Did Michael Moore make John Conyers...

[RoeBear]

...look bad in F9/11? I saw a clip of the movie where he was being interviewed and Conyers said that he never reads the bills that he votes on. He was specifically being asked about the Patriot Act at the time.

[bossfish]

1. Boo-freakin-hoo

Conyers admits that most of the bills don't get read.

That's not right nor matter what political stripe you are.

[htuttle]

2. I think he made the whole Congress look bad

He said that nobody reads all the bills they vote on.

[Justice]

3. Conyers Did Not Say He Doesn't Read

He said it collectively - about all members of congress -- the bills don't get read.

[Ithuilwen]

4. I think he made Congress look bad

but made himself look good for being a No Shit Sherlock. Make any sense?

[theoceansnerves]

5. he made him

look honest.

[Sweetpea]

6. In Jesse Jackson Jr's Book

"A More Perfect Union" he talks about how he was signing bills he didn't research until one day someone told him he signed something his father was protesting.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. "In Jesse Jackson Jr's Book"

"A More Perfect Union" he talks about how he was signing bills he didn't research until one day someone told him he signed something his father was protesting.<<

An interesting point to have answered would be how did it get written in just about a month at near 400 pages?? Writer's cramp? Question is... was it pepared in advance... knowing that something was going to take place that would get it passed lickety split.... that's what should be investigated to the nth degree.

Now where is my empire....

[Sweetpea]

8. You're talking about the Patriot Act

He was talking about bills in general when he first got elected. I agree that a 400 page document doesn't happen over night.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. "You're talking about the Patriot Act"

He was talking about bills in general when he first got elected. I agree that a 400 page document doesn't happen over night.<<

Ohhhhh. Nevermind.

Statistics never lie... and liars use statistics. Isn't freedom a wonderful thing?? I wonder how shrub would have liked to be in the audience on this day....

[eridani]

9. Side shot (3 sec) of Kucinich reading the bill

According to a Kucitizen on one of the listservs. Missed it myself.

[GiovanniC]

11. Conyers's Comment...

(paraphrase) "Do you know what would happen if we actually read the bills before we voted on them? It would slow down the legislative process, and that would be a good thing."

I think that comment showed that Conyers probably does read the bills, and he thinks that others should read them as well.

[Literate Tar Heel]

12. most honest thing I've ever heard from a senator

he did say that most bills don't get read by the people voting on them and acted like he was shocked that it wasn't common knowledge ... it sounds bad in transcript but you get the sense watching it that he can hardly believe it himself but has no power to do anything about it ... (reminded me a little of Eddie Murphy toward the end of "The Distinguished Gentleman" for some reason, not just because they're both African-American)

[gottaB]

17. Conyers was talking to Moore's audience

it was like an aside. He said, all conspiratorially, "Sit down my son. We don't read most of the bills." He didn't say, "I didn't read it." He was trying to inform the public about how things are done in Washington.

[DrWeird]

13. Let me tell you something, son...

Go see the movie.

[supernova]

14. That's why congresspersons have Legislative Aids (LAs)

And in any congressman/woman's office you will find several LAs who all work on different subject areas. They are the poor schmucks who have to read the multi-thousand-page bills and brief the congressperson on the contents within, also recommend what the congress person's official stance should be.

[RoeBear]

15. Thanks for all the insightful comments...

...everyone. I haven't seen the movie yet and just saw the clip once.

[progressivebydesign]

16. No some people said he was great in it!

Why are people pulling things apart tonight? Bored?