Time to concede

Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified Florida's election results Sunday, declaring Texas Gov. George W. Bush the winner of the state's 25 electoral votes by a margin of 537 votes. But the battle, unfortunately, seems far from over.\nVice President Al Gore continued his fight for a recount yesterday, making an unprecedented trip to the Florida courts to contest the state's election results.\nIt is time for Gore to concede. The ballots in Florida have been counted and recounted in nearly every county Gore requested. Each step of the way, Harris followed the courts' decisions to the letter. \n Every possible and prudent effort to garner the correct outcome has been made. There comes a point in time when the good of the country has to outweigh the need for personal victory. \n The reality is that the law has been followed in Florida. Contrary to Gore's wishes to count some dimpled ballot votes and recast votes because of the so-called "butterfly ballot," federal law states election law can not be changed after election day. And determining the will of the people does not include a select group of people examining an incorrectly cast ballot and trying to determine what some unknown person wants. That's not democracy -- that's guessing.\n In less than three weeks, Dec. 18, Florida must send its electoral college members to vote. Will this endless court battle be over? Will members know for whom they are supposed to vote? A smooth transition of power is of the utmost importance. The Florida legislature has threatened to become involved in the issue. With a Republican majority, it would be a travesty if such a partisan body were to decide the election after all.\nWith each day this tired saga continues; the next administration becomes more and more tainted. The laws have been followed and the votes have been counted. \nVice President Gore, it is time to concede.