Message-ID: <3291451.1075857219457.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 07:40:00 -0800 (PST) From: benjamin.rogers@enron.com To: jonathan.hoff@enron.com Subject: Article Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Benjamin Rogers X-To: Jonathan Hoff X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Benjamin_Rogers_Dec2000_2\Notes Folders\Discussion threads X-Origin: Rogers-B X-FileName: brogers.nsf ---------------------- Forwarded by Benjamin Rogers/HOU/ECT on 11/13/2000 03:39 PM --------------------------- Ceci Twachtman@EES 11/10/2000 05:48 PM To: Linda Ng/HOU/EES@EES, smbradshaw@msn.com, Patricia Slaughter/HOU/EES@EES, Justin Townsley/HOU/EES@EES, Karl Klicker/HOU/EES@EES, Rita Hartfield/Enron Communications@Enron Communications, Patricia Slaughter/HOU/EES@EES, David Chang/Enron Communications@Enron Communications, Doug Leach/HOU/ECT@ECT, Ted C Bland/HOU/ECT@ECT, Craig Childers/HOU/EES@EES, Terry Pierce/Enron Communications@Enron Communications, Roy Hartstein/NA/Enron@Enron, Anthony Mends/Enron Communications@Enron Communications, Benjamin Rogers/HOU/ECT@ECT, Lynette Malone/HOU/EES@EES, Harold G Buchanan/HOU/EES@EES, Thomas E White/HOU/EES@EES, Pat Keelan/HOU/EES@EES, Bessik Matchavariani/Enron Communications@Enron Communications cc: Subject: Article VERY INTERESTING... ---------------------- Forwarded by Ceci Twachtman/HOU/EES on 11/10/2000 05:23 PM --------------------------- David Haug@ENRON_DEVELOPMENT 11/10/2000 03:19 PM To: mklepper@skadden.com, Ceci Twachtman@Enron Communications cc: Subject: Article ---------------------- Forwarded by David Haug/ENRON_DEVELOPMENT on 11/10/2000 03:16 PM --------------------------- Steven Haug@ENRON 11/10/2000 11:07 AM To: Larry Abbott/OTS/Enron@ENRON, Mike Ames/OTS/Enron@Enron, Mike Bonnstetter/ET&S/Enron@ENRON, Max Brown/OTS/Enron@Enron, rd_cates@yahoo.com, John Gormley/ET&S/Enron@Enron, Jeff Hamlin/ET&S/Enron@Enron, Danny Holguin/ET&S/Enron@Enron, Steve Tarter/ET&S/Enron@Enron, Al Vandarwarka/ET&S/Enron@Enron, Jon Wernette/ET&S/Enron@Enron, Norma Nusz-Chandler/NPNG/Enron@ENRON, Virgil Pfennig/NPNG/Enron@ENRON, Gary Numedahl/ET&S/Enron@ENRON, vdicke@courier.esu11.k12.ne.us, David Haug/ENRON_DEVELOPMENT@ENRON_DEVELOPMENT, haug@tconl.com, vghaug@nque.com, geoff@tconl.com, karenhaug@hotmail.com, laura.haug@amerus.com, CindyJ.@prodigy.net, elmo413@carrollsweb.com, Marlene McCoy/ET&S/Enron@ENRON, daisyd43@hotmail.com, John W Rose/ET&S/Enron@ENRON, omaharoses@hotmail.com, Norm Ruiz/ET&S/Enron@ENRON, aly_gal@hotmail.com, Neta Zitnik/ET&S/Enron@ENRON cc: Subject: Article DO YOU THINK HE WOULD?? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Al Gore and Constitution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- , 2000 WorldNetDaily.com Ever since I saw Al Gore give that uncharacteristically statesman-like speech defending the integrity of the Electoral College system under the Constitution of the United States, I've been scratching my head trying to figure it out. Who was this guy? Was this the same Al Gore who has demonstrated -- time and time again -- so little respect for the Constitution during the last eight years? Why was he giving up on the idea of a challenge to the Electoral College, when it seemed many in his camp were banking on that as their last line of defense? Well, I think I have figured it out. Actually, there are two possibilities. The first thought that came to me was that this was Al Gore's "Don't-watch-the-man-behind-the-curtain speech." While he was extolling the virtues of the Constitution, his minions in Florida -- from Bill Daley to Jesse Jackson -- were busy subverting it by any means necessary. It was Al Gore's way of establishing public plausible deniability. He stood above the fray, while his cohorts did the dirty work. But, more recently, another thought has occurred to me -- a darker, more sinister thought. I hope I am wrong. I pray that, this time, I am overestimating the deviousness of Al Gore. But that, of course, is always a difficult task. Think, for a moment, why Al Gore would suddenly be reading and citing the Constitution. The answer is that, in this instance, it gives him all the power. What do I mean? Who is it, under the Constitution, that is specifically charged with certifying the Electoral College votes of each state? You guessed it. The president of the U.S. Senate, which also happens to be the vice president of the United States. That's right. The day those Electoral College votes go to the Senate to be counted and certified to choose the next president of these United States, Al Gore will be holding all the cards. "Oh, Farah," you say, "you don't think Al Gore would tamper with the results in any way with the whole world watching, do you?" Well, let's think about what has been happening in Florida for the last several days. Al Gore's campaign managers have been whipping up hysteria stating that the will of the people in that state is being subverted. They are filing lawsuits. They are organizing marches. They are all but accusing the Bush campaign of voter fraud. Listen to what Bill Daley has to say: "More than 100 million Americans voted on Tuesday and more voted for Al Gore than George Bush. Here in Florida it also seems very likely that more voters went to the polls believing that they were voting for Al Gore than for George Bush. If the will of the people is to prevail Al Gore should be awarded a victory in Florida, and be our next president of the United States." They've decided that no matter what the actual vote count shows, Gore wins. Now, all Gore has to do on that fateful day in the U.S. Senate is reject for certification the Electoral College votes of Florida, and he wins the majority and becomes president. Sorry, Bush fans. I don't think there's a thing you can do about it other than protest, complain and stomp your feet. Better start planning your legal strategy now. I'll bet Al Gore's transition team is already hard at work. Barbra Streisand is probably making plans to sing at the Inauguration. Alec Baldwin is unpacking his bags. This could be a fait accompli. I guarantee you a counter to this bold move is not in the Bush campaign's playbook. The Gore campaign, still working overtime, has laid the groundwork for the challenge. The Florida vote is tainted, they say. It's too close to call. Too many irregularities. The vote can simply be dismissed by the constitutional authority -- Vice President Al Gore. Would you put it past him? I sure wouldn't. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Joseph Farah is editor and chief executive officer of WorldNetDaily.com and writes a daily column.