2000 US Election - was it bogus? (page 2)

shotgun

Well..I'm not an American citizen but I thought Ruben Studdard deserved to win...oh..wrong voting scandal.

Mulan

We have friends that lived in Broward county during that election. They said everyone they talked to, believed it was fixed.

Basically every state is assigned a certain number of electoral voters based on their percentage of the overall population (similar to how the House of Representatives is calculated). A President is elected with 270 electoral votes. If memory serves, they meet a few weeks after the general election. It is that vote that is the real election. It is that vote that actually elects the President, according to the Constitution. All the general election does is decide which state's electoral voters will vote Democrat or Republican.

In theory, the electoral voters can vote for whomever they wish. This actually happened in the 19th century and the man who won the popular vote (Tilton) lost the Electoral College vote to Chester A. Arthur when a few electoral voters changed their mind.

JeffT

The electoral college is one of several compromises put in place during the constitutional convention. (Side bar: the convention was authorized to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation - not write a new document). The issue was: would the big states crush the little states? It is the main reason we have the House based on population, and the Senate given equal representation. The electoral college has served us well over the years, with a few exceptions.

Mulan: if you want to look at fixed election check out 1960. In some precints in Chigaco and Texas more people voted for Kennedy than were registered to vote.

Big Tex: In the election of 1876 Tilden won the popular vote, but lost twenty electoral votes when a commission assigned to sort a dispute gave them to Rutherford B. Hayes, who became President. That decision touched off a dustup every bit the equal of 2000. Chester Arthur became president in 1881 when James Garfield was assassinated.

Big Tex

Thanks for the correction Jeff, you're absolutely correct. Early Alzheimer's has hit.

if you want to look at fixed election check out 1960. In some precints in Chigaco and Texas more people voted for Kennedy than were registered to vote

For that matter Lyndon Johnson was elected to the House (or was it the Senate?) under even more shady circumstances. Later investigation revealed several hundred people voted after they died.

Such voting shenanigans have happened on both sides throughout the history of this country. Republicans are as bad as Democrats or vice versa.

wednesday

very true, BT.

u know i remember during the kennedy/nixon elections, they actually polled the children at my school, knowing the kids would represent the parents .I still think that is very sneaky and uncalled for. I've heard people say that was a nasty elction, but being a kid, wouldn't know.

confusedjw

Shotgun said:

Well..I'm not an American citizen but I thought Ruben Studdard deserved to win...oh..wrong voting scandal.

He did win. You are now qualified to live in Florida and be an American.

bikerchic

talesin,

I'm shocked that I said anything worth repeating, LOL I had just finished reading Stupid White Men by Michael Moore and in that book he lays out how the conspiracy for Bush to win Florida actually started several months before the election. It's a good read and I highly recommend the book. I had actually gone today to buy my own copy as I borrowed my daughters and left it at her house. I'm going to order one off Amazon tonight.

You and some others have brought to my attention how lazy I've been regarding my own countries politics, elections and most everything else to do with the way our government is run. Time for me to get off my lazy ass and do some serious learning. Thanks for the kick in the behind!

Kate

talesin

Thanks, folks, for helping with my education re the US governmental system! I'm still confused, but whatever!

Kate,

I am honoured that I said something that got you thinking. TOO COOL!!! Remember, as JWs, we had zero opportunity to get involved in, or even consider these matters, so don't be too hard on yourself cause it's taken you awhile to get involved in the political process.

Love to all,

tal

talesin

Sidenote:

Shamu:

It's nice to see you posting, specially on my thread!

Lubs ya, little bro'!!!

mwah!

2000 US Election - was it bogus?

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