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Re: For Tom Daschle, Is His Lack of Effective Leadership Opposing Miguel Estrada Deja Vu All Over Again?
Dear Buzz,
I am so sick of these ineffective Democratic leaders. Or should I say followers. After a brave Senator from Vermont defected his party, the Republican Party, he gave us a wonderful opportunity to deflect many of the heinous Bush policies that came down the pike. But, under the alleged leadership of Tom Daschle, we squandered that opportunity. He allowed through his leadership for probably one of the most anti American offenses to be voted for and passed. That is the U.S.A. Patriots Act. Which guts everything America once stood for. He then allowed the passage of the Iraq Resolution and the Homeland Security Bill. Is this leadership? No, it is follower-ship. Something I am so angry at by our senate Democrats. Some are to be heralded, but some are to be despised. By showing ineffective leadership, the candidates we now have in our Democratic senate that have voted yes to any of these have failed to differentiate themselves from Bush, and will ultimately fail at winning the presidency. We need a fighter as minority leader, and the time for the Tom Daschles has long since past. There is an old saying, "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen". Had he fought hard enough, we would never have lost the senate and most likely would have retaken the house. Then we would have had a real system of checks and balances.
Regards,
Mary MacElveen
Sound
Beach, NY
Dear BuzzFlash,
Has anyone connected the increased concerns for terrorist activities with the peace march set for this weekend? These guys are masters of manipulations, not to mention dishonest and self-serving, but in many cases, really not bright. When you've stacked the courts, bought the airways and newspapers and put everything into a hideyhole, its hard for any opposition to get any message out. Of course we know, some of that opposition is in lockstep with Bush anyway, so how can we win??
Elisabeth Ham
Subj: Alerts
Dear BuzzFlash,
The color Orange is up on our screen of life, and if that doesn't scare us into supporting this war, the FBI Director informs us that there could be biological attacks in the US this weekend and to stock up on water and food for three days. Now, unbelievably Osama has surfaced to send us a tape with PROOF of his deep and abiding collusion with Iraq. I do expect a CODE RED CODE RED soon, maybe tomorrow or the next day.
We are in the 11th hour folks of democracy, I have even wondered if that 11th hour didn't pass us in December 2000. The question remains how long will it take this administration to brain wash or wear us out.
Sally McDonald
Subj: "House of Cards"
Dear BuzzFlash,
Robert Scheer does what U.S. news reporters haven't done -- asks WHY Blair's press office took the risk of pretending that their cut-and-paste job was the real thing -- "because England's vaunted spy agencies would not confirm the falsehoods that Blair and Bush wanted to hear."
Hurray!
J.
Subj: Driving Them Sane
How about this? A blip from the NY Times.
****
If you haven't had your political feathers ruffled or your bristles raised you haven't lived----you've only existed.
Aaron Ands
-30-
(Other items removed from the e post.)
State Can Make Inmate Sane Enough to Execute
By ADAM LIPTAK
A federal appeals court ruled that officials in Arkansas can force a prisoner on death row to take anti-psychotic medication to make him sane enough to execute.
####
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/11/national/11DEAT.html
Dear Senator Edwards,
We believe that the will of the people takes precedent over the will of the president. Especially one who's claim to the office is riddled with so many legal questions yet unanswered. Please honor your constituency and your oath of office and oppose a unilateral attack on the people of Iraq.
Sincerely;
James N. Conner
-------Original Message-------
Subject: NC Dems against the war
BE IT RESOLVED by the State Executive Committee of the North Carolina Democratic Party that we oppose the armed invasion and occupation of Iraq, and instead call upon the Bush Administration, Congress, and the United Nations to support continued and intensified weapons inspections and embargo efforts and other appropriate alternative measures until it is satisfactorily established that the goals of United Nations resolutions regarding Iraq have been achieved.
This resolution does not diminish our appreciation of the men and women in the armed forces, nor the efforts to seek out al Qaeda and those responsible for the attack of September 11, 2001.
Subj: The New "Anti-Americanism"
Dear BuzzFlash,
There has always been a hard core of people in the world who hate the very premise of America, and who make no secret of their hatred for our wealth, power and our influence on their cultures. There have always been sporadic burnings of the US flag in protest of this or that American action or policy. Some of these were understandable in light of the way America has pursued its own interests over the past half century, but there has been little sense of much visceral, widespread enmity towards the US in most parts of the world... until now.
Only a few years ago we had a President who was mobbed by well-wishers as he traveled the globe, a man respected for his intellect and ability to communicate his ideas, an imperfect man, to be sure, but aren't we all?
The contrast between then and now could not be sharper. The man in the White House is reviled and derided around the world and it is hard to even imagine him in an unscripted setting, meeting with ordinary folks not hand-chosen for loyalty to him personally. This man has, in his short tenure, abrogated international treaties, broken promises, alienated multi-generational friendships and cooperation with allied states and infuriated old enemies into newfound frenzy. He and his administration have, in several different ways, run roughshod over the Constitution they swore to uphold, showing a cavalier disregard for rule of law, due process, and the norms of a democratic society. They have shamelessly pandered to the wealthy business interests from whom they sprang and shown utter disdain for the will of the people in the USA, let alone the rest of the world. Now the people of the world are told that, because of terrorism, we Americans have the right, even the duty, to invade any country and depose any leader we see fit. We also now seem to tell the world that if your country does not bow abjectly before the will of America the Mighty, it will de declared 'irrelevant' or...an enemy.
The people of the world recoil in horror from this swaggering American arrogance and that recoil is called Anti-Americanism. Yet this is not the America that the public voted for in 2000, this is the America imposed on it by a small clique of zealous ideologues using tactics of the most dubious sort.
The global 'Anti-Americanism' that our consolidated media shows us on a daily basis needs to be called what it really is -- Anti-Bushism.
Sincerely, a concerned reader
Subj: newsflash: Powell precognizant
Dear BuzzFlash,
"But Al-Jazeera chief editor Ibrahim Hilal told The Associated Press his station has no such tape. And Powell, when asked by a reporter to comment on the station's denial, declined to do so.
"Be patient, it's coming,'' Powell said."
Yeah, the editors and actors at USIA are just finishing up.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-US-Iraq.html
Doug BostromSubj: powell & Al-Jazeera
Dear BuzzFlash,
How did Powell know what the tape said before Al-Jazeera got the tape? Well, it was a plant, that's how.
George Bickner
Subj: MSNBC Scrubs bin Laden Story
Dear BuzzFlash,
MSNBC put up a story about the Osama Bin Laden tape that read [my bolded text:]
The speaker said the United States was waging a psychological war against Iraq and urged Muslims to stage suicide attacks on Americans.
At the same time, the message also called on Iraqis to rise up and oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who is a secular leader.
Within minutes the story was replaced with an almost identical one. The equivalent section now reads [my bolded text:]
The speaker said the United States was waging a psychological war against Iraq and urged Muslims to stage suicide attacks on Americans.
He said Muslims who go along with the United States in a war against Iraq were infidels and should be seen as targets of a jihad, or holy war.
Here's the scrubbed story. Please help get this out.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/842500.asp?0cv=CA01
Adam Short
Subj: Just a frightening thought
Dear BuzzFlash,
I have been giving a good deal of thought to the real reason behind the rush to war. I have begun to doubt that it is only about war. What if the real reason is to get us out of the UN and NATO? Consider this, the Bush junta has had several embarrassing moments at the hands of the UN. The conservatives have never liked that NATO can command US troops. Remember Kosovo. If we go to war without the UN and NATO then Bush can ram through a pullout from both. If we are out of the UN and all the other alliances then we might save enough money to come close to balance the budget. We could (in their minds) reshape the world in our image. If you remember the US was kept out the League of Nations because right wing republicans threw every trick in the book at it. Scary thoughts.
Michael Hawk
Dear BuzzFlash,
Someone needs to do a chart on the correlation between terror alerts levels, Bush talking about "going it alone" in a war in Iraq, and bin Laden sightings...they are all very oddly related...It is also odd that Powell knew about Al-Jazeera's possession of a videotape apparently before Al-Jazeera knew about it...sounds like the feds manufactured a tape, called it official, and CIA operatives are active in getting it on the airwaves...very scary stuff...
Marc Lippincott
Dear Democratic "leaders."
Since Repub. Dennis Hastert is doing YOUR job for you, could you just send YOUR paychecks to him???
<< Using uncharacteristically blunt language, House Speaker Dennis Hastert told President Bush in a recent White House meeting that his tentative plan to require seniors to leave the Medicare program in order to obtain prescription drug benefits is unworkable. >>
A BuzzFlash Reader
Hastert warns Bush on Medicare Drug benefit plan inhumane, he says
By Jill Zuckman
Washington Bureau
Published February 11, 2003WASHINGTON -- Using uncharacteristically blunt language, House Speaker Dennis Hastert told President Bush in a recent White House meeting that his tentative plan to require seniors to leave the Medicare program in order to obtain prescription drug benefits is unworkable.
"I don't think you can do it humanely," Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said he told Bush. "I don't think you can do it politically. I don't think it's practical."
In a session with the Tribune Editorial Board on Monday, Hastert said he told Bush that "I don't think you can pass a piece of legislation that takes an 80-year-old grandmother and says you have to give up your fee-for-service as you know it in order to get a drug piece on it."
this is just unbelievable! wolf blitzer is making a big deal out of the fact that when a reporter ask kerry last week if he was sick......kerry said no. as i would have! his family had the right to know before us! bush and his people can tell one lie after the other and the media pretends not to notice! by the way, where was bush while kerry was getting shot at in vietnam?.....it's called awol!
kate johnson
tampa
fl
Subj: Hastert Abdicates Responsibility
Hi Buzz,
You linked to an article about an interview with Dennis Hastert wherein it is stated, about bases in Saudi Arabia: "'It's important to have those bases there if we're going to continue to have some type of influence because of our economic dependence in that area,'" Hastert said during a wide-ranging interview with the Tribune's Editorial Board. "'My view, if I was king of the world . . . I would become less dependent upon that area.'" Of course, it doesn't even occur to Hastert that, while he is not king of the world, he does indeed have the power to make us less dependent upon that area. He just needs to allow legislation to pass which mandates better fuel efficiency standards. He could make a real difference. But that would not be serving his corporate masters, so.....
-A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Little Baby Bunning
Dear BuzzFlash,
Alan Greenspan was up on Capitol Hill filling in some of the Senate on economic conditions. He was for dividend tax breaks for corporations but not necessarily for individuals, and was totally against the magnitude of deficits Bush is about to run up. (Did anybody else notice that this year's deficit projection went from $301 billion to $345 billion in a couple of days without any additional spending proposals?). During the questioning of Greenspan, the most noteworthy comments came from Jim Bunning (R-KY) pretty much blamed poor Alan for the terrible downturn in our economy. Since interest rates are at the lowest level in 20 years and Greenspan has been overheating the presses to print cash there doesn't seem to be much more that he can do. So why Bunning's assault? It's simple - if Greenspan is to blame then George Bush is not to blame for a wrecked economy. Thanks Jim for clearing that one up for us.
YT Cai
Subj: "Bushisms" and stuff
Buzz:
I received my copies of "Bushisms". I think that my favorite quote is: "I know how hard it is to put food on your family". Dubya hasn't the slightest idea as to how to put food on the table or in/on my family. He's from a Connecticut blue-blood family and now he's masquerading as a J. R. Ewing cow-poke who has never cared for the "little" people. ( Has he ever handled any job successfully?)
My plan is to print up a few quotes and post them where they can be seen at a few places that I frequent. This will remind others that the same C student occupying the White House before 9-11 hasn't changed...in fact he has gotten worse and is capitalizing on our fear of terrorism.
To Shirley in St. Louis: keep at it girl! The Bush fanatic (like most) who is writing to you sounds like the usual ditto-head who can't think for himself. And isn't it strange that anybody or any nation that dares to promote peaceful efforts in solving the Iraq problem is given a lot of grief by right-wingers for daring to do so.
To those of you in and around Atlanta, check out the new talk radio show, WAOK, 1380 on the dial. It caters mostly to the Black community, but all callers are welcomed and at least you are given the opportunity to actually talk. (Also I have mentioned BuzzFlash numerous times on that station.) Peace!
Dee Turner
Atlanta
P.S. If y'all haven't gotten your copies of "Bushisms", you should!!
Subj: UK Channel 4 News Poll
Hello - I'm a British reader of your site - thanks for all the information! I haven't noticed you giving any links to the UK Channel 4 News site, so I thought you should see the following link, which gives the results of a new poll about the views of the British on the current Iraq crisis.
http://www.channel4.com/news/2003/02/week_2/11_poll.html
(Channel 4 News is probably the most independent thinking news on British TV in my opinion.)
All the Best - Simon
Subj: In The Middle?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Your mailbag yesterday (2-10) was so-o-o good. I'm seeing a lot of new names. Thank God there's some awareness out there.
But recently I saw two incidents that were so depressing because they point out the sad and dangerous state this country is in as far as the mind set of her people go. Jim Moran had a town hall meeting with people opposed to the war and some "peace activists". One enraged woman got up screaming about what is about to happen but then she ruined it by screaming "Israel has not followed sanctions - why don't you bomb them? And this room of "peaceniks and people opposed to the death of human beings" broke out into loud applause, cheers and whistles. This is a peace movement? Sorry, but when so much anger and hatred is being directed at one group of people, then the opposers of war are just as much hypocrites as our esteemed leader and the jerks that surround him.
In another incident, a man called into Washington Journal stating that he was copying the names of muslims out of the phone book and when the terrorist attacks came, he was going to turn in his little list to God knows who to do God knows what. The host didn't even look surprised let alone say, do you actually think all Muslims are terrorists? And we wonder why the administration is getting away with locking up any middle-eastern looking man and nobody is saying, wait a minute. When Timothy McVeigh bombed the federal building in Oklahoma did you lock up all blue eyed blondes?
If the idea is to divide and conquer, then bush is well on the way to becoming king of the world. For life! Both some in the peace movement and the some of the warmongers are bringing their own disgusting agendas and prejudices into the mix and the real problems are being muddied. Both Congressman Moran and the host on Washington Journal were remiss and irresponsible in not pointing out the hypocrisy and danger of BOTH views.
Our problem is simple. This country was founded on certain principles which are being subverted daily by what has to be the most dangerous and incompetent administration I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of them. It seems to be a nightmare that you can't wake from. There are serious questions of influence peddling, corruption, dishonesty, nation building and plain old competency that are not being addressed or even discussed. When people finally learn that they are all alike and all in this (life) together, then maybe we'll again have public servants who care about the everyday, ordinary people of their country who sent them to do a job for the betterment of ALL. Until then we have this nauseating hodgepodge of arrogant, stupid, spineless, dishonest self-proclaimed elites who are bringing our nation and the earth dangerously close to Armageddon by fomenting hatred and distrust.
When peace is really about peace for all, then maybe we'll all be able to sleep better at night. Until then please pray to whatever God you follow that we'll be saved from what I'm scared is coming. And especially pray for the children - ALL the children. It's heartbreaking. Thank you, BuzzFlash, for giving us all a forum.
SOS
Subj: Most Curious
By Associated Press
3:17 pm EST February 11, 2003 -- Al Jazeera is listening to a tape it says contains Osama bin Laden's voice.
The Arab satellite station's chief editor tells the Associated Press it received the tape late today and will decide whether to air it.
Al Jazeera got the tape after Secretary of State Colin Powell told a Senate panel he had seen a transcript of bin Laden's remarks
-- in which the al-Qaida chief called himself a partner of Iraq.
Powell says the statement shows the world needs to be worried about Iraq's ties to terror.
Al Jazeera said at the time that it had no such tape -- but later said it had received one.
Tuesday, 2/11/03
Dan DeLisio
Subj: George W. Bush Vs John Edwards the real facts
Dear BuzzFlash:
Recently I have heard a lot of criticism of John Edwards because of his success as a trial lawyer defending those hurt in serious accidents against the big corporations. However, the conservative spin masters fail to mention that he worked his way up to become a prestigious senator by himself. Unlike George W. Bush, who was born with it all, was a shady Texas oilman, and in yet another shady deal sold the Texas rangers to some of his oil friends for an inflated price. Before he become governor of Texas a state with a week executive branch.
Some also say John Edwards has little foreign relations experience. However, he has and is currently serving on the foreign relations committee in congress. Now let's examine Bush's experience. Which is a short friendship with Vicente Fox, which ended when he executed a Mexican national. Now we should look at how things are going around the world after a failed campaign to “get Osama”, a war, another pending war of aggression and occupation with the sovereign state of Iraq, and serious damage to our relationships with Western European countries, especially Germany where Gerhardt Shroeder is not even on speaking terms with Bush. Now who is better at foreign policy?????
Sincerely, A Young BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: The New York Sun says it's treason to protest the war.
Dear BuzzFlash,
Reason is out the window (and TREASON is in!) This is from an editorial in a New York--the New York Sun--on the antiwar protest scheduled for Feb 15. (New York has been having a problem getting a permit. Yesterday we were granted a a permit to rally, but not to march.) Although the entire editorial is bellicose and nasty, I was especially stunned to read the following paragraphs:
"So long as the protesters are invoking the Constitution, they might have a look at Article III. That says, "Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court." ...
So the New York City police could do worse, in the end, than to allow the protest and send two witnesses along for each participant, with an eye toward preserving at least the possibility of an eventual treason prosecution. Thus fully respecting not just some, but all of the constitutional principles at stake."
Here's the url: http://www.nysun.com/sunarticle.asp?artID=529
If anyone still thinks "it can't happen here" -- well, it can. And is.
February 15. Let's all be at a peace rally. No matter how they try to besmirch it. We aren't going to let them frighten us out of our wits, are we?
HECK NO!!!!
Peace!
Mary Kim
Subj: He's our ACMHIC - Absolute Chief "MotherHugger" in Charge
Dear BuzzFlash -
What is this with Bush repeating over and over that one of his duties is to " hug" the mothers and widows of our troops killed in battle? What is his obsession with this phrase? Even in his talk to religious broadcasters about taking money away from government programs and giving it to them, he has to talk about this.
Does he think that is a holy, sacramental act - and only he can bestow it? Does he think this is like Jesus touching and healing the wounded, diseased, or even dead? Does he think that these people care about "his touch"? After he's destroyed their economic well-being, mortgaged their children's and grandchildren's future to a mountainous national debt, endangered all of the United States by making enemies around the world, and then killed their son or husband, does he think that his "hug" makes it all OK? What a sociopath!
Why is this, once again, all about him? It's always about him, isn't it? It's never about us. This is a very sick, sick man.
He's our ACMHIC - Absolute Chief "MotherHugger" in Charge. God help us all.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20030210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush
President Bush appealed to a receptive audience of religious broadcasters Monday to help build support for his efforts to change federal programs for the needy.
"I hug the mothers and the widows of those who may have lost their life in the name of peace and freedom," he said. "I take my responsibilities incredibly seriously about the commitment of troops."
Regards,
Sharon Addison
Loudon,
TN
Subj: White House Statement Regarding the bin Laden Tape
Dear BuzzFlash,
Oh this is pitiful! Regarding the Bin Laden tape the White House stated that this new tape PROVES that Saddam is connected to Osama, and IF Bin Laden is alive they will catch him!
Translation: Bin Laden is "alive" enough to make the statement that proves an association between Saddam and himself, but when it comes to the question of why Bin Laden is still running free depends on whether Bin Laden is "alive" or not!
A pitiful and desperate attempt by the White House spin machine to save the political skin of a blundering administration and to cover up their blatant incompetence in diplomacy!
Nancy Lynn
Nagy (TN)
Impeach
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Ashcroft!
http://www.votetoimpeach.org
Dear BuzzFlash,
Great. Our guvmint goes around the world for years on covert missions driven by corporate-politico policy, killing men, women, and children, destroying property and stealing natural resources, decapitating government heads and installing American figureheads, etc., and now, when our U.S. government warns us of attack from the victims of U.S. terrorism, we are told to use duck tape and plastic to protect us from their attacks. Great. Just great.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: Pray for the President
At the National Prayer Breakfast last week, our President said that he prays for strength, guidance and forgiveness. Forgiveness for what? Forgiveness for his sharp tongue? For his condemning attitude? For his love of money and power? For his unwillingness to have mercy on others just as God has mercy on him? For his willingness to kill thousands of innocent Iraqis to protect the sanctity of the American fetus?
When will our President, a born-again Christian, recognize his own sins? I am still praying for our President. I pray that he will repent for his own sins, and I am sorry, for they are many. I pray that he will represent our God as being the same God as Saddam Hussein's God, a God that is loving, forgiving and merciful. Then we have a chance for Peace.
Rick Raab, Reelsville, Indiana
Subj: ABC News encourages parents to patronize and lie to their kids about war
How to Tell Your Kids About War [excerpt]
"An important part of this discussion is to help children separate their fears from the real threat", added John Fairbank, co-director of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress in Los Angeles. ...
"So when we talk to young children we want to say: 'That bad man is threatening our safety and so our good president [who is the paternal image for our country], is going to protect us," she added.
When talking to young children about the issues of war, parents should explain it in very concrete terms. For example, they can take out a globe and show where Iraq is, and how far away it is in comparison to where they live. By assuring children that the war is not happening in their neighborhood, parents can help them feel safe.
Full Text: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/US/war_kids030210.html
Scott Mincey
Subj: The logic of contradictory thought - why the US confuses the world
Let's see if I understand this:
We are seriously considering nuking Iraq, which doesn't have nuclear weapons, because it is trying to get them. We will not nuke North Korea, which has nuclear weapons and is building more. That will teach other countries not to try to get nuclear weapons.
I get it.
Last time the Germans went to war, we licked them and executed their leaders. We spent 50 years telling them not to act like Prussian militarists, who go to war to get their way. So when their chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, doesn't join in our war on Iraq, he is useless. That's because we are not Prussians.
I get it.
Here's another one. We said everyone should heed leaders of eight other European countries who broke with Mr. Schroeder to jointly back us on Iraq. The countries included mighty Denmark and stylish Portugal. When leaders of the same eight countries separately asked us to sign the Kyoto treaty on global warming, the land-mine treaty and the international war crimes tribunal pact, we gave them them the brush-off. That's because they didn't address their letters properly, or perhaps because we don't want to.
I think I see that, sort of.
Randizzle
Subj: Daschle's Lackluster Leadership
Dear BuzzFlash,
When discussing a rudderless democratic caucus in the Senate, especially in the judiciary, please don't forget the gutless wonder, Joe Biden. Thanks to his wishy-washy participation on that committee, Clarence Thomas sits on the Supreme Court today.
Mike Brown
Waco,
Texas
Subj: flashback 12/01: Bush 'doctored' bin laden tape
flashback 12/01: Bush 'doctored' bin laden tape
here's how the Bush family of Oil tried to hide the Saudis connection once again -
Newsday - December 23, 2001
Diagnosis: It's All About Oil
by Jimmy Breslinexcerpt -
"It's all about oil," the doctor said.
Suddenly, on Friday, the government's tape of bin Laden boasting about the World Trade Center plane crashes was revealed as having deliberately withheld footage that was at least vital. Here was a Saudi Arabian cleric telling bin Laden about other immans in Saudi Arabia who had praised the attack on the World Trade Center. Donations usually follow sermons.
When the first tape was issued by our government, President George W. Bush said it was idiotic for anyone to say that it was a fraud or had been doctored. This was directed to Arabs. Nobody ever thought that Bush's government would be jobbing the American public. It was inconceivable that anybody in Washington would cut, clip, confiscate something that we should see, but would not because it would make Saudi Arabia look bad. The whole Bush family has done big beautiful being around with Saudi Arabia.
Their second man, Cheney, first hurt his back by bending over to pick up the money he made with Saudi Arabia. How could anybody say that men this big would take a videotape and turn it into a lie of omission?
Our government knows as well as people who had relatives at Cantor Fitzgerald or firefighters that Saudi Arabians were the murderers on the planes on Sept. 11. The leader was this guy Atta, from Saudi Arabia, and he flew the plane into the north tower.
Listen to the tape that finally got out Friday, here is a cleric saying with exuberance that people in Saudi Arabia thought bin Laden had done a great thing, killing all those people in New York.
"The Washington people are trying to say that they didn't want to show it because the Saudis are giving us such great intelligence. They didn't want to insult them," I said to the doctor in Phoenix.
"It's all about oil," he said.
http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-nybres232521056dec23.column?coll=ny%2Dnews%2Dcolumnists
Click Here: Check out "Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Bin Laden offers tips to defend Iraq"
"Could it simply be an actor, hired by the CIA, addressing the world from Langley, Virginia?"
God forbid the Bush administration would do something so dishonest!!!!
Gigi
Hello,
I've been reading BuzzFlash since 9/11 and have to tell you that I'm impressed by the stories you find and post links to.
It's been a very interesting experience and very a satisfying one too as I can not and will not read mainstream media at all. Thank you for turning over the rocks you stumble across and shedding some light on what's going on behind the scenes as it were. Seems, no, I know, that the mainstream media just hasn't got the moral or ethical high ground in bringing anyone the news anymore. Probably too concerned about their anchors 'celebrity' status to ... whatever.
thx
m
[BuzzFlash Note: And profits. When your number one motive for existence is profits, everything else, including unbiased news, is secondary.]
Subj: Coverup by MSNBC?
Hi Buzz,
Are you aware of the breaking news about a scandal involving an MSNBC coverup of the latest BL tape? Apparently, MSNBC published a translation of the tape which had BL Calling for the overthrow! of the "secular infidel" SH.
Shortly afterwards, MSNBC edited out that line of the translation, but thanks to some vigilant readers over at www.democraticunderground.com the original article was screen captured, and MSNBC can't deny what they did. They've put up a "correction" stating that their original translation was in error. Yea, right, a who sentence just evaporated. And the very one that would disprove that BL and SH are " buddies".
Here's a link where you can view the screen capture of the original article.
http://home.attbi.com/~matcom/conspiracy.jpg
Compare this to what they have up now at
http://www.msnbc.com/news/842500.asp?0cv=CA01&cp1=1#BODY
Also see: http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2003/02/1572672.php
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: bin Laden our Ally in War . . .
Dear BuzzFlash,
It's amazing that those words would ever be uttered after the devastation that Bin laden has caused this country. But of all the low down tactics the Bush Cartel has resorted to, to pass his agenda for the wealthy and distract the public from domestic situations with pre-emptive war against Iraq, this has got to take the cake. First a plagiarized Iraq dossier and now the Bin Laden "Dossier". Since when did Osama become trustworthy? I guess he is more trustworthy than those pesky French, German, Belgian, Russian, Chinese, majority of America, majority of the world, FBI, and CIA, who don't believe that the connection exists. But the Bush Cartel will go to any measures to get their War, even if it means they must side with the number 1 threat to peace in the world. No one has raised this point and I am completely fuming. There should be complete outrage that they would try to take the word of Osama Bin Laden to further their cause for War. There should be marches in the streets and furor raised by the victims of the 9/11 families for trying to use Osama (an enemy) as an ally in attacking Iraq.
What also amazes me is that there is little coverage of the fact that he denounces the Iraq regime in the "tape", he only talks to the people of Iraq, he calls the Iraq gov't"infidels". There is also little coverage on the fact that the entire reason Al-Qaida started was because they wanted Arabs to fight Saddam, for attacking Kuwait, themselves. They didn't want America to fight for them and were mad that Saudi Arabia let America on Arab soil. And yet they still want to make the Osama/Saddam connection. I guess it's because 50% of Americans believe that Iraq attacked us on 9/11. Instead of telling the truth they feed the lie.
I only hope that the Franco-German plan will be pushed through by the UN. How can we attack Iraq with UN peacekeepers patrolling and overseeing the inspections. We'll probably bomb Iraq anyway and go to war with the whole world. Like I said nothing the Bush Cartel does will surprise me anymore.
--- Erik Raske
Subj: Bush to Iraqis-Bin Laden to Iraqis
Dear BuzzFlash,
If Bush thinks that the recent tape with Bin Laden talking to the Iraqi people is proof that he is in bed with Saddam Hussein then Bush should make the same conclusion about himself. After all Bush recently spoke directly to the Iraqi people.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: Planned NY Demonstration and March
Dear all,
Did many of you see yesterday's NY Times front page with color photos of police in Times Square carrying automatic rifles? I am seriously worried that these were meant as a warning to the Feb 15 demonstrators. Am I seeing conspiracy where none exists?
But coupled with the published reports on the NYC PD's plans to contain in "pens" demonstrators who overflow the permitted rally site, are some official someones planning to incite a riot?
The net effect, those someones could hope, would be to discredit the peace movement as a bunch of violence-prone crazies. I might dismiss this as figments of my middle-of-the-night imaginings except that it has happened before. Please someone assure me that this won't come to pass!
I'm seriously worried.
Elaine
PS: I'm also directing this to any media outlets I have in my address book. Hey Mediafolk, whatever happened to the "right of the people peacefully to assemble" and the right to "petition for the redress of grievances"?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Murdoch said the price of oil would be one of the war's main benefits. "The greatest thing to come out of this for the world economy, if you could put it that way, would be $20 a barrel for oil. That's bigger than any tax cut in any country."
Mr Murdoch's comments come just a week after he told Fortune magazine in the US that war could fuel a economic boom.
Jackie Corr
Murdoch praises Blair's 'courage'
Julia Day
Wednesday February 12, 2003
The GuardianRupert Murdoch has given his full backing to war, praising George Bush as acting "morally" and "correctly" and describing Tony Blair as "full of guts" for going out on a limb in his support for an attack on Iraq.
The media tycoon said he was completely behind Mr Bush and Mr Blair as they faced opposition from Germany and France. Much of the world, he said, cannot accept that America is the only superpower.
Subj: No More Personal Income Tax
Dear Buzz,
Yesterday our financial advisor told us that the next thing the Bush Administration was going to try to do is eliminate personal income tax. I had thought that those in charge were primarily interested in doing away with government, particularly social programs. But our advisor had a new take -- at least for me -- he says that this administration is run by a cartel of very wealthy people who are primarily interested in securing their wealth. They are interested in government only in as much as it keeps their wealth safe. This is worse than I thought. I thought the friends of Bush wanted a society in which talent could excel and accumulate wealth. But now I realize that it is probably better described as a drive to create dynasties, inherited wealth, even a feudal system. I am sorry to say that this scenario does work - doing away with the estate tax, then the dividend tax, and next personal income tax. All they want is the value added tax which places the tax burden on everyone else. And social ills will be taken care of by religious groups who depend on donations. I am afraid this is the best explanation for what is happening and I am afraid they are going to succeed. My sound bite (byte?) for this issues is: Vote for an America with a large and growing middle class; not for an America of dynasties.
ja in la
Subj: Another Way To Wage War
Dear BuzzFlash,
AlterNet.org, MoveOn.org and other organizations are sponsoring a letter/petition asking our friends in Europe to stand in solidarity with us against the Bush administration's push to make war on Iraq. A compiled petition will be presented to citizens and media in European capitals representing the feelings of support from people in the U.S.
Unity among the countries of the world can help us avoid this war and the terrible spiral of violence that could engulf the Middle East, the United States and the world.
Please join me in signing this letter/petition, at:
http://www.moveon.org/openletter/
~Shaula
Evans
Dallas,
TX
Here's the text of the letter:
We, the undersigned citizens of the United States of America, are writing to ask for your help.
We are already grateful for your principled opposition to our government's misguided and dangerous policy toward Iraq. Despite the deceptive claims of the Bush Administration and the poor coverage of the crisis by our media, huge numbers of Americans have evaluated the facts for themselves and join with you to oppose our government's drive toward war.
Like many of you, we believe that war will not lead to future peace in the Middle East but to more violence and death -- not just in Iraq but eventually throughout the region, as well as in the United States and across the globe. With you, we believe that war will not bring about the liberation of the Iraqi people but visit upon them even greater catastrophe than in the past.
We are doing everything within our power here in America to change our government's policy. However, we fear this war cannot be stopped without strong opposition from the nations of Europe.
We, and the rest of the world, therefore look to you for support in this daunting task we share.
We ask that you attend the antiwar rallies this Saturday, Feb. 15 in London, Paris, Berlin, Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Warsaw and other cities across Europe. An overwhelming turnout in the streets will show your governments and the world that Europe says no to preemptive war. Before and after the demonstrations, write, speak out and protest in every way possible.
We ask also that you demand that your governments support the French-German initiative for additional inspections. If your government currently backs the Bush Administration, make it clear that they should withdraw this support. If your government is standing against the Bush Administration, make it clear that you support their actions and call upon them to stand firm.
Finally, we ask that, when the threat of war recedes, you join together with us in non-violent efforts to help the long-suffering Iraqi people in their struggle for democracy and freedom.
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we were deeply moved by Europe's messages of sympathy and support. Those of us who visited the sites of the attacks in the weeks that followed will always remember the comfort we took in the letters posted nearby sent from your families to ours.
Today, we need your unity more than ever -- or we fear that Sept. 11 will be only the beginning of a terrible spiral of violence that will engulf the Middle East, the United States and the world.
However, we believe this frightening vision of the future need not come to pass. As former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, who was Commander General of the Allied Forces in World War II once said, "I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it."
Let this be the moment when the people of the world, for the first time, truly come together to force our governments to give us peace. Please stand with us on February 15 and in the future, as we stand with you.
BuzzFlash-
I first heard about the Bin Laden AUDIOTAPE on the radio as I was delivering mail, I heard one time that the Arab nations disavowed it was authentic, then that news tidbit was jerked off the airwaves. It seemed rather convenient timing, but I waited to make a judgement. Then when I got home from work and saw Baby Bush on T.V. telling that Osama had spoken outright about having joint Al Qaeda ties with Iraq and having worked together and they must all stand together and basically whip the U.S.. I laughed and thought "yes, I KNEW this was funny timing". Then later, watching cable news and seeing a VIDEOtape being interpreted, I thought Well, maybe I was mistaken about the audio part, until I talked with my son and he thought also it was an AUDIOtape, then I KNEW I was correct about this being a fake tape just miraculously handed to them at a time when they needed proof of Al Qaeda ties. Perfect timing? Thanks for being here to help me feel validated, BuzzFlash!!
Kathie
Quote of the Day -- Paul Begala
Well, our president, speaking of him, on domestic issues flew to Nashville today, where he talked up his so-called compassion agenda.
It's become a common scene, like on June 17 of last year when President Bush held a photo-op at The Villages at Carver, an Atlanta housing project founded by HUD's Hopes Six program. President Bush lavished praise on the program. The White House featured a photograph of it on their web site.
But as the "Atlanta Journal Constitution" reports, President Bush is eliminating funding for the very program that funds The Villages at Carver. Part of a pattern.
Just last week Mr. Bush visited the Boys and Girls Clubs, whose budget he's cutting by $10 million.
He also cut funding for the Even Start literacy program, which he praised in New Mexico. He cut funding for an ethanol program he praised in Iowa. He cut funding for a University of Pittsburgh bioterrorism center he had praised in Pennsylvania. He even cut funding for a program that helps kids with cancer at Evanson (ph) Hospital in Atlanta, which moved him to tears when he visited that hospital.
When asked how he could speak straight faced about compassion for the poor, while crippling their programs in his budget, Mr. Bush replied, read my lip service.
One bright spot, of course, all across America underprivileged children are learning the meaning of a very big word, hypocrisy.
Chewgababy
Subj: Rush Challenge
Dear BuzzFlash,
My gawd, how deep must the boots be to Rush-watch! That one quote of his you provided in your challenge is enough to scar one for life.
But he revealed the thuglican gameplan (which we already knew):
"... if John Kerry tries to bring up Vietnam in a debate with George W. Bush, and asks that question, all Bush has got to do is bring up Bill Clinton -- "
Who needs accountability when you have Bill Clinton to blame for your own sins? Hey, in a way they worship him---Bill is like their living Jesus, ready to die again and again for their sins!
~~robyn su
Hey BuzzFlash,
I thought I should do my patriotic chore and go out and get some duck tape and black film for the windows, supplies of beans, and bottled water. I imagine Nestle, who owns just about all the bottled waters will be getting pretty rich off of this "orange alert". Let's see which of Bush's business buddies own companies which distribute these "orange alert" kits. Would you put it past the Bush administration to create a mini-biological or chemical attack "just to show us"?
Mani
