In Black and White Day 6: Howard Zinn and A People’s History of American Empire

Howard Zinn’s upcoming book is being introduced by this nice presentation/political art film that’s narrated by Viggo Mortensen and guess what…it’s in black and white. I’m being lazy today (actually I’m trying to learn animation) so I thought I’d let another artist do the work.

Check out the work of Mike Konopacki, a political cartoonist, who’s brief 2 second spot at the end of the clip doesn’t give enough recognition to the artist…

Bush Lays Out the Foundation for Peace, One Body at a Time

Yesterday, Bush stated in an address, that the 4,000 deaths in Iraq have laid the foundation for peace.

The Blood Tag: 4,000 US dead. Nearly 30,000 US wounded.

The Treasure Tag: $500,000,000,000 USD and counting.

The Collateral Tag: 82,000 Iraqis and counting

That’s all I’m going to say.

Bush and Cheney Bury Nations Blood and Treasure

A lot has happened this week, including (insert surprise here) George Bush’s continued strategy to remain in Iraq until the end of his term, with a coordinated withdrawal of the “so called surge” troops right before the 2008 election.

When hasn’t this administration used terrorism and the Iraq War for political positioning?

Today’s cartoon was inspired by Martin Lewis on The Huffington Post (September 12, 2007).

Note: On the cartoon style this week - sorry, not as refined as my other ‘toons. I keep trying to get a drawing out everyday, but I continue to be slammed by other work.  Hope you enjoy either way.

Anticipating General Petraeus Report on Iraq

In anticipation of General Patraeus’ Report on Iraqi, due to Congress in the next couple of weeks, there’s early talk of what he’ll say. If you’re anti-war, you probably know he’s not going to help you’re cause. Of course the surge is working. And it would work even better with double the troops.

In fact, a complete displacement of Iraqis by US troops would guarantee success.

Unfortunately, because Iraqi casualties seem forgotten in talk of success, congress with no doubt loose their stomach to challenge the surge. Even Hilarious Hillary has started shifting to the other side. In Hillary Clinton’s words, “We can’t be fighting the last war. We have to keep preparing to fight the new war. We have to win.”

Let that sink in a bit.

Ok. I’m still trying to figure out what “new war” she was talking about.

Rove, could you please explain.

Ari Fleischer, Freedom’s Watch Spokesperson, Slimeballed

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Watch the television ads that Ari Fleischer’s Freedom’s Watch doesn’t want you to see unless you reside in a wavering Republican strong hold. The fact that they plan to run these ads right before congress reconvenes to seriously address a withdrawal plan from Iraq only means one thing. They are desperate. The media is no longer showering praise and defending Bush supporters as they did back in 2002 (read Times’ Person of the Week on Ari - it’ll make you laugh).

Ari Fleischer reminds me of Leni Riefenstahl, except without any talent. He’s a propaganda tool for Bush and the NeoCons, and he’s as much responsible for disinformation than anyone in the White House. In fact, he probably left the White House in 2003 knowing he’d be able to create propaganda much more effectively in the private sector. And now four years later we have the pleasure of dealing with his face again, now without glasses.

If you want to see the real Ari Fleischer, watch this MSNBC HardBall interview, that inspired the Slimeballed Interview with Irishspacemonk.

Note: Today I spent a considerable about of time trying to put together my first animation. Many failures and many hours later mean I’m publishing this thing but I’m not really happy with it. I’m just hoping it’s like me first cartoon, and next time will be greatly improved.

Bush Fails to See True Similarities Between Vietnam and the Iraq War

This week Bush finally had the courage to draw a connection between the Iraq War and the Vietnam War. Not surprising, they were the wrong connections. It’s amazing that we’ve allows this guy to sit behind a nuke button for nearly eight years and not live in more fear than we do.

Anyway, I guess I’ve made my point, drawn my cartoon. So enough said. It’s Saturday, and I’ve got some shopping to do.

Forget Cheese Bombs and Backpacks, Terrorists May Try Wheelchairs

Forget dry runs with fake cheese bombs, for which the TSA released an advisory on back in July 2007. Terrorists are more likely to exploit a recently revealed lapse in our nation’s awareness of elderly black men in wheelchairs sitting in the same place at an airport for three days. Or could it be a handicapped person trying to cross a inaccessible section of an airport…for three days.

The incident last week where an elderly minister was left on the curb for three days has been described in as many ways as possible as a sad day. A better explanation of this sadness exists at SmashedFrog.

A true core has been revealed about Americans as a citizenry. We ignore what appear to be inconveniences, like the homeless, the elderly, the handicapped. The list could go on. And while the terrorism alert level didn’t change based on this incident, I’m thinking my own alert level is going up - to be more alert to helping others.