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THIS IS PART 2 OF THE JUNE 15, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1.

Subject: OH PLEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

WASHINGTON · Oliver L. North, the decorated Marine who came to personify the Iran-Contra scandal with his ramrod-straight testimony before Congress, will make a sacrifice today for his hero and former boss: He will not attend former President Ronald Reagan's funeral.

Recalling a conversation he had Wednesday with former national security adviser and close Reagan confidant William P. Clark, North said, "I told him I did not think I should be a distraction at this, and if I went, I would be.

OH PLEEEZZZZZZZZZ..........THE FUNERAL WAS BY INVITATION ONLY! HE WAS NOT INVITED! CHECK THE LIST! JESUS THE GUY IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR! PERFECT FOR FOX NEWS :):):):)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Colin Powell said (about the incorrect terrorism numbers):

"It's a numbers error. It's not a political judgment that said, 'Let's see if we can cook the books.' We can't get away with that now. Nobody was out to cook the books. Errors crept in," he told ABC's "This Week."

They can't get away with that NOW???????

Mark Bennett
Houston, Texas

Subject: An Empty Seat Observed . . .

BuzzFlash,

I was surprised and found it puzzling that Kerry didn't attend the "Take Back America" meeting. Speaking as one who doesn't know or as one who is "out of the big loops," I would say that, just from the position of looking on from the outside . . . and I would hope to be wrong . . . maybe Kerry did not want to be known as a candidate rubbing shoulders with the Progressives of the Democratic Party.

According to the Baltimore Sun:

. Jim Hightower, the liberal Texas humorist and former state agriculture commissioner, got a rise from the crowd by observing at one point: "I don't care if John Kerry is a sack of cement. We'll carry him to victory." Mr. Hightower, always reaching for a laugh, then offered: "I have a two-step program for you. First we get rid of Bush. Then we get rid of Kerry." That jibe did not seem to sit well with the next speaker, columnist Arianna Huffington. "We don't want to carry John Kerry into the White House like a big sack of cement," she said, "we want him to lead us there," an observation that drew applause. "I'm solidly behind the Democratic nominee, period."

As usual, the Democrats are expected to morph themselves to the Candidate instead of the candidate morphing to the Democratic Party. If Kerry is to "lead" us into the White House, then where was he when the Progressives, who are working to put him into the White House, were having their meeting?

He is and always will be a DLC candidate. Sorry, I know people don't want to talk about it, but I really want to feel "good" about my vote . . . I am going to vote against Bush instead of for what I really believe. And, I will always feel that way until the Democratic Party takes back the ownership of the word "liberal" and the platform that goes along with that name . . . the platform that has made this Country what it has been for American citizens in the past and will again in the future. In a way, it does come down to anyone but Bush and in that concept, it is not a victory, but rather the beginning of a vindication for the US, separating us normal American citizens from the Bush administration and its policies that we see mirrored in the eyes of the world.

We liberals can and will do as we are told, but those people out there in America who can't relate to the Democratic Party as it is today and have quit voting, they won't be there . . . those citizens who have lost hope in this system . . . they won't be walking behind our candidate or they will be so far behind that we will not be able to see them. And, they want to be lead . . . this I believe. It really is up to Kerry to take the lead as a leader instead of taking the lead as the person we call, "anyone but Bush."

A liberating thought indeed,

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

Subject: "We can't get away with that now" said Powell. Weird.

Powell Says Terror Report Was a 'Big Mistake'

________________________

In this story quoting Powell from Meet The Press this AM, he said:

"It's not a political judgment that said, `Let's see if we can cook the books.' We can't get away with that now."

Think about what that means or what the meanings could be, some clearly Freudian:

- THE PUBLIC CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT THE MEDIA IS REALLY TOUGH
- WE TRIED TO SLIP THE BAD NUMBERS THROUGH- BUT IT DIDN'T WORK
- NOT LIKE I COOKED THEM LAST YEAR AT THE UN

you name it, it's a really weird statement.

Dave Dorsett

Subject: Joke

"As you may have heard, the U.S. is putting together a constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? Think about it-- it was written by very smart people, it's served us well for over two hundred years....and besides, we're not using it anymore."

Forwarded by A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: When specificity breaks down

Hey Buzz:

Check out this paragraph included in the Washington Post's ridiculously spun "Doubts Linger as Kerry Advances". The story starts out well enough, quoting specific Democrats about Kerry's campaign, but midway through writer Jim VandeHei starts mixing in generalizations that include phrases like " Democrats say..." Then comes this hilarious bit that captures everything that's wrong with journalism today:

"A top Democratic aide, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about Kerry, said many House members and staff say it is hard to explain what Kerry stands for, and what he has stood for in the past. The aides said the Kerry campaign is aware of this concern and committed to addressing it."

So here we have an anonymous source for a vague generalization that is, in fact, untrue (maybe Republican "House members" and White House "staff" say such tripe). Oh please. And how did one "aide" jump to plural "aides" in the second sentence. Where is a good editor when you need one...

If it weren't so mind-numbing, it would be funny.

A BuzzFlash reader

Subject: Random Thoughts

Does anyone else find it strange there were no terror warnings issued for Reagan's funeral? If you were to attempt to anticipate the mind of a terrorist, doesn't it seem that would have been a logical place to strike both a political and psychological blow against America? I guess Ashcroft/Ridge didn't want to take the glitter off what was in essence a Republican political rally? But it will make one look askance next time a warning is issued for an innocuous and insignificant event like the Country Music Awards? Does anyone else find it ironic Reagan supporters want to pass legislation requiring each and every county in the US to name something after Reagan? After all, didn't he base his reputation on opposing federal mandates when it came to such things as providing worker safety or ensuring clean air and water? Didn't he oppose increased government spending? Just how much would it cost to enact all these changes? What hypocrisy!

Dennis McCann

Subject: Predicted Repub talking points on elite Diplomatic/Military criticisms of Bush

Dear Buzz, According to FT, the 26 former elite Diplomats and Military personnel will publish their criticisms of Bush on Wednesday, June 16th, and call for his defeat. I predict the Republicans and the wing-nut apologist talking heads will say variations on the following themes about those 26 individuals:

• They are disgruntled.
• They are crazy.
• They are out of the loop.
• They held only minor positions.
• They are resentful because we didn't use their ideas.
• They are resentful because they are now retired and less important.
• This is just partisan politics in an election year. They are all working for John Kerry.
• They are unpatriotic.
• They are undermining the War on Terrorism.
• They want Osama to win.
• They are child-molesters.
• They are having affairs (possibly with one other).

Some of Bush defenders will use exactly the same words (taken right out of their morning talking points email).

Just as a joke, I challenge BuzzFlashers to watch/listen to the various news media as this story starts to come out fully, and keep a list of the reasons given why we shouldn't take these 26 elite diplomats and military people seriously.

Leslie in Boston

Subject: Jebbie and his plan

I just had to read it, even after this awful week. At times, I was stuck at home, not a good thing when they were spending an entire week burying God!!

Anyway....I read it and once again feared that they would purge felons who were planning to commit felonies in 2008 or 2009...which they got away with the last time.

After that, I thought I needed a little lightening up, since I was about to stick a gun to my head (just kidding)...so I went to the lighter side...that is always uplifting, if you read it.

I read the "Barf Button section"...barely made it through it...although when you think about it, it is funny.

But the other stuff....Tom Delay and his light bulb...cured me! Is there anyone that anyone can think of other than Tom Delay who is that disgusting. Maybe Frist...he is pretty sickening.....nah...its a cross between Delay and Frist...what a ticket!!!!!

Before that, I was about to barf....thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Shirley.......St. Louis

Key fact missing from your Jeb disenfranchising story.... why they must do it: "Bush's Florida Edge May Have Faded" snippet:

Democrats argue that the population shifts favor Kerry. Of the 730,000 new Florida residents between April 2000 and July 2002, about 46 percent were Hispanic. Another 28 percent were black -a minority group that overwhelmingly votes Democratic, especially in recount-scarred Florida.

Just 21 percent of the new Floridians were white, according to the Census Bureau.

"While the suburban population has grown . . . I would argue that demographically, Florida is a more friendly place to Democrats than it was in 2000," said Marcus Jadotte, a deputy campaign manager to Kerry.

But the Hispanic growth doesn't necessarily translate into Democratic votes -- or even registered voters. While registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 330,000, the GOP has narrowed the gap since 2000. There are about 1.6 million voters in Florida with no party affiliation, the fastest-growing category.

Linda

Subject: Jenna & Barbara, USMC

"Bush twins could give speeches, first lady says"

Like father, like daughters. Enlist in the armed forces during wartime? Nah, we'll just get drunk and go work on a political campaign.

It's funny…I never hear anyone asking why Bush's kids didn't enlist in the armed forces if this war was so damned important and imminent. Draft Jenna and Barbara!

Marc L. Lippincott
Austin, TX

Subject: Washington Journal

I am up very early this morning....due to sleeplessness.

As most of you may know, Bill Clinton is getting a lot of press right now. His book is coming out on 6/22 and today the oil painting of he and his wife is being unveiled in a white house ceremony.

I am looking forward to both...as his book was written by him entirely in long hand, and he is recording the tape and cd in his own voice.

Okay, so Washington Journals C-span...had an entire half hour call in to see if the callers thought Clinton would help Kerry in his campaign.

I kept track....the proClinton calls were 9...the anti 7....there was a lot of reading about him in the paper by Peter Slen...so only 16 calls got though.

The Pros were very complimentary, praising him to the skies, even to telling the moderator that they were lifelong republicans and would switch for Kerry....knowing that Clinton was a wonderful president.

Of the Antis...this was so hilarious....as always. The first man up, wanted to know, in view of the fact that people were flying their flags at half mast for Reagan.....would the Democrat (at the time of Clinton's death) wear their zippers at half mast!!

I am not kidding...Slen quickly had to cut him off!

The next Anti said he thought Kerry and Clinton should campaign together...since Clinton was a whoremonger and Kerry was from a "Queer" state!! No kidding...they sort of eased that one out, too.

If republicans do not understand the simplemindedness of their party.....it is sad! The last caller started to bash Clinton(all the bad bashers were male) about sex and his zipper....and said something that I did not understand...and Peter Slen just said, "Okay...that should be all of that!"

I may have never laughed so hard in my life...even though it is what I hear every day from family...not friends.

The other four Anti calls, were from women...who just thought Clinton was a bad president with low morals(No issues at all....just his morals).

One woman, on the Pro side, finally brought out the lying...and the main reason for Clinton's impeachment...so the rightwing says!! She let them have it with both barrels....."Bill Clinton lied about a moral lapse...it effected no one but he, his wife and his daughter....George Bush lied about WMD...and has been responsible for the cold blooded murders of in excess of 10,000 people.... It amazes me that so many people are finally....at last....after four hard years...coming to their senses about William Jefferson Clinton.

His book is $35...and I would spend more. This book deserves more money, even if he weren't my favorite president....because he worked so hard on it.

Two summer movies we should all look out for....are Fahrenheit 911, and "The Hunting of the President" by Harry Thomason....I am going to see both the first day. I hope the movies and the book sells out for months to come...someday, people in this country have to come to their senses!!!

Incidentally, if I have not said before....Morgan Freeman is going to narrate the movie "The Hunting of the President"

It was an uplifting show....I had gotten to the point that I would not watch it after the Clinton impeachment...even when the moderator tries to point out something a caller has said, that is not true, they will always come back with "Yeah, but"!!

Shirley.......................St.Louis

PS: I wonder if Sean Hannity..or Tucker Carlson are making bets on this book!!!!!

Subject: link to moveamericaforward

I have decided to try and turn around the purpose of on the moveamericaforward website and taken the names of the theater execs listed to let them know that I will pay to see Fahrenheit 9/11 if the movie is shown in my city. It was nice of them to do my homework for me!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Heritage Foundation blames porn industry

It's interesting that the Heritage Foundation - the very core of Bush's Religious voter base - has assigned the blame to the internet porn industry for the treatment that our prisoners of war -- er, sorry, "detainees" received. http://www.townhall.com/columnists/rebeccahagelin/rh20040512.shtml

This appears to conflict with psychological studies supporting soldier's claims that it was a direct result of their just following orders http://www.ralphmag.org/milgrimZN.html

The GOP claims it's simply frat-style "hazing" while it appears to fall within the Geneva convention's definition of torture. Meanwhile, the media keeps reporting it as "abuse".

I guess it's all just a matter of perspective, depending on which end of the light stick you happen to be.

"Hilas told investigators that he asked Graner for the time one day because he wanted to pray. He said Graner cuffed him to the bars of a cell window and left him there for close to five hours, his feet dangling off the floor. Hilas also said he watched as Graner and others sodomized a detainee with a phosphoric light. "They tied him to the bed," Hilas said" -excerpt

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A43783-2004May20?language=printer

-oc

Subject: Electing Jumpseat George and his War Profiteers

Whether or not she realizes it, Janeane Garofalo has inadvertently come up with a way for George W. Bush to be legitimately elected President of the U.S. for the next four years.

Don't panic, he'd never actually enact her suggestion any more than he'd actually fire his entire Administration of neoconservative mercenaries.

Gee Dubya has enough time before the election to enact a way of helping all those "patriots" that are just too old or too rich to sign up for military service, but still believe in the reoccurring neocon policy of waging pre-emptive wars on tiny sovereign countries for mercenary reasons. It's a surefire way to instantly reverse his falling polls and repair the nation's bleeding deficit all in one brilliant move.

And I'm not talking about incarcerating all of his supporters who are responsible for those $TRILLION$ still missing from the Pentagon budget.

During her radio talk show, young Ms. Garafolo recently suggested a patriotic way for every one of you war profiteers to "put your money where your mouth is".

All Bush needs to do is implement a special luxury tax only on those mercenary chickenhawks who support Bush's "pre-emptive" war policy. Don't worry though, it really isn't an increase in anyone's taxes, it'd only be requiring those expatriate profiteers to stop diverting their fair share the of tax burden from their offshore accounts.

Making them pay their fair share to finance their own quagmires could free up more of OUR tax money to invest in OUR infrastructure.

So if "Flightsuit George" wants back in the nation's jumpseat and play the "War President" another four years, he's still got time to pass that proposal. Certainly the Republicans in Congress will rubber stamp it, so long as he dubs it his "Patriot Tax".

One Citizen

Subject: Did Bush mention where the jobs were?

In Bush's lying commercial where he paints himself as the job creation King, he fails to tell us that his party, the Greedy Old Party (aka GOP), is paying people right now to go and get signatures to put his old time buddy, Ralph Nader, on the ballot. That's where the jobs are. You too, can work as a canvasser, and help Ralph help Bush get re-elected. What a deal.

mev

Subject: Sending older soldiers

Dear BuzzFlash,

This is getting downright pathetic! Now Rummy is sending old men do die in an immoral war?!

I told this story to my mother-in-law, who was born in postwar West Germany. She pretty much blanched in response. The Shrub Administration's move reminded her of her father's situation. He was in his late 30's when sent to the Eastern Front by the Wehrmacht. Hitler did not have enough young men around, so he sent the old men and young boys to fight.

Sound familiar?

This administration keeps repeating the evil done sixty years ago. Yes, neo-cons, we can keep comparing the Shrub to Adolf Hitler. The above is another example!

Ariel Vitali
Irving, TX

Subject: Counter action on Michael Moore movie censorship attempt!

Hi BuzzFlash, thanks for the good work,

I checked out your link about the “moveamericaforward.org”censorship campaign, and wrote up an email to send to each theatre link, and I’ve already heard back from several thanking me for the positive input. The censorship brigade just has links to email addresses for each theatre, so you can click on each one and send whatever you want them to hear. Afterward, I wrote a letter and sent it to each of the people on my email list asking them to find the theatre in their area and let them know that they’re about to see an email campaign against the movie and that it doesn’t represent their views. I’ll post a copy of what I sent them in case you want to post some links to those theatre addresses so people can avoid the “moveamericaforward.org”site.

Thanks for spreading the word and please help to counter their action by posting a way for supporters of the movie to answer the avalanche of right wing censors that are about to descend on the theatres. Here’s my message I sent to them, with a subject line of “please show Michael Moore movie…”or “thanks for showing Michael Moore movie, be prepared for an email campaign against it…”depending on if they were on the still deciding list or the are showing list.

Hi, I found this email address on a website called “move America forward”and they are trying to get people to email your theater through the links on their web page to stop you from running the new Michael Moore movie.

I personally think that is despicable, and hope you are not cowed under the pressure. I know you’re in the entertainment business, but when you let bullies tell you what you can and can’t run, you are drowning the first amendment. Stay strong and don’t give up your rights to play the movies that will be profitable and important to the balance of political discourse.

As you may know, Disney (who produce Rush Limbaugh for radio audiences of millions) didn’t want to play this film because of its anti-Bush slant. Don’t let a bunch of neo-fascists take away our freedom, with you at the front of the line to give up your freedom to play the films you want to.

Remember, you’ll probably see a swell of emails on this soon because they’re organizing a “non-partisan”group (when you research it you’ll see it was started by the same folks who organized the California recall and they’re big GOP partisans. So this’ll be on Limbaugh and you’ll be getting lots of emails. But if you cave in to it, there’ll be boycott groups organized against you and you’ll end up with the same amount of emails coming from the other side because people won’t sit by and allow the government to encroach more on our freedoms. If they were really conservatives, they’d know that don’t you think?

So please, stay strong, and don’t buckle to this pressure coming soon. You can fulfill your duty as active participants in a democracy by avoiding the book burners who will be trying to keep your voice shut. Remember, this is a documentary we’re talking about, so if it were lies, they could sue and keep it out of the theatres to begin with.

Thanks, and please ignore the mass of mail you’re about to get from these right wing censors. I’d expect you to ignore censors from whatever direction they come from, this is America. And understand, it is an organized campaign, so don’t let it get you thinking average people feel this way just because of the amount of emails you’ll be getting. If you go along with it, the other side will yell just as loudly.

Chris Marksberry

(And let me know if I can do anything else to help)

Subject: Liberal Bias

Hey Buzz,

This is my e-mail to Editor and Publisher regarding their further study of the Pew Survey regarding “liberal”bias in journalism:

Thank you for looking further into the Pew Survey results. One question that I think also needs to be addressed is this: is the moderate to liberal viewpoint simply better substantiated by the facts? In other words, when one becomes better informed in general, such as the case of university professors or journalists, does one lean away from conservative viewpoints because these viewpoints are simply wrong? Conversely, does reporting that is based in fact receive the “liberal”label from conservatives, not because it is either liberal or inaccurate, but because it contradicts the conservative worldview?

Thanks again.

Tom Garner
Pensacola, Florida

Subject: Only a Week for a Wake

A lot of people saw through the Reagan hype last week and took the "event" for just what it was, and election year stunt. The Republicans probably would have paraded that coffin around the country until November if they could. It wasn't a tribute, just a cheap attempt to prop up Bush's ratings.

It appears that the terrorists have caught on to our media timing. The wake was too big, so they waited until it was over to get back to work. They seem to be playing cat and mouse with Bush's media damage control people now.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Bush Praises the Clintons

I guess from now on every time one of the blind party sheep brown noses tries to smear the Clintons we should just remind them how much Bush praised them in the ceremony of the unvailing of the portraits for and at the White House. As always, Bush had problems reading his scripted speech and then.......the Clintons spoke without the need of any writers. We should all call the cable and satellite channels and DEMAND that the unveiling be shown as much as the Reagan's ceremonies.

Jocelyn, a loyal Buzzer
Miami, Florida

Subject: What is it with the Drudge Report?

The Drudge Report is speculating that Meryl Streep is emulating Hilary Clinton in the upcoming remake of The Manchurian Candidate. They've linked to a story loaded with speculation and photos and not a shred of evidence. This opening paragraph sets the tone:

"Paramount Pictures is worried that Meryl Streep's edgy, chilling performance as a U.S. Senator in The Manchurian Candidate, which opens at the end of next month, is too close to the real Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a pal inside the studio tells me." http://aflyonthewall.journalspace.com/?entryid=48

Yet Streep has disclosed that to prepare for her role, she watched a string of political talk shows. "Anything with Peggy Noonan [or] Karen Hughes," Streep told Entertainment Weekly. "It’s hard to get more hyperbolic than that." Maureen Farrell

Subject: The Ring of Fear

Dear BuzzFlash Editor,

I congratulate John Kerry for having thus far avoided most major missteps that would be instantly and mercilessly exploited by the Bush campaign. Although I have a feeling that, given the strategy of carefully controlling the timing and content of the national political news and it's spin by Karl Rove et.al., that credible and incredible, damaging stories about candidate Kerry will materialize as the election gains momentum. Never in my life have I witnessed in the United States of America, a more aggressive, ideological and vindictive political machine as represented by George W. Bush. Fear is the rule, and fear is their primary tool. Fear sells, and all of the leaders of the Bush team have had their seminars and symposiums on the power of fear, in all of it's various forms. Fear of terror, fear of God, fear of our government and taxes, even a fear of our neighbors and their lifestyles.

Senator Kerry is fighting a gargantuan battle against those who have staked their entire claim to our nation and its future, on their narrow interests and an insatiable greed for power. Mr. Bush has made it clear that any nation who doesn't bow to his will, will be treated, in essence as an enemy. What was implicit was the threat that any US citizen or group that didn't agree with their project for the new American century, would be considered traitors and enemies of the Bush administration and thus, the United States of America. If one studies the telling manner in which Mr. Bush pronounces and projects the name "America", one detects a proprietary tone in his voice, as if consciously claiming full rights to a brand name.

John Kerry has a proven record of confronting fear. My hope is that lessons learned in a young life inform the motivations and passions of a mature life. In Senator Kerry's case, his mission, stated simply, is to confront and conquer the fear factory that the Bush administration epitomizes. The palpable fear engendered by the Bush people, must be redirected back toward George W. Bush himself. I believe this because I know too many of my fellow citizens who have been affected by and infected with the fear that emanates more from our current government and it's policies, than from terrorists.

As a conscientious patriot and progressive American, I fear that the Bush administration has caused the United States to lose respect around the world. With our loss of respect, we lose political and moral leverage to influence the world positively, and we diminish our power to gain partners in our battle against terrorism.

I fear that our ability to openly discuss and debate the issues of the day has been egregiously eroded by Mr. Bush, stifling the very process by which a democratic society is maintained and rejuvenated.

I fear that we are more vulnerable to terrorists, and more despised because of the isolationist attitudes and intolerant policies of Mr. Bush.

I fear that we are more vulnerable to terrorist attacks on US soil, due to the incompetence exhibited by the Bush administration, in particular regarding their faulty parsing and manipulation of secret intelligence, and an almost complete lack of accountability.

I fear that our progress as a nation and our reputation as a bastion of free-thought, free study and tolerance has been greatly diminished by the leadership of George W. Bush.

I fear that many more Americans will die because of the ideological actions of George W. Bush and his religiously influenced and industry-biased motives.

I fear that Mr. Bush believes that he is playing a lead role in carrying out biblical prophesies that are predicted to culminate in Armageddon and the Rapture.

I fear that our country will take decades to completely overcome the far-reaching and short-sighted economic, and morally reprehensible decisions and appointments made by George W. Bush.

I fear that the environment my children will inherit will have fewer creatures, forests and habitat, and will lack the clean air and water that their children will need to survive.

Fear is the most powerful motivator, and as such must be pried from the cold, rigid fingers of the Bush people and turned against them. Fear, as a very complex and visceral emotion, cannot always be well-regulated and controlled. Fear can in fact, set us free - if Mr. Kerry can learn to use it wisely against Mr. Bush, then discard it - much as Frodo destroyed the Ring in the quest to save Middle Earth. John Kerry just may be the Frodo of our national saga.

I ask you, and anyone who has sensed the fear and degradation in our country, and witnessed the oppressive heat emanating from Mr. Bush and his collaborators, to join me in a fellowship to remove the greatest threat to our own version of Middle Earth. We cannot succumb to fear, and we cannot afford to fail. Long live the fellowship.

Sincerely,

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Across the Great Divide

Dear Buzz,

Can't you feel it? The conservatives turning. Bush is gonna go down. Might be with a big ugly fight, more agents being quietly outed, revenge, all of the horrowshow, maybe a drawn-out legal battle -- but he's going to go. Bill Moyer's recent story on Tom Delay et al http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/delay.html was played so well. Not a word of the Religious Right because it's the general Christian ~40% of the US population that has to shake off the madness of the fringe and see the precipice where they are allowing themselves to be led. Their shadow spooks them, and can't be spoken to directly. Business practices, however, are things Americans *are* willing to examine -- Business is, after all, their real religion. But any which way they can start to see the unfairness, the distortions, the real intent: how can it not heal? Keep the faith baby. Thank all of you for standing up for the future. With heart,

Deborah Conner

Subject: Janis Karpinksi

Hi, You may want to advertise this BBC radio program available live over the internet, that is going out tomorrow morning and then again tomorrow evening UK time. I think it will also be available as a listen again recording. This is what is on offer:

"John Humphrys asks Brigadier General Janis Karpinksi, who was in charge of the Baghdad prison where Iraqi prisoners were tortured, why she refuses to take the blame."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/ontheropes.shtml

Keep up the good work. Best wishes, Jon

Check out this new reference, the most comprehensive on the web:

"Mass Exodus: 86 High Level Resignations and Dismissals Plague the Bush Administration's First Term" located here: << http://www.politicalstrategy.org/archives/000093.php >>

Excerpt:

"Amazingly, 86 (Yes, Eighty-Six) high-level resignations and dismissals have taken place since this administration first established its initial set of "good people". That's almost one every 2 weeks. These include such top level officials as White House Budget Director Mitch Daniels, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, Commander of the U.S. Central Command General Tommy Franks, Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Glenn Hubbard, Head Weapons Inspector David Kay, Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, Pentagon Advisory Board Chairman Richard Perle, SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt, CIA Director George Tenet, Army Secretary Thomas White, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, and EPA Chief Christine Todd Whitman. And that's just the beginning."

...and

"Below, I have listed all 86 ex-bush administration members, the most comprehensive reference of its kind as far as I can tell. Click on the name to read an article related to their exit. From these sources you will garner a true understanding of the level of dissatisfaction that top officials had with the administration on everything from the environment, AIDS, and war to Medicare, 911 and the deficits."

To read the full article, go here:

<< http://www.politicalstrategy.org/archives/000093.php >>

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Chalabi's Son

Dear BuzzFlash,

I saw Chalabi's son on CNN being described as the head prosecutor of Saddam Hussein. I thought it a blatant power play that would be a huge news item.

About a week later, Chalabi was raided and denounced and I haven't heard a word about his son. Can anyone fill in the blanks?

Also, this week , buried in the Reagan distraction, was 43 referring to Rumsfeld as the Secretary of Defense for the War on Terror. Now Cambone seems to have taken over our "Intelligence activities"!

No wonder CIA director Tenet stepped down.

What a mess!!

God help us, Crystal

Subject: More Blackbox black ops

The Floridians are still up to Blackbox tampering. Here's a note I sent to the Associated Press, some local talk show hosts, and my elected officials. Do not let the Wally O'Dells of the world get away with our (representative) democracy. There have been numerous articles detailing the faults of touchscreen computers and voter fraud. Why is this still an issue? Companies such as Diebold, Sequoia, and E.S. & S came into business for two reasons -- to hand deliver any election to strategic Republican candidates, and to further the privatization of what should be open and public governmental duties while at the same time transferring huge sums of taxpayer money into the pockets of the incestuous blackbox voting cabal.( Read Bev Harris's Blackboxvoting....) That's it; it never was about "helping" Americans vote.

I have zero problem with computers and calculators rapidly totaling the vote, but anyone but a fool can see that unless the machine prints a ballot that, after viewing drops directly into a locked box their vote is nothing but virtual air to be counted as people like Wally O'Dell want it counted.

Those literal paper ballots should then be counted at the precinct level -- yes, right there in the building where they were cast -- and then their totals sent on to the next level and then on to the next. The subtotals should be kept visible at every single level. Is this too much to ask for to preserve our democracy? Please spend more time writing about it; it's your Constitutional duty. Find out just what tricks the Floridians are going to use this time before we have another major debacle.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: The Final Mile

While surfing the Internet, My monitor suddenly filled with a picture that I've read, caused the Authors to lose their employment There on the screen was a picture of more than 20 caskets draped with the American flag, bearing the remains of our Young Soldiers who had paid the supreme price for this invasion and occupation of a seemingly helpless Country without a navy, or air force of value and a rag tag army which moved it's forces in Toyota pick up trucks and perhaps donkey carts.

What I saw here was a small fraction of those who have given their lives for this endeavor I ponder- How could I cause thinking people to understand what a Soldiers death means to those concerned.

Since We seem to have become immune to statistics, I will try another method.

At this writing there has been more than 800 American Soldiers lives that have been abruptly terminated in this invasion.

These dead Soldiers were certainly Not old like myself, a veteran of ww2, but in the prime of their young lives Had they lived to fulfill these lives , who is to say that among them We would not find another Jonas Salk, or even a mind to provide a cure for cancer.or perhaps a great Poet.

Now consider the heartbreak of families and friends that were waiting for their loved ones to return and resume their place. at home . This then follows - to try to create a mind picture of the fruits of War.

If we were to place the coffins of the 800 plus American Soldiers in a straight line , each one touching the other , head to toe , One would have to walk more than a mile to come to the end of that sorrowful sight,yet consider that We are adding to the length of the line almost daily.

Joseph C. Holzer

Go slow-Live longer.

Subject: Court rejects Barr's suit against Clinton

It's nice that Barr continues to sue for millions of dollars, but voted against that right for the rest of us. He is such a hypocrite.

Maybe he and Limbaugh can double date. Surely it is time for Barr to dump his wife and start looking for #4.

Karen

* * *

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/06/14/barr/index.html Court rejects Barr's suit against Clinton

By Sam Hananel

June 14, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Rep. Bob Barr cannot bring a $30 million defamation suit against former President Clinton, Democratic political adviser James Carville and publisher Larry Flynt, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

The Georgia Republican alleged that the three conspired to smear him by publishing information about his private life as retaliation for his outspoken role in the impeachment proceedings against Clinton.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said Barr failed to make his conspiracy claim against Clinton and Carville within the three years permitted by law.

Subject: Seymour Hersch - "You haven't begun to see evil..."

"Seymour Hersh spoke... at the University of Chicago.... I took some scattered notes. The remarks will be disjoined--as will be the notes--but chilling. He asserted several things that he says he didn't have nailed down enough to write, but that he was confident of....

He then turned to the 40th president, referring obliquely to 138 names, then began to list them, saying those with long memories will catch on: they were the Reagan administration figures accused, indicted, or convicted of wrongdoing..."

[snipage on various topics Seymour spoke of...]

" ...He said that after he broke Abu Ghraib people are coming out of the woodwork to tell him this stuff. He said he had seen all the Abu Ghraib pictures. He said, "You haven't begun to see evil..." then trailed off. He said, "horrible things done to children of women prisoners, as the cameras run." He looked frightened."

http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/movable_type/2004_archives/000987.html

If this is true, we will have no reputation left.

V. C. Johnson
Ft. Walton Bch, FL