November 27, 2002

Dear Friends,

It is Thanksgiving 2002 and it would seem that there is little to give
thanks for this year. W. has scored an unbelievable hat trick and is now
the first Republican since Eisenhower to control the House, the Senate and
the White House. There is no getting around just how damned demoralizing
and depressing this is. I wish there was a way to put a better face on what
has transpired, but my well of optimism is just about dry. Bush has his
"mandate" for war, his "mandate" for global frying, his "mandate" to turn
our government into his own private corporation.

Except...

Only about 20% of the American people showed up three weeks ago to vote for
a Republican. That's it. Just 20%. And about 19% voted for a Democrat (an
amazing number considering how few fights the Democrats put up around the
country).

And 61% said, "To hell with all of them!" and refused to show up and vote.

I am not surprised this happened. My greatest fear after the 2000 election
was that the majority of Americans would just give up and say, "Why
bother?" If there was one message to the average American from Bush's theft
of the White House, it was this: "Not only doesn't your vote count, but
even if you do vote, we're not going to count it!" I fear millions earlier
this month saw the futility of exercising their right to govern when those
who did the governing decided that the will of the people could be disposed
of as easily as a drunk driving citation on a Kennebunkport back road.

Even worse, African Americans, whose right to vote was the most egregiously
violated (and who usually are the first to stand and fight injustice), seem
to have given up. Betrayed, forgotten and taken for granted by the
Democrats, black voters saw no reason to revolt in 2000-and little reason
to show up in 2002. They got the message loud and clear: "This is White
America-we call the shots, we run this place, so shut the f*** up and stay
home. The polls have closed for you."

Of course, those in charge are thrilled that 61% of the country has given
up. That's right where they want us-out of the way! And it is for that
reason alone why we must not now throw in the towel. If we sink into a
collective state of despair, disgust and disinterest, we are truly doomed.
Bush & Company (and this includes the Democrats) are all-too-happy to be
left alone to run amok in the candy store. And, in the end, here is what
we'll be left with: billions of impoverished people around the world hoping
for a chance to kill you and me someday!

Ok, so what do we do? Perhaps the silver lining in all this is that Bush
will actually think he has a "mandate" and pull such a big, stinking
whopper that his re-installation in 2004 will be rendered impossible. Or
perhaps some prosecutor somewhere will have the guts to indict him for the
insider trading he conducted while on the board of Harken Oil. Who knows. A
lot can happen in 23 months.

In the meantime, you, me, all of us, have to get together and come up with
a plan that gets this country back in our hands. I have a few ideas. I'll
bet you do, too. Why don't we have an online brainstorming session from now
through the holidays? I'll set up a thread on my forum at
http://www.michaelmoore.c...m.php?f=30 for you to post your
comments and to generate a discussion about what we do for 2004.

Or, if you want to send me your thoughts directly, email me at
2004@michaelmoore.com. I've just learned the site is getting over 2 million
hits a day. Right now, 2,000,000 heads certainly feel better than one.

Pass the turkey.

Yours,
Michael Moore
Mike@michaelmoore.com
http://www.michaelmoore.com
http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com

time for a revolution

Talkin' Bout A Revolution"

"Dont you know
They're talkin' bout a revolution
it sounds like a whisper
Don't you know
They're talkin' bout a revolution
it sounds like a whisper

While they're standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Waisting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around, waiting for a promotion

Poor people gonna rise up
and get their share
Poor people gonna rise up
and take what's theirs

Don't you know
you better run, run, run
Oh I said you better
run, run, run

Finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin' bout a revolution... "

-Tracy Chapman 1988

Funny thing is, this song was out when the other Bush was in office.

Yeah, it's time 4 a revolution...


(ps. I love Michael Moore!!)