what wasn't said

First off some significant links.

Over on CNN.com there is a very interesting analyses of missed opportunities in the Obama-McCain debate. What I found most edifying was a list of factors that contributed to the decrease of violence in Iraq, *other* than the surge.

While the entire article is worth reading, there's the list of factors:

Lost in this discussion was the fact that while the surge of some 30,000 American soldiers certainly put more American boots on the ground in neighborhoods from Anbar province to Baghdad to "clear, hold and build" them and was clearly an important element in the sharp decline in violence in the country, there are several other key underlying factors that tamped down the mayhem in Iraq that neither of the candidates addressed:

• First, the appearance in 2006 of the various "Awakening" movements, in which Sunni tribes once allied with al Qaeda turned against it.

• Second, the implementation of the Sons of Iraq program consisting of some 100,000 Sunni militants, many of whom used to be shooting at American soldiers, who are now on the U.S. payroll. Now that's a surge!

• Third, the previous ethnic cleansings in Iraq and the millions of Iraqi refugees who have fled their homes, meaning there are fewer potential targets of sectarian violence.

• Fourth, the large size and increasing efficacy of the Iraqi army and police, some 550,000 strong, who are now beginning to operate with some level of professionalism.

• Fifth, the increasingly nonsectarian approach of Nuri al-Maliki, the Shia prime minister, who has taken on Shiite militias in Basra and Sadr City, an important signal that the government will act in something like the national interest.

• Sixth, the cease-fires ordered in the past year or so by the leader of those Shia militants, the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose position in Iraq has weakened significantly since 2007.

These underlying factors made the surge a force multiplier for the fragile peace we are seeing today in Iraq. And now that the surge is over, it is those factors that might ensure that the fragile peace holds, yet neither Obama nor McCain discussed how these factors might change their own Iraq policies going forward.

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As for me, I'm a pretty firm Obama supporter. I don't think he's the second coming, but I support him more than I've supported a candidate... well... ever. They way I see it lately, if he can deliver on a third of his promises, I'll be delighted. If McCain delivers on even a third of his promises, I'll be horrified.

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Things are pretty mellow on this end. Work is slow, and with the third Radiostar cartoon up, and new Audio shows posted, I'm trying to turn my attention to the 411 screenplay. The Sweetie Tanya soundtrack remains in limbo for legal reasons and I need to get some work done on that front as well.

Occupying most of my attention, however, has been a pinched nerve in my shoulder that has severely limited my neck movement. After recommendations of Flexirol and acupuncture, I was assigned to be bartender at Djoke's murder mystery bar-be-que and proceeded to make super strong drinks and send everyone flying... including myself. I woke up today still in pain, but with increased range of movement. Rum beats pharmaceuticals and needles, hands down. Still, I am looking forward to being pain free in the next couple of days.

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The Evil League of Evil is accepting submissions. They want applicants to sing, although it's not required. I have a few ideas, so perhaps I'll make my submission tomorrow night. If so, I'll post a link here.

Hollywood Burn, episode 3

It's finally done!


Find more videos like this on Channel Frederator RAW

videos

So, I was going to a film festival last night, but my movie buddy came down sick. I decided to spend the night working on the third Radiostar cartoon instead, and am very pleased to say that it may be finished as early as tomorrow!

In the meanwhile, David Austin-Gröen posted this video, which brought a part of McCain's history to light that I had completely forgotten about.



and Eden Gallanter brought my attention to this SNL clip about sexism in the media that cracked me up.



Hopefully tomorrow I'll be posting my own video.

Radiostar spreads

An animation student used some audio from Radiostar for an animation test.

The original show, "Rebound" can be listened to here.

Ramping up for election theft

It really makes me ill. McCain's camp says that our economic woes are largely psychological. This isn't news, of course, but that kind of attitude makes the following even more reprehensible.

Republicans in economically devastated swing counties are gearing up to deny people who have recently been foreclosed on the right to vote.

The argument boils down to, "if you lost your home, then you aren't a legal resident, so you don't have a polling place."

That's right, if you're hit hard by our failing economy and want change, you don't get to vote for it. Thank goodness that the Republican party is all about a smaller government that won't meddle in the affairs of its citizens. Thank goodness that they're willing to fight for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" and the belief that "all men are created equal."

That, and kicking people when they're down in order to maintain their power base.

Earthquake

Thanks to Neil Gaiman who brought attention to these "comics" about the May earthquake in China.

"comic" couldn't be a stronger misnomer, as they literally brought me to tears.

8 and a half

I just finished watching Fellini's 8 1/2.

I've seen it before, but I couldn't tell you when. I watched it then for the same reason I watched it tonight: because it's an acknowledged masterpiece and because I should.

The last time I watched it, I was simply bewildered. I didn't understand it. I was overwhelmed by it's non-linearity, it's exaggeration, and generally didn't understand the plot or anything about it.

This time... this time I understood it. I understood how memory flows into the present, how the past is always with me, the inability to choose and how that inability limits one's capacity to love, the role of fantasy and daydream and self-delusion.... all of it made sense to me.

I'm not sure if that's a complimentary thing to admit about oneself. It's true, nevertheless.

Make the Right Choice

RNC

I didn't watch the Republican National Convention, but I've been reading about it. Some of the quotes coming out of it I find just baffling.

All this talk about Republicans and smaller government, and how the people want a smaller, less invasive government so they should vote Republican... from the party that gave us the Patriot Act and has worked to remove so many of our rights.

All this talk about voting Republican so that Government can cut spending, when most of our money has gone to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and will possibly go to fighting a war in Iran.

Democrats do want to spend money, on things like social programs and health care. The Republican pattern has been to spend money on war, and giving breaks to corporations.

Palin is portraying herself as someone who stands up to special interests and big oil after suing the Bush administration for declaring polar bears an endangered species, because it might block her goals to open up Alaska's wilderness for oil drilling.

Continual references to "liberal Washington", after 8 years of Bush and his policies. Look at what has been done in this country over the last 8 years... how liberal has Washington been? Hell, most of our Democrats have been acting like Republicans for the last 8 years. How is that liberal?

Romney referred to America as "what it has always been, the hope of the world." This, after Bush's arrogant approach to foreign policy has reduced the world's opinion of us to pathetic levels.

People talk about Steve Jobs having a reality-distortion field... well, apparently he's given it to the GOP for the season.

Pentecostal Vice President

Considering how much the media flipped out over Barack Obama's old pastor, I have to wonder what they'll do with Palin's.

It's an interesting article about the church she grew up in and the pastor she followed and who gave the speech in her inauguration. Palin is a full bore fundamentalist Pentecostal. Now her views may differ from her old pastor, but based on her public statements, and the hard core authoritarianism of the church, I doubt it.

Big Green Bus

I got an email from Cynthia Gregory, who some of you know as half of Savage Eye Productions and the Angel who built the set for Sweetie Tanya.
It was about an event that happened in the Twin Cities. The low-down is that the "Permibus," a large green bus that tours the country making demonstrations about solar panels, composting, and hydroponic farming was pulled over by no fewer than NINE police cars. No reason was given for pulling them over and taking their vehicle (which is also their home) away from them other than "routine traffic stop" and "we need to see if this is vehicle is being used for commercial purposes".

Here's a short article by the Twin Cities Daily Planet. This is a much longer article from Twin Cities Indymedia, which is what Cynthia forwarded me in the first place.

Now call me crazy, but my understanding was that you couldn't pull over a bus and impound it for "potential later search and seizure" without a search warrant. The family was left with all their animals on the side of the road while the cops left with their vehicle and home. No arrests, and no explanations, just nine cars full of cops and vague responses.

I honestly don't know what to make of this, but it seems like something that can't be allowed to slip under the radar, so I'm posting about it. I'd post the police's side of the story, but so far they authorities haven't made a statement.