America's Stolen Election Baffles the World
Michael North, Democrats.com Advisory Board

I've been traveling overseas for the past few weeks on business, visiting Jamaica, Davos Switzerland, Cairo and various parts of Egypt.

Everywhere, people want to know about the recent US elections. A couple of recent conversations:

On a small sailboat ferry, crossing the upper Nile near Aswan Egypt, the sailor/captain, holding the sail and hauling on the rudder in a long gray cotton robe and turban, says:

"Can I ask you one question, sir?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"George Bush, he is new President?"

"Yes, but he got fewer votes than Al Gore."

"How does this happen?"

"It's very complicated, but they stopped counting votes before Al Gore could win."

"Yes? I heard this. How this is possible in America?"

"Good question."

On a dark night in Kingston Jamaica over ultra-loud dub music, sitting having a beer with a younh g Jamaican entrepreneur who has a small electrical supply and installation company:

"What did you think of these elections? Did you vote for Bush?"

"No I didn't...the elections were very confusing in America."

"It is obvious that Jeb Bush rigged the election for his brother."

"Some people are saying that."

"No, we understand about crooked elections in Jamaica. We have seen it all, all these tricks Bush pulled. Every election here has some crooked people, we know it. But we never expected this in Am erica."

"It's a very strange situation, that's true."

"The only difference here is, when someone steals an election, they do it big, the difference is so large they never look at it closely to expose it. Jeb Bush and his father do not do a very good j ob."

"Well, let's hope that George W. does a better job of faking it as President than his family did of faking the election."

(Smile...) "I think this is not likely."

At a reception after a day talking about the world's problems in Zurich, part of the World Econom ic Forum; talking to an Indian investor, head of a high tech firm there:

"Will George Bush have problems with credibility as President, because of the way the election turned out?"

"That could be. I certainly supported Gore, and opposed the way the election was declared without counting the votes."

"With Bill Clinton we always knew where we were going; he was very strong, and good for India. Wi th Bush, I'm wondering how he can lead now."

"I wonder the same, though I can't help but wish him well, for all our sakes."

"Yes, but the problem is we are now questioning American democracy. This means we question the strength of business and financial leadership also, and this doubt is bad for business. The whole global system depends on accepting the credibility of America and the President..."

"Understand: there was strong opposition everywhere in America to how this election was run. Americans are not going to just accept this. We're going to make sure it cannot happen again."

"This would be very good. We hope it does not come too late."