May 26, 2004

MAILBAG ARCHIVES  
The BuzzFlash Mailbag

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Subject: Finally

Finally, a Democratic tough guy -- Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota. Senator Johnson compared certain Republicans to the Taliban -- and he won't back down. Senator Johnson notes that two years ago, when he was running for office, Republicans compared him to Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, and they questioned his religious beliefs and his patriotism. Perhaps John Kerry needs to look at Tim Johnson as a V.P. candidate. It's so refreshing to see a Democrat who has the cajones to stand up to these thugs and hit back. And my oh my how they squeal when you hit them. They like dishing it out, but when you feed it right back to them, they turn into cry babies and start demanding "apologies." I hope all good BuzzFlash readers send a quick note to Senator Johnson, commending him for his bravery and his willingness to tell the truth.

Donald P. Russo
Bethlehem, Pa.


Subject: WWII Vets Denied Entrance to Bush Event in Dubuque

Dear BuzzFlash,

So much for Republicans telling VETS that Republicans LOVE THEM.  Yeah, right!!! The Progressive had this excellent article on how Bush and The RNC treated WWII Vets at a PUBLIC Speech by Bush. John Kerry should put this article in his website's main page and its blog.

May 19, 2004

Denied Entrance to Bush Event in Dubuque  (The Progressive)

On May 7, George W. Bush came to Dubuque to speak at the convention center.

It was billed as a public event, but it was anything but.

Only self-proclaimed Bush supporters could get in. Republican organizers
excluded even a World War II vet and the former commander of the local
American Legion chapter.

This story of exclusion, broken by the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, is in
keeping with other acts of suppression along the Bush campaign trail.

Tom Wieliczka


Subject: Might be of interest

Buzz,

There was a story on the Lehrer report on Monday that seems to have passed under the radar. The state of Oregon, suffering from high unemployment and massive shortfalls that would require curtailing school services, was about to remedy the situation through a small tax increase. In stepped a well-funded, out of state neocon group (with a typically faux-patriotic moniker) that spent a lot of money gathering signatures for a referendum on the tax. Then, through heavy doses of lies and doublespeak, it convinced the citizens of Oregon to vote against their own interests. The group has its fingers in other states as well. Please forgive the dearth of detail, but the story was not in transcript form when I visited the Newshour site.

The story is entitled: "Taxing Issue" ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer").

Keep up the good work.

Jeff Horton
Stoughton, Wisconsin


Subject: More Finger Pointing From Shrubya's Posse - This Time at the Media!

Hi Gang!

As if they can't find anybody else to blame for everything that has gone completely wrong at their own hands, the Shrubya Posse is now blaming...the media.

Gee...you don't suppose that the so-called "Liberal Media" that dunderheads like Lumberingelephantbaugh, Shennanity, O'Liely, Coldasiceter, and the like have whined about since Clinton's term began, are only looking for bad news such as...oh...I dunno...Bin Laden still on the lose, Al Qaeda still operating, Abu Ghraib, the Berg beheading, the continuing unrest in Iraq, the steady spiraling down of Shrubya's popularity? Nah...couldn't be....

"Remember, whining is just noise coming out of a smaller hole." -- Al Franken, "Air America"

Media takes heat from administration over Iraq
When the going gets tough, the messenger gets shot
  (MSNBC News)

Jerry Peurala
Westfield, IN


i see george bush is going to meet with seven men who had their hands cut off by saddam's men. will he be meeting with the little boy who had his arms blown off by by bush? will bush be meeting with all the families of the thousands of innocent iraq people bush has killed? will he be meeting with the thousands of our soldiers who have lost their limbs in bush's war?

don and diane
miami fl


Subject: A horrible sinking feeling...

I've just gotten this horrible sinking feeling in my soul.... The Guardian thinks that the U.S. has been had for dupes in the Ahmed Chalabi / Iran intelligence scandal. But I think it goes one level deeper. The U.S. knew of Chalabi's and Habib's potential ties to Iran, though they claim that they had passed lie detector tests. We've wanted to go into Iran since the "Axis of Evil" speech -- what if this is the setup? We feed SCI to Chalabi, it gets to Iran where we have intelligence resources set up to intercept it, and we have an excuse to go into Iran. Everyone involved in this is a traitor of the highest magnitude.

Les Barstow


Subject: Tear down Abu Ghraib

Dear BuzzFlash:

Well I've finally figured out how the Bush Cartel works. Whatever George W. Bush can't pronounce we destroy. Goodbye Abu Ghraib!

Carolyn
in Tennessee


Subject: Bush and His War Hawks "Duped?" . . . The "D" Word????

Yeah, and the Canary Islands are for sale, cheap, and I'm taking bids. My question is...How can anyone dupe George Bush and his War Hawks, when they refuse to listen to anyone? They always turn away with deaf ears. This is what happens in a Pretty Parallax Picture...painted in cooperation by a Press and a President for Americans...those same Americans who are afraid to question because they fear the answers and the truth more.

Bush and his War Hawks came charging at the world like the bull rush in Spain and now they want to be in charge of who takes the blame. I won't buy it and never will. The umpteen billions of American "bucks" wasted on the destruction of two already devastated countries and their citizens will lay at the doorstep of the Bush White House...for many generations to come.

And...I was only kidding about the Canary Islands being for sale...I've loaned them out already..:)

Thanks, BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith


Subject: Bush Daughters

Dear BuzzFlash,

I thought your readers could use a laugh for a change. I mean, every morning, these days, I wake up feeling good and then as soon as I turn on the news, or open a newspaper, I am instantly back in a state of anger and depression. But this morning I read an article about the Bush daughters which almost made me fall off my chair. It said that Jenna Bush graduated with a degree in ENGLISH, and Barbara Bush graduated with a degree in the HUMANITIES!! Man, those sound like two subjects their father could have sorely benefited from, don't you think? Maybe he could get Jenna to teach him how to pronounce "Nuclear" and Barbara to just show him how to be a decent human being!

Rob Moitoza
U.S. Navy Veteran
Seattle, WA


Subject: gotta get rid of the evil!

Dear Mr. Kerry,

Don't worry about it! If you need to hold off on the acceptance, then do it! Do what you have to do to compete with that evil George Bush, we will be behind you all the way!

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subject: What does Bush believe sovereignty means?

On keeping U.S. troops in Iraq after the handover, Powell said, "We want to take into account the views of the Iraqi interim government. They are sovereign, and so they have a role to play, obviously."

However, Powell said, "If it comes down to the Untied States armed forces protecting themselves or in some way accomplishing their mission" in a way not in accord with the Iraqis, the U.S. forces "will do what is necessary to protect themselves."

I again ask, what are they handing over and who to?  How can the U.S. hand over so called "sovereignty" when Powell needs to state the obvious.  Should he not be saying that the U.S. still has a role to play, obviously, because the question of Iraqis having a role is just a plain stupid statement.  Unless what they are getting handed is garbage.  What is his second comment?  What does mission mean?  Nothing has changed, the U.S. started out with a mission and sovereignty for Iraqis is not going to change the mission.  The mission is the occupation and the annexation of Iraq for decades to come.  This sovereignty thing is propaganda designed to fight against truth as did Adolph Hitler's excuse for invading Czechoslovakia and then Poland to free Germans from the bulk of the population.  Yes, let's invade a country and occupy it forever enslaving the bulk of the population so we can make it free.

I would prefer that nothing is handed over until they can truly hand over sovereignty to Iraqis.  To do anything else is diluting the word sovereignty and further diluting my trust, if there is any left, in what was once the American way.  I now know what the American way is and it is my way.  I value closely what my beliefs are concerning words like truth, freedom, democracy and now sovereignty.  I totally reject America's new language as I would have rejected Nazi Germany's had I been alive.  I am totally disgusted that the American people have not initiated the removal of this person who would be president. 

Jeff Bunn
Australia


Subject: Iraq war as terrorist motivation

Dear BuzzFlash,

What if there was a terrorist attack in the United states and those responsible claimed the Iraq war as their sole motivation? Would America rally around the Resident?

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. -- Jesus Christ, George W. Bush's favorite political philosopher

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -- James Madison, as a United States Congressman

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country -- corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. -- Abraham Lincoln in a letter to William F. Elkins

KN


Subject: The War President?

In the words of Emily Littella from the early days of "Saturday Night Live," if she were still with us... "Why do they keep calling him the Warped Resident"?

Love the Buzz....

A loyal reader

[BuzzFlash Note: "Oh. Thank you, Jane.<pause for comedic effect> Bitch." Of course, we could easily bring back her commentary on all the "Violets on TV." :)]


Subject: Geez, they're already in place to terrorize us

Federal officials have information suggesting that al Qaeda has people in the United States preparing to mount a large-scale terrorist attack this summer, sources familiar with the information said yesterday.   So much for nitwit making us SAFER!!!!!!!!!

U.S. Warns Of Al Qaeda Threat This Summer
Agents in Country Said To Be Planning Attack
(The Washington Post)

Mika S.


Subject: Prediction

Dear BuzzFlash,

So, now we have a rumor that there are to be major terrorist attacks this summer. And we keep hearing a rumor that bin Laden is already caught or on a short leash. What are the odds that Glorious Leader and Protector Bush will catch bin Laden just in the nick of time to stop the major attacks? Say early September, late August? (Though you never roll out a new product in August, I've heard.) Will Bush take him out in person with his trusty semi-automatic? Or at least provide the photographs showing him doing so.

Jim P.


Subject: Bush polls down; Rove inspired terror threat up....

Sources: Major terror attack possible this summer  (CNN)

...now let's all be scared to death...and know that dubya is the only person who can save us....

Peace & Love...
Frank

ADDRULEHERE

Subject: More indicators of suspended elections under martial law to come?

That information dovetails with other intelligence "chatter" suggesting that al Qaeda operatives are pleased with the change in government resulting from the March 11 terrorist bombings in Spain and may want to affect elections in the United States and other countries.

"They saw that an attack of that nature can have economic and political consequences and have some impact on the electoral process," said one federal official with access to counterterrorism intelligence.

U.S. Warns Of Al Qaeda Threat This Summer
Agents in Country Said To Be Planning Attack
(The Washington Post)

James Y.


Greetings to Buzz and all you mailbaggers,

I have this fantasy - the reason it's a fantasy is because it'll never happen.  But I would love to see all of the leaders of our allied nations (or should I say former allies?) stand together and say that they will give us the help we need in Iraq - money, troops, exit strategy, etc. - if the United States does not elect George W. Bush in November.  I'm sure that's actually how most of them feel.  I'm sure they would probably be willing to do just about anything if we'd only get rid of the idiot.  The reality is, nothing can get better there unless we have a regime change here.  But I guess foreign leaders are worried about their own butts if W should be elected (or more likely, steal or cancel the election).  But even if they did say that, I wonder if the Bush sheeple would be able to detach themselves from him.  Their loyalty is completely baffling.

What would we do without Buzz?

Barbara in NYC


Subject: Mythbreakers for Election Officials

This link is to a report compiled by Voters Unite for the intended education of election officials confused by requirements of HAVA, Help America Vote Act, and the various claims by DRE manufacturers (ES&S, Diebold, etc.) and outside groups (Bev Harris, et al.).  If you read the first five pages of the report -- take five minutes -- you will quickly realize how important this information really is and wonder why it is not required reading for all election supervisors. 

The November 2 election is critical; no one disputes it.  We need to get this information to all the states' Secretaries of State and to all county election supervisors.  If someone from each state, each town, and each county -- any, all of the above -- will forward this report, or its link, to the proper authorities, we may save some votes.  Is it worth a shot?  Is anyone willing to take the time?  Volunteers?

Sharon Andrews


Subject: Bush's poll numbers

Do you have any way of finding out how Bush's poll numbers move when credible terror comes out? It looks like every time Bush gets in trouble, a new terror threat comes out. Thanks.

Jerry Dryer


Subject: Judith Miller Sideshow

So The Times does a (sort of) mea culpa.  So what?  That's then. What's now is that the Paper of Record is not asking the Bush Administration questions like (and not giving up until it [answers] questions like):

  • Why won't you tell the 9/11 Commission the truth about the Saudi-bound planes that ferried Saudis and bin Laden relatives out of the country in the days following 9/11?
  • How can you, Mr. President, reconcile your 2000 campaign promise to call up the Saudis and get them to open up the "spigots" to get gas prices down with your inability to do the same now that you are president?
  • Why is it that...the current high "chatter" from al Qaeda has caused the Administration to publicize the high threat of a terrorist attack when, during the spring and summer of 2001, such high chatter caused nary a ripple (and zero public statements) within the Administration -- given bin Laden's then-known track record, the Hart-Rudman Report, and warnings from people like Paul Bremmer?
  • Had the Administration invested, say, 1/4 of the billions of $ now spent in Iraq, and, say, 1/4 of the same time and effort as spent in Iraq, in working on resolving the ongoing war between the Israelis and Palestinians, do you think the world might be safer now?
  • Given that a new government report estimates that al Qaeda's ranks have not been diminished but, rather, have swelled to around 18,000 since the Administration declared a "War on Terror," is it possible that the strategy for conducting that war is subject to re-evaluation for effectiveness and competency?
  • Can the Administration at least acknowledge why some Americans are baffled (at least) and angered (at most) for the fact that not one Administration official lost their job over 9/11?
  • Administration spokespersons have called Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" "outrageously false."  Has anyone in the Administration actually seen this film and, if so, which portions are "outrageously false," and in what way(s) is/are such portions false?  And... aside from that/those portion(s), would the Administration agree that the rest of the film is true?
  • Approximately how many Bush/Cheney campaign donation telephone solicitations have been made from India? 
So, will the NY Times (or the WaPo, or NPR, or ABC News, or . . .) start asking questions like this?  I'm not holding my breath.

Richard R. Newton
Birmingham, Alabama


Subject: General Mark Kimmitt refers to Iraqis as "Ali Baba"

This is the same fool I heard on a news program say, "If it was a wedding it was unlike any wedding I've ever seen." Wonder how many Iraqi weddings General Kimmitt has been invited to lately?

U.S. shows photo evidence in deadly Iraq attack (The Chicago Tribune--from wire reports)

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military displayed more photographs yesterday to bolster its contention that American aircraft attacked a safe house for foreign fighters near the Syrian border - not a wedding party, as claimed by Iraqi survivors and police and suggested by video footage from the scene.

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the coalition deputy chief of staff for operations in Iraq, again showed pictures of items the military said it found at the attack site, including machine guns, ammunition, a Sudan Airways plane ticket, medical gear, a Sudanese passport and battery packs associated with improvised explosive devices.

" These are pictures that are somewhat inconsistent in my mind with a wedding party," Kimmitt said. "One could say, yes, it is true that out in the desert you need to have a rifle to protect yourself against Ali Baba, but the necessity for rocket-propelled launchers, rocket launchers in the bottom, special machine guns may be a little much for Ali Baba out there."

Laura Wilkerson
Spencer, Indiana


Subject: I think this is their rationale for warnings

Ridge: Terror Threat Tied to Major Events...
" threat of a terrorist attack, possibly connected to high-profile events such as dedication of a new war monument, an economic summit and political conventions.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/sn...

"At some of the higher-profile events, you had better believe there will be additional security," Ridge said on CBS's "The Early Show."

These types of warnings will allow Bush to:

1. Keep Bush's last vestigial issue front-and-center in the media with kowtowing emphasis on how Bush's Administration is protecting us -- maybe there'll be a staged "foiled plot"....

2. Rationale (justified in naive, frightened Americans' eyes) for keeping protesters' activities squelched at the economic summit and Republican Convention.

These guys will NOT go down without trying stuff like this and MORE. Put it this way, if they have now been proven to start a WAR for their own insidious purposes, we can only imagine what will go down if they actually believe that the lot of them are going to be stripped of their armies, billions to play with, and executive orders to sign. Whew.

Dave Dorsett

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