Bush planned to fight Electoral loss in 2000 if he won the popular vote

[gatorboy]

I think this is a telling article considering the results of the 2000 election.

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=gore+bush+electoral+votes&start=10&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&as_drrb=b&as_mind=12&as_minm=9&as_miny=2000&as_maxd=1&as_maxm=11&as_maxy=2000&selm=8tqft0%24110%241%40nnrp1.deja.com&rnum=16



Quietly, some of George W. Bush's advisers are preparing for the ultimate "what if" scenario: What happens if Bush wins the popular vote for President, but loses the White House because Al Gore's won the majority of electoral votes?

In league with the campaign — which is preparing talking points about the Electoral College's essential unfairness — a massive talk-radio operation would be encouraged. "We'd have ads, too," says a Bush aide, "and I think you can count on the media to fuel the thing big-time. Even papers that supported Gore might turn against him because the will of the people will have been thwarted."

Local business leaders will be urged to lobby their customers, the clergy will be asked to speak up for the popular will and Team Bush will enlist as many Democrats as possible to scream as loud as they can. "You think 'Democrats for Democracy' would be a catchy term for them?" asks a Bush adviser.

Generally, these electors are not legally bound to support the person they're supposedly pledged to when they gather in the various state capitals to cast their ballots on Dec. 18. The rules vary from state to state, but enough of the electors could theoretically switch to Bush if they wanted to — if there was sufficient pressure on them to ratify the
popular verdict.

I think it's interesting that Bush assumed he would win the popular vote and was already planning his strategy to fight an electoral loss. I guess he changed his mind :eyes:

[greenbriar]

1. this needs to be sent to olberman and the Daily Show

I think these fucks will stop at NOTHING to stay in the WH

[drdigi420]

2. Now the only question remaining is....

Is Bush more of a Wimp or more of a hypocrite?

[Annette]

3. He's a wimpocrite!!! n/t

[cyr330]

4. what a change

Why does the chimp think there would be a popular uprising to keep his ugly ass in the WH? There wasn't one for Al Gore in 2000, so why should there be one now? Furthermore, his hypocrisy is stunning. HE didn't win the popular vote in 2000 and ended up in the WH. God, I hate those people.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. That's the difference

between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats play by the rules, and assume that everyone else will too. Republicans play for keeps, and go for broke to grab and hold onto power.

If the 2000 situation had been reversed, I think it's quite likely that * would still have gotten into the White House.

If the Democrats keep trying to behave like gentlemen in today's political climate, they will end up going extinct.

I hope the Kerry team really understands what it's up against in this election.

[Generator]

18. So true

And I'm betting the farm that Kerry gets it. I only hope his theme song "no retreat, no surrender" is what he plans on.

[lanparty]

6. Not a huge issue ...

But I remember Rush Limbaugh crowing in 1992 that Bill Clinton was an illegitamite president because he only received a PLURALITY of the vote instead of a clear MAJORITY. And the dittoheads were repeating this EVERYWHERE. No mention that Bush received even LESS popular votes in addition to being skunked in the Electoral College.

Well, now we have a president who didn't even win a plurality of votes. That honor went to Al Gore. And we're also pretty sure that had the votes been properly canvassed in Florida, Al Gore would have receieved Florida's electoral votes as well.

We don't think GW Bush is illegitamite because he didn't receive a plurality of popular votes. That just means he has no mandate and shouldn't act like he does (which he does). We think he's illegitamite because the Republicans pulled out every dirty trick in the book to keep Democratic votes from being counted in Florida (and Tennessee and likely Arkansas).

[Cocoa]

7. pundits had been laying the groundwork

I recall discussions where everyone agreed such a result would be illegitimate.

That was before the election, when it looked like that result would favor Gore. Afterwards, not a peep.

[gatorboy]

12. It's an interesting look at how these guys operate.

It is obvious that they were determined to get into office. Clinton's two terms kept them out of the war/money business for far too long.

[Beetwasher]

8. And If It Happens This Time Expect to Hear "9/11 Changed Everything!"

as an excuse as to why it was ok for THEM to lose the pop vote in 2000, but not ok for it to happen to Kerry.

[gatorboy]

9. I would say this is probably one of the bigger flip flops you can make.

n/t

[jackstraw45]

10. Can't you see? This NY Daily news article is CLEARLY a FORGED document

:)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. Psycho boy reportedly was stunned he didn't win the pop. vote

Depressed about it in fact. What a loser.

[Doosh]

13. scary stuff, and it may still happen

Kerry could win the electoral college and take Ohio, Florida etc by a slim margin. Bush could win Utah, Miss, Indiana, Alabama and other states with 60-65%, and even more.

[gatorboy]

14. It doesn't matter if Bush wins the Electoral or popular vote.

His cronies are dug in and they don't want to budge. Hell, they've been giving Rumsfeld jobs since Nixon! Keep these Republican presidential morons out of there so they stop hiring the Cheney's and Rumsfelds who truly run the gov't and have been destroying this country for 30 years.

[jsw_81]

20. Wouldn't that be great?

That's what it might take to get both parties to unite and finally scrap the electoral college once and for all.

[bobbieinok]

15. this was known at the time....there was also a horribly funny John Stewart

skit that pointedly showed how Bushco argued one way about vote counting/recounts in FL and the exact opposite in Nevada (or was it AZ????)

[gatorboy]

16. There's a good book on the Florida scandal

titled 36 Days, The Complete Chronicle of the 2000 Presidential Crisis. It's right up there with any Stephen KIng horror story.

[ComerPerro]

17. WTF???

"Generally, these electors are not legally bound to support the person they're supposedly pledged to when they gather in various state capitals..."


So, if that is the case, what is the point of the electoral college, then?

[jsw_81]

19. Freepers had similar plans

Before election day 2000, Free Republic was rife with all kinds of posts about "armed revolution" and "war" should Gore win the electoral vote but lose the popular vote. Ironic, isn't it?

[DeepModem Mom]

21. kick

[KharmaTrain]

22. This Was Known Then...

I remember Bartcop and several other sites having that posted within days of the election scam in 2000...even while the recount was going on. I'm not sure the original source, but RoveCo. expected the opposite results to happen...they'd win the popular vote (their polls, like today, showed them with a 5-10 point lead there) and losing the electoral college.

The plan was to talk individual electors into voting for Bunnypants...putting pressure on those in states where they either came close in the electoral vote and demanding these states split their votes along party lines...and using their controls of state governorships and legislatures.

These guys win at all costs.

[complain jane]

23. Reading/hearing so much crap about how the Repugs operate

makes me sick lately.... nothing against the post or poster....

Seriously, I'm so sick of dealing with these right wing assholes and their scumbag tactics! Jesus! It's disgusting.

[DaveSZ]

24. I bloody wish this had happened -

(Gore won the EC and lost the popular vote).

The outcry on the right wing side might have led to EC reform.

[gatorboy]

25. Could you imagine their outcry?

"The American people haven't spoken! This is an outrage! We must get rid of the Electoral College at once!!!"

What do they say now?


"Oh well, those are the rules!"