Granny Rant
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
::: So Sorry I Have Not Been Around Much :::
::: It Is Back To Hospital Hell ... Whew :::
Not much else to say except I need your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks so much
Gran
Saturday, June 26, 2004
::: It's Everywhere -- Thanks to Michael Moore :::
William Rivers Pitt always says it far better than I can:
Thank You Michael Moore
[..] Pitt
Screens in Bartlett, Chattanooga, Jackson, Knoxville and Memphis, Tennessee will be showing it. Screens in Layton and West Jordan, Utah will be showing it. If you find yourself in Leawood, Merriam, Shawnee or Wichita, Kansas, you can see it. The same goes for Centerville, Fairfax and Abington, Virginia. If you happen to be in Akron, Bexley, Dublin or Elyria, Ohio, you're all set. Hoover, Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama will not be left out.
Laramie, Wyoming? It's there. Bozeman, Montana? Indeed. Should you call home Grand Island, Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska, you have not been forgotten. The largest mall in the country, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, will have it in its theater. If you are a soldier at Camp Lejune or Fort Bragg, about to be shipped to Iraq, you can see it in nearby Fayetteville, North Carolina.
These towns, large and small, along with towns large and small from sea to shining sea and straight through the American heartland, will begin screening Michael Moore's documentary, 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' beginning at 12:01a.m. Friday morning, the 25th of June, 2004. For the majority of people who will see this movie, in those towns large and small, the experience will be nothing short of a mind-bomb.
[..] Pitt
*** Guess Texas George fell off his horse on this one ... what happened Dubya, attack machine broken?
*** Oopps ... guess not ... don't miss the article at the bottom of the Pitt "Thank You" ... called "Activists Using Fahrenheit 9/11 as an Organizing Tool" By Scott Galindez
[..] Pitt
The Who once sang about how the hypnotized never lie, but as we have seen, people hypnotized by television and deliberately enforced fear can certainly support a war, and a President, which are fundamentally at odds with basic American decency. In fact, people hypnotized by television and deliberately enforced fear will feed themselves into the meat grinder with "God Bless America" on their lips.
Michael Moore's film will snap that hypnosis, but good. Those Americans who believed what their President told them because they saw it on the TV will, after less than two hours in their local theater, look at both their television and their President with doubt and loathing when they walk from the darkness into the bright light of day. There are millions of Americans who believed what they were told - about 9/11, about Iraq, about George W. Bush himself - who will come into that bright light with the realization that they have been lied to.
[..] Pitt
*** All the connections fell into place ... especially for all of us who have been raising sand for the past couple of years about Bush, Cheney and the lies they told and continue to tell today.
[..] Pitt
Speaking personally, none of the data in this film surprised me. Having spent every day of the last three years working to expose as many Americans as possible to the truth of the man they call President, Mr. Moore was unlikely to explode any shells across my bow. The connections between Bush, the Saudis, the Carlyle Group and the 9/11 attacks were there. The connections between Cheney and Halliburton were there. The connections between Enron, Unocal, natural gas pipelines, the war in Afghanistan and a little-known country called Turkmenistan were there. I enjoyed the fact that Moore showed off unredacted copies of Bush's military service record, allowing us to see the parts of those documents which had been blacked out. I found no fact, no assertion in this film to question or doubt. I have done my homework, and as was made painfully clear, Michael Moore did his.
Most Americans don't know about this stuff, and seeing it fully documented and meticulously researched on the big screen will be, to say the least, revelatory. Yes, Virginia, there are billions of dollars to be made off this Iraq war for Bush's friends. The second door on the left is the recruiting office. Sign on the line that is dotted, and be the first kid on your block to die for the benefit of Carlyle's stock options. Be sure to save your pennies beforehand, however, because the Army will dock your pay for the days you are dead. It's policy, you see.
[..] Pitt
*** Looks like the tidbits I had heard on the cable shows about the last half being very serious were all true.
[..] Pitt
Mr. Moore put two daggers into me with this film, the first of which had to do with American soldiers. Trooper after trooper spoke frankly for Moore's camera, condemning both the war and the people who thrust them into it. Several scenes graphically explained what happens to a soldier's body when it is caught in an explosion. The result is ruinous, and the cries of the wounded and the dying will ring in my ears forever.
The most wrenching scenes in the film center around a woman named Lila, who loves her country, loves her flag, and above all loves her children whom she actively persuaded to join the armed services. We learn that Lila has a son in Iraq, and because of that, she despises those protesting the invasion. We find out later that her son was killed in Karbala on April 2nd, when his Blackhawk helicopter was shot down. We watch her read her son's last letter home, in which he rages against Bush and the war. We last see Lila standing at the gates of the White House, tears boiling from her eyes, as she discovers her true enemy, the one who took her baby from her.
The other dagger Moore put into me came during his montage of the media coverage of the war. Journalist after journalist is shown rhapsodizing Bush, his administration and the war. Each and every one of them carried forth that which we now know to be bald-faced lies: That Iraq had WMDs, that Iraq was a threat, that we had to go, and that everything is fine. It was a slideshow of the nonsense Americans have been spoon-fed for far too long.
If you doubt this, Sidney Blumenthal's aggressive and effective actual journalism, as found in his most recent report titled 'Reality is Unraveling for Bush,' should help you along. "Most of the media was on the bandwagon or intimidated," writes Blumenthal. "Cheney himself called the president of the corporation that owned one of the networks to complain about an errant commentator. Political aides directed by Karl Rove ceaselessly called editors and producers with veiled threats about access that was not granted in any case. The press would not bite the hand that would not feed it."
'Fahrenheit 9/11' is not a victory for anyone. We the People should have known better, We the People should have been given the facts before sending 851 of our children to die. We the People have been betrayed, by our leaders and by a media that profited, and profits still, from the daily sale of lies. This film drove that horrid fact home with a mallet, and it hurt.
[..] Pitt
Sorry guys, but as usual I have included most all of Pitt's words, but I did leave a tad for you to consume at your leisure ... you'll still have to click in to get "a portion of Shakespeare's rendition of Henry's speech before Agincourt"
One more thing ... from W. R. Pitt
[..] Pitt
Many of us were not hypnotized. Millions of us took to the streets in this country and around the world, to try and stop this madness before it was unleashed. The people in that theater with me had done this, had never stopped doing this, though their President and their media named them traitor. They were right. They were right. They were right.
Michael Moore has unleashed a wolf within Mr. Bush's fences. There is no getting around it. Perhaps, now that it is far too late, we as a nation will wake up. On the day of that awakening, those of us who never stopped standing, never stopped marching, learned to live without sleep, learned to live in a nation that scorned truth for televised fantasy, those patriots I was with tonight in that theater can pause for breath. We can sit upon the grass on a bright day, strip our sleeves, and show our scars.
[..] Pitt
Thank you Michael Moore and thank you W. R. Pitt ... for your honesty, for your persistence and determination to get the truth to the people.
Granny, who says .... "Let the sun shine in."
Ah ... a postscript on the credibility of the film:
Analyzing Fahrenheit 9/11
By David Sirota, Christy Harvey, Judd Legum and Jonathan Baskin
The Center for American Progress
::: Breaking News ... Granny Discovers The Truth :::
::: Why Cheney Said The F-Word :::
It was in response to SouthKnoxBubba's brilliant review of Fahrenheit 911
Hey, Dick, Bubba can go to any movie he wants ... at least that is the case so far. 'Course many Americans realize you and Georgie are trying to change all that ...
Sooo ... This is what all the fuss is about.
Bubba says ...
[..] Bubba
Say what you will about Michael Moore, but Fahrenheit 911 is a masterpiece. Moore puts you through an emotional wringer, relentlessly assaulting your sensibilities with the outrageous, the profane, and the absurd. During the first five minutes, I whispered to Mrs. Bubba that I didn't know if I would be able to take it. She concurred. By the time it was over we had both gone through a few Kleenexes. But thankfully Moore provides comic relief when it's most needed.
[..] Bubba
The local Knoxville paper had responses from moviegoers and a few local Republicans (who, according to Bubba, will not see the movie).
[..] KnoxNews
Leaving the 5:10 showing of the film, Lori Barnes fought back tears.
"I just can't believe our president would lie to us the way he has," she said. The most powerful thing was "seeing the mother talk about her son (who died in the Iraq war), because my husband was in the first Iraq war."
Waiting in line for the 7:50 show, Chattanooga resident Howie Sompayrac said he was afraid the movie would confirm what he already knows.
"I'm both excited and scared to see this movie because I think it will be mindboggling to see how corrupted our government is," said Sompayrac, who has voted for both Democrats and Republicans in the past. "It's created a big stir among Republicans so I figure he must have something good."
Republicans have said the film skews the facts and that Moore has a political agenda.
"This movie couldn't be more wrong," Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, a Republican, said Thursday. "President Bush did a magnificent job during the crisis following the cowardly attack on America. Frankly, (Moore's) trying to use the Sept. 11 tragedy for personal gain is reprehensible."
Chad Tindell, chairman of the Knox County Republican Party, said he does not plan to see the movie and thinks it will only be of interest to people who dislike Bush.
"It is portrayed as a documentary but I think most people who've seen it have said it is fiction," Tindell said. "Without question it has political purpose by Michael Moore. Events are slanted and not necessarily correct. They're not factually accurate."
But Kevin Barry, Knox County Chairman for Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, said he hopes people will see the movie before judging it.
[..] KnoxNews
[..] Bubba
Moore is apparently pushing the right buttons. The only thing more reprehensible for him to be using 9/11 for personal gain (which he's not) would be for politicians to use 9/11 for political gain. Oh, wait...
(P.S. I think Chad Tindell ought to call up Lila Lipscomb and explain how her son's death is "fiction".)
[..] Bubba
WOW ... Personally, I think I might just see the movie myself, you know, before I decide if I like it or not.
Besides, have you noticed? Politicians sure are getting testy lately. Cheney tells Pat Leahy to "F-Off" or "F-Himself," then Clinton gets snippy with a foreign reporter and Bush copies him.
Must be an election year!
Gran
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
::: Tribute to A Real Hero :::
My heart was broken last night when I tuned in Larry King last night to watch his interview with Gene Hackman.
And Lo .... there was Mattie Stephanek,POET AND PEACEMAKER so I thought it was a split program with Mattie and Gene ... I have seen Mattie on Larry's show before and found him so courageous and so incredibly smart ... a child with insight into life that defies description.
I suppose I am like most of us who try to blog and read and try to keep up with what is happening in our world ... in other words, I always read while watching TV.
Finally, I looked up from being delighted by his poems and descriptions of his rich life to notice the interview was taped in Sept, 2002 ... and even later, I noticed the blurb at the bottom of the screen that said Mattie had lost his fight with Muscular Dystrophy yesterday at age 13.
In approximately one month, Mattie would have been fourteen, but to listen to his poetry, you would be shocked to learn of his chronological age. Mattie's poetry is the work of and old soul. Home schooled by his mom, who has serious teaching credentials, Mattie was already "in high school" and was attending a few courses at a local college.
Poet Hero -- Mattie Stephanek
[..]
When we first featured poet hero Mattie Stepanek on My Hero, he told us about his three wishes. The first was to publish a book of his poetry, the second was to meet his hero, former President Jimmy Carter, and the third was to appear in Oprah. We're happy to say that as of 2001 his three wishes had been granted. And then some...
On July 2001, VSP Books and Hyperion Books joined forces to publish Mattie's book of poems, Heartsongs. Not surprisingly, it has become a national bestseller. Hyperion then went the extra mile and signed Mattie to a three-book deal. As part of the deal, the publishers have released Mattie's second book, Journey through Heartsongs. His third book, Hope through Heartsongs, was released in April of 2002.
In September 2001 when Mattie was in the hospital, staff workers arranged for him to have a phone conversation with his hero, Jimmy Carter. According to those who witnessed the 15-minute chat, Mattie, whose selflessness is beyond reproach, talked to President Carter about problems in Bosnia and Africa, and not, as one would expect, about his own health complications. Incredibly, after speaking to Mattie, the former president decided to write the foreward to Mattie's second book, Journey through Heartsongs. A month later, Diane Sawyer and her staff at Good Morning America surprised Mattie with his first face to face meeting with President Carter on live TV.
On October 19, 2001, Mattie's third wish came true. Mattie was featured on Oprah and spoke with Winfrey about his books, his love for poetry and life, and his desire to be a peacemaker in the world. Oprah then read her favorite excerpts from Mattie's poetry and said, "I think that's so important, especially now, when everybody is feeling a sense of fear and having been terrorized, to look at what you have in your life and have a sense of gratitude and see the miracles in your life. And you, even though you're hooked up to all this equipment, and we had to plug you in during the commercial break, give you more oxygen, you still see miracles everyday in your life."
[..]
Reading through this site was one of the most uplifting experiences I have ever had.
I sincerely hope you will spend a little time with Mattie; read his incredible poetry. Mattie was a remarkable voice and peacemaker in a time of constant conflict. We will miss his bright smile and hope for our future.
Gran
Saturday, June 19, 2004
::: Bush's New Ad Campaign - Damn, I like it :::
Courtsey of a gret friend:
From Take Back The Media
Enjoy
Gran
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
::: Bush 2nd Term - End Of America :::
Unfortunately, Granny just had not carried the HORROR of a Bush 2nd Term to the logical conclusion. Just think!
NeoConvicts Unleashed
A recent article brought me to my senses.
Musical Chairs at the White House;
[..]
Colin Powell will go.
Condoleezza Rice will take over at the State Department.
Rumsfeld will consolidate power as the president's national-security adviser.
Paul Wolfowitz will run the Defense Department.
Domestic policy will swing further right. A re-election would strengthen the White House's hand on issues that even many congressional Republicans have a hard time accepting, such as the assault on civil liberties. Bush will seek to push "Patriot II" through Congress, giving the Justice Department and the FBI powers to inspect mail, eavesdrop on phone conversations and e-mail, and examine personal medical records, insurance claims, and bank accounts.
Right-wing evangelicals will solidify their control over the departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services - curtailing abortions, putting federal funds into the hands of private religious groups, pushing prayer in the public schools, and promoting creationism.
Economic policy, meanwhile, will be tilted even more brazenly toward the rich. Republican strategist Grover Norquist smugly predicts larger tax benefits for high earners in a second Bush administration. The goal will be to eliminate all taxes on capital gains, dividends, and other forms of unearned income and move toward a "flat tax." The plan will be for deficits to continue to balloon until Wall Street demands large spending cuts as a condition for holding down long-term interest rates. Homeowners, facing potential losses on their major nest eggs as mortgage rates move upward, might be persuaded to join the chorus.
In consequence, Bush will slash all domestic spending outside of defense. He will also argue that Social Security cannot be maintained in its present form, and will push for legislation to transform it into private accounts. Meanwhile, the few shards of regulation still protecting the environment and the safety of American workers will be eliminated.
[..]
Holy Hotdogs Robin, what can we do????
Vote damnit!
Gran
::: Bush 2nd Term - End Of America :::
Unfortunately, Granny just had not carried the HORROR of a Bush 2nd Term to the logical conclusion. Just think!
NeoConvicts Unleashed
A recent article brought me to my senses.
Musical Chairs at the White House;
[..]
Colin Powell will go.
Condoleezza Rice will take over at the State Department.
Rumsfeld will consolidate power as the president's national-security adviser.
Paul Wolfowitz will run the Defense Department.
Domestic policy will swing further right. A re-election would strengthen the White House's hand on issues that even many congressional Republicans have a hard time accepting, such as the assault on civil liberties. Bush will seek to push "Patriot II" through Congress, giving the Justice Department and the FBI powers to inspect mail, eavesdrop on phone conversations and e-mail, and examine personal medical records, insurance claims, and bank accounts.
Right-wing evangelicals will solidify their control over the departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services - curtailing abortions, putting federal funds into the hands of private religious groups, pushing prayer in the public schools, and promoting creationism.
Economic policy, meanwhile, will be tilted even more brazenly toward the rich. Republican strategist Grover Norquist smugly predicts larger tax benefits for high earners in a second Bush administration. The goal will be to eliminate all taxes on capital gains, dividends, and other forms of unearned income and move toward a "flat tax." The plan will be for deficits to continue to balloon until Wall Street demands large spending cuts as a condition for holding down long-term interest rates. Homeowners, facing potential losses on their major nest eggs as mortgage rates move upward, might be persuaded to join the chorus.
In consequence, Bush will slash all domestic spending outside of defense. He will also argue that Social Security cannot be maintained in its present form, and will push for legislation to transform it into private accounts. Meanwhile, the few shards of regulation still protecting the environment and the safety of American workers will be eliminated.
[..]
Holy Hotdogs Robin, what can we do????
Vote damnit!
Gran
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
::: Granny In Hosp Hell, Again :::
Sorry for not posting lately ... family member in hospital. No need, I am sure, to describe that fun process.
Consequently ... am stealing a post from on of my fav blogs:
The Talking Dog
Probably the BEST BushBoy can deliver: Iceberg, Ho!
Enjoy
