Moore's Farenheit 9/11 Making GOP Nervous...

[JoseCuervo]

8% have seen it, 18% plan to see it at the theater, and 30% plan to see it on Video.... But still other than the Gunner and Nut, nobody else thinks it is relevant to have a national discussion on this President.

'Fahrenheit 9/11' Making GOP Nervous

DES MOINES, Iowa (July 22) - Republicans initially dismissed "Fahrenheit 9/11" as a cinematic screed that would play mostly to inveterate Bush bashers. Four weeks and $94 million later, the film is still pulling in moviegoers at 2,000 theaters around the country, making Republicans nervous as it settles into the American mainstream.

"I'm not sure if it moves voters," Republican party consultant Scott Reed said, "but if it moves 3 or 4 percent it's been a success."

Two senior Republicans closely tied to President George W. Bush's White House said the movie from director Michael Moore is seen as a political headache because it has reached beyond the Democratic base. Independents and Republican-leaning voters are likely to be found sitting beside those set to revel in its depiction of a clueless president with questionable ties to the oil industry.


"If you are a naive, uncommitted voter and wander into a theater, you aren't going to come away with a good impression of the president," Republican operative Joe Gaylord said. "It's a problem only if a lot of people see it."

Based on a record-breaking gross of US$94 million through last weekend, theaters already have sold an estimated 12 million tickets to "Fahrenheit 9/11 ." A Gallup survey conducted July 8-11 said 8 percent of American adults had seen the film at that time, but that 18 percent still planned to see it at a theater and another 30 percent plan to see it on video.

The film has not helped Bush's image overseas either. It won the highest award at May's Cannes Film Festival and received standing ovations in Britain, where it broke the box office record for a documentary in its opening weekend earlier this month by taking in $2.4 million on 132 screens.

More than a third of Republicans and nearly two-thirds of independents told Gallup they had seen or expected to see the film at theaters or on video.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" opened in June mainly in locally owned arts theaters that specialize in obscure films and tiny audiences. Drawn in part by the buzz surrounding the film, people packed the theaters and formed long lines for tickets. Within a week, it was appearing in chain-owned theaters along with "Spider-Man 2," "The Notebook" and other big summer attractions.

When he sat down to watch the film at the Varsity Theater in Des Moines last weekend, Rob Sheesley didn't harbor anti-Bush feelings. Two hours later, he left with conflicted emotions.

"You want to respect the president," Sheesley said. "It raised a lot of questions."

Bush's leadership in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks had impressed retired teacher Lavone Mann, another Des Moines moviegoer. After watching the film, Mann wanted to know more about its claims.

"I guess that I think it makes me want to pursue how much of it is accurate and not just get carried away with one film," she said. "I don't hear Bush and (Vice President Dick) Cheney saying that this is incorrect."

Retired college professor Dennis O'Brien, a Bush voter in 2000 and a movie buff who has seen other Moore films, said "Fahrenheit 9/11" hasn't changed his view of Bush but may well serve a larger purpose by sparking debate.

"Moore forces you to think about the role of oil in the politics of American life," O'Brien said. "This goes back a long way."

In Republican-stronghold Columbia, South Carolina, watching the movie last week at the Columbiana Grande tipped 26-year-old David Wood's support more to the left.

"I don't consider myself a Republican or a Democrat. I just vote for whoever is right for the job," the University of South Carolina student said. "I think most people don't bother to really research, and all they need is something popular to sway them."

Others at the screening in Columbia were put off by what they saw as the film's biased approach to examining Bush and the reasons he took the country to war. For Scott Campbell, 19, the movie reinforced his apathy toward politics.

"We didn't even stay to see the whole thing," Campbell said. "It was one-sided."

Former Iowa Republican Chairman Michael Mahaffey said the movie's impact could be dulled over time. "It's July," he said. "Conventional wisdom will change completely every four or five weeks."

Still, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is likely to gain an even wider audience when it's released on home video in the weeks before Election Day. The Gallup survey found that nearly half of the Republicans and independents who expect to see the film said they were likely to view it on video.

"In all honesty, in a very close election, who knows what will sway the public?" Mahaffey said

 

[Calif. Hunter]

"But still other than the Gunner and Nut, nobody else thinks it is relevant to have a national discussion on this President."


Eg - your ego knows no bounds. Besides, isn't that what the election is all about??? No one has questioned the political discussion, only the importance/relevance/accuracy of the fat man's diatribe.

 

[Ithaca 37]

ROCHESTER, United States (AFP) - Fahrenheit 9/11, the blockbuster documentary that slams President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s handling of the war on terror, is playing well with a critical voting bloc, according to a survey.

Independent or swing voters are not only flocking to see the movie in numbers equal to those of Democrats, but an overwhelming majority of them are lapping it up, according to a Harris Poll.


More than two-thirds (70 percent) of self-styled independent voters who saw the doucumentary came away with a postive impression of it, compared to 89 percent of Democrats and 44 percent of Republicans.


And more than half of the independents (56 percent) said they thought the movie was fair to President George W. Bush, versus 85 percent of Democrats and 30 percent of Republicans.


The results of the online poll appear to contradict predictions of some right-wing critics of the movie who had predicted it would only appeal to Democrats and hence have little or no effect on public opinion.


It may also give Republican strategists pause for thought just over three months from the presidential election in which swing voters are expected to carry the day for one or other party.


The online poll of 2,242 adults conducted earlier this month also found a sizable Republican minoritiy rated the movie as positive (44%), while about a third felt it even gave the president a fair crack of the whip.


The film, by director Michael Moore, which took top honors at the Cannes Film Festival (news - web sites) in May, bashes Bush over the war in Iraq (news - web sites) and for an alleged erosion of US civil rights amid the war against terror, and has beat all previous box-office records for a documentary.

 

[Nut]

Well so far 3 other people at work have watched the movie. 1 still plans on voting for Bush and the other 2 said that they will vote for Kerry.

All 3 have said that the movie could and would sway potential voters away from Bush.

I am watching the movie tonight finally.(Got DVD hooked back up at last) Hey it is a pirated version.

BBL

 

[Nemont]

What I find interesting is that people believe Michael Moore is telling the truth. If the American voters are so easily swayed W/O doing any research of their own then they deserve to live under a liberal Administration.

The Bush hating people on this board who enjoy being sheep most likely also enjoy having more of their money taken from them so Hillary can spend it on "the greater good".

July 24, 2004

Last modified July 24, 2004 - 12:23 am

Woman buys 110 tickets to 'Fahrenheit 9/11'
Associated Press

MISSOULA (AP) - A Corvallis woman has bought 110 tickets to "Fahrenheit 9/11" in hopes of boosting attendance of the controversial documentary in Hamilton.

The tickets were given away Thursday at the Pharaohplex, where Michael Moore's film has drawn just 30 viewers per showing "on a good night," manager Dave Sylvester said.

After seeing a newspaper story about the film's struggle, the woman wrote a check for $500 and bought the tickets at a slightly discounted price. She insisted on remaining anonymous.


Despite the $500 boost in sales, Sylvester said he still planned to pull the documentary criticizing the Bush administration's response to the Sept. 11 attacks after Thursday's three showings.

"After we run through these free tickets, I'm assuming it'll just end up going back to 20 tickets a night," he said. "And we just can't let that continue."

The film debuted in Hamilton on July 9.

Missoula is a very liberal town if they can't put asses in the seats then it most likely is a piece of sh*t movie.

All the liberal arts majors at the Montana School of Dance( aka U. of M) there in Missoula must not enjoy the fatassed film making of Mr. Moore.

Nemont

P.S. EG, Ithaca, Nut et. al. Even Mr. Moore doesn't refer to this movie as a documentary anymore so you may want to edit that work out or your posts. BTW I saw the movie and my opinion didn't change. Kerry still won't get a vote on my ballot.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Nemont, I haven't been getting into the commenting on Fahrenheit 9/11. All I did was post an AP article. I did mention in one other thread that I hadn't seen the film and didn't intend to until I could rent the video. Probably won't even bother then. I don't think it should be called a "documentary" and I give the American public enough credit to suspect they all know, by now, that it's not.

I do wonder, however, if Moore is a smart enough marketer to have figured out he could make lots of money on this type of film during the campaign. I doubt it, though. It was probably some smart guy in the film producing industry.

I suspect we'll see more of this type of editorial movie in future political campaigns. Anybody could put together something like this fairly cheaply and make it controversial enough to draw a profitable crowd. Bush provided a perfect target, though.

 

[BuzzH]

Nemont, I hate to spank you again...but.

The theater in question is in HAMILTON, not MISSOULA. Its no shock only 30 people showed up per show...I bet only 30 showed up for Spiderman II as well, Hamilton is pretty small compared to Missoula.

I'd imagine the movie did pretty well in Missoula though.

 

[Nut]

Nemont, I dont believe I ever called it a documentary. Plus I believe in what Moor says just as much as I trust what Rush Limberger says.

 

[Nemont]

Buzz,
How far is it from Hamilton to Missoula. Have you been there lately. 30 people would be like having 3 show up in Glasgow. Half of the people who work in Missoula commute from Hamilton.

I'd imagine the film did really well in Missoula. The school of dance draws all the Al Franken and Hillary Clinton worshipers.

Nemont

 

[JoseCuervo]

Nemont,

What did you think of the movie? Besides not swaying your vote, were you entertained by the pictures of Wolfowitz getting his hair spit down???

What about the soundtrack?

Was the part of Dubya reading "My Pet Goat" uncomfortable to watch? I thought so.

 

[BuzzH]

Nemont,

How many people from Missoula will drive to Hamilton to watch a movie?

I agree though, lots of commuters from Hamilton to Missoula...some probably like the theaters in Missoula better anyway.

Oh, and Al Franken is one funny dude! He makes me laugh. Have you read any of his books? His latest one, "lies, and the lying liars who tell them" is absolutely a riot.

 

[Delw]

I woudlnt give that piece of shit Moore the satisfaction of me watching his movie.
If a movie sways voters then this country has alot of serious problems besides the presidents.

Moore is a piece of shit just like strisand(sp) and a few others if they hate america so bad maybe they could move to ethiopia or better yet Iraq.


Delw

 

[Nemont]

Buzz,
Al Franken is a funny guy. I actually think he is very intelligent and witty. I despise his politics though. I listen to him for a couple of minutes every day on AirAmerica on XM.

Nemont

 

[Mr. Foreman]

Wishy wasy voters. sheeple citizens, and professional candidates are just the tip of the iceburg where the problems of the USA are concerned. Look at all the two faced, double tongued, back stabbing, mother freakin' fair weather, self serving, cowardly, reprobate, friends in every direction. We get exactly the leaders we deserve; cause that's what we been breedin', trainin', and encourgin'. This truly is a nation of the people. Don't fault Mr. Michael Moore; we elevated him and made him a multi-millionaire.

 

[BuzzH]

Nemont,

You know I've read lots of political books by Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Allen Combes, even stooped to a new low reading "See, I told you so" by Mr. "Talent on loan for God" himself El Rushbo.

The thing about Franken is he isnt vile in his delivery like Coulter, Rush, or Hannity. He knows politics is a joke and points it out. He laughs at himself and really doesnt give a shit what he says. Plus he does it in a way that will have the reader crying in laughter.

The other thing he does that Limbaugh, Coulter, and Hannity fail to do is....research what he writes.

I cant say I agree with his politics completely either, but at least he's funny. Nothing worse than reading a bunch of vile, venomous pure and utter BS from the conservative right...I find no humor in that.

 

[Nemont]

Buzz,
I have don't limit my reading and listening to just the right side of the political dial. Personally I cannot listen to Rush as he is like nails on a chalk board to me. I do tune in to Hannity a listen to his Hannitization tour.

Allen Combs is an idiot. Anyway I have read Al Franken's books and thought they were funny. Again, I just don't like his politics doesn't mean I can't read or listen something to hear what the other side is saying.

Nemont

 

[BuzzH]

Nemont,

I need to listen to Franken on Air America.

One of the funniest things in Frankens book about Sean Hannity was this:

"I dont know about you. But I think its a little sad that, since J.C. Watts left the House, the number one black leader in the Republican Party is Sean Hannity". Classic Al Franken.