BuzzFlash Mailbag for April 28, 2008

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Subject: Jeremiah Wright Not Anti-American

The Bill Moyers' interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright revealed a wise, highly intelligent, knowledgeable man whose message has been unfairly distorted by "pundits" and political enemies of one of his parishioners, who happens to be running for President. Wright, a protege of one of Americas' greatest theologians, Dr. Martin Marty, espouses what has become known as "liberation theology" (calling it "black liberation theology" is a misnomer). These ideas have been around for a long time, and became better known when we became aware of freedom movements in Latin America, which were inspired in part by progressive leaders of Roman Catholic persuasion. It is simply Christianity filtered through the experience of oppressed peoples.

In essence, it tells people that, rather than waiting for the rewards of the next world, they can make a difference in this one. Many of Wright's sermons, like those of Dr. King, take their inspiration from the Old Testament prophets, who goaded and prodded the Jewish people to repent - in the sense of "turning." Like the words of the prophets - and later, those of Jesus and Paul - these liberationist messages often give comfort to the poor and oppressed, and, conversely, discomfort to the rich and powerful.

The most notorious of Wright's statements are blatantly taken out of context. The "God damn America" quote comes from a sermon from the Old Testament about circumstances under which God will bless or condemn (damn). He will certainly condemn those who kill the innocent. It is about how governments fail us, and, in it, he cites several instances of damnable behavior by the U.S. government which has resulted in the deaths of innocent people, behavior which God will condemn rather than bless. The "America's chickens have come home to roost" reference is actually a quote from a former U.S. ambassador, and is from a sermon after 911 in which he decries the idea of revenge, exhorting us to remember that violence breeds violence. In no way does he suggest that 911 was deserved - only that it was just one more example of the cycle of violence which must be broken.

Wright is no more anti-American than the prophets of old were anti-Jewish. He is a man who loves his country and only wants it to do the right thing, and who has served his community faithfully and effectively. He deserves better.

Subject: Enough With The Race And Gender Stuff ... We're Destroying the Party And Going To Lose In November

I am worn out with everyone searching for racist and sexist comments behind every rock, in every random word, in every newspaper article. We cannot win if this election is about race and gender. This needs to be about kitchen table issues and the American people.

I'm worn out with it, and I'm a progressive Democrat, and it's only April. Imagine if we have to listen to this every day until November, regardless of who is the nominee. And imagine the swing voters listening to this every day until November. We'll get pounded at the polls.

Yes, we know prejudice exists, but the only way to keep making progress is to focus on the candidates themselves and their approach to government, not their race or gender.

If we make this a contest of race or gender, we divide the party and lose in November (regardless of who is the nominee). Is all this getting offended over perceived racism or sexism really worth the ultimate cost of losing in November? Just asking...

Subject: National Crazy Time

Hi Buzz,

Right now, we are examining the outrageous statements made by Rev Wright a few days after 9/11. And I personally think that's the key to those particular statements - they were made in the wake of 9/11 and I view that time frame as our "national crazy time".

I've forgiven Republicans for saying some incredibly outrageous things about Democrats during that same time frame. If you remember that time period, there were lots of talking heads on TV labeling anyone who questioned the Bush Administration was a treasonous traitor who had no love for this country. Al Gore was lambasted repeatedly for daring to bring up facts the rest of the world knew well. There were facts out there floating around about how federal funding was taken away from the fight against terrorism right before 9/11, but if you mentioned that, you didn't love this country.

The thing is, the immense tragedy of 9/11 shell-shocked us all. It was playing over and over for weeks on TV, causing us not just the initial psychological trauma, but it was being pounded in by endless loops on TV. Many reacted with massive anger - both against the terrorists and against the US for not doing enough to stop it. Many reacted with fear. Many reacted with depression. But virtually everyone was running around in a state of complete shock and the things coming out of many people's mouths reflected that shell shock much more than it reflected reason and people's actual beliefs. I know of people who were fired from their jobs for supporting Democratic principles because they "didn't love their country." And there was push-back by some of the stronger Democrats, but most people kept any dissent to themselves, as they were afraid of being labeled unpatriotic. It was a continuation of this wacky mindset that led to a situation where Democrats didn't question the rationale for the Iraq war a year later.

Given this setting, I am willing to give Rev Wright a pass for comments made just a few days after 9/11. To me, it was part of National Crazy Time. It's the words "G** D*** America" that I'll give a pass. Others have made the point that America's foreign policy influences terrorism, and while those people are often labeled "self-hating Americans" for raising these issues, it's the actual words that Wright used that are causing the real controversy. Given the date he made those statements, I'll cut him some slack, just like I cut the Republicans who were calling Democrats horrible names some slack. It was our National Crazy Time and very few people were thinking completely rationally.

Now let me be very clear. I absolutely DESPISE the words Rev. Wright used. My first reaction when I heard them was incredible anger. I even wrote an angry letter to the Obama campaign for being so stupid to associate with such a nutty man. This is an important election and this was a completely unnecessary distraction and it still ticks me off that we have to deal with this guy's words. But now that I've cooled down and thought about WHEN he made the comments that make me so mad, I am willing to admit there were a lot of people saying very nutty things in the days immediately following 9/11.

I could change my mind on this. I really hope Rev Wright will exit stage right, although unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be the kind of guy to go gently into that good night. And he's said a lot of other things that I don't agree with, but I also understand how a group of people who experienced Tuskegee and sitting at the back of the bus and all of that "separate but equal" crap might be a little paranoid with good justification.

So, you don't have excuse Rev Wright, but at least realize that he made these comments at a point in time when everyone was saying really crazy things because they were shell-shocked. Everybody.

A Buzzflash Reader

Subject: Rev. Wright Press Corp Appearance

As a white, NY Jew I can honestly say I took no offense from a single thing the Rev. said. I don't know what the complaints from the media pundits are about.

He did great. He's a character, yes, but he did great.

He isn't dissing Obama, he simply and succinctly points out they are working in different worlds AND he had the press corp eating out of his hands. Did people NOT hear the loud, from the gut laughter at regular intervals?

He's a preacher. He stood there and answered every, single & inane question put to him.

He's also very smart.

And, as he corrected the questioner, he's not 75.

That last point hit the nail on the head. 1/2 the questions had factual inaccuracies and those sitting there in the press corp were eating up his playful criticisms...of them.

It's the TV pundits, esp. some of the African American ones who are in a bit of a tizzy, which I find to be a bit ironic. It says a lot about their own internal struggles with being identified as "just an angry black man/woman," just like as a gay man, I struggle/struggled with my own internal homophobia.

But now that the MSNBC's hostesses with the mostesses have moved on from their indignation, for at least this segment, they're onto Miley Cirrus.

So, all is well with the pundits world.

You pundits need to get out of your television bubble a bit more. The real world sees things very differently than how you perceive them.

Joshua Epstein
NYC

Subject: Your Bigoted Attempts To Kill Hillary's Nomination

I have been an ardent BuzzFlash fan until the beginning of the primary, but you are doing everything possible to turn me away. I favored John Edwards in the primary, but your pro-Obama bigoted so-called "reporting" didn't give him the time of day; you simply jumped on board the Obama Express, and Edwards was forced to withdraw.

Since then, you have outdone Karl Rove and Roger Ailes in your attacks upon Ms. Clinton. Will you PLEASE stop acting like the Karl Rovian "pundits" and remember that McCain is the Bush-like enemy? Until you do, and unless you do, I will unsubscribe myself and advise my friends that you are group of Republican turncoats.

Irving D. Cohen
Ocala, Florida

Hi BuzzFlash Readers,

Many thanks to Mike Malloy on NOVA M radio, for his recent show about this calamity.

I sent the following letter to The FCC (FCC.gov)

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WITH LIMBAUGH!!!

Randi Rhodes gets kicked off of Air America for a Nightclub Act!

Don Imus gets kicked off of MSNBC for calling the Rutgers women basketball players "nappy headed ho's"!

BUT Rush Limbaugh is able to get away - and stays on the air - by telling his listeners to screw our democracy up by tampering with our Democratic Party primaries. And now he wants his listeners to incite RIOTS, BURNING CARS, CHAOS AND SHOOTINGS when the Democratic Party hold is Convention in Denver!

Yet the FCC sits on their hands and does nothing about it! Nothing!!

A website has already been created to cause civil unrest in Denver in August, during the Democratic Convention:

Re-create 68

http://www.recreate68.org/

I usually am an easy going person but I am not just "ASKING" for something to get done by The FCC anymore.

No, now "I DEMAND" that you have Rush Limbaugh removed from every radio station - IMMEDIATELY!!

Take action now BuzzFlashers and contact the FCC - along with your Representative and Senators about this. I lived through the 1968 debacle in Chicago and it was horrid for any of you readers too young to remember it. Tom Brokaw's 1968 History Special is on iTunes for $4.00, for anybody who has not seen what the DNC riots were like back then.

The time for sitting still is over!!

FCC

http://www.fcc.gov/

House of Reps

http://www.house.gov/

Senate

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact...

Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT

Why is it that you guys do not understand it that some people actually don't want New Hampshire and Iowa being the only states who choose our candidates?

This is the first time in my memory that the people of states that have later primaries are actually getting a voice in who the candidate is.

Obama even says he would stay in if he were her.

Annette Thompson
Leakey, TX

Subject: Hillary Scored a Single-Digit Win In Pennsylvania: 54.66% - 45.34% = 9.32%. That is 9% and not 10%. Hillary Scored a Single-Digit Win In Pennsylvania!

54.66% - 45.34% = 9.32%. That is 9% and not 10%.

Senator Clinton Was up 25% in Early Polls in Pennsylvania.

Senator Clinton needs 68% of the remaining superdelegates just to beat Obama score.

68% will not take her to the 2,024 threshold.

Senator Clinton would need 73% of the remaining superdelegates.

The implausible scenario cause damage to the Democratic Party of Jefferson.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Stephen Colbert Bests Michael Behe On Intelligent Design (id) Claptrap

COMMENT: Creationist/ID mystery monger and far right, fundamentalist occult tool, Michael Behe, on Stephen Colbert. You really get a feel for the lame Behe style of deliberate obfuscation by playing to the credulous and science illiterate during this interview. That may work at a fundamentalist church sponsored Behe lecture but not on Comedy Central in front of a fairly with-it audience.

Colbert confronted Behe with the 6,000 year old earth nonsense to make Behe dodge and squirm in worry about offending his cash cow, the Christian fundamentalist Bible base (something that I highly recommend all interviewers doing at the get-go of the questioning session with all creationist/ID proponents).

Additionally, the Colbert reply to the Behe's irreducibly complex mousetrap claptrap claim is a jewel. It being Colbert saying, take away the parts of a mousetrap and then all you have is wood, a piece of metal, and a spring ... and there's no other possible use for those things.

Spot on!

James Scott
Everett

There is way to many things happening right now to try to make sense of them all. I like to add my two cents of the price of a barrel of oil.

Is there some reason why the private sector and gov't can't provide for the transportation of mass population with more light and high speed rails. I believe the advance of electric train does decrease the demand for more spending to foreign countries, namely Saudi Arabia. Right now OPEC takes in approximately 2.50 per gallon of fuel. When will the public say enough is enough? Doesn't this admin realize fuel prices are taking away from other business. Traffic congestion contributes to lost productivity. More automobiles cause more green house gases.

Why are roads being given away to private industries at fire sale prices? If there was competition with roads do you think as many foreign companies would invest in toll roads? No they wouldn't. They are investing because they are being given a monopoly. Just like the airlines. If any of you saw the movie about Howard Hughes you would understand our Government is not looking after the little guy. On the contrary they are making sure they get a piece of the action for themselves.

In conclusion, Congress and the Senate could care a less if we have a job, because it all boils down to We the wealthy, we control all channels of transportation because the constitution is outdated, Bill of rights means according to Congress if you want a right you will get the bill for it.

Scott
AZ

"The Bush Administration overplayed its hand."

"What happened was that at the same time as reports were made public which proved that the media build-up to the Iraq War had been scripted and staged by the Pentagon, guess what?"

"The Pentagon was at it again."

"By doing what?"

"Trying to trick the public into believing that Iran was behind most if not all of the violence in Iran."

"Shades of those nonexistent weapons of mass destruction."

"Did the Pentagon repeat with war-pimping General David Petraeus as its leading pitch man?"

"This time said role was assigned to the top uniformed officer in the U.S. Navy, Adm. Michael G. Mullen."

"What did he say?"

"That the military had new and conclusive evidence that Iran is behind the recent flare-up in violence that so far this month has taken the lives of thirty-four U.S. soldiers."

"Shades of the new and conclusive evidence that Colin Powell presented to The U.N. Security Council five years ago."

"Where he said 'See these trailers parked out there in the desert? Well, those aren't recreation vehicles, they're mobile factories manufacturing biological weapons of mass destruction.'"

"Except the Pentagon didn't get away with it this time."

"Why not?"

"The public wasn't buying."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Isn't it a little understandable why us Hillary supporters don't donate to BuzzFlash?? Would you Obama people donate if he was exclusively being blasted by BuzzFlash??... Since Obama supporters were not happy with the last moderators from ABC, Hillary has challenged Obama to a debate without moderators...This may come as a form of desperation from the Clinton camp to Obama supporters, but since Obama's numbers go down after every debate, it's undertandable why he's cool about it...

I know this is water over the dam, but it would be interesting to see the results if there was a redo of the voting in FL and MI...Obama supporters have been sitting on the excuses, "his name wasn't on the ballot" or "he didn't have name recognition" or "the people didn't come out to vote," (even though they had record turnouts in both states) and I don't blame them...But in a redo, those excuses would go out the windows.

Dominic Baragona
The Villages, FL

Hi,

First, thanks for all you do.

We have to do something NOW to shut Limbaugh, Hannity, et al. up. The only thing I can think of is a huge boycott on all their advertisers. Remember how bad France was hurt by Billo's boycott??

I have found it very hard to get through to anyone at MoveOn or other large progressive organizations that can set anything in motion. Maybe you can help. This latest thing of Puss Slimbaugh calling for riots in Denver should be on the front page of every paper and the main story on every TV show but it's not. He should be hauled in for attempting to incite a riot and if he was a Dem, he would be in Guantanamo already.

I guess it's up to us. We need to send millions of sigs to all advertisers saying we will abstain from buying any of their products. We will also discourage everyone we know from buying them as well. The only thing that works anymore is to hit someone in the pocketbook. How do we do this?? Thanks,

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Iraqis See Red As U.S. Opens World's Biggest Embassy 4/26

If you were an American that saw over 650,000 of your civilian countrymen and women displaced, ruined, tortured and murdered, and you saw this obscenity day after day erected by your Iraqi tormentors, how would you feel? And, more importantly, what would you do?

Like the Reich Chancellery, this latter day Ministry of Imperial Military Occupation must and will someday--but someday soon--be obliterated--more so than any statue of Saddam--if not peacefully by Americans, then bloodily by the Iraqis. The lies of this Evil Empire and its corporate military tyrrany broadcasted by its propagandist fascist mainstream media will soon come to justice and come tumbling down--just like the WTCs!

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

Subject: Hillary

I really don´t like the way you suddenly attack Hillary. Instead of attacking McCain, you treat her like she is your Republican adversary. Keep an open mind and be more objective.

Nanda Neff
AE (armed forces Europe)

Having read several headlines quoting Justice Scalia's comments on Bush vs. Gore, I finally listened to the excerpt on "60 Minutes." I think that Justice Scalia's comment is relevant to the situation, but there is a bit of convolution to the situation.

Justice Scalia needs to remember that he is a member of Federal Government and as such, a public figure. His decisions, whether in the majority or in dissent, will not always be popular. Throughout history members of government have always been castigated and even held in contempt by the populace. It is a risk that is part of the job. Public resentment can be short term or long term. As a member of the bar and an expert on judicial history, he already knows this. He needs to be reminded of it. A skewed way to say this: being powerful will not make you popular.

Justice Scalia was involved in the decision to give the presidency to G. W. Bush. He went against the majority of the people. He ignored serious voting irregularities in Florida: 1. caging lists (reported by Greg Palast) 2. the illegal butterfly ballot 3. pre-election GOP machinations: GOP revisions of voter registration documents 4. negative vote tabulations on voting machines 5. post election tampering: the so called "Brooks Brothers Riot"

His actions led to the 911 attack. They led to the failed war in Afghanistan. They led to the failed war in Iraq. They led to the economic disaster of $110+ for a barrel of oil. They led to a run on the treasury. They led to powerful assaults on the First and Fourth Amendments. They led to the formation of a state involved in domestic spying. They led to state sanctioned torture. They led to a $10 Trillion federal debt. Mr. Scalia's decision to appoint Mr. Bush as President created his legacy.

Unfortunately, we are not finished seeing the results of Mr. Scalia's decisions. We may be facing serious inflation, massive job loss, global financial insolvency, natural disasters as produced from chaotic climate change, and a destruction (through corruption) of the US electoral system. We are already seeing a bellicose foreign policy that could lead to hostilities with other world powers.

The effects of Mr. Scalia's decision are quite substantial. I have no doubt that he will be remembered in history. Of course, Mr. Scalia blames Gore for bringing the issue to the courts.

To get back to his statement, "get over it", I would respond that he has alienated a vast number of people and it does not look likely that they will not forgive him. Being a public figure, Mr. Scalia has to accept accountability for his actions - even if such accountability is merely being unpopular. If he doesn't like being in the public light, he should resign from office. He if wishes to remain seated on the bench, then he needs to get over it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Hello Buzz,

Just wondering, who is P.M. Carpenter? The title of his piece should be "Carpenter's garbage disposal strategy". He/She? reminds me of a "woman hating" professor I had in College, once.

I am a former Buzzer, and decided to check and see how you are doing. Still the same. I see. Oh well...it was good while it lasted. Don't delude yourself and think that you are superior and are "fighting the good fight. YOU and many other progressives have turned into what I have despised about the far right for years. Hateful, mean, intolerant and biased. How hard could it have been for progressives to promote the positive. How hard could it have been to portray a positive attitude for both of our candidates. Your site would still be Number one with many of us. It only took being positive, honest, fair and not choosing one candidate over the other. No one agrees with everyone on everything and many people, even when their intentions are good, make mistakes and use bad judgment. I believe both of our Democratic candidates have the interests of the people at heart and will do all they can for us. Political constrictions keep even the most effective, well intentioned elected officials from doing what he/she would like for the people. Obama or Hillary, if given the opportunity, will do more for the people than John McCain. Both are far superior to John McCain in every way. But he may win...why? I'll tell you why and it surprises the hell out of me... Because progressives don't play well together. ( I thought all this time progressives just didn't play well with Conservatives.) If ever progressives should all be on the same page it is now. You would love to blame Hillary for the split...but just look in the mirror. I don't believe in blind loyalty, but I believe both Democratic candidates deserve our loyalty. I wonder. Do you deserve any...loyalty?

A former buzzer questioning loyalty in general

PS There is no way in Hell...Obama can beat McCain in my state [Alabama]. He beat Hillary, but he won't beat McCain. Especially with our free presses being what they are. We are a gnat's ass away from being a totalitarian state here in Alabama...We have a lot at stake not just which Democrat wins the Nominee, but IF a Democrat win the Presidency????? You could have been a uniter but you made your choice....don't blame Hillary. YOU didn't have to print the negative in BIG BOLD LETTERS.

A BuzzFlash Reader

I'm tired of hearing about John McCain's military service; about his being a war hero and a patriot. Benedict Arnold was also a war hero and a patriot; right up until the time he turned traitor and betrayed his country.

Cary D
Texas

Subject: Rush Limbaugh Calling For Riots In Denver" To Prevent
democrats From Winning Presidency

Incitement to riot is a federal crime only if committed by Democrats. Ask the jury that acquitted the Bell "investigator" murderers.

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

Hi Buzz,

Right now, we are examining the outrageous statements made by Rev Wright a few days after 9/11. And I personally think that's the key to those particular statements - they were made in the wake of 9/11 and I view that time frame as our "national crazy time."

I've forgiven Republicans for saying some incredibly outrageous things about Democrats during that same time frame. If you remember that time period, there were lots of talking heads on TV labeling anyone who questioned the Bush Administration was a treasonous traitor who had no love for this country. Al Gore was lambasted repeatedly for daring to bring up facts the rest of the world knew well. There were facts out there floating around about how federal funding was taken away from the fight against terrorism right before 9/11, but if you mentioned that, you didn't love this country.

The thing is, the immense tragedy of 9/11 shell-shocked us all. It was playing over and over for weeks on TV, causing us not just the initial psychological trauma, but it was being pounded in by endless loops on TV. Many reacted with massive anger - both against the terrorists and against the US for not doing enough to stop it. Many reacted with fear. Many reacted with depression. But virtually everyone was running around in a state of complete shock and the things coming out of many people's mouths reflected that shell shock much more than it reflected reason and people's actual beliefs. I know of people who were fired from their jobs for supporting Democratic principles because they "didn't love their country." And there was push-back by some of the stronger Democrats, but most people kept any dissent to themselves, as they were afraid of being labeled unpatriotic. It was a continuation of this wacky mindset that led to a situation where Democrats didn't question the rationale for the Iraq war a year later.

Given this setting, I am willing to give Rev Wright a pass for comments made just a few days after 9/11. To me, it was part of National Crazy Time. It's the words "G** D*** America" that I'll give a pass. Others have made the point that America's foreign policy influences terrorism, and while those people are often labeled "self-hating Americans" for raising these issues, it's the actual words that Wright used that are causing the real controversy. Given the date he made those statements, I'll cut him some slack, just like I cut the Republicans who were calling Democrats horrible names some slack. It was our National Crazy Time and very few people were thinking completely rationally.

Now let me be very clear. I absolutely DESPISE the words Rev. Wright used. My first reaction when I heard them was incredible anger. I even wrote an angry letter to the Obama campaign for being so stupid to associate with such a nutty man. This is an important election and this was a completely unnecessary distraction and it still ticks me off that we have to deal with this guy's words. But now that I've cooled down and thought about WHEN he made the comments that make me so mad, I am willing to admit there were a lot of people saying very nutty things in the days immediately following 9/11.

I could change my mind on this. I really hope Rev Wright will exit stage right, although unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be the kind of guy to go gently into that good night. And he's said a lot of other things that I don't agree with, but I also understand how a group of people who experienced Tuskegee and sitting at the back of the bus and all of that "separate but equal" crap might be a little paranoid with good justification.

So, you don't have excuse Rev Wright, but at least realize that he made these comments at a point in time when everyone was saying really crazy things because they were shell-shocked. Everybody.

A Buzzflash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

I used to love your site and checked several times a day, bought premiums and supported you while attacking the Republicans for ruining this country. Illness kept me off site for a while. Upon returning I was appalled to see how changed BuzzFlash had become.

I'm older than the baby boomers, that is why I'm shocked to see how people can be so mean-spirited. I don't think people my age think like some of your contributors. Yesterday, I counted 42 lead-offs attacking Sen. Clinton. I support Hillary.

Regardless of what Bill did in office, I rather prefer to remember that of the last 40 years, the best time for me in peace and prosperity was because of what his administration accomplished against daily attacks on him and Hillary, long before Monica (the Republican plant) came on the scene. It has been an uphill battle for the Clintons since arriving in D.C. in 1992. To survive all these years takes tremendous strength.

As for Obama, I want to know exactly what it is he is doing that inspires hope. Can you be specific? You see I didn't know he existed until he came on the scene to run for President. That's when I heard he had made a great speech at a convention. Then I heard he wrote 2 books which were successful. I didn't rush to buy the books. Haven't read them. I have attended many a motivational seminar and bought the tapes, cause it made me feel good and have hope and faith in doing a better job in my profession. Obama doesn't excite me that way.

Why? I think he excites a lot of people the way I was so excited and loved Neil Diamond in the 70's. Yes, I think of Senator Obama as a rock star status. He's like the phoenix rising from the ashes! But, I'm puzzled why he doesn't use his middle name. Also, I notice his placards have CHANGE instead of Barack or Obama. If he were entirely honest he wouldn't have to resort to these political tactics would he?? Is he ashamed of his name?

There is an old saying. "AN HONEST PERSON WILL NEVER MAKE IT IN POLITICS," believe it folks it is a truth. So I keep asking myself, "Who is really Barack Obama? It's a movement, but what is this CHANGE AMERICA? There are still many unanswered questions for me. Nothing I've seen written in BuzzFlash has answered my question, because all your coverage paint him as lilly-white. I don't buy it!

Please don't forget what Bill Clinton did for this country as President. If you and the rest of the press would play up the good things he did, instead of continually harping on the horrible Clintons, and their high negatives, don't you think the Democratic Party would be more positive in the eyes of the world?

Older BuzzFlash Reader

Carol K
MD

Subject: More Democratic debates?

Hell to the No!! I don't know why Barack Obama went on Fox/Faux unfair and unbalanced news today, but I hope that he will ignore Hillary Clinton's plea for him to engage in another debate. He's ahead of her in most areas at this point and he doesn't need another debate...she does! Hillary says that many of Obama's supporters weren't happy with the "tough" questions that were tossed to him during the ABC debate...I'm one who complained because of the "inane" questions, NOT the "tough" questions. (I still wonder why George Stephanopoulos/Charles Gibson felt the need to ask Obama questions about his past associations, but didn't ask Hillary if she believes that the GOP will bring up Monica Lewinsky and Jennifer Flowers or Whitewater if she is the nominee.)

Also, why isn't the main stream media (MSM) asking about Clinton's former pastor or why Jeremiah Wright was a visitor at the Clinton White House?

I feel for Obama because he is being triple teamed. He's running against the Clintons, the MSM, McCain, and Fox/Faux News. Oh, let's not forget Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and many in America who hold his race against him and NOT his qualifications or ideas for solving the nation's woes. The fact that he has gotten this far is remarkable.

If he does or doesn't win, he'll know that he was in a heated contest. I, for one, wish him and the American people the best...and at this point in time to me he is the best!

Dee Turner
Atlanta

Hi BuzzFlash,

On Daily Kos, I saw this blog that showed an utterly stupid "news" question, by a so-called "news reporter" to Barack Obama, about his "GQ Cover Look Who Is Aloof".

Does Barack Obama Look Too Good?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEJ2ZLkjqQI

I responded with the following:

The Guardian reports that there is An Anxiety Within The Elites.

The Anxiety On The Elites

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree...

No, no, no. This is NOT a report or article about Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. This article IS ABOUT THE MEDIA.

Seems another person with the name "Murdock" is getting upset that "a revolution" is upon him and is disseminating the news to readers and viewers, without using TV or newspapers to do it.

How Dare We!!

Evidently, the way TV and newspapers are telling their "One Sided View Of The News" is enough to move more and more people to do their own investigating of what is REALLY going on in the world of news - and that TV News and Newspapers have ALREADY gone the way of the dinosaur.

Why, it might just make some "Wealthy, Elite People" cry in their "cheap" glass of beer very soon.

Full Text of Murdoch's Speech http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/...pdf

Hey bartender, HOLD THAT SCOTCH for us reporters!!

If any of you out there know that woman was who asked that stupid question, please ask her if she is trying to get the next Media Putz Award!!

You can put me down with a YES Vote on that question.

Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT

Subject: The Clinton Campaign Has Become Part Of The Vast Right-Wing
Conspiracy Against Senator Obama And The Democratic Party.

Has it escaped Democrats' notice that the Clintons have aligned themselves with the "vast right-wing conspiracy" against Senator Obama and fellow Democrats? What should ordinary Democrats think about this development?

Hillary is now friends with Richard Mellon Scaife - the architect behind the "vast right-wing conspiracy", courts Rupert Murdoch, gets support from Ann Coulter and Bill Cunningham. Bill Clinton even puts in an appearance on Limbaugh's radio show. Clinton surrogates, Ed Rendell and Terry McAuliffe, tell Fox News that it is a great News Channel. Lanny 'Gotcha' Davis is always on Fox News attacking Democrats. Davis loves smearing other Democrats ("the far left" he snarls) on Fox News (especially with his buddy, Sean Hannity).

Hillary started out life as a Goldwater girl - she is returning to her roots. The campaign that she is running is straight out of the Lee Atwater/Jesse Helms race-baiting playbook.

Clinton Pollster, Doug Schoen says that Hillary should destroy Obama completely by assassinating his character and using Karl Rove type tactics.

It is telling that Clinton ran only negative ads in Pennsylvania - she has nothing positive to say. She will lie, smear, misrepresent and belittle - just like her soul mates in the Republican Party. The Clintons have repeatedly smeared (distributed a photo Obama dressed as a "Muslim terrorist" via The Drudge Report), belittled (Obama is another Jesse Jackson) stereotyped ( "the black candidate"). Her 3AM ad is tailor made for John McCain as is her remarks that McCain is ready to be President but Obama is not.

Clinton will continue to insist that Obama hates America and is a closet Muslim and black criminal. She will use distorted wedge issues to bring Obama down. Winning is all that matters to the Clintons.

Bill Clinton once represented hope - his wife personifies fear, hate, cynical calculation, manipulation and a willingness to say or do anything in order to get power. The last straw for many of us with the Clintons came when Hillary Clinton said that both she and John McCain had passed the Commander-in-Chief test but that Barack Obama had not. This was outright treachery from the Clintons. No wonder Rush Limbaugh has told his listeners to vote tactically for Hillary so that chaos occurs in the Democratic Party.

Hillary followed in behind Bush/Cheney on Iraq when it was popular and she now adopts a similar belligerent neo-con line on Iran on the day of the Pennsylvania vote (What does it say about the American Media when they go to town on Obama for weeks over Rev. Wright and for not wearing his Badge with the American Flag - yet nobody asked Clinton serious questions about a possible War in the Middle East against Iran and probably Syria also. How many causalities does Hillary expect? How many Women and Children would she expect to murder? Would Hillary use a Nuclear strike against Iran? How would this affect the situation in Iraq given the large numbers of Shia militias present? Would she do this against the wish of the Democratic Party and the American People? Would it be a unilateral action? Would she, like Bush Cheney ignore the UN and the International community?)

They have adopted Karl Rove style tactics (ie. race-baiting, Obama is a Muslim, 3am ad, McCain is better qualifies than Obama to be President and constant fear-mongering). Hillary Rodham Clinton = Hillary ( R) Clinton. Why does the Democratic Party let the Clintons get away with all of their underhand tactics and their Karl Rove style negativity?

Hillary is serially incompetent, untrustworthy, lacks integrity, prone to exaggeration (Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Nafta etc.) and unelectable in November - the Republicans most want to run against her. She doesn't appeal to Independents or young people and she has lost the Black vote. Hillary's disastrous handling of health care cost the Democrats dear in the 1994 mid-term elections. The Lewinsky affair helped GW Bush to win in 2000. If Hillary Clinton can't organise a successful primary campaign against a young Senator from Illinois - how can she hope to compete against John McCain?

She had it all last November - a 30 point poll lead, name recognition, $100 million in cash from Oil and Pharmaceutical Companies, an ex-President in her corner, all of Democratic establishment ready to endorse her, thousands of contacts, most of the Superdelegates on her side, Senators and Governors lining up behind her. Yet she has managed the impossible - she blew it.

Negativity is all she has left. ...

Tony McCarthy
NY

Antonin Scalia demonstrated last night, in his inarticulate inability to discuss the decision of the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore, just how vacuous and hypocritical was the legal reasoning behind that tragic theft of democracy. Shockingly, after suggesting that anyone who has the gall to question the decision "get over it," Scalia then pronounced that Bush would have "won" the election anyway and the result would not have been different had the Supreme Court declined to intervene.

The Court, it will be remembered, stopped a vote recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court, handing the presidency to George W. Bush. Apparently Scalia is not aware that a consortium of news organizations effectively performed a recount of Florida votes and found conclusively that Gore had won the popular vote in Florida. Unfortunately, this inconvenient truth was at least temporarily misplaced - and maybe permanently lost - in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. As seems appropriate for a national candidate who had a popular majority of more than 500,000 votes, Gore won the presidential election in 2000.

Had it not been for the tortured "logic" of the majority of the Supreme Court - consisting exclusively of its "conservative" Republican members who, as the interviewer Leslie Stahl correctly pointed out, rendered a political decision - then the United States would not have suffered eight years of George W. Bush, along with the degradation of the Constitution and the rule of law; an opportunistic and unjustified war of choice and our concomitant disgrace in the eyes of the world; the descent of America into rationalizing the need for - and its right to - torture; the transfer by the Bush administration of the national treasury to the private hands of its corporate cohorts; the destruction by intentional neglect of the City of New Orleans and the country's general infrastructure; the politicization of the CIA, the Justice Department and virtually every other agency of the Federal government; the appointment of incompetent political cronies to important government positions; and the dismantling of the social structure of the nation.

The damage caused by the Supreme Court as the result of its palace coup is incalculable and, in all likelihood, irreparable. The legal "reasoning" used by the Court in Bush v. Gore was, to anyone familiar with constitutional law and, indeed, to anyone who understands American democracy, astonishingly dishonest.

In Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98, 121 S. Ct. 525, 148 L.Ed.2d 388 (2000), the Supreme Court directed that a recount of votes directed by the Florida Supreme Court be stopped because of the potential violation of one candidate's fourteenth amendment right and the right of his supporters to equal protection of the law. Equal protection jurisprudence had developed over the previous century to guard the rights of persons based on their minority status, the "discrete and insular minorities" famously identified 70 years ago by an earlier Supreme Court in a footnote to the Carolene Products case. The minorities referred to in the 1938 decision included groups subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, national origin or religion.

But who were the "vulnerable minorities" during the Florida recount debacle? They were Bush himself, Bush voters and Bush supporters and suit-and-tie Republican operatives sent to Florida by the Republican National Committee, people like John ("I'm John Bolton and I'm here to stop the recount") Bolton, and henchmen dispatched by James Baker, the Texas oil oligarch, Republican operative and Bush I former Secretary of State. By assigning to these persons protected minority status, the Supreme Court effectively announced that the rule of law means nothing, not when it stands in the way of a desired political result. The decision represents and will likely always represent the lowest point of American jurisprudence.

Leslie Stahl made much of Scalia's sense of humor and purportedly pleasant personality. The liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg joined in the humanization of Scalia. Scalia himself discussed his identity as the first Italian American on the Court, noting that stereotypes of Italians commonly include identification with the Mafia.

But a thug is a thug, regardless of his ethnic identity and whether his thuggery is perpetrated at the point of a gun or the point of a pen. Surely there were many people who believed Hitler was charming, that Mussolini had a wonderful sense of humor. Their crimes, however, remain unforgivable.

The crime perpetrated by black-robed thugs in the year 2000, a crime hidden behind pseudointellectual and dishonest legal reasoning for purely political purposes, a crime so vile that it makes a mockery of democracy, is equally unforgivable.

"Get over it," indeed.

William Betz
Great Neck, NY

Subject: Limbaugh

Hi, Buzz!!

Having far better things to do with my time, I don't listen to Rush myself, but I read that he's been calling for riots at the Democratic convention in August.

Maybe I'm confused again, but isn't that incitement? And isn't incitement to riot a crime everywhere? If it is, why hasn't Rush been charged? Why hasn't this been added to his drug rap?

Why is he still on the air? For that matter, why is he still walking around free?

Jane Hawes (red-state Democrat)
Emporia, KS

Dear BuzzFlash:

In your editorial condemning the likes of Limbaugh and his hate filled ultra rich pundit cult, you pointed out that laughing off these mental midgets was easy to do, but doing so is to do it at our own peril. I agree with you. While I can't gut Limbaugh anytime, anywhere, I do listen to some right-wing radio just to hear the distortions, lies and total reconstruction of history to suit the needs of their real "bosses," the GOP party leadership and the White House. Anybody foolish enough to think Sean Hannity or Limbaugh is genuinely behind all the idiocy they spew is foolish enough to, well, vote Republican.

As I have shown in many past entries, you can't reason with Republicans on the street level on anything. They can't see the damage they do responding to idiotic emotion issues like guns and flag pins and ignoring the mass exodus of decent jobs, gas and consumer prices and a war criminal President and Cabinet. This is truly ignorance and obstinance on a grand scale, and while those traits have been with us a long time, the pundits use it along with racism, hate and xenophobia to great effect. We must not totally turn a blind ear to these evil mouthpieces, because their input is destroying our educational values, removing any sense of self-examination or research, and turning this country into a Third World Chinese vassal state, all to line the pockets of ultra rich GOP bosses, the White House, and most industry.

George W. Bush is a reflection of half this country, and that half the people are incapable of objective judgment, and way too many who hate the Republican agenda but won't write their Congressmen and get vocal about what's going so wrong with America must share the blame for the likelihood of McCain or Hillary Clinton getting in this fall, who are, in my view, interchangeable and totally without serious commitment to anything other than themselves. I fear Obama will fall to the forces of hate and stupidity, such power those two traits possess in this country.

We must become more proactive and attack Limbaugh and his dogs, destroy their credibility with their lemming minions, and at least try to show people how they are nothing more than a modern day Goebbels machine. And how many people have no idea who Paul Joseph Goebbels was? Will they have sufficient interest to look him up or pass it over because they don't care?

Scott
Fayetteville, AR

... according to the LA Times. Has had cancer twice. Most people I know who receive disability are careful not to look too healthy for fear of losing it. 2 Americas. Troops have to fight like hell for a pittance. I got this off of ladybroadoak.blogspot out of Canada. Website similar to BuzzFlash. Very slow but worth it. Another article up now, have to scroll way down, says Tom DeLay pushed and passed legislation prior to 9/11 that gave the US the right to invade the Hague if bushco was ever indicted for war crimes. Intent is important when proving a crime, right? Sorry I don't remember the country The Hague is located in or the name of the article. Thanks for all you do.

John McCain gets tax-free disability pension (LA Times)

Martha Thacker
Prentiss TWP, ME

Hey Buzz,

Just checked to see if you have posted the article, Hope for Corporate America, by Chris Hedges from Truth Dig. No. You haven't. Check it out Buzz readers. Thanks

A BuzzFlash Reader

BuzzFlash is a wonderful informative site, well-deserving of financial support from its viewers.

I wonder why, however, the amount needed to "pay the bills" seems to have skyrocketed from a couple of years ago.

Is it the new paid commentator(s)? Because the site was ever bit as good without him/her/them.

Are there ways to perhaps cut costs?

Fundraising is necessary, of course, it just appears to have become much more frequent and aggressive.

Just wondering why.

Anne Gabriel
Boston

[BuzzFlash Note: Costs keep rising, but we are looking everywhere for ways to hold down costs. The country's economic issues affect everyone, including our small business.]

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