The fairest recount in Florida

was the one that was done by machine. Because the counties where manual

recounts are being done are controlled by Democratic Party partisans their

actions must be considered suspect from the start. However, the numerous

examples of these people changing the rules as they go along are more

than ample evidence that they are simply manipulating the process to try

to throw the vote in Florida to Gore. This is not fair. It certainly will

not result in the full, fair and accurate count of the votes in Florida

as the Democrats claim.

Florida state law clearly requires

that the votes be certified by seven days after the election, a date that

has long passed.

If counties want to do manual

recounts, then they should be expected to devote the resources necessary

to finish within the deadline. Several counties met the deadline. The

unwillingness of the others to devote the resources necessary to complete

their manual recounts in the time allotted is absolutely no reason to

ignore Florida law.

The largest county, Miami-Dade,

first decided not to manually recount, then reversed that position as

a result of pressure from the Gore campaign. Well, after the statutory

deadline for certifying the Florida voting results, they started a recount

that was expected to take at least several weeks. This is outrageous.

The Florida Supreme Court showed

total contempt for the rule of law by ignoring the clear requirements

of the Florida election statute and arbitrarily imposing a new system

and new deadlines. It is clear that their actions were designed to give

the maximum opportunity to Gore to "find" the votes needed to

win. This also is outrageous.

I urge you to use your editorial

voice to immediately condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms.

The very fate of our nation is hanging in the balance.

David Hedlund

Newnan