That’s a line in a cheesily patriotic song by a cheesliy patriotic singer–Lee Greenwood–whose entire career revival is owed to the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. A guy from whom we needed to hear nothing.
But, I am proud to be an American today. Proud because of a man named Michael Moore. Proud because of this man’s film, Fahrenheit 9/11.
My family and I were originally supposed to trek to Philly to see this last night, but once I found out that a local theater made a last minute booking, I switched reservations. And a good thing.
We arrived at the theater 45-minutes before it started. Apparently, the theater got a hold of a SECOND print of the film due to high demand. Thusly, it was playing on two screens. There were two snake-long lines at the two theater doors and it looks like everyone came out for the premiere. Stuffy-looking corporate snobs whose politics were a bit hard to define. And those with a clear loathing of GW Bush with their Anti-Bush paraphernalia scattered upon their person.
We got into the theater about 20 minutes before the movie started. We even got an introduction by one of the theater managers, a first time in my 21 years. He told us to try and get comfortable and leave no seats empty, as all shows had sold out. Indeed, it seems all shows around the country were probably sold out yesterday and probably through the weekend. One theater in New York pulled out all the stops and ended showing it 24 hours a day.
Before even seeing this film, those on the right denounced it. Before even seeing it, they’d made up their mind. This movie is wrong with the facts. It’s manipulative. It’s an assault on our president. It’s treasonous. Many other straw-man arguments.
Here’s the thing, though. Michael Moore has provided and who are skeptical with the most damning evidence against this president that anyone with a conscience simply can not vote for him come November. Moore employs such a rich and vast amount of stock footage and in-film citations that its overall message would be most hard to shake-off.
Is this movie manipulative? You’d better damn well believe it. Like my family and I, we all came out extremely affected. Did we feel manipulated? Not really. Because we already knew the evils of George W. Bush. This a film for those loyal Bush fans and those on the fence who don’t know what been going on these last four years. Those are the ones for whom this movie may manipulate. Manipulation with truth.
Patriotism. As a liberal, I’ve had mine questioned during the better half of the past three years. I’m sure Moore has, as well. Because the brainwashers at the highest levels of our nation’s government have been on a campaign to convince the American people that those who disagree with this president are unpatriotic fools who should be voted off this island America. And Moore was always public enemy number one.
What he has done is created a film most rich in patriotism, because, as we all know, the most patriotic thing one can do is question those in the highest office of the land. It’s our right and responsibility. It’s called “checks and balances.” Moore has done a better job with this movie than any of the lame Democratic senators and representatives who claim to do the work “of the people.”
Moore and his team have singlehandedly created the ability for so many people to be able to effectively change how they vote this coming election season.
Moore is an American hero and treasure. In Fahrenheit 9/11 he has made his most complete film. His most damning film that could possibly enact the most joyous results.
Having seen this movie, we should now know our mission. The pieces are in play. The line is drawn. Which side are you on?
Do something:
MichaelMoore.com
Posted by Mike Matthews in Movies at 10:32 PM PDT
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Go to boxofficemojo.com. Fahrenheit 9/11 made $8.2 million by Friday’s estimates. Then look at the next movie down, White Chicks which made $2 million less. Then, look at the number of screens. 9/11 made $2 million more, but was only playing on a third of the screens that Chicks was playing. Then, look at the per screen average. In layman’s terms, this is how full the theaters were. Moore’s film had a per-screen average of over $9000, while the Wayans Brothers’ comedy did a bit over $2000. This means Moore’s film was packing theatres more than three times more than the Wayans’.
It looks like this could hit $30 million when Sunday’s estimates are released. To put it in perspective, Dodgeball opened with about the same total, but debuted on three times more screens. For Moore’s film to make so much showing on so few screens is a true testament to those who came out this weekend to see it.
I can’t recommend it more highly.
Well, I’m off on a cruise! I hope to get away from some of this depressing political stuff for a week. I may check in and write some things from the ship. If not, have a great week!
Mike
Posted by Mike Matthews in Movies at 10:31 PM PDT
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I’ve got my tickets reserved for Friday night at 7:30 in Philly. It doesn’t seem any theaters around here are showing it. I can’t wait. I’ll have a full report for everyone, I’m sure.
This movie is going to be awesome. Howard Stern has been talking about it all week. His show has pretty much been dedicated to promoting this movie. I’ve read reviews and I can’t wait. This is going to be the movie event of the year!
I almost threw up after reading this. Apparantly, the tiny Balkan state of Macedonia wanted to prove to the US they were serious about fighting the War on Terror. So, what do they do? Lure innocent south Asians near the US embassy and kill them to prove their country’s dedication. Sickening.
Enough! Good night!
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 10:33 PM PDT
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I must apologize for taking an extended vacation. I’ve been working some very late nights this week.
Please keep posting replies! It’s not fun if no one comes on to disagree with something I have to say.
So much has gone on in the past week. Too much to cover, indeed.
Let’s play a game. It’s called “What Pisses Mike Off?”
Number one: Why is John Kerry currently earning a salary? He hasn’t taken part in any votes in the Senate for what seems like a very long time. I realize this may be standard issue for those running for president, but should he not actually be doing his job? Check out this story, which clearly mentions Kerry’s abstention from the vote. This is becoming routine with him. He’s costing the Democrats in an already tight Senate. Regarding the article: I’m for the extra troops. However, someone isn’t. Keep reading.
Number two: Why is George W. Bush such a goddamned moron? Read the above article. The sonofabitch who got us into this war is now pussyfooting around because he knows the addition of these troops is further testament to his complete FAILURE in executin the War in Iraq. He knows that by being unable to stop the deployment of these extra 20,000 troops, it will make him look like he’s got the egg on his face. I understand he’s coming out against the additional troops because it makes him look like a fool, but at this very unstable moment, we definitely need more troops on the ground to get things under control. He’s a damned idiot.
Good Ole G.W.!
Always Lookin’ for a Fight!
Number three: Why is G.W. Bush such a damned liar? Check out this awesome webpage which details our Crackhead-in-Chief’s military career. He’s basically been given a free pass on his questionable service while everyone on the right continues to attack Kerry for throwing out his medals/ribbons. Kerry can do what he pleases with them. It doesn’t change the fact that he actually SERVED in combat. George W. Bush is a coward and a treasonous squatter on federal land, The White House.
More Bad News
I don’t know whether to take this seriously, but it’s a pretty funny article. It details President Bush’s crazy behavior these past few weeks. I’ll try to be fair with the President (as if he deserves it) and admit we can’t be 100% sure this is true, but the article is still great.
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 10:35 PM PDT
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I woke up this morning with the melody of Leonard Cohen’s Suzanne running a marathon in my brain. What a damn amazing song. Gorgeous melody by one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever. You all ever heard of Leonard Cohen? Pick up at least his Essential album, which I’ve linked above. He is one of the most unique, different people I’ve ever heard in my lifetime.
So, what in this sorry world has gone wrong of late?
Well, it seems a “systems glitch” is the cause for an extreme underestimate in the amount of terrorist attacks happened around the world in 2003. Earlier this year, the State Department issued a report stating that terrorist attacks were at their lowest in years. That made “El Busho” look real good and El Presidente was quick to note that. I wonder if Bush will air a retraction now that it turns out terrorist attacks were indeed higher in 2003 than previos years.
Get Over It
Screw Ronald Reagan. Sure, I was only a kid during the 80’s, but his bullshit brand of economics is still affecting us today. The lame Democratic Party tried to play nice this week and look diplomatic. They should’ve pointed out all the BAD things he did to remind the American people why we should get rid of George W. Bush.
Do you need to be reminded?
Air-Traffic Controllers
These folks were working too hard with equipment that was thirty years old. They wanted updated systems, more pay, and an overall better way to report grievances. What does Reagan do when these folks request to work in a better environment? He FIRES them! Good job, Reagan! And now people wonder why they have to wait so long for their damn plane to take off. They’ve got retards manning the skies!
Triple Defense-Triple the Debt!
Is it not the behavior of a true conservative to seek out a BALANCED BUDGET?? You know, like my buddy John McCain is requesting? Well, Reagan inflated the fears of America and basically gave the defense industry a huge shot in the arm by allowing them to remain unregulated. They ran up the country’s credit cards and put us into over 3 trillion dollars in debt. Never before had our country been so far in debt. Just like Bush today, Reagan gave defense companies unlimited funds to help design and implement a missle defense system.
He’s no damn war hero, so shut the hell up Ann Coulter!
Ann Coulter loves Ronald Reagan. I can’t stand her. Check out this week’s column she’s written. She always claimed Reagan a hero because he ended the Cold War, a pussy war that posed no threat to us over the forty years in which it was “fought.” The Cold War was a time when conservatives liked to rile up the country and gain unlimited power to enrich the pockets of their corporate buddies, who in turn would help “protect” our threat from the “Commies” who so dearly wanted to invade our shores. Reagan is no war hero and he shouldn’t be classified as such.
If it ain’t broke, give ‘em tax cuts!
Reagan was the hero of conservatives because he delivered on their calling card: tax cuts. Not tax cuts for people like me. Well, if I made over $200,000 then I guess they would be for people like me. In a bid to make good on his promise of tax cuts for the rich, he nearly wiped out the Department of Education (and effectively wiped out many of its components), destroyed hundreds of social programs for the poor, and attempted to have ketchup classified as a vegetable in school lunches so he wouldn’t have to spend money on real vegetables.
Overall, Reagan did nothing to help this country. It took a crackhead like Bill Clinton (of whom I’m not really a fan) to dig this country out of the debt Reagan brought us. Sure, Reagan helped end the War of Words between the USSR and the USA, but that’s about it. He’ll be remembered for his militant speeches and stupid catchphrases more than anything else.
For a more appropriate view of Reagan’s accomplishments, check out Ted Rall’s column for this week. Good stuff.
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 10:35 PM PDT
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Today is the anniversary of D-Day. The 60th anniversary. We must pay tribute to those who went before us as well as those who have died recently.
_____________________________________________________
How many more must die in the name of a war that we now know to have been started under false–and treasonous–pretenses? How many more must die to satiate the appetite of our “fearless” leader who seems only to be on the offensive? How many more must die for our government to realize that they were wrong. Wrong in every way imaginable.
Check out this webpage. This is the kind of webpage that conservative say aides and abetts the enemy. This is the kind of page that conservatives hate because it shows the cruel reality of war. This is the kind of page–not unlike Ted Koppel’s recent “Nightline” edition honoring the fallen–that conservatives hate because it shows that we are not the invincible nation our treasonous “mock” government would lead you to believe we are.
This page contains the “Faces of the Fallen.” For while we may forget their names and their faces eventually, they deserve their recognition.
These men and women indeed made the ultimate sacrifice for their government. However, make no doubt about it; it WAS in vain. How many times can the conservatives in this country wrap themselves around the invective that Iraq was a threat to us? How many more will have to die for us to realize that imperialism didn’t work for the British, Dutch, French, and Spanish?
Many of these brave soldiers are younger that I am. Look through these pages. Ages 18, 19, and 20 make up many of the dead. For what? For whom? To settle Bush’s score against a nation that all SANE and rational people have come to realize was NO threat to us. A nation that most certainly did not align itself with the true terrorist of Osama bin Laden’s network. A nation, that while it housed a corrupt and brutal dictator, had proved to be quite docile over the past decade. A nation that could have only proved revolution from the inside. A nation that is now home to terrorists because of our poorly planned invasion and ignorance to listen to the facts prior to the war.
These men and women died. They died not protecting us. They died protecting our country’s continuing conquest for wealth and resources. I guess our own country’s resources are shot to hell so we’ve got to go invade another country.
Make no doubt about it. President Clinton had his fun in The White House. Now, it seems our current president is as well. You can make the change. You can show this coward of a leader where he belongs. I don’t fully endorse much of what John Kerry stands for, but we must eliminate the problem at its source. I’ve always considered myself a Nader-guy, but we have too much to lose come November.
Do it for the soldiers who have died and those likely to die in the coming months and years. Do it for the thousands of innocent Iraqis, most of whom have been caught in the midst of this illegitimate conflict. Do it for me, your humble correspondent. Do it for those who fought to create this great country more than two centuries ago
What always gets me about conservatives is that they say those of us on the left are traitors to our country. So, I say in return: does a traitor not revel in seeing his fellow citizens slaughtered in battle? Well, that is most certainly NOT how we liberals are. We liberals care about life, unlike the conservatives, who can so loosely quote the Bible and claim to do the work of Jesus. Sending men and women off to die in a war with totally illegitimate reasoning IS treasonous.
How long will it take this country to understand that?
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 10:36 PM PDT
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Well, it seems Moore’s site got slammed the first day the trailer was released. They had to take it down it was generating so much traffic.
If you want to see a really poor quality mirror of the original, check out this site. I can’t wait to see this movie. The trailer is great. Really gets your blood pumping.
Most interesting is the fact that conservatives won’t shut the hell up about this movie. They’re basically ensuring Moore has another hit on his hands by constantly keeping it on the front pages of their newspapers, magazines, and talk shows. They say Moore is twisting the facts. They say this about all of his movies, until they’re released, of course. Just in viewing the preview, you can see he interviewed top-ranked Congresspeople on these issues. And I’ll believe their word over any conservative ass simply looking to cast doubt over everything Michael Moore does.
Congratulations to my sister, Bridget, for graduating high school today.
That’s enough. Bye.
Mike
Posted by Mike Matthews in Movies at 10:37 PM PDT
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I just saw the Fahrenheit 9/11 trailer. Can’t wait to see it. Go check it out at michaelmoore.com.
Best part? The end of the trailer, when our Thief in Chief, playing golf says to a press junket:
“I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. (Pause) Now, watch this drive.”
You’ve got to see it to get the full effect. Check it out.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Movies at 10:38 PM PDT
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Wow! So much in the news. Do I even have room for the commentary? Perhaps I should just let the articles speak for themselves.
Conservatives love to bitch ‘n’ moan about how we supposedly let go of Osama bin Laden in Sudan back in 1996. It turns out this administration let go a known terrorist just weeks after 9/11. Check out this article which came across the AP wire about an hour ago. Well, Bush & Co. let the Saudi royals and the bin Laden family out of the country following the attacks. Why not others?
Remember the California recall election last year? Conservatives blamed the shit out of former Gov. Gray Davis for the state’s energy woes from 2000. Check out this article detailing Enron’s clear manipulation of the energy market during the crisis. I actually printed this article to show to some friends. It pissed me off and gave me the biggest belly laugh at the same time.
He needs a lawyer, because someone’s gonna fry him
Last year, a CIA operative’s name was released to the press. Documented speculation has led many to believe the Bush administration released the name of agent Valerie Plame, wife of former Iraqi ambassador Joe Wilson. Wilson was highly critical of Bush’s decision to go to war in a New York Times opinion piece and many in Washington said Bush’s Brain (aka Karl Rove) released his wife’s name as retaliation. The investigation is ongoing and it hasn’t been looking good for Bush. Releasing the name of a CIA operative is highly dangerous to that agent, as it could have seriously compromised her missions.
Today, Pres. Bush compared the sacrifices and motivation for the War in Iraq to those from 60 years ago during World War II. Can he be serious? Or was it just another dumb moment of his?
WW II was provoked by an attack on American soil. The War in Iraq was provoked in a desperate need to consolidate oil interests. We now know that Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11, so why did we attack them? Say what you will about the viciousness about Saddam, but he actually kept a fairly tight ship. He had nothing to do with 9/11 because he refused to ever join forces with Osama bin Laden’s extremist interpretation of Islam. The fact is that bin Laden hates Christians, Jews, and anyone else who DOESN’T subscribe to his radical brand of Islam. Saddam Hussein held one of the few SECULAR nations in the Middle East, in which citizens were allowed to practive whatever religion the chose.
So, Bush saying that the Iraq War is anything close to WWII is offensive. The wars had two totally separate purposes. Unfortunately, the war in Iraq has now bred terrorists. Iraq two years ago wasn’t a breeding ground for terrorists. Now it most certainly is.
Now who wants to fight?
Turns out those in the military looking to retire or end their volunteer duty will have to stay in as long as this war is going on. This is what turns those “patriotic” soldiers against their Commander in Chief. This is definitely going to lower morale, probably lower than it already is.
What happenend to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’?
Soldier says: Mr. President, I would love to have you over for dinner!
Enough for today,
Mike
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 10:38 PM PDT
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Michael Moore’s new film, Fahrenheit 9/11, get a distributor. Of course, this was only a matter of time. Moore’s topics may scare the hell out of corporate America, but their politics will never overrule the profits that come with a Michael Moore picture. This movie will make some bucks. And piss George W. Bush off in the process. Here’s a quote from Shrubbery Sr.
“I have total disdain for Moore … It’s a free country, so he’s free to say whatever he wants. But I don’t appreciate it. I don’t like it.”
–Former president GEORGE BUSH on MICHAEL MOORE and his film “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which is critical of his son, President GEORGE W. BUSH, in the New York Daily News. The elder Bush also called Moore a “slimeball.”
All of Bush’s family are slimeballs. Eff ‘em!
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 10:39 PM PDT
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