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Daily BuzzFlash Minute
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Barbara's Daily BuzzFlash Minute
WELCOME to Barbara's Daily BuzzFlash Minute, a collection of insightful ruminations, reflections, and rants on the events of the day (with the exception of the weekend). A regular contributor to our Mailbag, we've elevated Barbara to her own BuzzFlash page. 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 21, 2002
Hopefully, average America is waking up to the fact that the Repuglican party does not give a hoot for the issues that are beneficial to them. The Repugs are for the rich, they are not interested in fostering anything that will reward the rest of the country. When it becomes evident to the "masses" that the Repuglican Party is ruining the environment, using your money to enrich those who don't pay taxes, subverting our civil rights, running roughshod over the economy, raising unemployment, and wiping out public service, then the Repugs will attack our morality. The irony in all this is they attempt to present an image of piety and a pure ideology when, in fact, it's all about money and how much more they can grab out of our pockets!
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Has anyone considered the hype from this administration? One day we get "We've dealt Al Qaeda a severe blow" and "we've interrupted Osama's ability to commit terror," and then the next day we hear "Al Qaeda is still out there," "the US can expect more attacks," "Al Qaeda may be planning to detonate a dirty bomb somewhere in the US," and "23 terrorists are believed to be on a ship planning to land at a western US port." Just what can we expect for the billion dollars a month Bush spends on his war on terrorism? Thus far, this "experienced" bunch of know-it-alls have nothing: three US citizens, a few hundred foreign "combatants," and one supposed "big fish" held by the Pakistani's. Really folks, Osama and Mullah are still at large and Al Qaeda is still somewhere in the caves of Afghanistan. Now, we're getting hype on invading Iraq. As my grandmother used to say, "Clean up one mess, before starting another."
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CHAOS AND CONFUSION RAMPANT IN D.C.!!! Those paragons of paranoia must be back in the White House! Yes, it's Dumbya and the gang. Now we have the investigators investigated by the investigatees. As a matter of clarification, the Congressional Committee investigating the lapses in FBI intelligence pre 9-11 are now being investigated by the FBI. Only in America when an illegitimate president perches in the Oval Office could something this hilarious be taking place, all at the expense of the American taxpayer. And they said they didn't like BIG GOVERNMENT.
PS Their are more people in Washington with big lapses in intelligence than the FBI, the Bush administration qualifies for first place!
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Sadly, it is becoming evident that when Bush said "it would be a heck of a lot easier to be a dictator than work in a democracy," he meant it. Was it a Freudian slip? His actions thus far are proof he intends to move American Democracy into a right-wing Repuglican biased dictatorship. Civil rights and civil liberties, as we have known them, are now a thing of the past. Freedom of the press and speech no longer exist. You can now be jailed in this country at the whim of one man because he "thinks" you're a bad guy. There will be no benefit of counsel, no court hearings, no opportunity to prove guilt or innocence. I am amazed that the press and those in a position to monitor the unconstitutionality of these actions are mute. I am amazed that we the people do not matter.
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June 20, 2002
All the accusations the Repuglicans lodged against Bill Clinton are in fact a credible bio for their boy George! Only worse, because Dumbya uses other people to do his dirty work so he can run around telling America how "great" he is. Dumbya personally OKAYED the bin Laden family to fly away while the rest of America was grounded. He has his boys running polls and focus groups as actively as any in the past. He caves on issues to his "financial" supporters quicker than the blink of an eye. His "war" room is running and is busy. A night in the Lincoln bedroom didn't cost the American taxpayer anywhere near as much as all the favors Dumbya does for his oil buddies and corporate America. If he continues in this same vein will we, at some time in the future, see a presidential pardon for you know who?
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It is ridiculous for the military to feign neutrality in order to establish credibility. The whole country knows that the leadership in the military is pro-Repuglican because they think they get a better deal from conservatives. It boils down to money, and plenty of it. Their reasoning for objecting to the Clinton administration, because he objected to the Viet Nam War is just as ludicrous -- they supported a National Guard AWOLer who evaded service in Viet Nam over a man who was actively engaged in the military in Viet Nam. All this holier than thou stuff is bull. They are not a neutral organization, they are in favor of the hawks and the Repuglican party and the whole world knows it!
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I hope the Democratic leadership remembers Election 2000 and what can happen with an overzealous right-wing judiciary. I hope that observing Ashcroft's questionable practices is enough to warrant further scrutiny of any Bush nominee. Our future is at stake. What this administration has done so far is not pretty. Our civil rights are becoming a memory. This country cannot tolerate a one-person judge and jury, and that is what is happening with the right-wingers in charge! Democracy is the loser.
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Which is the worst offense: a crime committed against our country or the crime of annihilating and negating the Constitution? I was under the impression the Constitution was written to safeguard our liberties. We were guaranteed the right of due process. Silly me! Little did I know that Bush and "his" administration could subvert the Constitution and make up laws as they go to fit whatever situation they deem necessary to maintain control. Folks, we are being had, and it ain't the terrorists who are losing.
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June 19, 2002
Give me a break! We have an administration who is telling us to TRUST THEM? This is the same administration who ignored the warning signs of an impending attack, but paid the terrorists 43 million dollars just four months before the attacks. So, we should trust them when they are giving the CIA instructions to go ahead with covert action to assassinate foreign leaders? Trust them while American citizens are being jailed indefinitely without benefit of due process? Trust them when the press is not allowed to ask questions and citizens cannot dissent? Trust is earned and, thus far, these guys haven't done anything to suggest they are worthy. The only thing that can be trusted is that America is becoming a totalitarian state right before our very eyes, all without tanks or the military in our streets!
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If Floridians would like to do what's best for them and their state, they will go to the polls and get rid of Jeb Bush. The Democrats would be wise to monitor anything and everything in the coming election. Don't forget the votes that were thrown out, the purge list of "non-felons," the "butterfly ballot," and all the questionably criminal activities that went on down there, all to get Dumbya his job. Jeb will stop at nothing to insure a second term. My advice to all Floridians: vote Democratic.
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So Karl Rove plans to ask the American public in advance of Election 2004, "Are you safer today than you were 4 years ago?" Hmmm, let me see, the worst attack ever to occur on American soil, The World Trade Center, 3,000 lives lost; American troops on the ground in Afghanistan, American and Afghani lives lost; Americans held hostage in the Philippines -- 1 American 1 Phillippino dead while being "rescued"; homeland security color-coded alerts issued frequently; civil rights stripped; civil liberties in question; and the dire warnings that future terrorist attacks are being planned and will probably happen. NO I DON'T THINK WE ARE SAFER. Since the Bush administration seized power, America has become a nation in fear of their lives. Safety for us all is a thing of the past. The question should be, "Who do we fear the most, the terrorists or an inept administration under whose leadership all catastrophe broke lose!"
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What a difference a President makes! When reading about or seeing Bill Clinton, one knows what a President should be! He is a masterful politician with a healthy grasp of issues. He knows what's best for this country and isn't afraid to verbalize his opinion. On the other hand, when Dumbya makes an appearance we see a stumbling, bumbling, self-absorbed poor excuse for a leader. He can not utter a statement without his speechwriters help and even then he ohhs, ahhs, and errrs. No, we have not underestimated this farce. He hasn't a clue about what it takes to be a president. He's good at underhanded, double-dealing, lying evasion and that's about it -- nothing close to the requirements for a job that involves us all.
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June 18, 2002
Musing on Jerry Falwell's message that God has wreaked havoc on America, I just wonder if any consideration had been given to stealing, cheating, and lying (e.g., Election 2000)? Could fudging on feeding God's children have been a factor (e.g., cutting funds to feed the hungry)? Has any thought been given to robbing from the poor to give to the rich (e.g., A tax cut that benefits the richest of the rich)? Offensive, rather than defensive, aggression is not a virtue (e.g., Planning to attack Iraq). Try and explain collateral damage to God, I wonder how that would go over (e.g., Innocent Afghani's)? There are many things to consider when attempting to interpret God's vengeance and I don't believe Falwell's were the best examples. The people he cited are peace-loving, personal decision makers who never hurt anyone else. I am not attempting to know what God thinks or how He acts, I'm just considering other factors of influence and wondering if Falwell spoke of God's vengeance or his own?
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The worst attack ever to occur on American soil: the World Trade Center is destroyed and 3,000 American lives lost; Civil rights are systematically stripped away by the Justice Department; Non-citizens and citizens alike detained without benefit of counsel; The economy has spiraled down, the country is again into deficits; The violence and tragedy in the Middle East has escalated; Americans are denied the right of dissent via peaceful protest; Mainstream media is not reporting the facts, so news must be obtained from foreign sources; War in Afghanistan and troops in the Philippines, Georgia, and Columbia; Pakistan and India on increased "alerts" over Kashmir, close to all out war; and the rich in the U.S. are getting richer. I can't help but think, the PRECIPITATING FACTOR in all this chaos was Election 2000. Bush, aided by the U.S. Supreme Court, stole an election and seized the presidency. The Repuglicans are back in the White House!
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Unfortunately for our children, when the Bush administration and the Repuglican party finally admit that Global Warming is a fact, it will be too late. This administration and their party are ruining the planet! Their ideology is fixed in personal profit! They don't give a rat's you know what for the future of our world -- they only care about how much money can they put in their pockets today! No care and consideration for a healthy future.
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The case of Jose Padilla is a testimony to Osama winning the war! Democracy and all that it stands for has been subverted. This administration has aided the terrorists in their quest to undermine the principals of Democracy. We are living in a nation which has eliminated the rule of law. Padilla may be guilty of everything he has been alleged to have done, and if so deserves to be punished. As an American citizen he is also entitled to representation in a court of law. He is entitled to due process. When an administration can detain citizens with no more than "take my word for it," America has lost.
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June 17, 2002
Puzzling, as we reflect on "Watergate," we find the party of Nixon threatening anyone and everyone who questions the actions of this administration. Looking back, we hear of members of the FBI helping to cover the facts by shredding documents. Today we have an FBI accused of ignoring "clues" of pre 9-11. It's all more than slightly eerie and it makes one wonder if history is repeating itself. Has the Nixonian era oozed into the current administration? Does the party of Nixon continue to believe itself above the law?
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I can't help but remember all the flack and negativity during the Clinton administration about the "Chinese" influence. Where are all the complainers now, when Bush personally allows the bin Ladens to fly the coop? Where are all the doomsday predictors surrounding the buddy-buddy parties given for the bin Ladens by the oil big guy? How come we aren't hearing all the @#$ about the Bush family ties with the Saudi's? Oh, I see, it was the "Black sheep" family member Osama and only a majority of the terrorists were Saudi's that attacked the World Trade Center -- I guess it doesn't deserve the same implication for the Repuglicans. Anything goes for their boy Dumbya.
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History has a way of revealing the present! All we have to do is look at Texas -- the most polluted state in the country. Bush's new mantra is leave no state behind. His intention is to pollute the entire country. We can see the future of America when we look at the home state of Dumbya. Bush is an equal opportunity guy, he wants us all to live in the same pollution he created in Texas. What a guy!
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Where are those CHAMPIONS OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, mainstream media? Why aren't we hearing from them regarding Ohio State and the rampant disregard for Free Speech? Why aren't they telling us about the "groupie" crowd that Bush has bussed in for his speeches? Why aren't they exposing the fraud committed by the Bushies? Are they being complicit in "fooling" the American public? Have those in mainstream media lost all sense of justice? Peaceful protest and dissent is the right of any American who does not agree with the government. Can the Secret Service and police, employed by the people, arrest Americans for peaceful protest? What happened in Ohio is an outrage! I can't believe citizens in this country would be threatened because they don't agree! Look out America, Hitler has been reincarnated, this time without benefit of a brain.
