Get Ready For a Circus

[Gunthr]

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2000

Attorneys are landing on Florida like paratroopers. Watch for a flurry of lawsuites trying to halt the re-count, and more. This won't be over quickly.  

[Dowding]

Reposted:

This is the first American Presidential elections I've payed close attention to.

I've gotta say looking from the outside, that your elections were a bit of a farce. The media network's involvement in giving the results to the public is a prime example of the 'instant gratification' culture that all our country's seem to strive towards. Democracy in action isn't very exciting (especially when 90 million votes have to counted), but I believe turning it into a horse-race just to create a media event is unadulterated dumbing down of the whole process.

At least the lawyers will have something to do over the next few weeks.

I used to think that the money involved in the advertisement campaigns in British General Elections was pretty bad - but the more I learn of the money used to 'elect' a president the more I'm appalled. The 2 billion pounds spent in this campaign is 30 times more than was spent by all parties over here, in the 1997 general election.

It seems to me the electoral process described in the State of Florida is more akin to that used in a Banana republic, rather than the great democracy the States undoubtedly is.

The process in this country is on a smaller scale, but our media does not give exit polls that are sponsored by media networks, very much credence. They wait for a 'returning officer'. I know in the States that this would take a little longer (a week by the sound of it). But which is more true to the aim of election?

[Eagler]

Just heard over 150 Gore lawyer's boarding a goon headed to Miami International A/P.

Gunthr grab an ostwind please.

Eagler

[Dowding]

There's no need Gunthr - Bush's lawyers are in M16s at the airport  .

[Gunthr]

lol, you got it, buddy  

I'm using lawyer bait, too :

I've prepared the tarmac with a lot of dollar bills with fishing line taped on them for pulling, to lure them within range.

It'l be a fest! Many will die. One shot, one kill!  

[Gunthr]

Heheh, Dowding. But Bush's lawyers will be there on business.

I'll be there for the pure fun of wasting attorneys.  

(just kidding, some good ones out there)

[Udie]

 

Originally posted by Dowding:
Reposted:

This is the first American Presidential elections I've payed close attention to.

I've gotta say looking from the outside, that your elections were a bit of a farce. The media network's involvement in giving the results to the public is a prime example of the 'instant gratification' culture that all our country's seem to strive towards. Democracy in action isn't very exciting (especially when 90 million votes have to counted), but I believe turning it into a horse-race just to create a media event is unadulterated dumbing down of the whole process.

At least the lawyers will have something to do over the next few weeks.

I used to think that the money involved in the advertisement campaigns in British General Elections was pretty bad - but the more I learn of the money used to 'elect' a president the more I'm appalled. The 2 billion pounds spent in this campaign is 30 times more than was spent by all parties over here, in the 1997 general election.

It seems to me the electoral process described in the State of Florida is more akin to that used in a Banana republic, rather than the great democracy the States undoubtedly is.

The process in this country is on a smaller scale, but our media does not give exit polls that are sponsored by media networks, very much credence. They wait for a 'returning officer'. I know in the States that this would take a little longer (a week by the sound of it). But which is more true to the aim of election?

 Dowding,

 Everything is as it should be in Florida.  They have a law that says a vote that is .5% gets an automatic recount.  The only thing that worries me is the "said" 2000-3000 people who accedentaly voted for Buchanan. The fact remains that nobody can prove that they made a mistake on their vote. AND the fact that the ballot was released to the public well before the election and aproved by both Democrats and Republicans. Those people to me are just plain idiots that don't know how to vote.  Every time I have voted I have read the intire ballot front to back to make sure that I don't make a bone head mistake like they suposedly did.


 We agree on the media.  They are a bunch of idiots.  They first called Florida for Gore before even 50% of the returns were in AND before the polls closed in the pan handle of the state, it's in a diferent time zone. Then they called it for GW too early again.  On the whole though they called most of the races correctly.  I agree though, they should wait to call any states until all the polls have closed.

 This election was one of the best if not the best in my life time. What a great learning experience for our uneducated masses.  I just wonder how many democrats will riot if Gore wins the popular but loses the electorial vote.  I bet alot of people just learned about the electorial college last night or this morning, which is the real sad part.  

 I just hope it's over tomarow, but they are saying it could take up to 2 weeks to count all the over seas votes  


Udie

[Dowding]

I see what you mean about the learning experience Udie - but I think the results-predicting fiasco will do very little to reduce voter anti-pathy. 50% of Americans didn't care or had more pressing things to think about. Low voter turn-outs are the daemon of democracy.

I have nothing to do with your system, but I think the results would be more credible (whichever way they went) if the media could wait for official confirmation. They rely too heavily on exit-polls they themselves have sponsored.

But official conformation, like you say, sounds miles away. "Instant Gratification" is what the people want... maybe at the expense of a fair election or at least reliable results? Seems so.

As for Florida, I'm hearing about all kinds of irregularities like losing ballot boxes, the sort of thing that happens in less sophisticated parts of the world.

I guess time will tell, and I gotta say, I've never been so interested in events on the other side of the pond before this. Perhaps that's a good thing.  

[1776]

Glory be!!!!  The Rev Jackson is going to Fl to resolve the presidential election!!!

Amen!!

[LJK Raubvogel]

The "lost ballot boxes" and other myths are just that. One by one they are proving to be sensationalism by the liberal media. The "lost ballot box" was an extra box that was used by the poll workers to hold office supplies. It had never held any ballots at any time. The one I really like is the myth that 3,000 elderly people mistaken voted for Buchanan instead of Gore. I say....prove it. They can't, and nothing will come of it. The ballot they voted on was introduced in the proper time before the election, and no one objected to it.

I've also heard the term "voter intimidation" tossed around. What a joke. Is that kind of like passing out cigarettes to homeless people?

This election has turned into a better soap opera than anyone in Hollywood could ever write. The media is eating it up, and they will surely milk it for every last drop.

------------------
LJK_Raubvogel
LuftJägerKorps

[Eagler]

 

Originally posted by 1776:
Glory be!!!!  The Rev Jackson is going to Fl to resolve the presidential election!!!

Amen!!

Next it'll be Johny Cochran with a guest apperance by O.J. himself. Bloody Bronco and all...

 "If the ballot don't fit, Bush must quit"

What a joke, the whole dang thing

Eagler

[This message has been edited by Eagler (edited 11-08-2000).]

[Hamish]

My $.02 on the whole "i misunderstood the ballot and voted the wrong guy" issue:

   I saw the ballot in question, and it's pretty easy to see the arrow pointing to the "punch" hole. If you were too stupid to ask for assistance/clarification on it, and punched the wrong hole, then you deserve to have your ballot go for the wrong guy/get thrown out (some idiots punched two holes). If you vote in ignorance, you deserve what you get. You punched it, and cast your ballot in with all the rest, live with your mistake.

Hamish!

[Gunthr]

Julian Bond is a big disappointment. On the news speaking for the NAACP in a very angry manner, he made very inflammatory comments without any substantiation whatsoever. This icon of the '60s has sold out. For example:

"We understand that the Florida Highway Patrol has accosted black men as they attempted to enter the polls..."

"We are disturbed by mysterious missing poll boxes that magically reappear..."

"This is suppression of the black vote which has been going on for decades."

It seems that Dems are calling in all their I.O.U.'s and having people try to stir up as much confusion and hysteria as possible instead of calmly examining the facts.

This is Democratic politics as usual, but I am genuinely sorry to see Bond being a part of the dirty street fighting that the Dems excel at.

Julian Bond was just plain wrong to make statements like that with no evidence to support it. Its purpose is to INFLAME.

When its all over, and everything is explained and investigated ad nauseaum, there won't be any  sinister conspiricy uncovered. I'm sure there will be some changes in how we do the elections in Florida, and maybe national changes too, but whoever won the vote will be President and life will go on.

Unfortunately, right now there are a lot of Democratic attorneys knowingly lying, even claiming publically that they too voted wrong because of the way the ballot was arranged. Attorneys!

How low can you get?

[Ripsnort]

None of this will be decided until December, and I said it first.   (Electorial meeting)

[mietla]

yupe. Dec 18 is the date to watch