During this age of 'public relations,' news media propagandizing and politicians 'saying one thing while doing another,' wise individuals seek to discern the motivations and ambitions that are revealed through known conduct and actions. I usually refrain from 'political' topics because this blog is primarily intended to enable people to expand their knowledge of what can be learned about the most profound and momentous aspects of Earth life encompassing metaphysical, spiritual and cosmological subjects; however, I feel that further attention needs to be given to the circumstances involving the eradication of any semblance of metaphysically and spiritually aware international diplomacy between U.S. officials and their counterparts representing other paperwork principalities.
During past epochs, American diplomatic relations generally reflected a generally prevalent Christian-oriented moral code that was a predominant aspect of observable social mores. The recent events involving American officials who are involved with bringing about the avoidable devastation wrought in Ukraine and Gaza are only the most horrendous evidence that indoctrinated military thinking is in control of the government bureaucracy in Washington, D.C. with atheism/Agnosticism a factor.
It is profoundly important that people contemplate the influences and evidence regarding the systemic ways that national military officials have effected and continue to influence what today may be considered as the United States military industrial corporate entertainment complex. Indispensable to leading a fulfilling life is metaphysical self-development and the dwindling attention to evidentiary data accumulated during modern times is a primary factor for comprehending the scope of disharmony and unhappiness that may be observed throughout the world today. This conclusion is the result of my experiences chronicled in my journal blog beginning in 2021.
Political topics may alienate people if they should perceive that their favored candidate is being criticized. Every individual's perspective concerning which political candidates to support is based on the data made available for one to consider. Providing my personal orientation to an analysis of what may be considered about the two dominant political party candidates in the 2024 Presidential Election, I'm making known what information has influenced me so that people can compare this with their own current thoughts and perceptions. I don't yet consider myself knowledgeable about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as a Presidential candidate beyond agreeing that scrutiny of COVID-19 vaccines is of great importance. These vaccines that don't vaccinate (a word originally intended to mean 'bring immunity') and any expectation of meticulous reporting about all related vaccine safety concerns and precautionary testing is unrealistic in light of the vaccines being products of for-profit corporations.
On Saturday morning I went to YouTube and gave my attention to "President Biden's State of the Union Address" posted by The White House. I clicked on Play and discovered that through to 24 minutes and 49 seconds of the 1.53-minute video there is only the message "2024 STATE OF THE UNION" and "WE WILL BEGIN SHORTLY" — this was only the first sign of ineptitude caused by lack of thinking among minions in a bureaucracy. After a minute or so more of watching the video, I fast-forwarded to the 37 minute point and saw him greet a group of military officials with uniforms of medals. (An image from the video showing this may be seen at the top of this page.) I'm always reminded by uniforms with medals that this is a blatant signal of the extent of their indoctrination to the career choice of what has become conduct going far beyond national 'defense' for the government agency known as the Department of Defense. There have been a variety of recent blog articles reporting about perspectives related to war articulated by transcendental communicators representing the ascended realm of Earth life. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Above is an image from the YouTube video "President Biden's State of the Union Address." Below is shown the first standing ovation at 42:17 after Biden stated, "If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not." For anyone who knows about the events in Ukraine prior to the war, the characterization of President Putin as the singular cause is blatant propaganda, just as would be promulgating an estimation that Biden is solely responsible for all U.S. military actions taken.
A researcher is able to find data online the data and evidence concerning what has become now-traditional tactics among U.S. officials encompassing war planning, war baiting and terrorism orchestrated against paperwork principalities deemed 'enemies' threatening American economic hegemony. 'Enemies' are also necessary for the expansion of the Defense Department budget. One mainstream news source where evidence of this can be found if one knows what people to 'follow' is X / twitter.com.
Considering all of the people with whom Biden paused to interact on his way to the podium, I wondered 'Doesn't he see them often enough . . . Oh, this occasion is intended to impress viewers about how highly esteemed he is throughout the Washington, D.C. establishment' (presumably because he obediently follows their expert interdiction). I personally became convinced that the Presidency has become merely a public relations tool of the Joint Chiefs/'Deep State'/'the Blob' during my younger years (beginning with such evidence learned as what may be read in a Sherman H. Skolnick article). Some of my commentary about this may be read in journal blog articles: incl. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
When Biden commenced to formally speak at the 40 minute point, it seemed somewhat telling that his first declaration was a whimsical one. He said, "Good evening. Good evening. If I'm smart, I'd go home now." I myself was once a public relations professional and speech writer here in Los Angeles and found this moment to be inconsistent with the fervent demeanor suggesting a determined and focused state of mind that he soon adopted. As Biden began formally reading the prepared speech from the various monitors positioned around him, his speech was a little slurry at first yet he soon sustained the tone of voice estimated (by those coaching him) to leave the best impression of cognizant self-assurance. Personally, what I'm most careful to notice during events such as this is whether the speaker is being 'emotionally correct' — this is where metaphysical and spiritual understanding is pivotal as honesty with others as well as with oneself is a key to leading a fulfilling life.
It is important and would be of interest to learn how Presidential speeches are prepared and what staff members are involved. Biden's speech made allusions to 1941 and he mentioned, "Hitler was on the march. War was raging in Europe . . . Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world . . . Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today . . . Putin of Russia is on the march invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond." In obviously actuality, the situation is far more complicated as Biden must know (mustn't he?). Some aspects of the war in Ukraine are considered in previous blog articles, such as in 2022 "What Has Been Happening In Ukraine Is a World War". Biden continued: "If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not." It is my estimation that for one thing, NATO collaborators—as well as news media outlets espousing the 'Russophobic' stance—for many months have been making it evident that they are determined to provoke a broader conflict pitting leaders of NATO countries against what actually is all of the people residing in Russia. Another blog article is "Evidence of Regulated American News Media".
Identifying Putin as the singular 'enemy' has long been the conduct of the current President and other leading officials. This state of affairs especially confounded me back in 2016 when I listening to Hilary Clinton speak during one of her Presidential debates with Donald Trump. Here's a transcript that shows what I found disturbing.
TRUMP: She wants open borders. People are going to pour into our country. People are going to come in from Syria. She wants 550 percent more people than Barack Obama, and he has thousands and thousands of people. They have no idea where they come from.
And you see, we are going to stop radical Islamic terrorism in this country. She won't even mention the words, and neither will President Obama. So I just want to tell you, she wants open borders.
Now we can talk about Putin. I don't know Putin. He said nice things about me. If we got along well, that would be good. If Russia and the United States got along well and went after ISIS, that would be good.
He has no respect for her. He has no respect for our president. And I'll tell you what: We're in very serious trouble, because we have a country with tremendous numbers of nuclear warheads -- 1,800, by the way -- where they expanded and we didn't, 1,800 nuclear warheads. And she's playing chicken. Look, Putin . . .
WALLACE: Wait, but . . .
TRUMP: . . . from everything I see, has no respect for this person.
CLINTON: Well, that's because he'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States.
TRUMP: No puppet. No puppet.
CLINTON: And it's pretty clear . .
TRUMP: You're the puppet!
CLINTON: It's pretty clear you won't admit . . .
TRUMP: No, you're the puppet.
CLINTON: . . . that the Russians have engaged in cyberattacks against the United States of America, that you encouraged espionage against our people, that you are willing to spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do whatever he wants to do, and that you continue to get help from him, because he has a very clear favorite in this race.
So I think that this is such an unprecedented situation. We've never had a foreign government trying to interfere in our election. We have 17 -- 17 intelligence agencies, civilian and military, who have all concluded that these espionage attacks, these cyberattacks, come from the highest levels of the Kremlin and they are designed to influence our election. I find that deeply disturbing.
WALLACE: Secretary Clinton . . .
CLINTON: And I think it's time you take a stand . . .
TRUMP: She has no idea whether it's Russia, China, or anybody else.
CLINTON: I am not quoting myself.
TRUMP: She has no idea.
CLINTON: I am quoting 17 . . .
TRUMP: Hillary, you have no idea.
CLINTON: . . . 17 intelligence -- do you doubt 17 military and civilian . . .
TRUMP: And our country has no idea.
CLINTON: . . . agencies.
TRUMP: Yeah, I doubt it. I doubt it.
CLINTON: Well, he'd rather believe Vladimir Putin than the military and civilian intelligence professionals who are sworn to protect us. I find that just absolutely . . .
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: She doesn't like Putin because Putin has outsmarted her at every step of the way.
In 2016 I voted for Hilary Clinton because at that time I'd always considered party platforms as more significant than any particular candidate after my having witnessed throughout my life that the President has always been relegated to being a puppet/public relations device to primarily fulfill the desires of the interacting people functioning within the military agencies interacting with the one elected to be 'Commander in Chief.' There was no feeling of disappointment for me after Trump became known to be the winner of the election because of what may be learned as reflected in the transcript. I also didn't think Hilary's demeanor during the debates was emotionally correct.
Even more disturbing to me than my 2016 uneasiness concerning what seemed to be what could only be a planned war with Russia was how Biden's angrily intoned pronouncement about Putin brought a round of applause and already a standing ovation among the sheeple in the audience. As I've mentioned before — Military indoctrinated officials are 'sheeple' too as they are merely existing with a mentality devoted to following their 'assumed imperatives' without the metaphysical, spiritual and cosmological understanding that motivates metaphysically insightful people to advocate diplomacy and commonly known Christian values when interacting with counterparts officiating for other countries.
According to Brittania online [and I've added some clarifications]:
Christians acknowledge not only a duty to announce the gospel [according to one's interpretation and understanding], profess the faith, and worship God but also to live their entire lives according to God’s will. Being God’s people means following God’s law, which means walking in the way of truth (Psalm 25:4–5; 86:11) and obeying it (Romans 2:8; Galatians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:22; 3 John 3–4). The dual commandment holds good: to love God and to love neighbour (Matthew 22:37–39). To “dwell in love” is to dwell in God, who is both truth and love (1 John).The “second table” of the Law—honouring parents, and rejecting murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and coveting—has been held by Christians to apply universally, the core of a “natural law” extending beyond the community that has received God’s “special revelation.” In this regard, it functions at least to preserve society against the worst ravages of sin until the preaching of the gospel attains its full range and final goal.
Another indoctrination sign is a government official orating some plan characterizing a country as being endowed with a single mindset regarding some issue or predicament instead of specifying which paperwork principality bureaucrat/s is/are responsible.
It isn't really surprising that a physically enervated 81-year-old is especially susceptible to being manipulated by his constituents in Washington, D.C. Biden's State of the Union Address event is yet another instance of the propaganda approach to most of the scripted oratory prepared for infotainment consumption of the American masses. I noted in an October 2021 article —
I don't think it is a 'political' estimation to say that any primary U.S. 'seat of power' for decades hasn't been the American President. As people say these days — duh. When I was seven years old, John F. Kennedy was assassinated. President Eisenhower's farewell address had already mentioned "the military-industrial complex." It was staggering during the recent Presidential election how helpless was Trump even merely attempting to make his opinions known according to freedom of speech. Being 'chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff' isn't an elected position; however, anyone filling this seat has gone through similar 'programming' with exposure to many assumed imperatives that seem to be shared by other people in positions of governmental military authority.
Meanwhile, while driving today I couldn't help noticing a homeless man digging through a trash bin in full view of passing drivers. Hopefully social change can happen so that people can easily know about and have help options upon becoming destitute.
Minutes into the State of the Union Address oration, the orchestrated and therefore repulsive machinations of ego gratification focusing upon the President on vivid display shows what a bubble of delusion surrounds this career politician. One of my personal doctors recently mentioned to me that he considers Biden to be manifestly diagnosable as senile after I'd made a comment about how horrendous world affairs are currently. American constituencies of all sizes undertaking a veritable proverbial 'dog and pony show' has become a familiar and disturbing cultural more of American society.
At this point in the 2024 Presidential election, the regulated news media shows an expanding faction for the Republican candidate Donald Trump. Perhaps as with most Americans, the constant news media preoccupation with Trump since his leaving office has made me think that the election probably must indeed have been 'stolen' or the military oligarchy wouldn't have gone to what has been such pervasive lengths to propagandize against him on a daily basis. Documentation about news media regulation is also available among my X / twitter.com messages. Nonetheless, no media hegemony is total and this has become more evident as time goes by. There've been a growing proportion of pro-Trump news headlines and also ones denigrating Biden in various ways. Two examples: an article by Jonathan Guyer from The Guardian and one by Zachary Leeman from Mediaite:
This video is an example of content mentioned in my X message posts. A repulsive cliche used by some news media reporters is to refer to evidence of conspiracies as merely something involving 'conspiracy theorists.'
Also continuously observed throughout the years is how 'plausible deniality' is the concept often utilized to debunk anything other than the 'official story.' Journalists, editors, announcers and all other staff members have made the choice to be employed by and participate in a hierarchical directorate wherein nobody accepts personal responsibility for dishonesty and other immoral actions.
"But Ukraine . . . Ukraine can stop Putin . . . Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself," demanded Biden. At 42:34 of the SOTU video as there began another round of mindless, emotionally incorrect applause I stopped watching because there was no reason to prolong viewing this disturbing propagantainment.
"But Ukraine . . . Ukraine can stop Putin . . . Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself," demanded Biden. At 42:34 of the SOTU video as there began another round of mindless, emotionally incorrect applause I stopped watching because there was no reason to prolong viewing this disturbing propagantainment.
Viewers must recognize that the enthusiasm is senseless beyond the task of exhibiting a generalized and never wavering regardless of the fearful and tragic ramifications of some of the statements. I conducted an Internet search for a President Biden's State of the Union Address transcript to conduct a document search in order to learn what was stated in relation to the ongoing 'war' (genocide) in Gaza.
My response to what may be read in the transcript is to call attention to the following 25 examples of the X / twitter.com posts of Senator Bernie Sanders that chronicle the uselessness and futility of the current government bureaucracy in stopping otherwise incomprehensible destruction and murdering occurring on such a vast scale in the Palestinian territories.
Oct. 7: "I absolutely condemn the horrifying attack on Israel by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. There is no justification for this violence, and innocent people on both sides will suffer hugely because of it. It must end now."Oct. 18: "Stopping humanitarian aid to Gaza will deepen the catastrophe there and undermine Israel’s long-term security."Oct. 23: "The human situation in Gaza is a disaster. Over 5,000 Palestinians have been killed, including many children, and hundreds of thousands desperately need water, food, fuel, shelter, and medical supplies. Israel must immediately allow the necessary humanitarian aid into the region."Oct. 25: "Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas. But innocent Palestinians also have a right to life and security. I’m calling for a humanitarian pause by all parties so that critical aid can be delivered to the suffering people of Gaza and for the immediate release of all hostages."Oct. 28: "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, and getting worse by the minute. Israel must obey international law and allow innocent men, women, and children the food, water, medical supplies, and fuel that is desperately needed. NOW."Oct. 30: "The U.S. provides $3.8 billion a year to Israel. The Biden administration and Congress must make it clear. Israel has the right to defend itself and destroy Hamas terrorism, but it does not have the right to use U.S. dollars to kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza."Nov. 2: "The disaster in Gaza cannot continue. The world must act to save innocent lives. But just as a humanitarian response is critical, it is equally important to lay out a path to a two-state solution and a democratic Palestine. Israel cannot bomb its way to a long-term solution."Nov. 2: "Attention is obviously now focused on the crisis in Gaza, but West Bank violence has also increased. The UN reports 170 settler attacks in the West Bank, and 121 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. Israel must end this violence."Nov. 17: "There is a horrific humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Israel must stop the bombing now and allow for massive amounts of humanitarian aid, including fuel, to reach those who need it. Congress cannot pass a supplemental spending bill that allows these actions to continue."Dec. 1: "Netanyahu’s resumption of bombing in Gaza is beyond the pale. Two million people are now in south Gaza. Many have fled earlier fighting in the north. The pause must be extended to get more humanitarian aid in and more hostages out."Dec. 13: "The right-wing Netanyahu government's indiscriminate bombing of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza will be remembered among some of the darkest chapters of modern history. The United States must end our complicity in those actions."Dec. 15: "The scale of the suffering in Gaza is unimaginable. This humanitarian cataclysm is being caused by indiscriminate bombing carried out with American bombs and money."That is why I introduced a resolution to force the United States to reckon with its complicity."Dec. 21: "The situation in Gaza is a humanitarian disaster. The U.S. must not provide another $10 billion to the right-wing extremist Netanyahu government to continue their war against the Palestinian people which has already killed thousands of innocent men, women, and children."Jan. 2: "Let me be clear: NO MORE U.S. funding for Netanyahu’s illegal, immoral, brutal, and grossly disproportionate war against the Palestinian people. Congress must reject any effort to pass $10 billion of unconditional military aid for the right-wing Netanyahu government."Jan. 14: "More than 23,000 people killed."1.9 million displaced from their homes."Children starving to death."What’s going on RIGHT NOW in Gaza is a horrific humanitarian disaster and we cannot turn our backs on it."Congress must act."Jan. 18: "Whether we like it or not, the United States is complicit in the nightmare that the people of Palestine are experiencing as we speak. And frankly I have a hard time understanding why Congress won’t act to put a stop to this suffering and address this humanitarian disaster."Jan. 29: "What’s happening in Gaza is unspeakable."Let's be clear: the U.S. is complicit in this nightmare."It’s time for the U.S. to stop ASKING Israel to do the right thing. We must TELL them: unless they change course, they will lose our support."Feb. 5: "27,000 dead & 67,000 wounded — 70% of whom are women & children. 1.7 million driven from their homes. 70% of the housing damaged or destroyed. Children facing starvation."We cannot allow Netanyahu to continue his illegal, immoral war against the Palestinian people."Feb. 12: "Over and over again, I hear the President and Members of Congress express deep concern about Netanyahu and the humanitarian disaster in Gaza that he has caused."Then why are they supporting giving Netanyahu another $10 billion to continue his war against the Palestinian people?"Feb. 20: "The whole world is watching as Netanyahu and his right-wing government starve the children of Gaza and wage war against the Palestinian people. The U.S. must not continue its complicity in this horrific war."Feb. 29: "Children are starving in Gaza. Instead of opening up the borders and allowing humanitarian aid to come in, Israeli soldiers are shooting people who are desperately trying to get food off of trucks. This must stop. The U.S. cannot continue funding the Netanyahu war machine."March 2: "Hundreds of thousands of children are facing starvation. Stop this war right now — no more money for Netanyahu’s government."March 6: "Enough is enough. President Biden must make it clear to Israel that if humanitarian aid access in Gaza is not immediately opened up, he will stop military assistance to Israel."March 7: "The American people understand a simple truth that Congress ignores: It is absurd and hypocritical to criticize Netanyahu’s inhumane war in one breath, and provide him another $10 billion to continue that war in the next."March 11: "Americans are not blind. They see the bombing in Gaza, the starving children.
"Congress pretends we are powerless to stop it."But, the fact is, if we had the courage to stand up to some powerful special interests and use our leverage, we could stop the destruction NOW."March 12: "Israel is blocking humanitarian aid in clear violation of U.S. law, which prohibits military assistance to any country that restricts U.S. humanitarian aid."It’s time we enforce our laws and stop military assistance to Israel."
*
While
Bernie Sanders received the most votes in the 2016 election to
determine whom would be the Democratic party Presidential candidate, it was Clinton who became the nominee. Here is the explanation provided in a 2016 huffpost.com article by Antonio Moore.
The effect of Superdelegates on the Democratic nomination process has never been more apparent than in the 2016 election. Created in 1982 largely by the party establishment, the superdelegate was to serve as a safeguard to ensure a populous candidate did not take the nomination, and keep the Democrats out of the White House. This election more than any prior, proves no one can say what a populous candidate might be able to do once they get to the presidential debate stage. Polls show if Bernie Sanders were allowed to run as the Democratic nominee, he would do quite well against Donald Trump.
Superdelegates are largely comprised of party establishment, according to NBC News
Superdelegates are unpledged delegates to the Democratic convention, meaning that they aren't beholden to the results from the primaries and the caucuses (the way pledged delegates are). They are, for the most part, current and former Democratic politicians. They make up 15 percent of all delegates (714 out of 4,765) — down from 20 percent in 2008. And they are free to support the presidential candidate of their choice at the convention. According to NBC News' latest count 4/11/2016, Clinton leads Sanders in superdelegates, 460-38.
Focusing in and looking at a state like New Hampshire, we can clearly see how superdelegates have effected this race. At the polls Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire's pledged delegates by a landslide 22 percent. Bernie Sanders received 60.4 percent of the poll vote, just about 150,000 votes. Clinton received 38 percent of the poll vote, tallying just about 95,000 votes. Yet, all six Democratic New Hampshire superdelegates gave their support to Hillary Clinton, effectively erasing Sanders win, leading both candidates to leave the state with the same 15 delegates. The six votes of support by Governor Maggie Hassan, Representative Ann Kuster, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and DNC members Bill Shaheen, Kathy Sullivan, and Joanne Dowdell, effectively erased the impact of 55,000 Democratic voters on this election.
But to look at the aftermath of the vote count we truly have to critically evaluate the start. Hillary Clinton entered Super Tuesday in March in a virtual tie in pledged delegates with both candidates holding just about 50 pledged delegates, yet she held the support of nearly 400 super delegates. This early lead created the visual that Sanders could not defeat her for many voters, clearly affecting the race.
In effect this year, more than any before superdelegates may have not only decided the Democratic nominee, but they likely also chose the next President of the United States. [Trump]
Considering all the data such as this that is commonly placed before a public accustomed to figure 'What can I do about it?' before giving their attention to something else, this blogger knows people who thoughtlessly believe that whatever mainstream news headlines and articles they happen to read online are unquestionably true. This has been and continues to be the reason and impetus for all of the flourishing efforts devoted to news regulation and creation of propagandizing oratories among politicians and their 'administration' cohorts. Perhaps there are people for whom watching movies and TV shows has left them in a very passive state of consciousness. I'm always disturbed when someone tells me that they 'don't like to read' and one individual even remarked that subtitles of a foreign film would require too much effort.
As was revealed by the 20,000 Democratic National Committee Emails leaked at Wikileaks in 2016, the American election process is subject to a gamut of influences by people who aren't intellectually equipped with the essential modern metaphysical, spiritual and cosmological information that I've been attempting to make known to everyone through this blog and my other noncommercial Internet websites for 27 years. The same data could also make possible national officials of the executive, legislative and judicial branches realizing the consummate importance of accepting moral responsibility for every decision one makes and every action one takes in day-to-day life. My latest news release published on March 6 publicizes the preceding article that relates to the evidence for what today are vastly disregarded Laws of life.
As was revealed by the 20,000 Democratic National Committee Emails leaked at Wikileaks in 2016, the American election process is subject to a gamut of influences by people who aren't intellectually equipped with the essential modern metaphysical, spiritual and cosmological information that I've been attempting to make known to everyone through this blog and my other noncommercial Internet websites for 27 years. The same data could also make possible national officials of the executive, legislative and judicial branches realizing the consummate importance of accepting moral responsibility for every decision one makes and every action one takes in day-to-day life. My latest news release published on March 6 publicizes the preceding article that relates to the evidence for what today are vastly disregarded Laws of life.
A previous blog article
shares my messages sent online to American President Joseph Robinette
Biden Jr. and also to the Russian President in May 2022. I've sent
other Emails to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin yet none further to Biden
because I don't think he would ever be informed about the messages,
although I know for a fact that correspondence submitted by the public
to the White House has in the past become known to at least one
previous American President. I've also sent a message to our current
Vice President. Longtime readers of this blog may recall that I've also
reported about 'the Bobs pattern.' [1, 2]
For the 2000 Presidential election I voted for Ralph Nader of the Green Party because in good conscience I couldn't cast my vote for either Vice President Al Gore or the nominee who seemed to myself as representing a disgraceful case of institutionalized nepotism, George W. Bush. I still remember the abrupt news media onslaught in favor of Presidential candidate George W. Bush, whose main qualification seemed to be that he was the son of President George H. W. Bush 1989-1993, a former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Reported Presidential election discrepancies between reported exit polling and the final vote tabulations results for Nader (2,883,443 popular vote / 2.74%) made me suspicious that the Presidential election voting system results may have been manipulated. That was the year when—as may be read in a history.com article by Lesley Kennedy—"After a wild election night on November 7, 2000, during which TV networks first called the key state of Florida for Gore, then for Bush, followed by a concession by Gore that was soon rescinded, the results for who would be the nation’s 43rd president were simply too close to call."
For the 2000 Presidential election I voted for Ralph Nader of the Green Party because in good conscience I couldn't cast my vote for either Vice President Al Gore or the nominee who seemed to myself as representing a disgraceful case of institutionalized nepotism, George W. Bush. I still remember the abrupt news media onslaught in favor of Presidential candidate George W. Bush, whose main qualification seemed to be that he was the son of President George H. W. Bush 1989-1993, a former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Reported Presidential election discrepancies between reported exit polling and the final vote tabulations results for Nader (2,883,443 popular vote / 2.74%) made me suspicious that the Presidential election voting system results may have been manipulated. That was the year when—as may be read in a history.com article by Lesley Kennedy—"After a wild election night on November 7, 2000, during which TV networks first called the key state of Florida for Gore, then for Bush, followed by a concession by Gore that was soon rescinded, the results for who would be the nation’s 43rd president were simply too close to call."
As it became clear the final vote in Florida, which would decide the election, was basically a tie, Gore rescinded his concession during a phone call.
. . . Florida's governor at the time was Jeb Bush, Bush's younger brother. Further fueling the fire: Katherine Harris, Florida's secretary of state, charged with overseeing an impartial election, was a Republican who served as co-chair of Florida's Bush for President election committee.
Over the next few weeks, with no winner yet determined, officials conducted an electronic recount, in which ballots were re-fed into the same machines, but Gore asked for a hand recount. "There was much squabbling about when, how, and whether to do such hand recounts," according to The Voting Wars. "One law firm alone eventually handled forty election-related lawsuits for the Florida secretary of state."
The ballots, themselves, became an issue of contention. The visually confusing paper punch-card "butterfly ballot," in which two columns of candidate names were separated by a middle column with marks to be punched through, was blamed for some Gore votes going to Pat Buchanan due to a misalignment of the names and marks.
And then some of those marks failed to get properly punched through.
"Some counties in Florida used a card-punch system for voting," [Andrew E.] Busch says. "Voters would get a card with little perforated squares that lined up with names on the ballot. They would position a card puncher over the square belonging to the candidate they wanted and would push it through the square, creating a hole that would be read by a vote-counting machine. The little square that is supposed to be knocked out is called the 'chad.'"
At issue: Some holes were not completely punched out of the ballots. "A chad that was not punched out all the way—i.e. was still hanging by one, two or even three corners to the ballot—was called a 'hanging chad.'" Busch says. "Election officials had to devise standards by which to count the ballots with hanging chads. Do you count it as a valid vote as long as there is some evidence that a voter tried to cast a vote? Do you only count it if three of the four corners are knocked out? Something in between? No consistent standard was developed, which was a key issue in Bush v. Gore."
After lawsuits, challenges and recounts, the Florida Supreme Court ordered a recount of undervotes in all of Florida's 67 counties, which was quickly appealed by Bush, and the case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case, according to [Rick] Hasen's book, put the Florida election under a microscope, examining election machines, voter lists, vote-counting rules, the state's poorly drafted election statutes, partisan election officials and the role of courts.
"At that point there were actually two key votes," Hasen says. "The first was a 7-2 determination that the Florida recount, as it was being conducted, was unconstitutional on the grounds that there were no clear standards that were being applied consistently to all ballots. Then, by a 5-4 vote, the court declared that time had run out to devise a remedy. That stopped the process, with Bush ahead."
The decision resulted in one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions in American history. With the Florida win, Bush led Gore in electoral votes nationally 271-266, and, out of legal options, Gore conce
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