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An Open Letter to Caroline Kennedy (head of the Obama VP search team) from Michael Moore
Dear Caroline,
We've never met, so I hope you don't find this letter too presumptuous or inappropriate. As its contents involve the public's business, I am sending this to you via the public on the Internet. I knew your brother John. He was a great guy, and I know he would've had a ball during this thrilling and historic election year. We all miss him dearly.
Barack Obama selected you to head up his search for a vice presidential candidate. It appears we may be just days (hours?) away from learning who that choice will be.
The media is reporting that Senator Obama has narrowed his alternatives to three men: Joe Biden, Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine. They're all decent fellows, but they are far from the core of what the Obama campaign has been about: Change. Real change. Out with the old. And don't invade countries that pose no threat to us.
Senators Biden and Bayh voted for that invasion and that war, the war Barack ran against, the war Barack reminded us was the big difference between him and Senator Clinton because she voted for the war and he spoke out against it while running for Senate (a brave and bold thing to do back in 2002).
For Obama to place either of these senators on the ticket would be a huge blow to the millions that chose him in the primaries over Hillary. He will undercut one of the strongest advantages he has over the Hundred-Year War senator, Mr. McCain. By anointing a VP who did what McCain did in throwing us into this war, Mr. Obama will lose the moral high ground in the debates.
As for Governor Kaine of Virginia, his big problem is, well, Obama's big problem -- who is he? The toughest thing Barack has had to overcome -- and it will continue to be his biggest obstacle -- is that too many of the voters simply don't know him well enough to vote for him. The fact that Obama is new to the scene is both one of his most attractive qualities AND his biggest drawback. Too many Americans, who on the surface seem to like Barack Obama, just don't feel comfortable voting for someone who hasn't been on the national scene very long. It's a comfort level thing, and it may be just what keeps Obama from winning in November ("I'd rather vote for the devil I know than the devil I don't know").
What Obama needs is a vice presidential candidate who is NOT a professional politician, but someone who is well-known and beloved by people across the political spectrum; someone who, like Obama, spoke out against the war; someone who has a good and generous heart, who will be cheered by the rest of the world; someone whom we've known and loved and admired all our lives and who has dedicated her life to public service and to the greater good for all.
That person, Caroline, is you.
I cannot think of a more winning ticket than one that reads: "OBAMA-KENNEDY."
Caroline, I know that nominating yourself is the furthest idea from your mind and not consistent with who you are, but there would be some poetic justice to such an action. Just think, eight years after the last head of a vice presidential search team looked far and wide for a VP -- and then picked himself (a move topped only by his hubris to then lead the country to near ruin while in office) -- along comes Caroline Kennedy to return the favor with far different results, a vice president who helps restore America to its goodness and greatness.
Caroline, you are one of the most beloved and respected women in this country, and you have been so admired throughout your life. You chose a life outside of politics, to work for charities and schools, to write and lecture, to raise a wonderful family. But you did not choose to lead a private life. You have traveled the world and met with its leaders, giving you much experience on the world stage, a stage you have been on since you were a little girl.
The nation has, remarkably (considering our fascination with celebrity), left you alone and let you live your life in peace. (It's like, long ago, we all collectively agreed that, with her father tragically gone, a man who died because he wanted to serve his country, we would look out for her, we would wish for her to be happy and well, and we would have her back. But we would let her be.)
Now, I am breaking this unwritten code and asking you to come forward and help us in our hour of need. So many families are hurting, losing their homes, going bankrupt with health care bills, seeing their public schools in shambles and living with this war without end. This is a historic year for women, from Hillary's candidacy to the numerous women running for the House and Senate. This is the year that a woman should be on the Democratic ticket. This is the year that both names on that ticket should be people OUTSIDE the party machine. This is the year millions of independents and, yes, millions of Republicans are looking for something new and fresh and bold (and you are the Kennedy Republicans would vote for!).
This is the moment, Caroline. Seize it! And Barack, if you're reading this, you probably know that she is far too humble and decent to nominate herself. So step up and surprise us again. Step up and be different than every politician we have witnessed in our lifetime. Keep the passion burning amongst the young people and others who have been energized by your unexpected, unpredicted, against-all-odds candidacy that has ignited and inspired a nation. Do it for all those reasons. Make Caroline Kennedy your VP. "Obama-Kennedy." Wow, does that sound so cool.
Caroline, thanks for letting me intrude on your life. How wonderful it will be to have a vice president who will respect the Constitution, who will support (instead of control) her president, who will never let her staff out a CIA agent, and who will never tell her country that she is "currently residing in an undisclosed location."
Say it one more time: "OBAMA-KENNEDY." A move like that might send a message to the country that the Democrats would actually like to win an election for once.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
[Get Michael Moore's brand new book, 'Mike's Election Guide.']
112 Comments so far
Show AllPerhaps if Moore donated a few more dollars to peace and social justice groups, we might be able to have more direct impact (imagine if groups could actually hire organizing staff!)
goosh let moore have his fun, it would have been more fun if he suggested ross perot.
bernice August 22nd, 2008 4:12 am
To all those who would prefer that comments be listed in order of first received. You can make this change yourselves at the top of the comments section where it says "Comments Viewing Options."
-Sweet!
Thanks bernice I don't think that option was available at first.
To all those who would prefer that comments be listed in order of first received.
You can make this change yourselves at the top of the comments section where it says "Comments Viewing Options."
CD deletes intentional inflammatory posts? In the hope of exploding a Republican head or two, here goes:
George W. Bush is a war criminal who deserves to be tried as such.
And Moore can't be serious, can he? His is one of the dumbest columns I've read in years. Caroline Kennedy? Why not pick the nice lady who lives on the corner and makes cookies for all the neighborhood kids?
Moore has made better points and more sense in the past. Caroline Kennedy is a fine person, but if she read this she could only assume that he's nuts.
As for Feingold as many here suggest, I will not vote for any more Zionists, period, regardless of their "liberal" credentials as long as they continue to run our foreign policy to Israel's benefit and our detriment.
Sorry.
Feingold isn't a Zionist, not that he's running for anything but another term in the senate. If you're just a knee-jerk anti-semite, that's one thing, but not all Jews are Zionists, as everyone knows except knee-jerk anti-semitic jerkwads.
I don't think the american people will vote for an Obama - Kennedy ticket. The Kennedy mystique belongs to the past and Obama is about the future. As much as I love the idea it wouldn't fly with the younger up and coming crop of voters who don't understand what that period of time was like.
“Love is an attempt at penetrating another being, but it can only succeed if the surrender is mutual.” _Octavio Paz
Umm, why is everybody freaking out over the new format for comments? I also don't like the newest to oldest order, but hopefully they will fix that. Other than that, I don't see how they are stifling free speech or censoring people who don't like Obama (actually, that really cracked me up - what persecuted progressives you Obama-haters all are!! Nice use of the victimhood complex...). It is really normal for websites like this to have comment limitations, reserve the right to remove offensive or inappropriate posts and for all users to have the ability to rate and flag other comments. To take a line from Andy Botwin, Jesus says relax!
I will also throw in that I like the fact that the comments are tucked neatly away so you can read them if you choose. It's more aesthetic for me than anything, it just makes the page look cleaner...
Bakunin has it right. What's with Moore's infatuation with celebrities? Caroline Kennedy as VP just because she's a Kennedy and might bring back some of the phony Camelot mythography? But maybe it's appropriate since Obama is phony as hell, too. What has happened to Moore? Maybe next he'll be stumping for a cabinet post for Brittany. Or Michael Jackson or Tiger Woods as ambassador to Dubai, since they've both got "interests" there already. Has Moore been watching too much TMZ lately?
Does sound like a free speech zone. I have been blasting Democrats and Obama for months for his support of the war and the FISA capitulation. I suspect many Democratic party supporters objected to harsh critical posts like mine. Hence a new censorship policy that stifles dissent.
Common Dreams new policy: We may delete any comment that contains:
-Profanity, slander, personal attacks or abusive, hateful, offensive, or racist language or material.
-Spam or links to spam.
-Intentionally inflammatory rhetoric.
-Links to inappropriate or unrelated content.
-Identical, repetitive comments posted on multiple articles.
-Excessively long URLs
-Graphics
-Personal information, such as addresses, phone numbers, emails, etc.
-Blatantly promotional content.
-More than 250 words.
AND we may permanently ban a commenter who ignores the policy.
DID YOU READ THAT- PERMANENTLY BAN!!!!!! I wonder how long I'll last?
-tailcap
blogs permanently ban users all the time for flagrant violation of teh rulz. no biggie. they just sign up again with a new user name.
lather, rinse, repeat.
ad nauseam.
B I R D _ B R A I N,
Perhaps you have a static IP address?
__ If so they can and will enforce that
__ "permanent" aspect, until one changes one's ISP
Moore is politically overrated. He should make his movies his mouthpiece until he has something relevant to offer. I have nothing against her at all but Caroline for VP is ridiculous. Perhaps I missed the humor.
Respectfully, I suggest Moore has a point. The name-cache of "Kennedy" has a strong and compelling ring to it. Moreover Caroline is comparatively clean of fingerprints when placed next to politicos like Biden et. al.
Realistically however, it appears to me that Caroline doesn't crave any more of the spotlight and intrusion of American politics and I can't blame her.
Ullern:
Thanks for your ‘two bits and one bite’. I appreciate your reply. You have some good points regarding the article. I’m always reluctant to be hard on Michael as some of the unjustified smears he has taken over the years still ring in my ears as well. I felt his movies accomplished a lot. Adding Caroline Kennedy to the ticket does seem a losing proposition, I wonder if he was really serious about that.
I received the announcement of the New CD comment plan in my e-mail site, it seems I am a ‘real’ Common Dreamer.
Sir Thomas More August 21st, 2008 10:35 am writes, "I agree with Andy totally.
Reading newest to oldest gives you no time line, no developing comments string. Having to add another stroke to access the string is annoying, but its the latest comment first thast is bad policy and bad format.
-MEE THREE!!! I hate this new format- newest to oldest! In time we will adapt. Why the change and new CONTROLS?
On my computer when I post something I get a blank screen and have to open a new browser page to get back in. Sucks.
-tailcap
Oh yea about Moore: Pretending Obama is anti war is like saying the ice cream man is against ice cream.
And don't forget, folks, to get Michael Moore's brand new book; promotion courtesy of COMMONDREAMS. We donate to CD so that corporations and the rich can have a voice and receive free publicity.
COMMONDREAMS is now using us to subsidize corporations and the wealthy.
Not only is this new 'free speech zone' an outrage, but now posts can be 'flagged,' censored. And we can't see the idiots flagging comments so we can't respond to the flagging and defend against censorship. That's fascism in form of cowardice.
My very first comment was flagged. I wrote the Kennedys and the Bushes were two criminal families, what's wrong with this statement? CommonDreams has become a joke.
how are the kennedy's a criminal family? i can understand including the bushes, but the kennedy's?
for peace and sustainability
Intentionally inflammatory rhetoric- I resent being called an idiot. I referred to the "merger of BB&T and the University of Charleston" (I may be in trouble here for naming names, I don't remember all the rules) in my local paper, responding to a story about a new masters business program being sponsored by the bank. It was deleted and completely took the anger out of my letter. I think they called it libel or some other scary word.
If anyone finds a better news/blog site please let me know! I've really enjoyed reading the posts here. I feel like I'm not alone in the Twilight Zone.
*** I WON'T BE POSTING ON THIS SITE AGAIN. ***
COMMONDREAMS HAS SAID WE ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO ITS SITE, AND MUST BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
IF OTHERS ON HERE HAD ANY SELF-RESPECT AND DIGNITY, THEY'D DO THE SAME.
CD only publishers articles from the mainstream corporate media, and now it's telling us that these corporate voices are respectable, not ours - THE PUBLIC'S!
More of the same corporate control.
COMMONDREAMS SHOULD BECOME A PRIVATE COMPANY IF ALL IT CARES ABOUT IS MAKING MONEY.
AND THOSE THAT DISLIKE THESE COMMENTS SHOULD BUY A DAMN NEWSPAPER INSTEAD OF BEING SO CHEAP THEY'D RATHER READ THEM ON CD, AND THEN WHINGE ABOUT PEOPLE POSTING COMMENTS.
staying_sane_in--are you really J Crumb in not very convincing incognito?
To the editors and techies at CD--
I do not mind having to make one extra mouse click to view or post a comment.
I like being able to respond to a specific comment right below the comment instead of having to scroll down maybe 50-100 messages to get to where I can post.
I am more than willing to put up with psy-ops blather from Ray McGovern and Scott Ritter, the insipid piddlings of Johann Hari or George (citizen's arayesst!) Monbiot in order to be able to read the likes of Noam Chomsky, Michael Parenti, Juan Cole, and Howard Zinn.
Maybe Siouxrose has some explanation rooted in planetary and other astral body positionings for the sudden outburst of hormonal and/or Luddite rage. Folks, give yourself time to learn the new system and time for the web technical personnel to work out whatever technical glitches are still there.
Poet
I don't understand why you accuse McGovern and Ritter of "psy-ops blather". Counter-psy-ops more likely.
McGovern and Ritter are among the few who provide well-researched, independent analyzes that have not been filtered through the pro-right MSM's rose-colored glasses.
WTF--
Ray McGovern worked all of his adult life for the CIA. More than that he was (for Poppy Bush) the guy who delivered the daily presidential briefing during his career. His deploring of regime change, torture, and lying by public officials is like watching Tony Soprano or Don Corrleone speaking out agisnt crime.
The CIA funded the research and development of the torture techniques he deplores, were the chief facilitators of regime change in Guatamala, Chili, the Congo, Iran, and other places too numerous to completely list. They are also the architects of fequent lies of omission and disinformation.
If Ray and his psy-ops cell at VIPS felt any remorse over their own culpability as operatives in such a criminal organization as the CIA it has escaped my notice. That makes his pious pronouncements the utterings of a hypocrite.
Poet
I wondered the same thing. Not two people I'd pick to dump on.
Opeluboy-
Scott Ritter has been trying to whip up war hysteria over a possible invasion of Iran for well over a year. It would not surprise me in the least if Scott was some kind of agent provacateur, they way J.Edgar Hoover's Klu Klux Klown and Black Panther infiltrators were.
Their purpose was not only to report back to their superiors on what these groups were doing, it was to try to provoke them to commmit outrageous conduct that would validate whatever repressive measures weere already contemplated. I'm just saying.
Poet
I'm sure the CD administrators relish such ingratiating comments.
I'm pleased to find that they are the exception and not the rule, as many other commenters have noted.
The option of putting the comments behind a closed door should have been the beginning and end of the accommodation to the pearl-clutching readers who get the fan-tods from free expression.
But I dare not say more, because I think I just heard an ominous "click" when I put down my foot...
… cluster bombs on CD ?
It seems a lot of us feel we're on the way out now, 'staying sane in' mind that way.
Go and see at:
http://www.commondreams.org/home-page-new-cms-announcement
C U there.
aaaaaaaaaa
Bad Idea. Caroline Kennedy lacks political experience. I wish he would choose Kucinich or Feingold but I think of the three "front-runners", Biden is the best choice.
Got it in one!
Bad Idea. Caroline Kennedy lacks political experience. I wish he would choose Kucinich or Feingold but I think of the three "front-runners", Biden is the best choice.
Word Up !
Up Word !!
Good Morning All !!!
I am new to the discussion but so far I am liking it, I get information on “Political Perspectives” from a lot of different sites and I am constantly weeding out those sites, where the content of the “Commenter’s” are full of “Rants and Raves”. Our Country has never been Great! There are no “GOOD OLD DAYS” and our “DEMOCRACY” has always been a constantly evolving and most times devolving process. I am a direct/indirect descendant of eight historical figures written up in the history books, who fought in the American Revolutionary War and were instrumental in defining and framing the basis of our Constitution and our “First Sitting Congress”. The “Rights” that we enjoy and are “Guaranteed” by that “Aforesaid Document” need our “Constant Attention” and “Through our History Have Been Fought For by the Likes of You and Me” > “Plain Ordinary Citizens”, “That When We See Wrong and Injustices” “We Do Something About It !!!. In “Our Past” sometimes that was “With Guns” but “These Days”; there are “No Better Teachings” than the “Words and Actions” of “Dr Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi !!! LASTING PEACE THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE !!!!
Word Up !
Up Word !!
Good Morning All !!!
I am new to the discussion but so far I am liking it, I get information on “Political Perspectives” from a lot of different sites and I am constantly weeding out those sites, where the content of the “Commenter’s” are full of “Rants and Raves”. Our Country has never been Great! There are no “GOOD OLD DAYS” and our “DEMOCRACY” has always been a constantly evolving and most times devolving process. I am a direct/indirect descendant of eight historical figures written up in the history books, who fought in the American Revolutionary War and were instrumental in defining and framing the basis of our Constitution and our “First Sitting Congress”. The “Rights” that we enjoy and are “Guaranteed” by that “Aforesaid Document” need our “Constant Attention” and “Through our History Have Been Fought For by the Likes of You and Me” > “Plain Ordinary Citizens”, “That When We See Wrong and Injustices” “We Do Something About It !!!. In “Our Past” sometimes that was “With Guns” but “These Days”; there are “No Better Teachings” than the “Words and Actions” of “Dr Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi !!! LASTING PEACE THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE !!!!
Michael Moore’s article did generate a flurry of comments. I was surprised there were quite a few that actually commented on the content of the article. The majority, it seemed, were about Michael Moore. Out of 60 comments only Annabelle showed any insight into Michael Moore and the article. I find folks forget he is of a different generation and culture and similar to Garrison Keller in that in the ‘favorite denizen’ real comment contributors world such men and their contributions past and present are of little value or importance. Ullern, Jacob Freeze et al, sees themselves with their sharp, off-key original statements such as: ‘anyone who doesn't like comments doesn't have to read them-- it's that simple’; ‘ersatz royalism “Camelot’ hype;’ ‘making the scroll-bar safe for Elbert Milquetoast from Petaluma’, as having been voided from their shock and awe venue ‘of pressuring the criticized to a change of mind, all the while as they whine and plead for a place where ‘us actual users’ can debate and pressure to influence CD's new style and policies. Fellows, I feel what you lack is the ‘right stuff’ like Elbert acquired from participating all those years in the Butter and Eggs annual parades. Jacob aren’t you sorry you missed them?
Well, sorry about that irrelevance then, paythebill. I did look for another place to comment on the new commenting, but none were to be found until 'z' posted the link to Craig Browns letter, where comments on the new comments-regime can be made:
http://www.commondreams.org/home-page-new-cms-announcement
I still don't know how to access that page except through this comment-file (well, with the address bookmarked, now I do). I'm mystified as to how 'z' found that page in here at all.
*
Ok, a comment on Michael Moore's article: I quite like his stuff, always check it out, albeit a little heavy-handed at times. But that's fine, in a culture of pussyfooting around serious matters.
This idea/article, though, sounded like a jokular thought coming out as trying to be clever. Plus, with the issue of Obama "experienced" or not already loudly raised, adding Caroline Kennedy to the ticket seems a losing proposition.
That's my two bits, and one bite.
Try the upper right corner of the home page where it says "Trouble Commenting? We've changed our comment registration and policy. Click here for details. "
I'd love to see Caroline on the ticket but it would be something of a leap of faith.
sorry about the double-post....
Well here's my two cents about the new comments. I really enjoy reading the comments--often times more than the original article. I enjoy hearing everyone's perspective on things--it gives the experience of coming to this site a multidimensional experience instead of a one-dimensional experience of reading only the posted articles. I definitely think the comments should be from oldest to newest--you get to hear a conversation develop and take place that way. As for hiding the comments, I prefer the previous way of just having them visible right below the article---a statement which said that everyone's perspective was valuable and worthwhile of attention--not just the perspective of the writer of the article.
The old system exposed the web site to spider crawlers (like google) who search web sites for keywords. The change will prevent net nanny software from crawling the site and banning it in corporate settings. Anyone reading from a cubical (like me) will thank the site owners for the new system. One NSFW (not safe for work) post can ban a website for people like me.
I think that the change has more to do with google ranking and net nanny software than it does with content.
Ah yes, but by preventing google from indexing the comments, they are unsearchable. Therefore, they lose some of the value as an information resource.
Thank you for adding a reasonable and sensible response to the usual paranoid, self righteous crap.
Well here's my two cents about the new comments. I really enjoy reading the comments--often times more than the original article. I enjoy hearing everyone's perspective on things--it gives the experience of coming to this site a multidimensional experience instead of a one-dimensional experience of reading only the posted articles. I definitely think the comments should be from oldest to newest--you get to hear a conversation develop and take place that way. As for hiding the comments, I prefer the previous way of just having them visible right below the article---a statement which said that everyone's perspective was valuable and worthwhile of attention--not just the perspective of the writer of the article.
I agree with Andy totally.
Reading newest to oldest gives you no time line, no developing comments string.
Having to add another stroke to access the string is annoying, but its the latest comment first thast is bad policy and bad format.
Nominating Caroline Kennedy for VP sounds like a "hail mary" move to me by a candidate that is sinking in the polls against a party that has given us the worst eight years in recent history. Maybe Obama should have considered his decision to tack to the right and the abandonment his base more carefully before he did it.
Lobo Gris
What is a Hail Mary move?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_mary_pass
What really matters? Does Obama have the courage to support and carry out a social program that addresses the needs of poor and oppressed people? I don't see him speaking out for universal health care, protecting workers' rights, building housing for the homless and financial assistance for those who have recently forclosed on their homes. Historically, it is a precedent setting occasion to have an African-American running for the thiefdom in DC. But Baby Bush has had on his cabinet such stalwarts like Rice, Gonzales and Powell (all people of color). So, I think many have deluded themselves into thinking that a Black president is a sign of social progress. Does anyone get the feeling Barak take his base for granted?
Why doesn't Michael Moore recommend a progressive VP candidate like Russ Feingold, or some other truly pro-peace and justice candidate?
Oh yeah, Moore supported General Wesley Clark in the 2004 election.
I guess I am not being pragmatic because I won't support a candidate that will continue the war / occupation. I guess being pro-peace is not pragmatic by definition.
Let's all vote for the same type of corporate sponsored candidate election after election, but expect a different result this time. Really, Obama will be different, I swear.
Of course, Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney are irrelevant because they are proposing actual change of policies that would actually start limiting corporate power. We don't want that because we can live with the war, the poverty, the injustice that the corporate elite impose upon the masses, because their profit is an unalienable right under our government.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Nothing more to see here, go about doing your business as usual.
Ah, hope.....that's all I really needed.
Commoner
I would like to see CINDY SHEEHAN chosen as Vice President. Why is it that the American people are so enamoured with the WEALTHY ELITE GOVERNING US ?. Cindy has had her child sacrificed to the Greed of the War Machine, she is from the working class, as are most Americans.Her husband,herself and Casey's brothers and sisters live the experience that we all share, of making our paychecks last to the end of each month. Providing the necessities of feeding and clothing our families, nursing our children thru sickness and providing a safe and loving home environment.Making sure that the money lasts, putting savings away for a rainy day, saving for our childrens education and hoping that they feel loved and protected.Emotionally having a strong marriage and believing that our elected representatives have the welfare of the American People as the basis of the way they vote.That all Americans if they are asked to make the Greatest Contribution as Citizens > TO SEND OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS INTO HARMS WAY that it is being asked on forthright intelligence with COMPLETE HONESTY AND INTEGRITY and the reasons given are the TRUTH. SO I CAN THINK OF NO ONE > MORE QUALiFIED
It is a puzzle to me how Michael Moore paints Obama as if he is antiwar. I think it is abundantly clear Obama has been in favor of war if you look at his record.
I just don't understand how you can be against a war and vote to fund it. Why not filibuster against it if you're really against the war. At least vote against it! Why did Obama vote to fund a war he opposes?
Obama has made it clear he intends to leave many tens of thousands of troops in Iraq fighting and dying for a lie. Why does Michael Moore make a big deal about an anti-war speech made 6 yrs ago? Where is his anti-war speech now? All he wants to do is pull some troops out of Iraq and send them to Afghanistan. How does that make him an anti-war candidate? This letter is disingenuous and dishonest!
A brilliant idea. Caroline is politically/globally savvy and is an admired and beloved figure. She has been tempered by tragedies and conducts herself with dignity, kindness, compassion and humor, and she is very intelligent. The Swift Boaters would be drowned in their own slimey rivers if they or others like them began throwing mud.
For women, right, center and left, Caroline Kennedy has been through personal wars of sorrow and loss, yet has continued to accomplish professionally and has mothered well and seems to have a sound, long-term marriage.
Also, not only does Caroline Kennedy have intimate and sophisticated knowledge of lethal treacheries that are so part of the culture of Washington D.C., but she also carries a legacy of huge issues, both national and global, that those she loved the most—father, uncle, brother, and her still old lion of a Senator, Uncle Teddy, grappled with and then boldly headed in the right direction.
Frankly, if she would consider running for Vice President if she were asked, and it was an Obama-Kennedy ticket, and with all the kinds of active campaign support immediately added by her generation's Kennedy cousins with accomplishments and drawing power of their own, I think many in the Republican Party would have apoplexy.
Brilliant, Michael. My gut instincts are resonating with yours! But it would be an "awe"ful lot to ask of this woman given all that has gone before. She would have to be very, very brave. ... But yeah, what a ticket!
Whoa ! I go away for a day and I get locked out and Caroline Kennedy is the Veep pick. It looks like Obama's numbers are not adding up. He is getting creamed in the polls. I can see the Hillaryistas and Obama haters celebrating. All Heil McCain.
Obama's numbers are down because he's behaving exactly like cowards Kerry and Gore did in 2000 and 2004. He's being wishy-washy, vague, ineffective and weak like every Democrat in his responses. Also his flip-flopping on drilling didn't help matters either.
Plus Americans like one-liners, they only read headlines, their brains are too small for more. Look at McCain's answer to that 'evil' question, he simply said he would "defeat it". Obama went on and on, his answer was more intelligent but it failed miserably.
No, tett-tatti, Moore hasn't learned anything from Pelosi or Reid. He's never met a democrat he didn't fall all over himself sucking-up to. You'd think for such a insightful filmmaker, he'd be able to focus on the truth that there isn't any meaningful difference between the republicans or democrats. None.
PS- Caroline Kennedy is no sleaze-bag. She's a decent human being. That leaves her out. However, they might try their old VP choice, Joe Lieberman. (Moore liked him, too)
Nader, people. Nader.
exactly, except that I'd rather see the word 'filmmaker' associated with real artists like Alfred Hitchcock or Orson Welles, not a documentary producer. Moore is naive, like every Democrat. He thinks Obama has the working people's best interest at heart. Moore supported war criminal Clark for president in 2004, the same Clark who illegally invaded Bosnia for lies in the 90s.
Well, the Administrators have spoken. But it's always struck me as fatuous when commenters complain that nasty, ooky comments "drive away readers". Anyone who doesn't like comments doesn't have to read them-- it's that simple. But if CD prefers to lock us in the basement, so to speak, that's their call. It isn't like web sites are a democracy. Can I say that? We'll find out.
And posting in newest-to-oldest order is perverse; it's like riding a train on a seat facing backwards; it makes some of us threadsick. At least give the user an option!
Last but not least: I'm not voting for Obama anyway, but the notion of picking Caroline Kennedy for veep is appallingly manipulative at best. This probably seems like a good thing to "pragmatic" folks who subscribe to a degraded, amoral by-any-means-necessary approach. I won't dignify it with the term "philosophy".
My admiration for JFK has been increased, or restored, due to some recent reading. But I've always abhorred the ersatz royalism and "Camelot" hype; judging from the comments, this puts me in the minority. When Caroline emerged from the wings to support Obama, there was a flurry of gag-inducing adulation-- one writer bubbled how wonderful it was that JFK's "last BLOOD heir" had anointed Obama as her father's worthy successor.
Talk about ooky.
I agree that the posting order newest first order is hard to follow. I prefer the old chronological order so you can follow how the dialog has developed.
But I do like the feature where you can reply to a specific comment.
O joy to the world! - CommonDreams has become Politically Correct (PC).
No more dancing unauthorized, unruly, spontaneous steps in the hallways - only formally correct steps may be taken, well inside the ballroom.
O CommonDreams, thanks so much for establishing a "Free Speech Zone".
Hey Little Brother....
I was inspired by your post to use my signature line to say a pre-emptive goodbye to you and all my other favorite denizens of CD. Isn't it sad when a commenter is banned and disappears, without even the briefest farewell?
So in recognition of the new, infinitely more restrictive atmosphere, here's my new signature:
Goodbye?
I like it.
John J. Coghlan
The name Obama turns into a shining star with the name Kennedy next to it.
An Obama-Kennedy team would bring about such a landslide victory that it would be impossible for the Republicans to fix the election again.
I'm with Moore on this one! With his Friedmanite advisors and all the moves to the right (which, honestly, may be a campaign ploy- I hope) I have no compelling reason to support Obama other than knowing the Supreme Court could be made more balanced again by the next president.
I think Ms. Kennedy would be a fantastic running mate, and a great President if it happened that she was thrust into that role. Her first couple of speeches would easily dispel any "inexperienced" comments as the lying bs they would be.
Any of the three names being tossed out right now are just a guarantee of another losing ticket. There is too much at stake this year!
McCain and Obama should both choose Lieberman.
How come nobody is complaining about this new idiotic comment policy?
Go here,
http://www.commondreams.org/home-page-new-cms-announcement
and tell Common Dreams not to hide the comments.
as far as comment policy goes, my aunt likes the site but tires of the comments, yet she feels compelled to finish what she starts. if you want to read them, you can. if you want to comment, you can. what's wrong with that?
however, i would prefer oldest comments first.
caroline kennedy is not vice presidential material. those who hated hillary because she was a politician now hate obama for that very reason. how did obama fool you for so long?
i think joe biden or general clark would make good vice presidents.
for peace and sustainability
Just checking to see if html style-tags work.
Nope. No italics and no links either for us peons of the internet.
I guess it's only fair. None of us nobodies could have thought up a totally lame joke like Caroline Kennedy for VP. So let's leave political discussion on the internet to the big players like Michael Moore, and I hope this comment isn't reported for violating the new "guidelines," which are vague enough to mean anything anybody wants them to mean.
Maybe this comment is already too "provocative," and it would probably be even more p-r-o-v-o-c-a-t-i-v-e if I could have filled it up with i-t-a-l-i-c-s!
Hey! I noticed a link somewhere down the page! Let's give it a try! And what could be more harmless and acceptable than linking to the front page of Obama's website?
But maybe that link violates the site guidelines by offending the anti-Obama people who post here!
So just to be fair, here's another link to Ralph Nader's website, where the policy proposals actually make sense, and there's a deeply committed and thoughtful candidate behind them, instead of a sociopathic con-man from nowhere.
No offense intended to the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States (according to non-binding expressions of preference by super-delegates)!
(continued)
With the new guidelines, the "politeness-tyranny" - demanding that all criticism is so meek, bland and polite that it doesn't offend the criticized, thereby voiding the main point of criticizing, that of pressuring the criticized to a change of mind through sharp and true words - has captured CD. Now anyone in despair writing about their various mental inflammations stand a formal risk of being deleted and banned - no warning or appeal available - for being "inflammatory".
Such "off-key" comments were often the most interesting and telling on CD. They made me reflect on their background, from the safe position in front of the screen. I became aware of many viewpoints that way. Whether I liked them or not, were surprised, depressed or baffled by them, it was useful to be informed of their existence. From the safe position in front of the screen.
A common breathing-space has closed. Instead of deep breaths, do shallow breathing, and we may still pass the arbitrary verdict by those on high.
A limit of 250 words also isn't conducive to developing full-bodied arguments (which others also may skim as quickly as they want). By this limit, CD seems to have succumbed to the demand for shortened attention-spans - not even allowing those who want it to stretch ours.
Hey Craig, pls don't delete this comment, OK? - Hang in there, and stay somewhat tolerant of some rant.
Is there any place on CommonDreams where us actual users may debate and possibly influence CD's new style and policies?
Or is it all top-down, take it or leave it, Bush-style "You're either with us or against us"? (Oops, is that last "offensive" to the demi-gods at CD? I sure hope not. But how would I know before being banned?)
I thought the CD community of commenters were doing pretty well, and that self-regulating also worked pretty well, with the alert posters drawing the line on other posters and a workable consensus emerging. After all, anyone can simply refrain from reading comments, hidden or not, so the argument for the "Show all"-feature doesn't really wash.
(to be continued – the word-limitation to 250 words kicked in...)
Since the new policy was introduced for the benefit of non-commenting readers, according to the explanatory email from CD, any objections by the rest of us noisy rabble are more or less irrelevant.
I actually sympathize with the problems that timid and conventional readers may have had when they were trying to avoid seeing the formerly ever-visible comments.
What if Elbert Milquetoast from Petaluma accidentally scrolled down past the bottom of an article, and saw some horribly leftist comment?
Accidental scrolling! It can get you in big trouble!
Now Elbert will never have to worry about over-scrolling, and all those horrible italics and bold-face flames have also been eliminated.
Making the scroll-bar safe for Elbert Milquetoast...
It's the new Common Dreams!
When I read this letter from Michael Moore this morning, the idea of Caroline Kennedy as VP was like a breath of fresh air. And I wondered if the swift boaters would dare attack her. I don't think she'd want to be VP at this point in time, if ever, so I'm just hoping Obama picks someone with good qualifications, and one that isn't a nose-holder (what I'd have to do to vote for him - or her).
The whole idea is utterly brainless. Caroline Kennedy is first & foremost a celebrity. That's no reason for her to be VP. (How about President Oprah?)
What do we know of her political acumen & judgement? Well, she was dumb enough to think that Obama was a great candidate, but he actually turns out to be a neocon, scarcely to the left of McCain. There's no rightwing constituency he won't suck up to, & no rightwing position he'll seriously oppose. His idea of "change" is changing the battlefield from Iraq to Afghanistan. // So altogether, this doesn't say too much for Caroline's judgement.
Haven't we had enough of this BS of family nepotism? You know, Daddy Bush, then Junior. Bill Clinton, then very nearly Hillary. So Moore thinks we should continue in this pattern. How idiotic.
Caroline Kennedy is no celebrity. She's an attorney and has written several books on First Amendment issues. We know where she stands.
"No more blood for oil"
You mean, in other words, that she's a celebrity AND an attorney.
If she believes in your cute little slogan there ("No more blood for oil"), then she'd be very out of place on a ticket with Obama, who is running on a "Much more blood for oil" platform. That's what the War on Terror is all about.
Do not underestimate Mike Moore...he sits on the cutting edge and always disrupts the comfort zone of many. However... he has a sixth sense about things and down the road a few blocks, or miles, or years it invariably turns out that he was right on the money. Not too many give him credit for whatever issues he tackled, especially when it turns out he was right all along. So, after you have kicked this most recent offering around the block a few times and laughed your head off, at least be prepared for a taste of humble pie at a later date, and see who will be laughing then.
Micheal I hear you got a new film in the works with a possible title: "Brother can you spare a dime?" Stick to what you know, because this has got to be the stupidest idea Ive ever heard of.
sorry about multiple posts
...peace...
Michael, dude, I liked Fahrenheit 911, Roger and Me, and loved Sicko, but this scribble above is revolting. You want Caroline to be assassination insaurance for Obama? Haven't enough Kennedys died for even you to understand that the security state establishment will kill yet again if any one of them gets into to high an office?
This makes about as much sense as David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon-Eisenhower, his wife, being the Republican ticket.
Poet
Go back to making clever movies Michael, and stop pulling our chainies.
Oldhippy writes: "what Repuglican would take a cheep shot at a Kennedy?"
The same ones that know none of your brain cells made it alive through the Reagan revolution.
revbenh This guy, Mr. Moore, is so smart he's got a headache. Shining, impressive, double-good suggestion and well said and respectful. Everyone on this planet will be impressed if Caroline Kennedy goes for it. It's certainly as bold as a black man having a real shot at the Presidency of the United States of America and it's clearly as exciting and proper. No way is it a cinch McCain will lose this critical contest, but if Barack Obama doesn't prevail, our planet's life will have no choice but to hold it's nose and suffer even more nightmarish years. Please Caroline, for God"s sake, please.
Thank you, Michael Moore, for your open letter to Caroline. My husband and i have been hoping for an Obama-Kennedy ticket, for exactly the reasons you have so eloquently enumerated, since the day the two first campaigned together. Our fingers are crossed!
Slainte...........
Why not one of Sam Giancanna's grandchildren as Attorney General???
WAKE UP, MICHAEL MOORE!
Obama supports the war in Iraq, telling us *after* the primaries that, if elected, he will remain in Iraq at the discretion of the commanders in the field.
He wants to escalate the Afghan war.
He's indicated his willingness to invade Pakistan and/or Iran; and with nuclear weapons if necessary.
*And* he may keep Robert Gates on as Secretary of Defense. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4232070.ece
Some peace candidate!
In 2004, Michal Moore suggesed that Oprah Winfrey run for president. Why not Henry Fonda? Sure he's dead, but he would make us feel sooooooooooooooooo good!
My point being -- in 1984, Reagan voters who were left-of-center were asked why they voted for Reagan. "Reagan is right-of-center," they were reminded, "why did you vote for him?" Know what the most common answer was? "Yes, I know. But he makes me feel good!"
Michael Moore buys into the mythology of America as "a beacon of hope to the world." Hey, Michael, ask the MILLIONS of people the US has bombed what they think of the US as a beacon of hope.
So let's all "feel good" and vote for Obama. Sure he lied about being a peace candidate ... voted for FISA ... has more corporate money behind him than Hillary did and McCain does. But let's forget all that (and much more) and skip off to Fantasyland with Michal and Caroline.
Nader '08.
Neil Diamond NEVER wrote a song about Dick Cheney.
This very minute, on the radio, John McCain has said, "I'm not questioning Barack Obama's patriotism. I'm questioning his judgment."
Well, I would like to be the first to challenge both McCain's patriotism and his judgment.
With this low road candidate wishing to succeed his Siamese Twin fruitcake predecessor, one can see all the more reason for Obama to choose the serene and sane Caroline Kennedy as his running mate.
I have to agree with Mr. Freeze, as much as I admire MM and the Kennedys. Why ape Cheney's malcreancy -- isn't it a form of flattery?