Posts by Jim Gilliam

Jim Gilliam is a co-founder of Brave New Films and has helped produce Robert Greenwald's documentaries: Uncovered, Outfoxed, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, and Iraq for Sale.

Pot Saved My Life, Mr. President
Posted by Jim Gilliam, WhiteHouse2.org on March 26, 2009 at 12:43 PM.

Today, in the historic first online town hall, President Obama fielded questions from nearly a hundred thousand people online. One of the most popular questions, and indeed, one of the most popular questions in any forum that lets people vote on what matters to them, was about whether legalizing marijuana would help improve the economy and job creation.

Chuckling, the President said: "I don't know what this says about the online audience, but [laughing] this was a fairly popular question, we want to make sure it was answered. The answer is no, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow our economy."

I've never smoked pot in my life, indeed I've never smoked anything at all. Despite that, a couple years ago, I needed a double lung transplant. My lungs were scarred beyond repair due to side effects from radiation treatments I'd had nearly a decade earlier in my two battles with cancer.

I lost a lot of weight in this process, to the point where it was life-threatening. My lung doctor suggested "marinol," the synthetic (and legal) version of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. I laughed at him, and asked "Was this going to make me stupid? I don't want to be a pothead!" He said one of his patients put on 40 pounds with it. I didn't have any other option.

It worked. Marinol allowed me to put on enough weight to get me out of the danger zone until we figured out the underlying problem was a bleeding ulcer in my stomach, a reaction to one of the anti-rejection drugs I was taking for the transplant.

Pot saved my life. It's a miracle drug, even the crappy non-organic kind made in a lab.

The President will be asked this question again, and maybe next time he won't laugh at us.

What Are YOUR Priorities for the President's First 100 Days?
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on October 28, 2008 at 7:56 AM.

I made a new website that I'd like to share with you.  White House 2 is where U.S. citizens are coming together to tell the next President what we need him to do in his first 100 days in office. Check out my video introduction.

Both candidates agree with us -- we need change, big change.  Now is the time to start getting specific.  Here are *my* top 10 priorities:

1. Stop the Iraq war
2. Enact universal, single-payer healthcare
3. End cancer deaths in 10 years (2019)
4. Make the U.S. a leader in green jobs and innovation
5. Energy Independence in 7 years (2016)
6. Have a press conference every week
7. Real-time transparency
8. Election Reform
9. End corporate welfare
10. Increase grants for basic scientific and tech research

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

T. Boone Pickens: "The U.S. is the Saudi Arabia of wind power."
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on July 10, 2008 at 1:22 PM.

Legendary oilman, billionaire, and hedge fund guru T. Boone Pickens is now determined to save America's energy future, and he's pumping serious cash into promoting "Pickens Plan."

Can T. Boone redeem himself?

Dumb Water Washes Away All Elitism
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on May 9, 2008 at 6:49 AM.

If you see someone drinking smart water, they are obviously over-compensating for their small, uh, cortex, so hand them a bottle of this dumb water. Plus, it's carbon neutral!

Empire or Humanity? (Animated)
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on May 9, 2008 at 5:12 AM.

Empire or Humanity? What the Classroom Didn't Teach Me about the American Empire by Howard Zinn and narrated by Viggo Mortenson.

Mike Gravel Lobbies for Obama Girl's Vote
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on May 7, 2008 at 1:28 PM.

This man is awesome.

America Kicks Ass (nsfw)
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on May 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM.

Comedian John S. Hall on American imperialism, the war on terror, and overriding international law.

John McBush 2008 [VIDEO]
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on March 7, 2008 at 5:19 AM.

Yesterday, John McCain had lunch with George Bush at the White House, and then received his endorsement in the Rose Garden. 

A vote for John McCain is a vote for a third Bush term.

Check out our new video, and these facts compiled by our friends at ProgressNowAction:

• McCain Is Exactly Like Bush
• McCain Cast 377 Votes in Support of President Bush’s Position, Supported Bush a Majority of the Time
• McCain/Bush Friendship Based On Shared Views On Issues
• McCain “Steadfast” And “Outspoken” In His Support For War In Iraq
• McCain Said “Stay The Course,” Downplayed Violence And Denied Civil War
• McCain Supported Bush Escalation, Claimed Success Despite Previous Criticism
• McCain’s Reputation Tied To Bush’s Handling Of Iraq
• “A Consistent Supporter Of Personal Social Security Accounts”; Helped Sell Bush Overhaul
• Flip-Flop On Bush Tax Cuts A “Breathtaking Turnabout”
• McCain Supported No Child Left Behind
• McCain’s Health Plan Just Like Bush’s Failed Health Plan
• McCain Supported Bush Nominees

O'Reilly's Sexual Harrassment Lawsuit Sung Like Handel's "Messiah" [VIDEO]
Posted by Jim Gilliam, Brave New Films on December 17, 2007 at 1:14 PM.

Yep. You read that right. This video is an excerpt from Mackris vs. O'Reilly

The piece is a setting of the sexual harassment complaint lodged against Fox News pundit, Bill O’Reilly, by staff producer, Andrea Mackris, in October 2004 and recorded at its world premiere in January 2007. It includes all memorable moments from the original complaint and more – paranoid rants, clumsy sexual innuendo, and the famous falafel fantasy. Composer Igor Keller has produced this concert-length work in the form of a baroque oratorio, in the style of an updated Handel’s Messiah, for 28-piece chamber orchestra, 26-voice chorus and three soloists. It’s an oratorio for the 21st century!

NYC Councilman Calls For Investigation Of Giuliani's Performance On 9/11 [VIDEO]
Posted by Jim Gilliam on November 1, 2007 at 9:50 AM.

This post, written by Jim Gilliam, originally appeared on The Real Rudy

After receiving the names of over 20,000 people supporting your call for an investigation of the questions raised in The Real Rudy: Radios, New York City Councilman Eric Gioa pledged:

"I will do everything in my power to get answers, to get the truth. There needs to be accountability."

Councilman Gioia chairs the Oversight and Investigations Committee of the New York City Council. With his support, we can hold Giuliani accountable for his failure to equip firefighters with radios that could have saved lives on 9/11, and get answers to these questions:

* Why was nothing done to improve FDNY radio performance for seven years after a clear need was demonstrated in the 1993 World Trade Center attack?

* When new radios were finally ordered, why did the city award a contract to Motorola without a competitive bidding process?

* Once Motorola was given the contract, why did its cost jump from $1.4 million to $14 million?

* Why were these new radios never field tested?

Fox Attacks Sally Field [VIDEO]
Posted by Jim Gilliam on September 20, 2007 at 9:39 AM.

This post, written by Jim Gilliam, originally appeared on Fox Attacks

FOX censored Sally Field's anti-war comments during her acceptance speech at the Emmys.

Some people want to claim it's because she said "god damn", but clearly FOX has no qualms airing "god damn" cause on a recent FOX News program they aired it 5 times in the span of a couple of minutes.

Oh, and the FCC ruled that "goddamn" is perfectly acceptable on broadcast television.

FOX just didn't want you to hear what Sally said, and the majority of Americans already know, that "if mothers ruled the world there'd be no goddamn wars in the first place."

A big thanks to ChrisBG at the Newshounds for remembering this "god damn" segment on FOX News and then actually finding it!