[DoughtyOne]

Last night during the time in question 18 million more phone calls than normal were made in California alone. That's just California. Imagine the problem this created nationally. People must have gone Ameircan Idol 'postal' last night. No phone system is going to hold up under these conditions. I imagine Ruben's fans had problems making phone calls too.

[TommyDale]

For a vote to be "decided" by telephone calls, it was far too close (less than 1,400 votes). The most interesting thing said on the program last night was by Simon, with regards to (paraphrased) "The real decision will be when their records are released". In the Washington Post, there is an article that mentions that the Amazon.com advance sales of Clay Aiken is ranked #1, while Ruben Studdard's is back at #386.

At least Clay Aiken has the decency and honor not to demand a recount or file a lawsuit, ala Al Gore! He truly deserved to win based on pure talent, but the producers had favored Ruben for weeks.