Mike's Election Guide 2008 [Paperback]

Michael Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 2008

In his first book in five years, Michael Moore brings us the definitive guide to the 2008 election.

After a diastrous war, the failure to catch bin Laden, millions of families who have lost their homes, the Katrina debacle, soaring gas prices feeding record oil company profits, and the largest national debt caused by the biggest spending and borrowing administration in American history, the country has had it with conservatives, right-wingers and Republicans. A thrilling election season is now upon us. Obama vs. McCain. One candidate has promised a presidency different from any other, one that will take us forward to embrace the hope of the 21st century. The other candidate says he has no idea how to use a computer.

Welcome to MIKE'S ELECTION GUIDE -- Michael Moore's effort to make sense of the this fall's race for the White House and Congress. In it, Moore answers the nation's most pressing questions: "Why is John McCain so angry?," "Do the Democrats Still Drink from a Sippy Cup and Sleep with the Light On?," Can I get into the Electoral College with only a 2.0 gpa?" and "How many Democrats does it take to lose the most winnable election in American history?"

It's a great year to be an American and a voter. Don't miss out on all the fun! And don't miss out on MIKE'S ELECTION GUIDE -- it's the indispensable book that belongs in every American's back pocket this season.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With his characteristically smug, sarcastic, nudge-and-wink style, Moore shows how Democrats can score a slam-dunk in November in a guidebook comprised of half-kidding essays, all within Moore's prescribed range: wry humor, pissed-off rants and sweeping generalizations. In Moore's book, Obama's victory is a more-or-less forgone conclusion; naturally, he offers Obama a list of 10 Presidential Decrees for his First Ten Days (bring back the draft, but just for rich kids; ban high fructose corn syrup; free HBO for everyone). His opening salvo, "Ask Mike," includes questions like "Why should I vote? It only encourages them," and explanations that include a possibly inflammatory take on McCain's stint in Vietnam as a pilot and prisoner of war; Moore points out that if McCain's military service is up for discussion, why won't anyone ask what McCain did to the Vietnamese? Sure to provoke, Moore covers his back with a bibliography and an index of sound bites his right-wing opponents can attack him with ("Long live Chairman Mao!"). Readers will get what they expect; Moore's guide probably won't change any minds, but it's an entertaining, occasionally thought-provoking take on this year's big event.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Read by Moore with his trademark sardonic sense of humor, the book is less a guide to the election than it is a manual that analyzes the list of mistakes the right wing has made in the last eight years. Moore is always good at looking at both sides of the story with raw honesty, and this book is no different. He gives listeners plenty of reasons to vote for Obama, but more prominently, a plethora of reasons not to vote for another four (or eight) years of a Republican administration. Ultimately, Moore offers an entertaining reading that will keep listeners engaged. (Audiofile 2008) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 2008 edition (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446546275
• ISBN-13: 978-0446546270
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Moore is an Academy Award-winning American filmmaker, bestselling author, and liberal political commentator. He is the director and producer of Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, and Sicko, three of the top five highest-grossing documentaries of all time. In September 2008, he released his first free movie on the Internet, Slacker Uprising, documenting his personal crusade to encourage more Americans to vote in presidential elections. He has also written and starred in the TV shows TV Nation and The Awful Truth. His bestselling books include Dude, Where's My Country and Mike's Election Guide 2008.Moore is a self-described liberal who has explored globalization, large corporations, gun ownership, the Iraq War, U.S. President George W. Bush and the American health care system in his written and cinematic works. In 2005 Time magazine named him one of the world's 100 most influential people. In 2005, Moore started the annual Traverse City Film Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2008, he closed his Manhattan office and moved it to Traverse City, where he is working on his new film.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 70 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very funny, even if you don't love Moore August 28, 2008

By J. Davis

Format:Paperback

This book is extremely funny. Moore takes silly questions and answers them in a Colbertesque absurd way. You don't have to be a leftist--I'm not-- to enjoy reading Mike's Election Guide. It is flat-out funny. Even a FOX News anchor can enjoy this book. Incidentally, it's a quick read--I finished it at the bookstore in a half hour. Well worth the low price.

47 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A friend gave it to me. THANK YOU! August 27, 2008

By Nerissa Oden

Format:Paperback

I've been a big fan since TV Nation - but I didn't think Mike's newest book would be for me. A friend surprised me and got it for me. THANK YOU my love! More than a mere "guide" this newest book is true red-white-and-blue Michael! I was surprised at how much fun I had reading it. Your cultural and political observations cut to the bone and which you serve up with sweet tasty irony.

Perhaps the reason most right-wingers dont like Michael is that irony is a hard concept for them. It's a biting bit of truth delivered as a tasty morsel to go down easy. I highly recommend this book for content, price, and easy to travel size. But mostly I highly recommend Mike's 2008 Election Guide because it's writtten by a sane person in a dysfunctional culture and thus helps to keep sane people supported and grounded. With love,
Nerissa Oden

24 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining! August 31, 2008

By Loyd E. Eskildson HALL OF FAME

Format:Paperback

"Mike's Election Guide" begins with an "Ask Mike" chapter. The first involves a shopper who took the president's advice 7 years ago and rang up about $30,000 in credit card debt, while his ARM payment doubled. The shopper asks Mike if this means the terrorists are winning. Mike's Response: No - we won because you went shopping. While nearly 1.4 million homes foreclosed in 2008, and we have 10 times the bankruptcies filed now vs. the Great Depression - this is a small price to pay for freedom.

Another asks about American flag lapel pins. Mike responds telling us that we live in an age where its not what you do that counts, but how you accessorize. When asked why the Vietnamese imprisoned the nice John McCain, Mike suggests asking him if it is moral to drop bombs and missiles in heavily populated areas (as McCain did), and also recommends being wary of McCain's temper.

In a chapter titled "How to Elect John McCain," Mike opines that Democrats appear to be professional losers, so pathetic that they lose even when they win (Gore's 2000 vote majority). To help party doofuses and pundits he suggests that Democrats continue saying nice things about McCain (his global warming and campaign finance positions, war hero status), following McCain's lines about expanding "faith-based" initiatives, getting ready to invade Iran, and creating a health plan that doesn't cover everyone.

Mike's Suggestions for Obama's First Days in Office: 1)Bring back the draft, for children of the richest families. 2)Outlaw profit-making in healthcare, while pointing out that fire and police departments are already socialized, and that drug companies do only 17% of the drug research in the U.S. 3)Ban high fructose corn syrup - we consume an average of 63 lbs./year, and its introduction coincides with the growth of obesity in America. 4)Stop paying more taxes than the French. Actually we pay an average of 19% vs. their 22%, but its far greater when one adds in healthcare costs, higher education costs, and day care - all covered by French taxes. 5)Defeat Al Qaeda by drilling water wells in the world's impoverished areas. 6)Make Social Security solvent by having the rich pay their fair share.

Mike then proceeds to provide a list of crimes for which '43 ought to be impeached, primarily dealing with misrepresentations and mismanagement involving Iraq, as well as Valerie Plame's exposure as a CIA agent.

Mike ends by identifying strong Democrat contenders to take Republican Senate seats (23 of 35 open seats in 2008 are Republican held), along with their counterparts in the House.