Shades of Gore In Washington?

Recount Certifies Democrat Won Governorship, Fight Still On.

Published on December 27, 2004 By Solnac In Politics

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Today's article comes from here: Link

There was a time when elections didn't have to be decided via recount. That's changed since 2000, though, and depending which side you happen to be on, you either think our current president in the White House stole the election, or that it's yet another example of how whiny liberals are. Now, it's been kinda turned on it's ear. Either the recounting process is over, or there needs to be checking going on within our election system. Hence, it's either that this candidate stole the election, or it's yet another example of how whiny conservatives can be.

I'm torn, personally. Considering that the Supreme Court of the United States decided that a Florida recount should be stopped while were discussing the legitimacy of all of the votes cast to make sure every vote counted (note ti's the GOP saying that now, wink wink nudge nudge) the bitter, angry, liberal part of me wants to tell the GOP exactly where they should stick their protest.

I should get over it, but it's been 4 years, I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon.

Out of fairness, however, I do recongize the Republicans argument and agree with it. Democracy is founded on the obscure principle that every vote counts, so they do deserve their day in court to explain why the votes need to be counted as legitimate. However, they must remember to do what Gore did if they're shot down in their day in court: give up the ghost for the good of the government of the state.

Wishing Everything Was Counted Twice, the AWM/wolf dragon,

Sol

Comments

drmiler

on Dec 27, 2004

Shades of Gore In Washington?

By: Solnac
Posted: Monday, December 27, 2004 on Observations From An Angry White Male
Out of fairness, however, I do recongize the Republicans argument and agree with it. Democracy is founded on the obscure principle that every vote counts, so they do deserve their day in court to explain why the votes need to be counted as legitimate. However, they must remember to do what Gore did if they're shot down in their day in court: give up the ghost for the good of the government of the state.

I agree with this. But we'll have to wait and see what happens with this.

dabe

on Dec 27, 2004

I was as naive as most every one else before 2000, in thinking that every vote was counted. I had no idea that so many votes are tossed, and for such arbitrary decisions based on who happens to be in power during any given election. I was so naive.

But now, I'm just perplexed. It's a system that is only going to be changed and fixed if all parties agree to it. Not everyone agrees, again based on who is in power doing the counting, and who stands to win/lose.

I used to think this was a democracy. Democracy, my ass. OK, so we're a republic. Republic, my ass. We're a completely corrupted society, showing the world that we are no better than many other countries when it comes to voting, and we should be ashamed. We have the technology to make it work, but when the CEO of Diabolic, I mean Diebold, promises to secure the election for Bush, then we're really in deep do do. This is a national scandal, and the Washington count is but a small tiny bit of this huge iceberg.

What I'm saying is even the recounts need to be recounted. But even the recounters are suspect. Where does it all end?

I dunno, Solnac. We're in deep..........................

terpfan1980

on Dec 27, 2004

It was and is wrong for the 'whiny' democcrats to complain about Florida in 2000, as it is just as wrong for the 'whiny' Republicans to complain about Washington in 2004. To all the whiny people, whatever party, get a life! And get over it!.

I don't disagree with that, but I will say that it outright stinks that an election that is so close is decided only after 3 counts of the votes, and then it's only (apparently settled) because the Democrats finally have found enough votes to declare victory -- including finding "missing" votes that there's a question about chain of custody that could have allowed for tampering.

If mystery votes didn't turn up, then hand counting wouldn't be such a scary thought. But, then again, having watch the divination of votes back during Florida 2000, where 2 Democrats would look at a card, pronounce it "Gore" and then move on to the Republican/Independent type and have him say "No vote" (or any particular order of same combination), it's more than a bit crazy to think that funny things aren't happening with people's votes.

Deciding elections for Governor based on 120 votes in a pool of millions seems idiotic to me. Enough so that I'd much prefer to see a run-off election held to really decide a winner, with it really decided in the voting booth, rather than in court.

But that's just me, and I could be wrong.

Lee1776

on Dec 27, 2004

Considering that the Supreme Court of the United States decided that a Florida recount should be stopped while were discussing the legitimacy of all of the votes cast to make sure every vote counted

The misstatement here is that the Supreme Court judged that at all votes should be recounted, not only those in Democratic heavy counties. If the democrats would have not asked for recounts in selected counties, that they hoped would raise them more votes while ignoring the others that may bring in more Republican votes, then every vote would have been recounted equally. But that’s water under the bridge.

As for this Washington recount, I have not been watching what is going on. But asking for recount after recount until you get the numbers you need and then stop, does not help the Democrats image very much. An image that really needs to be cleaned up as of late.

That's My Two Cents

Dr Guy

on Dec 27, 2004

Unless something changed over the weekend, the recount was done, and gregoire won. Granted by only 130 votes! But then the people of Washington should be proud that every vote did count. And the Republicans need to drop it.

There is a difference between counting every legitimate vote, and creating votes. Again, from what I have read, every vote in Washington was counted (that we know of, of course).

In 2000, they were not counting every vote as every vote had been counted 3 times. But if you have ever used a punch card, you know that a dimple or pregnant chad is not a vote, but an errr, ummm, I dont think so.

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