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November 19, 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: Sorry Invitation Dear BuzzFlash,Imagine yourself receiving an invitation to a glamorous event many months ago. Imagine finding that you are not welcome at this event any longer. In fact, people are openly saying you are not welcome and are preparing to publicly insult you if you dare to attend. Would you forge ahead, ignore the attacks, and attend the event with a big phony smile on your face anyway? I just heard a resounding, "No way... I do not go where I am not welcome!" England is not so Jolly about Bush meeting with the Queen and Blair and the Brits are emphatically vocal about it. Bush insists on going where he is unwelcome. He has no grace. He is no more than an ignoramus who fell into a crock of dung and came out smelling like a millionaire. How embarrassing for real Americans! ~ Cathy Subj: A small problem with your website I haven't had the opportunity to comment on your site in the past, but I stop in and review as often as I can (and I applaud your work). However there is one writing error that I feel I must point out to the Buzz. I saw in your response to Mitch the phrase "the Rupert Murdoch empire of media evil and lies". Isn't "Rupert Murdoch empire" and 'media evil and lies" unnecessary repetition? just curious Ted from Boston Subj: spreading the Weekly Standard lies about the Osama/Hussein connection Dear Buzz, I read your news analysis, "How the Orwellian White House Continues to Keep the Saddam-9/11 Connection Alive..." just a moment ago. Last night I watched "Buchanan and Press" on MSNBC for a few minutes but got too annoyed to continue. They had a Weekly Standard writer (don't know his name) and Tony Blankly discussing the PROOF of the connection. Now there's fair and balanced for ya. I didn't hear the whole exchange so I don't know if Bill Press actually tried to challenge them on these claims, but the overwhelming sentiment coming from those people is that now we have incontrovertible proof that there was a connection. Thank goodness hardly anyone watches cable news; they might as well be conducting seances to get information for all they care about truthfulness and accuracy informing the public. Pissed off in Boston, A Devoted BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Bush reveals himself a liar once again Hi Buzz, I noticed this quote in a story you linked to:
From the article here: [Associated Press] Bush is openly acknowledging that Iraq was not previously a possible front for the war on terror by saying that it "has become a NEW front". It amazes me how he gets away with blatant lying. Regards, Ben Subj: Saturday news flash Hi, BuzzFlash! You're the only source I trust anymore (well, just about). I live in Muscatine, Iowa, (neo-con capital of the world) and was driving to a football game at my daughter's college in Cedar Falls, Iowa, when I heard PBS (WSUI--University of Iowa radio) report about the Saddam connection about 4:00 p.m. Needless to say my first reaction was "&##!!!". These lies have already been disproven. Why does PBS degrade themselves even more by repeating this drivel? Keep up the good work, BuzzFlash! I'll try to buy some premiums soon. Money's been really tight lately due to the "Bush recovery". Thanks a million for tellin' it like it is!. Like Harry, "give 'em hell". And also like Harry S., "you just have to tell the truth on 'em and they THINK it's hell!" Yours in de-creeping the U.S., Laurie Lusinski P.S. Your afternoon alerts are great! Subj: Sun-Sentinel: Speedy trial guarantees to be suspended in Miami for trade talks Hey, look for the silver lining in this story "Speedy trial guarantees to be suspended in Miami for trade talks" (at: Sun Sentinel) At least in JEB Bush territory, they come right out and say that the Constitution, Bill of Rights and other rulings involving due process are illusionary gifts that come and go with the whims of Republican officials. GW Bush just pretends we still have those rights, we're just hysterical in our fear that he's suspended them! Jack Ballinger Subj: NPR radio program: How to Crack a Diebold Voting Machine I highly recommend a recent episode of This American Life (WBEZ Chicago, Public radio) Check out 11/7/2003, Episode 250, The Annoying Gap Between Theory…and Practice (you’ll need a free RealOne player.) This is a great actual demo of how to crack a Diebold voting machine, that even your non-techie friends can understand: “Act One. Rock, Paper, Computer. Reporter Jack Hitt explains the alarming difference between theory and practice when it comes to computerized voting machines. Specifically, those made by a company called Diebold. (16 minutes)” Start at minute 5:24, for about 16 minutes, or listen to the whole show (about 54 minutes.) Linda L. Ireland Dear BuzzFlash, Has anyone seen the DNA reports on Saddam's sons? Remember, at the time they were killed, we were told it would take several weeks before they would get the results to determine if the DNA of two men we saw laid out on the tables matched the DNA of Saddam's sons. So where is the report? Did the report come back yet? Where is it? Shoulda been here by now don't cha think? Has anybody seen it? Oh no, don't tell me that we've lost that too. We seem to be good losers but really bad finders. pissed off patricia Subj: Leave No Child Behind The 4th largest city in New York eliminates all sports programs and extra-curricular activities from its school system and cuts 500 jobs, while rewarding the schools superintendent with a $235,000 per year contract with 9 weeks of vacation. More to come. Mark Cashman Subj: LET THE BUYER BEWARE...this medicare program will leave the elderly holding the bag The AARP is bought-off or under-informed on this bill. The down-sides are great. The trademark of a good con man is that he can take your money and have him thank you for taking it...well done GOP... pro-cheap-labor, pro-cheap-healthcare...the AARP and everyone else should be aware that when "big business" and the GOP makes you an offer... there is always a clause in there to promote CHEAP. Sad though, as usual, it is the poor, the elderly, the weak, that will carry the brunt of this legislation. IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE SMART ABOUT IT THEY WILL PUBLICIZE LOUDLY WHY THE PLAN DOES NOT DO ENOUGH FOR THE ELDERLY... THE GOP IS ONCE AGAIN GIVING US A "CLEAN AIR ACT" THAT HAS A GREAT TITLE BUT NO BEEF.
A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: U.S. dishonors military dead Dear Buzz, The Bush administration prohibits media coverage of dead or injured American soldiers returning from Iraq. Bush has not attended one funeral for the men and women he sent to die in Iraq. After 16 Americans were killed in the downing of a Chinook helicopter, he stayed in his 'ranch' and didn't comment. Contrast this appalling insensitivity with the treatment that Italian Iraq war casualties will receive in their country.
Jaimie Subj: Most Americans are like frogs being boiled. Hello, Love your sentence:
Keep on writing, Peace, Aimee L.
Walker Subj: WHOA!! FOX gets it good!! I love it. Makes my skin hot to watch Clark yell at FOX like that. AY AY !!!!! A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: FOX Finally Got Attacked BuzzFlash, I can't believe that Fox took down that Clark interview. I am sure glad at least BuzzFlash has the decency to keep it there. What a bunch of slime Fox is!! A BuzzFlash Reader Re: Presidential (Mis)Speak: The Very Curious Language of George W. Bush 2004... I think it is wonderful that you are selling this calendar but I gotta tell you that the man is so repulsive to me that I couldn't possibly look at his awful mug every day nor could I waste time every day reading his mis-quotes. You can publish this in your e-letter bag if you want. Choose Peace, Christy
Day [BuzzFlash Note: We also give them to our Republican friends to remind THEM, every single day, just what they did to us.] Subj: AARP betrayal of it's Membership Dear BuzzFlash, I recently joined AARP (American Association of Retired People) and was horrified to learn that it's 'leadership' has come out in favor of the Republican Party's new Prescription Drug proposal. This bill is a giveaway to the Pharmaceutical Industry, which also happens to be major Republican Party donor. This betrayal by the AARP leadership of it's senior citizen membership is an outrage and deserves as much press coverage as possible. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/18/politics/18MEDI.html Mark Dorrance, Member
of the AARP Subj: Apotheosis The Democrats should tear a page from the book of the extreme right in California. They should run the Marlboro man as president and Mr. Goodwrench as vice president. There will be twenty five percent of Americans who will not vote for them because the Democrats insulted their intelligence. However, there will be seventy five percent that will vote them in by a landslide bigger than Reagan's or Nixon's. John Can you re-post (or cite a source) for the Gore speech where he said Bush was forewarned about 9/11? This is explosive stuff (or at least should be). The country doesn't seem to care that the President looked the other way........ A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash: Here's a link to Gore's speech from November 9, 2003] Subj: AARP sells out its members (follow-up info) Dear BuzzFlash -- Some follow-up info. Go to the AARP's official website. Then go to its "Online Community" site. From there, go down the page to its "Debates" link, which takes you to its " Message Boards." A Rx-related message board is brimming with venom from AARP members with message titles like: "Cancel your membership" "AARP Betrays its Members" & "AARP Sellout" As of 2:42 CDT the message board goes back to around 1:30 (EDT, I believe), but it was full up this morning, too. That link is: http://community.aarp.org/rp-legislative/start Happy news-breaking. Yours -- Richard Newton Subj: What really matters in Texas Dear BuzzFlash, I am a Texan. No use to deny it. I also can't stomach Bush. No use to deny it. I have watched his antics for more years than is comfortable. And that is what really matters in Texas. We care about comfort. Comfort is what really matters to me. I am sure that if we all looked deeply into our belly buttons, we would admit the same thing. To speak about what Bush and his corporate cronies are really doing to America makes me uncomfortable. I care about the bombs. I care about the deaths, Afghani, Iraqi, and American. I care about the erosion of our constitutional civil liberties. I care about the too often successful attempts to shred the Bill of Rights. BUT MOST OF ALL, I CARE ABOUT THE PRICE OF PETROL. I drive a little 4 banger that gets good mileage. But the price of gas has gone up and it's staying up. Why? Because the increase in Iraqi oil that we were promised (in exchange for all the blood) has not been forthcoming. Those darned Iraqis keep blowing up the pipelines. What's the matter? Do they think they own the stuff? Don't they know that they exist to make me comfortable? Now we are about to get hit with a trade war because of our steel tariffs. I used to live in Pittsburgh, and have a lot of love for the mill workers, but most of those factories are old, old, old and dirty, dirty, dirty. Tariffs are better than capital investment in newer and more efficient factories, right? The bottom line is: If George can't make my life more comfortable, what good is he? I'm tired of the empty belly and the nasty words on the TV. I want comfort. That's what really matters to me. Amanda Sharpe Subj: 9/11 Commission Member Timothy Roemer Dear BuzzFlash: Watching member Timothy Roemer, Ph.D.and former Democratic Congressman discuss the 9/11 panel yesterday on C-SPAN unsettled me. A caller asked about a "stand down" and after some discussion, Mr. Roemer, referred to a "shoot down" order. HMMM? These are two entirely different issues. Citizens should be screaming at the FAA and NORAD to release all documents. His answers seemed purposefully vague, which may be OK at this time, but nothing in them led me to believe the panel is actually looking for nothing but the truth. The timeline problems seem to me to be the first order of business to solve. Wondering whether Clinton or H. W. Bush or Reagan are to blame for the attack doesn't strike me as an honest effort until the current gaps have been filled. I remain disgusted by the blocking of governmental information, in the hope the panel's mandate elapses. In light of Maureen Farrell's well documented piece today citizens need to remain on guard for a Warren Commission or Iran-Contra solution. A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Gun market in Baghdad??? Hey, thanks you guys...I read you all every day! I read your link about two soldiers killed today in Iraq and that 3 civilians were killed when they were test-firing guns in a Baghdad gun market. What in the world is a gun-market doing in Baghdad. I mean, aren't we at war. Can you guys get to the bottom of this? Thanks, Matt Miller I called the offices of AARP to register my objections to this endorsement and talked to a woman who was fielding calls all day. She said that most calls were opposed to the plan endorsed by AARP...SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!! AARP office # 800.424.3410.....push 1. Alice Just fyi, I think Joanne Fiorito's comments in the Nov. 18 Mailbag unintentionally conflate Billy Moyer's interview of Stewart Udall with David Brancaccio's interview of Bob Barr. They were both included in the same NOW show. Barr was the one who raised the red flag about the Bush and GOP sneaking Patriot II piecemeal into other legislative initiatives (it was an excellent and terrifying interview). Udall addressed the current administration's undoing of all the environmental progress he was so instrumental in making in the '60s and 70's. your fan, Laura Parsons Subj: Laura's Adventures In Fantasy Land. Every time I open mail, I eagerly do scan it, There's always some that make me think, Are the Bushes from this planet? There was an article, yesterday, November 16, 2003 from London titled, "Laura Bush Says Iraq War Was Necessary". The place and time she made all these statements was not revealed. She kept using the word wrenching to describe the decision making involved in sending other people's children into harms way. Hers and all of the other Bush children are here. She was discussing her upcoming trip to London. She said the British Monarchy is, "a fairy tale to the United States. Americans have always been fascinated by the monarchy and certainly the British monarchy". Laura spends most of her time somewhere between Never Never Land and Oz. The Bushes are pretty damned fascinated in the Saudi monarchy and the monarchy the Bushes are creating is nothing to shake a stick at. I was reading an article today that the Queen isn't too pleased with all the crap the Bushes are demanding at the palace, like doing security examining for employees who have been there for 30 years They are saying this is the first official visit of a US President because the Queen invited them to the Palace. Anything to hide Bush from the people. "I'm really looking forward to staying in Buckingham Palace. It's a huge thrill, it really is," she added. "We're both very excited about the visit and we're very, very honored by Her Majesty's invitation for us to come." It is true that the last time Dubya was in the room with the Queen was at the White House when he was "first son" and he wore boots engraved with "God Save the Queen" and asked her if she had any black sheep in her family? Mama Bush (Barb) told the queen not to answer that. Incidentally, that was supposedly after he quit drinking, but he must have still been on pot. "It is by far, the most difficult decision and it's a wrenching decision. To hear of the injuries and the deaths of American soldiers or any allied soldiers is wrenching," Mrs. Bush was quoted as saying. Well, at least there is some evidence that they are actually hearing about the deaths and injuries, since they are hiding them from the rest of us. They will be meeting with the bereaved families of soldiers killed in Iraq, but only families supporting the war are invited, the others apparently deserve dead children for not supporting Bush's war. I'd like to take a wrench and wrench a little honesty into any member of the Bush family or the Bush administration. You will notice she doesn't give a damn about the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have died or have been injured in her husband's quest for world dominance. "But also I agree with my husband. I feel as strongly as he does that it's his responsibility - as president of the United States - to make sure our country is secure and that we all ... want a civilized world." He didn't feel any responsibility to his country during Vietnam and he hasn't taken responsibility for any of the huge problems in his administration. He passes the buck like it is going to explode in his hand. He won't be speaking to a joint assembly of Parliament because they aren't as polite or mealy-mouthed as our congress. They may boo him out of the building. "It's going to be a long war against terror but it must be defeated," she added. It won't be as long for her as the kids who are over there. It is a little hard to defeat terror when her husband uses fear and terror to keep the populace in line. He peddles fear every time his ratings go down and even though he is always talking about the world being safer now, he is as paranoid as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. "The great thing about freedoms that we value so much - that you value in your country and we value in ours - is that we have the right and the freedom to protest or to say terrible things about our leaders," she was quoted as saying. "The people in Iraq didn't have that right before." She hasn't been close enough to a protester to see one since before 9/11. I was in Austin for the dedication of the Bullock Museum and we had to stay several blocks away and they parked empty school buses between us and the Bushes. The next time the Bushes are in your area go and park yourself with the pro-Bush crowd and see how long it takes them to have you move. Only pro-Bush free speech is allowed and if you criticize Bush you will be accused of being unpatriotic and against our fighting men. She has a lot of nerve talking about freedom to protest in England since they have given them a whole list of do's and don'ts, that will cost a fortune to enforce. God save the queen from Dubya's sanctimonious arrogance and Laura, the Lump's fantasy land mentality. Karen Webb Subj: Gray is out and gray is in at the California Inauguration Well despite media reports, there were no huge masses of star-struck spectators gathering for the “historic”event. The crowds were not nearly as large as anticipated, traffic was light, and parking abundant. Signs were hung on the chain link fence instructing the privileged to pick up their “commemorative”tickets before entering the gates. As a kind gesture they passed out extra programs to those who were not able to enter the restricted area. The few non-supporters (40+/-) were harassed and taunted. Some random spectators even picked up protest signs that had been placed on the ground to jokingly pose for their own photos. The press received a briefing document detailing that Arnold would be wearing a gray Prada suit and Maria would be wearing a gray Valentino skirt suit. A truck drove around announcing the new Arnold Watch website (http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/arnoldwatch/Default.html) launched by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. A new homepage for “the People’s Governor”was launched. http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/newgov/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp After all, I was wondering what he would put in his biography… Sincerely, A BuzzFlash Reader in Sacramento Subj: Its Always Been Oil BuzzFlash, http://www.BuzzFlash.com/farrell/03/11/far03002.html I was very impressed by the first three segments of Nigel Turner’s The Men Who Killed Kennedy series on the History Channel. The segments, which examine the Kennedy assassination from different perspectives and people, are amazingly consistent in the areas that overlap. And the key players are consistent with articles I read at the time. The other remarkable thing is that Texas politics and Oil played a big part just as they do today in Iraq: The repeal of the oil depletion allowance by Kennedy was greatly feared by the oil tycoons. Perhaps things haven't changed. BuzzFlash Reader On his first day back one of Limbaugh's biggest gripes was the fact that the GOP hadn't been able to get their ultra-ultra-ultra right wing judges into lifelong federal positions. You know, Rush and his buddies really like these nutcases because they're what you might call "hanging judges", ones who would prosecute to the fullest extent of the law whenever possible. Mind you, Rush is hoping that if *he's* brought up on charges that he'll have the most bleeding heart liberal presiding over his case, but anyone else caught with drugs ought to "hang". If you were able to go out and build a hypocrite from scratch you could never put together a better manifestation of the word than that craven gasbag, Limbaugh. A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: AARP (Bosses, not rank-and-file) Sellout to GOP Dear BuzzFlash -- This morning I went to the AARP's website and, after a few clicks, found a discussion forum regarding prescription drugs (it's under a heading called "Prescription Drugs" I think). Whoa! at the outrage being heaped on the AARP's "leadership" by the members. They are mad as hornets and spitting fire about the AARP selling seniors down the river! A couple interesting posts I read say that some "policy head" (or some such titled AARP poobah) is a big GOP hack and donor and that it's little surprise the GOP Rx scheme is getting the "thumbs up" by their "inside men" at the AARP. I don't vouch for the veracity of these claims, but admonish BuzzFlash to take a look at this AARP web discussion site and see for yourselves. I think this is a MAJOR, Newsbreaking story: AARP membership storming the gates of its leaders. Accuses organization leaders of 'selling out' to GOP in Rx plan. . . . or something like that. Check it out. Richard Newton Subj: A Letter to Mr. Kristol Dear Buzzflash, Mr Kristol is holding a contest to name this war, and he's offering 250 Iraqi dinars to the winners! Here is a copy of my letter to him. * * *
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