-Caveat Lector-
Electronic Telegraph-Friday 1 December 2000
Bush brother will 'defy the courts' to keep Gore out
By Toby Harnden in Washington
GEORGE W BUSH received another boost yesterday when Florida's
Republican-controlled legislature announced it was prepared to
intervene to appoint electoral college members if Al Gore secured
victory in the courts.
To the fury of Democrats, Mr Bush's brother Jeb, the Florida
governor, said he would approve electors appointed by the
legislature in defiance of the courts. Joe Lieberman, Mr Gore's
running mate, said the legislature's decision was "just wrong and
sets a terrible precedent" that "threatens to put us in a
constitutional crisis".
As the arguments raged, the Vice-President's fading White House
hopes were focused on a lorry carrying 462,000 ballots through
Florida and nine federal Supreme Court justices preparing to hear
his arguments today. The 162 metal boxes of ballots were in a
yellow Ryder lorry, rented by Palm Beach County election
officials, which slowly made its way north to the state capital,
Tallahassee.
In a scene reminiscent of O J Simpson's 1994 attempt to flee
from the Los Angeles police after his wife was murdered,
television news channels covered the 450-mile journey live using
aerial footage from helicopters. A circuit court judge had
ordered that 1.1 million ballots should be transferred from Palm
Beach and Miami-Dade counties to Tallahassee.
Mr Gore believes that the disputed ballots carry enough votes to
give him victory in Florida. But with the clock working against
them, Democrats were angry that the judge said he wouldn't
consider whether they should be recounted until a hearing
tomorrow. Gore lawyers immediately lodged an appeal.
Mr Gore's chances of overturning Mr Bush's 537-vote Florida
victory, which was certified on Sunday, were further damaged by
the Florida legislature's decision to hold a special session to
choose the state's 25 electoral college members. Mr Bush needs
the 25 electoral college votes to win the White House and the
legislature's decision was seen as a "fire wall" should Mr Gore
overcome the long odds and prevail in the courts.
A second fire wall for the Texas governor is the House of
Representatives in Washington, which would become a factor should
there be a dispute over electoral college members. Republicans
hold a narrow majority there. Mr Gore faces a major hurdle today
when the US Supreme Court, the country's ultimate legal
authority, prepares to intervene.
Mr Bush's lawyers brought the appeal, arguing that the Florida
Supreme Court exceeded its powers by waiving the statutory
deadline for hand recounts to be completed. If the court rules
against Mr Gore, he is likely to have no option but to end his
legal fight. Oral arguments will be heard today and a judgment is
expected by Monday.
Mr Gore, whose lawyers advised him that the federal Supreme
Court would not take the case, has been intensely critical of two
of its nine justices. Meanwhile, Mr Bush, at his Texas ranch with
by Dick Cheney, said he was tired of the "legal hassling, the
wrangling" in Florida. "I won three counts and I think it's time
to get some finality to the process."
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Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
*Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
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