January 13, 2003
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BuzzFlash Supports the Opening of a Peter Bronson "Lie-Brary"
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
In case you missed the fun, BuzzFlash readers have been giving Peter Bronson, a columnist for The Cincinnati Enquirer, a lesson in journalism. BuzzFlash readers were responding to a Rush Limbaughesque column, "The Anti-Clinton Lie-brary," which appeared to be Bronson's ditto-head effort to proactively slime Hillary Clinton in case she runs for president. (See: http://enquirer.com/editions/2003/01/06/loc_Bronson06.html)
In his loathsome "commentary," Bronson refers readers to a Clinton "Lie-brary" website set up by some rabid Bob Barr/Jerry Falwell-like anti-Clinton psychotics (who also claim they will open an equally demented Clinton "Lie-brary" in Little Rock), people deranged by bitter, spiteful hatred for modern America.
To fill you in, here's a little on the "Counter Clinton Library" from Conwebwatch.com:
"The Clinton-haters are looking more pathologically obsessed every day. Because things have been too quiet on that front lately, apparently, and also as a way to justify everything they've done over past decade or so, plans have been announced for a monument to their hatred -- a 'Counter Clinton Library' to be located in Little Rock, Ark., near the actual and under-construction Clinton presidential library." (See: http://conwebwatch.tripod.com/stories/2002/counter.html)
Bronson also interpreted a GAO report as totally confirming the Rove/Fleischer accusations of an unprecedented "trashing" of the White House, an accusation eventually even disowned by the Dim Son himself.
It would seem par for the course that a "journalist" fulminating with hatred would overlook benign interpretations of the GAO report (issued many moons ago, mind you) that exonerated the Clintons and Gores, and even indicated that the mess left by Bush the Elder might have been worse.
As an article by David Goldstein in the Kansas City Star noted at the time the GAO report was released:
"The GAO noted similar complaints followed the earlier Bush administration, when incoming Clinton staffers observed missing signs and doorknobs, excessive trash and words and initials carved into desks"
Of the Government Services Administration report, released in May of 2001, David Goldstein writes:
No truth in White House vandal scandal, GSA reports
By DAVID GOLDSTEIN - The Kansas City Star
Date: 05/17/01 22:15WASHINGTON -- The General Services Administration has found that the White House vandalism flap earlier this year was a flop.
The agency concluded that departing members of the Clinton administration had not trashed the place during the presidential transition, as unidentified aides to President Bush and other critics had insisted.
Responding to a request from Rep. Bob Barr, a Georgia Republican, who asked for an investigation, the GSA found that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
"The condition of the real property was consistent with what we would expect to encounter when tenants vacate office space after an extended occupancy," according to a GSA statement.
No wholesale slashing of cords to computers, copiers and telephones, no evidence of lewd graffiti or pornographic images. GSA didn't bother to nail down reports of pranks, which were more puckish than destructive.
Among those pranks was the apparent removal, by aides to former President Bill Clinton, of the "w" key from some computer keyboards and the placing of official-looking signs on doors, saying things like "Office of Strategery," after a popular "Saturday Night Live" spoof on Bush.
By the way, the GAO report (another Republican waste of out taxpayer money) was only inititated after Bob "Bonehead" Barr got upset that the GSA report exonerated -- and, therefore, didn't support his accusations against -- the Clintons.
Nonetheless, Peter Bronson trotted out some old right-wing propaganda, rehashing -- two years later -- the Karl Rove-manufactured accusation that the departing Clinton Administration assaulted and defiled the White House. Reading Bronson's column was like watching a dog chew on its vomit.
In response to all of the BuzzFlash reader e-mail, Bronson wrote a second column "trashing" the people who e-mailed him in dismay over his second-hand, second-rate regurgitation of politically-motivated accusations. (See: http://enquirer.com/editions/2003/01/10/loc_bronson10.html)
In his "follow-up" column, Bronson claims, "I was also tempted to return the hate mail. Nah. Then I'd be no better than the nitwits who left obscenities in the White House - and my mailbox."
But that strikes BuzzFlash as odd, because we received many, many e-mails from readers that included a response from Bronson, such as the following one (with the BuzzFlash reader's e-mail coming first):
Nice try, Mr. Bronson. Too bad that the whole truth is 180 degrees away from your selective spin.
You know and I know that the vast majority of the "damage" cited in the GAO report was consistent with normal moving wear and tear -- and even the Republican-run GAO didn't accept Karl Rove's numbers claims. (See http://talkingpointsmemo.com/june0101.html#060501758pm and http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jun2002/gao-j14.shtml)
Furthermore, far more money was spent on investigating the alleged "vandalism" than even the Bushistas claimed it cost. (Hmmm -- just like how the Republican Congress was willing to spend nearly $100 million, and ruin the lives of dozens of innocent people, in order to "prove" the Clintons guilty of fraud in a land deal -- this despite the exonerations handed down by both the RTC and the Pillsbury Commission.)
But then again, Republicans have mastered the art of "projection". They accuse their opponents of doing the very things they have either themselves done, or intend to do. In 1993, the outgoing Bush I regime did far worse White House vandalism, yet the Clintons didn't try to make a Federal case (much less an expensive and petty "investigation") out of it -- they rolled up their sleeves and got to work installing new computers.
Yours for truth, equity and fairness,
Tamara Baker
In a message dated 1/8/2003 9:20:59 AM Central Standard Time, PBRONSON@CINCINNA.GANNETT.COM writes:
Thank you for your note.
Everything I reported is documented in the GAO report. If you would like to read it yourself, go to this website:
http://www.gao.gov/
Search for GAO report GAO-02-360
Best wishes,
Peter Bronson
Bronson, ever the considerate journalist, did make one concession to appearances. After being inundated with e-mails claiming that his use of the Clinton "Lie-brary" site was perhaps a tip-off to his bias, Bronson changed the url link to the GAO report from http://www.counterclintonlibrary.com/GAOReport.htm to http://www.gao.gov/.
Here's one of his earlier responses, as evidence:
Subject: RE: please check your facts
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 15:07:48 -0500
Thread-Topic: please check your facts
Thread-Index: AcK2fcyQcAw6D+Y5RQ+NMXACgPjBHwACqRGQ
From: "Bronson, Peter" <PBRONSON@CINCINNA.GANNETT.COM>
To: "
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 07 Jan 2003 20:07:49.0875 (UTC) FILETIME=[740F1C30:01C2B688]
Status:Here's the link. Read it yourself. Everything I reported is documented in the GAO report.
http://www.counterclintonlibrary.com/GAOReport.htm
[Bronson, Peter]
On The Cincinnati Enquirer website, a biography on Bronson includes the following attempt at humor to describe him:
"He writes William F. Buckley opinions with an Animal House sense of humor."
And his personal statement:
"Conservatives in the media are about as common as Christians at an ACLU convention, but I like to go against the current. A good column is like a good friend: honest, amusing, courageous, informative and fun to be with.'' (See: http://enquirer.com/columns/bronson)
So Bronson is deluded, too. Hey, Peter, in case you didn't know, your fellow right-wing nut cases are now your colleagues in the media. If you can find all that liberal media you refer to, please let us know -- BuzzFlash would love some company.
In conclusion, we suggest that The Cincinnati Enquirer join us in defraying the costs of setting up a Peter Bronson "Lie-brary" website. Maybe the guy's just getting his portfolio together for a shot at a regular gig on FOX news.
BuzzFlash and other readers sent over 1,000 e-mails to Bronson, according to the man himself. Keep up the good work. Maybe, he'll archive them when the Bronson "Lie-brary" gets built.
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
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BUZZFLASH NOTE: Here is how the site that Bronson used as his point of entry for the GAO report describes itself in a section entitled "Word From the Founders":
Dear Fellow Americans:
In less than two years, Bill and Hillary Clinton will open their official Clinton Presidential Center and Library in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. This will be a gigantic public monument to both Clintons, to their ‘Co-Presidency,’ and to their left-wing political and social agenda – and will conveniently ignore their lawbreaking, scandals and misdeeds.
It will also be the Headquarters for the inevitable Hillary Clinton for President Campaign.
Nearby, at the University of Arkansas, the companion Clinton School of Public Service is already hard at work ‘re-tooling’ the Clinton image. Professor Margaret Scranton of the Clinton School explained her mission: “…the course will change and adapt over time as Clinton’s legacy develops.”
In other words, the Clintons and their acolytes intend to spin their record in the White House – and since – in a never-ending campaign to make Bill and Hillary Clinton the first-ever husband and wife Presidents of the United States.
Thus, the Clinton Presidential Center and Library – funded by you – the American taxpayer – and by multi-million dollar donations by rich foreigners including Red Chinese and Saudis – is a campaign vehicle to elect Hillary as the next Democratic President and to have Bill Clinton back living in the White House.
But, in order to elect Hillary, the Clintons need to erase or change their eight-year record in the White House.
Thus, this official Clinton Presidential Center and Library is going to be a Clinton LIE-brary full of distortions, slanders, ‘spins’ and outright lies about their atrocious White House legacy.
The so-called Mainstream Media, which gave the Clintons a pass for all their misbehaviors while they were in office, are certain to let Bill and Hillary get away with lying about their misdeeds now, too. Most of the media want to see Hillary become President and they aren’t going to do anything to derail her.
So it is up to us – to simple American citizens and patriots – to finally tell the real truth about the Clintons and to stop Hillary from becoming President and ruining our country once and for all!
We - a group of concerned Americans who are appalled at the Clinton’s atrocious behavior - have joined together to build – within walking distance of the Clinton Library – a monument to the Real Truth about the Clintons: THE COUNTER CLINTON LIBRARY. ..
This library will be devoted to setting the record straight about the Clintons’ White House years – and about Hillary’s certain campaign to become the next President of the United States...
Our Counter Clinton Library will be a permanent thorn in the side of the Clintons as they try to hide and distort their anti-American, anti-family, anti-military legacy.
Our goal: to let not one Clinton lie go unanswered, to let not one Clinton evasion go unquestioned and to let not one Clinton slander go unchallenged.
Bill and Hillary Clinton are unique.
By the way, this is what the "Counter Clinton library" has to say under endorsements:
Sean Hannity broke the exclusive story of the creation of the COUNTER CLINTON LIBRARY on December 5, 2002 on his nationally syndicated radio show and then on his Fox News Channel show, Hannity & Colmes that night.
Sean is such a strong supporter of the COUNTER CLINTON LIBRARY that he now has linked his site - - to ours.
He said - on his radio show and on Hannity & Colmes - "We need this Counter Clinton Library. It must be done because we have to stop Hillary from becoming President."
It's all about another Grand Hypocrisy Party (GHP) slime job. They have no policies or ideas that appeal to the American people. So in the end, they always resort to character assassination and smear campaigns.
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
