What we should really do!

[glc]

Now that we have a legitimate forum for expressing our opinions on this crazy election, here are my thoughts:

I have pretty much been a lifelong Republican. I was raised in an ultra-conservative Republican household. I had no use for JFK. I was an active "Teen for Goldwater". I have 8 years active and 16 years reserve military duty. However, I have become very conservative in some ways and very liberal in others. For example, I am 100% behind a strong military, which is poison to Democratic thinking, but I am pro-choice on the abortion issue. I voted for Jimmy Carter because I thought Ford was worthless. Unfortunately, Carter proved to be worthless too.

Now - this election has proven one thing. This country is as closely divided as it ever has been. I personally have no use for either candidate. However, if McCain had been able to win the primaries, I would have actively supported him. He is my idea of a proper President. I chose Bush as the lesser of 2 evils so to speak, but the main reason for this is the vice presidential candidate. I like Cheney. I don't care for Lieberman's views even though he is a good "person". If the "zeros" theory holds true this time, the VP will become the President sometime during the term.

How do we determine the new President? It turns my stomach to see what is going on. I do hope Bush pulls it out, but let's analyse what's going on. Neither camp is acting properly and I am ashamed to be a citizen of this great country right now. What really sickens me is the appearance that *lawyers* are going to determine the outcome. No offense, LawyerRon, but lawyers have NO business deciding something this important - especially all these high priced sharks that both camps are employing. Pure and simple, money is going to buy this election. Totally disgusting and disgraceful.

What do we do? Seems to me the *right* way to do this - although it's not constitutional, is to invalidate the entire election nationwide and call a special election. One person, one vote. Take away the states' powers this time and run this at a Federal level. Forget the Electoral College. Throw out the 3rd party candidates - make this a head to head contest. This would be a true "will of the people" operation. The new House and Senate are so close in orientation there will be a decent system of "checks and balances" to keep things running as smoothly as possible considering their history - let's not go *there* right now. The only real power the new President will have is selection of Supreme Court justices, but these nominations still have to clear Congress. All you doomsayers out there who claim that either candidate would send the country down the sh1tter are playing Chicken Little. This will not and cannot happen - Congress won't let it.

Now, how can we do something like this without rewriting the Constitution? Maybe throw out the election and have new elections in each state between the 2 candidates - and then count electoral votes? Put Federal observers in each state, count the ballots in a central location in each state, and certify on the spot with no appeals allowed? Require absentee ballots be *received* by the new Election day?

We have to do something - and something that will shut off all the legal bullsh1t, media speculation, and political posturing - and do it FAST.

[troysvihl]

While we are busy tossing out the Constitution, can I ignore the 16th amendmant?

[LawyerRon]

glc,
Quote:
"What really sickens me is the appearance that *lawyers* are going to determine the outcome. No offense, LawyerRon, but lawyers have NO business deciding something this important..."


Lawyers won't decide anything here. The Courts will. And the Lawyers did'nt initiate anything although it appears we did.

Think of Lawyers as "Hired Guns" and it will all make sense. They wait for the call and then act. Of course, they help determine strategy based on their legal analysis. But it is quite unfair to blame Lawyers for what's happening. A Lawyer cannot act without consent of the client.

It really comes down to this:
We can fight these battles with Lawyers or with guns. As a society, we have decided to use Lawyers.

[glc]

Seems to me that an overwhelming majority of judges are lawyers, and understandably so. I hear ya, Ron, but if we are gonna do that, let's take it to the Supreme Court *immediately* and open the session to live TV coverage.

troy - we can only wish!!!

[LawyerRon]

glc,
True, all judges are Lawyers. However, I predict the Federal Court will refuse to hear the Republican's case based on lack of Jurisdiction. You can file anything you want in Federal Court, but that doesn't mean that Court will hear your case.

Footnote:
Never pi** off a Federal Judge. They're appointed for life and if you pracice regularly in Federal Court, you're gonna see him or her every week!