Yes, the butterfly ballot issue was brought by voters, not directly by Gore, though Gore did say that he supported it. As for a revote, here is an interesting poll of Florida voters:
foxnews.com
#4 As regards the impounding of ballots, I'm not sure exactly what Bush plans. I guess we will find out.
#5 My wife suggested that the 1500 late absentee ballots may be the overseas ballots. If so, the case won't go anywhere. If it isn't that, I have no idea what it is.
#7b As I said, it is an interesting legal question, but probably only to lawyers. LOL Seriously, a major problem with many of these types of lawsuits is determining exactly who has standing and who doesn't. In many cases when a court doesn't want to rule on an issue they get rid of the case by finding a lack of standing.
#7c I'm not sure what will happen if the clock runs out. If the Florida legislature gets involved the constitutional questions will get really interesting. You may well be right about the public reaction, but with Bush leading in opinion polls it may be that Floridians will think the action is justified. Either way it will be devisive for Florida and for the country.
Note also that that the FSC may well enjoin the legislature from electing a slate. It will get really interesting if they do and the legislature ignores the injunction. It all reminds me of Monroe v. Madison, a very early SC case where the USSC was reluctant to issue an order because they were concerned about the possibility that, as a purely intellectual branch of the government with no enforcement power of its own, their orders would be ignored.
There are so many ways that this could end, and most of them are messy. I hope the candidates find a way to get to one of the clean endings.
#8 I haven't read the transcript yet. I'm hoping to get a chance to do so tonight.
Carl |
