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["Paula Paul" <Paula AT PaulSoftware.com>]

If only something like this could happen.
(from Slate
http://slate.msn.com/code/ThisJustIn/ThisJustIn.asp?Show=11/9/2000&idMes
sage=6465)

...
Al Gore has the power to save the day. Imagine if, instead of pursuing
every legal option, Gore said the following once the initial recount
shows Florida still in Bush's corner. "There are challenges I could
still make to the outcome in Florida," Gore would say, "but I believe
that to pursue them would set in motion a series of partisan legal
fights that could ensnarl the country for months in ways deeply damaging
to our democracy. As the winner of the majority of the popular vote in
this election, however, it would be morally unthinkable, and sure to
deepen the next president's crisis of legitimacy, if I simply ceded the
election to Gov. Bush. Fortunately, our constitution offers a third way
that will resolve this matter by a date certain and which calls on the
deepest values of our nation. I hereby appeal to the Republican electors
who will finalize the presidential choice on Dec. 18 to honor the will
of the majority and cast their votes for me."
...

I would be happy if the electors in Florida simply voted to reflect the
people's wishes (isn't that what representatives are supposed to do?).
If there are 25 electors in Florida, and the population voted roughly
50/50, then the electors should vote accordingly (say, 13 for Bush and
12 for Gore).

Forget the lawsuits, and convince the representative electors to truly
represent the people...
Even taking this to a national level, since Gore won the popular vote,
if the state electors truly represented the people, Gore would win on
December 18.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paula Paul          Paula AT PaulSoftware.com
Paul Software, Inc. http://www.PaulSoftware.com
tel 919.460.4539    fax 650.373.3025



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas A. Beckett [mailto:thomas AT tbeckett.com]
> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 3:45 PM
> To: InterNetWorkers
> Subject: [internetworkers] Re: How long could this go on?
> 
> 
> Kevin - The Alchemist - Sonney wrote:
> > Actually, I had heard from one interpreter that the next 
> qualified in the
> > succession at the moment is down to the Honorable Strom 
> Thurmond (R-SC).
> 
> Hmmn.  Is Strom the President Pro Tempore of the Senate?  
> 
> U.S. Code Title 3, Section 19.  
> 
>       (a)(1) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office,
>     inability, or failure to qualify, there is neither a President nor
>     Vice President to discharge the powers and duties of the office of
>     President, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall,
>     upon his resignation as Speaker and as Representative in Congress,
>     act as President.
>       (2) The same rule shall apply in the case of the death,
>     resignation, removal from office, or inability of an individual
>     acting as President under this subsection.
>       (b) If, at the time when under subsection (a) of this section a
>     Speaker is to begin the discharge of the powers and duties of the
>     office of President, there is no Speaker, or the Speaker fails to
>     qualify as Acting President, then the President pro tempore of the
>     Senate shall, upon his resignation as President pro tempore and as
>     Senator, act as President.
> 
> Since the Congress is required to convene on January 3rd, the House
> would still have the opportunity to elect a speaker before 
> Inauguration
> Day.  After the requisite bloodletting.  And if the House failed, I
> kinda doubt that Strom would get elected President Pro Tempore of the
> Senate.  Now if the Senate is split 50-50, there's another cause for
> conniptions.  Worse, think Trent Lott.  
> 
> Here's another tidbit, a bit more relevant actually:  
> 
> U.S. Code as of: 01/23/00 
> Title 3, Section 5. Determination of controversy as to appointment of
> electors 
> 
>       If any State shall have provided, by laws enacted prior to the
>     day fixed for the appointment of the electors, for its final
>     determination of any controversy or contest concerning the
>     appointment of all or any of the electors of such State, by
>     judicial or other methods or procedures, and such determination
>     shall have been made at least six days before the time fixed for
>     the meeting of the electors, such determination made pursuant to
>     such law so existing on said day, and made at least six days prior
>     to said time of meeting of the electors, shall be conclusive, and
>     shall govern in the counting of the electoral votes as provided in
>     the Constitution, and as hereinafter regulated, so far as the
>     ascertainment of the electors appointed by such State is 
> concerned.
> 
> See for yourself: 
> http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/3/chapters/1/toc.html 
> 
> God I love Findlaw.com
> 
> TaB
> 
> ---
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