I think the Florida election was stolen, but I'm not a Kerry supporter. I believe that the Florida Supreme Court was right to order a recount. I believe there were many illegalities in addition to the irregularities, that resulted in Bush being declared the winner. I don't believe that Bush actually even won the popular vote in Florida, before, during, or after the recounts. The Florida debacle was like a third world country election, pure and simple. THAT is the lesson that we should have learned. That we were in an era of Banana Republic elections.

But what I don't accept, and can't wrap my head around, is the Democrats' obsession with Florida, as if it really made the difference in 2000. Gore lost the election because he didn't win in enough states, not just Florida. Now, we know that if he had been declared the winner instead of Bush in Florida, he would be president. That goes without saying. But if Gore had been a decent vice president, or even a decent presidential candidate, he wouldn't have had to worry about Florida at all.

THAT is the problem I have with the hysteria mongering Kerry supporters at this point. They are delusional. Gore didn't just lose Florida because the election was stolen there. Gore lost WAY too many states he should have won handily. Like his and Bill Clinton's home states. It is just too big a disconnect from reality to claim that Bush is president because the Florida election was stolen. The Florida election was definitely stolen by the Republicans. But Gore lost the election by not being a decent vice president and presidential candidate.

That is the piece the Kerry supporters conveniently keep forgetting. They also seem to be fighting Nader harder than they are fighting Bush. Where they think that will get them, I honestly don't know. When the candidates need to fear a loss because of 1-2% of the vote, the political system is in very bad shape. I'm much more concerned with how fucked up the system is, than who will lead the fucked up system for the next four years.