Don't miss this one! Baracky!!!!!!

Hey guys… I’m a filmmaker and a major Obama supporter. I just released a
very cool digital short called Baracky that I think you’ll love. I just put
it up yesterday and it’s already generating a lot of buzz. As you may have
heard, Hillary Clinton recently likened herself to Rocky Balboa in connection
with the upcoming Pennsylvania primary on April 22. Well, many of us beg to
differ… and I believe the following is a far better comparison:






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyhIBXNfqMA






This presidential election is way too important to get caught up in a fight over
sexism, racism or any other “ism.” What is absolutely critical for our
future is that we choose the right person to lead our country forward.






This video has the chance to spread like the “Yes We Can” song… but we
need your help, so please pass it along to all your friends and any potential
Obama supporters!






Spread the word… and keep up the good work!

Yes, We're Bitter by Kathy from MO

This is my editorial that is being picked up by the KC Star.

Maybe people were shocked at Obama's remarks because they are not used to politicians telling the truth. Americans are bitter, angry, and frustrated. Why not? The middle class is shrinking. We have millions of people without jobs, without health care, with exploding mortgages, $4 a gallon gasoline, and no prospect of sending their kids to college. We have seen our economy and infrastructure crumble while lives and money have been wasted in Iraq. Our government does not listen to us. Yes, we are angry.

The remarks about guns and cultural issues are also true. In past elections, wedge issues, like guns and gays, were in every stump speech and even on the ballot. Politicians used them to divide and distract. They knew many people of faith would vote against their own self interest because of hot button issues. I am glad Obama brought them up. It allows us to discuss what really affects us. It empowers us so we won't be fooled again!

Kathy Butler

Parkville, MO

From my friend Joe Windish so proud of him!

Friends,


I was invited to guest post at The Moderate Voice, a much larger blog than my own today. My piece is an interview with Syracuse University Professor of Television and Popular Culture Bob Thompson discussing Stephen Colbert's primary coverage in Philadelphia, Comedy Central, journalism and the news media. It was featured on Newsweek's "The Ruckus" group blog about politics for much of the day, was the number two hit for on Google news (its down to 5 now), and is called "one of the more thoughtful analyses of The Colbert Report that I can recall reading" by Ms. Interpreted on the Colbert fan/news site, The No Fact Zone.


I hope you might find it interesting. It's here:

http://themoderatevoice.com/entertainment/comedy-humor/humor/18944/stephen-colbert-a-media-maestro-plays-philly-guest-voice/


Drop me a line and let me know what you think!
Joe
=

From Judy A in Westchester: Hillary's neighbors for Obama

You'll get a kick out of this video. The Obama staff put it together - won't win any prizes - but it shows the crowd, the buses, the signs, etc.. And yes, we all went out canvassing and tallied up about 1000 doors!!! It was a hoot!!!! Now I'm off to Scranton with my Hillary's Friends for Obama signs! Yes we can!!!! Judy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9rPtXUT50I#GU5U2spHI_4

From Ed about his film!

Hi. For those who can live in NYC and can make it - please try and come and bring friends this April 16 at 6:30pm. It's the premiere US screening of a film I am quite proud of - that I produced-directed for Channel 4 UK on the Iraqi refugee crisis in Syria and Jordan. 2 million people including a large portion of Iraq's middle class have fled the country. Hope many of you can make it - RSVP if you can at info@imaginingglobalasia.com. More details on the attachment if you need. Regards Ed Robbins

Wednesday April 16 2008 from 6:30 to 8pm

The New School, 66 West 12th St NYC

Room 404



IRAQ'S LOST GENERATION

A film by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

and Ed Robbins



50 Minute film followed by Q&A with filmmakers

Free and open to the public: refreshments served

** www.imaginingglobalasia.org **
*** RSVP at info@imaginingglobalasia.org **

This is Interesting....from Kathy from MO

After you read this op-ed from the April 3 Chicago Tribune, you might want to forward it to friends and family and even a few Republicans you might know. I found it very enlightening and the authors a bit surprising.
Kathy from MO

Subject: Well now... this is interesting.

From yesterday's Chicago Tribune:

-------------------------------------------------

Factor military duty into criticism

By Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss

April 3, 2008

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F.
Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can
do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and
voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the
Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical
assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and
became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the
Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the
commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson
after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the
White House awarded him three letters of commendation.

What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy
not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President
Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five
deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one
for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush,
both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student
deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active
duty through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve
his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system?
Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who
merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American
finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a
minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest
cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United
Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last
three decades.

Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations,
denouncements and rejections of his comments and him.

We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a
select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons.

Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should
be condemned, but in calling him "unpatriotic," let us not forget that this is
a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his
country.

How many of Wright's detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name
but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous
circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst
of a civil rights struggle? Not many.

While words do count, so do actions.

Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the
last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.

Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss are, respectively, Navy and Marine Corps
veterans. They work at The Center For American Progress. Korb served as assistant
secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration.

From Hank in NY:

Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 9:22 AM
To: 'letters@nytimes.com'
Subject: To The Editor



“Tet Happened, and No One Cared” – Frank Rich – April 6, 2008



All wars have defining moments, and the latest moment in Iraq was the Basra fiasco. While it is not surprising that the forces of Moktada el-Sadr almost brought the Malaki government to its knees, and that thousands of Iraqi soldiers laid down their arms and refused to fight, it is unbelievable that John McCain insists that “we’re succeeding”.



Even though Senator McCain admits that his chances to become our 43rd President are tied to the success or failure of our mission in Iraq, he is either blind or as out of touch with reality as Bush as to what “winning” and “success” really mean. While the Democrats battle to the death for their party’s nomination, and McCain hitches his wagon to the White House, American men and women are dying for a totally lost cause, and no one cares. If only there were a way to use an electric cattle prod on the Congress to force them to stop the madness!