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This letter contains (almost) no criticisms of how the Democrats have brought this day of reckoning upon themselves. That -- and where to go from here -- will be the subject of tomorrow's letter. 
Today, we have one job and one job only: Stop the return of the bigger criminal class, the Party of War, the people who (with a few Democratic enablers) manufactured the very mess we are in.
There is good news this morning: The final ABC/Washington Post poll shows that, among registered voters, people still say they prefer the Democrats over the Republicans by 5 percentage points. It's only when the pollsters ask "likely voters" who they want that the Republicans come out ahead by a few points.
So it's clear the majority of voters want the Dems, but the prediction is the Republicans will win because Dem voters are going to stay home.
So, our mission is simple: MAKE SURE NO ONE WE KNOW STAYS HOME TODAY. Here's what I am going to do right now and what I'm asking the millions of you reading this to join me in doing:
1. Email, call and/or text every non-Republican in your personal address book and remind them to vote Democratic today. If they (rightfully) complain that the Dems have been disappointing, tell them they're right, then ask them to watch this editorial by Rachel Maddow last night where she correctly lists the dozen or so things this Democratic congress did right -- the types of things we'll never see from the Republicans if they take over (equal pay for women act, taking student loans out of the greedy hands of the banks, funding for our first bullet trains, boosting veterans benefits after Bush refused to for 8 years, etc.).
2. Post a general reminder to vote (and who to vote for) on your facebook page and tweet it to your Twitter followers.
3. If you have the time, go down to a local candidate's HQ or the local Democratic Party office and offer to make calls or give people rides to the polls.
4. Think local. No matter where you are in America, there’s someone on the ballot today in your town who deserves your vote. Guaranteed. If you're in Wisconsin and you're pissed at Harry Reid for letting Joe Lieberman derail the public option on health care, don’t let that stop you from getting everyone you know to go vote for Russ Feingold. In Florida and furious at the way the Obama administration coddled Wall Street? All the more reason to call every single person you know in the Orlando area to go vote for Alan Grayson. In California and mad about the total Democratic failure on global warming? You can still change the world for the better by showing up with all your friends to vote for Prop 19 to legalize personal use of marijuana (and stop the record numbers of people we put in prison who don't belong there).
5. Explain to anyone who's given up and doesn't want to vote today that Obama was handed a terrible mess that he didn't create. He may now understand he's moved too slow and compromised too much on the big stuff that needed to get done (after all, Goldman Sachs was his #1 private contributor in the 2008 election). But in the last couple months he's made some good moves -- booting some generals, dumping economic advisor/wrecker Larry Summers, and hiring new people like consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren. Things are very bad right now. But they can get MUCH worse. War with Iran? A genuine worldwide Second Great Depression? A Republican Congress will spend every second trying to make it happen.
6. Finally, we must let the Democratic politicians know that our vote comes with one big condition: If they do not straighten up, get a spine and do what we expect of them, we will find alternate candidates to run against them in 2012. And we mean it. Go vote today, but also sign this petition that I'll deliver to every elected Democrat -- the "I'm Voting Democratic But I Will Work to Defeat You Next Time If You Don't Do Your Job" petition, aka "The Democrats on Probation" petition. Let's publicly put them on notice that we'll give them just two more years to start doing the things we elected them to do. If they move one more inch to the "center" or to the right, they will never get our vote again. And we mean business.
Bill Maher said, "We have a center-right party and a crazy party. Over the last 30 years, the Democrats have moved to the right, and the Republicans have moved into a mental hospital." That about sums it up. But he also said, "Sure, I'm mad at the Democrats. I'm also mad at my cell phone compnay. But I don't throw away my cell phone cause I'm mad and then rub dog shit on my teeth." We all know this isn't the best situation to be in. So consider this one last reason to get out and vote:
There are good people the country has never heard of who are running today all across America, most of them for the first time. Somewhere in this great land right now, the woman who will cast the deciding vote in the Senate for single payer in 2016 is running for mayor of your city in her first big race. Somewhere else, the person who will become the first female president of the United States in 2020 is running for the state house for the first time. Their careers will be over and that future will never be if you don’t show up today. Go to theballot.org, find out who’s great and running where you live, and then show up to vote for them. You may help light the spark that will save our sorry ass somewhere down the road. Don't just hold your nose today as you go in the booth -- go ignite a future revolution. The only thing that makes the corporate honchos happier than paying no taxes is making sure as few people vote as possible. They think they've bought this election.
Go prove them wrong.
Yours,
Michael Moore
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194 Comments so far
Show AllI think you have it figured out perfectly.
Here's a more accurate interpretation of the cell phone analogy.
The democrat phone has the unique feature that lets you dial any set of numbers and always get the same answer because they only have one line available. The republican phone can only dial the number of the one line available.
Both "services" depend on raising your rates and mandatary phone purchases.
As far as to why Bill Maher wants to rub dog shit on his teeth when he's angry, I can only guess that it is a form of charades which means something like "Son of a Bitch! I'm so full of myself that it's coming out of my mouth!"
"Stop the return of...the Party of War..."
Who does Michael Moore think is running the two wars(or three or six, depending on what you call a war) going on right now?
Exactly. I made a mental note of the fact that on DAY 4 of the Obama presidency bombs were being dropped from drones on Pakistan; innocent people were killed. Obama, the DEMOCRAT, became an official a war criminal on that day.
"Stop the return of...the Party of War..."
Are they aware of just how ridiculous they sound? The party of war? Since Obama, drones have been killing far more innocents than when Bush was Pres.
This (and other articles like it) goes to show us: These pundits are just as lost as the rest of us. They just have more at stake, you know, socially. They want to stay in the in crowd, not be sent to the pariah ward like the one they tried to send Nader to. They're playing it safe. I wouldn't doubt if many of them were secretly voting Grenn. But they'll blame us when the rabid Rs are in the majority.
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!
Now maybe the voters will start to seriously rebel.
I'm curious about you fellow commenter's thoughts on Ron Paul. Everyone seems to be against our current Coke and Pepsi politics and seem to be looking for a different answer but nobody mentions Ron Paul. He's against the war, against our current huge and corrupt federal government, for more power for the people, against large government spending, against the federal reserve. Seems to have a lot of the right ideas to me. I'd like to read some of your pros and cons. Thanks.
Ron Paul is for laissez-faire capitalism. The Earth has had enough of that, thank you. Sure, he's for ending wars, a very good thing, but he's also for blind corporate power flat out contradicting the former. He's nuts.
Ron Paul is passionate about ending the wars.
If he were President he would have ended the wars immediately.
That power lies within a President.
Bush could have done it.
Obama could have done it.
Ron Paul's vehemence against our foreign meddling shows that he does not buy into the corporate control of America.
His stance on illegal immigration shows it also, since illegal immigration is corporate driven for the purpose of wage suppression.
He is also against Big Government.
Since governments have become nothing but control centers to do corporations bidding, big government is a bad thing.
How many elected officials have anti-corporate ideals?
I would say Paul Wellstone (deceased)
Dennis Kucinich, maybe but he caves in lately.
Ron Paul is the most principled, least corrupt politician we have.
The Green Party produces principled candidates, but they don't get elected.
It's all about the corporations now.
Left vs. Right
Democratic vs. Republican
Liberal vs. Conservative
Those are all just side shows-- corporate sponsored distractions.
Amurkan, do you have any facts or examples to back your statements about Paul?
Michael Moore like so many others still adheres to the belief that the voting process is functioning well and all that it takes is yet 'another chance', or 'more time' to repair things.
Unfortunately too many people cling to the beliefs that give them comfort, the same beliefs they grew up with or believed were sacrosanct and beyond reproach, a heightened illusion of safety, warmth, of things working out for the better in the end.
Unfortunately the clinging of such beliefs paralyses any further advancement including the idea of abandoning their beliefs and moving to something else, a paradigm change which will bring about real change, not the perpetuation of what has come before it in varied shapes or forms.
People are afraid to admit such things, that their beliefs are mistaken, that they need to move on for if they admit they were then that may let in a massive amount of other realisations of truth, truths they'd rather not face because it shows just how horrible things really are and have always been.
But it's better to be alive with both eyes open knowing reality and to change things for the better rather than exist in a make-believe world of fantasies, of prayers & hopes & pixie dust just awaiting to anoint whatever particular flavour of saviour that is current in the media.
Please don't vote at all. You still have a choice not to participate in a farce.
By all means feel free to vote in your local community level areas merely for organisational needs but even that can often be breeding ground for lower level corruption, greed and ego mania so beware.
Voting for the worst of two evils is completely illogical, especially if it guarantees more harm. You would no more 'punish' the lesser of the evils than deprive the overall malevolence of one less bullet with which to shoot you with.
The sooner people come to realisations the better but unfortunately many people are simply too ensconced in their own make-believe worlds of illusions of safety that sadly they need much more dramatic events until they'll grudgingly come out of their stupor.
But there's a whole new life awaiting you on the other side of realisation with better people who have grander visions of life and for humanity that's not mired down in the mindless trivialities and pursuits and continual existence of the monetary system, politics, greed, and selfish accumulation of possessions, of a better planet for all people & creatures that is not only sustainable but would lead to a much better life for you and everyone else to come.
You can either aspire to all that above or give temporary comfort to yourself by voting.
The first step in moving on is admitting the very things you currently support are making your life atrocious. So stop supporting them.
"Please don't vote at all. You still have a choice not to participate in a farce."
No; do vote! Just vote Green, Progressive, Peace and Freedom, or similar. Why not, and what else is there? If they are not on the ballot, write them in. You can even just write in the word "Progressive". Pick a homeless person or a junkie up on the way to the polls, and see if you can get them qualified to vote. Look at everyone at the polls and take notes if someone is trying to block others' votes. Look at the rich fucks and try to guess which wing of the corporate party they are voting for. Take some photos just in case they become useful. Yes, it is a farce, but do something creative and constructive. Yes, we are losing, but do something creative and constructive.
We have been losing:
since 1980
since FDR signed the New Deal and corporations immediately wanted it revoked
since the robber baron era
since the founders designed the system for a small capitalist ruling class
... and on ... and on ... and on
You can still protest, petition, organize, unionize, light some sparklers ...
Have fun; we all know it will be short lived (as may all of us).
Voting takes about an hour altogether. I drove to my polling place and voted. An older lady gave me a reward sticker and said,"Wear this proudly," as if to say, 'well, that's your civic duty for another two years. Leave it to 'them' to make your decisions for you.'
These days our "civic duty" requires hundreds of times that required hour of commitment to do what is necessary. To quote our Declaration of Independence: "......And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." Now that's civic duty!
Unlike many of you who want to tar Michael Moore with the same brush you tar the real evil-doers with, because you're so justifiably enraged by the mess the Fascist States of America are in, I don't have a real problem with his appeal.
Perhaps I've learned just a little about how Mr Moore's sort of rabble-rousing/encouragement/incitement is actually in the right direction. He does realize, you know, what anyone with a central nervous system in America should realize: WHAT THE FUCK IS IT WITH THIS COMPLETELY CORRUPT 'TWO-PARTY' AKA ONE-GODDAMN-PARTY-WITH-COSMETIC-DIFFERENCES SYSTEM?????
What in the name of all the gods is WRONG with Americans? Why can't they grow the fuck up and get some goddamn plurality going? Why don't they have the courage of all these puerile bumper stickers that say crap like 'Power of Pride'. Why do they so relentlessly fly the flag in their fore-closed-upon front yards, more than all other countries on Earth combined, when with most of their actions, with their third-world education, they spend most of their lives shitting on it???
Michael Moore recognizes that these asshole Democrats are mostly as bad as the Republicans. But he's right, goddamnit: If the republicans and these 'Tea-Party imbeciles run Congress and/or Senate, things will go to hell in a handbasket way faster.
Of course, I've actually advocated letting that happen. Let the place go down, since it's going down anyway. Maybe something can rise from the ashes faster the faster it's allowed to be destroyed.
Because here's the deal: Since this bullshit farce called an 'election' will go ahead anyway, as too many zombies are deluded with the idea that they still live in a democracy, then there is a marginal chance that the Democrats represent an infinitesimally lesser evil. And if that gives people a toehold on shifting some paradigms, then, well, shit, okay.
Exactly what the fuck else are you gonna do?
And finally it is about the paradigms. Which candidate supports reducing America's criminal military by two-thirds, and its budget by even more, so that money can be spent getting the country out of the near-permanent hell it is in on EDUCATION and HEALTHCARE, to say nothing of infrastructure, employment and Christ only knows what else?
NONE.
Which candidate supports the capping of election spending so that every candidate of at least SIX DIFFERENT PARTIES can spend a whopping total of fifteen hundred bucks, in an America in which this criminal media is required by law to provide unlimited airtime and print, and airlines are reqiured to provide flights, for free? (yeah, I know, dream on.)
NONE.
Which candidate is prepared to go on record supporting Wikileaks and demanding that the people and the government focus on the criminality and immorality of America's actions, instead of attacking the messenger?
NONE.
Which candidate is prepared to admit that their country is an unrepentant asshole, mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, masturbating, bullying zit-covered teenager with a psychotic chip on his shoulder, and NOT THE GREATEST PLACE IN THE WORLD? THAT AMERICAN 'EXCEPTIONALISM' IS A PATHETIC JOKE?
NONE.
Which candidate is prepared to address the hyper-monetarism, hyper-masculinism, hyper-militarism and fantastically hypocritical Jesus-fetish of this insane preoccupation with 'Christianity' and America being a 'Christian' country?
And that the 'Christian' right is a gang of terrorist thugs out to turn the joint into a theocracy?
NONE.
Obviously one could go on. And here comes 2012. and the paradigms are going to shift whether Democrats, Republicans and men or women like it or not.
So ultimately, it doesn't matter who the fuck is running the U.S. It's all about stuff WAY MORE FUNDAMENTAL than Democrats and Republicans, and until America can get with the program of what's coming in the New Age of Aquarius, it is game over anyway.
The way America is defined, organized and run, and brutalizes its way to wortld domnination is a big part of the problem.
Meanwhile, there's this nasty little exercise in 'democracy' to contend with...
Thoreau for President
Who needs secret ballots?
Cast your whole vote.
Stripped naked, facing friends.
With no fig leaves of protection.
Needed for one more resurrection...
Election eve's bitter champagne,
Celebrates winning our own Campaign...
(Way to Go Giants!)
I fully support alternating electoral drubbings for both parties and am reveling in this huge national rebuke of the Democrats. It's just a shame that both of these entirely corrupt and evil parties can't both be trampled into the dirt on the same day.
That'd take a genuine third party, and here in fascist jingo-land we know that's not ever on offer.
That being the case: DROP DEAD DEMOCRATS, F**K OFF REPUBLICANS. Two heads of the same fascist coin.
Bite me.
Hey Obediant Servant,
I know that you find it hard to believe me but I will explain myself further. I voted for a Democrat today who will probably lose to a Wall Street Club for Growth piece of shit masquerading as a human being. I voted for this guy because he came to my defense as I was about to be screwed out of benefits without which I would probably die. I will stand by this man forever. Without this guy to vote for, I have no reason to vote for a Democrat. Cutting Social Security will confirm for me that I made the right choice. I am really done with the Democrats, even though you won't believe me. If my senator pulls off an unlikely upset, I will not abandon him because he did not abandon me. He is the last Democrat in my eyes. The rest of them can go to hell and stay there.
I want to believe you, Eagle Bill, and I hope yesterday's harsh prediction is wrong.
I apologize for lowering the boom on you. I was so aggravated by Moore's Battered Spouse Mode that I reacted to your comment as if Moore himself had written it.
Que sera sera; I'm sure you'll do the right thing next time around.
If you guys are as sick as hearing all of this corporate spin, check out FRee Speech TV's live broadcast: http://www.livestream.com/freespeechtv
It;s seriously the only news program I can handle tonight -- intelligent conversation, great viewpoints, real debates, and huge names like Amy Goodman, Laura Flanders, and Thom Hartmann.
Here's FSTV's latest clip on Obama, the bail out of banks, health care reform, economic meltdown, and voter manipulation: http://www.livestream.com/freespeechtv/video?clipId=flv_8462949d-8ee0-439c-90fd-8588192c5890
Thanks Lisa. I think CD usually hosts some of it here too from time to time. It is a bit crowded though or Firefox may not work well there?
Today is the day for more of the same.
Now that's another one we can all agree on. Now to break that news without getting myself slammed and pounded elsewhere. I have to confess. Elsewhere on the net, it's been fun watching the partisan party goers making up nasty predictions about "Tea Party" takeover and fallaciously predicting that Sarah Palin would win in 2012 from there. Attempts to get them to figure out that nothing would change gets us framed as Republicans. Myself being one of them, I view that as a "red badge" of courage for standing up to their foolish "pragmatism". The only thing that could differ is Obama using his power to veto but he might just botch that one too and his party loyalists will try to justify it as "using his power wisely".
Now its gettin down to the nitty gritty.
I think the world is lookin for a peace party.
and Folks are gettin crazy and the War Goes on and on and on and on........
It is the Dems War now and we deserved to lose.
Oh, MM. Well. I hesitate to write this. But....
He is a devout member of a church with continuing abuses and coverups of its children - and still he believes.
What more can i say?
The deal is done. After (8) years of a Republican administration, greed and corruption pushed the American economy to the brink. Surely it wasn't Govenment that put us in that bind under a Republican administration. We were losing jobs at over 700,000 per quarter and the private sector was running the show. Paulson handed over 700 billion for the financial system to get by on. Mr. Obama followed the lead while trying to make a few changes. Now, after two years, the American public has thrown the bums out because Government hasn't fixed what the Private sector broke, with the remedy being, get the government out of the private sectors way so jobs can be created. I want to see this. The public has the mind of a twelve year old and its never going to grow up. There will be some difficult days ahead. Let the good times roll!!!
"Sure, I'm mad at the Democrats. I'm also mad at my cell phone compnay. But I don't throw away my cell phone cause I'm mad and then rub dog shit on my teeth."
Both Moore and Maher are down on their knees begging the Demoks to rule them like kings, and specify what the society they live in will look like. Wages have stagnated for forty years while the cost of healthcare, education, transportation and entertainment have quadrupled. Hilarious!
I don't have a cell phone, and many others don't either. So Maher's argument, and Moore's reference, ring hollow. They are designed to get people to turn away from their own principled common sense, and give energy freely to the parasites - the Demoks!
Moore and Maher both of course NEED the Demoks as those controlling the media channels Moore/Maher depend on are DEEPLY in bed/love with the Demoks.
We on the far left voted Green party today on each and every ballot line. Congratulations to Green voters for supporting your very own interests in the election!
Common sense to all!
"This letter contains (almost) no criticisms of how the Democrats have brought this day of reckoning upon themselves. That -- and where to go from here -- will be the subject of tomorrow's letter."
Okay, today is Nov 3, where is "tomorrow's letter"?
Progressive101,
Thank you.
I'm tired of Moore shilling for the Dem Party.
Yesterday,
I voted for an Independent and Greens for the first time.
No more Dem duopoly for me!
For the record I don't and didn't vote dem. But I also don't go around hoping the republicans win so things get even worse. That was my only point. I am not a democrat, but I can see how if you disagree with progressives you must be a Dem or Rep. And I am neither. I don't think politics are a team sport.