LETTERS: GORE IS LOSER EVEN IF HE WINS THE LEGAL BATTLE

To the editor:

"You ain't seen nothing yet" was the theme for the Gore campaign. They sure weren't kidding, were they? The first count of Florida votes proclaimed Bush the winner. The second count proclaimed Bush the winner. That's not enough for Al Gore, though. Now they are demanding a hand recount of the Democratic counties most strongly supporting Gore.

Here is my prediction: The Gore campaign will somehow find about 500 extra votes to close the gap and show Gore the winner. After all, the first two counts didn't put him ahead.

This behavior is completely undermining the American people and our Constitution. Gore's campaign claims it is doing this to express the will of the people. The will of the people has already been counted twice. Even if Gore squeaks through with a technicality or a judicial decision based on a radical few, does he really think he would have won the election? The truth is even if he wins, he loses. That is because he have conducted himself in an underhanded, demoralizing manner. The words honor, integrity and respect will never be attributed to his name.

George W. Bush will walk away from this a winner, even if he loses, because he has carried himself with dignity and pride. I guess only time will tell what we really want or end up getting for a president.

SANDY QUIGLEY

Cape Girardeau