Hey, remember 2004? Back in April of that year, I conducted a short interview with Fat Mike who at the time was busy with his election-year activism, namely his involvement with punkvoter.com. I came across this as well as a few other gems whilst cleaning up old folders on my computer the other day. (Cue flashback noise from Wayne’s World despite the fact that it is much more ‘92 than it is ‘04)…

Just in case there is anyone who doesn’t know, who are you, and where might people know you from?

Hi, I’m Fat Mike, I play bass in Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s and I sing in NOFX, and I got a record label called Fat and I started a political organization called Punkvoter. Oh and I play Texas Hold em tournaments on Sunday nights.

How is everything going so far this year?

Tour has been great. We played in front of over 50,000 people, 10,000 of which signed up to punkvoter, and over 1,500 registered to vote for the first time.

If everything works out exactly the way it was planned, what will the efforts of Rock Against Bush, and punkvoter.com accomplish by the end of this year?

Simple, Bush moves back to Crawford, and I resume my golf game. And maybe a few hundred thousand kids will be better citizens.

Click To Read

The last I heard, punkvoter.com wasn’t endorsing any candidates per say, unless you could count anyone but George as a candidate. If the only stipulations are that the person must be alive, and not running in this year’s election, who would you pick to run against Bush in November?

Oprah Winfrey

If Bush fails to be reelected this fall, and we begin 2005 with a properly elected and competent Commander and Chief, what will happen to punkvoter.com? Will you say, “mission accomplished” and let it fade? Or do you see it evolving into a more progressive organization and focusing on other issues, like a moveon.org?

We wanna keep punkvoter going for a while. We think that local elections are very important as well. Keeping youth informed and active in local and state elections is our long-term goal. Right now we have to focus on the biggest problem.

How do you feel about the FCC’s recent crackdown on indecency?

It’s another example of how America is becoming less and less free. We are turning into a religious state before our eyes. This is because the fucking religious minority in this country is organized and vocal. Well our guitar amps are louder than their church organs. It’s about time we turn ours up to 11.

Any closing remarks?

Yeah, this is not a battle for just the white house. This is a battle for the Supreme Court and a women’s right to choose. This is a battle for the environment. This is a battle against unjust war. This is a battle for our civil rights to privacy and health care and education. This is truly a battle of people who care about each other against people who care about money, power, and corporations. This is not just another election. This could be the most important election of our generation. Be a part of it.

-patrick

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