Recount

I cannot help but engage in my favorite hobby of "bias-watching". The initial word on this film is that it has a democratic slant. Here are some observations that validate this point:

(1)The beginning of the film does this impression no favors. The Republicans are portrayed as overtly religious (via the Ginsburg story) and clueless (contrast the way the same question "are we going to win" is posed by the different parties. The Democrats do it in "West Wing" fashion, with one analyst crisply asking another, while a blond (read, clueless) staffer innocently asks Ginsberg the same question...)antagonists (notice the sad music when the Gore campaign loses and the hopeful music when they win... this continues throughout the film. Also, the film's protoganist is a a Democrat).

REPUBLICANS ARE NOT THIS STUPID!!!:
(2) W says (with the authority of a pre-schooler) "My little brother has assured my I won Florida"...
(3) Harris asks "What's the difference, Clay?" [Harris is referring here to simple arithmetic.]

(4) The Republicans introduce the idea that the Recount is a "street fight for the presidency of the United States," while the Democrats are portrayed as the honorable side that wants to "treat this as a legal process." The sequence that follows only continues this contrast. Republicans are political prostitutes, willing to do anything to get elected, while the Democrats are the "nice guys who (will) finish last." Further, when the Democrats do start throwing punches, it is only because the "Bush brothers are not going to run a dignified process."

(5) Katherine Harris as the absolutely partisan, arrogant primadonaa.

(6) Contrast the barnyard atmosphere of the Republican protest with the respectable Democratic protest.

(7) The dastardly conduct of the Republican protesters and the subsequent cover-up of the riot.

(8) The entire premise of the movie; that the Democrats are the ones being cheated- is false, because only Democratic counties where being recounted.

(9) Gore emerges on the moral high ground, ending the Recount for the sake of the country.

In conclusion, Recount portrays the Democrats as the moral, wronged party, and the Republicans as the slimy political operatives determined to steal the election for Bush. Having said this, this may indeed have been the case, in which case HBO is vindicated in their portrayal of their events. Ironically, a recount conducted by news organizations found that Bush would have won if Gore’s recount had been allowed to proceed, meaning that the tone of the film- that Bush stole the election- is flawed.

Now to the assignment. What can be learned from “Recount” that is applicable to the 2008 election?

(1) Who is this years Florida (i.e the potentially explosive swing state)? There are many candidates: As of 10/26, Yahoo has only North Carolina, Indiana, and Missouri as battleground states. However, until two weeks ago, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, and Nevada were all considered to be battleground states.

(2) Who is this years Katherine Harris, i.e, a key figure in the state apparatus that can help his or her parties candidate? Here are the breakdown for the three current battleground states: Indiana: the current Governor is Republican, but the houses of the Assembly are split, one being Democratic and one being Republican. Missouri: Republican Governor, Republican house and senate. North Carolina: Democratic Governor with democratic legislature.

(3) Is their a Warren Christopher type figure, i.e, someone who will lack the will to conduct a prolonged legal battle if it comes to that?
The two parties have proven deft at slugging it out. There will be no Warren Christophers found in the David Axelords or Steve Schmidts in this campaign.

(4) Will anyone pull a Joe Lieberman, i.e, will a V.P be more concerned about their own interests (as the movie alleges) and go off message in an attempt to solidify their chances for 2012? This blog goes to press just as this story about Palin-McCain tension surfaces. So there is a chance Palin could pull a "Lieberman." Biden is older, and does not have any chance of running in 2012 (remember Hillary?), and so it would be safe to assume he would not do anything intentional to sabotage Obama. However, Biden is known for running the mouth...

(5) Will the media play the same role it did in 2000, when it called the State twice, both times prematurely?
No, after the 2000 election, the news media no longer broadcasts results from its exit polls until after all the polling booths have closed. This means Moveon.org will have to find a new villain if McCain wins (recall Outfoxed with it allegations about Fox News, an accusation repeated on DailyKos.)