Links:

Gore is the American Milosevic: A sore loser
Do we need to flood the streets too for Gore to concede?

Seeming to sum up the sentiments of those polled is that Al Gore has written his legacy: he will be known as the poorest sport and sorest loser in American history.

A Washington Post/ABC News Poll and CNN poll found the majority of Americans feel Gore should concede the race. And this, clearly, does not just express the wishes of our country's Republicans. The CNN poll found a third of self-declared Gore supporters leaning towards ending the contest. The Washington Post/ABC News poll indicated specifically that respondents feel the official Florida vote count was more than fair, that Bush clearly won, and even specified that Florida's secretary of state was right to refuse extensions to recounts. ( Anne Marie Chaker and Elizabeth Crowley, (The Wall Street Journal Europe 29 Nov.)

A Washington Times editorial cites historical precedents made by Richard Nixon when Nixon also found himself losing to his opponent, John Kennedy, by a very narrow margin. Nixon did not contest the election results, even though many felt there was reason to believe the outcome was rife with fraud. In RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon, Nixon cites two reasons why he did not challenge his loss of the 1960 presidential election: the country's well-being and his political future. Nixon felt a dispute over the outcome could be devastating to America's foreign relations and he did not want the reputation of being a sore loser. Nixon knew at that time that his political career was not over; he planned to run again, and did, eventually winning the highest office in the land. (The Washington Times 29 Nov.)

Many in the press have voiced opinion that Gore is manipulating the electoral process to achieve his victory. The vice president has challenged the voice of the American people after Bush won three times, as determined by numerous recounts in Florida. A Boston Herald editorial makes the point that the, "the vice president is intentionally engaging in destructive demagoguery, undermining prospects for uniting the country as it ushers in a new administration." The piece also lays out that Gore's attempts to argue the Florida recounts were essentially trying to disenfranchise our nation's armed services serving abroad. The writer includes an often over-looked fact: the citizens of Tennessee, Gore's home state, those who know him best professionally and personally, did not elect Gore; if they did, the Florida contest would not have happened. (Boston Herald 29 Nov.)

Linda Bowles, of The Grand Rapids Press, says right now there is no distinction between slimy lawyers and the behavior of Al Gore and running mate Joe Lieberman. She makes the point that most lawyers are perfectly willing to sell themselves to either side of a dispute, however, Al Gore and Joe Lieberman are politicians. Bowles feels these liberal politicians feel they can be 'principled liars,' in that they lie notably to advance priceless, ideological causes. ( Linda Bowles, (The Grand Rapids Press 28 Nov.)

America heralds itself as the champion of democracy: other countries, such as Yugoslavia, should look to the United States as an example of a successful, fair, functioning democracy. Yugoslavia, a country that has been under Slobodan Milosevic's dictatorship, also held their presidential elections this fall.

And their presidential contest also was hindered and distorted by a man in power not willing to let go of his power: Milosevic. The leader of Yugoslavia first moved election day earlier in the year in an attempt to throw off his democratic opposition's campaign timetable and wits.

Milosevic's attitudes foreshadowed Al Gore's: "he first pretended to be ahead in the polls and then acknowledging defeat, but by a margin which would have forced a run-off election." Both egocentric men could not fathom the citizenry would not want them to represent their interests anymore. (Agence France-Presse 24 Nov.)

The Gore camp has painted Bush and his supporters in an unfavorable light with respect to the Florida Recount, the state of which Bush's own brother in governor. Gore supporters have labeled state officials like Kathleen Harris, the Florida Secretary of State, as a cronie. The Gore campaign felt she is corrupt and unable to make unbiased decisions regarding Florida Recount decisions; their reasoning was that Ms. Harris was part of a fundraising effort and strong supporter of Bush during his run for presidency. This accusation proved futile as Florida state law reads regardless of political party affiliation, the state secretary of state makes the executive decisions in these matters.

Milosevic produced similar temper tantrums during his rage of frustration at his defeat. He denounced the election as a 'coup' and branded opponents 'traitors.' Many have noted Gore has carefully poised himself during Indecision 2000 press conferences in front of many American flags; Milosevic called himself a patriot and national hero and his democratic successor, Kostunica, a coward. (New York Post 26 Nov.)

The American people seem to clearly indicate that they want to move forward, to finally have a president, and be done with the election mess. Milosevic, the Serbian people felt, was out of touch with what the Serbs want and deserve. According to R. Jeffrey Smith of the Washington Post Foreign Service, 'the Serbian people want to move forward, not backward." Both nations want their voices to propel the change they indicated, and these two stubborn rulers will not leave their countries' executive positions without a fight. (The Washington Post 26 Nov.)

Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel called on Milosevic to accept the outcome of the elections as they stood and hand over power in a democratic fashion. ( Agence France Presse, 5 Oct ) www.afp.com Milosevic, also like Gore, demanded a recount in the presidential election that gave victory to his opponent. Ideas of a second ballot were proposed by Milosevic. The Yugoslav presidential elections also ironically had many different election results announced. Counting by opposition monitors at polling stations gave Kostunica, Milosevic's opponent, more than 50% of the vote, the majority required for election victory. Milosevic's camp claimed Kostunica only had 48%, leading Milosevic by 8%. ( Joseph Fitchett, (International Herald-Tribune 28 Sept.) In the end it took mass protests in the streets for Milosevic to accept defeat and step down. Does the same need to be done for Al Gore?