Free Republic

In describing the results of the ballot study by the group led by the Miami Herald, I relied on the Herald’s own report, which listed only three hypothetical statewide recounts, two of which went to Al Gore. There was, however, a fourth recount, which would have gone to George W. Bush. In this case, the two stricter-standard recounts went to Mr. Bush. The later study, by a group including the New York Times, used two methods to count ballots: relying on the judgment of a majority of those examining each ballot, or requiring unanimity. Mr. Gore “won” all six hypothetical...

GOVERNOR TAX: ARNOLD TELLS ADVISERS HE WILL NOT RULE OUT HIGHER RATES Movie tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger has confided to advisers that he will not rule out raising taxes in California if he is elected governor, top sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT. The tax issue was raised last week during a meeting between Schwarzenegger and his senior campaign staff. MORE "Look, Arnold will not, cannot say, 'Read my lips, no new taxes,'" a well-placed source explained from Los Angeles. "Our first priority will be to get the state back in to top fiscal condition, and everyone knows it takes revenue...

Philip Taubman, the deputy editor of the editorial page at The New York Times, has been named the newspaper's Washington bureau chief. Mr. Taubman's appointment was announced yesterday by Bill Keller, the executive editor. In his new position, Mr. Taubman, 55, will oversee all aspects of the newspaper's coverage of the nation's capital. He replaces Jill Abramson, who was recently appointed as one of two managing editors at The Times. "Phil (like Jill) brings an investigative reporter's patience and tough-mindedness to the news," Mr. Keller said in a statement. Mr. Taubman said in an interview that his "hope is to...