Why is Al Gore still considered such a contender?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

There a LOT of people - not a majority by any means - who believe that Bush was granted the presidency in a blatantly partisan decision - the phenomenon of the EV/PV disparity has only happened 4 times. Be honest if it were reversed and Gore won the EC and Bush won the PV (which was a contingency the Gore people were planning on) would you lot be terribly happy?

Whatever the Constitution says - the idea that a 500,000 vote plurality doesn't mean anything is a bit strange.

So, what you're saying is that Bush won based on the only electoral rules laid down by the supreme document in American law, but Gore won if you ignore them. That sure is a winning argument.

The question wasn't that the decision was made... it's why. It was partisan on both sides that's why it was 4:5 - the Rep justices were not somehow the only ones reading the Constitution correctly.

[Keystone Phil]

a) It's easy to talk about constutional process when your'e on the winning end.

So because everyone can't always win, the Constitution doesn't matter? Do you know how much of an ass you are making yourself out to be? The Constitution doesn't matter because you lost? Grow up, kid.

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I'm not saying that it isn't tough but that's how it works. It suddenly isn't illegitimate because you haven't experienced this kind of defeat, crybaby.

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Oh, give me a break. You belief the nonsense that you posted. If you didn't, you would have said it from the beginning. If you don't agree with what you said then tell me where you agree with me.

By the way, I have no respect for the arguments that you posted because they are immature and complete BS.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Your response shows a massive amount of maturity.

No one has more faith in the importance of constutional structures than me - it's my speciality in law school.

You didn't really read what I wrote you reacted. I never for ONE SECOND said the constutition didn't matter - I'm saying the it's easy to be smug about the process when it works out in your favour... not that the process was wrong. The same is true for almost anything.

Did I say it was illegitimate? Again - reaction, not reading. I'm saying the reaction was so strong because such a thing had never happened.

I agree that Bush won the election - do I agree that people don't have the right to be annoyed with the system? No. But the system is the system. And you have to deal with it. I don't really see how that's different?

[Keystone Phil]

Your response shows a massive amount of maturity.

Sorry but your crybaby responses will receive the same amount of maturity.

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Then please stop trying to defend those that make a mockery out of the document.

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Lecture the other side about growing up. I shouldn't have to hear it because I am presenting the sane argument.

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When you become the spokesman for people that are saying it is illegitimate, you have to deal with the responses. You want to play Devil's Advocate then you have to face tough talk from the other side.

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People can be annoyed all they want. There are some people that want to end the Electoral College and I totally respect their cause (though I don't necessarily agree with it). However, it makes me very angry when these people say it doesn't matter, people win because of the popular vote, etc. just because they don't want it to matter. There are total hacks like Paul Begala and James Carville, who we are supposed to respect for apparently knowing so much about politics and the process, go on and on about how Gore won not just because of the "partisan" decision of the Supreme Court but also because of Gore's victory in the popular vote. Those people bother me so when you take on their case, expect a forceful, justified response.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Let me make this very clear - Gore lost the 2000 election. Why? because the constitution said he did.

I think constituional provisions should be respected.

However, because I refuse to get into name calling games - doesn't mean that I agree with some on my side. Does that mean that every single one of their complaint are totally without merit... not entriely, but it's a useless cause. Bush has been inaugurated twice.

But c'mon Phil "crybaby"?

[Reaganfan]

The fact is, George Bush beat Al Gore.

[Conan]

False, he won the most votes in 2000 and probably won the most EV's Everyone considers votes a win for Gore, the rest is just legal mumbo jumbo.

The rest is legal mumbo jumbo? "The rest" would be called the Constitution. In this country, winning the popular vote does not mean you won the election. Take all complaints to the framers of the Constitution, please.

Everyone knows the electoral college is garbage. Besides coming from a republican, one can hardly take them seriously when they are actually defending the constitution instead of attacking it. Also, if you read what I wrote, you'd see "Everyone considers votes a win for Gore". That's not the argument. I didnt say he won the election but I can argue that he should have.

[Conan]

The fact is, George Bush beat Al Gore.

The fact also is Al Gore was chosen to be president by more Americans. However instead of dwelling on the past, yes Bush beat Gore. Expect their to be no more electoral college in 10-20 years.

[adam]

The populist leaning, vice-presidential Gore could have been a good candidate to run in 2008...however, this is not the Gore that exists today. Do you honestly believe that middle America is going to put a one-issue, environmentalist in office?  This new Gore could win a primary, but I strongly doubt that he could shore up the centrist independent voters he would need to win.

Al Gore knows this, which is why he continues to decline a run.

[Jake]

The question wasn't that the decision was made... it's why. It was partisan on both sides that's why it was 4:5 - the Rep justices were not somehow the only ones reading the Constitution correctly.

Two of your Republican justices voted against installing a Republican as President, including one who was appointed by the Republican's father.

[Keystone Phil]

Everyone knows the electoral college is garbage.

So because you don't like it, it doesn't count. It's not in the Constitution, right?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The question wasn't that the decision was made... it's why. It was partisan on both sides that's why it was 4:5 - the Rep justices were not somehow the only ones reading the Constitution correctly.

Two of your Republican justices voted against installing a Republican as President, including one who was appointed by the Republican's father.

I mean't the ones who have strong partisan leanings.

[NewFederalist]

Everyone knows the electoral college is garbage.

Uh... not everyone.

[Defarge]

The fact is, George Bush beat Al Gore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Presidential_Election#Florida_election_results

If there had been a statewide recount, under every scenario, Gore would have won the election.

Edit: Correction, statewide recount by hand, which to be fair, Gore never asked for.

[Moooooo]

1.  he has nearly 100% name recognition
2.  he still is very popular within the democrat party.
3.  he has already won one presidential contest.

why wouldnt he be a contender?

^^^

[Keystone Phil]

The fact is, George Bush beat Al Gore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Presidential_Election#Florida_election_results

If there had been a statewide recount, under every scenario, Gore would have won the election.

Edit: Correction, statewide recount by hand, which to be fair, Gore never asked for.

I remember a number of agencies concluding that another recount would have meant a Bush win by a slightly larger margin.

[poughies]

It all depends on what the recount standards were.... If Gore had cared about having all the votes counted, he would have been rewarded. INSTEAD, he had to just do the limited recount and screwed himself. Not to mention if that stupid Democratic officer who designed the stupid ballot. overall, the dems screwed themselves..... what else is new?

That said, the polls are bull because everyone thinks Gore is not running. if he were to declare it would be a much different ballgame.....

[Defarge]

The fact is, George Bush beat Al Gore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Presidential_Election#Florida_election_results

If there had been a statewide recount, under every scenario, Gore would have won the election.

Edit: Correction, statewide recount by hand, which to be fair, Gore never asked for.

I remember a number of agencies concluding that another recount would have meant a Bush win by a slightly larger margin.

Yeah, according to wikipedia, basically any of the recounts Gore asked for would have resulted in his defeat but by smaller margins (probably what you're referring to).  The only way Gore could have won would have been a statewide recount, something he was not pushing for at the time.  Had the Supreme Court ruled for Gore in Bush v. Gore, Gore still would have lost.  But had there been a statewide recount without the intervention of the courts or the legal process, Gore would have won under every counting method.

This is according to wikipedia, so if it's wrong, please tell me.

[Keystone Phil]

The fact is, George Bush beat Al Gore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Presidential_Election#Florida_election_results

If there had been a statewide recount, under every scenario, Gore would have won the election.

Edit: Correction, statewide recount by hand, which to be fair, Gore never asked for.

I remember a number of agencies concluding that another recount would have meant a Bush win by a slightly larger margin.

Yeah, according to wikipedia, basically any of the recounts Gore asked for would have resulted in his defeat but by smaller margins (probably what you're referring to).  .

I thought it would end with Bush winning by larger, not smaller, margins but there is no use arguing over these differences.