The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag.

Subject: North Carolina struggling to protect its elections! (NC Bill on Verifiable Voting Study (Brewed Thoughts ...)

I've received a lot of good feedback from my E-Republic or B-Republic? article. One of the responses was some great news from Joyce McCloy, Coordinator of the NC Coalition for Verifiable Voting. She informed me that the NC General Assembly has a bill before it that will place a moratorium on further purchases of electronic voting machines until July 2005. The bills also propose to set up a commission to study whether paper ballots should be required for all voting systems and also how to ensure that voting remains accessible for disabled people.

The bill comes in the form of Senate Bill S1415 sponsored by Senator Ellie Kinnaird and House Bill H1748 sponsored by Representative Verla Insko. The full text of each bill is at the other end of those hyperlinks.

Joyce also had the following message, that I think really displays why these bills need to go through.

Electronic voting machines in two North Carolina Counties lost 436 ballots because of a software mistake in early voting in 2002. The machines had to be replaced by paper ballots during the general election. In Broward County, Florida, in January 2004, electronic voting machines failed to record votes for 134 voters who used them. The election was won by 12 votes, so that a recount was required. But no recount was possible because there was no paper trail.

Despite hundreds of such mishaps across the country, many North Carolina county election officials are rushing toward computerized voting, spending millions of taxpayer dollars. But there is no hurry. Let your NC Assembly representatives know that you want the entire state to stop and study the issue before making any more decisions about voting systems.

Make sure that your House and Senate representatives know your position on this issue. Joyce would also like for you to e-mail the Coalition for Verifiable Voting to let them know you support the cause.

Subject: Defeat vs Impeachment . . . Why Not Both ????

BuzzFlash . . .

All well and good, diplomats and military officials wanting Bush defeated in November, but as we have looked back into history this past week, due to Reagan's funeral and followers, in my opinion, because the US is "soft" on murderers when it comes to those in high positions . . . the crimes keep on being committed by the same "old" group.

Some might think that when these "killer cronies" die off that will be the end of the tyranny against our government and those around the world . . .. such an assumption would be wrong. Until people are made to take "full responsibility" for their actions and leadership, this tyranny will still go on and on and on.

It is the responsibility of this government and the Democratic Party -- since the Republicans have become complicit in these crimes by this administration -- to bring this about. For instance, just one example, Bush, Sr., should not have been able to pardon those who could testify against "him." The loopholes in our Executive Branch of government are as large as the swinging doors and shredders in the White House.

As for myself . . . I want no more bipartisan politics . And if Kerry can't find a Democrat to fill the position of Vice President and take on a stronger message regarding the Democratic platform, then maybe he should also step down.

It's always the "Liberals" who bring the life worth living to the average "Joe or Joan" citizen of the United States and it's always the "Conservatives" who put those same lives in constraints and make them wish they were never born. This country owes everything to the "Joes and Joans" who, through their sacrifices, made the US what it is today . . . in spite of the Conservatives who always try to take from the poor, kill off the elderly, and give to the rich. Always . . . "The Never Ending Story" . . . Let's put an "end" to this story!!

Defeat to Impeach . . .

Thanks Buzz Flash,

Shirley Smith
Still a Livid Liberal

Subject: Documentary maker seeking African American women who sing anti-Bush country songs

Hi there!

A long shot, and a bit of an obscure request I know, but I would be most grateful if you could offer any assistance.

Thanks so much.

Kind regards,

Catherine Muller

" Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." --Josef Stalin

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: pimping the pope

I had to chuckle this morning when I was watching C-span and a woman called  in....she was very indignant about Bush "pimping the pope"!  It seems the host of the show had read a newspaper report about Bush's recent visit to the Vatican where he urged the Pope to get his USA bishops to speak out more forcefully against abortion and gay marriage (to influence the election in the Fall?).

"Pimping the Pope" seems to hit the nail on the head.

D. Schreyer
Kingston NY

Subject: archived news report from May 6th 2002

Hey BuzzFlashers,

I often find myself keeping worthy news items from the past and this one is now back in the limelight. It's a news report titled U.S. rejects global pact on war-crimes tribunal, Neil A. Lewis, The New York Times, Monday, May 6, 2002:

WASHINGTON The Bush administration has decided to renounce formally any involvement in a treaty creating an international criminal court and is expected to declare that the signing of the document by the Clinton administration is no longer valid, according to government officials.

The "unsigning" of the treaty, which is expected to be announced Monday, will be a decisive rejection by the Bush White House of the concept of a permanent tribunal designed to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and other war crimes.

Food for thought: "By adjusting for wind resistance, hamsters can act all superior."

Weeble

Subject: Contribution to the Mailbag!

Is it safe to turn my television on again?  With the first announcement of Reagan's death, I turned the television off and I haven't had it on since.  Thank God for BuzzFlash and Air America Radio.  They've sustained me through this shamefully maudlin exercise in idolatry.  Thanks for being there BuzzFlash.  I've been a fan from the early days and I honestly don't know what I'd do without you. Just color me grateful.

Subject: NYTimes regime change etc.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Here' s a link to an article in the most recent NYReview of Books by Michael Massing entitled "Unfit to Print" on the NYTimes mea culpa and more. It's enraging, but not surprising to know how much we've been missing, despite the heroic efforts of BuzzFlash and others. Massing had an earlier piece in February which you can get to from this link.

On another topic. Here's a link to a report from Public Citizen on how Bechtel has failed to deliver on its contracts to repair and provide water systems in Iraq.

http://www.citizen.org/documents/bechteliniraq.pdf

Our tax money is pouring into corporate coffers while many citizens of Iraq continue to suffer from lack of clean water to drink. Contaminated drinking water is one of the leading causes of death in the world, with the burden falling especially hard on infants and children.

Finally, a Massachusetts lawyer friend told me the other day that Massachusetts outlawed torture in 1640, yes the seventeenth century. Our country can't have a longer history than that in opposing torture. The Bush administration has shamed us in the eyes of the world. We BuzzFlashers need to do more than splutter at each other and figure out what concrete steps we can take to make sure Kerry wins. Suggestions from the politically savvy and well-connected would be welcomed by many of us in the non-swing states.

Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA

Subject: The Columbus arrests

Does anyone else beside me smell dead skunk in the arrest of the Somali for a "terrorist plot"? First, no one will be able to hear what he has to say until after the election. Second, with all due respect to Ohio, Columbus would not be high on my list of targets. Cleveland or Cincinnati maybe. Lastly, this just happened to occur in a swing state in which Bush is losing ground. Is John "The Moral" Ashcroft possibly playing a little bit of politics?

Dissent is not Terrorism Freedom is not Legislated

Michael H.

Subject: TERROR PLOTS

Dear Buzz,

I find it simply amazing that the suspect, Mr. Abdi, who is linked to Al Qaeda, I'm wondering why they would target a mall in Ohio? I wonder if 'other' plots will involve states where Sen. Kerry is leading? Maybe it's me, and I'm sure it is, but if any more threats just happen in those states where Kerry leads in the polls, then I'll know. Right now the Today show is saying that these terrorists don't seem real like the others that want to strike well-known sites instead of malls or other soft targets. Hmmm. Just wondering....... A Loyal Buzz Fan Forever

Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska
PS. To Shirley from St. Louis.....Glad to have you back from vacation. : )

Subject: Bush hides behind Mall Plot from Diplomats & Military Commanders

Anybody think it's a coincidence that the Bush Admin trots out a year-old mall-bombing plot the day after 26 diplomats and military commanders call for scrapping Bush & Co.?

Marty Golden
Maine

Subject: Op-Ed: SENATOR D

Below is an op-ed I'm circulating around today about Granny D's campaign for the Senate from New Hampshire. I hope that you'll consider posting it on BuzzFlash.

SENATOR D by Ben Krompak

Monday, June 14, 2004

Doris Haddock is "Granny D," the feisty activist who in 1999 and 2000 walked 3200 miles from Pasadena, California to Washington, D.C.. to protest big money in politics and promote campaign finance reform. Last year she launched a major voter registration initiative targeting working women and earlier this year she lent her support to Congressman Dennis Kucinich's anti-war presidential campaign.

Now, at 93, this great-grandmother of sixteen is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in the potentially critical swing state of New Hampshire.

No kidding.

For months, State Senator Burt Cohen was cruising to victory in the Democratic primary. But upon learning last week that his campaign manager had skipped town - taking with him an estimated $200,000 from the campaign war chest - Cohen withdrew from the race on Friday, the day of the filing deadline for primary candidates.

Rather than sit back and watch incumbent Republican Judd Gregg go unopposed, Granny D sprang into action. After hearing the news at home in Dublin, she hopped in her custom "Granny Van" (no time for walking) and headed for the state capital in Concord where she filed her declaration of candidacy.

By the end of the day, the state's Democratic Party had seemingly embraced her campaign.

" You know what, this race is really going to be fun," said NH Democratic Party chair Kathy Sullivan. "The fact is Granny D has stood up for clean elections and putting the grassroots people first and Judd Gregg has stood up for special interests. It's the perfect contrast."

It remains unclear what kind of campaign Granny D intends to run. While it's probably safe to assume there will be no $1000-a-plate dinners or corporate PAC contributions, one wonders what kind of donations she will seek. Will there be polling and direct mail and thirty-second spots? And will voters get to see her debate Gregg?

I don't know. What I do know is that Granny D would make one hell of a Senator.

I'm making an appeal to those individuals and entities that can mobilize small donors and volunteers (bloggers, Democracy For America, MoveOn.org, Air America Radio, etc.) and to all reform-minded Democrats: Let's help deliver the Granite State to John Kerry by helping to elect Granny D to the Senate.

Sound ridiculous? Think again.

New Hampshire is a small state where a little money will go a long way. Howard Dean finished second here but it could yet be the place where his "Revolution" helps us to take back the Senate, take back the White House and take back America.

As a political outsider and campaign finance reform activist, Granny D could potentially appeal to independents, swing-voters and non-voters in a way that ordinary politicians never could. And with the latest American Research Group tracking poll reflecting a dead heat in New Hampshire in the presidential race (Bush-46%, Kerry-46%), her candidacy might be just what we need to turn this red state blue.

So bookmark GrannyD.com and stay tuned for campaign news. Senator D? Stranger things have happened.

Thanks and keep up the great work,

Ben Krompak

Subject: News Flash

Greetings:  Please consider this news flash for your readers. 

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT theaters not showing Fahrenheit 911

Sincerely,

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer

Sent to Michael Moore:

Dear Mike,

I then sent the following e-mail to them ( info@MoveAmericaForward.org  ):

re: Michael Moore When we abandon the Constitution the terrorists have won.

Let us not forget--

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

and...

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Fear not and keep the Faith! As Mark Twain said: “Be good and you will be lonesome.” 

Respectfully,

B G Cosby
Citizen of the United States

Subject: Senatorial Candidate Kaloogian behind move to trash Michael Moore's new film

REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST BEHIND EFFORTS TO INTIMIDATE THEATRE OWNERS ABOUT MICHAEL MOORE FILM:

Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9-11 is due to hit theatres on June 25th. But that hasn't stopped a campaign from being launched to intimidate theatre owners into not booking the film:

A web site has launched a campaign to deter theater owners from showing Michael Moore's film, "Fahrenheit 9-11." A list of theaters currently committed to showing the film is provided along with exhortations to call and demand that the film be dropped. Some theater owners are reporting receiving death threats.

This web site, "www.moveamericaforward.org," is actually an alias for "www.moveamericaforward.com." A DNS check reveals that "www.moveamericaforward.com" is being run by a public relations firm out of San Francisco: Russo Marsh & Rogers.  Russo Marsh & Rogers is a political public relations firm with strong ties to the GOP. Sal Russo, a principle in Russo Marsh & Rogers, served as advisor for the "Recall Grey Davis" campaign.

After WRH published this info yesterday, Moveamericaforward.org changed its registration to obscure the connection: Domain Name: MOVEAMERICAFORWARD.ORG Created On:18-Nov-2003 18:00:16 UTC Last Updated On:12-Jun-2004 22:50:51 UTC Registrant Name:Howard Kaloogian [*]

However, a quick google search shows that Kaloogian is another bigtime GOPer, this time an actual senatorial candidate[*]. I guess they think we are pretty stupid, or that the fear factor of a Senate candidate intimidating owners is worth the possible bad press.

Kaloogian Bio on SFPolitics.com

From http://www.cosmiciguana.com/archives/002430.html

Forwarded by A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Abu Ghraib will not be demolished

This was buried on page 5 of my LA Times yesterday. Given the amount of press that the original announcement got, this caught me quite off guard. Bush even mentioned it in that "wonderful (b.s.)" speech he gave a few  Mondays ago. And it turns out, it was just a lie.

Interim Iraqi President Ghazi Ajil Yawer said there were no plans to destroy the Abu Ghraib prison, despite an offer by President Bush to replace the jail where U.S. troops abused inmates.

"No. Why? It's a prison that we spent more than $100 million building," Yawer said on ABC's "This Week." "We need every single dollar we have in order to rebuild our country instead of demolishing and rebuilding."

Abu Ghraib Will Stay, Interim Leader Says (LA Times)

Brian Balta

ADDDRULEHERE

Subject: Torture memo

Perhaps one of your readers has already contacted you about this. The Washington Post states it has a copy of Ashcroft's torture memo in .pdf format on its website. Is it just me, or when you click on the link, do you get a blank page? Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/documents/dojinterrogationmemo20020801.pdf

Here's the news story containing the link: Justice Dept. Memo Says Torture 'May Be Justified'

Kathy

[BuzzFlash Note: The links seem okay to us.]

Subject: Fahrenheit 911

Anyone interested in buying advance tickets for Fahrenheit 911 should visit this site before June 25, when the film opens:

It has been set up for Lions Gate for group ticket sales…anyone that can afford it should sponsor showings and get group tickets for the show…

It is apparently debuting all over the world and the buzz is incredible, not to mention the Palm d'Or…I hope BuzzFlash readers go out and support the film opening weekend to show how big our numbers are…and I hope Kerry's campaign is there to sign up supporters and get donations if at all possible...

Marc L. Lippincott

Subject: Sec. Powell's Freudian Slip...

A U.S. State Department report that incorrectly showed a decline last year in terrorism worldwide was a "big mistake," Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday. "Very embarrassing. I am not a happy camper over this. We were wrong," the secretary told NBC's "Meet the Press."

Powell went on to say, "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."

JUST HOW MUCH DID THEY GET AWAY WITH BEFORE?

Colin M.

Subject: David Brooks' mendacity (Bitter at the Top, NY Times Op Ed)

The conclusions that David Brooks habitually draws are "simply" mendacious. Drawing on Rudy Tuxiera (which I admit that I haven't read), he focuses on an "elite" cleft, which he premises as universal in his first sentence. "It's been said that every society has two aristocracies." Given that premise, his conclusion could be seen as just banal, and an indication of his inability to analyze astutely. But I don't think that's the case. Instead, what Brooks does is use his erudition and rhetorical skills to evidence his own "mind" -- to use his own term -- and then, as he does in many of his published articles, performs a sleight of hand. He produces a non sequitur conclusion that references some Bush administration or GOP talking point: "If not for the civil war within the educated class, this country would be far less polarized." So what he is implying is that the "elites" are to blame for the political polarization.

The subtle but undeniable implication is that the recent rise in temperature of political discussions within the US press and by the office water cooler, not to mention the Internet, do not reflect the values and thinking of who we might in this context call "non-elites," or non-intellectuals and non-managers.

In effect, Brooks, a published neo-conservative intellectual who attended the University of Chicago, is speaking to people who don't identify themselves with this "elite," politically agitated group, telling them that their interests are not reflected and certainly not at stake in the current political debates over Iraq, medicare, civil liberties, etc.

Rather, as Brooks would want us to see it, the increased debate -- what little of it does take place in this country -- is a byproduct of election year, elite squabbling, and most of us need not worry our non-elite minds over these issues. Let the elites babble on, because that's what they do, Brooks is saying. And this is what makes Brooks' mendacity simply dangerous if we value the concept of as many citizens as possible participating in the democratic process, including becoming informed voters.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Fries are veggies?

Editor:

Well that makes at least as much sense as war over nonexistent WMD's, democracy for Iraq, nonexistent Al Qaeda links to Iraq, censoring coverage of KIA's returning to Dover AFB, the patriot act taking away civil liberties "to protect us," Herr Ashcroft's contempt of Congress because he thinks the president is above the law, delusions that the flag is more important than the First Amendment, and claiming to support the troops while cutting their benefits funding. 

And to think that I thought I was living through an interesting historical period during the Nixon administration?  Hopefully after the November elections we will all be able to wear t-shirts proclaiming I SURVIVED THE MOST CRIMINAL, STUPID, EVIL, GREEDY, CORRUPT PRESIDENCY IN US HISTORY AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS T-SHIRT.

Subject: Bush declines to create do-not-spam list

U.S. declines to create do-not-spam list (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rosamond

Subject: Abuse of power

Lou Dobbs show on CNN today was very eye-opening.

Republicans in Congress are proposing a $149 billion tax cut for corporate America. This will help them increase outsourcing to overseas factories and expand their operations.

Our unfavorable balance of trade with China has increased another 20 percent this year. I was amazed when Nixon began relations with communist China after he had always accused Dems of being soft on communism. Our trade with one of the worst regimes in the world has made them a world power, and now corporate America is helping them become a super power.

Meanwhile, corporate America's profits are up 62 percent, while worker's take home income has declined. This is at a time when inflation is rising its ugly head and will hurt Americans considerably.

If matters were not bad enough, illegal immigrants are now allowed to cross the border with Mexico with little intervention. It certainly appears that Republicans are determined to destroy the middle class in this country. How they can expect to be reelected is beyond belief.

RB

Subject: Wealth increased under Bush term

Dear Buzz,

On the front of the Wall Street Journal, AKA The Republican's Bible, I noticed a story about how over the past 4 years wealth has increased in this Country.  One in every 125 Americans is now a millionaire. 

Translation:  Under George W. Bush's term [sic] the rich got richer! 

Now for most who read the Wall Street Journal that is good news!

Nancy Lynn Nagy

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Reagan

I was reading this old edition of the Hollywood Magazine (1988) and it had a gossip style article. In it was this...

Ronald Reagan's pals buy him a dreamhouse. Twenty of them, led by local car magnate Holmes Tuttle, chip in 156,000 each for the one-and-a-half acre, St. Cloud Road residence.

They can't live there because the number is wrong. The address is 666 St. Cloud Road. 666! The Bible says that's the number of the Beast. Nancy's gypsies say it's trouble. But the City of Los Angeles says it's no problem: They have the number changed, to 668.

Soila Chimoltrufia

Subject: Thwart the Right Wing- support Michael Moore's 911 film!

http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/06/804464.shtml

Rex E.

Subject: Voice of the Evil Doers REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST BEHIND EFFORTS...

Rex E.

Subject: making sure Fahrenheit 911 gets wide distribution

Okay, Buzzers,

This will only take you five minutes. You may have learned right here on BuzzFlash that a republican PR firm is putting pressure on movie houses NOT to show Fahrenheit 911. We can exert pressure in the other direction. You'll find email addresses here...

http://www.moveamericaforward.org/MichaelMoore/

...of theater execs who have either decided to show it or who haven't yet made up their minds. (How handy for the PR firm to have gathered them!) Write the theater owners and congratulate them or, if they're undecided, encourage them to be brave. Minutes after I sent out my letters one man wrote back and thanked me for standing up for free speech. Especially if these theaters might be located in hostile environments, the owners can really use our support. Thanks, everyone,

Shannon in Lexington

Subject: radioactive materials

Is it true that a US Army truck was prevented from entering Kuwait carrying highly radioactive materials? Were they trying to plant them in Iraq (WMD)? What will Bush think of next.

Tim Adams

Subject: US truck carrying radioactive materials turned away by Kuwaitis

Ok, sleuths and conspiracy theorists. Hot off the presses...We need to see if this is true or not. Spread the word, share the info.

U.S truck carrying radioactive material caught in Kuwait (aljazeera.com)

Kuwait refused to allow a radioactive material-bound truck to enter the country as demanded by the US army, Kuwait Times reported Sunday.

Kuwaiti customs department on Thursday impounded four trucks on route to Iraq for suspicion that they were loaded with radioactive material.

After checkup, three of them were found not containing any radioactive material, while the fourth was found to be carrying a container of highly radioactive substance.

Customs officials refused to open the truck, and insisted that it should not move before American military personnel and Kuwaiti security officers arrive at the scene.

The officials said the American army warned against opening the container and asked that it be allowed proceed, but they refused.

Three of the four trucks were then released and the fourth one was sent out of Kuwait to where it came despite the US army's objections.

NOTE: This event was reported by the Kuwait Times.

Sharon J.

WHAT A GENT! Most people who heard that Rush Limbaugh and his wife, Marta, had split, assumed she dumped the bombastic broadcaster. That's what we reported on Saturday. And that's what happened -- she moved out. But Limbaugh, who has trouble telling the truth --remember his silence on his drug addiction before he went into rehab-- wants us to believe that he dumped his wife. "Marta has consented to my request for a divorce, and we have mutually agreed to seek an amicable separation," he told listeners yesterday. "As I said, it's a personal matter and I want to keep it that way. I don't intend to say any more about this on the air."

Karen G.

Subject: No way Bush will give Saddam to Iraq

Mike Curtis
Greenbrier, Ark

Subject: NEWS TIP - PayPal settles - but they still freeze accounts

I have some information for anyone who is interested in the news story about PayPal and their lawsuit settlement over freezing customer's accounts:

http://news.com.com/PayPal+settles+customer+suit/2100-1038_3-5233490.html

My new information is that I had MY ACCOUNT FROZEN by PayPal this weekend. And I called them up and recorded the phone call. You can hear them telling me that they are going to keep my money for 6 months - and that there is no appeal process - and listen to the freak out when I tell them I'm recording it and going to put them on the web.

It's a fun story for those who are interested. Here's the link to my blog.

http://paypal.ctyme.com/paypal/paypalsucks.htm

Here's a link to the recording.

http://marc.perkel.com/audio/paypal2.mp3

Marc Perkel
San Francisco CA.

Subject: Time for a Little Selfishness?

I frequently debate politics with colleagues of mine who are prototypical factually-challenged defenders of George W. Bush and the right-wing agenda. I am always amazed by the self-centeredness of such folks, who will openly admit that they vote only in their own self-interest--and who can't believe that there are actually people who don't vote in such a manner. It certainly won't come as a surprise to any readers here that these are the same people who have no use for the United Nations, find the use of torture "acceptable," and basically have a "bomb them all" attitude toward anyone they don't particularly like.

I find even the concept that someone would vote purely in self-interest versus a belief in what is best for the country to be incredible. But perhaps for one time--and only one time--those of us on the left should go ahead and appeal to the "selfishness" of people; especially of those who may not normally go to the polls and vote.

We should make it painfully clear that four more years of George W. Bush means:

• For every youngster under 25, a return of the military draft to fight for George W. Bush's empire of neoconservatives. If you are under 25, and you fail to help vote this man out of office, you--or someone you know--WILL be forced to leave their families, futures, and fortunes behind to prop up the neoconservative empire. We on the left should be shouting this on every college campus in the nation. Don't forget to tell them about the new draft rules that won't permit student deferments. You'll need to be medically ill or the child of a high-ranking Republican to avoid service now.
• For every woman, an understanding that you will no longer have the right to choose. Roe v. Wade will be overturned, and the administration will stop at nothing to erect hurdles to make abortion impossible in every state. You will find that even your access to birth control methods will come under serious attack. The "American Taliban" of Robertson, Falwell, and others will continue to push their agenda of subservience for women in accordance with their own warped Biblical interpretations.
• For every scientist, continued ignorance and misrepresentation of scientific fact. Despite being the linchpin of modern biology, evolution will continue to come under attack as an "unproven theory." Concerns regarding pollution and global warming will be rejected as "environmentalist nonsense." Drugs which are safe will be rejected for political reasons; while unsafe ones are approved for the same reason. We will fall further behind in the biological sciences because of dogmatically set scientifically policies that incredibly consider five cells to constitute a human being.
• For every person who works, no help or concern. Globalization will be continued in an unchecked and unmonitored manner, causing a decline in your wages. Efforts to roll back overtime rules and force even more hours out of the world's most overworked people will be successful. You will work harder for less pay, less respect, less benefits, and less security.

Appealing to one's self-interest makes me a bit queasy--it's not something that we as liberals like to do. We like to think in terms of common good, fairness, and equality. But this election is too important, its impact too far-reaching, its impact too considerable, to let any angle go untouched in reaching out to Americans. If this means appealing to the selfish five-year-old in people, let's do it.

In four years, George W. Bush has irreparably damaged democracy by stealing one election and laying the computerized framework for doing it a second time. In four years, George W. Bush has irreparably damaged 200 years of American reputation by engaging in an unnecessary war against the advice of our closest allies. In four years, George W. Bush has overseen an intelligence breakdown of historical proportions prior to 9/11 and has used this horrific event to create a domestic spying apparatus that would make J. Edgar Hoover smile. In four years, George W. Bush turned a surplus into record deficits to enrich the wealthiest of the wealthy.

Freedom-loving Americans can not afford to see what this man could do in eight years. Rest assured--the America you help save will be your own.

Regards,

Bruce
Orange, Texas

Across the country the National Park Service seems to be taking a beating. In the recent months, news articles and press releases have surfaced concerning how the National Park Service is handling our historical Parks. We have heard Congress question Director Mainella about the outrageous travel budget, especially to foreign countries and especially in a time when ALL the Parks seem to be suffering from severe budget deficits. Yet, the National Park Service wants us to believe that everything is wonderful. We have seen memos sent to Superintendents of the National Parks from those higher up with specific "talking points" that they must stick to if questioned about cuts in Park services conveniently known as service level adjustments.

And don't forget the start of all the media attention. Go back over 6 months, when the Chief of the United States Park Police, Teresa Chambers, thought to honestly answer questions from a reporter about budget and security issues that the reporter already knew about from another source. Due to this honesty, the Chief was stripped of gun, badge and power and sent home on administrative leave. Now, in a time of heightened homeland security, the United States Park Police are left without a Chief. Others are afraid to speak. If her crime was so bad, why has she not been fired? Instead she sits at home, unable to do her job, unable to talk about her job, unable to help defend her country. Please look at www.honestchief.com and see for yourself what has been happening. Help bring back an honest public servant so she can do the job she was meant to do.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Just a couple of observations....from the bag.

First of all, sympathies to those of you who had funerals...sincerely!

To the Buzzer who commented on the Limbaugh marriage at Justice Thomas' home...Not only did he marry his Compuserve chatmate..in Thomas' home...Justice Thomas actually married them!  We do have a supreme court to be proud of.  On my refrigerator to this day, and four years (almost ) old....is a cartoon from our paper (St.Louis Post Dispatch) the day after the supremes had stopped the recount....some of you may never have seen this...but it stays until I am gone.  The caption is" The court is now adjourned!"....and it has crumbled to the ground, with robes every which way....I keep it there always to remind me, at the disdain of most of my relatives!!!

And, to the readers who commented on Ron Reagan and his father's religion, I did watch that.  I thought he and his sister would help the mother the most...and Alzheimer's is a horrid disease...My mother is in a nursing home now with it, and maybe Nancy can get the president to allow stem cell research.  She has banded together with a few outstanding persons....and they seem to be determined.  I am sure it will be a while before she can fight the good fight (and,yes, Ron did get his point over).

And, now...I watched the ceremony in the White House, for the unveiling of the paintings of the Clintons, I was one proud democrat, so glad that I never changed through all the crap that was thrown at them, in '99 and 2000, no mortal, not even Clinton could have carried out any kind of policy at that time, they crippled his presidency, but not him nor his REAL followers.

And, Chelsea was absolutely beautiful...with her cute boyfriend...what a job they (damned, lousy, feminazi Hilary, and the skirtchasing President, rapist...whatever the hell else they could call either one) managed to do with that girl.  A young lady, who is a  graduate of a good school, and a boyfriend who likely loves her very much.(I look for them to be married). And, golly geez...how she has matured!!!

Even my rabid republican Husband could not believe it was Chelsea!!

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

I am interested in reading comments from other folks who, like me, viewed the daily campaign report on PBS' Newshour today. The Bush segment showed the President speaking to an audience of elders regarding drug cards via a format which--to my eyes--was similar to a moderated talk show, during which Mr. Bush "interviewed" two Joe Sixpack widows about savings on blood-thinners. Is this a new GOP marketing strategy, a new way to display their candidate as down-to-earth and average?

Iowamike

Subject: Fahrenheit 911 - thank you

Buzz,

I sent thank-you-for-showing-Fahrenheit 911 emails to all the theaters on the hate-full moveamericaforward.com website, and got a few replies:

- Thanks for your support!  We need to hear from more of the good guys!   

- Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. Here in Vermont, we are fortunate to have a Congressional delegation (Senators Jefford and Leahy, plus Representative Sanders) that was opposed to the war from the start.  Opposing the war and Bush's militarism has not been quite as risky here as in other parts of the country. We are looking forward to breaking some box-office records with Michael Moore's film!

Hint! Hint! Hint!  These guys need to hear from all of us.  They appreciate and enjoy the support of like-mined "good guys."  Let's applaud their courage and conviction!  Email them all.  The list has already been compiled, the homework is done  - it's easy.

T Quigly

American occupy

I can't imagine why the Bush administration kept the results of this poll, commissioned by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), from being released: A poll of Iraqis commissioned by the U.S.-governing authority has provided the Bush administration a stark picture of anti-American sentiment -- more than half of Iraqis believe they would be safer if U.S. troops simply left.

The poll, commissioned by the Coalition Provisional Authority last month but not released to the American public, also found radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is surging in popularity, 92 percent of Iraqis consider the United States an occupying force and more than half believe all Americans behave like those portrayed in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse photos.

Anyway, the Associated Press got hold of it and the key results are as follows:

• 92% feel the US are occupiers
• 55% feel they would be safer if the US left
• 54% feel all Americans act like the Abu Ghraib guards
• 41% want the US to leave immediately
• 45% said they preferred for U.S. forces to leave as soon as a permanent Iraqi government is installed
• 64% expect the worst from Americans now
• 81% think better of Moqtada al Sadr than they did before
• 63% believed conditions will improve when an Iraqi interim government takes over June 30
• 62% believed it was "very likely" the Iraqi police and Army will maintain security without U.S. forces

Clearly some of the results are basically meaningless, such as the first figure quoted -- the US is an occupying force, under international law and by the the administration's own description.

Still, taken as whole, there is a pretty obvious message of discontent here. And most disturbing must be those figures of support for Moqtada al Sadr. Anyone else want to offer some interpretation? Remember: the poll was conducted by the CPA.

Jackie N.

Subject: Michael Moore and Regal Cinemas

Neil Y.

The BuzzFlash Mailbag may experience inconsistent postings through June 27th while our managing editor takes his nuclear family to visit his extended family in another state. We appreciate your patience and understanding.