Michael Moore challengs Fred Thompson to a debate

ballz2wallz · 05-15-2007, 04:40 PM

Apparently Fred! has a liking for fine Cuban cigars, and Michael Moore felt it necessary to challenge Fred! for criticizing his visit to Cuba.

May 15, 2007

Senator Fred Thompson
American Enterprise Institute
110 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

Dear Senator Thompson,

Given that it has been publicly reported in The Weekly Standard, a leading neo-conservative publication, that you support Fidel Castro and the Cuban regime by being a purveyor of fine Cuban exports despite the trade embargo, I was surprised to see your recent op ed in a more traditional conservative outlet, The National Review, regarding my trip to Cuba (I suspect you choose The National Review in an effort to pander to an outlet that had criticized you for your opposition to medical malpractice legislation).

In your May 2, 2007 National Review article, "Paradise Island," you specifically raised concerns about whether my trip to Cuba with 9/11 heroes, who have suffered serious health problems as a result of their exposure to toxic substances at Ground Zero that have gone untreated was somehow going to support Castro ad the Cuban government:

"It always leaves me shaking my head when I read about some big-time actor or director going to Cuba and gushing all over Castro." []Fred Thompson on Cuba on National Review Online

Putting aside the fact that you, like the Bush Administration, seem far more concerned about the trip to Cuba than the health care of these 9/11 heroes, I was struck by the fact that your concerns (including comments about CastroÕs reported financial worth) apparently do not extend to your own conduct, as reported in The Weekly Standard's April 23, 2007 story, "From the Courthouse to the White House Fred Thompson auditions for the leading role" (emphasis added):

"Thompson's work space looks just like what the home office of a successful politician or CEO should look like -- though a little messier: a large desk, dark wood, leather furniture, lots of books and magazines and newspapers, a flat-screen TV, and box upon box of cigars -- Montecristos from Havana." []PREVIEW: From the Courthouse<br> to the White House

In light of your comments regarding Cuba and Castro, do you think the "box upon box of cigars -- Montecristos from Havana" that you have in your office have contributed to CastroÕs reported wealth?

While I will leave it up to the conservatives to debate your hypocrisy and the Treasury Department to determine whether the "box upon box of cigars" violates the trade embargo, I hereby challenge you to a health care debate.

Survey after survey has indicated that health care is one of the top issues to the American voters. Today, more than 46 million people lack health are coverage, including 9 million children. We pay significantly more than any other country in the world -- and get less back. Americans life expectancy is lower than other Ground Zero 9/11 workers live in a society where the Bush Administration has shown more concern about their travel than about their health.

Our debate would provide you an opportunity to appeal to the right wing of the Republican Party by continuing to attack me; it would give me a chance to discuss health care and tell you exactly what happened in Cuba, given your apparent inters; and it would provide the American people an opportunity to see just how serious Hollywood can be, with a purported conservative and an avowed progressive Hollywood personality on stage.

Over the course of the debate, we could specifically address the following issues:

(1) Your work as a lobbyist in light of the fact that the health care and insurance industries have maintained the current health care system through their effective control of the political establishment.

(2) The fact that you raised hundred of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the health care and insurance industries.

(3) Discuss the fact, highlighted in yet another conservative outlet The New York Sun, that you inexplicably wanted to cut funding for AIDS research. []Archives - Latest Politics Blog

(4) Your relationship with the Frist family and by extension HCA, one of the nation's largest for-profit hospital chains. It has been reported that former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (who was renowned for his over-the-television-screen Schiavo diagnosis) is serving as one of your confidantes on your potential presidential campaign. The Frist family has historically controlled HCA, which paid a record $1.7 billion in civil and criminal fines, including a $631 million penalty for Medicaid fraud -- in other words, ripping off the taxpayers.

(5) Discussing whether Arthur Branch, as the District Attorney of Manhattan, supports a woman's right to choose, gun safety reforms, gay marriage, the trans fat ban and anti-smoking laws (which would impact Cuban cigars, including your Montecristos).

Like American Idol, we could even have the country vote to determine which one of us wins the debate. Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I feel obligated to forewarn you that I was the winner of the 1971-72 Detroit Free Press Debate Award for the state of Michigan.

The winner of our health care debate could even light a Victory cigar with one of your Montecristos (though we may want to consider shopping them to the safe house where I have put a master copy of SiCKO in the event that the Bush Administration tries to seize the film).

Sincerely,

Michael Moore

And Fred! Thompson's response?

Google Video

ZING!!!

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 04:48 PM

I'm getting "Video Currently not available". Anyone else?

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 05:40 PM

I can't see his response. If it's anything less than "They are not Cuban dipshit" then Moore is correct.

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 05:43 PM

Ok, it worked. Hehe. I like it

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 05:50 PM

Yes...I saw it too. As I thought, Moore was right and Thompson's "rebuttal" was just an attack.

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Yes...I saw it too. As I thought, Moore was right and Thompson's "rebuttal" was just an attack.

With a point. And he's right. The Hollywood left LOVES Castro. And I have no idea why. If they lived in Cuba and said the things about Castro as they do about Bush they would all be in prison. Does that somehow not compute?

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

With a point. And he's right. The Hollywood left LOVES Castro. And I have no idea why. If they lived in Cuba and said the things about Castro as they do about Bush they would all be in prison. Does that somehow not compute?

It's a point that's not the point to begin with. The point is the hypocritical attack on Moore by someone who also breaks the embargo by smoking those cigars. Unless someone can tell me those are not Cuban cigars he smokes then it is 150% hypocritical and typical of politicians.

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

It's a point that's not the point to begin with. The point is the hypocritical attack on Moore by someone who also breaks the embargo by smoking those cigars. Unless someone can tell me those are not Cuban cigars he smokes then it is 150% hypocritical and typical of politicians.

And you would be correct.

But it is funny that he picked Cuba and not Canada to go to. No? But that goes with the Liberal boner that comes with Castro I guess.

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

And you would be correct.

But it is funny that he picked Cuba and not Canada to go to. No? But that goes with the Liberal boner that comes with Castro I guess.

I don't know if it's a "liberal boner" as much as a "why are we continuing this ridiculous embargo for no reason." I mean shit, we've had wars with Japan and Germany and gotten over it. We've had a war with Vietnam and we've gotten over it. We didn't even have a war with Cuba, yet, here we are continuing these RIDICULOUS policies.

Thorgrim · 05-15-2007, 06:16 PM

The axis nations killed hundreds of thousands of Americans and we're best buddies with them...Castro takes farms in Cuba (and had a defunct alliance with a now non-existant rival) and we hate for decades

RMNIXON · 05-15-2007, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Apparently Fred! has a liking for fine Cuban cigars, and Michael Moore felt it necessary to challenge Fred! for criticizing his visit to Cuba.

ZING!!!

So did JFK!

Salinger's JFK-Cuban Cigar Stories - Google Video

Sounds like Moore did take it to Thompson.

But I would rather he be concerned with his own troubles rather than just another chance at attention. I would hope Thompson is smart enough not to take the bait?

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

I don't know if it's a "liberal boner" as much as a "why are we continuing this ridiculous embargo for no reason." I mean shit, we've had wars with Japan and Germany and gotten over it. We've had a war with Vietnam and we've gotten over it. We didn't even have a war with Cuba, yet, here we are continuing these RIDICULOUS policies.

Cuba has the world to trade with. They don't need us. This has been a policy of many presidents.

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Cuba has the world to trade with. They don't need us. This has been a policy of many presidents.

First of all, they are our neighbor and it's a completely ridiculous policy. Second, slavery was a policy of many presidents too...

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

First of all, they are our neighbor and it's a completely ridiculous policy. Second, slavery was a policy of many presidents too...

And a republican ended slavery. So?

This is going nowhere

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

And a republican ended slavery. So?

This is going nowhere

Thought you could get the point...being, just because other President's have endorsed a policy doesn't make it right.

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Thought you could get the point...being, just because other President's have endorsed a policy doesn't make it right.

My best friend is Cuban. I'm with him and his parents all the time. They feel letting up on sanctions means Castro won. They don't want sanctions lifted because nothing will change in Cuba. Nothing. Castro will still oppress his people. He and his cronies will live like kings while the rest of the country will continue to live in squalor.

Do you actually think if we lift sanctions that all the sudden the people of Cuba will have a better life???? Please tell me you don't actually think that.

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

My best friend is Cuban. I'm with him and his parents all the time. They feel letting up on sanctions means Castro won. They don't want sanctions lifted because nothing will change in Cuba. Nothing. Castro will still oppress his people. He and his cronies will live like kings while the rest of the country will continue to live in squalor.

Do you actually think if we lift sanctions that all the sudden the people of Cuba will have a better life???? Please tell me you don't actually think that.

Castro won? Won what? We have a system in our country with plenty of people living in squalor while others live in excess. It isn't about "giving Cubans a better life." It is about dropping a stupid fucking policy that makes no difference to anyone.

Stylerod · 05-15-2007, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Castro won? Won what? We have a system in our country with plenty of people living in squalor while others live in excess. It isn't about "giving Cubans a better life." It is about dropping a stupid fucking policy that makes no difference to anyone.

Our poor are no where near the poor of Cuba. To think they are is EXTREME ignorance on your part. My friend Jorge went to Cuba 8 years ago and he was truly shaken by how most people there live. Castro could change that, yet you blame America.

Donkey® · 05-15-2007, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Our poor are no where near the poor of Cuba. To think they are is EXTREME ignorance on your part. My friend Jorge went to Cuba 8 years ago and he was truly shaken by how most people there live. Castro could change that, yet you blame America.

I have not once "blamed America" for anything. We waste time, money and resources on this stupid embargo. BTW, you seem to live a sheltered life if you think nobody in this country lives the way poor Cubans live.