BuzzFlash
presents Barbara's Daily BuzzFlash Minute
exclusively on BuzzFlash.com
A collection of insightful ruminations, reflections, and rants on the events of the day (with the exception of the weekend). We'll collect a week's worth here and then archive them. Come visit each weekday to see what's pushing Barbara's buttons.
June 11, 2004
"Asked if torture is ever justified, Bush replied, "Look, I'm going to say it one more time. ... The instructions went out to our people to adhere to law. That ought to comfort you." Uhh, do you mean the law you guys just made up? You know, the one made special to include torture? Just asking.
* * *
If the Repuglicans truly want to venerate and deify Ronald Reagan, then they would do themselves a favor by not attempting to equate Bush with Reagan. Given all the scandalous actions perpetrated by the Bushies, the Repugs take the chance of bringing the Reagan myth down to the Bush level, thus they end up without that which they've been trying to accomplish for years and never will -- a Republican JFK!
* * *
Hmmm, stealing the office, squandering record surpluses, gutting domestic policy, more vacation days than work days, ignoring terrorist threats, 9-11, conviction without representation, alienating allies, deliberate lies to wage preemptive war without proper planning or equipment for our soldiers, erroneously rewriting law, torture and abuse, secrecy, lies, and cover-ups. How long will the American people allow this to continue? How long will a Repuglican-dominated Congress support a corrupt administration and not fulfill their duty to serve the country?
* * *
Every day we hear more and more about the corruption, mismanagement, lies, secrecy, and the overwhelming absolute mess the Bush administration has made. I am heartsick over what he's done to our country in his ignorant desire to be a dictator. To all those who revere Reagan, know that whatever pride you believe he gave to this country, Bush is taking it away -- inch by inch, war by war, scandal by scandal, and country by country. If you want to know the best thing you can do for your country, it would be to return the honor, the dignity, and respect to America. If ever there was a time for bipartisanship, it's now. This country would be wise to come together in a massive effort to boot Bush out!
* * *
June 10, 2004
The Bush Administration refuses to release the so-called "classified" material, not because of our security, but to protect themselves. As we become privy to more "leaks," we are finding out we don't have to go to foreign places to root out an "evil empire" because Bush has created his own right here at home! Giving the OK for torture and abuse -- frequently carried out on innocent people -- by spooks, ghosts, and civilian contractors doesn't do a whole lot towards making friends who will offer flowers and song. Random abuse against women and children doesn't do much for a democratic reputation. Mean-spirited arrogance does not equal diplomacy. As evidenced by the so-called "classified memos," safety and security for George and the "suits" in his administration was their main concern.
* * *
"JUST SAY NO!" to Reagan's likeness on the ten dollar bill, the twenty dollar bill, or even the thin dime. And no more streets, highways, byways, or even driveways; no schools, libraries, office buildings; and no outhouses should be named for him. No, also, to a Mt. Rushmore carving, and certainly no brass statues. The man has passed on and it's time to Thank God his family does not have to bear that burden any longer. Nancy has gotten her last hurrah, the plans for which have apparently been in the making for a long, long time -- a week of national weeping and mourning, costing the taxpayers a whole lot of money better spent elsewhere. But, at least she got to say goodbye with a bang. Now it's time to leave it all behind us and settle down to how in God's name Bush can be impeached!
* * *
It's so nice to see George Bush is finally following the advice of John Kerry by reaching out to the international community. It's a disgrace though, that George screwed it up to begin with and that over 800 American soldiers gave their lives, thousands were injured and maimed, and that innocent Iraqi people have died and suffered untold injury!
* * *
While I agree the terrorists attacked the United States on 9-11, I believe the ultimate responsibility for those attacks should be with the Bush administration. The administration was neither competent nor alert; they chose to vacation at a time when, admittedly, the intelligence "chatter" was up. This administration was derelict in their duty because they chose to ignore threats of attacks. They did not serve and protect the citizens of America. I cannot help but believe they allowed an attack to occur because they knew they needed a reason to garner public support for a war in Iraq and thus begin the PNAC design for world domination!
* * *
June 9, 2004
In 2000, I believed George's statement to Al was the truth. George isn't capable of ad-libs without help! As I remember it (not as has been reported of late in the media) he said, "My brother has guaranteed me Florida." We now know how Jeb was able to guarantee an election -- he disenfranchised thousands of voters! Are we to see a repeat? Will he be allowed to do it again?
* * *
Having witnessed the past several days of positive media hype regarding Ronald Reagan, I am convinced we are truly living a "Twilight Zone" episode, created, written, and produced for gullible dreamers. Oh, how the past 12 years have managed to change history. Oh, how mainstream media has accomplished rewriting history. Having been subjected, at various times, to the 24/7 fantasy of Ronald Reagan, I now know why a whole lot of American viewers believe scripted Reality Shows are Real. And, unfortunately, reality in this case was a bigot encased in a bubble world, bound by a diseased brain.
* * *
After Judy Woodruff repeated Candy Crowley's line of yesterday, "Reagan
had the highest approval ratings of any president when leaving office," I
did a search on the internet. Obviously, whoever is doing research for
CNN these days neglects to check CNN archives.
January 10, 2001
By CNN Polling Director Keating Holland
Job approval ratings for outgoing presidentsClinton 65%
Reagan 63
Eisenhower 59
Bush 56
Ford 53
Johnson 49
Carter 34http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/10/cnn.poll.clinton/
* * *
Watching all the reverence offered for Ronald Reagan's expiration, I am struck with the hypocrisy of some of the more devout: those who would condone torture and abuse of human beings; the ones who speak only good of the dead, even if it requires a lie or two; and the ones who think it's OK to sodomize and murder a few innocent people, even if in the end it results in faulty information. Somehow the whole thing leaves me cold. It smacks of smiling at someone while sticking a knife in their back! How can these people stand before us and proclaim they believe in God?
* * *
Once again America is subjected to Repuglican hypocrisy! We are inundated with pictures of the flag draped coffin of a Repuglican who long since left this earth in mind, and now in body. We have heard the anecdotes, the condolences, and stories from Reagan's admirers ad nauseam. But we are refused the right to honor the Flag draped coffins returning from war, of our soldiers who have given their lives in service to this country. These soldiers have indeed earned the right to the same pomp and circumstance, the same respect, the same honor guard as is being given to Ronald Reagan, even more, but the Repuglicans believe those dead soldiers represent negative publicity for Bush's war!
* * *
I have finally figured out the difference between liberals and conservatives! Liberals are based in reality, the way the world really is with all its evils, ills, triumphs, wins, and losses, while conservatives would rather exist in the "Leave it to Beaver" fantasy world, a world they've created in order to avoid the truth. This is a world that believes the president can do no wrong simply because he claims to be ordained by God. Frankly, I prefer reality, where one faces life's problems, works out solutions, and does not depend on fantasies.
* * *
After reading the latest articles regarding a report written by military and civilian lawyers for Donald Rumsfeld, filled with legal mumbo jumbo arguing that torturers could not be prosecuted so long as they are acting under presidential orders, I no longer have to wonder "Why they hate us"! And I certainly believe George Bush, "will do whatever it takes," including torturing vulnerable people, be they guilty or innocent. The Iraqi people have been subjected to "shock and awe," which killed thousands of innocent men, women, and children in an unnecessary war, and, now , torture and abuse, including unexplained death while imprisoned. And the world thought Saddam Hussein was a bad guy!
* * *
June 7, 2004
When Ronald Reagan uttered the words, "Government is the problem," I wonder if he was referring to the massive deficits he was responsible for incurring? I wonder why he thought that denying the poor and pandering to the very rich was the solution? I wonder why he thought screwing the public with a wink and a nod, and a God Bless America, was the patriotic thing to do?
* * *
As much as those on the right of the aisle would like you to believe that Ronald Reagan defeated communism, the truth is that it was the successful evolution of a policy begun by Harry Truman. Truman's policy over time and with patience froze the Soviet Union out. Ronald Reagan happened to be in office at the end and the right wing conservatives (like stink on a pile) leapt on it in an attempt to claim prowess that they truly never possessed. I'm sick of everyone that believes a B-rate actor who read the line "Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall," on cue, ended communism in Europe.
* * *
Golly gee and gosh darn, today's White House ain't exactly my idea positive change! God help us if the corruption, secrecy, and cover-ups going on are George's idea of integrity and leadership. One of the basic tenets of Christianity happens to be if you "talk the talk," then you must also "walk the walk." Needless to say, George can talk us blue in the face, but his walk leaves a whole lot to be desired.
* * *
''It's quite clear to me that we do not have a coherent approach to this,'' Rumsfeld said at an international security conference." Is Rumsfeld setting us up for defeat? Has the tide turned on George Bush? To me, it's been quite clear from the very beginning: this administration has never been coherent.