A Conversation for Ask h2g2

US Election

Post 201

Just zis Guy, you know? † Cyclist [A690572] :: At the 51st centile of ursine intelligence

Hmmm. Who was it said that each time a Canadian emigrates to America the average IQ of both nations increases smiley - winkeye


A two-horse race

Post 202

Is mise Duncan

At the begining of the recount there were only two people with a chance of becoming president - Bush and Gore. However, if the legal situation is not sorted out then there is a possibility that the electoral college votes for Florida will not be cast.
This means that neither candidate will have the magic 270 votes and under the constitution the next president will be...the current speaker of the house of representatives smiley - winkeye.
Brilliant stuff this democracy...


A two-horse race

Post 203

Sol

Who is......?


A two-horse race

Post 204

Is mise Duncan

Dany Hastert (Republican)...I think smiley - winkeye
This would probably be the best outcome all round, as he probably isn't indebted to any major benefactors with favours due, as is the case with the other two.

Of course, there are numerous possible outcomes...if there is no clear mandate from Florida, the congress will "pick" the president and the senate will pick the vice president. Of course, if the senate is split 50:50 (as seems likely) then Al Gore can break that deadlock by declaring Joe Lieberman the vice president. If congress have not been able to pick a president then Lieberman will become the president by default...but who would be his vice president in that situation?


A two-horse race

Post 205

Two Bit Trigger Pumping Moron

From what I've heard, the House won't have a problem. Each state's delegation to Congress will cast one vote for President. I think their are 28 majority republican state delegations.

Interesting times...


A two-horse race

Post 206

Fragilis - h2g2 Cured My Tabular Obsession

To go back to an earlier point, I saved money in '93 too. My grandmother on welfare, however, had her check arrive late. I'd far rather I had paid a little more in taxes.


A two-horse race

Post 207

Two Bit Trigger Pumping Moron

I just read the 12 the amendment (http://www.h2g2.com/A472817#12). It looks like the only way it could concieveably go to the house for a vote would be if someone sued to keep the Texans from voting for Bush and Cheney.

There has been comment on them both being residents of Texas. Cheney was a Wyoming representative in the house, but he moved to Texas when he left government service. He changed his voter registration to Wyoming back in the summer. An argument could be made that he is really a Texas resident, and therfore, the Texan electors couldn't vote for Bush and Cheney.


A two-horse race

Post 208

Is mise Duncan

You can be fairly sure that where lawyers are involved, if an argument can be made it will be made smiley - winkeye


A two-horse race

Post 209

FG

At the risk of not having a good conversational segway here...NPR reported this morning that Cambridge, Massachusetts is thinking of lowering the voting age to 16. A so-called "expert" declared that this was stupid as "16 year olds don't know what the Hell they're doing."

As I was listening I wondered how that was any different from the idiots that are already voting out there...smiley - tongueout


A two-horse race

Post 210

Is mise Duncan

The 25th amendment (I think) prevents anyone from interfereing with the right of any american citizen over the age of 18 to vote. It does not cover people under that age so each state has complete discretion as to whether or not minors can vote...they could even come up with arbitrary rules like "minors can vote only if they wear red shirts" and not be in breach of the constitution...


Removed

Post 211

Fragilis - h2g2 Cured My Tabular Obsession

This post has been removed.


A two-horse race

Post 212

Is mise Duncan

Can't - firewall doesn't allow it *sigh*
They let me edit production financial databases but not look at online spoof newspapers.... smiley - sadface


A two-horse race

Post 213

Just zis Guy, you know? † Cyclist [A690572] :: At the 51st centile of ursine intelligence

Allow me:

Recount Reveals Nader Defeated
==============================
TALLAHASSEE, FL-- A third recount by Florida election officials has "definitively determined" that Green Party candidate Ralph Nader was defeated in the state. "There was a very significant 25,603-vote discrepancy between the first two counts, with Nader losing by respective margins of 2,812,339 and 2,837,942, so we decided to conduct a hand recount," Florida Attorney General Jim Smith said. "We now know that Nader lost by precisely 2,821,278 votes." It is not yet known whether Nader lost to Gore or Bush.

smiley - biggrin


A two-horse race

Post 214

plaguesville


Thanks for the onion link, Fragilis.

It occurs to me that I have seen no reference to a very important indicator.
Is it still possible to get a bet on the result of the presidential see-saw?

And, if it comes down to the previously mentioned drawing lots or similar, who is quicker on the trigger? If the movie history is to be believed, I suspect that it should be the Texan; but if he's shooting from horseback .....


A two-horse race

Post 215

42

a news reproter here in florida suggested they get together at the florida university football game and armwrestle for the title of president. hey, why not? at least people will agree on the winner.


A two-horse race

Post 216

Just zis Guy, you know? † Cyclist [A690572] :: At the 51st centile of ursine intelligence

I tend more and more to the view that Gush and Bore should do the job alternate weeks.


A two-horse race

Post 217

Blatherskite the Mugwump - Bandwidth Bandit

I turned up an interesting tidbit while researching my University project on the US Constitution. The whole electoral college thing was the result of several compromises between small and large states, and just as we are today, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were seriously divided over its usefulness. George Mason, delegate from Virginia, predicted that the House of Representatives would end up picking the president 19 times in 20.


A two-horse race

Post 218

Just zis Guy, you know? † Cyclist [A690572] :: At the 51st centile of ursine intelligence

It would be fine if the Florida college adopted a rational policy of giving their votes in proportion to the votes cast, but to give the whole bundle to one candidate when their majority is very clearly well below the margin of error in counting, and indeed is overwhelmed more than thirty to one by spoiled ballots, seems crazy. Especially when you consider the (reasonable credible) allegations of vote-rigging.


A two-horse race

Post 219

HappyDude

Woulden't it sole the whole issue if you were to kick Florida out of Union ?
(you could sell it to Cuba)
smiley - winkeye


A two-horse race

Post 220

HappyDude

Last posting read 'solve' for 'sole'.smiley - erm


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