On Thu, Nov 09, 2000 at 04:22:21PM -0800, Tim May wrote:

At 7:05 PM -0500 11/9/00, George@Orwellian.Org wrote:

...

James "too damn bad about the 19,000" Baker ain't no piece of cake either, FYI.

He's right about the "19,000 spoiled ballots." Four years ago there were 16,000 spoiled ballots in the same district, and that was with lower overall turnout.

Right. See below. -Declan FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ari Fleischer, Mindy

November 9, 2000 Tucker or Dan Bartlett

Statement by Bush/Cheney Spokesman Ari Fleischer on Palm Beach County:

"New information has come to our attention that puts in perspective the results of the vote in Palm Beach County. Palm Beach County is a Pat Buchanan stronghold and that's why Pat Buchanan received 3407 votes there.

According to the Florida Department of State, 16,695 voters in Palm Beach County are registered to the Independent Party, the Reform Party, or the American Reform Party, an increase of 110% since the 1996 presidential election. Throughout the rest of Florida, the registration increase for these parties was roughly 38%. In contrast, in neighboring Broward County, only 476 voters are registered to these parties.

In addition, in the 1996 presidential election, 14,872 ballots were invalidated for double counting in Palm Beach County, a figure comparable to the number of ballots dismissed this year, considering this year's higher turn out.

Given these facts, what happened on Election Night in Palm Beach County - a county whose elections are run by a Democrat - is an understandable event. The Democrats who are politicizing and distorting these routine and predictable events risk doing our democracy a disservice.

Throughout this process, it's important that no party to this election act in a precipitous manner or distort an existing voting pattern in an effort to misinform the public. Our nation will be best served by a responsible approach to this recount. This recount will be watched around the world. Its outcome should not only serve as a testament to the strength of our democracy, but also a reflection of how each candidate deals with a matter of the utmost national importance.

We remain confident that Governor Bush will win Florida and become the elected President of the United States."

Paid for by Bush-Cheney 2000, Inc.

At 9:13 PM -0500 11/9/00, Marc Wohler wrote:

Do these folks need killing too?

Not based on just their stupidity, as their own stupidity per se is not violative of the rights of others. If and when they act to steal the property or rights of others, via food stamps or welfare or whatever, then of course they need killing. The crack hoe who takes my tax money to fill her crack pipe should be exterminated like the rat she is. Ditto for the gun grabber, the election stealing politician, etc. --Tim May (By the way, please consider the usual convention of commenting _after_ a comment you are quoting, so respondents won't have to do the inclusion for you.)

At 07:22 PM 11/9/00 , Tim May wrote:

...

Fact is, voting is serious business. Those who show up dazed and confused and punch too many holes in their ballot are an example of social Darwinism.

I have no sympathy for stupid people.

-- ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, ComSec 3DES: 831-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, "Cyphernomicon" | black markets, collapse of governments.

So far, Wavy Gravy's Nobody for President campaign is still out ahead.... Nobody's winning in Florida! Nobody's in charge! Nobody's going to fix the economy! Nobody's going to shrink the military-industrial complex! Vote for Nobody! At 04:22 PM 11/9/00 -0800, Tim May wrote:

At 7:05 PM -0500 11/9/00, George@Orwellian.Org wrote:

...

James "too damn bad about the 19,000" Baker ain't no piece of cake either, FYI.

He's right about the "19,000 spoiled ballots." Four years ago there were 16,000 spoiled ballots in the same district, and that was with lower overall turnout.

Fact is, voting is serious business. Those who show up dazed and confused and punch too many holes in their ballot are an example of social Darwinism.

To some extent that's true - but it's also a lot like blaming airplane accidents on pilot error when the instrument panel is atrociously designed. It's not just the pilot's fault. Of course, here, the problem happened because the ballot designers were trying to make it Easier for the old folks. There are two or three states where Gore won by a narrow margin over Bush (typically about 48-49% of the total.) Bush has hinted that if the recount overturns this one, he'll push hard for recounts there, which could get him the electoral votes he needs. And so it begins.... On the other hand, if Bush squeaks by and wins this by 10 votes, there'll be a LOT of pressure on the Bush electors to do the honest thing, admit that Gore really won (because of the 19000 trashed Gore/Buchanan ballots), and vote for Gore. It only takes 2. And they don't even HAVE to be from Florida, though those would be the most appropriate ones to fix it.

Unless he was bugging the voting booths and had ways of knowing the true thoughts of those voting, he had no way of knowing this.

Knowing for sure? No. But Buchanan's not dumb enough to overestimate his popularity among a bunch of older Jewish Democrat voters, though perhaps his protectionism appeals to some Fla. Liberals as much as Nader's does.... Thanks! Bill Bill Stewart, bill.stewart@pobox.com PGP Fingerprint D454 E202 CBC8 40BF 3C85 B884 0ABE 4639