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December 30, 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: I'll never let BuzzFlash Live it Down ;-) If Howard Dean, the pro gun Democrat wins the election, you'll never hear the end of it from me ;-) Love and Kissys, Gun Totin' Liberal Hey Buzz, check the following: From BuzzFlash 12/24
Allow me to quote our right wing Senator, Rick Sanitorium, er, Santorum regarding the right to privacy regarding abortion:
Uh oh, Rush! JohnW Subj: We can't handle the truth It has been around in my head since Mondale lost to Reagan, the first election I can really recall. I've come to the depressing conclusion that as vilified as Jack Nicholson's character was in A Few Good Men, he was actually right in some regard. The American people really can't handle the truth. We can't handle the truth that the US has a brutal and violent past, often engaging in downright atrocities around the globe. We can't handle the truth that we cannot have innumerable huge tax breaks and at the same time fund every federal program under the sun (including roads, military actions at our whim and social services). We can't handle the truth that we give shareholders of corporation limited liability and tell directors to only care about profit margins and expect those corporations to do anything for the public good. We can't handle the truth that our government, particularly with Republicans in power, does not listen to the rank and file American. We can't handle the truth that there can be vast differences between a person's public persona and private agenda. We can't handle the truth that politics is truly not about rights and voting but about the priority in how we divide the money. We can't handle the truth that those that need the most help from government are those with the least well funded or organized organizations. We can't handle the truth that the financial condition of your parents best describes what your financial condition will be as you grow up. We can't handle the truth that Presidents lie to us daily, and that the military industrial complex is more dangerous than Ike warned. A BuzzFlash Reader I want the bumper sticker that says "When Clinton Lied, No One Died" and one that says "Jesus was a liberal, Pilot was a conservative." Scott Subj: Tom Ridge as Minister of Fear Dear Buzz, I just got angry at Tom Ridge for his comments today regarding air marshals. He told us that we should defy terrorists by going shopping, going to football games, etc., _even though we are afraid_. He is cloaking a message -- "Be afraid" -- in the guise of telling us to act as if nothing has changed. I went to the Dept. of Homeland Security webpage to see if I could find Ridge's comments to quote and I did not find them (at least for now), but I did find a very interesting GIF: http://www.dhs.gov/dhs/images/DHS-btn-ready_dot_gov.gif This GIF says, "Don't be afraid ... Be Ready". And don't think of an elephant! This graphic is a deliberate attempt to instill fear, dressed up as an imperative not to be afraid. Such a deliberate attempt to instill continuous anxiety -- a misbalance of the victim's nervous and endocrine system -- should be considered a criminal act, not unlike deliberate infection with a virus or bacterium. Tom Ridge belongs in prison! -- Barry Schwartz Subj: Pentagon Breaks U.S. Law
Bill Subj: Our secrets and our privacy now belong to the Bush administration. Most of the time, George W. Bush makes a big to-do when he signs important bills. Not this time. This time he waited until a big news event gave him cover and then, in secret, signed legislation taking away some MORE of our Constitutionally-guaranteed rights and liberties. (See "With A Whisper, Not A Bang: Bush signs parts of Patriot Act II into law -- stealthily" at: LINK) While the media whores were gushing over the "capture" of Saddam Hussein, Bush went in to work on a Saturday (he never works on week-ends, normally) to sign legislation expanding the FBI's ability to gather even more personal information about Americans without ever having to get a judge's permission. Furthermore, once having obtained this information about you or anyone, the entity from whom the FBI has obtained this information is FORBIDDEN to inform you/me/us that the FBI has been snooping into our lives!! Was this the same bunch that campaigned on "getting government off our backs"? They may be off our backs, but they are into our wombs, our bedrooms, our bank accounts, our investment accounts, our credit card accounts, our library habits, our automobile transactions, our jewelry purchases, our travels, our post office purchases, people's gambling activities (I wonder if they'll monitor that big mouth Bill Bennett's gambling habits!), and even our insurance policies. The legislation redefines "financial institution," which referred only to banks in the PATRIOT Act, to now include stockbrokers, car dealerships, casinos, credit card companies, insurance agencies, jewelers, airlines, the U.S. Post Office, and any other business "whose cash transactions have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory matters." Note this information can and will be used by the IRS, even though NO judge will have to evaluate the merits of such snooping. The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which protected us from warrantless searches or intrusions into our homes, is now -- apparently -- null and void. This legislation is NOT solely to be used for terrorist activities; read the phrase: "usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory matters." These powers are available to the government for ANY purpose they see fit: "criminal, tax or regulatory matters" Heck, if you are a competitor in the purchase of a radio station and the Bushites favor the "other guy," the government can use these warrantless powers to destroy you. The government does not have to demonstrate "just cause" or "probable cause" or even believe anyone has done anything illegal; they can just go where they want, when they want, after whomever they please, for whatever reason they feel like doing it. This Bush administration can know anything and everything it wishes to know about anything any American is doing, just for the sheer hell of knowing it; but we cannot know anything about what this most secretive of administrations is doing -- they "have" to protect THEIR secrets and THEIR privacy! Our secrets and our privacy now belong to the Bush administration to be used however they see fit. Using such material for political purposes is undoubtedly high on their list of Favorite Things To Do with this gathered information. Big Brother is here!!!! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - signed, A Loyal BuzzFlasher Subj: Just wondering . . . (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35297-2003Dec27.html): " ...When you're Neil Bush, you'll be sitting in a hotel room in Thailand or Hong Kong, minding your own business, when suddenly there's a knock at the door. You answer it and a comely woman strolls in and has sex with you..." Something about this scenario of a "comely woman" showing up at Neil Bush's door has been nagging at me. The hotels he was staying at were in Thailand and/or Hong Kong. The last time I heard of American men going to Asian countries to have dalliances with prostitutes, those "women" were actually girls. Has anyone asked this disturbing question: "Was Neil Bush having sex with girls younger than his own daughter?" Liz Subj: Jesus we are entering the intellectual dark ages As if stockpiling duct tape were not sufficient, now the FBI is urging folks to be on the lookout for those folks carrying almanacs. Jesus God Almighty (and I know he is laughing) the World Almanac or Farmers Almanac as terrorist training manuals? Yessirree knowing that it is best to plant onions in the dark of the moon and being able to look up the capital of Burundi gives those terrurists that edge. So this is what we pay these people handsomely out of our tax dollars for, so that they can come up with idiocy like this????? Stupid is as this administration does. Once upon a time stories like this were so absurd they would appear only in the Onion. Now as we enter the new intellectual dark ages, stupidity has become the norm. From SFGate.com Dan Delisio Subj: Suggestion on talking to your republican friends I have started saying to my Republican friends, "If you cannot bring yourself to vote for a Democrat, then consider NOT voting for Bush." It might help. A BuzzFlash reader. Subj: FBI alert--on people carrying almanacs! This is like something from the Onion. What is happening to this country?
Nancy Subj: Mad Cow Disease I have a feeling that Ann Coulter may be afflicted with Mad Cow Disease... Eric Viau Subj: Defeating Bush I read you every day, but I must say I am terribly discouraged. If you read or listen to mainstream media, the democrats don't have a snowball's chance in hell to retake the white house, senate, or the house. How can the American people be so dumb? Most Americans don't like Bush's rightwing policies but seem willing to reelect him. Has the country swung to the right and will it ever go back even to middle ground in my lifetime? I'm 62 and afraid I won't live to see it. I fear for my children and grandchildren. Can you say something to give me some encouragement and relieve these feelings of utter hopelessness? Peggy [BuzzFlash Note: Peggy, you simply have to believe that truth and justice always win. It doesn't always win as quickly as we'd like, but it always wins.] Subj: In Agreement Hi BuzzFlash, After reading BuzzFlash Mailbag I have to admit you have brilliant people behind these letters. To name a few: Shirley. I wish I could put into words the way she puts her thoughts in print for me, I feel so like her. The Miamullent. No, your aren't the only one who thinks bush did not fly on Air Force I to Iraq. You are one of those who put your opinion into words, for others who didn't notice, to ponder. Nancy Kuhn. Right on about the Greens. Mike Spolcane. I agree that Dr. Dean has the repubs spooked. Judith Foster. I tend to agree somewhat, but here's another angle. Could it be, they got what they were after, and have no longer need him anymore? They need a dem for the next four years or eight, to clean up after their mess, now that they have their pockets full (at this time). Either way, it's down right scary if they have the ways and means to call the shots. So for our peace of mind, I'll believe in the American people (grass roots) who will fight to rid ourselves of these money hungry, war mongers. To know this, all you have to do is read BuzzFlash and his readers, to believe all is not lost, and the repubs will not win, their dirty dangerous game. Thank you BuzzFlash for being here from the beginning of this nightmare, for without you we would have no hope. A Thankful Reader Subj: Bush is on Vacation Bush really is on vacation. Has he done any fundraising appearances since he went back to the Lazy 'W' Ranch for his Christmas vacation? Kip I think reason no. 1 for not electing George Bush for a second term should be first of all he was not elected the first time. He was selected. Reason no. 2, he lied about going to iraq which has caused a lot of sorrow with families and of course money. For this, George Bush should be impeached. A BuzzFlash Reader Buzz, After reading Judith Foster's "That sinking suspicion" in Monday's Mailbag (12-29-03), I felt compelled to add my thoughts in addition to hers.
I must admit that I have had this same depressing, gut-wrenching fear and concern for some time now. It first occurred when I learned of the inherently "flawed" Electronic Voting Machines. I sent out many emails a few months ago, in an effort to try to bring this issue to light. The uneasy feeling subsided somewhat after this issue seemed to be gaining more publicity, but I was still wondering why the Democrats just did not catch on to this, and were not responsive with their concerns, in fact seemingly unconcerned about it, at all. That's when it hit me - our Senators and Congressional Representatives were "in on this little secret"! Or, at least, they had heard rumors, and had suspicions of it - which would explain their spineless collusion on the many wishes of the Bush administration which they helped push through Congress - the very issues that should have created a furor from them instead had their support. They were acting out of self-preservation and fear for their jobs, should the unthinkable actually turn out to be fact! Now that a large sector of voters, and other prominent individuals and organizations, have voiced their concerns of the importance of being guaranteed an accurate and fair vote count, and the movement to correct the deficiencies of the machines before the 2004 election had finally grown legs, I was, for a short time, relieved in the hopes that we might actually be able to vote Bush out in 2004. But, I then came to an even more sobering conclusion: These guys are not dumb (Dubya's handlers, that is) - they HAD to have a "Plan B", in case the elections could no longer be rigged. My heart sank again when General Tommy Franks made the statement that "another major terrorist attack [in the US] could put the Constitution on hold, and that Martial Law [a Police State] would be instituted, for reasons of National Security". (could this be a "conditioning" statement?) All that would then be required is an Executive Order from Bush (which the USA Patriot Act now allows) that the 2004 election be "postponed" in the interests of National Security! If the voting machines do get fixed, and the "election" can no longer be considered a certainty, we can count on "another major terrorist attack" on our shores before November, probably utilizing "dirty bombs" - the "mini-nukes" which terrorists can carry in a suitcase! (Another NORAD fiasco would be just too hard to spin!) No wonder he seems so complacent and unconcerned about... well, whatever... " What's the difference?" - all the pieces are in place - "It's time for another vacation." I, too, sincerely hope my suspicions are wrong, but I almost know otherwise - I can smell it. nerdeaux in Idyho Subj: Why Dennis Kucinich? No -- the 2004 election is not over yet, even though the television or the radio may tell you otherwise. The candidates have not won anything. The presidency has not been sold to the highest bidder. There are essentially two fundamental courses that America may take in the world, at this particular juncture: Imperialism or multilateralism. The Bush "New American Century" doctrine has the imperial designs all shored up. Bush has a plan, an unceasing desire to dominate, and the support of a significant portion of America, as well as his greedy little finger on "the button." The would-be large "D" Democrats (any similarity to small "d" democrats to be determined) are lining up along the ideological spectrum. On the far right, Joseph Lieberman lambasts Bush for being too liberal. As we move across the field, we find Dick Gephardt and John Kerry supporting Bush's policies while concocting half-hearted soundbites to oppose Bush, the man. That leads to Howard Dean, the doctor who defies 1,400 of his peers, as published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, by opposing universal single-payer healthcare for all. Dean has raised the most money of any large "D" Democrat. His spin machine portrays this money as coming entirely from "grass roots" average Americans who long to see the doctor succeed against Bush. This explanation is only half of the story, of course. The problem with Dean, when it comes to the imperialism question, is that he's just not being honest in his course of action. In the same breath that Dean criticizes Bush for the war in Iraq, Dean will steadfastly refuse to end that war by withdrawing the US military from the war zone. Dean attempts to skirt along the margin between "anti-war" and imperialist. If the war was truly a "crime" then the ongoing occupation is indeed a "crime" also. How can a candidate oppose a war, yet champion the continuation of that war indefinitely? Dean's position is dishonest on its face. After four years of Republican neo-fascist dishonesty, the American public cannot risk the future on a potentially dishonest successor. If Dean refuses to face up to the real reasons that U.S. troops are dying in Iraq daily, and he clings to lofty rhetoric which flies in the face of international cooperation, then little will change in a Dean administration. America -- the bully -- will continue to be feared and opposed in its imperial designs. Wars will continue without respite, and America will continue to manufacture enemies. "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." -A.J. Muste Dennis Kucinich has not waffled on the Iraq question. He proudly tells his audience that he is the "only candidate on this stage who voted against the war in Iraq." He is also the "only candidate on this stage who voted against the USA PATRIOT ACT." A man of unassailable integrity, Kucinich is the "grass roots" and "anti-war" candidate that Howard Dean pretends to be. It is Kucinich's actual opposition, as opposed to the fake opposition coming from the "top tier" contenders which assures that the corporate media machines will continue to brand him as "unelectable." If the media tells the public that someone is not able to be elected, the public will accept this. People take their orders from their televisions, in general. But there is still hope, and these are wild times. Kucinich is the wild card candidate that the establishment fears. He's got issues that resonate: stop the war and get the United Nations in, and the United States military out of Iraq; enact single payer universal healthcare for all as done in all the major industrial countries; restore the constitution and the bill of rights by repealing Patriot Act; and Kucinich intends to cancel NAFTA and the World Trade Organization, two undemocratic monstrosities that have devastated the working people of our country and people around the world. This is clearly a man of substance in a sound-bite age of fluff and propaganda. It is this substance which sets Kucinich apart from any of the contenders. Kucinich is a true progressive leader, and his voting record backs up this achievement. Kucinich does not waffle on the most crucial issues of our times, but challenges the established order in direct, substantive ways. "If the UN didn't exist you'd have to invent it." Kucinich understands the need for international cooperation and multilateral action to achieve world peace like no other candidate in this race. Peace, to Kucinich, is not some catch phrase or some "vision thing" to sell. The man deeply believes in non-violent solutions to the problems facing our world. So much so, he has proposed a Department of Peace as a cabinet level department of the US federal government. Such a department could pick up where the State Department falls short in solving seemingly intractable conflicts around the world, as well as proposing plans to minimize domestic violence. The choice is as clear as night and day, war and peace, imperialism or international cooperation. Dennis Kucinich deserves a fair shake in the media, and in the minds of voters who must face a scary world, and a scary "homeland" fraught with the kinds of perils that many thought a thing of the past. No, we cannot afford another four years of Bush neo-fascism. Nor can we afford Bush-lite. -A. Jones. Subj: Resolution for 2004 Greetings to all BuzzFlash staff and readers, 12/30/03 Please tell your friends & family to join concerned Americans across the country in a collective resolution for 2004:
Thanks for your hard work & profound comments. We will prevail in 2004. Happy New Year. Judy Munro-Leighton Subj: Bush Gets Serious About Killing Iraqis This is especially offensive after watching "The Trials of Henry Kissinger" tonight...revealing among other things his primary role in strategizing secret killing of three quarter of a million Cambodian peasants during the Vietnam war. http://www.thetrialsofhenrykissinger.com/ Jackie * * *
Subj: Right Wing Mad at W
Mika Subj: WSJ.com - Scientific Data Offer No Proof Of Beef Safety Dear Buzz, US gov spokespeople keep on telling us that beef steaks are perfectly safe. But here's an excerpt from a Wall Street Journal article (December 29, Scientific Data Offer No Proof of Beef Safety) that says there's no scientific evidence that beef is safe. In fact, the evidence argues that beef might NOT be safe:
Here's the link but it might only work for people with a subscription. http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107266076990369300,00.html?mod=madcow%5F2 Thank you, Buzz, for all the good work that you do. Mary in NYC Subj: Mailbag 12/29/03 To Miamullet...you just put into words, what a lot of us dems were suspicious of, but couldn't admit it...how in God's name can an administration get away with this. Of course, he never went...can anyone prove that he did or didn't...Nah...and of course, if you go back and look at that tape...and Bremer's cutesy little speech about someone a little senior..."Do we have anyone back there who is a little more senior?".....and he came around the corner....like he feared someone was going to hit him in the face with a pie??? It was almost burlesque....It was more than silly, and from the beginning, I never thought he was there...it was too perfect..for him! The part about the british airways......was a lie, refuted not much later! The turkey was blowtorched to turn it brown...or maybe plastic...and the soldiers...not props but on the ground in these united states somewhere....You have no idea, until you have a relative in this army...how they are brainwashed. Do any of you out there, know of anyone who was there that day..I asked my granddaughter....and her folks and she said, No, she didn't get to see him...he was a few miles away!! I know no one...and can not produce anyone who actually saw the man. Yeah, I know, twenty years down the road, when I am no longer here...and anyone who cares is no longer here....it will come out!!!!! We (democrats) are keeping out collective mouths shut....way too much!!!!!!! The fighting amongst the dem candidates is driving me nuts..and I have written to both Kerry and Gephardt to stop the bashing! Lieberman is a republican...I have a feeling for him...he is bush lite! Why in the hell are they all so afraid of Dean?? For the same reason most democrats are rabid over him! He is determined, intelligent...and does not let George Bush fool him, like every other republican in this country...He rolls up his sleeves....and preaches...and tells us what is right...and I get the feeling that that is what we will get with him...! He is our greatest hope!!!!!!!! Shirley...........St. Louis Subj: Let the Eagles Soar It would be a wonderful New Year's Eve show, for John Ashcroft to open for Brittany. He could sing his embarrassing song..and maybe she could make that speech she did on the "gnarly old bad man" they pulled out of the spider hole...You all know, the one who bombed the WTC...I wonder if she has thought anymore about being a congressman or senator...of a Troubadour???? Laugh my backside off! John Ashcroft embarrassed the hell out of me, when watching the Grand Ole Opry one night...he was the guest...and folks....his singing is about as good as his Job in Washington...What a bunch!!!!!!! Shirley.........St. Louis i see the white house is doing this massive air marshall (we are protecting you campaign) other countries must do the same, you are either with us or against us! hmmmm...........wasn't it just a few months back when our own government was trying to cut back on the air marshals until the media got wind of it? then they did some fast back tracking! :):):):):):):):):):) diane in florida Subj: On a serious note Can you recommend a book or website that tells me what a Republican is and what a Democrat is. I'm not sure which I am. Thank you, Carrol Wiley [BuzzFlash Note: Not so seriously, but about as accurate as one can get, are the 21 Rules for Being a Good Republican.] Subj: Even when they get Saddam to talk it's about money
If the US deposed him because he was corrupt and took money belonging to the people, then there is a long long line of leaders in the world who should be deposed, starting with our own Dick Cheney... A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: check out Laura Bush's b.s. "poem" comments that still appear on the White House site currently....
She ascribes the poem to HIM and continues with the goofy scam by calling it "personal" . So personal that some other schmuck at the WH penned this and Bush actually put it on his wife's pillow though it's written in the first person... how weird are these people? Dave Dear Buzz, It appears as though most of us are looking to the next election with a great deal of hope and optimism; this is a good thing. I can hardly wait, which is why I wish that our "representatives" would impeach the misbegotten little troll and his pet monkey. Unfortunately, a spine and a concept of ethics are requisite for that path. Apparently the Republicans do not mind that their party has been hijacked by a particularly mean-spirited criminal element. After all, it's not as though anybody has been caught boffing a consenting adult intern in the ovoid orifice while being a Democrat. I think that it is important to remember that we are definitely dealing with true criminals. They have used their power to further enrich themselves at the expense of the citizens of the USA. They have stolen resources from a sovereign nation, killing American soldiers and thousands of civilians. It appears as though they allowed an attack on our country that killed thousands of civilians in an effort to frighten Americans into letting them have their way. If there were evidence to the contrary, why would they hide it? I believe that it is important to recognize that there may be no election. There is a sizeable number of very wealthy people who stand to be investigated if there is a return to a representative government. The thought of a Justice Department that actually ensures that the letter of the law is served, instead of spying on citizens is enough to give the present billionaire cartel nightmares. People at the highest level of our government have been making criminal activity the norm, rather than the exception. If Diebold cannot "deliver the vote" to Bush as promised, something else will happen. Suddenly, they will "find" WMD's in Iraq! Or else there will be an attack on the USA again. It will happen right before the election, and Dumbya will be "forced" to declare martial law and cancel the elections--for our own safety. Yes, I know that I sound paranoid. But you can bet that none of these criminals want to take any chances with the grief that a free election would cause them. Plan B could include massive work stoppages, and a boycott of the economy, i.e. just stop buying crap from corporations. You can even stop buying crap now! Buy from small independent businesses when you must buy.They actually need your business, and will treat you like a human being. Get your books from BuzzFlash. Get your music and films from the indies. And switch off the bloody idiot box; the addiction to that torpor tube is the least talked-about addiction ever. That's all I can think of for now. Yes, I know that I'm paranoid,after all-- it's not as though anybody would steal an election, right? Michael J. Fowler Firefighter/Paramedic retired; and not planning to disappear suddenly without a trace. Commentary on religion: I know from being an avid reader of your site that your readers are thoughtful, insightful people who know what's going on in our country. However, the rest of this pitiful nation is either ignorant, unaware or just don't see what the christian right is doing to this country and no one save the ACLU and other such groups are doing to wrest power from these gargoyles. If people, with just a smattering of history would realize that almost every war throughout history was fought in the name of religion and with little ever being solved maybe they would wake up to the fact that it is going on again and will continue to go on until people rise up to stop it. Our fearless "leader" had declared all out war on Islam, although he says no, (but he is a serial liar), his cronies on the right are putting their crazed ideology every where they can, including science, health and now our public monuments and national parks. The other day I read in our local Palm Beach Post that the right rev. pat robertson was in Israel being hailed as a great friend and benefactor, so to my fellow Jews I say, "with friends like that, who needs enemies"? In closing, let me say to your loyal readers who are truly persons of goodwill, how do we stop this all consuming insanity before we are totally trapped by it? We've got to fight back before it's too late!! Ruth Gottlieb |
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