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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMichael Moore needs to shut up
I usually like Moore and agree with what he has to say. But this year the guy has really lost it.
First, he's been running around claiming that President Biden can end the war in Gaza with one phone call. That is complete BS and he knows it.
Now he is encouraging students to not only protest but to storm and take over buildings. That is incredibly irresponsible. I believe in non-violent, lawful protest. Telling students that they should break the law and violently storm privately owned buildings will have both short and long term consequences on their lives.
I'm starting to think that Moore is just getting old and desperately trying to stay relevant.

betsuni
(28,108 posts)David__77
(24,298 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)I understand why students are protesting. My point is that Moore encouraging students to violently break the law is irresponsible on his part.
Redleg
(6,512 posts)It is very irresponsible of Moore. Plus, his own educational opportunities and personal welfare aren't on the line as they are for the student protesters.
elocs
(24,486 posts)when they were convinced they were so right and righteous.
I tell my kids that middle-age is mainly about regret.
elocs
(24,486 posts)The mistake we make with regret is assuming if we had done the opposite or differently, then everything would have turned out better when the reality might have been that it turned out much worse than it did.
Happy Hoosier
(9,002 posts)He is an asshole.
Redleg
(6,512 posts)Since Congress allocates the funds, the President has some obligations to ensure that the administration carries it out. This was part of the reason why the Democratic controlled house impeached Trump the first time. He was using leverage to get the Ukranians to find and give dirt on the Bidens.
AnrothElf
(923 posts)...how Congress says to spend it.
Trump was impeached for trying to corrupt those checks and balances.
Redleg
(6,512 posts)if there is reason to believe that the weapons will be used in the commission of a war crime.
BannonsLiver
(19,395 posts)No matter what the context?
stopdiggin
(14,013 posts)But one that, fittingly, trips easily from the mouth - of one that specializes in hype and inflammatory grandiosity.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(125,876 posts)I think.
Traurigkeit
(1,290 posts)no matter what the press or others think is true just never is in actual action.
joshcryer
(62,516 posts)...if the US did that then Israel would (to them, rightly) eradicate Gaza once and for all and perhaps even start soe crap in the west bank. And no not killing everyone there they would just do forced relocation of Gazans (this has been seriously postulated as a solution). They are already doing it in Rafah.
erodriguez
(889 posts)lees1975
(6,683 posts)I didn't think so.
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,961 posts)We'd have to stop sending weapons, and sending money. It won't happen for a wide variety of reasons. Too many people would have to agree.
question everything
(50,616 posts)No, your desire to destroy does not supersede the hopes and aspirations of the majority.
walkingman
(9,529 posts)WhiteTara
(30,939 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(12,407 posts)last I looked, a RIGHT to free speech in this country. You cannot just "shut up" anyone no matter how much you don't like what they are saying. This isn't Stalin's Russia or even Putin's.
WhiteTara
(30,939 posts)I said He should have shut up 25 years ago when he pimped Nadir.
Jilly_in_VA
(12,407 posts)and then tell me different. You said "he should have been shut up". What does that signify to most people? If you'd said "he should have shut up" that would be a quite different thing.
WhiteTara
(30,939 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)is not protected speech under the 1st amendment, nor is lying.
Voltaire2
(15,377 posts)The authoritarian mindset has become pervasive.
LetMyPeopleVote
(166,210 posts)Response to WhiteTara (Reply #8)
Name removed Message auto-removed
GP6971
(35,741 posts)stopdiggin
(14,013 posts)He has also been really off the beam on a lot of things too. And his track record, should never have allowed for the lionization that ensued (in some quarters). Never deserving ... Always been more the yappy dog - than any kind of steady hand or pillar ...
BannonsLiver
(19,395 posts)Trump in the WH is good for Michael Moore, Inc.
Greybnk48
(10,564 posts)is hard for many to cope with emotionally.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)The point is about Moore telling students to violently break the law which will have repercussions for them the rest of their lives.
MichMan
(15,446 posts)Not many repercussions for them as they later become highly ranked college professors.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Celerity
(50,821 posts)have taken such actions in the past.
You have to take over buildings. That is not violence, he said, adding later, I hope it continues. I applaud every student who has taken a stand at their campus, at graduation, whatever. This is the purpose of a democracy.
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/michael-moore-declares-you-have-to-take-over-buildings-during-campus-protests-if-you-havent-started-an-encampment-at-your-college-do-it/
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)as well as breaking the law. Inciting people to break the law is not a protected right. Nor is entering and occupying a building owned by someone else.
If it was wrong for Trump to do it, its wrong for Moore.
Cha
(312,975 posts)Netanyahu who wants Biden GONE.
RandiFan1290
(6,541 posts)He really gets under the skin of the right.
So effective
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)He's not an ally.
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)* and/or dissuade them from voting completely. He's no friend of Democrats, that's for sure.
betsuni
(28,108 posts)and "The old guard of the Democratic Party has to go" as if the Democratic Party consists entirely of old wealthy right-wing white men worse than Republicans and must be taken over and purged. Trump voters aren't racist, they're just sad because Democrats have ignored them and have no economic policies to help the working/middle classes and that's why "Democrats paved the way to Trump."
Imaginary evil enemy. Ridiculous.
Sugarcoated
(8,186 posts)election chances
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)* the objective is to "punish" the Democrats for not being as pure as he views himself to be. Somehow, the only way to make Democrats "see the light" is to do and say things that sabotage and kneecap Democrats, and cause us to lose to the Republicans. People like Moore (and Turner, and Sarandon, etc.) are showboating and virtue signaling. They have others fooled. They really don't care about the issues they pretend to care about, otherwise, they would not so eagerly embrace the "nothingness" of a failing "all or nothing" philosophy -- and instead they'd see the value in incremental progress that is (surprise-surprise) actually progressive. For Moore and his like-minded minions find profit in the misery of others. When people are suffering the low-low-price of just $20-something per fundraising request (with the promise that "Only-I-can-make-things-better" and proclaiming that "Only-I-know-the-truth'') the actions that harm the Democratic party and which harm the most vulnerable among us, serves to line their pockets. Whether they're donating "in-solidarity" to Nina Turner, or buying cheesy DVD's that support and reinforce their own confirmation bias, this type of behavior only makes the grifters and gaslighters wealthy, but nothing to help anyone else. In the end, it suppresses voter turnout and makes it easier for the GOP to win.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)and pretend they are morally superior to everyone else to feed their egos. Plus their privilege protects them from any consequences when republicans win elections.
Cha
(312,975 posts)be remembered is for being the first Black President
MM is a Racist Fool.
Michael Moore: 'Obama will be remembered as the first black president, and that's it'
https://abc7.com/michael-moore-obama-first-black-president-roger-and-me/303494/
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)He's a millstone hanging on the neck of the Democratic party. He's a fucking joke... an embarrassing slob.
betsuni
(28,108 posts)because he was only a stupid celebrity. Then MM said the only way Democrats could win in 2020 was to run a beloved celebrity. Because we're all so stupid.
Cha
(312,975 posts)Bmoboy
(506 posts)Angry, disappointed, disillusioned, lied to, frustrated, and full of opinions.
Some opinions turn out to be wrong or premature.
Capitalism, the Health Industry, the NRA, and Bush/Cheney are worthy targets.
Encouraging violence is ill advised until you feel personally threatened.
Dear_Prudence
(866 posts)Maybe he should chain himself to a building. He would not suffer professional setbacks like the students would and it would make the news. In point of fact, however, taking over buildings has been practiced for decades and I don't recall that it has been effective. Do effective actions, not stunts.
Nanjeanne
(6,290 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Nanjeanne
(6,290 posts)students to storm buildings and take over buildings. So as someone who took over buildings during my college years of protesting Im not worried that MM encouraged that.
When I have a link to Moore saying use violence then Ill be happy to say I Love Michael Moore and encourage him to keep talking and provoking - but I disagree with him about violence. Until that time
Celerity
(50,821 posts)
Nanjeanne
(6,290 posts)Celerity
(50,821 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Regardless of how Moore wants to parse it.
Celerity
(50,821 posts)Sit-down labour strikes for but one example.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)which is a violent crime.
Celerity
(50,821 posts)same for a sit-down labour strike by the legally employed workers
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Students storming a building is a crime.
Celerity
(50,821 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)breaking and entering is a violent crime that Moore is inciting. If it was wrong for Trump to do it, its wrong for Moore to do as well.
Celerity
(50,821 posts)have opened up one of the central positings (Moore is pushing violence) of the OP to questioning and dispute, in terms of its validity.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Moore encouraging students to do so IS encouraging violence whether you want to admit it or not.
Nixie
(17,754 posts)say that Moore meant something different. There is no way to take over a building other than to force others to move somewhere else against their will, at the very least.
Big Blue Marble
(5,623 posts)How would taking over a building be violent per se?
Assume no-one is injured and no significant physical damage done, just
the occupation of the building doesn't seem to be an act of violence to me.
It may cause disruption, and inconvenience, but that would be the point.
It may lead to arrest, but that is to be anticipated by the protestors?
But violent, I do not think so.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)How is it done? Do the protesters just all politely walk in and take over? What about the staff and security, do they just nicely ask them to leave? What if the building is closed and locked? How do they get in? Magic?
Lets not naively pretend that that taking over a building is not a violent act?
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)The very act of "taking over" a building IS violence.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)The Moore minons dont like their dear leader being criticized.
Celerity
(50,821 posts)OP is faulty, and the actual link (which you wilfully left out of your OP as it would have cut against your spin) shows your 'he is pushing violence' framing is a contrivance.
I am not even that big of a Moore fan, I am just often a bit wary when it comes to OPs like yours that make specific claims of a pejorative narure but offer no external documentation to buttress their attacks.
Your OP simply doesn't stand up to further scrutiny in terms of its projections.
I also think that your sinking into cheap personal attack mode via the use of ad hominem ('Moore minions') says more about you than the people your are trying to smear.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Must have struck a nerve. But please continue. Youre proving my point for me.
Celerity
(50,821 posts)betsuni
(28,108 posts)
Response to betsuni (Reply #99)
Celerity This message was self-deleted by its author.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Please proceed
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)yonder
(10,103 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)students to violently break the law.
Voltaire2
(15,377 posts)Were lunch counter sit ins violence?
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Getting into the building in order to occupy it is violence. As well as breaking the law.
Voltaire2
(15,377 posts)Thats the disobedience part.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Same as Trump did. Its hypocrisy to condemn one and not the other.
stopdiggin
(14,013 posts)and rather harmful.
( Not sure if anyone, even the great MM - should be allowed a free pass on the places where he's actually kind of screwed the Democrats, and the country .. ? )
Nanjeanne
(6,290 posts)just opinions.
Freethinker65
(11,194 posts)When Moore is thought to be correct in his assessment and comments, go ahead and support the assessment and comments. When Moore is off base, or being too simplistic, or you think he is just plain wrong, if asked about his comments, explain why you disagree.
Moore doesn't speak for the Democratic Party, he speaks for Michael Moore. He is entitled to his opinions.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)is not just a difference of opinion. Its immoral. And not protected by the 1st amendment. Unless you think that the January 6th case against Trump is wrong and all charges dropped.
Freethinker65
(11,194 posts)I also assume Democrats in office, or seeking office, will respond appropriately to Michael Moore's comments.
Does Michael Moore actually have an army of devoted college students? I mean, I really enjoyed his documentaries when in college many years ago, but I would not have been swayed to commit any act of violence by him.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Its the students who will face the consequences.
If its wrong for Trump to incite violence, its wrong for Moore to as well.
Freethinker65
(11,194 posts)If students are actually committing crimes at Moore's request, Moore could/should be charged. I also really doubt there are many Michael Moore worshipping students, if any, willing to commit crimes specifically because Moore tells them to.
Michael Moore is a celebrity activist, known to say provocative things for media attention.
Trump was a political office holder of the highest degree, that supported the planning and funding of his "stop the steal rally" where he personally delivered a speech to his mob of worshippers encouraging an immediate March to the Capitol to disrupt the certification of a National election by any means necessary. There really is a difference between what Trump did and what Moore said.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)What Moore has said is much more nebulous. But either way they are both inciting violent crimes. Im not going to blame one and forgive the other.
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)* taking over the Capitol was simply an exercise of their First Amendment right. I do not fully understand why some extremists on the left (?) are now using the same language, talking points and rhetoric in their defense of Hamas and hatred of Jews.
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)It amazes me that he's so "popular" with a certain political element even though his rhetoric only serves to harm Democrats and dissuade people from supporting and voting for Democrats and that, by its very nature, benefits Trump, the GOP, and Russia.
I'm glad he's not an actual Democratic politician. He's clearly not an ally considering his history of supporting "third party" candidates.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,446 posts)prison for. I hope these young folk are much smarter than MM. He's gonna get these young folk badly hurt or worse.
NoRethugFriends
(3,427 posts)And taking over a building violently as was done on January 6th. It's ridiculous and dishonest to conflate the two.
This is not to be taken as a defensive Michael Moore in general
Tarheel_Dem
(31,446 posts)

NoRethugFriends
(3,427 posts)Tarheel_Dem
(31,446 posts)
NNadir
(36,158 posts)...thank this "Bush is the same as Gore" ass for the medieval inquisitor Sam Alito being on the Supreme Court.
The best thing Moore can do for humanity is to crawl into a hole and not come out.
JustAnotherGen
(35,622 posts)

oasis
(52,470 posts)the planet Uranus.
MichMan
(15,446 posts)I've seen some pro Palestinian protesters displaying signs with that slogan on it.
stopdiggin
(14,013 posts)It's a justification for violence and/or other forms of behavior and action, that would be considered highly unethical or criminal under 'normal' circumstances. So - "No limits", "No guardrails", "No moral scales" "The ends justifies the means."
A relatively hair raising bit of script when one pauses to dissect. Torture anyone? Bombing? Targeting family, civilians?
One really has to kind of hope that students and protesters haven't actual drunk this Kool-Aid ....
Silent Type
(10,470 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)What does that have to do with this?
Cha
(312,975 posts)his Prediction that fucking Romney was going to win in 2012:
Silent Type
(10,470 posts)Cha
(312,975 posts)In 2016 while he was predicting the Sick 🤢 Fuck was going to win 🤢
Silent Type
(10,470 posts)not to stay home or vote for trump. That group didnt listen. So, here we are.
Im fine with people hating/bashing Moore, Im just tired of eating our own. YMMV.
Cha
(312,975 posts)there was so much Hillary Hate.. I saw some tat Tweeted.. "The SC didn't matter"
Again Dead Wrong.
anamnua
(1,491 posts)he was warning that TSF *could* win.
betsuni
(28,108 posts)And of course insane horror-clown Trump who has no idea what's coming out of his mouth is an "evil genius."
Cha
(312,975 posts)an Analyst! Lots of people LOSE who have More Money.. I an thinking of one in particular.. hmmm.. who shall not be named
And, yeah.. trump is an 'Evil Genius".. glad you're so impressed, MM.
TY!
betsuni
(28,108 posts)and when they lose make a big stink about elaborate rigging plots by evil establishment centrist enemies out to get them. Should stop doing that, it's silly.
Cha
(312,975 posts)Last edited Tue May 7, 2024, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)
opposition Always has "dark money" And, oh yeah.. the "rigging".. they lose it's that.. if they win then everything
is fine.
Whatever happened to Graceful losers so they can come back hold their heads High and Win the Next time!!
betsuni
(28,108 posts)for socialist progressive candidates to come along before they will vote for Democrats (blah blah blah economic anxiety Wall Street corrupt neoliberal elites conspiracy theories). It's old.
No more conspiracy theories!
betsuni
(28,108 posts)Blames Democrats for loss of manufacturing jobs because of NAFTA when he knows it began in the '70s and got really bad in the '80s (when he made his documentary about GM, "Roger & Me" ). That was well before NAFTA.
Believed myth that Democrats have no economic policies to help the working class and are corrupted by Wall Street. Working class was "abandoned by Democrats ... are really just looking forward to rub one out with a lobbyist from Goldman Sachs who will write a nice big check before they leave the room."
Believed myth that DNC rigs elections, Hillary was a huge warmonger and would immediately start a war.
On and on, wrong. It's a shame because when he sticks to facts and goes after Republicans he can be very good, like his TV show and documentary about the Bush administration.
stopdiggin
(14,013 posts)out there. I think people need to know (or remember) that Michael has been nattering on about a whole lot of BS - for years. Yeah, he occasionally gets one or two things right - or says something kind of witty or on point - but then so does my old Uncle Fud. And, believe me, nobody 'follows' Fud - or hangs on his every word.
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mcar
(44,926 posts)as he has had none for some time.
Shellback Squid
(9,501 posts)I used to like him
RandySF
(75,869 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)Describes him so well.
betsuni
(28,108 posts)for being horrible and corrupt to attacking the Obama administration for imaginary sins I felt really stupid. I didn't know it's just show business. All that about morals and authenticity and righteousness and voting one's conscience and lesser of two evils is propaganda BS.
RandySF
(75,869 posts)There's no excitement in holding onto power or protecting things like democracy that we take for granted.
betsuni
(28,108 posts)The Romance of the Rose (in honor of May):
Many a man has wept bitterly
Because dreams and visions are
But vain imaginings and lies,
But I believe that they may truthfully
Forecast the future.
Indeed. Don't vote for Democrats and see!
MistakenLamb
(791 posts)thats how serious you can take that loud mouth these days, he lost all his relevancy almost 20 years ago
betsuni
(28,108 posts)He bought into the Republican bullshit that Obama only won because he was a celebrity, also ridiculously thought Obama ran as a populist.
Said the only thing Obama would be remembered for was being the first black president and that's it. Fuck health care that was a miracle and that 100% obstructionist Republicans held Congress for six years of his term they did during the Clinton administration. We're not supposed to know that because we're supposed to hate Democrats.
quaker bill
(8,251 posts)My reading of the recent tea leaves suggests that a ceasefire and peace deal are very close in Gaza. The summer break is also at hand at about the same moment. Campuses will largely become the sleepy places they usually are in the summer and as the shooting stops, the desire to get arrested over it will decline.
What seems like a potentially dominant political issue today will fade into the background by November. This is almost always true in every cycle. There are always 'issues' in the winter / spring of a pending election year that the punditry think will be dominant drivers that fade to almost nothing by election day. Gaza has very little shelf life as a political issue once the shooting stops.
LetMyPeopleVote
(166,210 posts)brooklynite
(96,882 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)I hope not
betsuni
(28,108 posts)elias7
(4,225 posts)If he could convince Hamas to release hostages and stop lobbing bombs into Israel, Israel would stop bombing Gaza immediately. Just sayin
SocialDemocrat61
(5,153 posts)He was claiming that Biden could call Netanyahu and order him to stop the bombing.