November 1, 2004 10:23 AM
I'm at the Frontline Club in London right now. Looks like the screening tonight will be packed -- lots of journalists.
Last night's screening was great -- it was grassroots organizing at its finest. Met lots of great people, including a British soldier who recently got back from Iraq. He told me he saw Uncovered being sold on the same DVD with Fahrenheit 9/11 on the streets of Basra! Also met a couple guys from Greenpeace, and they invited me over for an all-night election party. I will be blogging from there -- they promised unlimited Jack Daniels!
I turned on Murdoch's Sky News late last night, around midnight. First time I've ever seen it, and guess what? They cut live to a Bush campaign speech in Ohio. Literally, the entire stump speech, including the introduction. Blew my mind.
From London... (11.01.2004)
Next Entry: Today is the day... (11.02.2004)
Previous Entry: Determined to Vote (11.01.2004)
Right Wing Robby:
I am sure Moores movie and others that show America in a negative light do well in Europe.
In Osama's recent video he even says the same thing Moore does in his movie. Either by coincidence or because he's seen it(im guessing hes seen it), he certainly agrees with Moore.The Market in Europe for anything Anti-American is a great market. I am sure you'll make alot of money selling it.
Mon Nov 1 2004 10:45 AM
The one thing I heard several times last night was how much the American election had an impact on their lives, yet they had no voice in it.
Mon Nov 1 2004 10:53 AM
Right Wing Robby:
The only people that should have a voice in an American election, are American's.
Mon Nov 1 2004 10:59 AM
Looks like there's a (black?) market for these movies in Iraq too. I guess those Iraqis whom we're "freeing" are interested in hearing alternative perspectives on Bush & the war, just like Americans and Europeans.
Mon Nov 1 2004 11:28 AM
Red Ghost:
Congratulations, Jim.
I personally love the "double matinée" idea of bootleg films. How efficient and cross-promotional. You should really try to track down a copy, you know, for posterity.
Mon Nov 1 2004 4:32 PM
Aaron:
"The one thing I heard several times last night was how much the American election had an impact on their lives, yet they had no voice in it."
I've re-read this simple statement several times and the only implication that I can get from it is that you wish foreigners could influence our elections.
What a nut-ball idea!Tell me this isn't so, Jim....
Mon Nov 1 2004 6:27 PM
I'm not going to speak for Jim (he does that just fine himself), but how does his recounting of Europeans' lamentations on American politics imply that he wishes they could vote in our elections? All he said is that he heard that several times last night. He didn't even express an opinion on the comments.
Plus, I don't think that these Europeans believe that they should be able to vote in our elections. This country's President (whomever he is) can and does affect the world at large when he executes his foreign policy objectives. Obviously, many people in the world believe Bush is negatively affecting the world and are lamenting the fact that they can do nothing about it.
To me, it just seems like an expression of helplessness, rather than some feeling that they should be able to influence American elections.
Mon Nov 1 2004 6:39 PM
Yup, red, you nailed it. It is something interesting to think about -- now that the U.S. has put itself in the position of being moral leader and world cop, shouldn't the rest of the world have some say in what that morality is? and if not, isn't that undemocratic in some ways? quite something coming from a country that's exporting democracy.
anyway, i'm certainly not saying every person in the world should get to vote for the American president. but it really puts us into a weird position, because those are now legitimate questions.
Mon Nov 1 2004 6:58 PM
At the risk of sounding like a partisan hack, I will say that I think this is exactly what John Kerry has been talking about all year. We have to have input and assistance from other nations, especially when it comes to something like terrorism, which is not just America's problem. It's a worldwide problem, and the world needs to work together on it.
Bush's arrogant foreign policy has alienated the world. His mishandling of the war has destroyed any confidence that other nations may have had in his abilities, which would make them less likely to support anything he would try to do in the future.
It's completely legitimate to wonder whether Kerry will be able to garner more support from other countries with the situation in Iraq. I believe that he can. For starters, I am confident that he will be far more competent than Bush. (That's a no-brainer.)
But more importantly, he shows respect for the international community. I am appalled at how disrespectful this administration and a certain segment of the Republican party have been toward the United Nations and particular countries, like France. They claim that the United States doesn't need any other country's approval to act pre-emptively, yet they insult an entire nation because it did not support the Iraq war. If they don't need France's approval, why are they so pissed that France doesn't approve?
While things continue to get worse and worse in Iraq, it should be painfully obvious that in fact the United States does need the assistance of foreign countries.
I'm sure the resident Freepers will jump all over this one, but I'm not about to take the bait. I've grown quite tired of their bullshit.
Mon Nov 1 2004 8:12 PM
Right Wing Robby:
Jim,
I want you to ask yourself a simple question in context of where you stand right now.
Do you feel guilty that your an American?
Mon Nov 1 2004 9:13 PM
Right Wing Robby:
Red,
We asked France for assistance. Instead they went out of their way to hurt us in our effort.
Its not like they offered and we turned our backs on them. France has come out, unprompted, and cleary stated that they will not assist us even if Kerry wins. Did you get that part? Even if Kerry wins Red. France, doesnt like us. They arent with us under any presidency. So Americans arent going to France, they arent buying french products and France is suffering billions in losses as a result.That has nothing to do with Bush, Americans know who their friends are, and who their friends arent. No President will ever be as powerful as the American public and the public is speaking loudly.
Every action Bush has taken , he has gone to the UN first. We went to the UN and the UN voted in a clear voice that if Saddam didnt comply, there was going to be trouble. Thats what the UN said Red. The UN said "Saddam, we feel just like the US does, disarm or we will disarm you" Well, Saddam didnt comply and the UN did nothing. So America did.
Now, we find out that the security council were getting paid by Saddam. This isnt speculation and Bush has never spoken of it. Your wish, would be for the USA to put decision making power in a body that we now know for sure was being paid off. Knowing these things, you still lay power at their feet and trust them with it enough to have an effect on your own country.
Not me Red, not me.
Mon Nov 1 2004 9:34 PM
Johan Sundberg (SE):
The world aint black and white you know, just cause France doesnt want anything to do with the iraqi war doesnt mean that they hate you americans. It just means that they *drumroll* doesnt want to participate in the war. Im pretty sure that if for example France got the idea to invade Schweiz you wouldnt agree and send troups which is basically the same as France's standing point atm (more or less).
And for the comment on the UN being paid off and therefor you dont trust it? Am I the only one that find it amusing since both mayor parties in your election is getthing millions from private companies.
Mon Nov 1 2004 10:54 PM
Athena D:
I am in Tokyo for the elections...
what little disscussion I have had here on the political tip has been anti war and anti Bush even though Japan has joined the colalition of the idiots most people I have talked to here feel it is only to keep up trade relations and diplomacy with the US...been keeping up news wise with the BBC, refreshingly un-spun news...
Mon Nov 1 2004 11:09 PM
I don't feel guilty at all for being an American, but that's probably because I'm doing what I can to stop the madness.
If Bush wins today? (or this month, ha!) I will be embarassed...and frightened for our country.
Tue Nov 2 2004 1:42 AM
Right Wing Robby:
I'll never be embarassed of my country, regardless of who wins.
Tue Nov 2 2004 5:22 AM
Patriotism is not a competition.
Tue Nov 2 2004 6:25 AM
Belz:
Hear hear!
Tue Nov 2 2004 7:01 AM
Tom from Madison:
Voting Bush out of office is my expression of Patriotism.
Our current path of pre-emptive war based on bad intelligence is itself both un-American and unpatriotic. Misplaced hatred of France, Canada, or other nations has nothing to do with patriotism.
I am not embarrassed to be American. Rather, I'm embarrassed that my country made a foolish choice in selecting such a bad President.
Fortunately, we can do something about that--TODAY!
Tue Nov 2 2004 7:24 AM
Johan Sundberg (SE):
"You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it." -Malcolm X
Good luck to the voting, and you know that the world will be cheering for Kerry. Ok, I will cheer for Nader but unless you change your election system in the next 6 hours that aint going to happen.
Tue Nov 2 2004 7:28 AM
Aaron:
Just wanted to say that I wasn't assuming, Jim, that you wanted to give votes to those overseas... It was more of a question and I'm glad you answered it and assured me you weren't THAT nutjob ;-)
Good luck tonight, Jim, on electing your candidate... I'll be rooting for Bush!
Tue Nov 2 2004 4:44 PM
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