[conservatism_IS_compassion]

As I remember, it should have been the Florida State legislators who stepped up - according to Florida law - to resolve the issue. They chickened of course, probably fearing the never used provision would be made to look like tampering.

It didn't need to go to court, but once it did there was no stopping it.

Basically SCOTUS said that if the same situation arose again, they would not take the case because in fact it was up to the legislature of Florida to do it.

The legislature should have assembled, called Secretary of State Harris to testify before it, and then named the Bush slate of electors.

Actually, she had - pursuant to the law - already named them; the legislature should have simply closed out the time for the SCoFla to hear challenges and mandate recounts.

And, lest we forget, the "objective journalists," broadcasting under license from the FCC, tampered with the vote as surely as if they had campaigned for Gore within the polling places of the Florida Panhandle - costing Bush thousands of votes.

[lepton]

Actually, she had - pursuant to the law - already named them; the legislature should have simply closed out the time for the SCoFla to hear challenges and mandate recounts.

They actually had...that was part of what the SCOFLA was intentionally ignoring. Additionally, by FL Law, the vote certification had to be done 26 days before the Electoral college met, and the SCOFLA forced it past that date, thus ensuring that Gore could not legally win.