Posted on 07/08/2004 9:57:50 AM PDT by kattracks
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards, on their first trip together to the state that narrowly put President Bush in the White House after a fierce recount and court fight in 2000, promised Thursday that "every vote is going to be counted" this year.The presidential candidate told thousands of screaming supporters gathered in an airport hanger in Broward County, ground zero in the recount, that he's discovered that Edwards' two young children, ages 6 and 4, were "good at math."
"Those kids really know how to count," Kerry said. "I've given them a special duty in this election. We're sending Jack and Emma Claire down there to help those Republicans in West Palm Beach count those votes."
As the crowd erupted, Kerry boomed: "I've got news for you. In 2004, not only does every vote in Florida count but every vote is going to be counted."
Kerry said elections officials in Florida still are trying to fix voting machines. "I'll make a deal with them," he said. "They fix those machines and we'll fix America!"
The campaign visit to Florida — just two days after Kerry chose Edwards as his vice presidential running mate — underscored the importance of the state that Bush won by 537 votes over Democrat Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election.
Recent polls show Bush and Kerry locked in a close race in their battle for the state's 27 electoral votes, the largest prize of the battleground states and a 10th of the total needed to win the White House.
Since March, each campaign has spent more than $10 million in television commercials in Florida, where the president's brother Jeb easily won re-election as governor in 2002.
The only Democrats to carry the state in the last three decades are Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton 20 years later even though Florida has about 300,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.
From Florida, Kerry and Edwards were headed to New York City for a concert fund raiser featuring the Dave Matthews Band, Mary J. Blige, John Mellencamp, Jon Bon Jovi, Wyclef Jean, Whoopi Goldberg and others.
The $7 million the concert raised will be divided between Kerry's campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Last month, a similar concert in Los Angeles raised $5 million.
Equal Protection Under the Law BUMP!
Hopefully they are good at poking completely through the ballot too.
This means the votes ALL over Florida will be recounted if it's needed and not just from a fw select counties?
Seems Gore was upset that the Palm Beach democrats were so in the dumps over 2000 and set up a gathering where he opened the event praising democrats and how intelligent they are.
To prove his point, he called upon the crowd to produce a registered democrat.
Joe raised his hand and Gore called him to the stage.
"Joe, to prove how smart dems are here, I want to ask you a question. What is 500 plus 500?"
After a slight delay, Joe responded, "900!". The crowd was silent but a voice soon answered from the back. "Give Joe another chance!"
Gore said "Sure" and asked Joe what "100 plus 100 equaled?"
Another short silence and Joe responded "300!". Several in the crowd shouted "Give Joe another chance!".
Slightly perplexed, Gore said "Of course" and then asked Joe what "2 plus 2 equals".
A short pause in the crowd then became a loud chant! GIVE JOE ANOTHER CHANCE!
Will the pollsters be able to vote multiple times by predicting which way the chads are hanging? Will the illegals votes count? Will the dead be allowed to vote?
If they even THINK that every vote is NOT counted, you can count on "AC" (ambulance chaser) Edwards to file a class action suit against the state of Florida.
Instead, in a classic case of ignoring lessons learned, a new and unproven technology is substituted and that is just asking for trouble (think about the last time you were waiting in line at an ATM behind a clueless user). It will take another voting disaster to get these new machines debugged.
Give me the optical ballot (color in the circle) as a first choice and a punch card as the next best thing.
Ya know, why don't they just do what they do in Indiana. Go into a booth all by your lonesome, pull a lever, and walk back out. So simple, no hanging chads, no electronic fraud (did I actually say that?), no worries. It's so simple!!!!!
This issue with me works a couple ways. I don't think a 4-time felon fresh out of jail should vote. However, I do think that a truly "recovered" felon should at least be considered to regain the right. I have a good friend, who, when he was 18, he got in with the wrong crowd. He was convicted for cocaine trafficking in 1990. He did 3 years. After he got out, he started a business building and repairing computers. Today, he has 33 employees, a $250,000 legitimatelly purchased home, is an active member of the church, and loves Bush (and wishes he could vote for him in November). He has a beautiful wife and 2 great kids. This guy was simply a young idiot that got in with the wrong crowd, and has truly changed. Sure, he's a rarity, but for someone like him, who has learned his lesson so to speak, maybe its not so bad to let him regain the right to vote! He will tell you himself that he was stupid and deserved more punishment than he got, but he thanks God every day for helping him change his life.
FORGET about being poll watchers! They can be kicked out if they make one misstep. ALL FREEPERS MUST and I stress must contact the Republican county party and sign up to be election workers. THiS IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE ELECTION.
I don't know how it is in your county, but here we have to turn in a list to the county election clerk by july or August.
They won't know you will work the election if you don't tell them!!!!!!!
I didn't know Florida had 300,000. more registered Dems than Republicans! They're probably all the cemetery voters!
Last time they could tell them, 'punch the third one down', but it happened to be on the other page, LOL, so Nader got the votes!
This time with touch screens, they may have to print out Kerry on papers so they can match it up, LOL.
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