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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RON BL who wrote (86518)	11/24/2000 2:32:06 PM
From: Broken_Clock	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 769667

Common sense from Miami... Published Friday, November 24, 2000, in the Miami Herald DIMPLES AREN'T VOTES Different tests to discern intent are patently unfair. The best way to determine if a dimpled ballot should count in the ongoing manual recount of presidential ballots is generous application of the common-sense test. Under this standard, if the voter's intent isn't clearly discernible, the vote shouldn't count. Period. No ifs, ands or buts. It is true that by using such a strict standard many voters' ballots would be excluded from the presidential contest -- and that may affect the ultimate outcome of the election. But in passing laws that make recounts possible, the state Legislature didn't define standards for counting votes with punch marks that fail to break a ballot's perforated edges. Nor did the Florida Supreme Court clarify the issue in its ruling Tuesday. In its decision, the High Court went to great lengths to stress the importance of protecting the voter's right to vote and to participate in an election. Voters mustn't be wantonly disfranchised by the machinery of voting or by mistakes they or election officials make, the court said. Such a standard is terrific in the abstract but absent clear rules to follow in practical application, officials in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties came up with different interpretations of what it means. In Palm Beach County, officials first said they would apply a strict standard of counting dimpled ballots for president only when other dimples show up for other candidates on the same ballot. Then a Circuit judge muddled things by ordering Palm Beach officials to consider any dimpled ballot. In Broward, dimpled ballots are set aside for later inspection. And before Miami-Dade County's canvassing board decided Wednesday to stop counting, most dimpled ballots were considered as evidence of voters' intent. The obvious problem here is that different standards are being applied in the same election. That is patently unfair. A common-sense standard, which in practice would mimic the original Palm Beach County procedure, would take most of the guess-work out of the process. A pattern of dimples in more than one contest indicates a clear voter intent. No doubt such a test would disqualify many voters. Their votes may not have registered because they failed to follow instructions; used a pencil or needle to punch the ballot instead of the provided-for stylus; failed to insert the ballot properly into the slot; lined the ballot up improperly; or were confused. But it is the voter's duty to take reasonable care to record a vote. To correct that judgment after the fact is unfair.

To: RON BL who wrote (86518)	11/24/2000 2:35:06 PM
From: Snowman	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769667

What does Ken Hamlin say about the next step liberals and blacks want to take us to? Reparations...that all whites should have to pay for blacks' being enslaved in the past.

To: RON BL who wrote (86518)	11/24/2000 2:52:17 PM
From: Cola Can	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

I marched for civil rights and you damn liberals exploited these people and created a dependency on your pitiful handouts. The deomcrats really exploit the black community and I think that is sad, considering how the black community has worked hard to achieve equality. The democrats work hard to preach 1960's mentality to these communities and they have people like Jesse Jackson selling his own people out for the democrat way. The democrat way is: 1. Keep'em down 2. Keep'em dumb 3. Keep a vote But the democrat way is not limited to the black community, but covers all races. The news media has made an issue about the black community and it also preaches the 1960's victim mentality. When people are convinced they have barriers to prevent them from succeeding in life, few try. Look at the number of democrats that were convinced Gore was the right choice, but now are disgusted that they voted for him. This election has been an eye opening event across the nation. Maybe all the groups that are exploited by the democrats will see the light and wake up to the potential that is waiting for them.