craigfarmer
Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2004
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 6
If we as true liberal democrats want to have credibility when we talk about principles of fairness, equality, the right to vote, etc. at some point we are going to have to sacrifice political expediency.
This Washington state governor's race is a good example. Currently, both sides are posturing toward getting the most accurate count, but any astute observer can tell each are purposefully defining that in a way that is beneficial to themselves. As the leader of the world in freedom, we should aspire to do better than this. Once the votes are casted, we shouldn't use the legal system as a surrogate for warfare.
The news today that Republicans are going to pursue discarded or contested votes in counties friendly to them is a sign that the winner in this Washington state governor's race will be determined by which side has the best lawyers, is more ruthless in their pursuit of victory, or mistakes that should be unimaginable in 2004.
Democrats on all levels should develop a fair standard to count the votes that is as inclusive as possible for all counties. We should establish the principle that a vote that can be discerned should count if it was cast before the election deadline.
A real-time agreement is much more preferable than lawyers arguing over the meaning of cases 80 years ago, or both sides hoping to exploit a legal mistake by the other.
If we accept an apparent victory in Washington in the way it is unfolding, we will have notified the world, that Florida 2000 was all about winning, not about doing the right thing.
see the rest http://www.newliberals.org/elections.htm
Craig Farmer
making the word "liberal" safe again!
This Washington state governor's race is a good example. Currently, both sides are posturing toward getting the most accurate count, but any astute observer can tell each are purposefully defining that in a way that is beneficial to themselves. As the leader of the world in freedom, we should aspire to do better than this. Once the votes are casted, we shouldn't use the legal system as a surrogate for warfare.
The news today that Republicans are going to pursue discarded or contested votes in counties friendly to them is a sign that the winner in this Washington state governor's race will be determined by which side has the best lawyers, is more ruthless in their pursuit of victory, or mistakes that should be unimaginable in 2004.
Democrats on all levels should develop a fair standard to count the votes that is as inclusive as possible for all counties. We should establish the principle that a vote that can be discerned should count if it was cast before the election deadline.
A real-time agreement is much more preferable than lawyers arguing over the meaning of cases 80 years ago, or both sides hoping to exploit a legal mistake by the other.
If we accept an apparent victory in Washington in the way it is unfolding, we will have notified the world, that Florida 2000 was all about winning, not about doing the right thing.
see the rest http://www.newliberals.org/elections.htm
Craig Farmer
making the word "liberal" safe again!