A message from Michael Moore: "Edwards is the only one of the three front-runners

[Seabiscuit]

who has a universal health care plan that will lead to the single-payer kind all other civilized countries have. His plan doesn't go as fast as I would like, but he is the only one who has correctly pointed out that the health insurance companies are the enemy and should not have a seat at the table."

Arrived in my e-mail box this morning.

He goes on: "It's hard to get past the hair, isn't it? But once you do -- and recently I have chosen to try -- you find a man who is out to take on the wealthy and powerful who have made life so miserable for so many. A candidate who says things like this: 'I absolutely believe to my soul that this corporate greed and corporate power has an ironclad hold on our democracy.' Whoa. We haven't heard anyone talk like that in a while, at least not anyone who is near the top of the polls. I suspect this is why Edwards is doing so well in Iowa, even though he has nowhere near the stash of cash the other two have...."

"I am not endorsing anyone at this point. This is simply how I feel in the first week of the process to replace George W. Bush. For months I've been wanting to ask the question, 'Where are you, Al Gore?' You can only polish that Oscar for so long. And the Nobel was decided by Scandinavians! I don't blame you for not wanting to enter the viper pit again after you already won. But getting us to change out our incandescent light bulbs for some irritating fluorescent ones isn't going to save the world. All it's going to do is make us more agitated and jumpy and feeling like once we get home we haven't really left the office."

"On second thought, would you even be willing to utter the words, "I absolutely believe to my soul that this corporate greed and corporate power has an ironclad hold on our democracy?" 'Cause the candidate who understands that, and who sees it as the root of all evil -- including the root of global warming -- is the President who may lead us to a place of sanity, justice and peace."

That's the closest I've seen Michael Moore come to endorsing a candidate so far.

To view Michael Moore's letter in its entirety, go to his website:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=220

[skipos]

1. 'Where are you, Al Gore?' Too bad MM supported Ralph "no difference between Gore and Bush" Nader

in 2000. I am glad he has seen the light.

MM endorsed Clark in 2004 by the way.

[MalloyLiberal]

2. Well, Ralph is behind Edwards too now, and if Edwards wins, won't run against him

[Seabiscuit]

3. Yes, times change, and sometimes people improve with age.

Edwards certainly has. Just last week he said he'd have our troops home from Iraq within the first year of his first term.

[Seabiscuit]

7. Self-delete.

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Give it a rest.

Is everything an excuse to snipe about Ralph Nader? Petty and pathetic. Especially since the election was stolen. In 2000, the Democratic Party spit in the face of its base. Progressives and African Americans were left twisting in the wind.
Besides, the Al Gore of 2007-2008 is very different from the Al Gore of 2000.
In 2000 he let himself get packaged and pushed to the right by his advisors to such an extent that he was actually more conservative than Bush on a number of issues (including military spending). But Al Gore realized that the DLC was bullshit and has come around. The party in turn is realizing that its base can't be taken for granted or ignored.
People change. They evolve. Al Gore did. And so did Michael Moore. Maybe it's your turn.
The Democratic Party didn't lose in 2000. But people who still blame Ralph Nader are losers.

[mac56]

5. "people who still blame Ralph Nader are losers."

Gee whiz, it must be so keen to be President of the Mighty Nader Marching Society.

Can you show us the secret handshake?

Many of us do still blame Nader, with good reason. Maybe you're more "evolved" than the rest of us, or just more in denial.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

12. Of course you balme Nader

Blaming a Democratic party that was and is losing its way would be too hard to do. Its always easier to piss on the other guy than try to see your own fault..

Gore takes His home state or Bill Clinton's home state and Nader is a non issue..

[SteppingRazor]

14. Or, you know, it could actually be both.

I don't understand why it's always either a) Ralph Nader destroyed the 2000 election or b) the Democratic Party lost its way in 2000 or c) the election was stolen.

What about this: The Democratic Party didn't reach out to progressives in 2000, which gave an opportunistic Ralph Nader an opening, which caused the election to be close enough that it could be thrown to the GOP with a little rigging.

The Democratic Party, Nader and vote-rigging are not singularly to blame for the 2000 election. All of them are.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

15. That would be covered by part B...

[mac56]

18. I've never once balmed Nader.

No balms, no ointments, no soothing emollients of any kind.

:eyes:

[bvar22]

24. My vote is "more evolved".

One of the markers for the transition between "Adolescent Stage of Development" and the "Adult Stage of Development" is the ability to assume responsibility and stop blaming others for personal shortcomings.

It is soooooo much easier to just blame Nader than address the serious problems of the influence of Corporate Money inside the Democratic Party.


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[skipos]

6. Hey, guess what?

I can state my opinion, and you can state yours. Tough shit if you don't like it.
Anyone who bought Nader's Gore=Bush lie was pretty ignorant.
Note that my statement has nothing to do with the election results, or blaming Ralph for the election results.
Sorry loser, you are barking up the wrong tree.

[Seabiscuit]

8. Come on, people. Can the Nader talk. This thread isn't about him.

It's a letter from Michael Moore about the top 3 Democratic candidates. This is 2008. Not 2000. In case you haven't noticed, it's a very different world.

If you must obsess about Nader, please go hijack someone else's thread. Please.

[RufusTFirefly]

11. Thank you. And my apologies for contributing to the digression

This is a positive thing for John Edwards and very encouraging for those of us who believe the strength of the Democratic Party resides in its progressive roots.

Congratulations to Senator Edwards.

I have not officially been an Edwards supporter yet, but I am very encouraged that he "gets it" in terms of the key role that corporate influence has played in the erosion of our democracy.

[Seabiscuit]

13. No apologies necessary.

Your points have been well taken.

[DaLittle Kitty]

30. Yes, Wherer IS Al Gore... Waiting For Hillary to Falter. C'mon Al Edwardss Is Your ONLY Choice if..

You stay True to Your Mission! :)

[chimpymustgo]

9. Great endorsement for Edwards. Great to have Michael Moore and Ralph Nader on the team.

Excellent news!

[mtnsnake]

10. Yeah, it's like getting hit by lightning twice in the same day,

[Seabiscuit]

17. The rattler has bitten.

[Krashkopf]

23. Spoken like a true REPUBLICAN.

How did Rush Limbaugh get on this board, anyway. Go back to "Red States" would ya?

[annie1]

16. That's pretty hot

[ChiciB1]

19. Thanks MM, Now IF We Could Somehow Get Al Gore To Speak

for our candidate! C'mon Al, WE NEED YOU!!!

[Seabiscuit]

27. Maybe Al Gore will endorse John Edwards tomorrow morning?

[laureloak]

20. Would any other candidate have the courage to say,

"I absolutely believe to my soul that this corporate greed and corporate power has an ironclad hold on our democracy?"

Hell no they wouldn't.

[Tejanocrat]

21. Thank god for Michael Moore

[Krashkopf]

22. Michael Moore speaks for ME!

And, I am PROUD to be a PROGRESSIVE!

Edwards 2008!!!

[Seabiscuit]

28. Ditto. His entire letter is spot on!

[bvar22]

25. MM scores another bullseye!!

K&R
:patriot:

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[Flabbergasted]

26. Thanks Michael. nt

[DaLittle Kitty]

29. Geez I knew this Before Edwards Even Announced...

This is SOOOOOOOO OBVIOUS it defies Description. Let's hope and Pray that Iowans Gettit and GETTIT BIGTIME! :woohoo:

[ChiciB1]

31. If They DON'T GITTIT BIGTIME... America Loses! I'm Not Just Saying This

because I support John Edwards, I'm saying it because he's been sounding off about this issue since he began! 527's aside, and how the other candidates want to attack him on this is a stretch! When so much money has been given to them by the VERY SAME people who are running things now!

How MUCH "change" will there REALLY be as long as the POWER ELITES are able to keep whispering in the ears of a candidate they supported! We need a country that will include ALL it's citizens, not just the ones who don't even know WE exist!!

John Edwards, I'm Still Here & I'm Still Talking & Trying to "Wake Up America!"

[onehandle]

32. Kick! nt

[Czolgosz]

33. kick

[Seabiscuit]

34. In case anyone still hasn't seen Moore's letter:

:kick: