Waiting for the Vote Count

Rising above politics for the good of the country is a truly presidential thing to do.

Candidates Gore and Bush need to agree soon to strike a transparent, open, and common-sense agreement on who won the Florida vote. They must strive to give people hope for a bipartisan solution, and show a commitment to behaving in a bipartisan manner following Inauguration Day.

That will make the words "compassionate conservative" and "willing to fight" (this time for a constitutionally correct outcome) ring with much-needed authenticity.

What's strictly legal in the vote count is important, but the health of American democracy must also be factored in. Restoring confidence in the ability of democracy to transcend endless courtroom wrangling is good for both the people and the government, who, when all is said and done, are the really same thing.

The country has patience but not time in waiting for the final wheels of this election to turn. How one man wins will matter more than whether he does win.

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society