Michael Moore - extract from "Mike's Election Guide" (coming soon)

[Apollo11]

The Guardian (London, England) has published a long article entitled "How to blow it". It's an edited extract from Mike's Election Guide, by Michael Moore (published in September 2008).

Here are a few highlights I picked out:

How many Democrats does it take to lose the most easily winnable election in American history? Not many. Just a few "close advisers" to Barack Obama who tell him a bunch of asinine stuff and he ends up listening to them instead of his own heart. As the party hacks in the past two elections have proven, once they get the candidate's ear, the rest of us might just as well order pizza and stay inside for the next four years.

In an effort to help the party doofuses and pundits - and the candidate - spare all of us another suicide-inducing election night as the results giving the election to the Republican pour in, here is the blueprint from the Democrats' past losing campaigns. Just follow each of these steps and you, the Democratic Party establishment, can help elect John Sidney McCain III to a four-year extension of the Bush Era:

Keep saying nice things about McCain. Like how he's been "good on global warming" and campaign finance. Keep reminding a country at war that he and he alone is a war hero. Not to mention an all-round good guy. Say that enough and what happens? The same thing that happens when you repeat over and over, "Apply directly to the forehead" - people start to believe it! ...

Have Obama pick a vice-presidential candidate who is a conservative white guy, or a general, or a Republican. ...

Keep writing speeches for Obama like the one in front of the American Israeli lobbying group the day after the final primaries. ...

Somehow forget that this was a historic year for women and that there is more work to do. Obama should be making a speech about gender like the brilliant one he gave on race back in March. Millions of people, especially women, had high hopes for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. Attention must be paid. ...

Show up to a gunfight with a peashooter. Convince yourself that the Republicans are just going to roll over and play dead because there is simply no life left in their party. Convince yourself this one is in the bag! Convince yourself that if you play by the rules, the Republicans will, too. And when McCain and his people roll out their nuclear arsenal on you, just go all sweet and sensitive and logical. ...

Denounce me! The candidate Obama, at some point, might be asked this question: "Michael Moore is a supporter of yours and has endorsed you. But in his new book, Mike's Election Guide, he says the following (go ahead and fill in the blank - I've provided a full list of outrageously offensive lines already taken out of context in advance to make it easy for rightwing commentators and Fox News). Will you still accept his endorsement or do you denounce him?"

And he better denounce me or they will tear him to shreds. He had better back away not only from me but from anyone and everyone who veers a bit too far to the left of where his advisers have told him is the sweet spot for all those red state voters.

We can't take four more years of this madness. We need you to be a candidate who will fight back every time they attack you. Actually, don't even wait till you have to fight back. Fight first! Show some vision and courage and smoke them out. Take the offensive. Keep asking why these lobbyists are McCain's best friends. Let's finally have a Democrat who's got the balls to fire first.

You can read more here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/09/michael.moore.us.elections.barack.obama

[tridim]

1. "Denounce me!"

Classic Michael Moore. :)

I guess Mike wised up about Nader this time.

[dbonds]

3. Guess you missed last election where he got down on his knees and begged Nader not to run.

[tridim]

4. Sorry, these past 8 years have kind of been a blur for me.

I didn't mean to imply that.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. That's actually

A very clever piece. He's spot on about a lot of things. I'll be buying that book to read more.

[Apollo11]

5. I ask myself - what does Michael Moore have against Generals?

Back in 2003 he was an early endorse of Wes Clark. So if Wes was qualified to be President 5 years ago - why not VP now?

Mike seems to really narrow the field when it comes to the VP pick. Basically it should be a left-leaning liberal who will help turn-out the base. Kucinich? :eyes:

[tomreedtoon]

7. Moore has only one choice for VP. Michael Moore.

Just because the guy supports a lot of the positions I support, doesn't keep him from being an egocentric, self-preening Hollywood star-effer. He is the white Jesse Jackson, more famous for promoting himself than in boosting his professed beliefs.

I'm waiting for him to put on a dress and say he'd be a better female VP than Clinton.

[Luminous Animal]

11. Bullshit.

1) He's famous. Get over it.

2) Give some proof where he promotes himself over his beliefs.

3) What is the difference between professed beliefs and actual beliefs?

This is nothing more than the trite Moore bashing that originated from the right which has done an extremely good job at separating us from our greatest advocates. Apparently, the left is not allowed to have any champions or heroes.

[tomreedtoon]

12. Bull-TRUE, in Stephen King's words.

1) I don't care that he's famous. I DO care that him being famous is an important criterion for him, above caring for other people.

2) For proof, look at Bowling for Columbine. He practically ignored Harris and Klebold (two troubled boys who are as badly used by Moore as by the crazy Christians) to push his gun control agenda, and to personally get in the face of Charlton Heston. He has no more dedication than Rowdy Roddy Piper or any other TV wrestler.

3) Professed beliefs are talked about. Actual beliefs are carried out without frigging bragging about them. Christians talk about what great Christians they are, but only a few actually carry out those beliefs. Same with Jesse Jackson and Michael Moore.

Finally, why do you need champions or heroes? Are you afraid that what you yourself can do isn't enough? Like you wouldn't be against the war unless Hannah Montana told you she was against the war? Grow up. Be your own hero. Don't go looking for heroes on TV or on line.

[Luminous Animal]

13. You seem to know a lot

about someone who do not know.

1) How do you know being famous is an important criterion for him?

2) The title Bowling for Columbine was a direct jab at the theories of the "crazy Christians" and the bobble heads in the media. The movie was not about Harris and Klebold nor was it about gun control. It was an exploration of gun violence in the U.S., and our social and political reaction to it. If we are to accept your assertion that Moore used these troubled boys, then we must also agree that Oliver Stone used poor troubled Oswald when making JFK.

Odd that, on the one hand, you take him to task for ignoring Harris and Klebold and, on the other, take him to task for not ignoring the spokesperson the largest pro-gun organization in the country.

3) What beliefs does Moore brag about that he doesn't also carry out?

Every movement needs champions or heroes that has the ability to break through media barriers. Even conservative movements. I don't need them, personally. We need them collectively. Great change is not wrought by individuals acting alone. It doesn't matter a whit if I am against the war. It would matter a great deal more if the vast majority of citizens who are against the war would rally around sustained and collective action.

[riverdale]

14. is this true

Somebody on DU said that Wes Clark was a big pro-Vietnam war guy back in the 1970s

[Merlot]

6. "...his was a historic year for women..."

Somehow forget that this was a historic year for women and that there is more work to do. Obama should be making a speech about gender like the brilliant one he gave on race back in March. Millions of people, especially women, had high hopes for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. Attention must be paid. ...

I really think he's spot on with this one. I realize race is important, but gender is HALF the population.

Mike, I'd never denounce you!

[phrigndumass]

8. K/R ... Can't wait for this :)

"The most easily winnable election in American History" is probably right on the money.

[CitizenPatriot]

9. 'xactly, mike!

"Convince yourself this one is in the bag! Convince yourself that if you play by the rules, the Republicans will, too. "

it makes me sad how people insist on playing this game with logic, as if that ever won against a thug. wrong contest. this isn't a spelling bee, it's a damn Wrestling match of soundbites.

Love what he said about gender and Hillary's supporters. Very true and wise observation. I am sure Obama isn't clueless about it as his last few interviews have proven.

[Skittles]

15. it's not logic, it's adoration and naivete

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Mr. Moore is very insightful.