saying he "was not elected to serve one party" but rather "one nation", President-elect George W. Bush pledged to end the partisanship in American politics and bridge the divide between differing political parties and ideologies.

Invoking the bi-partisan efforts of Thomas Jefferson and speaking from the Democrat-controlled Texas House of Representatives, Bush stressed cooperation as he vowed to win the respect of all Americans, including those who did not vote for him.

An hour earlier, Al Gore appeared before the American people to offer his concession, saying, "it's time for me to go".

While Gore stated he "strongly disagreed" with last night's decision by the Supreme Court, he also stated that he accepted the decision and would work with the president-elect to "end partisan rancor" and help heal divisions in the nation. Gore thanked his campaign staff and said his only regret was that he couldn't fight over the next four years for the American people whose "voices have not been heard".

What did you think of the two speeches? What did you think of the 5 weeks in Florida? Will we look back fondly on this period in American history?