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January 19, 2004 |
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Subj: New Gag Rules "White House Gag Rules"..."From now on only Karl will decide whether small pox is dangerous, or not!!!! And When!!!
And --- If they don't like the SCIENCE they won't allow the scientist to tell us about it... Very nice!!!! And prior to this they stacked the deck and only Henry Waxman took issue. Carol Subj: Mad King George All the buzzers and every other good person in this god forsaken country of ours must realize that what passes for our"president" is nothing more than a reincarnation of the other "MAD KING GEORGE" So, I herewith offer a humble, albeit difficult, solution to our current problem. Every state in this country has civil commitment laws on it's books whereby people considered a threat to themselves or others are committed for a psych evaluation. I am of the opinion the george bush is a real and very dangerous threat and should be committed POST HASTE!! Any psychiatrists listening?? Please keep getting the word out a lot of people depend on you Ruth Gottlieb Subj: 9/11 Investigation: The Fox and the White House? Let's talk about the "fox guarding the White House!" This is yet more support for the argument we need some kind of 9/11 Victim Family led "Truth Commission." Who now has any confidence remaining that this Commission will press hard enough and stop compromising and dismissing blatant conflicts of interest so that we get to the truths hidden behind layers of secrecy, waving the "national security" flag and power-play intimidation? Kyle F.
Hence
Subj: Real Reasons for Iraq and Afghan Wars Hey BuzzFlash, Great stuff by the way. I try to check the site every day! You included a piece from the Salt Lake Tribune titled "The Why of Iraq." Please don't tell me you guys haven't figured out the WHY of this incredible fraud. Actually, since the Bush administration has committed crimes in the 2000 election, 9/11 and both wars, I guess the appropriate term would be called "motive." And the motive is already known--the fact that our planet is currently experiencing Peak Oil. This truth puts the Bush administration actions since Jan, 2001 in perfect perspective. It's why they stole the election. It's why they ALLOWED 9/11 to happen (Project for a New American Century). It's why they invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. The sooner we acknowledge this truth, the sooner we can move on to doing something about it. It would sure be nice if you guys could pick up the pace a little though. Matt Schweder Subj: Bush on Mars Hey, space travel; is good, but maybe not at this juncture in our history. With a deficit which by the end of his term, that my grandchildren will struggle with, is this the most opportune time to go into space? What's the catch here? Bush is only motivated by wealth, what is out there that his administration wants? We know from his approach to Iraq that money is no object, since it really does not affect his personal pocket book. He is good at committing others resources, whether it be money or lives. I'm all for space exploration, but what about the space station which is sitting rotting away, we really need a platform for further endeavors. What about the Hubble telescope, an instrument which constantly adds to our knowledge of space, but is critically under funded. Lets take care of a few "minor" problems first and then go out. Lets do some serious introspection! Francisco Subj: Man on the Moon "If our nation can spend thirty-five billion dollars a year to fight an unjust, evil war in Vietnam, and twenty billion dollars to put a man on the moon, it can spend billions of dollars to put God's children on their own two feet right here on earth." - Martin Luther King, Jr., 1967. Today, January 15th, would have been Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 75th birthday. President Bush is scheduled to visit King's grave today, and lay a wreath in the manner of several presidents before him. Bush's visit to King's grave comes one day after announcing a multi-billion-dollar expansion of the NASA space program--benefiting, among others, Halliburton and Shell Oil. The juxtaposition of these events is more than ironic. In 1967, King gave a speech condemning an unnecessary war and excessive expenditures on space exploration. "If our nation can spend thirty-five billion dollars a year to fight an unjust, evil war in Vietnam, and twenty billion dollars to put a man on the moon," King said, "it can spend billions of dollars to put God's children on their own two feet right here on earth." This will not be the first time that Bush has observed King's birthday by proposing policies that King would have opposed. Last year, Bush celebrated King's birthday by announcing his administration's support for the plaintiffs in a case challenging the University of Michigan's affirmative action program. Bush was not invited to today's tribute to King's birthday in Atlanta. In fact, organizers were upset to learn that the secret service would be disrupting their planned tribute to King, forcing them to leave their church. The Reverend of the church has said that they will refuse to leave on Bush's behalf. Bush claims the same religion as King, and will likely say a prayer as he lays that wreath at King's grave. In fact, Bush has remarked many times that he feels blessed to know that Americans are praying for him. Indeed, they may be, but perhaps not as he may expect. When Bush visits King's grave today, I will be saying my own prayer, and I hope you will join me: "Dear God, President Bush has marveled at your heavens. Please do us all a favor. Take him to the moon." Happy MLK Day. Kevin Healey Subj: Pentagon altered documents -- additional info Dear Buzz: All good intentions and all that...I read the article in the Sunday edition of Fort Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel but waited until today to forward it to you. Somehow...hmmmm...it can't be retrieved from S-S's site; it doesn't exist...anymore. Right. Well, I've searched a couple of other newspapers, and they did run the article, but it is much abbreviated!!! The guts have been ripped out of it. In 58 years I have never seen an administration more blatantly corrupt. Dubya makes Nixon look like a piker. I suspect brother Jeb's fingers in this disappearing act, such forces brought to bear being as this is Florida. I hope you can read the attached file which contains the entire content. It's very damning, what with Halliburton slopping at the trough. I think it's worth hunting for the whole thing. I hope you agree. Sincerely, Sharon Andrews Subj: Your tax dollars at work . . . You'll be footing the big bill. Watch carefully. This is Bush's way of getting the Constitutional Amendment *defining* marriage (as hetero only) through. If we are PAYING people tax money to get married, the definition of "marriage" will need to be in place... "Bush to Promote Marriage in $1.5 Billion Plan, Report Says" Leah Re: Mission to Mars I agree that it would be really cool to have men on Mars. It would also be really super cool to have some underwater cities and my own personal jet-pack! But besides being unimaginably expensive and likely to happen only in the distant future (post Bush), come on, people! We can't even get body armor for our soldiers in Iraq -- It really chaps my butt to hear W. co-opting the genuinely great work done by NASA scientists for his campaign! The same week the O'Neill stuff is coming out! I can't believe this non-story completely knocked O'Neill off CNN yesterday (why do I even look at that website?) Can you spell DISTRACTION?? Hello to all you wonderful BuzzFlash people -- readers and writers alike! Buzz, you do great work. A BuzzFlash Reader The Liberal's prayer:
Carolyn Subj: Thanks Thanks for a refreshing site. Sometime I think I'm in the twilight zone. I can't believe how many people believe this Fascist regime and the lies they turn out 24/7. You guys need a radio news program that runs on a country music station. If something is not done and quickly we will become another Third World country ruled by the Bush dynasty and all their money friends. Keep up the great job you're doing. Give 'em HELL! Sincerely, Evelyn S. Lane Subj: The Sorry State of the Union To all BuzzFlash Readers, 1/15/04 Join us by making a statement in your community about The Sorry State of the Union in 2004. We hope to get our message on the evening news in Louisville, before Bush speaks at 9:00 EST. We already know what he will say--here's Bush's speech in a nutshell: "Terrorism. . . we captured Saddam. . . off to the MOON. . .we can drill for oil on MARS. . .Paul O'Neill will go to jail, not me. . . terrorism, terrorism, war, war, war. . .we'll find some MD. . .I gotta go to a fund raiser. Good Night." ********************************* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Sorry State of the Union Local Groups will hold a press conference on January 20 to present an alternative to Bush's State of the Union. LOUISVILLE, KY---In January 2003, President George Bush stood before Congress & the American people and used his State of the Union address to lie about Iraq's supposed MD as a way to win support for his inevitable war. One year later, 130,000 American troops are stuck in Bush's quagmire of Iraq. Five hundred Americans have died for Bush's lies. Two thousand five hundred have life altering injuries. They gave legs, arms, eyes, hands, and faces to Bush's war. Stars and Stripes says that the total number of American casualties and medical evacuations is over 11,000. A conservative estimate of the cost for the year of Bush's war is more than $180,000,000,000. There is no end in sight for the war, the deaths of young Americans, the horrific injuries, or the astronomical war expenses. The billions upon billions of dollars for Bush's war will be added to his record budget deficit. America's huge war debt means there will be limited funds for crucial social programs. On January 20, 2004, members of various groups in Louisville will hold a press conference to express outrage against Bush's policies and highlight The Sorry State of the Union. ### Judy Munro-Leighton Subj: Impeach meet-ups Have you heard of this one? National Impeach Bush Meetup Day It's scheduled for the 4th Monday of every month at 7 PM. This month it's on Jan. 26. Check out www.impeachcentral.com. A BuzzFlash Reader I don't have much hope of this but House and Senate democrats should start calling out the names of our troops killed in Iraq when Bush lies about how well things are going in the State of the Union speech. Either that or a complete walk-out while yelling "You're a liar" as they leave. Michael Subj: A Blue Ribbon Winner . . .For Sure . . . For Sure . . . BuzzFlash, Very, very clever. I collect recipes and this is a special one . . . I can tell. This recipe you 'found' in the Neo-Con Cook Book surely was a 'Blue Ribbon Winner' at every GOP fund raiser that Bush has attended. The book you found . . . was it called, Manna from Heaven, from Bushdom. A special diet for those who refuse to swallow the swill of the GOP? A foreign policy, for sure, for sure . . . if there happen to be any leftovers, let's hope they don't become the Blue Plate Special for Dems in 2004. Just a thought, :) Thanks Buzz, Shirley Smith Re: More media lies to help Bush!!!! I am attaching this AOL news item to show you how the media is going to do what they can to get Bush re-elected. The real truth about the rapid rise in gas prices is only minimally affected by the baloney this article is pushing. The real reason is that Bush has demanded that the country's Strategic Fuel Reserves are being replenished at a ridiculous rate right now. They are driving up the price more than any other factor. Remember that Bush was the one that, at the peak of the last huge spikes and general unrest at the rapid rise in pricing by the public, opened the reserves to lower or stabilize the prices. Bill Subj: Bush Installs Pickering
I don't know why we need a Congress. Bush is just going to do what he wants - and screw the system. Talk about "dictatorship" - if anyone needs a regime change WE do !! Foxi Subj: Shameless Here’s a statistic we never hear: How many soldiers were killed or more severely wounded because either they did not have the state-of-the-art body armor or were in vehicle that lacked proper armor? That our soldiers are not properly equipped is a disgrace of the highest order. Perhaps funds for equipment can be diverted out of the photo-op budget. Right, and let me show you my perpetual motion machine. Turk Meister Subj: Mrs. King In regards to Mrs. King holding GWB's hand. Look again, *HE is holding her hand up, and she could do nothing but let it lay there.* What a stomach turner for her, poor thing. A BuzzFlash Reader and supporter Subj: Shamelessly, Brian Lamb quotes the WSJ editorial pages this morning This email is to criticize Brian Lamb for presenting the "Clark" WSJ EDITORIAL as undisputed fact, indeed questioning the callers about their opinion of Clark's apparent flip-flopping behavior. Brian didn't do his homework OR his research! He should at least read Josh Marshall, whose credentials for ethics at least match if not surpass the editorial board of the WSJ. Here're the links to discover the Drudge fingerprints all over this smear: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_01_11.html#002415 http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_01_11.html#002417 http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_01_11.html#002419 http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_01_11.html#002421 http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_01_11.html#002424 For shame, Brian. I tried calling today for the first time ever but busybusybusy is what I got. How about an apology to Clark from Lamb? d cocos Subj: The BuzzFlash Mailbag Dear Buzz -- I began writing to you many months ago and indeed have had several letters, essays, carried in your Buzz Mailbag. Recently -- after the first of the year -- I've noticed that you've begun publishing the Mailbag in two parts. This is indicative of several things: you are giving voice to many loyal Americans who disagree vehemently with this phony Administration's policies regarding a myriad of issues from the economy to the invasion of Iraq to the media whores who continue to find ways of not telling the truth to the American people; secondly, it tells me that many, many Americans need to have your valuable outlet to vent their frustrations, their feelings, their alternatives to the mess in which this country now finds itself. You are providing an invaluable service to these many voices and -- people are beginning to listen, to react, to be motivated to oust this regime before we lose all our liberties. My hope is that as Buzz continues its mission, your mailbag will overflow with more letters, comments, essays...until we finally motivate enough Americans to vote this illegal regime out of office. Here's hoping you will go to a Page Three and a Page Four in your Mailbag and that others who read your material will continue to do as I do and PASS IT ON -- Get the message out -- it is the only way...More later -- Tony Mac Subj: Bush in Atlanta Isn't it interesting that years after the Civil Rights Movement that buses are again being used to suppress our First Amendment rights? Lorraine
Krofchok Subj: Magnificent Margaret Cho! Thanks BuzzFlash! I love the divine MC and thanks for covering her. I found out about her blog, the showing of her videos tomorrow, signed her e-mail list, and found out she has an album coming out, all thanks to the freepers. Happy day! Thanks again Kerry Wells Subj: New National Media Monitor On Duty There is no more respected organization in the media world than the Columbia Journalism Review. The CJR folks recognize, as I'm sure you do, that "The quality of debate in Campaign '04 is directly connected to the quality of its press coverage." In an effort to deepen and enrich that coverage, CJR has launched http://campaigndesk.org, a new site that will use the power of the Web to monitor and critique political reporting in real time. It will be updated several times daily. Of particular interest was the "Cheap Shot" entry titled "ABC: An Example of Abuse." I believe ABC owes Gov. Dean a public, on-air apology. For the multitude of citizens who've been hankering for an outfit of high standards, substance, and as much objectivity as possible to let us know what's going on inside and outside the news as reported by the media titans, this is it. We are watching, reading, and listening. Best wishes for your work. Michael Calmes RE: (moveon ad refusal) Issue ads and alleged CBS policy
I seem to remember that every year the anti-drug ads are run. Remember the "drugs fund terrorist ad? Isn't that an issue ad? thank you, stevie gardiner [BuzzFlash Note: Yep, and they're running three of them during this Super Bowl. Do you think CBS forgot how to spell "hypocrisy"?] Subj: 500 Soldiers Dear Buzz, I wonder how many of the mothers of the 500 American servicemen Bush has hugged? Isn't that what he promised ? I sure wish some well-healed Democrat would finance their trips en-masse to DC so that they might give him the opportunity to hug them and feel their pain and sorrow. Paula Dear BuzzFlash - We Dems here in Florida are thanking our lucky stars that Katherine Harris is NOT running for the Bob Graham's senate seat, although it would have been amusing to see the political cartoonists satirize "The Evil Queen," or Cruella de Harris, as we often refer to her down here. Other folks around the country may not know that the crafty heiress has never lost an election, not only due to her deep pockets, but also because her grandfather, Ben Hill Griffin, was an influential politician here in Florida in the early 20th century...an early land baron who made money in ranching and citrus. In fact, there are many things around the state named for him, such as the University of Florida's Griffin Stadium, plus roads and other things in central Florida. And Harris uses that to the hilt. During her successful campaign for U.S. Congress, she pulled out her best Southern accent, and proclaimed, "I'm just a real Florida girl, and I know what's important to us down here." Her opponent, a relative newcomer of about five years, was an intelligent former Washington lawyer, a very liberal woman. So Harris, who is no stranger to trash politics, ran the nastiest attack ads around the area, saying her opponent had worked as an agent of foreign governments. The woman had worked for a D.C. law firm that negotiated trade agreements in the U.S. for the Canadian government. Be that as it may, the other Republicans running are no better. Bill McCollum is a Bible-thumping Christian, and Mel Martinez is one of the anti-Castro Cubans in Miami that supports regime change and has already gotten the nod from the Bush administration, to keep up the Hispanic vote, no doubt. But stay tuned, friends, because it's just heating up down here, and we certainly haven't heard the last from Katherine "the Great," who looks like she'd relish a try for the White House in due time. A BuzzFlash Reader, St. Petersburg, FL Subj: Patent Treason Please look carefully. In the 60 Minutes, and in the book, there was one document in particular that shows Treason on the part of Bush and Cheney and the others. A government memo, showing a plan to how to divide up Iraq's oil after the takeover. Of course, it was before 9-11, before Osama, before Afghanistan, before WMD, the UN. Before 500 dead, ten thousand wounded, cluster bombs, DNU. And obviously conceived and written - BEFORE THE ELECTION. The sequence is vividly clear: 1- How do we grab power in the USA ? 2- How do we get the OIL as soon as we can after that ? 3- How do we brainwash the people to get them to go for it ? Not only were the justifications for War all false, not only did Rumsfeld create the OSP to fabricate reasons for War, not only did the President and every single one of his staff and cabinet participate, not only did they all lie to Us, and the rest of the world, not only did they send men and women to be killed and to kill purely for profit, not only did they fatten their own pockets and those of their friends from the waging of the war itself, and not only did the Media of this country willingly aid and abet this conspiracy from a similar place of greed, BUT It was all planned well before the election, and well before 9-11. And it was planned and executed with the belief that they could get away with it. That we would do nothing. And so far, they are right. David Subj: Not enough to talk about . . . Let's do something about this horrible and unnecessary war. Why don't you folks at BuzzFlash start a campaign asking readers - if they agree - to email our legislators to try and influence them to commence impeachment proceedings. This administration started a war based on lies - Clinton was impeached because he lied about sex in the White House. In my humble opinion - we have a better chance of actually impeaching this "lying liar". Natalie
Roth ATTACK OF THE SWEATERS Hi Buzzers, I was just sitting in my living room watching Judy Woodruff and Candy Crowley (yeah, a real think tank) discussing Iowa. Judy had been in Iowa, so Candy Crowley asked her how Howard Dean was handling the race now that it's tightening. Judy said "well, he's wearing a sweater". Then she continued on to say he was "tense". Oh my God, he was WEARING A SWEATER!!! First it was Wesley Clark WEARING A SWEATER and now Dean. Next thing you know, Edwards and Kerry might PUT ON SWEATERS!!! Oh my lord, they are all re-inventing themselves. What are we to do? How can we possibly think of nominating people who WEAR SWEATERS? What is it about sweaters that repugs have such a bug up their asses about? Well, it's pretty cold out here in NY - but I'm going out and I'm going to re- invent myself and WEAR A SWEATER. I hope I don't get attacked by a wild band of sweater-hating repuglicans. Keep up all the good work Buzz. It's amazing how much information you gather on a daily basis. When I think of our painfully uninformed public, it makes me weep! Barbara in NYC Subj: New vs. Swing Voters II Confessore's Tapped article (which I discuss below) is now the subject of a thread on Calpundit. This has unfortunately become a left-right Dean-Clark debate. One point I was trying to make, though, in addition to advocating the " increase the base" strategy, was that the Democratic party should be taking some initiatives and setting some long-term goals, rather than merely starting to talk about strategies right before each election. And one of my premises, denied by some, is that we haven't been doing too well recently. I'm thinking mostly of the loss of Congress here, but partly also of some of the things Clinton and Gore had to do in order to get elected. (And in that sense this is indeed a left-right disagreement). And so my conclusion is that the swing-voter strategy, which has been dominant for almost two decades, isn't enough. I'm not saying we should forget the swing voters. So it seems to me that the Democrats should be looking here, there, and everywhere for the votes we need. The Republican core is pretty solid, so we have a choice between looking for votes among the 20% of the voting-age population who are swing voters, and among the 50% of the voting-age population who are non-voters. Shouldn't we be looking in both places? Should the rejection of the very idea of trying to find new voters be as unanimous as it is? Isn't that lazy, fatalistic, and defeatist? Confessore mentions a number of unsuccessful Democratic attempts to find new voters, but they were all flash-in-the-pan one-time efforts organized by one man's campaign. He does not mention all the work that the Republicans have been doing since 1964 or so to develop new constituencies. Zizka Subj: The fix is in: Scalia & Cheney go "duck hunting" together Funniest line of 2004, so far - Scalia: "I do not think my impartiality could reasonably be questioned." - J * * *
Subj: Cheney's "grim" report....... Dear BuzzFlash: Again, after we are assured by "those who know" that we are safer since Saddam is now in custody...Mr. Cheney gives us a grim report about how we are under a growing threat (again)...and will continue to be under same threat for quite a long time. Is there any possibility that those in this administration have any interest into getting each other's story straight with their own? Of course not. Their constant zig-zagging matches the rollercoaster rides of the color alert system. It is called "keep the people under constant back and forthing, tell them one day everything is better, or getting better, then before they can relax, slam the people with more worry"....What does worry me, is if we really need to react to an alarm, we won't believe it.... I don't know about any of you readers, but I am not alarmed...about the "threats" from terrorists anyway. I am more alarmed about how this administration is playing us to keep everyone on edge...and Mr. Gillespie derides the comparison of the Bush regime to the Hitler regime. The way this administration is working everyone is just what the Hitler regime did to the German people. All one has to do is read the history of how the Third Reich came to such power. Personally, this has become quite tiresome. Not to mention I feel the "terrorism" is more from within. Let's face it...terrorists don't have to actually do anything, just the threatening to do something will instill fear, and this constant "we are safer"...."we have decades to go because of the increased threat"....stuff can be just as wearing. I think we should be a lot more wary of those who are supposed to protect us than outside sources....or at least AS wary. Thank you for listening. Mary in Indiana BuzzFash- Congratulations to Cynthia McKinney on her just announced decision to run again to reclaim her position as Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga. The return of her positive American spirit, her undying patriotic backbone, and her inflexible values to courageously and honestly attack apparent corruption in high office is good and long overdue news. Bob Buck Subj: Drudge on Cho I just wrote the following note to Drudge (in the "Send us your tips - anonymity guaranteed" box: "Dear National Enquirer: Why aren't you carrying any more stories about extra-terrestrials. Now that Bush will be visiting Uranus......err...Mars... I hope you'll stop writing the crap you currently call 'news' and go back to doing what you do best." And I signed it "Your No. 1 Fan" Subj: Hinkley U.S. won't appeal Hinckley reunions without escort 1/18 Why would they? If Hinkley had succeeded Bush Sr. would have been President that much sooner. Hinkley's dad was in hock to the Feds, like Zapata petroleum, his energy company and "missionary group" were fronts to provide CIA cover. The Hinkleys were long-time Bush supporters. There never was an investigation of the shooting; just a decision that this was the way it was. And the decision was made at the NSC level with Bush Sr. presiding. The "truth" was written up in Newsweek sandwiched between an assortment of lies with a heading to the effect that conspiracy buffs were having a field day. No effort was made to examine the dynamics of the Reagan shooting. Rosamond Subj: Dems, Find Your Voices! Dear BuzzFlash, Former treasury secretary Paul O'Neill's stunning revelations present the Democratic party with an amazing opening. We now have official "inside the loop" corroboration of what many of us have known from the beginning: that Bush is an inept, inarticulate, unqualified prevaricator who lead us into war with lies and exaggerations. We also now have further proof he and his minions planned the Iraqi war well before 9-11 and cynically manipulated data to achieve their objectives. 501 of our best and brightest youngsters have perished as a result; not to mention the thousands injured, and the depletion of the surplus Bush inherited. It is to say the least an abomination which demands a serious investigation conducted by a well respected statesman both parties could agree on. Why are the Democrats not demanding to know the truth? The recent speeches of Al Gore and Senator Kennedy were excellent, but where is the Democratic leadership (both party and Congressional) on these deadly serious matters? If Daschle, Pelosi, and McAuliffe have been speaking out I haven't heard it. Will the Democratic Party (as represented by their leaders) finally find their spines and their voices before its too late? I hate to be pessimistic, but if the recent past is a good predicator, the odds are not great. Scandal after scandal have been brought to the attention of the party leadership and they have yet to make any of them stick. Oh yes, they do have an occasional news conference, and wring their hands and whine, but in the end they do nothing. It is no wonder they are in the minority. So feckless is the our Democratic leadership in Congress, we are perilously close to one party rule. The opportunity presented by the O'Neill book may be their last shot to prove they stand for something besides reelection. They simply MUST step up to the plate this time. The American people have a right to know the truth about how and why we were lead into this costly war, and it is up to the Dems to demand it. To do less would be a violation of their sacred duty to represent the interests of the people. Thank you for your invaluable service. Sincerely, Dan Van Neste Subj: The devil's logic Re: Nightline's week in Iraq Ted Koppel concedes that the reasons for this war were debatable - as opposed to being simply, demonstrably meretricious. He then asserts that, even if our pretext for being there is bogus, it would be disastrous now for us to leave Iraq any time in the next decade (shades of Westmoreland). On Friday's broadcast, he suggests that an undeposed Saddam might have killed more Iraqis had the US not invaded than died during the war. It's an unprovable hypothesis, and all the more so for the fact that our government decided early on not to count Iraqi casualties, a decision our poodle press barely noted in passing. That being as it may, those hypothetically dead Iraqis would have died as a result of Saddam's brutality, not ours... Thousands of Americans would not have been killed or maimed (500+ dead as of today)... Borrowing from an White House talking point widely disseminated in recent weeks, Koppel cites homicide rates in US cities seemingly to diminish the scale of our losses in Iraq. But those rates, unlike the carnage in Iraq, are not the result of a two-year campaign of lies, manipulation and intimidation on the part of our so-called government. Bush knowingly lied to get us into this war. Evidence of his deceit was readily available at the time, but media big shots like Koppel ignored that evidence, conducting nerf-ball interviews with administration figures and generally acting as unfiltered conduits for their propaganda. If Koppel, Judith Miller and the rest of the gang had done their jobs last winter and spring, it's entirely possible that this bloodshed could have been averted. And lots of very real people - men, women and, God help us, children - would yet be going about their lives ... Finally, media big shots, have you no shame? Sincerely, Chuck Van
Wey Subj: Is this still a Republic? A president that wasn't elected by the majority of the people, in an election that was stopped by federal judges, appoints a federal judge that wasn't confirmed by the Senate. What semblance of the rule of law we used to have is gone. I weep for america. Marc L.
Lippincott Cost of trips vs. fundraising collected? Since you bring up the subject - I would like to know
Someone must be collecting so we can see where he spends all his time. Bush can't be in the WH asking questions and problem solving on domestic and international issues. A faithful reader and supporter of BuzzFlash. Reinhold
Aschmotat Subj: Dragging God Through the Mud
More at: TheStar.com Roma Subj: Ted Koppel Friday Night I was stunned by last night's finale of "warrior ted's" trip to Iraq. Near the end of the program summing up, Koppel put our 500 dead in a disgraceful comparison to traffic deaths in Chicago. The clear implication Koppel communicated was, "no problem, just another statistic", his propaganda message, which failed to account for the thousands of horrific injuries to our men and women, was small cost, possible big return. The big return he mentioned, among others, was a Shiite theocracy. That must be great news for all the women of Iraq and all the millions of Sunnis. As for Iraqi deaths and injury, his argument seems to be that fewer are dying by our hands than would have been the case with Hussein. Great company for the USA. Get this stinker covered! Timothy Subj: Angola, the new model for our preferred trading partner program December 31, 2003 Bush announces a new preferred trading status for Angola. "Bush adds Angola to trade pact, drops Eritrea, Central African Republic" Oops, our new friend has a problem. That didn't take long!! "$4B in Oil Revenue Said Missing in Angola" Can anybody spot the recurring theme with our preferred partners? Keep your eyes on west Africa where Big Oil is cashing in and propping up friendly governments. Is this the kind of democracy that Bush wants to spread around the world? We all deserve better Christopher Subj: FT says Bushies misled on Iraq reconstruction costs Dear BuzzFlash staff: I read the following article this morning and don't see a link to it on your site. I think it's very big and hope you cover it tomorrow, if possible: The Financial Times today (Jan 16, "Bush's pipe dreams for reconstructing Iraq") reports that the Bush administration has now retreated from past assertions that Iraq reconstruction would largely pay for itself. Citing quotations from James Schlesinger and others, it suggests that top officials like Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld and Cheney willfully misrepresented the facts as they knew them about the costs to the American taxpayer of Iraqi reconstruction. For further information: FT.com Best, Deborah Diamond-Kim Subj: I have reported Republican misusage of the term "hate" to the SPLC Buzz, I just sent the following message to the Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org), which monitors actual hate activity (neo-Nazi, KKK, Council of Conservative Citizens, etc.):
-- Barry Schwartz Subj: NPR Story Thought you might have interest in a story on All Things Considered yesterday(1-16). It was about an Iraqi family that had lost their house as the result of a terrorist bomb. The story says that no one in similar circumstances has ever been helped by the military before now but they seem to be thinking about helping this family. The only difference seems to be that this family happens to be Christian as the officer in charge of the area notes as among his reasons for bending the rules about half way through the story. Scroll down half way to "Iraqi Family Seeks Help". Guy CBS NEWS/NY TIMES Poll: Bush's Re-Elect Sinks to 43% If the November presidential election were held today, 45% of voters say they would vote for the Democratic candidate and 43% would vote to re-elect President Bush. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/17/opinion/polls/main593848.shtml Overall, most Americans say things in the country are worse now than they were five years ago. Fifty-seven percent say things are worse, while 21% say they're better. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/17/opinion/polls/main593849.shtml A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: 24/7 scandals: Conflict questions raised about Cheney, Scalia If this was Clinton, he would have been impeached a year ago and tarred and feathered as well.... A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Iraqi Shadow Gov't Contracted Out! This link is the govt website with the postings of all the request for proposals for the reconstruction of Iraq - only a 7 day window for any comments, and a briefing at Dulles airport Tuesday Jan 20th. Link for conference: Look at these closely - cost plus award fee, military will issue helmets, flak jackets and weapons to contractors... The very interesting one is Program Management Office - Look at the organization charts and relationships!!! Link for PMO Statement of Objectives:
This link has the Wolfowitz letter with the list of countries eligible to compete and contracts to be awarded: http://www.rebuilding-iraq.net/pdf/D_F.pdf Please distribute this to lots of folks - I will be attending the meeting on Tuesday! Barbara Subj: state of the division (certainly NOT a union at this point due to the constitutional excesses of the emperor) if the democrats had any balls they would turn their backs as he is introduced, and walk out afterwards if only to protest the pickering appointment, but really to comment on the politics of deceit and outright corporate graft that has marked the last year. chris mcfarland Martha Stewart Case 101 Can I explain the Martha Stewart court case for those that are not paying attention. Martha Stewart is on trial for being this vile, corporate criminal. The SEC accused her of insider trading. This is big folks, right up there with Tyco and Worldcom. Martha defended herself and said she was innocent. The SEC, when they filed charges, DID NOT CHARGE HER WITH INSIDER TRADING. Repeat: Martha Stewart is not being charged with insider trading. Martha Stewart is being charged for defending her company in public. In my book of logic, if the SEC won't charge her for the initial crime they said she committed, then there was no crime. If in their eyes THERE IS NO CRIME, what do we have. They are charging her for a crime that does not exist. Are we really in a land of people so stupid that something like this goes on and no one even bothers to make this obvious connection. Oh, but the media pressitutes are going crazy with their lies and distortions, making sure not to convey this little tidbit of key information. Martha don't crumble under these bullies, that is always their objective. If you crumble, they will always be right regardless of the facts. In the end you will expose them for the jokers they are. PJOnes |
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