Spatula Forum

Hmm. Did Bush transfer the sovereignty of Iraq two days early because of Michael Moore? Because frankly, at this point, I wouldn't put anything past him.
Yep, I saw 'Fahrenheit 9/11' last night, along with several other liberal media buddies from the newspaper. I'm still digesting it, but it's by far Moore's best movie, scathingly partisan, humorous and devastatingly powerful all at the same time.
Moore restrains himself here, carefully building a case against George W. Bush brick by brick and never relenting. From the 2000 "election" to the Bush family's ties with the Saudis to the failed war in Afghanistan to the erosion of our civil liberties post-9/11 to the human effect of the Iraqi war, it's all here. It's a movie everyone should see if only to argue over. It's a powerfully controlled movie, lacking the wandering focus that marred "Bowling For Columbine" a bit for me. And only Michael Moore can have you laughing one moment by showing Bush and Saudi leaders commingling to the tune of "Shiny Happy People" and then tear your heart out by showing you wounded Iraqi children.
What's disturbing to me is that the movie's case isn't that Bush and co. are the heart of all evil -- even if sometimes it seems that way -- but instead, that they're motivated by common, pathetic greed. The amount of financial ties and money matters this movie links to the Bush family is staggering. And I thought about that at one point when Moore takes us right here to my state of Oregon, where Oregon State Police have suffered such severe cutbacks that around a dozen troopers are all that's left to patrol the highways of an entire STATE of 3.5 million people. Funny how little of that Halliburton contract money finds its ways to the little guy.
And that's Moore's cause as always, the "little guy," and while his movie is definitely anti-Iraq war, it's pro-troops and he's devastatingly adept at getting the undiluted, worried voices of the 19- and 20-year-old kids we have fighting our war for us over there. He shows this sadly oblivious kids talking about war like it's a video game, and then shows us a bunch of greedheads at a conference talking about the "profit" Iraq can make for businesses. His interview with a widowed mother is hard to watch, but you can't tear your eyes away. She's one of hundreds now.
Of course, this movie isn't like to change too many people's minds, because we're stubborn as a nation. But it's a welcome tonic to see Moore's movie do so well, and be reminded that FOX news, Rush, Ann Coulter et al don't have the market on partisan chest-thumping. I'm a journalist so I'm supposed to be "objective" and I strive to be when I'm on the clock, but frankly I'm counting the days 'til November 2 and this dangerous, corrupt administration is hopefully removed.
It's real curious that Bush decided to transfer power today -- two days early -- right after it's announced that 'Fahrenheit 9/11' which basically rips him a new one, was the number one movie in America for the weekend, making $20 million and shattering all records for documentary, Michael Moore movies, political power and so forth. I'm not a conspiracy theorist by nature, but gee, this one has me wondering.