Trouble in Paradise: Two Years in Florida Politics—A People's History of Election 2000 and Beyond

In November 2000, Florida became the unwanted center of attention in a presidential election drama. With 25 electoral votes at stake, widespread allegations of voting irregularities led to lawsuits and a recount that was ultimately halted by a narrow margin in the U.S. Supreme Court, deciding the contest in favor of George W. Bush. Although the election was over, the questions and rancor continued. Trouble in Paradise, directed by Laurel Greenberg, is a thoughtful look at Florida's (and specifically Palm Beach County's) role in deciding the 2000 election (and the contentious aftermath), and how this mess led to calls for reform before the 2002 governor's race. Troubling questions involve not only hanging chads, missing ballots, and allegations of bias by Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris (part of the Bush re-election team), but also the disenfranchisement of many black voters, specifically black males excluded because of prior felony convictions—a cumbersome law (alleged to originally exclude freed slaves from voting) that eliminated 27% of all black male voters in Florida. The film follows candidates and activists as they attend campaign rallies and stump door to door in an attempt to raise awareness and unseat Florida Governor Jeb Bush, an effort that was suddenly derailed in the aftermath of 9/11, which resulted in a patriotic wave of support for big brother President Bush. Although the drive to defeat Governor Bush failed, the struggle to reform Florida's voting process continues. While some of the issues raised here are of national importance—and have been covered in other documentaries, such as Bush Family Fortunes (VL Online-10/04)—this is likely to primarily appeal to viewers in Florida and is therefore recommended for regional collections and optional elsewhere. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)