A year ago today, Congress was the scene of an historic challenge to the Electoral College vote that gave George Bush the White House for a second time under disputed circumstances. A year later, we know that the pattern of shady practices, half-truths and outright lies that we saw during the
Ohio recount have become the hallmarks of Bush's tawdry tenure as president.
Today we should celebrate and send donations to the heroes of the day: Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones and California Sen. Barbara Boxer, as well as Rep. John Conyers and the valiant Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus who have kept the heat on Bush and his cronies all year. We also should give credit where credit is due to the Green Party and Libertarian Party, who deserve our thanks for continuing the battle after John Kerry decided that his chance at a rematch in 2008 was worth more than counting every vote.
More on the flip.
For me, the lessons of the
recount process and Ohio Challenge include these:
- Support electoral justice organizations, to make sure every vote counts and every vote is counted.
- Push for Instant Runoff Voting, Proportional Voting, and other innovations that are enjoyed by almost every other democracy than our own.
- Support candidates such as Ohio gubernatorial candidate Bob Fitrakis, who has pledged to clean up corruption and to challenge the election if even one vote is not counted properly.
With one year of hindsight, what do you take out of the recount and challenge, and what stories from that time can you share?