"Analyze This" may have been the title of a popular movie starring Billy Crystal, but now it is the new drama starring Al Gore and George W. Bush.
Criticism of the election coverage by the media, the Electoral College and ballot counting have taken center stage since last Tuesday's election.
Doug Imig, associate professor of political science, said he watched the election coverage until 2 a.m. He said he flipped between, PBS, FOX, NBC and the television show "Politically Incorrect" in an effort to receive as much information as possible about the election.
"I think it was possible to carve out a good source of information if you were willing to work for it," he said.
David Matlock, instructor of political science, said the coverage was representative of the whole campaign. He said there was a lack of scrutiny regarding the candidates and the issues.
"There was a lot of projection of media personalities," he said. "(The newscasters) weren't professionals, and didn't properly analyze."
Matlock also said the media set themselves up as experts, and many were caught off-guard with their predictions.
"Instead of observing and reporting, they predicted and prognosticated," he said.
Duane Jackson, a freshman English major, said he thought the media covered the election fairly well.
Dr. Harry Mahood, professor of political science, said the coverage was too theatrical, with the news media trying to outdo one another. "The networks were playing up-manship," he said.
With the Electoral College now an issue that people are talking about, Mahood said he can appreciate why people are upset with it.
"The Electoral College has served its purpose," he said. "It's not a perfect system, but I am not in favor of getting rid of it."
Mahood said the only way to change the present electoral process would be to pass an amendment overturning it.
Imig explained that the United States' founders started the Electoral College in order to prevent the populace from choosing a president. Instead, it was designed so that people with responsibility and knowledge of the system would choose the president.
Imig, who teaches in the political science department, said even though he is ambivalent about the Electoral College, he thinks the process will be looked at and feels the electoral system has outlived its usefulness.
Luke McClellan, chairman of The U of M College Republicans, said he thinks the electoral College should be kept. "The purpose is to make it fair so that all states have a voice," McClellan said.
Matlock said he does not feel the Electoral College is an issue. He believes voter fraud is a bigger issue. He said there have been cases where people who have died have not been taken off the voter registration lists, and their names have been used to cast votes. Another problem is with convicted felons voting, a practice which violates the Constitution.
"When the Electoral College works for you, then it's not a problem," he said. "But when it works against you, then it is." Matlock said.
Matlock said in the election of 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes won the presidential race even though his Democratic opponent, Samuel Tilden, was ahead.
Tilden needed only one electoral vote to win the presidency, but the Southern Democrats were holding out for certain concessions. They demanded federal troops stop occupying the southern states, and they wanted to choose the next Postmaster General. When Republicans agreed, the Southern Democrats gave their 20 electoral votes to Hayes.
Jackson said the whole country should be allowed to vote again, especially the residents in West Palm Beach, Fla., due to the problems with the pin voting. "A hand count is ridiculous," Jackson said. "Let them vote again."
McClellan said he thought it fair that Florida is doing a recount of the votes, but he does not agree with the people who are saying they meant to vote for Gore.
Dr. Thomas Mason, chair of the political science department, said the Constitution states the presidential election is to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
He said no judge would allow a re-vote for the residents of Palm Beach County, Fla., because there would be no guarantee the voters would vote the same way twice. Furthermore, they would be able to vote knowing what the outcome would be, Mason added. He said if someone voted for Nader, they might change their vote to one for Gore, or vice versa. This would allow one section of the country to determine a national election.
With a presidency at stake, neither candidate is throwing in the towel any time soon.
