>You're right - the time-limit (72 hours) ran out for Bush in most counties. The Dems seem to have stumbled into a completely brilliant plan, though not sure at what point it consciously dawned on them, or whether it will survive. The Republicans in the state house are determined to stop it, I see.

As a Chicagoan, I've found that whenever you have a Daley running a campaign, you can bet that they're aware of every angle!

I think that the sequence should be made clear, though. Folks continue to talk about the number of recounts and when the Demos will have enough. Even Bush mentioned 2 recounts.

Well, there was the initial count. Then, there was a statute mandated machine recount of the entire state. Florida election law recognizes that hand counting ballots is a more accurate method of counting, and provides by statute in a close election for either party to request a hand count. This is the first recount which the Dems have requested.

>But I stand by my earlier statement: even if it takes a court ruling, all FL counties should be subject to the same hand recount if requested by either party, if we are going down that road, to have a fair outcome here. These counts can be done expeditiously enough with enough staffing. I would prefer this outcome, in the interest of the nation's sense of fairness.

I agree. No additional voting. But, as accurate a count as possible so that we do respect the process.

Do you have any insight as to how that could be accomplished? I would assume that the Secretary of State would have the power to do such.