European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 b the stars and stripes election �?T92 thursday november 5,1992 americans overseas rally round Happy or sad Many giving Clinton a Chance by the stars and stripes a we the people have spoken a said 1st it. Jeff Brlecic who counts himself among those americans overseas not particularly thrilled with the nations collective voice. A we wanted change and we now have it a said the Soldier from Hanau Germany whose office is adorned with a portrait of president Bush. With More than a Little Chagrin he added a i must ask though if we spoke with our own minds or did we simply ride the current wave of Media hype a All across Europe on wednesday scr inc members and civilians a Brlecic included a were engaging in the uniquely american custom of rallying behind the new president. Regardless of their personal preferences these americans seemed willing to give president elect Bill Clinton at the least some time to prove himself. It was pleased a Brlecic said maj. Brenda Mosley assigned to the Lan Stuhl army regional medical Center in Germany. A i think we need a Leader with vision and someone who can guide the country and make difficult decisions a she said. Quot i think Clinton will be that kind of  another Hospital staffer Chi. Joel Postma had a slightly different View. A i m glad its Over a Postma said. A i m disappointed the Campaign seemed More like a sporting event than a Mosley political process. But i think Clinton will be a Fine president and the country will do Fine. A if there a a problem though we can elect a new president in four years a he said. In Naples Italy Clinton a win Over Bush and Independent Ross Perot was no Surprise to Seaman Norbert Sutherland who works in communications maintenance at the naval Security group activity. Quot my vote had gone to Bush because i did t Trust Clinton and did no to believe that he could do the Job. Plus i did no to like what he wanted to do with the military a said Sutherland As he neared the end of a 12-hour work shift Early wednesday. Sutherland and his fellow workers followed election news throughout the night. A for the most part people did no to seem too upset and they seem willing to give Clinton a Chance for the next four years. They his fellow workers Are mostly Bush supporters. I did no to run into any Perot backers a Sutherland said. Quot we be got to give Clinton a shot. Clinton says he can do All Postma these things in his first 100 Days. Personally i dont see  however Jenni wide nor said the country needs new leadership. A a Bush did great with the Gulf War and All that. A u u it a my was just killing us. Even a i Hope heroes a Good Job. He amp going he kept saying everything to definitely have to win me Over said Hunky Dory. He j but the econom in the debates with everything the new president believes in but hopefully we can take the bad As Well As the  a father of two said he hoped Clinton would make education a top priority. He said one of the main reasons he backed Perot was because of the texans a a Zeal and a a desire to give Opportunity Back. To americans youth. Blalock also Hopes Clinton will Zero in on reducing the a Blalock _ Tiona a deficit perhaps even borrowing some of Perot a plans on How to do it. Brussels civilian employee Azora Brown said she had to Settle for her second Choice candidate with Clinton. A i know something had to be different Quot said Brown who voted for Perot. A so its All right that Clinton is in there.  i la i us . Hope that he a not just a stick  import a a f air in it Job opportunities also were on mind of air Force staff sgt. William h. White stationed at Raf Mildenhall England. Maybe people can get jobs now a White said. A a let a Hope we can come out of the recession that we re in. A i know its not going to be an overnight Miracle a he said Haworth but he took a Widener is _ seemed  but with change come High expectations she said. She will be watching Clinton and a will probably be  she already doubts that Clinton a plan to increase taxes for Only those making $2 10,000 or More a the Art director for the Community recreation division. Brown who is married to an army staff sergeant said her greatest fear is that Clinton will reduce defense spending by cutting jobs instead of eliminating military hardware. Judy Haworth Brown year will be enough to cure the ailing who teaches government and world geography at Lakenheath High school at Economy. She and her husband were undecided throughout the Campaign but had been leaning toward Perot. However the Texas billionaires mostly unsubstantiated stories of Republican dirty tricks and hit squads storming his Home a scared me a Little bit a Widener said and that pushed her toward Clinton. Widener is Happy to see a Young Manin the White House. Bush she said was old fashioned. A a it a a change. Hopefully it will be change for the better a she said. Staff sgt. Stephen Blalock of Brussels Belgium was disappointed that Perot  be moving into the White House in january but he said he a glad the incumbent is moving out. A a in a just Happy that we had a change a said Blalock a military policeman at the nato support activity a i done to agree Raf Lakenheath England views Clinton a Victory and the improved showings of women and minorities in congressional races As positive developments. A that says that the american people Are going to be represented Well in Congress a Haworth said. A this vote is definitely anti establishment. Let s Hope the old guard is  Haworth has High Hopes that Clinton will make education As Strong a priority after the election As he did during his Campaign and that As the military draws Down the promised emphasis on education will create stateside jobs for teachers and departing military. A let s see if the Man does what he says he s going to do a Haworth said. A a let Schance on Clinton because a if you keep doing things the same Way you know what you re going to get. You have to take chances now and then. Sometimes there a risks  airman 1st class Christine Davis of Oesterberg a Netherlands believes if anybody can turn around sagging morale in the United states Clinton can. A a in be been listening to his speeches and he seems like he a really got that american Pride in him a said Davis who is assigned to the 32nd civil engr flight. A a in a really looking Forward to that because it seems that the morale of the country has gone Down while president Bush has been  Davis said her Ideal candidate would have combined Bush a foreign policy stance with Perot a business sense and a the rest from Clinton. Lacking that Davis said she so really Happy Clinton was elected. He a really honest about everything a she said. A i can just feel it when you re watching  Brlecic the dyed in the Wool Bush supporter in Hanau certainly would t agree but by wednesday morning he already was beginning to work through his disappointment. A Well it is history now a said Brlecic the adjutant for the 104th area support group at York Hof Cavern who served for three years in the enlisted ranks before earning his commission three years ago. A was a Soldier i must carry out the Legal orders of those appointed above me. I will. A was a nation we must put the past behind us and look to the future. We can succeed Only by giving our president elect the time and support needed for the changes we  contributing to this report staff writers j. King Cruger in Naples Italy Ron Jensen in Nurnberg Germany Gary Pomeroy in Darmstadt Germany Rosemary Sawyer in Brussels Belgium Steve scholar to Kaiserslautern Germany and Nancy Torner to Mildenhall  s music to their ears for democrats in Europe by Kevin Dougherty Kaiserslautern Bureau Schopp Germany a in tribute to president elect Bill Clinton Linda Gross belted out Hail to the chief on her saxophone. It was a Short but Sweet testimonial to the sax player from Arkansas who gave democrats their most convincing Triumph since Lyndon b. Johnson a landslide in 1964. A in my Day it was jail to the chief Nixon s last Days a said Gross husband Jim a social studies teacher at Kaiserslautern High school. Like Many americans living in Europe the grosses woke up Early wednesday to Monitor the election returns on television. At their Home in Schopp a Village near Kaiserslautern the couple played Host to a breakfast that included a few department of defense dependents schools teachers. Republicans As Well As democrats were invited but gop representation was non existent or at least undeclared. A lifelong Democrat Jim Gross celebrated by calling friends and colleagues at Home the election marked the first time Gross had backed a presidential Winner since he started voting in 1968, he broke ranks in 1976 to support Republican Gerald Ford s losing Effort then returned to the fold to Back Jimmy Carter in 1980. A the took it pretty Well a Gross said of a conversation with Burt Blank the athletic director just Down the autobahn at Mannheim High school who supported Bush. A the suspected that Bush  go too  Kristy Jacobs a special education teacher at nearby Vogel Weh elementary school voted for Clinton despite her fear the support could hasten her departure from Europe. Many Dodds teachers she said backed Bush in the belief that his re election would prolong their stay. Clinton a will Cut the military Back More than Bush and faster Quot she said. Gross disagrees saying Many Dodds teachers Are due to lose their jobs regardless of the outcome. He figures the draw Down plan supported by the Bush administration will Cut the student population in Germany to about 35,000 by the fall of 1993, which would represent a loss of More than 40,000 students in two years. A can you say something about keeping Dodds teachers in Germany a Kaiserslautern High school Counselor Jerry Oyan cracked while Clinton gave his Victory speech. A a it a a real burning Issue for me  Oyan was addressing a television set with a reception problem that was second Only to the bad vibes american voters transmitted to Bush. Oyan would not disclose which candidate received his vote. Like Many americans he was dissatisfied with the lot. Oyan fears that Clinton in an Effort to prove his Mettle As commander in chief might be too Quick to deploy . Troops to a hot spot such As the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Paul Rose a University of Maryland teacher for the Kaiserslautern area said too much was made about Clinton avoiding military service in Vietnam a Bush served in world War ii but everyone served Quot Rose said Quot it was a patriotic War Vietnam was another bag of Independent candidate Ross Perot fared Well across the nation and finished second in a poll Gross conducted in his ninth and uth Grade social studies classes Clinton finished first which meant Bush placed last. Gross considered voting for Perot earlier in the year but changed his mind when the Texas billionaire said in july he  run. Perot a re entry into the race in october was too late for Gross. Quot this is the first time i Ever voted for a Winner a Gross said. A i almost voted for Bush just to Jinx