LOS ANGELES (AP) - Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore is under investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department for taking ailing Sept. 11 rescue workers to Cuba for a segment in his upcoming health-care documentary "Sicko," The Associated Press has learned.
The investigation provides another contentious lead-in for a provocative film by Moore, a fierce critic of President Bush. In the past, Moore's adversaries have fanned publicity that helped the filmmaker create a new brand of opinionated blockbuster documentary.
"Sicko" promises to take the health-care industry to task the way Moore confronted America's passion for guns in "Bowling for Columbine" and skewered Bush over his handling of Sept. 11 in "Fahrenheit 9/11.
The Smoking Gun has the documents from the Treasury Department about their investigation of Michael Moore.
Michael Moore, on his website, believes President Bush is "abusing the legal process to advance a political agenda."
Michelle Malkin opines, "The only one guilty of 'abusing the legal process to advance a political agenda' here is Moore."
Hotair'sAllahpundit adds that Moore probably did this on purpose, to drum up publicity for his new film.
Say Anything'sRob has the perfect punishment for Mike: "Personally, I think that if Moore is found guilty of violating the trade embargo with Cuba his punishment should be having to actually use a Cuban hospital when his heart inevitably begins to give out under the strain of all those Cheetos and milkshakes. And I’m sure he’d be happy to. Since, you know, communist health care is so much better than our American system."
Will Opie and Anthony Receive the Imus treatment
Warning: Extremely Vulgar Language about forced sex with the Secretary of State.
Captain's Quarters'Ed Morrissey opines, "Does XM Radio think this is funny? Do their subscribers? I don't think that Don Imus needed to be chased off the air for his offensive and tasteless remark, but if he went out the door for that, then Opie and Anthony should follow right behind him. However, what do you think the odds will be that Al Sharpton and the media will hold these two creeps responsible for this? About the same odds as having Rice appear on their show next week, is my guess."
Sister Toldjah adds, "Would Opie and Anthony and “Homeless Charlie” think it was hilarious if some guy overpowered and raped them? Would they be laughing if someone were talking about doing that to their mothers or sisters or wives? Could these jack asses possibly stoop any lower?" Roger Simon would be happy to see Opie and Anthony off the air: "These guys shouldn't be kicked off the air for being vulgar. They should be kicked off the air for being absolute no talents!"
However, Q and O'sDale Franks, a long time Opie and Anthony fan, argues that since someone must have a paid subscription to listen, and it is sometimes "fascinating" to hear what "wackjobs" have to say.
Riehl World View wisely adds, "The people should and because we are capitalists and a democracy, the marketplace is our purest form of democratic expression. You can choose to not vote. But almost everyone participates as a consumer in one form, or another. Spend or don't spend your dollars on what you want. But remember, it is almost as powerful as a vote in some cases."
Did Murtha Violate House Ethics Rules? Majority AP makes the case that John Murtha has violated House ethics rules.
Obama this week flew to Detroit to deliver his message that the U.S. auto industry is the villain for “investing in bigger and faster cars while foreign competitors invested in more fuel-efficient technology.”
The domestics certainly haven’t flooded showrooms with gas/electric hybrids like the Japanese. But in fairness, the newest Japanese assembly plant in the U.S. produces 14-m.p.g. Toyota Tundra pickups, not Prius hybrids rated at 60 m.p.g.
“While our fuel standards haven’t moved from 27.5 miles per gallon in two decades, both China and Japan have surpassed us, with Japanese cars now getting an average of 45 miles to the gallon,” Obama said.
“I’m not sure where he got that figure,” Toyota spokesman Mike Michels said. “No carmaker gets 45 m.p.g. Ours is closer to 30 m.p.g.”
The Whistler opines, "What a fool. Anyone with a grip on reality would realize that while the Japanese car makers make smaller cars they aren’t that much smaller. And anybody who’s not an idiot would realize what kind of car makes 40 miles per gallon and then realize how few there are out there."
Ferrets vs. Rudy
And in lighter news, New York ferrets have made their own attack ad against Rudy Guliani.
I am a 35 year old father, husband, and homeowner. I am a registered Republican and an active supporter of the Republican party. I work hard, have a PhD, and am an Eagle Scout. I take raising my 2-year old "right" very seriously. I also enjoy Opie and Anthony. They are my last link to a carefree time when the world wasn't so serious. The bottom line is they make people laugh.
To those who don’t like Opie and Anthony or their “ilk”; if you don't like them, then don't listen. What started with Al Sharpton and the Don Imus started has to stop. The bottom line is that free speech has to protected for all musicians, radio-personalities, and other entertainers regardless whether the ideas they espouse is ignorant, insensitive, or hurtful. Only through the free expression of ideas can issues that effect America be solved. Whether or not entertainers are punished for insensitive remarks should be judged by citizens by whether they change the dial, watch their programs, or buy their merchandise –not by special interest groups or those with a political axe to grind. If citizens are truly offended by an entertainer, people will tune them out on their own. For God’s sake stand up for free expression!
By the way, it'll cost you $12 a month to join the fun.
If there's one single misconception that could hopefully be cleared up before this gets too out of hand, it's this:
OPIE AND ANTHONY ARE NOT LIBERALS!!
Please stop thinking this is a way to "get back" at those who got Imus fired. Imus has repeatedly referred to Opie as "his son" and they led the charge to make Imus's charity drive the biggest they ever had... AFTER he'd been suspended.
If you hate them, fine. If you're disgusted by the comments, fine. But if you think this is "balancing the scales," you could not possibly be more wrong.
As a paying member of XM satellite radio and a fan of Opie and Anthony, I saw absolutely no problem with what I heard on Wednesdays show. I know first of all the Opie and Anthony are a comedic type radio show with a lot of “dark” comedy said on a daily basis. Second in lue of the Imus controversy, O&A have done a lot more darker cringing type comedy in the past that makes this look like preschool stuff.
Now I know that some of you are thinking, well I must be a sicko for actually liking these guys. Well the tell you the truth, I am to a degree, but with that said, I am also a respected business owner in my community with lots of good people that know me well.
Case in point, and its not the freedom of speech card I am gonna bring up, but rather MY FREEDOM to PAY for the type of radio I want to listen to! 1st of all you have to pay for this type of radio, 2nd there are more than enough warnings about the uncensored channels on XM, 3rd you can have those channels blocked with one phone call.
Does it make me a bad person that I like to here this type of dark humor? This show is based on 100% comedy and any of its context is not to be taken seriously. So if its not you cup of tea, then you don’t have to PAY for it
I can't tell you how happy I am to see the 3 posts above.. great responses by all.
All of these conservahacks whine all day long about how gun control = police state, blah blah blah.. but I can't even count how many times conservatives have called for someone to be fired for something they said over the past month. It's disgraceful and represents the apex of hypocricy.. something that righties routinely practice these days. Get a life, righties! In case you might have forgotten, this war you support is supposedly being fought for FREEDOM, baby! Remember what that is you hypocrites? Let's send our kids to die for freedom while we call for censorship in our own country. Makes great sense. Thankfully nobody takes you seriously anymore!!!
When I saw 3 comments, I was expecting posts from people like "Twin2" et. al. (righty moron hypocrites) saying "FIRE THEM, HANG THEM, BURN THEM AT THE STAKE!!" You know, the typical foaming at the mouth hypocrisy..
