In Their Boots

The good people at Brave New Films are launching a new series tonite at 7 p.m. EDT called "In Their Boots" These are real stories about real members of the military and their families. I hope you take a few minutes for this weekly series to see what's really happening on the ground in Iraq and how that experience affected those who served and those who waited at home.

From their website:

IN THEIR BOOTS is a compelling new magazine show about the dramatic impact the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are having on us - the people here at home. The show will feature our Iraq and Afghanistan service men and women, and their families, in stories that have universal appeal.

Funded by a grant from the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact fund (IADIF) and produced by Brave New Foundation, IN THEIR BOOTS will be streamed exclusively online.

In Their Boots will be hosted by Jan Bender, a veteran of the war in Iraq who served as a rifleman/combat correspondent in Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines from 2004 to 2005.

Every week a live episode will be built around a dramatic and emotional IN THEIR BOOTS "Real Story," a non-fiction narrative about how our servicepeople, their families, and their communities have been profoundly changed by the nation's campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then, in a live forum, Jan Bender, our host, will interview the participants and lead a discussion that includes experts, service-providers and individual viewers in an interactive discussion of the issues raised.

Here's a sneak peek at one of the episodes:

McCain's Free Ride in the Corporate Media

I don't like when people accusingly use the term "flip-flop" in a political setting. It is a way to say "gotcha" and intimate that that person might be lying in that moment (Were you lying then or are you lying now?). When someone finds new information that wasn't available initially, and they change their mind, I call that wisdom or intelligent analysis. If, however, you change your mind for political expediency rather than stand by your principles, that's where I draw the line.

As the current presidential election cycle heads into the final stretch, we can expect the "flip-flop" term to be flung back and forth over the fence. Let's look at a few examples of John McCain's Straight Talk Express leaving the track.

Thanks to the good people of Brave New Films for their continued fine work. As they say, We're Putting the Brakes on McCain's Free Ride in the Press, and I'm all for that!





pssst, do something

The $3 Trillion Spending Spree

Conservative estimates are that the War on Terror will cost $3 Trillion.

The good people at Brave New Films have put together a video that might give you an inkling of how much $3 Trillion dollars is. If it doesn't accomplish that, it certainly illustrates how difficult it is for an individual to fill up their own $3 trillion shopping cart. Think you can do a better job than George Bush? Go for it and then pass on a gift certificate to one of your friends so they can take a turn.




(Full disclosure- okay, I'll admit it, I threw a Wii and a tropical island in my shopping cart, but the rest of my $3 trillion went to noble and peaceful causes, really!)

psssst, Do something!

Less Jobs. More War.

Less Jobs. More Wars.
Now is not the time for progressives to be silent. With Clinton and Obama battling each other we MUST start telling the story of McCain and his support for war.

Less Jobs. More War Thanks to Brave New Films for their continued efforts to keep focus on the costs in Iraq and the effects on our country.

Iraq Veterans Memorial

We are proud and honored to present to you the Iraq Veterans Memorial.

This memorial was conceived as a place to honor the servicemembers who lost their lives over the past four years during the Iraq War. By watching the videos, you will have the opportunity to learn about these heroes from those who knew them best -- their family, friends, and fellow servicemembers. Each man and woman represented in the memorial had attributes and qualities that made them unique, but they all have one thing in common - they were truly loved and are deeply missed.

http://www.iraqmemorial.org/

Iraq War Veteran's Memorial Trailer

A place to come together to honor the US serviceman and woman

who have lost their lives.

Through the voics of their family and friends.

We remember those who have fallen.

Unveiling the Iraq Veteran's Memorial in this space on March 17, 2007.