The state legislature directs the manner of selection in its legislation. The state judiciary under state constitution is responsible for interpreting that, and let the count continue.
The Bush-controlled US Supreme Court intervened for the first time in the history of this country, saying the count violated equal protection - however, that contradicts the laws of several states which specify the count proceed in exactly the manner of Florida. The other result, one not talked about, is that it throws into question the results of several other states as well.
This is what would be called "a stretch" (Bugliosi calls it "treason"), and was a 5-4 decision along party lines. My objection is by the use of a phony argument and contrived legal language the Court set damaging legal precedent and damaged its credibility, which the Court admitted by the "this will not be a precedent" comment, and did it anyway. Bugliosi makes a disturbing (to me at least) argument that it wasn't just politics, but directly self-serving for the members voting in favor. It may not be treason but its at the least, unseemly. That's why I call it "Mexican Politics", where there the rule of law is overriden by private powers that be.
"On the afternoon of December 12th, the justices ruled that the Florida Supreme Court violated constitutional protections in its order for a manual recount of thousands of disputed ballots. The 5-4 ruling, split definitively along party lines, reversed the Florida court's decision and effectively installed George W. Bush as president, literally appointing him to the office without a clear mandate"
Not good - the Court should stay out of the business of determining elections. I believe it will go down in history as a mistake.
Bush may have won anyway, but this wasn't the way to do it.
It shows ham-handed power plays that presaged things to come.
It raises suspicions that everything with the Bush regime is power politics, and devoid of any moral compass, including war.
Therefore, to be credible from this point on everything must be fully disclosed, from top to bottom, at all times. The greater the attempt at secrecy and dissembling, the greater the suspicion.
And there is a great deal of secrecy and dissembling going on, you must admit? |
