Friday, October 26, 2007

Repug ChickenHawks Step Up the Tough-Guy Talk on Iran. But Will They Send Their Sons and Daughters this Time?


To listen to President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the leading Republican presidential contenders for 2008 you’d think these guys actually believe they know what the hell they’re talking about when it comes to foreign policy and military matters. But after having been one-bazillion percent wrong on just about every detail leading up to the Iraq invasion and the ensuing occupation, here they go yet again, this time beating their reckless, delusional war drums over Tehran. Will they ever learn? Or more importantly, will we?

In the past week, the draft-dodging Bush chillingly warned that a confrontation with Iran over WMD could drag us all into WWIII, while his snake-oil salesman Cheney chomped his venomous teeth into yet another macho man-wannabe warning to "the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism" that it faces "serious consequences" if it builds its nuclear arsenal. "We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," snarled Dr. Evil. Just like we took care of Saddam’s deadly WMD arsenal, right Dick?

And then there are the ’08 hopefuls, all jockeying for position in the "I’m the toughest tough guy” contest. Hoping to win first-prize, former NYC Mayor and front runner Rudy Julie-Annie has said "it’s a promise, not a threat" that the U.S. will do whatever necessary, including using military force, to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. And one-upping the cross-dressing hawk was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who on Thursday, claiming the threat from Iran as so grave, said he’d be willing to use a military blockade or "bombardment of some kind" to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. I’d love to ask the war-mongering, God-fearing, uber-patriot Romney if the threat is so grave that he’d urge his five privileged Ralph Lauren model look-alike sons to suit up and take arms to defend America, or is he suggesting that as with Iraq only our sons and daughters fight this fight too. If the mainstream media had an ounce of balls in that empty sack of theirs they’d ask him--and the rest of these Princes of Deferment--that very question every time they even remotely ratchet up the "let’s invade Iran" rhetoric. But they won’t. And I suppose the self-righteous Stormin’ Mormon will be allowed instead to continue espousing his nonsensical claim that his red-blooded, able-bodied, square-jawed Anglo-Saxon prodigies are serving this great nation by helping out his chicken hawk dad on the campaign trail.

It’s time for Americans to wake up and smell the $4 Starbucks coffee. Are we going to stop these irresponsible maniacs from leading America down another lethal road of more hatred, more bloodshed and more chaos? Ya know the old expression, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. These dangerous old men--overgrown ‘tweens who never got over playing army--are fucking with real human lives here. So, what are we gonna do about the "mushroom cloud" gang this time?


On another subject......TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE for the November 12 inaugural Adrienne Shelly Foundation Fundraising Gala at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. There will be a musical performance by Alanis Morissette, followed by a celebrity reading of Adrienne's script "The Morgan Stories," featuring Alanis Morissette, Paul Rudd, Edie Falco, Matt Dillon, Ally Sheedy, Mary Louise Parker, Gina Gershon and others. To learn more about our mission, to make a tax-deductible donation, and to purchase tickets, please visit our website. Every contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, allows us to help others, and creates something positive out of this tragedy.

And look for our very exciting Ebay Auction which begins November 12th and includes about 25 celebrity items and experiences like walk-ons and set visits to your favorite TV shows (Jon Stewart, Ellen, Rachel Ray), lunch with various celebs (Edie Falco, Paul Rudd, Cheryl Hines, Rosanna Arquette, etc), celeb-autographed items, Sundance Film Fest VIP passes, and concert tickets with meet & greet (Maroon 5). Click here for mroe items and auction details.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Soul-Selling Repugs Continue to Pander to Shrinking Evangelical Base


Forget that we're embroiled in a disastrous war that's killed almost 4000 U.S. soldiers. Forget that the economy still struggles with anemic job creation and consumer confidence, record debt, inflation concerns, skyrocketing fuel costs, weak housing and credit markets, and fears of recession. Forget that 45-million Americans are without health insurance. Forget that our public education system is in shambles. Forget that so many God-fearing "values" Repugs have been rocked by salacious scandal. Because according to evangelicals, the most pressing problems in America today remain whether or not two homosexuals should marry, or whether a woman should have the legal right to an abortion. Or whether a bunch of testosterone-starved neanderthals should have the right to play with firearms. Guns, God and gays. Despite a nation in crisis, it's all these narrow-minded religious fanatics have ever been concerned with, and it's all they ever will . And the pack of GOP presidential hopefuls has been literally tripping over each other in pandering to these right-wing extremists in a bid for their 2008 support. It's a pathetic sight to see.

These flip-flopping opportunists are selling their souls to the devil for a few votes. If you listen to Mitt Romney, Rudy Julie-Annie, Fred Thompson and John McCain, you'd think all they do is sit around in church all day. At the Values Voters Summit in Washington last week, the candidates shamelessly dropped their drawers to appear more fanatical than the next. They couldn't have sounded more right-wing extremist if they tried. And to some people, it apparently worked. The NY Times on Saturday quoted Merrily Crowe, an evangelical from Tennessee, who was moved by McCain's emotional, Jesus-coated Vietnam anecdote about compassionate prison guards and crosses. Prior to McCain's hallelujah performance, Crowe had ruled him out because of ideological differences. "When I listened to him, the thought occurred to me for the first time that I'd consider voting for him," Crowe said. Sure, all it takes for some of these lost souls is one little tear-jerker about a crucifix in the ground and they're quick to toss out every socio-economic issue they stand for. Jesus saves.....

Thankfully, the statistics show that the evangelical movement is much smaller and less influential than in '04 and '00 and getting smaller every day. To be sure, that they are on the verge of splitting from the GOP and considering propping up a 3rd party candidate is a solid indication of this trend. But no ones's apparently told the pack of '08 Repugs. Guns, God and gays. They love the way it sounds. It's like a drug to them. They just can't help themselves from pandering to this radical fringe no matter how insignificant and obsolete it's become. They remain, simply and somewhat surprisingly, utterly out of touch with most of America. And that's a great thing for the Democrats in '08.


On another subject......we will begin selling tickets later this week for the November 12 inaugural Adrienne Shelly Foundation Fundraising Gala at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. There will be a musical performance by Alanis Morissette, followed by a celebrity reading of Adrienne's script "The Morgan Stories," featuring Alanis Morissette, Paul Rudd, Edie Falco, Matt Dillon, Ally Sheedy, Mary Louise Parker, Gina Gershon and others. To learn more about our mission, to make a tax-deductible donation, and to purchase tickets, please visit our website. Every contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, allows us to help others, and creates something positive out of this tragedy.

Friday, October 19, 2007

"Run Gore Run!" Campaign Starts Today


A brilliant idea came to me from my good friend and fellow Al Gore supporter Julie out in Los Angeles. Ask any Democrat whether or not they want former vice president Al Gore to run for president in 2008 and you'll get an emphatic 'yes.' Last week the organization DraftGore.com took a full page ad in the NY Times issuing an impassioned plea for The Goracle to enter the race, a subject I went on MSNBC's Hardball to discuss. Also that week Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless, 30-year effort to address the growing threat from global warming. Can his resume get any more attractive? He is the most qualified individual in the Democratic Party, by far, and he should be president.

Well, it's time to take the "draft" movement one step further. It's time for each and every one of to take action. If you want Gore to run, SCREAM IT the best way you can. Put a large "Run Gore Run" sign(s) in your window. How great would it be for Al to see these signs everywhere he went, in every city, every town. An impassioned plea directly from the people themselves.

Display your signs as soon as possible. And forward this to all of your Democratic friends. And tell them to forward it to their friends. Let's get millions of homes across America to deliver the loudest, most personal message we can to the only candidate who can lead our great nation out of this domestic and international crisis.

And by the way...
To all those Republicans who mock Gore and discount the threat from global warming...if you can do me a favor and help us locate Autumn that would be great. Seems like Summer doesn't own a calendar. Almost November here in NYC and still pushing 80.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Ostroy to Discuss DraftGore.com Ad on Friday's "Hardball with Chris Matthews"


On Wednesday DraftGore.com took a full page ad in the New York Times with the headline "An Open Letter to Al Gore" in which the organization issued an impassioned plea to the former vice president to enter the 2008 presidential election:

..."Mr. Vice President, there are times for politicians and times for heroes. America and the Earth need a hero right now, someone who will transcend politics
as usual and bring real hope to our country and to the world. Please rise to this challenge, or you and millions of us will live forever wondering what might have been."

The ad, as expected, has garnered a great deal of media attention. As someone who's frequently written about the prospect of a Gore campaign, I've been asked by DraftGore.com founder Monica Friedlander to represent them on the MSNBC program "Hardball with Chris Matthews." I'm scheduled to appear today (Friday 10/12), but as always these things can change last minute. "Hardball" airs live on MSNBC at 5PM EST and is repeated at 7PM EST.

Tune in if you can....

Monday, October 08, 2007

Limbaugh Says “Liberals Hate this Country.” It’s time to Boycott His Advertisers & Get Him Off the Air


On his syndicated radio program Monday, right-wing blow-hard Rush Limbaugh once again attacked the patriotism of his detractors by making the outrageous, infuriating and egregious claim that "liberals hate this country." His rant came in defense against the threat of a Congressional investigation initiated by Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) into the questionable broadcasting practices of this big, fat hypocritical liar and his conservative cohorts like Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.

Let’s get something straight. I am a proud, card-carrying member of the Liberal tribe and I do not hate America. To the contrary, I love my country, respect and support the military, and can be as hawkish as Sen. John McCain (AZ) when our nation is threatened. Like most Democrats, I fully supported the invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks, and I’d use aggressive military force in a heartbeat to hunt down and kill our enemies again. How dare Limbaugh attack and deny my love of country, my patriotism, my willingness to use force if need be to defend America. How dare he, as he has done again last week to much controversy, attack and slander certain soldiers as "fake" simply because they had the courage to criticize Bush’s fiasco in Iraq. You wanna talk "fake," Rush? Fake is sitting behind a microphone in some cushy air-conditioned studio ranting and raving like John Wayne when those with real bravery and courage are fighting and dying thousands of miles away in the excrutiating desert heat. Tell us again, Rush, what branch of the U.S. Armed Services you served in? Exactly.

It’s time for this polarizing, incendiary partisan rhetoric to come to a grinding halt. I believe I speak for most Americans when I say enough is enough. We’re sick and tired of this bloviating, drug-addicted chickenhawk slandering anyone who dares disagree with his irrational, ideological demagoguery and the reckless policies of his utterly inept party. No one is off-limits to this creton, not servicemen and women, minorities or the handicapped. He is a rapacious, unapologetic bully; a colossal ignoramus who exists only to spread lies and deception in his unflinching, maniacal loyalty to Bush and the Repugs. It’s time to take him down, now.

As such, I am urging Democrats everywhere to boycott the goods and services of the advertisers and sponsors of The Rush Limbaugh Show, broadcast daily by Clear Channel Communications. Below is a partial list of companies, according to Gun Toting Liberal, who could use a threat or two from us America-loving libs:

Bose Wave Radio 508-766-7781

Lending Tree (704) 541-5351

Overstock.com
1-800-989-0135
otherinfo@overstock.com

eharmony
300 N. Lake Ave., Suite 1111
Pasadena, CA 91101
media@eharmony.com
626.795.4814
FAX 626.585.4040

Inverness Medical (maker of stresstabs)
51 Sawyer Road
Waltham, MA 02021
1-800-899-7353 weekdays, 8 am. - 6 p.m. (Eastern Time.)

Onstar
1-800-947-AUTO

Hotwire Corporate Headquarters
333 Market Street, Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94105
advertising@hotwire.com
1-877-HOTWIRE (468-9473)
415-343-8400

Sleep Number Bed
1-800-438-2233

Oreck Upright Vacuum Cleaners
Oreck Corporation
100 Plantation Road
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123
Online contact form
1-800-289-5888

Mid-West Life Insurance Company of Tennessee
9151 Grapevine Hwy.
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
Phone (800) 733-1110
(web banner ads on rushlimbaugh.com)

AutoZone Inc.
P.O. Box 2198
Memphis, TN 38101
Phone (901) 495-7185
Fax (901) 495-8374
investor.relations@autozone.co m

UPDATED - Citracal - Mission Pharmacal
Bennett Kennedy - Citracal Product Manager
Mission Pharmacal
P.O. Box 786099
San Antonio, TX 78278-6099
Phone:(800) 531-3333

Avacor (hair loss treatment)
(customer comments email)
comments@avacorusa.com

Life Quotes, Inc.
32045 Castle Court
Evergreen, CO 80439
1-800-670-5433
info@lifequotes.com.au

Select Comfort Corporation
6105 Trenton Lane N
Minneapolis, MN 55442
Phone: 763-551-7000
Fax: 763-551-7826
investorrelations@selectcomfor t.com

Pfizer Inc
235 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
212-733-2323

It’s time to hit these companies where it hurts most: in the pocketbook. Liberals, wake up! Boycotts are not the exclusive weapon of evangelicals and conservatives. We have the power to influence corporate America as well. And while you’re at it, send the following letter: I can no longer in good conscience do business with a company that financially supports Rush Limbaugh, a shameless partisan hack who has offended me and tens of millions of Democrats (and consumers of your products) with his constant, irresponsible and reprehensible accusation that I “hate my country.” I will not buy your products again until you pull your advertising from his radio program.

Rush Limbaugh is a disgusting, despicable, morally repugnant hate-monger. Let’s boycott this Neanderthal and do what we can to toss him off the airwaves.


On another note, we could use your help at The The Adrienne Shelly Foundation. We are a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've established scholarships, grants, finishing funds and living stipends at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; Columbia University; American Film Institute; Women in Film; the Independent Feature Project; the Nantucket Film Festival; and the Sundance Institute.

On November 12 in NYC we will be holding our first annual Fundraising Gala, with a musical performance by Alanis Morissette followed by a celebrity reading of Adrienne's script "The Morgan Stories," featuring Paul Rudd, Edie Falco, Matt Dillon, Ally Sheedy and many others. To learn more about our mission, to make a tax-deductible donation, and to sign up to receive details about the November benefit please visit our website. Every contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, allows us to help others, and creates something positive out of this tragedy.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and others, and has so far grossed $19-million domestically and almost $1-million internationally. The DVD will be available in November. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Is Obama "Fizzling?" Is Gore Getting Ready to Announce?


Back in early June I was at a function with Bill Clinton and asked him if he thought Al Gore was going to run for president in '08. "I don't know, he could. Someone's got to fizzle," he said. "If someone fizzles, then yeah he could enter the race. He's got plenty of money, his own money, to do it." He added that Gore has the kind of personal wealth to be able to wait until the last stages of the campaign before he'd enter the race.

Well hold onto your seats, kids. Clinton's prescience is beginning to surface. A new ABC News/Wall Street Journal Poll Wednesday showed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton with a commanding 53%-20% lead over Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois. For the first time, Clinton now has the support of a majority of Democrats. Compounding this problem for Obama is the Q3 fundraising data released Tuesday showing an alarming 40% drop in cash raised from Q2, to $19 million from $31 million. Clinton meanwhile has steadily increased her funds each quarter, from $20 million in Q1, $21 in Q2 and $22 million since July.

If this doesn't qualify for "fizzling" I don't know what does. And if there ever was a more opportune time for the former veep to toss his hat into the ring, this is it. Consider this: the January Iowa caucus is right around the corner. Iowans are rabidly anti-war. Sen. Clinton voted to authorize the war, and has basically marched in lock-step with President Bush and the Republicans on this issue ever since. We all know Gore's position then and now on Iraq. Iowans would lap up his candidacy like a stray cat at a bowl of milk. With Obama losing steam fast, Gore could waltz right into this contest and be the giant-slayer whose unparalleled credentials, popularity and rightful claim to the White House could literally deflate the Clinton bubble overnight.

It's October. It's time. Could an announcement be right around the corner?


On another note, we could use your help at The The Adrienne Shelly Foundation. We are a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've established scholarships, grants, finishing funds and living stipends at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; Columbia University; American Film Institute; Women in Film; the Independent Feature Project; the Nantucket Film Festival; and the Sundance Institute.

On November 12 in NYC we will be holding our first annual Fundraising Gala, with a musical performance by Alanis Morissette followed by a celebrity reading of Adrienne's script "The Morgan Stories," featuring Paul Rudd, Edie Falco, Matt Dillon, Ally Sheedy and many others. To learn more about our mission, to make a tax-deductible donation, and to sign up to receive details about the November benefit please visit our website. Every contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, allows us to help others, and creates something positive out of this tragedy.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and others, and has so far grossed $19-million domestically and almost $1-million internationally. The DVD will be available in November. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

Monday, October 01, 2007

"Childrens Do Learn." Is this Our President or Ali G?


In an effort last week to prove that his No Child Left Behind education bill is working, President Bush, citing recently released improved math test scores, declared, "Childrens do learn when standards are high and results are measured"...thus finally answering his own 2001 question, "Is our children learning?

It's pretty sad when, by comparison, both Buckwheat and Ali G are the great communicators. Both have a better command of the English language than our grammatically-challenged president. Just when I think this colossal dunce cannot possibly embarrass us any more he offers up another of his legendary malapropisms.

"Yo, check it....me Laura and me does fink dat childrens need dem teachers to, like, stop chekin out their l'ittle behinds. Dats sick, you know? No childs left behind, or da right one for dat matter, aint nuffin to be messed wif. Booyakasha...."


On another note, we could use your help at The The Adrienne Shelly Foundation. We are a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've established scholarships, grants, finishing funds and living stipends at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; Columbia University; American Film Institute; Women in Film; the Independent Feature Project; the Nantucket Film Festival; and the Sundance Institute.

On November 12 in NYC we will be holding our first annual Fundraising Gala, with a musical performance by Alanis Morissette followed by a celebrity reading of Adrienne's script "The Morgan Stories," featuring Paul Rudd, Edie Falco, Matt Dillon, Ally Sheedy and many others. To learn more about our mission, to make a tax-deductible donation, and to sign up to receive details about the November benefit please visit our website. Every contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, allows us to help others, and creates something positive out of this tragedy.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and others, and has so far grossed $19-million domestically and almost $1-million internationally. The DVD will be available in November. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/