Robert Parry: A Time Machine to Save America (good discussion of Bush v. Gore)

[antigop]

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/121108.html

Looking out over the bleak landscape of economic and national security disasters that George W. Bush is leaving behind, I sometimes think the best use of the trillion-dollar bailout funds might be to invent a time machine that could take the world back eight years to the fateful decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to give Bush the White House.

That decision – on Dec. 12, 2000 – may rank as one of the most destructive turning points in history, putting the United States and the world on a course so dangerous that there may be no feasible route back to the relative peace and prosperity that existed at the time.

If only there were a way to return to that date and convince Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony Kennedy to follow the logic of their own legal arguments and have Florida conduct as full and fair a recount as possible – a process that apparently would have made Al Gore, not George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States.

[JuniperLea]

1. I've been horrified since that day...

That this was allowed to happen, and that there was not enough public or Congressional outcry. This was a crime, imho. Salt was poured into that wound in 2004.

[antigop]

2. To this day, I am amazed at the number of people who do not understand what happened

I know a lot of people who have NO idea of how ridiculous and partisan the Supreme Court ruling was.

How can we fix this country when people don't even know what has happened and what is going on?

[JuniperLea]

3. I believe Bush was the first non-elected, but appointed POTUS

That alone should have been a huge red flag for everyone. It's sad to think there are that many people who are so ill-informed.

[liberation]

4. Nope, there have been other non-elected presidents.

In any case, we should be clear about this, because it seems some people are confused about it: In the USA we (the people) do not elect a president, the electors do.

In fact, theoretically in the presidential elections we shouldn't be casting votes for a presidential candidate, but for electors.

The main problem with our system is that is so incredibly vague, that it is bound to be perverted and/or manipulated. Bush is the culmination of those fears.

[JuniperLea]

5. Got a link?

I've searched and inquired, but have never found one other POTUS appointed.

[liberation]

6. Hmmm, Gerald Ford for starters...

Then depending on your definition of "elected" Adams, Hayes, and I believe Harrison are in the same situation as Bush: lost popular vote, but were appointed by the electoral college anyways.

[JuniperLea]

7. At the risk of repeating myself... got a link? eom

[sweetladybug]

8. The Presidents you mention were not installed by the

Republican majority of the United State Supreme Court

[shrike]

9. Justice Stevens said as much

He wrote the dissenting opinion, and said we would all rue the day this happened. God, was he right.

[Uncle Joe]

10. This is one of the best columns, I've read regarding this piece of history and is well worth reading

Thanks for the thread, antigop.:thumbsup:

Kicked and too late to recommend.

[OhioChick]

11. Good Read. K&R n/t