Election Day
Dec 10th, 2000 | 10:51 AM
#222
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Stu,
The tendency for Bush to rely on public figures from his father's administration simply reflects a fact of contemporary American politics- each incoming administration relies heavily upon the previous administration of the same party affiliation.
Both William Christopher and Madeline Albright were associated with the Carter administration. The Daley brothers have a family political association with the Democratic party that pre-dates the Kennedy era.
Baker and Colin Powell were originally Reagan appointees. Cheney's ties date back to the Ford administration.
It is common knowledge that the Bush family has developed close personal ties with both Powell and Rice. Furthermore, no one has questioned the competency of these individuals, so what is the problem? I suspect that the criticism of Powell and Rice is rooted in the outrage that most liberals feel when confronted with an African-American conservative.
In contrast, Mr. Clinton has no long-term personal ties with any of the minority members of his cabinet, nor does it appear that he has developed close personal relationships with any of these individuals during his White House tenure.
The tendency for Bush to rely on public figures from his father's administration simply reflects a fact of contemporary American politics- each incoming administration relies heavily upon the previous administration of the same party affiliation.
Both William Christopher and Madeline Albright were associated with the Carter administration. The Daley brothers have a family political association with the Democratic party that pre-dates the Kennedy era.
Baker and Colin Powell were originally Reagan appointees. Cheney's ties date back to the Ford administration.
It is common knowledge that the Bush family has developed close personal ties with both Powell and Rice. Furthermore, no one has questioned the competency of these individuals, so what is the problem? I suspect that the criticism of Powell and Rice is rooted in the outrage that most liberals feel when confronted with an African-American conservative.
In contrast, Mr. Clinton has no long-term personal ties with any of the minority members of his cabinet, nor does it appear that he has developed close personal relationships with any of these individuals during his White House tenure.
Dec 10th, 2000 | 12:05 PM
#223
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All this could have been resolved long ago--and without the Supreme Court besmirching itself in a political fight--if the Bush campaign had simply accepted Al Gore's suggestion of a statewide recount. The Bush campaign's furious efforts to block recounts make it ever more difficult to escape the conclusion that the Bush side and the Gore side actually agree that a fair recount would show Gore won Florida.
There have always been two ways to settle this dispute. The most sensible and democratic way is to recount the ballots and let the voters decide Florida and the election. The alternative way is to block those counts on supposedly constitutional grounds, or, as has been suggested, to have the Florida legislature just step in and name electors. Down the recount path lies clarity and democratic legitimacy. Down the other path lies a retreat from democracy, and chaos.
Unless one of the five justices who stopped the recounts yesterday has the prudence to switch sides in the final decision, we will face the spectacle of a narrow conservative majority on the Supreme Court allying itself with a political campaign to stop the people from knowing how the voters of Florida really cast their ballots. That cannot be good for the court, or for our country.
There have always been two ways to settle this dispute. The most sensible and democratic way is to recount the ballots and let the voters decide Florida and the election. The alternative way is to block those counts on supposedly constitutional grounds, or, as has been suggested, to have the Florida legislature just step in and name electors. Down the recount path lies clarity and democratic legitimacy. Down the other path lies a retreat from democracy, and chaos.
Unless one of the five justices who stopped the recounts yesterday has the prudence to switch sides in the final decision, we will face the spectacle of a narrow conservative majority on the Supreme Court allying itself with a political campaign to stop the people from knowing how the voters of Florida really cast their ballots. That cannot be good for the court, or for our country.
Dec 11th, 2000 | 05:50 AM
#224
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Sally E.- If Mr. Gore sincerely believed that a state-wide recount would have put him ahead, he would have vigorously pursued that in the courts, rather than the selected recounts. Instead, he chose only to give lip service to the state-wide recount. Had Mr. Gore pursued a state-wide recount (using uniform reasonable standards- no dimpled chads, non-partisan scrutiny of contested ballots, etc.) from the outset, I would have reluctantly granted him the moral high ground on this issue. As it is, his credibility has only been eroded further.
By the way, despite the misleading pronouncements of Mr. Gore's spokesperson, the partial recount on Saturday was breaking in Gov. Bush's favor- even without a single vote counted in Republican Duval county where about 5000 undervotes were known to exist.
By the way, despite the misleading pronouncements of Mr. Gore's spokesperson, the partial recount on Saturday was breaking in Gov. Bush's favor- even without a single vote counted in Republican Duval county where about 5000 undervotes were known to exist.
Dec 11th, 2000 | 07:06 AM
#226
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Sorry, Kalena, but you must first consider the intricacies of ciao, both as an opener and a closer, and how it is used in varying forms and styles worldwide. Perhaps you are aware that even Spanish has a form. People just think they can take a chance and cast forth an occasional ciao because they've rented Il Postino. Actually, it's debatable whether any of us should be using ciao on a thread of strangers, unless most are underage (a distinct possiblity given some of the utterances posted). ArrivedeLa would be the more suitable. But happy trails, and thanks for the chat, e buon giornata. L
Dec 11th, 2000 | 11:13 AM
#227
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Hola Leone:
Indeed, there are nuances to ciao, but it's a good thing. I first picked it up in Barcelona. I love how my flamenco friends use it, preceded by a kiss on both cheeks. Argentinians are particularly prolific with ciao, whereas my german friends say choos. Thanks for the note, and happy holidays!
Aloha,
k
Indeed, there are nuances to ciao, but it's a good thing. I first picked it up in Barcelona. I love how my flamenco friends use it, preceded by a kiss on both cheeks. Argentinians are particularly prolific with ciao, whereas my german friends say choos. Thanks for the note, and happy holidays!
Aloha,
k
