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October 24, 2003 |
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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: At least Putin can talk! Hi Guys... You are doing such a great job. Keep it up! I just read an interview that Al-Jazeera did with Vladimir Putin (Oct. 19). Putin may be just as bad as you'd figure, given his secret police background, but at least he knows how to talk without handlers. And his talks with the Canadian Prime Minister about cooperation in the Arctic Territories are sure to give the white House shit fits. Prof. Curt Louison Subj: Riddle Me This! Who else associated with the Jessica Lynch so called “rescue”has been killed?
A BuzzFlash Reader Re: Rumsfeld Memo an Obvious Plant - BuzzFlash Reader Commentary This analysis fits perfectly w/the CATO Institute's commentary on CNNI in late August: that the Bushies were preparing Americans, via Condoleeezzza Rice, for a 30 year "generational commitment" to "democratizing" the Middle East at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars. Michele Subj: Pay Raise for Senators!! Hi, I just heard on the news, that the Senators approved themselves a pay for 2004, the 5th year in a row. I was shocked, with so many people unemployed, veterans not getting medical care, native americans getting cheated, seniors citizens need medical benefits, and so many other issues. How can they do this? I know because they can. I read BuzzFlash and Bartcop everyday. I would like to know what you think. D. Potter [BuzzFlash Note: We think the raise is slap in the face of every unemployed and under-employed American. And don't let them fool you into believing they had no choice but to accept it, Sen. Feingold proposed an amendment to stop the raise, and it was voted down 60-34. Greed is killing our country.] Subj: Two sides to the story? Dear BuzzFlash- Having heard that there was a report authored by David Kay that I could access on the CIA website, I went to it. Here is the address: [LINK]. After reading the document, I am puzzled by Tony Snows comment yesterday as "fill-in" host for the Rush Limbaugh show, that it proves conclusively that the President's reasons for going into Iraq were valid and everything he stated about Saddam was true. Read it for yourself and judge if it supports the "Presidential Postulate" that we attacked just in time to prevent a ghastly attack on the US by Saddam and his friends in Al Qaeda. S. Cameron Subj: Rumsfeld's "leaky" memo Re: "Rumsfeld "Memo" an Obvious Plant" I completely concur with the commentary. Those cats are masters of message management. With Limbaugh hamstrung, the neocons are in a forgiving mood. It is truly frightening in it's brazen brilliance. Uncle Don needs some sympathy. He's got to manage this big, bad, nasty bureaucracy. I just love the use of the word "behinder" in the memo
This is the Sec. Def. and he can't use proper grammar. Must be code language (think about it). But hey... the President still says nuk-U-lar.... (sidebar: I read an article in 2000 about Bush's handlers actually training him to say "nu-cle-ar", but he dropped it when he became Pres....recidivist history I guess) Kevin Re: Rumsfeld Memo an Obvious Plant - For your information: Rumsfeld and the Bush Administration are trying, as we speak, to privatize thousands of Defense Dept. jobs, take away employees' collective bargaining rights, and undo the civil service system! The House passed a Defense Dept. appropriations bill that would also gut enforcement of anti-discrimination laws! Right now the Defense appropriations bill is in a House-Senate conference committee. For more information, see the website of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). BuzzFlash fan and federal employee Sent to: Fla State Attorney Barry E. Krischer, stateattorney@sa15.state.fl.us Subj: Rush Limbaugh Dear Mr. Krischer - I have been following the Rush Limbaugh "openly admits to having a drug habit" story since it began. If I may be so bold, I would like to offer up my proverbial "two cents worth". A number of years ago, I was crossing the border from Canada into North Dakota. Unknown to me at that time due to reasons I won't bother to get into here, I had in my possession a 3/4" long twig of a marijuana plant. Honestly, this twig was no more than 1/8" of an inch in diameter and wouldn't get a 4 pound dog high. But, none the less, I had in my possession at that time a "controlled substance" and being the man that I am, I admitted to the error in my ways and paid the price. That price by the way, was the loss of my job, loss of an I-192 waiver, $1000 US in fines and a criminal record in the USA. To this day, I have not crossed the border into the USA, nor all things considered, do I ever have any intentions of doing so in the future. That said, I find it rather disturbing to see that Rush Limbaugh, simply due to the fact that he carries the reputation of being the loud mouthed bigot that he is, may well get a pass when it comes to his own " self confessed" drug use issues. Not only has he obtained the drugs illegally, but he has admitted to "using" the black market to do so, there-by prostituting your whole system of justice. I submit that it is high time to paint the pot black, and show the entire world how "fair and just" of a society the USA want's to impress upon the rest of the world it is. Personally, I'm sickened by the whole deal. I can't visit a country that I used to truly love to, simply because I'm willing to pay the price of justice. And then I see the likes of Rush Limbaugh skirt justice because he seems to have friends in high places. Or should that be high friends, in places? The eyes of the whole world are on the USA, just to see if you really are what you want the rest of us to believe. That opinion takes a serious battering every time someone like Rush get's a pass on facing the " true justice" you so strongly want the rest of the world to believe is for the common good of the world and supposedly prevalent in the "Good ol' USA". I submit, Prove it. Your's truly, Drew Smith, Subj: eric cantor-threatens cbs! re:the reagan movie It's a movie! For christ sake! It is not a documentary! A movie! Get over it! And what's with congressman eric cantor on buchanan and press threatening the cbs network license if they air the movie! Yee gads! Are we in one of those countries where you can't say anything about a president that is not flattering? A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: John & Elaine Mellencamp's letter Hi, I just wanted to send you a link to John Mellencamp's site in which he & his wife Elaine have published an open letter on his website in response to the negative reaction to his new song "To Washington." If the link doesn't take you to the right place, it is under news on the site. I live in the same small town as the Mellencamp's & many of the local folk here got mad as hell when our hometown boy put this song on his new album, Trouble No More. He & his wife have reported harassment since our local paper printed the lyrics to this song. There is also a nice interview of the Mellencamps & their subsequent treatment in the newspaper today, but I couldn't post the web address for it 'cause you have to join, but it is in the Bloomington, IN Herald-Times & it is an interview by Mike Leonard in the 10-23-03 edition. GO JOHN & ELAINE!! http://mellencamp.com/peacefulworld/index.html Cydney Subj: Just a thought Just a thought. Noticed Poppy quit Carlyle. Could the Bush cartel actually be worried enough about Moore’s new book that they are starting a PR offensive now? Just wondering. The “Perfect Storm”continues to gather force, Larry P Subj: One would hope not . . From Ken Sawyer:
also:
MCM Hi Folks, Following the Rush Limbaugh story, I just can't stop thinking about the one and only jury I ever served on. It was a case where 6 men were arrested for selling ONE $10.00 BAG OF HEROIN!!! That's right - ONE $10 bag. There were only 3 of the guys in the trial I was involved in - they were all hispanic. I'm not sure what happened to the other 3 - maybe tried in another jurisdiction. One of the 3 defendants disappeared from the trial one day and we found out after the trial that they didn't actually have any evidence on him at all. Duh! We found one of the remaining 2 not guilty (not enough evidence - hardly any evidence actually) but because of one stubborn, naive juror, the other one ended in a mistrial and the defendant had to be tried again. God only knows what happened to him. When I first realized what this case was actually about ($10.00 - six men!), I was furious. I guess my point is, Rush would have been more than happy to put these guys away for life. I don't know if I could ever serve on a drug case again and be impartial. There is no justice in this country and we are seeing proof of that day after day. Oh, and I'd just like to put in my two cents. An idea for a new book title - "Barbara Bush is a Big Fat Idiot". Thanks for doing what you're doing BuzzFlash. The mainstream media is almost waking up - and I think you deserve a lot of credit for that. We can move mountains if we try hard enough. Barbara in NYC Subj: Everything the man touches . . . FAILS!!!
A BuzzFlash Reader re: Is Thomas Friedman lying? Reader analysis Dear BuzzFlash, I would like to respond to the Reader analysis regarding Thomas Friedman's statement that there have only been "900 wounded or maimed." While I'm not usually the one to defend Friedman, I do believe he isn't necessarily lying in his article to the extent that the reader believes; the only issue is that, like most of these pundits, he's "technically" correct, but may leave open the possibility of instilling a false impression. The issue I have with the "reader analyst" is that he himself leaves a false impression: that Friedman seemingly pulled this number out of thin air, which is demonstrably untrue. In his article, he states that "attacks on our forces are becoming more deadly... we've had 900 wounded or maimed." This is an admittedly vague statement, but it certainly does imply that he is referring to post-"Mission Accomplished," by his use of "becoming," as well as to combat-related woundings, from the mention of "attacks." The author of the reader analysis quotes the total US wounded as being 1938 (using link provided), but that includes combat and non-combat as well as counting since March 20th. If we remove the "post-carrier" non-combat (338) and "pre-carrier" total wounded (685, Wash. P), we arrive at 915 combat wounded since the end of "major combat." This is obviously the 900 to which Friedman is referring. As I said above, Friedman is "technically" correct; he isn't "blatantly lying" but he certainly could have said the much clearer statement, "Since May 1st, over 900 servicemen and women have been wounded or maimed in combat." Given all this, I would venture to say that, while Friedman is not guilty of "blatantly" lying, he is at best guilty of elementary-school-level writing (doubtful) and at worst guilty of lying by purposefully creating a false impression. Like a good conservative pundit, he's vague enough to mislead to his ends on the surface, but technically correct in the details to avoid true culpability. I'm not necessarily contradicting the "reader analyst," as I do agree that Friedman is misleading enough to warrant a frown, but I would urge my fellow readers to understand exactly where he seemingly got his numbers and where the "reader analyst" got his before anyone sends off an angry e-mail to the Times, and to not misconstrue the differing tallies as being more dubious than they actually are. Andrew Christian Subj: How can Bush win? If all the people who voted in the last election vote the same, Bush loses the popular vote. If all the soldiers who voted for him last time get pissed off and vote Dem., he can't win. If the votes of the disenfranchised from the last election count this time, he can't win. If, let's say, half the green voters (90,000 in Florida alone) vote Dem., he can't win. So, how can he win? Behold the electronic voting machine with no paper trail. As for me, I'm getting an absentee ballot. At least there's a better chance of it being counted. Mike. Subj: Novak Hi Buzz, Please tell your readers not to let up on Novak. He has been keeping a fairly low profile lately, no doubt riding out the storm. I'm sure he's counting on the daily outrage from the White House to give him cover. I tuned in to Crossfire today and there he was, the epitome of all things "Administration". Shame on CNN, shame on Bob Novak, and shame on us all if we allow this to stand. I shot off a letter to CNN. Very level headed, non-partisan communication works best. Contact CNN, the Chicago Sun-Times, and any other outlet which gives him a voice. This is still an outrage worth speaking out about., There are so many outrages daily that they count on us being unable to focus. It is a strategy. Our strategy should be "One at a Time". Bob Novak should be an easy win. A kindred spirit Lexie Subj: Bush's Free Speech Bush's speech is usually free, except to idiots who want to exercise their free speech by giving him money and then it is damned expensive, if you really want attention. If they charged for his speech, no one I know would pay two cents for it. I wish we had some heckling congressmen. Those two greenies probably had requested the right to ask him a question he didn't like, like maybe why they haven't taken his mother in, for threatening to kill anyone who exercises negative free speech at her family. Was that a hummer they were trying to get the ho-hum lordship and his first lump into? There were actually hecklers close enough to be heard. That would never happen here because Bush only wants to hear positive free speech. The negatives are put about a half mile away. Barb, the barracuda, and Rummy, the slog, get to make jokes about death. I wonder how Barb feels about her soon to be ex-daughter-in-law. Barb's baby boy, Neil, isn't even offering a monthly settlement that would pay for a plate at a Bush fund-raiser. I guess he thinks that will pay to keep her silent. Of course Dubya hasn't sent any of Barb's grandkids off to Iraq. He hasn't even been to Iraq. The Bushes have to stay here to make music videos. "She's a Lady"? She looks like Gene Hackman in drag from "The Birdcage". Sorry, Gene. Someone on BuzzFlash wanted to know if Dubya's ranch is really close to Waco. If he is asking about the town of Waco, it isn't? If he is asking about the Waco ranch, belonging to the other gun-toting religious nut, I don't know? It's hard to tell because all sides of Waco look the same, except there are a few more trees to the east. Karen Webb, Moore, Ok "Speak up or they assume you agree." Subj: NPR's Shameful Capitulation The NPR Ombudsman's criticism of Terry Gross's "interview" with right-wing windbag Bill O'Reilly represents the last, ragged breath of American journalism's credibility. The tone of the entire posting is so obsequious, fawning, and completely devoid of the least bit of chutzpah on the part of Ms. Gross's employer in the face of the Right Wingnut juggernaut that I was reminded of a whipped dog crawling on its paws before its cruel master (or the Washington Post's Condi Rice phobia). The doublespeak is such a classic example of kiss/slap wishy-washiness! While praising Ms. Gross's record with NPR it simultaneously chastises her for not being kinder and gentler to the oh-so compassionate conservative O'Reilly, especially after his tantrum ran amok and he took his toys and ran from the studio. Have these people NO SHAME? Or have they simply given up the ghost and accepted the "new" journalism, where far right-wing dingleberries harass, harrumph, hassle, and otherwise play harpy with any and all opponents while the left-leaners stand there and stammer, stutter, simper, and otherwise succumb to the hideous humbugs? It seems no claim in too outrageous, no blustering too ignominious, no behavior disgusting enough (on the part of the FAR RIGHT WING, at least) to get these American "liberal journalists" to say SOMETHING (ANYTHING!!!) challenging to these imbeciles. Granted, they own all the major news outlets, they control the banks and corporations, and they are in the process of ending representative democracy as we know it, <<<grin>>> but HELL'S BELLS! Can't we at least do down FIGHTING? Has no one on the left, in this vast "liberal-biased" media empire, the cojones to say "SHUT UP YOU IDIOT and face the facts and tell the truth for ONCE!" Other than Terry Gross, Molly Ivins, Paul Krugman, Greg Palast, BuzzFlash, Bill Moyers, the Dixie Chicks, Michael Moore, and Al Franken, (and a few other lone wolves) I guess not. What a lonely choir they make out there in the wasteland of American's once-great journalistic tradition! I guess for me it's 'good-bye NPR, NBC, ABC, CBS, Time, Newsweek, The NYT, and PBS' and hello again BuzzFlash and all the foreign journalists once and for all. Bill Moyers, why aren't you running for president? Brian in Florida Subj: Diebold Election Machines & the 2004 Election Dear BuzzFlash, I have been reading about all the "importants" of the Bush administration to have the Electronic Voting machines in place in the "key" states by election time in 2004. With the recall vote being somewhat close in California, and the swing voting being close at the last min in Ga, I have to wonder why. Getting a Republican in office in key states seems to be needed to wrap up the election for 2004, (with the e-Vote). I don't know about the other BuzzFlash readers, but, the only way I can see to have my vote "count" the way I vote is to vote absentee ballot. At least I know that it will have a "paper trail", and can't be hacked or hijacked by the GOP. If we all vote this way, it would be difficult to throw away millions and millions of absentee ballots. Buddy in Ohio Subj: Phony Rumsfeld Of course it was a deliberately leaked "memo". Even the single celled morons on Fox news this morning were saying that it was an intentional " leak". Can this administration possibly get any dumber? Cheers, keep up the good work! Chris Subj: Cheney's Energy Task Force Documents On the Web I didn't know if you had linked to these before. Cheney's Task Force maps of Iraqi oil. Even if you had, it might be good to bring this up again. Especially since this took place before 9-11, right? We need to start emphasizing that the decision to go into Iraq was planned way before 9-11. http://www.judicialwatch.org/071703.b_PR.shtml Jeff Subj: "Kerry Still Dogged by Questions on Vote to Authorize Iraq War" The New York Times puts the supposedly damning question John Kerry just " can't escape" this way: "If Senator John Kerry is so critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq and its aftermath, why did he vote to authorize the use of force in the first place?"* Wesley Clark is plagued by similar "troubling" questions. Its hard to see what the problem is when this variant of the question "why did you do THEN what you wouldn't do NOW?" has such an obvious answer: If Kerry supported war based on the administration's evidence, and, as the true facts emerged he altered his views to fit them, this is not an inexcusable "flip-flop," it is an appropriate, even commendable, adaptation to reality. To be unwilling to adapt your views to the facts is unreasonable, and, if deliberate and calculated, dishonest. To be unable to adapt your views to things as they really are is not admirable consistency, its a form of psychosis. What should be troubling the Times is why everyone else who voted for war on the same evidence has not followed Kerry and Clark. To continue to support a war founded on 'evidence' that has all evaporated is genuinely inexcusable. * ["Kerry Still Dogged by Questions on Vote to Authorize Iraq War," 10/24/03] Albert Clark, NY Hi BuzzFlash, As Kentucky's race for governor gets tighter, the GOP gets more desperate. Republican Ernie Fletcher--the lapdog of Mitch McConnell--specializes in nasty ads, innuendo, and misinformation. But this Courier-Journal story of 10/23/03 proves a new low in the GOP election strategy for November 4th. The GOP will place Republican "challengers" at 59 voting precincts in predominantly black neighborhoods in Louisville's West End. Most of the GOP "challengers" live outside the targeted precincts, but will be "on hand" to challenge voters who they suspect aren't eligible. Please post this story to highlight this disgraceful and racist tactic to intimidate voters in Democrat precincts as a way to keep them from the polls or confuse and complicate the voting process in these precincts. I hope the proper URL is with this article, which can be found at www.courier-journal.com Thanks for all your hard work. Judy Munro-Leighton Subj: Rush Limbaugh Dear BuzzFlash, I am gratified to see that you have published Aprille Terzief's letter of 10/23/03regarding Rush Limbaugh's criminal possession of Oxycontin. However, I have emailed you a number of times regarding this issue and have been disappointed that you have failed to post my information on this subject, as the true story is not being told. Here is the REAL outrage regarding Limbaugh's non-prosecution: In the state of Florida the penalties for possessing certain drugs are based solely on the actual gram (or kilogram) weight of those drugs. OxyContin (oxycodone) is one of those drugs and is listed as a Schedule II narcotic. Mr. Limbaugh is alleged to have possessed as many as 1000 tablets of OxyContin (oxycodone) on several occasions. OxyContin is manufactured in 10 mg 20 mg 40 mg 80 mg and 160 mg tablets. One thousand tablets, at the smallest 10 mg dosage, would contain 10 grams of oxycodone. One thousand tablets, at the greatest 160 mg dosage, would yield 160 grams of oxycodone. Either amount would make Mr. Limbaugh subject to the Florida State statutes regarding “Trafficking in illegal drugs.” However, Limbaugh's legal situation should be even more serious as Florida law says the following: 6) A mixture, as defined in s. 893.02(14), containing any controlled substance described in this section includes, but is not limited to, a solution or a dosage unit, including but not limited to, a pill or tablet, containing a controlled substance. For the purpose of clarifying legislative intent regarding the weighing of a mixture containing a controlled substance described in this section, the weight of the controlled substance is the total weight of the mixture, including the controlled substance and any other substance in the mixture. If there is more than one mixture containing the same controlled substance, the weight of the controlled substance is calculated by aggregating the total weight of each mixture. Therefore, Mr Limbaugh would correctly be charged with the total weight of the tablets he purchased, attempted to purchase, or conspired to purchase. Please note that the below statutes do not contain any provisions for personal use and that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of people incarcerated in Florida prisons for the exact same offense(s) that Mr. Limbaugh is alleged to have committed. Florida Statutes 893.135 Trafficking; mandatory sentences; suspension or reduction of sentences; conspiracy to engage in trafficking.-- (c)1. Any person who knowingly sells, purchases, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state, or who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession of, 4 grams or more of oxycodone, or 4 grams or more of any mixture containing any such substance, but less than 30 kilograms of such substance or mixture, commits a felony of the first degree, which felony shall be known as "trafficking in illegal drugs," punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. If the quantity involved: a. Is 4 grams or more, but less than 14 grams, such person shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 3 years, and the defendant shall be ordered to pay a fine of $50,000. b. Is 14 grams or more, but less than 28 grams, such person shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years, and the defendant shall be ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. c. Is 28 grams or more, but less than 30 kilograms, such person shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 calendar years and pay a fine of $500,000. Mr. Limbaugh SHOULD be facing a prison term of 3-25 years. MINIMUM MANDATORY! As for the assertion that they didn't catch him red-handed with the drugs, or that because his maid obtained them for him, here's what Florida law has to say about that: (5) Any person who agrees, conspires, combines, or confederates with another person to commit any act prohibited by subsection (1) commits a felony of the first degree and is punishable as if he or she had actually committed such prohibited act. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit separate convictions and sentences for a violation of this subsection and any violation of subsection (1). The statutes can be found at: [LINK] The above information has been published on Eschaton, Whiskey Bar, Tbogg, David E's Fablog, The Guy James Radio Show.com, and several other sites. I would very much appreciate your publishing this letter in your Reader Commentary section. Thank you, Chris Chrisenberry Subj: Semantics At first, Saddam was an "imminent threat with weapons of mass destruction". Post-invasion, he was "working on programs for weapons". Now, Condi says he had "an ambition to threaten". Do you think one day, when the whole house of cards comes crashing down, the Bush Administration will just say "What war?" Vishal Subj: The Presidential Prayer Team Dear Buzz, Thanks for drawing my attention to, among other things, the Presidential Prayer Team. Why are gifts to the Presidential Prayer Team tax deductible? Your grateful reader, Richard Barber [BuzzFlash Note: Because God told George they were? Of course, God (that is, George's God) also told him to invade Iraq. Sometimes we wonder if George's God is also called "Dick Cheney."] Subj: Thank you Dear BuzzFlash Crew, We want to thank you for the terrific public service you provide with your web site. The links that you offer have become our primary source for news. The premium we purchased surely could not begin to truly pay for all the information you have provided us. We want to especially thank you for the link that currently appears regarding the draft boards being reinitiated. As parents of a 17 year-old boy, we are quite distressed about such news -but, so grateful that such information, like so many others, did not become just another important story ignored by the mainstream media. We have forwarded that link to our representatives, our local paper, etc... in hopes of obtaining some answers. Again, thank you for your service. Sincerely, Ben and
Carolina Williamson P.S. You should make BuzzFlash license plate holders - We would buy two! Subj: The Sleeping Media When the issue was a small real estate deal in Arkansas years in the past, media scrutiny was relentless and continuous. When it's the administration brazenly compromising national security assets, ironically extolling the virtues of the very investigators they called incompetent to look into that land deal, and openly expressing their doubt that anyone can be brought to justice, the press can't seem to stay interested for more than a week. It really is a shameful contrast. All it takes is a "credible" Saddam/Osama sighting and they are effectively diverted. No one seems to notice, (or perhaps it's "care") that when real leads are being followed, and real captures made, the press release comes after, not before, the arrest. With few exceptions, television news is now "reality based entertainment." That's the only way to explain the prominence given to wholly unsupported, but sensational, reports of Saddam/Osama sightings by "unidentified sources" (god forbid THEIR identities should be published....); to unverifiable ominous plots "just uncovered" during the interrogation of prisoners held captive for 2 years, and so on. In short, stories that should be laughed at and set aside as painfully obvious propaganda or psy-ops fantasy are uncritically passed along as if they were facts. Whitewater was no shining moment for the media, but compared to the limp, thoughtless fluff that passes for journalism now it seems to gather some luster. Albert Clark, NY Subj: Rush's War on Drugs Take a look at where Rush Limbaugh is battling his personal War on Drugs: This is where Rush is de-toxing. Wonder if it has a golf course? Any one else accused of that much illegal drug dealing, across state lines too, would be hauled away and explaining his story thru iron bars. ========================== I have heard that as soon as Rush gets out and returns to his show, he will be urging the President to end the War On Drugs and release all those black folk from prison and send them to similar treatment programs. He is so upset at the unequal treatment for drug use between rich whites and poor blacks [see below] that he has decided to devote a huge portion of his OWN vast income to the cause. [please pass the word about this wonderful news and of course, thank God for this COMPASSIONATE Conservative Conversion] Some interesting facts on the War on Drugs if you care to check it out: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/racepris.htm http://salt.claretianpubs.org/sjnews/2003/04/sjn0304f.html American prison population surpasses 2 million, the highest incarceration rate in the world For the first time in history, the number of inmates in American prisons and jails has exceeded 2 million. As of June 30, 2002, there were 1.35 million prisoners in State and Federal prisons and an additional 665, 475 in local jails, according to a new report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. This represents an increase of nearly 2 percent over the first six months of 2002. The rate of incarceration in the United States, 702 inmates per 100,000 residents, continues to be the highest in the world. Among black males 25 to 29, 12.9 percent were in prison or jail. Overall, 4.8 percent of black males were in prison or jails, compared to 1.7 percent of Hispanics and 0.6 percent of whites. Black women in prisons and jails continue to outnumber their white (5 times as many) and Hispanic (more than twice as many) counterparts. According to criminal justice analysts, the Bureau's report demonstrates state and federal policies continue to drive up incarceration rates despite sharp drops in violent crime rates since 1994 and efforts by many state governors and legislators from both political parties to reduce swollen prison populations and corrections budgets during an economic downturn. "The relentless increases in prison and jail populations can best be explained as the legacy of an entrenched infrastructure of punishment that has been embedded in the criminal justice system over the last 30 years," says Malcolm C. Young, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project, a non-profit organization which promotes greater use of alternatives to prison and more effective methods of reducing crime. Drug offenses account for nearly 60 percent of the federal prison population and more than 20 percent of the state inmate population. Despite harsh mandatory minimum laws that send many low-level drug offenders to prison, drug use as evidenced by survey information and emergency room admissions remains flat. The numbers contained in the Bureau's report demonstrate the role of policy over actual crime trends in determining incarceration. ==================== Meanwhile... schools are going broke!!! But locally the "Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board" is continuing to focus on how to get mandatory random drug tests into the school. [I'm holding them back as best I can]. Interesting article in yesterday's [10/23] NY Times about the part OUR drug war played in ousting the President of Bolivia.. and its implications for other countries and stability in the region.
A BuzzFlash Reader P.S. To answer your question.. "Wonder if it has a golf course?" I took the "virtual tour". Lovely pool, therapeutic horseback riding, exercise classes and gym, nice fireplace lounge, but SHOCKINGLY, no golf course [no pain, no gain]. Also.. not a whole lotta black folk. As I took the tour I tried to think how their attendance to the person's "mind, body and spirit" differs from our "War on Drugs" zero tolerance approach... esp. for young black men. Wouldn't THEY like to "do time" here. |
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