Michael Moore's Open Letter To God

Sunday, August 31st, 2008An Open Letter to God, from Michael Moore
Dear God,
The other night, the Rev. James Dobson's ministry asked all believers to pray for a storm on Thursday night so that the Obama acceptance speech outdoors in Denver would have to be canceled.
I see that You have answered Rev. Dobson's prayers -- except the storm You have sent to earth is not over Denver, but on its way to New Orleans! In fact, You have scheduled it to hit Louisiana at exactly the moment that George W. Bush is to deliver his speech at the Republican National Convention.
Now, heavenly Father, we all know You have a great sense of humor and impeccable timing. To send a hurricane on the third anniversary of the Katrina disaster AND right at the beginning of the Republican Convention was, at first blush, a stroke of divine irony. I don't blame You, I know You're angry that the Republicans tried to blame YOU for Katrina by calling it an "Act of God" -- when the truth was that the hurricane itself caused few casualties in New Orleans. Over a thousand people died because of the mistakes and neglect caused by humans, not You.
Some of us tried to help after Katrina hit, while Bush ate cake with McCain and twiddled his thumbs. I closed my office in New York and sent my entire staff down to New Orleans to help. I asked people on my website to contribute to the relief effort I organized -- and I ended up sending over two million dollars in donations, food, water, and supplies (collected from thousands of fans) to New Orleans while Bush's FEMA ice trucks were still driving around Maine three weeks later.
But this past Thursday night, the Washington Post reported that the Republicans had begun making plans to possibly postpone the convention. The AP had reported that there were no shelters set up in New Orleans for this storm, and that the levee repairs have not been adequate. In other words, as the great Ronald Reagan would say, "There you go again!"
So the last thing John McCain and the Republicans needed was to have a split-screen on TVs across America: one side with Bush and McCain partying in St. Paul, and on the other side of the screen, live footage of their Republican administration screwing up once again while New Orleans drowns.
So, yes, You have scared the Jesus, Mary and Joseph out of them, and more than a few million of your followers tip their hats to You.
But now it appears that You haven't been having just a little fun with Bush & Co. It appears that Hurricane Gustav is truly heading to New Orleans and the Gulf coast. We hear You, O Lord, loud and clear, just as we did when Rev. Falwell said You made 9/11 happen because of all those gays and abortions. We beseech You, O Merciful One, not to punish us again as Pat Robertson said You did by giving us Katrina because of America's "wholesale slaughter of unborn children." His sentiments were echoed by other Republicans in 2005.
So this is my plea to you: Don't do this to Louisiana again. The Republicans got your message. They are scrambling and doing the best they can to get planes, trains and buses to New Orleans so that everyone can get out. They haven't sent the entire Louisiana National Guard to Iraq this time -- they are already patrolling the city streets. And, in a nod to I don't know what, Bush's head of FEMA has named a man to help manage the federal government's response. His name is W. Michael Moore. I kid you not, heavenly Father. They have sent a man with both my name AND W's to help save the Gulf Coast.
So please God, let the storm die out at sea. It's done enough damage already. If you do this one favor for me, I promise not to invoke your name again. I'll leave that to the followers of Rev. Dobson and to those gathering this week in St. Paul.
Your faithful servant and former seminarian,
Michael MooreMMFlint@aol.comMichaelMoore.com
P.S. To all of God's fellow children who are reading this, the city of New Orleans has not yet recovered from Katrina. Please click here for a list of things you can do to help our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast. And, if you do live along the Gulf Coast, please take all necessary safety precautions immediately.

Mudflats: What Is McCain Thinking?

This is an insightful, well-written piece about Gov. Sarah Palin from an Alaskan blogger. Since I have never been to Alaska - and we can safely assume that most of the pundits really don't have first-hand knowledge about her career there - I am grateful for this piece. It helps to put all of the information out there into perspective.

This Weekend In San Diego: Little Italy Invitational Stickball Tournament

This is a three-day event happening August 30th through September 1st. The San Diego team will compete against teams from Florida, New Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico. Free admission.
For more information, click the post title or here.

Sarah Palin? Really??

If you care about the environment, this woman cannot be the Vice-President of the United States. She is the anti-Gore. To see what I'm talking about, click here. Scroll down to Vote Match to topic 18. She strongly opposes replacing coal and oil with alternatives. Click on that hyperlink and you get an explanation of what "strongly opposes" means. Wow.

Catch your breath. Then go through the page, issue by issue, and lose it all over again. There is so much I can say about her regarding civil rights and ANWR and caribou. But you can check it out for yourself. Unbelievable!

45th Anniversary Of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Speech

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer Delivers

This was an awesome speech that you probably missed - an inspirational and exhilarating speech that attacks McCain on policy. Take a few moments to watch this keynote-quality delivery.

First Amendment Center Releases Frightening Poll Statistics

Here are just a few of the results that made me cringe/scream:

25% said “the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees"

55% believe that the Constitution establishes a Christian nation

Just 56% believe that the freedom to worship as one chooses extends to all religious groups

These are scary numbers. How can anyone believe that the Constitution establishes a Christian nation?? How is it even possible to come remotely close to that conclusion? The First Amendment clearly states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...". How does one go from that to "The United States of America is a Christian nation"?? And the 44% who believe there are some religions that shouldn't be practiced-what the hell is that about? Actually, that one has piqued my curiosity. Which religions are threatening? Do we need to start giving Quakers a hard time? Rough up a few hundred Humanists? Make sure the Buddhists know their place? Or, are they only concerned about the ones requiring specific forms of headgear?

I am a huge fan of the Constitution. It is a beautifully written document that deserves to be read and respected. It's also just beautiful to look at. Its so pretty! Well, maybe not the original-that's kinda yellow and faded-but my copy is nice. It's a pocket-sized handbook with the American flag on the front. If you don't have a copy, get one here. And remember, Constitution Day is September 17th!

You have heard of Constitution Day, right?

Oh, Lord.

CBS:Cancer Cluster In PA Region

8/27/08: Random Bushism Of The Day

"Our country puts $1 billion a year up to help feed the hungry. And we're by far the most generous nation in the world when it comes to that, and I'm proud to report that. This isn't a contest of who's the most generous. I'm just telling you as an aside. We're generous. We shouldn't be bragging about it. But we are. We're very generous." -George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2003

Morning Joe And Rachel Maddow Convention Clip

He seems so frustrated. It is a permanent expression of exhaustion on his face when Rachel speaks. Or maybe confusion. The cleverly phrased, multi-syllabic words she shoots at him at bullet speed must drive him crazy. You know what I think? I think he is taking mental notes. He really wants to show her up but, alas, he just doesn't have the word power or likability. So, he takes it all in, whines about airtime, and when the cameras are off he practices. Practices his heart out. Maybe he skims a thesaurus. Maybe he practices not looking at her so he doesn't get distracted by that smile of self-confidence she has when she is up against him.
I'm just waiting for actual steam to escape from his ears. Now that would be must-see-TV!

9 Year Old Pitcher Asked To Stop Playing Because He Is Too Good

So, now we are punishing children for working hard and excelling?

8/25/08: Random Bushism Of The Day

"Arbolist … Look up the word. I don't know, maybe I made it up. Anyway, it's an arbo-tree-ist, somebody who knows about trees." -George W. Bush, as quoted in USA Today, Aug. 21, 2001

Get Your War On Video: The Surge

Quotes From President Eisenhower

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."

"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."

"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."

"Only Americans can hurt America."

"Controlled, universal disarmament is the imperative of our time. The demand for it by the hundreds of millions whose chief concern is the long future of themselves and their children will, I hope, become so universal and so insistent that no man, no government anywhere, can withstand it."

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."

"How far can you go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without?"

"I deplore the need or the use of troops anywhere to get American citizens to obey the orders of constituted courts."

"I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it."

"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... Is freedom."

"In most communities it is illegal to cry "fire" in a crowded assembly. Should it not be considered serious international misconduct to manufacture a general war scare in an effort to achieve local political aims?"

"Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage. "

"This world of ours... Must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect."

"Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace."

"When people speak to you about a preventive war, you tell them to go and fight it. After my experience, I have come to hate war."

He warned us. Too bad we didn't listen.

McCain's Mansions

8/21/08: Random Bushisms Of The Day

"I'm going to spend a lot of time on Social Security. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking on the issue. I guess, it's the Mother in me." --George W. Bush, Washington D.C., April 14, 2005

"We look forward to analyzing and working with legislation that will make -- it would hope -- put a free press's mind at ease that you're not being denied information you shouldn't see." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 14, 2005

R.I.P. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Rachel Maddow Gets Her Own Show

I totally dig Rachel Maddow. Everybody does. She is smarter than most of the political pundits out there in TVLand. She is confident enough to go head-to-head with Pat Buchanan, Joe Scarborough, and anybody else who insists on saying stupid crap. I just signed up for her Air America show a few weeks ago after listening to short clips for a few months. I am interested in finding out if she will continue with that. I hope so but no matter what, this is great news and I wish her much success.

8/19/08: Random Bushism Of The Day

"I said I was looking for a book to read, Laura said you ought to try Camus. I also read three Shakespeares. ... I've got a eck-a-lec-tic reading list." --George W. Bush, interview with NBC's Brian Williams, New Orleans, La., Aug. 29, 2006 (Watch video clip)

Democratic Unity 90210

The relationship between this years top two Democratic primary candidates is more drama prone then Dylan and Brenda, more wishy-washy than Zack and Kelly, and has the potential to be either as destructive to the Dems chance at the White House as Angel and Buffy were to Sunnydale, or as awe-inspiring and emotionally uplifting as Cliff and Claire were to middle America. Will they? Won't they? In a week the world will know. Only, like all good dramas, the question will not go away, but simply shift to become: Should they have? Shouldn't they have?