Everyone I've heard talk about the upcoming HBO movie Recount about the aftermath of the 2000 election has loved it, including and not limited to Slate's John Dickerson who's the non-grumpy man on my beloved Slate Political Gabfest.
So I'm hotly, hotly anticipating this flick. It stars Laura Dern as Katherine Harris, and Tom Wilkinson as James Baker — Kevin Spacey, Ed Begley Jr. and Denis Leary star as well.
"This is a street fight for the presidency of the United States." Hot. I know it was real, with all kinds of historical ramifications. . .but it seems like a great movie too? Can it be both?
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It airs Sunday, May 25 at 9 p.m. I'm sending out a little butterfly ballot of my own — I'm thinking of throwing a little virtual viewing party. . . complete with "Hanging Chad" cocktails — who's in?
Juicy Couture
Bric's
Dress for Less
I thought living through it once was plenty. Why does America keep harping on this? It's over.
1Not sure I want to live through such a tragic moment AGAIN!
2I think that may be too painful to watch.
What I don't understand is after all that, how did the man win a second time???
3This is just another example of the left not being able to get over it. Bush won (twice). Let's look ahead, and see what we can do to keep voting problems from happening again.
4I think there were some SERIOUS issues that took place in Florida, and it is still happening today. In Los Angeles county during the primary, we didn't have the "hanging chad", we had the "double bubble" that resulted in 50% of the Independent votes in Los Angeles County did NOT count. We need to work towards a voting system that is reliable. Voting is the basis of our country, and it needs to be a respectable system. With out a respectable, consistent voting system, we do not have a democracy.
When you have millions of people whose votes are not counted, you need to address the system and correct it. I think learning from past mistakes is a valuable thing. Laura Dern looks exactly like Katherine, too!
5Eh this isn't interesting to me... I agree that we just need to look forward...
6Jillness, I agree that we need to work on getting a voting system that is reliable. Let's just keep looking forward and working toward that goal, and not looking back two election cycles ago to a past mistake.
7Our electoral regulations are probably the worst in the industrialized world. We have no national election office that oversees our elections, we have no independent or multi-party oversight. No national uniformity on polling hours, ballots or even the type of method (computer v. paper) and no standardized recall law. In terms of the validity of our elections, I'd say we're probably neck and neck with the old Communist regimes.
I also recall in San Francisco a few elections ago that several of our ballot boxes were found floating in the Bay the day after the election. The reason? They were being cleaned.
8In a democracy, an election being improperly determined and and properly cast votes not counting should be of major concern to everyone - if it's not that important, what is the point of killing other people to spread democracy?
9My pet peeve with the 2000 recount is that impatience with the process is what determined the election, pure impatience.
If you’re going to do something as important as a recount to see who is going to lead the free world, take your time and do it right. The reencounters were rushed to the point of exhaustion and delirium. Only to be told stop doesn't matter anymore they gave it to so and so.
I also level criticism at both sides because the interest on their part was not to help in determining who is rightfully the next President their interest was to see that their respective candidate was the next President there for creating a disingenuous intent and sidelining a fair election.
10The fact that things have changed so little tells me more attention should be paid to these things. Yes, we should look to the future, but it seems as if we are bound to repeat the same mistakes if we don't work really hard to make progress.
11I completely agree we need federal uniformtity in voting hours and systems, we also need a voter registration card to ensure that only US citizens are voting and that they are only voting once.
12Oh common Cab. Don't you like the Chicago slogan: "Vote early, vote often"?
13haha my husband always says that!
14Laura Dern looks like a great casting choice for Katherine Harris. I want to see this! Too bad I don't have HBO.
15Great to see & hear all the media coverage of HBO "Recount" movie!
I supplied 150+ props to the HBO movie "Recount", and worked with the crew throughout the production, plus I was an extra in the movie.
If you are interested in props from the movie, I still have:
* Voting Machines
* Ballot Boxes
* Transfer Cases
All of these props are from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office (I bought them around 3 years ago), and have the original asset / property tags still on them. The voting machines and ballot boxes still have chads in them.
Please feel free to visit my website, or call anytime toll free:
http://www.VotingMachineStore.com
16(800) 343-4213
i'll watch it what else will be on?? and the cast is great.
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