Recount not finished(will it ever be), Bush leading by 327 votes

[AndrewR]

Isla: I don't think anyone is saying that Floridians, blacks, Cubans (who are more likely to vote Republican because of opposition to Castro, as I understand it), etc., are stupid. It's only the people, which number at the very most 22,000 in the absolute worst case scenario, that voted incorrectly in that one county that are stupid or careless or both.

This is a rather seminal event and is something that will be discussed for a long time. I think there will be some impact in the future with hopefully outdated voting machines being replaced by newer units which would likely never happen when there are other ways to waste money that directly affect someone's budget priorities (since voting only occurs infrequently).

If this was such a problem, the voting method that is, why did no one complain in 1996 when Clinton/Bore won Florida? Win one, lose one -- seems fair to me!

 

[ride525]

<< If this was such a problem, the voting method that is, why did no one complain in 1996 when Clinton/Bore won Florida? Win one, lose one -- seems fair to me! >>



I don't know if the same problem existed in 1996 or not. (One might guess it did, if the two major candidates were listed both on the left in the same manner.)

But it might not have even been noticed because there is SO MUCH more attention to Florida right now with the whole Presidental Election at stake, and such a very close vote.

 

[Isla]

Honestly Andrew, I don't care who wins this election. I didn't vote for Clinton, either.

You may not see it or be as sensitive to it as I am, but I have seen a lot of racist, etc remarks here during the last few days (not in this thread, but in others, some which have been thankfully locked immediately)... my fault for reading the all the threads... I can always walk away from it, I know. It seems to me even bringing up some of the ugliness of the board is controversial... sort of like, &quot;how dare you criticise us for saying what we think?&quot; Well, I've seen a lot of people I used to respect say some really ugly racist and ageist things in the past two or three days. I didn't hallucinate it.

That's all I'm saying, Andrew. I'll be glad when it is over. Everyone is just so ready to argue! All I am saying is that I will be happy when the blame and insults stop. They seem to be abating somewhat, thank God.

 

[dennilfloss]

In the end, whoever really ends in front better no bend over too quick or he'll get screwed.

Best Way To Die (Jet Set Satellites)

 

[Futuramatic]

NFS4-

You do not want the overseas vote to come in. Historically speaking, it is heavily Republican.

So after recount Bush is up 327? Well, geez, Al didn't concede did he? Jeez, he lied again. Go figure.

 

[Eug]

<< And they say we shouldn't sterilize stupid people... >>



Tsk, tsk.

Anyway, it makes perfect sense to me. Close race. Law requires recount. Recount still extremely close. Law states that absentee votes should be included, up until Nov. 17. Florida states official results will be declared on Nov. 17.

So what's the problem?

Now, if Bore's cronies complain after Nov. 17 if they lose then, then they deserve to be chastised, and Bore and the US will look like a joke. But right now things are going by the book (notwithstanding the lawsuit nonsense). OTOH, if Bush were to officially declare victory now, he would look like a joke too.

What confuses me is the dead person winning. My understanding is that doesn't quite follow the letter of the law. Furthermore, why is his wife suddenly qualified to take his place? If I lived there, I'd be pissed, no matter who I voted for. No matter how you cut it, nobody who got a vote was put in power. Instead, somebody gets in because she just happens to have been married to the dead winner.

 

[slipperyslope]

OK look, in 1996 15,000 votes in palm county were thrown out. This year they are going to have to throw out 18,000 votes. Guess what there was a larger voter turn out also. People are making a big deal out of that. It is stupid. As for the ballot. It was used in '96 with no one complaining and a FREAKIN DEMOCRAT MADE THE STUPID THING.

It IS the voter's responsibility to know what they are doing. I did not vote for Bush but this crap is common sense.

Bush won, get over it. Either guy would/is going to suck as a president. Thats what the two party system gives us.

Gore needs to suck it up just like Nixon did when Kennedy cheated his way into office. Of course it appears that Gore is trying to cheat his way into office now.

Jim

 

[classy]

I need to get some things off my chest. I don't understand why people are turning this into a Democrat vs Republican thing. This is very simply an issue of whether or not there is problem with the way voting was conducted in one county across the entire nation, that county is Palm Beach Florida. I feel that they are entitled to be able to vote plainly and clearly like everyone else. Their vote is no less important than mine was or anyone else's for that matter. It is a constitutional right and civil right to ensure a person has the right to vote without questionable obstacles placed in their way. I don't care how you look at 19000 people are not that stupid. Just in that county alone that amount of thrown away ballots represents almost %10 of the total amount of people that voted in that one place. That is a high amount no matter how you look at it. I challenge anyone to go anywhere in this country and find any county or poll booth where they threw away %10 of the ballots cast at that particular place. Its absurb to hear people say tough luck. There is a problem in that area where they voted period. No one's opinion can change that. This is not a game we are deciding, this isn't a football game where a ref makes a bad call. This is for highest office not just in the USA but on the entire planet. We here in this country have sent our troops to other countries to die because we felt elected officals got control because of questionable tactics. Yet we have highly usual circustances surrounding this election in this particular county but refuse to use a very simple solution which is to have just that county vote again. I think those people are entitled to vote again to ensure that no one is denied the very right that we claim to believe in this country and that is freedom. I am tired of hearing all the excuses as how this happened. We have threaten other countries with military force to make sure elections went correctly. And yet we want to throw out all these people's ballots despite the fact it is clear whether intentional or accidental that a problem arose during election. That county is due their right to re vote without complications at all, just like everyone else. And to say this would shake our foundation is ridiculous. We have survived the civil war, world war I and II, Korean War, Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement, Cuban missle crisis, the assasinations of our presidents, Watergate, and Iran Contra. We have survived all that but allowing a county their just and proper right to vote again without confusion will destroy our country. That is hogwash.

 

[slipperyslope]

SO let me get this straight. I go into the booth. Since I am an idiot, I vote for the wrong person. Lots of people like me do the same. Because we are stupid and don't pay attention to the instructions, there should be a recount since I am not responsible enough to pay attention TO THE F*CKING INSTRUCTIONS.

I would like to see me go to any of my teachers and ask for a retest if I didn't read the stupid instructions. WITH VOTING COMES RESPONSIBILITY. IF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR VOTE IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT.

I sure didn't hear any people in Florida moaning about THIS EXACT same ballot in 1996. Shut up and deal.

Jim