November 08, 2004

• Not really, given that he wrote it well in advance to someone doing it.
• oh...i suck...never mind then
• In other news, President Busch is sending American troops on a suicide mission in Fallujah. Now you know who you should have voted for, soldier -- Mickey Moore; he doesn't want you to die.
• You know, he said he was going to write to us again "tomorrow," but he actually doesn't write until two days later... Lies, Michael Moore, dirty lies! Disclaimer: This comment is not political in any way.
• If a democrat with a spine existed, no one would pay attention to Michael Moore.
• Fuck Michael Moore. He's just as much a media slut as the barbarians he pretends to vilify. He's a parasite.
• He's a parasite. Not unlike yourself, my good Nostril. And me, for that matter. And the rest of us poor filterers.
• There are plenty with spines, bernockle. They just don't whore themselves out like Moore does.
• Someone killed himself?
• Someone please explain to me exactly how Moore "whores himself out."
• He whores himself out because he's on the left. If he was on the right, he'd be an All American Hero. It's all very simple and profitable.
• Bone - He cheapens and dangerously oversimplifies the liberal message by essentially "selling" himself to the public. At least, that's how I see it. Not to mention he makes liberals look like assholes.
• I'm not certain I agree. I think it's commendable that he's been successful in the marketplace, if only because that's the only hope progressives have of getting our message out to a large audience in relatively unadulturated form in a hyper-commodified society. As far as oversimplification... I believe it's disingenuous for liberals to complain about Republicans pandering to their base, and then turn around and attack someone... ON OUR SIDE!... for "oversimplifying" things. And as someone who has followed Moore's career for many a year, I don't think that he does oversimplify things. Hell, we need to reframe the discourse, and that will necessarily involve simplifying things from time to time. As for "making liberals look like assholes," I disagree there as well. He is a bit of a demagogue, but that's not a bad thing. We liberals have allowed ourselves to be marginalized for so long that anyone speaking forcefully about our positions is automatically branded an asshole. I'm not buying that. He's an incredibly effective communicator (F9/11 proved that), and one who is completely concerned with the entire slate of progressive values. We marginalize him at our own risk, because there is no one else out there doing his job, and the next few years are going to suck ass enough without cutting downone of our own. If I ever start to buy into the anti-MM view, I plan on thinking about how angry and hopeless I felt on 11/3/04. That'll no doubt snap me out of it.
• Don't be a supporter of anybody. The only way to maintain absolute objectivity is not to get behind anyone. He is a demagogue, and this is indeed a bad thing. He is just a mirror image of that which he seeks to decry. There's no question that some of his work is good, but he also indulges in spin, just like the people he supposedly opposes. What we need is someone who outlines the facts free of spin, free of polemics, and who uses their skill in an objective manner. While Moore's work is valuable, he's not converting anyone who isn't already wavering, and he just serves as more of a target for those who disagree. He has become another stereotype by which anyone who is not 'conservative' can be pigeonholed. This is not good, it doesn't get us anywhere.
• What Nostril said. F911, while a powerful movie, was stretched to its limit with half-truths and spin. At this point, I think the facts are enough to crucify Bush without spin risking bouncebacks and damage to Moore's already shaky credability. A bit of googling will give you this and this as starters for F911's numerous issues. Look at it this way: if the right were in the position the left they were in, do you really think they'd want Ann Coulter as their spokesperson? Do you really think most of them are proud of her now? Bone, I don't care who's side he's on. He may be intelligent, but I think he's insensitive, single-minded, and (most importantly IMHO) giving liberals a bad name. He doesn't seem to realize that, in the absence of the Clintons (and now Kerry) from real media attention, he's the most recognizable liberal in America, and driving around in an ice cream truck reciting the Patriot Act isn't making him look very rational. I know most soccer moms probably feel more comfortable with Bush (or Coulter for that matter) than him. Obviously, we need someone to do what he's doing. I just think there are others who could do it without looking like such a prick. We can't fight for the right to criticize an administration (supposedly) protecting us and then refuse to criticize anyone "on our side" of the isle. I think he actually may be hurting us.