> > If that's decided after the electoral vote in Gore's favor after >Bush is
> declared winner, what would be the remedy? They're >not going to remove Bush
> from office at that point. No way.
>
> I don't know - I think that if it were legally established that Gore did
> ultimately win the electoral vote, I think they would have to remove Bush
> from office. It would be a first, but I don't see that it could never
> happen"
>
It would be unconstitutional to remove a president for any other reason than
impeachment and conviction for high crimes and misdemeanors commited while
president. If (note I say "if", I am just pitching a scenario for the sake of
illustration) it were proved that G W Bush actively conspired to steal the
election, that would not have happened while he was president and would not be
an impeachable offense. Once the president is sworn in on January 20 at 12
noon, that is it for 4 years.
I do think the election was clearly stolen. I am not sure if G W Bush had any
role in it, but at least (some) Florida Republicans did. The investigations
the next few years will be interesting. The payback for what was done to
Clinton with investigations, and Gore with this election, will be hell.
One of the most antiClinton Republicans, Bill McCullom, a member of the House
Judiciary Committee and a manager of the House team in the Senate trial of
Clinton, was defeated for election as Florida's senator. I can happen, but it
strains the imagination that people voted for Bush and then turned around and
voted Democratic for Senator given who the Republican candidate was.
I never thought a stolen election like 1876 or 1888 could happen in our day.
It appears to be happening. I am very sad, very stunned, very disappointed
with the way this is going. However this ugly saga plays out, I am glad that I
was on the side that said over and over, count all the votes and not on the
side that said, stop the counting. I ma glad my candidate asked to meet with
the other candidate; I think it says a lot that the other candidate refused.
I never thought we'd ever see the day when the winner of the popular vote would
not win the electoral vote. If Bush is sworn in, he will be the most minority
of presidents that we have had since Benjamin Harrison and Rutherford Hayes,
who are both remembered mainly for the corruption that surrounded their winning
the election.
And I thank Mary Pitassi for some excellent posts today.
(the Rev) Vince
