I'm Pete du Pont with the National Center for Policy Analysis. At this moment, George Bush is still the declared winner in Florida, and Al Gore is still in a snit. I can't fault him. He lost the presidency of the United States. I've lost elections, and it's not a good feeling.
But there comes a time when you have to admit you lost.
Bush played by the rules. He won the Florida election. Then he won the recount. Then he won the recount of the recount. He survived the rejection of legitimate overseas ballots. And the intrusion of the Florida Supreme Court rewriting the rules. And as time went on, one thing became clear: Al Gore was going to keep counting until he got the count he wanted.
Again, I can understand the hurt. Gore had to lug the Bill Clinton anvil all through the election — the only possible explanation he could accept for losing. But at some point, the rule of law has to prevail, and that point is now.
Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont. Next time, the Transition.