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January 6, 2004 |
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THIS IS PART 2 OF THE JANUARY 6, 2003 MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1. Subj: Bush's New Year Resolutions Dear BuzzFlash, This morning I was watching MSNBC and one of the filler spots was footage of Bush speaking to reporters at Falfurrias about his New Year's Resolutions. First one on his list? Maintaining his physical therapy on his knee so he can resume running. He then went on for a while about how much he loves to exercise and about sandwiches and salads (for my own comfort, I hope I'm remembering that wrong!). His next comment--not really a "resolution"-- was that he "hope[d] that the war would become more peaceful." (After all, a peaceful war is preferable to a violent one....) Did I say it was about his New Year's "resolutions"? Sorry, I meant "resolution." It seems that finding bin Laden; finding the CIA operative leaker; completing the reconstruction of Iraq and bringing our boys home; fixing the economy, etc. just aren't very high on his "to-do" list for this year. Oh, but he loves his running and sandwiches! Elsewhere during this casual press briefing Bush was asked about the CIA leaker and the Mad Cow situation. His responses were that he and his staff are not involving themselves in the investigation and he has no clue why Ashcroft decided to recuse himself. You'd think the son of a former CIA director would be a little more interested in being kept up-to-date on an investigation of this sort.... Regarding the Mad Cow situation, he said that one of his top priorities was making sure the food supply was safe, and that his Agriculture Secretary has come up with a few strategies to achieve that result--just what those strategies are, he didn't go into, since I doubt he even knows what they are.... Happy New Year, BuzzFlash! Andrew Christian Bush has nothing to fear from a disease that attacks only the brain. Bob Subj: Attacking Kerry via Krugman's NY Times Article I'm a long time supporter of BuzzFlash and deeply appreciate all the hard and good work you do, but I want to bring a different perspective to the debate about confronting Howard Dean that is going on now. Investigating the truth about a candidate is an essential part of our political process and BuzzFlash must do a more open job of dealing with the realities of politics especially now. I am a subscriber and read your "Top 5 Headlines" email every day. Mr. Krugman's article, "Who's Nader Now" (http://nytimes.com/2004/01/02/opinion/02KRUG.html) truly lacks the integrity of confrontation in going after Kerry and Lieberman in their assaults on Dean's record and electability. First of all, it's is a mistake to assume that all Democrats and American's know all there is to know about a candidate based on what he says, or surely on the poor job the media is doing in covering the campaigns and records of Howard Dean. I feel it is always best to get this information out in the open this far from 2004's November Election so intelligent choices can be made. The considerations Sen. Kerry and many of us have about Dean is his opportunistic campaigning, not backed by his integrity of actions as Governor. I'd rather people know it now than in 10 months when it's truly too late. Comparing Kerry or Lieberman to Nader couldn't be farther from the truth as there is no mention that either would run as a spoiler candidate. Every single Democrat including myself will vote ABB... Anybody But Bush! And if that candidate is Dean, so be it. Certainly in the Kerry case, where he's been a stalwart of environmental and public safety causes, his record far outshines Dean who has sided with polluting business interests in his small state. Bringing matters like these out into the open now are an essential part of the political process, and to deny their exposure and evaluation is to become no different than those in on the Right who claim that questioning BushCo. is un-American and not patriotic. Shame on you Paul Krugman, go after the real destructive force in this nation, the radical right wing of the Republican party and let the Democrats work out through the natural process of politics the right person to lead us out of this dark time. Sincerely, Wayne Williams Subj: Mad Cow Business Dear Buzz, I'm a middle-aged man who has regularly eaten hamburgers and other forms of beef because I liked the taste, even if I knew they weren't ideal foods. But now I am swearing off hamburgers and beef products until at least the end of the Bush Regime and perhaps beyond. I don't mind being not-politically-correct gastronomically, but I don't wanna die so Bush's rancher buddies can make a few extra bucks by scrimping on inspections. There's this chili-burger place on the way home from work that I'm especially going to miss. It's ironic that Bush is supposed to be business-friendly, but his laissez-faire regime is ruining one American industry after another: airlines, cattle, what's next. The only solution, I think is that we all moooooove Bush out of his squatter's post in the White House this year. Jon Krampner Subj: Never give up, never never never! Dear BuzzFlash, As is my practice, I was reading Daily Headlines and Breaking News and came across this article, What They're Going to Do which says that the Republicans will form focus groups of Democrats and find out what will cause them not to vote for the Democratic candidate and then accuse that candidate of the very thing that would cause the voter not to vote for him. Let me tell you, whenever I am surveyed I take that opportunity to tell the poor unfortunate surveyor that under NO circumstance would I not vote for the Democrat. No matter how they word something, I manage to let them know that, yes, I wish to pay higher prices for things, yes I wish that businesses would flee California for more attractive, less regulatory states. I have told them that even if the Democrat was an abuser of small animals, I wouldn't vote Republican. This is tongue in cheek, of course, but my tone of voice let's them know I am dead serious about not voting for ANYONE in the Republican party. When they did what they did to my president for 8 long years, they earned my enmity forever...or until they redeem themselves, which is improbable but not impossible. I would love for them to put me in a focus group...they would get an earful!! I just ordered my next BuzzFlash premium! I love James Carville and I ordered his book, Had Enough? A Handbook for Fighting Back. This brings up another comment I would like to make. Regarding Senator Edward Kennedy's post to BuzzFlash about Tom Daschle being a good Senate Minority Leader. Being a good, conciliatory, bi-partisan Senator may have been optimum in the old days but this is WAR. And any Democrat who doesn't see the severity of the situation, even our progressive Senator Kennedy should step aside and let the warriors do the job. I do not want to do "deals" with the Republicans; they are snakes! If they want to schmooze them behind the scenes and get the reasonable ones to see the light, GREAT. But to constantly water down legislation and take the best bad thing they offer is unacceptable. Fight for what is right no matter what. Tell the people you are fighting for them...that's what we WANT! That's what we DEMAND! Show the people what the Republicans are doing as opposed to what they are saying. Call them on everything. Don't call them names; show the people who they really are and let THEM figure out the names to call them! Sorry Senator Kennedy. Playing well with others will not cut it in this war we are in. Hardball is the only way to go. Thanks for letting me rant and for being there, as always! Kathy from Pasadena, CA Subj: U.S. allows terrorist financiers to continue their wicked ways Now why is this? Does this suggest some type of link between the administration and deep-pockets in the terror-trade? "The top senators on the powerful Senate Finance Committee are openly questioning a key federal agency's ability to block terrorist money, citing examples in which U.S. officials failed to freeze the money of people identified as terrorist financiers by American allies." I don't think the Clinton administration would survive something like this. Follow the money, investigate those with the money, or, for simplicity sake, just go to any off-shore island with an international bank and see who lands at the local airport in an executive jet. Criminy, how complicated can this be? Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/01/terror/main591092.shtml Mick Subj: God: Bush to win election in blowout Why even have elections anymore? We're back to the divine right of kings. God's a Republican now. And King George is God's man! Nancy Subj: Mad Cow, Power Outages, Failing To Support Bogus WMD; As a Canadian ,the accusations from across the border, are beginning to wear on me, like Chinese Water Torture. First to my recollection, it was Sept.11th. The terrorists must have slipped across our borders. [Proven False] Next it was the massive power outage [ Mayor of New York seen announcing it originated in Canada] Turns out, it was Ohio. Now we have Mad Cow, and that has originated in Canada too, before any testing has been completed of course. Is a knee jerk reaction really called for with every problem that comes up? Are you really run by a government of premature ejaculators, shoot first, ask questions later? Monkey Boy is wrong, it makes a difference to me. Barbara Subj: American Embassy in Baghdad Dear BuzzFlash, This morning on the CNN ticker tape was a story of a new American Embassy to be built in Baghdad that will be the largest in the world. The plan calls for 3000 people to be stationed there. An unnamed Bush relative is to head this Embassy, probably as the Caesar of the Middle East. God save us all!! Moneecat Buzz Flash Folks, Your "wish" for 2004 ... "restoration," and the virtues which sustain it ... an excellent prayer for a new year of Enlightenment. Thank you and All The Best for 2004, BPM Subj: Washington Post, siding with the Bush Administration again Greetings from Paris! I love reading your articles every day and hope that we are not in the minority. A friend of mine recently posted on http://poynter.org/forum/?id=letters about the article from today's Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47860-2004Jan1.html ) where the Post suggests that the CIA leak story might be much ado about nothing. The Post needs to be exposed for posting articles that are planted by Republican partisans. As John points out, both the "source" and her husband are GOP operatives. Nice balance by the Post! I am growing increasingly discouraged by the Post with such one sided presentation. Anyway, look for posts from John Aravosis or responses to John's comments. Good luck and keep those punks honest! Chris Ryan Subj: Nixon/oil story should be read and acknowledged by all naive Americans who insist Iraq's oil no factor now. " The United States government seriously contemplated using military force to seize oil fields in the Middle East during the Arab oil embargo 30 years ago, according to a declassified British government document made public on Thursday." But THAT was THEN - which has NOTHING to do with NOW, right folks? Anyone who tried to say (especially Cheney, Rumsfeld) that this current war has nothing to do with oil ( as if to say such a motivation is something our country would NEVER stoop to) should be given framed copies of this story. And maybe a bonus copy to eat for lunch today. Hell, some of the current Administration probably crafted that plan for Nixon. Dave Dorsett Subj: A Betrayal But Not a Crime "The Justice Department investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's identity could conclude that administration officials disclosed the woman's name and occupation to the media but still committed no crime because they did not know she was an undercover operative, legal experts said this week." (Washington Post 1/2/04) Recall that the leak was that Mrs. Wilson was a "CIA operative on weapons of mass destruction." I thought that was classified information and disclosing it was a crime. But the White House is now test flying the above spin that only the fact that she was an "undercover" operative is classified --- and that it is possible the leakers who identified her as an "operative" to Robert Novak didn't know she was an "undercover" one. I hope someone will educate me about this new distinction: IS there such a thing as an "overt CIA operative"? Or is an "operative," by definition, one engaged in covert activity? Isn't anyone working overtly for the CIA a CIA "employee" as opposed to an "operative"? And isn't it a lucky thing that, in matters of national security, ignorance, even if willful, is a get-out-of-jail-free card? "Senior administration officials" can betray and destroy a national security asset, but if they just say "we had no idea she was a 'covert' CIA operative when we leaked her name and occupation," they are beyond the reach of the law. The harm to the country is identical: why, then, isn't the punishment? Why is ignorance of the law exculpatory here but nowhere else? (e.g., "I never realized bank robbery was crime," is no defense.) Albert Clark, NY Subj: Texas Disable in Schools http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2325026 Dear Buzz, As a parent of a handicapped child who attended school in Texas in the late 70s I can say things aren't any different apparently but even more cruel. The school officials did everything they could to get parents withdraw their children from school and would put children in situations way over their heads in order to "prove" to the parents that their children were incapable of being in school. They would go so far as to mistreat the children in order to make their point. They were quite open about only wanting to teach blind or deaf children not handicapped in other areas. They even said that we should be grateful that the principal "allowed" our children in "his school" and on "his new carpet" because they were messy. As if we did not pay school taxes!!! Janet Subj: New Years Resolutions from the Leader of the Free World With our nation in a state of Orange Alert, soldiers dying every day in Iraq & Afghanistan, Unemployment at near record levels, Nuclear crises' in Iran & North Korea, Osama Bin Laden running free, when the Leader of the Free World, President GW Bush was asked what his New Years Resolution was, he said: 1) losing weight, and 2) start jogging again. Expert comedy writers could not invent satire this good. I guess the White House script writers are off on vacation and GW was left to answer this one on his own. Signed, A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Ashcroft Hi, Will someone please remind Ashcroft what happened to his forerunner Mitchell? Perhaps this time we will find it in our hearts to send him to Terre Haute for a lengthy stay. That's part of my New Year's wishlist. Sincerely, Frank A. Lojewski Subj: RE: free elections or black box voting? Dear Buzz, Thanks for your very American work. Keep it up. My question is, Gore Vidal says that if we use paper ballots and count them in their precincts then Bush will lose. But if we use black box voting with the electronic voting machines owned by the (surprise, surprise) Republican Party, and with no paper trails, then Bush will win. Is there any movement afloat to get our congress people to reject non-paper trail electronic voting machines? This issue is as important as getting someone like Dean on the Dem. ticket. Thanks, Robin Subj: Pat Robertson Buzz, So, Pat Robertson says that God tells him it's Bush in a blowout? First of all, who cares what that corporate, opportunist preacher says anyway? Certainly not I. Second, God tells me that Pat Robertson is off his meds again. I wonder which God he's hearing, because my God doesn't cater to liars and war profiteers. Pat Robertson must be channeling the 'God of stolen elections'. I guess that's what happens when you worship at the alter of crony capitalism and lust after the almighty buck. A BuzzFlash Reader, liberal, progressive, and proud of it! Subj: Response to Senator Kennedy's Editorial. I for one am in the group of Democrats who are tired of Tom Daschle's leadership of the Democrats in the Senate, and I am one of the people who say that if Daschle can't find a way to lead the Democrats back to control of the Senate in 2004, he should follow the same path that Dick Gephardt followed after his series of failures in efforts to retake the House; removal from his leadership post. I do understand and appreciate the work that both Senator Kennedy and Senator Daschle have done in the Senate these past few years. I understand that these are trying times for Democrats, and that they are certainly doing their best in the Senate fighting for what I believe in. I disagree with Senator Kennedy on one main point in his editorial. Senator Kennedy says at one point “That steeliness, combined with Daschle's ability to maintain unity among Democratic Senators in the face of relentless assaults from the Republican attack machine, is one of the main reasons that Democrats have succeeded in blocking four of the most conservative judges to have ever been nominated.” I would respectfully respond to the Senator by saying that while Senator Daschle has successfully maintained unity of at least 40 Senators in this matter, he has utterly failed in many other matters, even when compared to the leadership of Nancy Pelosi in the House. For Example, on the Medicare Disaster we just passed, Representative Pelosi played her hand so strongly that for once it was actually the House that was almost the stumbling block for that disastrous Republican legislation; the Republicans in the House broke every rule, kept the vote open for a whopping 3 hours, and may have even offered bribes to get the bill to pass because Ms. Pelosi held her group solidly together. In the Senate though, Senator Kennedy himself led a movement to filibuster the disaster and kill it in its tracks. That effort lost for one main reason; the Democrats split, including votes against the filibuster by none other than Tom Daschle himself. Similarly, while the Democrats in the House held together even better than the Republicans, the Democrats in the Senate fell apart. Such notables as Dianne Feinstein ended up voting in favor of the disaster. This was an intolerable example of failure. On many other bills, Daschle has likewise folded or just been beaten. He stood in favor of the energy-lobbyist handout disaster that the Republicans tried to push through last month, since it would dump more money into ethanol and help his state. He failed three times to stop Mr. Bush from huge government deficit increases (my new word for tax cuts); and has tried to hold small cuts in the packages or the inclusions of sunset provisions as victories, when those clauses are just as likely to be overturned in the near future. And I'm not even going to hold the Iraq vote against him here; there are plenty of other reasons to be disappointed in Daschle. Barring both a substantial strengthening in the unity of Senate Democrats and a strong electoral showing for Senate Democrats in 2004, we need a fighter at the head of the Senate Democrats. And thus far, Tom Daschle has not proved to me to be that person. I'm willing to give him 1 more years' worth of a chance. Senator Kennedy is right when he says we need to work together at this point. I agree wholeheartedly. For the time being, therefore, Tom Daschle is the man to follow. But in my opinion, his record as majority/minority leader in the Senate does not justify continued faith in his leadership if things do not change soon. Brian Balta Subj: Dixie Chicks Redux I don't know if anyone else noticed but this morning (Friday) on Good Day New York, the NYC Fox local morning show, they were doing a 2003 news round-up and made mention of the Dixie Chicks' anti-Bush comments and allowed as how that, as a result, their record sales plummeted. I immediately e-mailed GDNY (and hope everyone else who saw the segment does the same) to point out their "error" (and by error I mean lie). The fact is that the Chicks' sales actually SOARED and, if memory serves, their album remained at the top of the Country charts despite the boycotts instigated mostly by corporate broadcast conglomerates. Bronx Jackie Subj: Koram Stock Rises 90% Doesn't this story make you wonder what the blue blazes is going on???
Chewgababy Subj: Pat Robertson Karl Rove has to be having kittens over Robertson shooting off his mouth about almighty intervention on behalf of Bush. Buzz, can you arrange to have a recording of "The Barber's Song", from the play "Man of La Mancha" [preferably the version the original Broadway play with Richard Kiley], to play whenever we click onto a Robertson story? "I can hear the cuckoo singing in the cuckooberry tree" Nappy New Year! Steve in Syracuse Subj: 9-11 Hearings I am anxiously awaiting the upcoming public hearings on the independent 9-11 investigation. Tom Kean faced a very difficult upward battle in his work, so I am doubtful the real truth will come out. But something still bothers me greatly. While out promoting her new book, Barbara Bush visited Larry King Live, on Oct. 22nd. Larry asked her a question about her faith and if 9-11 ever caused her to doubt it. Her answer was quite puzzling. She wrapped up her answer by saying: Bush:"now that's a good question. It doesn't cause--it--it causes me to wonder how people can live in our country, but that has nothing to do with religion, I think. It's their religion or their fanaticism. But how can someone live in our country for NINE YEARS, accept our education, our life, and then all that time plan to kill us? That makes me wonder..." My initial response was, "huh, who is she talking about?" Who lived here for nine years? I did some research and it wasn't Hani Hanjour, as claimed by Mr.Ed Eggen at the Washington Post, as he indicated in a response to my question. Hanjour was a "bozo" according to his bio. Never "fit in" and flunked out of English lessons. In addition, he didn't LIVE here for nine years according to his passport dates of coming and going. One other name did pop up in my research and that was Omar Bayoumi. According to another article by Mr. Eggen, Bayoumi was the FBI's suspect. However, he was allowed to go back to Saudi Arabia. So just who was the former First Lady and Mother of President Bush referring to? I'm sure she knows way more than any of us do. Did she "slip" in her answer? Did she say something that no one but me paid attention to? Why was she so specific about "someone" living here for nine years? Have I gone off the deep end? Perhaps, but, with so many unanswered questions regarding 9-11 can you blame me? Oh, and Larry King didn't really follow up, he went to a commercial. Monica a BuzzFlash Fan. Subj: Robertson's Divine Intervention on Bush Fortunately, Mr. Robertson is a shyster politician in the garb of a minister. Unfortunately a whole lot of people in this country wish that these con men had more control over our lives not less. Why, I suspect fear and ignorance on the part of the vast majority and he is considered to be a safe bet on the part of those who have a place at the dinner table that divides up the American pie. Its not all that complicated. Bush just has to keep the fear levels up with all this terror alert malarkey and the captains of industry have to just ease their tight fisted grip on the economy long enough to lower the unemployment rates by a point or two. A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Thank You Bless you for being there for us. Do not know how I would survive in the wilderness of Colorado without you. (Have had to move here from Seattle for family reasons.) Please hang in there and stay forever. I contribute as much as I can, but am a senior who has to spend money on silly things like prescription drugs so am not able to do as much as I want to. But yours is always the first site I visit and sometimes I stay for hours. I feel so much at home at BuzzFlash and as if I am part of a community of people who care. Again, THANK YOU. Lynne
Subj: New Year's Resolutions for Revolution New Year's Greetings to all, When I returned after the holidays, I found in the BuzzFlash mail bag a call to post New Years "Revolutions." Having found the holidays remarkably sad this year, I decided that it might make me feel better to give this request some thought. At least I would have a plan. 2004 is the most important political year of my 55 years. I am convinced, without a single doubt, that our Constitution and, therefore, our country depends on what we do now. It may already be too late, but we must find out, one way or the other. So, here are my Resolutions for Revolution: 1) Ask the U.N. for Election monitors, vote absentee ballot (at least they have to be counted), and plan to be in Canada the day after the elections, just in case the need for exiles arises. 2) Just Say No, to political pollsters. Would not want His Imperial Hindend to think he is going to lose. God only knows what might ensue if they are afraid they are losing; terrorist attacks, more invasions, martial law, "postponed" elections and other nightmarish scenarios. 3) I will work on nothing else but the defeat of the evil occupiers of the White House. Business as usual must not go on when our Constitution is being shredded as fast as the CIA leak evidence. 4) write emails every day to the Press, TV media and my elected Representatives and Senators and others demanding that the unredacted list of who was at the Cheney energy policy meetings and what was said at that meeting be released to the public. ( maybe that will come out in a French courtroom, if Cheney is indicted and tried in absentia) and continue to question daily, as publicly as possible, the administration's version of the 9/11 attacks, the warnings proceeding the attacks and some very peculiar action taken by the government since the attacks in regard to, for example, sending the steel from the towers to China as quickly as possible, etc., etc. 4) Camp out in New York from the March 20 march until the Repugs are gone from there in September. The families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks have many unanswered questions about exactly what happened on 9/11 and why and who was behind it and, possibly, complicit in it. I believe that when we have credible answers to these questions, the fact that this administration has lied about WMD in Iraq will not be surprising to anyone. 5) Tyranny is afoot in the United States of America, (or is it now the Multinational Corporate states of America?). It is do or die for Democracy and freedom in our country. Americans who go on with business as usual as this political year unfolds will more than likely get what they deserve in 2005. I will be in New Zealand. 6) I will boycott every war profiteer who sells anything to the public, corporations who are exporting American jobs and those who are dodging taxes with off-shore addresses and the financial institutions with whom they do business. Boycotts are not so difficult when one has already lost ones job and most of ones savings. 7) I will pay no taxes to a government that is either complicit in the attacks on our country or far too incompetent to be in the White House, nor a Congress which cannot or will not hold them accountable. I certainly do not plan to pay Darth Cheney twice; once as Vice-president and again through Halliburton. I cannot in good conscious pay for the end of the great American Experiment. 8) I will continue to support our troops by insisting daily that they be brought home, NOW. 10) Though I am a Dean/Clark fan for the nomination, I will give my full support to the Democratic nominee, whomever that turns out to be. Atrios had the good idea of adopting a media person to "ride-herd" on from now until the election. I think that is a good idea as well. I have already begun with a letter to CNN and the sponsors of Cross-fire regarding the continued employment of Robert Novak, who has spilled the beans on a source before when it was convenient, and politically expedient. Today the emails about Roves pundit of record will go to the Chicago Sun-Times. We the People, have put up with governmental, and especially Presidential lying for far too long. It is time that we demand that our public servants tell us the truth, and make it very plain that lies and deception will no longer be tolerated; institute a "zero tolerance policy." Let us make it very clear, "Not only will you lose your job ( and your power) but you may be fined and jailed. You may have to find yourselves a few Hidey-holes like the mole people, Saddam and Dick. If you cannot tell the American people the truth, then you had best remain mute, because firing is the least that can happen to you. Dot Subj: $84 million PG&E pay on the way
Chewgababy Subj: RE-DEFEAT BUSH 2004 Greetings & Happy New Year to BuzzFlash, 1/2/04 Thank you for posting Paul Krugman's excellent column, "Who's Nader Now?" as your headline story on 1/2/04. At New Years events in Louisville Kentucky, people made a pledge to get Bush out of the White House. Our plan is to do something every single day of this year to RE-DEFEAT BUSH. We can get rid of Bush if we stay focused, work hard, and work together. We will brainstorm ideas for daily actions and post them on our mailing lists. We will send these ideas to Moveon and BuzzFlash to reach all national groups. We are asking for ideas to add to our list for the 304 days until November 2, Election Day. START TODAY. Read Paul Krugman's column on BuzzFlash or http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/02/opinion/02KRUG.html. Send it to everyone on your lists and tell them to do the same. Email Krugman, pkrugman@nytimes.com and thank him for this excellent column. Call Senators Lieberman and Kerry, 1-880-839-5276, and ask them to focus their attacks on George Bush--not other Democrats. Think of an action for tomorrow and share it with your friends and with BuzzFlash, BuzzFlash@BuzzFlash.com. We will Re-defeat Bush and take our country back in 2004. Thank you. Judy Munro-Leighton Subj: Hurricanes 2, Pat Robertson 0 In re. Robertson's prophesizing a Bush landslide:
Jon Subj: A reply to the letter writer from Switzerland Dear BuzzFlash, I wanted to write to tell the reader who wrote in from Switzerland on December 29 how much I appreciate his or her sentiments and expression of friendship and to try to explain a little bit about what is going on here. This is his or her letter: "Subj: Thank you, my true American friends
Here is my reply: Dear Friend, Some people have described what is going on in the U.S. right now as a "cold civil war" and I usually try not to say extreme things, but it does feel like that is what is happening and that we may be poised on the brink of it getting much worse. I hope that doesn't happen, but a lot of us are very worried. I have experienced deep divisions with family and friends and so have many, many other people. It is like we divided Americans live in two different countries. Some of the Republicans that I know that follow their party's line say things now that I would never thought to have heard come from their mouths. And these are people that I love and care deeply about! It is quite a shock. They get their news spoon-fed from the mainstream sources and especially from cable news. I get my news from the Internet and that includes international sources, of course. It is astonishing to compare and see how the mainstream American news is so full of lies and propaganda. I now understand that people believe propaganda because they WANT to believe it. It is appealing to some very negative emotions like racism and nationalism and fear and these emotions must matter more to them than truth does. These follow-the-party-line Republicans have expressed amazement at the anger of Democrats and liberals. To them it seems like the monolithic, pervasive opinions that they hear from the mainstream media are just common sense, these opinions are what "everyone" believes and they keep complacently telling us that we are silly people that should just "get over it." I don't know how many people agree with them, how many people agree with me or how many people are just completely apathetic. People like me are just moving ahead and holding our breaths wondering what is going to happen. Lately, we have heard people like Al Gore and most of the Democratic presidential nominees speaking out against Bush and his extreme actions. In this right-wing, echo-chamber climate that we have, it is as if they are talking about that proverbial elephant in the living room and it is definitely giving us hope that there are some leaders that "get it." Of course, the mainstream media doesn't really report what they are saying, but instead ridicules and marginalizes them. I think Howard Dean has proven that there is a grassroots in this country made up of rightfully angry Democrats and the other candidates will have to acknowledge that to have any chance of succeeding in the way that he is. We are fed up with having policies decided by extreme right-wingers and wishy-washy swing voters who just want to placate the extremists. Most Democrats that I hear may favor one candidate or another at this point, but agree strongly that the eventual nominee must be supported and must win and there is a lot of determination to make that happen. We also know that will be just the very beginning of the fight. The right-wing makes it clear every day that they are determined to have one-party rule permanently. Right now, they essentially do have that and they do not mean to give it up without a fight. There is a web page that has circulated around the Internet that has an essay called "They Thought They Were Free" (http://www.thirdreich.net/Thought_They_Were_Free.html). You may have seen it. The man that wrote it interviewed some of the Germans of the 1930s. When I first read it, I was blown away by it because more than anything I have read, it describes what it has felt like to live in this country for the past few years. Like the people he interviewed, I have waited and waited in vain for that one big event that would finally "wake people up" to the dangers. Like them, I have tried to have factual, rational discussions with people who no longer even believe in such a thing, who have been taught to discount the words of anyone who does not think exactly what they think. Like them, I look around in amazement and say, "Is this the same country where I was born?" I know the limitations to historical comparison and also that some people are offended by such a comparison because certainly nothing remotely comparable to the Holocaust is happening or will happen. I am only saying that the effect of the Orwellian-type propaganda has been very creepy and unsettling and that the essay accurately describes the current bizarre atmosphere and the feeling of thinking "I know it is not me that is crazy, it is the people in charge and their followers. How can they be saying and doing these radical, extreme things that go against everything that democracy is supposed to be? How can it be that hardly anyone seems to notice or care but a few of us? What happened to our election? Why does Congress seem to no longer have power? Why is our media an avalanche of lies and why is all the government and corporate corruption allowed to go rampant? How can an unelected president get away with sending our military to preemptively attack a country based on lies?" and so on and so on. I know you have seen us discussing these things in shock and disbelief in all the letters to BuzzFlash. So your expression of friendship and support means a great deal, more than you even know. I can only touch the surface of what has happened with our foreign policy, there is too much to say. It is hard to explain the feelings of shame, guilt, frustration and more that many of us experienced when we watched the media cheerleading the Iraq war and breathlessly yammering about " shock and awe" as if it were all a game and not a war. They didn't seem to realize that people were going to be involved, not just technology. After a while, I turned off the prattling cheerleaders with their slogans and graphics and sound effects in disgust because it seemed like a commercial for an exciting product, not serious reporting about a war. It was clear from the beginning that Bush and the media wanted that war and nothing was going to stop them from having it. I listened to all the various reasons and excuses that they gave, but never saw one reason to believe that our national defense was at stake. I have always despised Saddam Hussein as much as anyone, but it seemed obvious that he was contained. It also appears clear that when Bush wants the next preemptive war, he will have plenty of rotten, abusive dictators to choose from to attack, but what then? I would love to see freedom and self-determination for the people in the Middle East and elsewhere and would be in support of offering a helping hand to any country that wants that, but how can we accomplish that at gunpoint? Having seen the careers and actions and heard the lies and read the plans of Bush and Cheney and many of the people they have working for them, I have never believed for an instant that bringing democracy or freedom was their true intent. They have demonstrated that they do not believe in such a system. They just use the words to cloak their real purposes. I know that we Americans don't deserve any sympathy for anything, since we have always had it so good, while so many other people in the world have suffered terribly. I take my share of the responsibility for not doing enough as an ordinary citizen in past years to prevent what has already happened and can only pledge to try to do what I can to elect a new president, to continue to protest the wrongs and demand justice and whatever else can be done. I know a lot of other people feel likewise. I believe this country previously did a lot of things right in foreign policy, as well as made many mistakes, and I believe that if American citizens could educate themselves with accurate information and had a say in it, we would demand fairness and actions that encouraged true democracy. I also believe our military is made up of decent people who signed up to defend the country and who are now being misused by Bush and his friends for nefarious purposes. Despite the dangerous path that we now seem to be on, I still have hope that we might reverse things and go back toward the original ideals of our Republic. I don't want an empire and I sure hope that most Americans agree. I can't explain what I want to say about the millions of people around the world who stood up and protested the Iraq war and held the candlelight vigil and with such an amazing generosity of spirit made all those expressions of sympathy and grief after September 11th. I hope the numbers of those of us who are protesting will grow and that we will have a worldwide grassroots movement for democracy and peace and justice that will grow strong and start to reverse all this ugly war-mongering, terrorism, fanaticism, extreme greed and environmental destruction that is so threatening to all of us. I am not even an idealist, just a person who wants decency and law and peace, like most everyone else around the world. I think that it is becoming very clear to many of us everywhere that this is the practical approach, that we must do something positive and stand up for ourselves and others because doing nothing is too terrible to contemplate at this point. So thank you again for your wonderfully kind words and I send best wishes back to you! It felt like an amazing solidarity between all of us around the world during the days that we protested and had the candlelight vigil. Hopefully many of us will have more communications in the future across international boundaries in the interests of peace and justice. Happy and Hopeful New Year to you and to everyone! Sincerely, Connie Subj: Mike Allen in Thursday's Post Did you happen to catch the story that was on the Washington Post’s web site for a few hours New Years Day by Mike Allen that basically reported that the White House was “smiling”over the Valerie Plame issue because according to Scott McClellan (sp?) if they “technically”did not know that Ms. Plame was NOC, then no crime would have been committed if here name was released? I was amazed at the smugness that was attributed to the White House staff and their reliance on a very careful parsing of the wording in this case. I also found it hard to believe that this was actually a defense. Regardless, the story vanished after a few hours, and I am sorry I did not catch it in time. John DePaola Subj: Pat Hi BuzzFlash, Pat Robertson is hearing things again. I'm pretty sure one of the times he has heard God talking to him, HE was to be President of the USA. Well it's happened again,but he has now heard, it's GWB who will be the re- elected President this time.(he must not have heard GWB didn't win the last election 2000) Poor Pat, He doesn't know the EVIL from good who is giving him an ear full. Pat had better put his ears on, and hear this: We will have a Democrat in the White House in 2004. No one is whispering this, It is plain common sense. As one BuzzFlash Reader wrote awhile back "Bush will LOSE by a LANDSLIDE." Just common sense! America and the world has suffered enough,and we refuse to take another four years of this. BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Mad Cow and Slaughterhouse Politics Didn't Sinclair Lewis and the muckrakers go after the beef barons in the 1920's? I know the beef barons went after Oprah in the 1990's. When will the first Americans start dying from mad cow disease? How sad that 100 years later, Bush has us worrying about the most elemental things...things we took for granted. If you can't keep the food supply safe, what good are you? Sandy Subj: Bush's "National Security Credentials"? Dear BuzzFlash, What is with Democrats questioning whether this candidate or that candidate has the national security credentials, foreign policy experience, et cetera, to take on Bush? Don't they realize that a retarded street rat has the credentials to take on the biggest national security failure since the secession? Instead of arguing whether Wesley Clark has more experience than Howard Dean, or whatnot, maybe we should be focusing completely on the fact that either is preferable to the miserable failure currently stinking up the oval office. Chris Swasey Subj: There is a God Dearest Buzz: What sweet, poetic justice that one day after Pat Robertson declared God told him Bush would win in a landslide, specifically he said:
-- you reported a MAINSTREAM MEDIA poll, no less than a CNN/Time-sponsored one, that shows a Democratic nominee (out of respect to all democratic presidential candidates, I will refrain from mentioning WHO, but we all KNOW who it is) is only five points behind Bush. Blowout. Yes. But not for Democrats! Listen, Pat, in terms of hearing from God, sorry, wrong number! Re-dial. Sincerely, Bri Held Subj: Sick Soldier Dear BuzzFlash: I have a bit of anecdotal information about Iraq that I though I'd pass along. My brother is a busy general surgeon in Pennsylvania, and recently he operated on a 22 year old soldier just back from Iraq. The young man had diverticulitis, which can be brought on by a bad diet. My brother asked him about the soldiers' food over there, and the soldier told him that it was absolutely terrible. So much for the idea of "supporting our troops". Not only do these young people have slipshod equipment to contend with, but they also have bad food to boot. Nevertheless, I'm sure Paul Bremer is dining on only the finest cuisine as he lounges in Saddam's palace. A concerned BuzzFlash reader. Subj: Concerning Neil Bush
Again, I would like to know the ages of these Asian women. Perhaps someone should contact Mr. Brown (the ex-Mrs. Bush's attorney) and let him know he omitted a very important question. Imagine if this creep was Bill Clinton's brother--nothing but 24/7 coverage in every media outlet available. Liz Subj: Bush’s Budget for 2005 Seeks to Rein In Domestic Costs The first two paragraphs of Robert Pear's NY Times story at <http://nytimes.com/2004/01/04/politics/04BUDG.html> show exactly why GW must be defeated this year! According to the report, GW's budget "will rein in the growth of domestic spending without alienating politically influential constituencies." That means the wealthy and the large corporations, Bush's "politically influential constituencies", will not be asked to contribute in lessening the largest deficit in US history. So then, what constituencies will be harmed by cutbacks needed to pat for the huge tax cut for the wealthiest Americans? In a burst of honesty. The report lays it out, but I can give you a preview. Screw the poor, the veterans, the sick and the unemployed! Or, in the more polite language of this report: "control the rising cost of housing vouchers for the poor, require some veterans to pay more for health care, slow the growth in spending on biomedical research and merge or eliminate some job training and employment programs." Jack Ballinger Subj: Democracy died on Daschle's watch While it's heartening to know that one of our country's greatest progressives, Senator Ted Kennedy reads BuzzFlash, I must respectfully and strongly disagree with Senator Kennedy's 12/31/03 editorial on Senator Daschle's leadership. The truth will always be that when Bush was stealing the 2000 election by illegally blocking the counting of many thousands of legal votes that Florida election law required be counted, Daschle was hiding in his ivory Washington tower plotting to become co-leader of the Senate. This is a direct violation of Daschle's oath of office which requires him to defend our country from enemies from within. Bush's theft of the 2000 election in a broad daylight coup was an act of treason that ended democracy in america. Many generations of americans have fought and died for our democratic form of government that Bush ended in 2000. The response of both Senator Daschle, the rest of the Congressional democratic leadership and the leadership of the DNC and DLC is to do nothing and to sweep this Bush theft of our democratic form of government under the rug. While Senator Daschle did unite Senate democrats to block the 4 worst Bush judicial appointments, many hundreds of right wing extremists who were better at covering up their extremist views have been appointed to federal judgeships that the republican controlled Senate never allowed President Clinton who was actually elected by the people to fill. In addition on Daschle's watch we now have, extremist Ashcroft as attorney general, Bush's continued shredding of the constitution with the Patriot and Patriot II acts, the wiping out of the budget surpluses for the federal budget and the Social Security and Medicare trust funds with Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, a severe curtailing of women's right to choose a safe, legal abortion and access to family planning, the worst rollback of civil rights and environmental protections in 30 years, a Medicare prescription drug benefit for Seniors that will make the drug and insurance companies richer and last but not least, Bush's war for oil and welfare for Halliburton in Iraq after doing nothing to stop 9/11 despite numerous detailed warnings that an attack was coming. Never before has our country needed a strong opposition and it doesn't have one. Sadly, Senator Daschle's leadership is following in the footsteps of the non nazis in the German parliament who wouldn't fight back against Hitler in the early 1930's. A terrible price was paid for that failure and I fear that our country will be paying a terrible price for Bush's theft of the 2000 election for decades to come. Nancy Kuhn Subj: Bush problem for the election... Maybe capturing Hussein alive wasn't the way it was supposed to happen:
Roma Subj: ROBERT NOVAK ABOVE THE LAW To: BuzzFlash readers. I am feeling so left out of the loop. I wrote a while back asking if someone would tell me if this ole dog was on a hot scent or just chasing his tail. I need, really need, feedback on this question and I am begging you to give me some. If I am just chasing my tail, I will direct my efforts elsewhere. My email address is: diggerdell@earthlink.net and if you know the answer, I would appreciate it if you let me know. I am totally opposed to the repugnacan party policy and philosophy. I am also afraid that the democratic party may become the demoncratic party if people like Robert Novak, because of his position and connections, can escape any responsibility for committing what I consider a treasonous act because demoncrats will not act in any way to bring Robert Novak to answer. I said in my last submission that I would not let this matter go until and unless someone would explain to me how the actions of Robert Novak were not treasonous. To this date, no one has offered any explanation one way or the other and I am at a loss to understand this. Here we have a man who saw fit to publish the name of one of our intelligence agents at a time when he knew it would put her in mortal danger and do harm to our intelligence network. What was his purpose in doing what he did? Novak did not even bother to go to the bottom level of a parking garage to pass this information to the enemy. Where the hell are people like Woodward and Bernstein when you need them? We need to flush Robert Novak out of the Bushes. Demoncrats do not seem to have gonads. Those damnable fools are too busy fighting each other to fight the repugnacans. Is Novak to go the way of Lay; out of sight out of mind? A house divided against itself will fall and the American people will fall with them. Never in my 67 years have I seen such miserable and incompetent leadership as we are forced, by the half of us who do not vote and the other half who's votes are not counted, to live under today. And, I am talking about repugnacans and the new demoncrats. All of them are more concerned with their reelection than with representing the interests of the people. My question still remains: Is passing on to the enemy the name of our intelligence agents treason or not? One other question: Since I do, in fact, know the names of two CIA operatives presently working in Iran, would I be a traitor if I put that information in this email? I believe I would be and I would also hope that Robert Novak's cronies (all newspeople and politicians) would believe the same. It is too bad that they do not. Or, is it because Robert Novak has collected so much information on them over the years that they do not dare challenge him? Even the two demoncrats on Crossfire are scared to death of him. You BuzzFlash readers and writers seem fascinated by, and get a Rush out of, Limpball and his drug problem, yet show little interest in national security. Limpball poses about the same threat to America as the 14 year old boy who burgled and burned Bush's boathouse. I have watched Rush Limpball on T.V. and found it to be a better comedy show, with more laughs, than President Bush cracking "jokes" at a political fundraiser sponsored by Walden O'Dell (Walden not William) the CEO of Diebold, who let President Bushwacker know, in no uncertain terms, that he would do anything and everything he could to deliver Ohio's electoral votes in 2004. Understand that all O'Dells are not repugnacans and all O'Dells are not involved in the manufacturing of, and the secretive and very repugnant programming of, the new electronic voting machines in which Walden O'Dell, not William O'Dell, is involved and promising to deliver to Bush. At least, remember the name Robert Novak. And, note that I associate it with names like Rosenberg and Arnold (Benedict not Schwarzenegger) and others who are hiding behind the Bushes and have sold us out over the years. I sure would like feedback, pro or con, in BuzzFlash or by email. I am feeling lonely and unloved. Take pity on me. If I hear nothing, I will presume that you do not care anymore. Remember that the media's nose for news fails when the smell gets too close to home. Let it not happen here on the BuzzFlash mailbag. William O'Dell, Tennessee, USA Subj: How will the "new diplomacy" deal with Pakistan & rogue nuke pgm.? The self appointed Musharaff is another Bush pal....being "for us" will make him eligible for foreign aid no matter what he does. That's the new American foreign diplomacy?? http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/04/international/04NUKE.html?hp A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Anybody besides me see a train wreck in the offing?
Rosamond Subj: "Uncovered" Documentary Hi: Just watched this excellent documentary; however, it didn't really address the reasons the U.S.A. went to (pre-emptive) war with Iraq. Maybe I'm a little thick, but could anyone explain exactly why the Americans did this... other than the obvious lust for oil? Janet Subj: W. never loses his sense of purpose in life
------------------------------- Dear Buzz, I saw reported on television that GW Bush went hunting over his holiday vacation. However, I did not see reported on television the high number of U.S. and Coalition Troops and Iraqi civilians killed in Iraq over the past two weeks. As a result, I was struck at how GW Bush never loses his sense of purpose in life and at how easily the mainstream media loses theirs. Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN) Subj: Dean Might be Ahead of Bush! CNN Poll Switcheroo! Likely Voter numbers released and not Registered!! Yo, Buzz. It's Me! The CNN Poll was switcherooed because Dean is probably tied or beating Bush in their own numbers!! Likely voters were only released rather than the usual Registered voter numbers inn the Harris Interactive poll!! The Big Switcheroo and nobody noticed--except I just did and am putting out an official alert. I want those real numbers!!!!!! SEE FOR YOUR SELF: http://pollingreport.com/wh04gen.htm As a professional political consultant, I can tell you this is very significant. Likelys are more conservative than registered voters, who typically favor the Dems more by a good 4% to 6%. All the earlier Harris poll numbers released were of registered voters and now they suddenly just release the likelys? Dean must have been tied with Bush or ahead among the Registered!! They surveyed 1004 Registered voters between Dec 30 and Jan 1 BUT ONLY RELEASED THE 604 LIKELY VOTER RESULTS!! 400 VOTERS WERE NOT RELEASED IN OTHER WORDS!! In short, Dean is no doubt ahead of Bush right now among the registered people in that poll and that is much closer to the truth in a Presidential election because more people vote. This is the real reason CNN and Time are covering up THEIR OWN POLL AS BEST THEY CAN! They're just hoping no one notices what I just realized! Michael Subj: AP Bias Extends beyond what you have covered. You link to yahoo (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/tech_jobs_dc) about tech jobs moving overseas has been edited by AP. In this paragraph "Previously, IBM has pointed to a report by the McKinsey Global Institute that concludes the U.S. economy ultimately will benefit." all mention of the fact that the McKinsey Global Institute is associated with several of the Indian and "American" companies that are benefiting from job destruction has been removed from this story. This information was available in previous versions of this story. -Alan Subj: Drudge Report Hey, did you see that Drudge ran a piece on the "free speech zones" today on Drudge Report? It was attributed to the San Francisco Gate, but was obviously typed and edited. However, it would appear that some conservatives are getting frightened. Now, let's all guess who is putting the pressure on Matt Drudge. More importantly, it's time that someone started getting this info fed back to the Klan and militia people in the South. They can't be controlled by the neo-cons and can cause a real uproar when they feel threatened. If they think the Bush Administration is going after the Bill of Rights, and their rights to exist in particular, things could get real interesting. Before it was all about race relations with these guys and their sympathizers. Now it could give them a national platform to go after bigger fish -- not those worthless liberals, but the Kingfishes in the White House who sold out the National Guard and Reserves in Iraq. Wow, would they love to get back on the front pages of Time and Newsweek. They were sold out by the Republicans after doing their dirty work. Let them have their revenge. Who will plant the seeds of discontent? Where do you start? On the Internet? S. Harrington Subj: W's Oath for True Americans I believe we need more security at our airports. We should be required, when code Orange or higher, to submit to a full body cavity strip search. That is the only way to assure ourselves that evildoers are not attempting to explode bombs on our airplanes. Foreign planes should only be allowed into our homeland when we give them the OK. Otherwise, since they are foreign, we should be able to control their passage to and from our great homeland. Mr. Ashcroft should be given the power to create legislation that isolates us from the Axis of Evil and evildoers who have not yet been brought to justice. This makes sense. We should expel from our country those whose belief system is different from ours. We should not do so unfairly, but we should do it immediately. We should destroy those books that tout methods of disagreeing with the current administration or that explain other ideologies that are anathema to our status as a Christian nation. We should imprison reporters and writers that criticize our administration or the Bush family or the Reagan family. All imprisoned "political types" should be considered enemy combatants and thus not entitled to the benefits of our great constitution, even if they are citizens, for by believing the way they do, they have forfeited their right to a free democracy. I realize now that people like Kenneth Lay have helped build our republic and should be forgiven slight errors in judgment. Others, like Martha Stewart, mean-spirited and vile, should be imprisoned appropriately, but only after a fair trial and then American justice will be meted out to them. We should preclude the French and the Canadian people from standing in the way of our path to a democratic world run by principles, tried and true, of OUR system, our homeland, our rule. Therefore we should preempt those nations which possess weapons of mass destruction from using them, by allowing our armed forces to liberate those nations, and mete out American justice to the sovereign heads of those nations and their children. We should use the natural resources that God gave us, trees and oil and gas and coal, and use them appropriately until we have exhausted their supply and then turn to other sources that our ingenuity allows us to create. We should adopt the Christian way of life as our national credo and allow the right churches to teach our children, using the taxpayers funds. We should pass Constitutional Amendments that forbid abortion on pain of substantial terms of imprisonment, that allow citizens who have been naturalized for twenty years to become President, that punish those who would desecrate our great flag, that would require appropriate prayer and a national acknowledgment that our homeland is ruled by God. We should require the immediate appointment by congress of all those judges who have been suggested by the current administration so that a strict and controlled allocation of law will be maintained. In all elections, suggestions of impropriety should be eliminated unless circumstances are so egregious that the current administration deems it appropriate to investigate what are ofttimes spurious claims. We should establish a tax code that rewards those who have the fortitude to realize the American dream and force those who are slothful to pay for that sloth appropriately. And this I pledge under God and our homeland. Support our Troops. Be a Patriot. For I am a true American. God Bless America "A BuzzFlash Reader" Subj: National Briefing South Dear Buzz, This should have been a real article but instead was a mere paragraph in the Saturday New York Times under the heading, "National Briefing: South."
A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: John Kerry President '04 Dear Sirs: I am supporting Senator Kerry because he has great experience. He has faced tough campaigns in Massachusetts. It is obvious that his Iraq vote has hurt him. He has many strengths going for him in his campaign. I believe Howard Dean has too many vulnerabilities and Bush will beat him easily. He is from a small state, he went skiing during the Vietnam era. His lack of foreign policy experience and there are others think about them. He is already having to defend his record as Gov. of Vermont. A small state. Bush is from Texas a large state. What if Osama bin Ladin is killed or captured a few months from election? Senator Kerry's military background will look mighty good going up against Bush. You have writers on your web page who think Kerry is the best shot for Democrats. Eric Alterman, Maria Ann Coca. This will be the national security election the Republicans will make sure of it. So what of Iraq other Democratic Senator's voted for the war. Who can define George Bush? Simple messages repeated relentlessly. I urge the Democrats to do that. Simple messages repeated relentlessly. Should not one flank be for Democrats to meet Bush head on on National Security? Bob Herbert of the NY Times is another writer who thinks Kerry will make a good President. Republicans always try to portray Democrats as weak on Defense always. Senator Kerry vs. Bush Silver star vs. deserter. There is nothing good about War. The war was put in place by the neocons back in the early '90's nobody could've stopped it. Senator Kerry has one of the best environmental records of any body running. I believe that Senator Kerry like Senator Kennedy that Senator Kerry has the vast experience the conviction to be President that he will beat Bush. Howard Dean is having to defend statements about Saddam and Osama bin Ladin (statements) Dean is having to defend his record of Vermont a small state. I believe that the Republicans will eat Dean for breakfast. I know I know it is a real fight for the nomination. Senator Kerry has a link to BuzzFlash on his website so you know his heart is in the right place. Oh I have donated to your website and might do so in the future. Simple messages repeated relentlessly. Sincerely, Jon Krecker Subj: Krugman In the St. Louis Post Dispatch this Sunday 01/04/01, there is a terrific article written by Paul Krugman....and I will quote a couple of paragraphs, in case it is not carried on any other site. He quotes many things through the article about the 'Fatal Ted Koppel ' debate... but the last two articles are so telling, the article entitled,"Democrat Candidates are playing a dangerous game"! "First," he says," it's okay for the candidate to say he is more electable than his rival, but someone who really cares about ousting Bush shouldn't preemptively surrender the cause by claiming that his rival has no chance, as Lieberman and Kerry have done." Last paragraph, he says, "More important, a democrat shouldn't say anything that could be construed as a statement that bush is preferable to his rival. Yet, after Dean declared that Saddam Hussein's capture hadn't made us safer...Lieberman and, to a lesser extent, Kerry, launched attacks that could, and quite possibly will, be used verbatim in Bush campaign ads." He finishes by saying that "The irony is that by seeking to undermine the election prospects of a man who may well be their party's nominee, Lieberman and Kerry have reminded us why their once-promising campaigns imploded. Most Democrats feel that we are facing a national crisis....that the right, ruthlessly exploiting 9-11 ,is making a grab for total political dominance. The party's rank and file want a candidate who is running, as the Dean slogan puts it, to take our country back! That means, this is no time for a candidate who is running just because he thinks he deserves to be president!!!" End of quote. I feel in total agreement with Paul Krugman...the article in its total , is in the 1/4/4 St. Louis Post Dispatch....on the editorial page. I have just gotten in on the presidential debate today..and they played a set-to, involving Lieberman and Dean. As usual, Lieberman is slamming Dean...and as usual, Dean is calm, cool and collected...Lieberman knows he has not chance..and he thinks the more he bashes Dean, it will help....the call in afterward, showed five to one that the people who watched this debate....thought Lieberman was totally wrong...and so do I..and I always have!!!! Shirley.............St. Louis Subj: CNN changes polling method, Bush is losing! Apparently CNN has suddenly CHANGED the way they report their polling numbers. In the latest poll, they have Howard Dean trailing Bush by a slim 5 points. But what has gone mostly un-noticed is CNN suddenly changed their report to only include 'likely' voters, instead of including all 'registered voters'. Normally, a poll that only includes likely voters will change the numbers to favor the Republican candidate by about 4% to 6%. Plus the general election is no where near starting, and when people start paying attention they are much more 'likely' to vote in a presidential election than an off-year election. So that means its not possible but very likely the full CNN poll had Dean AHEAD of Bush. Notice the latest poll, here-- http://pollingreport.com/wh04gen.htm Look at the list for all the previous CNN polls, they inserted a footnote "Among all registered voters". In the new one they LEFT OUT the full results of their own poll! Also, even though they suddenly altered their polling method to make Bush look better (or not as bad) I searched both the CNN and Time websites and could not find their own poll listed anywhere on their own websites. This could be very significant, remember the latest RNC/corporate media spin has been to repeatedly state that Dean is 'un-electable'. If Dean were to suddenly go ahead of Bush it would not only show the media has no credibility, but would also be a huge bump for Howard Dean and the Democrats in general. And it just goes to show, you have to keep a close eye on the corporate media or they will lie and spin the truth until your head comes off, Best Kelley Subj: PATRIOT II ACT already passed?!? I was reading a recent "I Cringely" article in which he seems to indicate that the major provisions of the PATRIOT II act have passed into law already, quietly, as a rider to another bill:
I'm shocked that if this is true I haven't heard it. Can anyone confirm or refute this? -Tom Subject: Smear Sunday With all of the activity on the Sunday morning political talk shows as an example it is quite evident why Bush doesn't have to spend a cent to campaign against Dean at this time. Starting with Ed Gillespie (RNC Chairman) on FOX, to Wesley Clark on Meet the Press to John Kerry on Face the Nation to Joe Lieberman on This Week with George Stephanopoulos to Dick Gephardt on Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer it was one huge Dean smear campaign. Wesley Clark was the least critical of Dean, but said the most interesting thing in that he will absolutely not be Vice President on a Dean ticket. I admired Clark's ability to deflect Tim Russert's repeated attempts to label Dean as unelectable. It was on to a panel discussion, where Russert, William Safire and others attacked Dean's faith. To question Dean's beliefs while Bush has acted in opposition to everything Jesus preached without scrutiny is mind numbing. The topic of Bush-hate has been brought up a lot lately, but I can unequivocally say that I have stronger feelings against Joe Lieberman than I do against Bush. Labeling Dean as an "extremist" and naturally unelectable revealed Lieberman as putting his personal goals ahead of his party's interests. This guy is the only Democratic candidate that would leave me looking for an alternative candidate in '04. Gephardt pretty much mirrored Lieberman as Blitzer pressed him to attack Dean. If Gephardt would cave this easily in a discussion with an analyst it would be likely that we'd all be eating General Tso's chicken using chopsticks once he gets done negotiating with foreign powers. Two issues Gephardt attacked Dean on were Dean's comments regarding the capture of Saddam Hussein making America safer and the presumption of Usama bin Laden's guilt. It is clear that we are no safer today than before Saddam went on the lam, and based on Bush's investigation stonewalling we just don't know to what extent bin Laden was involved in 9-11. In fact, it's looking more likely that it was Bush family Saudi partners who were more involved, but who would know with all of the covering up that's been going on. Actually, it is such statements as these that draws me to Howard Dean. His diagnosis approach and measured cures are exactly what this country needs for a healthy prognosis. YT Cai I am confused. For the past week I have not noticed any report of US casualties in Iraq. For example today on 1/5 BuzzFlash posted the killing of the first female military pilot. This was not covered by any major news source on the Internet. Has anyone else noticed this? Am I missing something here? Please comment. Dr. Steve Smith |
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