Election distrust dominates chat rooms

Distrust and dismay surrounding the undecided U.S. presidential election dominated Internet chat rooms Wednesday, as Americans debated how it happened that the day after the election, they still had no declared winner.

Chatters questioned news reports about faulty election ballots, lost ballot boxes and other speculative improprieties. Republicans blamed the Democrats for fouling up the election, and Democrats blamed Republicans. Others faulted Green Party candidate Ralph Nader or took aim at the news media for prematurely calling which candidate won the state of Florida--twice.

Despite partisan perspective or preferred theory, most virtual chatters banded together in agreement on one common theme: The election had been screwed up in one manner or another.

On CNN's Presidential Race 2000 message board, which listed nearly 290,000 entries, several people decried reports about faulty election ballots in Palm Beach County, Florida.

According to reports, some senior citizens in the county were confused by ballots that listed Vice President Al Gore's name second on a list with an arrow pointing to a third hole in the column. Some senior citizens reported that they believed they might have punched the wrong hole.

CNN reader Wayne Moore was outraged by this report, writing, "I wonder if they 'tested' these ballots with a number of elderly to see if they could understand them, or if they bothered to point out how to use them, etc.! Probably not!"

Other readers questioned whether the Florida elections had been tampered with by either party. Those blaming the Republicans had more to work with, questioning the involvement of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush--the candidate's brother--as well as former President George Bush.

On Yahoo's election chat room, several people denounced the electoral college system, bemoaning that a candidate could win the popular vote--as Vice President Al Gore has done--but still lose the election.

"The vote by real human beings should win the election," wrote a Yahoo chatter, identified as I-like-ike2000.

"Pop vote should win," agreed jdpowell33, "although I like gwb."

Some people posting on CNN even called for a re-election. Paul Brian Engelhardt wrote: "A re-vote is absolutely possible...and in my opinion should definitely take place. There are (too) many things that could have gone wrong last night. i.e. Palm Beach-Lost Ballet Boxes-Brother Bush. We need a revote!!!"

The convention

Can you believe what our future vice president is talking about? Enough about the 3 purple hearts. Why keep bringing this up???? I have done my time for the country. Navy. I cannot even get an appointment to the va hopsital. Hope is on the way? My Butt!

The Kerry/Heinz tichet!

Ooops I meant the Kerry/Edwards ticket. After all John Kerry's billionaire wife is not all THAT interested in her husband being president. OR IS SHE.... Be care my fellow Americans of the likes of Teresa Heinz-Kerry and Hilary Clinton. I think these womens aspirations are more sinister that serving you and me.

Why American patriots should vote for Kerry

The day after September 11, 2001, the only commercial airliner allowed to fly in the US was a charter jet that went around picking up members of the Bin Laden family, not to take them to Guantanamo Bay or some place for interrogation, but to take them back home to Saudi Arabia. The only explanation for why the Bush Administration acted in this way is that the Bush and Bin Laden families having been doing business together for decades. Both families were heavy investors in the Carlyle Group at the time of the 9-11 attacks. The first President Bush made millions exploring for oil for the Saudis, while George W's career was saved by Saudi money at the time he became a born-again Christian. Despite most of the 9-11 hijackers being Saudis, despite the fact that most Al Qaeda financiers are Saudi, despite the extremist Wahhabi school of Islam (which Al Qaeda leaders preach) being based in Saudi Arabia, George W. Bush chose to attack other Muslim nations because the fortunes of George W and his dad are totally enmeshed with that of the Saudis. A vote for Bush is a vote for continuing inaction against the Wahhabi extremists who are behind Al Qaeda and the mega-rich Saudis who finance their terrorist networks. American patriots should vote for someone who is NOT in bed with the Saudis - somone like John Kerry.

[new_process]

I think it's time to change the election process. I'm not saying redo the electoral collage, just some time changes. 1. streamline the process to one year. 2 prohibit election officials from releasing any results untill all poll for that election are closed. The east coast has had to much influence on the process for years.

Very simple, Can't file for office until Jan. 2. All states hold primary elections on Second Tuesday of June. 3. Political conventions in July 4. General election in November.

With air travel, internet, and electronic media that we have now, Thats all the time the candidates need.

What do you think?