Stupid White Men-- and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation! - Michael Moore [15]
National Security Adviser—Condoleezza Rice
For her service on Chevron’s board of directors, Rice had a 130,000-ton oil tanker named after her. She was also a director at Charles Schwab and Transamerica, and has served as an adviser for J. P. Morgan; she also served on Bush the Elder’s National Security team.
Senior Adviser to the President—Karl Rove
A longtime supporter and friend of Bush, Rove was once an adviser to Philip Morris. For five years, while he was an adviser to Governor Bush, the tobacco company paid him $3,000 a month to get his inside opinion on what was happening in the elections and with the candidates. Since Rove took the job at the White House, he has been under constant fire for using his position to further the interests of companies in which he owns stock. Recently Rove was criticized for holding meetings with Intel executives about a prospective merger while at the same time he held Intel stock (part of an overall portfolio valued at between $1 million and $2.5 million). The merger was approved two months after the meetings, and Rove sold his stock a month later.
Shadow Adviser to the President—Kenneth L. Lay
Lay is the head of Enron, the largest electricity trader in the United States and a top contributor to the Bush presidential campaign. Lay has used his close relationship with the President to pressure the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to speed up energy deregulation. Lay has apparently provided Bush with a list of preferred candidates for key commission posts. Thanks in part to the California energy crisis, Enron has quickly grown into a $100 billion company. Bush and Cheney rely on Lay for advice; some administration appointees must first be “interviewed” by Lay before getting the job.
As you can see, friends and neighbors, this is a regime that is intent on lining its pockets—and who won’t leave office without a fight. It is their mission to combine their economic and (newly acquired) political power to rule the country and help their friends get even richer along the way.
These Stupid White Men must be stopped. I have informed Kofi Annan of the various locations where these (mostly) men can be found and apprehended by U.N. troops. Mr. Annan, I beseech you. You have invaded other countries for less grievous offenses. Do not ignore our plight. We plead with you: Save the United States of America! Demand that new, clean elections be held. Give the junta forty-eight hours to agree—and, if they don’t, then treat them to a U.S. Air Force-style laser light show!
How To Stage the Countercoup
We, the people, can start a groundswell that will eventually topple the Bush/Cheney Junta—with a commitment of only a couple of hours a week. Here’s bow:
1. Contact your representatives on a weekly basis, and get three friends to do the same. Senators, members of congress, and other elected officials PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION to the calls, letters, and telegrams they receive. Each day they receive a tally of their constituents’ messages. Take just a few minutes each week, and let your thoughts be known.
The Bush agenda can be brought to a grinding halt by a public outcry—and even a few hundred letters can constitute an outcry. Several Bush policies have already been shelved after public disapproval. IT WORKS! We all whine too much; why not put it to good use? Pick an issue you care about and do the following today:
a. Call 202-224-3121—the U.S. Capitol switchboard. just tell them your zip code, and they’ll transfer you to your representative.
b. Write to: Office of Senator [Name],