Letters to the Editor, Anacortes American, January 26, 2005

Why is the third count any better than the first one?

It seems that Christine Greg-Gore has accomplished what Al Gore could not.

After count, count and recount, she has been declared the winner. Given the fact that the hands were dealt and the cards were on the table, the question is, "What makes a third count any more valid than a first count or a second count?" The player with the higher hand or the most marbles wins the game. Common sense tells us that a second count should simply validate the original outcome.

A reality check! Using our governor's race as a guideline clearly indicates that revised application of the rules and values can provide a completely different and unexpected set of results.

At an early age, we often discovered that the manipulation of set variables was often accompanied a sound spanking or an impromptu mouthwash. In today's politically correct environment, however, we find justification within quotes by our leaders.

"We are following the rules and we need to live by those rules, and not just call for a do-over because we don't like the results," said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown.

"The vote changed, I won, and now suddenly there's something wrong," Gregoire said. "I won by 129. It's time for us to put it behind us and move on." She ruled out a brand new election. "Do-overs" only occur in golf, and only during practice, she said. "This is not golf and this is not practice."

And we reward them.

Andy Stevens, Anacortes