STOPPING THE COUP:

In funds, Bush was clear victor : He raised four times as much as Gore during Florida recount (Associated Press, 07/28/2002)

When the 2000 presidential election ended in a virtual deadlock, George W. Bush quickly raised nearly $14 million for the Florida recount fight, taking in money so quickly it surprised even his own staff.

"I think we were a little bit stunned by the amount we received," said Benjamin Ginsberg, a Bush attorney for the recount.

One of the greatest general weaknesses of Republicans is that because they are disposed to be hostile to government they tend not to fight for the opportunity to wield its power as fiercely as Democrats do. The one exception to this rule came in the battle for Florida, when the GOP seemed to finally realize just how far Democrats were willing to go to seize the reigns of government. The best illustration of this came on the day that one of the Election Boards tried closing their deliberations and a gang of suited Republicans began wilding through the halls and pounding on doors until the officials relented. These suddenly radicalized conservatives looked like nothing so much as Ward Cleaver on crack. It's no surprise to see that money came pouring into the Bush campaign's coffers from fellow Republicans across the country who were likewise confronted with the specter of the election being stolen. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 28, 2002 7:25 AM