SIX years ago today (yes only 6) Supreme Court halts vote count

[underpants]

Oh don't look on the History Channel "This day in history" no mention of it there.
http://www.history.com/tdih.do

Neither does history.net
http://www.historynet.com/today_in_history

Here it is. See I knew it happened.
http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory
December 12

2000
The U.S. Supreme Court stopped the presidential election recount in Florida.


http://www.on-this-day.com/cgi-bin/otd/uspresidentotd/uspresidentotd.pl
2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court found that the recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court in the 2000 U.S. Presidential election was unconstitutional. U.S. Vice President Al Gore conceded the election to Texas Gov. George W. Bush the next day.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_v._Gore

[NYCGirl]

1. A day that will live in infamy. NT

[AndyA]

2. How in the hell could a recount be unconstitutional?

I've never understood that. There were problems with the vote in Florida in 2000, everyone acknowledged that. So how could a recount be unconstitutional? If the intent were to make sure votes were properly counted, I would think a recount should be mandatory. It would seem to me appointing someone who LOST would be a much more severe infraction.

[underpants]

5. It isn't it is was just an excuse

LEgal scholars have written plenty on this and will but here is how I understand it.

They (meaning Olsen and Baker's Bush team and the SC) found the only thing that even remotely made sense and ruled on it that way. See in order for everyone to be treated equally we all must be mistreated (and you thought the new-speak was just after they got caught on 9/11 with their pants down).

Also the SC decided that this ruling could not be used a precedent in any other case anytime anywhere which flies completely in the face of "judicial review" which causes judges to take pause before ruling on a matter-what they decide has consequences forever.

[Mabus]

3. The day that changed America

I have never forgotten. It will be a date that people will remember for a long time.

[demnan]

4. And people hit the streets that day

I wish I had.

http://www.npr.org/news/national/election2000/coverage/scotusgallery1.html

Why didn't we all rise up and demand the votes be counted?

Look what has happened since.

[Gregorian]

10. Some people didn't know what had happened.

It took me a year or two before I realized just what had happened. I was running around blabbing about how democracy had worked. How we had experienced a political exchange without bloodshed. Woo hoo! And then after spending time with other bright people, I discovered that we had been HAD.

[AtomicKitten]

6. Six years since the 5:4 judicial coup d'etat?

[CatWoman]

7. and now S. D. O'Connor is fervently trying to redeem herself

:nuke:

[Kolesar]

9. She didn't spend many days in Iraq working on the Study Group

Let's send her for a month.

[sonias]

11. She definitely swung the wrong way that day

Her legacy is forever tainted. And if you recall there are reported stories about her throwing a hissy hit when the news networks originally called Florida for Gore. She had her mind made up way early how she was going to "fix" this one. Her and Antonin screwed America, and he doesn't even have any regrets to this day. May they both pay for their arrogant sins against humanity for all eternity. A wish for all of five of them but especially for those two.

Never forget and never forgive.
:mad:

Sonia

[tbyg52]

15. Too late

I am looking and looking for the quote she gave to Newsweek, I believe upon her retirement, in a pageful of short quotes by different people, ADMITTING that she stopped the Florida recount because she didn't want a Democrat to appoint her successor. Can anyone else find it? I *know* I saw it, wish I had clipped it or bookmarked it at the time. This is the closest I can come at present:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3975/is_200304/ai_n9221306

It's driving me crazy that I can't find the original, though. Tried every sort of web search I can think of. The link above shows that she didn't want a Democrat to win (surprise,surprise), but the little blurb I saw had a direct quote of her admitting her reason for tipping the Florida vote. Just thrown off like it was nothing. (This was before I knew DU existed--hmm, looking at my own profile, possibly just before I could do original posts--or I'd have posted it.)

Edited for typo and observation on own profile.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. and so DU was conceived

I believe.

[ihelpu2see]

12. A sad day in American Democracy :( nt

[many a good man]

13. Stevens' dissent

The endorsement of that position by the majority of this Court can only lend credence to the most cynical appraisal of the work of judges throughout the land. It is confidence in the men and women who administer the judicial system that is the true backbone of the rule of law. Time will one day heal the wound to that confidence that will be inflicted by today's decision. One thing, however, is certain. Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law.

I respectfully dissent.

[chimpymustgo]

14. The day democracy died - 12.13.00. But we are fighting like hell to bring it back.

We just may do it.

[thingfisher]

16. Was Gore'd concession ill advised?

I guess he felt it was futile to argue a case against the supreme court as it was constituted.

[kath]

17. Dec. 12, 2000. The day that changed everything.

And a day that will live in infamy.

No, I'm not over it. Never will be.

[troubleinwinter]

18. Book

The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President by Vincent Bugliosi

I heard a radio interview with Bugliosi, and he said the supreme court justices should have been impeached.

(supreme court justices are appointed for life, but CAN be impeached)

[autorank]

19. KR - Those six are going to rot in Hell for their perfidity...

Here's something from AmeicaBlog which represents both the reason Gore should have won and the consequences of his loss:

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Gore vs. Gonzales feud grows
by John in DC - 1/17/2006 06:40:00 PM

Al Gore hits back at Attorney General Gonzales today, saying that Gonzales' latest criticism of Gore's speech yesterday proves why an independent counsel is necessary to investigate the Bush Administration's spying on thousands, if not millions, of innocent Americans in violation of the law.

First, Gore notes that Gonzales doesn't even understand the law, nor does he understand that the Clinton administration obeyed federal law regarding spying on Americans, while Gonzales and the Bush administration broke the law. Secondly, Gore notes that even if you accept Gonzales' false argument that Clinton spied on Americans in violation of the law so Bush can now do it, Gonzales is proving why it is so important that a special prosecutor investigate what Bush did. Future administrations will rely on Bush's lawlessness to justify their own, just as Gonzales is (falsely) relying on what he claims was Clinton's lawlessness to justify Bush illegally spying on American citizens.

This is getting good. Law-breaking conservatives are making the mistake of thinking that Al Gore is somehow persona non grata to the American public. They think that by simply taking him on publicly, they win. On the contrary, whether Gore did or didn't win the 2000 election, people didn't dislike Al Gore. He's a nice enough guy, and is clearly intelligent and well-read. I think the growing Al vs. Alberto feud is just what the doctor ordered for a media feeding frenzy on this issue. And I'd love to have someone of Gore's intelligence take the issue head on. And judging by the amount of vitriol the administration and its surrogates spewed after Gore made his speech yesterday, they clearly perceive him, and his message, as a danger.

[AtomicKitten]

20. 12/13/06 Al Gore's Concession Speech

VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE DELIVERS REMARKS

CAMPAIGN 2000: VICE PRESIDENT GORE DELIVERS REMARKS

DECEMBER 13, 2000

SPEAKER: ALBERT GORE JR., VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Good evening.

Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States, and I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time.

I offered to meet with him as soon as possible so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign and the contest through which we just passed.

Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, "Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I'm with you, Mr. President, and God bless you."

Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country.

Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came, and now it has ended, resolved, as it must be resolved, through the honored institutions of our democracy.

Over the library of one of our great law schools is inscribed the motto, "Not under man but under God and law." That's the ruling principle of American freedom, the source of our democratic liberties. I've tried to make it my guide throughout this contest as it has guided America's deliberations of all the complex issues of the past five weeks.

Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity of the people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.

I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally, to honor the new president elect and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together in fulfillment of the great vision that our Declaration of Independence defines and that our Constitution affirms and defends.

Let me say how grateful I am to all those who supported me and supported the cause for which we have fought. Tipper and I feel a deep gratitude to Joe and Hadassah Lieberman who brought passion and high purpose to our partnership and opened new doors, not just for our campaign but for our country.

This has been an extraordinary election. But in one of God's unforeseen paths, this belatedly broken impasse can point us all to a new common ground, for its very closeness can serve to remind us that we are one people with a shared history and a shared destiny.

Indeed, that history gives us many examples of contests as hotly debated, as fiercely fought, with their own challenges to the popular will.

Other disputes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolution. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished have accepted the result peacefully and in the spirit of reconciliation.

So let it be with us.

I know that many of my supporters are disappointed. I am too. But our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country.

And I say to our fellow members of the world community, let no one see this contest as a sign of American weakness. The strength of American democracy is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome.

Some have expressed concern that the unusual nature of this election might hamper the next president in the conduct of his office. I do not believe it need be so.

President-elect Bush inherits a nation whose citizens will be ready to assist him in the conduct of his large responsibilities.

I personally will be at his disposal, and I call on all Americans -- I particularly urge all who stood with us to unite behind our next president. This is America. Just as we fight hard when the stakes are high, we close ranks and come together when the contest is done.

And while there will be time enough to debate our continuing differences, now is the time to recognize that that which unites us is greater than that which divides us.

While we yet hold and do not yield our opposing beliefs, there is a higher duty than the one we owe to political party. This is America and we put country before party. We will stand together behind our new president.

As for what I'll do next, I don't know the answer to that one yet. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with family and old friends. I know I'll spend time in Tennessee and mend some fences, literally and figuratively.

Some have asked whether I have any regrets and I do have one regret: that I didn't get the chance to stay and fight for the American people over the next four years, especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed, especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard. I heard you and I will not forget.

I've seen America in this campaign and I like what I see. It's worth fighting for and that's a fight I'll never stop.

As for the battle that ends tonight, I do believe as my father once said, that no matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out.

So for me this campaign ends as it began: with the love of Tipper and our family; with faith in God and in the country I have been so proud to serve, from Vietnam to the vice presidency; and with gratitude to our truly tireless campaign staff and volunteers, including all those who worked so hard in Florida for the last 36 days.

Now the political struggle is over and we turn again to the unending struggle for the common good of all Americans and for those multitudes around the world who look to us for leadership in the cause of freedom.

In the words of our great hymn, "America, America": "Let us crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."

And now, my friends, in a phrase I once addressed to others, it's time for me to go.

Thank you and good night, and God bless America.

END

[New Earth]

21. it was a HORRIBLE birthday present for me

:cry:

[Larry in KC]

22. We went in to buy a Christmas tree, with hope in our hearts...

We were listening to some pretty promising news on how the recount was going, and went into a plant nursery to buy our Christmas tree. When we came out with our tree, the Supreme Court had done their dirty deed. Not only have we never bought another tree there, when we happen to drive past the nursery, we shake our fists at it. We KNOW it's not their fault, but it still makes us feel a little better, even now.