October 2, 2003

MAILBAG ARCHIVES  
Support BuzzFlash
Get a copy of


MORE
BuzzFlash

INTERVIEWS

WORLD MEDIA WATCH

P.M. CARPENTER

MAUREEN FARRELL

BARBARA'S DAILY BUZZ

SOUTHERN STYLE

CARTOONS

THE ANGRY LIBERAL

EDITORIALS

CONTRIBUTORS

MAILBAG

PERSPECTIVES

ANALYSIS

NEWS ALERTS

LINK ARCHIVES

SEARCH

ABOUT

FAQ

The BuzzFlash Mailbag

Important Note: Because we can't always determine your intentions, we need to ask a favor of you when you send us email. If you DO NOT WANT YOUR EMAIL PUBLISHED in the Mailbag or in the Contributors section, please write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the Subject line or at the top of your email. That way we'll know it's just a comment to BuzzFlash. Additionally, if you submit a mailbag item and DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME associated with your submission, sign your email, "A BuzzFlash Reader." If you send email unsigned, we will post your name with your submission, or, if that's not available, your email name (not the full address, just what's on the left side of the email address). Please try and keep your word count under 400. We can only post a small percentage of what is sent to us. The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Thanks again for your email and your patience.


Subj: Plane Crashes

Dear BuzzFlash,

Has it ever occurred to anyone that there may be a darker, longer-term conspiracy afoot in GOP’s, and its supporters’, operations? For anyone who has read Palast’s book “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy,”you’ll remember he talks about how a whistleblower was on his way to confront the board of directors over the shifty accounting practices and bribery at Southern Company when his plane exploded. Mel Carnahan dies in a plane crash while involved in a battle with Ashcroft in Missouri for the senate seat. Then, of course, everyone remembers the death of the populist Senator from Minnesota, Paul Wellstone, when his plane went down while on the campaign trail.

As someone else likes to repeat, just asking.

Lee Warren


Subj: Novak wrote . . .

"...Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate the Italian report. "

So, why is all the focus on Rove? Who is "Deep throat" number two?

JP Smith


Subj: A letter to your senators/representatives

Dear _________:

I am concerned, as I know you are, about the leaks from former Governor Bush's administration that have jeopardized national security. I am no fan of the Patriot Act and would ask that you do everything you can to have it repealed. However, as it is the current law, why is it not being used to compel Robert Novak and other journalists to reveal their sources at the White House on this matter? It certainly seems a more appropriate use of an inappropriate law than using it to scour library records and to prosecute drug dealers. Here we have a clear breach of national security, with Mr. Novak and others potentially aiding and abetting terrorists. I believe that use of the Patriot Act would bring this unfortunate legislative mistake under greater scrutiny by the media as it would strike at the core of their professions. Perhaps it would even hasten the repeal of the law. As a concerned American, I ask you to continue to raise the call for an independent counsel to investigate this serious matter.

Best regards,

Gary


Subj: Rush Limbaugh

Dear BuzzFlash:

Is there anyone out there organizing a boycott of ESPN for Rush Limbaugh's racist comments about Donovan McNabb? If not I think your site would be a great forum to promote this. An email campaign, letter writing etc.

Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Mark McCabe
White Plains, NY


Subj: only crime defined in the Constitution

Treason is the only crime defined in the Constitution Article III, Section 3:

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.

A BuzzFlash Reader


What are the odds that someone comes forward to confess to the leak and then resigns swiftly to be employed by Carlyle Group, Bechtel, or Halliburton-etc.?

stevie


Subj: White House scandal

How can the President tolerate knowing that two people in his inner circle committed a felony that could affect the national security of this nation?

Any investigation that comes up with less than two indictments will be seen as not legitimate. Leaking the name of a C.I.A. operative during the time of war is intolerable. The C.I.A. will demand nothing less than treason charges. So should we.

How can Mr. Bush campaign next year with this cloud hanging over his presidency? He must know by now who did this...it leaked in July. He must give up the names of the guilty parties, so they can be prosecuted.. Otherwise, he will be guilty of being an accessory after the fact. That would be a high crime or misdemeanor.

Press the president for the names.

S. Harrington


Subj: The Plame Game

What Ashcroft is going to do is to delay the investigation…maybe make their most damaging announcements on October 7, when all of the news is going to be all Ahhnold, all the time…watch for those page two stories that day…they should be doozies...

Marc L. Lippincott
Austin, TX


Subj: Justice Department probe of White House treason

BuzzFlash,

Don't forget that it was Tenet who initially requested, in fact immediately requested, after the leak, that the leak be investigated by the Justice Department. The Justice Department did NOTHING about this request, and Tenet sent a written memo last week, with accompanying press coverage, apparently having some leverage of his own in the media?

Even as late as two days ago, the Justice Department stated it was evaluating Tenets request, and didn't know how long it would take to "evaluate" the request. (like until after 2004 I am guessing). According to the White House yesterday, (their spokesman) the Justice Department hadn't even brought the request for an investigation to their attention!!!! WH said that NO ONE (including Tenet, presumably) had brought this to their attention-- that it was only a media story with questionable sources, etc.

In the past few hours, the Justice Department I guess finished their " evaluation" and decided to launch a "criminal probe" (according to this am headline in the post I glimpsed when emptying the garbage), but NOT to give it to the Inspector General or other independent entity. They are kicking it over to the FBI, which has done such a good job NOT uncovering those responsible for the Anthrax poisoning, which may very well also be a cover up.

Clearly, the sudden closure on the Justice Department "evaluation" of the case was a political decision, and I'm sure they have planned out how the "investigation" will go.

Trouble is, people DO know who called them from the Bush Admin. The Bush Admin. may have decided to leave those who called swinging slowly in the wind, as long as they can segregate the decision makers or some such thing.

But also, very few people -- maybe a dozen at most-- knew the identity of Wilson's wife. So who told the people at the WHITE HOUSE? This means that there is a very serious case of treason w/in the CIA or within Cheney's NSC.

Moses.


Subj: California Recall

When the right-wing Republicans foist a pretty boy from fantasy-land on the California folks, who will have fantasy machine guns sticking out of the governor's mansion, tells me what they think of the Californians' intelligence and maturity. He will not govern California, instead the right wing in the back room with the shades pulled down will pull the strings in my opinion.

John


Sent to: Ashley.Swadel@espnpub.com

Subj: Remove Limbaugh. This is WAY past insulting.

I realize Walt was no saint; however, to see what Disney has become is past heartbreaking –frankly, I’m numb. Mr. Limbaugh makes millions of dollars marketing himself to the lowest common denominator –to angry, white, racist males (mostly) and women who haven’t learned critical thinking skills. And Disney Corp., realizing there is money to be made in sinking to the lowest common denominator, has decided they simply couldn’t resist the smell of money –even if it means paying an individual, who tips his hat and winks his eye to the most ignorant, most racist factions of this culture, vast amounts of money to insult any one who happens to either be a different color or be a woman who has the audacity to believe that we should have the same economic, social, and political advantages that men have.

I will do anything (which, admittedly, will be hard) to make sure that Disney no longer gets one penny of my money. If that’s all that motivates you, then that’s the “club”I will use –small though it may be. But I would remind you, gentlemen, of what Sojourner Truth said –fleas may be small, but even committed fleas biting strategically can make a big dog lie down.

Rollyn


Subj: Rush Limbaugh's Comments

Buzz,

Love the site.. Rush whines that the media over-hypes McNabb because he is black as they want a black quarterback to succeed. I guess that means that Rush sugar-coats everything the unelected fraud does because he wants White, dumb-ass, idiots to look good.

Thanks,

Sunil Reddy
Oak Brook, IL


This is not the 1st time Rush brought up race on ESPN.

John

* * *

Ismail perfect choice to rocket back in ND vs. Michigan history

September 12, 2003

BY JOHN JACKSON SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

-snip-

RUSH OFFENSE: I've made my feelings clear about ESPN's decision to add Rush Limbaugh to ''Sunday NFL Countdown.'' Here's an excerpt of a Washington Post review of Limbaugh's contributions last Sunday:

''Limbaugh got started by questioning the league's minority hiring policies. He made many valid points. After all, the Lions' coaching search this season exposed the league's rules as kind of silly. But let's go back to the baggage. To hear a guy with such an obvious right-wing partisan slant decry the league's effort to ensure that minority head coaches are hired smacks of the mess that is politics, and there's no place for politics in our great American game.''

This is exactly what I feared when ESPN hired Limbaugh. Maybe his take on the minority hiring rules were right on the mark. But coming from him, many people will dismiss it because of his political leanings.

By the way, couldn't Limbaugh have waited until Week 2 before he said something that smacked of partisan politics? Then again, there's a reason I referred to him in the past as a right-wing windbag.

-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/output/jackson/cst-spt-jax12.html


Subj: Defending the Indefensible!

Here’s what the traitorous, hack Robert Novak said regarding his complicity in the outing of Valerie P.

“The CIA "asked me not to use her name, but never indicated it would endanger her or anybody else," he said. "According to a confidential source at the CIA, Mrs. Wilson was an analyst, not a spy, not a covert operative, and not in charge of undercover operatives."

Sources said Wilson's wife is a clandestine operations officer for the CIA, now out of the field and working on weapons of mass destruction.

So, the CIA asks that he not use her name (hint). Novak, defying logic, surely must have realized that had the CIA confirmed that she was an undercover operative, they would have in effect been outing her. Hey Bob, that’s a crime!

Perhaps the real question is why report this at all? Ambassador Wilson was apparently under personal attack from “someone”within the administration to discredit or intimidate him and perhaps dissuade others inclined to speak the truth. A trademark of the right-wing is that if you question, if you embarrass, if you exercise your Constitutional rights, you will be the victim of a vindictive, concerted, personal attack.

The other point that seems to be missed here is who is Novak’s “confidential source”at the CIA? Don’t these people take an oath or something? Perhaps he’s just making it up to cover his own treasonous ass. BTW the reporter’s privilege is not generally recognized in law in maintaining confidential sources and is generally invoked when source is giving information about someone else’s illegal conduct, not their own. Even if it were recognized, confidentiality rules generally provide an exception where there is a future crime or potential danger to another person.

Novak belongs in jail, perhaps GITMO!

Turk


Subj: White House gathering inquiry data

"I don't think Democrats want to fuel the partisan fire," one aide told NBC' s Norah O'Donnell. "Why undermine his credibility and give the Republicans more fuel for the fodder? Why give them ammunition?"

http://www.msnbc.com/news/973047.asp?0cv=CA01

Amazing. Accuse Republicans of "playing politics" and they just play harder....they know why they are called politicians. Accuse Dems of "playing politics" and Rove knows they will get scared like the sissies they all are and run to cower as they always have. I hate this party. They are the only ones I know who, once the enemy is up against the ropes, will reach over to ring the bell themselves.

jj.


Subj: New "theory" on Anthrax Attacks

As if it wasn't bad enough the Wash Post is trying to sell the Saddam " bluffed" us story, check out this one! The noble scientists didn't mean to actually KILL the photo ed of the tabloid that printed pictures of the drunk Bush twin, oh no! He merely meant to warn people of the POSSIBLE bioterrorism threat!

Is this Michael Mason an idiot? Or does he just play one?

~~robyn su

* * *

FEDS HAVE NEW THEORY ON ANTHRAX ATTACKS
New York Post

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/6858.htm


Subj: Interesting Bush quote

Dear BuzzFlash,

You correctly point out that the Bush family takes care of people who commit felonies for the sake of the family. In that regard, the following statement from Bush can be interpreted two ways:

President Bush welcomed the investigation as "a good thing". "There's just too many leaks, and if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. If the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of."

(taken from http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1001-02.htm)

Keep up your great work.

Sincerely,

Eric Foss
Seattle, WA


Subj: Fair and Balanced

http://www.washtimes.com/

The Washington Times is not even reporting the story on the "What's in a Plame?" scandal…Talk about un-spinnable...

Marc L. Lippincott
Austin, TX


Subj: I feel like I am living in Huxley's "Brave New World"

Dear Buzz,

I feel like I am living in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World". Yesterday while out and about doing my chores I noticed that there were more women than usual reporting the news on the radio. And the lead in to each of the seemingly very frequent news segments began with a woman saying in a calm and pleasant tone: "President Bush welcomes an investigation by the Justice Department."

It stopped me dead in my tracks when I heard it again while grocery shopping. The "box" is soothing the masses and reminding them in a reassuring tone of the wonderful leadership of GW Bush. No need to become alarmed...this is nothing, nothing at all. GW Bush will neatly whitewash this and all will be well again. I almost puked in the orange juice isle.

The news media should be convicted for its collusion with GW Bush and his treasonous acts and his attempts to cover them up!

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)


Subj: Tell Novak to read this

On yesterday's Crossfire, I noticed that again Bob Novak referred to Ambassador Wilson as a "Clinton Appointee"....would someone have him read this:

While Cheney may not know Wilson, there is little doubt he knows of him. When Cheney was helping run the Persian Gulf War, as secretary of defense, Wilson was one of the key players. As the acting US ambassador on the ground in Baghdad in the weeks leading up to the war, the White House consulted Wilson daily. In those weeks, he was the only open line of communication between Washington and Saddam Hussein. Cheney was the Secretary of Defense at the time and a key player in the day-to-day operations and intelligence gathering. Furthermore, Wilson was formally commended by the Bush administration for his bravery and heroism in the weeks leading up to the war. In that time, Wilson helped evacuate thousands of foreigners from Kuwait, negotiated the release of more than 120 American hostages and sheltered nearly 800 Americans in the embassy compound.

"Your courageous leadership during this period of great danger for American interests and American citizens has my admiration and respect. I salute, too, your skillful conduct of our tense dealings with the government of Iraq," President Bush wrote Wilson in a letter. "The courage and tenacity you have exhibited throughout this ordeal prove that you are the right person for the job."

Wilson says that he heard from people who were at meetings chaired by Bush in the lead up to the Gulf War, "When people would come up with an idea, George Bush would often lean forward and ask them, 'What does Joe Wilson say about that? What does Joe Wilson think about that?' So at the highest level of our government there was keen interest in knowing what the field was saying and Dick Cheney was probably at those meetings."

As a responsible journalist....Novak is misleading people by making statements like this...it would be an excellent followup for Al Franken's next book on Liars in the press.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Laughable Quote of the Day ... October 1, 2003

"You have special counsels if you think the administration is trying to cover up or obstruct justice or is not interested in this issue. It is quite obvious to me that the White House and the administration are very upset about this issue."

--Tom Delay (Bug Boy-Tx.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/01/politics/01REPU.html

The Bushies are so upset that they have been ignoring this story since July.

Jim


Subj: White House takes after Arthur Andersen

I just heard on NPR that the White House asked the DOJ if they could wait one day before issuing the letter to the White House staff not to delete any documents related to Joe Wilson's wife's outting. Whoa! And apparently someone in the DOJ (that is, John Ashcroft's DOJ) allowed them to delay a day! Can you say "Arthur Andersen"? (Can you say "coverup"?) You need to highlight that on the web site (since no one else will).

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Logic, Limbaugh Style

In response to Rush Limbaugh's racist comments regarding Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb, we see the following in an article by Rob Maadi of the Associated Press:

"Limbaugh insisted Wednesday he had "no racist intent whatsoever." In fact, the conservative commentator said he must have been right; otherwise, the comments would not have sparked such outrage."

So, consequently, I assume that in Limbaugh's world, any statement that provokes anger is true. For example, were someone to write, for no reason and with no evidence to support it, "Rush Limbaugh is a pedophile," the subsequent outrage would actually support the baseless claim that he was a pedophile? Using this litmus test, I guess the outrage the Dixie Chicks provoked actually proved they must have been right as well, although Limbaugh didn't seem to feel that way at the time.

Also, it's very amusing to see Limbaugh running to hide behind freedom of speech, particularly when his take on the whole Dixie Chicks flap was, and I'm paraphrasing, that "you have freedom of speech, but there are consequences that come with the things you say." Welcome to your consequences, Rush.

I have written ESPN and stated that I will no longer financially support an organization that legitimizes racism. Given ESPN's tepid response to the matter, I suggest that those who found this statement as appalling as I did voice their feelings to ESPN as well.

Alan Steele
King, NC


Subj: leak of CIA undercover operative

Now is the time that tries men’s souls. Just as the grunt in Iraq riding shotgun on a Halliburton oil truck down ambush ally faces the daily anxiety of injury and death, a time of courage for the grunt, so too do the six White House reporters who got a call from the Senior Administration Official (SAO). A time to see what they are made of, a time of integrity and courage. What is greater, their loyalty to their White House source and their future careers as a reporter or their loyalty to their country and their integrity as an American Citizen. Like the grunt they too volunteered for the job. It is a simple choice, like swinging up into that shotgun seat, but hell on earth to stay the course.

Divulging the identity of a CIA undercover Operative is a life or death felony, a crime. It is treason.

Not divulging the identity of the treasonous SAO is adding and abetting a criminal, one who values instilling fear more than his duty to America.

We know what the grunt is made of, his actions speaks volumes.

Now is the time to see what these six reporters are made of.

John V. Ferrero Jr.
U.S.N. 1966-1970
Seattle, WA.


I can't believe what I just saw on "Buchanan and Press". Former agent Larry Johnson just strongly suggested that the leaker was Scooter Libby!!! First he said, he knew who it was. After prompting by Buchanan, Johnson (who I couldn't believe wasn't saying, "no comment") kept on talking. Please somebody tell me they just saw this also!

Eric


Subj: Novak is in a pickle

Dear BuzzFlash,

It seems that Robert Novak is in a bit of a pickle.

He doesn't want it to appear that he is Karl Rove's (or anybody's) stooge, so he strenuously denies that the information was leaked "to" him. He wants us to believe that he dug it up in the course of his thorough investigative reporting. As a side benefit, this spin might help absolve the White House.

But the flip side is that it puts the onus on Novak himself for discovering and intentionally exposing a covert CIA employee. It makes him the bad guy in this story. So he also has to assert that Wilson's wife wasn't all that important a cog in the CIA machinery (though we hear differently)...but even if she was, the CIA certainly didn't tell him so.

That spin is looking mighty weak, not the least because Novak used the word "operative" in his original column. So he has to plug that hole by confessing that it was only a poor choice of words. Was it? Thirty minutes later, CNN's reporter makes it clear to us that the word was precisely correct.

Novak is a tight squeeze, either solely of his own making -- or possibly at the demand of Karl Rove. His own public statements (i.e., today on Wolf Blitzer's program) are actually cranking the vise tighter, not helping him. I don't see how he can win. I think his goose is cooked, his credibility shot.

All that remains to be seen is whether Novak is the only casualty, or Karl Rove will have to throw another virgin into the volcano. My suggestion: Toss in Condi Rice, who apparently is everybody's favorite stooge.

As a consolation prize, I propose that we start calling this affair "Novakgate" -- in his honor.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Misleading Story

"Wilson makes no secret of being a left-leaning Democrat and said yesterday he intends to endorse Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) for president. Wilson, a former ambassador to Gabon who served as an Africa expert in the second Clinton administration, has long been friendly with leading Democrats."

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25492-2003Sep30

The above paragraph is misleading and doesn't convey the whole story. Wilson also said that he gave $2000 to Bush/Cheney in 2000. The above paragraph is nothing more than an extension of the GOP talking points, which are trying to paint Wilson as a partisan with ulterior motives. This is dishonest Reporting and a correction should be issued. What happened to journalistic standards?

thank you,

stevie gardiner
somerdale,nj


Subj: CIA Agent on PBS...must see tv

To whom it may concern,

Last night on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, there was a former CIA agent who said he said "it sickens me to be a Republican to see this."

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec03/leaks_09-30.html

Please check it out, it's good stuff.

-Dermot Murphy
Brockton, MA


Subj: The Bat

Buzz:

I had to smile when I read Laura Blumenfeld's description of the bat-o-meter on Dean's web page in her Washington Post article examining his appeal to voters. [LINK]

"On his home page, a Dean Team baseball player swings a bat that turns red like a thermometer as the money pours in. The cartoon ballplayer is a muscular, scowling man, who points his finger as if singling out someone for punishment."

Clearly Blumenfeld is no baseball fan. Otherwise, she'd understand the batter is pointing to the outfield, indicating he's about to hit one out of the park—as Howard Dean has done repeatedly with his fundraising.

Laura P.


Subj: Are we being distracted by this latest scandal away from a more important story?

Buzz,

I sent this same e-mail to atrios.

Is it possible that we are being led in the wrong direction ( away from Cheney ), by this Plame affair? I agree that is important that to investigate this apparent felony violation. I also think the media not really digging into Cheney is the more important story. What is it going to take to connect the dots ? It seems to me that Cheney is the real problem, not Rove, the Neo-Cons, or Bush himself. I have noticed quite a herd mentality on the websites ( i.e. - Eschaton, BuzzFlash, What Really Happened, and Cursor ) when a story breaks. We need to keep the pressure on all fronts.

Since I have sent this, Scooter Libby is now being named also. Maybe the worm is turning. Thank you for your response to my previous e-mail about your website. Keep up the good work.

J.P.


Subj: Another dog-and-pony show

Buzz,

By approving Bush's $87 BILLION dollar request, the Senate has proven that the latest hearings were nothing but a dog-and-pony show for the public's benefit, designed to con the public into believing that Congress was actually going to question the Bush administration and hold it accountable. They were just playing for the cameras.Why else would they move behind closed doors to vote?

Message they sent to Bush? "I'm your checkbook toting do-nothing lackey, ready to throw signed blank checks at you all day long and prostrate myself for you at the asking, NO ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIRED, NO QUESTIONS ASKED." This administration has just been sent the message that it can do absolutely anything, no matter the crime or consequence, and will NOT be held to account before the American people. The republicans in Congress have proven that they will put partisanship before all else, period.

Is this the best "leadership" America can produce? God help us if the public doesn't finally get mad as hell and replace all these losers with real courageous leaders. I think any 'Joe or 'Jane on the street would make a better leader than any of these career politicians. Where's the outrage, America? Too busy yawning and clicking the remote to form the thought, I expect.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Californians

Is it ok to elect someone who makes a comment like, "I have a role for you in Terminator Four," as he interrupted Huffington? His true colors, which are pretty ugly, would come out later. Arnie guarantees Bush four more years.

NO on RECALL

Yes, on Bustamante

GO CLARK 04

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Question of Week!

Who will lead the pack as Woodward-Bernstein in "Treasongate" and which media mogul will they have to "buck" to get the story out?

Amanda
BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: People inside and outside the information

GW BUSH: "If people have got solid information, please come forward with it. And that would be people inside the information who are the so-called anonymous sources, or people outside the information... outside the administration...."

Duh.

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)


Subj: Bush cowers behind Laura's skirts

You know it's got to be bad when Mr. Macho Flight Suit has to cower behind Laura's skirts.

Laura Bush Defends Husband on Leaks [LINK]

Rosamond


Re: [Article Link]

Soldiers having to pay for the flights home on leave, soldier having to pay for meal in military hospitals, soldiers under and/or ill equipped (less than state of the art flak jackets). Soldiers loosing combat pay. Veterans loosing medical and retirement benefits.

All of these insults and more from an AWOL commander in chief who spends millions to stage a political photo op flight and landing on an aircraft carrier to announce "mission accomplished".

Mission Accomplished! What mission? Finding WMD. Getting "the man who tried to kill my dad". Destroying and YES rebuilding Iraq. Both costing the US taxpayers and their children and their children's children.

One estimate of the cost of this war on the national debt is that it will cost one half a billion dollars a month for the next thirty years.

It's an outrage.

This is not the country my grandfather a WW I veteran and my father a WW II veteran and myself a Vietnam era veteran and my son and daughter BOTH currently on active duty in the U.S. Army served in uniform to protect.

Support the Troops is not a campaign slogan. IT'S A COMMITMENT TO THOSE WHO SERVE AND HAVE SERVED.

It's time to elect an new Commander in Chief. ANYONE but G.W. BUSH!

W. A. Griffiths
USAF 1965-1969


Subj: Electronic Voting: One expert independent opinion

Dear BuzzFlash:

M. Charles Fogg is a voting and security systems expert who understands counting issues inside and out In fact he is the lead inventor of the microprocessor based mark-sense ballot card reading system (patent no. 4,479,194 verifiable at LINK).

Because he has no current or future financial interest in any voting system (I can also vouch for his integrity as he is my husband), his response to the Beth Harris interview that appeared in BuzzFlash is something every American voter should take to heart. His comments appear below.

Sincerely,

Rosamond d'Orlaque

* * *

Charles writes:

This, I think, is the scariest of everything. From a technical perspective, I know I could bury vote shavings at the deepest level of the hardware/software interface, and responsive to hidden commands that looked like they are for operating something else.

I could do it so well, even code audits would not detect it. This, by the way, for a master programmer, is not even hard. Some fraudulent code might be detectable but it would just look like "machine error", with the deliberate stuff still hidden and unfound. Eventually, happening often enough, it might be ferreted out but it would take some mix of time and luck and meanwhile other "errors" could be introduced at another level.

The only, I repeat, ONLY way to stop this is to have a auditable paper ballot, and wherever fraud is even suspected, to audit that paper and catch the fraud in action, exposing it.

People will say that paper ballots can be tampered, and that's true. But it's a hell of a lot easier to put those under human guard and lock and key than it is to try to find something esoteric inside hidden code, even if the code were put in the public domain, wide open for all to look at. You can look at code, but absent looking at how the hardware will react to it, when it is made to react in error or differently than the code appears to intend, you will not find the fiddles. They just won't be there.

I believe the lazy minds' reliance on technology will actually result in massive fraud. If they believe they can do it, they will do it. I believe they have already tried it out and are emboldened. No matter how idealistic and solid the country might become, there is no stopping this kind of fraud.

Charles Fogg

Cygnet, Inc. USA


Buzz,

I thought the folks at the Onion had written this. There are so many ironies in this story I wouldn't know where to begin, especially her assertion that the U.S. is concerned on the concentration of media ownership in Russia:

Mrs. Bush Raises Press Freedom on Russia Trip [LINK]

Patricia


Subj: We Swarmed!

Too Much! W- Gate 1.

A special thanks to BuzzFlash and Josh @ TPM ( Josh, I hope those are UV filter glasses you're starin' at the screen with. )

I believe this story came about only through the new power of the internet enabled Human Swarm! You and she, he & me and how many others were doing this, keeping it alive?

I took up Corn's piece on BuzzFlash and reported it on my small town radio show RadioFreeWest, July 19. Also in letters to the editors of Key West, Fl. weeklies. Couldn't believe the White House could sink it so efficiently. It took so long but there it was, last Fri on MSNBC site , late. " CIA requests.." E- mailed BuzzFlash and saved the page in case it disappeared.

Had also on Sept 9 e- mailed my senator, Bob Graham about Rep. Inslee forum, Wilson, " Froghopping...Rove." The e- mail was deleted without reading once and resent. ( cc to Inslee to confirm Wilson statement, forum-form letter response back.)

Everyone and Everybody, Great Work!

Christy Sweet


Re: Officials Say Bush Seeks $600 Million to Hunt Iraq Arms; 10/2 NYT [LINK]

Dear Buzz:

I guess weapons searches are just like tax cuts: If some is bad, more is worse. Ergo, Bush wants more.

Regards,

William Wilgus
Silver Springs. FL


Subj: Karl Says He's Not Involved - and That's Good Enough For Karen Hughes

Furthermore Karen says the Treasongate leak is very disruptive to the President. Do these people have any shame?

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2132208

Rosamond


Subj: The Truth is Puttin' on its Shoes: An Inquiry Into the "Innocent" Mr. Rove

Dear BuzzFlash,

Just finished reading the excellent guest commentary at http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contributors/03/09/30_moore.html

Yes, if Rove was the one who outed Wilson's wife, he deserves to be prosecuted under the Patriot Act. It'd be the best use of the hideous law so far. Is Rove so stupid as to believe that he can threaten CIA and intelligence community and not face "consequences" sooner or later? These people have very long memories and look out for their own. They won't just forget about it, no matter what happens. Whoever did this will face justice.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Grand Hypocrisy Party

Poor, poor Rush Limbaugh...he spent the day saying he thought this country had free speech. Well, I have three words for him about that: THE DIXIE CHICKS

And now poor, poor Arnold is in trouble for groping and sexually harassing women over the years but he says they just misunderstood. Well, I have 2 words for him about that: BILL CLINTON

It ought to be a great day on the radio tomorrow listening to the talking heads spin these stories!

Oh what a glorious day to be alive!!!

Faron Thomason
Houston, TX


NBC's today show has now reached a new low, we may soon find a print version of it in the supermarkets, ala tabloid. Cute little Katie devotes her time the limbaugh story, kobe bryant and the ever loving arnold. The Valerie Plame affair was hardly mentioned at least in the top headlines of the day. I suppose it is up to all of us to keep bringing pressure on the news people, print or broadcast, that this story of "high Treason" does not go away because karl rove wants it to. It's so much easier for the katie courics of the world to talk about utter nonsense than to allow their viewers in on the high crimes and treasonous activities committed by their government.

Ruth Gottlieb
West Palm Beach, FL


Hi Buzz

Isn't it amazing.....Through all of this "WILSONGATE" scandal....... This Idiot that some village is missing...can still traipse around in his"$4000 suits and $2000 a pair of ITALIAN MADE (not USA made)shoes.....and "THE EMPEROR STILL HAS NO CLOTHES" As I said....Isnt it AMAZING ? hmmmmmmmm

Genie


Subj: Oh What a rush!!!!!

Buzz,

How interesting that Rush Limbaugh, the great pilonidal cyst, his fat bloated-ness, is an oxy-contin freak! The great blubber blabber-mouth who has never met a human or a human cause his self-hatred did not immediately blow a spout of invective toward is a drug addict! How fitting then, that this self-proclaimed self-righteous creampuff repugnican should be outed for the truly sick hypocritical cyst he is immediately following his bigoted remarks on ESPN about Donovan McNabb!. There is some justice after all. At least now this for truly hyped up blowhard won't be foisted on the entire country directly. How grating it was paying for cable tv to be forced to inhale the spume from this oversized moby prick just to watch a football game! Fortunately my dollars no longer go to support this addled republican junkie!

IT


Subj: Why is no one pressuring Robert Novak??

...or is it only Liberal *women* who go to jail to protect their sources? And when it's a Right-leaning white male it's hands off?

Sari


Subj: Code Red?

Dear BuzzFlash,

So when you have saboteurs loose in the White House, undermining our efforts against WMD proliferation, is THEN a good time to declare Code Red?

Jim P


Subj: Who'd 'a thunk it!

Dear Buzz,

Rove and Limbaugh imploding at the same time...I'm practically giddy.

Russ Rigtrup


Subj: Limbaugh

Silly me, I thought he was going into the hospital...from what I had read here in Missouri, for tummy tucks, and facial surgery....another form of misleading the public, I would suppose. I should have known from listening to this nitwit, his screaming rants...that it was more....what a slime...I sure hope this causes him to lose his show...where he is constantly on.."Loan from God!"

Shirley St. Louis


Subj: Lush Limbaugh

Now we know why conservatism made so much sense to Limbaugh…..HE WAS HIGH!

Diedrick Rucker


In a memorandum distributed Wednesday to Republicans on Capitol Hill, the Republican National Committee suggested that the party strike back at Democrats.

"Lacking a positive issue agenda to offer the American people, the Democratic Party now returns to what they have long seen as their best opportunity to defeat President Bush and Republicans - scandalmongering," the memo said.

House Republicans distributed white paper bags with the label "Leak hyperventilation bag," saying they might come in handy for Democrats who were having trouble catching their breath over the subject.

Q: Why did it take from july until October for Dept of Justice to begin an investigation called for by the CIA long ago?

Chris


Subj: Douche Limbaugh

It's getting so that you can't trust any Repuglicans anymore. First we find that Bill (I am Righteous) Bennett is found to be addicted to gambling, which is sometimes ran by organized crime, which uses their ill gotten booty to buy drugs which they sell to Rush Limbaugh. These crime organizations then use their profits from the drugs they sell to Rush to support terrorism world wide. Does this mean that both men are traitors and should be tried for treason, let's ask Ann Coulter. If we find out that it is treason we could leak it to Bob Novak saying that we heard it from a high Administration official (Karl Rove), so he would then maliciously put it into print in hope of embarrassing the Democrats which everyone knows are soft on National Defense, Drug Policy and practically everything else.

I had to change my underwear after hearing that Rush Limbaugh, say it again Pig Boy Limbaugh was under investigation for being involved with illegal drugs. How could thing's get any better. I am going right out and buy a lottery ticket and a bag of dope. World turned upside down.

Steve

BACK TO TOP 
 
 
MEDIA WATCH
DAILY BUZZ
P.M. CARPENTER
MAUREEN FARRELL
CARTOONS
ANGRY LIBERAL
INTERVIEWS
SOUTHERN STYLE
CONTRIBUTORS
MAILBAG
EDITORIALS
ANALYSIS
ALERTS
PERSPECTIVES
ABOUT
SEARCH
MEDIA LINKS
HEADLINE ARCHIVES
HEADLINES
EMAIL BUZZFLASH
HELP KEEP BUZZFLASH BUZZ'N!
 

Unless otherwise noted, all original
content and headlines are © BuzzFlash.
Contact BuzzFlash for reprint rights.