A forwarded email

Howdy!

I got this email today, and I'd like to share it. Please sign the letter, and send a letter asking that McCain's health records be brought up during the Debates!
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Recurrences of malignant melanoma, a savage tumor that can and does reappear after periods of hope-filled absence, are too common and serious to be cloaked for political purposes. - Theodore M. Cole, MD

53,491: People who have signed Brave New Films' open letter calling for a full, public disclosure of McCain's health records.

2,515: Doctors who signed the open letter urging McCain to release his records.

1,173: Pages in McCain's medical records dumped on the media in a publicity stunt last May.

20:. Journalists allowed to review his records for the 2008 election.

3: Hours those journalists were permitted to review them.

0: The number of tape recorders, cell phones, cameras or photocopying machines allowed in the room.

How many of you will write in urging PBS' Jim Lehrer to ask McCain about his health records during Friday's debate?

Watch the 30 second ad

This debate will deal with foreign policy, and McCain's health issues constitute a national security issue, especially when you consider how his secrecy about medical records echoes the Bush administration's legacy of lies. Will McCain's health limit his capacity to make tough decisions regarding diplomacy and military action? We don't know, because McCain is keeping his medical records a tightly held secret, made available to just a handful of journalists for three hours under close supervision.

Send a quick e-mail to Jim Lehrer, moderator of Friday's debate, with the subject line: "Ask McCain to Disclose His Health Records in Full." Then, donate to Brave New PAC today so we can get this ad on the air. We have the right to have an open discussion about this grave issue, and now we have the chance to bring transparency and accountability to politics.

Yours,
Robert Greenwald
and everyone at Brave New PAC

P.S. For more info and inspiration and what to write in the body of your e-mail to Jim Lehrer, read the testimonies from some of our doctors below.

It is standard practice for the people of the United States to be kept informed of the President's state of health. It is even more important that we citizens be made fully aware of the health and health risks of our potential Presidents. John McCain has had more than one melanoma, a particularly lethal cancer. That statement that his cancer is "in remission" does not equate with cure. Melanoma can be undetectable and "in remission" for a dozen years and then recur. - Nancy V. Bruckner, MD

It is inconceivable that America would vote on who will be their next president without complete disclosure of every detail of the health care that each candidate has undergone. With one of the candidates having had a very serious form of cancer and being 72 years of age, the American people need to be reassured that their decisions at the poll are being made with all available information. - David R. Meldrum, MD

Transparency as far as medical history is concerned is essential for those running for public office. The public deserves that. It is a prerequisite for being in office. - Robert Buxbaum, MD

I have to release my medical records to get insurance, to get hospital privileges and for things of far lesser import than seeking the presidency of this country. Unless Mr. McCain has something to hide, he should release his records. If he refuses to release the records, then the assumption must be that he is, indeed, hiding something. - Gerald F. Cambria, MD

I am a registered Republican. As a dermatologist with over 20 years of experience, I would have to believe that there is a very significant probability that McCain will die of his melanoma, probably within the next few years. As I understand it, his first episode was in 1992, and he has had a total of 4 melanomas, one of which was deep enough to require a lymph node dissection. My experience has been that patients whose immune system clearly does not fight off melanoma (I've never had any patient who had more than 2 once we began observing them closely with consistent skin checks, as I know McCain gets), and eventually die of their melanoma, especially when it has been on the head or neck. Everything may seem to be fine for 5-10 years, then all of a sudden all the micrometastases reach critical mass, and there are lesions in the brain, bone and lungs - and the person is dead within three months. - Laura E. Skellchock, MD

My own schedule

Man, I need to take a hint from the Republicans running this race.

If it doesn't fit your schedule, ignore it.

A presidential debate? Well, I'm busy right now. How about next week? (John McCain.)

A subpoena? Dude, can't you see I'm on tour? (Todd Palin.)

I get the feeling that McCain's campaign would like to call a time out. Anytime I've ever called time out is because I'm exhausted, and losing whatever game I'm happening to be playing. Or, my shoe's untied.

Would somebody check to see if Senator McCain's shoe is untied, please?

Game on!

I reject your reality, and substitute my own!

That's actually a bumper sticker. One that Todd Palin should have on his snowmobile.
He refuses to testify because he believes the investigation of "Troopergate" is illegitimate. Hey, if I were in his snowshoes, I might think the same - but, that's not the point.

I find it interesting that Michelle Obama's quote about being proud of her country for the first time in her adult life to be trumpeted by the Republican base, while Todd Palin's disregard for an investigation to be a minor point, comparatively. What if Ms. Obama thumbed her nose - no - refused to comply - with the court? Ah, then I think we'd see the end of Barack's bid for the White House. An attitude of superiority to the law exhibited in the Palin case is a troubling one, indeed. And the Palin family isn't even in DC yet!

Regardless of Mr. Palin's legal tactics, and leaving the fact aside that Troopergate is starting to give me the willies, I'd like to pose the following question:

If the McCain-Palin campaign is so insistent on it's brand of change for Washington, how will they possibly accomplish this? McCain's been there for years. I can see him walking down the halls, saying "OK, fellas, no more Mr. Nice Guy!"

And how is Ms. Palin going to bring reform to the scandalized city if she's already causing problems in a remote corner of the country?

It doesn't make sense to hire Acme Change Company to fire Acme Change Company.

Thirty-odd more doors were knocked on by yours truly this Sunday, and boy, my legs are killing me today. But it's the pain of change, and one I'm willing to pay.

By the way, I was talking to a buddy today who's a vehement McCain supporter. While I'm completely opposed to his views, I encouraged him to get out there and fight for what he believes in. That's the beauty of the American process (and the process in many other countries, too. Us Americans forget that, sometimes.) I think if we all got off the couch, and walked the talk, we'd be a lot better off as a people, and as a nation.

Get to it!

Get up, stand up!

Wall Street is melting into a pool of government bailouts and broken profits. The ice caps are shrinking. And we spend our time debating with our buddies if seeing Russia from across the way qualifies as foreign policy experience.

I think America is a gigantic dichotomy, composed of the ignorant and the brilliant, the what's-the-use and the can-do's. Since so many of us live in the middle class, our hardship is apathy. We've got just enough to keep us from paying attention. However, this is starting to change. The housing crisis is affecting folks from all economic backgrounds, and the current meltdown on Wall Street isn't helping the better off among us.


It's time to be a can-do. Let's not wish and hope for things to get better. That's not the way to success, peace, or prosperity.

Get out there, and do something. No matter how small, it matters.

If you're in a swing state, this especially matters. For you Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Nevada, Indiana, and especially Pennsylvania voters, getting out there and pounding the pavement is vital.

Here's a link to help you get started.

(Oh yeah, I'm an Obama fan.)

While this election matters so much, there's many other issues you can take up to better the world.

Check out Amnesty International for important human rights issues, and how you can help.

Want to save the trees? How about the planet? The Sierra Club is a great place to start. Reasonable, if a bit on the yuppie side, they do some fantastic work on behalf of the few remaining wild places.

There's so many other things you can do. If it's just writing a letter for Troy Davis, about to be executed for a crime that he didn't commit, to talking to your neighbors about Obama, here's a bit of advice:

Start today!

We've got no time to lose.

No more Armchair politics

As a kid, I was always around armchair politicians. My dad, grandma, and grandpa would always go on forever about the democrats vs. the republicans, and how the world was most definitely going somewhere fast, and for some reason, it was in a hand basket.

While it was a mark of pseudo-intellect, and a proud moment when I could join in on these conversations, they always left me with a feeling of depression and helplessness. No matter who won the debate around the kitchen table in suburbia, Washington was exactly the same.

That's why it felt great to be sweating like a pig this past Sunday, canvasing for Obama and Biden in the swing state of Virginia. Well, let's see. I knocked on 35 doors. Most of the people weren't home. But guess what - It felt super to be taking an active part in the American political process. I get all stressed and worried when I read the news. Walking for three hours was a great way to relieve that stress. I was taking steps for change that I believe in.

I was doing something. And Dad and Grandma can go on all they like - at least I'm not playing Monday morning quaterback.

Won't you join me, at least in spirit? Get out there, and talk to folks! I've been in touch with Luke and the good folks at local Obama field office in Alexandria. They're working their tails off for change they can believe in. Wanna help? They're doing a lot of canvasing, and they can use every man, woman, and kid on deck.

The address of the office is:

8796 Sacramento Dr
Alexandria, VA

Here's the link.

It's gonna be close, folks. I'll be there on the street. Won't you join me?

Here's a cool thought for you to end on. I read it on politco.com:

If Barack Obama can get every voter to learn just two numbers, he will be president. Those numbers are 91 and 134. If by Election Day every American knows McCain votes with Bush 91 percent of the time and has 134 lobbyists in his campaign, then the myth of the maverick reformer will be dead. And with it, McCain’s chances of following his unlikely soul mate as president.

John McCain's health

Hello, all! I'm on Robert Greenwald's excellent email list, and I got this. You've got to watch it - it's verythought provoking. Don't forget to sign the letter, and forward it to every friend you've got!

What the Doctor Ordered

A letter to the editor

Change. It's the new buzzword, and has reached a fever pitch as the presidential race enters it's final stretch. Let's hope somebody's right about their claim to be it's champion, because America could use a good dose.

I'm a business owner in my early twenties who's moved to a very centrist political view over the past five years. Partisan politics turns my stomach, and while I care deeply about social and environmental issues, I'm very concerned with commerce. The pitiful state of the economy has my rather conservative investment portfolios suffering greatly, my business isn't growing as fast as it should, and inflation is cutting into my margins. Plus, the idealistic problems of my earlier years haven't vanished - to the contrary! Among the throng, climate change stands out. Global warming poses a tremendous threat, not just to obscure green spaces, but to business itself. Severe storms, rising seas, and more unforeseen circumstances abound, and encroach dangerously close to profits.

In short, these are difficult times,affecting each and every one of us. That's why I'm voting for Barack Obama - As a citizen, business owner, and voter, I believe he has the vision to bring about the change America so desperately needs on a multitude of fronts. It's not the time to vote on party lines. It's time to vote for the economic, environmental, political, and social change that we need.

Greenspan on McCain - interesting!

OK, I'm obsessed with the election. And I'm also a business owner. Therefore, I paid attention when I read this. It's from someone who knows a lot about money.

WASHINGTON - Alan Greenspan says the country can't afford tax cuts of the magnitude proposed by Republican presidential contender John McCain — at least not without a corresponding reduction in government spending.

"Unless we cut spending, no," the former Federal Reserve chairman said Friday when asked about McCain's proposed tax cuts, pegged in some estimates at $3.3 trillion.

"I'm not in favor of financing tax cuts with borrowed money," Greenspan said during an interview with Bloomberg Television. "I always have tied tax cuts to spending."

McCain has said that he would offset his proposed cuts — including reducing the corporate tax rate and eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax that has plagued middle-class families — by ending congressional pork-barrel spending, unnecessary government programs and overhauling entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

Democrats pounced on Greenspan's comments, in part because McCain professed last year that he was weaker on economics than foreign affairs and was reading Greenspan's memoir, "The Age of Turbulence," to educate himself.

"Obviously he needs to go back to that book and study it some more," Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said during a conference call arranged by the campaign of Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

McCaskill said eliminating congressional earmark spending — estimated at $17 billion annually — cannot offset McCain's proposed tax cuts.

READ MORE!

"McCain professed last year that he was weaker on economics than foreign affairs and was reading Greenspan's memoir, "The Age of Turbulence," to educate himself."

As a business owner (I keep thumping that phrase!), it concerns me deeply that John McCain would even admit that he needs educating on the economy. It's more than a little bit scary.

I realize the earth is important. I realize that my business is important. So when Sen. McCain comes along, and lacks the qualifications both, I get concerned.

Register to Vote, yo!

Hey there -

I'd like to remind you that if you haven't yet, please please please register to vote. It's crucial. Especially if you live in a Swing Sate - That's a state where the election is up in there air, and nobody knows if it will go Republican or Democrat.

I'd also like to encourage you to register as a Democrat. I'm one, and while I associate more with the greens and independents, I consider the McCain-Palin ticket to be truly scary, and the Obama-Biden one to be rockin' awesome. This isn't 2004, and this isn't John Kerry that we're doing our best to rally around.

It's our chance for change, a chance to put the brakes on the Earth's fever of global warming, to bring prosperity back to America, because let's face it, the Economy sucks! If John McCain votes with George W. Bush 90% of the time, that's not the remedy for a sick enconomy. Plus, the fella even joked that he doesn't really know what he's doing with the economy, and he was reading Greenspan's book to educate himself. A+ for continuing education, but talk about on the job training...!

Get out there and register! And get out there, stand up, be counted, and vote.

By the way, let's say you're, oh, I don't know, a McCain supporter? Get out thre, register, and vote! If you believe in a cause, make it happen. The American political system is broken partly by our apathy. Make it happen the way you want it to happen.


I want you to write me on November 5th asking me how you can scrapbook the "I Voted" sticker because you realized how important it is.

Action to take: Visit www.rockthevote.com and register.

Sarah Palin as Sgt. Schultz

As we traverse our daily lives, apathy stalks us at every turn. Stuck in a fairly well off existence, we answer the question of "how ya doin?" with "I can't complain."

Now, that's no way to be! There's a lot to be happy about, and there's a lot to be concerned about. Let's take this election. In my mind, I think it's a big deal. Let's check out one of the most pressing issues facing us as a planet: Global Warming.

Here's an interesting fact concerning John McCain's VP pick, Sarah Palin.

* She believes global warming is occurring but rejects the notion that human activities caused it.

Carl Pope of the Sierra Club says “No one is closer to the oil industry than Governor Palin."

Yeah sure, folks on her side say she stands up to Oil. She might have ticked off a few of the fellas from Exxon. Reality check, folks - she's a humongous proponent of drilling our way out of this fuel problem. The point is, fossil fuels are bad news, and Sarah Palin doesn't seem to realize this.

Here's another bit: She's opposed to developing clean energy. She says “alternative-energy solutions are far from imminent and would require more than 10 years to develop.”

Hmmm, seems a bit funny, don't you think?

I can picture Ms. Palin dressed up for a certain TV show from long ago saying "I seeee nussssing!"

It would make my day if she's right about us not causing the global meltdown. However, science usually has a point, and big money typically has a way of questioning that point. This is what I'm leery of in Ms. Palin's point of view - other than the clashing with proven science bit!

For this reason alone I consider it paramount to get out there and vote! And I'm proud to say- I'm voting for the Obama and Biden ticket. Count me with my vote as another fella for a responsible look at the global crisis facing us. Sure, the money from ignoring this disaster will benefit Palin and the oil execs today, but could very well will leave the rest of us underwater tomorrow.

I'm voting about this, and I encourage you to do the same.

Welcome to the Cave

Ugh ugh!

Welcome aboard The Political Caveman. I'm James, and I'll be your driver for today.
I'm a musician, consultant, and grassroots organizer. Deeply concerned about the turn in America in general, and the election season in particular, I've decided to create a blog to reach the "Bloc Party"....You musicians, students, workers, and citizens who feel bored, disillusioned, and apathetic about the current state of affairs.

"Who cares?" You might ask. "I'm gonna play my guitar, be a jukebox hero, and I don't care of McBama gets elected, and please don't start on that global warming business."

Well, I wish it were that easy. However, this stuff affects all of us. Wish there were better venues to play at? Let's make sure they don't go underwater from melting ice caps! How about CD sales? The economy plays a big part in it, bucko.

Sit up, pay attention, and get ready to have fun. This blog will provide real, concrete actions you can take. There will be links for causes, things you can do, stuff you can tell your buddies about. No more armchair whining. Let's do something. Plus, it will never be boring. I promise.
For us to be great musicians, writers, athletes, etc, there's a simple fact we can all agree on: We need the world to remain in one piece.

Democrat, Republican, Independent, or Blues Party, I think we can all agree on that.

Here's a great place to start. Check out this site, and if you like it, Sign the Power Vote Pledge.