“Our Fight Does Not End Here…”
I just watched John Kerry’s concession speech. While I understand that he and his staff determined that they could not win Ohio and therefore not win the election, I still think all the voters in Ohio, in Iowa and in New Mexico deserved to have their votes counted. It couldn’t have hurt for Senator Kerry to say “It’s important for every vote to be counted no matter how long it takes. I accept the results and the verdict of the American people but each of them needs to be heard.” The people who have worked their hearts out for Mr. Kerry. They deserve better than to have their votes rendered meaningless because of some vague idea about “healing the nation.”
As sympathic as I am for John Kerry, what we just saw was everything that is wrong with the Democratic party. Namely, that it’s more important to be gracious in defeat than to represent the will of the people. Al Gore did it in 2000. Have we not learned?
Our good manners will not save us. Our conviction, understanding, empathy and reason will. John Kerry is a good man who had the chance to be a great one. By conceeding early, he disrespected his supporters when he needed them most.
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14 Replies to ““Our Fight Does Not End Here…””
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Amen, brother. You summed that up perfectly — I promise you that if it had been Bush losing by such a slim margin, we’d be doing recounts straight up through (and most likely after) the inauguration. What’s wrong with these Democrats? Why won’t they stand up and fight, especially when there’s been so much evidence of organized voter fraud and disenfranchisement by the current adminstration?
Amen, brother. You summed that up perfectly — I promise you that if it had been Bush losing by such a slim margin, we’d be doing recounts straight up through (and most likely after) the inauguration. What’s wrong with these Democrats? Why won’t they stand up and fight, especially when there’s been so much evidence of organized voter fraud and disenfranchisement by the current adminstration?
Absolutely Geoff. And even if there was no voter fraud, what business does John Kerry not counting everyone’s vote? It’s not just disrespectful, it’s profoundly undemocratic.
Absolutely Geoff. And even if there was no voter fraud, what business does John Kerry not counting everyone’s vote? It’s not just disrespectful, it’s profoundly undemocratic.
Kerry ain’t the one who counts votes; it’s the Ohio county election boards, and Florida, and so on. There are probably only a handful of counties in the country that were done counting all their absentee and provisional ballots yesterday, but (apart from Iowa and New Mexico), none of the results are in doubt. When you’re 137K votes behind with only about 150K votes left to count, it’s extremely unlikely you’ll get enough votes. Unlike the 2000 race, this wasn’t a matter of possible fraud or questionable vote counting – it was a matter of basic statistical analysis.
Even apart from that, every vote will get counted – Kerry conceding means absolutely diddly-squat as far as the process goes. The election boards are still required to give accurate final vote counts. If, by some off chance, the votes show Kerry ahead in Ohio, then he’ll get the electors and win the election.
Kerry ain’t the one who counts votes; it’s the Ohio county election boards, and Florida, and so on. There are probably only a handful of counties in the country that were done counting all their absentee and provisional ballots yesterday, but (apart from Iowa and New Mexico), none of the results are in doubt. When you’re 137K votes behind with only about 150K votes left to count, it’s extremely unlikely you’ll get enough votes. Unlike the 2000 race, this wasn’t a matter of possible fraud or questionable vote counting – it was a matter of basic statistical analysis.
Even apart from that, every vote will get counted – Kerry conceding means absolutely diddly-squat as far as the process goes. The election boards are still required to give accurate final vote counts. If, by some off chance, the votes show Kerry ahead in Ohio, then he’ll get the electors and win the election.
Then why not simply concede when they are all counted? Who cares if we have to wait?
Then why not simply concede when they are all counted? Who cares if we have to wait?
Why wait to concede when the chance of pulling ahead is statistically insignificant?
Why wait to concede when the chance of pulling ahead is statistically insignificant?
Symbolism really. That’s all.
Symbolism really. That’s all.
Al Gore was gracious?
You must pardon me if I ask from which alternate universe dreamed up in the most twisted Marvel Comic, you hail from?
In your universe there must have been no months of lawsuits, allegations of a stolen Presidency, & c.
If that display offered by Mr. Gore was grace by the Democratic standard, I would rather not see the bite, as it were.
The best speech Mr. Kerry gave during this race were his prompt words of concession.
Good day.
Al Gore was gracious?
You must pardon me if I ask from which alternate universe dreamed up in the most twisted Marvel Comic, you hail from?
In your universe there must have been no months of lawsuits, allegations of a stolen Presidency, & c.
If that display offered by Mr. Gore was grace by the Democratic standard, I would rather not see the bite, as it were.
The best speech Mr. Kerry gave during this race were his prompt words of concession.
Good day.