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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2000)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, December 20, 2000 The INDEPENDENT » STOLE Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410, e-mail: noni@vernonia.com ™ ELECTION Op in io n _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ OF to ir H M Y St 6 BWTttCfc M Somewhat less than the “Supreme” Court QùVeMOP- OF THfe ÜWTÄpVe<SlAU sK0l5P üTeO Cov/dT* S T A T e " The real time lesson in civics that resulted from the “Too close to call” presidential election ended in a dis appointing, self-inflicted diminution of stature for the U.S. Supreme Court. I u < Ê THAT A fcC H /V C £ L £ c r o M ^ CoLL-eae s /S re M — Because human nature is diverse, it has often been easy to disagree with the court’s rulings in particular cases while, at the same time, understanding the con stitutional basis of those rulings and appreciating con stitutionally imposed judicial restraint. Unfortunately, the court’s decision against counting legally cast ballots is neither understandable nor easy. For instance: What was the constitutional basis for deciding there wasn’t enough time for a recount, particularly since the court was responsible for several days of delay? Un like the lower courts, the Supremes didn’t feel obligat ed to work on a weekend, after all, it was only a pres idential election. Another for instance: What was the constitutional basis for stopping the recount of less than 50,000 ballots. Not only was that count underway, but it would have been finished be fore the court reconvened (Remember, they didn’t work on the weekend.). The reason given for stopping the count was that Gov. Bush would have been harmed. That reason only raises more questions - How do they know he would have been harmed? Did they know he would have lost if the recount continued? Weren’t voters whose legal ballots weren’t counted harmed more than any candidate? Aren’t there consti tutional arguments in favor of counting legal votes? Aren’t there constitutional arguments against disen franchising legal voters? Another for instance: The court’s final argument seemed to be that lack of uniformity in vote counting should be corrected by not counting legal ballots. Does this mean there is now a constitutional argument for disenfranchising voters if the country lacks a single standard for counting bal lots? Another for instance: Justice Scalia’s son is a partner in the law firm that represented Gov. Bush before the Supreme Court (An other of his sons is a lawyer with the firm that repre sented Bush in Florida.). Could that be construed as a bit of personal conflict? Another for instance: Justice Thomas’ wife works for the Bush team. Could that be construed as a bit of personal conflict? Thank goodness the whole thing is done, no matter who “won.” Unfortunately, it will take some years for our country’s highest court to recover from the tawdry partisanship displayed by a 5-4 majority decision. TOO / 1 V/'ik/ Trfe PoPOMft. v o t c ... A*o /T b o /T ™r ' D a O O Y ' «Sine ex-CIA CtficF ... 0 « e r e ... COtfi-0 f/Atfé PuLM£b lT oft* I Comparison of local, county, state election results There are three precincts in the City of Ver nonia (Vernonia 1,2 and 3) and two rural precincts (Vernonia 4 and 5), as well as two precincts for the Mist, Birkenfeld and Fishhawk Lake areas (Mist 1 and 2). Following are the re sults of the November General Election com pared to results for Columbia County and for the state. President Bush Gore Vernonia X Mist X County X State X Congress Wu Starr Vernonia X Mist X County X 1st District X Commissioner #1 Burge Corsiglia Pulliam Vernonia X Mist X County X Commissioner #3 Mayo Hyde Sykes Vernonia X Mist X County X Measures No. 83 Veteran Loans Yes All X No. 84 State Mandates Yes All X . No. 85 New Counties Yes All No. 86 Tax Kicker Yes All X No. 87 Zonie Sex Shops Yes Vernonia X Mist County/State No. 88 Inc. Tax Limit Yes All X No. 89 Tobacco $ Yes Vna/Mist X County/State No. 90 Utility Profits Yes Vna/Mist X County X State No. 91 Tax Limit No Vna/Mist X County X State No No No X No No X X No No X No X Yes X No. 92 Payroll Ded. Yes No Vna/Mist X County/State X No. 93 Fee Increases Yes No Vna/Mist X County/State X No. 94 Repeal Msr. 11 Yes No All X No. 95 Teacher Pay Yes No All X No. 96 Iniative Limit Yes No Vernonia X Mist 50% 50% County/State X No. 97 Ban Traps Yes No Vna/Mist X County X State X No. 98 Limit Public $ Yes No Vna/Mist X County X (barely) State X No. 99 Home Care Yes No All X No. 1 School Funding Yes No All X No. 2 Admin. Rules Yes No Vna/Mist X County X (barely) State X No. 3 Prop. Seizure Yes No All X No. 4 Tobacco $$ Yes No All X No. 5 Gun Check Yes No Vna/Mist X County X State X No. 6 Campaign $$ Yes No All X No. 7 Takings Yes No Ail X No. 8 Limit State Spend. Yes No Vna/Mist X County X State X No. 9 Homosexuality Yes No Vna/Mist/County X State X We can’t vouch for this, but supposedly Nos- trodamus wrote in 1555: “Corne the millenium, month 12 In the home of the greatest power, The village idiot will come forth To be acclaimed the leader.”
