Here you go, ZRB: http://michaelmoore.com/words/message/ Monday, September 20th, 2004 Put Away Your Hankies...a message from Michael Moore 9/20/04 Dear Friends, Enough of the handwringing! Enough of the doomsaying! Do I have to come there and personally calm you down? Stop with all the defeatism, OK? Bush IS a goner -- IF we all just quit our whining and bellyaching and stop shaking like a bunch of nervous ninnies. Geez, this is embarrassing! The Republicans are laughing at us. Do you ever see them cry, "Oh, it's all over! We are finished! Bush can't win! Waaaaaa!" Hell no. It's never over for them until the last ballot is shredded. They are never finished -- they just keeping moving forward like sharks that never sleep, always pushing, pulling, kicking, blocking, lying. They are relentless and that is why we secretly admire them -- they just simply never, ever give up. Only 30% of the country calls itself "Republican," yet the Republicans own it all -- the White House, both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court and the majority of the governorships. How do you think they've been able to pull that off considering they are a minority? It's because they eat you and me and every other liberal for breakfast and then spend the rest of the day wreaking havoc on the planet. Look at us -- what a bunch of crybabies. Bush gets a bounce after his convention and you would have thought the Germans had run through Poland again. The Bushies are coming, the Bushies are coming! Yes, they caught Kerry asleep on the Swift Boat thing. Yes, they found the frequency in Dan Rather and ran with it. Suddenly it's like, "THE END IS NEAR! THE SKY IS FALLING!" No, it is not. If I hear one more person tell me how lousy a candidate Kerry is and how he can't win... Dammit, of COURSE he's a lousy candidate -- he's a Democrat, for heavens sake! That party is so pathetic, they even lose the elections they win! What were you expecting, Bruce Springsteen heading up the ticket? Bruce would make a helluva president, but guys like him don't run -- and neither do you or I. People like Kerry run. Yes, OF COURSE any of us would have run a better, smarter, kick-ass campaign. Of course we would have smacked each and every one of those phony swifty boaty bastards down. But WE are not running for president -- Kerry is. So quit complaining and work with what we have. Oprah just gave 300 women a... Pontiac! Did you see any of them frowning and moaning and screaming, "Oh God, NOT a friggin' Pontiac!" Of course not, they were happy. The Pontiacs all had four wheels, an engine and a gas pedal. You want more than that, well, I can't help you. I had a Pontiac once and it lasted a good year. And it was a VERY good year. My friends, it is time for a reality check. 1. The polls are wrong. They are all over the map like diarrhea. On Friday, one poll had Bush 13 points ahead -- and another poll had them both tied. There are three reasons why the polls are b.s.: One, they are polling "likely voters." "Likely" means those who have consistently voted in the past few elections. So that cuts out young people who are voting for the first time and a ton of non-voters who are definitely going to vote in THIS election. Second, they are not polling people who use their cell phone as their primary phone. Again, that means they are not talking to young people. Finally, most of the polls are weighted with too many Republicans, as pollster John Zogby revealed last week. You are being snookered if you believe any of these polls. 2. Kerry has brought in the Clinton A-team. Instead of shunning Clinton (as Gore did), Kerry has decided to not make that mistake. 3. Traveling around the country, as I've been doing, I gotta tell ya, there is a hell of a lot of unrest out there. Much of it is not being captured by the mainstream press. But it is simmering and it is real. Do not let those well-produced Bush rallies of angry white people scare you. Turn off the TV! (Except Jon Stewart and Bill Moyers -- everything else is just a sugar-coated lie). 4. Conventional wisdom says if the election is decided on "9/11" (the fear of terrorism), Bush wins. But if it is decided on the job we are doing in Iraq, then Bush loses. And folks, that "job," you might have noticed, has descended into the third level of a hell we used to call Vietnam. There is no way out. It is a full-blown mess of a quagmire and the body bags will sadly only mount higher. Regardless of what Kerry meant by his original war vote, he ain't the one who sent those kids to their deaths -- and Mr. and Mrs. Middle America knows it. Had Bush bothered to show up when he was in the "service" he might have somewhat of a clue as to how to recognize an immoral war that cannot be "won." All he has delivered to Iraq was that plasticized turkey last Thanksgiving. It is this failure of monumental proportions that is going to cook his goose come this November. So, do not despair. All is not over. Far from it. The Bush people need you to believe that it is over. They need you to slump back into your easy chair and feel that sick pain in your gut as you contemplate another four years of George W. Bush. They need you to wish we had a candidate who didn't windsurf and who was just as smart as we were when WE knew Bush was lying about WMD and Saddam planning 9/11. It's like Karl Rove is hypnotizing you -- "Kerry voted for the war...Kerry voted for the war...Kerrrrrryyy vooootted fooooor theeee warrrrrrrrrr..." Yes...Yes...Yesssss....He did! HE DID! No sense in fighting now...what I need is sleep...sleeep...sleeeeeeppppp... WAKE UP! The majority are with us! More than half of all Americans are pro-choice, want stronger environmental laws, are appalled that assault weapons are back on the street -- and 54% now believe the war is wrong. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM OF ANY OF THIS -- YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE THEM A RAY OF HOPE AND A RIDE TO THE POLLS. CAN YOU DO THAT? WILL YOU DO THAT? Just for me, please? Buck up. The country is almost back in our hands. Not another negative word until Nov. 3rd! Then you can b**** all you want about how you wish Kerry was still that long-haired kid who once had the courage to stand up for something. Personally, I think that kid is still inside him. Instead of the wailing and gnashing of your teeth, why not hold out a hand to him and help the inner soldier/protester come out and defeat the forces of evil we now so desperately face. Do we have any other choice? Yours, Michael Moore www.michaelmoore.com mmflint@aol.com
Kerry's lead is down to 5 points in the state of NY, according to Rasmussen reports!! 25% of Democrats in the state plan on voting for George W. Bush!
You are exactly right. Well, I will admit that it makes me feel better if I know the President is a Christian, but it isn't the end of the world if he is not. But I am glad that you have the gift of clairvoyance to know that is what "gave me away". Puhleeze. I guess your sig gave you away as a liberal. It is that type of bullsh!t thinking that pisses me off about politics and causes me to not post here much. You take a stance on one side and you are labelled a diehard conservative or diehard liberal. Things aren't so black and white, ZRB. No thanks but my life is doing just well as it is, but thanks for the invite! Oh no! Laura Bush used to smoke pot??!! Oh whoa is me!! I guess I can't vote for her husband despite the fact that it happened over 30 years ago and has no relevance on the here and now.
Just out of curiosity, would it make a difference to you whether he is a Baptist, a Catholic, or whatever? (I believe he goes to 2nd Baptist church in Houston, or at least his parents do.)
It would eliminate the right of most of the nation to select the president. Popular vote= democracy= mob rule. Not a good equation there.
Thanks Batman, that was an uplifting read indeed. I just want more than anything to see Bush give a concession speech. Now that will be a nice time. Fatties will be smoked and Champaign will be drunk.
Nope. And for the record, I never said that the president had to be Christian - I just said that it made me feel a little better.
So Manny, the criminal actions of the Bush administration don't bother you, but someone saying "Jesus" on a message board does? I think that's where I'm having a problem. Of course, since God speaks to Bush everyday, and in fact, speaks through Bush, I can see why you want him back for four more years.
What I think causes some people, like me, to be apathetic is the use of soft money. It undermines the democratic process. I feel like my opinion comes second to the powerful lobbyists.
[sarcasm]Not as much as the criminal actions of the Clinton administration[/sarcasm] Of course, since God speaks to Bush everyday, and in fact, speaks through Bush, I can see why you want him back for four more years. Just when I think you couldn't become more cartoonish, you proved me wrong - thanks for the laugh.
ZRB, you're not being helpful here. Manny isn't running for a second term... Bush is. Besides, if there is a god, which I personally doubt, how in the hell would we know who he "speaks" to? Manny doesn't, and neither do you. But perhaps he'll come on TV and tell us all. (wonder if he'll be on cable, or just the networks? ) Seriously, folks, when Bush lived in Austin as Governor, he went to the United Methodist Church in Tarrytown. That's an old, upscale neighborhood in near West Austin, not an incorporated village. Think West University in Houston, except it's just a neighborhood that borders Lake Austin. Very nice. I've had friends who lived there, over the years. I wish we had bought a small house in Tarrytown before it became "gentrified." Could have made a killing!
Manny, I'm just suprised you'd vote for Bush. We want the President to be a smart guy. Bush isn't and no one says he is. Kerry is. Flip floppery/strong. For every instance someone says Kerry has flipflopped, someone else can point to an instance the Administration has flipflopped. This shouldn't even be an issue. Iraq: Kerry says he'd have gone into Iraq as well. No difference, except maybe Kerry would have went in with more troops since that's what the military recommended. Strength: If Kerry is elected he will be leading the country. Do you think Bush is really running things or are Cheney/Rumsfeld et al running things? Bush is undoubtably committed to a decision once he makes it (on a personal level) but that doesn't really mean he has the capacity to carefully consider the options and come out with the best decision at the time. Economy: ok, bush got in to office as the downturn was expected. But do you think tax cuts for the rich help the economy? Kerry says middle class cuts are ok so the only difference is whether the rich gets cuts or not. Environment: no question Bush is extremely weak and Kerry is not. Terrorism: What do you think Bush will do that Kerry won't? Honestly most of this policy almost creates itself. If nothing else Kerry will allow for a greater spirit of cooperation with other countries to fight terrorism. Integrity: Kerry has high integrity. Bush does as well I think but is dumb and as such easier to manipulate. Patriotism: Kerry fought for his country. Bush did not. Kerry protested against US policy because he wanted to help the country, Bush did not. Kerry has given his life to public service. Bush has not. Both are rich so there's not much excuse for Bush. Some people like TJ or phibamaslamma are predictable but again I'm suprised you'd vote for Bush. Being a Republican is one thing. If it were Powell or McCain for example, I'd understand. But what has Bush done RIGHT that would make you want him in power for four more years? I'm not attacking you, but merely hoping I can do my part as a citizen in pointing these things out and hoping you'll change your mind.
Hayes, I appreciate the post (no sarcasm intended). I guess I just don't see things being that bleak as others do. I struggled very hard on whether to vote for W or Nader, but I decided to not throw away my vote to speak. Kerry to me is just someone that I can't get excited about - I mean I wonder if he, himself, really knows what he believes in. His campaign against terrorism doesn't give me a lot of confidence nor does his tax policy (although he may have changed his stance on that). We can argue all day long and there have been plenty of threads about the war in Iraq, but the bottom line is that Kerry was in favor of it one time as was many because we thought that the WMDs were there. I am going to shock you by saying that even though no WMDs have not been found that Bush going in there to dispose of Saddam was not a good thing. I am more of an isolationist when it comes to foreign policy and I would have rather us not get involved. However, I am also a realist and know that won't ever happen. Whether I or anyone else likes it, we are looked at as the "protector" of the free world. So it is with great resignation that I have to admit that disposing of Saddam was a good thing. I just hope that this does not become a habit of Bush's - going in to any country that he doesn't agree with and trying to get rid of their leader. But don't feel like you are alone here, Hayes - both of my parents have been trying to get me to vote for Kerry; so far they have been unsuccessful.
I agree with you Hayes. That was a great post, but in a way it got me depressed. I don't think many people at all are voting for Bush based on the issues. And that's what has me down. People are voting for Bush because he seems like a decisive guy, who they like personality wise. Kerry seems like someone who they don't like and might be indecisive. That just shows how effective the Republican campaign of distortion, and labels has worked. It shows how a campaign doesn't have to be based on issues, etc. I do think there are a few out there who vote on the President based on issues, but I firmly believe the vast majority aren't.
How would it eliminate the right of most of the nation to select the president? You keep jumping from about A to D, and I'd appreciate it if you could lay out steps B and C for me because I'm not following them. It seems to me, that your worries are that the great masses of the cities will drown out the rest of the country. Yet then you say that the majority of the country isn't "leftist and never will be" - so why are you worried about mob rule? The disconnect there is bothering me, because I'm pretty sure I disagree with your premise - but can't really argue it with you, because I don't follow each step in your logic.
One point for everyone to keep in mind. What do you think Kerry will do if/when Congress says no to raising taxes on the rich?
