Yus:

Thanks a lot for the enlightening piece. The information is appreciated.

Ebrima Ceesay

>From: Yusupha Jow <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: The Gambia and the World
>Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 20:00:55 EST
>
>Ebrima:
>Big problem with the elections and the "electoral college system."
>
>Starting last night the major TV Networks (CNN, NBC, CBS) started making
>some
>comical blunders that questioned the process of projecting results before
>official announcements.  At around 10PM Eastern Standard Time they reported
>that based on their projections, Al Gore had won Florida and thus taken her
>25 electoral votes.  This win placed him in a commanding and almost
>unassailable lead.  But minutes later the cameras flashed to Dubya's
>headquarters where, in the presence of his father, ex president Bush sr,
>Barbara Bush and a few others, he said that he had reliable info that
>Florida
>had not been lost.
>Note: The reliable source was his brother Jeb who is governor of Florida.
>
>Bernard Shaw and Judy Woodruff at CNN headquarters raised their eyebrows,
>asked him if he was sure, and minutes later cut-away from Dubyas Hqs to
>announce, much to their embarassment, that they had indeed blundered,
>Florida
>was indeed too close to call.
>
>So the night went on and, despite my apathy for the two me, I stayed glued
>to
>CNN.  A few hrs later with all the ballots counted, Dubya had 246 votes and
>Gore was a few votes behind with Florida looming large since her 25 votes
>would give the Republicans and Bush the White House.  At around 2 AM PT,
>CNN
>announced that Florida Gore had lost Florida and Gore would be the next
>president.
>
>Gore called the victor to concede.  But much to Dubya's chagrin, Gore
>called
>back later to withdraw his concession since the margin in Florida (2000
>votes) was narrow enough for a recount.  Supposedly, Bush and AL had a few
>unpleasant words to the point where AL said: " George you don't have to be
>so
>snippy about it."
>
>So hear we stand.  Business will not be complete in Florida until close of
>business day tomorrow.  However, the spin masters are having a field day.
>Rumours are swirling that Pat Buchanan received 3000 of Al's votes due to
>some confusion with the tickets.  Another rumor is swirling around that
>claims they found one or two missing ballot boxes in South Florida which is
>a
>Democrat Party stronghold.
>
>one thing is for sure, the Republicans would have lost Florida if it were
>not
>for the absentee ballots (about 100,000)that are cast mainly by senior
>citizens and army personnel.  The Republicans ran a strong campaign among
>these absentee voters.  so don't be surprised if Bush wins the recount.
>
>I believe this experience is a learning experience for the Networks and
>people that run the electoral college.  The method used to determine the
>victor seems to be a boit outdated.  How else can you explain Al Gore
>winning
>the popular vote but about to lose the contest?  As for the TV Networks,
>they
>are smarting from the failure of the projection process.
>
>Anyway, we are all in limbo here.  Nevertheless, at the end of the day, the
>lesser of two evils will be in the White House.  I just hope he doesn't go
>on
>a Vodka bender on inauguration day and start world war 3.
>
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