Kurt Mensching Is Still Pretty Cool Though

To: The Most Nobel and Honorable North Wind, for the intent of being used as an editorial: (Editor's Note: We stole this from the NorthWind's 'In' Box...)

You have no concept of how much it pleases me to see the newspaper I pay for involuntarily act in so unbiased a matter. In the Nov. 30th article by one Geoff Hineman is a malicious slash into now President-elect Bush. Not only was the article biased and unfair, it was also uninformed and crude.

The first fault of Mr. Hineman is his claim that if George W. Bush did in fact trust the people then he would simply concede the election because Gore captured approximately 200,000 more votes after election night. Never mind the million overseas ballots, which most analysts believe will net about 700,000 for the President-elect. Nevermind the fact that we are a REPUBLIC, not a democracy as he so foolishly points out. Nevermind the fact that such great Presidents as Lincoln have been elected but received less than half of the popular vote.

The second great mistake he made was that he invoked the dogma that, in Texas it is run this way. Nevermind that Texas has actual concrete standards that they hold to and dont change simply so their guy gets in. And Im sure if you looked, Lebanon would have a standard too. Democrats keep the rhetoric flowing that we should trust the people, but isn't the law a reflection of those people? A law that is unbiasedly decided upon BEFORE the election? And isnt the recorded statements of democratic Floridian canvassers from a few years back saying we should never count dimpled ballots?

I think that is a safe thing to say that each leader picked what he believed to be best, before the election, given his equipment. Not even to bring up the fact that punch card technology is over 110 years old!!!

And then Mr. Hineman makes such an eloquent attack on the President-elects past life, from several decades ago. This from a person who undoubtedly supported Mr. Clinton, who was in fact PROUD of his altercation with drugs from as many years ago.

The third fallacy was his statement about 19,000 ballots. Here by his irresponsibility he failed to mention the fact that this is nothing new. Ballots are thrown out ALL the time. And they have signs everywhere in these precincts telling people to completely remove their chads. (Editor's Note: Or at least keep their chads tucked away.)

Fourthly he does not mention how his morally driven, idealistic cohorts attempted to throw out military ballots, in a means prohibited by federal voting statute. Now what pray tell would be the result if a Republican memo was found that showed how to reduce the minority vote? There would be riots as this country has never seen before. Not to mention that Mr. Gore, in his saying he is only doing this for the principle of it, failed to ask for recounts in non-Democratic counties.

It seems to me that he is in fact only interested in helping the people who are likely to be Democrats, with the right to vote. Another fallacy of his standpoint is the fact that people have the right NOT to vote. You do not have to vote for anyone, at all. Ever.

On the other hand, hats off to Kurt Mensching for his fair, responsible journalism.

Sincerely,

Neil Pascoe