General Board

My thoughts and answers.

Posted By: Barbi (172.138.60.110)
Date: Friday, 10 November 2000, at 12:24 p.m.

In Response To: One thought and one question the balloting mess (laszlo)

I had put my political leanings aside earlier Laz. I want the right legal outcome, always have.

About those that apparently punched the wrong spot. I've felt compassion for them from the begining. I would be furious with myself if I were in their shoes. I would prolly grumble and complain about the ballot, but I'd never go hire an attorney, and I'd accept that the responsibility had been mine. I seriously doubt I'd torture myself for the rest of my life, but of course I say this from the point of view of a person who will (hopefully) get to vote again in four years. That's as objective as I can be.

"Even if Gore had lost, they still would have felt immense pride in voting for Lieberman. Now that might be taken away from them. That's indeed very sad in my opinion."

Not trying to be a fussbudget here, but nothing was "taken" from them. That implies intent, and I don't think anyone intended for this to happen.

"I personally would like to see them have a chance to vote again. If for nothing else, so they can cleanse their souls for eternity."

By Jewish law their souls are soiled? Can you explain a little more about this please?

What about the estimated thousands of people in western Florida that left the long voting lines when they'd heard the state had been called Laz? Should we let them vote again? What about the military personel that requested absentee ballots and never received them...surely they were denied their rights. And what about people that registered to vote but it didn't go through for some reason? Weren't they denied as well?

I too would like to see an honest conclusion, but as Mindy said, the only way to do it fairly, is to let the entire nation vote again, God help us if it comes to that.

"Would you do the same thing that Gore appears to be doing i? If so, why? If not, again why not?"

That's hard to say because I didn't spend the last two years of my life working on this.....but...I'll give it a go.

It would be INCREDIBLY hard to walk away knowing I had won the popular vote but not the electoral. However, two weeks ago when it was assumed that Bush would win the popular, and Gore would win the electoral....Gore stated that "Fortunately it's not a dilemma because our constitution provides for that contingency.". So he's well versed on what should happen.

And it might be worth a fight except for a couple of things. Dragging it out too long, in my opinion, is going to damage the office for whomever takes it. The polls are already showing that Gore's popularity is dropping as this continues on. What's going to happen if Bush is legally given the electoral votes in Florida and Gore contests it?

I think he needs to think long and hard about that political suicide, because that could really happen. Right now he's the perfect democratic canidate for 2004, he's young, and running again is absolutely an option.

Let's talk about Bush. Right now he's in a place where although it appears he'll win the electoral vote, he didn't take the popular vote. So it's occured to me that maybe HE should step back and concede to the popular vote. I think in general, many would respect that. However, that would definately be political suicide. Imagine if you'd supported his campaign and then saw him "giving" the Presidency away. Die hard republicans would come unglued, and liberals (in the media anyway) instead of applauding him would most undoubtedly make fun of him, there would be more "stupid" attacks and everything about him would be called into question. Future opponents would hammer on it. It's not an option for him.

For Gore to accept the final tally with dignity would only win him praise for showing respect for the rule of law (something his predecessor is hated for thumbing his nose at), as well as praise for "not putting the country through that", for Bush to accept the popular vote, would end his political career. Why? Because of the rule of law.

If after all the votes are tallied (and once they are the entire arguement could be in vain) no matter who wins it, they both go on and have their integrity in tact. One goes to the White House, and the other can move on, possibly toward the presidential campaign for 2004.

If this turns into a long drawn out court embattled affair, I think they will both come away as losers, and that's the last thing we need, and it's the last thing the next president needs, whomever it may be.

Barbi

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