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April 28, 2004 |
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Subject: Maps and charts of Iraqi Oilfields: Cheney energy task force Dear Buzz, Thought you might want to remind the public of these documents from the Cheney Energy meetings that the conservative watchdog organization, Judicial Watch, got under a FOI request. http://www.judicialwatch.org/071703.c_.shtml Leslie
Subject: Attacks halt rebuilding of Iraq Not only is the military side of the Iraq occupation going bad, but the civilian reconstruction is near the point of all-out disaster. ALL contractors have stopped working in the field, 25% have left Iraq all-together and the remaining 75% have pulled their personnel back to secure bases. The most urgent matter, work on the power grid, is so far behind they will not be ready for the extreme summer Iraqi heat that causes high power demand. Widespread power outages caused massive riots for Bush in Iraq last summer, and with the recent pull out of major power contractors General Electric and Siemens, things will be even worse this summer. Most of the problems center around a lack of protection for contractor workers, which is even more amazing considering Bush is spending your tax dollars at $1,000 a day or more for each 'contract guard' (Bushspeak for mercenaries), and they still can't protect the workers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1204230,00.html George Bush has screwed this thing up on an epic proportion. For the sake of our troops we HAVE to get Bush out of office this November! Best, Kelley Kramer
Well, if what Kerry said 33 years ago goes to his judgment, character and leadership...then shouldn't Bush have to prove where he was in those missing months from the Guard? Tell us if he used illegal drugs (he refuses to answer that)?. He admits he was a drunk until he was 40...judgment? Character? Leadership? Randi and Roomies in Madison, WI
Subject: just when I think I can't get any more disgusted... Oh, Buzz: Allow me to vent. I cannot believe the demagoguery of the Republican representatives that leads them to believe that the House floor is an appropriate place to bash Kerry, who is not just the Democratic presidential candidate but a fellow Congress member. Excuse me? That's public property there and when they're spouting off, it's on the public dime. Do you think anywhere else in the U.S. an employee would be able to trash a fellow employee so viciously and publicly in the workplace and not get fired? These are our employees, damn it! Oh, to be able to hand out a slew of pink slips. Disgusting. John Kerry, whether you like him or not, is a war hero, plain and simple. He earned the right to criticize the Vietnam war because he was *there,* on the inside, acquitting himself bravely and selflessly. A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash, I know that every active Democrat has a candidate that they supported for president in the presidential primary. But we need to put the primary aside and get on with the election. Presidential and vice presidential debates are critical in this election. How is the campaign shaping up? Cheney has taken on Kerry's military record. And it's the subject of a secret e-mailing campaign. Every now and then one of my acquaintances tries to get me in the loop. They are circulating the faked picture of Kerry and Jane Fonda. The candidate we need to have squaring off against Dick Cheney and his evil mouth is the four star general, Wesley Clark. Have you been watching the pictures of Bush lately? You know how someone will mirror another person that they talk to a lot? Well have you noticed that Bush is assuming the hanging-down, one sided mouth of Dick Cheney? And he does this when he is saying what Dick Cheney told him to say. Kerry needs to watch him assume that pose. And then go after what Cheney told him to say. And then Clark needs to go after Cheney on the same issue. Lots of pictures of Kerry with Clark will go a long way to fending off the damage by the faked picture of Kerry and Jane Fonda. I live in Oklahoma . I did a lot of walking door to door for Clark. I spent a lot of time talking with people. The reason Clark won Oklahoma is that Clark 's campaign carried the real message of the Democratic party to the voters. And Gert is the best of the best in campaigning. She is the best female antidote to the Kerry-Jane Fonda picture that there is. Buzzy, you are doing your part. Now all of the Democrats need to work for Kerry. Margaret Waid
Subject: Smearing Kerry I've been getting angrier daily over the repuglican smear campaign against John Kerry's distinguished service record. How should we respond? Whenever possible we should use the enemies' own words against them. For example, I hear questionable claims daily from repugs about statements that "demoralize the troops" or that "give aid and comfort to the enemy." However, I believe it is beyond question that it is demoralizing to our troops to see that some (the repugs) cannot appreciate service to this country no matter how distinguished. If a heavily decorated war hero can be the subject of such scorn by members of Congress, how can our troops believe that that our leaders value the contribution of our regular troops? How will our troops respond when they see that they may one day be the subject of scorn and ridicule by our "leaders" despite showing heroism in battle? The repugs, by disparaging Kerry's military service, are disparaging the service of all of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, demoralizing them and providing aid and comfort to the enemy! GET THE MESSAGE OUT! Thomas Goodness
Subject: Shared with BuzzFlash by writer to talking points memo Thank you for your piece yesterday (Monday, 04/26) suggesting to Sen. Kerry that he challenge W. Bush to, for once in his own life, fight his own fights and stop being a coward! http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_04_25.php#002880 That should be a screaming headline across the top of all the newspapers of America! The cowardly, momma's-boy Bush has ruined virtually everything he's ever touched, and he's doing his best to work the same kind of anti-magic on my country! This theme, this motif, this line of attack should be pursued and trumpeted over and over again by those who want to see this country rid of such a feckless boob, currently occupying the White House. Regards -- Richard Newton
Subject: Dear Neighbor A little over a year ago, the U.N. weapons inspectors reported back to the U.N. Security Council that, after months of searching, there were no weapons to be found. Our president informed us that it would be necessary to go to war because Saddam was refusing to disarm. Clearly, we had a difference of opinion. You were the Patriotic one who organized the rally to support the President, I was the Bush-hating liberal who organized the rally to work towards Peace. You were the Patriotic one who put up the yard sign that read, Support the Troops. I was the traitor who put up the yard sign that read, Wage Peace. You were the Patriotic one who opened your checkbook to support the Presidential Prayer Team. I was the elitist pagan who opened my home the evening before the war and offered you a safe place to pray for the safety of our troops and to pray for Peace. You chose not to join us. Those that did attend however offered prayers for family members in the military, songs, reflections, thoughts and powerful moments of silence. You offered beer cans in my front yard, insults and vulgar email messages. Yesterday, Republican Senator Chuck Hagel told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the U.S. may need to institute the draft due to deteriorating security in Iraq. Tomorrow, you'll be the mother or father praying that your sons don't get called up to go. I'll be your neighbor with the open door and I'll be praying that your sons come home in one piece. Signed, Your Neighbor
Subject: Let the family members speak for themselves as to their wishes The official storyline for the reason there is a press blackout on the returning dead is to honor the wishes of the families of the fallen soldiers. I've yet to hear a single family member of one of those fallen soldiers state that this is their wish. The only family member of any fallen soldier that I've heard speak so far was from a mother of a young man who died in the Iraq war. I saw her on BBC tonight. Her position was that the people should see the cost, should be allowed to see the returning coffins, saying of the government and military, "They're not trying to hide a crime, or are they?" It's very telling that I had to go to the BBC to hear a family member speak for herself, and it contradicted the official storyline. A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Republican reps doing Bush's dirty work Dear Buzzflash, I think that Republican reps like SAM JOHNSON, RANDY CUNNINGHAM and CLIFF STEARNS, who shamelessly stood on the house floor and attacked Senator John Kerry's military record, were DISGUSTING. Apart from the fact that they were acting against House rules, they behaved like classless gutter snipes. What the hell were they thinking? Did they think that Bush's pathetic military record was going to look better than Sen. Kerry's for those few minutes? All they achieved was to look malicious, and it was clear that they were just coolies and peons doing Bush's dirty work!! SHAME ON THEM! A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Bush Gore debates Go to the second and third debates between Gore and Bush. When you read the transcripts, it clearly shows that Bush already had a hard-on for Saddam and his mythical WMD's. Even then he was plotting to take out Hussein. I hope one of your editorial writers follows it up. Keep up the good work. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/10/11/politics/main240440.shtml Sean Murray
Subject: It's the media stupid Hello BuzzFlash, How can the media ignore almost a million people protesting on the mall in Washington? Even during the 60's, one of the most divisive times in our country, the Vietnam war protests got 10 times the coverage. I guess Michael Jackson changing lawyers or Estee Lauder dying are monumental events in the minds of these professional manipulators. Journalists have a legal and moral obligation to keep the press free and diverse. The fourth estate is dead. Edward R. Murrow is spinning in his grave. These traitors are not supposed to sell their collective souls to the right wing media moguls. Someone tell John Kerry to tattoo a message on his forehead if he is going to continue to keep quiet about this. IT'S THE MEDIA STUPID! I'm pleading to my fellow BuzzFlashers to start finding ways to protest the media's extreme bias. The internet is the last of the really large town hall meeting places. All you have to do is try writing to your local representative or one of the media giants to find out just how much democracy is left in this country.You will get a form letter back or you will be totally ignored for your effort. Millions of people read BuzzFlash. The media are very powerful, but not as powerful as millions of people organized against them. The media became right wing because it was profitable to do so. Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly sell more soap than Al Franken.The media are collecting millions of dollars from political ads and from lucrative deals given to them by Michael Powell. Do you really think they give a fuck about you as an individual or about freedom of the press? We need to find a larger organized voice before it is too late. Can you imagine another 4 years of GO.,WE. and a congress-full of Tom Delays? Thank you BuzzFlash. Rick
Dear BuzzFlash, Joe Lieberman has taken leave of his senses. The Iraq war is part of our lives these days and it won't go away before the election. It affects people on every level: physical, mental, spiritual, economic, and also politically. And the buck stops with George W. Bush, who wants to be elected president for the first time in his life. Bush will hide behind Iraq all the way to the presidency. And Joe Lieberman will help him do it. You may be a Senator, Joe, but your vote in November is as a Citizen, and you only get one of those (votes, that is). Citizens will be voting and their decisions are based on the way they are affected by everything, including the politics of the Iraq war. If you want to avoid politics and the Iraq war, you could just resign as Senator. And maybe go live in another country that is not a democracy and where people do not have First Amendment rights. Some people say Lieberman is Bush Lite. But Bush is already "lite." And Lieberman is sounding really "lite" to me. Lieberman doesn't get it. It's not being patriotic to say nothing. Our commander in chief is screwing up in Iraq, even now, and our president is screwing up in Iraq, too. I see a huge difference between the Democrats and the Republicans on the Iraq war. Lieberman is in denial and is almost as bad off as Bush. Joe Lieberman, don't be bullied by Bush. All Democrats everywhere need to speak up, loudly and forcefully, every chance we get about the war in Iraq and how Bush/Cheney got us there through lies and deceit and by spending funds illegally, and how Bush/Cheney don't have a clue or a plan to end the war in Iraq. The most important thing we need to accomplish is to change our pResident to a real President Kerry. Otherwise, we'll have another four years of disaster and tragedy in Iraq. Buzzy, I think Kerry is listening to you. Everybody, keep this web site going. We need "the buzz." Margaret Waid
Subject: undercounting the Women's March Analysis determined that the 1995 Million Man March had 837,000 persons, plus or minus 20% http://www.bu.edu/remotesensing/Research/MMM/MMMnew.html Most news accounts the day after the April 25 March for Women's Lives this past Sunday say the women's march had 800,000 persons tops. But compare these photos: Women's March: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/photo/metro/G41354-2004Apr25.html Million Man March: http://www.bu.edu/remotesensing/Research/MMM/NationalMall.jpg (Thanks to my daughter Elaine for making this comparison and pointing me to the BU analysis of the MMM.) The organizers of the women's march say they had 1.15 million. In the photo, the entire mall was packed. In the Million Man March photo, one end of the mall is sparsely populated. The Washington Post is starting to feature higher estimates: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41997-2004Apr25_3.html Perhaps the true numbers will emerge. Meanwhile, some reportage leaves much to be desired. For instance, in the photos and video, The Washington Post gives disproportionate attention to the counterprotestors (numbering in the hundreds, by some estimates) and includes the nice ones but not the nasty ones (e.g., the folks with 10-foot posters celebrating the murder of a doctor and displaying Nazi concentration camp scenes). In a short Sunday morning just before the opening rally, channel 9 in DC (the CBS affiliate, I believe), interviewed no March organizers or supporters, but only the rabid antiabortion and antigay rights activist Randall Terry about the counterprotest. The reporter was extremely congenial to Mr. Terry and did not ask him about his promotion of harassment, stalking, and violence or his recent repudiation of his gay son. (Note: I only saw a few minutes of TV, perhaps there was better coverage later.) My daughters and I were proud to march. For better coverage, go to organizers' sites such as: www.plannedparenthood.org/march/ harriet, a BuzzFlash reader
Subject: what's wrong with this? what's wrong with this picture? i saw a republican governor on tv saying what kerry said and did 33 years ago does go to his credibility, judgment and leadership skills. then i thought about bush and what he was doing 33 years ago. no one really knows and he says he can't really remember, he admits he was an alcoholic and had to finally own up to the dui, he refuses to answer whether he used illegal drugs. now if what one did 33 years ago really goes to one's judgment, credibility and leadership skills, then give me the guy who volunteered twice to fight for his country while bush was getting drunk. kerry was saving lives and getting shot at while bush partied. yep, based on those terms, i'll take kerry any day! km
Subject: What "experts" and what drugs are they on? Dear BuzzFlash, I was at the women's march in D.C. on Sunday (fabulous, and I'll always rue not taking a camera with me!!), and I saw a copy of the Sunday Washington Post. Did you catch the Dana Milbank article on how Bush's "skillful use of language" helped reverse his falling support on the war in Iraq? According to unnamed "experts" and pundits, it was Bush's...."oratory" that saved the day. I have lived to see everything now. Bush and "oratory" connected in the same breath. Robyn Miller
Subject: Did You Guys Really Do An Investigation On Kerry's Medals? (Copied to BuzzFlash by writer to ABC News) Mr. Jennings: I can't believe you guys. Did you actually dispatch Brian Ross and Chris Vlasto to do an investigative report on whether or not John Kerry threw combat medals over the fence thirty years ago? Are you telling me that with all of the important issues in the world right now, and all of the important issues in this election, ABC News felt it was important enough to use your investigative unit for a story on his medals? By the way, how many combat medals did George W. Bush earn in combat? And how many hours will ABC News devote to this story as compared to how many you have devoted in the last week on Bush's failure to release his National Guard file to account for his time, as the White House promised it would weeks ago? You guys are pathetic. A man lies to his country and sends men and women to their deaths in Iraq based on a threat that doesn't exist, and yet you let Bush skate for that. The same man disappears from his Guard duty for months at a time thirty years ago, and you drop that story after a couple of days. But now this story about how many medals a war hero tossed over a fence thirty years ago suddenly warrants your investigative unit? When did ABC News and you Mr. Jennings go on the White House payroll? Steve Soto
Subject: Kerry's medals--Case Closed BuzzFlashers, Can we all contact John Kerry info@johnkerry.com and tell him to blast the so-called Vietnam medals "controversy" back into Cheney's court? This can be very easily done. All Kerry needs to do is lay his medals on a table and leave a space for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, etc. to place any war medals they have. Of course, they have none. Kerry needs to say loud and clear, "These are MY medals. I earned them. They were issued to ME for service in Vietnam. If I gave away, returned, or disposed of MY medals as a political statement, I broke no law. I have the right to do whatever I want with MY medals." Case closed. There is no need to read anything more about this bogus "controversy" on FOX, CNN, or MSNBC. Contact them: world@msnbc.com, comments@foxnews.com, CNN (404) 827-1500. With that "issue" resolved, we can contemplate Bush's disastrous plan to launch an attack against Fallujah and Najaf. Watch for an incident in Fallujah that "justifies" an all-out military response from the U.S. Marines surrounding the city. Mark this as a turning point that escalates Bush's Iraq debacle. Friday, April 30th is the 29th anniversary of America's humiliating retreat from Saigon. It might be good for all newspapers and TV news to feature the picture of the last helicopter leaving Saigon with hundreds of South Vietnamese allies left behind. A good reminder for Iraq 2004. I like the idea of creating an on-line image of the White House with 730+ flag-draped coffins and wish I knew how to work the images. I also like the idea of 730+ coffins displayed in a very prominent public location in DC. Thanks to all for your positive spirit and good ideas. Judy Munro-Leighton
I have been drawn more and more frequently to your website. I can usually do without the polemic link titles (example: "Dick Head Hand Puppet Who Believes That When Cheney Speaks to Him, It is God Talking?") and would prefer a calmer description of the links that I love to click on. But...your website is so awesome that I can forgive some angry title writer's instincts. I have no other suggestions for your otherwise excellent link page. I also do read drudge, just to see what the "right" is reading about the "looney" left. Keep up the good work! Sincerely, A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: The photographs Buzz and all, I have seen two photos of the returning coffins of our service men and women, and read The Washington Post story on your site ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34864-2004Apr22.html ). In the article was a statement from the Pentagon: "The Pentagon has said that only individual graveside services give the full context of a soldier's sacrifice." I think that anyone who sees these photographs of sorrow would, perhaps with great anger and outrage, disagree. The emotions and feelings evoked by the finality in the photographs of the coffins of these young men and women who will no longer grace the lives of their loved ones are beyond language. But we should all recall the words, and the individuals who uttered them, that led to such sobering photographs. Like all others who see these photographs, I am sorry that I can not possibly in any way diminish the sense of loss, the grief and sorrow of the more than 700 families. I am profoundly sad. Bill Farrar
Subject: Kerry and the Bush Angle Dear BuzzFlash, Reading some of your links, I find that there are a whole lot more dimbulbs in Washington than I first considered. Here are the dimbulbs in the House, after Kerry. It seems that Kerry, according to these folks, had shipmates shoot him so he could get Purple Hearts. Oh, sure. Kerry had to have been planning 30 years in advance so he could use his military record in this election. Honestly, what is going on in these heads? I am so sick and tired of the downright nastiness of these people. Can we be very sure about the current polls?. Possibly there is a tighter hold on the media than we care to think about, and numbers can then be skewed. Now, how do we handle that? Buses around and in Detroit carry signs telling people not to watch CH 4. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with the misinformation the media has been dispensing for the last two plus years. The Republicans will do anything to bring down the Democrats. We must not let that happen to us. Stephanie
Subject: GW Bush Administration/lack of military service I think I read on your site a compilation of this Bush administration's top advisors and appointees - and how they managed to avoid military service - except for Rumsfeld - he did fulfill his military requirement. It would be great if you could find it and send it to Sen. Kerry so he can go after all those lying liars. http://www.awolbush.com/whoserved.html Natalie [BuzzFlash Note: You can find resources on the Bush Chickenhawks in the Perspectives section.] CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE APRIL 28, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. |
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