Friday, January 09, 2009
New Music Video!
While I was back in upstate NY for Christmas I shot a music video with my friends Nate and Lowell who are 28N. The shoot turned into a friendly filmmaker challenge with my friend Kelly who shot a music video while home in Dickinson, ND. He posted some stills from his project yesterday so I'm going to see his bet and raise him 4.
Films to Look for in 2009
"Tree of Life" – Summit Entertainment - Dir. Terrence Malick
Synopsis: The story of a family who must come to terms with a devastating loss. In doing so, they discover life's most important lessons of unselfish love and forgiveness.
What You Need To Know: Malick is back again as writer and director with this long-gestating project of over 30 years. He has reunited with Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and legendary Production Designer Jack Fisk, the same team who brought us "The New World" in 2006. The epic traces the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy named Jack growing up in the midwest during the 1950's. Sean Penn plays the adult Jack while Brad Pitt, in a role originally intended for Heath Ledger, plays the boy's father. Jessica Chastain (pictured) plays the mother, with Fiona Shaw and Jennifer Sipes also starring. Given Malick's track record of making meditative, naturalistic, and down right stunning films, one can assume that we'll have plenty to admire with this one. The composer of 'Benjamin Button' is also writing the music.
Release Date: Fall 2009, but its rumored to make its world premiere at Cannes in May.
"The Road" – Weinstein Company - Dir. John Hillcoat
Synopsis: A father and son try to survive a post apocalyptic world full of desperate scavengers and day-of-reckoning cannibals.
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall, Michael K. Williams
What You Need To Know: Bumped out of 2008 Oscar season, this despondent adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's celebrated novel, got pushed out of awards season cause it was either not ready, not that good and needed further editing, a "mess," or was just too bleak. Rumors said a Q1 release in February or March, but since its Jan and those dates are a few weeks away and the Weinsteins are still having money issues, we're pretty sure its going to be saved for the awards season it was meant for. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis are handling the sure-to-be dour score.
Release Date: Rumored to be March, 2009
"Inglourious Basterds" – Weinsteins/Universal - Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Synopsis: An elite team of Jewish American soldiers in WWII take on a covert mission to kill Adolf Hitler, but unbeknownst to them, the daughter of a slain French farmer is planning her own revenge.
What You Need To Know: Tarantino's war film is epic and could be one of the most outrageous WWII films ever made, not to mention his possible masterpiece, if he doesn't fuck up his brilliant and audacious script. Brad Pitt leads an eclectic, motley crue cast that features many foreign newcomers (Melanie Laurent, Jacky Ido, Christoph Waltz), old school actors (Cloris Leachmen, Rod Taylor), American comedians (BJ Novak, Samm Levine) and bold faced names (Diane Kruger, Mike Meyers) among many, many others. Plus the great Ennio Morricone is writing the score. Whoops, not anymore.
Release Date: August 21, 2009. It could show up at Cannes if completed in time.
"Where The Wild Things Are" - Warner Bros. - Dir. Spike Jonze
The long-awaited adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved children's novel might be the most highly anticipated film of all of 2009 and perhaps the most discussed and poured over. Starring 9-year-old newcomer Max Records and voiced by James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara and Forest Whitaker among others, the 'Wild Things' film, co-written by author Dave Eggers, had an extremely difficult and tempestuous birth, the battles of which spilled out into the public. Taking three years to make (not counting pre-production), an early 2008 test screening was so controversial, rumors swirled the film was going to be recut and or taken away from Jonze. The gossip turned out to be semi-true, but WB and the filmmaker got over their quarrel and the melancholy children's film could potentially be destined to become a classic. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's singer Karen O is on music duty.
Release Date: October 16, 2009
"The Informant" – Warner Bros. - Dir. Stephen Soderbergh
What You Need To Know: Finding time to make another film between the epic "Che," the intriguingly WTF 3D rock opera "Cleo," and the down and dirty "Girlfriend Experience" (see below), Soderbergh teams up again with the "Ocean's" trilogy rat-packer Matt Damon for what some are handicapping as "The Insider" set in the agriculture industry. Based on a true story, Damon stars as a bi-polar FBI informant who acted both as whistleblower and part of the problem, embezzling money from his company amidst a larger price-fixing scandal. Fans of "Erin Brockovich" can expect Soderbergh's blend of dry humor and engrossing drama, while Damon's fans can expect to barely recognize him with the extra pounds and 'stache.
Release Date: September 18, 2009
"Public Enemies" – Universal - Dir. Michael Mann
Synopsis: Notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, take on the Feds in the 1930s.
What You Need To Know: In a recent Entertainment Weekly piece, co-star Johnny Depp said his character, John Dillinger, was "...like Charlie Chaplin and Evel Knievel...I was fascinated with [him] at a young age." If you think Depp's childhood interest in Dillinger bodes well for "Enemies," than all that's left for you to do is forgive Mann for "Miami Vice" and find your way to the nearest theater in July. Christian Bale adds to his growing slate of post "Dark Knight" projects, playing Melvin Purvis, the federal agent in pursuit of Dillinger. Rounding out the stellar cast is Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, among a slew of others, making "Enemies" come off as a promising cross between the epic crime drama of "Heat" and the detailed reverence of "Ali." Could be a welcome change from the usual nonsense that comes at the apex of the summer season.
Release Date: July 1, 2009
"Taking Woodstock" – Focus Features - Dir. Ang Lee
Synopsis: A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.
What You Need To Know: The film is based on Elliot Tiber's autobiography, focusing on his role in pulling off the landmark, late-1960s music festival. The ensemble cast includes stand-up comic Demetri Martin as Tiber, along with Paul Dano, Emile Hirsch, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Liev Schreiber, and Imelda Staunton, among others. James Schamus scripted the movie; he also happens to be the CEO of Focus Features.
Release Date: August 14, 2009
"Micmacs à tire-larigot" - No Distributor - Jean-Pierre Jeunet
What You Need To Know: "Amelie" director JP Jeunet hasn't made a film since 2004 ("A Very Long Engagement"), but he finally returns with "Micmacs à tire-larigot," a satirical film about the gun trade starring excellent French actor Dany Boon (the French dramedy, "My Best Friend," which is being adapted into English by Wes Anderson).
Release Date: October, 2009
"All Good Things" - The Weinstein Company - Andrew Jarecki
Synopsis: A detective begins to unravel a missing-persons case that looks to spell doom -- and quite possibly death -- for the heir to a New York real estate dynasty.
What You Need To Know: There are multiple reasons to be interested: This is Jarecki's narrative, feature-length debut and you should already know his work from the amazing 2003 documentary, "Capturing The Friedmans." Any film including Ryan Gosling is one to keep an eye on as far as we're concerned, but the rest of the cast is stellar, too and includes Kirsten Dunst, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Frank Langella, Kristen Wiig, Philip Baker Hall and Diane Venora.
Release Date: TBD, hopefully TWC's ongoing money issues don't bounce it into 2010.
[ed. While we're at it, can they please start shooting the "Dallas Buyers Club" film with Gosling already?]
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" – Lionsgate - Dir. Terry Gilliam
Synopsis: A washed-up, drunk spiritual prophet/magician's deal with the devil is catching up with him and his travelling theater troupe, but will the arrival of a charming young man change all that?
What You Need To Know: It's Heath Ledger's last screen appearance, but Gilliam's been on a horrible losing streak of late, so is he going to do Ledger's final film performance justice or is he going to shit the bed again? The confusing, messy script doesn't bode all that well, and Ledger actually died before filming was over and he his scenes were replaced by Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, which could be loads of fun or an even bigger disaster. The pressure to finally not suck is probably on the once-towering film maverick. The film also co-stars Christopher Plummer, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole and Tom Waits as the devil.
Release Date: TBD
Synopsis: The story of a family who must come to terms with a devastating loss. In doing so, they discover life's most important lessons of unselfish love and forgiveness.
What You Need To Know: Malick is back again as writer and director with this long-gestating project of over 30 years. He has reunited with Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and legendary Production Designer Jack Fisk, the same team who brought us "The New World" in 2006. The epic traces the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy named Jack growing up in the midwest during the 1950's. Sean Penn plays the adult Jack while Brad Pitt, in a role originally intended for Heath Ledger, plays the boy's father. Jessica Chastain (pictured) plays the mother, with Fiona Shaw and Jennifer Sipes also starring. Given Malick's track record of making meditative, naturalistic, and down right stunning films, one can assume that we'll have plenty to admire with this one. The composer of 'Benjamin Button' is also writing the music.
Release Date: Fall 2009, but its rumored to make its world premiere at Cannes in May.
"The Road" – Weinstein Company - Dir. John Hillcoat
Synopsis: A father and son try to survive a post apocalyptic world full of desperate scavengers and day-of-reckoning cannibals.
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall, Michael K. Williams
What You Need To Know: Bumped out of 2008 Oscar season, this despondent adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's celebrated novel, got pushed out of awards season cause it was either not ready, not that good and needed further editing, a "mess," or was just too bleak. Rumors said a Q1 release in February or March, but since its Jan and those dates are a few weeks away and the Weinsteins are still having money issues, we're pretty sure its going to be saved for the awards season it was meant for. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis are handling the sure-to-be dour score.
Release Date: Rumored to be March, 2009
"Inglourious Basterds" – Weinsteins/Universal - Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Synopsis: An elite team of Jewish American soldiers in WWII take on a covert mission to kill Adolf Hitler, but unbeknownst to them, the daughter of a slain French farmer is planning her own revenge.
What You Need To Know: Tarantino's war film is epic and could be one of the most outrageous WWII films ever made, not to mention his possible masterpiece, if he doesn't fuck up his brilliant and audacious script. Brad Pitt leads an eclectic, motley crue cast that features many foreign newcomers (Melanie Laurent, Jacky Ido, Christoph Waltz), old school actors (Cloris Leachmen, Rod Taylor), American comedians (BJ Novak, Samm Levine) and bold faced names (Diane Kruger, Mike Meyers) among many, many others. Plus the great Ennio Morricone is writing the score. Whoops, not anymore.
Release Date: August 21, 2009. It could show up at Cannes if completed in time.
"Where The Wild Things Are" - Warner Bros. - Dir. Spike Jonze
The long-awaited adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved children's novel might be the most highly anticipated film of all of 2009 and perhaps the most discussed and poured over. Starring 9-year-old newcomer Max Records and voiced by James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara and Forest Whitaker among others, the 'Wild Things' film, co-written by author Dave Eggers, had an extremely difficult and tempestuous birth, the battles of which spilled out into the public. Taking three years to make (not counting pre-production), an early 2008 test screening was so controversial, rumors swirled the film was going to be recut and or taken away from Jonze. The gossip turned out to be semi-true, but WB and the filmmaker got over their quarrel and the melancholy children's film could potentially be destined to become a classic. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's singer Karen O is on music duty.
Release Date: October 16, 2009
"The Informant" – Warner Bros. - Dir. Stephen Soderbergh
What You Need To Know: Finding time to make another film between the epic "Che," the intriguingly WTF 3D rock opera "Cleo," and the down and dirty "Girlfriend Experience" (see below), Soderbergh teams up again with the "Ocean's" trilogy rat-packer Matt Damon for what some are handicapping as "The Insider" set in the agriculture industry. Based on a true story, Damon stars as a bi-polar FBI informant who acted both as whistleblower and part of the problem, embezzling money from his company amidst a larger price-fixing scandal. Fans of "Erin Brockovich" can expect Soderbergh's blend of dry humor and engrossing drama, while Damon's fans can expect to barely recognize him with the extra pounds and 'stache.
Release Date: September 18, 2009
"Public Enemies" – Universal - Dir. Michael Mann
Synopsis: Notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, take on the Feds in the 1930s.
What You Need To Know: In a recent Entertainment Weekly piece, co-star Johnny Depp said his character, John Dillinger, was "...like Charlie Chaplin and Evel Knievel...I was fascinated with [him] at a young age." If you think Depp's childhood interest in Dillinger bodes well for "Enemies," than all that's left for you to do is forgive Mann for "Miami Vice" and find your way to the nearest theater in July. Christian Bale adds to his growing slate of post "Dark Knight" projects, playing Melvin Purvis, the federal agent in pursuit of Dillinger. Rounding out the stellar cast is Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, among a slew of others, making "Enemies" come off as a promising cross between the epic crime drama of "Heat" and the detailed reverence of "Ali." Could be a welcome change from the usual nonsense that comes at the apex of the summer season.
Release Date: July 1, 2009
"Taking Woodstock" – Focus Features - Dir. Ang Lee
Synopsis: A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.
What You Need To Know: The film is based on Elliot Tiber's autobiography, focusing on his role in pulling off the landmark, late-1960s music festival. The ensemble cast includes stand-up comic Demetri Martin as Tiber, along with Paul Dano, Emile Hirsch, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Liev Schreiber, and Imelda Staunton, among others. James Schamus scripted the movie; he also happens to be the CEO of Focus Features.
Release Date: August 14, 2009
"Micmacs à tire-larigot" - No Distributor - Jean-Pierre Jeunet
What You Need To Know: "Amelie" director JP Jeunet hasn't made a film since 2004 ("A Very Long Engagement"), but he finally returns with "Micmacs à tire-larigot," a satirical film about the gun trade starring excellent French actor Dany Boon (the French dramedy, "My Best Friend," which is being adapted into English by Wes Anderson).
Release Date: October, 2009
"All Good Things" - The Weinstein Company - Andrew Jarecki
Synopsis: A detective begins to unravel a missing-persons case that looks to spell doom -- and quite possibly death -- for the heir to a New York real estate dynasty.
What You Need To Know: There are multiple reasons to be interested: This is Jarecki's narrative, feature-length debut and you should already know his work from the amazing 2003 documentary, "Capturing The Friedmans." Any film including Ryan Gosling is one to keep an eye on as far as we're concerned, but the rest of the cast is stellar, too and includes Kirsten Dunst, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Frank Langella, Kristen Wiig, Philip Baker Hall and Diane Venora.
Release Date: TBD, hopefully TWC's ongoing money issues don't bounce it into 2010.
[ed. While we're at it, can they please start shooting the "Dallas Buyers Club" film with Gosling already?]
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" – Lionsgate - Dir. Terry Gilliam
Synopsis: A washed-up, drunk spiritual prophet/magician's deal with the devil is catching up with him and his travelling theater troupe, but will the arrival of a charming young man change all that?
What You Need To Know: It's Heath Ledger's last screen appearance, but Gilliam's been on a horrible losing streak of late, so is he going to do Ledger's final film performance justice or is he going to shit the bed again? The confusing, messy script doesn't bode all that well, and Ledger actually died before filming was over and he his scenes were replaced by Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, which could be loads of fun or an even bigger disaster. The pressure to finally not suck is probably on the once-towering film maverick. The film also co-stars Christopher Plummer, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole and Tom Waits as the devil.
Release Date: TBD
Thursday, January 08, 2009
The Fray: Gothic Theatre, Denver CO
One of the best local Denver bands, The Wheel, opened up for the band on Tuesday night. Always great to have a backstage full of your friends.
The Fray
The Fray
Monday, January 05, 2009
The Fray Is Back
Tour starts tomorrow. Rehearsals the past two days. Its going to be a great two weeks.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
The Predator: short film, finished!
The short film that David and I made this past fall is finished. I think its been finished for a while now. We're shopping it around to a few film festivals and as we aren't holding our breath on being accepted I realized yesterday that the best thing to do is share it with people. After all, that is indeed the point of creating art.
You can watch the film HERE.
Please be sure to watch it in HD.
You can watch the film HERE.
Please be sure to watch it in HD.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
My Top 10 of 2008
This list is totally self indulgent. Nobody really cares what I listen to. But if you haven't heard these albums you should go out and get yourself some. They're all really quite beautiful. And if you haven't seen these films then go treat yourself.
Rod's Top Records of 2008
1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Margot + The Nuclear So and Sos - Not Animal
4. Ryan Adams + The Cardinals - Cardinology
5. Crooked Fingers - Forfeit / Fortune
Rod's Top Films of 2008
1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (clear winner, technically released in 2007, but nobody on the planet could actually see it until 2008)
2. The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky will always make great cinema, hands down)
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher + Pitt, that's all I have to say)
4. 4 Months, 3 Weeks + 2 Days (one of the most beautiful and haunting films ever. who knew that Romanian cinema was this good, I'm so excited to explore more.)
5. Wendy & Lucy
6. Ballast
7. Slumdog Millionaire
8. Revolutionary Road
Rod's Top Records of 2008
1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Margot + The Nuclear So and Sos - Not Animal
4. Ryan Adams + The Cardinals - Cardinology
5. Crooked Fingers - Forfeit / Fortune
Rod's Top Films of 2008
1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (clear winner, technically released in 2007, but nobody on the planet could actually see it until 2008)
2. The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky will always make great cinema, hands down)
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher + Pitt, that's all I have to say)
4. 4 Months, 3 Weeks + 2 Days (one of the most beautiful and haunting films ever. who knew that Romanian cinema was this good, I'm so excited to explore more.)
5. Wendy & Lucy
6. Ballast
7. Slumdog Millionaire
8. Revolutionary Road
Storyboards
This past summer David and I made a short film, 'The Predator'. We've currently submitted it to 3 film festivals, the Phoenix International Film Festival, The Vail Film Festival, and the Black Maria Film + Video Festival. I just found the storyboards. They look like chicken scratch but fun, kind of like a treasure map that you'd have as a kid.
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Next week when I'm back in upstate NY for the holidays I'm going to make a music video with some friends. I drew these storyboards up today.
/>Next week when I'm back in upstate NY for the holidays I'm going to make a music video with some friends. I drew these storyboards up today.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Making of The You Found Me Video on VH1
The short I directed back in August for 'The Fray Making of the You Found Me Music Video' is now online at VH1.com. You can watch it here.
Friday, December 05, 2008
'Fair Fight' finished, 6 Acoustic Music Videos, & 'The Fray: There & Back'
'Fair Fight' is finished.
80 minutes and 32 seconds.
Looks like they'll be a Target specific cut that can't be any longer than 30 minutes for some reason.
In the meantime I'm working on editing the 6 acoustic music videos for the songs Enough For Now, Absolute, Never Say Never, Syndicate, Say When, & You Found Me that I directed back in August. Feels like so long ago. Here are some low res screen captures from the shoot. These music videos look AWESOME, I'm super proud of the lighting and the textures and tones.
The band also announced the release of my photo book today.......you can buy it here!
You should definitely get yourself a copy!
80 minutes and 32 seconds.
Looks like they'll be a Target specific cut that can't be any longer than 30 minutes for some reason.
In the meantime I'm working on editing the 6 acoustic music videos for the songs Enough For Now, Absolute, Never Say Never, Syndicate, Say When, & You Found Me that I directed back in August. Feels like so long ago. Here are some low res screen captures from the shoot. These music videos look AWESOME, I'm super proud of the lighting and the textures and tones.
The band also announced the release of my photo book today.......you can buy it here!
You should definitely get yourself a copy!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Valencia - New Music Video
I was the Director of Photography on a quick bang em up music video gig in Philly about two months ago. My friend Chris called me today to tell me he saw the video on the front page of Myspace. It already has 100,000 views. Craziness.
Where Did You Go?
Where Did You Go?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Fray Update - Thursday
Whilst taking breaks from hours of editing, K Michael Esquire and I, L. R. Blackhurst the IV, like to play rounds of golf in the Office Professional Players Golf Association (OPPGA). Our course of choice is the Brickyard Open and so far I've won two season championships.
Back to editing. Film done any day now.
Back to editing. Film done any day now.
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Fray Update - Friday
1. Tomorrow, Saturday, the 15th, go to your local Barnes and Noble and pick up a copy of Billboard the magazine. There will be an article in there about the Fray with two of my photographs. I just saw this article online, perhaps its the same text, just with new photographs!
Billboard - Exclusive The Fray Debuting Single On ABC
2. Next Friday, the 21st, the viral video I directed for The Fray's new single, You Found Me, will premiere online first at the band's official website, and then at Amazon.com, and possibly iTunes. This will be the first listen anyone will have of the new single which is pretty awesome. This viral video is also a theatrical trailer of sorts for the documentary we're currently in post production on about the band. In case you missed my last post, the film has an official title, 'Fair Fight', and will be released with the album in February!
So excited.....
Billboard - Exclusive The Fray Debuting Single On ABC
2. Next Friday, the 21st, the viral video I directed for The Fray's new single, You Found Me, will premiere online first at the band's official website, and then at Amazon.com, and possibly iTunes. This will be the first listen anyone will have of the new single which is pretty awesome. This viral video is also a theatrical trailer of sorts for the documentary we're currently in post production on about the band. In case you missed my last post, the film has an official title, 'Fair Fight', and will be released with the album in February!
So excited.....
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Assorted Documentary Trivia
The documentary that will be released with The Fray's new album officially has a title, Fair Fight.
Assorted Documentary Trivia:
175 hours of footage
145 reels
14 months of filming
87 days in a studio
3,242 individual clips
51 pages of log notes
51 complete scene ideas
1,630 GBs of hard drive space
Assorted Documentary Trivia:
175 hours of footage
145 reels
14 months of filming
87 days in a studio
3,242 individual clips
51 pages of log notes
51 complete scene ideas
1,630 GBs of hard drive space
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Yes We Can
I cried last night as I watched Obama speak. I've never been more proud, in my 28 years on this planet, to be an American.
*************
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can.
*************
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Why I'm Voting
Going to lay it all out. Lay it all on the line (well lay it all on the HTML of the WWW). I believe that across the board it is best to be honest about your political opinions and feelings and therefore I am going to lay out the reasons for which I am voting for Barack Obama instead of John McCain.
1. Religion
Religion can't not be involved in politics. The distinct separation of church and state is one of the founding principles of our nation. As everyone remembers from their US history lessons settlers arrived on the shores of North American hundreds of years ago to escape religious persecution. As free citizens of this nation we have the choice to practice whatever religion we choose, including the choice of no religion at all.
I am a Christian yet I will never be able to agree with the idea of my personal ideas being completely right in the moral and obligatory sense of the word. My ideas and morals are no better than the next man and therefore there should never be a reason to force them on anyone else. Obama is a man of faith as is McCain. The difference though is that McCain feels that his ideas in life are more right for every American. As he would have it every person in this land will no longer have the ability to choose which morals in life they abide by, for they will have to abide by his. He is seeking to take away the freedom of choice in reproductive rights and the freedom to choose who we want to spend our lives with, merely because he thinks those who are different than him are wrong.
To put this in layman's terms. I could say I don't like the Backstreet Boys CD but I can't say that the Backstreet Boys CD is bad because there are many people who think otherwise.
2. The Supreme Court
McCain consistently says that he will not impose a litmus test on any Supreme Court nominee yet without any uncertainty he would never nominate someone to the bench who does not share the same religious views he does. How is this separation of church and state? His litmus test is obvious.
Obama on the other hand is a Constitution expert. He has a masters in Constitutional Law and taught for years at the collegiate level his knowledge of this important document. This is why he understands that appointing judges to the bench does not come down to a personal point of view but instead what is better for the nation, not for a select group of individuals who feel a certain way.
3. The War In Iraq
Until McCain can acknowledge that the war in Iraq is illegal I will never be able to fully respect McCain as a human being. For all the service he has given to this country as a POW and as an elected official it is in times like this where he needs to admit that the principles for going to war, as put forth by the Bush Administration, and supported by him were wrong.
There were never any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Al-Qaeda was never in Iraq prior to the US invasion.
If McCain is a man of principles he should admit publicly that he was wrong. In order to deal with the future we must understand the past. Admitting you're wrong is a hard thing to do, and it takes a big man to do so. In the spring of 2004 my friend Kevin was killed in Iraq. My friend Brian just left the service after two tours of duty in Iraq. The war has left us as a nation more hated and vulnerable than ever before in history. John Donne wrote that "No man is an island". The same is said for a nation. Our nation is not more safe and better off now than we were before Bush invaded Iraq. We now have more enemies in the world. In order to regain our integrity as a nation we must apologize to the world for what we have done wrong and seek to work with those who are different.
4. Health Care
Under McCain's health care plan I will not be offered coverage and in fact will not be able to pay for it. I have a pre-existing condition. My aorta valve does not work and will have to be replaced sometime in the near future. This requires open heart surgery. I was born with this problem. In the state of Colorado the cheapest insurance I can purchase is $720 a month! This insurance is required by federal law, HIPPA and or COBRA insurance. But under McCain these programs won't exist anymore.
Obama has clearly stated that under his health care plan those who need insurance coverage the most will be offered it at an affordable price. I am a hardworking tax paying citizen. I am not on Medicare or Medicaid or welfare. Yet no matter how hard I work I can barely afford my health insurance.
These 4 reasons are why I am voting for Obama. I believe in the freedom of choice, not associated with my ideas on life being any better or more right than any other human beings. I believe in the right to be happy and to pursue success based on these freedoms. And I believe in the principle of being honest and sincere.
I know there are those of you out there who disagree with me. We can disagree and still be friends. It is our job as Americans to understand our differences and to acknowledge that neither you nor I are better humans or Americans because of these differences. We can all co-exist as long as we recognize that we are all entitled to our own personal choices in life and that I will never ask anyone to change their way of living to be more like mine. We need to each have the option in life to pursue that path which is best for us.
1. Religion
Religion can't not be involved in politics. The distinct separation of church and state is one of the founding principles of our nation. As everyone remembers from their US history lessons settlers arrived on the shores of North American hundreds of years ago to escape religious persecution. As free citizens of this nation we have the choice to practice whatever religion we choose, including the choice of no religion at all.
I am a Christian yet I will never be able to agree with the idea of my personal ideas being completely right in the moral and obligatory sense of the word. My ideas and morals are no better than the next man and therefore there should never be a reason to force them on anyone else. Obama is a man of faith as is McCain. The difference though is that McCain feels that his ideas in life are more right for every American. As he would have it every person in this land will no longer have the ability to choose which morals in life they abide by, for they will have to abide by his. He is seeking to take away the freedom of choice in reproductive rights and the freedom to choose who we want to spend our lives with, merely because he thinks those who are different than him are wrong.
To put this in layman's terms. I could say I don't like the Backstreet Boys CD but I can't say that the Backstreet Boys CD is bad because there are many people who think otherwise.
2. The Supreme Court
McCain consistently says that he will not impose a litmus test on any Supreme Court nominee yet without any uncertainty he would never nominate someone to the bench who does not share the same religious views he does. How is this separation of church and state? His litmus test is obvious.
Obama on the other hand is a Constitution expert. He has a masters in Constitutional Law and taught for years at the collegiate level his knowledge of this important document. This is why he understands that appointing judges to the bench does not come down to a personal point of view but instead what is better for the nation, not for a select group of individuals who feel a certain way.
3. The War In Iraq
Until McCain can acknowledge that the war in Iraq is illegal I will never be able to fully respect McCain as a human being. For all the service he has given to this country as a POW and as an elected official it is in times like this where he needs to admit that the principles for going to war, as put forth by the Bush Administration, and supported by him were wrong.
There were never any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Al-Qaeda was never in Iraq prior to the US invasion.
If McCain is a man of principles he should admit publicly that he was wrong. In order to deal with the future we must understand the past. Admitting you're wrong is a hard thing to do, and it takes a big man to do so. In the spring of 2004 my friend Kevin was killed in Iraq. My friend Brian just left the service after two tours of duty in Iraq. The war has left us as a nation more hated and vulnerable than ever before in history. John Donne wrote that "No man is an island". The same is said for a nation. Our nation is not more safe and better off now than we were before Bush invaded Iraq. We now have more enemies in the world. In order to regain our integrity as a nation we must apologize to the world for what we have done wrong and seek to work with those who are different.
4. Health Care
Under McCain's health care plan I will not be offered coverage and in fact will not be able to pay for it. I have a pre-existing condition. My aorta valve does not work and will have to be replaced sometime in the near future. This requires open heart surgery. I was born with this problem. In the state of Colorado the cheapest insurance I can purchase is $720 a month! This insurance is required by federal law, HIPPA and or COBRA insurance. But under McCain these programs won't exist anymore.
Obama has clearly stated that under his health care plan those who need insurance coverage the most will be offered it at an affordable price. I am a hardworking tax paying citizen. I am not on Medicare or Medicaid or welfare. Yet no matter how hard I work I can barely afford my health insurance.
These 4 reasons are why I am voting for Obama. I believe in the freedom of choice, not associated with my ideas on life being any better or more right than any other human beings. I believe in the right to be happy and to pursue success based on these freedoms. And I believe in the principle of being honest and sincere.
I know there are those of you out there who disagree with me. We can disagree and still be friends. It is our job as Americans to understand our differences and to acknowledge that neither you nor I are better humans or Americans because of these differences. We can all co-exist as long as we recognize that we are all entitled to our own personal choices in life and that I will never ask anyone to change their way of living to be more like mine. We need to each have the option in life to pursue that path which is best for us.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Never Been So Worried About My Future
I've never felt so concerned about the future. John McCain's policies and conservative radicalism don't align with my life. His ideas don't align with a popular majority of Americans.
If I could ask McCain one question it would be "How could you possibly represent me?"
If I could ask McCain one question it would be "How could you possibly represent me?"
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