June 10, 2004
The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag.
Subject: Stem Cell Research
The president is not going to approve more research for stem cell research. The president does not think it is morally correct.
Nancy Reagan desperately wants this to go forward. I remember being so supportive of Dr. Frist even though I am not a Republican because of how he supported it in Congress. His knowledge about the subject made you understand clearly about stem cell research. I listened to him in awe and respect.
Now what, where is he? Involved with this awful dishonest man we call our president. I am ashamed.
Thank you for reading this.
Rochelle Snyder
Subject: John Ashcroft Flips Congress the "Bird"
Dear Loyal BuzzFlash Readers:
The Christian Liberal is always on the prowl for something that either reveals what Jesus truly wanted from our Government Leaders...or exposing those who profess to be Christians, but acting like spawns of Satan. Case in point: John Ashcroft (or should I call him Asscroft?)
I tuned in to the C-Span repeat of Mr. Ashcroft's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee last night, and as usual, the Republithugs waxed soft on him, while the Democrats (yes, even Joe Biden) asked the questions most Americans wanted to ask him about those memos providing a legal basis to violate all tenets of the Geneva Convention regarding the treatment (or should I say "torture") of war prisoners.
Mr. Ashcroft did not present himself as a God-Fearing Christian would. He was arrogant, dodged questions which only required "yes" or "no" answers and flat out refused to release the memos in question, even though they are being leaked to the media as I type this. Do not be fooled: a true Christian tells the truth at all times, no matter the cost. He or she does not give evasive or contemptuous answers which actually verge on outright lies. A true Christian does not cover up the truth. I tell you, those memos have to be the most damning thing to the Bush Administration to the point of them being the Bush version of "Watergate". Otherwise, why refuse to release them?
Senators Durbin and Biden told Ashcroft to either cite Executive Privilege as the reason for not releasing the memos to the Committee, or be held in contempt. Ashcroft gave them a look that basically told that committee to go and screw themselves. You could visualize him flipping the bird to the committee, with the tacit approval of Senators Jon Kyl and Orrin Hatch, who continued to praise Ashcroft every time he opened his mouth.
This hearing is a glaring reminder of the reason that not only do we have to do whatever's necessary and democratic to get rid of the Bush Cartel, but also this "axis of evil" that currently patrols through the Administration in Cabinet positions, or sitting in a seat in the U. S. Senate or Congress. It's not just about getting rid of Bush; it's also about restoring balance in Congress by replacing Congressional members like Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, Jon Kyl, Bill "cat killer" Frist, Dennis Hastert, Tom DeLay, and any members of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). We must be prepared to fight this battle on all levels, just in case the Commander in Thief decides he wants to steal another election.
Leutisha
Loyal BuzzFlash Reader & Proud Christian Liberal
(If you don't vote in November, you have NO RIGHT to complain about the state
of anything!)
Subject: AshCroft Kissing Congress
So I read today in the newspapers that two senators say Ashcroft's refusal to reveal the memo justifying torture MAY constitute contempt of congress which is a federal crime. Well, what can we say but YEAH RIGHT! My God! How many times do these bozos in congress need to screw up to let us know it is all one big farce. They are the ones who need to be held in contempt of cheating the US citizens out of any justice. Time after time they have abdicated their sacred duty to protect us from this evil administration. With this crowd in Washington representing us, I have to say it looks hopeless to me. Crazy though I may be, I will keep fighting and sending money to John Kerry but believe me, I am so discouraged.
Piscestwo
Subject: What's so great about Reagan?
Although the press and the neocons are going nuts about Reagan - he wasn't a great president. Reagan's legacy includes a 3 trillion dollar debt - $12,000 for every man woman and child in America. Reagan was a deeply divisive president who left behind a culture of political polarization. Reagan opposed a lot of medical research that resulted in allowing AIDS to spread and banning fetal tissue research that could have resulted in a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Reagan took the Republican party away from fiscal responsibility. Vice President Cheney is quoted as saying that Reagan taught us the deficits don't matter. Reagan proved that Reganomics or supply side economics is a dismal failure.
So - I say before we carve Reagan into Mt. Rushmore or put his face on money - we should first pay off the debt he left behind. A more fitting tribute would be to put Reagan's picture on US Treasury notes because he was the father of borrow and spend.
Marc Perkel
San Francisco, CA.
Subject: Using Reagan
Let's see, the same ilk who were shocked, mortified and outraged at what they claimed was friends, family and supporters of Paul Wellstone behaving in an overtly political manner at this man's (a politician's no less!) memorial service are now in a rush (ha ha) to use Ronald Reagan's death as a political prop to get Bush another 4 years in the White House. Gee, had Margaret Carlson a single molecule of hypocrisy detection in her body, she would be apoplectic by now, but alas . . . in the land of political double-standards we call early 21st Century America such blatant hypocrisy goes virtually un-commented on (let alone vilified, as it should) by the Washington Press Corp Kool Kids Club.
Meanwhile, the ever unabashable Bush will use every opportunity to style himself as (cough, cough) "Reagan's Heir," while slamming the door on even considering freeing-up the stem-cell research that could prove pivotal in eradicating the disease that made The Gipper's life so tragic during his twilight years . . .
Richard
R. Newton
Birmingham, Alabama
Subject: Fox speculates: Cheney > CIA; Rudy > Veep
http://www.newsdissector.org/weblog/index.cfm
Fox News this morning reported uncritically on speculation that Dick Cheney may be replaced on the Republican ticket by "America's Mayor" Rudy Giuliani, a move they saw as perfect as an attention getting device in the upcoming speculation. Their related rumor is that Cheney will go to the CIA to replace George Tenet.
Jackie N.
Subject: REAGAN BILL AN IDEA DEMOCRTAS MUST NOT SUPPORT
REAGAN BILL A BAD IDEA--A VERY BAD IDEA
I am all for honoring Reagan. But Republicans are getting ahead of themselves now by wanting to issue a Reagan bill. The symbolism could not have been any more obvious, especially in an election year.
The few people I have heard from on this idea are hoping mad that Republicans want to use the death of a President as a peg for election year propaganda. They are particularly mad that very revered past Presidents, Hamilton (for a $10 Reagan bill) and Jackson (for a $20 Reagan bill), even Roosevelt, are about to be bumped to make room for Reagan. Democrats never attempted this with JFK who was assassinated at the height of his popularity.
Already so many symbols of national importance have already been named after Reagan--the Washington Airport and the biggest government office building in Washington, to name a few. May be Republicans will also name the White House after Reagan who, though a distinguished President, was nevertheless a controversial figure that so many hated. And how about Reagan Hill instead of Capitol Hill.
Let Republicans hold their breath now. Or this thing will blow up in their face "big time" in a big election backlash! It is ironic that Reagan himself supposedly composed a book of several pages on how he should be buried--like royalty--in the American "Republic". Funny that spineless Democrats are going for all that crap.
John I.
Subject: Reagan.....etc...part 2
Is it only Wednesday??? Sheesh, how can we go until Friday...this is like watching the Kennedy funeral, all over again, without Kennedy!!
I am so depressed...being I just got back from 4 days out of the country, I feel a little like taking it easy, you know? Daytime TV stinks....and now it is putrid.
To Jane B....I thought of the same thing....one week of the following of the funeral...in Ca.....plane rides....walks down Pennsylvania ave....another funeral....and back to Ca. for the burial.....
And not one dead soldier out of Iraq was even given a glimpse....that is sad!!!
To Eric Boehlert....YeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaa...as Howard Dean would say...I am so thrilled with that news....I think we all needed that!! Franken is just the better man. And to Genie....I had to laugh...even in my depression......George Bush will go down in my book as the most dimwitted president in this nations history. He has done so many dumb things....it is impossible to remember...
Like the time, he tried to say that line about 'fool me once' and his tongue ended up behind his eye tooth...and he couldn't even see what to say. It came out like "Fool me once...and...er....well, you just don't fool me twice"...
Shortly after that, Leann Rimes came out with a song...titled "fool me once" or "Life goes on"..on the coattails of this slip..and I liked the song, but every time I heard it, I started to laugh...and would try to hold it in...and tears would come to my eyes...it was priceless!!!!!!
But, the waving at Stevie Wonder....what the heck, did he think that the man's blindness was a prop????
Maybe....just maybe!
Shirley.............St.Louis
Subject: Ashcroft
To copy the words of a famous singer....who got in trouble with the country music world.....I am proud to say..."I am ashamed that Ashcroft is from missouri!!" after arrogantly saying to the commision....that he would not provide the three memos they need, and Biden saying that he might be found in contempt ...he still is an arrogant jerk"
Okay...........Shirley..........St.Louis
Subject: There's a good reason you don't torture the enemy
I think there's a good reason to NOT torture the enemy, because it might cause the enemy to not torture our guys so much, when you torture their guys it pisses them off and they are inclined to retaliate the next time. Just like our side got very pissed off about the nick berg murder and everybody wanted to go retaliate. That's the nature of it. I would think ultimately you would want to treat the enemy so good that the other side would prefer getting captured than to stay on their own side.
Suzanne in San Diego
Subject: The gov obviously hates public education-a perfect successor for Bush Jr
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/metropolitan/2617426
Gov Perry believes he's got the state's high court to vote the way he wants about school financing-which is to make sure the poor public school districts-especially along the Texas/Mexico border, won't get the same footing that the wealthier school districts are able to provide.
This is the same gov who called 3 special sessions for redistricting-At $1.3 Million per session, yet called only one ss for school finance before saying the cause was hopeless.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Shakespeare Knew
Shakespeare may have died in 1616, but he sure as hell had Reagan down pat. He put his observation in the mouth of a guy named Hamlet and, since “brevity is the soul of wit”, as he once had the wind-bag Polonius declare, the observation is short and sweet and says it all. “One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.”How nice it would be for the sake of our nation’s future if our “little people”, so-called, knew and took seriously just this bit of Shakespeare before they lit candles before the shrine of Saint Ronald, who did them such harm.
Norman Weinstein
NYC
Re: Statement of Joe Bacon 6/9
In the June 9 edition of BuzzFlash, a Joe Bacon of Los Angeles, CA, made the statement, "We'll forever be in Reagan's debt." Amusing -- but not quite true.
Bill Clinton retired Ronnie's debt and even left a surplus in the treasury when he left office. Now, three and one-half years later that surplus has been squandered and new, bigger deficits have been established by Dubya and his Corps d' Idiots which makes Reagan look like a tinhorn piker. That debt is his and his alone. He gave it life, now let him live with it. But I rather doubt he will ever know the pain of bankruptcy, the agony of foreclosure, his children have no health insurance, or the futile search for a job that will support his family. Too bad!
My only source of solace is the old saying "Time wounds all heals!"
Bill Sybert
Dallas, Texas
Subject: No one left in Bush* Administration tell the truth
Apparently, there's just absolutely no one left in Bush's* republican government who'll tell the truth about anything vital to the nations security.
A BuzzFlash Reader
* * *
FAS Secrecy news
A new report from the Congressional Research Service cautiously notes that the State Department's annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report suffers from a variety of statistical and methodological flaws, and that for the first time an errata sheet to the latest edition will be provided.
The CRS report was first described in the Los Angeles Times today.
See "The Department of State's Patterns of Global Terrorism
Report: Trends, State Sponsors, and Related Issues" by Raphael Perl, Congressional Research Service, June 1, 2004:
http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL32417.pdf
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) was more blunt about the terrorism report's defects.
"It appears... that the decline in terrorism reported by the State Department results from manipulation of the data, not an actual decline in terrorism incidents," he wrote to Secretary of State Colin Powell on May 17.
"This manipulation... calls into serious doubt the integrity of the report," Rep. Waxman wrote. See his letter here:
Subject: Mr. Ashcroft should also go to prison
Mr. Ashcroft, (Mr. Rumsfeld, too) are conspiring to cover-up the alleged offenses..doesn't that make them guilty of conspiracy, of complicity, of obstruction? And pray lets not forget the ever charming Mr. Wolfowitz...is there even one Democratic Lawyer with some cajones?.Maybe Senator Ted Kennedy would put his speech-making on hold and prosecute! How about Ramsey Clark? Most all of Congress and the Senate are lawyers..got any Dems or even any honest Republicans willing to do what's right?
A BuzzFlash Reader
DEAR MR. KERRY,
WE BELIEVE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO DRIVE UP THE DEFICIT SO LARGE THEY CAN THEN JUSTIFY GETTING RID OF SOCIAL SECURITY, HEALTH SERVICES, LESS TEACHERS, POLICE AND FIREMEN AND ALL OTHER THINGS THEY WANT TO CUT BACK ON. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS DRIVE UP THE DEFICIT AND DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTS BRING IT DOWN. WHY DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?
MATT, PETE AND BERNIE
To the Editor:
Mercifully, Ronald Reagan is dead. His suffering is finally over. I am saddened that he had to live the last part of his life with the tragic ordeal of Alzheimer’s disease.
But I am not an admirer of his politics. He was not the “heroic leader”being portrayed by the news media and self-serving politicians from both parties.
Reagan’s domestic focus was on giving greater economic advantage to the upper level management and majority stockholders of the giant corporations, much to the detriment of both white and blue collar working people. His viscous union busting strategy became the model for taking back gains made by labor over decades.
His foreign policy was made up almost exclusively of massive military spending. And this profligate give-away to the military-industrial complex virtually bankrupted the nation and worked against much needed programs for the poorest of the poor.
The darkest side of the Reagan presidency involved the torture and murder of untold thousands by right wing death squads in Central America. The Iran-Contra affair indicts and convicts Ronald Reagan and members of his cabinet of these crimes against the disenfranchised in Guatemala and other countries in the region.
Furthermore, the Reagan presidency had little or nothing to do with the fall of the Soviet Union. The primary reasons for the disintegration of that monstrous “dictatorship of the bureaucracy”were the greed and mismanagement of the apparatchiks, the catastrophic devastation of Chernobyl, and the coming to power of the liberal and farsighted Mikhail Gorbachev. The Soviet Union would have fallen even if the U.S. had not existed.
I do not believe Ronald Reagan was a dunce, an opinion held by many of his detractors. And he was certainly a highly skilled letter writer, something I greatly admire and appreciate in anyone.
I wish he had remained a man of the left, as he was in his youth, devoting his considerable energies and abilities to the welfare of working people and the disadvantaged. The rich did not need his help.
Mike Berry
Spring Branch, TX
Subject: Losing the Media Battle
The morphing of our media into a single government mouthpiece is quickly going from disturbing to downright frightening. As a letter writer noted, Time and Newsweek chose to use the exact same photo of Reagan on their covers. This morning, I switched on a morning news show as I got ready for work. The station I was on began an interview with Laura Bush on her recollections of Reagan. Having no interest in listening to the original Stepford wife, I switched to another network morning show. There was someone interviewing Laura Bush. I switched to the third show and again, there was the vacant eyes of Laura Bush staring off into space as she remembered Reagan. All three network morning shows were airing interviews with Laura Bush at exactly the same time. We have crossed over so far to the dark side that the networks seem to be dropping even the pretext that what they present is news and not propaganda.
JPA
Minneapolis
Subject: June 11 - Ronald Reagan Memorial Day
Please join me in celebrating the life of Ronald Reagan on June 11th by sending $25 to the John Kerry campaign. I can't think of a more fitting tribute.
John N.
Subject: e-voting
Isn't it amazing that the only people opposing verified voting machines are Republicans. That right there tells me that something underhanded is being or has been hatched.
What I would love to see is a good hacker being able to crack this Republican Voting machine code and put the fear of God into the Republicans showing them that the machines could be used against their candidates. Then and only then will we have verified voting.
Daniel
Subject: WMDs
So, wasn't it on Reagan's watch when the US gave Saddam WMDs? He then tested it on his own people.
Cathy D.
Subject: Raygun Deceased
Dear B-F,
Thank heavens you exist - the last chance for democratic expression. I am so sick of the interminable claptrap lauding this B rated movie man who was once the Governor of the crazy state of California.
Shakespeare wrote ".. the evil that men do lives after them ,the good is oft interred with their bones." Not so with saintly Raygun. Apparently there is no greater God! Here is a man that left us with huge debts, huge tax cuts, an inability to recognize the existence of AIDS, nasty little back door war-the Iran /Contra. Closed mental wards and did not give us a reasonable alternative, hence the disgraceful homeless situation, particularly in Calif.
And now the dumb Repuglicans want to see his craggy face on Mt Rushmoor...or perhaps a twenty $ bill. How about a wooden nickel. More appropriate I'd say.
Thank you for allowing me to write this eulogy which would never appear on Faux News!
A. Leslie Palmer
Not at all surprising that the administration would authorize torture, rape and murder, in that their constituting elements, predominantly oil corporations, are reportedly long in complicity with Third World despots and their militias to suppress opposition to oil corporation presence in those places! The distinction of course is that now the taxpayer picks up this business expense directly, whereas before it was just factored into the price of oil.
sg
You have some really great stories posted... looks like the situation is getting tighter for Bush... but Woodward.... he's playing a bit of both sides, don't you think? After all, his books did a lot to SUPPORT Bush - maybe he's seeing a change in the wind and going with it.... ugh.
(Though I'm still convinced Bush will be re elected and impeached in his second term, just like Nixon - because then, finally, the Dems will have nothing to lose and will begin to scratch and claw, which they should have been doing for three, no four years...and they'd still be better off with Dean than the nobody home in the I really believe in freedom and democracy and choice and peace and justice department Kerry. Besides, I think the public is tired of Senators who vote against it... Clinton wasn't and Bush wasn't and Lieberman was and Kerry is.)
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE ELECTION DIRECTORS
Looks like these folks will be meeting in August in Portland Oregon. Perhaps buzzers can stir up enough interest to get the media to cover this. If enough folks let the media know they are interested, it will get covered. Maybe alternative media can fill the void!
Loyal buzzhead
Subject: Unusual Ad for the Navy
I don't know if this means anything, but on 2 websites (SpaceWar.com and globalsecurity.org) there is an ad for the US Navy that says: "Kicking Butt is Mandatory. Taking names is optional. To learn more click here." There is a picture of what looks like a Navy Seal wearing a mask and carrying an M16.
This might echo the "bring 'em on" bravado of Dubya, but it strikes me as uncomfortably close to the mindset that led to the Iraq/Gitmo prisoner abuse.
E.S.
Subject: The Ronald Reagan "legacy"
To all,
If you have not already done so, I encourage you to read the following article, http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0109&article=010941d. Published back in 2001, it speaks of the real legacy of Ronald Reagan's administration.
For those aghast at the suggestion that Reagan's picture be put on the $10 or $20 bill, it is pointed out that three years ago there was a movement to have every county in this country have some building or facility named after him. The cost for such a project would be paid for by the people of this country.
And while everyone is pointing out how wonderful President Reagan was, let us also remember the lack of care he showed for the poor, the oppressed, the environment. Remember who benefited from the first of the great conservative tax cuts and remember the size of the deficit he left us.
Check out the article and help work to ensure that the conservative legacy is never able to begin. If you haven't done so, register to vote. If you have register to vote, make sure that your friends have done so as well. The conservatives may try to steal the election again this time but they cannot do so if everyone votes.
In peace,
Tony Mitchell,
Ph. D.
Beacon, NY 12508
Subject: "Frog March" Cartoon
Dear BuzzFlash:
Let us imagine some wonderful clear morning soon when Dick Cheney and his pet monkey are frog marched out of the White House in manacles. Doesn't that mean that the new President would be, erm....Dennis Hastert? And would it not be possible that his choice for Vice-President might be Tom DeLay? Or Dick Armey? Or (please, God, forgive me for even thinking this) James Inhofe? The only thing worse than an incompetent neocon is a competent one. I'm not sticking my head out of the foxhole yet.
S.R. Day
Denver CO
Subject: My Hero, Henry Waxman
Dear Buzz:
Every time the Bushies have had to come forward, tail between their legs, to admit that, well, in fact, they fudged the numbers or left out a few key pages or didn't include pertinent data in reports they've trumpeted as successes, I've noticed Rep. Henry Waxman has often been behind the scenes actively demanding that they tell the American people the truth. The latest example is the State Dept.'s terrorism report for 2003, which claimed to show the world was a safer place, but which, in fact, omitted all kinds of data that, to the contrary, proved the world has become much more dangerous [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29664-2004Jun9.html]. Who led the charge to make them 'fess up? Waxman, as usual.
Although I don't normally wish I lived in LA (no offense, Angelinos), Waxman makes me long for that kind of representation. Here in central Virginia, we're stuck with a wet noodle, Republican pawn named Rep. Virgil Goode, and a fawned-over favorite of the Bushies, Sen. George Allen (who, incidentally, did incredible damage to Va's educational system as governor). The only bright light is our other GOP senator, John Warner, who, although a Republican, will buck the system when it flies in the face of honor (witness his current won't-be-deterred work looking into the prisoner abuse scandal). Warner's an old-school Republican that I can understand and respect, even when I disagree with his policies.
But how I wish I had someone like Henry Waxman to represent me. Fortunately, he does, even though I am not a constituent. He reps us all and does it well!
A devoted BuzzFlash Reader
Reagan Dies and Kerry's Lead Widens
http://pollingreport.com/wh04gen.htm
Jim
Subject: Bob Roberts
I think everyone in America should rent and watch Bob Roberts, the Tim Robbins movie…this CNN Reagan tribute stuff is way over the top…It is so Bob Roberts it is incredible…I mean, they had a #@$%#$ GRIEF COUNSELOR on CNN last night to deal with the death of Reagan…Puuuuuuuhhhhhhleeeeeze….somebody stop this and put the news back on...
Marc L.
Lippincott
Austin, TX
Subject: Stick a fork on me, I'm done
A frequent BuzzFlash flier here...
I keep ruminating, "say it isn't so", whenever I read about the repugs pushing to have our currency besmirched with the image of Raygun. I'm sorry, but as a political moderate, I never saw anyone I knew benefiting from Reagan's voodoo economics or other policies.
Everyone I worked with while he was in office fawned over Reagan and came into the office the next day all teary eyed whenever the great communicator addressed the nation the night before. I always thought there must be something wrong with me, since I could take him for about 5 minutes before changing the station, which is much better than the immediate knee jerk respond I have to Bush "Click!"
It's only my opinion, but if his picture replaces the presidents on the $10 or $20 bill, then the neocons have struck another blow at the root of what America stands (or stood) for. You can almost bet dollars to donuts that Ronnie's mug will be chiseled into the face of Mount Rushmore; I can see this coming.
We need a new icon to replace the Statue of Liberty. She has far outlived her useful image in this new american century, plus she was a gift from those cheese eating French. Let's tear Lady Liberty down and replace here with a statue depicting a young female soldier in full battle gear, dragging a naked male behind her on a leash. Some interesting captions might be, "You want some of this?", "Go ahead, make my day!", "I'm watching you"
If I see another tribute to the great communicator on TV, I'll scream, enough is enough. Thank goodness for my giant stash of The Simpsons, Futurama, X-Files, Twilight Zone, Family Guy and everything Michael Moore has ever done on video.
Every day I wake up thinking that things can't get any weirder than they are, but then I read the news and the bar has been raised once again. Life has become as weird as the X- Files.
Best regards
to you Buzz
and God bless you all
Ray, Cambridge
Mass
http://nightmarehall.blogspot.com/
Subject: Attorney General Ashcroft Should Practice What He Preaches - Phony Concerns For His Son are an Insult to Those Who Have Truly Given to this Country
Hello Again to BuzzFlash and to all BuzzFlash readers,
(from CNN) - "This administration rejects torture," Ashcroft said. "I don't think it's productive, let alone justified."
Said Senator Joseph Biden (also from CNN) - "That's why we have these treaties. So when Americans are captured, they are not tortured. That's the reason, in case anybody forgets it".
As the father of a soldier who served two 7-month tours - in Afghanistan, and in Iraq, most of which was in the hot-bed of Fallujah - I noted with considerable interest how our born-again Attorney General, John Ashcroft, in Senate testimony about Iraqi prisoner abuses, is suddenly concerned about the safety of his son who was stationed aboard a destroyer in the Persian Gulf. He is evidently slated to return to active service (by 'He' I refer, of course, to the younger Ashcroft - Chickenhawks don't put themselves in harm's way).
First of all, HOW DARE Ashcroft compare his son's service in the Navy with that of soldiers who are on foot or in unprotected vehicles on the streets and sands of Iraq! For Ashcroft to interject himself personally as a victim in this debacle, which he aided and abetted, is an insult to those families, like mine, who upon hearing about casualties in Iraq or Afghanistan, rush to the various news outlets and military websites for details that will either allay our worst fears or confirm our worst nightmares.
Perhaps Mr. Ashcroft can point to the numerous reports of IED and RPG attacks or friendly fire incidents on Navy destroyers - I don't seem to recall any - but then again I don't have the National Security clearance that General Ashcroft surely has.
Secondly, how concerned was he about his son's potential safety, or the safety of any of our children, when he appointed Lane McCotter to serve as head of the re-building efforts at Abu Ghraib prison? Mr. McCotter, who somehow got through the background checks, is noteworthy as the former head of the notorious Texas and Utah prison systems, where prisoner abuse was rampant. Before he was sent to Iraq, McCotter's private prison management firm was under investigation for similar abuses to those that occurred in Texas and in Utah, and as we later learned at Abu Ghraib.
Lastly, how concerned is Ashcroft really? Or is he simply using his son's service for partisan political gain and to protect the current Occupants of the White House, himself included?
(From CNN) - "Still, the attorney general refused to give the committee copies of department memos written in 2002 that Democratic senators said could have laid legal groundwork for abuses that occurred at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and elsewhere in the war on terror."
If he is really that concerned, for his son's sake - or for the sake of other sons or daughters, fathers or mothers, brothers, sisters and friends - why not completely open up the books on this abuse scandal, turn over every bit of documentation for full scrutiny, and ensure that a full investigation be allowed?
Perhaps if his son was sent to serve in places where over 800 soldiers have lost their lives, he may have a different perspective.
Ashcroft's phony outrage over the abuses at Abu Ghraib, as well as his phony concern over his son's potential safety, clearly are not practices that are consistent with his preachings.
Warmest Regards,
GK, a Fervently Loyal, Devoted and Proud Liberal BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Why not let each soldier decide for themselves if their coffin would be observed returning from Iraq.
After reading Barbara's Daily BuzzFlash Minute (June 8, 2004) and her comment about how Reagan receives the type of honor our service men and women should be afforded upon retuning home dead and in coffins, I was wondering:
This administration says that one of the major reasons for the "privacy" is to do that, protect the privacy of those who have fallen and are now returning home. Shouldn't that option be up to those who have fallen? Shouldn't they be allowed to request a public return to home if killed while serving their country? Similar to a provision in a will, they could plainly state if they wish for their coffin to be photographed or filmed for those who mourn to publicly view. That would end that issue, allow for the proper degree of respect that each and every soldier wants and deserves for themselves and finally put this issue to bed.
George doesn't have to be present, just let them show it.
Just a thought.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: WHY CAN'T THE REPUGS PAY FOR REAGANS FUNERAL?
Dear BuzzFlash
If it is true that Presidents Clinton and Carter have not been asked to eulogize at Ronald Reagan's funeral services, I think that it is downright unfair, especially since we, the taxpayers, are paying for everything.This is not a partisan affair, and if the Republicans are using this event to beef up their plunging polls numbers, then they had better pay for this funeral. I can just imagine Karl Rove and others trying to take advantage of someone's death to push their agenda across. If this is indeed the decision of Nancy Reagan and her family, I must say that it is not a very classy thing to do. President Clinton especially will be a very balanced and excellent speaker, and they should know that by now.
The Repuglicans should cough up for this one.
Roseanne
Maybe I am sounding harsh at this sad time for Nancy Reagan, but, I am a little tired of hearing about her being so brave, and being her husband's caretaker for the last ten years. Number one, she has housekeepers to clean her house and number two, she had round the clock nurses to care for him. The real heroes in this country are the ordinary people who care for family members with Alzheimer who have no wealth to help them deal with the battle. No one seems to care until it happens to one of the elite's. If Nancy Reagan still supports Bush and does not speak out more forcefully, after his refusing real stem cell research, then I will have a hard time feeling any sympathy for her.
Mary Ann
Subject: Junior comes to bury programs, after praising them
Apologies to Shakespeare but Bush pulls a MacBeth and slaughters vital programs in the dead of night, including veterans programs in time of war. Chutzpah redefined, but he banks on military people voting Republican unthinkingly and uncritically.
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=17076
Dan DeLisio
Subject: GeeDubya . . . YOU'RE no Ronald Reagan!
Hello Again to BuzzFlash and to all BuzzFlash readers,
With GeeDubya #43 trying everything he can to emulate the recently departed Gipper, even to the point of dissing his own dad, (remember the "higher father" comment about him not consulting with #41 prior to occupying Iraq), perhaps George H. W. Bush ought to perform his fatherly role and sit Junior down to have a little father-son talk with the lad.
And with Junior's "stay-the-course" stubbornness, I suspect it would end in frustration thusly:
"I knew Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was a friend of mine. Son, YOU'RE no Ronald Reagan."
Warmest Regards,
GK, a Fervently Loyal, Devoted and Proud Liberal BuzzFlash Reader
Bush even tries to slip lies into his comments in passing, such this quote about a "continued role" for NATO in Iraq. There is no role of NATO in Iraq, so how could it be continued?!? He wants it seem as if France is against such a continued role. Maybe if he is quoted that way he hopes there will be a “subliminable”message transmitted. May he sink and sink.
Anthony C.
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Bush, Chirac Discuss Iraq Differences at G8 Summit
By Steve Holland
SEA ISLAND, Ga. (Reuters) - President Bush and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac sought to iron out differences on a NATO role in Iraq on Thursday at a Group of Eight summit that is focusing on Baghdad's transition, the Middle East and Africa.
Leaders from six African countries -- Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda -- were to meet with the G8 leaders at the Georgia resort of Sea Island to find ways of dealing with the wars raging on their continent, development issues and fighting AIDS.
Bush held a bilateral meeting with Chirac -- a leading opponent of the invasion of Iraq last year -- and told reporters afterwards they had discussed "whether or not there is a continued role in Iraq for NATO."