Meaning: The quote you've provided is a commentary on the controversial and highly contested 2000 United States presidential election, specifically the legal battles surrounding the recount of votes in the state of Florida. The quote is attributed to Vincent Bugliosi, a prominent American attorney and author, who was known for his work as a prosecutor and for his critical analysis of legal and political issues.

In the 2000 presidential election, the race between Republican candidate George W. Bush and Democratic candidate Al Gore came down to an extremely close margin in Florida. The outcome of the election hinged on the results in Florida, and the state's electoral votes were crucial to determining the next President of the United States.

The recount process in Florida became the focal point of intense legal and political battles, with both the Bush and Gore campaigns mobilizing teams of lawyers to oversee the recount and challenge the results. As the recount progressed, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of a statewide recount of the votes, with the aim of ensuring that all legal votes were accurately counted.

Bugliosi's quote reflects the perception that the Florida Supreme Court sought to uphold the principle of accurately counting every valid vote in the election. This position aligns with the fundamental democratic principle that every vote should be considered and accounted for in the electoral process. The emphasis on "all the legal votes" underscores the importance of fairness and integrity in the election outcome.

However, the quote also highlights a contrasting perspective attributed to the United States Supreme Court. In a highly controversial decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately intervened in the Florida recount process and effectively halted the recount, citing concerns about the lack of a uniform standard for the recount across the state. This decision effectively led to the certification of George W. Bush as the winner of Florida's electoral votes and, consequently, the presidency.

Bugliosi's characterization of the U.S. Supreme Court's stance as not wanting "all the votes to be counted" reflects the criticism and controversy surrounding the Court's decision. Critics argued that the intervention of the Supreme Court thwarted the democratic principle of ensuring the accurate representation of voters' choices, particularly in a closely contested election.

The 2000 election and the legal battles in Florida sparked widespread debate and scrutiny over the electoral process, the role of the judiciary in election disputes, and the implications for the democratic system. The outcome of the election and the subsequent Supreme Court decision had a lasting impact on public perception of the electoral process and raised questions about the role of the courts in resolving election disputes.

In conclusion, Bugliosi's quote encapsulates the contentious nature of the 2000 presidential election and the divergent approaches taken by the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court in the recount process. The quote underscores the significance of the legal and political implications of the election outcome, as well as the enduring debates about the principles of democracy and the rule of law in the context of electoral disputes.