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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 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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Somewhat less than
the “Supreme” Court
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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.
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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.
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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.”