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December 18, 2003 |
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Subj: Saddam's Hole I haven't seen any mention of it, but was Cheney found in the same hole - or are we still looking for him?Susan Lefler Subj: Diane Sawyer Bush Interview Is it my imagination or did I hear Bush say something like the following at the very beginning of the interview last night. I couldn't find this in the excerpts posted at the ABC site:
Just asking, because when I heard the part about us being on the verge of enormous changes, a shiver ran down my back. Thanks a lot for everything you do, George Subj: Bush on Phantom WMD: "What's The Difference?" From last night's Diane Sawyer interview with Bush, as she pressed him on the Administration's earlier comments that Iraq definitely had WMD:
Extended transcript excerpt here (which I don't believe is available anywhere else on the 'net), with of course, the requisite commentary: http://www.liberaloasis.com/archives/121403.htm#121703 Bill Scher Subj: Osama It is my opinion that Bush already has Osama and is waiting until closer to the election (say around June 2004) and then he will announce "Osama has been captured" - This will ensure that he will be re-elected. There are some dumb people in America. After what happened in Florida in 2000 put nothing past George W. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject Where There's Smoke? Having read Maureen Farrell's column on loose lips, I become more and more convinced that forcing the Bush administration to come clean on the warnings that were received in advance to 9/11 is the key to the next election. Every time the topic even surfaces the rabid right is sent into attack mode. If that was abundantly obvious when the "Bush Knew" story broke in the NY Post and all of the non-denial denials were made in response. Condi was on the verge of tears when she told the whopper that we couldn't have fathomed the terrorists using planes as missiles. We had Bush's statement (paraphrased) - if we knew they were going to hijack those planes and smash them into them buildings we would have done everything possible to stop them. Which planes did you expect them to commandeer, and which buildings did he expect them to ram into? Oh, there is also Cheney's classic - to suggest that the president had any foreknowledge is beyond the pale. Rich coming from Mr. Milquetoast himself. Howard Dean and Bob Graham are onto something. Wesley Clark started putting on some pressure a few weeks ago, but then labeled Dean as irresponsible with his comments that were probably only seen in context. There is definitely some "there" there, just the visceral reactions tells us so. Let's face it folks, the opposition is running out of issues to bring down Bush. He has a sound bite campaign that will fill a 30 second slot rather nicely. We gave you back more of your money, brought you No Child Left Behind, corporate reform, campaign finance reform, prescription drug benefits under Medicare, and now the icing - Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat to our freedoms. All issues you could beat to death in a couple of hours, but not easily challenged considering the short attention spans of most voters. During last night's interview with Diane Sawyer, Bush gave himself a pass on the deficits because of 9/11 and the war on terror. It will be his "get out of economic woes free card", and he even blatantly lied that he inherited a recession. A falsehood that the talking heads have now made fact. I'm not saying that the Dems need to go off the deep end and start making wild accusations. They do have to systematically make Bush and his group of sorry adults accountable for what happened under their watch. It goes to the heart of Bush's foreign policy and his excuses for domestic shortcomings. Where there is smoke there is fire, and this smoldering fuse will set off the time bomb that will make the Bushies implode. YT Cai Subj: The "Interview" Greetings, I can't believe, that I am finding nothing about the "Interview" with Diane Sawyer on ABC last night. GW Bush came across like an imbecile... I mean worse than usual. Claude C Rhone Subj: "Gore Network Blocked" dear buzz, here's a bit from the newsmax email list: this would be hysterically funny if it didn't smack of delusional behavior... can they truly believe this? if so, bellevue will need to add many new rooms on the ward for seriously disturbed patients... democrats tried to steal the election? CNN, which has pentagon trainees in the newsroom in Atlanta, is on *our* side? we're in charge of the networks too? geez. this whole thing is a schizoid pipe dream! > Gore's Liberal TV Network Blocked > In his most
humiliating setback since his failed coup attempt > Thank Barry
Diller, who despite Gore's begging is refusing let the straitjacket procession commence... ( because either they're frickin' batty, or *I* am! ) kathleen Subj: Saddam The so-called liberal news outlets never print my letters. I have written 'Saddam was not worth the more than 400 dead American soldiers and the over 2,000 maimed in our military hospitals' - no takers!! Only a select few letters from Democrats/Independents slip through in print to pretend that the news media is not owned by the right. Rita Lombard, Columbia, Md. Subj: Soros I just sent this letter to David Broder of the Washington Post:
Subj: Poor Grover Norquist has Horowitz on his Ass Check this out (if you haven't already)... http://frontpagemag.com/articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=11209 Horowitz is exposing Norquist to be, basically, an aid to Islamic terrorists. One wonders if he is not just a fall guy for someone bigger. Did you hear Bush's response to the question raised by Howard Dean? He seemed puzzled, unnatural. Is there a there there? Who knows... I smell fish though... -Anonymoses Just when I think there is no critical thinking left in this country; that the lack of proper funding for public schools and TV has turned this country into a bunch of mush-brained morons - I read the 22 page "mailbag" regarding the capture of Saddam and am heartened to find intelligent life from all over the country - not just the blue states - (or was it the red states?)! Bravo to your readers and writers and kudos to those who have the guts to put their full name and hometown!! A card carrying ACLU liberal. Nice to see you linked to that MAD Magazine "G.I. Joke" Bush action figure parody. Still, you can't read any of the jokes written on the box, which are the best part! Maybe you could post this link instead, where all the writing is visible: http://www2.warnerbros.com/madmagazine/files/onthestands/ots_437/6.html If only those blood-stained hands really were detachable. I'm afraid not, George. Great site by the way! Justin Meadows Subj: Yeah, Right! So, according to the reports, SH said something to the effect that “I am SH, President of Iraq,”and the soldier replied “George Bush sends his regards.” Are we really supposed to believe that this was the exchange or is it just another “Jessica-Lynch-Rovian-Soundbite?”Quite frankly, I no longer believe anything they say even as this is repeated over and over by the SCLM. Also, it was reported that moments before SH appeared at the top of the “spider hole”with his hands up, a soldier was about to lob a grenade into the hole. You know, I’ve never been in the military, but I can see a few problems with lobbing a grenade into a hole when you don’t know who or what is in the hole. First of all, there could be innocent women and children in the hole who would be killed. Secondly, there could be conventional ordinance in the hole which could blow up and kill not only the one lobbing the grenade, but also any troops in the general vicinity. Finally, as Rummy pointed out, such a hole could hold biological or chemical weapons (excuse for not finding them) and blowing them up could cause them to be dispersed into the atmosphere; again, killing our troops. So, was the soldier really going to toss in a grenade or was this just another “British Airways”moment contrived to add dramatic effect? If the media euphoria ever ceases, maybe someone will find out. BTW, the media seems to be going out of their way, just like when the statue was pulled down, to portray the event as evidence that critics of the war were off base. Holy crap! As if taking a trophy changes the argument. Turk Subj: Saddam Looking at those photo's of Saddam, I'm reminded of a story Shelby Foote tells. A group of Union soldiers capture a reb after a battle. They go around saying they got him. The reb just says "Yeah and what a git you got." What a git King George got. Michael Buzz -- The two negative Ashcroft stories in today's NYTs were buried on pps. 31 & 32 A. Why didn't they just use fine print while they were hiding them? Also, I'm curious as to the dyed looking hair on Saddam, Newsweek's cover photo. I do agree that his was no sudden discovery. NPR stated that the U.S. cash found with him had the consecutive serial numbers of the loot he grabbed on the way out of Baghdad. How difficult would it be to simply take notice of this money entering local markets via Saddam's go-fer boys? Shirley from Mo. IS super nice. Has more smarts than the whole bunch of them put together, Dem OR ReUg. Best, Liz W. Subj: The beard . . . For all the Bush bashing available to the multitudes from BuzzFlash, why does no one at all comment about the beard? Saddam appeared little more than nine months ago clean shaven, or so we were lead to believe. Now he comes out on the cover of the NY Times, and other front pages, with at least two years worth of beard growth. Check with the experts, as I am only an anthropologist, about that growth. No way, not even for a Guinness world record, you will discover, could he have grown that beard from scratch in nine months. So, once again in humanity's history, we are left with physics and biology that just won't go with the story we are being told. And, since the human condition is all about that 'story' regardless of the facts staring us right in the face, I guess the physics and biology will be ignored or repudiated. And here I am, a voice crying from the wilderness, when that photo alone should be generating all sorts of copy and coverage. Not a word. Not a whisper. We are indeed an arcane species. Most Sincerely, James Strauss Subj: Iraqi Resistance In reading through the various postings yesterday and today there seems to be a central theme -- the capture of Saddam will unite all Iraqis against the American occupation. Many of the intellectuals and trade unions were coming together in demonstrations before the capture -- and being arrested by us with a former Saddam anti-sedation law. The clerics and local townspeople are becoming vocal in their opposition to the American appointed officials -- some have even being ousted in open acts of civil disobedience in the South. American troops and helicopters have been called in to stop others. And everywhere Iraqis seems to agree that elections must be held before any Constitution is written and that the occupiers must leave sooner not later. Where does this leave the Bush Administration -- to distract from the missteps and outright failures at reconstruction and providing security to the civilians, they are going to hold a trial. Not by the Iraqis, but by the American coalition puppet government. They actually think the Iraqis are going to support this? I watched with fascination as Tucker Carlson stood in Baghdad reporting to CNN's Crossfire today. He seemed truly surprised by what he's found. You get the feeling he is finally afraid -- that he's been wrong. And, he really would like to be anywhere else. His co-anchors seem generally afraid for his safety. He says he sees only a few American soldiers speeding around town ducking bullets. Imagine what the everyday Iraqi must live with. When will we ever be able to get out of this mess? The Iraqi bloggers and other Middle Eastern media are reporting that they not only blame us for the chaos that is ensuing, but also for putting Saddam in power in the first place. They want the truth about the first Reagan/Bush intervention. Who supplied the money that kept Saddam in power and the lethal gas that killed the Kurds and Iranians? I'm sure if Saddam gets a fair, internationally-supervised trial, he'll be more than happy to supply all the details. And he'll be able to call witness and name co-conspirators. They should of killed him when they had a chance. The Ghost of Christmas Past is about to visit the Bush family. This trial could be the worst thing that ever happened to them and their neo-con friends. Move over O.J., there's a new trial of the century coming. No wonder France and Germany suddenly want to resend the Iraqi debts owed them. They want this trial to happen as much as the Iraqis...revenge will be worth the price. The world is uniting against us AGAIN. And why did we go into Iraq? What are we getting out of it? After all is said and done, won't the Iraqis screw us up and down when they get control of their oil fields? The more Bush tries to "help" the Iraqis, the more they hate him. And it's our troops who are facing the music. The only one who has benefited from this is the Bush Administration (cover for his mismanagement of 9/11) and their large contributors with all those over-priced, no-bid contracts that the American workers are funding -- not the rich who got a big tax cut. And even the Bush contractors are perilously close to losing those as Iraq becomes too dangerous to do business in. I'm sick of all the Democratic contenders ganging up on Howard Dean. He was right and they all know it. It's time to rally around the TRUTH. Screw their own political careers. Sing the same song, boys (and girl). The American people are feeling really uneasy -- Saddam was not the problem. Bush is. Tell them what they want to hear. It will be like a breath of fresh air -- like when Gephardt called Bush a miserable failure. If we don't get him out, it's four more years in Iraq for our troops. And another $87 million every one of those years. Thanks for letting me vent. S. Harrington before the war we were hearing bush and his people talking fifty tons of wmd, mushrooms clouds and all kinds of scary stuff. did saddam hide all that stuff by himself so no one else would know where it was? that seems like a mighty job for one man. he can't come back now so where are those wmd, why aren't all these people who hated saddam talking? and why would a man with such great weapons not use them when attacked but be reduced to such a pathetic site? none of it makes sense. A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: CBS headline on 9/11 being preventable Dear BuzzFlash, Oh my God! ---- I just heard it on CBS --- Gov. Keane, head of the 9/11 commission has stated that 9/11 was preventable!! Thank goodness the truth is coming out. Sue re: Critics: Convicted felons worked for electronic voting companies All the more reason to support the "open source" concept. By using "open source" based software, the operation of the machines would become accountable to public scrutiny. Nuff said?? A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: War Profiteers Overcharges to date by Halliburton on gasoline alone: $61,000,000.00 Cost of state-of-the art body armor: $ 1,400.00 Units of Body Armor That Could Have Been Purchased w/61million: 43,571 Estimated Number of Soldiers with Sub-standard Body Armor: 25,000 to 40,000 DO THE MATH! BTW, there an old adage in business: If you sell below cost, you can’t make it up in volume. So, why are we paying Halliburton over $2.00 per gallon and selling it to the Iraqis for less than 10 cents a gallon. There are long lines for gas in Iraq (and a thriving blackmarket) and it seems that in order to decrease the demand, perhaps raising the price would be in order. Of course, I’m not the one with the MBA from an Ivy League University. Turk My guess is that the Saddam "trial" will come to a head in, oh, maybe late October 2004. JB Hi Buzz, Like so many readers in your recent mailbags, I too smell something really rotten. I'm just not buying the disheveled Saddam sitting in a hidey-hole, looking like a homeless person. Someone with the resources that this man had, i.e., money, friends (yes, I'm sure he had friends) hiding in a hole in the ground, completely disoriented? None of it makes sense, and we'll probably never know what the real story is. What else are they going to pull out of that hole? Osama? The WMD? My tax rebate? A good health plan? Pretty convenient little hole, huh? Anyway, I'm holding on to that article about Rep. Ray LaHood for all of the people that will call me a conspiracy theorist. Thanks BuzzFlash, for helping us to keep it all in perspective. This has been a rough week. We have to relive the gloating and liberal bashing. Oh yes, they were right and we were wrong. Ha ha ha - the war is justified. The world is a better place now that Saddam's gone. If Howard Dean were president, Saddam would still be in power (If Howard Dean were president, we wouldn't be in this freaking war!) I've heard enough. But the one thing we can bank on is that their gloating is always so premature. Let's just see how quickly peace and democracy will spread throughout the Mideast now that Saddam's captured. Barbara in NYC Subj: Saddam . . Again Every time anyone says anything about the hole saddam was found in, I picture this president and vice president both...in holes. Cheney in the one under the white house...and bush in the one he flew all over the US to find. Then, we found out a little later....that Cheney...at our expense...had one dug under the vice president's home...Gore didn't do that!! Come on, you cowards...stand up and take it like men,....after all, you created it!!! Somehow...I cannot see Cheney digging a hole...so it must have cost us a bundle!! Shirley...............St.Louis Subj: tom ridge and the flu epidemic So where was Tom Ridge when the flu vaccine what in prep? Who's protecting us now? Seems to me like this is a pretty important issue, actually. Worst outbreak in decades, perhaps. Not enough vaccine. Big pharma in bed with the grand hypocrisy party, etc. Joe
Will it win the election? Otherwise do you really think Bush or any one else in that patently craven administration cares? We live in an age of sound bites and visuals. Anything more than 30 seconds is to long. He pulled Saddam out of one hat to throw off the democrats for the primaries and he will no doubt have Osama up his sleeve for the elections around the last week of October next year. Am I a cynic, perhaps. but this administration is more cynical than any I have seen to date. A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: The Last Democrat It is only recently that I have begun to realize what a bunch of opportunistic wussies the majority of the so called "democratic" presidential candidates truly are. Will the likes of Kerry, Lieberman, Gephardt.. say absolutely anything if they thought it would give them a slightly better chance of becoming President one day (which they never will be, thank God!) Do they need the job that badly? With the way they have attacked Howard Dean and with their principals daily flapping in the wind, it seems all they are really are doing is asking some political pollster what he thinks the American people want to hear today, this hour this minute, "Quick, what should I believe now, what should I believe now". Does Joe Lieberman actually believe that George W. Bush makes for a better President than would Dean? Shame, shame on these men that just want to ride on Air Force One so badly. The war with Iraq was a bad idea. It always was and always will be a bad idea, and no one will ever be able to explain why we made such a stupid decision when we had other more important things to attend to. That has not changed Joe, John, Richard...George Bush has done so many things that liberal and moderate Americans should be so unhappy, disgusted with in fact -- and if you are so afraid to say that because it might not help you in the polls, than you don't deserve respect, little yet the Presidency. Please, please Mr.Dean never back down; not now, and not the day before the elections. The worst that will happen is you may not become President of The United States this time. That is the worst that will be. But you will still have your dignity and character. And who knows, maybe just maybe enough people will want to vote for a man with dignity. I sure do. Sincerely, P.Williams Subj: On 9-11 Bush KNEW and did nothing cover-up 9/11 Chair: Attack Was Preventable --CBS News Dear Buzz, The most important reason why Karl Rove decided to haul Saddam out of his mouse hole at this time was not so Joe Lieberman could get his political payback at Al Gore, or for John Kerry to have another opportunity to slam Howard Dean of Foreign Policy, or for GW Bush to reap a political victory. No, the reason Saddam was brought forward for his many month long trial in the American Press was for the same reason the war in Iraq was initiated anyway: To cover up the fact that on 9-11 Bush KNEW and did NOTHING!! See link above! Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN) Subj: Get Negative, Stay Negative Mr Carpenter is exactly right. I wrote to the DNC yesterday to tell them that the democrats need to focus on BUsh's negatives of which there are about 1 million! He is definitely beatable, and if the democrats hope to win, they must keep up the heat and on message about what Bush has done to this country. Keep up the good work! Grace Love Subj: Hiding Place? Question: Why wasn't Saddam hiding with his nigh mythical WMDs? He would have had an arsenal at his disposal and God knows Bush wouldn't have found him. Just asking. PLZ Subj: Bush's "triumph" As it plays on TV news, the capture of Saddam is a "triumph" for Bush (who, at least in the current evolution of justifications, invaded Iraq just to end that tyrant's "reign of terror.") Thanks to a press which no longer even tries for perspective, Bush has taken the moral high ground and no one will let a little history cloud the view of the shining mountain-top. Never mind that the anthrax and other chemical weapons he once possessed were sold to him by the United States; or that the United States supported him in a war with Iran in which he used those chemical weapons. Never mind that we watched from military aircraft circling overhead while thousands of Kurds who had answered Bush senior's call to rise up against Saddam were slaughtered. Now that the Army of Democracy has captured the head of the country we invaded, we will torture him (sleep deprivation is torture) and parade him in a "trial" the outcome of which Bush has already said should be death. We will never give him POW status (even though that is the right thing to do) just because the Geneva Convention expressly forbids both torture and show-trials for POWs. The irony that this behavior precisely parallels that of those we call our enemies will be carefully ignored. Viewed in historical perspective, the capture of Saddam is no moral triumph. But that realistic view won't sell Bud Lite ("when you thirst for freedom...") during the mini-series that we may be sure are being prepared by the same networks now busy shaping the "news." So his capture, torture and public humiliation must be made "noble" acts, and our active complicity in his atrocities suppressed, to protect future commercial profitability. Moral ambiguity won't sell adult diapers and dog food, so there can be none. Only a "triumph" will do. Albert Clark, NY |
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