Burn, Baby, Burn!

Dear Ronald Reagan: Thanks for Wrecking America

Bill Moyers Makes Newt Gingrich Look Like an Idiot

Right's Stupidity Spreads, Enabled by Too-Polite Left

FOCUS | Madonna, Like a Man, and Hated for It

FOCUS: The Cancer in Occupy

Michael Moore: "So the friggin' SECRETARY OF DEFENSE took time off running all our wars to call some nutjob preacher in Florida."

Supporters shake hands and hold signs in front of the site of a proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero in New York, 08/19/10. (photo: Seth Wenig/AP)

Comments

+31 # Guest 2010-09-10 09:38

Amen, Michael. This flapdoodle over the lunatics is complete b.s. This guy, Jones, has something like 50 parishioners? WHAT??? Get your news cycle on and hold the entire gov't. of the US hostage! ridiculous. And where is the Emily Post who told them (Gates, Petraeus and Obama) that owed him a response? Teh stupid is staggering.

+28 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:24

Jones, has something like 50 parishioners? More likely 30 - it is another sect of fanatics. With cross burned in their brain. Very close to Palin oratory.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 16:56

Quoting

Jones, has something like 50 parishioners? More likely 30 - it is another sect of fanatics. With cross burned in their brain. Very close to Palin oratory.

It was quite apparent that this guy was a loon. He is a danger 2 himself or others, I'd say it calls 4 a 51-50

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 17:00

This guy has more media than followers, he went to school w/Rush limbaugh...he's a danger to himself and others, a 51-50 needed asap. Yes, I believe in freedom of religion n freedom of speech, just not his.

+31 # Guest 2010-09-10 09:44

Why doesn't anyone bring up the Virginia v. Black supreme court case of 2003 banning cross burning? There is ABSOLUTELY a correlation here. There should be an injunction issued since this moron pastor went to such extremes to make his plans known, and he has spent so much time organizing others to burn Qurans along with him. If you think this is terrorism, Mike, then it's NOT a first amendment right. And since its purpose is clearly to intimidate, I think it should be illegal.

+19 # Guest 2010-09-10 09:49

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! LOVE YOU MIKE!!!

+40 # Guest 2010-09-10 09:54

Once again Michael nails it. The retarded media has given the Florida bigot man of no God all the attention. Isn't that why toddlers throw temper tantrums, to get attention? And right on cue the media can't wait to give us more drama & scripted BS. Run for Pres Michael & give us a real PEOPLE'S candidate!Let's do a real Man Of The Year reality show & throw out all the whores in Washington who work for Corporate America & AIPAC.

+17 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:06

great idea Kathleen... that would certainly empty out most of Washington!!

Mike 4 President!

+12 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:32

I gotta confess Kathleen, that I'm one who has fallen for all this flap doodle. I am sorry to say that indeed, the media and political attention given to this creep in Florida merely empowers him and maybe it would have been better if we and the media had ignored this little pissant. Instead we give this jerk the world stage. Geez, "stupid" is becoming like an infectious disease. Heck, I caught a dose just getting riled up by this creep. In the big picture Jones is significant only because the media and the rest of us have made him significant. In the big picture he's just another turd along the road of life worthy of stepping over or kicking into the gutter.

I hate being taken, but yep, I've been had. Thank you Michael Moore for putting things into perspective, and yes, do run for President.

+18 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:10

Michael, I agree with all you say. When is the American people going to wake up and see what is going on with this government.We need to end this war NOW,and bring all our troops home.When you have 15 to 20 million of our people out of work and thousands of homes being forclosed on each month,We may just be looking down the road at another American Revolution.and this time to form a New Government.

+10 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:14

I think it's a great piece, but I don't think the so-called pastor (do you know about his history in Germany?) has the right to burn Qurans in public. That is a hate crime. He can use whatever he wants in his fireplace. But I think we know how sacred this book is physically to more than a billion people, in a way that dwarfs people's feeling even for the Bible. I think it should be illegal to desecrate our flag as well, because of what that act implies about the perpetrator's hatred for his political community. How ever irrational this may seem, there are physical things that are sacred to whole communities. There are even words that are hateful to communities within the Union. To use them is to commit a hate crime. Hate crimes are real things as well. It is hateful to desecrate things that are sacred to whole communities, and I think to do so publicly constitutes a crime.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:37

Perhaps A P David, but I think people, in the privacy of their own homes, should be permitted to freely burn what ever they want in their fire places. While not interfering with that, you're right that hate crimes are serious and need to be intervened with. We just need to be real careful. Hate itself may be immoral but legislating emotions is unthinkable. We need to be cautious about where we draw the line. Certainly yelling fire in a crowded theater is a crime and maybe publicly burning Korans should be for the same reason. Can't the authorities just enforce the laws against hate crimes without giving such idiots a world stage? Every time we do that, hate wins. It's the attention they want and this should be denied them.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 16:15

No, these things shouldn't be a crime. Let the assholes and idiots proclaim themselves out loud so we know who to avoid and mock. But under no circumstance should speech be outlawed, or even certain behaviors because to do so sets us on the edge of a slippery slope indeed and everything anyone might find offensive falls under the scrutiny of those who'd love nothing more than to control others' to further their own ideology.

Thanks, but no thanks.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 23:11

Quoting

No, these things shouldn't be a crime. Let the assholes and idiots proclaim themselves out loud so we know who to avoid and mock. But under no circumstance should speech be outlawed, or even certain behaviors because to do so sets us on the edge of a slippery slope indeed and everything anyone might find offensive falls under the scrutiny of those who'd love nothing more than to control others' to further their own ideology.

Thanks, but no thanks.

WOW ! Hasn't the above already happened in the U.S. ? Can you go to work and openly state 911 was an internal job ?
Will you still be employed at the end of the week if you state this openly ?

So hasn't the above already arrived ?

+10 # Guest 2010-09-10 21:05

yeah, the bonfire bigot was kicked out of Germany for "Spiritually abusing" his flock, some of whom are still in counseling. He also is suspected of financial hanky panky so they kicked him out and now he only has 50 in the US flock and the international press turning on the gold media spigot all over his crazy head. There are so many more interesting and deserving people we could give our attention to.

+23 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:18

Travel America!

We ARE a nation of idiots!

+14 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:21

As a non-whacko in exile here in Florida (Gainesville, no less), I humbly petition to give away some of our whackos. You know, disburse them more evenly throughout the states. Hell, I petition on behalf of the entire Southeast. We get a bad rap for not being from the land of snooty Yanks, but we're not ALL like this preacher.

+18 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:23

Sorry Kristin, but here in Arizona we can't take any Florida whackos off your hands. Like your state, we're full-up right now.

+15 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:26

Thank you for the offer.

But I am not aware of any region of the nation currently complaining of a whacko shortage.

In fact, if we could just turn them into an export product we could probably fix the economy.

+23 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:22

we've killed hundreds of thousands of their people - and christian-zionist fanatic is putting gasolin on the fire. It is a hate crime - and the tea-party hero should be put in jail. Nothing to do with freedom of speech - that we lost long time ago.

+10 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:38

Quoting

we've killed hundreds of thousands of their people - and christian-zionist fanatic is putting gasolin on the fire. It is a hate crime - and the tea-party hero should be put in jail. Nothing to do with freedom of speech - that we lost long time ago.

EXACTLY!

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 16:17

Odd that you would post on the site of someone who relies on freedom of speech to do what he does and declare that we lost it. Lost it how? Is someone even now kicking your door to arrest you for posting on Michael Moore's blog?

I fully support someone's right to stand up and proclaim "I'm an idiot." Easier to avoid them that way.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 22:28

I want to put this issue of "Rights" in perspective. George Carlin in his last HBO special, " It's bad for ya", gave the most reasoned argument about our "Rights". We have no "Rights", what we have are privileges granted by a government. Some have more some less and some have none. If you question wither these "privileges" can be taken away just look up what happened to the 100,000+ Japanese-AMERICAN CITIZENS in 1942!

What "right" we do have, as individuals, is to think what we want. You, as an individual, have the right to express yourself and I, as an individual have the right to tell you, "You are full of crap". The responsibility is up to us to decide what we accept or not accept.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 23:14

Quoting

Odd that you would post on the site of someone who relies on freedom of speech to do what he does and declare that we lost it. Lost it how? Is someone even now kicking your door to arrest you for posting on Michael Moore's blog?

I fully support someone's right to stand up and proclaim "I'm an idiot." Easier to avoid them that way.

Easy sweetheart, step outside your front door and loudly proclaim 911 was an inside job, see how quickly the straight jacket people arrive. Love your concept of freedom. LOL.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 23:38

Quoting

Odd that you would post on the site of someone who relies on freedom of speech to do what he does and declare that we lost it. Lost it how? Is someone even now kicking your door to arrest you for posting on Michael Moore's blog?

I fully support someone's right to stand up and proclaim "I'm an idiot." Easier to avoid them that way.

Sure. It's every persons right to declare themselves an idiot. However, doing so in a way that will knowingly hurt others, like yelling fire in a crowded theater that isn't burning, knowing that people may get hurt and even killed as a result, is NOT a First Ammendment right. It isn't. The freedom of speech DOES have limits, and we need to enforce them.

+31 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:26

How come nobody has told this scam artists that the tax-exempt status of his "church" will be removed if he goes thru with this political act? That would shut this meagalomaniac up right quick.

+22 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:27

Michael Moore has more balls than everyone inside the Beltway combined. Awesome.

+8 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:59

"Michael Moore has more balls than everyone "... and does NO wet his pants in front of generals ... like most of the Congress in Washington DC does

-2 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:51

The leaders you dished are the absolute closest to the PULSE of the Middle East. YES, including our SECRETARY OF STATE, Hillary Rodham Clinton!! I still have more respect for her than ANYONE in POLITICS!

But again, I notice you didn't even mention the PRESIDENT. Why is that Mr. Moore? hahahahaha......

As ONE of "We the People" I felt relieved for this show of solidarity! YES - ONE stupid idiot can change the world in ONE stupid act! We need to BEGIN to value each other and the freedom to have differences

BTW - I DO greatly value the courage of your comments on the political decisions made in the past but seem relatively ongoing!

+9 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:52

If the Media and prominent American Officials would ignore this NUT JOB, he just MIGHT go away. Faint hope now that he's been given an open forum by the Press. If they can't FIND News, they CREATE it, much to the detriment of Society in general. I agree, Michael. we ARE doomed.

+13 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:22

You're right, billnbillieskid -- if the stupid media wouldn't give the nutjobs all the attention they want, they would quietly fade away. But the problem is not that the media can't find news, it's that they no longer have the freedom to print it. The corporate world owns the media, just like they own most of our government, and what is printed or broadcast is dictated by the owners. Our country has been brought to a sad, sorry state by drinking the koolaid while our democracy was stolen and became a corporatocracy.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 15:17

The media seek out anything to promote what it is they are promoting. In the case of the Park51 Project (Islamic cultural center) and Preacher Jones, it doubles as a distraction from real issues and promotes Islamophobia. Of course, there are going to be more while 'peace' talks are going on.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:53

MICHAEL FOR PRESIDENT.
ENUF SAID

HE SPEAKS TRUTH

+22 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:56

Let's double-down on Pamela Geller - she's the right-wing blogger who started all the hoo-hah about the Muslim community center in the first place. This center has operated near the Ground Zero neighborhood for years. They just want to build a new building with a pool and a gym, and meeting rooms and a library, etc etc. Why don't these right-wing nuts care that there is a strip joint right near GZ? How about the Burger Kings and Mickey D's that are in the area or the betting parlors??? Why aren't those condemned?? Let's ignore Terry Jones and take care of Pamela Geller!

+14 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:58

"Are we a nation of idiots?"

Mike, do you REALLY want someone to answer that?

+9 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:59

I agree with you Mike! I wish you would run for political office. We need more politicians who are honest and have the guts to speak the truth!

+11 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:26

Amen to that, Kathleen W. Only problem is nobody's got enough money to run without being "bought" into office by some corporation or combination of them. Somehow we've gotta get all this corporate money out of government. I don't see any other solution to the mess we're in now than to banish corporate $$ from politics.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 15:37

You are right. Can't believe that our leaders? in Washington now make it ok for any company to donate any amount of money they want to to their politician. If things were already bad enough. Mr. FoxNews immediately donated $1M to the whacko Conservatives. If your not rich in America, you really don't have a vote that counts.

0 # Guest 2010-09-12 19:14

"We need more politicians who are honest and have the guts to speak the truth." Alan Grayson comes to mind. Dennis Kucinich used to...until he boarded Air Force One believing in REAL Healthcare Reform and after a short flight with Obama, got off and gave up the good fight.

+12 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:05

What if someone has a book-burning, and nobody comes. Nobody reports it, no newsmedia allows it to be published- in fact the only action would be to hastily erect a fence around the misguided chap (maybe get the materials from the one on the Mexican border) and let him do what he wants.

It's the media who like to turn everything into mass hysteria who have exacerbated this problem. If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, did it really fall?

+5 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:11

I agree with Kathleen Mike FOR president you would have my vote.

+9 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:16

I don't think this pastor is bright enough to do this on his own. Some manipulators higher up are pulling his strings. He never mentioned the mosque until Palin talked about it, so he's obviously a Tea Partier.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 23:17

Quoting

I don't think this pastor is bright enough to do this on his own. Some manipulators higher up are pulling his strings. He never mentioned the mosque until Palin talked about it, so he's obviously a Tea Partier.

First bllody accurate responce I've seen on here that gets to the basiscs of the issue. Much closer scrutiny needs to be conducted as to What's in it for the Pastor, and from whom.

+15 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:18

No one has suggested that Christian houses of worship should be banned in Oklahoma City because of Timothy McVeigh's action at the Murrah Building in OK City.

And last night Donald Trump supposedly offered to buy the site of the proposed community center in New York--holy cow. Would Trump buy property to keep NAACP from building a youth center if local white creeps were offended? It's a shame that money can take a warped discussion even further off-track, and create a mechanism to silence hatred by buying the discussion.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:25

Mike is right of course. What is sad and very disturbing about this whole tale is all the publicity thrust on this Florida preacher. For what? And how much longer will this nut job be around ? Will he be a spokesman for the right wing like Joe the so called plumber? I'm sure the preacher man is loved by the tea bag brigade. They should show some guts and publicly embrace their heroic one.

+9 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:26

Notice how much alike this preacher is with Rush and Glen and all those other ranting television whackos? It seems he is just poaching on their property. Is there some machine that is manufacturing these crazy guys for the "benefit" of our country?

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 14:12

Quoting

Notice how much alike this preacher is with Rush and Glen and all those other ranting television whackos? It seems he is just poaching on their property. Is there some machine that is manufacturing these crazy guys for the "benefit" of our country?

Is that you, Hal?

+5 # Guest 2010-09-10 17:13

Fox news sends out "information packets" to their minions and other assorted lunatics. They call this propaganda news. That is why their talking points all use the same phrases to delude the middle class. Hitler used the same strategy very effectively. The whole thing reminds me of a Moog echo chamber. Makes me nauseous if I listen to it.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 15:10

yes, a machine. Programmed by machines, because isn't that what runs us now? A machine to ensure clone/like behavior. But in some cases, inbreeding didn't hurt.

+8 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:27

It HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE MEDIA AT TIMES CAN BE OUR WORST ENEMY. TO VALIDATE THIS LUNATIC IN GAINESVILLE IS A MISTAKE. LET HIM BURN THE KORAN IN PRIVATE WITH NO COVERAGE, IT IS HIS RIGHT. TO SENSATIONALIZE IT DOES MORE HARM TO OUR COUNTRY THAN THE ACT ITSELF. BUT NOW THAT IT IS THIS FAR GONE, HE HAS TO BE STOPPED. I SUGGEST THE MEDIA WHO BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC STAND ON THE FRONT LINES IN AFGHANISTAN AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS THEY PUT IN HARMS WAY. AS FOR THE MOSQUE IT IS THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BUILD AN ISLAMIC CENTER AND WORSHIP HALL ANYWHERE THEY WANT. THIS COMES FROM AN AMERICAN WHO LOST FAMILY IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

+4 # vdelgoriosr 2010-09-10 11:39

It is the medias fault we are having a discussion over a lunatics planned action which he is entitled to execute under our constitutional rights. If the media would have just let them burn their book without any coverage no one would have know and this lunatic would have pleased his congregation of 50. Now we have the entire world looking in which put our troops in harms way. Great job media, maybe you should stand on the front lines and protect our troops which give you the right to cover any story and sensationalize it to the detriment of their safety.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:48

For cripes sake----OBAMA was being pressured to come forward and do something!! WHY not Gates? WHY not clinton? to keep him doing what he needs to be doing.

Bin Laden will be severely disappointed if this Koran burning does not take place---Take a wild guess at what the next Recruitment tape for SUICIDE bombers will look like ! Between Tea Party squealers, Koran burners, etc, Bin Laden merely has to sit back and let us destroy ourselves with HATE !

Sometimes, Mike---you get off track of Reality ! Like now !

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 21:00

To PamB: Bin Laden says he will simply sit back and watch us destroy ourselves as we blow our money on war until we are broke. I read his letter on the internet that made this claim, before the feds had taken him off of the internet, a few months after 9-11. I hope it doesn't happen to this country, but it could be a very sad possibility.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 23:41

Quoting

To PamB: Bin Laden says he will simply sit back and watch us destroy ourselves as we blow our money on war until we are broke. I read his letter on the internet that made this claim, before the feds had taken him off of the internet, a few months after 9-11. I hope it doesn't happen to this country, but it could be a very sad possibility.

It's already happened.

-4 # PBerg 2010-09-10 11:54

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:18

Surely there's a bumper sticker out there somewhere? I want one!

MIKE FOR PRESIDENT!

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:18

The idiot in Florida got his fifteen minutes of fame. Why the heck was this front page news? They should have ignored his stupid ass.

+9 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:22

PREDICTION -

Now that the pre-event publicity is completed, SOME christofascist waterhead will burn a bunch of Korans.

Immediately thereafter, we will be told that The Big Bad Muslims are pissed, and there will be HEIGHTENED TERROR ALERTS!!!

Which will in turn be the pretext for more US military aggression and the further undermining of the Bill of Rights.

Remember, you heard it here first.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:35

Free speech for nutjobs. Right, except when that free expression is guaranteed to get people killed. Burn a Koran and a small number of batshit waco jihadists will fire guns, strap on bombs and spill blood in the name of Allah and nothing will stop it. Look at the carnage that resulted from a stupid cartoon. It's like a nut job who insists on throwing rocks at a man eating tiger knowing full well the tiger will go bonkers and tear people apart. Somebody has to say, "Hey dumb shit! Don't pitch rocks at that tiger. People will die!" The French have a more civilized way to protest Muslim extremism, pork eating and wine drinking demonstrations. That's a protest I can get behind.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:53

Wonder how much money Jones has pulled in from fanatics with all this publicity? In which case he has won whether or not he burns anything.

+10 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:09

Michael, I think the defining question is clear: "Are we a nation of idiots?" You know how that one turns out. We've got idiots who lost their jobs and homes due to the 2000-2008 spree sporting "Stop Socialism" bumper stickers and voting for tax breaks for the rich. Nut jobs who link the Iraq invasion to 9/11. The dog is frothing, Mike, the dog is frothing.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:14

Burn, crazy baby, burn, indeed! I believe in American's constitutional rights to build a mosque near ground zero and to burn the q'ran.

However, I have a problem with our president taking sides with one's right (to build the mosque) while standing against the other's right (burning the q'ran.

Our president should remain neutral publicly and stand ONLY with the fact that both have a constitional right to do these things, period.

Americans should not be cowed by the reactions of extremists by denying our citizen's their constitutional rights. (Yes, the rights our soldiers who could be put in more danger, have and still fight for).

I am not impressed with this crazy preacher in Florida, however, I will defend his right to burn the q'ran as others would have the right to burn a bible or the flag, etc.

I think Obama needs to grow a pair (concerning this and many other domestic issues).

+8 # heraldmage 2010-09-10 13:22

Great article, but it makes you wonder what is going on that they need us to be distracted? Not just in USA but everyone seems to be watching an attention seeking disreputable preacher get his 10 minutes of fame.

Makes me worry that they are up to something really bad that they need this big of a diversion.

Its past time we stop this Bin Laden terrorist scare tactics, we are our worst enemy. To many the USA is the terrorist. They have 6 decades of data demonstrating USA interference in the affairs of many nations. The objective is to impose USA economic policy & transfer national wealth (not democracy) by any means necessary.

Bid Laden, terrorist, WMD, Iran are all tactics of misrepresentati on & historical revision meant to keep Americans cowering in the corner while the gov't trample on our Constitutional rights & everyone's human rights.

Its time to be vigilant, to go beyond the ordinary news sources, find what is hidden & expose it.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 15:28

Peace talks are going on. Every time there are peace talks, the Islamophobia propaganda machine and anti-Arab/anti-Arab/anti-Palestinian propaganda machine cranks out endless news and opinion articles to stir up controversy and degrade their opponents.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:30

What a great 'anarchist' you are, Mike. These days, that's what peaceful peace advocates are called by, you guessed it, the Northern Command Center's big shots, who direct the country's over seventy fusion centers, who in turn tell local authorities what to do and how to do it. Like publicly torture 65 year old Elizabeth Fineran, the former, fully disable former nun who was tripped and dragged, in front of parade onlookers including children, until she was bloody and raw on two huge spots on her upper thing and lower belly. Yes, indeed, Mike, free speech is long gone, as is the free press. The only national coverage of the above cited Colorado Springs 2007 St. Patrick's Day Parade (pull up Colorado Springs Independent and see same, and "No Peace or Justice", Jan. 21,2010, news story by J. Adrian Stanley) came from MSNBC's Keith Olberman. And, of course, he's like you and me, Mike, another one of those damned 'anarchists.'

+11 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:31

FOR EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS NOT OLD ENOUGH ,A QUESTION: WHO IS THE BIGGEST TERRORIST NATION IN THE WORLD?? THE UNITED STATES ! WE EXPORT MORE GUNS AND WAR MATERIAL THAN ANY OTHER NATION ! YAYYY !

REMEMBER THE AMERICAN INDIAN ? WHO STOLE THEIR COUNTRY AND TERRORIZED THEM ? ? US, WHITE MEN, WE KILLED ,TORTURED THEM AND THEN CALLED THEM SAVAGES !! WE DESTROYED THEIR CULTURE, DESTROYED THEIR LAND----TERRORISTS, THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN CORPORATIONS ARE--- WE , A LITTLE OVER 250 YEARS OLD AND WE THINK WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE WANT, STARTING A PRE-EMPTIVE WAR AGAINST A SOVEREIGN NATION ,A NATION THAT HAS ITS ROOTS,THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD,AND THE BEGINNING OF CIVILIZATION, OUR MILITARY IS ALL OVER THE GLOBE, CALLED "OCCUPATION" FORCES WE WONDER WHY THEY HATE US.

NOW THE RIGHTIES CAN CALL ME UNPATRIOTIC. WORLD WAR 2 VETERAN INCLUDING IWO JIMA
JOE DEMARCO

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:37

Again you are absolutely correct Michael. Thanks for making all the points of the stupidity. It obvious media b.s.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:56

While I understand the sentiment of those calling for ignoring this wacko, I'd like to remind everyone of another wacko in history who was ignored by many intelligent citizens who thought that no thinking people could, or would, fall for his crazed hate mongering speech. His name was Adolph Hitler.

+4 # Guest 2010-09-10 14:27

Michael sorry to disagree, I protested the Vietnam war and any war and the main reason was our guys getting killed, so for me and others any one in the USA that dare do something that can cause our troops to be killed deserve to rot in hell. Just keep in mind that despite what you read today when the Vietnam protest started, before those publicity seeking scums wormed in to manipulate the Movement, it was our troops we worried about. When those draft dodgers neocon pushed the war getting other people killed I still hope they all rot in hell. And to all those that play incendiary games for political or special interest reason, we are keeping a list how the Spirit will deal with them. I am a Catholic Agnostic but in this case I sure hope there is a HELL for those people.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 23:25

Whilst I cannot agree with you on this Erica, (and I'm a Viet Vet Too) the point is if your troops were not illegaly in other's nations murdering them, you wouldn need to fear their demise. End of Point.

0 # Guest 2010-09-11 08:53

Erica, you would rather spend your life hating them and praying that they are eternally damned and tortured than turn off your own noise long enough to try doing something that will change how they live right now? Yep. That sounds just like stereotypical "Christian" passive-aggressiveness.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 14:34

Funny to read the leftwing oppression sentiments from the posters here when their ox and sensibilities get gored. Oh well, who needs freedom?

Some day I hope folks realize all must be free including the haterade elements. They arise for a reason and no matter how much you don't like their message, they sprang up as a reaction to something going on that needs addressing. Political correctness belongs with the Gestapo (Nazi) and the Stasi (Communist) types, not real Americans interested in a vigorous discussion of the issues.

Personally I say burn the Koran with the Bible and all the other claptrap out there that riles folks up to a frenzy but if I had my way, there goes the freedom to be an idiot who believes in their superstitions and taking away that freedom wouldn't be a Good Idea, just like Prohbition and The War On Some Drugs, Stalin's/Mao's collectivizatio n and Hitler's racial purity laws were about idealistic solutions that went horribly wrong.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 23:48

For the most part I agree...but the difference between freedom and license is also true. Sorry. Freedom of speech has limits and their is no freedom that is limitless. There is no Constitutional right for certain kinds of speech and never has been. Be it civil or criminal, there are sanctions against saying anything you'd like to say, even if it hurts others, and this trumps anarchy. You can't dishonestly yell fire in a crowded theater when there isn't one without being punished when people get hurt or killed by such a lie. Rev. Jones is abusing his free speech and the media is even worse. They are aiding and abetting what might very well be criminal speech. Yes, there is such a thing wether we like it or not.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 14:39

As for Michael Moore for President, why not? Why not indeed? He can't do any worse than anyone else in the postwar (World War II) era and he damned well may do better. At least he'd be as entertaining as Ronnie Raygun...LOL!

+3 # giraffe 2010-09-10 15:11

Carmen --- my thoughts exactly - Hitler.
Terrorism and yelling FIRE is not "freedom of speech" and Freedom of religion is protects the holy-books..

Local sheriff can arrest him if Whacko lights fire with no permit.

Michael Moore: The talking heads on FOX, MSNBC, CNN, etc. should get new names (They do not give me news). News: Rev Jones of Church "Y" in Florida states: Will burn Koran on 9/11/10 (or 9/12/10) bec Mr. (Rev.) Jones opposes Mosque at ground zero. (end.) IF FOX, etc., wants to give opinion (or worse) have a panel of so -called experts -- they can call those shows "Opinion FOX" or "Panel Opinion MSNBC"

News: Mr. Huge, President of BIG BANK awarded Mr. Small, VP of BIG BANK, 2.5M, for meeting quota in department of "selling inverted loans" to people who cannot afford houses.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 15:13

Crimes are crimes. To say that they are inspired by hate should not justify enhancing their appropriate punishment, because to do so is to legislate against thought. Let this tinpot preacher be prosecuted for an illegal bonfire, if possible; let his attitudes be reviled in the press; let his arguments be met with sanity; but do not infringe his constitutional rights.
Why do jews, christians & muslims fight with each other anyway? They're all just twigs on the same branch!

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 15:29

Hi Mike,

Keep up the good work. Someone has to tell it like it is.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 15:41

Michael for PRESIDENT! He can do it, and we can make sure he does!

+5 # Yakpsyche 2010-09-10 16:27

"Are we a nation of idiots?"

Do you even need to ask that question? That's the whole point. We ARE idiots, totally manipulable by the propaganda machine. Obviously, that's what its all about. Just ask the Koch brothers.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 16:31

Michael. I'm an atheist and I plan to burn the bible, koran, vedes, and Karma Sutral on tomorrow. Will I make the news?

Why did that idiot in Florida make it? who does it benefit that he's thrust to the forefront?

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 16:39

WAY too much attention was paid to this by the MSM. It's as if they *want* to inflame the extremists on both sides.

+3 # giraffe 2010-09-10 17:11

Come on Michael Moore. Get connected to the military and big business (maybe the religious right - if they even exist) and then RUN FOR PRESIDENT. When elected, dump all of them. You're the man. Serious news is happening around the world and Whacko Florida couran hater is not serious news. This reminds me of the Shybo (spelling) case (life support or not) for a week on the "news" stations 24/7 for a week. Then we learned Congress passed the Patriot Act while we watched the drama. (Not that the poor woman did not have rights but 24/7?)

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 18:00

The nutjob preacher and his nutjob flockette has gone out on a limb and is now trying to wiggle back to safety by aligning himself with that other collection of nutjobs that are worried about a mosque near Ground Zero - thereby creating an affiliation with people such as Rep. Boehner of Ohio. This, of course, creates an invitation from the Vatican of nutjobs, otherwise known as the neo-conservative movement, to become members in good standing of the Intergalactic Nutjob Federation, dedicated to the eradication of those with little money or too much pigment. May the Force be with you Michael!

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 18:09

Tell it like it is Michael. Right on, as usual. Yeah, I like in the Deep South, as in Central East Texas, where all sorts of nut jobs abound. They even have call-ins to get the right wingnut reaction to this preacher's plan. Most of course are in lockstep favor of the mass burning. No one around here has the ability to think for themselves, they depend on the media dipstick retards for all the information that is implanted in their robot brains. Keep it coming!

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 18:34

This is an extreme case where I agree with making the call to the nutcase to get him to stop his inflammatory action. It is truly comparable to yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. There is considerable evidence that his action would result in rioting and deaths of innocents. Yes there is a U.S. propaganda machine. Yes there is culpability on the part of politicians and insanity in our war effort. But this specific case is not a made-up threat. It's very real. We have made-up plenty of false threats in the past, but attempting to talk sense to a whacko to prevent death and destruction is a responsible and even courageous action and I support it. No one is saying he can't do it, only that it would be irresponsible and inexcusable. No one has challenged his constitutional right to protest in this manner. And the response of the leaders of many religious communities in condemning the proposed burning is appropriate.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 18:42

This began over 100 years ago when a man named Theodore Herzl published a book advocating the establishment of a Jewish state in their ancestral home. Problem was hundreds of thousands of Palestinians lived there already and had lived there for many generations. The Balfour agreement, Sykes-Picot and the mandates following WW1 carved up Arab territories and created bitter resentment and hatred at what could honestly be described as Western duplicity. Britain, with the help of the CIA submarined Democracy in Iran in 1953, the U.S. has made billionaires of Saudi royal low lifes whilst they're considered one of the world's most oppressive regimes. We make Israel top dog/attack dog in the heart of the Muslim world, kill hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, steal the only thing of monetary value to them, namely oil, along with other powers, and then tell them to be like us. A secular, Democratic society based upon the concept of "freedom." Then we go apeshit when a Muslim tries to emulate us.

0 # Guest 2010-09-10 19:48

I find it very interesting that when a brave person with guts who says what many of us wish we could say, like Michael, there are always posts that say, "Michael (insert other name) for President." As incredible as it would be to have someone like Michael for president, I say LEAVE HIM ALONE on that. I like Michael for exactly what he does, a total outsider that can slap those in power with his movies and writing and great wit. I am noticing that in his writing lately, I hear fury and rage, and not much to laugh at. I think it is because the lunacy in this country is boiling over and permeating the very soil. Nothing funny about that.
THANK YOU MICHAEL, I do anoint you a Prince, but don't run for ANY office.

0 # Guest 2010-09-10 20:02

Great article Michael - finally someone has spoken intelligently on this topic!

Also - I followed the "link" you provided and read about the "Reverend" Bob Old from Tennessee Michael. And I couldn’t help but notice that, in his opinion, there should be no Muslims living with the borders of our fair land.

Perhaps the “Reverend” Bob Old would do well to watch a certain YouTube Video called "A Christian Nation?" For – within the confines of this short video: our nation’s first four presidents explain (in-their-own-words and in-no-uncertain-terms) the folly of believing that The United States of America was founded as an exclusively Christian nation. In fact I recommend anyone on either side of this Church/State issue to watch this video - it's as fun as it is informative as it is provocative as it is true.

Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eQazNUNO2w

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 20:43

I would say this is definitely "WAG THE DOG" The big boys and gals are planning something big and this is a distraction intended to divide and conquer. They are cooking something up. Dont be distracted by this anti God preacher thats exactly what they want! As for Michael being nominated for President! I wouldnt wish that on anyone. They would get him just like they get anyone who steps out of line. Hatred is the consciousness of Darkness.. Love is the consciousness of light. You cant be in both. Choose one!

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 21:22

I don't think people have the right to burn books - - It's a stupid thing to do. Reminiscent of the Nazi era.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 22:07

Mike: There come a time when a Nations has troop in dangerous areas and our concern should be for our troops and the consequences our action may cause.

When the protest started due to behind the scene political manipulation, my first reaction was for the troops. I posted a message and asked the true victim to please, for the sake of our troops, state they wanted no part of the protest. They did.

But that did not stop the scums behind this attempt to cause violent struggle in this country that was turning toward other special interest issues. I said them that while I am a Catholic Agnostic if any harm occurs to our troops any death by our troops I hope scum will rot in hell. If during war time they cannot think of our troops first and foremost they do not deserve to be Americans and I hope there they will
rot in hell. Is every one so wrapped up in their delusions they cannot stop a second and think of the consequences, what kind of people are those flag waving phonies?

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 22:46

The corporate-owned media have given the hatemongering preacher exactly what he wants: media attention. He is a narcissistic, egomaniacal charlatan; and so are Gingrich and Palin and Bachmann, Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter, et al. They do and say outrageous things to get attention and make money. The really stupid people are the ones who legitimize them and take them seriously. The corporate-owned media makes money off of the charlatans, who egg on the fringe lunatics, who cant get enough of the hatemongering. And so it goes, until there is another Oklahoma City type disaster that springs from this kind of atmosphere, where violence and hate are normalized by too much hype. The hatemongers begin to see themselves as heroes; and act on their need for attention and "righting wrongs". Sigh.....

+2 # Guest 2010-09-11 04:58

Perspective, mershpective - there are errors in this otherwise wise and clever piece. Although we are all mere specks in this sea of billions of people, we do still, each of us, live our lives on a human scale. The foibles of the least of us are relevant after all. So, however brilliant, however big and modern-minded the knowledge that - hey! -it’s just a book, already! - it does not negate the fact that for many many millions, some who can’t even read the book, it is the word of their prophet that gives their life meaning, OK? So of course it is a hate crime to publicly desecrate their symbol of faith.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-11 07:16

They should have just taken him quietly in the night as our last case of rendition. Like the nutjob terrorists, this nutjob preacher is a terrorist. Maybe he was put up to this by some savvy alqu'da operative. Hah, I love paranoia!

+1 # Guest 2010-09-11 07:22

Dear Mike: This is one of your better screeds....A great example of true righteous indignation....I'm with you on this, good buddy......John Schaut of Bradenton Florida

+2 # Guest 2010-09-11 07:45

The beauty of freedom of speech is that when an idiot speaks you'll know it and likewise for the intelligent person, except idiots can't comprehend logic and freedom. Remember GW Bushwhacker is on record for saying there ought to be limits to freedom of speech in reference to censoring certain radio programs. Tells a person a lot as to where his brain is or was at.
And in the immortal words of Led Zeppelin:
Learn from Sages, Learn from Fools.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-11 08:28

Let's get down to basics. This is about keeping the people distracted from the heartbreak of 9/11 and the desire for the TRUTH of it. Once the truth of that day is finally exposed, the wars will END and the truly guilty parties will be tried and convicted. THAT will be the day of our liberation from all this corruption and chaos. THAT will be a beautiful day! It is my sincere hope that in creating all this B.S. propaganda about the Muslim Community Center, it will backfire in their faces and the truth of 9/11 will come to LIGHT!

0 # Guest 2010-09-12 11:58

As long as America's media insists on feeding the trolls such as Rev. Jones there will always be more and more of them doing their nutball dance in public and probably getting a lot of donations to urge them on. STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS. With enough donations they get TV shows. STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS. You react, they win. STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS.

0 # Guest 2010-09-12 14:26

Dear Sirs,

There is an eternal flame, in memory of 9-11, at Honolu Hale!

The people, of Honolulu, built that flame within 2 months of that tragic event.

It has burned for nearly a decade.

Long may it burn.

Clifford Spencer

0 # Guest 2010-09-12 16:46

What none of you have pointed out is the direct connection between the Republican Party's hype about the mosque and our nut-case preacher. It's all a part of the Republicans' plan to win this fall's elections. Let's do what we can to turn the tides -- and also question the validity of all of these polls proclaiming victory for the Republicans.

0 # Guest 2010-09-13 02:42

I am fast becoming convinced that America is full to bursting with certifiable lunatics.......are there any still-normal people there? y'know, like tolerant laissez-faire guys, who don't give a rat's arse about what other peoples' sexual orientation is, or who or what they worship...? I think that right now, if I were offered an all expenses paid tour of the good ol' US of A, my first impulse would be to say "shove it where the sun don't shine"....it sure is changing for the worst..

0 # Guest 2010-09-13 08:54

Right next to the so called mosque is an abandoned Burlington coat factory. Thats's what you people should be talking about!! The abandoned factory!! Abandoned, empty, run down, lifeless, jobless! That's what you should be putting your brains into!

0 # Guest 2010-09-13 16:55

Nice to see such firm anti-war sentiment here.

However - some of you voted in Bush for a second term. Some of you waved US flags, insulted Muslims and wanted the US to invade Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11.

Now it's going badly, you want to pull out?

0 # Guest 2010-09-16 01:54

Yeah, if we were winning, probably no one wanted to pull out. Think about that frightening thought.

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