"Recount" on HBO, but not what happened in Miami ... by gimleteye

Sunday night, HBO broadcasts "Recount", the story of the 2000 presidential election scandal. The Wall Street Journal (May 23, 2008) writes, "Most of us have moved on since those days, and can view 'Recount' mainly as a lively refresher course on how Democrats in particular experienced the turmoil of Florida 2000."

Ah, but you had to be here. The drama in James Baker squaring off against Warren Christopher, lawyer v. lawyer, is old news.

The film I would like to see would explore why Alex Penelas, then mayor of Miami-Dade County and once protege of senior Democrat US Senator Bob Graham, refused to intervene during the tumult at the office of the Supervisor of Elections.During the days DC Congressional staffers parachuted into Miami, (orchestrated by Roger Stone, the Republican Congressional leadership, and the Bush campaign) pretending to be angry "locals" demanding the recount be stopped, Penelas was conveniently inaccessible, on a business trip to Spain.

Why didn't the young mayor's mentor, US Senator Bob Graham, insist that Penelas allow the recount to continue?

Above all, what grievances did Penelas hold against Al Gore and why?

The drama why Penelas failed his party (and imagined no one would pay attention when he later tried to run for US Senate!), leading to two terms of the most reckless White House in history is known to some of the people who read this blog.

For enterprising script writers, I'd suggest calling Alex Penelas or any of the lobbyists who once surrounded his office. Are they willing to speak, now? I hope so. Theirs is a story that should be told.