I heard Damon’s aggresssive defense of teachers last week and my reaction was WOW!! I don’t think I’ve heard someone that articulate since the golden age of Kennedys.

The sad thing about it was that it was just the pure common sense in defense of dedicated working people who just happen to be constitutents that you cannot find among Democrat in office today.

Hey, Jane, that’s a *trip,* huh.

I think TMZ just made Michael’s point!

And it’s great publicity for FDL, too!

silly

Where do I send my campaign donation?

Matt Damon for junior senator from Idaho. Nominations for president still open.

Pretty boy Hollywood actors should stick to making bad movies.

Is Damon also repped by Ari Emmanuel?

Answered by own question: Sort of. Damon is repped by the same agency, but not by Ari directly. (Patrick Whitesell is Damon’s agent.)

I take it you weren’t impressed by The Amazing Mr. Ripley. Take a break, troll-boy.

My preference would be Tom Hanks or Gary Johnson.

As a retired public hs teacher I was elated to hear Damon’s very vocal, and aggressive, defense of teachers. I understand one of his parents is (was?) a teacher. I see nothing wrong in a fellow citizen, be they actor, filmmaker, athlete, academic, firefighter, medic, etc. in speaking out on the issues of the day. Isn’t that a highly prized American value?

Jane –

Tell me somebody told you about this.

Tell me you don’t watch TMZ.

Please?

Need to get an embeddable version of the audio re Moore on Damon up on Youtube ASAP to help this gain prominence or maybe even go viral. Good stuff already, but time to use all the leverage possible.

My preference would be Elizabeth Warren.

Sadly, I don’t think anybody worthwhile will challenge Zero. Damon might be an interesting possibility to keep an eye on for 2016, though.

No, I wasn’t impressed. At all.

Agreed.

I just got off the phone with Dan Ellsberg. Had to explain what TMZ was. And The Bachelorette.

Ah, fer cryin’ in the beer, not another actor! I really like Damon, but I think even he would laugh at this suggestion!

Don’t dismiss a Matt Damon candidacy out of hand. The Repugs ran three successful bad actor candidates: Ronald Reagan, George Murphy and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Matt Damon can actually act. Uh oh, Is that a deal breaker?

You’re right ET. I’m smacking myself on the forehead. Brian’s gonna grab that and we’ll put it up..

Welcome TMZ readers !

If Matt Damon is pro-single payer health care, I’d probably vote for him.

TMZ!!! we’ve come a long way, babies!

You rock!

Now if we can convince Donna Edwards to support him…..

I trust Matt Damon more than any politician and I don’t even know him that well. He is funny though.

Hate to say it, but you would have had to explain ‘em to me, too. :-(

He’s kinda young ain’t he?

Your service to the cause knows no bounds! {{{Jane}}}

That’s the problem with FDL. It doesn’t appeal to the lowest common denominator of people. Sometimes this site is a little too smart and wordy for teh sheep. Thank you TMZ for presenting us to the rest of the country… you know, the Jersey Shore fans etc etc.

Welcome people. Take a break from the who’s dating whom and who has a new baby bump scene and see just how bad you are being screwed over.

He can also write, which implies a certain intelligence. Remember the first time you heard of him? Good Will Hunting was written by Damon and Affleck. Mostly Damon, I think…but can’t cite a source for that.

What was the name of that “Dogma” film he made? I think he wrote that, too, though I haven’t seen it.

Anyway, I don’t tend to think actors are prime candidates, but hell, politicians are at least as narcissistic as the average actor, so if s/he’s bright and on the right side, too, well, my criteria could change.
It’s certain that what we’ve been doing to choose our leaders ain’t working well.

Damon is 41. Kennedy was 43 when he was elected.

In his defense of teachers, he made more sense than anybody currently in the job or running for it.

I don’t even watch his, or pretty much anybody else’s, movies, so it isn’t his acting skills or good looks. But, wouldn’t you rather see Matt, than Sarah or Michelle.

How you like them apples !

But, wouldn’t you rather see Matt, than Sarah or Michelle or Obama.

What was the name of that “Dogma” film he made? I think he wrote that, too, though I haven’t seen it.

Is that snark? It was called Dogma. lol. And I believe it was a Kevin Smith film.

Ronald Reagan was an actor. Just sayin,’ folks.

hahahhhahahaahhha
he was my pick awhile ago

smart,honest,and THE BETTER RAYGUN!!

Suppose we can expect followers of the Bachlorette coming over for a look see. Should be welcomed and encouraged to stick around and learn something that could actually impact their lives.

you took the words outa my type pad

Pretty boy Hollywood actors should stick to making bad movies

Yeah, what we really need is a constitutional scholar to run for president. Someone who will stand up for the little guy. Someone from a big city like Chicago raised on rough and tumble politics. One who will usher in transparency and walk with the union members….

Let’s play nice.

Howdy Doody is looking pretty good to me right now. Couldn’t be any worse.

he was going to run for senator,from FL

Silly ? That’s what they said about Reagan.It’s not about winning.We need to force Obama to work for our national interests as oppose to the conflictual international values of Wall St. .If he becomes a spoiler,good.There’s no light between Romney and Obama,and with Romney progs would return to resistance agitation.

Exactly, let’s try that … oh, wait …

So is Obama.

oh he must prefer prettyhair basketcase from Texas

Heck, Howdy Doody would cheer me up … which is a damn sight better than I got from Obama today.

LOL & Yup.

definitely

“Pretty hair basket case”? LOL

You’re gonna start posting soon, right?

(2nd request)

always pithy and to the point.

Does anyone know how to recognize a TMZ troll?

:) I thought that was nice?

My first instinct was to say welcome Teatards but I didn’t want to offend the other mentally challenged individuals by lumping them in with them.

My husband and I watched the first two television presentations from Obama, then he turned around and stabbed his supporters in the back. Can’t even remember the first calculated insult from him. We haven’t watched him since. He turns me off just as much as Bush did. Yesterday, I was thinking I missed Bush. This is a really sad thing to be saying as I despised Bush. I might not have agreed with much of anything he did, but he at least didn’t cave.

As to looking at Matt, a customer my husband worked for mentioned being on a flight with him. All the women were quite focused on Matt. I wouldn’t mind wanting to see the president give a speech. That would be a real change of pace.

Politicians, are all actors, every single one of them.

maybe you would prefer, a community organiser? Or a former oil company owner?

Perry

Don’t forget Republican Fred Thompson – also an actor, ran for President in 2008.

LOL. NO idea …. hmmmmm.

most trial lawyers are too
used car salemen
????????????

Um, I didn’t suggest a judgement either way. An actor can get elected. And be taken seriously. That’s my only point. At this point.

obviously, the description left no doubt.

“you Bachelorette people need to get over yourselves and tune in to Real Housewives of….”

You need a second opinion then. You are not exactly being welcoming.

Was *supposed* to be #winning, too.

Lets see. Damon is a good actor. Obama is a bad actor. hmmmm. What to do. What to do.

some more lousy actors

http://tinyurl.com/3f6oq47

extremely well paid with YOUR money

Ummm, Jane? Daniel Ellsberg isn’t the only one who needs a clue about TMZ… Can you give me a hint? I wish I was kidding, but alas, no.

No, how do you recognize a TMZ troll?

America would be better if there were a Republican President because it would unify moderates/liberals/progressives and clear thinkers. They would organize to fight the fascists. With Obama people don’t want to “attack” a fellow “Democrat.” Obama wining a second term insure the demise of the Democratic Party.

I didn’t forget him. I delisted him as his value as an actor has dropped to zero. See his ad for reverse mortgages.

Exactly.

You mean like ronnie raygun.

That’s because I wasn’t trying to be welcoming. What, are we trying to milk memberships from this? Thought we were better than that

Jane. This is more proof of your increasing influence and great skills at campaign/movement planning. Wish I had more to contribute. I do spread the word to all my geezer buddies who also need to be told what TMZ is.

well i love the anti-establishment message of jason bourne, but I have no idea how close that mirrors his own views

still, i’d vote for him in 2012 before obama

milk memberships? I would think that anyone we can convert to FDL and to rational thinking would be a huge gain. You are far too cynical. Or perhaps, I am overly optimistic.

OK……A TMZ troll can’t name the current V.P. but can name the nominees for best supporting actress from last years Oscars.

How bout we meet in the middle? I wasn’t saying not to try and convince them of the errors of their ways and give them a different perspective. But, if that means we have to use kid gloves and couch my words to be nice so they come join us then I’m not exactly sure what the point is?

I don’t disagree with your comment tho

With almost 29,000 votes in the “Matt for President” poll on TMZ, 58% say yes, 42% say no.

Just sayin’.

I can relate. Not to mention he wouldn’t have gotten away with the half of what obummer is trying to pull.

Nah, that’d be mild – they can name the finalists on American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and the Voice, for the last x number of seasons.

Robert, if you have to ask, you must be one! :-)

cool

How many of those responding are registered to vote? Just sayin’……

Or have ever voted?

I know!

Jane’s a genius. Mike Moore’s a genius.

Perhaps educating some folks who desperately need it.

One can choose to be nice or not nice.
You decide how to do that.
I haven’t seen any rules around here.
Nice is nice. It’s simple.
You seem to want to be nice. You can figure it out how to do that.
I believe in you.

You are far too cynical.

I’m a creature of the times. My 401k lost another 20k today. So I am definitely cynical. Plus my sister is addicted to TMZ… so I’m speaking to her as well. She even gets updates on her phone whenever a new story breaks. She’s also a huge Sara Palin supporter. Coincidence?

Obama got non-voters to vote. I’d guess that Damon could, too, with a sufficiently emotional campaign.

I imagine a TMZ troll, after he trashes you, asks for your autograph.

Sorry to here about your 401k. Crap. A bad attitude is understandable.

Having a penchant for vanity-based and totally useless idol worshipping information does not necessarily preclude one from understanding politics, in fact, it’s probably a damn good prerequisite.

I’m bleeping Matt Damon. Yea!

(*applause*)

Imagine a candidate who truly believes in the citizens of this country and isn’t afraid to speak his/her mind on behalf of our society as a whole. Instead, in the current situation (Obama/Republican), we will have two candidates whose biggest debate will be which one can lead the country into the fastest and largest “austerity” and spending cut path.

I like Matt.

…based on economic pseudoscience that very well might crash the economy.

I can see the debate now.
Other guy, “But what about the fact that you have no political experience….”
Matt, “But what about the fact that you’re an asshole?”

I agree. That being said as previously stated upthread there are folks who are voting that can tell you who won a useless award two years ago but can’t name even a few people in government, or even the country we fought to gain indepenence for that matter.

Still, I should take it out on this bottle of wine and not TMZ. Tho TMZ may have caused the downfall of our society.

Thank You for your kind words tho.

I know, right. Can you imgaine Obummer getting on national teevee and saying he welcomed the anger of the corporations?

Or put another way… how many of them would vote if Damon were on the ticket?

Personally, I think it is hilarious the contempt for actors cropping up on this thread. As if our politicians were doing us any good? Honest to God, I would give a lot to see Congress filled with farmers and bakers (no, that is not a typo) and auto mechanics and teachers and nurses and firefighters and…

We have a richly diverse society and that ought to be reflected in our political institutions. Given the complete and total failure of our political, corporate, and intellectual elite, I’m totally on-board for some new blood and if it takes an actor with the kind of name recognition needed to catapult someone into serious contention, well, I’m fine with that, too.

I once said that I would vote for a cardboard box before I would vote for a Republican. Well, Damon is a damn site better than a cardboard box.

LOL.

Oh, what the hell.
Friends, maybe a little bit, with Matt?
Would he dance with you?
It doesn’t bother me so much that you ignore me, but hey, I held your hand.
Whatever.
I’m a pretty big girl.

Yeah, but they might be able to find out who’s tapping Anthony Weiner’s phone.

Good one :)

Have you considered that not having political “experience” at this point might actually be a positive? Congress has an 18% approval rating…they are politicians but certainly aren’t paying attention to what our country really needs with the concentration on debt and spending cuts. I want to see someone who thinks about OUR future, not just that of Wall Street, Oil companies, and the top 1% wealthiest.

Totally. And he could, no shit and no trickery, run as the “common sense everyman” candidate.

I totally agree with the citizen politician idea, the intention of the founders for the House actually, rather than semi-permanent aristocratic status; in fact I have posted just such within the past week.

Ewwwwww… Thanks for the chuckle.

As requested, here you go:

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/08/08/audio-transcript-michael-moore-says-matt-damon-for-president-at-fdl-member-webinar/

YouTube clip with transcript.

Eisenhower had no political experience, either.

Like I said, I like Matt. :)

AWESOME!

Well, your post started the whole thing.

Absolutely. I agree. If it came down to a choice between the corporate shill in the White House, an idiot republican, or Matt, I’d vote Matt. Hands down.

Not that it would happen, but this is exactly the scenario that would have to play out as far as primarying or running against Zero and whoever his equivalent would be from the Republicans

It can’t be someone who still has aspirations within the Democratic Party, because whoever that is would be crucified unless they’re a Ted Kennedy type (independently wealthy, longtime party insider, and nationally known), but that person doesn’t exist anymore, with him gone. I don’t think the person exists who has that kind of respect among the national (I mean state by state) insiders. And even though, in Cali for instance, the largest caucus by far, is the Progressive Caucus, you still have to overcome the Rahm Emanuel types (Bob Mullholland, Nancy Pelosi) making deals with threatening people against upsetting the apple cart

So what are you left with?

The biggest issue is name recognition. Because the vast majority of people are nowhere near as well informed as people on this site for instance, you have to reach those who’re only marginally informed and involved

And, unless you have the money for massive media buys, you won’t be able to get yourself known in the little amount of time there is left. My guess is, Team Obama and the Republicans are locking up the teevee and radio spots in Iowa and NH for next Winter right now. Add in the fact that you’ll have to win early to be viable, or you’ll be dismissed not only by the talking heads, but the voters as well

And if you’re not well known, how do you overcome that?

So, what does my meandering comment mean? The person/movement has to be exogenous (yea, I learned a new word) and the person whether they’re primarying Zero or running as a third party candidate has to have name recognition

I don’t know who this person is, Damon? Clooney? Someone else? Whoever it is, has to be someone new and shiny, and immune to insider party politics in order to have an impact

YMMV

Oooo, dang it, my comment started as a reply to you, because I liked reversing the question you posed, but then I veered off into my little tirade. I did not mean to suggest you were treating actors with contempt nor that you were opposed to citizen politicians. Sorry about that!

As in I Like Ike? ; )

Just surreal.

Ha. Yep.

Wilson,was a professor with a stroke

Didn’t take offense. Was just agreeing with something that isn’t pointed out often enough…..how far it is that we’ve allowed ourselves to stray from the path of “our” democracy as it was so well layed out for us, yet we’ve managed to totally fuck it up anyway.

At this point in time, I honestly think a vast majority of Americans are a little sick of the “career politicians”.

MD,lived next door to Howard Zinn

and their next in line families

Another:
http://news.sportsinteraction.com/entertainment/celebrities/matt-damon-for-president-26969/

Thanks. All the same, I apologize. Every now and then my comments derail into a stream of consciousness sort of typing out loud ; )

That’s pretty cool. Did you learn that at TMZ?

no……he did a piece on peoples history forA&E

Everyone’s feeling it all today, that’s for sure. Hang in there.

If he talked much with Zinn, that’s one hell of a plus.

The citizen politician idea is a great idea

There was a study cited at MIT’s Technology Review last Winter on why it’s such a good idea

Let me go find the link

Campaign slogan:

We need an MD, STAT!

who do you think gave him the book?that is why i picked MD awhile ago

If Matt has read ‘The Shock Doctrine’ all the way to the end, I’m in. Not sure Michael has.

I ‘like’ Matt Damon. So, the last thing I’d want to see is a Matt Damon Presidential candidacy. Running for President would be a bout of torture. Being President would be much worse.

This is fun!

Cool, I’ll keep an eye out for it… Thanks!

Why Randomly-Selected Politicians Would Improve Democracy

The democratic system of governance is one of the triumphs of civilisation. It ensures that our societies are run in the best interests of the majority. At least, that’s the theory.

In practice, there are numerous examples of democratic systems that are rife with corruption or paralysed by disagreement. Even in benign parliaments, it is often an open question as to whether the work they do really benefits the majority of people.

Today, Alessandro Pluchino and amici at the Universitá di Catania in Italy say there is a better way. They have modelled the behaviour of a two-party parliament and examined how it changes as randomly selected independent legislators are introduced into the system.

Their counterintuitive conclusion is that randomly selected legislators always improves the performance of parliament and that it is possible to determine the optimal number of independents at which a parliament works best.

[...]

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/26488/

sorry it was History Ch

http://www.history.com/shows/the-people-speak

The biggest issue is name recognition. Because the vast majority of people are nowhere near as well informed as people on this site for instance, you have to reach those who’re only marginally informed and involved

Yep. And that’s why I *think* Michael Moore made this suggestion. Too many citizens, for whatever reason, are very much out of the political loop. Let’s face it, that’s why Reagan & Schwartzenegger did so well. Citizens, for better or worse, thought that they were *marvelous* and voted for them. Duly noted that once Scwartzenegger’s pecadillo’s came to light, almost no one on the right decried it… not that Ahhnold had much of a political future, but seriously… where was the outrage? People still *believe* that Ahhnold was “good” as the governator, even though he was pretty sucky imo.

Damon? Clooney?? Both of them are smart men with a lot going for them. They both have proven that they are very progressive. I’d be happy to have them run for any office they chose. They are outsiders with money and, it appears, true progressive leanings/opinions/etc. Bring ‘em on.

Why not??

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni13832918/

Hey thanks, you read my mind.

Absolutely.

In a perfect even marginally better world no one would know what TMZ or the bachelorette are…but in this world, i think its a big problem that Daniel Ellsberg and Noam Chomsky and whats left of the old leadership , dont know what they are. and younger would-be leaders pretend they dont exist. the enemy puts pulp media and awful, brain dead pop culture to work for them, with dreadful results for the rest of us.

I’ve always liked Micheal Moore but after listening to zero today, I want to know a lot more about Matt Damon and especially what he knows about economics. And whether he will fight these thugs not bi partisan them to death.

very illuminating thread. i had no idea i was keeping company with so many arrogant, pseudo-elitist asshats.

an important moment from a FDL townhall gets attention on a hugely popular site, and instead of welcoming any new readers who may drop by, many here instead resort to ignorant, lazy name calling and ridiculous stereotyping.

classy.

Yeah, me too. I pick up a People Magazine at my hairdresser’s and think to myself, “I have no idea who any of these people ARE!”

I came across an article at the Guardian a week or so ago that said in a July Public Policy Polling survey of possible challengers to Chris Christie they decided just for fun to included Bruce Springsteen on the list of possible challengers. The outcome of the survey was a tie with Springsteen and Christie both getting 42% of the vote but Springsteen was given much higher favorability ratings.

Just wondering if there might be any chance of getting Matt Damon included in any of the presidential polls that are out there?

That’s awesome! Thanks for the link. Those guys have their work cut out for them modeling the Peter Principle and now corrupt/ineffective to party Parliaments.

Improving Congress via random selection certainly makes intuitive sense. It is good to see that it appears to hold in a mathematical framework.

Why would you want to have someone run as a candidate from anything resembling the left, in order to “force” President Obama to turn back toward center left? It will not work.

If today’s speech where he choose to call for cuts to Medicare and Medicaid instead of cutting spending on wars, etc. did not convince you he will not stop being what he is, what will it take?

Start fresh with someone else.

—————–
The next line is tangential, it may apply but it is not directed to do so.
Choosing the lesser of evils means what you get is evil.

I have friends who are always current on entertainment, pop culture, new restaurants, you name it. They are always the ones I turn to when I have friends from out of town visiting looking for something fun to do. Mercifully, they find my cluelessness endearing : ) And not one of them are the ignorant drooling rubes some here would presume them to be.

I’ve been checking out the links that folks have been putting in the thread. Aside from imdb, I have never heard of any of these sites, but I am completely bowled over by the lightning speed with which Moore’s comment on what I imagine was a pretty small little webinar (nothing personal Jane) has been rocketing around the pop culture tubes.

This isn’t something to be mocked it something to be harnessed to make our political system much much better than it is. I think this whole thing is cool as heck, even if I am way way out of my element
: )

My most painful, agonized hope as the mother of some in the next generation, after the betrayal of 2008, is let this coming leadership of our country who came out so bravely and strongly last time around not be betrayed again. And while I know precious little about Mr. Damon, if he is the choice of that generation and they are inspired and energized by him, and he will not forget them as soon as he comes into office, I would put my heart’s blood on the line for him.

How would he be worse than anything currently available? Repug or Dem? How?

I have never heard of any of these sites, but I am completely bowled over by the lightning speed with which Moore’s comment on what I imagine was a pretty small little webinar (nothing personal Jane) has been rocketing around the pop culture tubes.

No more than I am, that’s for sure. None taken.

Just voted in our house, Matt won.

Damon did the Bourne Identity which is fiction of course.
Obama’s family links to the CIA including the Soetoro, Dunham, USAID,
and Ford Foundation identities might not be fictional.

I read TMZ, and I write for FDL!

Hey Demi. I left the room momentarily.

most trial lawyers are too.

hey now….

don’t be pickin’ on us just because it’s true….

In the end I voted for Obama because of pretty speeches. At least Damon has the ability to act like he’s really mad and about to kick some ass. Sounds like a good reason to vote for him as far as I’m concerned.

y all need to be!…..hahahahahahahah

Wilson,was a professor with a stroke

A racist warmongering professor with a stroke who played more golf in a year during his presidency than Ike played during his own 8 years.

Wholeheartedly agree. Obummer must go!

Thank you very much Jane .Didn’t see the first one but the answer to this one is soon,very soon .Keep up the great work.

If they are both willing and they are in agreement with our community values, Matt Damon and Tommy Lee Jones (one very smart man) would just destroy the two corporate parties. >-)

Whadda y’all thenk?

Could use an audio boost if possible without adding distortion.

In webinar, your voice is solid, guests are always a shade or more too low . . . don’t know if someone is riding a mixing audio board on the webinar, but there are audio fades at times given the speaker and their mic usage/understanding . . . small quibble, but if using clips for youtube and OTHER potential marketing/promo/information possibilities the audio has to get better . . (old radio/tv dude). ;-)

Way to go to jump on the Moore youtube idea! N kudo’s to the one who suggested it! Love this town!

yes, lets pull a Netfixs strategy and do something complete outside of the old paradigms. Although an actor for Prez is not a new idea. LOL. If I see Matt’s name on the ballot, I promise to choose it. I’m in. I’m totally in. Let’s do it. Go Matt Damon. Run the turn coat off.

I concur heartily . . . great suggestion/insight John . . .

Anybody remember the scene from GOOD WILL HUNTING in which the high-tech types are trying to recruit Damon’s character and he gives them the long spiel about the guy from his neighborhood who gets sent to war, loses his job, etc?

That’s straight out of Howard Zinn, and it’s delivered with an emotional sincerity that can’t be just acting.

BTW, I think Matt lived next door to Zinn in MA, not MD. But could be wrong.

The snide remarks are not from regulars I recognize . . . hope you’ll consider looking up their profiles and checking when they first registered at The Lake . .

Anytime Mz. Hamsher or FDL gets a head of steam and media coverage (be it pulp media or not) new names pop up and talk trash.

Just sayin, it’s a pattern I’ve seen . . . since LibbyGte.

;-)

As Mr.’s Ellsberg/Moore said Sunday during the webinar, you run NOW for ’12, 3rd party or primary . . . with no thought of winning but with EVERY intent and thought of raising the issues and bringing awareness to the country about issues . .. you know, the issues Obama and the Dims and the GOP continue to ignore.

Majority of those polled say end wars, tax rich, protect Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, civil service jobs for fire, police, etc.

That’s the purpose of running someone, anyone, either as primary to Obama or as 3rd Party . . . . has to start NOW to heighten awareness of the TRUTH in order to fully be competitive by ’14 or ’16 . . .

I’m not sure ANY efforts within the established political system are worth a shit, but I’m MORE than willing to see something like this run if there’s a major ‘name’ candidate.

I still have quit the dims, and will never vote for them again unless it IS a major ‘name’ new to the game. N I will never vote GOP.

That’s my game, that’s my commitment, that’s my intent. Cn’t speak for others regarding the voting part.

Fully agreed with . . . incredible how it got picked up overnight . . .

THERE she is!

My FAV FDL pulp media cultural icon!

*G*

Hope you get 1st or 2nd interview with Damon before he declares candidacy (Mz. Hamsher got FDL first dibs I think in most cases).

*G* ;-)

I love Matt Damon, but this seems like crazytalk to me. Yes, he’s passionate and speaks with conviction, he’s a natural orator, like someone else I could mention. We know less about him than we did Obama, and we all know how well that turned out.

I was feeling very excited and motivated after the Webinar, but then I watched this clip on The Real News again, and regained my sobriety. The DNC is a reality, and it aint goin’ away easily.

As Rob Johnson says, we are very diffuse interests versus the concentrated interests of the wealthy and the corporations. We are easy to ignore. If we can’t coalesce somehow I don’t see how we have a prayer of a successful 3rd party campaign or primary challenge.

Damon did the Bourne Identity which is fiction of course.

Yes, and does anybody remember what the trilogy was ultimately about?

Answer: An illegal CIA operation to…kill Americans without due process.

My, how times have changed. What’s that about truth imitates art?

There was evidence of Obama’s politics contained in his record as a state senator in IL.
The activists (people like us) are the people who donate to the DNC, DCCC and such. I have a feeling they might have a much harder time with donations after last week.
One thing is sure, we are mad as hell and we are not going to take it any longer. There are some very very intelligent people in this community, these ideas are in their infancy. I believe we are in for a battle, and it’s not going to happen quickly. You can bet there are a hell of alot of people like me who will put in their blood and tears to ensure a better future for our children and future generations. We can not and will not accept the staus quo. No matter how powerful they are.

Al Gore

I hope to hell they don’t get a dime. You know something that I found really riveting? When Daniel Ellsberg said that the time that we could really have turned the tide with a protest or strike was when the recount in Florida was shut down.

Makes you wonder if we had stood up to the Brooks Brothers riot (in defiance of Al Gore, too) what woud have happened.

I wonder if Catfood II is our defining moment. Seems to me if we could stop them from forming this Junta it could be a real turning point.

Al Gore with Alan Grayson’s attitude and mouth.

Hello, Michael. My mom, who knew your mom at the Flint Unitarian Church, said she was a nice lady. And I know that you are a somewhat progressive guy. But my friend Lori S. worked for you on your TV show in NYC back in the day. and says you are a fit-throwing tyrant, that you avoided using union labor for the series. So I always take you with a grain of salt.

Now, too. Love, Matthew Detroit

With that assessment, then Ronald Reagan should never have gone into politics, especially since he was a B rated movie actor. I can also state he was a D rated governor and a F rated President.

Jane, you’ve shown the way. You’ve started SOMETHING. Keep going. Please! This webinar was fantastic; it started the ball rolling/started the conversation in a real way. I didn’t vote for Obama in ’08 because I could sense what a shit-pisser SOB he really was. My super republican/best friend didn’t vote for McCain either because he could sense what a shit-pisser SOB he really was. And we both looked at each other and said “can’t we have someone else?” I regret not being able to cast a vote – but there was no way in hell that I was going to ‘own’ a vote for Obama. 3rd party is the way – and a serious 3rd party.

Lay it out; put up a platform that captures the will of the people. But you HAVE to get some congressional seats or a 3rd pty president will be helpless and look helpless.

It’s one (wonderful) thing to win a major elected office, but altogether different to be able to govern or move legislation. Effective POTUSes and legislators have deep backgrounds in electoral politics, have many friends and favors in the bank. Obama is a failure because he has no experience, no friends, no debts to call in.

In his first term, FDR called for the young Texan House member, LBJ, to come see him in his office. Soon enough, Johnson’s district in Texas got electricity and ‘city’ indoor plumbing.

One can only hope. It has definitely all gone to hell in a handbasket since that FL recount. It is hard to believe that we all just gave up isn’t it.
In many ways bush was better than obummer, at least we pretty much knew what we were getting and the extreme crazies were not allowed to run the place.
I didn’t vote for Obummer in the primary and held my nose in the general but I will never do that again. And any democrat who voted for that debt bill will never get another vote from me. I refuse to reward another individual for hurting my family and my fellow Amercians to protect the rich.

Obama has friends it’s just not those we would want him to call friends. Have you seen the money he is raising from the corporations?

Oh, you know what I mean.

Why do you think of pimps as friends?

Jane, it’s obvious that your webinar was successful! I hope you consider hosting a second, a third, webinar before 2012. Your guest list could include any number of people with whom we’re acquainted: Matt Damon, Melissa Harris Perry, Cornel West, Elizabeth Warren, Joseph Stiglitz, Barry Eisler, George Clooney, Dan Choi, and numerous others. Certainly not all of them at once. Your choice for your first webinar was excellent. The webinar really initiates and revives spirited public debate. Congrats on your first and hope there are more on your schedule. (I realize that it would require financing so don’t hesitate to ask for donations.)

If that’s what they actually are, absolutely. Obama is a fraud. Matt Damon is a pretty boy Hollywood actor. Pass on both.

I’m a little tired of voting for what seems like the least evil candidate. I think we all are.

Agreed. We live in the era of “branding” and Damon has some real positives. The neo-con/lib environment is poisonous to real statesmanship. We need to recognize the environment for what it is. The first authentic person, be they actor, lawyer, whatever… who actually has the courage of their convictions and understands how to communicate directly with the public without having to focus group test (I call them “fucus” groups) the patricians, and has the integrity for moral leadership, will in the words of the late, great Dr. in the Sky, “Stomp On The Terra!”

Eisenhower had no political experience, and he was very effective.

I think we are in agreement, or close to it. These issues need to be raised repeatedly.

I though, do not think trying to run from the left merely to get President Obama to turn back to the center direction is going to work. He has stated his positions and stuck to them over all objections.

If a run is going to be made, it needs to be a fresh start made by someone really trying to win on the merits of their positions.

The Other Guys- Pimps don’t cry HD‏ – YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH75bIt5Z9g1 min – Dec 27, 2010 – Uploaded by Kingpoof9
The Other Guys- Pimps don’t cry HD. Kingpoof9 12 videos. Subscribe Alert icon Subscribed … Standard YouTube License. 18 likes, 1 …

I think we should realize that while Ike didn’t have any elective office political experience he had enormous political experience navigating among all the rivals in the Allied Supreme Command and affiliated political entities. He also had the practical experience of organizing the biggest logistical operation (D-Day) and long-term/massive scale military command in history.

That said, I’d vote for a guy like Damon without experience but with principles in a heartbeat over Zero or any of the Repukes. A guy like Damon can hire the right people. (i.e. Stiglitz instead of Summers, William K. Black instead of Holder, Krugman instead of Geithner, etc.)

I don’t know about Matt, but I would LOVE to have Elliot Spitzer running. Maybe Matt can be his VP.

We need somebody that’s going to put the American people ahead of Wall St, and NOBODY on the Dem or Repub tickets are going to do that, certainly not Obama!

Exactly!

Ha ha ha ha ha! You nailed that one, pretty good.

I’d vote for Damon over Obama in a heartbeat.

:^)

————–
The next line is tangential, it may apply but is not directed to do so.
When you choose the lesser of evils, what you get is evil.

Damon is lot more liberal than youse think..

“Zinn’s life is also the subject of an award-winning documentary, Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train, narrated by actor Matt Damon. Featuring rare archival materials and interviews with Zinn and colleagues such as Noam Chomsky, You Can’t Be Neutral captures the essence of this extraordinary man who was a catalyst for progressive change for more than 60 years.”

http://zinnedproject.org/about/howard-zinn

And I saw once on “free cable access” Damon interview Chomsky.

[Damon] created quite a stir in his CNN interview with Piers Morgan, who took over from veteran host Larry King retired. In it, he said, bluntly, that Obama has disappointed. “Are you a fan of the president?” Asked Morgan. “No,” replied to the surprise of the presenter and audience of the program. “I think he misunderstood what was expected of him. As I told a friend, we have no hope that it will act boldly.” He explained that the president has been short on measures to alleviate poverty and educational reforms.

He also criticized the war in Afghanistan, which Obama has ordered a reinforcement of troops. “I do not think that this mission has been very well articulated. And I think that would be useful to rethink the way we understand it and the very reason for which we are in that country.” Then directly attacked what he considers was inaction on the part of the White House when undertaking financial sector reforms: “It is shameful that the crisis on Wall Street can go back to happen again”.
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8387607-matt-damon-is-disappointed-with-the-president-obama-who-supported-the-campaign

I think we got a winner someone not part of Washington, someone smart, rich and from his films stands up for the little guy and the voters feel they already know.
But this is FDL position papers on his stands on the issues, information on what he wants to do, and if he is serious where do we volunteer in Chicago there is a bunch of work to do!

Good point next question who would he hire?

Very cool!

I’m late to the party but this is a really good idea!

Great comment and a fine list of suggestions. I would just like to follow up to say that I would love to have Cornel West here as a guest, either in a book salon format or in a webinar to discuss with us, how we can engage with the African American community in finding an alternative to Obama. I would happily vote for another African American president (Denzel Washington? ; ) but I have seen repeated commentary suggesting that a primary challenge will piss off African American Democrats. I would love to see a broader discussion about this.

Now that I’ve read a bit more about him, I’d say “RUN, MATT, RUN!”

It’s in the guardian now…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/aug/09/michael-moore-matt-damon-us-president

If Matt Damon takes Michael Moore’s advice and runs for president in 2012, would you vote for him?
71.2% Yes
28.8% No

Poll closes in 2 days

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/poll/2011/aug/09/matt-damon-michael-moore

Is this Swedish?
http://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/udlandkendte/article1598796.ece

Not sure what PopWatch is but news of FDL town hall seems to be getting around.

http://popwatch.ew.com/

Matt Damon for President? Michael Moore wants the Oscar-winner to run, but would you vote for him?

Over the weekend, Moore participated in FireDogLake.com‘s Virtual Town Hall to discuss third-party election strategies and he had one in particular that caught some attention: Vote Matt Damon!

Vote in our poll below, and let us know if you would vote for Matt Damon as President of the United States of America.