2000 US Election - was it bogus?

talesin

I have been thinking about this as a topic, and after reading the following comment by Bikerchic on another thread, I think it is relevant, and would like to hear the American's thoughts on this.

he never should have been President and it's a shame that we as US Citizens let him get away with cheating his way into office.

Should the Supreme Court have decided the Presidency? Should there have been a recount? Should there have been another election?

What do you, as an American citizen, think?

1. If Gore would originally let ALL of the ballots be counted, even then Bush would have won by a very few votes. This was validated by a non-partisan recount by major newspapers a few months after the election.

Should the Supreme Court have decided the Presidency?

Should the Democrats have brought in the Florida Supreme Court FIRST? Should they have decided the Presidency with only allowing some of the votes?

For over two hundred years, the President has been elected by the electorial college. If people don't like it, then they should change it BEFORE and election. Every state in the Union has election laws on how votes are counted. Do you think it's fair to change the law AFTER the election like the Florida Supreme Court was trying to do?

talesin

Double Edge

I don't actually understand how it worked. That's why I threw it out to the Americans on the board.

The "electoral college' , I don't really understand what that is? help!

Double Edge

Election 2000- The Recount

The closest election in US history began with a night of errors for the major networks. The first error occurred when they declared that the State of Florida was won by Al Gore. That victory it seemed made an electoral victory by George Bush unlikely. As the night went on the networks retracted their call and placed Florida in the undecided camp. Later in the night it became clear that the Florida decision would determine the elections. A little after 2 AM Eastern Time the networks made their next mistake, declaring the State of Florida for George Bush. That declaration set in motion a concession phone call by Gore to Bush. As Gore was about the make his concession speech, word reached him that the State of Florida was indeed to close to call. Gore called Bush back and recanted his concession and the recount stage of the Florida election was on. Most Americans went to sleep believing that Bush had won, they woke up to learn that the election had not been decided: it would not be for another month.

The Chronology

November 7th- Election Day November 8th Early morning decision first in Bush's favor and then too close to count November 9th- Results from Florida show George Bush lead to be 1,784- thus automatically triggering a machine recount November 10th First recount shows George Bush ahead by 327 without counting absentee ballots. The Democrats request manual recounts in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Voulusia Counties November 11th- Palm Beach announces it will recount- Bush goes to federal court to bar the recount. November 12th- Volusia County begins recount. Democrats announce suit to filed in Seminole County against Republican absentee ballots November 13th- Federal court refuses to stop recount.- Florida election official announce that they will certify the election the next day- with the exception of absentee ballots- Democrats appeal decision- November 14th - District Court upholds the deadline but states further recounts can continue and may be included. State Secretary of State certifies results with a 300 Bush lead. November 15th- Broward County goes ahead with manual recount- Secretary of State Harrison refuses to accept additional votes based on recount November 16th State Supreme Courts says manual recount can continue, but lower court must decide if the secretary of state must include them November 17th Judge Terry Lewis says Harris can certify results, but the State Supreme Court puts a hold and that decision November 18th Overseas ballots are counted Bush lead now 930 votes November 20th- Arguments before Florida high court. November 21st- Florida High Court rules that recount can continue and should be certified on November 26th at 3PM November 22nd George Bush appeals to the US Supreme Court to stop the recount November 23rd Miami-Dade recount seems to come to an end November 26th Secretary of State Harris certifies Bush victory at 537 votes- without recount of Palm Beach, which is late and Miami- Dade that decides not to recount November 27th- Gore officially contests the results the results December 1- US Supreme Court hears arguments on the earlier extension of the date for recounts by Florida December 2nd Contest trail begins before Jude N Sander Sauls. December 4th The US Supreme Court orders clarification of earlier Florida Supreme Court decision December 5th Judge Sauls rules against Gore December 6th Gore appeals to Florida Supreme Court December 7th Oral arguments before Florida Supreme Court December 8th Florida Supreme Court orders manual recount in all of state where no votes were recorded December 9th US Supreme Court halts counting before hearing appeal December 10th Lawyers file briefs before Supreme Court December 11th Oral arguments before the court December 12th At 10 PM at night the Supreme Court rules that no further recounts can take place December 13th- Gore concedes.

On November 10th Gore's people should have asked for a recount of ALL of the counties, not just a selective 3. People seem to have forgotten that Florida had election laws in place, which included HOW recounting was suppose to be implemented. The Democrats sought to change that by having the Florida Supreme Court CHANGE the election recount rules. Notice that on November 12, the Democrats were trying to stop the counting of ballots.

talesin

I guess what I mean is, what IS the electoral college? Care to enlighten me? :)

You know, as opposed to the 'popular vote', and I ask this in sincerity, and by the way, thanks for replying!

tks!

talesin

Remember, I'm Canadian, and though I know our history pretty much, your election process is still quite a mystery to me, although its outcomes affect me a great deal.

Thanks for the input.

Double Edge

Go to the link below.. It will give you info on why the founding fathers set up the system...

http://jceb.co.jackson.mo.us/fun_stuff/electoral_college.htm

SAMPLE??

The current workings of the Electoral College are the result of both design and experience. As it now operates:

Each State is allocated a number of Electors equal to the number of its U.S. Senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. Representatives (which may change each decade according to the size of each State's population as determined in the Census).
The political parties (or independent candidates) in each State submit to the State's chief election official a list of individuals pledged to their candidate for president and equal in number to the State's electoral vote. Usually, the major political parties select these individuals in their State party conventions while third parties and independent candidates merely designate theirs.
Members of Congress and employees of the federal government are prohibited from serving as an Elector in order to maintain the balance between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.
After their caucuses and primaries, the major parties nominate their candidates for president and vice president in their national conventions - traditionally held in the summer preceding the election. (Third parties and independent candidates follow different procedures according to the individual State laws). The names of the duly nominated candidates are then officially submitted to each State's chief election official so that they might appear on the general election ballot.
On the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in years divisible by four, the people in each State cast their ballots for the party slate of Electors representing their choice for president and vice president (although as a matter of practice, general election ballots normally say "Electors for" each set of candidates rather than list the individual Electors on each slate).

Whichever party slate wins the most popular votes in the State becomes that State's Electors - so that, in effect, whichever presidential ticket gets the most popular votes in a State wins all the Electors of that State. (The two exceptions to this are Maine and Nebraska where two Electors are chosen by a statewide popular vote and remainder by the popular vote within each Congressional district).

talesin

Thanks, Double Edge, that will be interesting reading. :)

That's what I was looking for, some education, and also some thoughts on why this happened.

I made the provocative title on purpose so folks would read this, not cause I had an agenda. Tks.

shamus

I think that talesin does have an agenda. I think you're trying to topple bush.... you... noofie!

Frannie Banannie

IMO, the ballot count, especially in Florida, home of "mini-Me's" Gov. brother, was fraudulent.

Frannie B

2000 US Election - was it bogus?

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