Dear Mr. Kerry: On September 11, the History Channel aired a documentary based on the 9/11 Commission report. Did you see it? Here, again, we saw a slightly stuttering Condoleezza Rice admit that the infamous Presidential Daily Briefing of August 6, 2001—when Mr. Bush was spending a month whacking brush on his ranch—was titled “Bin Laden Determined to Strike the… return to article
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Reader Comments (17)Page 1 of 1 pagesBush will win this “election” for one reason,you will never go broke betting on the stupidty of the american people.BUSH-CHENEY 4 MORE WARS.
Posted by Vernon Ollis on Sep 30, 2004 at 9:50 AM In addition to Mr. Ollis’ point, the majority of the media coverage that comes into American households, either through the morning and/or nightly news or local papers, has treated this Administration with kid gloves. Ms. Douglas hits the real issues that need to be debated and reported on, yet they are rarely, if ever, explored by the networks. One can argue that the lack of serious reporting on these issues that affect our daily lives, and where the Bush Administration has failed the common American, is the result of sell-out corporations that own the networks and want to stay in this Administration’s good graces. Kerry is losing to Bush because no one in the major news outlets will stand up to this Administration and tell it like it really is. The censorship in this country is appalling. Wait and see - the reporting on the debates will be focused on Kerry sweating or how they put the podiums a certain distance away from each other so that Bush came off looking as tall as Kerry, instead of really reporting that Bush could not articulate his plan for this country and Iraq because he doesn’t have one that makes any sense at all (or ignores reality) and that he (Cheney and their spin masters) have twisted everything Kerry has said.
Posted by K. Walsh on Sep 30, 2004 at 11:43 AM I agree. One very subtle or not so subtle image I have noticed is that Bush is wearing his sleeves rolled up in almost every picture of him doing his stump speech. He looks like a macho man, ready to get to work (Don’t I wish he would already?)
Kerry needs to deliver his strong message with his sleeves rolled up!. Get to work Senator Kerry!
Posted by Robin on Sep 30, 2004 at 12:20 PM Can Moore’s movie really be called a “documentary”? Generally speaking, that would imply it was impartial and balanced. As it is (i think this is pretty much undisputed) it only attempted to show a single side of the story, and even there in a rather biased fashion. Perhaps “propaganda” would be a better label for the film?
Posted by Curious on Sep 30, 2004 at 1:02 PM I hope bush wins, only to show how that he will go down in history as the worst president america has produced. If he wins I will loose my job. I am a federal fire fighter. He promises to contract my job out after 28 years of service, at twice the cost to the american tax payer. We have not recieved any money promised for radios, and other needed equipment. The money was to come from homeland security fund which he spent 1 trillion dollars on. I wish the new contract firemen luck in the next 911 attack.
Posted by v.p. on Sep 30, 2004 at 1:08 PM Bravo Susan J. Douglas:
Kerry is not the first Democrat to clutter-up his quest for election by arguing unimportant topics.
While I agree that the three, or perhaps I should include Fox, and say the four major TV networks do little to mask their bias: the GOP has done a much better job of presenting the issues that win votes.
Many people believe that this trend started with Reagan. His basic message was quite simple...."do you want four more years of the same".....and....."the budget deficit has to go”. The Carter message regarding the recession was completely ignored.
Nixon swept to a second term with a 70% majority. This in spite of the tremendous reporting of Watergate by the Washington Post and to a lesser degree the NY Times.
I fervently hope that the Kerry team receives a copy of the above article. Once again, well done Susan J. Douglas.
twain
Posted by twain on Sep 30, 2004 at 1:30 PM I am absolutley sick of this shit about saying that Kerry is going to be any better than Bush b/c he is not!! Kerry still wants corporate welfare! Kerry will not make health care available for all Americans! Kerry will not end the illegal war in Iraq!! Kerry supported the PATRIOT ACT!!!! Kerry will not end the large number of US jobs going overseas, for his corporate masters will never let him! Kerry showed his belief that reinstituting the draft might be a good idea!!! Kerry does not support a living wage for all Americans!!! Kerry’s platform hardly mentions education or womens rights!!!
Come on people I am a loyal reader of this site and I am sick of the bullshit! Why do so many of us follow Kerry blindly?? We know that Ralph Nader holds our beliefs and is the true candidate. We know that Ralph Nader is the anti-war candidate! We know that Ralph Nader is the womens rights candidate! We know that Ralph Nader is the peoples candidate!
I will never put my hope behind a corporate whore like Kerry and I wish that you dont either!
Whether Nader in 04 or Nader in 08 or Nader in 2012 or 2016 or 2020 he will eventually change this country and we must stand behind him!
Nader is the only chance we have left
Posted by Richard on Sep 30, 2004 at 9:33 PM kerry kicked bush’s ass in the debates tonight. CBS has kerry 44% bush 26%. ABC has kerry 45% and bush 36%. There is still hope to get rid of the most stupid president america has ever known.
Posted by v.p. on Sep 30, 2004 at 10:02 PM The debates last night showed Bush as the dimwit he truly is. He had that deer-in-headlights look about him an number of times. You could almost hear his little brain ticking off the instructions his handlers had programmed him with: harp on Kerry’s “flip flopping,” how you ARE the president and have experience, how you don’t change your mind.
Where Kerry tried to stay on the issues,Bush did nothing but intone the programmed mantras over and over, even when they had not the slightest connection to the question being addressed.
Although I agree with one of the earlier comments in this thread about not going broke betting against the stupidity of the American people, I still hope that beating so thorough as the one Kerry laid on Bush last night will not go unnoticed by the voters.
I’m glad that there are two more debates. My prediction is that by the time they’re done, Bush will be pulverized into a grease spot--at least in the arena where intelligence is exhibited. It remains to be seen what the spinmeisters are going to do with that.
Posted by TES on Oct 1, 2004 at 9:09 AM Definitions:
Republi-Con Artist (def.) Someone in a particular political party who believes they can fool all the people all of the time...especially if a cowed news media aids and abets the deception.
Neo-Con Artist (def.) A master-level Republi-Con Artist who seeks to “fool all the people all of the time” and pass it off as somehow helping the people...while at the same time the people are having their pockets and brains picked. (see Serial Spinner, Master Magician, K. Rove, Moriarty, entire list of Who’s Who in the Republicon Party).
Republi-cancer (def) an often fatal disease associated with falling for the the Republi-Con Artist and Neo-Con Artist spin. Causes Brain Rot, medically speaking. Only known cure is “The Truth.” WARNING: Republi-cancer is contagious and spreads rapidly if anti-toxin not administered immediately following exposure. Often leads to death and destruction. (see “Iran: Another Ground Zero?”, 9/11 report, Iraq War, AID’s funding, Medicare, Halliburton, Oil Cartels, Global Warming, etc., etc.) (Note: a comprehensive list is available in the 666-page addendum). WARNING: If you spot a Neo-Con Artist, cover your ears and immediately contact your local “Truth” officials so the Republi-cancer contagion can be contained. Quarantine protocols will be stringently observed. Do not, repeat, do not try to converse with a Neo-Con Artist or your head might spin completely off, resulting in possible severe brain trauma.
Republi-Con Jobs (def.) A position of authority and trust held by Republi-Con Artists and Neo-Con Artists who use their connections and influence for selfish gain to the detriment of the rest of society. (syn., Monopolism, Greed).
Neo-Con Jobs (def.) An especially virulent strain of Republi-Con Jobs (see “Scruples are for sissy, girlie men” by K. Rove).
Republi-Con Games (def.) Gaming the system for all it’s worth by Republi-Con Artists and Neo-Con Artists. (see “K. Rove: A Sordid History,” The Enron Con). (ant., Truth, Honesty, Integrity, Morality, Fairness, Christian.)
Posted by Paul Sorrells on Oct 2, 2004 at 6:30 AM Curious - September 30, 2004 at 2:02 PM
What should Moore have showed on the other side? Bush playing golf, laughing at inappropriate times, on vacation 44% of the time WHILE WE ARE AT WAR?
Wake up, America, the neocon criminals are running the country you love into the ground.
Posted by EQ on Oct 2, 2004 at 11:38 AM Good article, Susan Douglas. Maybe Mr. Kerry read your article, as he sure seemed to do just what you asked during the first debate.
And to Robert posted September 30th. Some of your information is valid, however, John Kerry refused corporate donations for his campain, leaving him free to go in not “owing” anyone. No he isn’t perfect, but compared to what we have the choice is clear. If you vote for Nader, you might stay home and save taxpayer money. He doesn’t stand a chance now or in near future. This election is too important to waste even one vote, and sadly a vote for Nader this time around is a wasted vote.
Posted by Bobby on Oct 3, 2004 at 2:42 AM I must agree that this election is much too imperitive to go around idealizing Ralph Nader. I admit that I did vote for him in 2000. I was young back then… but really, people. It is true, third party candidates really should have a chance getting exposure to the public, and a lot of the time, their platforms ring true to my heart. Especially in the last election. The Ralph Nader following was practically a cult! And one to be proud of. But then the “election” happened, and the tiniest inkling of guilt started to creep into my conscience. I almost couldn’t believe it when I saw him running again. I thought, here is truly a man with malice and contempt in his heart for the american people. Does he not see how important it is to get this lunatic OUT of the White House? Nader is practically Bush’s accomplice. It’s like they paid him off to run again. But surely, I thought, people will see how voting for their precious Nader will help harm the very cause they are trying to support!! But alas, no. They still think that voting for this guy is going to… well, really I don’t know WHAT the hell they think it’s going to do. Last election, I did it because I thought my vote wouldn’t matter (I’m from Texas) so I might as well help Nader meet his quota. But not this time. I’m voting for the man that speak English.
Posted by LoveThatSmell on Oct 3, 2004 at 9:34 AM To Curious
Curiosity is a good thing. A document is to present facts. Fahrenheit 911 has been scrutinized and the facts presented are upheld.
If you are still curious view the DVD’s “Uncovered” and “Outfoxed”.
Posted by bobby on Oct 3, 2004 at 8:44 PM To Richard: I agree with you in terms of people saying that Kerry will do a better job than Bush versus Nader is actually the only candidate that makes sense. Nader is the only that actually speaks for what I stand for. So why is everyone telling me that if I vote for Nader, that I would be really voting for Bush? that it’s a vote wasted? My husband said that it wouldn’t probably matter that I vote for Nader because we live in VA where it’s a Republican state. My conviction to not vote for Kerry-Edwards was reassured once again when I watched the veep debate on Tue night. How can I vote for Kerry-Edwards when they are against gay marriage? that is like saying that a white man/woman cannot marry a person of color, that the heterosexual species are better than gay people. When are they going to put in their heads that gay people are just like us heterosexual? Why is this even a discussion much more a debate?
To Curious: watch The End of Suburbia it’s out on DVD now. With all the films that’s out right now about this administration and the war in Iraq, this is the only one that really convinced me of the reason we invaded Iraq: OIL. Cheney’s energy adviser was interviewed in the film. After watching the veep debate on Tue night, I am now convinced who really is running the country. Definitely not Bush. Also watch Bush’s Brain. It’s about Karl Rove.
Posted by DFR on Oct 7, 2004 at 8:07 AM Let’s all do some lanscape work in November and remove the Bushes at the White House.
Posted by Cool Kid on Oct 7, 2004 at 12:03 PM Good one! Cool kid!
Nader was on recently along with three other 3rd party candidates and acquitted himself quite well but the Green Party candidate was even more attractive in terms of his reasoning than Ralph. They both conceded that Kerry was the better candidate than Bush!
We can’t afford the luxury of spending time or votes on 3rd party candidates this time around.
Posted by bushwhacker on Oct 12, 2004 at 2:20 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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