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

To: Czechsinthemail who wrote (8285)	12/3/2000 3:07:00 PM
From: puborectalis	Respond to of 10042

Justice Probes Alleged Vote Problems WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department has sent representatives to Florida to gather information about alleged voting irregularities, a spokeswoman said Sunday. The department has received complaints that blacks and other minorities were impeded by voting officials when they tried to cast ballots in several Florida locations. ''We have two people in Florida, but this is still part of our inquiry to gather information to see what if any federal investigation is warranted,'' Justice Department spokeswoman Kara Peterman said Sunday. The NAACP says it has gathered 486 complaints and taken more than 300 pages of sworn testimony from people who say they were blocked from voting. The organization plans to file a lawsuit early this week alleging voter intimidation and other violations of voting rights. The Justice Department has authority to bring criminal prosecutions against anyone who denies someone's right to vote. The department also can bring civil lawsuits in some circumstances to alter racially discriminatory voting procedures in the future. But it has no authority for any action that might change voting totals from the Nov. 7 election. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, claiming ''a clear pattern of voter suppression of African-American votes,'' wants the Justice Department to begin a formal investigation in Florida. ''African-Americans were targeted to be disenfranchised,'' he said Sunday at a news conference in Tallahassee, Fla. The Washington Post reported Sunday that its computer analysis found the more black and Democratic a precinct, the more likely a high number of presidential votes were not counted. About 2.9 percent of Florida's presidential ballots -- roughly 180,000 -- were not counted because no candidate was chosen, two candidates were picked or a ballot was not clearly marked. Traditionally, 2 percent of ballots cast nationwide do not record a presidential vote. In Miami-Dade, the state's most populous county, roughly 3 percent of ballots were excluded from the presidential tally. But in precincts with a black population of 70 percent or more, about 10 percent not counted. Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore have been fighting for Florida's crucial 25 electoral votes for nearly four weeks. Gore claims some of the uncounted votes should not have been thrown out and is pushing for hand recounts to try to overcome Bush's 537-vote lead.

To: Czechsinthemail who wrote (8285)	12/3/2000 3:47:33 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Respond to of 10042

"though it might be simpler if each state had 1 electoral vote." I thought about that but I figured that since this is a America, the simplest answer would never see the light of day... <VBG> "Why not give an electoral vote to each county "no matter how lightly, or densely, populated", Well, from a republican perspective, I would certainly go with that. Because Bush won the majority of counties across the US. "I was intrigued by your notion that the American Civil War was "bloodier"." For the United States, the Civil War REMAINS our bloodiest war, especially in light of the percentage of population in the country at that time. No war has killed as many Americans.. not the "war to end all wars', not WWII, not Vietnam... "Since you obviously have a mistrust of government of the people, by the people, and for the people" When I see people who can't even name the 42nd president of the US (can you WITHOUT looking it up?), then yes, I might say I distrust rule by the mob. And btw, when our constitution was originally written, only property owners could vote. If you were a male renter, you were SOL when it came to election time. That's why we vote to have someone represent us and our interests in congress, rather than hooking everyone up to an electronic voting device on their TV and having us each decide what legislation gets passed. Think about it... we have the capability to legislate by electronic referendum right now.... The question is whether we want such a system. Regards, Ron

To: Czechsinthemail who wrote (8285)	12/3/2000 3:49:07 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 10042

Since tens of millions more people died in World War II, I was intrigued by your notion that the American Civil War was "bloodier". Not to take sides, Baird; But I think he was referring to the fact that the 620 to 700 thousand American casualties in the Civil War, were more killings of Americans than all the other wars that Americans have ever fought in COMBINED. I asume this because of his statement reading: "they seceded and lead us into Amerca's more bloody war* (even bloodier than WWII).."* (bolding mine) The grammar may be bad, but I think the intention is clear. I may be wrong... edit: My second way of reading "bloodiest" would be the obvious--that is to say...as regards RATIO. Again, I may be looking too simplistically at what he said... EDIT again :) (but HE would obviously know what he meant!)