posted on November 10, 2000 06:34:49 AM new
Are the results of this election the will of the people or not ?
The Republicans claim that the form of the election, erronious or not, makes Bush the winner.
But what is the reason for an election ? It is for the people to choose their leader. Was this accomplished in its present form ? No.
The Republicans say the mistaken 19,000 Gore/Buchanan ballots were cast by people apparently not smart enough to cast a valid vote.
This is the same trickery used in the South for nearly a century to prevent blacks from voting or not counting their votes.
In substance, Gore won the popular and electoral vote. In form, Bush won the election.
Let Bush take office- it will be the biggest failed presidency in our history. No mandate, no respect, no power of office, no reason to be there. A laughing stock at home and abroad.
posted on November 10, 2000 07:18:21 AM new
What a load of hogwash.
Take some time to research the number of ballots disqualified in a typical election. In the 1996 presidential election 14,000 ballots were disqualified in West Palm Beach county. Where was the hue and cry then? The proportion of disqualified ballots was about the same this time as last time.
Disqualified ballots are very common. You will not find a single ballot type or layout that everyone is incapable of screwing up or misunderstanding.
Those that are prone to conspiracy theory thinking can find them everywhere they choose to look.
posted on November 10, 2000 07:59:41 AM new
Dr.Beetle,
The combined events in the state of Florida pertaining to this election which have been demonstrated and are being discovered paint a pretty clear picture of a manipulation of the vote in that state.
The actions of the State Highway patrol in discouraging easy access to polling places by black voters in the delayed panhandle voting areas, the polling place changes at Florida A&M and to a lesser extent at Florida State University campus(es), the use of that ballot in that county for the first time in that state in nearly twenty years, the apparent differences between the sample ballot sent and the actual ballot used in Palm Beach, the strange misplacements of as many as eleven ballot boxes later discovered to be on the election supervisor's desk (and so all is well, right?), and on to who knows what yet, coupled with the fact of all of this ocurring within the state of which the republican candidate's brother is governor, and the known past illicit business and political practices of all three brothers make conspiracy an almost inevitable conclusion.
posted on November 10, 2000 08:06:28 AM new
And the newest revelation:
Florida sent duplicate ballots overseas
Defense Department employee alleges that some co-workers
on an air base in England voted twice.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Carina Chocano
Nov. 9, 2000 | At least five Florida residents serving at a
U.S. Air Force base in England received two absentee ballots
for this year's hotly contested presidential race, a civilian
Department of Defense employee told Salon. Elaine Gatley,
48, a civil service executive secretary stationed at RAF
Mildenhall in southeastern England, said Thursday that she and
four fellow Floridians who work in her office received two
ballots in the mail from the state of Florida.
"At first I thought it was just a fluke," Gatley said. "But when I
went to work the next day, I talked to my friends and they
said, 'Yeah, I received two also.'"
Gatley, a registered Democrat, completed
and returned only one of the ballots she
received. But she said that at least three of
her fellow Floridians, all of whom are
registered Republican, told her that they
filled out and returned the second ballots as
well.
posted on November 10, 2000 08:23:32 AM new
Perhaps the Electoral College had some place in the past. Now it seems to be just another thing to hassle with and pay for.
For years, people have been complaining that the "all or nothing" electoral vote skews the actual result. If a candidate gets 51% of the popular vote in a state, why should s/he get 100% of the electoral vote? How is that representative?
As to Florida - the appearance of impropriety is an issue. MHO is that if the people of this country feel that this election was won unfairly, it will weaken the next president. Print up a simple ballot with big ovals to fill in with pencil. Hold another vote either in the counties in question, or the whole state. Let the American public rest easy.
posted on November 10, 2000 08:34:39 AM new"If a candidate gets 51% of the popular vote in a state, why should s/he get 100% of the electoral vote? How is that representative?
It's based in the principle of majority rule.
Only 15 states have laws that require that the electors cast their vote in accordance with that majority. Others have sanctions which can be imposed upon vagabond electors, but they seldom are used (if they ever have been). Whatever method a state may use, the electoral college is a mechanism for the expression of the will of a majority of the state's voters. It's really only a simplification tool which enabled a few to go to Washington in the place of all, but to represent all.
posted on November 10, 2000 08:44:33 AM newLet Bush take office- it will be the biggest failed presidency in our history. No mandate, no respect, no power of office, no reason to be there. A laughing stock at home and abroad.
I think you have Bush confused with Clinton. And by the way, roughly 1/2 of the Americans who voted in this election will disagree with the rediculous statement above.
posted on November 10, 2000 10:48:03 AM new
Clinton has a higher positive rating in this country than Bush. Clinton has done more for this country than the last three presidents combined.
The numbers show that less than half the country want Bush for President. Were it not for the cheating by Jeb Bush and his cohorts in Florida, Gore would have the electoral college too.
The map tells the picture, Bush won in all the redneck backwaters, Gore won in all the population centers, even in Texas.
posted on November 10, 2000 10:58:06 AM new
So. California is still counting over 1 million ballots from highly conservative San Diego & Orange County. This could very well sway the popular vote.
It ain't over 'til it's over.
********************
That's Flunky Gerbiltush to you!
posted on November 10, 2000 11:09:10 AM new
Better re-think calling Orange county republican.
Ask former Cong. Bob Dornan - one of Clinton's biggest critics- Clinton is still in office- Dornan isn't. Orange county shifted to democratic 4 years ago.
posted on November 10, 2000 11:26:27 AM new
Well if electing a democrat as your congressman isn't evidence of the district's leaning, I don't know what would be.
If they didn't like Dornan, the republican primary would have taken care of that. The republicans voted for Dornan in the primary, but the district changed political leaning, and in the general a democrat was elected to congress.
