Flash: Election finally over

Subject: Flash: Election finally over
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 07:19 PM

December 30, 2004


Bush Finally Declared Winner of the 2000 Election

WASHINGTON -- After four years of legal wrangling, George W. Bush was
finally declared the winner of the 2000 presidential election yesterday.

Bush, a Republican, will take the oath of office at noon today and
serves until Jan. 20, 2005, a term of about three weeks. Then he gives way
to the winner of the 2004 presidential election, New York Sen. Hillary
Rodham Clinton.

Facing a drastically shortened presidency, Bush attempted to strike an
optimistic tone last night.

"We have a lot to accomplish in the next three weeks," Bush said.
"Reforming Social Security alone is probably going to eat up four-five
hours. Let's get to work!"

Aides yesterday were calling temporary employment agencies in a frantic
effort to fill Cabinet posts.

Bush's victory ends a four-year court battle between him and Democratic
candidate Al Gore over the results of the 2000 election. While the
dispute raged on, the nation installed an interim president: New York
Yankees Manager Joe Torre. Torre admitted that running a country and a
baseball team simultaneously has been a strain.

"At times, it's been difficult to keep the two things straight.
Although, in retrospect, trading Jesse Helms to the Red Sox turned out OK."

Torre's four years in office were marked by continued prosperity at
home and relative calm abroad. His most controversial move was appointing
Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer to the Supreme Court. Critics charged that
Zimmer lacked experience. He also spit tobacco juice on Antonin Scalia's
shoes, angering conservatives.

Torre's boldest foreign policy initiative was making Cuba the 51st
state in an effort to improve U.S. pitching.

Torre was planning to vacate the White House by midnight tonight, with
Bush moving in immediately. Eager to give an aura of permanency to his
three-week administration, Bush rebuffed suggestions that he sleep on a
bare mattress on the floor and live out of suitcases.

Gore, meanwhile, has yet to concede defeat. The former vice president
issued a statement today saying, "It would be improper and disrespectful to
the democratic process to act hastily before all the facts are known."

The legal tangle over the 2000 election began with a Gore lawsuit over
the confusing design of ballots in Florida. When the courts sided with
Gore, Bush filed suit, arguing that the Oregon results were invalid because
some ballots were yellow and others pink. Gore countersued, charging that
the West Virginia results should be thrown out because some people failed
to receive "I Voted Today" stickers.

Through the years, various officials proposed compromises to resolve
the impasse. All were rejected, including:

* Establishing a co-presidency, with the two men sharing duties and
splitting the White House. Although never implemented, the idea gave rise
to a hit TV show, East Wing, West Wing.

* Establishing temporarily separate nations, with each candidate ruling the
states he won in the 2000 election. Gore, who failed to carry his native
Tennessee, balked at the idea because it would mean showing a passport
every time he went home.

* Letting Jimmy Carter sort it all out.

Observers said the biggest challenge for the Bush administration will
be working with Congress, which adjourns tomorrow and isn't expected back
until after Bush's term ends. "One day may not be quite enough time to
overhaul the tax system," a Bush aide admitted, "But maybe we can get
started and then finish it later with a big conference call or something.
"
Meanwhile, Bush also must work on his legacy and prepare to transfer
power to President-elect Clinton. Clinton yesterday wished Bush well and
asked if she could start moving some boxes into the White House basement.
Election Winner finally declared!


The above was circulated on the Usenet by WGD.

Bcnu,
Colwyn.

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 09:45 PM

I love it!! Thanks!!

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 09:51 PM

not me. i'm just sick of all of it..........kat, if you love it so much, maybe you could be prez......save a lot of grief in the long run.

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 01:55 AM

After complaining long about the the result being taken to the courts to decide, do I hear that the Republicans are now going to take the latest ruling back to the Florida Supreme Court for an appeal?

My sister-in-law gave me a present after her trip to Florida. It was one of those plastic things that you shake to greate a 'snowstorm'. It depicted a typical Florida scene of a dolphin in a snowstorm.

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 02:17 PM

That's clever! With the latest ruling- Gore finally winning one in the Lewis court- things could get just a tad nasty. The Republican-man in the street wouldn't go quietly...

This year I don't wish the prize on either man or party. Maybe it's time for a triumvirate.

Some letters to Editors are saying that if Gore is eventually declared the top vote getter, democracy is dead. What?

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Banjer
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 07:41 PM

From the way I see it, and this may be an oversimplification, Gore wants ALL OUR votes counted. This seemed to upset the Bush folks mightily. Now that the Florida Supreme Court has ruled that there should be a total recount, it appears the Bush folks aren't all that interested in making the democratic process work after all.

Subject: Election finally over??
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 07:46 PM

Good!

Now get it off my T.V.!!!

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 08:00 PM

It's like tag wrestling. As Fraud W Bush crashes to the canvas, he throws out his arm - and into the ring bounds the Washington Supreme Court to save the day.

And in the nick of time the count is stopped, so that the loser can win.

When all the judges in cases like this vote according to the political party they are affiliated to, doesn't it rather embarass people? If a jury voted on those lines, in a case where the accused was a member if a party, you'd say the mmebers of that jury were ignoring their jurors oath.

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 08:30 PM

Good point McG.

In some ways this whole thing has been handled well, and better than might have been the case in the UK. (For instance in the UK power changes hands immediately after the election, which has always struck me as ridiculous. Leaving a breathing space for the incoming administration to get up to speed, or to resolve any issue such as have arisen in Florida, seems entirely sensible.)

What is truly lamentable is the extent to which the US judiciary is politicised. Even the judges in Mugabe's Zimbabwe have shown greater independence than those poltroons in the US courts.

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Banjer
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 09:00 PM

And in the nick of time the count is stopped, so that the loser can win.

If all the votes aren't counted and many get thrown out, how can anyone tell who is the winner? What is so damn difficult about counting how many votes each side got and acting accordingly. It makes the average person feel kind of useless thinking that perhaps their vote has never counted. Not to mention that in many elections the winner is declared that night or the following morning...HOW??...When thousnads of absentee ballots have another week after to be counted...How many times would those ballots have made a difference?? I really think what we all laughingly refer to as democratic process is nothing more than a bunch of horseshit....Won't ever waste my time going to the polls again.

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Seth
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 11:25 PM

Great word "poltroon". I knew there was a term that I was reaching for just below consciousness.... Thanks Seth

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Troll
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 02:44 AM

Actually the Florida Supreme Court vote was 4 to 3 and all of them are Democratic appointees save one who was appointed jointly so that blows THAT theory.
Justices interpret the law according to their political philosophys and sometimes the vote IS split along liberal vs conservative lines. But not always.
In the Fla. Courts decision on the recount, the Chief Justice wrote the dissenting opinion. He is a lifelong Democrat.
As far as what the US Supreme Court will do with the appeal, we'll have to wait and see.
A lawyer friend -he plays a mean trumpet- told me tonight that he had read both the decision and the dissent and he felt that the court was wrong in awarding for Gore. And this guy is a hard-core Dem.
They are not poltroons. They have an extremely difficult task to perform. No one is completely neutral in any event.
We will get a decision based on the law and the country will go on.
No one will be shot. No one will flee into exile. There will be no riots in the streets although some demagogues may try to start one. And there will be an orderly transfer of power.

troll

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 03:11 AM

Oh fer Chrissakes, now the appeal has been overturned....

How about we just go ippy dippy bird shit, I'm out and you're IT! for the role.

How about a bit of advice from a coporate company.

JUST DO IT!!

Gees, you realise what will happen when it comes to choosing the new wallpaper.......

LTS

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Banjer
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 06:55 AM

You have to admire both these guys. Fighting so damn hard for a job that no sane person would want! To the victor go the spoils, and all the problems that go with this country...More power to whomever....

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 07:56 AM

"No one will be shot."

That's incredible - what's happened to change the country overnight?

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 10:15 AM

I notice all troll's examples of judges breaking with party loyalty and judging according to their principles are Democrats. No doubt a coincidence.

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Willie-O
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 10:52 AM

Well, the Florida court is one thing...the U.S. Supreme Court is another. CNN currently has a very simple and illuminating snapshot of the highest court in the U.S. which appears to be where any of these legal questions get decided, ultimately. The most recent vote, halting the recounts while they consider Bush's arguments that he has won the election, period, was a 5-4 split. Only two of the 9 judges are Democratic appointees. They voted against the stay, and were joined by one Bush and one Ford (remember him) appointee. They were overruled by the four Reagan appointees, and Clarence Thomas. These five don't look likely to do anything to favour Gore's case.

Under the circumstances it's pretty ironic that Bush is the one whining about Gore dragging the election into the judicial system. Bush's problem is that it doesn't look so good when he wins there, as he obviously will.

What a weird country. The last shall be first...

W-O

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Penny S.
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 03:13 PM

I saw a bumper sticker in Kent, England, today - George W Bush for President! Of us?

Penny

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 04:25 AM

As for making fun of the US elections, here's one bit from our local newspaper. Of course, it looses in the translation (especially when I do it without good knowledge of all the legal terms, but here you go:

Everybody now prints 'what has happened so far' articles, we publish today what will happen:

18th of December, 2000: The Supreme Court decides that it is illegal to recount only a part of the votes and decides that all votes from all States have to be recounted manually.

31st of December, 2000: 2 states have finished the recount, 17 states have started the recount, 11 states are still searching for the ballots, the other states have filed legal action against the order to recount. The number of pending court cases has risen to 37.

15th of January, 2001: The Senate decides against the Constitution that Clinton has to serve for another term until a president is found. The number of pending court cases has risen to 91.

16th of January: Hillary Clinton starts the 92nd court case against yesterday's Senate decision. She argues, she needs Bill for the household as he has promised eight years ago. She proposes to give the Vice-President of the last term the job. Applause from the Democrats, less so from the Republicans.

1st of January, 2002: The number of court cases pending has risen to 148. 1500 new judges are appointed. The law faculties see an unprecedented rise in the number of students applying.

14th of July, 2004, the candidate for the Republicans, Bush, asks that the winner of the presidential election to come may be declared also president of the past four years (and that the salary for the past 48 months will be fully paid). The number of court cases pending has risen to 259.

31st of October, 2004: The Supreme Court decides that there will be no elections before the votes from the last elections are not fully counted. The number of court cases has risen to 314.

6th of June, 2008: The Supreme Court, in a bold decision, declares all court cases still pending (536) for closed. It states that whoever was the actual winner in 2000 doesn't matter anymore, since the winner will soon have virtually served two terms and therefore may not be president any longer. The new elections will proceed as planned, but Bush and Gore may not be candidates.

9th of June, 2008: Both Gore and Bush file legal action against the decision claiming that the court may decide that they have lost the election in 2000 and are therefore eligible for the 2008 election.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: P05139
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:22 AM

Nicely!!! That will shut people up!!!!!

Subject: RE: Flash: Election finally over
From: Kim C
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 12:21 PM

How about a round of rock-paper-scissors?