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  Tre (Cinema Libre 2007 release)
  8/29/2007

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  8/27/2007

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  8/27/2007

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  8/27/2007

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• Throwin' Bombs: McCain's "Terrorist" Claim Leads to Exposure of Keating Five Scandal

  Tuesday, Oct 7, 2008 4:47AM / Members only

  
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDofbll86dY
  

  
  Below is my commentary on the politics behind this hastily crafted, but devastating video released by the Obama campaign today about John McCain, the Keating Five Scandal, and the broader issue of the deregulation of America's banking industry. (Click here to see the website the Obama campaign set up to present the video.)

  There are certain American icons, John Wayne for instance, that we prefer to remember for the character they played — rather than the person they might have been behind closed doors.  I feel the same way about John McCain.

  In this election, no one wanted to see a contest between Senator Obama and the real John McCain.  America would have preferred a contest between Senator Obama and the character John McCain plays on TV: the "maverick," the "reformer," the 20th century war icon.  Personally, I feel confident Obama could have defeated either one.

  This may be why you have not heard anything from the Obama campaign about John McCain and the Keating Five Scandal until today. It was the weapon they preferred not to use. There were strategists inside the Obama camp who wanted to drop this bomb on McCain from the start (it is now a much BIGGER bomb in light of the current Mortgage Banking Crisis that so closely mirrors the Savings and Loan Scandal that frames The Keating Five). But by sending Sarah Palin out to call Barack Obama a terrorist in her latest memorized stump speech, John McCain has given Obama strategists the excuse to release this 13 minute video that demolishes the character McCain plays on TV, simply by exposing its genesis.

  When John McCain was implicated in the Keating Five Scandal, he had been caught red-handed, using his position as a member of Congress to enrich himself, his wife, and his friends. He was so humiliated that he spent the next 20 years trying to atone for it, making it a personal crusade to accuse others of the same or similar improprieties, anointing himself the "maverick" of the U.S. Senate by ruffling feathers in his own party (in general Republicans are against ethics reform).

  In his 20-years of playing a maverick on TV, John McCain has in many ways become the icon he aspires to be. Certainly in the eyes of millions of Americans, he is that man. In this way, McCain reminds me of the infamous televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, the man who's sexual appetite was so shameful and tortuous, he spent his lifetime lecturing others about it. Swaggart exposed two other televangelists for sexual improprieties, ruining their careers, only to himself be caught in an airport hotel with a prostitute.  Swaggart's tearful "I have sinned against you" performance earned him forgiveness from his followers and saved his own career. Then he was caught with another prostitute three years later and that was that.

  I have no quarrel with Swaggart's penchant for prostitutes, but I do have a concern about John McCain's role in the two largest banking meltdowns in American history, each of which cost American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars.  So, perhaps it was appropriate, in light of the Mortgage Banking Crisis, to draw obvious comparisons to McCain and the Savings and Loan Scandal from 20 years ago.

  The sad part is, it wasn't necessary. If McCain had stuck to the issues just a little bit more, instead of building his campaign around calling Obama a traitor and a terrorist, the media would have been more than happy to give McCain a free pass on a past sin that he has done much to atone for. But now that the Obama campaign is talking about The Keating Five, the media is forced to talk about it.

  I had hoped the average American would remember John McCain as a "maverick" who lost his bid to become President in 2000, and then tried again in 2008, the year Obama made history.

  Now, he may instead be remembered as the Jimmy Swaggart of Senate corruption and billion dollar banking scandals.

  
  

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• John McCain's Dive of Death

  Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 1:07AM / Members only

  Hello everyone. I am in Virginia volunteering for the Obama campaign (videos coming shortly). Virginia is an important "swing state" in this election. And, the momentum of this election is also important to Virginia. Over the past several years, Virginia has been becoming more diverse, more forward-thinking, and less susceptible to the divisive politics and racial discord that characterized the 20th century. John McCain likes to tout his "experience" but the truth is that the majority of his experience came in another era —— the Cold War era, the Vietnam Era, the era when Americans could be easily manipulated based on fear and/or racial divisions. I think that era is over in Virginia. And I think this election will signal that 20th century fear politics are over in America.

  For those who follow my blogging habits, you know that I was much more verbose in dissecting the choice between Obama and Clinton during the primary, than I have been in dissecting the choice between Obama and McCain in the general election.

  This is not because I am any less passionate, or any less convinced, that Obama is the best choice for our country's future. It's because the choice is so obvious to me that I don't find it nearly as interesting to write about it. Besides, others are doing a much better job than I could:

  If you don't mind reading a long article that goes into great detail, please read this New York Times Op-Ed by Frank Rich.

  Or, if you prefer something entertaining, funny, less detailed but equally devastating, watch these clips in which John Stewart makes fun of McCain's "suspension" of his campaign, and, another spot where he makes fun of the fact that Bush's speech interrupted "David Blaine's Dive of Death" to tell us about our economy's dive of death.
  
  Meanwhile, the Obama campaign has not had any difficulty pointing out what this choice is about. Obama's 1-minute advertisement which debuted over the weekend really jumped out at me as the best campaign ad I have seen, simply because it shows the Candidate himself explain where his presidency will take us. Click here to see a 2-minute on-line ad that is similar but more detailed.
  

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• Bush/McCain Policies Want 4 More Years, and Willing to Lie to Get Them

  Saturday, Sep 6, 2008 11:44PM / Members only

  I wasn't surprised when Sarah Palin's speech was a mean-spirited, often hateful rant, but when John McCain took the stage with his meandering, written-by-committee Speech To Nowhere, I was very disappointed when he lied each time he characterized Barack Obama's platform, and lied each time he characterized his record. Doesn't McCain want to appeal to voters who fact check?

  And then there was the "content" of McCain's speech, admitting guilt for voting with President Bush more than 90% of the time over the past eight years of foreign policy and domestic policy disasters, but begging for another chance because he plans to "shake things up" now that he has Sarah Palin to hide behind. Huh?

  This cartoon in the Washington Post sums up the irony of claiming you want to "shake things up" when the polices you propose in the VERY SAME SPEECH are a 90% carbon copy of those we've suffered under during the last 8 years of Bush/McCain leadership.

  
  
  
  PS:  The comment below led me to add this video from 2001:  John McCain on The David Letterman, just weeks after the September 11th attacks, saying the "next phase" will be invading Iraq, and justifying the foreign policy disaster that was about to unfold with a deliberate lie  --  a scare tactic, implying that the Anthrax attacks that were happening at the time were linked to Iraq.  Disgusting.  It's one thing to be wrong on foreign policy decisions; but it's a whole different matter when you lie in order to make disastrous foreign policy decisions politically viable.  Check this out!!!!
  
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlAUj4s6sT0
  

  
  
  
  
  

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• Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, YouTube vlog from inside DNC Convention

  Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 3:23PM / Members only

  
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-hUEh4IjoU
  

  
  Tammy Duckworth, an Asian American Iraq war veteran who spoke beautifully at the DNC Convention today.
  
  I've been watching this YouTube channel from Denver which gives you a feeling for what it's like to be there.
  
  Here is the 2nd part of Bill Clinton's speech:
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4MYtLzMF2M
  

  
  Here is the second part of Senator Biden's speech:
  
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0NsIxQEx4k
  

  
  
  

  Add a comment

• Hillary Clinton Speech, Exciting DNC Convention Blog by Jennifer Pae

  Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 3:34PM / Members only

  I want to explain that I am not at the Democratic Convention, I’m watching on TV like millions of other Americans and posting my impressions.  I’ve also been following an exciting and interesting blog by Jennifer Pae, who IS at the convention.

  And, here is Hillary Clinton’s speech which I thought was outstanding, if not as unique nor historic as Michelle Obama’s speech yesterday. My feeling watching the speech was that she really is and was a formidable candidate for President. I could have supported her in a different era, but the nation and the world to become the nation and the world we can be with the leadership of Barack Obama.
  

  Part 1:
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PUeY8OWlaE
  

  
  

  Part 2:
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpfBMOgdsA
  

  Part 3:
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nD-T0NDzm8
  

  I also thought that Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer was very good tonight and certainly worth watching. I'm posting Part 2 instead of Part 1 but both are worth watching.
  
  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TrExnz0Yow
  

  Finally, Virginia's former Governor Mark Warner is the candidate I am supporting and volunteering for in the Virginia Senate race this year. His Keynote speech is viewed by many as an audition to run for President in the future. I heard his speech on the radio and was pleased with the way he framed the choice as one between the past and the future. He introduced the idea of new technology and a need to move into the 21st century. My feeling is that John McCain is the last 20th century presidential candidate we will see in America.

  2 comments –  Add a comment

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• welcome eric byler to alivenotdead!
  rottendoubt on 8/28/2007 2:13PM
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• 
  GuiaRivera
  

  posted on Monday, Jul 14, 2008 10:01PM  [Report]

  Eric, How are you? I remember in the Spring of 2007 you came to the Siskel Center here in Chicago and I was glad you were there to answer questions for the audience at Tre. Tre was very provocative. It really made me think. And I reacted to the unfolding subtle action in your film.
  
  I am a songwriter. So what I thought it was interesting how you enlisted two writers to act in your film and that you let the camera roll while they improvised as writers and created double meanings and questions with the intentions in their actions.
  
  A little about myself... some people say I'm unusual because I write, sing songs and perform in Spanish as well as English while I am Asian American, Filipino specifically. I'm really excited 'cos recently Univision called me and asked me to be a celebridad, or celebrity, on their mipagina site. Once I put up the video blog and complete, it becomes official!
  
  I hope to learn more about you, and that I may stand out to you as someone who wants to create art together. I hope there is a chance I may work with you in the future. I live in Chicago and hope we can do lunch sometime somewhere in the US. I'm interested in collaborating with you because your projects have real depth and meaning.
  
  Guia Rivera
  guiabookings@gmail.com
  www.myspace.com/guiarivera
• 
  elenahapasmama
  

  posted on Monday, Jun 30, 2008 3:57AM  [Report]

  Hi Eric, hope all is good with you!!! Love what you're doing for the AA community. Take care, Elena
• 
  DanielsGirl
  

  posted on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 12:25PM  [Report]

  What? Why have I not seen you before????? You're such a sizzling dish!
• 
  peachey
  

  posted on Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 6:40AM  [Report]

  Oh, we can watch Charlotte Sometimes instantly thru Netflix. I'm going to rent the DVD instead though.
  
  Have a great day!
• 
  elenahapasmama
  

  posted on Sunday, Mar 23, 2008 8:10AM  [Report]

  Hey Eric, thanks for commenting back on the blog. Hope you're getting some R&R into your busy schedule.
• 
  rottenMatt
  

  posted on Saturday, Mar 22, 2008 11:34AM  [Report]

  Nice seeing you again the other night Eric. I hope things are going well!
• 
  carmellarose
  

  posted on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 2:30PM  [Report]

  Omg, I'm so excited I didn't realize you're hapa :) I can't wait until I have my own....a family came into my work the other day, and the child was just adorable....btw, this topic another artist on here just created a site called, hapasmama.com :)
• 
  Levi
  

  posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 9:40PM  [Report]

  hi 我在这支持你
• 
  lou
  

  posted on Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 4:25PM  [Report]

  I'll try. Thanks for the heads up and the invite.
• 
  lou
  

  posted on Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 2:22PM  [Report]

  I just happened to watch your interview with the local KTSF tonight. I will definitely make a trip to Four Star to watch TRE.
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