No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a vote in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live. Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined.
Williams v. Rhodes, 393 US 23, 30-31 (1968)
I thoroughly enjoyed Recount. It was pretty unforgiving of Repubs, hitting the multiple ways their strategy disenfranchised Dem voters, from pre-election tactics to post election legal strategy. Most of the ideas we've read about or covered in the past several years were raised in the film – it's packed full of these ideas.
And it also lampooned the spineless strategy of top Dem leadership, another topic we've blogged much about. "Country above party" becomes an excuse to avoid the real battle – the powerful deciding what the people rightfully decide – who shall make the laws.
Recount had me busting a gut laughing at some of the acting comedically pulled off by Laura Dern, as Katherine Harris. Based on what Harris did, the movie was kind to only mock her.
Kevin Spacey turns any film he touches into gold. This time, he plays Ron Klain, Gore's former chief of staff. A comedic moment with him happens when his sidekick (Dennis Leary) punches the air in victory, but connects with Spacey's nose. However, Klain is mainly portrayed as an earnest man who still believes in democracy; there's even a scene where someone comments, "You sound like you really believe that."
The film abounds with numerous one-liners that had me cheering, even tho I knew the outcome.
The James Baker character held himself with dignity and met all my ideas of what the guy would be like in person. Well, mostly, since there was no creepy, Machiavellian edge to him in the film.
Actual news footage is used, as well as the actual quote by that West Palm Beach election official (Carol Roberts) who refused to follow Harris' order to stop the recount. This is the full quote from a news conference with the Palm Beach Canvassing Board captured on film in Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2002):CAROL ROBERTS: This Board has now been mandated by Chief Election Officer of the State of Florida not to count the votes of the people of Palm Beach County.Legal advisor from Harris' office: You have an, a binding opinion from the Division of Elections.
CAROL ROBERTS: What happens? Do we go to jail? Because I'm willing to go jail.
Legal advisor: No, I, no, I just felt that...
Crowd cheers.
Link to Palm Beach Canvassing Board v. Katherine Harris
Because of the dozen or so election documentaries I've seen, much of this info was familiar to me. Several times during the film, I annoyed my family with, "this really happened, she really said that," or "they really did that."
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
