4a
Opinion
Thursday, November 16, 2000
For comments, contact Ben Voosen Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com
Decision 2000 adds quirky election twists
What is it about Florida? The panicked bellows of punts aside, this is not a first in our history. More than a hundred years ago, Republican Rutherford Hayes and Democrat Sam Tilden played out this very same scenario — Tilden won the popular vote, but Hayes won the electoral college ... because of ballot irregularities in the Sunshine State.
He went on to be nicknamed Rutherfraud and was a dismal, forgotten, one-term failure of a president. Bush and Gore, take note.
This time around, Florida has birthed more incredible sights and stretching of already-abused truth than it did before. Such as ...
The Bush campaign saying with a straight face that the elderly Jewish enclave
of West Palm Beach was a "Pat Buchanan Stronghold." This is akin to calling Mad Dog, Texas, a "Ralph Nader Stronghold."
The Gore campaign sending a Chicago Daley to protest ballot irregularities. It makes sense in a way, I suppose; the late Mayor Daley probably knew more about vote fraud, ballot-rigging and election irregularities than anyone else on the planet. Practice, after all, makes perfect.
Mike Loader columnist opinion@kanaan.com
— that is, with more than one vote for president — and not those that were undervoted, which means there was no vote at all. The total of under-and-over votes this year is roughly 30,000. The total in 1996 was, as the Shrubster said, 14,872.
The Bush campaign's very own fuzzy math. The number of ballots disqualified in 1996 was 14,872, they say, so those 19,000 shot down this time is perfectly normal. They neglect to mention that the 19,000 count is only for those that were overvoted
Of similar number warpings is the claim that Buchanan did well in Palm Beach in '96. They neglect to mention that this was in the Republican primary, not a general election, and that he in fact did poorly compared with his performance in the rest of the nation.
The Democrats suddenly becoming avid supporters of states' rights, hypocritically insisting that the federal courts have no jurisdiction over a state election — despite the fact that this runs counter to their entire philosophy.
The Republicans suddenly becoming avid opponents of states' rights, hypocritically insisting that the federal courts have full jurisdiction over a state election — despite the fact that this runs counter to their entire philosophy.
Jesse Jackson and supporters chanting "Stay out of the Bushes!" while trempling the shrubs outside the Paim Beach courthouse.
- King George the Second and his coronation antics, doing everything in his power to enrage the Democrats while loudly proclaiming himself a uniter. Folks, whoever wins this election won't be able to unite a pair of lego bricks, let alone the congress.
The myriad forms of lawyers and lawyers, spawned by both sides. The Gore Squad says they might sue. NO LAWYERS! scream the Shrubites, keep this out of the courts ... oh, wait, we’re going to sue in federal court. NO LAWYERS! scream the Goreys ... but yes, there are lawyers — superlawyers, too, such as Action-Barrister L. Tribe and Elian-Cuddalin Kendall Coffey.
■ The fact that even a lobotomized baboon could get confused by one of these things! I mean, arrow, hole: what's the problem?
The fact that it's been so big a problem in the past that Massachusetts banned them in '96. Whoops.
- The myriad forms of chad: pregnant chad, hanging chad, open-door chad, dimpled chad, chad-flakes, the nation of Chad, old MacDonald had a chad ...
The fact that reasonably intelligent people were misled and confused by a now-infamous butterfly ballot.
Cuba offering to send observers to make sure the election is fair. Our humiliation is complete.
Loader is a Henderson, Nev., senior in journalism.
Daniel Rubin / KANGAN
Kansan report card
Pass:
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. After bringing joy to the hearts of children for more than two decades, Mr. Rogers has decided to hang up his sweater and move out of the neighborhood. All of us neighbors out there will miss him.
Men's Basketball Team. The season tipped off to a great start with two victories at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in the Big Apple. Now, go take a bite out of North Dakota.
The Florida recount. In light of voting irregularities and the infamous butterfly ballot, a fair and accurate count is in order. This is a democracy, right?
Fail:
- Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris. Florida secretary of state said, prior to the Supreme Court stepping in, she might accept hand-recount ballots — but, then again, she might not. Ethical question: Should a Republican who was appointed by a Republican governor have been charge of the recount decision?
Phenylpropanolamine. The FDA pulled numerous cold and appetite suppressants after discovering the drug is linked to hemorrhagic stroke or bleeding in the brain. Looks like the only thing left is pau-dophedrine, a performance-enhancing drug that was banned by the International Olympic Committee.
Perspective
Vote trading reveals Electoral College flaws
If this country wasn't operating on systems implemented in the 18th century, voters would not have to deal with the Secretary of State in Kansas taking legal action against voters for trying to get the candidate we want to vote for into office.
On November 2, 2000, the Kansan ran an article about the vote-trading sites on the Internet. The fact of the matter is, if the electoral college was not in effect, we would not have this problem.
Many voters are looking to choose the lesser of the two evils. In states such as Kansas, my vote actually does not matter. Although I may vote for Al Gore, the Electoral College will register my vote as a vote for George W. Bush.
This system was set into place in a time during which the federal government was convinced that the general public did not have the intelligence to choose the
Americans have proven that they are smarter than the government believes by constructing Web sites to beat the system. If the system can be beat, it is obviously not one that should be standing.
Mary Kellerman
guest columnist
opinion@kansan.com
Thanks to the Electoral College in the United States, popular vote has little to do with who becomes our president. No matter whom I vote for this year, my vote will essentially count as my state's votes for Bush.
best candidate. Today, this system is simply wrong
Kansas, a predominately Republican state, will cast all its electoral votes for the Republican candidate because he will win
the popular vote in this state. Based on the system, this is fair. However, this system makes my vote essentially a wasted vote.
Therefore, the Electoral College is not an accurate reflection of the popular vote. For example, a candidate could lose the popular vote in a state by only one vote and receive no electoral votes from that state.
The Electoral College system dictates that an elector may cast his or her vote for whichever candidate he or she prefers. Traditionally, the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes from that state.
The Web sites constructed to allow citizens to trade their votes may be illegal and a shame to our system, but it does prove one thing. It proves that American citizens are, in fact, smart enough to vote for the president and have their vote count.
The United States needs to realize the average citizen is important enough to have his or her individual vote count. If I vote for Nader, my vote will help him to get campaign funding. If I vote for Bush, I will simply ensure his victory in Kansas. If I vote for Gore, my vote really has no effect.
For some reason, the federal government gives states the power to make a crucial decision. However, the citizens of the United States should be viewed as individuals, not simply as residents of a state. The Electoral College is doing nothing more than grouping United States citizens into specific categories based on where they to live.
Vote trading on the Internet may be unconstitutional. It may be a shame to the system that our forefathers constructed more than 200 years ago. But vote trading simply proves that the system needs to be changed.
Kellerman is a Kansas City, Mo., sophomore in history and journalism.
Editorial
Students need parking on game days
University should provide parking for students who want to study during games.
On basketball game days, parking spaces become hard to come by, and the availability of spaces reaches as far away as past the Kansas Union. On those nights, students and faculty going to Watson Library or late classes get frustrated when trying to find a parking space.
Therefore, the University should accommodate this problem on game days by reserving a parking lot that students studying on those days can use. People have complained about this problem for a long time. All the parking department needs to do is find a solution.
The best place to reserve a parking lot would be behind Fraser and Blake halls. This location is close to Watson Library and the Kansas Union.
The parking department could easily post a sign at the intersection between Danforth Chapel and Fraser Hall saying something such as, "Reserved for Library Users" or "Basketball Parking Prohibited."
Nevertheless, the inevitable problem of enforcement arises. The easiest method would be for basketball fans to respect those studying and find some other place to park. If fans, out of simple consideration, parked somewhere other than that lot, it would be the easiest way to solve this minor problem.
Jayhawk basketball games are some of the most exciting events at the University of Kansas, and they bring the some of the best fans in the United States to Allen Fieldhouse. However, if 40 carloads of fans parked a little farther away on game day, it would be a lot easier for 40 students to have reasonable access to the library.
In respect to both fans and students, this reasonable plan would ease many people's parking frustrations on game days.
Tim Lang for the editorial board
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed. To read more, go to www.kansan.com.
Vegetarians need to learn that eating meat is a lot like beer. At first it may be gross, but after a while you can't live without it.
Does anyone else notice that the parts of the country with higher literacy rates voted for Gore?
Thanks to the Kansan for charting out STD's, but maybe symptoms of STD's should have been included. It would be really helpful.
The media is a disgrace for calling the election before final results were in.
图
Have you ever looked at the end of your cigarette and wondered if it was hell?
---
If girls were meant to chase guys, then they would have been made worth chasing
I'm glad it's cold now so girls will stop wearing their loud, annoying flip-flops.
10
I was eating summer sausage today, and it's autumn.
图
We have a big football stadium because a complete game can't be played in the confines of six tennis courts.
图
If Al Gore is elected, I'm moving to Germany.
图
Finals are one month away.
My roommate and I have put up all the Free for Alls we've had in [the paper] on the wall. Let me tell ya, chicks dig the wall.
I think it's cool we don't have a president.
图
UCLA demands a recount of the KU-UCLA game.
KU should implement a ski lift from Campanile. It would make it easier to get to class instead of walking.
图
Jawbreakers are so unusual.
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
Guest columns: Should be double-
spaced typed with fewer than 700 words.
The writer must be willing to be phot-
graphed for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be e-mailed to opinion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ben Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
The University Daily Kansan
News editors Advertising managers
Editor ... Nathan Willis editor@kansan.com or 864-4854 Features ... Clay McCuiston features@kansan.com or 864-4824 Jayplay ... BriAnne Hess joyplay@kansan.com or 864-4810 Online ... Chris Hopkins webbeller@kansan.com or 864-4810 Marketing ... Trent Guyer Business ... Brad Bolyard adddirector@kansan.com or 864-4924 Retail sales ... Becky LaBranch retailsales@kansan.com or 864-4462 Classifieds ... Jason Hannah classifieds@kansan.com or 864-3558
Opinion ... Ben Embry, opinion@kansan.com or 864-4810 Photo ... Nick Krug Campus ... Monica Hahn Zone ... Cecily Curran Emily Hughey Design, graphics ... Amy Train Regional ... Brooke Johnson Zone ... Anika Entwistle Sports ... Melinda Weaver sports@kansan.com Wire ... Lori O'Toole National ... Katy Hyman Zone ... Chris Davenport Associate sports ... Jason Walker Special section ... Claire McLellan Online sales ... Lindsey Gross Online sales of kansan.com or 864-4358 Zone ... Jenny Moore Sales and marketing Matt Fisher Mindie Miller General manager telebler@kansan.com or 864-7667 Online creative ... Patrick Rupe onlineads@kansan.com or 864-4358nf fisher@kansan.com or 864-7666
---