WikiLeaks cables: US intervened in Michael Moore NZ screening

[sabra]

Source: Guardian UK

Embassy angered by 'potential fiasco' of cabinet minister hosting a showing of Fahrenheit 9/11

Whatever else WikiLeaks may have revealed, one fact has been repeatedly confirmed: the US government under George Bush really loathed the documentary filmmaker Michael Moore.

After a leaked cable from US diplomats in Havana falsely claimed Cuba had banned Moore's documentary Sicko – when in fact it was shown on state television – another cable reveals US officials flying into a panic after hearing a rumour that a New Zealand cabinet minister was hosting a screening of Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11.

Labelling the event a "potential fiasco", the classified cable from the US embassy in Wellington in 2003 reads like a failed plotline for an episode of In the Loop, breathlessly reporting a series of calls to the New Zealand prime minister's office and to the minister involved, Marian Hobbs.

Michael Moore, appearing on the Rachel Maddow Show on Tuesday night, said the New Zealand cable uncovered by WikiLeaks showed the unsettling reach of US influence. "If they were micromanaging me that much, if they were that concerned about the truth in Fahrenheit 9/11 that they have to go after a screening in a place I don't even really know where it is – I know it's way too long to sit in coach for me – I want to know. Because I think it speaks to a larger issue: if they have the time for that, what else are these guys up to?"

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/22/wikileaks-cables-michael-moore-nz

[DeSwiss]

1. This is what a totalitarian democracy looks like. - K&R n/t

[saigon68]

2. A Fascist Totalitarian "Democracy"

With sheep voting along the party line of their corporate masters

[molly77]

18. Simplify simplify...fascist

[Wednesdays]

35. ...

[StarsInHerHair]

31. so true now it's out in the open

nt

[harun]

5. Corporate Representative Republic.

To use democracy to describe our system is an insult to the word.

[DeSwiss]

11. It's use is purely for decorative purposes only. :-/ n/t

[Uncle Joe]

3. Seriously, smoke, mirrors and camouflage instead of trying to reform the dysfunctional system.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[emulatorloo]

4. There's gonna be a lot more stuff like this in the Bush/Rove era cables

Apparently Rove is quite agitated over WikiLeaks.

[Roy Rolling]

6. Bush-league concerns

When your president is a former cheerleader, the biggest concerns are what movies the other cliques are attending and whether the clothes you wear "make you look fat."

[jotsy]

7. Way too much budget is what they got Mr. Moore.

The waste of public funds is staggering, manipulating global diplomats, sickening. How am I to engage in the sense of exceptionalism the PTB wants me to operate on when all I feel for what my country does and has done around the world is shame?

Recommended.

[Lint Head]

8. This should be a major concern to us all.

Our government is being controlled by enemies of freedom. This is outrageous.

[StarsInHerHair]

32. exactly

nt

[Enthusiast]

47. "enemies of freedom"

Well put.

[fascisthunter]

9. Looks Like our "Strong" Country can't handle the Truth

it works damn hard to cover up shit doesn't it. Democracy my ass this is...

[lunatica]

10. Like Michael Moore said, "If they're doing this to an unimportant person like me,

what else are they doing?"

Excellent question.

[dipsydoodle]

12. K&R

.

[Demeter]

13. No Detail Too Small for Our Dedicated Public Servants

This is beyond disgusting. Only a criminal stained irreparably with the vilest guilt would feel the need.

[BlueMTexpat]

21. Bush era appointees and placements were NOT

Dedicated Public Servants. Please remember that.
Please don't tar the majority of career public servants who are, in fact, very dedicated and who manage to keep things going for the rest of us with the same brush.

[Demeter]

29. Then they ought to be prosecuted for their crimes

by our CURRENT dedicated public servants....

corruption is corruption, no matter the flag flying over it.

[BlueMTexpat]

52. I concur absolutely - there are still too many of the BushCo moles left. nt

[StarsInHerHair]

33. those w ticks need to be removed

the precedent: W purging non "loyal bushies"

[Turborama]

14. I think someone needs to compile a list...

...of all the substantial cables such as this to counter the constant "nothing substantial has been leaked" disinformation that keeps being shoveled around.

These sort of cables are historically significant. As Michael Moore put it, if they had/have time and inclination to micromanage where his films are shown, "what else are these guys up to?"

[sabra]

16. wasn't there at one point a DU Research Forum? Maybe we can have an offshoot

with a DU Wikileaks forum?

[Turborama]

20. I've suggested a WikiLeaks LBN type forum

In the Ask the Admins forum but at the time it wasn't deemed necessary. Maybe we could try and start a WikiLeaks group, though? I'm sure we could get more than 10 people interested...

[sabra]

24. sounds good to me, what are the next steps for this?

:hi:

[Turborama]

25. Details here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=206x10

I'd be happy to get involved but do you think this is "controversial" enough to have to ask in advance (as stated in the last paragraph)?

:hi:

[sabra]

30. I would say yes...

there are sensitivities when comes to these leaked cables, imo.

[Doctor_J]

15. The Enemies List is still active

No wonder UBL got through on 9/11/2001. Bush was worried about Michael Moore, Denis O'Hare, James Cromwell and the rest of Column 5.

[HughBeaumont]

17. As great as F911 was, it could have dug far deeper.

What the hell ELSE would the general public be really infuriated about regarding this gateway to disaster corporatism and loss of rights?

[Blue_Tires]

22. agreed, but in his defense there was too much to put into one film

and at that time, there was a newly discovered Bush disaster/scandal/episode of general jackassery like every 3 weeks...Moore would have been updating and revising his film until early 2009...

[HughBeaumont]

26. Bush II: Disaster Beyond Disaster - The Miniseries.

It'd be a 15-DVD Box set.

Here's a horrific thought: Just think if he would have been successful in privatizing Social Security in 2005-6, how truly bad things would have been.

[KansDem]

19. It's too bad Bush didn't go after Osama as fervently as he went after Moore.

We wouldn't be in Iraq today...

[qnr]

23. The sad thing is that I was more shocked that MM didn't know where Wellington

was than I was at the actions of the embassy, which came as no surprise at all.

[sce56]

51. I belive that was a sarcastic response since that is about as far away from the US you can get! n/t

[IDemo]

27. "George Bush really loathed the documentary filmmaker Michael Moore"

Evidence enough that he was doing something right.

:patriot:

[bemildred]

28. This is all just so immature. nt

[Enthusiast]

48. How so? nt

[ProudDad]

34. And the current pResident hasn't skipped a beat (n/t)

[unkachuck]

36. "...what else are these guys up to?""

....amen brother Mike, if we only knew....

[defendandprotect]

38. +1000% ---

[defendandprotect]

37. "Conspiracy-free America" .... ? What a threat Michael Moore and 9/11 truth is ...!!!

[Amonester]

39. Oh boy... And that's in the Guardian UK...

Any "trace" of it in any sold-out US "tabloid" media?

So that's what they do with their time and your (tax)money...

K&R

[avaistheone1]

40. k&r

[micraphone]

41. Consul was Charles Swindells III...

A * pioneer or whatever a big contributor was called.

Said great things in public but this crap was going on behind the scenes, and WAY more than this one. All misinformed crap going back to *.

For a first time millionaire "ambassador", he was doing just what was required.

Another waste of skin and in NZ we are well rid.

[xchrom]

42. recommend

[Hubert Flottz]

43. The BUSHTAPO was watching everyone Big Mike.

The Dicklomats had everything covered, including their ass! Mitch and Boner long for the day when a new rabid republican fuhrer like George the Terrible of old, will arrive and dig in at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[paparush]

44. One of the few things Americans are good at any more is Embracing Denial (tm)

These cables slap Embracing Denial hard across the face.

Long Live Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

[Enthusiast]

45. THIS IS FASCISM.

Fascist actions by the previous administration are being guarded and protected by the present administration. Just a bit curious.

[The Backlash Cometh]

46. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

They had the power to control propaganda around the world. Before Wikileaks, I thought it was just here in the U.S.

[Kingofalldems]

49. Yeah, but Bush was right about polar bears!!

Doesn't matter that he acted like a dictator! :shrug:

[City Lights]

50. The truth hurts, eh, Junior!

Rec'd.

If I ruled the world, Junior and Dick would be rotting in solitary.