Who was the rightful winner of the 2000 election?

[Bugs]

Taken at face value, the argument in 2000 was whether to continue the recounts by hand, or to accept the machine recounts already completed.  Republicans came out in support of accepting the machine recounts, while Democrats argued to continue the hand recounts.  This argument has nothing to do with the politics of either party, but we all know why everyone took the position they did on the recount question.  Resolving it in their favor would put their candidati in the White House.  If the 2008 election hung on the electoral votes of one pivotal state and the Republicans needed hand recounts to win, the entire country would make a 180 degree turn on the recount question.  Democrats would argue to stop the recounts while Republicans would want to recount every vote.  This thread is also a party line issue.  No one will be persuaded.  My avatar is blue.  Bush won.