What a ride the presidential election rollercoaster has been— regardless of which side you're on. Here in Florida, the unlikely swing state, George W. Bush won the election on November 7. Then he won the automatic recount. He was still ahead even after the partial by-hand recounts in the Democrats' hand-picked counties. He lost before the Florida Supreme Court— twice. But he won the big one before the U.S. Supreme Courtthis week.
If you're a political junkie, as we are here at Key West The Newspaper, watching the pros on both sides spin their spin has beenwonderous to behold. Imagine: The Democrats' main argument has been that many in that party are, apparently, just too dumb to follow simple how-to-vote instructions. That's not our opinion. That's the Democrats' own argument! (Doesn't this beg the question: Do these people try to drive cars and operate household appliances? U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was incredulous: "Those voting instructions seem very clear.") But even the votes of abject incompetents should count, the Democrats chanted over and over again— even if somebody has to try to guess at the "intent" of those voters.
While repeatedly pushing for every vote to be counted (except, of course, those of our military people on active duty overseas), the Democrats were also accusing the Bush people of "not wanting to count all the votes." Duh! Bush was ahead! Since when does the candidate who won an election call for a recount?
Anyway, it's finally over. And it is understandable that many Democrats are disappointed, even bitter. Had the results turned out differently, there would have been a bunch of disappointed, bitter Republicans. But the nation will survive. And not only will we survive, don't be surprised to see moderates— the legislators in the middle— in both parties form a coalition to make some impressive things happen. Or maybe not.
One little law we would like to see passed, however: If any voters in the United States still have to punch holes in ballots when they vote for president in 2004, all the election officials and County Commissioners in those counties should go to jail.
FROM THE INTERNET
How many counts must a recounter count before that recount counts?
• Number of counties in the U.S. won by Gore: 677. Counties won by Bush: 2,434.
• Population of counties won by Gore: 127 million. Population of counties won by Bush: 143 million.
• Square miles of country won by Gore: 580,000. Square miles won by Bush: 2,427,000.
• States won by Gore: 19. States won by Bush: 29. (That adds up to only 48 states. We want a recount!)
Professor Joseph Olson of the Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, looked up the crime statistics for every county in the country and came up with this:
• Average murders per 1000 residents in counties won by Gore: 13.2.
• Average murders per 1000 residents in counties won by Bush: 2.1.
Go figure.