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Subj: Anti-War March
Dear BuzzFlash,
I just wanted to let you know that about 1000 people braved the 20 degree weather in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday, Jan 18th, to protest the war on Iraq. We were pleased about the turnout.
There was a smaller group in Omaha (Nebraska).
I would be anxious to hear what the turnout was in other states.
Irma
Subj: True Americans
Dear BuzzFlash,
Limbaugh is Un-American.
Just one man's opinion.
For the past two days, Rush Limbaugh has been squealing endlessly about the anti-war/pro peace rallies around the Nation over the weekend. He has repeatedly called the protesters "un-American, anti-American, Marxist, socialist Communists". He wants them silenced, arrested, jailed, maybe ordered to move out of the country, anything to keep them quiet.
Well, in my opinion, it is Limbaugh who is un-American, an American hating, fascist Nazi. Limbaugh doesn't want differing opinions heard. He doesn't want anyone to question pResident AWOL or the rest of his draft dodging administration's motives. To question the motives of the Bush Family Evil Empire is equal to treason, in the small mind of the Vulgar PigBoy.
Agree with them or not, the protesters are the true Americans. In this great country, it is not only our right but it is our DUTY to question our leaders and their motives. It is un-American to goose-step along with the party line and swallow whatever swill that our leaders and their stooges like Limbaugh and his hate-filled ilk shovel out.
The right to protest the actions and motives of our government is one of the most powerful rights that we have. If you want to live under tyrannical, jack-booted thugs, then keep silent, like they want you to do.
If you want to continue to live free, then speak out, loudly.
Just one man's opinion.
Nick Wride
Sent to Mike Magee of The Inquirer
Mike:
Thanks for your great article on the new "spam warfare" being waged by the GOP. Picked it up on BuzzFlash. My wife is a registered repub, so I "signed her up as a team leader. Just spammed 5 mags, papers, tv and radio with a few clicks using the "talking points" message. It does all the work, email or letter. Prints out the letter with the right address, ready for your signature and stamp. All you have to do is lick the stamp. Also, all of your personal info, including 9 digit zip is stored so you don't have to mess with those time consuming webforms in writing your favorite republican legislator.
Maybe CNN will do a news segment on this. You think?
Bob Gaiek, Atlanta
Subj: Liberal Media
Re William Safire's On Media Giantism column was the quote, "Granted, Rush Limbaugh's views differ from those heard on liberal NPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ".
Need I say more?
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: $98 Million Patent Infringement
Dear BuzzFlash,
Halliburton Energy Services has been found guilty of infringing BJ Services' patented method for fracturing oil and gas formations with a low polymer fracturing fluid, which BJ markets as Vistar.
A Federal court jury in Houston, Texas found that Halliburton's competing system, known as Phoenix, infringed BJ's patent and that BJ's patent was valid. As a result, the jury has awarded BJ the sum of $98 million in damages.
Chewgababy
Subj: Flags
Dear BuzzFlash,
I think in response to the Confederacy groups attempts to fly their flag over state buildings, we should get a group of U.S. citizens who had relatives in the revolutionary war on the losing side demand that we fly Britain's flag over our state buildings in New England, as a tribute to their heritage. I wonder how that would fly. Of course, I imagine at this point it would be hard to find many relatives living here. But I could be wrong.
Maureen
Westfall
Charlotte
NC
Re: The Little Boy President Pouts: Bush fumes over allies' Iraq stance 1/22
"President Bush said Tuesday that Saddam Hussein's behavior 'appears to be a rerun of a bad movie.'"
Gee, that's the same thing I was thinking about Dubya’s pResidency!
--Erin R. Lawrence
Subj: The State of the Union
I SOMEHOW RECEIVED A COPY OF THE DRAFT, OF THE PRESIDENTS STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
The State of the Union Message to the American people. Since I entered office two years ago, I am proud to say I have eliminated the three trillion dollar surplus, that the previous administration had incurred. The coming budget proudly projects deficits from eight billion to one hundred billion dollars, the highest point since my father was in office. With interest rates low, now is the best time for the government to borrow money. Over two million jobs have been lost since I entered the Oval Office and the "Texas White House." Due to a recession that began in March, the economy appears sluggish. My stimulus plan needs to be passed now. America is at war, make no mistake about it. Unlike the "war on poverty" and the "war on drugs," the "war on terrorism will go on as long as I am President." This is only the beginning, the best is yet to come. The state of the union is healthy.
Some of the opposition party and members of the media and press are suggesting that my friendship with my biggest contributor and supporter, Ken Lay of Enron, should be investigated. "I say no impropriety occurred," take my word as president; taxpayers money will be wasted on an investigation of my administration's dealings with Enron. My biggest priority in the coming year will be to insure that the wealthiest Americans get their well deserved, and promised tax cut. The wealthy invest this extra money into the American economy and create more jobs, it's called trickle down economics. It worked under President Reagan, who created the largest deficits in U.S. history, it should work for me. Some people are calling this a Bush Recession, the blame game won't work! Let's get together and fix the problem instead of blaming people. My Vice-President, Dick Cheney has every right to invoke executive privilege concerning his closed door meetings with Enron officials as a matter of protecting a principle.
Some accuse me of breaking the law by not allowing historians and scholars access to presidential papers "Under the Freedom of Information Act". Let me assure you, there is nothing embarrassing in President Reagan's or my Father's papers. Security is the issue in time of war. Some might consider a congressional probe of any kind, un-patriotic in time of war. This war won't end for years because we are persistent in our endeavor, and I'm proud to say we are winning; just look at the polls. I am grateful to the American people, the Supreme Court and all the great American Institutions.
My war against Iraq is totally winnable, and will make all us patriotic Americans feel better about ourselves.
God bless you all.
Your President,
George Dubya Bush
* * *
Found by Frank Fredericks, Lake Villa, IL
Subj: SEC Modifies Accountants Time Rule
Dear BuzzFlash,
Federal regulators, ordered by Congress to make accountants more independent from the companies they audit, have eased their earlier proposal in the face of opposition from the accounting industry and corporations.
The new Securities and Exchange Commission proposal would prohibit the two most senior accounting partners on a team auditing a company, and other partners deemed significant to the team, from working on that company's books for more than five or seven years. The SEC is expected to adopt the rule Wednesday.
Chewgababy
Subj: SF protest numbers revised
Dear BuzzFlash,
The San Francisco police have revised (tripled) their estimate of the number of people who attended the antiwar protest last Saturday. The SF police estimate put out on the day of the protest was about 50,000. Today they say that 150,000 attended.
I hope BuzzFlash will report the revised figure to the readers. (I don't have a link, but I believe sfgate.com might have the story). Thanks.
Tim Jasnau
Subj: The King Center Celebration in Atlanta
Dear BuzzFlash,
Each year in Atlanta there is a commemoration service for Martin Luther King, Jr. at King's former church (historic Ebenezer Baptist Church). The program is televised locally and this year it was interesting to witness Sen. Bill Frist, Education Secretary Page, and Ga. Gov. Perdue (of Confederate flag fame) having to sit and listen to Rev. Michael Pfleger of Chicago (a white priest) accuse the Bush administration of pumping up the war on Iraq to take the focus off of the administration's economic failures. He said that Bush hasn't really tried to find bin Laden because he (Bush) needs a "boogy-man" to keep the populace frightened. He also stated that Bush/Cheney are " anti-civil" rights. Perdue was so undone that he actually began to fidget. If possible I would love for the BuzzFlash readers to read Rev. Pfleger's speech.
It was awesome.
Dee Turner
Atlanta
Dear BuzzFlash,
Bush Scolds U.N. Member Nations on Iraq
"President Bush on Tuesday scolded world leaders who are demanding more time to search Iraq for illegal arms, and a top U.S. diplomat warned that war is fast approaching as America's only option."
Therefore: New Moon + c. 50% Bush approval rating => WAR
Regards,
J Warshaw
Boca
Raton
Subj: Attack On Iran the Member of the Axis of evil by Bush Cartel
Dear BuzzFlash,
Why doesn't the peace loving Bush administration attack Iran, the other member of the Axis of Evil, for the potential use of WMD.
I am certain Iran has in excess of 500,000 empty cans of pickle cucumber that can be used for chemical war head.
Maybe the Bush senior and Halliburton have already signed and oil consulting agreement with the Ayatollah's regime and they are now financially secured.
Where everybody is missing the point is that the administration is taking full advantage of the misinformed and very badly informed American public.
What is amazing is that nobody addresses the question of the similarity of the Communist Dictatorship in old Soviet Union verses the Capitalist Dictatorship under the Bush Royal Dynasty.
Mike Larian
Subj: bush from archives-how he really feels about blacks
Dear BuzzFlash,
These articles came from the archives. If anyone wants to know what bush thinks about blacks-this says it best. It is in regard to the dragging death of James Byrd Jr in Jasper Texas. With the attitude that the GOP is espousing due to the Trent Lott and all of their rhetoric, it is interesting to go back to a real life case of total disregard of the slain man's family. Plus he blocked the hate crime bill in Texas.
http://dir.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/10/16/byrds/index.html
salon
:: :: politics :: feature :: Bush angers slain man's family, By Jake
Tapper :: Page 1
This is the best of the articles
http://www.hrc.org/newsreleases/1999/990323.asp
SHEPARD, BYRD FAMILIES CALL HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION || Human Rights
Campaign
http://www.tfn.org/issues/hatecrimes/pressbill.htm
Texas
Freedom Network
http://www.unitedagainsthate.org/events/001016mullins.html
United
Against Hate
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/special/jasper/byrd/636320
HoustonChronicle.com
- Dragging victim's daughter supports Gore
Henry
Dear BuzzFlash,
I hope Mr. Smolnicky is right, but he left out a fourth, mindbogglingly wrongheaded move by Bush this week: introducing rules that would allow businesses to write virtually all the costs of purchasing options-laden, gas-guzzling SUVs (including Hummers) off of their taxes.
This, at a time that the President is also rattling his saber to take us into a war for oil.
What more tasteless -- and quintessentially Bush -- move could he make?
-- S. S. Pratt
From Krugman:
A liberal and a conservative were sitting in a bar. Then Bill Gates walked in. "Hey, we're rich!" shouted the conservative. "The average person in this bar is now worth more than a billion!" "That's silly," replied the liberal. "Bill Gates raises the average, but that doesn't make you or me any richer." "Hah!" said the conservative, "I see you're still practicing the discredited politics of class warfare."
Randy Kirchhof
Subj: ChickenHawk Limbaugh
Hi Buzz,
I tuned in to AM today while I drove my elderly mother to the grocery store to do her biweekly shopping, and Rush Limbaugh was on. Normally, I tune him out immediately, because to listen to his ridiculous lies and pompous self-aggrandizing is more than any reasonable person can take without a Valium. But, my mother and I had been discussing politics and the GOP propaganda machine, and since she had never listened to this loser before, I left the dial alone and we listened.
It wasn't long before some gravely voiced man called in and asked him where he was at during the Washington D.C. protests and why he didn't show up. Rush played stupid (very convincingly, too) and asked him what he meant. The guy, apparently one of those anti-antiwar protestors, chided Rush for not making an appearance and wanted to know why he wasn't there. Rush stammered around, humm-hawwed, and started to ridicule the protestors saying that he wasn't even aware that there WAS an anti-antiwar demonstration. He arrogantly said that, had he known, he would have shown up and made an appearance which he knew would have brought a much bigger crowd. But he didn't show up because all the protestors are a joke, hate America, and he makes fun of them, so . . . why show up?
Rush never let the guy ask another question, or say anything else for that matter, because he knew the guy might make him look like even more of a coward than he has already done. All Rush did was launch into a long diatribe about how the antiwar protestors are all unAmerican, hate America, are all fools and hippies who don't deserve to be taken seriously. And the best part was when Rush's excuse for not knowing about the anti-antiwar demonstration was that he's not an activist and doesn't give one hoot about this kind of stuff. He claimed that the ONLY reason he even knew about the protests was because he happened upon a channel that was covering it while he was channel surfing the satellite system!
Now, we all know the real reason why this loser didn't show up at the protests to "shut down the antiwar, America haters", as he put it, is because he knows that someone there would have undoubtedly pointed out to the hundreds of thousands of people there that he is a draft dodger, another one of the chickenhawks, a coward, not even a conscientious objector, just a coward, and they'd have run him right off the pulpit were it not for the fact that the only confrontation he'll take part in is when he's safely tucked away in a studio, talking to critics on the phone and with his finger on the mute and the hang up button.
-Joe
Re: Bush's Waterloo Week
Dear Mr. Flash,
Why does everyone assume that Bush is a one term President? He stole the office before, and he certainly will do it again. My fear is that if it is not easy enough for him to steal then he and his Bushistas will kill us to get what they want. They are making this apparent in Iraq.
Marlene
Tap
Lombard,
Illinois
Subj: New Yorkers! BE at the UN 1/27 when Iraq inspectors submit report
Buzz,
If you think it appropriate to post in the mailbag, please do. Wouldn't it be cool to get thousands of people at the U.N. for the Jan 27 submission of the UN inspectors report? Rumor has it that Bush will declare war sometime around his State of the Union address, the next day. - Thanks
To those who can be in NYC on Jan 27:
It's a bother to show up at all these rallies but it matters so much now. If every one of us who cares about peace showed up for the submission of the Inspectors' Iraq Report at THE UNITED NATIONS -- JANUARY 27 -- 4-6pm -- we could have thousands of people there (at least), instead of a few dozens.
Our numbers alone could tip the scale. We still live in a country where public opinion matters. How much longer will that be true? We've been spoiled by our rights. How many of us can imagine what it would be like if we didn't have them?
We know public opinion matters because the powers-that-be are so edgy about numbers. If you were in DC last Saturday for the anti-war rally you know the official attendance estimates were almost aggressively low. But they were reported almost without question by our valiant "free press." This conveyed a false impression to the rest of the country - and the world. And it sent a message to those of us who attended that we needn't have bothered.
But what it really indicates is just the opposite: Numbers are a threat to the Bush administration. Therefore, EVERY single one of us COUNTS!
Last fall when the Bush administration got the Congress to capitulate to its designs, the rest of the world was convinced that the United States spoke with one voice. We were told that to dissent from this sham consensus was not the right thing to do.
How's that? When the majority of Americans DO NOT support a war on Iraq? In fact, there are very few countries on earth were a MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS want to attack Iraq. In some, the governments are holding out against the United States. In others -- such as Japan -- the government has capitulated despite massive public opinion against the war.
This might not have happened if the Bush administration and their collaborators, the mainstream press, had not been successful in sending a false message to the world. So what we must continue to do is SPEAK OUT -- and that will often mean SHOWING UP. We are used to always having second chances. This time we don't. The time to stand up is NOW.
The week of January is commonly believed to be the date the Bush administration has set for announcing the long-planned war. The following day will be Bush's annual State of the Union address. Last year, he unveiled his "axis of evil" approach to foreign policy. That's a hard act to follow but we can be sure he'll try. Besides, just this week, Condi Rice ominously announced that the country and the world would soon be hearing an important decision from the Bush administration.
And since the mainstream media is having such a hard time counting these days, we can each email the New York Times when we get home from the rally to report our attendance and describe our experience: letters@nytimes.com
Lastly, everyone please remember to allow time to get all the way over to the river on 47th Street (and First Ave.) No matter what subway stop you're coming from, this will take some walking. (One suggestion: take the train to Rockefeller Center and allowing about 20 minutes for the walk across 47th Street to First Avenue. Considering what's at stake, it's not a big sacrifice.)
Let's go for it, everyone. For the sake of PEACE!
Subj: Important News Story
On Jan. 7, 2003, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) introduced HR-2, "Expressing the sense of Congress that the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 should be repealed."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: Ted for Pres
Dear BuzzFlash,
Dean's boring compared to Ted.
Another Kennedy in the White House, please.
Dean/Kennedy also works for me, but I don't know why Ted would settle for 2nd fiddle.
Clinton/Gore (hill/al) would also be fun.
Kennedy/Kerry, wow, the double mass whammy, the press would eat them alive, we'd hear the phrase "massachusetts liberal" a thousand times in the 1st hour
Kennedy/Dean. It's better than Jimmy Dean smoked sausage.
Josh Narins
Dear BuzzFlash,
A recent letter (Letter to the Editor, GlobeGazette.com) asked where's the outrage? Well - look around you. There's outrage all around this great country. There's even more outrage all around the world. We need to stand up against these lies, lies costing us more than we can afford. When it's just as easy to stop this madness before it gets out of control is making it all the more difficult to swallow that this is actually happening.
The activation of the (North Iowa National Guard Unit) 1133rd proves that this 'war' is hitting home. The rhetoric behind getting us into Iraq and those oil fields hasn't phased our patriotic duty to support our people in uniform. That's good. What's not good, is the misguided efforts of some people to perpetuate this propaganda that Iraq is a threat to our freedom, when we all know that is simply not true. Remember the first time, when we were all 'outraged' about babies being ripped out of incubators in Kuwait by Iraqi soldiers? Then it was uncovered too late that it was all just some ad agency's fabrication. The flimsy reasons we're hearing this time to send our children to what is going to be a bloodier war than anybody has even thought to realize, are the products of the imagination of the same liars in power the last time.
The American people have spoken. Look at every poll taken in the last 10 days. We'll support a war with Iraq when the members of the U.N. Security Council say so. Just because Britain is on our side, doesn't negate the demand we do not act alone. This notion of anti-war sentiment being the same as pro-Saddam is not only ludicrous, but laughable.
Where is the outrage is a question I ask myself every day. Every time I turn on CNN or MSNBC, where it's impossible to not see junior's face a hundred times repeating his infantile desire to beat the man who almost killed his father. This isn't about WMD. This is about oil and revenge. The sooner you all wake up and smell the coffee, the sooner we can get back to work at bringing this country back to it's rightful place as the global leader it was before January 2000. Because as it stands now, we are turning (fast, I might add) into the very scum we're sending troops like the 1133rd to fight.
-leQ
http://www.farpoint.org
Subj: How Low Can They Go?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Just saw an article on Drudgereport about how John Edwards was, GASP, chewing GUM on television and it has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
What?!?! How low can the Repug-licans go? Of course, if this is the worst thing they can come up with, then they must be scared!
Keep Buzzin!
Faron Thomason
Houston,
TX
[BuzzFlash Note: Next thing you know, they'll claim Edwards has a brain and uses it. Gasp! Well, they do have to differentiate him from their candidate.]
Subj: Anti-War Demonstrations
Dear BuzzFlash,
The attack dogs of the right are characterizing the DC march as anti-American and commie inspired as well as full of, as Rush Limbaugh says, wackos. I heard one Mark Levin saying the same stuff on ABC radio the Sunday after. Here is a link to the National Review Online's view: http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-flynn012003.asp. You have to wonder if any of this even happened. But the audience for the above will certainly believe it represents what really happened.
Hobson
