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The Mailbag will not post on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, but will return on Tuesday, May 27.
Subj: Bush War
May 22, 2003
The invasion of Iraq has been completed and our troops deserve accolades for what they did and for the difficult position they are now in –continuing the battle to bring harmony and peace to that decimated country.
I think it is now time to ask ourselves some questions.
- Did the president and his administration (Colin Powell, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld) tell us the truth about the presence of weapons of mass destruction and the association of Saddam Hussein with the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
- Considering the lack of Iraqi defense and the quick overthrow of the regime, was Iraq really a significant threat to the U.S.?
- Did the president need to start the war before the U.N. weapons inspectors were finished and without the help of our major allies (who are still being vilified and punished by the administration)?
- Have we found the weapons of mass destruction?
- Have we minimized the terrorist threat to the US and the rest of the world?
- Is the world now more peaceful?
Harold Martin
Waynesboro,
PA
I didn't see the news story below on your site and thought you'd be interested. Note the last two paragraphs where Texas doctors would be required to advise women seeking abortions that doing so may increase their chances of getting breast cancer. The paper's website is http://www.chron.com.
Keep up the great work.
Cathy Vance
* * *
April 8, 2003, 10:44PM
Abortion bill clears
24-hour wait, information part of planBy JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN -- Women seeking abortions would have to wait 24 hours after receiving information about medical risks, color pictures of fetal development stages and adoption alternatives under a bill passed Tuesday night by the House State Affairs Committee.
The all-male committee voted 7-1 to send House Bill 15 to the full House.
Rep. Frank Corte, R-San Antonio, author of the bill, said 73 representatives have signed on as co-sponsors.
"I feel very confident that it can pass the (House) floor," said Corte. "I think we have the votes."
A similar bill has been filed in the Senate by Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands. It has been assigned to the Senate State Affairs Committee but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Under the bill, the Texas Department of Health would develop printed material that would be given to a woman 24 hours before she gets an abortion. A woman also could view the information on a Web site.
"In no way does the 24-hour reflection period stop a person from terminating a pregnancy," said Corte. "It allows them to think about it before the procedure takes place."
The information would include color pictures and descriptions of the "probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the unborn child at two-week gestational increments."
"The pictures are nothing different than high school health textbook pictures. There's nothing to shock or scare," said Corte.
Physicians and physician's agents would be allowed to disassociate themselves from the materials.
Women also would be told of adoption agencies and other services to assist them through pregnancy, childbirth and the child's dependency.
The bill also would require second trimester abortions to be performed at a hospital or ambulatory surgical center. Those abortions now can be done at a licensed abortion facility.
The lone committee member who voted against the bill, Rep. Mike Villarreal, said the bill "puts burdens on how we perform safe, legal abortions."
"This is not a sunny day for women who want to access their right to have an abortion," said Villarreal, a San Antonio Democrat.
One of the most controversial parts of the bill requires women to be told about the prospect of increased risk of breast cancer following an abortion.
Groups including the American Cancer Society have disputed the link, but Corte said 28 out of 35 studies have said there is an elevated risk.
Subj: Democratic Party Leadership
Buzz-
I've been thinking a lot about the lack of leadership from Congressional Dems, particularly those elected to leadership posts, such as Daschle and Pelosi. We constantly see them waffling and regardless of how many times rank and file Democrats make it clear that we want strong opposition to Bush and his outrageous actions, they still waffle and whine, rather than lead.
It seems to me that one test of the D presidential candidates ought to be whether they strongly oppose Bush on these daily actions, rather than just the "issues" that have been poll tested. I want to hear Dean, Kerry, Gephardt, Edwards, etc, YELLING about the FCC rule changes, and every other action that Daschle, etc are remaining silent on.
Obviously, Daschle and Pelosi could care less about what rank and file Ds think, as long as they have the internal votes to maintain their leadership positions in Congress. Its time to pressure the D Presidential candidates and let them make Daschle's and Pelosi's leadership look as weak as it truly is. If we can't get our elected Congressional leaders to lead, then maybe one of these Presidential candidates will realize THAT'S how their going to get votes from the rank and file Ds.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: The Dixie Chicks were Screwed!
http://www.liberalartists.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=329
Check it out. The whole backlash thing was created by the Republican Party. I should have known this since Country Fans would never read British Newspapers! They probably didn't even know what she said until the Radio Stations started kicking the songs off the air!
Josh
Subj: Jessica Lynch
Dear BuzzFlash -
The propaganda of the Bush administration has no shame. I am wondering if the American taxpayers paid for Lynch's family to travel to Germany to see her, and if so shouldn't it be charged to Bush's campaign finance committee?? Along with a whole lot of other things???
Cathi Lowery
Vancouver,
WA
Subj: Tommy Frank's Retirement
Oh, I am sure it has NOTHING WHATEVER to do with the fact that he is being charged with War Crimes!
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: Byrd: 'False Premises' Prompted Iraq War
Buzz,
Good laughs are hard to come by these days, but I let go a good one when reading this article.
Sen. Byrd accused the Bush administration of using "false premises" to get Americans to accept an illegal and unprovoked attack on Saddam Hussein, the toughest criticism of the Iraq war from Congress. "If the [turmoil] in Iraq is the result of liberation, we may have set the cause of freedom back 200 years."
The White House dismissed his comments. "It was widely known before the conflict began that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction ... In fact, we have already found at least two mobile labs suspected of being capable of producing biological weapons. Administration officials believe the weapons themselves will be found eventually."
Are these people serious? The White House ‘dismissal' proves Sen. Byrd's accusations are spot on. ‘Two measly mobile labs that Might be capable of Maybe producing ... and Maybe Someday we'll find something else. Maybe we will, Maybe we won't.' This is what we slaughtered thousands of innocent Iraqis for? I thought the grownups had taken over the White House. Ah, but that's another lie for another day.
T Quigly
Subj: Does it get any better than this?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Such sentiment (and suggestions) resurfaced this week after Buffett penned an op-ed piece in The Washington Post in which he sought to demonstrate how dividend tax reform would far more benefit he (and others of his ilk) vs. a receptionist at Berkshire Hathaway.
The Oracle of Omaha described the kind of sunset provisions agreed upon in Congress on Wednesday as "Enron-style accounting," before concluding: Making dividends tax-free "promotes class welfare. For my class." (Emphasis his.)
http://www.thestreet.com/markets/aarontaskfree/10088944_4.html
There is the buzzphrase with which to pry away all of those old folks and housefraus who supported Perot in 1992 but voted for the GOP in 2002. Beats the shit out of "fuzzy math", and implicitly reminds everyone who put Bush in the White House. Additionally, it comes not from Carville or Clinton, but straight out of the mouth of America's greatest investor.
The Democrats have so much ammunition. And so little will.
David
Subj: The Stuffing of Bush
Buzz,
In a pathetic attempt to appear more "manly" bush has first, tried to pass himself off as a real "Texan" and second, stuffed his Halloween costume with something? Based on these stunts (especially the stuffing) should we now just call him President Johnson? As Buzz always says, Just Asking!
Phil Rowland
South
Pasadena, CA
Subj: Franks' Departure
BuzzFlash:
For once, the news accounts actually have given the real story. The reason that Tommy Franks has turned down Army Chief of Staff is easy: the job stinks and the money is better elsewhere. Army CoS sounds good, but it is largely a planning and personnel job. It can't compare to being a regional commander, as Franks is at present (read the book "the Proconsuls" if you have any doubt). Who can remember who was Army CoS when Schwartzkopf was winning the Gulf War. You'd never have heard of the current one, Gen. Eric Shinseki, if he hadn't disputed Wolfowitz' estimate of troops needed in post-war Iraq. Besides, Franks is now in a position, as was Schwartzkopf before him, to make big bucks.
You can keep the Pulitzer unless it comes with a cash bonus.
Philip
Subj: "The Truth Will Emerge"
Dear Senator Byrd;
My wife and I just read your comments, entitled "The Truth Will Emerge", published yesterday, on www.commondreams.org. Thank you for having the courage to speak your mind against the Bush administration. As I've often asked people in the media, Why is lying about reasons for attacking a small unarmed country less about character than lying about a brief sexual affair? Which do you think has the greatest potential of putting people in harm's way and increasing terrorists attacks here and abroad? I think all of us know the answer to that last question.
My wife and I appreciate your willingness to continue to challenge the comments made by Bush and his people. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that when a person's words differ from their actions, we should believe their actions. As you so poignantly pointed out in your speech, George W. Bush's actions, all too frequently, give the lie to his words. But the truth will emerge. Thank you for helping to ensure that it does.
Thank you for all that you do to support the American people.
Sincerely;
Anna and
Neb Conner
Tryon,
NC
Subj: scary!: layoffs of the day, May 22, 2003 (Give Bush credit where credit is due!)
(and remember: no child left behind - ahem, if his parents can afford private school fees?)
SGI announces 400+ layoffs [LINK]
Beverly (MA) teachers (40) face layoffs [LINK]
San Mateo (CA) municipal employees (63) face possible layoffs [LINK]
Colinsville's (AL) girls hit hard by layoffs (82 teachers) [LINK]
Fitchburg (MA) Mayor, 10 more layoffs if land sales don't go through [LINK]
Defiance, OH, 200 layoffs possible at Manville [LINK]
Chico, CA budget plans stand. So do layoffs (44 teachers) [LINK]
Layoffs still possible in Mine Hill Twshp schools (8 teachers already not renewed) [LINK]
Seattle, WA (100) Layoffs hit Paul Allan's Vulcan [LINK]
District teachers react to massive (72 teachers) layoffs in Lincoln Park MN [LINK]
Union, County employees, Fairfield, CA, brace for layoffs (100) [LINK]
Pasadena Elementary School hit by layoffs (49 teachers) [LINK]
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear Buzz,
There is a glimmer of hope for the FCC media consolidation vote scheduled for June 2nd. It seems Kevin Martin, one of the Republican commissioners is the swing vote (having dissented from Chairman Powell previously). At the FCC meeting in Richmond, Martin professed his respect for localism, diversity and democracy...There is hope!
You should link his contact page:
http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/martin/mail.html
and also Safire's take on this, in which he reminds us that not all Republicans have abandoned the Founders' distrust of excessive concentrations of power:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/22/opinion/22SAFI.html
Thank you, Buzz
Jimmy Welsh
Subj: Hmmm!
Dear Buzz,
Isn't it strange how many people seem to be leaving the Bush administration lately? And their reason is always "to spend more time with their family"...
So I got to thinking about it and of course it makes sense! They ARE spending more time with their families...in an underground bunker somewhere, waiting for the other shoe to drop!
Keep on buzzin'
Faron
Houston,
TX
Subj: Bush Regime Playing Cards
Thanks for the great site--I check it daily. I wanted to let you know about some other Regime Playing cards. The WTO has their own set plus they list a number of others, some are for sale. If you type in Bush Regime playing cards on Google, it is the "55 Most Wanted" , www.gatt.org/regime/. On the second page of the search on Google there is also one titled "Playing with a Full Deck?", www.downloadpeace.com/fulldeck/. Definitely check out the "Deck of Republican Chickenhawk Cards. It is listed on the WTO site. They are going to print a poster of the cards (You can buy a deck) and I just checked out the site a few minutes ago and they now have "Operation Iraqi Freedom" cards, some of them showing civilian casualties of the war. It is at the bottom of the page. Also, check out Bushstatue.org. I almost wet myself laughing!!!
Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!!
Donna
Re: Tommy Franks
Isn't he the one who has been indicted in Belgium for war crimes? If so, could this have something to do with him turning down such a plum job?
Nancy
Ferndale,
WA
Subj: what happens?
so what happens this time next year when the economy is not any better and the dems are running ads with bush telling over the past three years how these big tax cuts would help the economy and create jobs..... followed by ads with the job losses and the number of small businesses that have gone bankrupt over the three years, the number of people without health care, on and on. besides showing bush for the liar he is.........
da
Subj: Give me that Pulitzer! Why Tommy Franks Quit? I'll tell you.
Dear BuzzFlash,
Give me the Pulitzer. I can tell you exactly why Franks is retiring NOW. He wants to cash in while the cashing-in is good.
He is following in the bootsteps of 'Stormin Norman' Schwartzkopf (sp?) who retired shortly after Poppy's Gulf War to hit the lecture circuit at $100,000 a pop.
I ran into old General Norm myself after the "victory" when he was hired as an "inspirational speaker" at a McDonald's corporate bash. The meeting producer who booked me (as the speech support graphics designer) and Norm gave me the inside scoop.
Right after the war, Norm was charging 100 grand for a 1/2 hour speech and keeping very busy. But now, only a few months later, the fee had dropped down to 80 grand. That's a paltry $2,666 / minute! And that's the way it goes. Six months more and the poor hero would be lucky to get $50,000. You have to hit the market while you're HOT and rake it in as fast as you can.
Ah yes, I will never forget how Norm's secret service squad swept in to secure the backstage before the General arrived. There were at least 10 of them - and the dudes didn't smile much. We, the crew, were ordered to stay in our seats. That meant if one of us should stand up, a swift and violent restraint would follow.
The sound guy cued up a rousing march for Norm's entrance and I put up a very patriotic image (made it myself!) on the big screen for a backdrop to his speech. I don't remember a word he said, but the audience seemed to find it quite inspiring. I DO remember wondering what the hell I was doing there.
But now I KNOW!!! If I hadn't been a whore designer for that McD meeting, I wouldn't be able to tell BuzzFlash the real reason Tommy Franks is retiring now.
And I would never get that Pulitzer.
vgdesign
PS: After Tommy led our brave troops to a stunning victory and liberated those poor Iraqi people from that evil terrorist and saved America and the world, I don't think he is a crass opportunist to make a few million bucks out of it, do you?
Why I wouldn't blame him at all if, when the speaking fees start to slide, he goes to work for one of those nice defense companies - just to keep busy - and help out our country, of course.
Subj: DeLay caught lying
Last week DeLay said "I wasn't involved in anything that was going on down there [in Austin]."
Now it seems that he was lying!
http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/052303dntexdps.32e00.html
I smell a rat but I guess I'd smell that anywhere I'd find good ol' Tom.
Am I dreaming that this story could be BIG?
I contacted Tom's office in Stafford TX, Ph. (281) 240-3700, but they were unwilling to speculate as to whether Tom was lying or just plum forgot!!
Robert Considine
New
York, NY
Subj: Dixie Chicks
Buzz:
Tonight on Extra the host was commenting on the Country Music Awards last night and stated that the group Dixie Chicks was still reeling from the aftershocks of the comment about Bush. Of course, this report was made with the backdrop of the boos that the group did receive. But the impression was that they were suffering a loss of attention and fan base when the truth is the exact opposite. Once again the impression was made that Bush has the support and backing of the American people. Oh, if only the American people would wake up and realize the disasters that this administration is creating for us. Keep up the good work!
An NC fan
Subj: chicks . . .
Buzz...
In answer to Sharon Swift of Memphis, (I think)..I was totally embarrassed for the country music show....It is not the real one though, you know, the real one is in the fall and it is the CMA'S, That is the authentic one, but I hated last night's show. If I could have reached up and slapped Reba McEntire face, from my couch, I would have. I do not watch her sitcom...never liked her anyway...so naturally that annoying oklahoma accent gets on my nerves, anyway. Now, please don't take offense any of you oklahomans....not you...just Reba.
I think the Chicks have been insulted enough by the right wing country music bunch, If I see another Charlie Daniels letter, to hollywood, or hear another Darryl Worley song about 911, I am going to be sick!
I thought the Chicks sung beautifully, and the crowd in Austin obviously loved them.
I will never again, look the same way at one of my favorite country music persons... Vince Gill disappointed me more than anyone! I would have thought he was above that kind of thing...now he is just the same as Charlie Daniels, so far as I am concerned...I am sure when the chicks nomination was read, a big "BOOOOO" sign was held up...I am going to write to Dick Clark about how abhorrent I thought it was!
Shirley...........St.Louis
Dear BuzzFlash,
I just sent free emails to the Commissioners of the FCC urging them to stop giant media corporations from growing even bigger. I thought you might want to too. Here's the scoop:
======================
Our Democracy Needs Real News with Diverse Points of View
Stop Giant Media Corporations from Growing Bigger-and Serving Up More Bias, Mayhem & Infotainment
Just click on the link below to send an e-mail (text below) to all five members of the Federal Communications Commission, urging them not to allow giant media corporations to grow larger.
http://www.truemajority.com/index.asp?action=10017&ms=fcc3
If journalism provided us a healthy diet of balanced news-rather than an overdose of mayhem, fluff, and distortion-would we have been able to prevent America's invasion of Iraq? Would more people vote? Would our neighbors be less cynical and less fearful of each other? Would our democracy and collective spirit be stronger? We think so.
Yet, if the Federal Communications Commission has its way, America's shameful "news" media will continue to undermine our democracy. On Monday, June 2, the FCC will vote on new rules allowing our nation's giant media conglomerates to grow even bigger by squashing the independent media outlets we have left. The new rules would allow a mammoth media corporation in one city to own eight radio stations, two major TV stations, and the largest daily newspaper. The news media is too powerful-and essential in our democracy-to be dominated by a few for-profit corporations.
Tell the Federal Communications Commissioners not to approve this plan allowing further mergers by media conglomerates. Just click on the link below.
http://www.truemajority.com/index.asp?action=10017&ms=fcc3
Then please forward this to anyone else you think agrees that journalism is the lifeblood of democracy.
Sincerely,
Ben Cohen
President,
TrueMajority.org
Co-Founder,
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream*
* * *
* I am writing this email on my own and not on behalf of Ben & Jerry's, which is not associated with the TrueMajority campaign.
* * *
Here's the letter we'll e-mail to all five FCC Commissioners:
Dear Commissioner:
I know you are busy. But prior to your vote on June 2, stop for a moment to consider this: Imagine if America's news media emphasized solutions, rather than problems. Imagine if America's top journalists were paid to inform, rather than titillate, dramatize, and report anything as "news" to boost ratings.
If you support this vision, you will vote against allowing giant media corporations to grow even bigger. For example, I think it's dangerous for one company to own both the leading daily newspaper (often the only daily newspaper) and a local TV station in the same city. This ownership arrangement puts too much power in the hands of one media corporation-and it reduces the already small number of independent media voices we hear in our communities.
Please join with all your colleagues and act now to stop big media from getting even bigger.
Sincerely,
(We'll put your name and address here)
For more information, and to take action on this issue, please visit:
http://www.truemajority.com/index.asp?action=10017&ms=taf&ref=125633
Buzz,
I just received an e-mail from the RNC Conservative HQ. How I was selected for this unpleasant surprise I'm not sure (I'd rather have a root canal) It was a bulletin regarding Byrd's recent speech. It read "Tell Senator Byrd To Apologize to The American People." This was straight from the Rush Limburger twist the facts playbook. It told me how I had been insulted by Byrd and why I should be angry about it. They claimed that he was attacking a popular and successful President for no reason other than to oppose him in the next election. They claimed that his statement was highly inappropriate at a time when this country is still on high alert. They really have developed this crap to an amazing level. Of course as they point out NO ONE should question the boy wonder at a time like this. Just shut up and march!!! This is scary shit! This piece of E-mailed garbage concluded by asking me to send them $10.00 to "offset" the cost of collecting thousands of signatures to deliver to Senator Byrd for the "cause of freedom." I wanted to puke. The old freedom and patriotism bull again. We now live in Communist Merica comrade!
I sent them a reply stating that I considered Byrd's speech to be a great statement and that I wished there were more like him. I also told them that for the good of this country I hope that bush loses in '04 and then requested that they not send me any more propaganda. This would be funny if they weren't freaking serious!
Phil Rowland
South
Pasadena CA
Sent to Good Morning America:
When will you make good on your Good Morning America promise to apologize if no WMD's are found? Surely you are a man of your word or was your promise just spin?
And, according to my calculations a month has passed since your April 22 interview with Col. Maginnis when you promised a follow up interview in a month.
HERE ARE THE RELEVANT QUOTES from those two interviews:
On March 18th you said on ABC's Good Morning America:
"if the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush Administration again"
"Here's, here's the bottom line on this for every American and everybody in the world, nobody knows for sure, all right? We don't know what he has. We think he has 8,500 liters of anthrax. But let's see. But there's a doubt on both sides. And I said on my program, if, if the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush Administration again, all right?
But I'm giving my government the benefit of the doubt. . . . . . . if he has 8,500 liters of anthrax that he's not going to give up, even though the United Nations demanded that he do that, we are doing the right thing. If he doesn't have any weapons, then we are doing the wrong thing."
On the April 22 Factor you said:
"if weapons of mass destruction aren't found,... I will have to apologize because I bought into it... All right, a month from today, we'll do this story again" **
Colonel, if weapons of mass destruction aren't found, your reputation, my reputation -- because I will have to apologize because I bought into it, I bought into it -- and out of a scale 1 to 10, 10 is the best, how certain are you that we're going to find these weapons of mass destruction?
Maginnis replied 10 and predicted that within a month we would find a lot of WMD's.
You then said this:
"All right, a month from today, we'll do this story again, and then we have it on tape. Gentlemen, thanks very much. Very interesting."
ITS BEEN A MONTH, Yet NO APOLOGY OR FOLLOW UP WITH MAGINNIS WHY?
Did we do the right thing?
Do you still trust the Administration?
When will Maginnis be on again?
Your reputation is at stake, when can I tune in to see the apology?
thank you,
stevie
gardiner
somerdale,
nj
Buzz:
To Shirley.....in St. Louis: thanks for the info about Danny Glover and that Scarborough demon. If half of us were as persistent and diligent as Shirley is in following up on the crap that's going on in D.C. and in the media, we could put an end to a lot of it. I try to do my part, but Shirley and a few other writers are more diligent.
Buzz,
I want to be one of the first to order the Hillary Clinton book. Let's
do for this book, what
the right-wingers do for one another: Let's make this book a best seller.....I
don't care if there are any spectacular revelations in it or not, LET'S
BUY IT!! Of course the O'Reilly/Limbaugh/Hannity crowd will criticize it
(if Jesus co-authored it, they would
still find fault). Let's make this book another phenomenal success like "Stupid
White Men".
Dee
Turner
ATL.
P.S. Whatever became of Ann Coulter? Somewhere making up more lies that she can sell? I swear that there is a possibility that she is really a man in drag. That's why she/he is so angry with the world. But then it wouldn't be fair to real drag queens to associate Coulter with them, would it?
