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Moral courage makes for political courage (Molly Ivins, BILL MOYERS FOR PRESIDENT)
Kansas City Star ^ | Jul. 29, 2006 | MOLLY IVINS

Posted on 07/30/2006 12:05:29 PM PDT by neverdem

Dear desperate Democrats,

Here’s what we do. We run Bill Moyers for president.

I am serious as a stroke about this. It’s simple, cheap and effective, and it will move the entire spectrum of political discussion in this country.

Moyers is the only public figure who can take the entire discussion and shove it toward moral clarity just by being there.

The poor man who is currently our president has reached such a point of befuddlement that he thinks stem-cell research is the same as taking human lives, but that 40,000 dead Iraqi civilians are progress toward democracy.

Bill Moyers has been grappling with how to fit moral issues to political issues ever since he left Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and went to work for Lyndon Johnson in the teeth of the Vietnam War.

Moyers worked for years in television, seriously addressing the most difficult issues of our day. He has studied all different kinds of religions and different approaches to spirituality. He’s no Holy Joe, but he is a serious man.

He opens minds — he doesn’t scare people. He includes people in, not out. And he sees through the dark search for a temporary political advantage to the clear ground of the Founders.

He listens and he respects others.

Do I think Bill Moyers can win the presidency? No, that seems like a very long shot to me.

The nomination? No, that seems like a very long shot to me.

Then why run him? Think, imagine, if seven or eight other Democratic candidates, all beautifully coiffed and triangulated and carefully coached to say nothing that will offend anyone, stand on stage with Bill Moyers in front of cameras for a national debate … What would happen? Bill Moyers would win, would walk away with it, just because he doesn’t triangulate or calculate or trim or try to straddle the issues.

Bill Moyers doesn’t have to endorse a constitutional amendment against flag burning or whatever wedge issue du jour Republicans have come up with.

He is not afraid of being called “unpatriotic.” And besides, he is a wise and a kind man who knows how to talk on TV.

It won’t take much money — file for him in a couple of early primaries and just get him into the debates.

Think about the potential Democratic candidates. Every single one of them needs a spine, needs political courage. What Moyers can do is not only show them what it looks like and indeed what it is, but also how people respond to it. I’m damned if I want to go through another presidential primary with everyone trying to figure out who has the best chance to win instead of who’s right. I want to vote for somebody who’s good and brave and who should win.

One time in the Johnson years, LBJ called on Moyers to say the blessing at a dinner. “SPEAK UP, Bill,” Lyndon roared. “I can’t hear you.”

Moyers replied, “I wasn’t speaking to you, sir.”

That’s the point of a run by Moyers: He doesn’t change to whom he is speaking just because some president is yelling at him.

To let Moyers know what you think of this idea, write him at PO Box 309, Bernardsville, NJ, 07924.

© 2006 Creators Syndicate Inc.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: billmoyers; demcow; lunaticparty; mollyivins; passthescotch; tresonmedia
Bill Moyers, IIRC, gave us this or a similar image in the 1964 campaign for LBJ against Goldwater.

1 posted on 07/30/2006 12:05:31 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

Moyers is an effete liberal snob. President? PTUI


2 posted on 07/30/2006 12:07:41 PM PDT by Fudd Fan (Help get Murtha out of Congress- donate at http://www.irey.com/)
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To: neverdem

Molly Ivins, unfortunately, appears to be relying more and more on a bottle of scotch for inspiration.


3 posted on 07/30/2006 12:08:42 PM PDT by mkmensinger
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To: Fudd Fan
This has been posted at least twice already.

Cheers,

knewshound

Latest Column  The Last Normal Day 22 Aug 2006

4 posted on 07/30/2006 12:09:17 PM PDT by knews_hound (Driving Liberals nuts since 1975 !)
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To: neverdem

Ivins and Moyer - Feel the Hate.


5 posted on 07/30/2006 12:11:29 PM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: mkmensinger

This broad is as whacko as the jerk she is supporting. If she was really serious she would have considered Pee Wee Herman before Moyer.


6 posted on 07/30/2006 12:12:33 PM PDT by xxyyxx
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To: knews_hound

MY post has been posted twice already? REALLY?

Must be some mind-reading going on.


7 posted on 07/30/2006 12:13:13 PM PDT by Fudd Fan (Help get Murtha out of Congress- donate at http://www.irey.com/)
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To: neverdem
This is the best idea Molly will ever have. I fully endorse it.


Lessee, who would be the perfect counter candidate to Moyers, -- Gingrich?
8 posted on 07/30/2006 12:13:34 PM PDT by tpaine
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To: neverdem
Liberals must love self flagellation. I've been reading Molly since I was a kid, and in part my distaste for the left has its origins with her. She has a way of making the most ignorant arguments in the most annoying ways that one has to wonder who finds anything she says compelling. Yes by all means run Bill Moyers and the whole country will go red. The left can best bring the country together by losing with such flair that only the Kos kids will remain in their playpen sitting in their dirty diapers sucking their binkeys wondering why no one is responding to their perpetual temper tantrum they can political strategy.
9 posted on 07/30/2006 12:17:16 PM PDT by Ma3lst0rm (Truth is often too stiff a drink for those nursed on feelings.)
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To: neverdem

Every once in a while you look at a person and cannot tell if they support a political agenda because they are evil or stupid, essentially it is the longstanding problem between recognizing the difference between malice and incompetence.

In the case of Molly Ivins, you don't have that problem. Idiot through and through.


10 posted on 07/30/2006 12:18:28 PM PDT by MalikDelosReyes ("'Wise men' often wonder while strong men die.")
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To: KC_Conspirator

We couldn't get this lucky.


11 posted on 07/30/2006 12:18:36 PM PDT by Howlin (Pres.Bush ought to be ashamed of himself for allowing foreign countries right on our borders!!~~Zook)
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To: neverdem
Welcome to Mister Moyer's neighborhood.

White population: 6,840
Black population: 18

That's 0.26% black people in Moyer's "White Haven" enclave for those of you in Rio Linda.

12 posted on 07/30/2006 12:20:57 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (New York Times? Get a rope!)
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To: neverdem

So Molly Ivens is backing a racist. Let it go Jake, it's Chinatown.


13 posted on 07/30/2006 12:22:15 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (New York Times? Get a rope!)
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To: neverdem

And Garrison Keillor could be his running mate. Two weird, effeminate sobsisters out to Scold the World. Wins for me.


14 posted on 07/30/2006 12:22:39 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: All

Billy MOYERS would make the rats yearn for the moderation of Algore.

He's coo coo for cocoa puffs.


15 posted on 07/30/2006 12:23:04 PM PDT by Armedanddangerous (Master of Sinanju (emeritus))
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To: neverdem

molly maybe tied with helen thomas for the most hateful and ugly woman inside and out, in American ratjournalism, but I have to agree she has a point besides the one on her head.
A moyer ticket say with jesse jackass or john conyers or plastic face pelosi would be a great idea.


16 posted on 07/30/2006 12:23:15 PM PDT by jmaroneps37 (John Spencer: Fighting to save America from Hillary Clinton..)
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To: neverdem

"Moral courage makes for political courage (Molly Ivins, BILL MOYERS FOR PRESIDENT)"

Too bad Moyers has neither.


17 posted on 07/30/2006 12:28:01 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Democrats - The reason we need term limits)
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To: tpaine
Lessee, who would be the perfect counter candidate to Moyers, -- Gingrich?

Run, Newt, Run! (he’s back, and he’s doing the kicking)

18 posted on 07/30/2006 12:34:48 PM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem

Dumolbat promotes dingbat?


19 posted on 07/30/2006 12:38:06 PM PDT by litehaus
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To: neverdem

Moyers is one of the the most morally confused people I've seen.


20 posted on 07/30/2006 12:50:35 PM PDT by beethovenfan (If Islam is the solution, the "problem" must be freedom.)
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To: Ma3lst0rm

Been reading her for years??? You are one who is
to be whipped with a wet noodle....Ivins and Moyers
are two of a kind..only one is more blatant about
their warped view of the world..guess which one? Jake


21 posted on 07/30/2006 12:54:54 PM PDT by sanjacjake
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To: Ma3lst0rm

What's really scary is that there may be a few people who think Molly is clever and Moyers is a saint.


22 posted on 07/30/2006 12:58:09 PM PDT by altura (Bushbot No. 1 - get in line.)
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To: neverdem

Just what the country needs, Bill Moyers in a position to steal more money from the taxpayers.


23 posted on 07/30/2006 1:06:55 PM PDT by razorback-bert
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To: Ma3lst0rm

Sounds like we need to FREEP this poll.....www.herald-review.com in regard to keeping Molly and Ann Coulter's columns. I would love to have said "with the stipulation that both pictures be current ones." Take a look.


24 posted on 07/30/2006 1:21:13 PM PDT by GrannyK
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To: neverdem

Molly Ivins, BILL MOYERS FOR PRESIDENT!

Ok, president of what?


25 posted on 07/30/2006 1:28:58 PM PDT by Valin (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: neverdem

The thing I like about Newt is he has more ideas in an hour than most people have in a week. I'll say this IF he seriously runs he'll raise the level of debate. And help the democrats in their fundraising.


26 posted on 07/30/2006 1:33:38 PM PDT by Valin (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: Ma3lst0rm
Molly is raving mad.
27 posted on 07/30/2006 1:35:48 PM PDT by bmwcyle (Only stupid people would vote for McCain, Warner, Hagle, Snowe, Graham, or any RINO)
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To: Valin

MEXICO!!


28 posted on 07/30/2006 1:38:21 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.)
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To: Valin

Yeah, and Ramsey Clark for Attorney General.


29 posted on 07/30/2006 1:40:54 PM PDT by kjo
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To: neverdem

This is as close to lucid as Molly gets. Which demonstrates how far from it she is on a good day.


30 posted on 07/30/2006 1:46:23 PM PDT by Felis_irritable
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To: neverdem
Moyers is the only public figure who can take the entire discussion and shove it

Molly can shove it, too.

31 posted on 07/30/2006 2:13:39 PM PDT by SmithL (The fact that they can't find Hoffa is proof that he never existed.)
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To: neverdem

"went to work for Lyndon Johnson in the teeth of the Vietnam War" -- In my mind, Lyndon Johnson was a war criminal, who would not fight to win, who was willing to lose American lives toward some sort of empty stand-off. Should we assume that Moyers played a part in that policy? I bet we should!


32 posted on 07/30/2006 2:39:38 PM PDT by Continental Soldier
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To: Valin

Mexico?


33 posted on 07/30/2006 2:57:48 PM PDT by Ma3lst0rm (Truth is often too stiff a drink for those nursed on feelings.)
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To: Ma3lst0rm

Actually I was think of Bassas da India
Background:
This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of an Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bs.html


34 posted on 07/30/2006 3:06:45 PM PDT by Valin (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: All

Dear Molly

Go ahead and run him. It'll be a ball revisiting his financial corruption with PBS having to buy his programs from the company he set up using PBS funds. Redefine moral - or, for that matter, any kind of courage you like. He's still a sleazebag, a cheat, fraud and white collar criminal. And you aren't much better.

With love,
America


35 posted on 07/30/2006 3:11:44 PM PDT by DPMD (dpmd)
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To: Valin

Yeah that would be good. Someplace where they can't do any damage.


36 posted on 07/30/2006 3:11:47 PM PDT by Ma3lst0rm (Truth is often too stiff a drink for those nursed on feelings.)
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To: sanjacjake

Yes it helps to know the enemy. I agree they are two of a kind and I figured that was to be assumed from my comment. I've never been impressed by either Bill or Molly. Maybe if they were in a romantic comedy they'd be interesting but of course that would be a horror flick.


37 posted on 07/30/2006 3:17:38 PM PDT by Ma3lst0rm (Truth is often too stiff a drink for those nursed on feelings.)
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To: neverdem

Ivins has no confidence in what the left wing of the Democrat party is about or can do in 2006 or 2008. The Moyers thing is really kind of a cry for help,... like those who supported Perot in the spring of '92. The Democrat Party is a political party, not an ideological discussion group, and Molly knows this. Fraud, deception, and "triangulation" are the only means the Clinton Democrats have left to "win" elections. They must pretend to be centrist, with the help of foolish scribblers like Molly and the dinosaur media. But, the ultra Cindy Sheehan Left that seems to be in control of the apparatus of the party doesn't see things that way, and will wreck it for them all, without fail. Bill Moyers is about as appealing as Aldai Stevenson's bathwater.


38 posted on 07/30/2006 3:19:25 PM PDT by Richard Axtell
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To: Ma3lst0rm

PLUS it's ruled by France and you know how they love the French. I see this as a win win win situation
1 We get rid of two idiots (always a good thing)
2 They can't really bother anyone. (as you so wisly said)
3 France has to spend their money supporting them.

I see no downside. :-)


39 posted on 07/30/2006 3:40:17 PM PDT by Valin (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: altura

I've only known one person who took Molly Ivins seriously. He bought her books (I think had one autographed), and read her column every time it came out. He was the most insane person I've ever known that could hold down a job. True story about him. He signed on as a non-smoker to get better insurance rates, and started hiding his smoking from the other guys at the fire station. About that time, he started going outside to water the lawn six or seven times a day. One of the other guys saw him out standing by the curb, freshly lit cigarette in hand. So, a couple of them banged out the door of the station before he could get rid of it. He palmed the lit cigarette, and put his hand in his pants pocket. They stood outside and talked to him until about five minutes after smoke quit coming out of his pocket.


40 posted on 07/30/2006 3:52:10 PM PDT by Richard Kimball
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To: Ma3lst0rm

Like your sense of humor...world needs more of it
today and tomorrow....Jake


41 posted on 07/30/2006 6:17:24 PM PDT by sanjacjake
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