The 3 most uplifting thoughts I have about "Path to 9/11"

[LostInAnomie]

First, let me say this. I am sure that Path to 9/11 will air. Not only will it air but I am sure it is even worse than we have conceived. That being said there are a few factors working in our favor.

1. As of now there have not been a successful 9/11 movie. Even with big name actors, directors, large marketing budgets, and hollywood special effects United 93, and World Trade Center were only moderate successes. It appears that people are not really interested in having 9/11 be exploited by the entertainment industry.

2. PT 9/11 is a five hour mini-series split into two parts. The first part (Clinton's part) is up against probably one of the most anticipated NFL games in recent history on one network, and the season premieres of The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad on another. This will take a huge ratings bite out of PT 9/11. Not only do people not traditionally watch long two part mini-series, but they especially don't watch them if they are going to miss the first part of them.

3. Even though we do not like the MSM in most cases, they have done a fairly decent job of raising awareness that this film is full of deception. Even if the general public have little knowledge about the actual events, they know that this film is not on the up-and-up. Combine this with the fact that people don't like media exploitation of 9/11, the other programming, and the actual TV viewers drop to only the most interested parties. Who might these parties be? The far right Clinton bashers, and Democrats who will be watching it just to see the lies. People who already have formed their opinions and will not be swayed.

Sure, there will be a few hundred thousand tune in who are not partisan. But, if they have not formed an opinion about the events of 9/11, the Clinton Administration, or the Bush Administration by now, that chances are they will not be swayed by a poorly conceived, poorly written, poorly produced "docu-drama".

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Regular folks aren't going to sit & watch Harvey Kietel for 5 hours

They wouldn't watch that guy for 5 minutes. No action, no gambling, no home repairs, no celebrity gossip, no babes, no hunks, no viewers.

[Redstone]

2. Well, that's a damn good analysis. I do hope you're right.

The odds are that you are right, and I hope it happens.

Redstone

[Skittles]

3. from the reviews I have read, it sucks badly

it is boring - yup, they made a boring movie about 9/11

[MADem]

6. WAPO raked it across the coals, then shit on it!!!!

'Sucks badly' is a KIND review!

I'm hoping that there's some lawsuits flying after they air it. And I'm hoping for some substantial judgments, too...

[peacetalksforall]

4. It doesn't make much difference if anyone watches tomorrow

night or Monday, the damage before and after is much worse. Teacher guides, class material, dvds, cable and satellite, foregn distribution.

The worst damage is to the kids. Scholastic should be sued - they appear to have entered into this arrangement with full approvals and they are not heroes for backing off three days ago. It's too late, way too late. A law would have to be introduced to make right wing teachers stop using what they have already received. Their will be eternal fuzziness around which is or is not the official Scholastic version and evangelicals are going to tell people to go to ....

Parents are going to have to organize.

I think we can believe what we're reading about fundamentalists setting their sites on invading film and tv. The producer and director were groomed to spread the message and the message is love George and spread his majesty..

This is as blatant as it gets.

Tomorrow night might be the bomb hitting, the damage is far spreading.

Some wins in some courts of law are needed and a lot more work.

[LostInAnomie]

5. I'm not sure we really have to worry about fundies taking over Hollywood.

The main reason being is that the fundy shit doesn't sell. People don't go to the movies to see a sermon, or righteous living. People go to the movies to see controversy, action, intrigue, magic, and most of all SEX. They want to be transported into a world where they don't have to worry about morals, or the other boring shit that they live every day. Fundy movies can't offer that. They are a one trick pony that the free market gets tired of very quickly.

[Erika]

8. Scholastic is running like hell

Republicans hate public schools.

[MADem]

9. And the sad thing is, they didn't really back off...they just wiped their

filthy hands a bit--the Scholastic bastards. Their lesson plan http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2819174&mesg_id=2819174 still requires the students to WATCH the tripe.

The only appropriate position for them to have taken would have been to cancel the association, delete the lesson plan, and suggest that the kids watch the fireman 911 show on CBS. I even came up with a mathematics lesson plan for that:

Count the number of times the firemen say 'shit' or 'fuck.' If 'fuck' is worth a half a million dollar fine, and 'shit' worth two hundred and fifty thousand, how much will CBS have to pay in fines to show this documentary?

If 'fucks' are bleeped, and 'shits' retained, what will the fines cost? Now calculate the reverse scenario.

As for the world wide distribution, I'm hoping the OTHER ABC (Albright/Berger/Clinton) slap them with a lawsuit and restraining order to beat the band. I hope they cut them deep and bleed them dry. It would be nice if those three ended up owning a network...!

[peacetalksforall]

11. I wrote this the other day - I feel the same or worse.

....they entered into this teaching the children crap innocently or by design. I would hope it was innocently. If not, damn them. Teaching children lies and pretending it as truth is a horrible crime. They are being portrayed as heores for backing out, but the damage is done.

Whoever messes with the heads of kids are criminals.

Claiming that they have pulled out is a magician's trick.

Have they laid out a plan for recall? What have they done to pull it?

Who at Scholastic vetted this?
Who at Scholastic took money for their participation in this?
Who at Scholastic took favors for their participation in this?

Let Sholastic lay out exactly how they were innocent. The rhetoric we heard yesterdayis not enough.

Ask Scholastic to spend whatever money that is required to fight anyone who infringes on the copyright.

Please see the danger here. Two nights of watching a film will fade. Books and dvds do not fade especially in the hands of fundamental home-scoolers and church schools.

Whoever came up with a campaign to teach kids based on a fictionalized film was a genius. Recognize it and confront it.

What is the difference between the USSR and America? The pretense of capitalism and democracy. It's all a hoax. A sinsiter hoax. Recognize it.

Can you picture the Congressional leaders who have stood at the podium and ranted against the brainwashing of Cuban children? Whatever they rant about is the same crime committed here. The only difference is the sinister affront to truth.

We are being led by sinister hypocrites. We can't be hypocritical by the act of not protecting our children.

[Toots]

13. You know even the darkest clouds have a silver lining

Once the kids find out there is even one scene that is demonstratively false they will make the correct assumption that someone is trying to pull the wool over their eyes. Once they figure that out trust will be completely lost. That is the absolutely worst thing that can happen to a political party. They become completely untrustworthy in the eyes of the children. The children see more than most adults and they see more clearly... One major reason the drug war has failed so miserably. Kids have learned they can not trust what the government tells them on the subject.

[peacetalksforall]

14. You're right. Having parents that believe in the separation

of church and state and are successful in guiding them to think and discern for themselves helps.

[Erika]

7. ABC has been told if they air this travesty they will lose viewers

And they will.

[fooj]

10. Monday Night Football is also a factor, IMO.

[Hugin]

12. On the down side... It gives them something to point to as the 'Truth'.

Seeing as how that is the M.O. of the Right Wing Noise Machine, I'm
assuming that this is how it will be used.