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Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: quasar_1 who wrote (6284)	11/16/2000 1:43:00 AM
From: Slugger	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

Turn of a card may decide all BY BEN MACINTYRE THE presidential contest in New Mexico, and conceivably even the outcome of the whole election, could be settled in Wild West fashion: by a game of poker played between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Fewer than 400 votes separate the two men in New Mexico, with ballots still being counted. Under state law, if the race ends in a tie, the outcome should be settled by drawing lots but in practice the traditional method has been to play a hand of five-card stud. If Mr Bush wins Florida, but Mr Gore successfully challenges his narrow victory in New Hampshire, then New Mexico could hold the key to the White House. After the chaos of “pregnant chads”, lawsuits and manual recounts, there might be poetic justice in an election settled by the luck of the draw, in a game of bluff and counter-bluff. Undoubtedly, Mr Gore has the better poker face. Some say this is his only face. But Mr Bush’s misspent youth must have acquainted him with the inside of a card deck. John Dendahl, New Mexico’s Republican Party chairman, pointed out that there would be little chance to demonstrate card-playing skill, or cheat, with only a single round to decide the issue. “That’s what’s been done in the past. Not even a whole game. Just one hand, and that takes dumb luck,” he said. The last election to be settled at the card table was in December last year, when Jim Blanq, a Republican, and Lena Milligan, a Democrat, tied at 798 votes for the post of magistrate. A hand of poker in the local courthouse gave the prize to Mr Blanq. In 1988 James Farrington became Mayor of Estancia on the back of an ace-high flush. thetimes.co.uk

To: quasar_1 who wrote (6284)	11/16/2000 2:00:03 AM
From: Dan B.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

You're welcome for the question, Q. Re: "An armed insurrection against the US government would be a repudiation of the political authority of the elected government, would embody political disorder and confusion, and would abrogate the common democratic standard of majority rule through law. This is the textbook definition of anarchy." How can I know "abrogating the common democratic standard of majority rule through law" must follow from our government being overthrown? This was not a premise. Re: "These immigrants defined themselves as a free people with common political institutions and a consent to freely elected democratic government. The political institutions as defined in the Constitution were not tolerant of armed revolt against the state. Political and individual disputes were settled by the rule of law backed by Constitutional authority—the authority we as citizens consent to freely. In essence, armed physical revolt against the majority freely elected government by its citizens dissolves the very fabric of the democracy. It negates the contract of the Constitution." Swell. Try some Lysander Spooner, you'll like it. There is a clear un-agreed to premise here. That is that something rotten is imposed as a result, or at least something anarchaic and far less agreeable to the people than what they had before. You'd need to stipulate that beforehand, then you'd be correct in the main, I reckon. As the immigrants in your piece above thought of themselves, so might the overthrowing parties. I believe the constitution indeed reveres the right to revolt, hence the opportunity to vote for more constitutional government by voting for Harry Browne this year. Anyway, 'Tis good it's possible to get it done without violence if we want. Freedom Works, Dan B