U.S. Supreme Court: Keeping the Faith

December 12 is the federally mandated date on which the Electoral College is supposed to assemble to cast its votes for the president of the United States. In true American fashion, this date is going to be stretched to its limit and perhaps broken, as the nation’s highest court mulls the facts of the disputed Florida election results. All of the lawsuits and political/partisan rhetoric of the last 5 weeks have led us to this pinnacle of finality, which should present a much clearer picture of who will be charged with leading this country for the next four years.

Arguments on both sides are anchored in logic and some legal precedent, albeit often times skewed by political interests and partisan "win at all cost" strategies. Half of the nation will be at least disappointed with the ruling of the court, and there will be some fallout, regardless of the decision. But for the most part, the people of this country have placed their faith in the Supreme Court to make these kinds of rulings and to offer a "fair and just decision" based on the facts before them. When issues such as this arise, with such deep and far-reaching implications, the court is forced to do more than offer a ruling. The court must articulate that ruling in such a way as to convince a majority of Americans that the ruling was based entirely on fact, the U.S. Constitution, and fair and equitable legislation.

Sometime this afternoon, the foundations of the greatest Republic in history will be solidified and reinforced by nine men and women who, with the guidance of a time-tested system of government, will decide the next leader of the Free World. I think most of us are confident that they will choose wisely.