Democracy for New Mexico

Pass It On

We went to see the new movie about John Kerry's life and times tonight, after first having the pleasure of meeting and hearing Max Cleland speak at Kerry HQ in Albuquerque. Sen. Cleland provided alot of moving commentary during "Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" and he was equally impressive face to face.

Since I was in college during the pivotal year of 1968 and beyond, watching the incredible footage from that era was both gut-wrenching and inspiring. It brought me right back to how heroically so many of us viewed Kerry back then, testifying about the horrors of a war gone mad and meaningless. It is hard to reconstruct now just how courageous it was back then for anyone to speak up and tell the truth, let alone veterans.

As we know, the battles continue today between those who owned up to the realities and errors of the Viet Nam war and those who clung to stubborn myths of glory that had clearly been undermined by facts on the ground. Here again is John Kerry being muddied by the manufactured distortions of the Nixon creation that is John O'Neill. It's still a struggle between those who found healing and a thirst for peace by absorbing the truths of Viet Nam and those who are still seeking scapegoats thirty-some years later because they've never learned the lessons or admitted the horrors and their roles in it.

The bullying of cowards continues and grows. As I was writing this post I heard a car door open, footsteps and shuffling, and then a car door slamming out front. It sounded suspicious so we went out and, sure enough, our two Kerry signs were gone. All of a sudden, here comes a vehicle that stops across the street in front of a neighbor's Kerry sign and out pops some guy. All we had to do was yell, "hey don't take that sign" and the chicken raced off as fast as he could floor the thing. These types are always so brave.

Anyway, I hope you'll take the time to see "Going Upriver," get a DVD and share it with everyone you can. A new site called KeepItGoing.org is about continuing the conversation inspired by the movie, and making it easy to pass it on. And if you'd like to read the testimony of the Winter Soldiers shown in the film, whose views Kerry represented at the Senate hearing, go here.

(Poster of My Lai Massacre from The Sixties Project's collection of political posters. Click the image for a larger version.)

John Kerry Movie Opens Friday

MoveOn is encouraging an opening day turnout for this movie to rival the one we provided for Fahrenheit 9/11. The more people who flock to theaters to see it, the more buzz and coverage the media will be forced to provide and the more people will learn about the real identity of John Kerry.

According to the movie's website:

"Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry is a feature length documentary about character and moral leadership during a time of national crisis. Loosely based on the best-selling book Tour of Duty by Douglas Brinkley, Going Upriver examines the story of John Kerry and the key events that made him a national figure and the man he is today. The film places particular emphasis on his bravery during the Vietnam War and his courageous opposition to the war upon his return."

MoveOn says:

"On Friday, an exciting new movie hits theaters -- one that has the power to change the way we see John Kerry forever. Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry is a beautiful and inspiring portrait of Kerry and Vietnam, but it's bigger than that: it's a gripping, powerful film about how our country wrestles with war. It's vivid without being confrontational -- a political movie you can bring your Republican uncle to -- and it has received great reviews from some of the nation's top film critics. You've got to see it."

You can watch the trailer .

The movie opens October 1st at these New Mexico theaters:

Albuquerque Downtown 14
Albuquerque High Ridge 8
Santa Fe UA De Vargas

You can buy tickets online at Fandango. You can order the DVD here. Take your friends, neighbors, family members and yourself. Let them see a truer version of who John Kerry really is and what makes him very different from our lying, cowardly president. Don't let Rove's distorted caricature stick!

John Kerry gives a speech at a 1972 peace rally in Bryant Park, NYC. Photo credit: George Butler (Click photo for larger version.)

Greg Palast's "Bush Family Fortunes"

You can see investigative journalist Greg Palast's new documentary, "Bush Family Fortunes," at special screenings and house parties across the nation before its official release later this month. Many members of Democracy for America are involved in this effort as reported on this website:

Across America, at homes and cinemas, town halls, libraries, college campuses and dorms, on roof tops, in courtyards and democratic clubs, the coalition groups of Democracy For America are premiering "Bush Family Fortunes," the Greg Palast documentary that U.S. distributors won't screen. "Bush Family Fortunes," documents Greg Palast’s BBC investigations which underlie and go beyond the truths revealed in Michael Moore’s F/911.

Screenings can be turned into fundraisers. Greg Palast is making this DVD available at cost for bulk orders, for sale at these events. He will gift all royalties to the individual event that sells the DVDs, to be donated to the organization or candidate of choice.

Click here to check for screenings, to organize one of your own or to buy the DVD. Since participating in a DFA Blog Bookclub event discussing his book "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," Palast has become a strong supporter of DFA and our goals. Let's support his new DVD and help get the facts out about the Bush family's nasty connections and actions.