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Samantha

(9,314 posts)
36. I said that from the very beginning
Sun Apr 28, 2013, 11:07 AM
Apr 2013

Last edited Sun Apr 28, 2013, 07:04 PM - Edit history (1)

USSC had zero constitutional authority to review the Florida's Supreme Court decision. The Constitution clearly delegates the authority to decide how Presidential elections are to be conducted to the states, provided of course all of the rules are fully laid out in the states' constitutions prior to the date of the election. Clearly, Florida had done this. It even revised those rules two years before Election 2000 as a result of a lawsuit that overturned a mayoral race, ejecting the politician who had been declared the winner and giving the job to the person who had filed the suit.

That embarrassment was the reason the Protest/Contest provisions were inserted into the State Constitution, to preclude mistakes such as that one from happening again. And those were the clauses in the constitution Al Gore cited with each move he made. Although many said at that time Gore's biggest mistake was not requesting a statewide recount, there was zero provision for that in the Constitution. The only way that could have been achieved was by permission of the Governor (and we all remember who that was) or by court order. The court order did eventually emerge from the highest court in that State, and that exact order was the one shut down by the USSC. That was an unconstitutional move on its part.

In the meantime, the Republican party quoted obsolete parts of the constitution that had been thrown out and loudly and chronically accused Gore of attempting to steal the election. It was a debacle of the worst type, and no one in authority challenged the erroneous statements coming out of that state in defense of the Bush* goal of "taking" the election. One of the attorneys who was a constitutional lawyer who left Washington to go to Florida to assist the Bush campaign on a pro bono basis during that time remained invisible and silent to the general public when unconstitutional threats were issued such as that by the Republican Florida legislature. Remember that threat? Even if a recount proved Gore had in fact won the popular vote, the legislature would still select a Republican slate of electors to send to the Electoral College. That move in particular would not only have been unconstitutional, it would have given the Electoral College the opportunity to disregard that slate since it had been chosen in violation of the guidelines outlined in its own state constitution.

The attorney assisting the Bush campaign in Florida from DC was none other than John Roberts, now the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Puts a whole new focus on that trite political phrase, "To the victor belongs the spoils", doesn't it?

To this day, I cannot believe the Republican party actually got away with this. And here we are 13 years later, dealing with the devastating consequences of a Bush* presidency with no indicators of when that influence will eventually evaporate. A part of the Bush* legacy never will dissipate as permanent scars on people and places impacted by his "Presidential" decisions are clearly visible this day and will remain for decades to come.

Sam

I can smell the sincerity jsr Apr 2013 #1
Politicians in black robes, we have no "court". Ikonoklast Apr 2013 #6
Can she please shut up about this!! Shoulda Woulda Coulda Heather MC Apr 2013 #46
What you smell is the shit stain on the judiciary RainDog Apr 2013 #48
"Still a big election issue"????? It was a fucking ELECTION. enough Apr 2013 #2
... magellan Apr 2013 #3
They should have left it at 7 to 2 for Florida court to make final decision. Instead of the 4 to 5 graham4anything Apr 2013 #4
After the Florida Supreme Court Decision, On the Road Apr 2013 #7
Jeez, I had forgotten that thing about th 9-0. pangaia Apr 2013 #13
+1, didn't know this...thought it went straight to USSC... uponit7771 Apr 2013 #59
Wow. Just, wow. reformist2 Apr 2013 #5
"Less than perfect?" City Lights Apr 2013 #8
+1 uponit7771 Apr 2013 #58
'stirred up the public'?? WTF? spanone Apr 2013 #9
Sandy Baby, just fuck off n2doc Apr 2013 #10
Meanwhile, the ghosts of Stalin and Hitler pause in their shoveling of coal in Hell Brimley Apr 2013 #11
Words, words, words. So easy after-the-fact. Solly Mack Apr 2013 #12
I THINK I remember hearing in 2000 pangaia Apr 2013 #14
I hadn't heard that, but I did read DavidDvorkin Apr 2013 #17
Her husband was failing and she wanted to retire then, but under a GOP President. kickysnana Apr 2013 #18
Thanks.. pangaia Apr 2013 #30
Duh. NV Whino Apr 2013 #15
She Would Have Been Steamrolled... KharmaTrain Apr 2013 #16
Well. That's a real change of heart from her. truebluegreen Apr 2013 #19
I'm sorry, but that takes a lot of nerve. I really disliked her and her senseandsensibility Apr 2013 #20
And they were supposed to be the best legal minds in the country. Problem at the end of the day. No jwirr Apr 2013 #21
It's called treason. GeorgeGist Apr 2013 #22
She says, two wars & a global financial meltdown, later. CrispyQ Apr 2013 #23
Can I it, please let me say it? Carolina Apr 2013 #24
What a lying sack shit she is, her vote was never undecided. On Election night when the results UTUSN Apr 2013 #25
"The Supreme Court added to the problem at the end of the day.” Politicalboi Apr 2013 #26
Fuck you, O'Connor. Zoeisright Apr 2013 #27
+1000 forestpath Apr 2013 #28
Well, I bet she feels better rurallib Apr 2013 #29
Sandy when you're done you're done. olddots Apr 2013 #31
Few things make Tragedy and Comedy DonCoquixote Apr 2013 #32
Nothing has changed in Florida since that decision. Baitball Blogger Apr 2013 #33
She is still going to burn in Hell for that decision. aquart Apr 2013 #34
Yeah. Thanks. Granny M Apr 2013 #35
Aint that the truth! surrealAmerican Apr 2013 #43
I said that from the very beginning Samantha Apr 2013 #36
IF heaven05 Apr 2013 #37
Regrets? joanbarnes Apr 2013 #38
The world thanks you for George Bush, Ms. O'Connor. I hope you're wallowing in guilt. gateley Apr 2013 #39
O'Connor can kiss my ass. Gravitycollapse Apr 2013 #40
too little too late The Wizard Apr 2013 #41
Glad to see she's willing to state her concerns publicly. elleng Apr 2013 #42
O brother.. blkmusclmachine Apr 2013 #44
We are still paying for that decision.. kentuck Apr 2013 #45
Hmmm. I, for one, am glad to see a crack in that facade Hekate Apr 2013 #47
Do we have a confirmed study that shows Gore would have won the recount? davidn3600 Apr 2013 #49
"Mrs 5-4" HughBeaumont Apr 2013 #50
She should be in prison for that vote. Mickju Apr 2013 #51
The ONLY thing that comforts me about Bush v. Gore is that Lieberman factsarenotfair Apr 2013 #52
Wow! What insight! KansDem Apr 2013 #53
I remember at the time... ljm2002 Apr 2013 #54
They should have taken jurisdiction earlier, but set rules for the recount JPZenger Apr 2013 #55
major Face Palm zipplewrath Apr 2013 #56
Wow, and it only took 12.5 years for "regret" to set in! hatrack Apr 2013 #57
May Sandra's Day O'Reckoning come soon Blue Owl Apr 2013 #60
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