Can we get a governor please?
After the recount of the votes in the governor's race in Washington, the Democrat Christine Gregoire seems to have won the election by something around 140 votes (sorry for my laziness in not checking out the exact amount). Of course the Republican camp is incensed at this report and will continue to fight, although it appears that according to the state law there can be no more recounts. This race never seems to end, and neither side can simply give up and concede. Of course, I realize that each side has invested a great deal of time and money into their campaigns and could not be expected to give up easily.
Still, the suggestions coming from the Republicans sound a little hokey. They are claiming that some of the ballots that weren't counted came from military personnel stationed in Iraq, whose absentee ballots did not arrive on time. How do they know this? Well, some party representatives were quoted saying they heard from the families of the service members that the ballots did not arrive on time. How would the family members know this? I have voted while stationed overseas, and I can be sure that my family did not have any idea when my ballot arrived. The reports get even sillier when claims arise about ballots from soldiers wounded in Fallujah, etc. These appear to be desperation tactics from a side that has little more to offer.
Apparently elections in this country are going to be riddled with controversy from now on. The extremism of partisan politics has created a situation where neither side can bear to give an inch to the other, and any victory must be challenged with accusations of wrongdoing. Unfortunately, situations like this frustrate the public and probably prevent justice from being done in cases where the voting system actually was manipulated by one side.
Like I said previously, this election is a can of worms. The societal effects of the 2004 election will be felt for many, many years to come.
Still, the suggestions coming from the Republicans sound a little hokey. They are claiming that some of the ballots that weren't counted came from military personnel stationed in Iraq, whose absentee ballots did not arrive on time. How do they know this? Well, some party representatives were quoted saying they heard from the families of the service members that the ballots did not arrive on time. How would the family members know this? I have voted while stationed overseas, and I can be sure that my family did not have any idea when my ballot arrived. The reports get even sillier when claims arise about ballots from soldiers wounded in Fallujah, etc. These appear to be desperation tactics from a side that has little more to offer.
Apparently elections in this country are going to be riddled with controversy from now on. The extremism of partisan politics has created a situation where neither side can bear to give an inch to the other, and any victory must be challenged with accusations of wrongdoing. Unfortunately, situations like this frustrate the public and probably prevent justice from being done in cases where the voting system actually was manipulated by one side.
Like I said previously, this election is a can of worms. The societal effects of the 2004 election will be felt for many, many years to come.