"What feels so right.... can be wrong"

The rule of law has prevailed…and many will be bitterly disappointed and angry.  By a 7-2 vote the Supreme Court said that the Florida Supreme Court acted unconstitutionally.  Previously they vacated and order of the Florida Supreme Court because they could not understand their reasoning.  At 10 o’clock on Wednesday in a 5 to 4 vote the Supreme Court said the race is over, Bush wins. 

We are a nation of laws and that is how it should be decided.  But we are in a media based, promotion minded, sound bite driven political situation.  Perhaps it has always been, but seems more so now. 

I am reminded of the lines from a Debbie Boone song….”How can it be wrong when it feels so right?” 

Much of what we have heard during the last month fall into the “feels so right” category.  Like “Count all the votes”, “A full fair and accurate count”.  It is hard to argue with these statements.  They sound right, they sound fair, they seem to be based on our underlying principles… yes, they “feel” so right but may not be. 

During the impeachment process we allowed perjury, no, in the end we condoned lying, because it was “just about sex”.  Yes, for many it “felt so right” to overlook this.  I think, it was wrong to overlook, time will tell if the nation was harmed. 

But much in life does feel right, but IS so wrong.  Everybody can conjure up examples.  We have them, we have done them and had a “feel good” feeling for a time but as time wears on we know it was wrong. I won’t enflame the debate with offering mine, but feelings are not the guiding principle.  I might offer a very simple example.  It is sometimes very satisfying to “blow your stack” when someone makes you angry.  Yes, feels good for a short time, but many times in the end it was wrong and not very helpful and can be quite hurtful. 

In the end the Supreme Court said that the Florida Supreme Court acted against our constitution, they acted against the rule of law.  In my opinion the Florida Court got caught up in what was “feeling right”.  It seemed that the “fair thing” was to fashion a solution that fit the feeling not the law. 

In the press of time they did so many things wrong.  Allowing a partial recount of votes in Broward County to be included, (the votes gained by Gore on the count taken before they decided to stop) was clearly against state law.  They allowed the recount totals in Palm Beach County that came in after their own imposed deadline…. “It just felt right”.  But really it was wrong.  The Florida Supreme Court would not look kindly on us if we started fudging on what they ruled because it “felt right”. 

On the other side it felt so wrong that vote counters could divine the “intent of the voter” by examining in detail a ballot.  

We can all get caught up in the “feelings” of the situation.  Mr. Gore can look at many “what ifs”, “if only’s” and on and on.  He will carry with him for his lifetime, for this little action or that little effort; I would be President of the United States.  After years of preparation, after months, no years, of campaigning, it came to naught.  You have to have feelings for the depth of his hurt. 

The Bush family has felt the sting of defeat, and I might use the phrase, “Big Time”.  Not only has a member been defeated for the highest office in the land, but a son and brother has lost a close race for governor.  That race was lost under circumstances some would say was tainted by last minute unfair and untrue advertising. 

But Mr. Gore can learn some lessons from the Bush family.  President George Bush has come out of his defeat with honor and dignity and with approval ratings higher than ever.  And better yet, he seems content. What a blessing.  The son and brother, Jeb kept his head down and moved forward only to rise again and win. 

But in the end the lesson we should learn from this tortuous election year is that the Debbie Boone song should not be our guideline in life or in politics.  Our republic has survived many decisions that were driven by “feelings” but in the end doing what is right is and should be the driving principle.