This next administration will be tainted as it is, whichever party is at the helm. Nevertheless if Bush gets in, he will have to labour under the cloud of this election circus, in addition to the cloud caused by the knowledge he possibly made it into the Oval Office because his cronies halted a full recounting of genuine votes. Perhaps it would have been better had he allowed an uncontested and fair recount, including Republican districts in which the vote was close. I think he would have won, silencing the Democrats and putting this ridiculous episode behind us for good. I fear by his using a 5pm deadline to take the helm, the circus will be with us to some extent for the duration of his administration.
I understand the reasoning by which Gore demanded a recount (gasp), and it seems the moral authority rests with him (gasp, that was a very painful thing for me to admit). If the law allows a manual recount, then it seems reasonable that the recount be done fully. What was the logical basis of the 5pm deadline, and does it override that of the recount? I do not think it does. Moreover, that the deadline was issued by a serious Bush supporter, a campaigner even, makes it more than a bit suspect. Bush doesn't need these sorts of ethical doubts hovering over his administration, being etched into the stone of history. |
