Imagine if you will, that Florida would have been officially
declared to George Bush a week ago. Imagine not knowing the terms chad
or butterfly ballot, and the Electoral College decided George Bush the
winner. What would the media be doing right now?
They would be declaring the Electoral College an antiquated system
which unfairly nullifies the voters will, that's what.
If there ever was a story which would allow the media to do a
half-assed job, this would have been it. Rhetoric would have carried
more weight than substance. Sam and Cokie would pummel guests with
questions such as, "It is fair to undermine the will of the
people because of a 200 year old piece of paper?"
We would be over run with various "experts" telling us that
the Electoral College was designed because our Founding Fathers
thought we were to dumb to decide such a thing as electing a leader.
Barney Frank would be on every talking head program stating, "The
Ewectorow Cowage undewminds ouw Democwacy." Jesse Jackson would
be telling us that it was designed to oppress African-Americans.
Hillary Clinton would call for an end to it ... Oh wait she is already
doing that.
With Florida being such a mess, the media has done a surprisingly good
job at explaining the necessity of the Electoral College. The media
has been focused on process and not public opinion, and it is
refreshing to see them actually do their job. I figure they owe us
this much after election night.
What is happening in Florida may be the best we could hope for, as it
will leave us with one of two outcomes:
1. George W. Bush will win the total count and become
President. His capacity will be diminished to a certain degree,
however the argument that Al Gore won the popular vote will not carry
as much weight. The people have actually been informed of how the
process works, and why it is a good system, so there will be little
resonation of any illegitimate Presidency claims.
2. Al Gore wins by selective hand counts in his districts. In
order for this to happen, this Florida ordeal will have to go beyond
the Friday deadline. Public opinion has been turning on him with each
additional day, and many will feel that he weaseled his way to the
Office. The "Commander
in Thief" label will stick with him, and claims of an
illegitimate Presidency may have an effect on his Job approval
ratings.
Regardless, I'll be glad when this is all over. I think most Americans
feel the same way. This will allow Barney Frank to go back to "Wooking
for wabbit," and Jesse Jackson can return to his lifelong work of
finding racism under every stone and Hillary, well Hillary will just
continue being Hillary.
I would like to extend my thanks to the people of Florida. You have
given Americans the opportunity to relearn part of our Constitution.
Now if only you can figure out a way that America could relearn the
rest of it.
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Brent
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