By Phil Agre

Wed Dec 13 06:14:08 2000

You must read the Supreme Court's decision. It is bizarre. While you're reading, I recommend that you ask yourself two things: (1) why the decision doesn't throw out dozens of other elections, and (2) why in finding an equal protection problem with the Florida vote-counting standard it doesn't find a much worse equal protection problem in the inaccurate voting systems used in the poorer counties -- not just in Florida but in many states. Then study Rehnquist's arguments for overruling the Florida Supreme Court despite his passionate commitment to federalism. Ginsburg's dissent will help you with this. Think about Rehnquist's background, and ask yourself whether this decision is the culmination of his career. Finally, ask yourself whether the United States even exists any more, now that the Supreme Court itself has sabotaged the counting of votes in the presidential election, and what we need to do to reestablish the legitimacy of our government.

As to the victors in this riot, well, you know what I think about them.
The resistance begins tomorrow.

I devoutly hope that this is my last set of election-related URL's.
Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Supreme Court Decision
      http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/resources/uscdecision1212.pdf

GOP Argument Could Benefit Democrats
      http://www.latimes.com/print/asection/20001212/t000118739.html

A Bush Flip-Flop Is Alleged in Absentee Arguments
      http://www.latimes.com/print/asection/20001212/t000118747.html

High Court Plays Games to Provide "Adult Supervision" of Presidential Election
      http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=112055577&i=284420&d=729490

A Blacklist Burning for Bush
      http://commondreams.org/views/121000-106.htm

Blacks Say Problems Cost Them Their Votes
      http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57603-2000Dec11.html

Absentee Practices Vary Widely Despite Florida Law
      http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57399-2000Dec11.html

Hunt for Fraudulent Voters Triggered Anger
      http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/monday/news_2.html

GOP's Absentee-Voter Drive Paid Off Big
      http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/monday/news_8.html

PBS Online NewsHour: Bush vs. Gore
      http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/july-dec00/legal_12-11.html

Media Underreported Florida's Obstacles to "Voting While Black"
      http://commondreams.org/views/121000-103.htm

Slim Majority of Public Wants Count Resumed
      http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A53054-2000Dec10?language=printer

Supreme Court Notebook: A Week Stranger Than Fiction
      http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=112055577&i=283951&d=718161

Having a Bad Law Day
      http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=112055577&i=283951&d=718158

Absentee Ballot Cases Go to Court
      http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/politics/AP-Recount-Absentees.html

Florida Court Clarifies Earlier Ruling
      http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/politics/AP-Recount-Florida-Court.html

Opinion of the Court on Recounts (On Remand)
      http://www.flcourts.org/sct/sctdocs/ops/sc00-2346-remand.pdf

A "Modern" Democracy That Can't Count Votes
      http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/decision2000/lat_vote001211.htm

Bending the Rules Boosted Bush Totals
      http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/12/11/absentee/

57 Red Flags
      http://www.bushneverwonflorida.com/

end