June 1, 2004
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Subject: Charles Krauthammer -- Pathological Narcissism Gone Amok
Charles Krauthammer, failed Canadian and failed psychiatrist.
Dear Buzz, Apparently Charles Krauthammer thinks Al Gore is "crazy." He said the same thing about Howard Dean several months back.
My husband is a psychiatrist, and a very good one at that. He did his training in Boston at approximately the same time as Krauthammer in the same residency program. For twenty-five years, he has worked extremely hard as a psychiatrist. He has a caseload of approximately 750 patients; of course, he has to deal with his share of psychiatric emergencies as well. He also consults to the other services in the hospital. He teaches medical students and mentors other mental health professionals in his department. He also puts a lot of time and energy into crafting a really elaborate and funny April Fools Day joke every year that everyone in his department looks forward to.
I suspect that Charles Krauthammer couldn't even begin to know how to do the work my husband does. (And since I've never seen any evidence of a sense of humor in him, I don't imagine he could figure out a really good, non-nasty April fools joke, either.) He is too busy writing shallow and dishonest columns, making snide remarks on TV shows, and diagnosing people from afar-- unethical and unprofessional behavior for a psychiatrist, I might add. It tells you something about him that he has no idea how inappropriate it is for him to do that.
As a matter of fact, my husband was a very strong, very early supporter of Howard Dean's. Furthermore, we watched Al Gore's speech on C-SPAN the other night and both of us found it electrifying! NO SIGN of any mental illness there. Al Gore is appropriately furious, just like the rest of us. He articulated our fury accurately and brilliantly.
Me and my Canadian relatives and friends think of Krauthammer (and David Frum) as failed Canadians. We cannot imagine what happened to both of them to make them so intellectually dishonest and vapid.
Leslie in Boston
Subject: Maybe Now, Not Later
a kerry mccain ticket might look like a winner now but not when the bush people started airing all those commercials with mccain saying he thinks bush is doing a good job and should be elected a second term. then you add that to when the women find out mccain is pro life, that ticket won't look so good.FLIP FLOP KERRY PICKS FLIP FLOP MCCAIN. that is what they will be saying.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: According to the CPT and other sources: in March 2004, 18,000-20,000 people held in Iraq prisons
Lots of different groups of people are in Iraq, trying to monitor what is really going on with the current WAR in Iraq, dubbed either a "liberation" or "occupation" since May 1st, 2003, when Dubya declared "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".
I've read 2 different articles in which CPT delegates (Christian Peacemaker Team) assert that upwards of 18,000 people were being held in Iraqi prisons without charges as of March 1st. Women, temporary detainees and "high level" detainees were not included in those numbers.
The coalition admitted to only between 11,000 and 13,000 at that time. Article written March 1st:
http://www.iraq-today.com/article.php?id=1343&sp=&searchstring=§ion=6
From the Radio Newsmagazine: Between the Lines, broadcast on March 15th:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00166.htm
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Spin and Counterspin
Every time Kerry, Gore, or Democrats in Congress make a speech or public statement, there is a Dubya Republican comeback —generally a snide one-liner. Could someone collect these to show how the remarks distort what was said —and how they are often irrelevant to the point that had been made? Such a collection would show that the Republican strategy is hardly based on truth.
Another thing that is very annoying is all the right-leaning pundits (e.g. Bob Novak) saying over and over that Kerry "has no punch". I watched the latest speech on Iraq last night on C-Span. To my ears it had lots of punch: He did not mince words, and he said where the rot lies. But, we have to realize that no one has a magic wand to get us out of this mess. The Republican comment was something like: "Of course he will get European help —but on their terms not ours. That will be bad for America." Damn them. How dare they!
Dana S.
Subject: Threat to PBS
To BuzzFlash Staff:
I saw an unnerving story prominent on AOL, questioning whether tax money should be going to "Big Bird," categorizing PBS as "pork-barrel" money. The voting showed AOL subscribers (who tend to be conservative) were not irked by PBS. Phew! However, I can see that the bankrupting of the government that the Republicans are working on is probably meant to bankrupt Social Security and also Public Television and Radio. Let's face it, PBS & PRI provide educated voices, compete with Fox and Clear Channel, and I'm sure the neo-cons hate them. "All things Considered" -- just the thought of it -- probably drives them nuts. I hope some of your wonderful writers, journalists, and ones you post, will take an interest in deflecting attacks on PBS before they become less subtle. I do not work for PBS or PRI.
Enjoy the postings and have told many people.
Best regards,
Martha Pinson
New York, NY
Subject: Homeland Security
Dear Buzz,
I sat here laughing about the news tonight,5/28, and they had shown a news clip with Tom Ridge saying the consensus was not to raise the 'color chart' to a higher position. What was so funny is that Rep Lee Terry, and Sen Dem Ben Nelson wasn't even notified about the 'Terror Boogeyman' from their own people!! Mr. Terry, went on to say that the Homeland Security office didn't even notify him, and the local police were not even notified either! Well if THAT doesn't confirm the distraction tactic's of the the Bush administration, I don't know what else would! I hate these lying SOB'S, especially the slimy beady eyed, pencil neck smirky faced retard!!! I hope all those in favor for Nader votes for Kerry, otherwise, that's just another vote for the shrub as Nader has no chance of winning, and that's a vote that could have gone to Kerry ! I urge all people, give your vote to Kerry, or else we will have four more years of Bush! Is that what you want? THINK ABOUT IT! KERRY FOR PRESIDENT!!!!! A Loyal Buzz fan forever!
Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska
PS...To Shirley in St. Louis....have a happy anniversary, and don't worry, have a good time on your trip, and enjoy!
Subject: Vote for Bush
I am certain that many people believe they have pertinent contributions to make concerning the current political mess in which we live. My contribution is relatively simple. Vote for Bush in November 2004. He and his cronies have done such damage to the U.S. nationally and internationally, I believe a further four years in office would be sufficient to finally awaken the U.S. electorate to the fact they cannot take democracy for granted. I hope the damage will not be irreparable, yet the risk might be well worth it should the public finally realize they have the final word about its government's policies and practices.
Ron Anderson
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Subject: Gonzales also helped Bush execute a record number of inmates while Gov. of TX
Dear Buzz,
Here is an interesting tidbit I ran across reading the news: Gonzales helped Bush execute a record number of inmates while Bush was governor of TX by preparing the short and incomplete summaries Bush quickly reviewed before denying inmates their pleas and putting them to death.
The Texas Clemency Memos
As the legal counsel to Texas Governor George W. Bush, Alberto R. Gonzales—now the White House counsel, and widely regarded as a likely future Supreme Court nominee—prepared fifty-seven confidential death-penalty memoranda for Bush's review. Never before discussed publicly, the memoranda suggest that Gonzales repeatedly failed to apprise Bush of some of the most salient issues in the cases at hand
Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
RE Zogby Poll - Kerry Will Win the Election
As far as I am concerned Bush's low poll numbers mean zip, nada, nothing. Bush LOST the last election. He and his lieutenants (see Cathy Cox, Georgia Sect'y of State) control the ballots or lack of them via Diebold. He also controls the Congress and the Supreme Court. In June, IF the Supremes rule in Bush's favor re the power to declare anyone an enemy combatant, this country is no longer one of laws but of one man, George W. Bush. He can do whatever he wants including declaring martial law or postponing an election (can you say grave terror alert?) Don't start celebrating; it's not over yet.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
Your reader's Bungling Bush photo essay was good but failed to include the mysterious "Band-Aid" that preceded the big court battle for the presidency itself in 2000.
Let's get it ALL in!
Robyn Miller
Quincy, MA
[BuzzFlash Note: If anyone sends us a pic of Bush with the Band-Aid on his face, we'd be happy to post it as an addendum to the article. 6/2 UPDATE: It's here.]
Re: Update from the Family Steering Committee for the 9/11 Independent Commis...
Last Saturday I went down to Ground Zero to help with the volunteers who have been giving out information about the 9/11 cover-up since last January, 2004. These volunteers work for three hours every Saturday afternoon.
While present I met with a woman who was visiting New York City. She relayed a story to me as follows:
" My son lives one mile from NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. The community still is baffled by NORAD's reaction or lack thereof. On September 11, 2001 they locked the blast doors at the facility for the first time in 50 years rather than proceed with standard operating procedures to secure the skies of the entire United States. " She further stated "How did they know that the highjacked planes were limited to the Northeast Corridor"? They still talk about this puzzling question. "The story that the Bush Administration told to the public is not the true story of the events of 9/11".
Arlene
Subject: North Carolina E-Voting bill in house and senate of Gen Assembly
Buzz, please let your readers know about this -
North Carolina now has a e-voting bill:
The bill is titled "Voter Paper Trail Study" and was introduced in the N.C. General Assembly on May 28th. This bill would place a moratorium on further purchase of electronic voting machines that do not produce a voter verified paper ballot, and commission a study on whether all electronic voting machines should create a voter verified paper trail. The bill number for the senate version is S1415, and the house version is H1748. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillSearch/BillSearch.a...
Would you please tell your readers about this, so that the public can know? Our group urges citizens to contact their representatives in the North Carolina State Legislature. They should ask their representatives to support or cosponsor these bills. The contact information for the N.C. senators and representatives is available here: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html or they can contact ncverifiablevoting@yahoo.com ,provide us with their street and city, and we will email them back their reps contact info.
Thanks for your help!
Joyce McCloy
Coordinator, N.C. Coalition for Verifiable Voting
Reads BuzzFlash every day!
Subject: Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge is between a rock and a hard spot. He is Secretary of a department the Administration didn't want and in a job he didn't want. He answered the call of the country twice now. Once in the Army as a grunt and again to help the Country as Secretary of Homeland Security. I am neither a fan of Ridge or a Republican( the next one I vote for will be the first. It won't happen. I'm seventy already.) but he has served honorably which is why I am not particularly pleased to see him denigrated or ridiculed along with assholes like Rove and Bible thumping ashcroft.( he doesn't deserve a capital on his name. Ashcroft,(it's beginning a sentence) Asa Hutchinson and others that lost elections are no different than others in the ward with patronage jobs. They are on the public dole just as if they are on welfare. The electorate voted them out for a reason but patronage keeps them around.
Robert N.
Horey
Amherst, Oh.
Subject: WWII Memorial Dedication
Dear Buzz, zzzzzzz.....Oh Excuse me, I took a short nap from trying to listen to the schrub in giving a 'speech' which was just a reading of what was put before him........ (yawn)....Don't get me wrong, I have the greatest respect for the men and women that served our country, my dad and my brother being just two of so many that served for our country, but I find it laughable to watch the crowd at this ceremony who all are not paying attention to the 'commander in chief' stand there trying to be one of 'them'. I noticed people looking around, yawning, talking and doing everything else. What a joke the pResident is! I wish Bill Clinton was up there instead, giving us a beautiful rendition of what a speech should be, and you can bet everyone would be listening and proud to be an American...after all it was he (Clinton) who started the ball rolling on this WWII monument, and it was he that should have been part of the dedicating program.....what a shame for a waste of the tax payers dollars to listen to this dweeb! I can't even stand to look at him yet listen to him. I only listened hoping to see former President Clinton if not to hear him, and my wish as fulfilled. What a charismatic man Clinton is! If he had been speaking, people would have applauded loudly, and given him a standing ovation on this great day! I'm rattling again......sorry
A Loyal Buzz Fan Forever!!!
Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska
God Bless all those who served our country to give us the freedom's we have today.
Subject: I don't watch CNN but pal wrote: reporter said Al Quaida would prefer Kerry!!!!
This reporter was Kelli Arena, and of course, this is absolutely unacceptable... first of all, how the fuck does she or CNN know that? Second of all, it is practically an endorsement of Bush.... she should be fired.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: CNN suit for Florida voter records
BuzzFlash,
I suggest all BuzzFlashers write to CNN to applaud them for suing Florida officials who want to keep secret the list of purged voters and to urge CNN to pursue the matter with the vigor the founding fathers intended.
Because of a near complete lack of coverage, most people are not aware of the scandalous purge in 2000, believing the election turned on the closeness of the tallied votes and subsequent litigation.
As Greg Palast has well-documented, however, the real scandal happened before anyone went to the polls. With an error rate somewhere around 90 percent, a private firm, with the blessing of the controlling Republicans, purged tens of thousands of voters, denying them the right to vote.
Writing to CNN gives us the rare opportunity to speak positively to a major news organization about its pursuit of the truth, and, if done in significant enough numbers, will illustrate to CNN just how important the public thinks this story is.
Here is the letter I am sending:
News Editor
CNN
One CNN Center
P.O. Box 105366
Atlanta, GA 30348
Dear Editor:
I applaud CNN's efforts in seeking to acquire the list of ineligible voters from Florida officials, as described in the May 28 story, "CNN Asks Florida Court for Ineligible Voters List."
In 2000, Florida officials denied eligible voters the right to vote in alarming numbers, but the public seems largely unaware that this even happened, let alone how it happened and by whose authorization.
CNN's suit to acquire the Florida voter list is vital to ensuring that state officials cannot keep secret its actions in determining voter eligibility, not just in Florida, but across the United States. Secrecy in government is always a menace to democracy, and is especially so when it comes to the right to exercise the elective franchise.
I urge you to continue your efforts with vigor, and to report on the events of the litigation as they occur.
Sincerely,
Cathy Vance
Subject: Kerry/Tillman medals question
Didn't some right wing pundits or Govt. officials suggest that Kerry might not have deserved medals because the gunfire he took might have come from friendly fire?
I'm not taking anything away from Mr. Tillman, rest his soul, just wondering if there's yet another double standard at play here.
Maybe someone can clarify whether Purple Hearts, Silver Stars, etc, are contingent upon fire being from the enemy. (It would have to be discussed very carefully, with the pertinent quotes from conservatives about Kerry's medals in hand).
Dave Dorsett
Subject: Kerry-Edwards ticket is the way to go...
The corporate media is trying to create a rift between Kerry-Edwards, a tactic which shows they obviously fear a Kerry-Edwards ticket and for good reason. This in and of itself is enough to show that this ticket is a good idea. The Bushites fear it.
I quote from the article linked below; "the main drawbacks are his lack of experience (especially in foreign and military affairs) and such an evident hunger for the White House that it can make even a man such as Kerry - no wallflower in the ambition department - nervous."
Subtle seed of dissension being sewn? I ask you.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5067113/
This writer is confident that Senator Kerry is smart enough to not take any cues or thinly disguised suggestions from the corporate media on who he should choose. They'll always back the winning horse when it becomes clear which horse that is. As soon as it looks like Bush-Cheney Inc. will lose, the media will start to distance itself from them, miraculously find things about them to be critical about, and start giving Kerry better coverage.
It's obvious they want us to just overlook how badly they've betrayed the public trust in the way they put in their earplugs, put on their blinders and cheerleaded this nation into the Iraq war on false pretenses and bogus information. Sorry Sam, trust, once lost, is hard to regain and requires some real, honest atonement. Like, maybe...some consequences to journalists who lied and hyped and didn't check facts? And, perhaps the rehiring of, and public apologies to, journalists who were wrongly fired because they dared criticize the hype or Bush?
The corporate media has already chosen which master it will serve. After the way it sold out the journalistic code of conduct and ethics in its full bore pumping up of the public in the lead up to the war, it doesn't deserve to have Kerry's or anyone else's ear. It made it's bed right next to the Bush-Cheney Inc war machine. Let it lie in it.
The NYT is the only mainstream paper which has made any attempt to admit it's failure, and even in this case it did little more than talk the talk. One of it's main sources of embarrassingly uncritical, inaccurate, unchecked and often completely wrong information which brought the public to support the war, Judith Miller, still remains. So, until consequences follow apologies, even the NYT doesn't deserve much leeway in this writer's opinion.
As soon as Kerry announces that he's chosen Edwards as his running mate, this writer believes we're going to see a real, grassroots campaign emerge that'll have the vision, appeal and popular support all around to consign Bush-Cheney Inc. to the dustbin of history's failed administrations.
Then, let the real investigations begin. Reveal all of the cover-ups and republican-stalled "investigations" that are now on-going be exposed for what they are and bring some people to justice.
Let all the heads roll which are being protected now by cohorts and partisan lapdogs.
Let the tough questions about 9/11 be asked, answers demanded and let the truth come out.
Let all of the Bush-Cheney Inc. corporate welfare tax breaks be rescinded and applied to the poor who really need it.
Let environmental causes be reaffirmed and strengthened, not just back to where they were pre-Bush-Cheney Inc., but beyond. Let's get someone running the EPA who actually cares about the environment.
Let all of the professional lobbyists and corporate embedded deregulators who are now running the bureaucracy be replaced with people who will work for the people, not undermine the very principles which they've been tasked to uphold.
Let our international friends and allies once again be given the respect and hearing they deserve.
Let us again reaffirm our commitment as a nation to the principles of international law and justice, and show the world that we're willing to live by the same rules that we expect others to live by.
Let us reaffirm our commitment to civil rights and repeal all the unconstitutional provisions of the badly named "Patriot Act".
And, never forget how the republicans in Congress have treated the democrats over the last couple of years. Let the republicans in power now know what they can expect when the democrats retake the Senate. Turnabout is fair play.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Yahoo! News Story - Bush Hails Veterans, Calls WWII 'Greatest Mission'
If WWII was the greatest mission, then what is Bush talking about when he acts like he is the second coming of Christ with his religious war to rebuild the Evil middle east? Could it get more ridiculous and more apocalyptic for NO REASON than it is right now? This moron, our unelected President probably has a microchip in his head when he gives these speeches reminding him what WWII even is. Seeing that he has either willfully or blindly started WWIII, how dare he even open his pitiful mouth.
Bush Hails
Veterans, Calls WWII 'Greatest Mission'
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040529/ts_nm/memorial_dc
Subject: Bush's Bruises and scratches
It's been at least 3 years now since I gave George Bush any credit for being any semblance of a warm-blooded mammal/human. But I just wonder if maybe the scratches and bruises come from his handlers working him over, whenever he tries to still be a real person, perhaps they have ways of keeping him in line....Kerry, too. Perhaps we need to worry about whose controlling everything behind our frontmen. Who actually has access to the president? Maybe everything needs to be out in the open, maybe just maybe, making nothing secret will enable the American people to save the president, the presidency, ourselves, our democracy our economy and our way of life. Otherwise get ready, I think for the ride of our lives. I hope I'm wrong.
Suzanne in San Diego
A forwarded joke . . .
Subject: FROM OUR KEYBOARDS TO GOD'S MONITOR!
The White House - 2005
One sunny day in 2005, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine replied, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer President and no longer resides here."
The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.
The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer President and no longer resides here."
The man thanked him and again walked away.
The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, repeating, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and intoned, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush. I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the President and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"
The old man replied, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it."
The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow, Sir!"
Dear Buzz
Larry Flynt, the man who saved Bill Clinton's presidency, has a bare-knuckled book coming out July 4 called, "Sex, Lies and Politics; the Naked Truth." This is supposed to be scathing with information about the Bush/abortion story. You can go to Larry's site for more info., or read Liz Smith's column (Wonkette has a link). Otherwise, keep up the good work.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Guilt by Association
On the stump, one of Bush's stock lines is, "You can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps."
http://dir.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/03/16/bushno/index.html
These pictures can’t be good for Chalabi’s already tarnished reputation!
http://www.liberalconspiracy.com/Chalabiphotogallery.htm
Turk Meister
Subject: God Bless America
Dear Buzz-Flash,
I just took this off the BBC teletext, and I can't believe these idiots are saying things like this. Or are they still trying to win hearts and minds.
Iraqi's "will forgive jail abuse"
The people of Iraq will forgive US-led occupying forces for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, according to a senior coalition spokesman.
Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt told the BBC's Talking Point programme that the photos of abuse by US soldiers at the Baghdad jail were not representative.
He described the Abu Ghraib scandal as a "failure of leadership" involving a maximum of 20 soldiers.
It was being fully investigated by the US military, Brig Gen Kimmitt added.
I agree with the people that we shouldn't try for a win at an election. This out of control fascist gang will resort to anything to keep in power. Do you think maybe that this could or should be considered a lie, and that they start to be held accountable for their lies? And why was every right-wing commentator and journalist saying that Al Gore was crazy, and not one talked about what he said? Because he told the TRUTH? I almost choked listening to Bush at the WWII memorial dedication, and I wasn't even eating pretzels. His words will come back to haunt him, they should have been read by the Iraqi freedom fighters. That is what Kofi Annan is calling them, and he refers to the "coalition" as the occupying forces. That is calling a shovel a shovel.
A BuzzFlash contributor
Subject: The Public Editor at the NYT: Judith Miller
To: public@nytimes.com
Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2004 11:25 AM
Subject: Judith Miller
Dear Mr. Okrent,
Thanks much for your column. I wish you had been around a year ago, but I fear 'institutional forces' might well have muted your concern about Judith Miller's malfeasance, as well.
Many of us, who began following this story closely in the foreign press and on academic web sites 18 months ago knew that Miller's information (and the government and exile sources who spoon-fed it to her) were at the very least suspect. That was the real story in the run up to war.
But pinning this on Miller alone is both inaccurate and unfair.
I agree. She is only one among several who should be fired. But I think you are being a bit too generous in her regard. Judging from her frequent, cloyingly sanguine appearances on cable news, she well and truly reveled in her role as the 'liberal' media's star cheerleader for Bush's war. She either knew what she was doing, or she didn't. In either case, if The Times is serious in its reconsideration of its Iraq coverage, she should be fired.
You only touch on how significant a boost Bush's war ambitions were given by the placement, tone and content of Miller's stories during the critical pre-war period. If The Times had covered Bush's claims more skeptically, as did most reputable newspapers around the globe, it most certainly would have made a difference. Miller and The Times have blood on their hands.
All the best,
Chuck Van
Wey
www.bushwatch.com
I'm a combat veteran, and the last thing I want to see this Memorial Day is another sappy tear-jerker poem about veterans - the kind of poems that are usually written by someone who never served in the military, and mass-emailed around the internet to make people feel good about themselves for emailing it to all their friends.
If you honestly want to honor the memory of our fallen soldiers, do something about what they gave their lives for! They gave their lives for the principles that this country once displayed to the rest of the world. They gave their lives for a country that was once rightly respected and admired around the world.
But today, we are despised by much of the world. Today, we the people are seen equally as ignorant as our leaders are seen as incompetent. And we the people are to blame for it, because we the people sat complacently and let it happen to this country!
We waved our flags, we tied pretty little yellow ribbons around town, and we were satisfied with video clips and soundbites being all the news we needed. We believed whatever our leaders told us, and couldn't imagine that they would ever mislead us. No, not us - they would never do that to us.
And if anyone dared to question our leaders' intentions, we called them unpatriotic, when true patriotism demands that we do question our leaders, regardless of how uncomfortable and unpopular those questions may be.
We claimed to be patriotic because we waved flags and tied yellow ribbons around town. How ignorant! And while we waved our flags, millions of our friends and relatives lost their jobs. Our federal deficit skyrocketed to a monumental level that our grandchildren will now have to pay for. Our wealthiest citizens were given a convenient tax break that left the individual states scrambling to cover the lost funding. Our civil rights were eroded right under our noses, while we smiled and waved our flags. And, to top it all off, a staggering number of our youth (and thousands of dirt-poor innocent Iraqi civilians) were slaughtered in a war that was begun under the most questionable reasons ever given for going to war.
What did we expect militant fighters to do when the president of the United States tells them to "bring it on"? They brought it on and slaughtered our kids, our friends, our classmates, our coworkers. What did we do? We smiled and waved our flags.
Do you really want to honor our fallen soldiers? Really? Then DO something about it! Put your flag down and wake up. You have just over five months to pull your head out of the sand and take a look at what happened to your country while you were waving your flag! November is coming soon, and it is the ONLY chance you'll ever have to take your country back. If we continue our present course for four more years, you won't have a country to take back four years from now.
Honor our fallen soldiers by restoring what they fought and died for. Honor this country by taking it back. That means a whole lot more than a sappy email poem ever will.
Steven
A. Hass
SGT, U.S. Army (Ret)
Gulf War veteran
Sent to: kelli.arena@turner.com:
Subject: Kelli, did you actually "REPORT" this? Please, Al Quaeda must thank their lucky stars for Bush HOURLY.
Quote of the day: "There is some speculation that al Qaeda believes it has a better chance of winning in Iraq if John Kerry is in the White House."
- Kelli Arena
____________________
Bush has given Al Quaeda recruiting possibilities beyond its WILDEST dreams, Kelli - why in God's name would they not salivate for another FOUR FULL YEARS of this free advertising. Their ranks are UP! You're curiously and dangerously echoing the illogical Bush-preferred line that a vote for Kerry is a vote for Al Quaeda. It's always been clear you are a Bush and Iraq war supporter, but please watch that wildly partisan spin next time; I don't know where you got that from.
Dave Dorsett
The entire Bush and Cheney presidency has been nothing but lie after lie. The worst of all lies is starting this war in Iraq based on lies. To me this is most serious be-cause it's costing us billions of dollars everyday and lives for oil and his daddy. G.Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld should be impeached and charged with war crimes.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: I'm confused
I'm confused, i saw on the news that bush has saddam's gun. Can he just take personal possession of saddam's stuff? Shouldn't that stuff be in the possession of his daughters? Isn't that stealing? Also, doesn't that make it seem like a real personal thing bush had with saddam instead of the wmd?
Second, i saw bush say on tv that the united nations was irrelevant, now he is asking them for help. Now that is a big flip flop! The dems should put it in commercials.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Happiness is a Mounted Gun
OK, Is it just me, or is there something about the following that just makes you want to go, "eeuuuwwwww, yuck", and go take a shower?
Clinton gets off in a small study near the Oval Office. Bush also uses that same room to get off: only what seems to excite him is showing off Saddam's gun. Which has been specially mounted and which Bush likes to show off and brag about.
This is a Freudian's dream. Laden with overt sexualization of violence and lots and lots of Shakespearean-flavored Oedipal weirdness. Bush not only took the power from his father's old enemy, he uses it as a trophy in the very room his father's vanquisher, Clinton, used for his conquests. What a Man!!! So butch! Especially when he's wearing a uniform. ("Is that a bulge in your flight suit, sir, or do you smell victory in the air?") Homoerotic prisoner torture is such an aphrodisiac, "Oh, Donald, you were SUBURB!"
If only the entire Bush family had gone for professional counseling about 40 years ago, think of what this country could have avoided.
A loyal BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Regime Change
Dear Buzz,
If anyone who cares about the future of our national leadership needs another reason for a regime change, read the following quote by Anthony Principi, secretary of Veteran's affairs on page A5 of the Sunday Washington Post (May 30).
"President Bush commands the same stature as men like Lincoln & Churchill. I believe the president's service in the guard has played into his ability to be a great leader".
Harold Martin
Subject: Bush takes spotlight off Medicare drug benefit
A Globe survey of Bush's and Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks indicate 22 mentions in December and January, four in February, five in March, one in April, and three in May.
Chewgababy
Subject: Saddam's Gun
Hi Buzz,
This just in...FoxNews breathlessly reports that 'Saddam's 'Spider Hole' Gun Now in Bush's Hands'! (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,121329,00.html) Apparently, the unit that 'found' Saddam took his pistol and presented it to their grateful President, who keeps it close at hand. Hopefully it's not loaded - judging by the cuts he has on his face all the time, I'm guessing brains and coordination aren't his strong suits.
But isn't that just typical, eh? Amidst all the chaos, torture and murder in Iraq, the Army has presented George with a war trophy. Do you think he holds it while he watches Iraqi prison videos? Maybe he poses in front of a mirror with it...like DeNiro in 'Taxi Driver', "You talkin' to me?" Makes you wonder if the whole damn war wasn't just an exercise in macho from a wannabe Rambo. Over 10,000 dead Iraqi civilians, 800 American dead and Bush gets a souvenir to show his buddies what a man he is. It just gets worse and worse.
Andy Grainger
London Canada
Subject: You are wonderful, but . . .
Dear Buzz,
Your site is wonderful! But--please, please don't refer to the "Honor Roll" of GOP hypocrites of the week. I know "Honor Roll" is irony, but it grates to see the word "honor" anywhere close to those names. How about
Hall of Shame
instead? There are so many nominees for their Hall of Shame. We should put up a building.
Barbara at The Doghouse
Subject: Limbaugh out of the closet?
Rush Limbaugh, and by association, his fellow radical right wing radio commentators and opinion molders, all long-standing and outspoken critics of anything relating to approval of homosexuals and/or their life style have all weighed in on the Abu Ghraib torture stories with their learned opinions.
According to Mr. Limbaugh the torturers were “just having a good time”and enjoying a “healthy emotional release”. He announced his (their?) opinion to the world that ogling the nude bodies of other men and exploring the nether regions of some of these captives with foreign objects is “just good old fashioned frat boy fun”.
Given Mr. Limbaugh’s long standing public denouncement of anything other than heterosexual relationships this interpretation of fun and emotional release would seem to be a truly unique way to come out of the closet.
(Something like his private contradiction –by example - of his public stance on the illegal use of controlled substances?).
Roy DeHart
Pasco, WA
Subject: A Bush Necklace!
Bush should have had the teeth of Saddam's two sons made into a necklace that he could wear to prove that he is truly the victor. Saddam's gun is a nice touch, but it isn't strong enough a symbol for Bush's right wing wackos.
Bob
Subject: Saddam's Gun
Oh this is just great! Little George now has saddam's pistol as one of his prized possessions in the White House. Daddy must be very proud. Reminds me of the cat coming to the door with the bird he just caught to make his master proud. Where's the media outrage?
Carolina
Subject: The Boys of Praha
Thank, you, BuzzFlash, for this moving story. Thank you for speaking for the voiceless. God bless and protect the people of Praha.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: The Department of War
Seems to me that the Department of Defense should have its name changed back to the Department of War. When was the last time the military was engaged in our defense? I would say WWII. Since then this country has been almost continuously at war- Korea, Lebanon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Kosovo, etc. None of these was truly in defense of the U.S.A. Of course, to expect anything other than prevarication, euphemism or dissimulation from our government is futile, but I say change it back to the Department of War because isn't that really where we're coming from?
Making war is actually referred to by its opposite, anymore- they call it peace keeping. Keeping the peace entails killing and bombing. Certainly sounds peaceful, doesn't it?
Remember when Reagan's team named that missile "The Peacekeeper"? Man, that's rich! It's like "Hey, what caused that building to blow up?" " Oh. it's cool, man, it just got hit by a Peacekeeper."
Peacekeeper! Piecemaker is more like it because whatever it hits will wind up in pieces.
So called patriots like to puff out their chests and brag about the "balls" we have to engage in "military action". Let's have the balls, stones, cojones-whatever- to call it what it really is -The Department of War.
Sincerely,
Dorson
Orba
Oxnard, CA
Subject: Perle CBC Interview
Dear Buzz,
This letter is in regards to an interview I just heard (Mon, May 31/04) on CBC Radio One's news program "As It Happens". Richard Perle was a guest and he seemed to be distancing himself somewhat from the current administration. The topic was the current selection of Lakhdar Brahimi for Iraqi president. Perle went on to discuss how he has always felt that the Iraqis should've been given power right away and that he never supported the idea of an exile candidate. He astounded me with the comment that he never felt he had much influence over the current government in the months/years leading up to the war.
Is this guy for real?!
As the interview was only moments ago, it is too soon to locate a transcript of the interview. If it is possible for you to find one by tomorrow, could you go thru the interview and determine if he is lying through his teeth? I can't believe this guy.
www.radio.cbc.ca/programs/asithappens/
yours
Trevor Aikman
Toronto, Canada
Subject: Saddam's Gun
Dear BuzzFlash,
I’ve been reading your site for quite some time, I love it. Keep up the good work.
My question for you, to pass on to others if you wish, is this:
Isn’t it illegal for Mr. Bush to have Saddam Hussein's gun? Isn’t it evidence? Doesn’t this fall under the same category as the police officers saving pieces of the Twin Towers?
Its just a thought I had that I didn’t hear anyone else bring up. If you do use my question, please do not use my name. I don’t want any far right wing hostilities at the moment.
-G H, Michigan
RE: Bush's speech at Arlington
Who was on the guest list for this speech? Considering that more than 50% of the people of this country don’t support this President, who was giving him (and Rumsfeld) such loud ovations? Was ticketing limited to GOP supporters?
Roy O.
Subject: Post Democracy Syndrome
Democracy is not a static principle (or practice). Its organic. We can have a little democracy or a lot of democracy. Population size determines how much democracy is practiced. The larger population tends to have more centralized power, with only the bureaucracy de-centralized. In a small population, more democracy can be practiced, if only in a clear "majority rules" sense. But in a small population, the electorate is likely to be informed. Centralized Media has misinformed the American population, thereby allowing Centralized Power to reduce democracy with the intention of eliminating it, although it will still be called democracy. maybe.
David W.
[BuzzFlash Note: We sometimes like to say, "Democracy is a Participatory Sport.]
Subject: Bush's War "trophy"...
OMG! I can't believe that screwball of a prez has actually taken Saddam's weapon for himself.
What is wrong with this picture?!
A liberal talk show host aptly suggested that, if he could, bush would have called for the actual scalp of Saddam! Shrubya is such a child; more like the demon seed--especially with his all out lust for killing people, beginning in Texas!
A BuzzFlash reader......