The public law - passed by Congress, so I guess they know how they meant it - says, “Upon such reading of any such certificate or paper, the President of the Senate shall call for objections, if any. Every objection shall be made in writing, and shall state clearly and concisely, and without argument, the ground thereof, and shall be signed by at least one Senator and one Member of the House of Representatives before the same shall be received.”
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/3/usc_sec_03_00000015——000-.html
“the President of the Senate shall call for objections, IF ANY”
And if not? Remember, the folks who wrote the law were there in 2009...
“If any” is added because without it, it would be saying that the VP is telling Congress that they have to object.
Gore asked if there were any objections. There weren’t any but they spent 20 minutes with people trying to submit written objections that didn’t qualify.
Did Gore not know what the rule meant?