"The turning point for me was when the Supreme Court installed Bush in 2000, even though he got half a million votes less nationally than Gore. It was nothing more than a bloodless coup and that's when I really started paying attention"

Mark Edwards' quote talks to the significance of the 2000 governmental election and the Supreme Court's decision to install George W. Bush as president, even though Al Gore had actually won the popular vote. Edwards suggests that the Supreme Court's choice was a "bloodless coup," suggesting that it was an abrupt, unconstitutional change of power. This event was a turning point for Edwards, as it made him realize the significance of taking notice of politics. He was most likely surprised and disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision, and this motivated him to become more politically mindful. Edwards' quote acts as a suggestion of the power of the Supreme Court and the importance of focusing on politics.