“Documentary filmmaker” (note the scary quotes)
Heh.
If Moore is a documentary filmmaker, then so is
UPDATE: The brilliant site Moorewatch has a good post up about Moore’s trip to Cuba. Apparently, his trip to Cuba was to film a documentary on how wonderful Cuba’s health care system is compared to the United State’s. It’s more wonderful because everyone gets the same crappy system.
Hmm. Does that sound like lying to the government to get a visa to anyone else? I think taking Americans for medical treatment falls well outside the purview of “journalistic endeavors.†I’d like to see some legal-minded folks take a glance at the necessary laws pertaining to travel to Cuba and see if maybe he didn’t break one or three.
Like all documentary filmmakers these days, Moore isn’t concerned so much with the truth as he is selling his work. This is nothing new for Moore, and it’s not even a surprise. However, like an idiot, and not for the first time, I had hoped for something better. I know, I need to learn to stop putting faith in documentary filmmakers. No matter how nice they seem, it’s never about the truth or the subject…at some point it becomes about the money. At least we know with Moore, it’s like that right from the beginning.
Cuba. He is really going to try to sell Cuba as a better alternative than the United States for health care. And the morons that wear Che Guevara t-shirts will eat this up with a spoon.
Where have I heard this before? Oh, yeah, from the Journal Star’s Pam Adams. Back in the days before I stated this blog, she too went on a junket to Cuba and returned with wonderful stories about Cuba’s free universal health care system. Well, the GateHouse Media tanking financially and looking for ways to cut costs, Ms. Adams ma have to travel to Cuba to get medical treatment. Good luck with that.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Think what you will about Michael Moore, but in my case he walked it like he talked it. Here’s the story:
Sometime in 1995 I was living on the upper west side of Manhattan. I was working nights and publishing, editing and pretty much writing a quarterly magazine called fishwrap. The idea behind fishwrap was to make fun of editors and writers and the mainstream magazines they worked for. I started the magazine in 1993 and by 1995 it was a cult success, but like everything else I’ve ever done, I was losing money on it. One day while walking to the subway, who do I see but Michael Moore. I walked up told him I was a big fan and showed him a copy of fishwrap I had in my bag. He started looking at it, asked me all kinds of questions and then asked if he could take a few minutes to read some of it. I felt good because at several points he was laughing out loud. He asked how it was going and I gave him my tale of woe that while I had gotten some publicity, I was losing money with every issue I put out. He told me he thought that sucked because he liked what I was doing. Then he asked if $3,000 would help put out the next issue. I told him that would pay for the printing and he asked if the printer would send him the bill, because he didn’t want to cut me a check, because he just met me. Well, I finished the issue, the printer sent the bill to Michael Moore and he paid it. Think Fred Thompson would’ve done that? Oh, and comparing Moore’s films to Leno’s “Jaywalking” skits is pathetic. Really a moronic statement.
Why is that a moronic statement? Having seen a couple of his “documentaries” that is exactly what he does. He catches people at random and attempts to make them asnwer some carefully crafted question so that when they fail to do so they prove his point. Thats great that he helped you out at some point but if your magazine wasn’t making money than it wasn’t really much of a “cult success” if your readership and ads couldn’t even cover the production of it. Hardly a reason for the rest of us to worship at the altar of Moore. But you are more than welcome to drink the kool-aid.
I have to say it too, Marty. WTF?? He’s a cool guy ’cause he helped you out? Good for you. He’s still political vermin.
Yeah, I agree. How many boatloads of Americans on their way to Cuba do you hear about? It is an oppressed country ruled by a communist dictator, and to compare it favorably to the United States in any way, shape, or form is a complete mockery of the great country that we have built. We all know that this country ain’t perfect, but it is going to be people like Michael Moore, who will be the demise of our empire.
Thats great he helped you out, but that doesn’t really mean shit to me. He is still a political turd, who makes money off selling out our country.
Michael Moore will be the demise of our empire? Well, to each their own. I prefer to think our demise lays in a fellow that started a war over weapons of mass destruction that never existed. And Bravo, maybe you should learn the definition of “cult success.” A “cult success” is when you’re successful as far as you have a loyal audience, but money isn’t necessarily a part of it. Yeah, I couldn’t sell ads, but I had a 50% sell-through rate on newsstands across the country and had numerous favorable write ups about my magazine in New York and national publications. And I don’t “worship at the altar of Moore,” I just respect a man who has the courage of his convictions. And Scott, “a political turd who makes money off selling out our country”…hmm, why do the two words, Cheney and Haliburton come to mind?
This isn’t an Empire. We have a constitution and it is suposed to be followed as law. We do have a “Decider” or king and that is Bush. I have seen Moore’s films and they are in no way a “catching people off gaurd with a surprise question” kind of films. They do show a prespective of Moore’s and that’s OK because it is his film. Limbaugh twists the truth the same way everyday yet people line up like sheep and take it in. We need the balance Moore brings with the likes of Limbaugh and Sean. Moore has never sold out this country. If anyone has sold this country it is Bush and his “turds” as somebdy put it. In the eyes of the rest of the world we are being run by idiots and that is the truth.
I guess my reply fell into your spam filter or I am not able to post on this site?? I don’t see it.
I’ve seen the hypocrite Moore in both New York and DC in chauffeur driven stretch limos and found out from a hotel worker that he stayed in the Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel. Anyone is surely entitled to spend their money how they want. But when an activist crusades for the “little guy” and against global warming but is such a hypocrite in his own behavior is a bona fide ass. Michael Moore is a fat loser who concocts his stunts to get him the publicity he needs to get rich the easy way–by fooling mushy headed liberals.
But whatever, that You Tube video of Thompson shows he’s the MAN. Tough and humorous. So outta the box for a presidential candidate. He is principled and unafraid of saying what he thinks.
I call bullshit on both of you. What has Moore ever done to improve this country? What ideas has he tried to implement to improve our policies on foreign affairs? What positive thing has he ever accomplished with his documentaries besides making himself a very wealthy man, and further alienating us in the eyes of foreigners.
I beg you to answer these questions. If you can, I will change my opinion on Michael Moore. What good came out of Fahrenheit 911? Please tell me. What did this documentary accomplish? And to compare him to corrupt politicians such as Cheney proves my point even further. There have always been corrupt politicians running this country, this era is no different. But its people like Moore who advertise this to the whole world. Even if you do not agree with our policies at the present time, we are all still Americans, and should stand united. We live in the greatest country in the world, and most people completely take it completely for granted.
It’s not Michael Moore’s job to “improve” this country or to implement policies of foreign affairs, he’s not a politician, he’s not a lawmaker, he’s a filmmaker. And, yeah, he’s made a lot of money doing it, so what? If I made a lot of money doing something, I wouldn’t refuse it. A lot of people agree with him and that’s why he’s so successful. That’s why they flock to his films. What good came out of Fahrenheit 911? It opened people’s eyes up to this current administration. Have you watched the film? Did you see the part where it showed where George Bush Sr. was when 9/11 happened? He was with Osama Bin Laden’s half brother. In the same room with him. I didn’t compare Moore to Dick Cheney, I was saying Cheney is the corrupt one, not Moore. You admit that Cheney is corrupt, yet you want to “stand united.” We do live in the greatest country in the world, we have free speech and can speak out and protest against what we don’t believe in and think is unjust.
Marty had a liberal rag of his own at one time. He doesn’t just sip the Kool-Ade, he mixes batches of it. Well, I can put up with his Kool-Ade as long as it comes with the proverbial grain of salt.
Now, to the point – I would LOVE to see Thompson vs. Moore debate. It won’t happen. Thompson would need to bring boots to wade through all the proverbial red herrings Moore is known to throw. Moore does very well when there is no one around to rebut him directly and immediately.
Take for instance his little trip to Cuba. Cuba really does have an EXCELLENT healthcare system…for a third world country. Go back and reread that part after the ellipses.
Seriously – like “Scott” sez, how many people are building boats out of 55 gallon drums and heading to Cuba?
Marty and Em…you both make perfect sense. There are people out here reading this conversation who understand what you’re trying to say and appreciate you doing it.
Emtronics, have you ever seen a Moore film?? Exploiting unexpecting people is EXACTLY what he does.
This is for Anon E. Mous–”I had a liberal rag of my own at one time.” Are you trying to say I “published” a liberal rag, in your own crude way? If so, let me know the name of it. I’ve only published two magazines in my life, and they weren’t rags. One was People of Peoria, later shortened to POP. I published this in Peoria for three years and it was a humor/pop culture magazine. After that, here in New York for six years I published a magazine called fishwrap, which was a satirical, humor magazine. It made fun of magazines, liberals, conservatives, writers, etc. etc. Please let me know of this “liberal rag I had at one time.”
I would love to see a Thompson and Moore debate too, especially in Thompson’s office where it’s been written that he keeps boxes of CUBAN cigars on his desk.
I posted something earlier, but it didn’t make it here, maybe Bill can ressurect it, so here’s an abridged version of it: Anon E. Mous–you say I had a liberal rag? I’m sure you meant I “published” a liberal rag. Well, could you tell me the name of it? I’ve only puablished two “magazines” not rags, one was People of Peoria, later POP, which was a humor/pop culture magazine, the other was fishwrap, a satirical humor magazine that made fun of magazines, editors, writers, liberals and conservatives. Please tell me the name of this magazine or rag as you put it.
So is your name Wombacher or Wobacher I am a little confused?
For the record, I have seen all Moore’s films and some of them more than once. They are no worse than FOX news reports. I do believe however that some of the posters here haven;t even sat down and watch 10 minutes of any of Moore’s films but like Limbaugh, Hannnity, and the rest of that group can form and spew an opinion from just the title.
Watch the 9-11 movie for instance. Yes, there are some scenes that can be twisted, but there is a lot of fact. I don’t understand that with the current corrupt adminstration we have with Cheney and Rove and the Decider how one can object to Moore but not to Bush who is far worse at twisting things. Like, the WMDs we would find in Iraq. A lot of you people seem to forget that is why we went to war with Iraq and even though the intelligence was wrong, Bush and his buddies never admit they are wrong, they just keep changing the story.
Marty Wobacher (or Ytram Rehcabow – you are SO clever on your blog) sez: “Please tell me the name of this magazine or rag as you put it.”
I sez: Well, you called it “fishwrap” but I suspect that wasn’t the official name.
Well I tried to pst a reply but I guess it is caught again in the greatr spam filter or Billy has banned me or something. yes I have seen all moore’s films
Anon E. Mouse: fishwrap was the official title. I’ve only done those two magazines. I did a one off magazine once called Marty’s Magazine, which was a total goof, totally non-political. What are you talking about? Google fishwrap magazine Marty Wombacher and see what comes up.
“There’s an incongruous, but not entirely dull, cartoon of Bob Dole as Hitler.”
Well, color me not impressed.
Anon E. Mous: “I sez: Well, you called it “fishwrap†but I suspect that wasn’t the official name.”
Okay, the Bob Dole cartoon didn’t impress you. What does that have to do with you claiming fishwrap wasn’t the official name? I’m not impressed with you making a bold claim that fishwrap wasn’t the official name of the magazine. I think I should know, I named it.
And as I said before, we made fun, not only of Bob Dole, but both Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jann Wenner, Al Gore and on and on. It was a satirical magazine that made fun of all things and people regardless of their political bent. The magazine may not impress you, but it did impress some publications like, the NY Post, USA Today, NY Daily News, Spin magazine, Chicago Tribune, Peoria Journal Star, and Men’s Journal to name a few. I’m curious, Anon E. Mouse, what have you ever done besides post comments on blogs.
MW sez: “I’m not impressed with you making a bold claim that fishwrap wasn’t the official name of the magazine. I think I should know, I named it.”
I sez: What the fudge are you talking about? You never capitalized “fishwrap,” which any Second Grader would have known to do to indicate a proper noun.
MW sez: “I’m curious, Anon E. Mouse, what have you ever done besides post comments on blogs.”
I sez: I dunno what you are intimating, exactly. I write regularly for another entity (under my real name) and have posted a few dozen articles here. * Otherwise, read my bio – I am a pretty busy dad of four.
I don’t know you, MW, but I don’t agree with your politics and I am not impressed with your writing or attitude. I think your reaction to that says more about yourself that it does about me. You could probably say the same about me. I really couldn’t care less what you think of my politcs, writing, or attitude. Therein lies the difference between us.
So, at this time, following a time honored tradition, i would like to thank you for your input.
* Although none ranting about free meals I expected to be given for no good reason – if you expected a free meal on your birthday, you should have gone to Denny’s.
Hey Anon E. Mous, that was a style that myself and my art director decided on–you can take certain liberties when it’s your magazine. Would you make the same lower case argument to e.e. cummings? Would you have criticized the Beatles for misspelling their name? I could make the same argument to you saying that there is no word, “sez.”
Oh and you’re welcome for my input, hope you learned something!