This is an important point I forgot to include in my rushed review last night of Fahrenheit 9/11. In the opening scenes, when a series of black Congresspeople from poor districts of Florida plead with Al Gore and the Congreee to take into account the huge numbers of blacks who were denied the right to vote in 2000, all of the onus falls on the nation’s Democtatic senators — not a single one supported the Congressmen as the nation hurried to “move on” and inaugurate a new president.

This sort of thing threads through the movie — it is not just the dirty tricks, shady relationships and outright lies of George W. Bush and his cronies, but the total willingness of the Democrats to let them get away with it. After 9/11, it became “treasonous” even to think that Bush may be heading in the wrong direction, and the Democrats were a key source of this sheepishness.

It is in the case of Iraq, however, that Moore is most unforgiving, depicting the Democrats as thoughtless (as in devoid of thoughts), frightened, semi-paralyzed followers. Heavy-handed and one-sided, but his video clips sure help supplement his contentions.

My favorite pundit in America is Eleanor Clift, and I want to include a snip of her own review of the film. She spoke to Moore before the premiere in DC.

Moore may be preaching to the choir, but he says, “The choir was asleep—demoralized, despairing … Cynicism and despair are the great friends of the rich and powerful. The more Americans they can get to check out of the system, [saying] they’re not going to vote [because politicians are] all crooks—that’s music to the ears of those in charge. This film is a different tune.”

Moore is a propagandist in the best sense of the word. He wants to defeat President Bush, and he has marshaled facts and footage to make the case. It is unnerving to watch Bush sit stony-faced for almost a full seven minutes reading “My Pet Goat” after an aide whispers in his ear that a second plane has struck the World Trade Center and that America is under attack. Bush told the 9/11 commission he wanted to project calm; he projects paralysis.

“Fahrenheit 9/11” opens at almost 900 theaters this weekend, which is nine times more screens than Moore had for his last documentary, “Bowling for Columbine.” Attempts by GOP stalwarts to intimidate theater owners into refusing the film have only generated more demand at the box office. “Fahrenheit 9/11” broke all opening-day records in New York, out distancing “Mission Impossible” and “Men in Black.” Noting that President Clinton’s memoir, “My Life,” is also setting record sales, a pleased Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic Party chairman, said, “It must be driving them nuts,” them meaning the Republicans.

The strenuous efforts of right-wing activists to curtail the showing of the movie suggest they understand the potential impact of this film. Because “Fahrenheit 9/11” is a cultural phenomenon, it just might attract the young and the politically unaffiliated, voters with the power to defeat Bush.

Wonderfully ironic, how the Republicans’ efforts to stifle the movie have now made it a must-see for young people.