The record also should show that Gore ended up with more than 300,000 votes than Bush won. The American people have been cheated of their moment of truth by the U.S. Supreme Court's nakedly political decision halting the hand count in Florida. The people of Florida have been deprived of their democratic rights. And the world has witnessed a dubious outcome in the leadership of the world's only superpower. It's tough to contemplate that we are beginning the 21st century with a leader who was outgunned in the popular vote and who has no mandate from the people.
Some legal observers think so.
Since they have lifetime jobs and have to account to no one, or even explain themselves at times, the majority conservatives do not seem to care that they have forever imprinted in the public mind that they do not rise above politics. A liberal Warren-style court would have taken a broader view of the will of the people. But that court, judicial activism in support of civil rights and the rights of the disadvantaged notwithstanding, was never accused of pulling a fast one on the public. Before the court ruling there was strong speculation that some of the GOP-appointed justices, were anxious to retire but not willing to step down if Gore had won. The story going around town is that a very upset Justice Sandra O'Connor walked out of a dinner party on election night when she heard the first mistaken broadcast that Vice President Al Gore had won.