January 12, 2004

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The BuzzFlash Mailbag

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Subj: Kucinich Interview

Dear BF,

Thanks for the interview with Cong. Kucinich. I first met him when he came to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Immediately in his speech he said, NAFTA and the WTO can't be repaired; get out of both of them. I said, here's a check; can I have a bumpersticker? Why on earth would any of us want to be in an organization that can override our sovereignty? (Merriam Webster defines sovereignty as, among other things, "freedom from external control".....that's supposed to be good, isn't it?) Kucinich also says stop making healthcare a for profit industry. Instead make it a single payer federal system, which has been done by every other industrialized nation. Some of the other candidates talk about health insurance for all. The catchword here is "insurance" which means they're going to keep the same system and allow the fat corporate hogs in the insurance industry to become fatter corporate hogs. He also knows what it's like to be poor; he had lived in twenty-one different homes by the time he was seventeen, and sometimes home was the family car. And finally, he's the only active union member among the candidates (Local 600, IATSE), which is reassuring to me since I'm also a member of organized labor and I know that he will never try to kill overtime pay for millions of working people as george w. bush is trying to do. Kucinich offers the best choice of all the wannabes; for me he's the only candidate in the race. And thanks again for the interview.

Hardcore John in Iowa


Subj: medical care insurance increases

BuzzFlash,

Where is the outrage from the American citizens? The medical care health service providers increased their premium rates by 26 to 35% for 2004, without any complaints or questions from the White House, the congress, the media or the American people.

The Republicans control all three branches of the federal government and this corrupt administration allows these questionable business practices without any investigations. Where are our democratic elected officials?? I haven't heard one challenge from any of them concerning this matter. We should realize that this controlled Republican media is not going to voluntary report anything that will negatively reflect back to this administration. The American people, (the less informed), are so enamored with this President despite all his failings that they refuse to see their constitutional rights eroding before their very eyes. They are like blind sheep being led to the slaughter house! This Administration has used 9/11 as a launching pad to imbed fear in all of us while they are advancing their political agenda. You can believe that their political agenda is not to the advantage of the middle class or the poor.

In a democratic society we only have ourselves to blame when we allow the top 5% of the people, (the ruling class), to control the lives of the rest of us. The young men and women that are fighting the Bush contrived war are not coming from that ruling class. They are our sons and daughters fighting for the benefit of the wealthy, because in our hearts we know this preempted war has nothing to do with our freedom!!

James Epperson
Las vegas


Subj: Rove attempting to portray Bush as a man of peace

If George W. Bush is a man of peace as Republican propagandists are attempting to portray him, then up is down, black is white, day is night, and wrong is right. We can't win this election solely by turning out the Democratic base, or even attracting new voters and those who have previously sworn off politics, as Howard Dean is doing so magnificently. We must also appeal to decent people in the "red states" who don't want to be associated with preemptive war, the concentration of wealth in fewer and fewer hands, and the Confederate-ization of the Republican Party.

When I was growing up in Louisiana during the civil rights struggle, my mother told us, "Nice people don't have anything to do with the Klan." The vast majority of nice people in the red states would share that sentiment. We need them on our side, and the way to reach them is by constantly and consistently telling the truth about what BushCo and the Republicans are really trying to do: achieve one-party rule in order to wage war wherever and whenever they see fit, rig the rules so the rich can get richer, and turn the clock of American society back to the days of McKinley.

These are not ordinary times and this is no ordinary election. The progress we've made since the election of the two Roosevelts is genuinely in jeopardy. I don't believe decent people anywhere in the country want that. But they have to understand what is at stake. Helping them understand is our challenge.

Michael Calmes
Boston


Subj: Nader

Don't you think it might be a good idea to inform your readers that they can send comments to Ralph Nader regarding his possible run in 2004?

Maybe if enough people discourage the man from becoming a spoiler once again, and try to find common ground with the Democrats, we may be able to take this country back from the right wing wacko's!

http://www.naderexplore04.org/

Thank you,

Dan Bader


Subj: Is Rush up to his old tricks?

I had the occasion, due to a root canal this week, to take Vicoden...I found myself annoyingly full of bravado and ego. The pills seemed to unleash my latent need for attention (I am an artist after all). I was waiting in traffic and turned on Rush, whom I have heard a few times since his therapy. Much to my surprise he was back in full voice! Much different than a week ago???? Has he just gotten used to the straight life or....?

Just a thought.

Yours,

Robert Canaga
Eugene, Oregon.


Subj: Memo to W

It is the Lies, betrayal and treason, Stupid.

By now it is apparent to everyone who isn't brain-damaged, and some who are, that you and your whole g-damned administration lied about WMD in Iraq. Even your Secretary of State has said that there is no evidence of a connection between Saddam and Osama. Hell, I could have told you that myself, two years ago. You might as well say that there is a conspiracy between Larry Flynt and Pat Robertson to blow up the State Department. I doubt that that kind of thing would ever occur to Flynt. Ol' Larry would be far more interested to get the goods on your relationship with Condi.

You are harboring at least two felonious traitors in the White House, if your Buddy Robert Novak can be believed. The American people deserve to know who has put our national security at risk by divulging the name of a CIA agent who specializes in WMD, a subject on which you seem remarkably uninformed. You are either for or us or against us, W.

By the way, just for your information, certain heart medications can adversely effect the brain. Sometimes these medications can even cause hallucinations. Given some of his remarks as of late, you might want to have the V.P.'s brain examined the next time he emerges from his spider hole.

You have betrayed our soldiers, you have betrayed the people. You may not know it yet, but you have betrayed yourself. The political year has begun and your unraveling is coming, faster than you think.

Aquaria


Subj: Perle and Frum promote book on NPR

To my favorite websites,

Just want you to know that Juan Williams of NPR gave a softball interview to Richard Perle and David Frum who are flogging their book "An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror" They suggest getting out of the UN unless it changes, National ID cards, etc, and blame the CIA for the bad info about the Mideast. At the end of the interview one of the neo-cons said that Bush must be re-elected "..or everything falls apart." I heard it 6:30 PST today Jan 8.

Hope Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore, or someone gets equal time.

Bob Maginnis

below is the URL and blurb.

'How to Win the War on Terror'

A recent Newsweek poll shows that about two-thirds of Americans approve of President Bush's policies to prevent new terrorist attacks on the United States. Only about a quarter disapprove. But a new book -- An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror -- by two leading Republicans argues that the United States is losing the will to fight the war on terror. NPR's Juan Williams spoke with the authors, Richard Perle and David Frum.

E-mail this audio link

http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=3&prgDate=current

http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=1588925


Subj: Verified Voting Action

Hello - I am writing in hopes that you will post an alert on your web homepage to enlist support for passage of U.S. House and Senate bills ( H.R. 2239 and S. 1980 ) which will help insure that the votes we cast in the 2004 election will actually be counted. This is one of the most crucial issues facing voters of all persuasions .Recently one of the largest companies supplying electronic voting machines and software has admitted that their system had been hacked - allowing anyone to tamper with voting results.

Unfortunately, the legislation which seeks to remedy this problem is currently stalled in committee.The House bill, which has 90 cosponsors, has been referred to the House Administration Committee, chaired by Bob Ney.The Senate bill is in the Committee on Rules and Administration, chaired by Trent Lott. With enough calls and e-mails, perhaps some movement can be made on the bill. Momentum seems to be growing for passage but time is running out. An excellent source of background information on this issue can be found at www.verifiedvoting.org

Contact info for the House Committee on House Administration is:

1-202-225-8281, 1-202-225- 9957 (fax)

Contact info for Bob Ney (chairman) is: 1-202-225-6265, 1-202-225-3394 (fax)

bobney@mail.house.gov

Contact info for the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration:

1-202-224-6352

Contact info for Trent Lott (chairman) is: 1-202-224-6253, 1-202-2262 (fax)

senatorlott@lott.senate.gov

Thanks for paying attention - Dave Maize - member of Peaceroots Alliance


Subj: Neo-mantra

Buzz:

I saw Jerry Falwell on "Crossfire" and he said something about Dubya winning the election in a landslide. To his credit, I think that he did say " election" and not "re-election". Pat Robertson has stated that God revealed to him that Bush would "win in a landslide". Apparently this is the mantra that the Republicans have adopted for the presidential election season. You gotta admire the way that these thieves stick together. This is a good mantra for them. If it is repeated enough, many voters won't bother to vote or will simply get on the Bush bandwagon. What should be the Democratic mantra? Why aren't we repeating: BUSH KNEW or NOT IN OUR NAME or something to that effect?

Robertson, Falwell,etc. probably know that Bush/Cheney have their people already in Iraq PLANTING weapons of mass destruction or are trying to decide when to reveal Osama's whereabouts!!

WHATEVER!! Bush still needs to be sent back to the ranch.

Dee Turner

P.S. Buzz, the check is in the mail....Thanks for being available daily!!


JESUS CHRIST GOD ALMIGHTY!!!! IS BUSH INSANE? 9 MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF WORK AND HE WANTS TO HELP OUT HIS RICH BUDDIES WITH CHEAP LABOR FROM MEXICO! THIS COUNTRY IS IN DEBT UP TO IT'S EARS, 40 MILLION WITHOUT HEALTH CARE! 40 KIDS TO A CLASS ROOM! OLD PEOPLE CAN'T PAY THE RENT AND GET THEIR MEDS TOO, AND BUSH WANTS TO SEND PEOPLE TO THE MOON! HOW ABOUT JOBS! FORGET THE GOD DAMNED MOON FOR NOW! WE'VE BEEN THERE! BUSH JUST WANTS TO BREAK THIS COUNTRY SO HE CAN DO AWAY WITH ALL SOCIAL SERVICES!!!!!!!

KAREN M.
SOUTH CAROLINA


Subject: Colin Powell Being Diminished

Since Colin Powell has been diminished as a result of his recent revelations (confessions), when can we expect his resignation from his position?

Leutisha


I have been thinking about Bush's new plan for immigrants. I don't think it is about the Latino vote. I think it about adding 3 million jobs to the list officially, making his jobs numbers look better. If you remember in 1982--Reagan had the same problem. He solved by counting the military as employed. He gained a whole percentage point. Bush could do the same thing. Right now illegals don't count, but as "guest workers" they would.

Charles


Subj: NYTimes.com Article: Putting the Sex Trade on Notice

A few years ago, sex trafficking had its highest number of young female sex slaves in Cambodia.

I think it is a little bit too coincidental that the NYT won't report Mr. Neil Bush's liaisons with women of the Far East. I also see no mention of Cambodia in this article.

What more can the NYT hide of the Bush administration from public knowledge?

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Bush's New Space Initiative

I would like to see a press conference where a reporter asked Bush to name the planets.

Harriet
a grateful BuzzFlash reader


Subj: Enron

Dear sirs,

Still, after two years, very little has been reported about Enron's 4,300 off-shore accounts, where almost 600 of these companies had one single post office box business address in the Cayman Islands (ABC News, Feb. 15, 02). And since Enron is still in business making $138 Billion a year (Fortune 500 Magazine, April 02) it is difficult for those of us who remember the facts that were reported to understand how that company could even be in bankruptcy proceedings.

All the cooking of the books came BEFORE deregulation when they were pushing the envelope of accounting rules in every conceivable direction. But after deregulation, their income gushed from 3 billion dollars to over $100 Billion/year, and may still be at that level. That is enough to pay off the companies entire debt and buy back all of it's stock at '98 prices. Yet, Enron is only mentioned now as "the bankrupt energy giant".

The Cayman Island Government announced last year that it had changed it's policy, and would reveal information about these accounts "But no one has asked". Someone please ask.

4,300 SPEs = 4,300 investors (probably the good ole Milken team). ABC News reported that these entities were given typically $100 Million in cash and $800 Million in stock. Do the math. That's where they shoveled off all that cash. I have a copy of Skilling's testimony to the sub committee and he conspicuously said three times in less than five minutes " Enron was disbursing cash". He was telling the truth!

Please have a look at this very peculiar situation, and give us an update.

Thank you,

D. Burbeck
Omaha, Ne.


Subj: Operation Enduring Fingerprint Now also in Brazil with no Extra Cost!!!

Hi... know what, here in Brazil we Liked the idea of Operation Enduring Fingerprint so much we've even adopted it.

Sad though that we don't have all that funky hardware & software to keep your fingers clean...I'm really deeply sorry for that..

But maybe, just maybe, one day, one blessed day, we dumb poor latinos and other "third world little" people troubled to understand your sincere sense of democracies, see--Latin America dictatorships, Saddam, Shah in Iran, good friend Bin Laden -- mentioning just some, don't want to spoil you to much, but you know, how long that list can be, and so, if we can surpass all of that peculiar concept of free trade with all the extra fees we are charged to sell steel, orange juice, shoes and else, well if we can surpass the impossible task, so far, to get our agricultural products into your kitchens after facing some US$120 billion annual subsidies to your farmers, well after all that we may try to maintain your fingers clean, we may even stop dropping dead in your dessert to make it on time for dish cleaning.

God Bless BuzzFlash, Michael Moore and all you good thinking folks, and try to save your country, before it screws the rest of the world ..From Brasil

Leonardo Costa.

(I´m a tourism guide in Brasília, for french, german, italian and english, and a BuzzFlash Reader.)

PS. Love your country, hate your newly established dictatorship and their puppets.. No hard feeling, I hope!!

Come visit our country, and don't forget your soap...


Subj: Iraq invasion and occupation

Would someone in the Administration please come clean and explain why Bush really went into Iraq? We have been given so many excuses, but never the real reason.

Isn't there a deep throat someplace deep in the State Department or C.I.A. who knows the truth?

I suspect that we desperately wanted a base in the Middle East, but knew after 9/11 that it could no longer be Saudi Arabia. So looking at its strategic location and its weakened state after 12 years of sanctions, Iraqi was the chosen site.

If so, why doesn't the administration just come out and say so? I suppose that would be giving in to the terrorists in the neo-cons minds. Therefore, historians will have to make due with the lies and fabrications we now have.

Please ask your readers to comment.

S. Harrington


Subj: Funny Ebert Line

Scanning Ebert's reviews today:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-chasing09f.html

'...Harmon is singularly unconvincing as the President...because he reads the newspaper, and there's no telling where that could lead..."

Liz


Subj: it is appalling

i hear republicans bragging about the productivity growth, getting twice the work out of one worker now. then i think about my niece and her swollen feet putting in a 15 hour day, she is on salary and scared to death to complain because she knows the applications are coming in by the hundreds wanting her twenty six thousand a year job. i don't think this is something we should brag about! it is appalling!

shorty in memphis


In re: Why Would Limbaugh Pay Blackmail If He Did Nothing Wrong? -- A BuzzFlash Reader Commentary

Which reminds me... Rush's attorney accused the alleged blackmailer of "bleeding his client dry."

On the bright side, if true then Rush isn't really pulling down the big bucks his publicity flak claims he's being paid to spew his vitriol over the airwaves. Whew. That's a relief.

Rosamond


Subj: No phony president (?) left behind

The make-believe cowboy/aviator/businessman used the taxpayer's plane to fly super first class to grab "election" money on the excuse of visiting a school. Ranting, whining, swaggering spluttering and grunting that school kids need a test. Accountability, blah, blah, blah. Do you suppose one of your very talented letter writers could create a test for PRESIDENCY promotion? Fake presidency or what have you? But hurry -- he's off to the moon and Mars.

Liz W


Subj: who's your daddy? :):):)

george bush had a little speech today in which he told us how good the economy is doing and oh boy he is creating jobs jobs and more jobs! hello! what planet is that man on? i think gw bush could go on tv and tell us all no one in iraq has died, in fact there was never a war that at all, the media and democrats made it all up to make him look bad and no one in the media would dare question him! send another man to the moon? BUSH IS ALREADY READY THERE! bush and his people keep throwing out the who are you going to believe us or your lying eyes? and the media swallows it.

kate johnson
tampa fl


Subj: Connection between Bush's new immigration plan and WalMart?

Happy New Year Buzz! I look forward to another great year BuzzFlash reporting.

Has anyone connected the dots between Bush’s new immigration plan enabling companies to bring in foreign workers on a “guest worker”basis, and Wal-Mart’s recent legal woes regarding the use of illegal immigrants for their lowest paying jobs? I believe 5 of the Walton family members are among the Top 10 richest people in America. Bush’s timing on this is certainly convenient for them. Think it’s just possible there’s any connection here? Nah.... But just asking...

Kate


Subj: from today's "Inside Politics"

don't know if you caught this but Judy Woodruff, interviewing one of the bush administration's reps, had this quote about dubya's lack of economic savvy/policy from O'Neill's book:

"He was like a blind man in a room full of deaf people."

The rep defended bush's acumen by pointing out that he has an MBA. Right. Rich boy's family buys him an MBA and he subsequently sinks every business he ever laid his hands on--and now he is working on sinking the country. You have to admit, at least he is consistent!

Liz Taylor

see related article at: O'Neill: Bush 'like a blind man'


Subj: Carnegie Endowment for Int'l Peace

Hi there,

I read Buzz all the time but this is the first time I have ever written to you. So I'm excited.

Keep up your wonderful work!!!

Two things here:

I just read the report on WMD and Iraq put out by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and they criticize the Bush Administration on several fronts:

1. Iraq was not an imminent threat, but in fact any capabilities Iraq had for producing Nuclear weapons was years away. The UN inspections were working. Deterrence was an option to war.

2. Bush and Administration overstated it's case for war.

3. We are actually no safer now because what little components Iraq had for nuclear weapons were looted. Therefore, someone has the makings of a dirty bomb material.

4. There is no link, no evidence that Osama and Hussein were in collusion with one another. There is also no reason to believe that Hussein would have offered WMD to his enemy. And the possibility that Hussein moved his weapons out the area before we struck is also far-reaching. Before the first Iraq War, Hussein had moved some planes into Iran and never got them back. All of that is debunked.

There is much more. Please read it at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace website. The findings and recommendations section is where most of their conclusions are. It's 15 pages long, but well worth the read.

I haven't heard anything about it on the news, although the writers were on c-span last night and Colin Powell made a statement about it afterwards. He is also criticized in their report. People should know about this because if ever there was a reason to call for Bush's impeachment: this is it. He misled us into an illegitimate war. And they spell it out quite nicely. The silence of the press is undemocratic.

One last thing: D. Turner from Atlanta wrote in your letter section about her neighbor who had just returned from Iraq and his heartbreaking tale about his buddy who shot himself because the army wouldn't let him go home to attend his mother's funeral.

She said she was contacting an area columnist in Atlanta.

I prayed it was Jay Bookman, so I emailed him. And sure enough. Jay emailed me back and said he hopes to talk to the man soon. So good for her and good for BuzzFlash for allowing such things to come out.

Also on NPR, there is piece about the casualties of war. The government's figure for wounded in hostile fire is 2,400. But on NPR, an army spokesman told the reporter, (he recorded it) that army casualties of those injured and diseased and returned home because of it is close to 9,000. We aren't being told the whole story.

Sorry this is so long.

Thanks for reading me.

Susan DeVilder
BuzzFlash Fan

[BuzzFlash Note: We recently (this weekend?) saw Joseph Cirincione speaking about this report on C-Span. In April of last year he was also gracious enough to allow us to repost a speech he gave at the Veterans Against The Iraq War-sponsored "Teach-In & Speak Out Against Iraq War." You can read it here.]


Subj: The Limbaugh "Dean/Bradley Smoking Gun Photo Series."

Hi gang!

I noted the post in the Mailbag regarding Limbaugh's insightful and hardhitting expose as to how a diminutive Dean could appear to be the same height as the towering Bradley, a former NBA basketball player.

So, out of curiosity and fully prepared to laugh myself silly, I checked it out.

I have to let you know that I'm currently in the hospital after having ruptured my spleen laughing at the utter stupidity of Limbaugh wasting such ridiculous time pointing out just one more instance of how Liberals like to deceive us.

But, that's alright.

Limbaugh's Zapruder-like sequence of screen-caps showing how it was all done is much akin to possibly...oh...I dunno...Limbaugh standing in a picture frame with a Goodyear Blimp and saying, "See folks? I told you so! I'm not fat!"

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: I'm no economist . . .

Heck, I'm just an average working class American who understands that I shouldn't spend more than I take in every month. Hey, it works for me. So here is how I have described Bush's tax cuts since the first one: "Bush's tax cuts make about as much sense as raising your kids allowance AFTER YOU LOSE YOUR JOB." I also always said, if I had the capitol, I would make this into a bumper sticker and maybe be able to afford a new car.

Just me, a BuzzFlash fan.


Subj: Anatomy of a Lie

Dear BuzzFlash--

Even though they won't actually say the word "Lie", the Administration is beginning to admit the truth (for the record). They know that the public doesn't really have the attention span to sift the truth from the lies, as long as the president, Rumsfeld et al, keep telling us that we are Winning and that genocide is Good-- as long as we are "Safer". Security (as in CellBlock Secured) is being sold as Freedom. We are free only to believe what we are told to believe and to act accordingly. Martial Law is the next step, which will be applauded, on CNN et al, as "necessary for national security". What we have here is the first PostModern Fascist Regime. It ain't gonna be fun.

David Wilson
Hilo, HI


Subj: another bush lie re unemployment today

is president bush this stupid. he was saying that the unemployment rate going from 5.9 to 5.7 means we are adding jobs and he looks at it positively. huh? the reason it moved down was so many people gave up that the number of jobs went down. also, the months of oct. and nov. were revised to reflect the true numbers which were thousands of more jobs lost than reported. will someone please get the public to know when he is lying....i am sick of being lied to by this president. ugh

karin dicker
los angeles


Subj: Do These Look Like the Actions of Innocent People ?!?

Hello BuzzFlash and all BuzzFlash readers,

A couple of weeks ago, while watching Fox-Jazeera (I don't even remember the subject of the report - Jacko, Kobe, or Scott Peterson?) one of their weekend shills, Gregg Jarrett, crowed with a silly, idiotic smirk on his face, the worn-out Right Wing Lemming line:

"Does this look like the actions of an innocent man?"

Well, well, well . . . this got me thinking about the current administration . . . are these the actions of Innocent Occupants of the White House?

- The White House hiding information and the attendee lists associated with the Energy Policy Meetings

- The White House hiding information and intelligence associated with the September 11 investigation

- The White House hiding information and intelligence associated with the claims of WMD's in Iraq

- The White House hiding information and intelligence associated with the claims of Al Qaeda ties to Iraq

- The Pentagon hiding information on military and civilian casualties in Iraq

- The White Housing hiding the return to Dover AFB of the remains of Troops who have died in Iraq

- The White Housing stalling and stonewalling the investigation of the outing of Valerie Plame

- Sec. of Ed. Rod Paige not answering to questions associated with the fraudulent statistics on the Houston, Texas Public School system

Let's not forget Rush Limbaugh (a former honorary member of Congress) hiding his medical records.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . these don't look like the actions of innocent people . . . what are they hiding?!??

Just asking . . .

Warmest Regards,

GK, a Fervently Loyal, Devoted and Proud Liberal BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: "Hitler" Ads, MoveOn.Org

Buzz,

I'd like to comment on your editorial on the MoveOn.Org fracas over the "Hitler" ads. As usual your editorial was spot on and much more balance than anything I'd be likely to write.

I attempted to contact the MoveOn people about what I perceive to be a terrible sellout. Mainly the lame repudiation of the ads in question and the criticism expressed for the authors of the ads. Unfortunately, MoveOn's site is so "slick" (a little too much so for my taste), that I couldn't find a direct way to offer my opinion. I realize that I'm much more to the "left" than either MoveOn or your site generally caters to, but I can assure both you folks and the MoveOn people that caving in the face of adversity is not very inspirational. I had planned to donate some money to their site but, under the circumstances, I don't think its possible any longer.

We are facing great evil in this land (no metaphor), and if those of us who pretend to oppose the direction that the Busheviks are taking this country and the world we'd better be prepared to "grow a pair". Any respect that I had for them has now turned suspect. Who knows, maybe this is just another BushCo scam to steal more of our money (like the kids lunch money for 9/11 nonsense).

If you happen to know how to contact this organization please feel free to pass this assessment along to them. As for you folks, keep up the fight. You're much too tame for me but I read you every day.

Larry Fuller
Poulsbo, WA


Subj: new info from ex Treasury Sec about IRAQ war

Don't have a link to the actual story coming on 60 mins but it will be out soon enough!

Adam

* * *

FORMER TREASURY SECRETARY PAUL ONEILL SAYS INVASION OF IRAQ WAS PLANNED IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION LONG BEFORE 9/11, IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW SUNDAY ON "60 MINUTES"

Sat Jan 10 2004 09:12:37 ET

The Bush Administration began laying plans for an invasion of Iraq including the use of American troops within days of President Bush's inauguration in January of 2001, not eight months later after the 9/11 attacks as has been previously reported. That is what former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill says in his first interview about his time as a White House insider. O'Neill talks to Lesley Stahl in the interview, to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Jan. 11 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

"From the very beginning, there was a conviction that Saddam Hussein was a bad person and that he needed to go," he tells Stahl. "For me, the notion of preemption, that the U.S. has the unilateral right to do whatever we decide to do is a really huge leap," says O'Neill.


Subj: Handling the Bullies

In my mind, gay marriage is a “curtain issue”–as in “don’t look behind the curtain!”

Halliburton gets a no-bid $2,000,000,000 contract and charges double the going price for gasoline? Let’s talk about gay marriage!

The government now has the right to open your mail and tap your phone without a warrant? Let’s talk about gay marriage!

There are no weapons of mass destruction? Let’s talk about gay marriage!

CJD (Human mad cow disease) is increasing in this country, but no doctors are keeping statistics? Let’s talk about gay marriage!

American soldiers are wounded and then given inadequate care? Let’s talk about gay marriage!

Ken Lay walks the streets a free man! But let’s talk about gay marriage!

And if you really care about the state of the family –

Divorce rates have been climbing for 50 years! Out of wedlock birth rates have been climbing for 50 years! Don’t look in the mirror, blame it on the gays!

Frankly, I would think that gay contracts would be supported by conservatives –two adults want to enter a contract to give each other rights and obligations toward each other’s income and property. Why should the government have any say in a private contract regarding property? No state grants sacramental marriage to heterosexuals –that is something only a church can do. The state grants the private contract either alone (a civil marriage) or as a part of church marriage. The state is not able to grant a sacramental marriage to anyone.

George McLaughlin
Walnut Creek, CA


BuzzFlash,

I must write to thank you for the reader’s commentary that you put in yesterday. It was written by Norma Sherry and was called: I Believe: Reflections on 2003 and Hopes for 2004. I look to BuzzFlash to inform me, and this was an excellent example of how you have unified those of us in the peace community to know that we stand strong! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

The article gave me such a feeling of hope in our nation. I choose to believe that there are very many people (some are afraid to speak the words, others don’t know how to articulate them and some just don’t know they are not alone) who do believe in America, but one that is strong instead of bullying. They are simply disgusted and dismayed by the direction this administration has taken us. Some feel there is nothing they can do. But there certainly is! They can tell others how they feel, as Norma has done.

Her piece was inspirational! I am so grateful that you have included it in your list of commentaries and news. I believe from what the author has said, she supports the Dennis Kucinich bid for President. All the things she hopes for are expressed by Dennis, and he has a plan to make each of them become reality. I agree with him that those who vote for him will also turn down the bid for office of those who have been bought, or are selling themselves to the highest bidder. Dennis’s supporters know that we cannot fund a future, provide education, jobs, etc as long as we are stuck in this mad rush to attack nations that have not attacked us. Dennis correctly puts the focus on what needs to be improved, and makes me know that it can happen! Many people support his ideas, and when they vote their heart, we will have a Kucinich White House, a country that will lead the world to nuclear disarmament and cooperation.

With sincere gratitude for your work!

Tomi Phillips
The Woodlands, TX


Subj: That's ME in the photo!

Greetings from your friends at http://www.dirtybush.com

I followed your link to "Bush Vows Florida Win as Protesters Recall Recount" and found a photo of me holding my banner with a fellow SMART American protesting BU$h!

THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY!

Carolyn Gray


Subj: How Faux Spins and BURIES the News

After hearing MSRNC's Andrea MITCHELL report on POWELL's "admission" that there were NO Iraq-Al Qaeda connections, PLUS the report that there were NO WMD AND that KAY is quitting "WITHOUT ISSUING A FINAL REPORT," I moseyed over to Faux Propaganda Network to see how they would spin these items. It was the "Faux & Friends" zoo. HAH!---they didn't even mention these items AT ALL, since of course Britney is MUCH more important. But then there WAS spin, a diversion, which was THIS topic, about the 1,000 new jobs supposedly newly created under Shrub. The Steve DOOZY clown, who has to suffer the indignity of doing the weather on following programs after his hosting job is over, at first said (LIED) that the (unemployment rate?) was the lowest in ELEVEN years, which would of course completely obliterate all of the CLINTON years, but then he had to correct himself and say it was ONE year. Then their other Faux employee from another show said that these 1,000 jobs number was misleading number SELF-employment is not counted, people who start their own businesses, such that REALLY, the number of new jobs for Shrub is ONE MILLION. Can there be any more documentation of how Faux keeps its loyal wingnuts plausibly ignorant?

John Garza


Subj: Dubya's World View or Lack Thereof

I mean is it any surprise that George W. Bush doesn't give a hoot about the rest of the world or what they think? I mean listen up people. Here's a man who at 53 had not traveled to pretty much anywhere. I mean he was a pilot! He was a millionaire! And he never had seen Europe or China or Japan or anyplace other than a brief trip across the border to Mexico. You gotta ask yourself, "what kind of man is this??" whose curiosity is so still-born that he doesn't want to do what virtually everyone else wants -- travel in luxury!

To not want to know what others thinks would pretty much sum him up!! How could such a man become President of the United States, you ask? Well, my own feeling is that we all better get moving and get out and campaign, or we'll be asking that same question again on November 3, 2004!

Regards,

BC


Subj: MSNBC Saturday Schedule

I happened to notice that MSNBC ran a marathon Saturday afternoon of documentaries about murderers and criminals. Check it out:

1:00 p.m. - Headliners & Legends - John Gotti

2:00 p.m. - Headliners & Legends - Patty Hearst

3:00 p.m. - Headliners & Legends - The Manson Women

4:00 p.m. - Headliners & Legends - Timothy McVeigh

5:00 p.m. - MSNBC Investigates - Osama bin Laden's Trail of Terror

and then...

6:00 p.m.-Headliners & Legends - George W. Bush

Hmm, interesting, ain't it?

Keep up the good work, Buzz!

Joe D'Addio


Subj: "white terrorism" in John Ashcroft's hometown

Dear BuzzFlash:

There is a letter to the editor from the online news magazine "Black Commentator" this week which is worthy of attention. It is in response to an article they ran Thursday before last called "White Terrorism" which dealt with how the gov't and americans ignore domestic hate-crime oriented terrorism while assailing us with warnings about those who dare to drive while in possession of a map. The author of the letter is Rosemary Stewart-Stafford, who says she is a long-time civil rights workers, and claims that things have gotten "much worse" since Ashcroft took office. The link to the letter is: http://www.blackcommentator.com/72/72_email.html , her letter is halfway down the page, so you will have to scroll down.

Both the article and the letter would make good postings.

Thanks for a great news site (the best on the web).

Sincerely,

Kerry Wells


Sent to: easterblogg@tnr.com:

Subj: Mission to Space

To Mr. Easterblogg

Sir you are doubly wrong in your cost-analysis of Our Leader's proposed space crusades.

First, we don't need to send a geologist to Mars. If the Grand Canyon was formed from Noah's flood, then geologists have it all wrong. Why encourage these poor deluded souls into more erroneous theorizing? Just give me a few days with "The Bible"nd I'm sure I can come up with a simple, authoritative and infallible explanation for Mars's geology, thus saving billions of unnecessary dollars for our beloved Leader.

Second, don't prattle on about a return trip for our Marstronauts! After all, do we concern ourselves about returning our depleted soldiers from Iraq? Once the crew reaches Mars, just extend their duty until our fellow Americans forget all about them. Guaranteed CNN will have forgotten them long before, anyway.

Aloha

Tikikit


Subj: My newsearch contribution

Please scroll down this link to this paragraph, and read Jeb's statement VERY closely.

Florida is expected to be a battleground state again this year as Bush seeks re-election. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who was embarrassed by his brother's close victory margin in the state in 2000, said in introducing the president that "we will not rest until you carry Florida and you get re-elected."

Talk about a Freudian slip! Maybe someday George might legally carry Florida.

Very sincerely,

Laura Homeyer


Subj: "enemy combatants" case

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am amazed at the level of myopia concerning the Bush Administration's claim that they can deny American Citizens their constitutionally guaranteed due process by single-handedly declaring those Citizens to be "enemy combatants". Their claim is predicated on the assumption that we are in a state of war and that the President, as Commander in Chief, holds certain extraordinary powers during this state of war.

WE ARE NOT AT WAR! Only Congress has the authority to declare war. They have not done so. Therefore, the Administration's argument is not relevant.

This is more than a mere logical error. It speaks to the level of befuddlement that we have come to accept as truth. It also has serious consequences. If we don't sort out this logical error, we will be accepting a perpetual state of war, and allowing our constitutional liberties to be suspended in perpetuity.

The Supreme Court MUST straighten out this breathtakingly absurd argument. If they rule in favor of these Police powers, America will no longer be America and we will no longer be free!

Amanda Sharpe


Subj: Perle

I couldn't believe my eyes and ears .... on the heals of Colin powell's admission that there was no connection between Saddam and AL Qaeda , Richard Perle was on MSBC (I think) and basically called Powell a liar ..... he said there was definite proof that there was a tie and that Saddam was training Al Qaeda ....... ????????

Terry


Subj: Fault in your headline!

Jobs Figures Show Economy Is Bush's Achilles Heel 1/10

Man, this Achilles is all heel!!

J


Subj: Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former Pentagon insider

Dear BuzzFlash,

Her article concludes: "...My personal experience...showed me that [neoconservative's] philosophy remains remarkably untouched by respect for real liberty, justice, and American values. My years of military service taught me that values and ideas matter, but these most important aspects of our great nation cannot be defended adequately by those in uniform. This time, salvaging our honor will require a conscious, thoughtful, and stubborn commitment from each and every one of us, and though I no longer wear the uniform, I have not given up the fight."

Jim

* * *

http://www.amconmag.com/1_19_04/article1.html

A strange thing happened on the way to the war.

By Karen Kwiatkowski

Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former Pentagon insider, concludes her observations on the run-up to the Iraq war in this last of a three-part series.

As the winter of 2002 approached, I was increasingly amazed at the success of the propaganda campaign being waged by President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and neoconservative mouthpieces at the Washington Times and Wall Street Journal. I speculated about the necessity but unlikelihood of a Phil-Dick-style minority report on the grandiose Feith-Wolfowitz-Rumsfeld-Cheney vision of some future Middle East where peace, love, and democracy are brought about by pre-emptive war and military occupation.


Subj: Cuba Beats Us Again

Dear Folks--

Perhaps we could prevent so many pregnant women and children being denied health insurance in the name of balanced budgets if someone would report that Cuba (yes, that little nothing country with no money and a health care system held together with duct tape and baling wire) has a lower infant mortality rate than the US for the third year in a row. Cuba's rate for 2003 is 6.3 per thousand. Since the US rate for 2002 was 6.8 per thousand, it's unlikely that we can beat theirs. This is starting to look like a trend...

Alison Brennan


Subj: Bush as Hitler

I just have one comment to make about the puerile GOP attempt to falsely attribute the commercial comparing Bush to Hitler as being one of the official commercials from Move-On. GET OVER IT!!! lol.

Bogdan


Subj: Interesting Find

http://www.afa.net/petitions/marriagepoll.asp

Surfing for something totally unrelated brought me to the conservative American Family Association website and I was shocked (and pleased as punch) to view the results of their latest poll which asked whether respondents favored or opposed homosexual marriage or same-sex civil unions.

At the time of my viewing (8AM 12/11/04) the results were as follows:

32.25% Oppose legalization of homosexual marriage and "civil unions" (262502 votes)

59.84% Favor legalization of homosexual marriage (487156 votes)

07.91% Favor a "civil union" with the full benefits of marriage except for the name (64372 votes)

I had to look twice, and then again to confirm that by a margin of more than two-to-one, respondents who found their way to this conservative site were IN FAVOR of gay marriages/unions!

Jackie Keveson


Subj: Planning for Iraq

If it is true -- and I'm sure it is -- that the administration was planning the invasion of Iraq from the time they stole the presidency (and probably a good deal longer), then you would think they would have had enough time to come up with an exit strategy and a viable plan to restore and maintain order.

A BuzzFlash Reader from NY


Subj: The Diminishment of Colin Powell...and All the Lies

Dear BuzzFlash:

Now that we know Colin Powell was lying in that speech he made to the UN last February (about WMDs), and now that we know he's been diminished by those lies he was forced to tell because he's a member of the Bush Cabinet, when is he going to do the right and honorable thing by resigning from his post? Isn't that what all military officers do, when they have disgraced themselves and the position they hold?

When is Condi, Rummy, Cheney, Perle and Ashcroft going to join Powell in handing in their resignations? How long does incompetence continue to be rewarded by this Administration?

How long is America going to swallow the lies coming from this Administration? I guess to admit the truth is too difficult to acknowledge...but I don't know why that is, because this country was founded on the principles of the truth as it is known. How soon we forget...that to forget history condemns people to repeat it.

I guess one would have to be honorable, first. The Bush Administration continues to stain the honor of the American People, voluntarily. But thanks to the efforts of media outlets like BuzzFlash, this nightmare will hopefully be over as of November 2, 2004.

Leutisha....Loyal BuzzFlasher


Subj: Operation Martian Freedom

So how many taxpayer billions has Bush promised Halliburton to manage the green cheese concession on his new moon-base?

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Rush Limbaugh and Throat Surgery

Dear BuzzFlash,

I just read the article by Libby Hicks and I was very confused by something that Rush Limbaugh said. He claims to have back pain and not neck pain. I know of no surgical procedure that tries to enter the throat to reach the back, unless Rush has placed his head in an orifice neighboring the low back. This might explain another Limbaugh condition that I know of, optical rectitis.

Larry Taylor


Subj: Alien Workers

Two years ago a jeans factory closed in my town of Mena, Arkansas, but I expect it to reopen. Jobs will be offered at $5.15 with no benefits. Unfortunately, the owner will be unable to find any Americans willing to take the jobs and will be forced to bring in aliens. Jeans will roll off the assembly line again and will be marked "Made in USA."

As for me, I expect my job to get really intense. I'll be declared to be a professional and I'll be putting in a lot more hours. Arkansas is a "right to work" state, so if I don't like it, I can always go get a job at the jeans factory.

Jill Combs
Mena, AR


Subj: Letter to the Editor - No Weapons - No Bin Laden Ties

Secretary of State Colin Powell finally admitted that there's no link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida. And Bush has quietly withdrawn a 400-member military team it sent to Baghdad to scour Iraq for evidence of weapons of mass destruction. It was all a lie. We went to war and sent our troops to die for nothing. Their lives continue to be wasted for absolutely no reason at all. Republicans complain about Democrats trying to compare Bush to Hitler. Well - the comparison is not entirely unfounded. This war is a fraud!

America is living a lie. The question that we really have to face is - is the American public really that blind. Are we really that clueless that we actually believe everything Bush says? Well - if you're fool enough to believe we have a reason to be in Iraq then you'll probably believe Bush's next story that we're sending a man to Mars!

Marc Perkel
San Francisco, CA.

References:

MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3909150/

Irish Times
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2004/0109/901262949HM1IRAQ.html


The federal commission investigating the 9/11 attacks has recently stated there were ample warnings that an attack had been planned and that it could have been prevented. Mr. O'Neill's comments provides a possible rational why no actions were taken to stop the attack.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/17/eveningnews/main589137.shtml

John


Subj: strategic petroleum reserves manipulation

Isn't the huge and strategically dubious stockpiling of petroleum reserves by the bush administration into the teeth of the opec supply squeeze, and their attempts to increase the reserve size by 8% and to push for the energy bill provision that will increase it by a third, potentially the largest story yet of the looting of the treasury on behalf of bush/cheney clients?

L.A. Times

Financial Times

Dave


Subj: Bush and the Moon Mission

BuzzFlash,

An observer of the Bush Administration might come to the conclusion that they want to kill the Shuttle to save money, but also want build a Apollo/Saturn sized booster to put very heavy military satellites into orbit. The only reason for going to the moon is that the Chinese say they want to. The following quotes from the UPI story leave plenty to read between the lines. Why were the Cheney meetings 'closed-door?'

"To pay for the new effort -- which would require a new generation of spacecraft but use Europe's Ariane rockets and Russia's Soyuz capsules in the interim -- NASA's space shuttle fleet would be retired as soon as construction of the International Space Station is completed,..."

"The various models of the CEV would be 21st century versions of the 1960s Apollo spacecraft."

"The review has been proceeding for nearly a year, involving closed-door meetings under the supervision of Vice President Dick Cheney, sources said."

"Sources said Bush will direct NASA to scale back or scrap all existing programs that do not support the new effort."

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20040107-123930-1532r.htm

Previous BuzzFlash commentary

George W. Bush' s Top Ten Reasons for Building a Permanent Moon Base
http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contributors/04/01/con04007.html

Bob Maginnis


Subj: Terror Alert a Fake?

"Sources at the German intelligence bureau claim that CIA misinformed them about the alleged planned terror action in Hamburg December 30. Ansar al-Islam was accused of being behind the attempt.

According to information provided TV 2 Nettavisen by German intelligence, they are convinced that the CIA information is wrong, and they allegedly fear that American authorities planted the information.

German police have started an investigation after the terror alarm at the hospital in Hamburg December 30. So far, no evidence has been located that indicates that the terror alarm was genuine.

Also German police who were tipped off by the CIA, doubt that the terror alarm was real."

More at: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5483.htm

Roma


Subj: What's Up. Need Answer.

I'm trying to figure something out. Paul O'Neill's comments that the Bush administration started planning to go into Iraq RIGHT AFTER THEY CAME INTO OFFICE is a big story. The very fact that Bush was looking for ANY REASON to invade Iraq seems to back up the theory that THEY LET 9/11 happen. Why have you pushed it far down the page? What's up?

Rebecca

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