# Absentee ballots to count--will Gore now concede? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 8, 2000, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673 "2000-12-08T19:36:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jumblemind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@jumblemind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jumblemind)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/1 "2000-12-08T19:36:20Z")
With today’s events, it is (seemingly) impossible for Gore to lay claim to the Presidency. Is there any legal recourse left for him, or is he now more or less forced to concede? ---
**Author:** ![Alzarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/2 "2000-12-08T19:44:57Z")
Technically that is, but politically it would be a good move. However the Seminole ballot case was never the one Gore was pinning his hopes on, indeed he refused to put his name on the lawsuit as it goes against his claim that he wants ballots counted, not thrown out. In any event, the case to watch is the Florida Supreme Court, which we should hear from today. Once that ruling comes down, I expect his concession speech shortly thereafter. Unless of course the court sides with him, which I find increasingly unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/3 "2000-12-08T19:53:32Z")
Not likely, the florida courts total aquiescence to ballot fraud has done a pretty good job of defining justice down there as “the whim of the republican party”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/4 "2000-12-08T20:04:15Z")
Your a bit ahead of the game. The Fla. Supremes have yet to rule. Frankly, as smelly as the absentee stuff is, I think the courts decision is correct: the malefactors were the guys who altered the applications, the voters did nothing wrong. Besides, the question pales in comparison to the issue of counting (thats counting, mind you, not _re_counting the votes left out of the tally. But, truth be known, Gore has lost. The Repubs will do whatever they have to in order to give the win to Bush. I think Gore should fight to the bitter end, screw statesmanship, make the bastards show thier true colors! Dont let them steal it and pretend otherwise! Then protest, loudly and publicly. Then dont mourn, **organize!** Whatsoever shall go around, therefore shall it come around. Two years aint that long! Clean up the election procedures to ensure that _every_ vote counts, junk those voting machines, and **we will kick thier sorry asses from here to Kingdom come!** Remember Newt? Nobody else does. I just hope I can keep from hurling when “Landslide” George first uses the word “mandate”. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@JustAnotherGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/5 "2000-12-08T21:47:42Z")
\*Originally posted by elucidator \* > [@](#): > > Your a bit ahead of the game. The Fla. Supremes have yet to rule. Yeah, and Bush has yet to swear in. Just little technicalities. > [@](#): > > But, truth be known, Gore has lost. The Repubs will do whatever they have to in order to give the win to Bush. Actually, they will continue to keep Gore from doing whatever he and his Party can come up with to steal the win from Bush… semantics perhaps. > [@](#): > > I think Gore should fight to the bitter end, screw statesmanship, make the bastards show thier true colors! Dont let them steal it and pretend otherwise! Then protest, loudly and publicly. The Second American Civil War! Yes, lead on Feste! > [@](#): > > Then dont mourn, **organize!** I agree with you there, nothing worse than a crybaby. > [@](#): > > Whatsoever shall go around, therefore shall it come around. Two years aint that long! Nor four. > [@](#): > > Clean up the election procedures to ensure that _every_ vote counts, No matter what party they vote for… > [@](#): > > junk those voting machines, Well, I don’t think you can blame the machines… surely you don’t advocate 100% handcounts from now on… you know the old addage, junk in - junk out. > [@](#): > > and **we will kick thier sorry asses from here to Kingdom come!** Just curious as to who’s sorry asses you were planning to kick from here to the Religious Rights’ exclusive Kingdom come? > [@](#): > > Remember Newt? Nobody else does. By mentioning his name you have revisited everyone’s remembrance of Newt. Congratulations you just defeated your purpose. > [@](#): > > I just hope I can keep from hurling when “Landslide” George first uses the word “mandate”. Lord forbid our Presidents should run around acting like they are President anytime it is a close race… ---
**Author:** ![jumblemind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@jumblemind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jumblemind)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/6 "2000-12-08T22:06:59Z")
I can’t believe it. The freaking FL Supreme Court ruled for a total recount. It seems like the kids from one side of the street are saying, “take that” to the kids on the other side of the street (the legislature). It is frighteningly literal. Now will the Dems have a plethora of counties for which to order additional recounts? This is getting quite ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/7 "2000-12-08T22:17:52Z")
Your kidding. A total recount? They are goint to count the whole state? How? Manually or Machine? Also, did the Supreme Court in Florida make their own law again? ---
**Author:** ![Alzarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/8 "2000-12-08T22:21:30Z")
These are not recounts. Rather, the court has ruled that all undervotes be examined by hand to see if votes were legitimately cast, but for whatever reason weren’t recorded by the machine count. And since this ruling affects all counties in Florida, then I see it giving no great advantage to Gore over Bush. This was perhaps the wisest decision the court could have made. Let’s get beyond the partisanship and let the final winner be the winner, and remove any doubt as to who won the most votes in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![jumblemind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@jumblemind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jumblemind)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-to-count-will-gore-now-concede/44673/9 "2000-12-08T22:30:56Z")
…except that the “let every vote count and be done with it” bit has been the motive of _every_ court decision, yet we are still here. Semantics, but the order is for a recount of _sorts_. The decision in and of itself sounds cut and dry enough, but there are all sorts of loopholes, plus the discredit now given the FL SC for its alleged partisanship. What about the legislature? Will the FL SC have to overturn that decision, as well?