In the Massachusetts election to replace the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, perhaps one of the most watched political stories this year, the Democratic nominee is fighting for an unknown Libertarian to be in the debates.
He's unknown, but happens to be named Kennedy. Joe Kennedy, even -- the same name as the controversial political patriarch. No family relation.
Favorite to win-it-all Martha Coakley, the Dems' Attorney General, is fighting to include Kennedy in the two WBZ TV and radio debates next week. Republican Scott Brown, who happens to be the father of American Idol heartthrob Ayla Brown, wants to keep the Libertarians out. Presumably because as the underdog, he needs to take on the Democrat with as few diversions as possible.
If you are a member of a third party in America -- regardless if it is the Green Party on the Left or the Libertarians on the Right -- the cards are stacked against you. The Democrats and Republicans make it virtually impossible for newcomers to get on the ballot, get into the debates and the media usually ignores you.
Experience the daunting challenges of third party candidates up-close-and-personal with "Crashing The Parties," our chilling documentary about life on the campaign trail.
Perfect for the political renegade in your life this holiday season!
Two fascinating developments in the world of politics:
2. A new call for third party presidential candidates to rescue America from the traditional Democrat-Republican quagmire.
Which idea is crazier?
In this Recession, will people shell out $15 plus shipping (rocks are heavy) for a stone with a cardboard podium?
Or will economics drive the people to oust BaRock and choose Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz or eBay's ex-CEO, Meg Whitman to sit in the Oval Office?
Here's a snippet of Fast Company's reasoning why the timing is right for a Libertarian Coming Out Party:
"If the two-party system is ever going to be
seriously challenged, this is the moment. The GOP, the stall-tactic
party, is reeling. The Democratic administration is struggling to turn
around the economy. And across the country, creative, engaged folks are
increasingly feeling politically homeless. More Americans consider
themselves independents (39%) than Democrats (33%) or Republicans (22%)
-- and the gap is widening.
Who will fill that void? Sarah Palin is rumored to be mulling the
idea of starting a third party, pulling together social and fiscal
conservatives alienated from the GOP. The Blue Dog Democrats, turned
off by President Barack Obama's spending, could reach across the aisle
to moderate Republicans and try to attract independents. But the best
third-party contender already exists. The Libertarians, like so many
independents and disaffected Democrats and Republicans, are fiscal
conservatives and social liberals -- and no one has yet built a lasting
coalition out of this growing force."
If you are fascinated by the idea of a third party seriously challenging the Democrats and Republicans at the national level, you are in luck. Our definitive look at the challenges of third party presidential candidates, "Crashing The Parties," is now available for sale on Amazon.
Perfect stocking stuffer for the special Green Party activist or Libertarian business executive in your life!
"Crashing The Parties," originally broadcast as an election special for PBS, was praised by The Boston Globe for "having all the political
intrigue, nuance, and subplots of the White House beat and none of the
hair spray."
If you have ever wondered what it takes to become a cheerleading champion, but don't wanna put on the skirt, then you are in luck!
Thanks to the new cheerleading documentary, "Blood, Sweat & Cheers," it is now possible to experience the grueling practices and heartbreaking competitions from the comfort of your living room couch. With bonus DVD commentaries from some of America's top Pop Warner cheerleading judges.
But don't take our biased word for it (we made the film). Here's what Boston Parents Paper, New England's premier parenting magazine, has to say about the film:
"The movie takes you inside youth cheerleading competitions, offering evidence that cheering is indeed a 'real sport.' And the storyline gives youth cheerleaders and coaches inspiration to strive for the best while enjoying the journey along the way."
And that, in a nutshell, is really why "Blood, Sweat and Cheers" belongs on the Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Pick-Your-Holiday list for the cheerleader or coach in your life.
Inspiration. These girls working toward their dream of competing in the national Pop Warner championships are your sister, your daughter, your cousin or niece. These girls are you.
And as luck would have it, "Blood, Sweat and Cheers" is now available at Amazon.com. For an appetizer, watch the BSC movie trailer here.
You know that feeling when you find a $20 bill inside your sportscoat?
That's how we feel about eight months after our movie "Hell Drivers: America's Original Crash Test Dummies" screened at Michigan's Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival -- in the gritty heartland of traditional county fair daredevil shows.
Almost as cool as getting our doorbell rung by Publisher's Clearinghouse, we got this trophy declaring we won the Hell's Half Mile audience award for best documentary.
Maybe "Hell Drivers" simply fits their Hellish brand, but we doubt the voting was fixed. Daredevil Rocky "Hardcore" Hauri parked the Rockymobile in front of the theater and spent a few days charming the crowds.
The HHM trophy came with a note apologizing for the late notification, but being late only enhanced the surprise.
Now, we're headed to the closet to check the pockets of our sportjackets.
Not knowing what it was like to be there on the beach of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina for Orville and Wilbur’s first flight, we can only imagine the work that must have gone into preparing for that historic event. Through the years people have imagined what it would be like to see a flying car, but we never thought we would be there the day that one actually took flight.
From the beginning of the design of the proof of concept vehicle, as the camera crew we’ve been able to be part of the journey to capture the “Transition” becoming a reality. From the test drives to preparing for the first flight we’ve been honored to be there every step of the way. All the work culminated on a cold March morning at the airport in Plattsburgh, NY when we stood alongside the runway as Terrafugia’s “Transition” reached liftoff. One of the challenges of capturing a live event like this is not knowing where or when on the 2 mile stretch of runway the aircraft will actually liftoff. Also, it was much colder than Kittyhawk… dawn in Plattsburgh averaged a balmy 9 degrees! But the flying car’s moment — years in the making — finally came. Through teamwork and experience we were truly thrilled to capture this landmark event in HD.
