A look at Florida/Michigan from a different view. What would you say?

[nonobadfish]

Say there is a town of 100 people, and these 100 people are enthuisiatically planning on voting for George Bush or Al Gore. Fifty two of them are for Gore, and 48 are for Bush. But before it comes time to vote, the presidential portion of the election is deemed unofficial. Nobody likes that it is unofficial, yet everyone understands it in advance. There are still some tax and local issues, so the election is not cancelled.

In this town of 100 people, Joe and Joan are strong Bush supporters, but they don't really care about the local issues, so they decide to attend an impromptu outing with their friends rather than vote since it doesn't count. Jean, John, Jackie, and Jason are Gore supporters, and they have been sidelined with a stomach virus...neither feels like going to the trouble of getting up to go vote since it doesn't count. Joey is another Gore supporter, but his son talks him into a day long fishing trip since the vote is unofficial. Juan, Janet, Jennifer and Jean (Gore supporters all) are angry that the election is unofficial, so they decide to protest by staying away from the ballot box. Josephine is a Bush supporter, but the traffic is horrendous due to a truck with a flat tire, so she decides not to vote since it doesn't count. Jack, James, and Jessie are all Gore supporters and they also really care about the property tax issue on the ballot, so they patiently wait for the flat tire to be fixed and make their way to the voting precinct in time.

The property tax is defeated due to special efforts by those who voted, so that part of the election was a success. And in the unofficial portion of the election, Bush beat Gore by a vote of 45-43. The Bush campaign celebrates, but the Gore campaign doesn't worry about it because, thankfully, the election was unofficial. Yes, 88 people did vote, but that wasn't as high as the voter turnout had been in other towns where the elections were official and they all knew from the start how things stood.

And then the voters protested that it wasn't their fault that the election was made unofficial, and since that was true and it really wasn't their fault, the officials agreed and declared that the election did count.

Multiply this town of 100 by thousands, and substitute the names of Clinton and Obama. Does that make it any less fair or unfair?

[thunder rising]

1. Let's just say that it doesn't count, since the rules prior to the date stated so.

[Labors of Hercules]

3. yep. The rules are the rules.

voters, if you had really wanted to protest, why didn't you do it BEFORE the damned election???

[Diamonique]

5. This Michigander didn't know about it until about 2 or 3 weeks before the primary, but...

... I'm not complaining about it (except to my state party). The rules were set long ago, and I think states should have to follow the rules or take some kind of punishment. Or else the next set of primaries will start the day after the 2009 inauguration.

[Labors of Hercules]

7. "I'm not complaining about it (except to my state party)."

:yourock: NOW you're talking!!

It was unfortunate, but the truth is, it will ultimately work in your favor...

I predict MI and FL will receive more attention in the General Election than any other state...

And The GE is really where it COUNTS!!! :toast:

[Crunchy Frog]

2. I think this will mostly go over the heads of the people it's aimed at.

Nice analogy though. :thumbsup:

[MichiganVote]

4. Michigan had largely independent voters....good luck

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. For MI, change the scenario a little

In the town of 100 people, the presidential primary vote will not count, and that's the only thing on the ballot, except only one real contender's name is on the ballot.

Plus, it's cold outside, so we can go to the polls, or go ice-fishing, or cross-country skiing, or just sit around and drink.

I like scenarios, but whether it's fair, less fair, un-fair, no matter. It's over.

[nonobadfish]

8. I like the sitting around and drinking idea.