NYT/Reuters: Michael Moore Says Gets Lots of Republican Hugs

[DeepModem Mom]

Michael Moore Says Gets Lots of Republican Hugs
By REUTERS
Published: July 30, 2006

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan (Reuters) - Michael Moore -- gadfly filmmaker, liberal activist and political lightning rod -- says he finds himself being hugged by a lot of Republicans these days.

On the streets of Traverse City, where Moore is working on last-minute preparations for a bigger-and-better sequel to the film festival he launched last year in his home state, the Oscar-winning director says he is approached all the time by conservatives ready to make peace.

"If you were to hang out with me here it won't be five or 10 minutes before you see a Republican hug me. That is almost as entertaining as some of the films,'' Moore said in an interview.

Moore has not budged from the central claim of his 2004 documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11'' -- that the Bush administration misled the American public about the reasons for war in Iraq -- but he says that more people have come around to his view.

"That's the shift that I'm seeing in the past year or so in the country, and as it relates to me,'' he said....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-leisure-moore.html

[CoffeeCat]

1. I have...

...multiple personality disorder when it comes to these "Johnny-come-latelys" who now understand that Moore was indeed correct--and BushCo misled us all into war.

Part of me is thankful, grateful and pleased that they are finally on board.

Another part of me wants to give them a nice left hook and say, "What the frick took ya so long??? Many of us have been suffering and worrying since 'shock and awe', when we knew then that Junior was a lying weasel. Back then you called us unpatriotic and accused us of hating the troops, and for that you guys deserve a big, "WE TOLD YOU SO!!".

I guess having more people on our side is a good thing, though...right?

[tsuki]

4. When you have the entire gov'mint and their weaseling pack of

loudmouths, AKA The Media, catapulting the propaganda 24/7, it takes some people more time than other.

[Montauk6]

5. More people a good thing? Well, it depends...

What concerns me is whether these people are renouncing their conservatism or jumping off a sinking ship.

[Tight_rope]

22. I believe they are jumping off a sinking ship!

Many are now suffering from their actions. No jobs, No healthcare, debt all up the ass. Add to that, higher taxes, higher gas prices, higher interest rates and the biggest problem..."AGE".

[w4rma]

7. Too many of them are *still* Rethugs tho. Bush needs to be better tied

to the rest of the Repuklican Party. Dems appear to be running some good ads in that area too.

With the exception of just a handfull of RINOs in the House, every single Republican in the House and Senate has been there for Bush when he needed them.

[Recursion]

21. Personally, I don't care

At this point, the danger to our national security from WarChimp & co is so grave that I would take a sane, competent Rethug (yes, there are some) over this.

Let's not forget, whoever the GOP nominates for President in '08 will probably run against WarChimp just like the Democrat will be. We have to be able to accept the fact that even a real Republican (who, one assumes, would at least control the deficit and not engage in damaging foreign adventures) could be better than this.

[OnionPatch]

36. You just

took the words right out of my mouth! :spray:

A sane Republican is a vast improvement over what we have now, for crying out loud. I'll take a Republican who renounces this war any day over the other kind.

Actually, no matter whether or not these people end up voting Dem, it's really looking like the GOP is going to have to move to the left to please the voters, and that's good news either way.

[w4rma]

38. Don't fall into that trap.

Bush wasn't the moderate he pretended to be and neither are these Rethugs who support Bush for Pres while trying to keep their *power* when the neo-con policy has ticked off most Americans and the world.

Also remember that Nixon ran on a "peace" platform.

[Cha]

42. bush was lyin' from the get go..

and that means when he was old enough to start squirming out of his responsibilties.

[OnionPatch]

50. I agree

he was not moderate and I knew that before 2000. But the fact is that the GOP is going to have to move left. Left of where we are now is right of Nixon, sadly, but alas, public opinion is moving left and that's still a blessing after these six years of political hell.

[w4rma]

37. Bull. Those same Repukes will vote to protect Bush when voters aren't

looking as they have been for the past six years. Dems are only 15 seats from a majority and yet we can't get enough repugs to help out to get *any* non-fake investigation going.

There is no *sane* Repug anymore. If you are a Repug, and especially if you are a Repug who can win a primary then the Repug Party uppers love you, with the few exceptions of a handful of Repugs who are already in office and who the Party upppers keep trying to get rid of but can't.

[Maven]

44. I wouldn't be so sure. This is a new paradigm.

And that paradigm is the figurehead president. Government as a corporate entity, "leadership quality" as a product.

Neoconservatives knew from the start that their campaign would be long-term. As in, longer than two terms. In order to follow through, they need to create the illusion of normal power transfer while keeping the same hands on the lever. Any Republican president is now just a cipher, a PR man, and just as Bush conjured the phony down-home image, they'll reinvent their figurehead as necessary to keep things running smoothly. Want a "maverick" this time? Why, how about McCain?

The truth is, Bush was just the beginning. They now know that they can say one thing and do the exact opposite and no one will stop them. Make no mistake: the "real" Republicans will be running things no matter what fresh blood they put on the ballot.

[Somawas]

51. Exactly.

The Republican Party must wear the stench of incompetence and corruption of the Bush crowd for at least a generation.

[heliarc]

26. I would like to think...

That the people who are "jumping a sinking ship" as another poster here has put it are not really the same people who spouted and fumed about our patriotism way back at the start of this nonsense. I believe there are a lot of people who've been bullied into believing the Faux news bent on everything. Its like being in an abusive relationship when you watch and believe Faux News. They con you into believing that if you leave them than your life has no meaning... so you stay even though you're more and more a battered housewife for staying. Its a horrible cycle for some people. I'm proud of those who step away.

Of course it is angering sometimes to think that the information was there all along for the taking. There are people in my life who I felt were privileged enough to know the truth from the onset. And when they appear naive on the subjects, I let them have it, because they should have known better. I feel that way about some people on the left already too. There are a lot of bleeding hearts who haven't much of a sense for cold-blooded political dealings. People who in general are left of center or at least moderate who still say "I don't believe anyone could be so evil" when you suggest that profit motive influences decisions to go to war.

So there are people in denial everywhere. I'm probably in denial about a few things that someone needs to sit me down about and harangue me for a few hours. Sometimes a little context helps me decide if someone should get a hard time about their belief systems. For some, real critical thought comes harder than for others.

[unkachuck]

2. gotta love Mike....

....I bet he's enjoying every minute of it....Slackers Uber Alles!

[goforit]

3. Hanging out with Mike the majority hates Bush. But Bush is still here! WHY

[superconnected]

6. wait till they have to vote their conscience again.

They ain't called repukes for nothing.

[arewenotdemo]

11. amen to that

the Repuke conscience is forever tied to its wallet

[The Wizard]

16. For a small minority it's

the wallet, but for the majority it's simple bigotry. They are the party most closely aligned with the Klan.

[EFerrari]

33. Wait till they get to count the votes again. n/t

[Rose Siding]

8. You deserve every hug, Mike -but check for you wallet each time

[orleans]

9. they should apoligize to him

fools! dangerous fools

and looked at the mess they helped to create!

[hogwyld]

10. They just a buch of maggots jumping from a sinking ship

I really don't want them as they'll still vote either :puke: , or :silly: conservative/centrist democrats. We need a leftist government in place.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cyclezealot]

13. I get sick of attacks on Moore

He is the victim of Ann Coulter type attacks on Moore. He is like a current modern hero to this family. I can't think of anyone more patriotic than Moore. Wish he could be president. He is owed an apology. How could not a movie like "Roger and Me" demonstrate his loyalty to the American people as opposed to those who suck up to power.
Moore a real American hero with guts. He is owed an apology.
We need develope a new caucus in the Democratic party. Those who are 'card carrying "Michael Moore' Democrats. "

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. That's a great idea

Yesterday after our weekly peace vigil, we went for a cold drink and were joined by some young kids who had come to our vigil for the first time. One of them began criticizing Michael Moore. Typical RW swift boat crap. He drives an SUV, he is making a movie about health care yet he weighs 400 pounds. He doesn't really live in Flint, but in the suburbs. You know the talking points.

I said Michael Moore is a true American hero. He woke the American public up and exposed the real reason plus the horrible tragedies of the invasion of Iraq. Without Michael Moore and his film, would we even be protesting this war today? Dumb girl shut right up. :)

[cyclezealot]

15. Yes. We need challenge these idiots.

What is American democracy coming to, when unfounded personal attacks sway issues. With his movie "Sicko," he shows his true colors as a friend of the American worker. The slander he will have to endure to take on such powerful interests.
Remember , it was Spiro T Agnew, who said. YOu do not like the message, kill the messenger. US politics has never been the same.

[PinkyisBlue]

43. Michael Moore has always shown his true colors as a friend of the American

worker. From his documentary "Roger and Me" to another documentary, "The Big One" (an excellent film about corporate downsizing), to his book "Dude, Where's My Country", plus other films and books, how can anyone ever doubt where his loyalties lie?

He's a true American hero and Patriot of the highest order. I'm glad people who were against him are coming around, as this was his ultimate goal. I'm sure he has always realized there are a lot easier (and safer) ways to make money, but he chose not to sell out his integrity or soul.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

34. Yeah, that's like the article in The Village Voice(?)

a few years ago that criticized Moore for going to his book signings in a limo.

Duh, it's not his limo. It's provided by the publishing company.

And he doesn't weigh 400 pounds. He's heavier than he should be for health, but so are a lot of other people.

I've even heard Republicanites criticize him for making money off his movies. (As if they'd make movies and turn down all the proceeds...)

[Montauk6]

46. I agree Cycle! Plus, where are all these LIES he's guilty of anyway?

Going back to the Roger & Me days, he's been pegged a liar but where's the evidence?

Before F/11, I've never heard of the documentarian presenting frame-by-frame citations backing up what's in the movie as Moore has done.

And it IS a poor analogy to say he's the left's version of Coulter. MM has constantly tried to reach out to the other side and, at times, he's been critical of his own team. When has Manhands EVER done anything comparable?

[NicRic]

17. Alot of repugs vey quiet !

Alot of the repugs I know at work or socially ,have been very quiet ,almost as if inside they are thinking ,OH no I hope no one brings up politics .They have ,(except for the hard core supporters )come to realize that they have been duped , that bush is a fraud ,and the ones that are honest cant defend him and his actions .He has shown us the upmost in stupidity, has disgraced our country and ruined our economy ,most outrageous of all is his stubborness and continued attempt to claim he did the right thing ,when Iam trying to figure out one thing he got right ,he contiues to come on the the TV tube with he style of speech that sickens most of us .Perhaps he should be more like chenney as far as the being seen less and heard even less then seen ! He is more then well done he is burned and has lost all creditbility with those amoung us with a thinking brain .Go home George lock yourself in your ranch in Texas ,we have had more then enough of you and your backwards uneducated ass,you've done enough damage at a record rate,please let our country alone now ,so we can start thelong process of fixing everything you have broken .Yo will never be forgiven for the lives you have cost us and inocent people in other countries ,and history will look at you as far and away the worst of the worst of all past Presidents. Please go back to just living the useless life of a spoiled rich son of another terrible President ,your father ! America needs less like you not more of you !

[thefuzz811]

18. I remember when people here in my home state started

their own smear campaign against him. He was coming to speak at Utah Valley State College. There was a billboard that read "Less Fat, More Truth". One lady told me that Micheal Moore was one of most evil people alive. Her daughter then said that "Fahrenheit 9/11" was being handed out to terrorist. They hadn't watched the movie though. It was kind of funny. I asked them "Why do you hate something that you haven't seen yourself?", they reply "I will never watch that filth." Just yesterday I went to a store and bought toilet paper with George W on it, and the daughter bought some to.
http://www.thisdividedstate.com/
http://www.prankplace.com/bushgags.htm

[Hissyspit]

19. Welcome to DU!

:patriot:

:toast:

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Thanks for your post, fuzz -- welcome to DU!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

23. Still amazed by large no. proundly displaying their * 2004 bumper stickers

in my area which is deep red and extraordinarily ignorant. I'm sure 90% of the inbreds around here proudly flaunting their chromosomal damage firmly believe they found WMDs and that *ush is a "good ol' boy." They always will regardless of what reality dictates.

[ladym55]

39. Or as someone wrote to my local newspaper last week

Anyone who STILL has a * bumper sticker on his or her car might as well be displaying a sign that says, "STUPID and PROUD OF IT!" :P

[galileo3000]

24. People Change

I will welcome anyone with open arms. Begrudging someone for a thought crime has never served the peace movement. Not everyone can be first to agree with an idea. Peace requires forgiveness.

[ElboRuum]

25. The ones that are coming over...

...should be lauded for ultimately responding to their principles rather than the Republican Thought Machine. These are not the ones I find worrisome, though. I never doubted that, ultimately, principled Republicans (loyalists though they may typically be) would find time to be honest with themselves and see where this country would ultimately go if you follow neoconservatism to its logical conclusion. The ones that worry me are the ones who are disappointed that the world painted in the monochrome of neoconservatism bears so little resemblance to reality. They see a world where freedom is sacrificed for order and personal safety, idealistic principle sacrificed for banal profit, and culture for consumerism as not one that does exist, but that SHOULD exist. These are people who are not comfortable living in a pluralistic society where individuals alone do not carry the power of judgment. To them, anyone who is not recognized as friend is a potential enemy, and they cannot exist surrounded by people who are potential enemies. They also need the right to smite their enemies, either through cultural pressure or through legal instrument.

These are the ones who really give me pause, the cravenly fearful adult children who never learned to share, play with others, or otherwise assimilate into situations that they are not immediately comfortable with. They will always be a problem in any society which seeks to foment understanding rather than fear. Bush is just the sort of person that bolsters this fear and causes them to believe that this fear is not only rational, but a survival trait, and they just can't understand how anyone can exist without paralyzing fear since the world the neocons paint is predicated upon it. They think that people who go through life with a minimum of fears are either at best naive loonies or at worst the ones who might expose them to what they fear, and as such, enemies.

[TrueFunkSoldier]

28. I don't know whether to shout hallelujahs or...

...kick these sheeple in the nuts. Part of me wants to embrace them. A much larger part of me wants to chastise them for turning a blind eye to the truth.

I think many of these sheeple knew the facts and believed Michael Moore to be telling the truth. They just decided not to accept the reality of that truth. To do so would mean to admit that they had made a mistake. So, what we're talking about here is essentially pride and hubris.

So many Americans are fearful of being on the 'losing team.' They vote for Bush because their friends do, no matter what the facts are, no matter how corrupt and evil this administration is. I believe that in their hearts and minds, they KNOW that the administration lied us into an illegal occupation of a sovereign nation. And yet, they still go along to get along. Yes, they may embrace Michael Moore NOW, but will they actually go beyond mere words and token gestures to do what is right for their country rather than their party? Will they stand up to their friends and family who still support Lil' Dumbya and his fascist regime?

Yes, the damage is done. Because of these people, they have allowed Bush to create a situation where their children, our children and our children's children will be cleaning up the mess that he and his evil cronies have created for years and years to come.

Was it all worth it? They need to be asking themselves this, then take action and fight! The fact that the Repugs are still running competitive campaigns tells me that there are still too many lemmings out there who have allowed their party and patriotism...often bigotry...to cloud their judgment and do what's right for the country.

Let's see if these people put their money where their mouths are come November.

I remain unconvinced...

[ElboRuum]

31. Just a suggestion... but why choose?

Why not shout hallelujah WHILE kicking them in the nuts? B-)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

35. Great post! Yes, the mean and dumb masses who are

playground bullies in adult form are really worrisome.

Of such are fascist parties made.

[Blue_Tires]

27. I'll re-write the headline....

Michael Moore: "I didn't want to say 'I told you so, BUT..........'":)

[Freedom_from_Chains]

29. Too little, too late. n/t

[samsingh]

30. that's cool

[Goon]

32. Shout hallelujah...

but don't kick them in the balls. There is a fine line between being passionate and being hateful. Being passionate and honest helps win people to your cause while being hateful just makes one look ugly and turns people away. Times like these we need all the help we can get.

[ladym55]

40. Moore still not so popular here in Ohio

I USED to use Michael Moore's documentary Bowling for Columbine as an argument to analyze. Moore does SUCH a great job of presenting a visual argument, using many terrific ways to present his case. I've had to give it up, though. The majority of kids I teach(college freshmen) have been trained (like Pavlov's dogs) to HATE Moore automatically. They were NOT able to step back from their hatred to examine his work. They instead went to websites about Moore (and plagiarized--sigh) that said his interviews weren't legitimate, his movie wasn't REALLY a documentary (because he made money on it!!), etc. One girl's FATHER wrote the paper because she wasn't allowed apparently to have any opinion other than his. Rather than spend all my time flunking students for plagiarizing moronic websites and not doing the actual assignment, I gave up on using an excellent film.

I hate the way the folks at Faux train people to hate without question. Now that I've seen it, it's downright scary. :mad:

I'm glad Moore is getting a better reception now, but much damage has been done to the man and his credibility.

[cyclezealot]

47. Was it the movie "Network" that said US history is made at the movies.

American's are a disappointing people. They read so little anymore. They seem incapable of independent thought.
I think it is the effect of marketing/advertising. And the laziness of the internet.
My wife taught when we lived in the US. So many students' papers came directly from the net. She, quizz them on their paper's contents, it was uncommon they never even have read what they turned in.! Hopeless.
Should not dump on American's , might be a world wide phonemona.
But, the hopeless part. Moore's web site fully gives accrediation to his movies. But, nothing can be done to overcome the effects of marketing and jingles.

[Cha]

41. About freakin' time! It's the corporate

media's fault that this misbegotten war on Iraq was allowed to happen..without them their would be no bush.

But, it seems even they can't hide the tide that bush has created against himself.

[Strawman]

45. Michael Moore disappoints me

Bob Dreyfuss on Farenheit 9/11

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2004/06/30/blind_or_a_coward.php

I was disappointed in Farenheit 9/11 for the same reason. Not sure what happened to Mike. Nothing on his site about his views about the current crisis in Lebanon. He went from dedicating Dude, Where's My Country to Rachel Corrie to what appears to be total silence on Israel in Farenheit 9/11 and afterward (please correct me if I'm wrong here). How can you make a movie about a war in the Middle East without even mentioning the Bush Administration's close ties to Israeli hawks, PNAC, any of that as a motive? No mention whatsoever. Sure smells funny to me.

for Rachel Corrie
will I ever have her courage
will I let her death be in vain

-Michael Moore, Dude Where's My Country, 2003

Enjoy your hugs, Mike. Let someone else worry about the little guy this time.

[muchacho]

48. Hugs of death

Moore needs to check for knives in his back after these hugs.

[outofbounds]

49. Michael Moore changed the way

I view politics and America's relationship with the world. In 2004 I changed the way I vote and think about what I see on the news, news papers. Now if you want to kick me in the nuts, the first one is free. The rest will cost you. I read something about that up post. The thing I have a problem with in the democratic party is infighting. At a time when the country needs a change the democratic party seem to be ousting the candidates that have the best chance to win. And as much as the right scars the hell out of me the far left is just as scary. I appreciate the passion but that without action really is nothing.

Fahrenheit 911 opened my eyes to see the ties Bush has with Bin Laden, one degree of separation. I also believe Bush has the M.E. and a large portion of the world up in arms with his war on terror. Iraq was a mistake, a blunder, a you wanna' kill my daddy boy, do ya? A chest thumping contest that has done nothing but kill thousands of people. And will kill thousands more before the problem gets solved. Also if we just leave Iraq, Iran will probably annex it.

The media is a huge part of the problem too. All I want is the facts, not opinion, not spin but the facts. Conservative beliefs aren't just tossed out with the trash. The media shows the left as promoting gay people, atheist, big government, high taxes and so on. Two of these issues I could care less about, do what you want, I'll still shake your hand eat dinner and embrace you as fellow human being and even a friend. But big government and tax hikes piss me off. But I can't really say that anymore because the republicans have increased the size of government to monstrous proportions. Just what they swore they wouldn't do.

So yeah Michael Moore is responsible for opening my eyes to Bush and his administration. And had a large part in my back turning on the republican party.