BuzzFlash Mailbag for June 4, 2008
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Subject: Obama Declares Victory on Republican Turf
I've seen a lot of brilliant political moves in my time but what Barack Obama did tonight was incredibly impressive. Not only did he give a visionary and inspirational speech but he did it in the very same hall where the Republican convention is going to be held. Now when the Republicans have their convention at the same location the news media is going to compare and contrast it with Obama's speech tonight. Obama has stolen McCain's thunder at his future convention.
As a Hillary supporter I have to say that Obama is off to a great start. Maybe he does have what it takes to win.
I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message!
Marc Perkel
San Bruno, CA
Subject: Let Obama breathe, please
Atlanta
Subject: What Does Hillary Want? Unifying The Party
Right now, the women who saw Hillary as the embodiment of their dreams are hurting real bad, and it would be best to resist any temptation to lord it over them. There's no need to explain to them that Obama ran a better campaign, no need to justify your support for him (you cannot persuade them to accept that.) You know the grieving process; it started a couple months ago:
1. Denial and isolation: This is the answer to "Why doesn't she concede?"
2. Anger: Harriet Christian voiced it for all of them.
3. Bargaining: Trying to convince superdelegates that she is more electable. Seating the FL and MI delegations.
4. Depression: That's coming up. Be kind and patient. Anything, and I mean ANYTHING you say, will probably be the wrong thing to say. So say very little. Concentrate on dismantling John McSame.
5. Acceptance: They won't let McCain overturn Roe, keep us in Iraq forever and drive the country down the river.
There will be a lot of talk that we have to hurry the process of unifying the party. We are nearly 5 months from the election. There's plenty of time. Let the Clintons and their partisans have some time to grieve.
Richard Peterson
Moorhead, MN
Subject: Dear John ...
You talked about change a lot last night. It was reported that you said the word "change" over 33 times. Yes, I do believe that you love change. Because:
* You've changed wives. You left your first wife for a younger richer woman.
* You've changed your mind on Bush's tax cuts. At first you voted against them and now you support them.
* You've changed your mind on torture, in 2005 you urged Bush to endorse a "torture ban" a bill that you yourself authored and pushed through. In 2008, you changed your mind and voted against a bill banning waterboarding and other forms of torture.
* You've changed your mind on embracing Christian extremists. At first you called Jerry Falwell an "agent of intolerance," a few years later you said you "no longer consider him an agent of intolerance."
* You've changed your mind on immigration, according to reports: "McCain's worked on a comprehensive immigration reform measure, which most Republican activists hated with a vengeance. Ultimately he decided to abandon his own legislation, and announced earlier this year that he wouldn't even vote for his own bill."
You've had over two decades to "change" things in Washington, that's more than enough time. In the end, you're not offering change, you're offering more of the same, packaged in a different name.
* Don't talk to leaders we don't like ... Like Bush.
* Tax cuts for the rich...Like Bush.
* Continue the occupation in Iraq...Like Bush.
* Say you're going to make sure conservative judges are put on the Supreme Court ... Like Bush. *
* Surround yourself with crooks and liars (Karl Rove) ... Like Bush.
Rainlillie
New York
Subject: Hillary Clinton
I'm sure the Mailbag will be deluged today with many thoughts regarding HRC's historic loss to Barack Obama. May I add just a few thoughts of my own?
Hats off to Jeffrey Toobin whose words summed up Mrs. Clinton's concession speech: her words were the words of a "deranged narcissist." Observing HRC from the vantage point of an early feminist and someone whose life's work was and still is trying to make life better for those who society has forgotten, HRC doesn't give a tinker's damn about the blue collar workers, the "white" working class or the older women, of which I am one. To her they are nothing more than a means to an end.
Her behavior is and was an insult to every one of us who struggled and continue to struggle for equality. We learned early on not to fall back on the old ways to accomplish what we wanted. We knew not to summon up tears when the going got rough, we knew not to play the victim to show our struggle; we knew if we wanted to level the playing field we would have to accept what came our way and not act out or fall back on ways that would only show society that we really didn't care how we reached the finish line.
Hilary played her supporters for suckers and she she suffered the ultimate blowback: Her strategy backfired. I know I penned these words on this very site in what seems a lifetime ago, when Nicolo Machiavelli wrote THE PRINCE he must have had a Hillary Clinton in mind, but honestly I really don't know if the means ever justifies the ends.
In bitter irony I close this missive saying that Hillary Clinton should have ended her speech with these words from days gone by:
"LE STATE, C"EST MOI.
I'm so happy for Barack Obama, it is truly a monumental day for this country and the world.
Ruth Gottlieb
Laguna Woods, CA
Subject: Another McCain Straight Talk Express
McCain: "Straight Talk" with Forked Tongue (3-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLfsG8XKWfw
Neuropsychiatric problem?
And:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI&NR=1
"T'is the time's plague when madmen lead the blind," Shakespeare, King Lear.
Twiga
Subject: The Next Five Months Will Do It For Us
"How?"
"We elect Barack Obama president and he goes on to end the Iraq War, negotiate with Iran plus turning things around here at home."
"And then what sort of world."
"It'll be up to us."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Barackreggaemania
Cocoa Tea says, it's time to party for Obama!...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxn9jhypHfo
Dee Kay
Forest City, Illinois
Subject: An Open Letter To Hillary Clinton
This evening Hillary Clinton asked for our thoughts regarding the future of her campaign. Here is what I wrote to her at her website.
This evening, Hillary, you asked us to write to you and share our thoughts on what you should do. So I am.
I have been a supporter and defender of the Clintons for over the past two decades (I was fortunate enough to be at the Arkansas ball in 1992 and thrilled by the what the future held).
However, I was absolutely appalled and dismayed by your performance tonight. How could you? How could you diminish the historic and honestly-won victory of Barack Obama by not conceding that he won, fair and square?
In my eyes, it diminishes whatever accomplishments you have achieved in this race. Furthermore, it has capped a campaign of rhetoric, division and fear-mongering which I have found extremely troubling.
I, for one, am very disappointed and would find it very difficult to support you in any future efforts. Also, as far as I'm concerned, an Obama/Clinton ticket is a non-starter. Blatantly blackmailing the nominee is simply too Machiavellian. And choosing to continue to whip up your supporters into a frenzy, will ultimately benefit no one but John McCain.
It has been a very close race. But you lost! The time for a graceful concession and exit has come and gone. For the sake of the Democratic party, for our chances in November and for the future of the United States: withdraw now and put your considerable skill and talent behind OUR nominee.
I realize that the chances of your ever seeing this note are miniscule (especially since it does not contain the words of encouragement that you apparently crave). But maybe, just maybe, the message will get through.
You asked for our thoughts and I felt obliged to comply.
Yours truly,
One (very concerned) Democrat
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: CNN's Liberal Bias Myth
Buzz,
I came across the following on CNN's website
"Last month, he said an uncle had helped liberate the Auschwitz concentration camp, which was in fact liberated by the Soviet army."
There is no indication following this closing sentence that he in fact was mistaken about the camp, and an uninformed reader may be led to assume that the story was a fabrication by Obama. So much for the liberal bias, eh?
I suspect that this is the beginning of a pattern that is going to take his words out of context or simply print half truths. It has already been evidenced on TV, pastorgate and all that. The media is yet to scrutinize McCain, though they did make declarations that it would happen as soon as we had a nominee. We do now. I wonder how long it will take before they get around to doing their jobs, assuming they will.
Something tells me not to hold my breath.
Akhil Bhardwaj
Jersey City, NJ
[BuzzFlash Note: Yes, opponents take things out of context to do damage. At CNN's site, the preceding paragraph does quote Obama when he set the record straight in his remarks to AIPAC. NPR also has the full transcript and audio: "You see, my great-uncle had been a part of the 89th Infantry Division — the first Americans to reach a Nazi concentration camp. They liberated Ohrdruf, part of Buchenwald, on an April day in 1945. The horrors of that camp go beyond our capacity to imagine. Tens of thousands died of hunger, torture, disease, or plain murder — part of the Nazi killing machine that killed 6 million people."]
Subject: Nationalizing Oil?
OIL is underground in OUR country. COAL is underground in OUR country. Yes, OUR resources should be nationalized. Why do you think big business is so concerned about Hugo Chavez? Water, Electricity, Garbage, Highways, all roads, and many more should be government run or highly regulated. Privatizing everything is making a few very rich.
What's wrong with a soldier doing k.p. like in the old days? Now we pay KBR probably $100 an hour to peel potatoes. They subsidise it out to some Kuwaiti firm for $1 an hour and pocket $99 an hour of YOUR taxpayer dollars and since there are not enough dollars they borrow from China so YOUR grandchildren can pay.
Wake up. Privatizing is making a rich and poor only society. Cut taxes for the rich (they make you believe it's for all, but if you get a $100 break and the guys at the top get $1,000,000 breaks, that does nothing to help OUR country). BUT,
the BIG BUT, is we should definitely nationalize the war profiteering companies. And,we should definitely nationalize the prison system which has become a big money business supporting tough on crime crooked judges to keep these prisons full and there again rob OUR taxpayer dollars. NO DRUG USER WHO HAS NOT HURT ANYONE BUT HIM OR HERSELF SHOULD BE IN PRISON SUCKING UP OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Little Known VA Benefit - Millions Missing Out
The VA has sat silent for 57 years in regards to a little known benefit that can provide up to $20,000 annually to help pay for care for older veterans and their spouse.
They sat silent for the 9 years my parents were in assisted living and repeatedly said my father, a WWII veteran, was entitled to nothing.
Nothing was actually $160,000 my parents were eleigibile for through a benefit called "Aid and Attendance," which is part of the VA's 3-tier benefit called "Improved Pension."
Over 2 million veterans' widows alone qualify for this benefit but are unaware of it.
Our elderly veterans at their most vulnerable time doing without. Families struggling to pay for care they can't afford.
It is a disgrace and a failure to honor.
One woman's effort to bring national attention to this benefit forced the VA to make a public statement regarding Aid and Attendance.
Visit www.veteranaid.org to see if your loved one could possibly benefit and help spread the word to honor our veterans and their sacrifice.
This benefit can be the determining factor in the quality of care that can be afforded.
Debbie Burak
Midlothian VA
Subject: About This Nonsense That Barack Obama Isn't Fit To Be Our
Commander-in-chief
"But it's John McCain who's unfit to be the commander-in-chief"
"Why?"
"He voted for Bush's blood for oil war despite knowing full well that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction."
"Which means that he had to have known that George Bush was lying to us."
"Yet he's for staying the course."
"Which means that not only George Bush but John McCain is destined to be tried before a U.S. Criminal Court."
"On what charge?"
"Having been an accomplice to a president whose lies killed more than four thousand American soldiers together with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis."
"So is John McCain fit to be our commander-in-chief?"
"Only if the job description includes experience in mass-murder."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Clinton Petition
As there is a petition allegedly going around to compel Barack Obama to choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate, should there not be a petition circulating imploring that he keep her off his ticket? There are too many viable, less divisive candidates for the job.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Delusional Hillary a poor loser -- just like Nixon was in "Checkers" speech
She just can not accept her defeat.
If it had been reversed--and instead it was Obama behind, in second place after the last primary, can you imagine Obama ever giving such a defiant speech?
The lady just has zero class.
A sad poor loser to the end.
A BuzzFlash Reader
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