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Subject: Bill Moyers Addresses The National Conference For Media Reform. Watch It. [2]

I did. Moyers, Rather and Ellison were superb. But the show was stolen by Naomi Klein who is one of the greatest and fearless political young minds of this new millennium.

And: Re: Permanent Bases Would Technically Be Iraqi With U.S. ‘Tenants' As ‘a Face Saving Device' [3]

Sorta like Britain's 99-year "lease" of Hong Kong ... otherwise known as colonialism. At least the "Limeys" commercialized rather than militarized their land-grab.

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

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Subject: MSM Claims That US Voters Will Have Little To Choose Between in November - 'Obamacain' Editorial, Sunday's LA Times [4]

"That's mainstream media's primary assignment."

"What?"

"Force-feed us the whopper about McCain being just as much a centrist as Obama."

"Along with their trying to convince us that Obama and McCain differ on the important issues by at most plus or minus a few percentage points &/or degrees."

"Despite the fact that Obama promises us that upon taking office he'll end the Iraq War, negotiate with Iran plus turning things around here at home?"

"Whereas McCain's for staying the course, obliterating Iran and allowing our government, (among its other Big Brother activities) to continue with these unauthorized wiretaps."

"With MSM confident that if only the public can be tricked into believing that Obama and McCain differ so little on the big issues ..."

"Then what the heck, one might as well vote for that straight shooting flag-pin toting maverick war hero."

"And never mind that Obama's the peace-maker and McCain's the war-maker?"

"But they won't get away with it?"

"Who's going to stop them?"

"Us."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: T.E. Lawrence On The "Algebra Of Occupation" Of The British Occupation Of Iraq

"Rebellion must have an unassailable base ... it must have a sophisticated alien enemy, in the form of a disciplined army of occupation too small to dominate the whole area effectively from fortified posts ... It must have a friendly population, not actively friendly, but sympathetic to the point of not betraying rebel movements to the enemy. Rebellions can be made by 2 percent active in a striking force, and 98 percent passive sympathy. Granted mobility, security ... time and doctrine ... victory will rest with the insurgents, for the algebraical factors are in the end decisive." -- T.E. Lawrence on the "algebra of occupation" of Iraq by the British in the aftermath of the Ottoman Empire's collapse in World War I [1]

COMMENT: Interesting article with a timely quote from T.E. Lawrence about the psychology of violent war and occupation along with the inherently ugly and dehumanizing events that result. Something that should have been pondered by certain oily people before "shock and awe" war was illegally launched and after it failed when the WMD claims proved to be deliberately exaggerated and false.

The real consequences when America is at war: We may not want to admit it, but the war in Iraq is now primarily about murder. [5] (Chris Hedges/Salon.com)

[6]

James Scott
Everett

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Subject: My Thoughts On BuzzFlash

BuzzFlash is great. I'm a long-time reader. Your website has raised the bar for news and integrity. I don't have the words to express my gratitude for you being on the internet.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: America

Think of the U.S.A. as a jumbo jet that is diving toward earth. It has been hijacked by a bunch of ruthless terrorists with ballot box cutters and all the passengers and crew (including the captain, Al Gore) have been forced to the rear of the plane. The hijackers are wearing masks so as not to be recognized. One has thick glasses and squinty eyes, another is heavy set with glasses and white hair, what is left of it. A third one acts like a drunk teenager saying dumb things like "I get to fly the plane, it's my plane." Some others are wearing beenies. But these hijackers don't plan on going down with the plane, not the ones who seem to be in charge anyway. They are getting their parachutes on. When is someone at the back of the plane going to yell "LET'S ROLL"?

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subj: Peggy Noonan...yeah, right

IMHO, Peggy Noonan did the SAME thing when she wanted Democrats to choose Kerry over Clark. Does anyone think Noonan wants Obama to win the White House? Noonan is always analyzing Democrats and telling them what they think. She fails to realize that Hillary, and not Obama, won the popular vote. I don't want another Kerry/Edwards concession speech. If Obama picks Edwards or Richardson, then he will play into Noonan's hands and we will have McCain for President. That is what Noonan wants. She is just a manipulator. I detest her and her Reagan worship.

Obama Won, Hillary Didn't Lose [7] (The Weekly Standard)
[8]

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Hey, BuzzFlash

I was really surprised that you guys didn't put up a headline "Ding Dong - the Witch is Dead" after Clinton's speech today.

I've been a huge BuzzFlash fan (and sometime contributor) for the past 6 years or so. Your vitriol against Clinton during the campaign was demoralizing to me. I agree that she made fundamental mistakes, but your railing against her was so much like the rest of the media attack machine that we 'progressives' (rightly) lament.

At the end of the day, I know that I would have been thrilled with either Obama or Clinton as the next president. If she had won, would you have jumped on the 'support McCain' bandwagon, or otherwise continued with your anti-Hillary shtick?

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: Our Editor's Blog answers that: Yes, BuzzFlash Would Back Hillary Clinton if She Were the Democratic Nominee. [9]]

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Subject: Hilary Clinton's Campaign Debt

Why is it that rich people always seem to have a way and actually expect someone else to cover their bad investments? Hilary Clinton's $11,000,000.00 campaign loan is only 10.091% of the Clinton's reported seven year income of $109,000,000.00. Sure $11,000,000.00 sounds like a lot of money, but let's put her campaign loan into perspective; it would be like me taking a $6,055.05 bad investment loss against my annual $60,000.00 income.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: HRC Concession Speech

Even in victory, BuzzFlash and the alternate media still malign Senator Clinton, demonstrating an utter lack of grace or perspective. One would hope that HRC's concession would end the scapegoating of the Clintons, but it's a safe bet that Obama supporters will continue to reward the enemies of all they purport to believe in. Sad and revealing that so many can't admit that Bill and Hillary have done more to advance liberal causes than they and their ilk ever will.

R Schreffler
San Diego CA

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Subject: Interview With VP Cheney About Nuclear B52 Over USA

A guy I know demanded proof Dick Cheney is responsible for flying a load of nuclear missiles all over the U.S.A with the probable intent of being dropped on Iran, except some military staff snitched him out.

That's a tough order. So, yesterday I looked Cheney's cell phone number up on the Internets, gave him a call and did a short video/cell interview. Here is the transcript:

Me: Hello Dick, you are looking well, seems like you've been working on your tan.

Dick: Not exactly. As you know, I live in a secret bunker with no sunlight, so they spray some goop on me for public appearances to make it look like I am human.

Me: Oh! Hmmmmm, uhhhh, well, let's get to it. Dick, did you authorize loading up that B-52 with nukes as part of a black bag job on Iran, or not?

Dick: I'm glad you asked that question Muddy and the answer is, you are darn right I did. Iran has a robust nuclear program and it is imperative that we destroy their capabilities immediately so it will be easier to occupy that country and glob onto their oil fields, I mean, establish a free and democratic society.

Me: Nuking Iran? That's kind of a big deal don't you think?

Dick: Not at all, by comparison. When we get time I'll tell you about all the other crap I have done. Your eyeballs will bug out!

Me: Uhhhh, OK, are you taking those pills the doctor gave you Dick? Never mind, I retract the question.

Anyway, are you worried you might be brought to account for ordering nukes over the USA? Some negative liberal types say that is illegal not to mention really dangerous?

Dick: Not at all, I am the VP and therefore immune from prosecution from all national and international law. I have a written opinion from my lawyer proving it if you don't believe me. (Reads hand scribbled note signed by Gonzales stating, "You the man, Dick.")

Me: Thank you Mr. Vice President. Do you know where I can buy a bunker like yours, cheap? I think we will all need one as long as you are around.

Dick: Thank you, Muddy. Sure! I can get you one wholesale from a guy I know, call my secretary tomorrow. I get a 3 percent kick back on them. (Suddenly the phone makes weird clicking noises and I look out the window to see a black helicopter landing in my yard. Like eight guys dressed in black fatigues and armed to the teeth start to jump out. I am thinking, "this is not a good thing" ...)

End of interview.

Is that enough proof?

Muddy Road
Waterford, MI

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Subject: McCain And McCorruption

Why has the term "Keating Five" been absent from the McMSM's "straight talk?"

And re: Canada Shouldn't Deport Military Deserters From The Iraq War Back To The U.S. -- A Buzzflash News Analysis [9]

Instead, Canada (and every other nation) should deport all American neocon chickenhawks and their civilian supporters of the Iraq war discovered within their borders TO Iraq!

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

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Subject: Friday's Headline

Someone else wrote about the time for no profanity or slime. I was taken aback too when I read it! I remember when Bush came to the White House in 2001 (now remember we had just come through 8 years of daily Clinton hate by the Republicans). Ari Fleisher (I think it was him) said the same thing as BF just did. I heard him tell reporters we are tired of hearing negative stuff and we will not have it with this president. I got a funny feeling then as I did today reading BF's headline. Really!! The damage is done and you and your writers (and Obama supporters) did a damn good job of attacking Clintons. After all the slime towards the Clintons, you want us back. BF is worse than Faux. Obama talks a good game. I have seen many, many motivational speakers speak. Obama is a great speaker, but I don't know his past. I have a bi-racial grandson now 17. He has never been harrassed. He lives in Fla. I lived in Hawaii during the 50's, and saw no racial bias. I don't think Obama encountered racial bias living in Hawaii. A great place for all nationalities. I've often said Clinton was white but black on the inside, and Obama is black but white on the inside. I identify more with Clinton. They walk the talk!

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: The Democratic Election

I'm so glad to be back here, though I am not often on the computer. I am one frightened old person. Somehow, I cannot get the feeling out of my aging mind that we Dems have flat shot ourselves in the foot once again. The press whacked Edwards from a dead heat immediately and set up a two-person race superbly. (It's a scream to hear Bill Clinton [complain] about Hill's press coverage - Edwards was a virtual non-entity.) I'm a non-racist feminist, but this is America folks. An America whose Supreme Court has just said it's just fine to disenfranchise more voters! Isn't that great!

Here's what I didn't like about this "historic two person race": I sure don't see many women or people of color crashing regularly through the glass ceilings that count like spawning salmon, though the press like us to think otherwise. (Ah, yes, they use as an example the dreadful Carleton Fiorina, former CEO of HP, who, while madly outsourcing jobs there snarled, "There is no American has a God-given right to a job." But poor Carly, she's played the gender card in her memoir, but is now running the RNC. Perhaps she can outsource it.)

I don't believe that my country is progressive enough to vote for either a minority or a woman in a general election, especially when our elections are now privatized and run by large corporations and can be manipulated (and that's one big fat elephant that never leaves the living room for the press) and our primaries were so ga-ga, Clinton supporters are saying if she's not on Obama's ticket for VP, they'll vote for McCain. Or Clinton supporters that say if Obama won the nomination, they'll vote for McCain. We are talking nutjobs!

I hope I'm wrong. I hope people can see how destroyed this country has become under Kings Bush and Cheney and vote accordingly. But I also hope Obama finds a good ole white male to run with, or it's curtains for us again given the above. This has GOT to be an absolute one-sided runaway, vote-wise, not too-close-to-call-send-it-to-the-Supremes or any other nonsense that can be manipulated with vote-eating/vote changing machines, lost ballots, etc. It has to be a BIG win. I'm not the praying kind about this stuff, but I'm starting NOW.

A BuzzFlash Reader 

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Subject: Floyd G Brown  

Fellow BuzzFlashers,

I found the following articles/posts that deal with one of the Republican Party's infamous [right-wingers] from hell, Floyd G Brown, producer of the infamous 1988 Willie Horton Ads:

Roadmap of Hell -- guide to right-wing scammers and dirty tricksters

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss... [10]

PublicEye.Org article on "Citizens United - Floyd G. Brown"

http://www.publiceye.org/conspire/clinton... [11]

And finally...
Opening shot in the battle over crime

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la... [12]

Only through constant public exposure of Floyd G Brown and his fellow fascist/racist thugs (Karl Rove, Lee Atwater, Roger Sone, et al.) will these thugs return to the rat holes from which they came from.

Norm
New York City

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Subject: Hillary Clinton

BuzzFlash,

You must have been very busy over the past few days, eliminating over 40 negative items that ran for months in your lead-in articles. I counted only 10 today on Hillary. I didn't bother to see if all were negative. I prefer nothing on Hillary in the future. You really crucified her and Bill the last 5 months.

This is now Obama's campaign. He ran the best campaign, he was unstoppable, the Clintons have so much baggage to be near Obama. So if things don't work out in the future for Obama, will you come back and say it was Hillary's fault if she doesn't get out there every day beating the pavement for him?

One last thing, The Washington Post in a hidden article on Sunday said Obama spent a few days in the Yukon after obtaining the nomination. Could you check that out? He recently went to the islands for a rest and now the Yukon! Is there no place for r&r in the USA? Just a curious BuzzFlash reader.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: Thank you for pointing out that we've eased up. Here's the Washington Post Yukon mention: Extreme Travel Trivia. [13] If Sen. Obama went to Canada, it must have been a very short visit. We know he was in the U.S. on Tuesday night giving a speech. Wednesday the candidates all spoke to AIPAC [14]. Obama had his secret meeting with Hillary in D.C. on Thursday evening. Friday he made a quick appearance at an event in downtown Chicago. [15] And Sunday he and his family were seen riding their bikes [16] along the lakefront in Chicago.]

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Subject: A Heads-up About An Upcoming Five-Part McClatchy Series

Hi BuzzFlash,

After last Friday's appearance on Bill Moyers Journal, I sent a thank-you to Greg Mitchell, John Wolcott and Jonathan Landay.

Mr Wolcott is the Bureau Chief in DC.

He sent me the following reply, along with a "heads-up" on an upcoming five-part series, starting on June 15th, in McClatchy News:

Many thanks, Tom. You're very kind.

A heads-up about our next act: A five-part series on the detainees at Bagram, Kandahar and Guantanamo--how and why they were detained, who they are, how they were treated and who's responsible--starting next Sunday, June 15. Two of our reporters, Tom Lasseter and Matt Schofield, spent eight months tracking down and interviewing 66 former Guantanamo detainees in 11 countries on three continents, along with former guards, Afghan officials, etc. about what happened to them.

Thanks again, John Walcott

Hope all of you are reading McClatchy News.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/ [17]

If not, why? They got it correct from the beginning and did the work that the rest of the news media did not do.

Just watch Bill Moyers' "Buying The War" for proof. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/btw/watch.html [18]

Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. You can write to Mailbag at http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contact/mail.html [18]. Guidelines for submissions are at BuzzFlash FAQ #18.

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