A Salute

In honor of the Iraqi elections, over at Right-Thinking I have a special salute to Michael Moore and his ilk.

Corky Explosion

Once again, I introduce you to Michael Moore’s beloved Minutemen and Revolutionaries.

The official, Falah al-Naqib, said a handicapped child was used to carry out one of more than three dozen suicide attacks on election day.

“A handicapped child was used to carry out a suicide attack on a polling site,” al-Naqib said. “This is an indication of what horrific actions they are carrying out.”

Police at the scene of a Baghdad blast say the bomber appeared to have Down’s Syndrome.

It was one of 38 attacks Sunday at polling stations, which left more than 40 dead.

Remember, as the left keeps telling us, all they want is to be free from US fascist oppression.

Moonbat

…and they danced in the streets.

I’ve been watching the coverage of the Iraqi elections today, on and off for about twenty hours. I can’t quite find a single word to describe my feelings, as I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of this event.  If I had to use just one word, I guess you could say I was moved. I don’t even know if I was this moved by our own elections. Sure, our election night was a nail biter and I watched with great interest, but this, this is different. Very different.

Since 9-11, there has been a single nagging fear which took up residence in the back of my mind. I felt confident that the US and her allies would certainly fight with earnest to right the wrongs done to our countrymen that day, but I wasn’t 100% positive that the democratization-of-an-Arab-country part of the plan could possibly work out so well. Without doubt, I knew our military forces would do their jobs well, and they have, but inasmuch as we can dispose of a despotic regime, there seemed no guarantee that the people over there would be willing to replace a dictatorship with democracy.

I don’t know where or when that feeling of doubt took hold, but it was definitely a possibility, however remote. Maybe it was the eggheads of academia that repeatedly told us that Islam and Democracy could not co-exist. Maybe it was the non-stop nay-saying from so many people that sometimes made me feel like I might be the last person standing who wanted to see this thing through. Maybe it was the main stream media from across the globe who seem to revel in every bad thing that happened over there. Maybe it was the conspicuous lack of a single left wing pundit outwardly hoping that the elections would actually happen, let alone be such a success. Maybe it was a combination of all of those factors. The truth is, under the weight of all that negativity, I was really crossing my fingers today.

I realize that to some folks, the 44 deaths in Iraq as a result of terrorism is a sign that the battle isn’t over, but I think the way the Iraqi people took to the ideal of self determination gives me hope that we may indeed have already won the war. No, not the war for 100% security in Iraq, or the war to erradicate 100% of terrorism around the globe, but in fact the bigger war of freedom versus oppression. For the first time in decades, the dominoes may indeed be falling the other direction, and that idea gives me occasion to take the first deep breath I feel I’ve drawn for over three years.

Freedom is an instinct. People can not help but yearn to be free, although the will to do something about it can be bludgeoned out of them. The Iraqi people showed us today that the moment Saddam’s thirty years of whipping came to an abrupt halt, the will to try to be free returned, as it always does when one is given hope through liberation.

I believe that as Americans we owe the Iraqi people a debt of gratitude for thier bravery today, as their actions in the face of grave danger only serves to reaffirm our beliefs in a free and Democratic existence. They proved us right. The fact that thousands of Iraqis from the town of Abu Grahib walked thirteen miles today to vote stands as a testament to the idea that the human spirit and will to be free is stronger than any fear of resprisal, and those people knew that if they did die, their deaths would stand for something. Those voters today, THEY are the revolutionaries.

I’m certain there will be criticisms from around the world today. They say our credibilty with many countries is not what it used to be. However, I’d like to think that among those folks who used to really hate us, (and were obviously willing to do something about it), our credibility rating edged up a few notches today. We said we wanted to bring Democracy to the people of Iraq, and we kept that promise, disproving the notion that we were nothing more than a bunch of oil theives.

George Bush and his administration made mistakes concerning Iraq. Those weapons stockpiles were neither huge nor abundant, but they were certainly right about one thing, given the chance to vote, the Iraqi people would seize the opportunity with great conviction.

I’ll concede that there may be tough days ahead, and the resistance is still a force to be reckoned with, not for what they are capable of doing, but what they are willing to do. But if the jubilant celebrations are any indicator of how the Iraqi people intend to embrace their new democracy, I feel like today we have surely turned the corner. I can say that with all the confidence in the world because I know from experience, once you have experienced freedom and Democracy, you will never submit to relenquishing it without a serious fight.

It’s not that my hope for freedom for the Iraqi people ever wavered, but the sight of countless blue ink-stained fingers raised to the sky in Iraq today has reaffirmed my beilef that this mission is a just one, and that in the long run we have not only helped the Iraqi People, but we have also helped save ourselves.

Looking ahead to 2008

The Democrats are going to have a very hard time winning the next election - the Republicans have a number of star players and the Democrats have a lot of wimps and losers. Did the liberal democrats ever get their shit together? The Democrats show up to a gun fight with a butter knife and thus they lose. It was a disgusting sight and indicative of who the Democrats are - they are lazy and they’re cowards and I’m just hoping that, the more they continue to act like that, the more it will encourage Americans to run against them. I’m sure many of them have lost their moral compass and it makes me very sad, unfortunately, I think it’s the American people who will pay the price.

*UPDATE*
New Moorewatch Rule- If you are too stupid to click the *more* button to read the rest of this article, you are hereby deemed too stupid to send me an e-mail , declaring me a horrible person for saying these nasty things about the Democrats.

SO, CLICK THE MORE BUTTON, STUPID!

SpongeMike NoAwardPants?

I gotta admit, this one has me a wee bit o’ the confused.

Two days after being snubbed when the Oscar nominations were announced, Michael Moore was left off the list Thursday when the Writers Guild of America unveiled nominees for its first documentary writing award for a feature film.

The six nominated pictures are “The Hunting of the President,” which alleges a campaign against Bill Clinton from his early days in Arkansas through his impeachment; “Control Room,” an inside view of the Arab television network Al Jazeera during the war in Iraq; “Bright Leaves,” a reflection on Big Tobacco by the great-grandson of a tobacco baron; “Home of the Brave,” a study of murdered civil-rights activist Viola Liuzzo; “In the Realm of the Unreal,” which follows artist, novelist and janitor Henry Darger; and “Super Size Me,” a first-person take on the perils of overeating fast food.

Of those films, only Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me” has been nominated for a best documentary Academy Award.

WGA officials said Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” was eligible but Moore elected not to submit it. Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” won the WGA Award for best original screenplay in 2003, the first time that a documentary had ever been nominated in that category.

“Fahrenheit 9/11” also failed to earn an Academy Award nomination this week. In that case, however, he had declined to submit “Fahrenheit” in the documentary category because he planned a TV airing before the Nov. 2 election—and that disqualified the documentary under Academy rules. “Fahrenheit” was eligible in other categories, and Moore unsuccessfully campaigned for a best picture nomination.

The winner of the WGA Documentary Screenplay Award will be named at a reception for documentary filmmakers Feb. 15 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.

OK, it says that Moore was “left off” the list.  But then it says Moore never submitted the screenplay in the first place.  So how exactly does one get left off a list that one never tried to get on?  What is with these reporters who can’t get a simple story and tell it without creating drama?  And why on earth am I defending Mikey a-friggin-gain?

Anyway, If I’m reading between the lines correctly, this is just saying Moore did not submit F911 to the WGA and so he is not under consideration for the new screenplay award, which is similar to the one that he won for BFC.  Am I misreading it?

Open Mic: Whatever you want

Figured it was time for another one of these.  Have at it, kids!  ;)

Oscar the Grouch

I have never been more happy to be wrong in my entire life.

Michael Moore’s gamble to hold his hit film “Fahrenheit 9/11” out of the documentary category - to boost its best-picture prospects - backfired. The movie was shut out across the board.

Moore won the documentary prize two years ago for “Bowling for Columbine.”

I blame George W. Bush.

Update from JimK:

Ahh-HA!!  Lee is the big loser!  I am the big winner!  I win the gentlemen’s bet!  Now to collect my...uhh...oh crap why didn’t we bet money or something? :)

(I done told y’all that his stock would plummet in Hollywood after he had zero effect on the election.  I predict the bank for “Sicko” or “F9112: Electric Boogaloo,” whichever he actually decides to make, will be one-third to half that of F911.  Still financially profitable, but the bloom is off that rose.)

Update from Lee:

Why didn’t we bet money?  Because neither of us have any. :)

Update from JimK:

That’s a good friggin’ point.  :)

Stunned

On January 25, 2005, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 77th Annual Academy Awards. And the nominees are…

Best Picture
# THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
# FINDING NEVERLAND (Miramax)
# MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
# RAY (Universal Pictures)
# SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)

Achievement in Directing
# Martin Scorsese for THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
# Clint Eastwood for MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
# Taylor Hackford for RAY (Universal Pictures)
# Alexander Payne for SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)
# Mike Leigh for VERA DRAKE (Fine Line Features)

Best Original Screenplay
# THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
# ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Focus Features)
# HOTEL RWANDA (United Artists)
# THE INCREDIBLES (Disney/Pixar)
# VERA DRAKE (Fine Line Features)

Best Adapted Screenplay
# BEFORE SUNSET (Warner Independent Pictures)
# FINDING NEVERLAND (Miramax)
# MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
# THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES (Focus Features)
# SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)

Best Documentary Feature
# BORN INTO BROTHELS (ThinkFilm)
# THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL (ThinkFilm)
# SUPER SIZE ME (Roadside Attractions / Samuel Goldwyn Films)
# TUPAC: RESURRECTION (Paramount Pictures)
# TWIST OF FAITH

Mike’s Letter

“Fahrenheit 9/11” Named Best Picture of the Year by the American People
Monday, January 10th, 2005

Dear Friends,

Last night, at the People’s Choice Awards, “Fahrenheit 9/11” was named the Best Movie of the Year. It was a stunning moment for us. And, somewhere inside the Bush White House, someone there must have been stunned, too.

And, somewhere in Manhattan, someone there must have been stunned, too.

Whatever happened to…..

....those pre election anti-Republicans who,like Moore, were willing to do ”whatever it takes” to stop Bush from being elected?

Well, it seems that some of them in Wisconsin are facing felonies, and you might be surprised ( or not) to find out who some of them were.

5 charged in election-day tire slashings
Sons of prominent Milwaukee politicians among those facing felonies
By DERRICK NUNNALLY
dnunnally@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 24, 2005

Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann announced this morning that five of the seven men arrested in the election-day slashing of Republican vehicles’ tires - including the sons of two prominent Milwaukee Democratic politicians - have been charged with felonies and will appear in court this afternoon.
The five who were charged with felony criminal damage to property for slashing 40 tires on 25 vehicles are:

* Michael Pratt, 32, of the 400 block of N. 16th St., Milwaukee. Pratt is the son of former acting mayor Marvin Pratt.

* Sowande A. Omokunde, 25, of the 4000 block of N. 19th Place, Milwaukee. Omokunde is the son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore.

* Lewis G. Caldwell, 28, of the 2900 block of N. Summit Ave., Milwaukee.

* Lavelle Mohammad, 35, of the 4700 block of W. Lloyd St., Milwaukee.

* Justin Howell, 20, of the 2400 block of N. Olive St., Racine.

The vans had been rented by the state Republican Party to transport voters to the polls on election day Nov. 2.

If convicted, each of the five faces up to a $10,00 fine and up to 3 1/2 years in prison. The crime met the $2,500 damage threshold as a felony because the slashed tires and towing costs totaled more than $5,300, according to the criminal complaint filed today. It says the men were caught after a security guard in the Republican Party headquarters parking lot saw the vandalism and wrote down the license-plate numbers of a fleeing car.

McCann said the state’s relatively clean political history makes such election-day sabotage without precedent in his memory.

“This isn’t what goes on all the time in Wisconsin,” he said, citing his recollection of contentious elections from the late 1960s. “… There might be signs town down in those campaigns, but never anything like this.”

He said the investigation had taken nearly 12 weeks because witnesses had dispersed after the election to states including Georgia, Virginia, Maryland and New York, and FBI investigators were sent to conduct the interviews.

“Lying to an FBI agent is a federal offense,” McCann explained.

He said the FBI reports only got back to his office Jan. 14 because the slashings, though locally controversial, probably weren’t the highest priority for federal investigators more concerned with terrorism threats.

“You’ve got to understand how this looks elsewhere,” McCann said. “It’s a tire-slashing case. ... I never got a call from (Attorney General John) Ashcroft about the case.”

Yeah, It’s a tire slashing case. Except in this case, the tires slashed were to be used to help people (Republicans in this case) get to the polls. I’m just glad to see this is still being looked into. For the record, I hope they keep persuing all of the cases of violence and mayhem perpetrated by ALL of the pre-election asshats from both sides. Throw ‘em all in jail and ket the rest of us enjoy our democracy.

Hating Freedom

George W. Bush:  “The terrorists hate freedom.”

Left Wing Asshats: “That is a gross oversimplification!  Who are we to determine what freedom is?  These brave insurgents are merely fighting to rid their country of the fascist US occcupying force.  They fight for nothing more than the right to self-determination.  The idea that they fight us because they hate freedom is ridiculous!”

Zarqawi:  “No, we pretty much hate freedom.”

A speaker purporting to be Iraq’s most feared terror leader declared a “fierce war” on democracy and said in an audiotape posted Sunday on the Web that the Americans were using next weekend’s Iraqi elections to install the Shiites in power.

“We have declared a fierce war on this evil principle of democracy and those who follow this wrong ideology,” said the speaker, who identified himself as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, head of the Al Qaeda affiliate in Iraq. “Anyone who tries to help set up this system is part of it.”

The speaker said candidates running in the Jan. 30 elections are “demi-idols” and those who vote for them “are infidels.” U.S. and Iraqi officials fear insurgent attacks and have announced massive security measures to protect voters.

“You have to be careful of the enemy’s plan to implement so-called democracy in your country,” he added. He said the Americans have engineered the election “to make Shiites dominate the regime in Iraq. Four million Shiites were brought from Iran to take part in the elections to achieve their aim of winning” most of the positions.

I think at this point it is worth quoting from a brilliant essay by Dinesh D’Souza about fundamentalist Islamist author Sayyid Qutb, who lived in America and wrote about his experiences. 

Like the terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center, Qutb was a man who lived in the West and knew its ways. After studying in America, he wrote a book called The America That I Saw in which he argued that his familiarity with the United States was his basis for rejecting it. Qutb wrote that he was shocked by the rampant prejudice of Americans, especially toward Arabs and Muslims. He professed outrage at the materialism and sexual promiscuity of American culture. Even the church, Qutb commented, has become a place for amusement and social interaction rather than worship.

In his later writings, Qutb alleged that America used to be Christian; now it is pagan. The Muslim believer, he wrote, has no reason to envy or emulate the ways of America; rather, true Muslims should feel contempt for those ways. “The believer from his height looks down at the people drowning in dirt and mud.”

How, in Qutb’s view, did America reach its sorry state? One problem, Qutb said, is that American and indeed Western institutions are fundamentally atheist, based on a clear rejection of divine authority. “Democracy” and “capitalism” are in Qutb’s view atheistic ideas. When democrats say that sovereignty flows from the people, this means that the people — not God — are the rulers. So democracy is a form of idol worship. So, too, Qutb insisted that capitalism, which is based on the notion that the market and not God is the best arbitrator of value, is a form of idolatry.

Read the whole article.  It is plainly apparent to any thinking person (which excludes most liberals) that what we are currently fighting in Iraq is, literally, the difference between freedom and enslavement for the Iraqi people, and by proxy all of the Middle East.  And while the region is in the steel grip of the Islamists the western world can never truly consider itself safe and secure.  This is the big picture that George W. Bush sees so clearly, and most of the world refuses to acknowledge.

Gun owners: We lost a good friend this week.

I just found out Neal Knox passed away on 1/17.

al-Zarqawi puts it bluntly enough for even Moore to understand

“The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not ‘insurgents’ or ‘terrorists’ or ‘The Enemy.’ They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow—and they will win.” - Michael Moore, 4/14/2004

“We have declared a fierce war on this evil principle of democracy and those who follow this wrong ideology,” “Anyone who tries to help set up this system is part of it” - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, 1/22/05

Most of us didn’t have to hear it put so bluntly from the “insurgents” to know what the hell is going on over there. Perhaps this will serve as the cramming-down-the-throat of reality that Moore needs to realilze that this war is ideological. Some of you scoff at the “They Hate Our Freedoms” point of view, but you can count on at least on more person who subscribes to the theory whole heartedly: al-Zarqawi himself.

You’d think that at some point, Moore would be more angry at the terrorists, insurgents, and detractors than he is with his own countrymen, but alas, I guess being mad at the bad guys just doesn’t play at the box office. Moore has got to eventually pull his head out of his ass and realize that the hatred these folks feel towards us goes back a long long way, even before the evil Geroge Bush took office ( as if anything existed before Bush, as far as Moore is concerned). My guess is that this statement will go largely un-commented upon by the More, for there are too many cheap shots to be taken at Bush and his cabinet to be bothered with a statement such as this from a terrorist who has killed Americans with his own hands.

I have more thoughts on the subject of Iraqi insurgency over at my blog if anyone is interested.

Another Cheap Shot at Rumsfeld

On the top of the list of Michael Moore’s “must read” selection today, he links to a story from the Stars and Stripes that tells of a group of Military Families that was turned away from the Pentagon wednesday when they showed up to confront and protest Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in person.

Moore’s labels the link “Family values?”, with this lead-in:

Pentagon police on Wednesday turned away family members of troops killed in Iraq who wanted to confront Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the reasons for the war in Iraq.

Moore’s intent (again) is to establish the cold-heartedness of the Pentagon towards the families of the fallen. What’s missing from this story, and Moore’s quick and cheap sensationalism of it is one simple fact: You can’t just walk into the Pentagon anymore. In fact, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that I was probably that last person ever in history who will have been able to walk into the Pentagon without an appointment and a security screening from the Pentagon Police. Of course, the Pentagon had just been hit by a plane at the time and the whole building was filled with smoke and fire at the time, but I digress.

We also have to look at the story of these families being “turned away” from the Pentagon in context.  Washington D.C. ( and the surrounding Virginia federal areas) have been locked down for about a week prior to the Inauguration. Does anyone think it’s a good idea to simply let people walk in unannounced to our Pentagon during a time where we are so concerned with threats of violence? In the story, the families did request and audience with the Secretary, but at the time, an appointment had not yet been arranged. So basically, these folks just showed up.

The story explains:

Cindy Sheehan, a California resident whose son Casey was killed during a mission in Sadr City last April, sheltered a photo of her son from the snow with her arms as the group tried to convince police to let them by.

“I wanted them to see my son,” she said, weeping. “I wanted them to see the consequences of his actions. ... I have the feeling they feel he was a dispensable asset to them.”

Sheehan flew to Washington on Wednesday and planned to take part in the group’s inauguration protests on Thursday.

I understand that these families are greiving, but their greif doesn’t immunize them from the security measures that are required from all people who wish to enter the Pentagon.

Michael Moore would have you believe that it was Rumsfeld’s lack of respect for these families that resulted in them being turned away, but the truth is, NOBODY just waltzes in to the Pentagon these days. I doubt Rumsfeld was even notified of the situation,( if he was even in the building at the time). If these were members of the “Rummy Fan Club”, they’d have still been turned away. Compound that with the fact that these people were here to protest the inauguration and you can see that the threat to the security of the Pentagon personnel wasn’t worth the risk.

This has nothing to do with Rumnsfeld refusal to speak with the military families, it has everything to do with Moore’s taking yet another cheap shot.

I wonder if he’ll ever tire of this. 

Summary of the “bodyguard” story

With the story so scattered and developments in updates and comments, I thought I would post this so everyone can see the mains points of what it was about.

It never fails

Would you like to see the dumbest statement about the whole bodyguard-gun-arrest story?  Seriously.  It’s the dumbest thing anyone could possibly think to say on the subject.  Think for a second about the most moonbat statement that you can imagine.  I’ll bet this is dumber.  You ready?  It comes from a thread on Democratic Underground, which I will not favor with a link.

CORRECTION to “Moore’s bodyguard” story

I received this in relation to the story about Mike’s bodyguard being arrested with an illegal weapon.  Never let it be said that we will willingly spread false information or fail to correct a mistake.

Dear Moorewatch Editors:

Our firm employs Patrick Burk.

Fox News has now removed the link for this story from their home page; their original story contained several errors (below).  We want to be certain you are aware of the appropriate corrections.

I know that Fox News editors must rely upon others when preparing their stories, and I offer with no judgment that their story titled “Michael Moore’s Bodyguard Arrested on Airport Gun Charge” contains several errors, including its entire headline.

Please correct the errors in your story below as soon as possible, because, as you are aware, the errors reach an ever-widening audience with each passing minute - and will predictably be picked up by other news agencies.

Our full-time employee, Patrick Burk, is not “Michael Moore’s bodyguard.” Accordingly, the headline in the Fox News Web site story is false and misleading.

If you believe Patrick Burk was ever assigned to protect Michael Moore, or any number of other public figures, you might accurately report that “A bodyguard who was once assigned to protect Michael Moore...”

You could as accurately say “A bodyguard that was once assigned to protect President Clinton,” because Patrick Burk has also been assigned to protect President Clinton in the past - but you wouldn’t be accurate if you said “President Clinton’s Bodyguard.”

Patrick Burk is not Michael Moore’s bodyguard, nor was he protecting Michael Moore or in any way involved with Michael Moore on Wednesday night, when he (Burk) was checking in at JFK for a flight to Los Angeles.

When checking in for the flight, Patrick Burk voluntarily advised United Airlines that he was transporting an unloaded, locked firearm in his checked luggage, precisely as regulations require, and not “carrying” a weapon, as your story inaccurately reports.  Advising the counter ticket agent is a routine procedure for police officers and security professionals.  In this case, a Port Authority officer decided to arrest Patrick Burk on the charge that he is not licensed to carry a firearm in New York City.

The Fox web site headline contains an error not present in the story.  The headline indicates that Patrick Burk was arrested on an “airport gun charge.” He was not.  The charge involves having a firearm without a New York City License to carry it.  On that note, Patrick Burk was not carrying a weapon on his person (only locked in his baggage), and the police do not allege that he was carrying a weapon on his person, as your story implies.

Police, security professionals, sportsmen, and citizen gun owners who fly on the Nation’s airlines are legally bound to advise the airlines of firearms in their checked baggage - and the firearms are transported just like any other baggage.

The Fox News story also says Patrick Burk was carrying “an unlicensed firearm.” Please correct that error.  Patrick Burk’s firearm is legally registered to Patrick Burk - it is not “unlicensed.” Patrick Burk is licensed to carry a firearm in several States, and a court will determine if any charge is appropriate for Patrick Burk in this matter, which involves New York City.

Though I realize a Michael Moore connection would be of interest to your web site, Patrick Burk is not Michael Moore’s bodyguard, and has never been employed by Michael Moore.

An important note for you is that Patrick Burk is not a public figure and even the smallest inaccurate detail that is widely disseminated could predictably interfere with his ability to pursue his profession.  Patrick Burk is a former Marine who served with distinction in an elite and specialized Marine unit, and he protected, among others, then-President Clinton.

Our firm (www.gavindebecker.com) provides protective coverage for public figures and others, and Patrick Burk is a leading professional in his field.

I highlighted in red below the specific errors where they appear in the Fox News story.

Please let me know that you have received this email, and if you need further information or need to reach our firm, please call (redacted), and ask for (redacted).

Sincerely-

Gavin de Becker

So there you have it...a detailed explanation of the event and a refutation of the Moore connection.

I would take issue with the repeated use of the term “your story” in this letter.  It was not “our story.” It was a news story that we passed along to our readers.  We were not the primary source.  As blog writers, all we can do unless we *are* the primary source is repeat the news as we find it and add our commentary.

That having been said...let me call attention to Patrick Burk.  The writer of this email is spot on when he said that we should not disparage Mr. Burk professionally.  If the events leading to the charge are as described in this email are even 75% accurate, and knowing the Port Authority’s overreaction to firearms I think that’s a pretty good possibility, then Mr. Burk is not necessarily at fault.  Whatever the case may be, it’s up to a judge, not us.  While I urge the security company in question to remember that we at Moorewatch are not responsible for the readers comments, I would also urge the readers to consider that Mr. Burk is in fact a security professional, and just as we get upset when mainstream media ruins the security of a military mission, so should we be upset if we (meaning the readership of Moorewatch) were to destroy the security of a private situation.

Now we have the company’s side of events on the record.

As for the issue that we raised, the hypocrisy of Moore...in my opinion it still stands.  It goes back to the first time we heard that Moore was hiring armed guards.  He considers his own safety paramount, and feels that a weapon can protect him, but he doesn’t want the average American to have that same protection.  The argument that can be made is “Well you can hire a bodyguard.” No, most of America can’t hire someone to watch over them 24 hours a day.  It flies in the face of reason and logic to expect such a thing.  We’re each responsible for our own personal safety.  Since we cannot afford to hire armed guards...we arm ourselves.  That is the very essence of the Second Amendment.

P.S. I put a phone call in to the company and as of the time of this posting have not yet received a reply.  I informed the I would be issuing this correction, so I may not receive a call back, but if I do, rest assured I will report the results to you all ASAP.

Update

As of 8:20 PM Eastern, Fox News still has the story up on their website.  Completely irresponsible.  Para and I were on the phone earlier and I reminded him of a conversation we had a few weeks ago where he made the point to me that it was getting impossible to trust any reporting anymore.  This just drives it home.  Who can you trust?  No one.  I guess that’s why we try so hard to make sure that we stay completely honest and that anything we put up here at the site can be verified by others.  Allowing your words to be independantly verified is about the only way I know of to truly be trustworthy.  That and make sure you are front and center about mistakes when they happen.

Also, I think people should be aware that dozens of news agencies are reporting this story.  Perhaps a trip to Google News is in order for Mr. de Becker.

Update 2

See what happens when you try to be a smartass?  I suggest Mr. de Becker visit Google News, and emailed him to that effect, and it turns out he has, and there is an explanaton for that as well:

When I wrote to you about Fox News being the only major organization to report their story as they did, that was many many hours ago - a Google search at that time netted two entries, an Ohio concealed weapons group and a web site out of India.

Also, the many many stories running now do not repeat Fox News’s inaccuracy that Mr Burk was arrested on a “an airport weapons charge,” nor that that he was “carrying a firearm,” nor did they all repeat incorrectly that he is “Michael Moore’s bodyguard.”

Almost all stories are based on an AP story that is closer to accurate when they use a phrase such as “a bodyguard who once protected...” - though they don’t add he also is a bodyguard who once protected President Clinton and many other people.

Color me corrected.  Also, Mr. de Becker confirmed that it was a Port Authority police officer that made the arrest.  Like the security company and probably Patrick Burk as well, I cannot for the life of me figure out how some Port Authority cop figures a licensed, trained professional presenting his weapon in accordance with all FAA rules deserves arrest.  I think that is the story here, that and of course Fox’s ineptitude in reporting the whole thing.

Paranoid much?

As read on Foxnews.com this morning:

NEW YORK — Filmmaker Michael Moore’s (search) bodyguard was arrested for carrying an unlicensed weapon in New York’s JFK airport Wednesday night.

Police took Patrick Burke, who says Moore employs him, into custody after he declared he was carrying a firearm at a ticket counter. Burke is licensed to carry a firearm in Florida and California, but not in New York. Burke was taken to Queens central booking and could potentially be charged with a felony for the incident.

Moore’s 2003 Oscar-winning film “Bowling for Columbine” criticizes what Moore calls America’s “culture of fear” and its obsession with guns.

*UPDATE* I have removed my comments about the bodyguard story, because it appears to have been innaccurate.

Here is an e-mail I received :

Date:  Thu, 20 Jan 2005 10:52:38 -0800
From:  Gavin de Becker
To:  para@moorewatch.com
Subject:  Time is of the essence

Please post the correct information now, as you already have 74 (and
growing) comments entered from people wrongly thinking and claiming things
as outrageous as:

*

Patrick Burk carried a gun “through Customs”
*

Patrick Burk is Moore’s employee
*

Moore “allowed his employee to...”

The story as you have it posted is libelous to a young man whose profession
will be predictably be damaged by the errors.  Every major news agency that
considered and investigated this story passed on it.  Do a web search and
you’ll find only one newspaper in the world that published it (in India).
The Fox News web site story contains many errors - and repeating a libel is
libel.

Most important of all, the man arrested is -not- Michael Moore’s bodyguard.
Though I understand how the story would be of great interest to your site if
true, since it isn’t true, you have a duty to remove it and correct it.
Please advise me that you have received this email.

Thanks -

gavin

It should be noted that the link is still active at FOXNEWS

Update:

MSNBC apparently didn’t pass on the story either.

Newsday Newspaper has the story also.

So does the Miami Herald, the San Jose Mercury news, The Tuscon News, KESQ Channel 3 in Los Angeles, The Akron beacon journal, The Chicago tribune, The Seattle Post, USA Today.

I guess you could say a lot of people didn’t pass on the story. I wonder why we were contacted? Certianly we’re small fish right? Irellevant is the word I hear bantied about quite often. Hmmmm.

But still........
One of these days, Moore is going to have actually to do a documentary on himself. But what would he call it?

For the newbies.

I have gotten literally a bazillion e-mails in the past week from folks who have stumbled on our site recently. Most of them missed all of the pre-election discussions and offer the same refrain again and again; “Why do you have a website dedicated to being against Michael Moore? His movie was sooooo great!”

With full acknowledgement that re-posting is in poor taste, as a public service, I would like to offer up a post I wrote a few days before the election that sums up my feeling on Moore’s “great” movie. For those of you who are regulars, feel free to skip this , but for you newbies who insist on an explaination, consider this required reading. 

The Fairy responds.

Date:  Sun, 16 Jan 2005 12:47:39 -0800 (PST)
From:  Legolas Greenleaf “feel_sorry_for_bush@yahoo.com”
To:  para@moorewatch.com
Subject:  Thank You :)

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you
Thank you !!!!!!!!

I can’t possibly thank you enough for putting
my hate mail on your pathetic website. Now people can
learn the truth and instead of your filthy lies.
In Social Studies we learned that lies are
illegal. (CBS had said false things about this one guy
and got in a lot of trouble. And yes I still go to
school (I wasn’t kicked out like you!)) Opinions
however are not illegal. Michael Moore said flat out
that George Bush had connections with Osama and other
things that you said were lies. That’s right...isn’t
your website all about how Mr. Moore is a fat lier?
Think about it ... Wait do you even know how to think?
I used the name Legolas Greenleaf because I
never give my name on email addresses. That’s the only
way to protect myself now that Social Security is gone
and the Patriot Act is in place.
By the way I don’t curse. (is that too
religious for you...it shouldn’t be after all you all
voted for a man claiming to be sent from God)
(Interesting how you always curse...that’s against the
2nd Commandment)

Later Moore Hater,
Not giving you my real name

I don’t dislike you anymore ... I only abhor you now.

Oh_ my_goodness! I actually thought we hit the top of the stupid-o-meter with the last installment from our resident Fairy wannabe. Oh, how I misunderestimated the depths of ignorance from the halls of lesser Academia these days. I feel compelled to offer some counsel to this kid.

Dear Young person, boy, girlie, whatever you are, have a sit.

Let me explain some things to you. Grab a Coke, this may take a while.

I’m glad you at least appreciate the fact that I was gracious enough to give you a larger aduience than you’ve ever had in your short life. That’s one of the reasons we are here, to give a platform for ideas. Sometimes those ideas are very misguided, such as yours, but we are givers here, and we have given you a great opportunity to have your ideas heard. In short, you’re welcome.

Now, you mentioned something about people learning the truth from you, right? As a matter of fact I suppose you are referring to your truth, as opposed to my filthy lies. I’d like to challenge you, lil’ peanut, to point out a lie that I have told. That’s right, find me a lie that I ( Para) have told. And not just any run-of-the-mill lie, make sure it’s a particularly FILTHY lie. I’m sure you know how to access the site archives and being the smart student, you shouldn’t have any problems finding a few, so hop to it, Skippy.

I’d also like to know what “truth” you have exposed us to that is in any way original. You can’t ( or at least shouldn’t) regurgitate any of Michael Moore’s talking points and then claim credit for educating us on the particular subject, so make sure the info you are referring to is YOUR OWN, since you are taking credit. You should note, young pup, that we have all seen Moore’s movies and read his books, so don’t try to be clever and slip something past us, you’ll only get caught. Oh, and one more thing, be sure to apply the same rules of SATIRE and OPINION that you apply to the works of Michael Moore. 

You mentioned that in Social Studies class, you learned that lies are illegal. Well, I don’t mean to sound like a stuffy old condescending codger, but I feel compelled to inform you that you might not have a chance to learn everything there is to know about the law in your Social Studies class. Perhaps you’re familiar with the concept of law school? If you ever graduate ( like I did) you should actually GO to law school and then you’d learn just how little you know right now.  I’d be a little more respectful of the rulings of the Supreme Court if’n I were you, if your propensity for arguing the specifics of law continutes. You see, little one, The Supreme Court rules on the Constitutionalty of law, rather than your little Social Studies teacher. Between the opinion of the two, I’d suggest you refer to the nice folks in the black robes, rather than that nice person in front of the blackboard. I’m sure your teacher is great *rolls eyes*, but alas not a Supreme Court Justice.  You should have your teacher e-mail me, so I could explain how the lesson being taught is incredbly wrong.

I was going spend a little time explaining the intricacies of the Bush-Saudi connection, but I think I’ll make an entire post of it, so perhaps it should be me who is thanking you for the great article idea. I’ll skip that for now, you little bambino, but be sure to check in next week for an update. 

Finally, I wanted to address this statement from you:

By the way I don’t curse. (is that too religious for you...it shouldn’t be after all you all voted for a man claiming to be sent from God)
(Interesting how you always curse...that’s against the 2nd Commandment)

I just did a review of all of my comments to you, counted up all of the times I cursed in the three pages of comments and in the original article. After spending a significant amount of time with my trusty calculator, I found the number of times I cursed and I hardly think that number qualifies me as “Always Cursing”. That number is zero.

If you bothered to read my work at all, Kiddo, you’d see that I rarely ever curse, and more importantly, I am an agnostic. I don’t practice Christianity,(although I repect my Christian friends) therefore your assumption that I follow the Second commandment seems suspect to me when you start using words like “always”.You don’t know me well enough to use words like “always”, you little snot nosed brat.  I will note that you, in fact, have ignored the words of your Lord , when He said “Love thy Neighbor”. You should re-examine your moral sanctimony, Guttersnipe.

And now, as usual, I invite the Moorewatchers to “educate” you proper.