New MoveOn Bush/McCain ad

From MoveOn,

Earlier this week, President Bush held a fundraiser for John McCain—but McCain didn't want the press to take photos of the two of them together. We put an ad together to make sure voters see that the two stand together.

It's not your average political ad—it's funny, quirky and light-hearted. It's been getting tons of press coverage—including the Washington Post, MSNBC and the Associated Press—and really great reviews.

We want to drive it to #1 on YouTube for today—so that lots more people see it. Check it out below—and if you like it, you can chip in to help keep it on the air.

Scott McClellan's everyone but Mea Culpa

I realize that essentially there is nothing new in Scott Mclleland's new book and that it will probably end up as a footnote to the eventual histories of the Bush/Cheney years. From everything I've gleaned about the book, from news reports, it's all been said before. We know about the selling of the war from frank Rich's The Greatest Story Ever Sold and much else about the administration's "war on Terror" from among others Richard A. Clarke's Against All Enemies. I have a shelf of books on the inadequacies and the impeachable offenses of the Bush/Cheney administration.

But I've been thinking about whether Scott McClellan needs to go into the witness protection program. After all, as my favorite political columnist Mike Lupica says,

You are inclined to say that Scott McClellan is like the first one out of The Bada Bing Club, scurrying into the light and looking for redemption, except that it has become clear by now that even the hoods from "The Sopranos" would be out of their weight class with George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove.

And you know what the mob does with turncoats. So we should probably protect McClellan before the Bush, Cheney, Rove mob gets to him. Don't forget the war crimes indictments have not come down yet.

Well anyway when you finish reading Mike Lupica's excellent take on the Bush mob, here's the first part of Keith Olbermenn's interview with McClellan:

Save gay/lesbian marriage rights

It's really important that we all sign this petition ASAP.

From The Human Rights Campaign:

The recent California Supreme Court decision was a historic triumph for equality over bigotry, for inclusion over injustice.

And it could last all of 173 days.

If California voters pass a same-sex marriage ban in November, our legal victory will be wiped out.

What's more, right-wing lawmakers have resurrected the dreaded Federal Marriage Amendment—which would write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution.

If ever there was a time to show that we've got strength in numbers, this is it.

Sign the Million for Marriage petition today!

Here are three things you should know right now:

Raising the Bar: We've been hard at work collecting signatures from supporters like you for our Million for Marriage petition. But the right-wing opposition gathered 1.1 million signatures to get their marriage ban on the ballot (albeit by spending millions on paid signature gatherers). So we're setting a new goal today: 1.1 million. Sign now

Federal Marriage Amendment Déjà Vu: The California decision has angered and emboldened opponents of equality. Right-wing lawmakers have introduced an anti-GLBT amendment to the U.S. Constitution that’s a replica of the Federal Marriage Amendment we helped defeat in 2004. We'll be working to make sure this hateful proposal garners little support.

Santorum Emerges: Good old Rick Santorum, the extreme anti-GLBT former Senator who championed the Federal Marriage Amendment and lost his seat soon afterwards, was back in the fray last week. In a column published in the Philadelphia Inquirer he said the relationship between committed same-sex partners was equal to his relationship with his mother-in-law. Seriously. (“Heck, I even love my mother-in-law. Should we call [that] relationship marriage, too?”)

It’s no longer enough to sign up one million people for marriage equality. With anti-equality groups spreading their discriminatory message, and raising millions in the process, we have to muster an even stronger show of support.

Before you click to the next blog post, sign the Million for Marriage petition. Help us collect more than 1.1 million signatures! Then tell your friends and family to sign.

We can’t rest. We will win this struggle, but only if we are relentless, vigilant, and unyielding. Thank you for your continued passion for this cause.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President

June 24 & 25: Two Palestinian Films

Two Palestine films: This Way Up and Open Heart
At 2008 Human Rights Watch International Film Festival

Tue Jun 24 at 9:00 pm
Wed Jun 25 at 1:00 pm & 6:15 pm

Walter Reade Theater on W. 65th St.

Admission: $11 public; $8 seniors (62+);
$7 Film Society members & students (with ID) and children (6-12, accompanied by an adult).
(Please note: there is a $1.25 service charge per ticket ordered online and cash only transactions at the box office)


This Way Up
NY Premiere
Georgi Lazarevski, France, 2007; 60m video. In Arabic

Just east of Jerusalem lies the formerly bucolic Our Lady of Pains, a senior citizens’ home for Palestinians. The grimly spectacular and unavoidable wall of separation a few meters from the front door isolates the seniors from their children and the outside world, including the staff that attends to them. With beautiful imagery, contemplative pacing, moments of laughter and brilliant use of a quietly humorous guide, filmmaker Lazarevski fashions a film whose political message grows like an approaching thundercloud.

screening with
Open Heart
NY Premiere
Claire Fowler, UK/Palestine, 2006; 22m video. In Arabic and English

The life of a Palestinian couple's son is threatened by congenital heart disease. A charity offers a life-saving surgery in Jerusalem, but to get there the family must make an uncertain trip through Israeli checkpoints. An emotional journey highlighting the plight of the struggling Palestinian healthcare system under occupation.

Both films in this program are presented in association with Arte East, www.arteeast.org.

Lieberman kisses a little Hagee ass for McSame

Last week McSame rejected the support of Pastor John Hagee because of Hagee's hateful and destructive rhetoric. But there is one person who you've constantly seen standing next to McSame: Conn. Sen. Joseph Lieberman. Lieberman even sits on McSame's shoulder to correct him when he mixes up Shia and Sunni. He may even be McSame's vice-presidential choice. And the very same Joe Lieberman is headlining Hagee's Christian Zionist meeting (pretentiously called a Summit) on July 22. Is Lieberman standing in for McSame? Lieberman is one of the sleaziest characters in national politics.


According to Max Blumenthal on The Huffington Post:

Senator Joseph Lieberman is scheduled to headline Pastor John Hagee's 2008 Christians United For Israel Washington-Israel Summit this July 22. In accepting Hagee's invitation, Lieberman became the most senior elected representative confirmed to appear at the annual gala. Last year, when Lieberman spoke at Hagee's summit, he compared the Texas televangelist to the biblical prophet Moses, dubbing him "an Ish Elochim," or "a man of God." Unless he rescinds his pledge to appear at this year's summit, Lieberman can be expected to deliver another soul-stirring tribute.

Guillermo del Toro to direct The Hobbit films

Although I know this isn't hot news, I'd like to put in a word about the film version of Tolkein's The Hobbit. Actually there will be two films (prequels to Lord of the Rings ). I assume that everyone who loves The Rings trilogy wanted Peter Jackson to direct The Hobbit. But that wasn't to be. The producers of The Hobbit films (including Jackson) have shown their commitment to continuing the quality of the original trilogy. They have turned the directing reins over to Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro directed what I think was head-over-heels last year's best film, Pan's Labyrinth. Despite the absence of Jackson from the director's chair, I think del Toro will bring a new and very exciting sensibility to the two Hobbit films. Del Toro said:

Contributing to the Lord of the Rings legacy is an absolute dream come true.

He has already brought Ian McKellen on board as to reprise his role as Gandalf.

Bill Clinton needs to shut up and let Hillary run her own campaign

From ABC News:

Sarah Amos reports: Former President Bill Clinton in South Dakota today delivered a harsh critique of how his wife has been treated during her presidential bid, telling the crowd that he has "never seen a candidate treated so disrespectfully just for running," and that, "she will win the general election if you nominate her. They're just trying to make sure you don't."

Clinton spent more than six minutes calmly discussing what he called a "frantic effort to push her out" of this race, saying that no one asked Ted Kennedy, Jesse Jackson or Gary Hart to end their presidential campaigns early. Clinton also spoke against bullying superdelegates to make up their minds, saying, "I cant believe it. It is just frantic the way they are trying to push and pressure and bully all these superdelegates to come out. 'Oh, this is so terrible: The people they want her. Oh, this is so terrible: She is winning the general election, and he is not. Oh my goodness, we have to cover this up.'"

If the former president would shut up, for a change, Sen. Clinton would get a lot more respect as a candidate in her own right. It's also interesting how easy it is to attack when you don't have to identify who the "they" are.

McSame follows Clinton's losing strategy

I have thought for a long time that McSame is following the Hillary Clinton losing strategy. Today's (Sun) New York Times reports Steve Schmidt, a senior McSame advisor, said

Mr. McCain would take tough action, part of a contrast he said they would draw with Mr. Obama for "giving great speeches" but having no record of accomplishment.

Does that sound familiar? Remember this from Clinton:

Tonight I want to talk to you about the choice you have in this election and why that choice matters. It is about picking a president who relies not just on words but on work, on hard work, to get America back to work, The best words in the world aren't enough unless you match them with action.

More thoughts on Hillary's unfortunate comment

From Andrew re: Thoughts on Hillary Clinton's assassination remark

I agree that the technicalities of Bill Clinton and Bobby Kennedy's campaigns argue against Hillary's claim, Keith Olbermann's diatribe seemed overboard. He claimed one word, though tragic, is a word that implies she is waiting for someone to assassinate this black guy. That is blatantly not true, or at least I hope it is not. She seems to really only be attempting to invoke the only democratic party's campaigns that lasted until June. The fact that one of those is one of the most tragic moments in our nation's history is not something that can be held against Hillary. She could not have said assassination, but it is a fact that Bobby was assassinated. Words are words, Bobby Kennedy was on his way to being one our country's most inspiring leaders before he was assassinated or killed or his campaign "ended"...She was trying to make a point. A thin and wishful point, but a point using facts nonetheless. To say she is invoking tragedy...is taking it a bit too far...Olbermann invoked more tragedy by going on in his report than she did.

From Dan:

Of course Olbermann's "comment" is over the top. That's Keith Olbermann. But I think much of what he has to say is worthwhile.

I don't pretend to know what's in Hillary Clinton's heart of hearts, but I do believe that as you said "words are words" and using the word "assassination" was a stupid mistake and people have to take responsibility for what they say, tired or not tired, mistake or intentional. Words once spoken have consequences. Remember that Clinton commercial about the mythical 3AM phone call? I think that we need a president who won't misuse words when it counts.

Thoughts on Hillary Clinton's assassination remark

It is extremely difficult, not to say scary as hell, to attribute to any politician - no matter what the stakes - what seems on its face to be the import of Sen. Clinton's remark on Bobby Kennedy's assassination. So one wants to take her barely-there apology as the truth. On the other hand she may simply have lost it and be displaying more of what New York Gov. David Patterson called her desperation. I simply don't know. Mark Shields pointed out on the PBS News Hour that in addition to the inappropriateness of her assassination comment her history is flawed:

I mean, her history is absolutely faulty. Robert Kennedy's first primary,...was in May 7th of 1968. He was murdered four weeks later. She's talking about a long campaign.

This campaign began the first week in January. She's still talking about June. So, I mean, it's faulty there.

And others have pointed out that Bill Clinton may not have actually gone over the top until June, but he solidified the victory in March. The senator seems to say whatever she thinks works at any given moment.


Here are her original comments defending her staying in the race.


Here's Keith Olbermann's take on the controversy.

May 28: Bush-McCain Challenge

28 May, 12:30 PM

Manhattan Bush-McCain Challenge

Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park across from 59th St. and Broadway.
Central Park South at Columbus Circle

Bush and McCain agree on most of the issues which have sent Bush's approval ratings plummeting to the near-teens in the last couple of years - yet the media is still framing McCain as a moderate, a maverick and even a 'generic Republican.'

So on Wednesday May 28th, we (MoveOn.org) are gathering at Columbus Circle at 12:30pm to hold a live, in-person version of the 'Bush-McCain' challenge, in order to reveal the real John McCain to the public and to the media.

Central Park South at Columbus Circle (Map)

(Directions: A, B, C, D and 1 Trains all stop at 59th Street and Columbus Circle. Southbound Broadway buses also stop there as does the 59th Street crosstown bus.)

We will have tables on either side of the main entrance to Central Park at the end of Columbus Avenue across from the where the statue of Columbus Stands in the Circle itself. The sidewalk area is handicap accessible.

May 27: Americans United's Barry Lynn live on CSPAN

Tune in Tuesday, May 27, 8:30–9:30AM

Barry W. Lynn discussing the issue of teaching creationism in public schools on CSPAN’s “Washington Journal”

Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn is scheduled to be on CSPAN’s “Washington Journal” on Tuesday, May 27, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. (Eastern time). Barry will be discussing the issue of teaching creationism in public schools with a representative from the Creationist hub the Discovery Institute. This live program often gives viewers the opportunity to phone in questions, so please tune in!

"All I Want is You" from Juno

Ellen Page and Michael Cera perform "All I Want is You"
from one of my favorite films of last year Juno

May 31: Pedal for Peace 2008

Pedal for Peace 2008
Saturday, May 31, 11AM

Central Park
110 St. & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd
(Rain or Shine*)

REGISTER TODAY!

This will be NYC-United for Peace & Justice second annual fundraising ride. It is a family-friendly 15-mile ride through East Harlem, Harlem and the Upper Westside. View the map of the route. The revenues generated from this ride are vital to help NYC-UFPJ to be able to continue to coordinate city-wide anti-war actions and amplify the work that our member groups are doing in neighborhoods around the city!

Riders are encouraged to get sponsors and there are great gifts for raising $250, $500 and $1000 (including an I-Pod shuffle for raising $1000). All riders get a fabulous Pedal for Peace T-shirt! But you don't have to ride to help us reach our fundraising goal of $10,000. Check out the Pedal for Peace donations page to donate!

Will Clinton carry her fight to the the convention floor?

It seems more and more that Hillary Clinton is not going to stop anytime soon. In fact she may take her fight for the nomination to the Democratic convention. Here's how AirAmerica's Rachel Maddow sees it:

After the primary calendar has ended, Clinton's campaign can only justify or explain her staying in the race if she makes the case that the Democratic Party still has not chosen a nominee conclusively. Clinton needs an argument that the game should go into extra innings. Overtime. Bonus round. Detention. Whatever. Clinton has now found that argument -- she says she will not stop campaigning until the issue of the Florida and Michigan delegates is settled to her satisfaction.

The Florida/Michigan issue get settled, of course, by the Democrats' Rules and Bylaws Committee... unless of course that committee's decision gets appealed to the Credentials Committee... unless of course that decision, too, gets appealed... to the floor of the convention.

As I have said before, it is her right to do exactly that. That is after all what democracy We have gotten used to the conventions being little more than an extended commercial for the party's candidate. But in the past, many conventions have actually chosen the final candidate. Of course in most of these instances there were real differences between the contenders, usually in some form of the moderate v. right-wing positions. This doesn't seem to be the case between Sens. Clinton and Obama. It seems to me that Clinton just can't give up, even though her chances are virtually non-existent. She seems more and more like Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came To Dinner. She came to the party and refuses to leave, even though it's over and everyone else has gone home.

Many people are arguing that Clinton is losing the nomination because she is a woman and is being defeated by a man. Although there have certainly been instances of sexism. Perhaps the best known instance was the person, at a McSame rally who said, "How do we beat the bitch?" McSame, of course, laughed. But few reporters mention that the question was asked by a woman. The real cause of Clinton's downfall has been a terrible campaign strategy. It began with the assumption that the campaign would be a coronation rather than a nomination. In other words, she didn't have to worry about the nomination and could go right to the general election. So in 2003 she voted to give the presidential Bush the power to invade Iraq in order to show, in the words of one of her key supporters, her "testicular fortitude." This kind of decision making has brought her to the present unhappy situation.

There also seems to be quite a bit of hypocracy in her arguments. She wants to stay in the race to give everyone a chance to express their opinion. She wants to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations, not because it would enhance her delegate count, but because she is the champion of democracy. Then she tells the Super Delegates: forget the delegates who were elected through the primaries, pick me because I am more electable.

One of the key questions we need to ask is: If Clinton can't even manage a political campaign, how will she run the country (from day 1)?

Anyway we can derive some solace from the fact that even Sheridan Whiteside eventually decides to leave.

NBA lottery: # 6 Knicks

The Kentucky & Oregon primaries weren't the only significant election Tuesday. The NBA lottery was also held. Here are the results:

1. Bulls
2. Heat
3. Minnesota
4. Seattle
5. Memphis
6. Knicks
7. LA Clippers
8. Milwaukee
9. Charlotte
10. Nets
11. Indiana
12. Sacramento
13. Portland
14. Golden State

Primary results: Kentucky & Oregon: ongoing results

Well here we are again. If it's Tuesday, it must be primary day. So far the results are as expected.

at 8:30PM: Kentucky: 74% of the vote counted,

Clinton 65% (341,788)
Obama 31% (161,628)

Oregon polls will close in 2:22

Back about 10PM:

at 9:50PM: Kentucky: 99% of vote counted

Clinton 65% (451,579)
Obama 30% (207,484)

Back about 11:30PM

at 11:15PM: early Oregon results 15% (which NBC has given to Obama)

Obama 61% (113,672)
Clinton 39% ( 74,884)

at midnight: Oregon: 51% of vote counted

Obama 58% (249,545)
Clinton 42% (181,636)

From Andrew: Anagraming the presidential candidates

I don't know exactly what to make of this but Andrew sent it along. Stick with it until the speaker gets to anagraming the candidates' names. It's from a videoblog (vlog) created by two brothers (Hank and John Green) to facilitate inter-communication. It's called Vlogbrothers. I don't know if this is Hank or John, but enjoy.

Bush McCarthyite tactics in Israel; with May 19 addenda

Bush has learned very well how to use the McCarthy playbook from his teacher Karl Rove. That is, of course, assuming that Rove isn't still calling the shots from behind the scenes (and then commenting on them). Clearly truth plays at best an accidental role in Bush's pronouncements - particularly about international affairs. And what's even more fascinating is how completely McSame has adopted the neo-con line. After Bush stood before the Israeli Knesset and virtually said, "I have a list of appeasers in the Democratic Party," (as McCarthy once said about the State Department) McSame echoed it without even a moment's hesitation. The Straight talk Express has become the pandering vehicle. Much as Putin did in Russia. When faced with term limits he got a stooge elected, who then appointed him Prime Minister. I suspect Cheney and Bush have something similar in mind for McSame.

At one level last week's "appeasers" speech was a direct intervention into the presidential election, but at another level it is part of a debate about what a post-Bush world will look like. And that's what Bush is trying to influence. His arrow is pointed well beyond the 2008 election. But as someone suggested the Republican need to win Florida in the Fall wasn't far from his mind as he chose the Knesset as the venue in which to make his pronouncement.

With regard to the post-Bush world Mark Engler has this to say:

If pressure from the base of the [Democratic] party lets up after the elections, it would hardly be surprising to see a victorious candidate revert to Bill Clinton's corporate model for how to rule the world. However, a return to a pre-Bush-style of international politics may be easier dreamed [by the corporate elite] than done.

The Neocon Paradox

To the chagrin of the "free trade" elite, the market fundamentalist ideas that have dominated international development thinking for at least the last 25 years are now under attack globally. This is largely because the economic prescriptions of deregulation, privatization, open markets, and cuts to social services so often made (and enforced) by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have proven catastrophic.

The accompanying videos, which layout the debate Bush's Knesset speech provoked, also demonstrate the limitations of corporate-owned media to talk about a post-Bush world (which obviously can't come too soon).

May 19, 2:30PM: Yesterday I watched the Tim Russert Show (MSNBC) with JFK's closest advisor Ted Sorensen and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. One of the main topics of their conversation was the Cuban missile crisis. I couldn't help thinking that if Bush/McSame (or even Sen. Clinton) had been president during that moment in time it's very unlikely that any of us would be sitting here today. Only talking, even to people we don't like, can resolve international problems. Bullets and bombs can't change the situation it can only (as in Iraq) make things worse. Communication requires people who are not afraid to talk, so presumably that excludes Bush/McSame and even Clinton. The truth is that even the possibility of a post-Bush world depends on what we do between now and November.

May 19, 11:15PM: I feel like I'm beating a dead horse, but things keep coming to my attention regarding the Bush "appeasement" speech.

I wonder if the Knesset members knew the history of the man they were applauding because he said things they liked. The irony of a member of the Bush family talking about appeasing the Nazis boggles the mind. While many radicals, progressives and Communists (labelled by some as "premature anti-fascists" but really known as the "Abraham Lincoln Brigade") flocked to Spain to fight Franco's Fascist government, Bush's family collaborated with the Nazis in order enhance their wealth. Robert Parry writes:

The archival evidence is now clear that Prescott Bush, the president’s grandfather, was a director and shareholder of companies that profited from and collaborated with key financial backers of Nazi Germany.

That business relationship continued after Hitler invaded Poland in 1939 and even after Germany declared war on the United States following Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. It stopped only when the U.S. government seized assets of Bush-connected companies in late 1942 under the “Trading with the Enemy Act.”

And he has the nerve to lecture us about appeasement.It should come as no surprise that the corporate-owned media has made any reference to this shameful Bush family history.

House votes against war funding: It's about time

From United for Peace and Justice:

New York, NY -- In an amazing turn of events, the House of Repre- sentatives today voted AGAINST the supplemental funding for the war in Iraq.

The bill would have provided $166 billion in war funding, the largest single provision since the war started in 2003. In a move that no one expected, dozens of Republicans voted "present," which is the same as abstaining on the vote. This meant that the 149 NO votes were enough to defeat the bill. (141 votes where cast in favor.)

"This was a tremendous victory for the antiwar movement. It was the hard work of people all around the country that secured those 149 clear NO votes. But our work is far from over," said Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator of United for Peace and Justice.