April 5, 2004

MAILBAG ARCHIVES  
The BuzzFlash Mailbag

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Subj: CNN is the Media Version of Monica Lewinsky, LOL Hi, Fellow Buzz Flash Readers:

I thought I would take a break from the usual speech, and refer to David Letterman's "Defining Moment" when he caught CNN doing their best Monica Lewinsky impersonation:

From the Buzz Flash Headline article on April 2, 2004:

"...The truth: The White House never complained, and the footage was real.

So is the boy: Tyler Crotty, 13, son of Orange County chairman and Bush supporter Rich Crotty, who Wednesday took full responsibility for Tyler's sleep deprivation, telling the Orlando Sentinel: "His mother was out of town, and I let him stay up too late (the night before)."

I wonder if Tyler's dad is a Pioneer or a Ranger (Bush's campaign donors)?

You gotta wonder at the, ahem, "Family Values" this kid is being taught. However, whatever Dad is teaching his son, it's obviously not sticking (as evidenced by the yawn).

BuzzFlash is right: Tyler Crotty DOES know a lying Dork when he sees one, while Letterman obviously recognized a media blow-job when he caught CNN with their mouths in, ahem, "action" shall we say? LOL, this made my day!

Leutisha - loyal BuzzFlash Reader and proud Christian Liberal


Subj: Send your complaints about bush and cheney's joint testimony here!

Here is the email address of the 911 commission, please consider taking the time to email your concerns that bush and cheney are 'fixing' the outcome by both being present at the same hearing, The stage has been set for a white wash, and we must stop this from happening!

info@9-11commission.gov

Thanks for your action in advance!

Rex


Subj: Bush/cheney written goals on oil

The written/stated goals of Bush/Cheney prior to 2001 was to get OPEC to cut production of oil and raise the cost of oil... So that it would be very profitable to drill for oil in the US... On US national parkland..First check here:> > http://www.grandoldpetroleum.com/history.html <Bush and Cheney Have a History of Favoring High Oil Prices1999: World Oil Said Bush Would Be the Perfect Presidential Candidate to Deal With Low Oil Prices.

In 1999, World Oil wrote that Bush "would be well aware of the fact that oil prices have collapsed" and "would seem to be the perfect individual to lead the charge in doing something about the [low] price of oil." The editorial said one possibility was that Bush and his father could persuade the Middle East to hold production, increasing prices, and that if Bush was successful in increasing the price of oil, "he could parlay his actions into substantial contributions." [World Oil, 2/99] Then check here:> http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A17525-2004Feb29<

The auction has attracted the attention of more than 100 members of Congress, who wrote Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton last month asking her to hold off selling leases on tracts in areas eligible to be protected as wilderness. The environmental group also calculated, based on federal lease sales in 2000, that the land leased to oil and gas companies in Utah would yield average revenue of $80 an acre a year, raising questions about whether the government got enough value from leases that sold for an average price of $20 an acre for the first year, with a subsequent payment of $2 an acre each year afterward.

"They're essentially giving land to people who are influential with their contributions," said Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-N.Y.), who questioned Norton on the sales during an appropriations committee hearing last week. "If you put drilling rigs on it or if you build roads for it, it no longer qualifies for [wilderness] designation."

Carol


Subj: Studio Audience

I think Maureen Farrell got it exactly right in Bush's Attack Puppy Nips at the Truth (http://www.BuzzFlash.com/farrell/04/04/far04010.html). We need to ALWAYS refer to the White House Press corps as the “studio audience.”Maybe with enough repetition and ridicule, they might get the message.

Linda Ireland, Seattle


Subj: Why??

Why do I get the distinct feeling that we are all participating in a Grand Farce?

All of a sudden the jobs report turns around.

The house closes out the dems re the scully etal investigation.

The Plame invest is going NOWHERE.

bush and cheney are permitted to comment (not even testify).

Roe is being methodically destroyed.

I could go on but ya know? It doesn't pay.

Bill


Subj: Black Sunday 1977

"Black Sunday" the movie about a blimp being used to crash and spread panic at the Super Bowl was made 25 years before 9/11. How can Condi continue to lie? They did not know because they did not care.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: How to make enemies

Try looking at this through the eyes of the Iraqi people. If we were being treated the way we're treating the Iraqis, would we be any different?

Is our memory so short that we can't remember that America and Americans stood up to the bullies to support the underdogs.

Please share this article generously, since it doesn't get much coverage in our press here.

As ever,

Neb


Subj: Here's a novel idea

Hey Buzz,

All anyone has to do to defeat Bush in November is tell the frickan truth!

It's that simple ......

RK/Seattle .......


Subj: Bill Bennet Radio

Dear Buzz

Morality Czar (and Gambling Addict/Dominatrix Freak) William Bennett will actually begin his own nationally broadcast talk radio show April 5th (on a Christian network, no less). That's next week. Please encourage your listeners to e-mail Salem Broadcasting and ask its owners if a man about to be exposed as someone who frequented a Las Vegas dominatrix and already exposed as a habitual gambler is a good role model for their network. This jerk is still looking for a venue to shoot off his big mouth, even though the networks (other than Fox, of course) have begun to ignore him. He still wants to tell the rest of us how to live our lives!

Keep up the good work

A loyal reader.


Subj: Where

After "Weapons of Mass Destruction," I am less likely to believe White House statements. Am I the only one who is wondering where these 300,000 new jobs are? I heard numbers and campaign analysis, but no demographics on how many and where. Is anyone doing any research to prove or disprove this report? Being unemployed, with benefits expired six months ago, I don't see where this job surge is. My guess is that they finally got the DEA to classify meth labs and drug dealers as employers.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: Talk about your tax increases!

Hi buzz!

I was just reading where Bush's slime-paign is claiming that Kerry voted for something like 350 tax increases (yeah, right,reminds me of this scene from " Manchurian Candidate" -- in fact, Georgie Porgie himself reminds me of John Isley, but I digress.) Anyway this brings me back to a question I frequently use to stop the repugs in their tracks: So far, since The Bush coup, we have seen 2 wars, massive tax cuts (for the rich, I might add), tax rebates, massive unemployment, and a gargantuan influx of money via mortgage re-fi. So just where, may I ask is all of this money coming from?

Well, I'll tell you where a big chunk of it is coming from -- social security and medicare. All that money that you, me, all of the others wage-earners, and any employer who hires american workers have put in is spent, gone. Both will be completely bankrupt in just a few years, and most of us will never see a fraction of what we have contributed over our working lives.

Excuse me, Mr. Bush, but wouldn't THAT, in effect, be the largest tax increase in history? I'd say from my point of view it is.

A Patriot Opposed to War
Lafayette, Louisiana


Subj: Tyler

BuzzFlash,

I watched the video of Tyler Crotty during George Bush's speech. I thought it was extremely humorous.

It reminded me of another speech I recently watched. A speech given on St Patrick's day by Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, with Bush at his side. I noticed that President Bush was inattentive and displayed impatience during the whole speech. I can understand Tyler's plight after all he is only twelve. Isn't George old enough to behave himself?

Paul


Subj: Kerry Campaign

I'm starting to grow a bit concerned about John Kerry's campaign. At the risk of sounding silly, my question is this: Why no appearances on Letterman, Leno, Conan O'Brien, John Stewart or any other talk show? This is free media, and although political science purists might laugh at it, it has tremendous resonance in this culture of ours. Kerry can book all of the appearances he wants just by having a staffer call the show. It's time to drop the Boston Brahmi, above the fray statesman stuff; he's up against some really, truly nasty operators who are going to cut him to shreds unless he goes after them first. He also must immediately designate a V.P. nominee, and set that person out on an immediate, daily attack regimen. Right now it's two against one, Cheney and Bush against Kerry. I do like, however, the fact that Kerry is challenging Bush to debates. Every time Bush levels an accusation, Kerry must say, O.K. Mr. Bush, let's meet on Sunday night at Georgetown University, stand podium to podium, and have it out on this subject! Obviously, Bush will demur, but after this happens enough times, the point I think will have been made. Once again, I'll say, he needs to bring the fight to their doorstep. Bush and his boys need to be placed on the defensive. Why should Kerry be put on the defensive on any issue? Moreover, the Senator's staffers should be digesting and eviscerating each and every Bush T.V. commercial, and faxing meaty, lengthy, point-by-point factual corrections to every media outlet on the planet. Bottom line, we just don't have to take it any more. It seems to me that figuratively speaking, the neighborhood "bully" is five feet eight inches tall and 150 pounds, and we're letting him push around a six foot three 240 pound NFL linebacker. This makes no sense to me.

Donald P. Russo, Bethlehem, Pa.


Subj: Curiouser & curiouser

Hi BuzzFlash:

I was impressed with Nancy Pelosi's comments re: both the Pres & VP appearing together before the 9/11 Commission & I agree with the points she made. It also struck me, however, that particularly after 9/11, Cheney was always in an "undisclosed location".

It seemed to me that for 2 years, they made a point of keeping the two of them apart, for "security reasons". Now they find it an acceptable risk to put both of them, not only in Washington, but in the same room at the same time with the schedule published for the world to see?

They must really be afraid of what Dubya would say on his own if they're willing to take that risk.

Thanks for a great website.

A BuzzFlash reader


Subj: Guy James liberal radio on Sat 3-6pm eastern

The new Air America network has launched this week with great success, and while they take their weekend break from normal programming I would encourage everyone to check-in on one of our old favorites ...

The Guy James show is on Saturday from 3pm to 6pm eastern time.

You can get live online streaming here - http://www.theguyjamesshow.com

They have five toll free call lines at 888-602-7500, 01, 02 ,03 & 04

The tide is turning, this is our big chance to get the word out to the public, we need to support all good progressive programs.

If you're not already a listener be sure to check out Guy James.. He has been going at it for some time now, this is a great show with hard-hitting stuff, plus he's not afraid to take wing-nut calls! ... Good stuff.

Best

Kelley
http://kelleykramer.blogspot.com/


Re: your editorial on Condi Rice and pre 9/11 warnings

I've often wondered but have not seen this mentioned anywhere that perhaps the reason the pResident and Congress rushed to give the airlines the $15 billion bailout was to buy their silence to keep them from squealing that they were not given the warnings they needed to prevent the hijackings. Why weren't the airlines, at minimum, put on heightened security alert? If we knew what was in that August 6 briefing to the pResident, we might have the answer.

Buzz Reader


Subj: Political Machine

The following article appeared in the Sunday edition of The Chicago Tribune: "Kerry's enervating energy plan - Ignoring the power of thriving free markets that would exploit the economic and technological sources of energy is foolhardy."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/op... When I read it, I knew it was written by a Repug, so I googled the author's name. Sure enough, he served as counsel to former Governor James R. Thompson, the same Repug that sits on the 9/11 commission. (You know, the partisan old fossil who accused Richard Clarke of lying.) Armed with that information, I wrote the following Letter to the Editor:

"Terry Barnich's blistering critique of Senator John Kerry's energy plan is just another Republican hatchet job. Long a colleague of former Governor Thompson and a former chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commerce, the GOP called on Mr. Barnich, one of the party faithful, who happened to have expertise in order to bring a semblance of gravitas to the discussion. However well phrased Mr. Barnich's comments may be, his arguments against the Kerry energy plan have no merit and are intended to divert attention from the fact that President Bush has no comprehensive plan other than to reward his energy industry contributors with huge, unprecedented government subsidies and tax exemptions. The GOP strategy is transparent. And Chicagoans thought former Mayor Daly had a political machine; President Bush and the GOP have taken it to a new level."

I'm seeing more and more Op-Ed pieces like the one above; obviously, the GOP is worried about Dubya's slide in the polls . Senator Kerry and his staff cannot catch and refute all the opinion pieces that appear. That's where all the rest of us have to be diligent. Let's not let these hacks get the upper hand.

Sharon Andrews


Subj: Lisa Myers and the 'Al Qaeda recruitment manual'

Dear Buzz,

Lisa Myers reported on Chris Matthews show last Thursday (I think) on the so-called Al Qaeda manual she found on the Internet. Toward the end of the segment, she reported something about Al Qaeda leaders statement that they were especially interested in toppling governments and felt they had succeeded in Spain. I can't remember the exact wording, to be honest -- but the implication was clear: If we change our government, like Spain did, we will be doing exactly what Al Qaeda wants. Hmmm.

I'm not inclined to take this report at face value.

As far as I'm concerned, Al Qaeda LOVES having George Bush in office. George Bush and his policies are great for recruiting.

Leslie in Boston


Subj: THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S MOTTO - WE KEEP LYING AND IT SHOWS

Dear BuzzFlash

I wish the 9/11 commission would ask Con Rice the following:

She has stated that they did not know that terrorist will take airplanes and crash into buildings, but they did know that the threat of regular hijackings did exist. So why then did they not take precautionary measures to avoid such hijackings? Because if they did that, then the fact that suspicious groups of men who were supposed to have bought only one way tickets, would have set off alarm signals, and thus avoided that whole 9/11 scenario.

I have one word for this administration I N C O M P E T E N T!

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: The Wimp is Back

With each article I read about the white house plan to have the president and vice president testify together one word keeps going through my mind. And that word is WIMP. What happened to the tough talking, straight shooting cowboy that walks like he just spent a week riding the hard trail. Where is the bravado that declared we would get bin Laden "dead or alive" Where is the macho top gun wannabe that strutted down the deck of the aircraft carrier? Yet when it comes to answering a few questions he has to have help? I'm actually embarrassed for him. (and for my country). Wimp Wimp Wimp.

David Del Nero.


Subj: Listening from Maryland

Just turned off all of the cable news stations and have been listening to www.airamericaradio.com . They actually "get it". If you haven't listened check it out and support the "truth"

BuzzFlash listener in Maryland


Subj: A crucial missing link about what we should have known about 911

My memory may not serve me completely accurately, but I seem to recall(approximately 3 months before 911) seeing on television an interview by a reporter (whose name I do not now recall), conducted in a moving vehicle(in Afghanistan) with one of the key major Taliban spokespersons, again I am sorry, the names now elude me, but this was a pretty big deal interview which you may or may not have recollection of, after all it was on normal broadcast TV), in which the interviewer was told by this Taliban Leader SPECIFICALLY that(paraphrased),They were going to send hijackers in planes flying into key US symbolic Targets, such as the White House or key financial institutions). When the reporter asked who would do such a thing - (kill themselves in this way) the Taliban leader replied...You Americans are so arrogant, we already have the people there in place and ready to do this, they are going to do this, they are trained to do this, and there are a slew of new volunteers ready to do this as well.

All this question as to whether Bush knew something could possibly be in the making mystifies me, since I watched this clear and almost specific warning from a serious player on regular TV (as well as hearing Bin Laden's warning which was also just prior to the catastrophe of 911.

I don't have any access to Official briefings or Intelligence information....I'm just an average Joe who watched serious and almost specific warnings as to the nature of what was about to commence.

My question is this: If a guy like me could watch this on TV and figure out that it might be a good idea to take this seriously enough to pursue those warnings a bit more proactively, then why wouldn't the White House with all of OUR tremendous resources, take the time to batten down the hatches and send out some serious intelligence and investigation into this obviously serious and credible threat from key players in the terror game?

Maybe Bush shouldn't be so proud that he never watches the news...had he seen this program, perhaps even a C average mental incompetent like him, might have gotten a clue we were about to be attacked! Perhaps they should have simply consulted the TV Guide.

I have yet to hear anyone in the media or the hearings mention this, as the administration spin team spin circles trying to blame everyone but themselves for the "intelligence failure" (which would make a great CIA " codename" for GW). I mean I just don't get it; Is a television news interview with a known Terrorist Taliban Leader not considered good enough "intelligence" to even look into it or take a modicum of precaution? How is it that this reporter, as well as Dan Rather, and even a disillusioned Marin County teenager can manage to infiltrate and/or interview people in these positions and yet our entire CIA, NSA, and FBI can't even get close enough to gather credible info.

And one more question; Why did Dick Cheney tell the bipartisan commission whose sole purpose was to determine the nature of the condition of airline security, to go take a hike, when they filed their (unsatisfactory and troubling) findings well prior to 911?

This was either GROSS incompetence, or willful neglect...and we all know the historically frightening implication of the latter!

Sincerely,

Citizen X


Subj: bragging rights

bragging about the added jobs as the best in four years is silly. that is like the kid who gets all f's and then one year he gets a d minus.

bragging rights can only come if bush can say he has the highest job creation in 12 years. he still can't come close to clinton and still has a loss of about a million and a half jobs in this country. he is still the first president since hoover to lose jobs!

diane


Subj: THIS IS THE MOST DISHONEST AND SECRETIVE ADMINISTRATION

Dear Buzz

I really think that this Bush administration is the most dishonest and secretive in our history. Even the Nixon administration seems tame now.

They have made it almost impossible for the 9/11 panel to conduct their investigation and have been blatantly stonewalling at every turn. I do not have much confidence in the panel finding the Busheviks negligent before 9/11, because I feel that the republican members of the panel are already in the white house pockets. This is how it has been for the past 3 1/2 years, and there is no doubt that this devious administration has control and manipulates the media, who have become the echo chambers of the white house propaganda.

Like many, many others, I do NOT TRUST this lot, and I find that I cannot even believe any polls anymore, because I wonder if they have been able to control the polling companies, like the media. I find myself unable to believe that jobs were created last month either, especially when we knew that these morons wanted to call flipping burgers at McDonalds, manufacturing jobs!

They rule by deceit and manipulation, and if they are not voted out of office, we are in for a worse fate. I cannot understand how the people in this country who blindly support this administration fail to see that the they have done NOTHING for the people, but have certainly made the rich wealthier. It is a clear cut case of misguided loyalty, and it looks like they are unable to open their eyes.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subj: darned dirty peaceniks

[A version of this letter was submitted to the Chicago Tribune but to my knowledge was not published.]

In a restaurant on March 20, a man pointed at a companion and me and said in a hostile tone, "That button could land you in jail." My companion and I had come from a local demonstration coinciding with world-wide demonstrations for peace and against the Iraq war. We were wearing buttons with the single word "peace." Would that man become livid upon receiving a Christmas card that read "Peace on Earth"? I do not believe that all who support the Iraq war are against peace in general. But I wondered what it was about the concept of peace that so inflamed this individual he would threaten the prized civil liberty of freedom of speech that we are allegedly fighting to bestow on another society--and what we are coming to.

harriet
a BuzzFlash reader


did you see karen hughes on meet the press? tim ask her about the white house wanting cheney in the room with bush while he answer question. her answer was "well it is a way to make the best use of their time."\

YEE GADS! BUSH HAS PLENTY OF TIME TO RAISE MONEY AND TAKE TWO HOUR NAPS! AND HE HAS TO SAVE TIME WHEN IT COMES TO THE INVESTIGATION OF 3000 DEAD AMERICANS UNDER HIS WATCH? WHAT IS THE LONG DISTANCE RATE TO MARS?

A BuzzFlash Reader


PAY ATTENTION TO 9/11 COMMISSION: THE REAL REASON BUSH DROPPED THE BALL ON BIN LADEN WAS ENRON

I don't know if you can forward this to "RA in LA" but I had this exact idea when the whole thing went down. I was watching the Today Show when the planes hit and I watched as (P)resident Bush sat reading to a bunch of little kids in Sarasota - safely tucked away from Washington. I thought it was too fortuitous a coincidence. I also watched as someone came and whispered something in Bush's ear and yet he continued to sit there reading. He didn't get up until a second message was delivered to him and even then, he looked in no hurry to rush out. Had America actually been under attack, any other person would have hurriedly excused himself immediately and dashed away. Not Bush. At that very moment I KNEW he already knew this was to happen and he was just waiting until it was the right time for him to quietly take his leave. It truly made my blood run cold to think our own president could be party to mass murder to accomplish his own, private agenda. But not really surprising, when in reality this administration slithered into office but every type of cheating they had to use. Should this man be reelected, all I can say is: WE AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!!!!!

Janis Hunter


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