Palin around with traitors
By MIKE ARGENTO
Daily Record/Sunday News
10/13/2008
John McCain's campaign thinks it's entirely fair to bring up the issue of whether Barack Obama is an acquaintance of a man who performed some detestable acts when Obama was 8 years old, acts that Obama has denounced. Obama has given absolutely no indication that he agrees with the political beliefs that brought them about.
Well, then, if that's so, it's entirely fair to point out that McCain's running mate has had an ongoing sexual relationship with someone who could be considered a traitor, who was part of a movement that had ties to a white supremacist group.
Or that she has ties to a minister who performs witch hunts and was responsible for the murder of a suspected witch's pet snake.
Or that McCain himself is somehow connected to the infamous suicide of the former treasurer of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on live TV. ...
The allegations of having an ongoing sexual relationship with a would-be traitor.
Her husband, the Toddmeister, was a member of the Alaska Independence Party from 1995 to 2002. The Alaska Independence Party has pushed for Alaska to secede from the United States. Advocating secession could be considered treasonous. (And just plain stupid, considering that Alaska is the biggest federal welfare state in the country, getting back much more federal tax dollars than its residents pay, according to the Tax Foundation.)
The Alaska Independence Party has ties to a group called the League of the South, a neo-Confederate organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center considers a hate group with white supremacist leanings.
And Palin lives with a guy who belonged to the secessionist party.
The party proudly displays this quote from founder Joe Vogler on its Web site: "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."
Palin herself hasn't distanced herself from the group. In March, she sent a videotaped speech to the group's convention thanking it for its "good work." ...
Moving on to John McCain, the co-chair of his Pennsylvania campaign is a guy from suburban Philadelphia named Robert Asher, a bigwig in Republican circles.
Asher is also a convicted felon, having been found guilty of perjury, racketeering, conspiracy and bribery charges in the same case that brought down former state Treasurer Budd Dwyer in 1987. Dwyer, of course, is notorious for ending his final press conference with a .357 magnum.
McCain hasn't said anything about that, as far as I know. Nor has he said anything about the multitude of lobbyists for the industries that are currently leading the American economy down the drain who staff his campaign.
He has spoken in the past about his infamous membership in the Keating Five. If you'll recall, the Keating Five stood accused of helping savings and loan swindler Charles Keating avoid federal regulation while he defrauded investors out of more than $1 billion. Keating gave McCain and the four other senators in the group some $1.3 million in campaign contributions.
When his savings and loan collapsed, it cost taxpayers more than $2 billion.
That was a lot of money in 1989. ...
id he ever have any principles or integrity? Was it all an act? Did he, as some people have suggested, sell his soul to win this election and now the Devil is screwing him over?
Back in 2000, when McCain was the victim of the kind of sleazy politics he is practicing now, he told Jim Lehrer of PBS's NewsHour, "Uh, I, I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it."
Sounds about right. He can't win with his ideas, such as they are. He has to resort to sleaze.
Back in March, McCain promised that he would run "a respectful campaign."
It would be more than fair to point out that he was lying.
-----------------------------
This google alert found its way to my inbox last night. While I see what thery're reaching for their logic is flawed. Asher did his time...in my book that means his slate is clean.
On the film side of things we're getting ever so close to wrapping production. We have about 2 more interviews to do and then we're going to focus all of our energy on editing. More info to come.
10/13/08
8/13/08
Update!
I recently did an interview with the director of the San Francisco Suicide Prevention Center. More info soon!
6/20/08
6/15/08
Pop Culture: Part 1
Dwyer’s aim in committing suicide was to illuminate the truth. He had hoped that sacrificing his life would shock his audience into looking beyond the scandal and at these more important matters. But rather than serve as a catalyst to fight injustice, Budd’s public suicide drew attention to the actual death itself. Out of the five television stations present at the scene, one station chose to air the uncut footage of the suicide on the evening news, while the others showed a heavily edited version. Unfortunately, because of this, Budd’s death has become a phenomenon. Millions have seen the footage thanks to the “Faces of Death” video series, and internet sites like “www.Rotten.com,” which provide the suicide video as novelty entertainment.
The song “Hey Man Nice Shot,” by rock group Filter doesn’t mention Budd explicitly, but according to members of the band, is based on his death. After talk of a lawsuit and speculation that the song was about Kurt Cobain’s suicide, the band released the following official statement:
“The song 'Hey Man Nice Shot' is a reaction to a well-documented public suicide. It is not a celebration or glorification of taking one's own life. The phrase 'hey man, nice shot' is not a reference to the final act itself, but rather an expression of guts and determination of a person standing up for what they believe is right.”
The video (which does NOT feature any of the press conference)
The Marilyn Manson song’s "Get Your Gunn", which appeared on his “Portrait of an American Family” album contains audio samples of Budd’s final words. Other musical acts have used his image in less subtle ways: On their “Too Dark Park” Tour, industrial rock group Skinny Puppy closed each show while playing in front of a giant screen airing the gunshot on a loop. Metal band Neurosis’ “Pain of Mind” album cover featured Budd wielding his magnum. Pennsylvania rock group Camp Kill Yourself featured Budd on the cover of their first album and would later offer t-shirts with his image on it. The first CKY skate video, Cky: Landspeed, even features an animated version of Budd’s last moments.
Before he died, Dwyer lamented that despite his long years of service, and the contributions he had made to the Treasury Department, what he was becoming most known for was his involvement with CTA. It must have seemed to him that everything he had accomplished was worth nothing. His reputation had suddenly vanished, and he was seen as just another greedy politician. He had been proud of his political career, but now the public would know him as a villain. After his suicide Budd’s life would be reduced to the image of his death.
It's no secret that Budd death has been featured in various songs. It's not surprising that the image of his final moments grace cd covers and t-shirts of talentless bands looking for attention through shock value, either. What's interesting is that he is not alone. Almost every tragic situation that has occurred in the last 100 or so years has some form of parody or one outlet of exploitation.
For instance, the assassination of John F. Kennedy. In 2004 a videogame called "JFK: Reloaded' was released. "Reloaded" is an edutainment first-person shooter video game recreating the John F. Kennedy assassination. The game puts the player in the role of Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. The player is then scored on how closely one's version of the assassination matches the report of the Warren Commission. According to the company that released the game, the primary aim of the game was "to establish the most likely facts of what happened on 1963-11-22 by running the world’s first mass-participation forensic construction", the theory being that a player could help prove that Lee Harvey Oswald had the "means and the opportunity to commit the crime", and thus help support or disprove the Warren Commission's findings.
Here's a clip from the game:
Is this an example of exploitation or parody?
Up next a short animation, that I made, with the help of my little sister and a friend.
Again, exploitation or parody?
What's the difference between the two? Is one more acceptable than the other? Why? Does making a documentary film about Budd Dwyer make my work any more acceptable than the bands mentioned about? Who decides?
The song “Hey Man Nice Shot,” by rock group Filter doesn’t mention Budd explicitly, but according to members of the band, is based on his death. After talk of a lawsuit and speculation that the song was about Kurt Cobain’s suicide, the band released the following official statement:
“The song 'Hey Man Nice Shot' is a reaction to a well-documented public suicide. It is not a celebration or glorification of taking one's own life. The phrase 'hey man, nice shot' is not a reference to the final act itself, but rather an expression of guts and determination of a person standing up for what they believe is right.”
The video (which does NOT feature any of the press conference)
The Marilyn Manson song’s "Get Your Gunn", which appeared on his “Portrait of an American Family” album contains audio samples of Budd’s final words. Other musical acts have used his image in less subtle ways: On their “Too Dark Park” Tour, industrial rock group Skinny Puppy closed each show while playing in front of a giant screen airing the gunshot on a loop. Metal band Neurosis’ “Pain of Mind” album cover featured Budd wielding his magnum. Pennsylvania rock group Camp Kill Yourself featured Budd on the cover of their first album and would later offer t-shirts with his image on it. The first CKY skate video, Cky: Landspeed, even features an animated version of Budd’s last moments.
Before he died, Dwyer lamented that despite his long years of service, and the contributions he had made to the Treasury Department, what he was becoming most known for was his involvement with CTA. It must have seemed to him that everything he had accomplished was worth nothing. His reputation had suddenly vanished, and he was seen as just another greedy politician. He had been proud of his political career, but now the public would know him as a villain. After his suicide Budd’s life would be reduced to the image of his death.
It's no secret that Budd death has been featured in various songs. It's not surprising that the image of his final moments grace cd covers and t-shirts of talentless bands looking for attention through shock value, either. What's interesting is that he is not alone. Almost every tragic situation that has occurred in the last 100 or so years has some form of parody or one outlet of exploitation.
For instance, the assassination of John F. Kennedy. In 2004 a videogame called "JFK: Reloaded' was released. "Reloaded" is an edutainment first-person shooter video game recreating the John F. Kennedy assassination. The game puts the player in the role of Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. The player is then scored on how closely one's version of the assassination matches the report of the Warren Commission. According to the company that released the game, the primary aim of the game was "to establish the most likely facts of what happened on 1963-11-22 by running the world’s first mass-participation forensic construction", the theory being that a player could help prove that Lee Harvey Oswald had the "means and the opportunity to commit the crime", and thus help support or disprove the Warren Commission's findings.
Here's a clip from the game:
Is this an example of exploitation or parody?
Up next a short animation, that I made, with the help of my little sister and a friend.
Again, exploitation or parody?
What's the difference between the two? Is one more acceptable than the other? Why? Does making a documentary film about Budd Dwyer make my work any more acceptable than the bands mentioned about? Who decides?
5/28/08
Progress Report
A young Budd Dwyer on TV
Over the course of four years I've had the pleasure to meet Budd's family, friends and co-workers. Each of which has revealed a small portion of Budd's life and his character. Now that I'm editing these segments together I'm starting to get a glimpse of the real Budd Dwyer, a person beyond the press confrence videos and pop culture references.
The real Budd Dwyer is a person who had a full life, loved his family and lived through hell. If his journals are any indication he has a lot to say and you better believe I'm listening as hard as I can. But sadly the real Budd Dwyer is a man that I cannot meet or talk to. I have to construct his experiences with this film, a film which has become a character study told through a collage of old photographs and long conversations, and hope that I'm doing him justice.
I've always heard that you are defined by the company you keep. I honestly believe that more now than ever before...and if there's any truth to it Budd Dwyer was one hell of a guy.
Budd with his sister
It should also be noted that I'll be conducting an interview with Budd's sister, Mary, on June 6th. I'm very excited to meet Mary and hear what she has to say. Editing continues, slowly by surely, and I hope to have some scenes ready to share within a few weeks.
5/6/08
Teaser Trailer
Oh yeah, the Honest Man trailer is closing in on 20,000 views. Between the quicktime,Revver and YouTube versions we have about 18,250 views. Not too shabby for a rough teaser. Lets put it over the top. Spread the word:
5/5/08
Completely Unrelated and Some Progress
Editing continues, ever so slowly, but everything is looking amazing. Its really amazing to see all the hard work come together with such ease (ha!) All kidding aside I've been splitting my edit time between the folowing projects:
- A short format "Forest City Rockers" animation show (directed,filmed,animated and edited by me)
- Cutting Forest City Rockers Promos
- Editing a Jones Soda commercial
- Cutting four music videos for FCR Show
- Brand new original Animation (A Day In the Life of...)
- Moving, living life, freelance editing...
I haven't forgotten about Honest Man though! In fact, I have one very important interview lined up at the end of this month (writing questions this weekend). More on that soon. In the meantime, watch some animation goodness:
- A short format "Forest City Rockers" animation show (directed,filmed,animated and edited by me)
- Cutting Forest City Rockers Promos
- Editing a Jones Soda commercial
- Cutting four music videos for FCR Show
- Brand new original Animation (A Day In the Life of...)
- Moving, living life, freelance editing...
I haven't forgotten about Honest Man though! In fact, I have one very important interview lined up at the end of this month (writing questions this weekend). More on that soon. In the meantime, watch some animation goodness:
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