it's not up to partisan judges to mess around with the separation of powers
Well, I think the end game for Gore is to drag this thing out legally to the point where Florida's electoral votes are dismissed in the college on Dec 18th and the election decided solely on the already official electoral count.
So now I'm sure the Bush campaign is weighing the possibility of a recount in Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Iowa in order to see if they can overthrow Gore's claim to the electoral votes in those states.
Bush is far more of a statesman than is Gore, that is quite apparent. He could easily muck this thing up in even more litigation were he willing to follow the same scorched earth policy as Gore is.
I dare say Gore, if he wins, will become America's MOST HATED president, responsible for destabilizing the markets, dragging the country through months of legal action, and dividing us as a nation.
And the history books will forever challenge his legitimacy as a result of the shenanigans that have occurred.
I think that their injunction to enjoin Secr. of State Katherine Harris from ratifying the Florida ballot as of Friday 17th is a serious breach of the separation of powers.
Well, I think that they felt that was the most they could do at this time, maintaining the status quo. But Harris is DEFINITELY within her rights and authority as Secretary of State. In fact, Florida election law MANDATES that she shall disregard manual recounts not completed within seven days after the election, unless extenuating circumstances prevent this. And extenuating circumstances don't include "confusing ballots", or "trying to discern the voter's intent".
I still think the arbitrary nature in which the Palm Beach canvassing board permitted the manual recount there, while denying a recount in an even closer election two months ago will become a major issue in this legal battle.
Each election held, local or national, are to follow the same procedures, with candidates having the same recourse in the case of close elections for recounts. Having a consistent standard of processes is fundamental to the soundness of the electoral process, as well as providing equal weight to each vote cast. So it will likely become VERY important to review the history of recounts in Palm Beach and what the consistent pattern was.
ESPECIALLY the one that occurred just two months ago where a manual recount was denied despite the difference of only 11 votes. |
