A hotline has been established for Florida voters to call with any questions, problems, etc. with the voting in November 7th's election.
The number is 1-800-579-8871.
If you know of anyone in Florida who has encountered any such voting problems, please pass this number along to them as soon as possible.

THE POSSUM COUNTY DAILY FLAPDOODLE
Serving America - One Possum At A Time!

NO!! I WANT THE OLD JOKES!!! NOW!!!!

Just who's in charge here, anyway?
Dateline: November 22, 2000
THE 50,099,002nd REASON I'M A DEMOCRAT
(The Hallowed Halls of Justice/UPI)

The Florida State Supreme Court has issued its ruling, insisting that amended county vote totals containing hand recounts must be accepted before those vote totals can be certified. But the news is not as good as it first appears for the Democrats. The Court also demanded that the hand recounts be done by five p.m. this Sunday - - and refused to set statewide standards on what should be considered a valid vote. Without the disputed "dimpled chads" being counted as valid votes, it seems unlikely that the Republican lead will be overturned - - especially with this Court imposed time constraint.

What was the reaction of the two campaigns to this mixed blessing by the court?

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S TIME TO PLAY EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE GAME
"COMPARE AND CONTRAST"!!


Vice President Gore rising to the occasion, as Americans do.
Vice President Al Gore, 11/21/2000: "The Florida Supreme Court has now spoken and we will move forward now with a full, fair and accurate count of the ballots in question. I don’t know what those ballots will show. I don’t know whether Governor Bush or I will prevail, but we do know that our Democracy is the winner tonight. I firmly believe that the will of the people should prevail. And I am gratified that the court’s decision will allow us to honor that simple Constitutional principle. The court wisely set a deadline for the conclusion of this counting in order to preserve a reasonable period to resolve any remaining questions.

I want to thank the citizen volunteers, no matter their political party, also the public officials involved in the canvass. All these people who have given enormous amounts of time in an extraordinary effort, they’re doing their jobs diligently and seriously under difficult conditions. As Americans always do, they are rising to the occasion.

Now that we know the process will continue, I once again urge that Governor Bush and I meet, to demonstrate the essential unity that keeps America strong and free. Together, let us testify to the truth: that our country is more important than victory. Both Governor Bush and I should also continue to urge our supporters to tone down their rhetoric and lift up our common respect for Democracy. Some of my own supporters have emphasized the fact that we won the national popular vote, but our Constitution requires victory in the Electoral College. I completely disavow any effort to persuade Electors to switch their support from the candidate to whom they are pledged. I will not accept the support of any Elector pledged to Governor Bush. Both Governor Bush and I should urge all supporters to refrain from any comments, including comments on this evening’s decision by the Florida Supreme Court, that could make it harder for us to come together as one nation when the process is completed.

Finally, because we now know that this process is going to take more time, I believe it’s now appropriate for both of us to focus on the transition, to insure that the new administration, whoever leads it, will be fully in place and fully prepared to lead. Our guiding principle must be what is good for our country. That means we ought to move forward with the process that respects our Democracy. For in the end, what is important is not just to ensure a victory for one candidate, but to ensure our unity as one people, to honor our self-government, and to respect and accept the freely expressed will of the people. As Americans, we all share the same hopes and the same land. We all have a stake in the strength of our union. And in that endeavor, there can be no losers, no matter what the outcome.

May God bless you and my God bless our country in this Thanksgiving week. Thank you."



VS.


Bush spokesman James Baker III, 11/21/2000: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

At Monday's oral argument before the Florida Supreme Court, Justice Harding asked a key question about Florida's electoral laws and standards. He said, ``Is it right to change the rules in the middle of the game?''

The Florida Supreme Court and some Democratic county electoral boards have decided to do just that. In keeping with Section 4 of Article II of the United States Constitution, Florida's legislature enacted a detailed statutory system for voting, for recounting, and for certifying results of elections. This statutory system reflects careful decisions about the separation of powers among various branches of government. It also strikes a balance between Florida's interests in achieving finality, and in permitting multiple recounts by various methods.

Today, Florida's Supreme Court rewrote the legislature's statutory system, assumed the responsibilities of the executive branch, and sidestepped the opinion of the trial court as the finder of fact.

Two weeks after the election, that court has changed the rules, and has invented a new system for counting the election results. So one should not now be surprised if the Florida legislature seeks to affirm the original rules.

In addition, the Gore campaign is working to try to change the counting rules and standards in the three counties that are still manually recounting so as to overcome Governor Bush's continuing lead after all of the counts and recounts.

Statistical experts have indicated that, based on the results so far, unless the counting standards are changed, there won't be enough votes to overcome Governor Bush's lead. So they now argue that a punch card vote should count even if there appears to be only an indentation.

This is, of course, is the famous dimpled chad.

Since Al has asked us to tone down the partisan rhetoric, I won't say that James "Fuck The Democrats, They Never Voted For Us Anyway" Baker III was unanimously voted Mr. Dimpled Chad during the 1932 Republican Convention, in an incident best not discussed around those with delicate stomachs. No, that would be highly inappropriate. And just flat wrong. And I also won't say anything about his lovely blue rinse. No, that would be unspeakably low. And the worst thing I could do is point out how this major league Adam Clymer has been screaming for two solid weeks that we need CLOSURE MORE THAN ACCURACY!! or our DEMOCRACY WILL COLAPSE!!! and the moment the Florida State Supreme Court offered him closure, he turned into a great big baby doing the potty dance shrieking that we need ACCURACY MORE THAN CLOSURE!!! or our DEMOCRACY WILL COLAPSE!!!!! It would also be unfairly partisan and divisive to mention that Vice President Gore excepted the court’s deadline without question, even though the recounts are supposed to take much longer than five days, due to Dragon Lady Katherine Harris (R-Recount Dracula) relentless obstruction and stalling tactics. No, that would be unworthy of all of us, as Americans.
And at least one of the Democrat-controlled county election boards has already decided to use this new standard and the others are considering it.

No hole in the ballot is necessary, not even one loose corner is necessary, not even seeing any light through the ballot is necessary. Even if a voter decided not to make a choice because he or she could not decide between two closely competitive candidates, the Democratic county election boards can divine a choice based on an apparent indentation.

This new standard for manual recounts directly contradicts a guideline issued on November 2, 1990, by Theresa LePore, the Democratic supervisor of elections for Palm Beach County. In that statement, Ms. LePore wrote, and I quote, ``but a chad that is fully attached, bearing only an indention, should not be counted as a vote,'' close quote.

All of this is unfair and unacceptable. It is not fair to change the election laws of Florida by judicial fiat after the election has been held. It is not fair to change the rules and standards governing the counting or recounting of votes after it appears that one side has concluded that is the only way to get the votes it needs. And it is also not fair to refuse the count, even once, the ballots of many of our servicemen and women overseas.** It is simply not fair, ladies and gentlemen, to change the rules, either in the middle of the game, or after the game has been played.

Therefore we intend to examine and consider whatever remedies we may have to correct this unjust result.

QUESTION: Secretary Baker, first of all, can you be more specific about what the Bush team might do now in the way of an appeal or some other challenge? And second of all, when you alluded to the Florida legislature, what relief would you seek from the Florida legislature?

BAKER: Well, I'm not suggesting that we are seeking relief - (that) we've made a decision to seek relief from the Florida legislature. But it does occur to me that the Supreme Court has pretty well rewritten the Florida electoral code even though they disclaim, in the opinion, that they intend to do so. And so I would not be surprised to see the legislature want to, perhaps, take action to get back to the original statutory provisions that were in place initially.

I cannot tell you specifically tonight what additional actions Governor Bush and Secretary Cheney might authorize.

There are some actions that we can take. And as I indicated in my statement, I think it's incumbent upon us to consider and examine whatever remedies are available to us to reverse what we consider to be an unjust result.

Yes?

QUESTION: If the legislature...

BAKER: Just a minute; I've got a question right here.

QUESTION: If the legislature takes this up, would the Bush campaign support that, condone it?

BAKER: Depends on what they take up.

QUESTION: But if they take up a remedy as, I guess, I've heard some members talk about setting the standard. Earlier a state senator said that he felt the Supreme Court was essentially trying to undo what the legislature did.

BAKER: I think that ...

QUESTION: And that's what you're saying.

BAKER: I think the legislature - some people in the legislature - probably feel that the court has undone the statutory provisions that were laid out in compliance with the U.S. Constitution for the conduct of the election in Florida.

QUESTION: So if the Republican-controlled legislature then writes a bill that would redo it,*** would the Bush campaign support and endorse that?

BAKER: Well, I think we'd have to see what the bill said before I could answer that question for you. We'd have to see what it said. I can't give you a carte blanche answer here today.

Yes?

QUESTION: If you're behind on Sunday at 5 p.m., if the vote total puts you behind, would you not accept those results?

BAKER: Well, I don't know. I'm going to give you the same answer that you've been getting from the Gore campaign for, since the 8th of November: All options have to remain on the table. We have to see what the situation is at that time.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: As ... pointed out, you've been involved in many presidential campaigns; this one looks like it's ending in a court room. I wonder, you think that's a sign of the times, and is that troubling to you?

BAKER: Yes, it does a little bit; it troubles me as I indicated right here in this room on November the 8th. But I've never been involved in any that were quite as much of a dead heat as this one. But I think it is, I think it is troubling.

On the other hand, we are a resilient nation and our Constitution and laws provide for remedies and actions and procedures in the event that a very close election like this happens. And therefore, I think it's important that we look at those and examine them and consider whether or not to move on any one or more of them."

*What GOP spin has worked desperately to obscure is that a dimpled chad is considered a valid vote in many states, including Texas. The "dimpled chad" standard for Texas discussed in this CNN report is part of a law Governor Bush signed, which stated that hand recounts are more accurate than machine counts.

**Senator Bob Kerrey (D-Congressional Medal of Honor Winner) has already made several excellent points about this "irresponsible" charge.

***Some commentators have raised the possibility that, absent a certified winner of the presidential vote, the Republican-dominated body could make use of a statute granting them the power to appoint the state's 25 Electoral College votes. Can you say public relations disaster, boys and girls? I thought you could!

Yep... that's pretty much why I and 50,099,002 others say:

WIN, PLACE OR SHOW

MORE GORE IN O-4!



What happens when you ask Al to solve a problem?


Click on the picture above to find out!



Hey, Michael Moore! Still think there's no difference between "Gush and Bore"?



Ounce for ounce, one of the best dang quotes of the whole Florida flap:
"The right of the people to cast their vote is the paramount concern, overriding all others." --
The Florida State Supreme Court

Okay, so this quote is now a close second:
"The good news is yesterday was Sunday and the Republicans could not file another lawsuit." --
Rep. Peter Deutsch, D-Florida.



Katherine Harris, Smirk crony. Net worth: approx. $6 million.
Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris still hasn't recused herself! You know what to do:

Phone: 1-850-414-5500

E-Mail: secretary@mail.dos.state.fl.us

Web Site: http://www.dos.state.fl.us/oss/index.html

Don't forget to sign the petition asking Harris to recuse herself.




Can't get to Florida to march with Jesse? Send a lawyer instead!
Contributions are being accepted for the legal battles against the Bush Brothers' Banana Hall Putsch!

Make your personal check payable to "THE GORE/LIEBERMAN RECOUNT COMMITTEE". There is NO LIMIT to how much you can contribute. However, your donation will be reported to the Federal Elections Commission, so be sure to include your occupation and employer (if applicable) on the "note" area of your check.

Send your check to:

ATTN: Recount Committee
c/o the Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capital St. S.E.
Washington, DC
20003



SMIRK’S TRYING TO FIX THE FLORIDA ELECTION
SMIRK’S TRYING TO STEAL
THE BIG COMMANDER-IN-CHEIF HAT
FROM THE PRESIDENT YOU CHOSE
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT SMIRK?

AL'S DAY IN D.C. UPDATE: Al went on television and said we couldn't call him the People's POTUS Elect anymore. Rats!
My understanding is that there will be pro-Democracy, anti-Bush coup rallies every Saturday, to protest Smirk’s fuzzy vote count in Florida and his bogus claim that he won the Presidency already so we don’t need to see if anybody’s civil rights were violated in Florida. Click here to stay updated on participating cities and their protest locations.

Write, phone or email your Senators and Congressional Representatives -- tell them how you feel about the Florida election and what you think needs to be done to pick the next President! Especially if they are Republicans, let them know how you feel about Smirk’s claim to the Presidency! Let them know how you feel about the way Jeb runs Florida's elections!

Al’s back in DC, on the job! Email the People’s POTUS Elect and tell him how you feel about his fight against Florida’s vote fraud and civil rights abuses! Get specific! It’s Al!

Why has the fifth column in the fourth estate insisted that Al concede an election that isn’t over - - especially one so obviously rotten with voter fraud? Give those weasels a piece of your mind!





Smirk Links! Visit links both comedic and serious about America's favorite Coke Snortin', Draft Dodgin' Granny Killer for Christ -- D. Dubya Smirk!



Don't forget to visit "Gore-in-context", your one stop shop for debunking urban legends about Vice President Gore!
There are other ways to find this page, but here is the day I lost hope we'd ever beat the Smirks of this world. Thanks to everyone who offered their comfort and support.
Click here for your October Surprise Update!
(Link Updated On 10/14!)
I'm Mad As Hell And I'm Not Going To Take It Any More! (Updated on 10/22 -- We take on CNN!)



The Fine Folks At Occidental Petroleum Remind You That They've Already Sunk A Ton Of Money Into This Election, So If You Must Vote, Vote For Their Guys.
Or Else They'll Steal Florida Right Out From Under The Smart Guy. Not Like There's Anything Fishy About That. Or Illegal. Nope. Nothing.


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Thanks to Kevin@Cunninghamstrikes.com - - King Of The Phototoon!!

"If You Don't Know About Cunninghamstrikes.com - -
You don't know Smirk About Comedy!"