http://crookedtimber.org/2004/10/12/bribery-and-the-us-supreme-court/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:44:19 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://crookedtimber.org/2004/10/12/bribery-and-the-us-supreme-court/comment-page-1/#comment-45924 Jason Kuznicki Wed, 13 Oct 2004 00:27:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2341#comment-45924 Allowing the Florida Supreme Court to settle the case would at least have preserved the doctrine that states are the judge of their own elections, a central tenet of federalism that the Republicans conveniently forgot all about. Allowing the Florida Supreme Court to settle the case would at least have preserved the doctrine that states are the judge of their own elections, a central tenet of federalism that the Republicans conveniently forgot all about.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/10/12/bribery-and-the-us-supreme-court/comment-page-1/#comment-45923 Michael Otsuka Tue, 12 Oct 2004 22:25:18 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2341#comment-45923 Agreed, someone had to decide. Too bad that it was Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, whom _Newsweek_ reports as having _visibly started when CBS anchor Dan Rather called Florida for Al Gore [on election night 2000]. "This is terrible," she exclaimed. She explained to another partygoer that Gore's reported victory in Florida meant that the election was "over," since Gore had already carried two other swing states, Michigan and Illinois._ _Moments later, with an air of obvious disgust, she rose to get a plate of food, leaving it to her husband to explain her somewhat characteristic outburst. John O'Connor said his wife was upset because they wanted to retire to Arizona, and a Gore win meant they'd have to wait another four years. O'Connor, the former Republican majority leader of the Arizona State Senate and a 1981 Ronald Reagan appointee, did not want a Democrat to name her successor._ (I realize that the fact that O'Connor hasn't yet resigned might be thought to cast doubt on the above reportage.) Agreed, someone had to decide. Too bad that it was Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, whom Newsweek reports as having visibly started when CBS anchor Dan Rather called Florida for Al Gore [on election night 2000]. “This is terrible,” she exclaimed. She explained to another partygoer that Gore’s reported victory in Florida meant that the election was “over,” since Gore had already carried two other swing states, Michigan and Illinois. Moments later, with an air of obvious disgust, she rose to get a plate of food, leaving it to her husband to explain her somewhat characteristic outburst. John O’Connor said his wife was upset because they wanted to retire to Arizona, and a Gore win meant they’d have to wait another four years. O’Connor, the former Republican majority leader of the Arizona State Senate and a 1981 Ronald Reagan appointee, did not want a Democrat to name her successor. (I realize that the fact that O’Connor hasn’t yet resigned might be thought to cast doubt on the above reportage.)

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/10/12/bribery-and-the-us-supreme-court/comment-page-1/#comment-45922 jet Tue, 12 Oct 2004 21:15:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2341#comment-45922 Stuart, if the Florida Supreme Court would have decided it, I'm sure Hobbes wouldn't be nearly so applicable ;) At least in Chris's eyes. Kind of reminds me of Carter decrying Florida's electoral system, but not saying a word about other states with similiar systems. If Florida would have gone 5,000 to Gore would Carter still care? Stuart, if the Florida Supreme Court would have decided it, I’m sure Hobbes wouldn’t be nearly so applicable ;) At least in Chris’s eyes. Kind of reminds me of Carter decrying Florida’s electoral system, but not saying a word about other states with similiar systems. If Florida would have gone 5,000 to Gore would Carter still care?

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/10/12/bribery-and-the-us-supreme-court/comment-page-1/#comment-45921 Stuart Tue, 12 Oct 2004 19:33:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2341#comment-45921 Re Hobbes and bribery: interesting point, Chris, but in the 2000 election, SOMEONE had to decide whether the recount would go forward and on what terms. What was the alternative? Flipping a coin? Leaving it to the FL Supreme Court, which is subject to the same objection? Or the FL legislature (ditto)? In law school we would have said "the argument proves too much." Re Hobbes and bribery: interesting point, Chris, but in the 2000 election, SOMEONE had to decide whether the recount would go forward and on what terms. What was the alternative? Flipping a coin? Leaving it to the FL Supreme Court, which is subject to the same objection? Or the FL legislature (ditto)? In law school we would have said “the argument proves too much.”

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