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by beingmichael from Houston

Last Post 460 days, 5 hours Ago


Michael Moore Vs. Bush?
May 10, 2007 | 4:36 PM
Category: News
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So get ready for another big Michael Moore controversy.

It turns out Moore and his film crew went to Cuba in March to film part of his new movie "Sicko."  He took some people who've had health problems they say are related to their work at ground zero after September 11, 2001.  (Interestingly, Tom Cruise just got a bit of publicity for teaching Scientology to ailing ground zero workers.)

Anyway, Moore didn't file the appropriate paperwork with the U.S. government (The Office of Foreign Access Control) allowing him to travel to Cuba.  They found out and they've launched a civil investigation.  The first step was sending Moore a letter asking him to justify is trip to Cuba.  They want to know why he went, how much he spent and who went with him among other things.

This is a civil investigation.  There's no threat Moore will go to jail so far as I can tell.  There could be a fine.  The AP reports the New York Yankees paid a $75,000 fine for doing business in Cuba in violation of our embargo.  ($75K could easily be considered a reasonable expense for a Michael Moore Production).

Okay so here's the punch line.  And keep in mind; I tend to lean only moderately right of Mr. Moore on most issues.  Michael Moore is playing up this whole thing as an attack against him from the Bush Administration. It's splashed all over their web site along with the announcement that "Sicko" is opening at the Cannes Film Festival later this month (U.S. release next month).  And there's every reason to believe that someone in the Moore camp leaked the news of the investigation early in today's news cycle.

I won't be so obvious as to ask my fellow bloggers if you think this is a publicity stunt.  It clearly is.  But I'm curious as to how critical you are of controversial news stories.  How closely do we consider the sources of these stories?  Do you tend to believe liberal or conservative news based on your own personal bias?  Or do you dig a little looking for some hint of objectivity?  And while we're at it  ... do you like Michael Moore Movies?

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Member Comments Total Comments: 16
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skeasling read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 6:34 PM

i dont listen to Moore. I dont watch his so called films. He is going to Cuba to get views about our government than it is all going to be negative...
PBMom read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 6:59 PM

I love Michael Moore movies, and I believe the administration has just been waiting to catch him doing something wrong. Pay back. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a "Michael Moore" watcher. I mean they listen to everyone's phone calls and monitor everyone's emails and blogging, so it isn't too far from a probable reality.

There is much truth to the health status of people who worked at the sites of the tragedies that day. There are many who have died as a result of pulmonary diseases they didn't have prior to 9/11. Major networks have covered this in their news specials. There is no secret there. Tom Cruise actually founded a whole organization to help these people detox not just teach them about scientiology although I'm sure that is involved there somewhere (I'm not saying I agree, just that it exists).

If someone in Michael Moore's camp leaked the news to the press, so what? In the world of internet and sites like The Smoking Gun, someone would have found out quite quickly and told the world themselves.

Don't you think what the Bush administration did in outing their CIA agent because her husband said the intelligence on Iraq was not true wasn't their attempt at manipulating the press? You better believe so.

Moore is not a Bushie and when you start rattling Bushie-groupie cages, there will be retaliation in some form (IRS audits, things like this, firings--as in US attorneys being fired). I saw the interview with the US attorney who was fired who said they asked him to do this and that and he said no because he was serving the Constituti
PBMom read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 7:00 PM

OOps.. got cut off...
...he was serving the Constitution not the Republican party's witch hunts, he was fired.

I'm counting down the days...

And please don't think I have a liberal agenda here. I vote both parties.

By the way, many Republicans viewed Fahrenheit 9/11 and even though they still liked their president back then, they thought some of the facts were eye opening. It crossed parties. Truth always does.
skeasling read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 7:05 PM

I believe that the volunteers did get exposed to things, as we were trying to get things cleaned and find people. NO ONE knew of all the toxins that could have been there, people being americans helped out they volunteered to try to save people. I am happy to see Tom is helping out. It would be great if the govt could shell out billions to help the people who worked on ground zero but truly with all other programs and already being over budget etc do you think we can afford to do it? I say cut the welfare program and we will have the extra funds, or how about the UN monies that would help coer some of the cost but in all reality it wont happen. The good thing you can always vote for someone who you think will help.. that is what is so great about America.
beingmichael read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 7:05 PM

PBMom

You hit on a lot of issues there. I thoroughly enjoy Moore movies and really liked Ferenheit.

But this really does seem like a publicity stunt?

And what about that trip to Cuba? I'd like to visit there too (as a tourist). So, let's change the rules. We can't just break them because we feel like it. Right?
PBMom read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 7:15 PM

It is possible that it was something that Michael Moore's assistant may have honestly overlooked. It was the moment of opportunity for the Bush administration, and Michael Moore told the press before anyone else did. Michael Moore doesn't seem like the guy who makes his own travel arrangements. Could they have done it on purpose? Sure. It's something though we will never know unless he admits to it. Some people argue Mel Gibson uses the media for publicity of his films, including The Passion of the Christ. The media bites. The media didn't have to bite at the Michael Moore story, but it's news. People use the media all the time.

I would very much like know what about this he had to go to Cuba for, but I look forward to seeing this.

Skeasling--Did you know the US turned down BILLIONS of dollars in aid to help the victims of Katrina? I want them to tell me why. They surely could have used it (and still do). I'd like to know how much they turned down in the efforts after 9/11. But our loving government denied there was ANY connection to the health problems of people who worked at the clean-up sites. Lots of good investigative reporting done to uncover the truth. This film kind of seems to be out of sync with what has already been reported, unless it is going to be something surprising that no one else has uncovered yet.
PBMom read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 7:26 PM

Skeasling:

I know it is a moot point because we are already there, but if the administration would have kept their eye on Osama and not gotten this country into a war of personal agenda, perhaps there WOULD have been money to help the people who helped in the clean-up in NY, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC.
chassan read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 9:56 PM

Beingmichael,

Michael Moore can call his work a documentary, but it's still nothing more that entertainment. He packages his material to make a buck. He's good at grabbing the spotlight.

I don't like his material because it typically hypes the information without providing a balanced, factual account.
yo_unbaleeva_bull read my blog
May 10, 2007 | 10:04 PM

After this reply I am going out to the garage and break all of my fingers. That way maybe I can restrain myself from what I would like to say to people who think like the two of you.

One thing I will say. I can spot a liberal a mile away. They are the ones with some kind of tag line like "oh I am not a liberal, I vote for both parties." My first thought after they say that is yea and some of your best friends are Republicans, riiiiight. If you are liberal or conservative, do not be afraid to say so. If you are a centrist, admit it and we will try to get you some Triple Anti-B and Band-Aids for those puncture wounds caused by the top of the fence.

Now, where did I put that hammer...
Raineswolf read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2007 | 10:17 PM

I don't like Mr. Moore's movies, and I dislike him even ......Moore? (lol)

I did not go see his gassy hot Ferenheit, I will not go see any movie he makes, even if he remakes the show Cats.

I don't care if he says it's the truth, I don't care if he get Sandy Burglar to verify it''s the truth. He is just banking on Bad News to move on his behalf.

" LOOK AT MY SITE, THE FEDS ARE AFTER ME! WATCH MY SHOW, I'LL SLIP THE MONEY TO CASTRO!"

publicity stunt? yeah, yes it is.
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beingmichael

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