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
[email protected]
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.