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

To: md1derful who wrote (96830)	12/1/2000 8:58:18 AM
From: ColtonGang	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Editorial[phila. inquirer] Back off, Jeb Bush The Florida governor should steer clear of legislative attempts to appoint electors. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said that he would sign a bill passed by his state's legislature that would virtually assure his brother Florida's 25 electors and the presidency. This action would be blatantly inappropriate. And an outrage. The Florida Legislature has seen fit to call for a special session "as soon as practicable" to name the electors. That could happen as early as next week. Experts disagree on the legality of this proposed move. At the very least, it is ill-considered - and at the very worst, it seems like an end-run around the election process. The Florida Legislature should put down its lance and let Vice President Gore have his day in the courts. If not, Jeb Bush should adhere to the American tradition of fair play (even judges recuse themselves from cases in which they have a conflict) and realize he shouldn't sign such legislation. If nothing else, it just looks bad having the Republican-majority legislature snubbing its nose at the nonpartisan courts and the brother of presidential candidate George W. Bush going along with it. Neither Floridians nor Americans can have much confidence that either will provide a dispassionate decision. Until now, Jeb Bush has laudably recused himself. But by going along with the legislature, this little nepotistic stroke could raise issues of legitimacy for years. And such an action would not be politically smart, for if George W. Bush does become president in such a fashion, earning the public's confidence (already a big task after such a contentious election) will become that much harder. It will strike many as rigged, as sneaky, as unfair. (A glimmer of hope: Jeb Bush has said that he will abide by any ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which today will hear arguments on whether the Florida Supreme Court acted properly in allowing recounts and delaying the certification.) By Florida law, now that the election results have been certified, the state is in the "contest" phase, during which either candidate is allowed to challenge the results in the courts. Mr. Gore has done that. It's his right. If he loses in the courts, then he loses.