NK? Bah. Texas is a better place by far, I'll stay here, thank you very much.
Oh, wait, I'm not a Republican...
RA, your timeline seems to indicate that both sides fought strongly for the election (Gore seemed to start a lot of lawsuits for a person who just wanted "the people's will"...)
Honestly, while they say history is written by the victor, certain elements of history are actually pretty neutral, that timeline is such a neutral opperator.
What I get from the timeline is that the court system in this country is too confusing. ^_^
Oh yes, I'd like to point out that manual recounts actually were conducted, and concluded by like June 2000. Has anyone ever looked into what the final results were? I don't remember the margin, but it was in Bush's favor in the end.
Now HERE'S a question:
The court system, both of Florida and of the USA, got involved in a process that the courts should never be involved in. The culmination was to grant the election to Bush, who at that point had the most votes by all counts and recounts that had been completed (excluding those that gave ALL of the Green party votes to Gore.)
Here's my question; IF the recounts were finished and STILL gave the election to Bush, if the NUMBERS gave Bush the victory, would you still call it a stolen election?
...because in the end, in mid-2000, that's what happened (though the media did not report this...) Basically the courts pre-empted the process and announced Bush as the winner, when in reality...Bush WAS the winner, but it wasn't determined for another 4-6 months.
For an analogy, suppose you work as a police officer and have your pay withheld because that you are being suspected of accepting bribes (or something.) It is found several months later that you actually were not accepting bribes, were innocent, and the money is given to you. Now, had that money not been withheld to begin with, you would still have ended up with it, you just got it sooner (instead of having to wait until the investigation was over.) Some people might call it "unlawful" for you to have gotten it earlier, but in the end you really were innocent and deserved the money, it just would otherwise have taken several months to show.
Same with the 2000 election. Bush DID win Florida, so he deserved (by the Electorial College) to win the election. The courts just gave it to him early rather than having the nation wait until mid-2000 to get the final results. The outcome, however, was the same (except that Dems constantly said the election was stolen...but if he had clearly won it, they would still say he didn't win the popular vote...)
AND THIS IS WHAT GOT ME:
After 2000, people, both in the USA and in the world questioned the idea of an Electorial College, and how with the changing times (computers, anti-fraud practices for elections [for all the good they do...], and only having two major parties that run in the elections) we should use the popular vote instead. In fact, most media anchors were saying that Congress would probably examine that and consider amending the Constitution. Before the electin, people were wondering what would happen if Gore won the Electorial vote and Bush won the popular vote.
...yet in 2004, we used the Electorial College. In 2008, we'll use the Electorial College. What the hell?
Of 2000, no matter your view, it's unlikely it will change. In the end, the Republicans won in 20002, and Bush won 2004, which gave him his mandate (but the Republicans lost in 2006, which took it away again.) This is history. You may complain, but it would be time better spent looking to the future and making sure it doesn't happen again. How best to do this? Abolish the Electorial College. Gore won the 2000 popular vote, Bush the 2004 popular vote. Regardless of Florid or Ohio, the popular vote is generally spread by a good enough margin to throw out recounts and court decided elections.
If you want to complain about stolen elections, instead try to prevent them.
Oh yeah, and hate that is all consuming knows no friends and only foes. In the end, that's a very bad thing, regardless of what it's against.
.
Now, once we get some sanity back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I'll be tickled pink!
