Bulworth and the New American Left

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July 4 is a date fraught "with significance in the American political calendar. It is the birthday of a nation, a celebration of its independence, and a photo-op bonanza for the Washington political machine run by the Republican and Democratic parties. No different in pageantry from any other year, July 4, 2004, was, however, a celebration apart. Left and right, the nation flocked to see a partisan attack from a filmmaker who, with a verve and chutzpah that harkened back to the radical 1960s, made political waves from Hollywood to Washington. The filmmaker was, of course, Michael Moore; the target, George W. Bush; the film, Fahrenheit 9/11.

Not known for reticence when it comes to …