Stretching around Williams Arena along University Avenue and Oak Street, two enormous, single-file lines of people stood waiting in anticipation to get the chance to purchase one of the last 200 tickets available to see popular left-winged author/director Michael Moore.

Originally, 5,200 tickets were available for the lecture at the University of Minnesota’s Sports Pavilion on October 11, but 5,000 sold before the show, leaving an entire mass of bodies out in the rain, praying for the chance to see the dynamic speaker express his personal feelings about his beloved America.

“You should see the line around the block right now,” Moore said in a press conference before the lecture. “In fact, there are two lines going around the block. They can’t get everybody in here. We probably could have filled this place up twice over tonight. And trust me, it’s not because the people want to spend their Saturday night in Minneapolis looking at a guy like me. The people are pissed off, and they are anxious for a change, and that is why they’re all here tonight.”

Carrying a copy of Bowling for Columbine, Roger and Me, and Stupid White Men, freshman Max Page, from Grand Rapids, Minn. waited in line for a chance to meet his inspiration. Page was motivated by Moore’s directorial work and is in the process of making his own documentary about the riots on the University of Minnesota campus.

“Bowling for Columbine kind of inspired me to make the documentary about the riots,” Page said. “My film may seem like a cheap knockoff of his films, but there is very little art that’s truly original, and by using these same ideas you get your point across.”

Moore, on a book tour promoting his latest publication Dude, Where’s My Country?,” openly attacked not only American politics and politicians, but the media and its influence upon American society.

His last book, Stupid White Men, was the largest selling non-fiction book last year and has currently sold over four million copies. World-wide, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series was the only book that sold more. According to Moore, Stupid White Men created a ripple effect that made it easier for other left-wing authors to get their books published.

Just about the most controversial, left-wing, liberal speaker you could imagine (with exception to Al Franken or Jim Hightower), Moore lectured to a sold-out crowd who praised his presence with multiple standing ovations.

Presented by the Minnesota Programs and Activities Council (MPAC), students Gladys Mambo, Molly Gale and Chris Compton were the creative masterminds who pulled together to create an enjoyable and oftentimes eruptive evening.

“I thought the crowd was great. They were energized — excited about seeing such a famous and controversial figure in person, and I know some people who were there probably even hated him,” Compton said. “That’s the thing about someone like Moore – if you like him, you want to hear more of what he has to say, and if you hate him, you can’t get enough either – he just adds fuel to the fire or reaffirms your own contradictory beliefs. Some people may call him a great spokesman for change, while others may call him a left-wing nut.”

A rushed event, MPAC usually needs to plan six or more weeks before a presentation of this caliber to run successfully. The Moore lecture was cleared less than three weeks in advance and was a very hectic process in getting every aspect of the speech in place. Because of the rush, promotions and marketing tactics were needed to be created immediately to fill the seats in the Sports Pavilion. With a sold-out crowd, it was more than obvious that the committee members of MPAC did a great job selling the show.

“This lecture, because it went off without a hitch, or at least any major hitch, was a great showcase for the possibilities of MPAC,” Compton said. “My position at MPAC, forum chair, is concerned this year with bringing medium-high to high profile lecturers to the University. This year, however, we’re focusing more on working with different student cultural organizations and departmental programs in order to co-sponsor bigger events with more prominent speakers.”

While introducing the author/director, Compton presented Moore as the author of Dude, Where’s My Car? instead of Dude, Where’s My Country? An explosion of laughter filled the Sports Pavilion and was completed by an embracing hug from the grizzly-like Moore.

Standing behind a podium sporting a Boston Red Sox cap and his well-known casual attire of blue jeans, tennis shoes and a T-shirt, Moore’s presence alone was enough for the crowd of 5,200 to get worked up into an emotional frenzy, leading to a standing ovation before he even spoke a word.

Director of the Academy Award winning film Bowling for Columbine, Moore spoke openly about President George W. Bush, Rush Limbaugh, the war in Iraq, the conceal and carry gun law, students in politics and the University of Minnesota clerical workers strike.

A common theme during Moore’s speech, Republican bashing, could be tallied as the most surfaced argument of his speech. His nemesis, George W. Bush, was victim to multiple insults and wise cracks. In a press conference before the speech, Moore criticized Bush for not taking immediate action upon hearing that the World Trade Center buildings were attacked on September 11 – instead, Bush continued to read to elementary students.

Moore felt the only way for the United States to get out of the Iraqi conflict would be for Bush to apologize to the United Nations and then turn the recovery of Iraq over to the U.N.

Changing his tone from national to local, Moore sarcastically joked about the devastating loss to the Michigan Wolverines the night prior by the Golden Gopher football team. Moore, a native of Flint, Michigan, mockingly compared the upset to what could possibly happen in the Republican-run state of Minnesota.

“I think that the people of Minnesota, while I in part admire their sense of humor in electing a professional wrestler as governor a number of years ago… I thought that was a kind of interesting way to say f*** you to the system,” Moore roared. “Now you’re just stuck in a pathetic situation here. Minnesota has always been one of the most progressive, liberal-minded states in the country and certainly is one of the nicest places to live. For it to be in the clutches of regressive Republicans, to have Neanderthals essentially running this state and being elected to the U.S. Senate does not speak well of the people of Minnesota.”

Discussing Minnesota more in depth, Moore brought up the now-surfaced issue of the University of Minnesota clerical workers strike. Passionate about working class citizens of America, Moore asked the students to go on strike with the clerical workers on October 21 and not show up to class, instead joining them in a massive rally. While students continue to graduate from institutions of higher learning, the ones who aided them throughout their college careers are left behind to operate under unfit conditions.

“I have been proactive in the strikes, and I support them in every step of the way,” Page said. “It’s a tough decision between my education and their rights, but I definitely believe they deserve their fair share, which I don’t think they’re getting.”

Making a connection between the unfair treatment of the clerical workers and the Bush administration, Moore concluded that Bush tax cuts hurt local education because federal money is a dried up resource from never-ending gifts to the wealthy class.

A changed man from two hours ago sitting behind a table in a press conference room – passionate, but reserved in body language. Moore exploded on stage, filling the pavilion with his booming voice, his deep laugh, and scathing sarcasm. He no longer sat quietly with his hands interlocked; Moore charismatically articulated his values on America, touching on everything from liberals, to conservatives and everything in between.

“There is just a general excitement, intensity in the air as people feel in power when someone is able to excite them like this, and I think that is something we need,” said Page. “The thought crossed my mind that there could be a riot from his speech, but I think he knows how to control himself and present himself to the audience he’s speaking to very well. I’m very liberal, and once in a while, it seems he might step over the line, but with all the conservative media we get today, we need him to balance it out.”

“It was clear from attendance that interest was there and that’s what we’re trying to appeal to at MPAC,” Compton said. “I don’t think we’ll see someone like Moore for a while. It is important that we target all students on campus, so if we can find someone who may be more conservative to give a lecture, we’ll definitely pursue the opportunity.”