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Subj: "The West Wing" more "Fair and Balanced?"

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: Iraq For Sale

Dear BuzzFlash,

The bumbling, misguided idiots in Washington don't understand why we're not liked around the world and are surprised that Iraqis didn't greet us with flowers. We invade their country, kill and maim tens of thousands of their people, spread cluster bombs around their countryside, and on top of that, take possession their economy in order to sell it to the highest bidder for the profit of private companies -- we are not even doing this for the American government (which would be very wrong in and of itself). This is just corporate imperialism. AMERICANS MUST NOT PERMIT THIS TO BE DONE IN THEIR NAMES. Wake up and SEE what your government is doing in your name supposedly to protect YOUR freedom!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear Buzz,

I have been reading with interest the reports of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed's interrogations. I have noticed something conspicuous by their absence. There are no mention of any involvement of any kind by Iraq. No Iraqis, no use of Iraqi territory or money, no mysterious meetings as Dick Cheney says he's not sure about. Don't you think that the Bush administration would be shouting from the rooftops if there were even a whisper of a mention of Iraq here? Is it because the people they interrogate and keep locked away (like the Iraqi scientists) don't tell them what they want to hear?

Thanks for your good work,

Henry W. Simms, Las Vegas, NV

Dear BuzzFlash,

Interesting article, but it looks like Bush propaganda. Although, it doesn't directly say it, but it infers that a number of terrorist plots were stopped during -- and 9/11 delayed because of -- Clinton's presidency. One could also infer that if Bush had continued doing what Clinton did, 9/11 might never have happened.

"Mohammed told his interrogators he had worked in 1994 and 1995 in the Philippines with Ramzi Yousef, Abdul Hakim Murad and Wali Khan Amin Shah on the foiled Bojinka plot to blow up 12 Western airliners simultaneously in Asia.

"After Yousef and Murad were captured, foiling the plot in its final stages, Mohammed began to devise a new plot that focused on hijackings on U.S. soil."

[LINK]

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear Buzz,

Did you see this story last night on 60 Minutes? Scroll down to the comment by Charles Lewis questioning why Cheney became CEO of Halliburton in the first place. He spent all of his life in government and had no business experience previously. Why didn't Lieberman hit him between the eyes with this during the vice presidential debate in 2000?

All In The Family
[LINK]
CBS News Online

Your friend,

Joe Wilson

Limbaugh is frothing at the mouth about Clark again. I guess that Clark must be the biggest threat to Rove then.

mv

Subj: Kennedy Learning from Rove?

BuzzFlash,

Isn't attacking the character of opponents the only thing the right-wing cabal does? Are they going to reform themselves? Are they going to scold all their puppets on talk-radio? Will there be anything left that they have to say if they take out all personal attacks? Imagine the whole administration going silent!

-------------

At the State Department, a senior official took issue with Kennedy's comments. "To say they were acting in bad faith is quite a serious charge," the official said. "You can take issue with the policy, but to attack character and integrity is serious and uncalled for."

[LINK]

-------------

Larry, Maryland

Subj: Dick Cheney

I don't know why everybody's upset that Dick Cheney collects more money from Halliburton than he does from his salary as V.P. After all, Halliburton is his primary employer.

Barbara Rochelle

Subj: Iraq Stability

Every administration official comes out and says that most of Iraq is stable and quiet. Or, that problems are concentrated in the Sunni Triangle. I guess this is supposed to make us feel better about the occupation. Kind of like a doctor comforting a patient by telling him that the malignant brain tumor only affects 15% of his brain.

Turk

Subj: Bush calls Kennedy's Iraq criticism 'uncivil'

Buzz,

Did you notice that Bush did not deny the allegations of bribery?

He just called them uncivil... "uncivil" does not mean "untrue"

I'm waiting for Bush to categorically deny these allegations.. but I'm not sure if he wants to go out on a limb like that.

Janice

RE: "For Sale" Sign Goes Up in Iraq. Bush Cartel to Sell Off Iraq Economy to Highest Bidders, Except for the Oil Industry, Which Was Long Ago (Cheney Energy Task Force) Divvied Up to Bush Cartel Pals. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44003-2003Sep21.html)

Wow, what great "reporting" by the "esteemed" Washington Post <sarcasm alert>-- it looks like they are "reporting" the White House's *revised* history on Iraq, too (just like Rush Limbaugh). See this quote, from the article, where the Post declares that "Bush declared *major* combat operations over" (of course, we all know he declared"combat operations" over (sans "major"):

>The deaths brought to 165 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq since
> President Bush declared major combat operations over on May 1.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: O'Reilly on parade............

Following is the text of an email I just sent to the Editors of the Parade weekly newspaper insert:

------------------------

Your "feature" on Fox News' Bill O'Reilly not only contained several misstatements and untruths not the least of which was his place of birth but is also an affront to all your fair minded, reasonable readers that do not subscribe to Fox's brand of partisan demagoguery for which O'Reilly sets the tone and agenda.

Any resemblance between the man portrayed in your piece and the abusive, insulting demagogue that daily bashes any true American that disagrees with his brand of radical conservatism is a figment of Mr. O'Reilly's imagination.

And you were wrong to introduce this kind of character into your kind of publication... Who next? Coulter?

Roger

Subj: Musing on O'Reilly once more...

Dear Buzz, Mon Sept 22

Wow! I think you've got O'Reilly's number--I checked out Google on "Bill O'Reilly's bio" and finally DID find a "wife" (see below from the Internet Movie Data Base--which apologizes up front in case of any "errors.") However, this was the ONLY place I saw a name. Seems strange that she is mentioned no where else.

Anyway, one other discrepancy I found was the IMDB listed a master's degree from Harvard (no date, of course) while on his own site he has to admit he only had been "accepted." He supposedly quit to go on television. And, also detailed in Franken's new book, he was a registered Republican (not a crime, after all) from 1994 (he claims he couldn't find the box "independent" on the ballot.)

Thanks for the heads up on the Parade article. When Parade left the Sun-Times, I missed it. But man, if O'Reilly is writing their copy these days, THEY are the ones who have landed on hard times.

Linda Cecsarini
Markham, IL

* * *

See below for the entry from IMDB.com:

Biography for Bill O'Reilly

Birth name: William James O'Reilly

Height: 6' 4" (1.93 m)

Spouse: Maureen McPhilmy (1995 - present)

As of 2001, Bill O'Reilly has said he receives about 30,000 e-mails a day for his show The O'Reilly Factor.

Earned a B.A. in history from Marist.

Earned a M.A. in public policy from Harvard.

Polticially he has always claimed he is a registered independent on The O'Reilly Factor. But it was later revealed O'Reilly was actually a registered Republican in Nassau County from 1994 to 2000. O'Reilly re-registered as an independent soon after.

Attended and graduated from Boston University with an undergraduate degree.

Personal quotes

"You are about to enter a no-spin zone!"

Salary: "O'Reilly Factor, The" (1996) - $4,000,000/year (2001)

Subj: O'Reilly's Parade

Omigod. Does Rupert Murdoch now also own Parade?

To print O'Reilly's self-serving dribble about who the good people are is like having Adolf Hitler tell us who the good Jews are.

O'Reilly says that he calls people "weasel" because "untrustworthy people...viciously kill their prey." Ever see Bill pounce on someone who disagrees with him?

"...manipulative, callous, petty, gossipy..."

It seems more stand-up than relationship guide as O'Reilly's own words describe "bad people" with a descriptive phrases that summarize Bill himself.

Bill says to "embrace honest people," yet how many times did he mention that he was a PARADE contributing editor when he promoted this article on his show?

There are so many hypocritical statements in this excerpt that if followed as "No-Spin" as O'Reilly suggests, he's actually telling his fans not to listen to him anymore.

Hey, maybe the book isn't such a bad idea.

Steve Young

Subj: Uncivil Words

Dear Buzz,

"But, you know, I don't think we're serving our nation well by allowing the discourse to become so uncivil that people say -- use words that they shouldn't be using." --GW Bush Sept. 22, 2003

...But words such as "crusade", "dead or alive" or "bring 'em on" uttered by our Dear Leader are "civil" and serve our nation well?!

Nancy Lynn Nagy

Re: It's Bill O'Reilly Day on BuzzFlash.com

You left out that he said his dad made "only" $35,000 a year. However, that is in 1967 dollars, which equals about one hundred grand today.

Sam

Subj: Bush's UN Speech

This is from Bush's September 23rd speech to U.N.

Bush's Speech To U.N.

So I lied about Iraq being a threat to the U.S.,

So I lied about Iraq having WMD - no nukes, no biological or chemical agents,

So I lied about Iraq having ties to 9/11 terrorists,

So I lied about Iraq trying to purchase uranium from an African country,

So I lied about the cost of going to war with Iraq,

So I lied about having any plan to rebuild Iraq,

So I lied about the cost of rebuilding Iraq,

So I'm giving secret huge no bid contracts to huge campaign donor corporations, especially Halliburton, to aid in the war and the rebuilding of Iraq,

HELP!

David Soule
Pearl City, HI

Dear BuzzFlash Readers,

Please help me out here and thank you in advance for anything you can do.

You may remember my letter about my friend being called to service in January. You published it and it was titled, "George bush says my friend may have to die". Well now my friend and all our soldiers from Florida need Floridian BuzzFlash readers help today!!!

Because time is of the essence, we can't wait for this to appear in the "letters".

Below you will find a part of a letter that "my friend's" wife emailed to me. We need Floridian Buzz readers to send our Sen. Nelson an email of support.

Could you please, on you headline page put the following: Florida BuzzFlash Readers PLEASE email Sen. Nelson TODAY! You could link it to the following:

"Senator Bill Nelson has had at least two meetings with families of the National Guard and The Reserves. He is having another meeting tomorrow in Coral Gables (or should I say in a few hours) which I will be attending. He has placed himself in a position to listen and open his heart to us to see how he can help. He is not promising to bring the troops home. He is promising to listen and to carry documentation back to the Armed Services Committee and to Washington so that they may make what we hope is the best decision for Jarrel and the others. I, like others, hope they come home. But if that does not happen, I hope the investigation results in these men getting what they need to help them do their jobs like the rest of the army. So they receive food to help them stay healthy and uniforms that are not dry rotted and falling off them, boots that do not have holes, ammunition that is plentiful enough so they do not have to share ammunition belts, and equipment that is necessary for them to go up against their opponents. And replacements for their wounded. To be treated like the "real army" which is what they are!

Over the months, I have been asked by so many what they can do for me and I thank each of you for thinking of me. However, I cannot think of a thing that I need (except for my husband to be home or have what he needs to do his job while he is there). However, Senator Bill Nelson and other Senators think there is reason to investigate and to listen to what we think. So, to all of you who have asked what can you do for me. I ask that you help our troops by taking a few minutes to email Senator Bill Nelson at www.billnelson.senate.gov. Just a short note so that he can continue this investigation. The investigation will determine the fate of the 124th infantry and others (the real army). Senator Nelson will need all the emails he can get by Tuesday of this week. So, if you have a minute please drop him a line or pass this on to as many people as you can that may want to offer their support."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Sent to: wolf@cnn.com

Subj: Can Bush Be Beaten?

Dear Wolf,

George W. Bush is categorically, objectively, and verifiably the very worst "President" in living memory. For three years the American people have listened to a media mantra that reinforced the absurd notion that Bush is "unbeatable," even while he has clearly beaten our country to a pulp and led us skipping ignorantly down a path toward ruin. The amputated left kneecap of any of the Democratic contenders would offer a refreshing change of pace from the disastrous Bush administration.

Please start to get this important story right.

Sincerely,

Patsy Devlish
Mercer County, NJ

Subj: Bush letter to Congress launching Iraq war cites Iraq connection with 9/11

Buzz,

There are 2 justifications cited for the war. Number 2 specifically connects 9/11 and Iraq. Is this another thing we're supposed to "put behind us"?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-1.html

Doug

Subj: Is he a lousy snake oil salesman, too? Or is there something we're missing?

Hey, Buzz.

Check out news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3130880.stm

President George W Bush has provided an uncompromising defense of United States policies in Iraq, ahead of a major speech to the United Nations on Tuesday.

Going to war with Iraq was "the right decision", he said in an interview broadcast by the Fox TV network on Monday.

Mr Bush also said he did not see the need for a greater UN role in Iraq - although he suggested the world body could help write a new constitution and oversee elections.

Gee, do you have any idea what the reaction of the UN will be?

With speech writers surely among the world’s best, I’m trying to figure out exactly he’s trying to sell. ‘Cause no one’s gonna want to be buying with an attitude like this. Maybe the UN’s only possible reaction will be ammunition for whatever he’s got up his great big sleeve.

A BuzzFlash reader

Subj: Admitted to Lying at Confirmation Hearings

In the story that you headlined as

Justice Not Prosecuting Ex-Bush Official, Despite Proving She COMITTED 3 ETHICS VIOLATIONS! Now, That's Changing the Tone in Washington -- Do Wrong, Go Free! 9/23

The final paragraphs were . . .

"The IG noted, however, that the earlier notes recommended periodic review of the spectrum cap policy while the post-party recommendation supported removal.

Victory told the IG that the difference was because the earlier notes were for the purpose of preparing for Senate confirmation hearings while the letter was to formally present a position.

Doesn't this almost sound as though she lied at her confirmation hearing while preparing a different formal policy? Isn't that the modus operandi of all of the Bush appointees?

Ken

Subj: Medea Benjamin outdebates Richard Pearle about Iraq on PBS

In case you missed it here's the Transcript: [LINK] and here is the audio version [LINK]!!!

The Cost of War
The News Hour with Jim Lehrer
September 22nd, 2003

RAY SUAREZ: For more on the funding request and how to spend the money, we get two perspectives. Richard Perle serves on the Defense Policy Board, which advises the secretary of defense, and was assistant secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan. Medea Benjamin is founding director of Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based human rights organization. She recently visited Iraq with human rights organizations tracking the reconstruction.

Medea Benjamin, we all just heard Paul Bremer lay out the spending plan and the priorities for the Iraq reconstruction. Is it the right plan, and is it the right amount of money?

Bremer's focus and spending priorities

MEDEA BENJAMIN: No, it's not the right plan. Bremer doesn't have an idea what he's doing. I just came back from Iraq, it's a disaster, people don't have electricity, water, garbage collection, sewage collection, jobs. They're angry, they're bitter. They say the United States money is not getting down to the people, it's going to Halliburton, it's going to Bechtel. We should not approve this $87 billion, instead there should be immediate transition over to the United Nations and as soon as possible to Iraqi self rule.

Subj: The Law doesn't apply to Bush's Cabal

Justice Not Prosecuting Ex-Bush Official [LINK]

Federal investigators have concluded President Bush's former telecommunications policy chief committed three ethics violations by allowing industry lobbyists to throw her a party. The Justice Department, however, is declining to prosecute her.

The RePugs tried to force investigations of every move Clinton & his staff made desperately trying to nail them for something anything but they 'decline' to prosecute one of their own. Just one more example of the howling hypocrisy of Bush Co.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Maybe Condi's Got a Point

Dear BuzzFlash,

In articles about former Governor Bush's speech to the U.N., Condoleeza Rice is quoted as opposing the French plan to let the Iraqis run Iraq as soon as possible, saying it isn't workable because it would transfer sovereignty to an unelected group of people. Well, maybe she's got a point -- we transferred sovereignty to an unelected group of people here in the United States, and that certainly hasn't worked out very well.

Jon Krampner

Sent to: letters@washpost.com <letters@washpost.com>

Subj: Your story on the Gallup/CNN poll

But, why, oh why, when Clark is 49-46 vis-a-vis Bush, they are "tied," but when Bush is 49-46 vis-a-vis Dean, Bush is slightly ahead? What gives? If it's a tie, it's a tie -- but if Bush leads -- then Clark also leads, don't you think?

(FYI: From CNN: Of the 877 registered voters included in the poll, 49 percent said they would vote for Clark, compared with 46 percent for Bush. Kerry narrowly outpaced the president, 48-percent to 47-percent. Bush held a slim lead over Dean (49 to 46 percent), Gephardt (48 to 46 percent) and Lieberman (48 to 47 percent).

Clare

Subj: O'Reilly

The only reason this know-it-all appeared in Parade was to push another one of his stupid books. Any time this clown appears anywhere on the airwaves he is trying to "sell" his simpleminded books. He would really make a good televangelist. I turned this clown off a long time ago.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: PNAC

As William Rivers Pitt recently stated, you cannot discuss the Bush Administration without discussing the Project for the New American Century. Why hasn't there been a full fledged campaign, by anyone, exposing this extremist group currently in control of the Executive branch of the United States Government? Their plan, Rebuilding America's Defenses, is published on their website (www.newamericancentury.org). Their goals are perfectly aligned with the Bush Administration's policies, from the invasion of Iraq (page 26) to research on new nuclear weapons (page 8). If more Americans were informed of the names behind the PNAC and the correlation between their goals and the lies that convinced this country to engage in an unnecessary war, not only would the Bush Administration be voted out of office in 2004, but the possibility of impeachment proceedings would increase as true Republican conservatives realize they've been had.

Most sincerely,

Michael Lambert

Subj: Bush Presses 'Faith-Based' Agenda (washingtonpost.com)

In the Washington Post report "Bush Presses 'Faith-Based' Agenda" (at LINK), it states that "President Bush repealed and proposed several regulations yesterday to make it easier for religious charities to receive federal money, including allowing such groups to make hiring decisions based on job candidates' faith."

Using Federal funding for a job in which your religion is a hiring criteria just brings the charge that the US engages in religious warfare in Iraq right down to our domestic front.

As most faith based organizations in the US are of the Judeo-Christian persuasion, Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims, agnostics and atheists need not apply for these jobs. Even if I, a Catholic, would be denied a job in a Catholic hospital once I was asked do I support a woman's right to choose in reference to abortion.

But the tax money of these un-hirable "infidels" is entirely welcome, and will be used to fund this blatant religious discrimination in employment.

That's unfair, and un-America, no matter what/who/how you believe.

Jack Ballinger
Brooklyn, NY

Buzz,

From Bush's Fox Interview:

BUSH: There's an employment lag that generally accompanies a recovery. The economy gets going and after a while employment catches up.

But this is an unusual marketplace in that…productivity is very high, which means growth has to be higher than productivity in order to add jobs.

Or productivity has got to level off some and growth be robust.

I believe we're going to add jobs, because I believe this economy is strong.

HUME: How soon do you expect that to start happening?

BUSH: Well, you know, I don't know.

You ask these economists, they'll say, on the one hand here and the other hand here.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: O'Reilly

For those of you who read the Parade article last Sunday & the Buzzflash article by Scott Anderson on Monday, did you read O'Reilly's column the same day? Quote: "Since Mr. Bush, for some inexplicable reason, will not spell it out for you, it falls on me to do so" (concerning the nation's foreign policy).

Is this supreme arrogance or what?

Harold Martin

Subj: powell calls U S Judeo-Christian

Powell Calls U.S. 'Judeo-Christian,' Then Amends (washingtonpost.com)

Coming across the TV screen is a statement that the $20 billion for Iraq reconstruction includes an "atrocity museum." Now what the heck should we be providing for that? And why does Iraq even need this museum when they need water, food, electricity, roads. What kind of patsies are the American taxpayers going to be for bush.

Henry

Subj: Not That Accurate

Justice Breyer Decries Minimum Sentences 9/23

What Judge Breyer is actually saying is that Mandatory Minimum sentences are not good and that judges should have more downward flexibility in their sentences. Ashcroft on the other hand is out to brand anyone who dares go low as un-American -

So you should be (by the overall tone of your publication) I think praising Breyer for daring to go against he grain and with common sense.

Peter

Subj: Recall Switcheroo

Hey BuzzFlash,

I saw a news flash last night that Issa, the guy responsible for the Calif recall initiative, the one booted out of the race by Arnie and the other GOP strongarms, is backtracking on his drive to recall Davis. Now he's making speeches saying we should NOT recall Davis. It was a short bit and I didn't catch the gist of his reasoning, but...

Basically since he can't be in the race himself (maybe because Californians--living in the car-theft capital--don't want a known car thief in the Governor's office?), and since it's becoming clear to all that no Republican stands a fart's chance of winning anyway, and the prospect of recalling Davis doesn't look too good now either which would result in an even bigger liberal (Bustamonte) taking the seat, he's suddenly changed his mind about the need for a recall?

Well, if they can't have it their way, they don't want it at all. That's the GOP way.

Steverino in LA

[BuzzFlash Note: We found this article: "Issa urges no vote on recall if McClintock and Schwarzenegger stay in race."]

Subj: Dubya's Faux "interview"

Had to love this quote from The Fraud during his propaganda hour-called "interview" shown Monday night on Faux:

"I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more interested in news. And the best way to get the news is from objective sources, and the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world."

Anyone doubt these "objective sources" are the same people who filtered intelligence so Dubya only heard what he wanted to hear to justify launching us into the Iraqi quagmire?

Brit Hume lobbed so many softballs to The Fraud that, had Hume asked 74 "questions," Dubya could've easily topped Barry Bonds' home run record.

And did anyone notice how, when Faux used long shots of Hume and The Fraud sitting in the Oval Office, the two looked like they were playing "footsie"? Of course, The Fraud and Faux have been playing "footsie" for years, but this was as blatant as it gets.

A BuzzFlash Reader