Dear BuzzFlash:

President Bush's $401.3 billion defense bill lifts a decade-old ban on research into low-yield nuclear weapons and authorizes $15 million for continued research into a powerful nuclear weapon capable of destroying deep underground bunkers.

Is the United States allowed to do this because we are trustworthy or because we make the rules or because nobody can stop us? Seems to me these are offensive type weapons of mass destruction. But hey, we're a Christian nation and everybody knows Christians can handle nuclear weapons and Muslims cannot, or so we're told.

Jeff Morgan
Rochester, MN

Subj: Russert CNBC Show Bias

Can anyone tell me why Goldberg and O'Reilly each got a full hour to discuss their book uninterrupted on Russerts weekend CNBC show, while Conason and Franken each had to share their time with a conservative interrupting them? (Rich Galen and Jonah Goldberg respectively).

stevie g

Subj: Filed a formal complaint against AARP

Dear Buzz: For all of your readers who are incensed about AARP's sellout, I have a suggestion.

In addition to canceling my membership, I filed a formal complaint with my State Attorney General. In my complaint, I stated that they solicited my membership under false pretenses. My AARP membership booklet says, "Among our priorities is protecting Medicare and Medicaid."

If I had known that William Novelli, the president of AARP's board, supported Newt Gingrich's hope that Medicare "wither on the vine," I would never have joined. And I certainly would never have condoned the very expensive, partisan tv ads I've seen this week.

I also asked that my membership dues and those of all other residents of my state be refunded, dating from the day of William Novelli's election to office. I was notified today that my complaint was accepted by the AG's Consumer Affairs office. It seems to me that AARP must be held accountable for their betrayal.

Keep up the awesome work,

Rita Weinstein
Seattle, WA

Subj: Fair and Balanced

Buzzflash, love the site, read and forward it EVERY day. This has been stuck in my craw ever since I read it over a week ago...it's so fair and balanced, don't you think?

November 12
Senate filibuster over judicial nominees

According to a leaked email, a producer for Hume’s evening news show, Special Report with Brit Hume, worked directly with a staffer for Senator Frist, in an effort to choreograph the launch of the Republican protest as a “live opening shot” for Hume’s November 12 newscast.

As reported in The Hill, the leaked memo read: "It is important to double efforts to get your boss to S-230 on time ... Fox News Channel is really excited about this marathon and Brit Hume at 6 would love to open with all OUR (emphasis mine) 51 senators walking onto the floor -- the producer wants to know will we walk in exactly at 6:02 when the show starts so they get it live to open Brit Hume's show? Or if not, can we give them an exact time for the walk-in start?"

Our 51 senators? OUR? OUR?

Kristen

Subj: George, Don't you know who you are messing with?

Junior must have been in such a very long, Alcohol, Cocaine induced blackout that he does not remember the 60's. These "seniors" he is ripping off are the same ones who raised hell in the streets 35 years ago.

We were a force to be reckoned with back then.

Now we are older, wiser and do far fewer drugs. Watch out, Junior. You may have missed the 60's, but it's OK, cause you are about to get an education.

Dot

Subj: War No More

Dear Buzzflash:

Just wanted to send my comments to vent my frustrations towards this war. Throughout history, terrorism has never been won. I find it appalling that we are letting people get killed everyday to humor Bush?

I do not think that I can stand idly by for another year with Bush when he is just going to keep sending soldiers to slaughter, not to mention the innocent Iraqis that are being killed because the soldiers do not know who to fight.

I'm glad that the Rights Groups are questioning the war, but I think it needs to go further than that. Bush needs to be investigated about his lie(s) and impeached!!! Each day he's in office, he's getting people killed.

U.S. War Tactics Questioned by Rights Groups [LINK]

Dear BuzzFlash:

I balk at the commentators on Fox stating that we are winning the war on terrorism because we are not being bombed here, and then if we were being bombed, they would say we have to fight because they're bombing us. They CANNOT prove that the reason we are not being bombed is because we're fighting the war in Iraq. You CANNOT take credit for what you cannot prove. On the contrary, I believe because we're fighting in Iraq, this perpetual war will eventually divide the world, and we will have WWIII on our hands in the not too distant future.

We need to impeach this evil president ASAP. Tell me what can be done to start this process, please! Thank you.

Judy

Subj: Yea Dixie Chicks

Just wanted to send a headline:

Chicks' Maines Speaks Out Against War Again
Maines Says People 'Misled' About War In Iraq
[LINK]

Dixie Chicks Singer Still Speaking Mind
[LINK]

JB

Subj: Who To Write About Daschle

Dear BuzzFlash,

I agree with your assessment of Tom Daschle. Now, who can we call or write to demand that he be replaced ASAP? Where is it most effective for this message to go? I've already written Daschle to ask him to step down.

It is incredibly stupid that the Democratic Senate Leader is from a state that voted 60% in favor of Bush. Daschle can't go head-to-head with the Republicans without committing political suicide. Further, he is a pacifist and we are now engaged in a war for democracy against a foe that doesn't compromise and takes no prisoners. Besides that, Daschle is Bush-Lite on the issues thus he has no inner fire to stand up for the national interests of core Democrats.

It is in Daschle's best interests to step down. He would be free to vote his conscience and represent his state. The Democratic Senate Leader represents more than his/her own state. He/she represents all of us. Daschle doesn't understand this concept. If you don't believe me read the transcripts of last Sunday's Meet The Press [LINK], for example.

Scott

Subj: Flag-Draped Caskets

Dear BuzzFlash,

I think BUSH called the photographers off Dover and the arriving dead soldiers, because they aren't in Coffins. They are in tubes. Remember before the invasion they said the troops would arrive in tubes and if many died from chemicals they would have mass burials for them in Iraq. And they arrive at night.

America is in trouble with this cartel.

carolina

Subj: If there was a way to do it ...

the Democrats deserve a new minority leader who will support the Democratic ideals and fight tooth and nail to the end to defeat Bush and the Republicans.

Jeff Morgan
Rochester, MN

Subj: The cringe file

Modern day Cringers that cause many to talk to themselves. Here are three:

Cr-r-r-in-ger 1. Laura Bush says that she didn't see protestors on the recent trip to England. Instead, she saw friendly people waving. [someone asked if she was on drugs.]
Explanation: Yes, to both. Ms. Bush only watches Fox Cable. Fox has the same euphoric drug effect for right wingers.

Cr-r-r-in-ger 2. Tom Daschle wimps out on a lot of combat with the republicans.
Explanation: Tom can't get too testy with the republicans. He is from a pro-republican state and may have to declare and run as a republican some day. Thus Dasc-hole protects his interests.

Cr-r-r-in-ger 3. Ann Coulter is despicable in her articles.
Explanation: When someone like Coulter fades from the limelight, they strive for attention, any attention. Negative attention is better than no attention at all. Child psychologists tell us children often use negative stunts to gain attention and 9 times out of ten it works. Coulter has reverted back to her childhood stunts.

Sign off from Looney Tunes: Abada, abada, abada... that's all folks!

~ Cathy

Subj: We've taken enough! Time to Stand Up and Fight!!!//r/e robbing of America

The Horse is Out of the Barn, but Lets Go Get Him, and Then Katy Bar the Door!!

1. We need to vote the crooks out of office. With the new voter machines, this may prove impossible. That is why it is so important to get a Verifiable Voting Bill passed.

Written by Congressman Holt," the bill would require all voting machines to produce an actual paper record by 2004 that voters can view to check the accuracy of their votes and that election officials can use to verify votes in the event of a computer malfunction, hacking, or other irregularity." Congressman Holt's Bill - Support Link at Verified Voting: [LINK]

They have some suggestions on how we can help get Congressman Holt's bill (for verifiable voting) the support it needs. They have petitions, email forms, contact info etc.

Verify the Vote: Tell Congress to Fight for Secure Elections! - Support Link at Electronic Frontier Foundation: [LINK]

"The 2004 presidential election might not be flawed like the last one; it might be worse!"

2. We need real campaign finance reform. The airwaves belong to us, and candidates should be provided with a fair amount of airtime to get their messages out. We need to remove the campaign contributor's influence over politics.

Our Democracy, Our Airwaves Campaign - Support Link at Alliance for Better Campaigns: [LINK]

3. We need to fire Tom Daschle as Senate Minority Leader. This will set an example to the other Democrats that we will not have a coward representing the Democratic Party as Senate Minority Leader, and we are not going to stand for it anymore! Having a coward for President is bad enough.

It is time to make a raise a big stink!

Regards,
one of your most loyal buzzflash readers --
Joyce McCloy
Winston Salem NC

Subj: Down with Daschle!

I have read your editorials about Tom Daschle and I agree with you 100%. Surely the Democrats can choose a stronger spokesman and leader than him. I have lost track of how many times I have wanted to pull my hair out when I heard or read Tom Daschle's comments on an issue. 

For example, just the other day on NPR, I heard him comment on the energy bill. At first I cheared when he said that the Democrats stopped the bill from moving forward. 

But then, in a typical Tom Daschle moment, he said something like, "But if the Republicans will just drop their provision banning lawsuits against MTBE lawsuits, we will allow the bill to go forward." 

I thought, WHAT!!!??? Is that ALL he can find wrong with that bill???!!! Is THAT the ONLY thing he is leading the Democrats to contest??!! Send that man to the showers. Will someone just slap him and tell him to WAKE UP!!

I guess that's why I gravitate towards a candidate like Howard Dean. I am so tired of wimpy weasels like Tom Daschle representing the Democrats to the public.

Thanks again for your comments,
Gary

Subj: Get rid of Daschle!

Buzzflash you are 1000% correct. That creep is worse than Bush in some ways. I don’t think Bush would have the high job approval in polls that he currently enjoys without Daschle’s help. I wonder, who is more dangerous to democracy…W or Daschle?

DURBIN FOR MINORITY LEADER

GO DURBIN GO!

Laura

Subj: Which Democrats Support Seniors?

Dear BuzzFlash,

How can Max Baucus, John Breaux, Dianne Feinstein, Mary Landreau, Ron Wyden and the rest of those turncoat Democrats pretend they care about seniors? If they did, they wouldn't be so quick to support the Republican-authored Medicare Prescription Drug Bill. If this bill is so great, what is the rush to pass it? Seniors wanted a drug prescription bill added to Medicare, not a dismantling of Medicare.

This program will not go into effect until 2006, but it must be passed now. Why? So Bush can have his big photo- op signing ceremony and much will be made about what he is doing for senior citizens. Never mind that even Republicans admit the bill is flawed. They'll fix it later. B.S. Ask the Notch babies , those who are still living , how the inequities in their Social Security payments have been fixed.

What will these Democrats have to say when Bush is elected in 2004 and they enabled this to happen by supporting a bill which includes giveaways to HMO's and Drug Companies who are some of his biggest financial supporters?

Disgusted Bert from Pittsburgh