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March 9, 2004 |
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THIS IS PART 2 OF THE MARCH 9, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1. Buzz, I found this quote in our Austin/American Statesman Sunday newspaper: Fundamentalist Christian Gary Bauer, a huge Bush supporter and a man who also ran for President, said referring to Bush's base of support:
That's been their agenda for the last 30 years....to hijack the Republican Party and force "their" agenda upon us. That quote just about says it all. Tom T. Subj: New Low ? . . . or Just Another Low . . . BuzzFlash, Just reading your link to the editorial for The Capital Times, I just had to write them the following letter . . . Bush GOP Ads a New Low? . . . or Just Another Low . . . Why are people surprised by Bush or the GOP when they stoop to another "low," as they start to air ads using 911, knowing Bush has not cooperated with the investigation? I don't believe there is a "low" too "low" for this administration. They have proved this over and over again. They are for the "ruling rich" and the "prostituted poor." People with a conscience make the mistake of judging this administration according to their own values. It is very hard for the average person to understand the behavior of those without common values or decency. These almost always hide behind religion of some sort. And, will continue to hide behind religion until there is enough force (military action) that hiding is no longer a need. We have become our own worst enemy. We are no longer a leading Nation with respect around the world. When our leaders can attack other Countries and kill, maim, murder innocent people, along with our own military . . . all based on fabricated information and out and out lies . . . there is no new low for this administration. The lowest of lows started with Afghanistan, moved into Iraq and now Haiti. Using our military . . . our young people . . . just because they can, and no one steps in to stop them . . . not even a Democratic or Republican Congress. Where are the leaders in our Congress? We have gone from being a Leader in this World to Lord and Master with Military Force. I am deeply ashamed of our leaders today. We have crossed a line that we will never be able to go back or erase . . . ask any other Nation that has crossed this line. We all know the answer. Shirley Smith ********** Thanks Buzz, You are always as welcome as my daily first cup of coffee . . . hot, full of flavor and, without exception . . . stimulating. Never, ever change a good thing. :) Shirley Smith Subj: Wolf Blitzer Can we start a campaign against Wolf Blitzer...ever time I turn on CNN there is the Noecon's puss for all to see. Today he was swooning over Cheney. I have had the pleasure of witnessing him shudder with delight when conversing with the infamous Prince of Darkness(Perle) on the book "The End of Evil" The pathology of this country I believe have to do with the fascist pulpits that are roaring on the screen. It is unfortunate that the general public believes them. When they speak of evil it is a mere projection of themselves and their own internal struggles. It is wrong and unfair for the people to be subject to the likes of Blitzer and his personal agenda. The words "We must achieve peace through peaceful means"would be pure weak rhetoric for these simple minded beings. As Randolph Hurst said years ago "You provide the war and I'll provide the bodies"...Well it is obvious that things have not changed. What has changed is that these monsters are more dangerous than ever...their toys are so much bigger. Address for CNN: cnn.oain@cnn.com, cnnandco@cnn.com, editor@allpoliticscnn.com D Stewart Ma Subj: AirAmerica radio network Please be sure to inform everyone that the new liberal talk network, Air America Network, should be on the air by the end of March. They have sign AL franken , Randi Rhodes and others. I listen to Randi Rhodes on the internet and she is great! Please past the work about the cities and stations, the new network will be broadcasting! I believe they will start up in Chicago, NYC, LA, SF, Boston,Miami, Philly and West Palm Beach. Regards, Wayne Subj: Another GOP Hypocrite Exposed: Ted Nugent Here are some quotes from draft-dodging hypocrite NRA/GOP nut Ted Nugent: "I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child . . . it takes a parent with the guts to stand up to the kid and spank his butt and say "NO!" when it's necessary to do so." "I don't think anything really shocks Americans anymore. Not enough to actually do something about it at least. From finding babies in dumpsters to any other unimaginable acts of random depravity and violence, Americans have been exposed to the rotting, stinking, maggot-infested underbelly of our culture for so long that we've become desensitized to it. And our own spineless apathy is the shameless result." "If you can't talk with your kids because they have headphones glued to their ears, you are out of their loop, and may I dare say, a failing parent. If you don't have quality time discussing the little things in your lives together at the dinner table each night, you are missing out on one of the most powerful opportunities to connect that there is in life." "Other reports show how children who have had little or no meaningful touch with mom and or dad, are much more likely to lead a life of crime, substance abuse, unfulfilled sadness, and usually a horrible, tragic early earth. To know the remedy for this tragedy, yet fail to respond, is the worse sin of mankind." And then there is this news about the Motor City Madman (how apropos): Ahhh, it seems Mr. Nugent can't take care of his own children unless sued. And it seems Mr. Moralist wasn't exactly faithful to his wife 8 years ago during the "immoral" Clinton years. Another hypocrite nutcase exposed. I think the documents from the paternity suit would be perfect on the Smoking Gun BushAWOLBush
A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Let the baby have his bottle Buzz, Bush wants to associate himself with 9/11? I say let the baby have his bottle. Let's help him. If Bush runs a dumb ad with bodies pulled out of the wreckage in Manhattan, then Kerry should take a clip from that ad and run it in his own ad. If Bush wants models to dress up like firefighters and pose like mannequins, let him do it. Then take that scene, shrink it, surround it with make-up artists, photographers, television directors, etc., at work. And so on. Bush may have tested his ads with focus groups, but those focus groups were artificially isolated from the "real" environment in which the election will take place. That environment is hostile to him; all of what we call "reality" is against his self-image. Bush might as well make these kinds of ads just because they portray him the way he wants to see himself as being. They'll be of no use to him in stealing the 2004 election, if we can use his narcissism against him. This election isn't "Morning in America". It's the evening after you've received a pink slip. But if Bush thinks it's morning, let's make it his morning. By evening we will have handed him his pink slip. -- Barry Schwartz Subj: Bush wants to talk about 9-11? Bring it on!!!! Dear Buzzers, Love your site, (I've not read it since Friday cause I'm computer deprived most of the weekend.) I sent the following letter to my local newspaper, I think it says it all. I'll be sending it to other places. I think Bush has set a trap for himself, lets spring it. Anyway, here's my letter. A BuzzFlash Reader * * * Dear Editor, President George Bush says he should be able to discuss 9-11. I agree. In fact, the 9-11 commission offers him the perfect opportunity to do exactly this. In public and under oath, what could be a more compelling venue for the president to make his case. I'm sure the 9-11 commission will give him as long as he wants to make a statement, before they begin questioning. Or does the president want to "discuss" 9-11 in only one-sided conversations? How long will it take? I'm not sure, but surely the president can sacrifice the time he would spend on a few fund raisers. Thank you. Subj: Parade Magazine Everyone gets one in the Sunday magazine, if you are from a large city. This week, in the question and answer section, which I always read, and have always noticed the answerer of the questions is just a little right leaning....there was a query from a woman from Colo. Springs, asking about the sentence that Bill Janklow got for his speeding and killing a man on a motorcycle. Her question was, regarding the sentencing of Mr. Janklow, as opposed to the sentencing of Ted Kennedy, in his mishap on the Chappaquiddick back in the seventies (I think). She was wondering, in regard to the 100 days in jail that Janklow got, for speeding and killing someone, after running a stop sign....how that stacked up to the sentence that Ted Kennedy got! The person who answers the questions in our parade magazine is Walter Scott...you may all e-mail him if you find his name listed in your particular Parade magazine! He told the lady from Colo. Springs...that Ted Kennedy got a suspended sentence! Now, you have to dissect the two things just a little....Janklow had a history of speeding, had been cited no less than 10 times...for various instances of speeding, running stop signs, and I think maybe an earlier accident..This time, he killed an innocent person. Ted Kennedy, was taking a lady home from a democratic fundraiser, they drove into the canal (he may or may not have been drinking)...but, whatever the situation...Unless someone else knows different....it was his first time! Very different...and I wrote Mr. Scott and told him so. Janklow did not get nearly enough time for his crime! He should have gotten 10 years, at least!! Shirley St.Louis I am proud to be a Democrat again. It's great that Senator Kerry is fighting back Bush and the Republicans. I hope his running mate will be just as good as he is and has the stature that he has. I think John Edwards will really be a good asset to the ticket. He is eloquent in his speeches and he is a very attractive man too. Whether Senator Edwards can carry North Carolina is beside the point. But other states like Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota will really help the Dems. with Edwards on the ticket. A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: More Second-Rate Reporting From the Corporate Media In Mike Glover's Associated Press article featuring John Kerry's charges that Bush is stonewalling the federal commission investigating September 11, I was astonished at the article's structure. After listing Kerry's charge in the first paragraph, the article's second paragraph was devoted to a long, detailed and misleading rebuttal by a Bush spokesman ("extraordinary cooperation and unprecedented access") before the details of Kerry's charges even appear in the article. That is not how you structure a news story: you list the charges, provide some supporting details, then go to the rebuttal. It doesn't have to be buried deep in the article, but it's ridiculous to print the rebuttal before the charges have been laid out. For the AP to run an article like this shows how, even when they report charges against Bush, the corporate media bend over backward to protect him. I have a master's degree in journalism, worked in the field for years and know what I'm talking about. This is not (or should not be) about ideology: this is Journalism 101. Jon Krampner Subj: Where Have I heard This Before?
Sounds like Atty. General Kleindienst in the Watergate probe. Watch "All the President's Men" Robert Campbell Subj: Hundreds welcome Kerry in early a.m. Town Hall meeting The turnout for this meeting was great, especially considering it started @ 7:30 a.m AND it was in Houston! I couldn't go due to a prior commitment.. " ...Asked by an air traffic controller, whose union recently endorsed Kerry, whether he supports Bush's proposal to privatize the nation's air traffic system, Kerry said that as a pilot, he was against turning the system over to a for-profit entity. The controller, who did not identify himself, told Kerry, "I will take great joy when you kick George W. Bush out of the White House. But I am sad to see him come back to Texas." Kerry responded, "Well, every state has its burden." ..." "Patriots can win here, Kerry tells Houston; Senator slams Bush at HCC forum" A BuzzFlash Reader Subj: How George W. Bush could've been a shoe-in for re-election Bush has many shortcomings and has made many mistakes. One of this administration's most shameful, in my opinion, has been the treatment of military servicemen and women fighting in Iraq. More than 25% of our troops in Iraq did not have the necessary protective body armor or were using outdated Vietnam-era equipment. Many families purchased these themselves and shipped them to their loved ones serving in Iraq. By any measure, the war in Iraq wasn't a surprise. There was plenty of advance notice to find out if all of the necessary equipment was in place. After the initial phase of the war ended and US troops were patrolling Baghdad, acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee was asked about the shortage of body armor and responded that the attacks in Iraq "differed from our expectations." Once this shortage was known (and widely reported in the press), Bush never mentioned anything about it. What if he had made a statement on national TV that this issue had come to his attention and he would personally fund the purchase of this equipment from any available sources and have it expedited to the troops (we know this body armor was available because military families were buying it and several law enforcement agencies donated extra sets to departing National Guard units). When military personnel were allowed short-term leave to come home, they had to arrange for their own transportation from the nearest military drop off point, often having to pay high last minute fares for connecting flights to their home town. Bush never mentioned this either, but what if he had called airline CEOs directly and asked that special arrangements be made for these personnel to fly at a reduced fare or, better yet, initiate a program where fares for military personnel would be paid for by him personally. Even if he wouldn't have funded these programs from his personal wealth (which could have easily been done), he could have had a few fund raising events (as he's doing now for his campaign) and gotten an overwhelming response. The positive press and public opinion would still be flowing. All he would've had to say was, oops, I made a mistake and now I'm going to make it right. I'm certainly not trying to give the GOP any ideas, but if they were really doing the things that they're talking about (and if Bush really was the guy depicted in those TV ads), they would already be doing stuff like this. Tim Hutchison Subj: And "In the end" I actually watched some of Dennis Miller and just had to listen to his “rant”. He was actually lecturing the Iraqi citizens for not joining up with the Americans. It has to be the funniest (IRONY ALERT!!!) thing he has done in years. I’m sure millions of Iraqis are on the edge of their seats waiting for big D’s show weeknights on CNBC so they can know how to act in the morning…….LOLOL… To me that really points out what makes most all of the hawks so disingenuous. They only look at our incursions from “our”point of view and never from “their”point of view. (a big player in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict also) Why else would they not even consider counting the dead bodies of the ones we are “bringing peace and democracy”by force to? Personally I think there should be a lot of less of “us and they”and more of everyone embracing that most famous Keynesian saying; “In the end we are all dead”. Living together instead of telling others how to live might make that less devastating. We are all in this together whether we want to be or not. Lp Who knew that the late GREAT Hank Williams was a Keynesian when he said, “No matter how hard I try, I’ll never get out of this world alive” YEEEEHAWWWWW Subj: Cheaper and Quicker That says it all about this administration. It was cheaper and quicker to send National Guard troops to Iraq as first line combat troops without adequate training or equipment. Kevin Subj: Ken Lay vs. Martha Stewart After Martha was convicted, Asscroft's Injustice Department had it's "White Collar" Patsy. It seemed to me that BushCO would not give up one of their Pioneers or Rangers (why hasn't Ken Lay at least been indicted?). So, I did 2 campaign search donation lookups and came up with a comparison of Ken Lay vs. Martha Stewart. Guess what, the results were exactly what I expected!!!! Martha committed the unpardonable sin of donating to Democrats and not to the Repugs! Ken Lay on the other hand... Anyway, for those of you who care to check this yourself, Martha's campaign contributions from 2000, 2002 and 2004: http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp... Ken Lay's campaign contributions from 2000, 2002 and 2004 (after all, it's only fair to use the same parameters): http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp... When there is a high profile conviction, it only makes sense during this fraudulent administration to check the motivation of the prosecution!!! Regards, Ron Russell Subj: September 11 Ads and Right Wing (ILL)Logic Hello BuzzFlash and all BuzzFlash readers, Let's see if I understand this correctly . . . The Right Wingers tell us that because condoms are not 100% successful in preventing pregnancy or HIV infection, we should not even mention them as a means of protection, and cut funding to organizations world-wide that do. The Right Wingers also tell us that since the public schools are not 100% successful in graduating all of our nation's children and preparing them for college, that we should cut educational funding and allow children of the chosen ones to attend private religious schools on government money. In addition, Right Wingers will tell us that since government assistance and counseling programs are not 100% effective in helping people out of homelessness, poverty, substance abuse and other societal problems, that we should transfer funding to faith-based sponsored programs. Further, the Right Wingers explain that among their many ever-changing justifications for invading Iraq, Saddam Hussein could not account for 100% of all of that country's weapons caches, so he must have been hiding them, therefore we needed to conquer and depose the dictator and occupy the country. Yet naturally, Right Wingers find it perfectly acceptable for GeeDubya to use the most graphic images of the September 11 tragedy to promote his re-election, despite the objection of the victims families, most of whom find it highly offensive, since there are some families who don't mind. Disgraceful. And amazingly, nearly half the country thinks this way. Warmest Regards, GK, a Fervently Loyal, Devoted and Proud Liberal BuzzFlash Reader Subj: "Elevate the sense of threat"
Stef Cannon Subj: Bush's 9/11 Ad The fake fireman to go along with the totally fake Bush cartel. BuzzFlash does a great job. Thanks! John Lee Subj: Bush attacking Kerry on Defense Bush is running ads attacking Kerry on defense...This from a man that was almost leveled by a pretzel. PJones Subj: Good and Bad News I have good news and bad news for you today. The good news is that Bush has enough money to cover increased Pentagon spending, war in Iraq, unemployment, social security, medicare and the huge tax breaks for the rich. The bad news is... the money is in your pocket! ~ Cathy Subj: The Draft Dear Mr. bush and Mr. cheney, With all due respect, as you push us closer and closer to a World War under the guise of protecting the American Self-interest, you may wish to institute the draft. If you do, please note that you may not have any of my sons. I will remove them from this country and establish residency in a peaceful country which I will not disclose to you. BuzzFlash Reader Subj: Bushit If Mr. Bush only can take 1hr. off of his photo ops, and campaigning, to testify to the 911 commission, why can't we suggest that every time his Ad, showing 911, is aired, that this time be added to his commission testify time. Clair Subj: On the Offense Democrats should be enheartened by the fact that Senator John Kerry obviously doesn't intend to sit back and allow himself to be savaged by the Karl Rove slime machine. He is on the attack; he's on the offense. I think we spend far too much time worrying about how much it's going to hurt when the Republicans hit us. A good boxer and a good counter-puncher thinks more about the damage he intends to inflict. He knows that in order to get into the ring, he's going to have to absorb his opponent's best shots. It seems like Senator Kerry is picking an issue per day, and he is consistently going after Bush on each issue. There is just so much material out there, as BuzzFlash informs us on a daily basis. Moreover, the best antidote to Ralph Nader is to steal his thunder. Fortunately, Kerry hasn't given any indication that he intends to be a "Bush Lite" candidate. My advice to the good Senator is to keep it up -- keep up the daily onslaught of speeches, press conferences, accusations, white papers, etc. If you read about the early days of the Clinton candidacy in '92, that's how they quickly neutralized the senior Bush in May and June of that year. Donald P. Russo Subj: Tom DeLay I just caught the last few minutes of Washington Journal this a.m. where they were reading an article from the Washington Times (Moonie paper) but quoting Tom Delay at some meeting, whatever, but saying he was going to return this country to a Biblical America, in his legislation, etc. Then they had about 30 minutes of people calling in on should America be a Biblical nation? Etc. (It was the very early past of C-Span this a.m., after 6.m.) I thought it would be interesting to find that article if you can and post it in order to alert your readers to more craziness from this whacko who announces in advance what he plans to do…very scary. Betsy Subj: Is Laura Running for VP? Why does Bush use Laura in his ads instead of Cheney? Is he trying to sell her? Should we say it is a Bush/Bush ticket? he is trying to give the image that he can't be so bad if he has such a nicey nice wife. mev Subj: 3-8-04 Bush Whopper: Memogate "MEMOGATE": ROADBLOCKS TO UNCOVERING WHITE HOUSE LINKS? Q: Will the President direct the Justice Department to investigate the unethical and possibly illegal conduct that was revealed by memos leaked by the Senate Judiciary Committee? Scott McClellan: Jeff, I'm not familiar with all the specifics that you brought up there, but I'm sure that if there is action that needs to be taken, the appropriate officials will take that action. [White House Briefing, 1/28/04] *> "*one of the questions coming out of the investigation into those pilfered Democratic Judiciary Committee staff memos is whether the GOP staffers in question shared the memos with colleagues at the Justice Department or the White House.*it seems pretty clear that the Senate investigators found possible trails leading to both the White House and the Justice Department. But they were blocked from pursuing them. That doesn't mean that anything untoward happened, only that the Senate investigators lacked the standard array of investigative tools available to law enforcement investigators. So we just don't know whether [former Frist staffer Manuel] Miranda, [former GOP Senate clerk Jason] Lundell or possibly others shared the memos with people at Justice or the White House. Because in any meaningful sense, the question simply hasn't been investigated." [Josh Marshall, talkingpointsmemo.com, 3/7/04] *> Four senior Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote a letter to Bush Attorney General Josh Ashcroft on February 27, 2004 asking if anyone at the DOJ was "involved or aware of" the alleged thefts of nearly 4,700 Democrats' files. The Justice Department has not yet responded. [http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200403/030104.html] Tracy Subj: More Evidence that GeeDubya is Stonewalling all Investigations & Congressional Probes Dear BuzzFlash Readers: If you want more evidence to prove your theory that Bush is stonewalling the intelligence investigations, read this article from "The Hill", which is a newspaper devoted to the inner workings of Congress. You can access the article at www.thehill.com, but I thought I would cut and paste it for your reading. It also shows how Bush places lackeys that look like their in charge (Sen. Chuck Robb), but the real moving force (Laurence Silberman) is the one getting things done. Only problem they have is a Republican maverick Senator who is beginning to recall how Bush slandered and smeared him and his wife (thanks, Karl Rove) back in 2000 because he was planning to steal an election. I'm glad John McCain has regained his memory. Enjoy reading. Leutisha - Loyal Buzz Flash Reader and Proud Liberal "Seeking subpoenas: McCain and Bush clash on powers, scope of intel probe" RE: John Kerry's Democratic Convention Speech Exclusively on BuzzFlash.com! Not! I hope BuzzFlash has sent a copy of this well-written speech to Senator Kerry. It is one I, as well, would like to hear him make. Bravo to the writer! Regards, Sunshine11 Subj: "the Fellowship" Hey, Buzz, In the March 8 mailbag, Karen Campbell asked if you knew anything about "the Fellowship," and a church in Washington where some Congressmen live. I remembered reading about (and think I found the article on BuzzFlash in the first place), so I did some checking. There's an article on it from Harper's dated March 2003, which seems to be the one I read and it's pretty in-depth. http://www.harpers.org/JesusPlusNothing.html Sincerely, Cathy Vance Dear Mr. Conrad: This is in regards to your commentary on John Kerry's acceptance speech. Oh, what an excellent piece - excellent - excellent - excellent. I am so sick of hearing "liberal" used as a dirty word, especially Bob Novak. I think he uses that word every time he says one word about Kerry. Sickening. I am grateful to you for writing this piece. Your message does indeed need to get out to the American people who have been "propagandized" into thinking "liberal" is a dirty word. I sincerely hope that you do send your speech on to Kerry. He should put you on his speech-writing team. I hope lots of BuzzFlash readers do so, too. I surely will. Sue Bailey Subj: Mary, Mary your truth is not in context Bush administration mouth piece Mary Matalin defended the administration’s economic performance on last Sunday’s Meet the Press (March 7, 2004) by contending that there has been “Job growth for consecutive six months”. She admonished the Democrats for not telling the “truth”…not putting the President’s record in the correct “context”. The truth is that there has been a positive number of jobs reported each of the past six months. However, the truthful context is that job creation has yet to merely keep pace with the number of new jobs needed to stay even with the new entrants into the job market each month (about 150,000 new workers each month). During the past six months just to stay even, the economy needed to generate 900,000 new jobs. The administration reports that only half those numbers of jobs were created. The last 12 month’s have seen a net gain of 70,000 jobs nationwide or about an average of 6,000 jobs each month. This is more than 140,000 jobs each month short of what we need just to keep pace with the growing pool of workers. This is the record, in context, of an economy that Bush claimed in January and again in March is "strong and getting stronger." Dave Nichols Subj: Re: BuzzFlash, thank you for link to help the families of the 9/11 victims in their struggle to get answers Dear BuzzFlash: I have written letters, made phone calls, and waited two and a half years for answers from our government on how they utterly failed to put up any defense on 9/11, despite warnings of hijackings and planes-as-weapons scenarios. I am still waiting. And my confidence in the 9/11 commission's ability to demand the answers, which was never high, is sinking. This is may very well be our last chance to demand public testimony under oath from the top people who failed us, our last chance to help the families get the answers they deserve, our last chance before the election to try and understand why this administration did nothing to protect the top two targets in America, New York and Washington, D.C., when they should have been on high alert. I am pleased to see that there is a movement to get the highest administration and Pentagon officials to testify publicly under oath (septembereleventh.org/alerts.php). It will take constant pressure from a lot of people to make it happen. Please, let's do it for the families of the victims. RA in LA P.S. BuzzFlash, thanks so much for this link. If you could please keep it on your page as long as possible near the top! Subj: it will be the perfect crime oh for pete sake! as long as there are voting machines with no paper trail.....gw bush will win! high school kids can hack into the cia and the pentagon computers, republicans have hacked into democrat senators computers, they will make sure bush and nader get just enough votes so it won't look rigged but bush will win! they can't afford to lose, they have committed crimes they can't have uncovered! km Just a Minute President Bush, President Bush continues to stonewall the National 911 Commission. First he opposed its creation. Then his administration had to be dragged kicking and screaming to give the Commission access to vital government records and officials. Now the President is refusing to testify before the full commission and limiting his time with representatives of the commission to a mere 60 minutes. I propose a trade-off that even President Bush should be able to comprehend given his admitted difficulty with statistics (his own Press Secretary claims the President is numerically challenged). The President should give the American people unfettered time before the full commission based on his one of the following measures of his successful leadership.
Since June 2003, President Bush has traveled the country (mostly at taxpayers expense) appearing at 90 fundraisers, consuming at least 900 hours of his time. Surely, he can give the nation 1% of the time (9 hours) he is willing to give his financial benefactors. Claiming leadership and leading is not the same thing. Bush has lead the nation in self-serving fundraising, vacationing while the unemployed struggle, massing debt on the shoulders of future generations, and cajoling the nation into a war without cause. Dave Nichols Subj: Contribution to the Bush Campaign I have an idea that I would like to share with you and your intelligent readers: Let us all send a five (pink) Monopoly dollar to the Bush-Cheney campaign. It will be a nice way of telling them what they are really worth to us and the color will remind them that they are being fired. If there is not enough "courage" (I am trying to keep it clean) for the lawmakers to start impeachment, at least, we, the people can give them a pink slip. Jocelyn Subj: The Precedent Has Been Set! Buzz, Now that Martha Stewart has been convicted of *LYING* (I'll bet she will now hurriedly re-evaluate her campaign contribution priority status, as a result!), in order to save a meager $51,000 from declining stocks, we must now, hastily and without further delay, proceed to prosecute Ken Lay, Enron's CEO, for the MILLIONS he took with him, The MILLIONS he deprived the Enron employees of, and the obvious and outright LIES he told! (How convenient that coverage of Martha Stewart has taken up media airtime and space that could've been better used to report on the US-led coup and removal of Haiti's Aristide!) Since *LYING* (especially about financial issues) has established a new judicial precedent, and is now viewed as a *SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENSE*, punishable by a *PRISON SENTENCE*, we must now apply those exact same standards to the Bush mis-administration - Gee Dubya, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Powell, Rice, Perle, and others' *LIES* would comprise a bookfull, if not two bookfulls! Let's roll out an Army of Special Prosecutors - NOW! Sally..........St. Louis America’s “Free Press”Torpedoes Aristide by Mike Whitney
* * * The most extraordinary part of the coup in Haiti was not the fact that the Bush Administration was directly involved in the deposing of a democratically elected leader. No, that type of criminal behavior is almost a requirement of the office at this point in time. The real surprise is that not one major newspaper in the country has spoken out in favor of restoring Aristide to power. This should be considered a positive development. Many of us have tried to make the case that the major media are the solitary province of corporate America, providing a world view that tilts dramatically rightward and exclusively reports news that doesn’t infringe on their commercial interests. This can be a tough sell. Many dismiss the notion as flagrantly conspiratorial. The coup in Haiti proves otherwise. The media has responded with such frightening uniformity that even skeptics must be shocked. Do we need to reiterate that the duly elected leader of the country, Jean Bertrand Aristide, is now under virtual “house arrest”after being trundled off in the middle of the night by an armed contingent of US Marines? Should we emphasize that he was elected by a margin of 92% by the Haitian people in an election that was not contested, despite the conspicuous attempts by the NY Times and the Associated Press to create that impression? (In fact, only the Senatorial elections were challenged; Aristide’s election was never in doubt) And yet these salient facts have made no impression on America’s recalcitrant press. Perhaps, they have taken the Dick Cheney position that, “Aristide had worn out his welcome.” Mr. Cheney should be grateful that that is not the accepted standard for determining one’s tenure in elected office. Or, perhaps, our “free press”has adopted the Judith Miller philosophy of journalism, “My job isn’t to assess the government’s information and be an independent intelligence analyst myself.” Has there ever been a more apt description of a stenographer? The only question we could possibly have for Miller is, “Were you sitting on Rummy’s lap when you were taking notes on the apocryphal tales that led the country to war?” But, Miller is no exception, and Haiti proves that. The entire media system is rotten to its “capital-drunk”core. The astonishing sameness of reporting on the details of the coup, and the predictable omissions of any US involvement, would have impressed the editors of Pravda. No brave soul has broken from the “party line.”No one dare speak out for something as inconsequential as democracy. Isn’t it amazing that how similar the “corporate press”is to media in totalitarian states? Joseph Pulitzer said it best, “A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself.” ‘nuff said. Joan Subj: GOP Party Platform: Christian Nation Thanks for posting the link to www.theocracywatch.org. I followed their link to the Texas GOP platform and found some gems, included below. As long as any part of the GOP has this stuff in their platform, despite their protestations to the contrary, they are leading our country towards being an Evangelical Christian theocracy. Everyone should remember that this stuff is not just Dennis Hastert, GWB, or Ashcroft. This is official party stuff. GWB signed off on this as a TX Republican. They are undermining every part of the Constitution except the 2nd Amendment. "The Republican Party of Texas reaffirms the United States of America is a Christian nation, which was founded on fundamental Judeo-Christian principles based on the Holy Bible." "Our Party pledges to do everything within its power to...dispel the myth of the separation of church and state. We support the right of individuals and state and local governments to display the Ten Commandments on public property subject to their control." "The Party supports the traditional definition of marriage as a God-ordained...commitment" "The party believes...Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God." "Each human life is ordained by God and has a purpose. The party opposes...experiments involved in human cloning" Read more at http://www.texasgop.org/library/RPTPlatform2002.pdf a nd marvel in disbelief. Susan Subj: Washington Tea Party To BuzzFlash, Ray Taliafero of liberal talk radio 810 AM is calling for a nation and or world wide Washington tea party or Boston tea party II. It is a protest to send a clear message to George the Second of the White House that we are not happy with his terrible policies and wish to take our country back. Everyone is welcome to participate. Simply send an unused, dried or empty tea bag to the White House as often as you wish. We no longer wish to “hold the bag”for his reckless actions. Sherri |
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