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 bitch 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?
Michael Moore
www.michaelmoore.com
PERSONAL NEWS #36
Finally able to wrap up my news and mini adventures regarding vacation in "Oh Canada". Once this is complete then I'll be filling you all in on what's been going on since I've come back to NYC. Oh my ... lots of really wonderful, cool and inspiring events/commitments. Do stick around for the ride. . . . . .
Up early on September 2nd, as I had to take the express bus into downtown Ottawa from Gatineau and the last one leaves at 8:20am. I'm quite proud of myself in how quickly I got ready [plus do laundry] after Josee and her Mom left at 7:15am. Bus #83 showed up abit late and the ride lasted about 20 minutes. There was this cute fella sitting across from me reading the first Harry Potter book. Disembarked from the bus near Rideau Mall and asked a cute, young chap in the Information Booth for directions to "National Gallery of Canada" and also a place to nosh on breakfast. Strolled over to the Market Place to nibble on some goodies at the Continental Bagel. Very tasty, but the tea sucked. The weather was shaping up to be another sunny, warm, though slightly breezy day. Sweet! Before heading to the museum [Thursdays are free admission day] I checked out the other funky shops in the Market Place. The walked down Sussex Drive to the National Gallery of Canada. For almost two hours I gazed upon the paintings and sculpture in the European/Canadian/ American sections. Some artists I'd never heard of before and loved the different styles. I have to admit I was not impressed with the building itself, as its overall look was too modern for my taste. Quickly checked out the book/gift shop before walking back to Sparks & Banks Street to phone Josee.
We both weren't that hungry, so stopped by Starbucks instead for frappacino's. Josee showed me around some of the different CD/DVD shops. We were looking for CDs on Jack Iron's and Pearl Jam, plus I was hunting for Sean Bean movies. After Josee went back to work, I strolled back over to Wellington Street, near the canal, to view the John Massey exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography.
And yes, the admission was free. Love that word ... free! It was a decent exhibit and some of the pix were kinda cool. During the rest of the afternoon I checked out more "Canadian Gift Shops", buy stamps, write postcards and browsed in the many shops along Sparks Street. It’s actually a long pedestrian walkway and some cafes down the center, plus many street performers. Josee and her Mom picked me up after they were done with work. Back at the house we sat down to eat dinner and watch some early Pearl Jam concerts on DVD. Great music, stage antics and such a treat seeing Jeff Ament bounce around the stage without a shirt on. Sweet! After 7pm we drove through the large peaceful Gatineau Park.
Saw lots of bicyclists, a few deer, viewed some lookouts and admire a stunning sunset. Before heading back to the house to relax for rest of the evening, we made a pit stop at a local Dairy Queen for ice cream. Up early again on Friday, September 3rd and caught the 8:10am express bus. Josee and her Mom headed off to work at 7:15am. Same cute fella [from day before] was on the bus and reading another Harry Potter book. Arrived just outside Parliament Hill at 8:35am and it’s another lovely, sunny, warm day. I've been wearing the sunscreen, so that I won't get toasted. The first tours do not begin until 9:20am. So until that time I strolled around and also visited the "cat sanctuary". Many cats there today and even one dark kitten basking in the morning sunshine.
There were also a few squirrels ... in fact ... one of the black squirrels came hopping over to me [really close], as he must of thought I had some food. All I had on my person was an apple and wasn't sure if squirrels eat that fruit. So I waved my hands, gently yelled "shoo" and "scat", plus walked away from him AND still he followed me with this bright eyed, expectant look on his little face. So embarrassing ... I ended up running away from a black squirrel. He chased me for abit and then left me alone. I found a picnic table under a tree and sat down to do some reading. Just before 9:20am I went to get my ticket for "free" tour of Parliament buildings in the center. This is were the Canadian House of Commons and Senate meet September thru June. At the moment, they were still on their summer breaks. There is a "Changing of the Horse Guard", but that is only during the summer and ended August 28th.
Before the tour starts everyone in our large group goes thru security check. A few of us, including yours truly, were pulled aside to have our bags further searched. Apparently the three batteries in my backpack caused the security alarm. I explained that I use them for my CD walkman. Back on the tour with our guide [Roberta & a college student], who conducted us thru the House of Commons, Senate, Portrait Gallery, Smoking Room, etc. Very impressive! Sadly we couldn't tour the "Library of Parliament", as it was currently under restoration. What a pity, as it looks stunning from the postcards. Checked out the gift shop, strolled outdoors to relax, read and eat my apple. Obtained another free ticket for the 10:45am tour of east block Parliament buildings. Our guide for this tour was Wesley ... who was a very nice, amusing, young chap. Smaller group this time around and no problems with security. This tour was abit more interesting, as the four rooms we visited were set up in the 1872 style. Some of the furnishings were the original pieces. In one of the rooms we were treated to a student/actor portraying the 1872 Prime Minister MacDonald. He spoke about what was going on "at that time" and engaged in some dialogue with our charming guide. It added a nice touch to the tour. Afterwards I did a totally touristy thing and had my photo taken with Canadian Mountie on her horse. Would have preferred a male Canadian Mountie & not some gal who seemed more suited for toothpaste commercial.
By this time it was nearing lunch, so I strolled along Sparks Street Mall and then down Banks Street to Josee's office, where I met her for lunch. Which noshing on sandwiches we walked down Banks Street to locate a political bookshop called New Octopus Books. It was a very long walk and by the time we found the place my legs were abit sore. Cool bookstore though with items on US, Europe, imperialism, psychology, etc. I picked up a book by Arundhati Roy and also a button saying "More Trees, Less Bush". Josee and I took a taxi back to her office, plus made a pit stop at Starbucks for some liquid refreshment. Josee went back to work and before I headed over to Majors Hill Park, I stopped by a bookstore and the post office. In the park I relaxed under a nice, shady tree near the canal. This park is behind the Fairmont Hotel and the weather was still sunny. Tried to read for abit, but then said forget it and took a nap under that nice tree. Yep, right there on the grass and using my rolled up cotton sweater as a pillow. Delightfully refreshing. Later on, back at the house, we watched some telly for awhile before heading out to local fairgrounds at 6:30pm. We watched about 20+ colorful balloons ascend for the annual Ottawa Balloon Festival and it was a terrific sight to behold. Afterwards Josee, her Mom and I drove to downtown Ottawa and had dinner at an Asian restaurant called "Sweet Dreams". Service wasn't that good, price was decent and the food so-so. But we made up for it afterwards in getting "Beaver Tail" pastry. Oh so yummy!
On my final day in Canada, we [Josee, her Mom & I] got up early; as we had a 1 1/2+ hour drive to Montreal. Got to the train station with about 5 to 10 minutes to spare and they were in the process of boarding passengers onto Amtrak. Said my goodbyes to Josee and her Mom. Left Montreal at 9:50am and about 1 1/2 hours later we're at the US/Canadian border. The train was only 1/4 full and yet those US custom dudes [armed to the teeth & dressed similar to military] took longer than the Canadian custom folk did with a full train going north. Had to ask for a customs form, as they "forgot" to give me one. When it’s my turn to hand over my passport with completed form, which I do with a smile & a "good morning sir", the customs official grills me like the damn Spanish Inquisition for 10+ minutes. Meanwhile, I'm thinking ... what the hell did I do?!? Even the other customs official was glancing over his shoulder at his co-worker with a "what are you doing" look on his face. I was damn glad when that was over and the train started up again. Geez! Amtrak ride to Saratoga Springs was so slow, but the views of Lake Champlain in the sunshine were delightful. Arrived about 40 minutes late into Saratoga Springs and my parents were there to greet me. I then spent the rest of the long Labor Day holiday weekend with my folks, before heading back to NYC and no RNC in town. Amen! Stay tuned for more "personal news" ... as I have lots to report on events and activities since my vacation.
FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN DENNIS KUCINICH AND/OR THE HORRIBLE TREATMENT BY A MAJORITY OF THE MAINSTREAM CORPORATE MEDIA … BELOW IS PART OF AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY MATT TAIBBI FOR THE NEW YORK PRESS. IT WAS WRITTEN EARLIER THIS YEAR, DURING THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES. MR TAIBBI REALLY CAPTURED WHAT MANY AMERICANS ARE LIKE TODAY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO LISTEN, FOLLOW AND ELECT GOOD MEN LIKE KUCINICH. IF MANY AMERICANS CONTINUE TO GO ALONG WITH MORONS LIKE BUSH, THEN THIS COUNTRY WILL SINK FURTHER INTO A BOTTOMLESS QUAGMIRE OF DESPAIR. AND THAT GREATLY SADDENS ME. I DON’T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AND I’M SURE OTHERS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
“I will never forgive America for what Dennis Kucinich went through this year. Because he has had the audacity to call for an end to all wars, to announce plans for the creation of a Department of Peace, to question the very culture of viciousness and intolerance and crass commercialism that rules our public discourse, he has been labeled a lunatic by nearly every "responsible" press organ in this country and cruelly mocked to a degree that no civil society should allow an honorable man to endure. The New Yorker, that revolting beacon of glib, self-satisfied affluence, runs a cartoon showing Kucinich sweeping to victory in a primary held on Mars. The New York Times first angrily demands that he not waste any more of our time, then actually physically disposes of him after the passing of some self-imposed fictional electoral deadline. Even the more genuinely funny and more intelligent people in American public life–I’m thinking particularly of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon–can’t resist savaging Kucinich whenever they get a chance. All because he’s funny-looking and because he uses the word peace without kidding.
I am a Dennis Kucinich supporter because I believe America’s greatest problem is its incivility, its intolerance to new ideas, its remorseless hatred of weakness and failure, and the willingness of its individual citizens to submerge their individual cowardice within the vicious commerce-driven standards of our national self-image. George Bush is a terrible president, but he is merely a by-product of these wider national tendencies, which exist outside of him and independently of him. And these tendencies are symbolized exactly in the laughter directed at Dennis Kucinich. To vote for Dennis Kucinich, I believe, is to vote for man’s right to publicly be who he is and not be ridiculed for it. If we are peaceful people, it is a vote for our right to merely be who we are. This is not a small thing, because we are in danger of losing that right in this country. If you are the wrong kind of person, even the New York Times would have you disappear from the stage entirely. That is why it is important to understand this vote not as a pragmatic choice for a winner, but as a passionate act of self-preservation. We must stand with the man who is taking all the abuse that most of us are too afraid to take in our own lives.
BRAVO AND WELL SAID MR TAIBBI!!
LISTEN UP, MR. PRESIDENT
AlterNet
What would you say to George Bush if you had five minutes with the man? Janeane Garofalo, Minnie Driver, Montel Williams, and Morgan Fairchild have their say.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19975/
THE UNQUIET AMERICAN
Scott Thill, AlterNet
The ever-opinionated Steve Earle muses on the current state of events, the intersection of art and politics, and media consolidation. (And he also has an album out.)
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/19981/
MEDIA NEED TO MOVE ON
Diane Farsetta, AlterNet
The media ignore the difference between real grassroots organizations and smear-happy front groups -- the difference, say, between MoveOn and MoveOn For America.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/19980/
THE CARNIVAL CON
Molly Ivins, AlterNet
DeLay uses 'values politics' to make rubes out of voters.
http://65.54.246.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=4226f2795d6ebf6104c25e73c3857d87&lat=1096055409&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ealternet%2eorg%2fcolumnists%2fstory%2f19976%2f
Hot Off The Press! A New Pearl Jam Album, Its Titled REARVIEWMIRROR Greatest Hits 1991-2003), Its Scheduled Release Date Is For November 16th In The US & November 15th For International
Up Side:
1. Once
2. Alive
3. Even Flow
4. Jeremy
5. State of Love and Trust
6. Animal
7. Go
8. Dissident
9. Rearviewmirror
10. Spin the Black Circle
11. Corduroy
12. Not for You
13. I Got ID
14. Hail Hail
15. Do the Evolution
16. Save You
Down Side:
1. Black
2. Yellow Ledbetter
3. Breathe
4. Daughter
5. Crazy Mary
6. Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
7. Immortality
8. Betterman
9. Nothingman
10. Who You Are
11. Off He Goes
12. Given to Fly
13. Wishlist
14. Last Kiss
15. Nothing As It Seems
16. Light Years
17. I Am Mine
Going Back To The Tape: Pearl Jam (Live at Benaroya Hall, October 22 2003)
MAISONNEUVE
by Paul Winner
http://www.maisonneuve.org/blog/index.php?itemid=472
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