BuzzFlash Mailbag for August 29, 2008
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Subject: Rain
Stuart Shepard of the evangelical group Focus on the Family called on Christians to pray for rain on Obama speech asking for, "abundant rain, torrential rain ... flood-advisory rain." Now on the eve of the Republican Convention a major hurricane Gustav is heading for New Orleans and might crash the Republicans' big party.
There's a word that describes this important concept but ironically I can't remember what it is.
Personally I don't believe in God, but if I did I would have to say that God is telling Focus on the Family to focus on the family and not focus on weather and Republican politics. It surprises me that believers think they can tell God what to do.
I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message!
Mark Perkel
San Bruno, CA
Subject: Turn on C-Span
Hey, Everyone,
I am sending this to everyone I know to tell you to turn on C-SPAN and watch their coverage of the convention(s).
No egotistical blowhards giving us their 'opinion' or talking over speeches ... and the MUSIC IS AWESOME!!!
I've got it turned up LOUD, baby, and I'm dancing in my living room with all those folks in Denver. I feel Hope and Change and new Day comin' on. And I am SO looking forward to funky music, jazz music, gospel and soul food in our White House!!
I wish I were in Denver, but this is the next best thing.
Woo hoo!!!!
I'm A Mama for Obama!
Turn on C-SPAN!
Elaine
Petaluma
Subject: Meth users not assasins???
I saw a picture of one of the three men apprehended in Denver first suspected as part of an assasination attempt ... now flipped into just being a bunch of druggies out for a leisure drive in the park ... if he's a meth user ... this must be his first time or I'm the queen of England.
Edith E.
Subject: Obama OMFG!!!
"Change doesn't come from Washington. Change comes TO Washington!!!!"
There is no way that Obama can lose this election with a line like that! Today, my friends, the future is no longer what it used to be.
I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message!
Marc Perkel
San Bruno, CA
Subject: McCain is so last century
By Republican standards, McCain was a decent candidate in 2000 as Bob Dole was in 1988. But McCain's time has come and gone today, the same way Dole's time had come and gone by 1996.
McCain now leads the party of endless war, crippling deficits, religious hypocrisy, and environmental devastation. The Republicans are now so abominable that it makes not one iota of difference who McCain's running mate is.
The big news today is still Obama's flawless acceptance speech in front of 84,000 people. Polls indicated that a minimum of 7 out of 10 Americans believe the United States is on the wrong track. Only Obama-Biden provide the vision and confidence to put us back on the right track.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: "Because She's a Woman"?
JESUS GOD! WE JUST HEARD SOMEONE ON MSNBC SAY BIDEN BETTER NOT GO AFTER PALIN TOO HARD BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN! WE WERE STUNNED. SO NOW WOMEN WANT EQUALITY BUT THEIR OPPONENT BETTER NOT GO AFTER THEM TOO HARD?
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: John McCain: No Choice for Women 8/28
It's hard for me to believe that any American woman--no matter how disgruntled--would be fooled by Palin's acceptance speech praising her "forerunners" Ferraro and Clinton. What an insult to women for Palin to tout gender rather than qualification as the sole justification for soliciting their vote!
And what double standard! Criticize you opponent's military judgment and then choose someone who's a complete zero in that department as your VP? BTW, Ms. Anti-corruption is currently being investigated for attempting to use her elected position to fire her sister's estranged husband from law enforcement over a custody dispute. Although the Almighty didn't heed their pharisaical prayers for a downpour at Mile High Stadium last night, apparently the Konservative Kristian Krackpot Right just couldn't be happier with a Gonzales' DOJ attorney-gate repeat.
Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA
Subject: Dems/Obama leadership bringing it together
This week, clearly, the momentum was seized by Obama and the Democratic Party. The consolidation of Democratic Party leaders behind Obama and his forceful speech at the convention, challenging McCain and Bush and detailing 29 of his own policy commitments, was all the more effective because it was planned.
Obama’s speech, an epic before 75,000 people, would have been less credible before the convention, before the Clintons’ stirring commitments to the Obama presidency, plus the equally impressive speeches by Michelle Obama, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Joe Biden, and others, collectively establishing their confidence in Obama and giving McCain and Bush the credit they so richly deserve. With that build-up, he was credible as he brought up the issues of John McCain having voted in support of Bush’s failed policies and also McCain’s temperament and poor judgment in international security affairs.
Again, this was all the more impressive because Obama had to bide his time until the convention and first bring the Democratic leadership together before he could speak out so credibly.
He is growing as we watch. The convention and his speech have clearly put McCain and the Republicans on the defensive and served notice that they are going to have a serious fight on their hands.
Obama is not enlightened in the areas of militarism, American imperial overreach, and the Israeli albatross, but in the realities of American politics no successful presidential candidate can be. There is no question, now, McCain would represent 4 more years of Bush’s bungled strategies and the bleeding of the United States by Big Oil and the global corporations. Obama is clearly committed, as far as he is able, to addressing the interests of the American people. He is turning out many thousands more people than is McCain.
Now, assuming his momentum continues to build, there remain the Diebold voting machines with no paper trail and the corruption that stole the elections of 2000 and 2004, and the possibility of an “October Surprise” attack on Iran that could turn everything upside down.
Twiga
Subject: Carter, Reagan, and McCain
The Republicans like to malign Jimmy Carter who in truth was at the time a popular president who up to a few weeks before the election was greatly favored to win a second term. The Iran hostage crisis was acknowledged as his undoing. Many suspect that Republicans made a dirty deal to win the election. Literally, within days of Reagan's election the hostages were released giving further credence to this likelihood.
Jimmy Carter was a forward looking president who gave a speech during his tenure stating "America must end its dependency of foreign oil." Jimmy Carter said that the United States must ween itself off of fossil fuels and set a goal of ten percent of our energy needs being met by renewable energy by the year of 2000. He even put solar panels on the White House.
As we know Ronald Reagan won the election, took down the solar panels, busted the unions, began the war on the middle class and sold drugs to fund his illegal wars in Latin America to overthrow democratically elected governments. Reagan of course, is revered by the Republican party. This is only natural being that the Republican Party is completely controlled by its corporate sponsors such as Exxon, Halliburton, Mobil, and all. While the vast majority of Americans are struggling from paycheck to paycheck they are doing very well thank you very much.
You won't hear much about this from their media shills, such as Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh and all ad nauseum as they are paid very well to promote their interests. Fast Forward to 2008, and as in 1980 and 2000 (and other elections in between) we are given the choice between a candidate who has a proven record of being genuinely interested in the welfare of his fellow beings and is highly intelligent, adept, forward looking, honest and ethical. Or a man who in his own biography, unabashedly admits that he seeks office not for what good he can do but because he wants to be President.
John McCain, when he constantly says, "My friends," is not talking to us. Lobbyists, and the well connected know how to reach him, but the rest of us most certainly do not. He is out of touch, out of reach and out of ideas. For our sake, and our children and their children, I pray we look forward.
Jaffrey Harp
Greenfield, MA
Subject: Sarah Palin
Apparently, John McCain thinks that a female governor who is pro-life is the best he can do for a vice-presidential candidate. I have serious reservations about this.
First, I think this is a pandering effort on his part to try and woo disgruntled Hillary "supporters." That said, with all of the Neopublicrat spin on Obama's lack of experience (which happens to be very subjective), let's look at Palin's "experience."
John McCain is 72 today and has been exhibiting signs of dementia at the best or early onset Alzheimer's. He has endured four bouts of melanoma (which is one of the most serious forms of cancer) and frankly looks like he has one foot in the grave already.
His campaign also touts his "foreign policy" experience as much better than Obama's. For the life of me, I haven't been able to find anything in his background that supports the claim he has a strong record on foreign policy. He is not on any of the current Senate Committees that deal with foreign policy. His only claim to any type of foreign policy/experience could arguably be his 5 1/2 years as a POW. However, that was nearly 40 years ago and is not relevant in the world as it is today. The man doesn't even know how to use a computer to do the most basic things, such as using "the internets" or "the Google."
So, we have to consider the fact that he may not be mentally or physically up to completing a full term as President. Enter Sarah Palin -- who has an equally bleak background in foreign policy experience. Big deal, she's the Governor of Alaska -- however that experience is minimal at best. Prior to being elected, she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, with a whopping population of slightly over 5,000. Yeah, she's just the ticket to potentially be answering that phone at 0300 in the morning. Snark on.
A quick look at some of her background indicates that she is pushing for drilling for oil in Alaska and supports the aerial hunting of gray wolves. Oh, did I mention her husband is also employed by BP? That spells conflict of interest to me and a full-bore effort to open up Alaska for more drilling and destruction of one of the last great pristine wildnernesses in the United States.
She is also currently under investigation by the State of Alaska for firing a civil-service employee who refused to fire her sister's former husband from the Alaska Highway Patrol. This sounds like abuse of power (using a political position for revenge). Allegedly, the divorce and custody between Palin's sister and her ex-husband was very bitter.
Then, of course, there is also the Ted Stevens corruption investigation. Like it or not, Sarah Palin is tied into that by virtue of her position as Governor and Stevens' position as Senator. He also supports drilling for oil in Alaska. Say what you want, but you can bet these two are in collusion.
Great job, McCain. I can't wait to see any debate between both Obama and McCain and Biden and Palin. This is going to be a hoot! Stay tuned, folks.
Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA
Subject: McCain & his sociasl security pensionS (sic - sick??)
To start with, McCain seems to not decline receiving several SS pensions (disability etc.) even as he rails against social security as wasteful, inefficient, unhelpful. HIS pensions total over $2,000 a month, I am told - much more than the qualified average Joe receives. Duh.
But then - I am informed that disability pensions from the govt are not allowed if one draws a regular - measurable, that is - appreciable salary. One must def. argue that McCain's govt salary, as US Senator, is by all means - HA; get the play on concept? - appreciable. So - WHY is he allowed - and allowing himself - to keep on drawing his disability pension?
Do I smell the rank smell of hypocrisy AGAIN?? A frequent occurrence in that man's campaign, right?? [More play on concepts...] Not to mention illegality, a bad smell in any situation...
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Palin Comparison
So, Sidekick McSame picks up a younger, more attractive former beauty contestant (Miss Alaska runnerup) to be his mate ... what a surprise! How is someone who, 2 years ago, was the mayor of a town with the population of 5,500 (Wasilla, AK) qualified for the job of President of the US? This makes Dan Quayle look like a stroke of genius!
Barry Baker
Albany, NY
Subject: Palin as VP?
Are they kidding? With McCain turning 72 years old, and a person who has already dealt with bouts of cancer, they think that it is a good idea to have someone with very little experience at governing anything but a little burg town, and less than two years as governor of a little burg state, she is ready to step up if McCain falls down? Are they serious? What are they thinking? Do McCain and his supporters think that McCain is omnipotent and will live forever? What planet is the McCain bunch from? They must use the same definition of reality as the Bush Crime Family.
Cindy
Northrn NY state
Subject: All American Obama,,,home run!!!!!!
I am a proud person tonight ... It was a total home run ... as I knew it would be!!! I am happy that I saw something in him 4 years ago ... like my working lady friend ... who absolutely praised him to the skies.
We are two extremely white ... small town transplants to the city (over 70) ... who are very democratic but, who are also color blind when it comes to whom we think can lead this country out of the dark hole it is in now! The last 8 years have sunk so many of us ... our age ... my husband is now retiring at the age of 74 ... and while it will not be easy ... there is now hope that we will see the world change some before we die! Our children ... if this man wins ... will see the country in a completely different way ... no fear!
In talking to my 76-yr.-old sister ... also very small town ... tonight, so hoping ... she is still working ... just to buy the medication for her husband 78, who has Parkinsons ... no one could have thought how horrible it would be. She uses almost all of her paycheck (and she has a good, fairly high salary job) but, when they take $500 just for one medication (she is now in the famous donut hole) ... and she is afraid to not buy them!! She will wear down soon ... and the hope that comes with this different administration ... even if not right off ... will be a shining hope ...
God bless and keep him safe ... he is our way out ... no doubt in my mind!
Shirley
St. Louis, Mo.
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