If Michael Moore Would Run for President

[Karmadillo]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/02/09-3

If Michael Moore would run for President in 2012, it could be a game-changer in American political life. For starters, it would likely shorten the war in Afghanistan by at least six months, and the American and Afghan lives that would be saved would alone justify the effort.

If Moore announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination now, and followed up that announcement with a vigorous campaign focused on the struggles of rank-and-file Democrats, it would re-mobilize rank-and-file Democratic activists. It's possible that he might even win; but win or lose, the campaign could arrest and reverse the current rightward, pro-corporate trajectory of our national politics, which is the predictable consequence of the failure of Team Obama to deliver on its promises from 2008, which in turn was the predictable consequence of the doomed effort to try to serve two masters: Wall Street and Main Street.

Like few people with his political views, Michael Moore needs no introduction to the Democratic primary electorate. To most rank-and-file Democrats, the name Michael Moore stands for a set of progressive populist ideas: health care for all, workers' rights, opposition to Wall Street's stranglehold on Washington, closing down the wars of empire and bringing our troops home.

In 1984 and 1988, the Jesse Jackson campaigns showed what could be accomplished running a populist, issue-based, movement campaign in the Democratic primaries and caucuses. In 1984, Jackson got more than 3 million votes, a fifth of the total, and won 5 primaries and caucuses. In 1988, he got almost 7 million votes and won seven primaries and four caucuses; at one point, following his victory in the Michigan caucus, he was ahead in delegates.

Of course, the progressive Jackson campaigns had a particular starting point: their base in the African-American community. But a Michael Moore campaign would also have a starting point: his status as an international progressive populist rock star. The moment that Michael Moore says, "I am a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 2012," it's a live proposition. And Moore would have tools for getting out his message -- videos and the internet -- that the Jackson campaign didn't have in 1988.

Like few American progressives of his prominence, Moore has the ability to connect with and mobilize working-class anger at Washington and Wall Street.

moore...

[vadawg]

1. you would welcome a repub president on jan 20th 2013

[brendan120678]

2. If Michael Moore Would Run for President...

he would likely get soundly defeated by the right-wing candidate.

[WeDidIt]

3. Say hello to President Palin

If Moore were to Nader Obama, he would be the biggest fool in history.

[harun]

7. Threatening to do it is productive, however. Obama and Congress

can pass Progressive legislation like they were elected to do and then the Progressives won't be so pissed.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

22. If moore wanted to run he would have to face Obama in the primaries.

To be a threat to Obama he'd have to have a legitimate chance of beating Obama in a primary.
Obama could beat Moore in a primary debate with an etch-a-sketch teleprompter.
How do you suppose Moore's "threat" is productive? - LOL

And supposing Moore ever did actually run for president... the republicans win by at least 30% of the vote.
Hell, a Ralph Nader & Ross Perot ticket could beat Moore.

[harun]

27. Like it is against the law or something for him to simply run as an independent.

He wouldn't win but he could take down Obama. He could pull 5% of the vote his way. That would be enough to take down the Pres.

Every single campaign stop he could highlight the top 10 Progressive issues and ask "How many of these did Mr. Change do for you?". You don't think that would resonate with a few people? It sure as hell resonates with me!

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

28. Michael Moore could not pull 0.1% of the vote from Obama.

He's not a politician. He has no legislative or governing experience. Such a third party candidate would not even get an invitation to the debates... let alone get to participate in one. It's hard enough for senators/representatives to get elected because of their voting records... Moore's views, slants, semi-truths, and ultra-liberal positions espoused over the years essentially damage him beyond repair for any sort of election. He is an aesthetically unpleasing overweight pop-culture figure who produces (at best) borderline intellectually dishonest "documentaries".

He would pull zero conservative votes, zero moderate votes, few liberal votes, and maybe a non-negligible portion of the left-wing radical votes. Figure about 1.2-1.5 million popular votes per percentage. No, Michael Moore is not a threat. A Blueberry Muffin could point out Obama's deficiencies on campaign promises... that would not make the breakfast pastry a viable candidate for replacement though.

[Name removed]

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[hfojvt]

9. the article talks about Moore running as a Democrat

so he might Kennedy Obama, but not Nader him. Although Nader was my first thought when I saw the headline too.

[GreenStormCloud]

4. Moore as the Democratic Presidential Candidate would be a Rethug's Wet Dream. N/T

[Richardo]

5. What a terrible, ill-conceived idea. Jesus.

Thanks, but we don't need demogogues from the right OR the left

[Taverner]

6. Look, I love Mike but the GOP thinks of him the way we think of Palin

And he's just as divisive

[change_notfinetuning]

12. Yeah, but the GOP thinks of Obama the way we think of Palin, too. Divisive?

Absolutely! Michael Moore is divisive, but through no fault of his own.

Buyable by anti-democratic, corporate interests? Not a snowball's chance in hell!

Electable? Unfortunately, not a snowball's chance in hell!

Winning or losing is not the point. For Moore to even be considered a serious candidate would require a well-informed, thinking electorate that pays at least some attention to what's important in the grand scheme of things, rather than to things like the Super Bowl, American Idol, etc., exclusively. By the same token, for a Palin presidency to be considered a joke by the majority would require the same thing. Too bad that America's civics/political IQ is closer to one digit than to three.

[cali]

8. wow. that's some industrial strength delusion there.

[sarge43]

10. Right. Progressives always do well in presidential elections.

By some remote possibility Moore did win, then what? Most likely the Repugs would have a majority in at least one house of Congress and they would be so impressed by Moore's progressive cred that they'd roll over for him.

Forgot to add the sarcasm icon :sarcasm:

[change_notfinetuning]

13. You mean like they rolled over for Obama, that "socialist"? When the party in

power has a huge majority in both houses of Congress and the White House, why does it have to wait for the other to roll over? Oh, wait. Only one party does that. The other represents the people who got them there.

[sarge43]

25. No, that's not what I meant.

"why does it have to wait for the other to roll over?"

I wasn't talking about parties, only about split control of congress.

According to the owner's manual, Article I, sec 7, the concurrence of both houses of congress is required before POTUS gets his mitts on a bill, ergo one house can kill any bill.

And if the right wing can get away with calling President Obama a socialist, imagine what they'd call Moore.

Finally, if a practiced political professional like President Obama has trouble getting things accomplished, how likely is Moore who has never held a public office let alone played with the big boys.

[change_notfinetuning]

26. I agree regarding Moore. I'm not delusional. I am pissed off that this

administration has squandered the best opportunity this generation will ever see to get things back on the right track. It's not too late, necessarily, but it won't be long before the window of opportunity will close and this correction will be insurmountable.

They need to grow a pair and learn how to negotiate and/or lead by "persuasion". It's been done before. It's not like they have to invent it - only decide to deliver on the promises they made.

Listen to the people as much as lobbyists.
Be transparent. Open government sausage making plants for public inspection.
Give individuals and small businesses a fair chance in the arena of commerce.
Stop rewarding government gridlockers.

It's things like this where Obama is losing the approval of those who put him there.

[-wulf-]

11. I was told

That the same would happen if Obama ran for president.

[Bumblebee]

14. Who is coming up with these ideas? Palin versus Moore? God help us!

[Xenotime]

21. He would totally take her down.

[Biker13]

15. Horrible Idea...

The Pubs would be jumping with joy.

[brussell51]

16. Mr. Obama has massive personal charisma

Mr. Moore doesn't. Point is that only 10% of the voters really pay close attention to ideas. The others collect a vague concept and mostly vote on charisma. I'm just sayin.

[Blue Meany]

17. I guess a film-maker would be as good as an actor, but I

think it would be a disaster. It would be great to have a working-class populist, with some education and administrative experience, on the ballot. But gadflies, social commentators, and "revolutionaries" all have an important role in bringing social change, but they are usually lousy at governing. To take two very different examples, look at the "movement conservatives" that now haunt our political system and the Sandanistas in Nicargua. Both are effective in the opposition but can't run a government very well.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

18. Moore versus Limbaugh... I'd love to see that campaign.

Man would it get UGLY. :popcorn:
I think Rush would edge out Moore though.

[Robb]

19. Throwing up Jesse Jackson as an example of how it would "work"

...skips the part about who won the elections in 1984 and 1988.

[karynnj]

20. He would get Kucinich like numbers - if there were NO incumbent

if that.

[change_notfinetuning]

23. Moore vs. Palin! Let's see what we Americans are made of. Let's see just how

smart or stupid we are. Sadly, I fear the answer.

[Orsino]

24. He does not meet the Constitutional weight requirement.

Seriously, his campaign would be immediately nerfed by the MSM. After about three of their fat jokes, it would all be over.

[Uzybone]

30. LOL.