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. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html >You may also send subscription requests to >[log in to unmask] >if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your >full name and e-mail address. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------