March 15, 2004

MAILBAG ARCHIVES  
The BuzzFlash Mailbag

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Subj: W is an ASSHOLE--this is EGREGIOUS

Six months after promising to create an office to help the nation's struggling manufacturers, President Bush settled on someone to head it, but the nomination was being reconsidered last night after Democrats revealed that his candidate had opened a factory in China.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

Mika


jesus god! i just saw laura bush on tv talking about what her husband has done to help women and their health issues around the world, WHAT PLANET IS SHE ON? THAT MAN HAS DONE MORE HARM TO WOMENS HEALTH AROUND THE WORLD THAN ANY OTHER DICTATOR! IS SHE JUST GOD DAMNED DEAF DUMB AND BLIND!!!!!

diane anderson and daughters in miami fl


Notice in this Boston Globe article that that the percentage of federal taxes that corporations pay has gone down from 32 percent in the fifties to 7 percent today and G.W. Bush wants to lower them even further!! Meanwhile corporate profits are shooting up and this is not translating into jobs for the American worker.

A BuzzFlash Reader

* * *

Tax cop on the beat

By Steve Bailey, Globe Columnist, 3/12/2004

Warren Buffett's must-read annual letter came out last week, filled with his opinions on everything from the market to overpaid CEOs. He offers a mea culpa for his own rare mistakes that cost his shareholders money last year (though his shareholders certainly aren't complaining), and even suggests the best place to get a steak in Omaha. Call Gorat's at 402-551-3733 for reservations.


Subj: Travis County D.A. - How can we support him.

Dear BuzzFlash,

The state Republican Party is circulating a petition calling on the Legislature to shut down the Travis County D.A.'s Public Integrity Unit investigating the Texas franchise of what in Washington is referred to as DeLay Inc. -- What can we do to support the Travis County D.A.

KB


Subj: Bush and Cheney Gut Military, Cut Military Systems Now Used in War in Iraq

In 1992, President Bush bragged that he had “shut down further production of the B-2 bomber, canceled the ICBM program, ceased production of sea-based ballistic missiles, stopped production of the MX missile system, ended purchases of advanced cruise missiles. That same year Defense Secretary Cheney attacked Congress for forcing him to buy more M-1s, F-14s, and F-16s contending that “we have enough of them.”Colin Powell supported in testimony before Congress cutting “Army divisions by one-third, Navy aircraft carriers by one-fifth, and active armed forces by half a million.”Bush II has the gall to attack Kerry for being week on Defense and supporting reductions in the same weapons systems supported by his father, his Vice President and his Secretary of State.

Dave Nichols


Subj: hmmmmm

are we the only ones to notice that it is the democrats who are pushing for paper trails on the new voting machines and the republicans are saying no no no , don't need those nasty paper trails.. just clutter we say, just clutter. hmmmmmm.........

randi and roomies madison wi


Subj: Lesotho

Dear Folks--

One of the problems with culling the good, the bad and the ugly from press sources is that if the press doesn't cover it, we know nothing about it. That's one of the reasons I check out the Cuban press every couple of days. They cover issues in countries no one in the US can identify.

A case in point is the small country of Lesotho, completely surrounded by South Africa. Lesotho is on the brink of a major famine, compounded by a serious AIDS crisis. Because most eyes are focused elsewhere at present, the World Food Program has only been able to raise 15% of the food necessary to prevent a famine there.

Some press on this...please!

Alison Brennan


Subj: Psalm 2004

Psalm 2004 (Author unknown)

Bush is my shepherd, I shall be in want

He leadeth me beside the still factories

He restoreth my doubts about the Republican party

He guideth me onto the paths of unemployment for the party's sake

I do fear the evildoers, for thou talkst about them constantly

The tax cuts for the rich and thy deficit spending - They do discomfort me

Thou anointeth me with never-ending debt,

And my savings and assets shall soon be gone

Surely poverty and hard living shall follow me all the days of this administration

And my jobless children shall dwell in my basement forever

Michael


Subj: Republicans Vote to Gut Intelligence

In 1995, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) voted to cut the nation’s intelligence budget by $3.8 Billion. The level of cuts approved by the Republican controlled Senate and signed into law by George H. W. Bush was more than twice the level of budget cuts proposed by Senator Kerry. George W. Bush last week charged that Kerry’s proposed cuts would have gutted intelligence and that demonstrated his irresponsibility. When will the hypocrite in the White House lash out at his fellow Republicans and his own father for supporting cuts twice as large as those proposed by Kerry?

Dave Nichols
Richland, WA


Subj: What Kerry should do for Veterans right now!

What John Kerry should do for Veterans right now is declare that the first thing he will do upon assuming office is to lift the order that keeps the public and media from seeing the arriving coffins and wounded from Iraq. Let Bush try to defend this outrage of not honoring the war dead out in the open.

Just a thought,

Henry Simms


Subj: The Coming Election

Has anyone thought about what it would take to get the United Nations to monitor our next presidential election?

Does anyone think it would be good idea if we could? If it could guarantee a legal election, why not?

Probably no way in Hell the Moral Majority would allow that to happen, anyway. Just a thought.

Jim Wolfe


Subj: Terrorist attacks in Spain/in Cincinnati next?

In light of the terrorist attacks in Spain, I believe someone needs to revisit the major U.S. electrical grid breakdown and the almost simultaneous gas pipeline explosion the shook the Southwest a year ago. There have been too many of these electrical grid breakdowns in the past two years world-wide -- several in Britain, one or two in Italy, etc. It seems way too orchestrated.

The Bush Administration wrote off our grid breakdown to some fundamental computer maintenance problem in Michigan. At the time, all the media and industry sources said we needed billions of dollars to fix the problem. But nothing was passed in Congress, and only the barest of repairs were made. If things were so bad and nothing was done about it, why hasn't it happened again?

I think that Ben Laudin and his organization are very much alive and kicking. Like Spain, we have no idea where they are going to strike next and are wasting money and intelligence on the Iraqi occupation.

I believe that Senator Kerry and the party should start raising the issue of national security at home -- not in Iraqi or Washington D.C. Bush says he's shown leadership since 9/11. Has he really? By revisiting the Grid breakdown (in light of the Spanish explosions), the news media could start raising doubts in the voters' minds. Just how safe has the President and the Republican Congress made this country at the local level?

It's time to plant seeds with the media in New York, so the issue can be examined more closely. I hate to exploit their personal memories of 9/ll, but after seeing the images in Spain, there maybe some reporters who would be willing to take a chance on going out on their own -- even if their bosses would prefer not to antagonize the Bush Administration.

It could be a chance for the profession to renew its use of investigative reporting. Let's face it, there's a whole new generation of journalism graduates that are ready and willing. And a older generation of journalists who are tired of having their hands tied.

Challenge them. Ask them if they can find out the truth? How safe has the Bush Administration and the Republican-controlled Congress made this nation since 9/11? Did they just panic after 9/ll (the Patriot Act, invasion of Iraqi, the preoccupation with airport security)?

What has been done at the local level to protect us from a similar attack as the one that happened in Spain this week? This is an issue that impacts people on a local and personal level -- not at national monuments or airports.

So take the issue to the personal level. What's being done to protect people where they live and work? We Americans are typically a people who don't want someone trying to make us feel good about something that is going to kill them in the end...we battle cancer and injustices. We would always prefer to face the truth and do something about it...at home, not in Washington D.C.

The Republicans are stonewalling...it's that same old " trust us we know what we are doing" attitude. Why are the state and local government being handcuffed in the fight against terrorism? Why are the Republicans more concerned with protecting Iraqis against Saddam than in protecting the water supply in Cincinnati?

Something's not right, and we all know it.

Thank you for passing along my concerns.

S. Harrington


Subj: Bush the Coward

Dear BuzzFlash,

I hope George Bush continues to brag about his first appearance at the World Trade Center, where in his own words, “On September 14, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the twin towers”. It wasn't until I read the quote that it really hit me; it took him 4 full days to show up at Ground Zero. The man is a despicable coward who placed his own well-being above those of others, during and after the worst tragedy in our history. Kerry needs to point this out in one of his ads, preferably with a picture of GW looking like the incompetent fool that he is as he continues reading a story about a pet goat while America is under attack.

Jan J.


Subj: This month's Vanity Fair

Last month Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair, memorialized all the soldiers who have died in Iraq. This month he educates the masses on the problems with electronic voting machines and the grave risk to our democracy they represent. He not only highlights the link between the company owners and their support of Bush, he mentions the Volusia County glitch that temporarily took over 16,000 votes from Gore and caused the Florida race to be called prematurely for Bush, tipping momentum to his side and prompting Gore's needless concession. There is also a feature-length article on this topic in the same issue.

Again I ask, why is the mainstream press not covering these topics in such critical detail? And just so you know, I am not affiliated with Vanity Fair in any way, just a subscriber who is starving for serious investigative reporting. Thank you Mr. Carter!!

Loyal Buzz Reader (and Shirley fan)


Subj: twit

john kerry, an intelligent war hero needs to challenge that little drunken cowardly moronic twit bush to a debate once a month!

and what's with laura bush on tv bragging about what he has done for women's health care around the world? that's like ted bundy bragging about what he has done to keep women safe!

katie johnson
tampa


Subj: Bush on Madrid Bombings

I swear I heard Bush say, on the day of the Madrid bombings, that he sent his condolences to all those killed. Commentators pretended it didn't happen and the tape of that will disappear . They ought to invent a portable teleprompter for this guy.

G.G.


Subj: So true

"The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice."

-Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: To all Buzzers

I know that we try to not do this...but, sometime when your stomach is really strong, watch dubya make a speech...especially since he is so bashing Kerry. He makes a lot of faces and bites his lip a lot! For effect, you see?!

I remember some dimwit rightwingnut Media person, when Clinton was into his last year, when they wanted him dead....said, that if Clinton bit that lip one more time, he would be sick....this is worse, take my word for it!

Force yourself....until the steam starts coming out of your ears....

Then you can throw up!

Shirley...........St.Louis


Dear BuzzFlash,

Would someone explain this to me...how can the Bush Administration's budget assumes "revenues from oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" though the proposal has been repeatedly rejected by Congress? Apparently, the President's tax cuts have left the government so broke that the Administration has had to resort to assuming revenue "from an activity that is illegal under current law."

Unbelievable!

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Der Spiegel: Spanish ambassadors told to spread ETA guilt theory

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,290496,00.html

Aznar wants ETA blamed, even though it says that it was NOT responsible for the attacks, and it is commonly thought that this was not their kind of attack.

But remember, Aznar is a Bushie, and his party is up for re election on Sunday.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Racicot

Is there anyone out there in the GOP more smarmy than Mark Racicot? I will never forget this guy's revolting antics after the Florida election grab in 2000. This unctuous character is just about the worst the GOP places out there on the playing field. But, I am so, so so proud of John Kerry for refusing to take Racicot's bait and "apologize" for his lying crooks comment. Kerry will never explain or grovel or apologize to these people. Racicot and his ilk are going to discover that this year, they won't have a scared little sissy to kick around around there. John Kerry enjoys the fight, and he loves hitting back. Let the battle be joined.

Donald P. Russo, Bethlehem, Pa.


Subj: Dr. Cole's Logic

Dear Buzz

I know this is not a major headline story on BuzzFlash, but it concerns the puzzling logic of Dr. Tom Cole (Repub. Rep from OK) in his statement trying to clarify what he really meant regarding his apparently paraphrased comments relating a vote against Bush is like a vote for Hitler. Here it is:

"What I am saying is that in a time of war, if our commander in chief is defeated in an election, our adversary will regard that as a triumph." Dr. Cole sticks by recent comments that a Bush loss would be a win for Osama bin Laden (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/03/04/politics1748EST0756.DTL).

But, Huh?!?!?! G.W. has been our one and only ever CIC? The next president won't be our CIC? Our next CIC, though not GW, won't be just as adamant as GW in bringing OBL to justice? Probably more so, unless of course OBL is miraculously captured in October, 2004. The rhetoric and actual events of the past year and, horribly and grievously, 500+ dead and 1000s of wounded U.S. military, and just as horribly the 1000s of innocent dead and wounded Iraqis, sluffed off, unmentioned and forgotten, as "collateral damage", delivered our apparent "adversary" into our hands, where we gave him his dental exam, discovered he actually had no WMD, but to have had plenty of oil, and is now awaiting justice at the hands of who knows who. For the past year, OBL and al Queida seem to have been barely also rans in the Bush strategy for winning the war on terrorism. Considering the Bush re-election ads that have just come out and the uproar over the sickening use of the WTC and flag-draped coffin images in them, it would seem that this administration would have made more of a concerted effort to have captured OBL since he is the one who orchestrated the terrible events of 9/11/01. From this profound and utterly insensitive hypocrisy has emerged the outrage from so many, especially from those who lost loved ones on 9/11/01, but this administration is too stupid to understand, and just too arrogant to care. It is now clear that this administration will do anything, anything to get Dick Cheney re-elected at VP. But I digress. Dr. Cole is obviously fearful, and rightfully so, that OSL may go uncaptured and apparently has attached more importance to OBL and bringing him to justice than has the Bush administration for the past year. But surely even Dr. Cole recognizes that OBL has no oil, and has no country that can be reduced to rubble on the basis of lies and deception and then rebuilt by Halliburton and subsidiaries for grotesque sums of money. Sorry, I digress once more.

Dr. Cole seems a bright individual, having graduated from Grinnell (B.A.), Yale (M.A.), and obtaining a Ph.D. from UOK, and in addition has been both a Watson and a Fulbright Scholar, as well as a college professor in history and politics: http://www.odl.state.ok.us/usinfo/congress/108cong/cole108.htm

Dr. Cole has also worked with RR, GHWB, and JCW, Jr. Considering this, and returning to his logic, he no doubt recalls that when Ronald Reagan stood for his inauguration as our new CIC in January, 1981, that the hostages in Iran were released that very day, indicating, contrary to Dr. Cole’s statement of belief and logic, that a change in the CIC can result in a defeat for our adversary. Whoops, sorry. Perhaps it’s my thinking that’s in error here. Evidence now points to the distinct possibility that clandestine meetings were going on by Republican operatives to delay the release of the hostages in order to deceive the American public in order to manipulate the U.S. election process and its outcome of 1980, and that practically everyone knew about it, except, of course, the American public: http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1992_cr/h920205-october-clips.htm.

The logic in Dr. Cole's statement, and his adherence to the equation of Bush defeat = OSL victory is, and I’ll state this much more mildly than almost any other BuzzFlash reader, just outright nonsense. Thus far, until perhaps Bush’s October Surprise, it has been Bush as CIC = OBL victory. The more logical statement will come in early November from the people of this great country: "What we are saying is that, if our present commander in chief is defeated in this coming election, our friends, allies, and the rest of the world will regard that as a triumph." In that event, the world, and our liberties, will all be safer.

Phosphoglucose isomerase in SD


Subj: You've got to get this out to people.

Hello,

Many thanks for all your efforts to correct this idiotic state of our nation.

I just found this on The Smoking Gun's archive. It's a song written and performed by John Ashcroft, "Blessed be that city"

Put away all sharp things and have a listen. Be afraid, be very afraid!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/ashpic1.html Sincerely,

Mark Coffey


Subj: Dr. Kelly suicide?

The Hutton enquiry concluded that Dr Kelly committed suicide. Case closed? Not yet. The coroner is now looking into reopening the case as Hutton did not have the authority to determine cause of death and now various experts doubt that evidence supports suicide. So who would have killed Kelly? Could some (rogue?) element of the state have decided he had information counter the UK's national interest?

This case is probably not so relevant to 9/11 but it fascinates me how the media has accepted one version of events without question, and that is no doubt a familiar topic here. If nothing else it reinforces the importance of a skeptical approach and fear felt by journalist not to appear to be conspiracy fanatics.

Colin Swales

------------------------------------------

Cause of death of Dr David Kelly

From Dr Michael J. Powers, QC

Sir, The Coroner for Oxfordshire is to hear representations from interested parties on March 16 as to whether or not there is an “exceptional reason”for resuming the inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly.

The evidence called before Lord Hutton’s inquiry focused only to a minor extent on the medical cause of Dr Kelly’s death. That evidence was neither given on oath nor challenged in cross-examination. No expert evidence of any opposing view was called or presented.


Subj: Exposing a Republican Lie and Liar

Mar. 12, 2004

Dear Buzz,

I believe that Dennis Hastert owes John Kerry an apology. Either Mr. Hastert is duller than a knitting needle, or he deliberately mischaracterized Kerry's position regarding tax policy. In a pique of fervent indignation, Hastert proclaimed that he was not lying when he proceeded to tell the American people that Kerry was going to raise "your" taxes. But who, precisely, does the general referent "your" refer to in this context? All Americans? This is what Hastert would have us believe. But nothing could be further from the truth. Which is to say, Hastert was lying. Or else he's not right bright - a proposition which I steadfastly refuse to entertain.

Now, if by the general term "your" Hastert was referring to a sub-group of Americans - i.e., the wealthiest of the wealthy - then, yes, indeed, Kerry is proposing to increase the tax burden on this specific sub-group of Americans. And he ( Kerry ) makes no bones about it. At the same time, however, he ( Kerry ) does not advocate an across the board tax increase on all Americans. On the contrary, in point of fact, Kerry is in favor of alleviating the tax burden on the middle class and the working poor. Additionally, Kerry has clearly and publicly staked out this position on numerous occasions, so that, as Ross Perot might say, "anyone with half a brain" could understand it. But not Dennis Hastert. Go figure.

So, how do we explain the fact that Hastert neglected to qualify his blanket pronouncement, leaving the clear and distinct impression that the general term "your" applied to everyone - i.e., to all Americans? Well, there's just no getting around it, I'm afraid. The conclusion is inescapable. Hastert was employing a cheap rhetorical trick, engaging in an execrable exercise in sophistry, if you will. Or, for want of a better word, he ( Hastert ) lied. Ergo; Hastert owes Kerry an apology. Q.E.D..

Best regards,

G. Will Hunter


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