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Posts by Robert Greenwald
George Bush's Nightmare Before Christmas
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films on December 16, 2008 at 7:00 AM.
The Bush administration isn't about to let democracy or the will of the people stop them from further ruining this country before they leave office. Knowing he can't get his long list of favors to his Republican cronies through Congress, Bush is doing a last minute end-run, jamming as many rules through the executive branch as he can during his waning days in power. These so-called "midnight regulations" will allow factories to pollute more, further restrict women's access to abortion services, cut off aid to needy families in the middle of a recession, and much more -- all without Congress' oversight or approval. It's wrong, it's antidemocratic, but, sadly, it's legal.
When given the opportunity to be "naughty or nice" this holiday season, Bush has clearly opted to go down as one of the naughtiest, most sinister presidents in our nation's history. We've created a satirical spin on the famous poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, in order to show President Bush crafting his last-minute agenda for health care, the environment, civil liberties, and labor practices -- rules that will affect everyone and will be difficult for the next administration to overturn. We are using humor here in the hopes that it both commands people's attention and enables us to shine a light on these all-too-serious midnight regulations.
After you've enjoyed this video, send it to friends and family (and don't forget to Digg it!). Let them know the harm President Bush's midnight regulations will bring. And stress the fact that there are far too many congressional representatives who have remained silent while Bush pushes midnight regulations that will wreak havoc on the lives of their constituents and local communities. We must call the tacit approval of these representatives into question.
Read the rest of the post on the flip side »
End the Death Penalty Today on Meet the Bloggers
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Meet the Bloggers on December 12, 2008 at 7:46 AM.
In this progressive era, isn't it time for the U.S. to abolish the death penalty? Doesn't everyone know by now the death penalty doesn't work as a deterrent and costs taxpayers more to prosecute than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole? It's uncivilized, ineffective, and inhumane.
This week on Meet the Bloggers, we're discussing the death penalty with actor Mike Farrell -- television's B.J. Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H* -- who has worked for social justice and human rights for more than 40 years. A lifelong opponent of the death penalty, Farrell is president of Death Penalty Focus. He joins show host Cenk Uygur and Liliana Segura, the Rights and Liberties blogger for Alternet.
We'll also talk to blogger Bryna Subherwal about Amnesty International's Global Write-a-Thon, now in progress. Plus, we'll learn about the state of the death penalty in Mexico from special correspondent Axel Woolfolk, as well as the hypocrisy of using the Bible to justify the death penalty from Brave New Films blogger Jonathan Kim.
Read the rest of the post on the flip side »
What President-Elect Obama Must Do Once He Closes Gitmo
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Foundation on December 9, 2008 at 11:24 AM.
"What is abundantly clear is that no matter how hard the government tries to advance the military commissions, this process doesn't work...The only solution is to shut the military commissions down and start from scratch."
- Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union
Closing Guantanamo Bay will be a crucial first step toward restoring our moral leadership in the world, but President-elect Obama must also end the unconstitutional military commissions put in place by President Bush. These so-called "legal proceedings" are more akin to kangaroo courts for the unlawful ways in which they extract confessions from abused prisoners forced to stand trial.
As former Gitmo prosecutor Lt Col Darrel Vandeveld told the BBC recently, "No justice will be obtained at Guantanamo. And if that entails moving [the detainees] temporarily to the US for trial: so be it." Watch the tesimonies from those who have prosecuted and defended some of these prisoners, and see why we cannot continue to deprive them of their fundamental rights.
Send this video to all of your friends and coworkers in order to stress the importance of ending unconstitutional military commissions. If there are prisoners that still must stand trial, they should do so in U.S. civilian and military courts that abide by international human rights and humanitarian law. That is the only way to achieve real justice; the only way to break with the abusive past of the Bush administration; and the only way to show to the world that the Obama administration will faithfully follow the U.S. Constitution.
How Obama Can Save the Middle Class Today on Meet the Bloggers (1pm ET/10am PT)
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Meet the Bloggers on November 14, 2008 at 8:00 AM.
Fortune 500 CEOs make an average of $6,153 an hour, while the majority of workers in our country earn an hourly federal minimum wage of only $6.55. Fortunately, this ridiculous gap can be closed with Barack Obama as President and Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, and it all starts with the The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). EFCA tops the progressive agenda for unions because it could effectively restore the middle class in our country, and yet this vital piece of legislation still faces challenges from anti-union businesses like Wal-Mart.
Today on Meet the Bloggers, join Anna Burger, secretary-treasurer of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and chair of the international labor federation Change to Win, as we discuss EFCA's passage during Obama's first 100 Days. Burger will talk with show host Cenk Uygur and blogger Todd Beeton (MyDD) about how EFCA can revitalize our nation's middle class. Also on the show will be Satyam Khanna (Think Progress) to talk about Lieberman Must Go.
Check out some of the articles below and join us today at 1pm ET/10am PT for the live blog discussion on Meet the Bloggers.
Read the rest of the post on the flip side »
Close Gitmo and End Unconstitutional Military Commissions Now
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Foundation on November 13, 2008 at 8:00 AM.
We have the chance to help President-elect Obama reclaim democracy and restore the rule of law in our country, which he can do on his first day in office. By shutting down the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison facility, Obama can take a major step toward redeeming our nation's moral leadership in the world. And by ending unconstitutional military commissions and banning torture, he can cut ties with the highly controversial Bush era of national security.
We must seize this critical moment to end the abuses that the Bush administration has perpetrated for the past eight years. That's why we partnered with the ACLU to bring to you our newest video.
This is the first in a series of videos underscoring the urgent need to close GITMO and end unconstitutional military commissions. We urge you to sign the petition and ensure that the human rights violations at GITMO never occur again. Then send this video to your friends and ask them to sign up as well.
The ACLU is taking this campaign even further by hosting an open Town Hall Meeting tonight at 8pm ET, when people from all across the country will gather via teleconference to discuss the state of civil liberties in our country. Take part in this important conversation, and help President-elect Obama take decisive action to close GITMO.
Do You Want Lieberman to Have Subpoena Power to Investigate President Obama?
Posted by Robert Greenwald, ZP Heller, Brave New Films on November 11, 2008 at 8:14 AM.
Joe Lieberman has launched consistent, deeply partisan attacks on President-elect Barack Obama, questioning his patriotism and fitness to lead. While Lieberman campaigned for John McCain and spoke on his behalf at the Republican National Convention, he spread some of the GOP's nastiest smears. Think Progress has provided thorough evidence of Lieberman's partisan politics. Lieberman should not be allowed to have subpoena power to investigate the Obama administration as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In fact, he should not be allowed to remain chairman of this or any other committee.
Lieberman has proven he cannot be trusted to hold a high rank within the Democratic caucus. That is why we launched Lieberman Must Go last summer, a campaign that caught Congress' attention when we delivered a petition with over 43,000 signatures. Now, we ask you to help us escalate the pressure by contacting members of the Senate Democratic Steering Committee. Tell them to strip Lieberman of his chairmanship in the Democratic caucus.
Read the rest of the post on the flip side »
President Obama and the History of the First 100 Days Today on Meet the Bloggers (1pm ET/10am PT)
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Meet the Bloggers on November 7, 2008 at 7:44 AM.
The people have spoken! A record-setting 130 million people turned out to vote in Tuesday's election, in which Barack Obama made history on a Democratic tidal wave of victory. Polling suggests voters came out in record numbers because of growing concerns over the economy, jobs, health care, energy, and the war in Iraq. Clearly, the Obama administration and the new Democratic majority in Washington have a chance to make profound changes in our lives stretching from Wall Street to Main Street. But where should they begin?
On today's Meet the Bloggers, we'll talk about this question and more with Jonathan Alter, Newsweek senior editor and contributing correspondent for NBC. This is the seventh election Alter has covered for Newsweek, and he'll bring his unique perspective to the discussion. Alter is also the author of the national bestseller, The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope. He'll talk about how Roosevelt restored Americans' faith in democracy and put the country back to work during the Great Depression, as well as the challenges and opportunities Obama faces during his first days in office.
Read the rest of the post on the flip side »
A Very Scary Economy Today on Meet the Bloggers (1pm ET/10am PT)
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Meet the Bloggers on October 31, 2008 at 7:00 AM.
Since it's Halloween, we couldn't think of anything scarier to discuss on Meet the Bloggers than "The Frightening Economy." The blood-sucking greed of CEO vampires! The terror of checking your 401k status! The spooky specter of socialism! The rotting remains of Republican economic philosophy! The horrors of a Bush-McCain economy!
Trick or treat? The American people have been tricked -- big time. First, by bewitching promises of no money down loans, zero percent interest, and housing prices that would supernaturally rise indefinitely; and now by CEOs and Wall Street warlocks who cried “Crisis!” and demanded a bailout, then retreated to their haunted mansions -- or luxury spas!
Today at 1pm ET/10 am PT, we’ll talk to economist Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, about just how terrifying this economy really is. Joining Baker will be bloggers Hale Stewart (The Bonddad Blog) and Isaiah Poole (Campaign for America's Future), who will weigh in on what’s ahead for the economy and what the next administration can and should do to get us back on the right track.
So check out the articles below and join us for a live blog discussion on Meet the Bloggers today at 1pm ET/10 am PT to chat with our featured bloggers. That is, if you're not too scared!
Race in the Presidential Race on Meet the Bloggers (Today, 1pm ET/10am PT)
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Meet the Bloggers on October 24, 2008 at 7:52 AM.
Since the race-baiting and fearmongering from the McCain campaign have intensified in recent weeks, we have escalated our campaign to end the politics of hate. This week on Meet the Bloggers, we will discuss race in the presidential race with special guest Rinku Sen, executive director of Applied Research Center and author of the recently released book, The Accidental American: Immigration and Citizenship in the Age of Globalization.
Joining Sen will be bloggers Adia Harvey Wingfield (Racism Review), Joshua Busch (Double Take 08), and Liliana Segura (AlterNet). All three have written extensively about this topic, as you can see from the material below. Check out their articles, and join them in the live blog discussion today at 1pm ET/10 am PT at Meet the Bloggers.
Call McCain and Call Off the Sleazy Robocalls
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films on October 22, 2008 at 6:35 AM.
Tell McCain to End the Politics of Hate has already received over 395,000 views and 90,000 petition signatures in only a week. This is an impressive start for sure, but we need to raise the stakes because McCain and his supporters have begun smearing Obama with a barrage of inflammatory robocalls.
As despicable as McCain's tactics have become, there's something we can do about it. Call McCain and the RNC using the script below. Let's create such an outcry that it becomes a story in the press, pressuring McCain to curb his sleazy ways.
When you call, please be as polite as possible, and try to stick to the script that our partner Color of Change has provided. I understand your anger over this issue, but it's key to stay composed so that they can't twist our message. And afterward, let us know how it went.
Here are the phone numbers:
McCain/Palin Campaign HQ: 703-418-2008
Republican National Committee: 202-863-8500; then press "3" at the prompt
Here's a brief script you can use:
I have a message for John McCain. I'm outraged that you're escalating your campaign of fear-mongering by using robocalls to try to associate Barack Obama with terrorists. It should come as no surprise that this strategy has led to a dangerous, hateful atmosphere on your campaign trail. I don't want to see Americans divided by fear and hate, and I'm deeply concerned about where this could lead. For the sake of our country, take some responsibility and stop this now.
Let's put a stop to the race-baiting and fear-mongering once and for all. Make the call today.
AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.
What Would You Ask John McCain?
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films on October 21, 2008 at 5:00 PM.
Tell us what you would ask John McCain and you could win a free REAL McCain shirt.
John McCain has been secretive, duplicitous, downright dishonest about so many issues, from his economic platforms to the release of his medical records. That's why we created our REAL McCain series, which you have made successful by spreading these videos in an effort to hold McCain accountable.
Tell us what issue you would ask McCain to come clean about and why. The team at Brave New Films will review comments to select 50 winners to receive a free REAL McCain t-shirt. And you will receive a free Brave New Films video subscription just for entering the contest.
Here are just some of the insightful questions people have posed to McCain:
Kyle from Ohio would ask: "Why did you deny your campaign ads were 100% negative? You've been running a smear campaign from the beginning."
Adam from Wisconsin would ask about the economy: "I would ask McCain how he can be so optimistic about off shore drilling. The big short to medium term problem with drilling is that there are no off-shore drilling rigs available. All the companies that own and operate the rigs (such as Transocean) have all their rigs locked up in long-term contracts. So not only is it not going to affect oil prices anytime soon, we won't even be able to drill offshore for a long time."
Shadi from Texas would ask: "How can you claim to put country first when you; ate cake for your birthday with Bush during Katrina, support nuclear power and claim it can be safe, and want to keep fighting a war which we can never win and only costs us money and brave soldiers lives?"
Winners will be determined on Monday, October 27th. Each winner will be immediately mailed a REAL McCain t-shirt, so enter today!
AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.
Robert Greenwald Goes Toe-to-Toe with Stephen Colbert!
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films on October 17, 2008 at 8:04 AM.
Going toe-to-toe with Colbert yesterday, I was grateful to be so well armed with the advice, thoughts, and support of over 2,000 people. I was on the hot seat, for sure, but I knew the forces were with me thanks to you all.
Then the bell rang and we were off. I've always thought I talk quickly, but it's not even close to Colbert's brilliant rapid fire blend of satire and politics. I tried to address the important work we've been doing with our videos, particularly the REAL McCain series. Though the whole interview was over in what felt like only a few seconds, it was a thrill to be on the show.
Now, back to the battles ahead!
Tell McCain to End the Politics of Hate
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films on October 14, 2008 at 7:35 AM.
We'd like to talk about the pressing issues facing our country: the woeful economy, rising unemployment, the housing crisis, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But we can't talk about them because John McCain and Sarah Palin have distracted us with the politics of hate and fear.
Instead of discussing the real issues plaguing Americans, McCain and Palin have turned to fear-mongering and race-baiting, stoking the prejudices of their supporters. The situation has become so critical that we've teamed up with Color of Change to put an end to these dangerous mob scenes.
Things have gotten so out of control that some conservatives have come forward to denounce McCain and Palin's hate-mongering. In an Op-Ed for The Baltimore Sun, Frank Schaeffer writes: "John McCain: If your campaign does not stop equating Sen. Barack Obama with terrorism, questioning his patriotism and portraying Mr. Obama as "not one of us," I accuse you of deliberately feeding the most unhinged elements of our society the red meat of hate, and therefore of potentially instigating violence."
Here's how you can take action:
Meet the Texas Senator Who Couldn't Care Less About Our Vets
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films on October 9, 2008 at 7:43 AM.
Health care. Mental health benefits. Adequate body armor and armored vehicles. A college education. These are just some of the necessities all of our service members deserve. But clearly, Senator John Cornyn doesn't think so.
Cornyn's rhetoric belies his appalling record in the Senate. The fact that Cornyn has stood with President Bush 95 percent of the time and has opposed our service members on more than 20 key issues proves he doesn't support our troops or veterans. It's a fact every Texan needs to know, now.
Every Texan must see this video. Send this to ten friends and get them to pass it along to ten more. Post this video on your blogs and spread it on sites like Digg -- some of the most effective ways to reach those outside the choir.
Let's make sure everyone knows John Cornyn is not giving our veterans and troops the respect they deserve.
People in the film:
Read the rest of the post on the flip side »
John McCain's Rage Is a National Security Issue
Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New PAC on October 8, 2008 at 8:00 AM.
"I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public's." - John McCain
During last night's debate, John McCain said we need "a cool hand at the tiller," but McCain has proven to be a loose cannon. He has accosted his Congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle on everything from the federal budget to diplomatic relations. He is known for hurling profanities rather than settling disagreements calmly. His belligerence is legendary. Even conservative Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi has said, "He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."
When someone earns the nickname "Senator Hothead," the public ought to call his character into question. McCain's propensity to explode undermines his abilities as a rational decision maker, particularly on national security issues -- which could prove disastrous considering our country is already involved in two wars.
With the election less than four weeks away, here's a chance for you to take concrete action:
McCain's temper is critical to his decision-making abilities, and his character must be discussed. As Drew Westen writes, "The political brain is an emotional brain. It is not a dispassionate calculating machine, objectively searching for the right facts, figures and policies to make a reasoned decision." That why it's so crucial people know the real Senator Hothead.
AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.
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