LETTERS: JUSTICES, NOT MAP, INDICATE ELECTION OUTCOM

To the editor:

There exists a county-by-county map which shows that segment of the population which celebrated the successful theft of the late presidential election: Red for George W. Bush, blue for Al Gore. Without careful analysis, the resulting visual impression -- a riot of red with small blue accents -- is that Bush kicked the heck out of Gore.

These con artists are attaching as much importance to the county-by-county results, which have no significance in determining the outcome, as the Electoral College pays to the state-by-state results, which have all the significance. Gore won a majority of the popular vote. So if one were to map that result, one dot per vote, the map would appear to be a flurry of blue and red dots with blue only slightly predominant.

The only graphic which would shed light on the presidential election of 2000 would depict the outlines of nine persons clad in judicial robes. Four of the outlines would be blue. The remaining five would be red. In my mind, in the rota of this nation's presidents, Bush's name will always have an asterisk beside it.

DONN S. MILLER

Tamms, Ill.