June 21, 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: Help Needed for Farhenheit 9/11 Buzz, Best, Chutter Subject: presidential prayer team The Presidential Prayer Team is compiling a commemorative book for George W.
Bush's birthday July 6th. Let's all be sure to send our thoughts to King George
on this very special day! www.presidentialprayerteam.org Mary Johnson Subject: Response Re Farenheit 9/11 The Little Theatre will be showing FAHRENHEIT 9/11, opening June 25. Keep sending those emails folks thanking all the theaters who have decided
to show Michael Moore's movie. The Website listing them is: http://www.moveamericaforward.org/MichaelMoore/
This is an anti-Moore Web site, but it lists all the theaters who intend to
show the movie Claire Subject: here we go again...... Here we go again.....I find it amazing that in the capture of Mr. Johnson by
Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, that for days the Saudis were 'looking' for this group
of terrorists/kidnappers to no avail, but today 6/18 after the announcement
of the beheading of Mr. Johnson, Saudi officials announce that they killed the
leader of this group,who just so happens to be the second in command of Al Qaeda
leader Osama Bin Laden. Wow, they managed to 'find' him in one day, when they
couldn't before? Give me a break, the Saudis knew where he was all along! Think
about how stupid this sounds, is anyone besides me thinking this way?...Hmmmm
...just wondering. A Loyal Buzz Fan Forever! Sharon Carlton Subject: 9/11 Commission Hi Buzz, I'm freeking ready to go postal over the 9/11 commission's report.
Talk about a cover up! You may recall that not long ago there was a
news report that a FAA manager destroyed the tape that the air traffic controllers
made on 9/11 following the hijackings. After they made the tape they
were relieved of their duties so they could receive some kind of grief counseling.
No one would begrudge them that. What I want to know is why the commission
failed to address the incident?. Did they ever interview any of those
air traffic controllers? Did they make an effort to find out what
was on the tape? Did they even bother to ask the manager why he/she
destroyed the tape? I just have a nagging feeling that we're missing
out on something important there. Maybe we need Michael Moore to
investigate the major screw-ups of the FAA on 9/11. I think I'd
trust him before I'd trust another government commission that seems to be
afraid to find out what the hell happened. I keep trying to find the silver lining in this mess. Like Bush's WMDs,
it has to be somewhere. Perhaps it lies in the fact that anyone who
paid even a little bit of attention throughout the 9/11 commission hearings
had to have noticed the poor leadership this administration has repeatedly
demonstrated. How can anyone continue to believe that Bush and his piss-poor
administration are better at protecting this country against terrorists than
John Kerry would be? Or for that matter, you or me or any of the BuzzFlash
readers and contributors who have functioning brains and actually use them.
Then again, I read that Dimson's poll numbers went up following Reagan's death.
And a majority now believe things are going well in Iraq. It may be
difficult finding a silver lining in all that dreary news.
I'll try though and I'll let you know when I've found it. Thanks again Buzz for being there. Judy Maclean Subject: Check out AOL News - Al-Qaida Cell Posts Photos of Johnson's Beheading
Those of us who represent the voice of rationality and spreading the wealth
into an increasing percentage of the world and who want to see responsible
development that accounts for the needs of the environment, other species
and the other people on the planet, those of us who care about what happens
next door and around the world, we are being identified with the fundamentalists
by the Bushites. They are playing the old game, you are either with us or
against us. But it won't work any more. We are more sophisticated then we
were back in the days of tricky Dick Nixon, and there are a lot more of us..
And Putin can't trick us with that sleight of hand game. Gary Rumor Subject: Draft Duhhbya's girls !! Buzz, Feeling the draft - which demands, "All men and women between the ages
of 18 and 26 would have to serve in some form of national service, not necessarily
a combat position, for a minimum of two years." Surely Duhhbya's girls
fit into draft-able category - with NO EXEMPTIONS !! Bring 'em
on! - maybe they'll grow up a bit (like their papa never did). T. Quigly Subject: Bush to Congress 3/18/03--Saddam Hussein Linked to 9/11 Thanks to Debra H. for alerting us to the USA Today story by Mimi Hall
that mentions Bush's 3/18/03 eve-of-war letter to Congress justifying the
invasion of Iraq. Here's the link to the official letter from the White
House that says the invasion was a necessary action "against international
terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations,
or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks
that occurred on September 11, 2001. So much for Rice's statement on NPR
6/18--"We've always said...that we do not have any evidence that Saddam
Hussein had anything to do with 9/11." Rice's comments were one part
of the White House's coordinated offensive this week to counter the 9/11
Commission Report. Continue to press for the truth. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030321-5.html Subject: Saddam & OBL The new operative phrase seems to be that there were “numerous contacts”
between Saddam & OBL. Sort of reminds one of the “weapons of mass
destruction program related activities” morphing of the rhetoric,
does it not? Turk Meister Subject: Let's not forget Oil
Giants Get UN Oil - For - Food Subpoenas (NY Times) Rosamond ADDRULEHERE Subject: Why . . . Some Wonder . . . BuzzFlash, Subject: KoKo What Bush needs is a spanking by his mother. Michael Barry Subject: the horror of war Is anyone out there feeling the same way I do? Every time I hear of
another American who has been beheaded by the 'terrorists'... I really
wonder, does this country think or wonder for a minute why? Did we not
invade them....treat the prisoners abusively, then torture them?? Why
do we wonder why our countrymen are getting slaughtered? Everyone goes on camera...Bush, mostly, and berates them as, "There
is no reason I do not think I have ever been so ashamed as the day the soldiers pulled
the statue of Saddam down...a few liked that...but a whole hell of a lot
did not! Those are the ones who are going to really cause this country
some problems. But, what the hell, Bush and Cheney will be safe in the
tunnels they have dug at our expense...just like the ones the rulers of
these eastern countries have!! How in the world do we rise above
this???? How do we stop it???? Someone has suggested going door to door to get Bush impeached!! I would
do it in a heartbeat...but I am not a young person...and if my brothers
and sons will not speak to me because I hate the man...how can I be sure
the neighborhood will.? The only ones I have spoken to think Saddam had
to go...I don't discuss it with many people anymore...because the entire
world is so imbecilic...they think Saddam bombed the trade center...how
can you talk to people with that kind of hard heads, with nothing inside,
so mentally affected by the Bush Regime??? And, to Clarkie...I agree totally. McCain is not and never had been the
man...he wants to be a Republican...even though Bush has treated him like
shit...'scuse me! I think he loves to tease....and I am as sick of him
as the rest of the Republicans. I do not think I have lived in a time
when Republicans were so evil....why else would the Reagans not want to
associate with them??? I hope Ron Reagan goes on the campaign trail...I
think his voice might be heard!!! I will always recall the first Iraqi war...back in 1991...when daddy
bush went into Iraq.... I was against that, too, but thought we were helping
an ally...so I didn't hate the man as much...but I can remember seeing
young soldiers shipped out...young...I mean, like the ones now in the
Guard....and this 18 yr.old soldier, just outfitted, said as he was leaving...someone
asked him how he felt about leaving to fight this war...and he had an
almost evil grin, like the dungeons and dragons game the kids played then,
and said, "Oh, I cannot wait to get over there and kill someone!!!"
My husband heard this and had to leave the room...and he is a rabid republican!! What is it about Republicans...other than maybe Reagan....even though
he was a typical Republican with everything for the rich, nothing for
the poor or middle class...what is it that makes them so adoring of the
entire war thing? Why do they love to fight anything? It is so depressing
to see this happen day after day, and no one in the world catch on!!!!!
I find myself almost wishing someone would take them out of my misery!!!
Does Bush think he is the Savior and is going to cause Armaggedon...like
in the Bible? There are those on political chat rooms who think he is...and
Geeeez it is scary...because I do not think that is the way it should
happen!! Shirley.............St.Louis Subject: Remember Greenpeace and Exxon and Ashcroft Bush
Justice Dept. asks energy industry for help fighting suits calls to mind that old story about Greenpeace unearthing the Exxon memo,
where, apparently, Ashcroft incited Exxon to issue their own lawsuit to
stymie the EPA. http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en//news/details?item%5fid=308563 I have a theory about Ashcroft. Remember when he put drapery over the
bossom of the "Spirit of Justice" statue? Here's my theory:
It wasn't prudishness on Ashcroft's part, it was jealousy. After all,
he's been obsessed with screwing Justice ever since he got in office. Subject: Fahrenheit 911 - R rating Buzz, Michael Moore is contesting the 'R' rating for Fahrenheit 911. The
movie rating board gave it this rating because of the "violent and
disturbing images and for language...graphic footage of corpses of US
soldiers being burnt, dragged behind a truck and strung up, and a scene
of US soldiers apparently mistreating Iraqi prisoners." Ratings
Row over Moore Iraq film (BBC News) Since Moore has simply filmed the horror of the Iraq invasion and occupation, the
rating board's decision confirms the anti-Viet-Nam-war message
that "War is not healthy for children and other living things." T. Quigly Hi BuzzFlash, That line says it all. It just says everything. And Matt Lauer had
no answer for it. With all of his false bravado -- asking his hard ass
questions to Michael Moore. Give me a break. Lauer's eyes looked like
Charles Manson's. He was so over the top in attacking Michael Moore.
The mainstream media don't want this movie seen any more than the Bushies
do. It embarrasses them. Michael Moore did their job for them. Barbara in NYC Subject: A "discrepancy" in "Will Michael Moore's Facts Check Out?" Dear [NY Times] Editors: Why is it that Mr. Shenon's facts don't check out? Mr. Shenon states: ... the Sept. 11 commission said in a report this April that there
was 'no credible evidence that any chartered flights of Saudi Arabian
nationals departed the United States before the reopening of national
airspace' and that the F.B.I. had concluded that no one aboard the
flights was involved in Sept. 11. The terrorism panel, better known as the 9/11 Commission, said
in April that it knew of six chartered flights with 142 people aboard,
mostly Saudis, that left the United States between Sept. 14 and
24, 2001. The men, one of them thought to be a member of the Saudi royal
family, were accompanied by a former FBI agent and a former Tampa
police officer on the flight to Lexington, Ky. The Saudis then took another flight out of the country. The two
ex-officers returned to TIA a few hours later on the same plane. For nearly three years, White House, aviation and law enforcement
officials have insisted the flight never took place and have denied
published reports and widespread Internet speculation about its
purpose. But now, at the request of the National Commission on Terrorist
Attacks, TIA officials have confirmed that the flight did take place
and have supplied details. Now, it seems to me that if a smaller, less well-funded newspaper
could print the TRUTH of the matter, so could the New York Times ...
if that was actually your intent, especially at the time, by your
own inept and long overdue admission, of falling down on your job
of proper editorial scrutiny in matters related to the "War on Terror".
Please... get it right BEFORE you print it, or just admit that you
really prefer to hold Bush in a better light, and thereby permit little
"editorial slips," regardless of what the TRUTH of the matter may
be! At any rate, it seems that a correction and apology to Michael Moore
is in order. nerdeaux in Idyho Subject: Contempt of Congress Subject: Fahrenheit 911 Buzz, The New York Times movie reviewer states "conservative commentators
[will be] eager to prove sloppiness and exaggeration in...[Fahrenheit
9/11].... Mr. Moore may face an onslaught of fact-checking unlike
anything he -- or any other documentary filmmaker -- has ever experienced.
" These same "conservative commentators," without
one-minute's-worth of "fact-checking," accepted every lie Duhhhbya
and the Cabal put out as excuse to invade and occupy Iraq -- lies the
Cabal fabricated without its own one-minute's-worth of
"fact-checking." Dateline NBC started its interview with Moore with, "The White House
communications director said of your film, it is so outrageously false
it's not even worth commenting." So that is how the Cabal slimes
F-911 without debating the facts presented -- "it's not worth
commenting." And Disney, who was too beholden to Jeb to distribute F-911,
is going to "bring Disneyland to Pakistan as well as set up a
museum called ‘Planet Museum of Celebrities' for the statues of famous
media artists...from the world of glitz and glam." [Pakistan
Daily Times - 'Mickey Mouse May Come to Town'] Can anyone spell 'culture-clash' or 'parallel-universes'?
Strange, strange world! T Quigly Subject: Fox affiliate encourages censorship Tonight I was watching Mad TV on KTVU2, our local FOX affiliate,
when a promo came on for their “Mornings on 2” show. At
approximately 11:22, part of the announcement said, “Why you
shouldn’t see Michel Moore’s new movie.” Needless to say, I was floored, FLOORED to see a news outlet dare
to suggest that on the say-so of some dim bulb talking head, that
I ought not see a movie that raises serious questions about the motives
and judgment of our pResident during the most perilous time in modern
history! I mean really, what they’re saying in essence is trust
our judgment and don’t bother your beautiful mind over this
trivial piece of propaganda. As though I can not view the damn thing
and make up my own mind! Is it just me, or does anyone else think that a line has been crossed
when a news organization takes such a stance? Needless to say, I tried
to call immediately to register my outrage, but I got no answer. The
phone number is (510) 874-0242. I ask everyone reading this to call
KTVU’s management to register your complaint. I also think a
complaint with the FCC is in order. But it occurs to me, since this was a FOX affiliate, is it possible
that other affiliates across the country have made similar statements?
You tell me buzzers. If so we should blow this thing up big time.
Rub their friggin noses in it. I think it is time to take a note out
of the right winger' playbooks and go for having their licenses yanked. I’d love to see some feedback on this one way or another. Jay Bagi Subject: More proof Bush lied March 18, 2003 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-1.html
So, next time they say that they didn't try to mislead us into believing
that 9/11 and Saddam were linked--tell them to look at their own website.
As usual with the Bush administration--the truth is out there for
all to see. The problem is they will tell you that the truth either
doesn't exist or that what you know is not a fact. Regards, Ron Russell Subject: Ronald Reagan's legacy Dear Buzz, The death of Ronald Reagan brought a cascade of memories to me.
Coming here from Canada in 1977, I had always thought the United
States was the most creative and progressive and forward-looking
country in the world. I had been in this country as an immigrant
for only four years when Reagan was elected, and I couldn't
believe it. That is how little I understood some aspects
of the American psyche and the ideological proclivities of
American media. Until Bush the younger came to power I definitely thought Reagan
was "worst president ever." During the Democratic debates Dick
Gephardt said a number of times that George W. Bush made him long
for Ronald Reagan, and I knew exactly what he meant. (I have
to admit, Al Qaeda makes me long for the Soviet Union.)
It's true that George W. Bush makes Ronald Reagan seem benign,
but in reality the policies of his presidency were very destructive.
Furthermore, I believe it was during the Reagan era that we began
to see the extreme political ruthlessness, distortion of
truth, and incivility that are standard Republican
practice today. Reagan presided over the destruction of PATCO, the cruel
non-response to the AIDS crisis, the increase of poverty, the
useless tax cuts, the huge deficits, the destruction of the environment,
the ruinous increase in wasteful and useless defence spending,
the reversal of policy on nuclear weapons that scared most
of the world (I bet a lot of Buzzers remember the 1.2 million
strong demonstration in NYC in 1982 against nuclear war), the brutal
suppression of genuine liberation movements in Central America
in the name of fighting communism, not to mention an extremely
corrupt administration. The romanticization of Reagan and the Reagan years is sickening
and alarming. How can we expect to do better in the world if,
as a nation, we don't have a better grip on reality? Leslie Smith Subject: Ken Lay prosecution before the election and then be pardoned before Bush leaves office? Mike D. ADDRULEHERE Subject: Fascinating 1997 Ashcroft Article You might find this 1997 article by Senator John Ashcroft on
the dangers of government Big Brotherism and threats to Fourth
Amendment rights interesting. "Keep Big Brother's Hands Off the Internet" http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itgic/1097/ijge/gj-7.htm
Janet H. ADDRULEHERE In the newspaper today there was a story about a memo regarding
the redefining of torture, and there was a Bush response in
regard to said memo. A reporter asked the President if he had
approved the use of torture for our prisoners in Afghanistan
and Iraq. Bush responded "I told our people to adhere to
the laws of the United States." When pressed further and
asked if the law of the United States was now that of the memo,
or of the old Geneva standards, Bush replied, "Look, I
am going to say it one more time. The instructions went out
to our people to adhere to the law. That ought to comfort you."
He did not ever answer the intrepid reporter's question. He
evaded it with this strange choice of words. "Comfort you." Hmmmm. Funny, I don't feel comforted. In fact, his words left
me feeling slightly sick, and gave me an odd feeling that something
very bad is happening in my country. To tell the truth, I wish I could be comforted. I search every
day for good news to comfort me, and sometimes I find it. But
every time I do, I am confronted with the fact that for every
good thing this administration claims to have accomplished,
there is an ugly, often scary dark side that goes along with
it and it outweighs any good that could have come from it. I suppose I should be comforted by the fact that the 9/11 Commission
found "no credible link" between Iraq and Al-qaida.
Yet this is cold comfort now, after we invaded and killed thousands
of Iraqis. Bush misled this nation into a violent conflict with
Iraq by making Americans think that they were closely tied to
Al Qaida by statements like this one he made in regard to Saddam
Hussein in Dearborn Michigan. Bush stated: "This is a man
that we know has had ties with Al Qaida. This is a man, who,
in my judgment, would like to use Al Qaida as a forward army."
This statement, along with others, was told to a scared and
susceptible American public. We are supposed to be able to believe
our president when he says Saddam would like to use Al Qaida
as a forward army. Alas, twas not true. I suppose I could find comfort in the fact that in the days
after 9/11 the Congress and Senate got together to fix the communications
problems between the CIA and the FBI. But this is cold comfort
to me now, since the solution they gave us was the civil rights
infringing Patriot Act. The administration tried to comfort
us with the idea that it would not be used against regular citizens,
just terrorist suspects. Too bad they have already taken to
using it against regular American citizens. The FBI recently
used the Patriot act to obtain financial information about figures
in a political corruption probe centered on Las Vegas club owner
Michael Galardi. Political corruption, while not nice, is not
terrorism. There have been other abuses of Patriot Act, and
so no, I am not comforted. In normal times, I would take comfort in the fact that the
military has been investigating itself regarding its abuses
of prisoners at its various facilities. I would feel they were
on top of the problem, ashamed of what happened in those secret
cells, and ready to call themselves to act in a higher manner.
But I read today that Rumsfeld, on the request of George Tenent,
himself approved the hiding of at least one prisoner from the
Red Cross. These ghost detainees are shipped from facility to
facility...their names never recorded officially...their status
and well being never determined. One prisoner. I could take
cold comfort that it was only one. But I can't even take that
because my gut (and evidentiary letters the Red Cross sent to
Rumsfeld) tell me otherwise. In better times, I would take comfort that America was a place
where no black suburban ever pulled up beside you and pulled
you in. Here you could not become one of the "disappeared"
like they have in Argentina. Oh, I read the news today. Oh Boy.
It seems one of our young US citizens was snatched just like
that. Wasn't heard from for weeks. The young man's name is Sherman
Austin and it seems he had a website where he voiced his opinion
on Bush. And because he carried brake fluid and gas in his trunk
(he drove a 1981 Toyota with a broken gas gauge) as emergency
supplies he is being accused of having the stuff to make a bomb.
Well, I have brake fluid in my car, and when I go to the garden
center, I have fertilizer in it as I drive home. Because I am
going to fertilize my roses am I now considered a terrorist?
Will one day soon a black Suburban pull alongside me and pull
me inside and keep me incommunicado for weeks or months or years? One thing most people seem to take comfort in is the fact that
Bush is a religious man. Certainly his Christianity would call
him to treat all kindly, to be merciful to those who suffer,
to offer aid to the stranger. Yet, I sense no Balm of Gilead
in his sort of religion. Indeed, from his own words there is
no comfort to be found...instead discrimination and hostility
is there. This President, this leader of this pluralistic country
where there is separation between church and state once said:
"I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens,
nor should they be considered patriots. This is one Nation under
God." Hmmm....since World War II about 2 million atheists
have fought for this country. A few thousand have given their
lives for it. Yet this man who is supposed to have a heart filled
with Christian charity finds none in it for the citizens of
this country who believe in no God, yet fought and died to uphold
the moral principle of freedom. No, no comfort here. There are other places to find comfort. The senate has had
committee meetings where they questioned pretty harshly Attorney
General Ashcroft for having his department come up with legal
documents that tried to redefine torture. This however is extremely
cold comfort, since what was in those memos chilled me to the
bone. It appears that this administration has tried to have
torture defined as being "equivalent in intensity to the
pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure,
impaired bodily function or even death." So cutting off
of hands is not torture because it does not cause organ failure
or death? What is most discomforting is that there are way too
many Americans who see nothing wrong with torturing. They do
not see in themselves the reflection of the gulag, or the concentration
camp. No Mr. Bush, you bring me no comfort. Your administration has
no problem in locking up and punishing American citizens who
simply have a political difference with you. You are scary because
your fundamentalist beliefs make you think you are in sole possession
of the truth. You have mislead the American people into an unnecessary
war and caused the deaths of over 800 service people. Indirectly,
you are responsible for the death of over 100 contractors. You
have the blood of thousands of Iraqis on your hands. The only
thing I now take comfort in is the fact there will be an election
in 2004, and maybe we can get you out of office. However, I
read the news today, and I see where your brother Jeb is trying
again to remove people from the voter rolls. With this, the
thought of an election becomes cold comfort indeed. Liesse Hand Subject: With Putin and Bush It's the OIL From my blog, The Spoon Report, http://www.spoonreport.blogspot.com/
, June 18: E.T. Spoon Subject: Why Won't Westar Release It's Report on the DeLay
Contributions? Here's a link to the Tim Jenkins bio on the O'Connor &
Hannan Web site: http://www.oconnorhannan.com/atttjenkins.htm
Here's link to Westar Energy's media representatives: http://www.wr.com/corp_com/contentmgt.nsf/publishedpages/newsroom
It says that they'll be happy to answer inquiries from the
media. Perhaps if this information were out on the blogosphere
some reporters would call and the report would be released?
Alfredo G. Subject: A question for Matt Lauer instead of Michael Moore Matt just said that MM would be back on today to answer viewers'
questions, but I have one for Matt. Why should all of MM's
facts be checked out when you lazy news guys don't care if
Bush's, Cheney's or any other adminstration officials' facts
check out? Matt, ask Dubya and Dick a couple of questions about their
facts to justify the sacrificing of over 800 Americans and
10's of 1,000's of Iraqis. Speak up or they assume you agree!!! ABB Karen Webb
My family in Madison, WI, wants to see Fahrenheit 9/11. But it looks like the
Marcus movie chain may have pulled it due to the Right Wing. Now, nowhere in
Madison will be playing 9/11. Can you alert your readers and tell them to call
their local movie houses and demand they show Fahrenheit 9/11.
I sent an email to the Little Theatre thanking them for showing Farenheit 9/11.
The response I received below, quoting Amendment I of our Constitution, blew
me away!
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 those who are sitting on the fence.
Dear Buzz,
Bellevue, Nebraska
Colorado
Bush asked for a war against Islamic militants and now he has one. Not only
in Afghanistan and Iraq but in every country with a sizable Muslim population.
What should have been a police action to capture a band of terrorsts has become
a holy war, Islamic Fundamentalists and nationalists against Zionists, and
the Fundamentalist Christians who, along with the corporate interests, have
taken over the US. They are not going after your average American, They are
targeting Americans who work for the war machine and their allies in the media.
But soon it will be the average American caught in the crossfire, just as
now the average Iraqi and Palestinian is caught daily in the crossfire. The
attack on the Twin towers could have been a symbol to rally the world in favor
of a just American cause. Instead the Bushites couldn't resist turning it
into a war against Iraq and liberal America. The passage of the patriot act
was a declaration of war against all Americans who believe in fair play, decency
and democracy. It was an assault upon the freedoms of people all over the
world who do not step in line and support the corporate take over of the planet.
The Al-Qaida may have represented a small group of fundamentalists at one
time. Now they represent the aspirations of the downtrodden of the third world
who identify as Muslims and a lot who just like the way that a small group
has taken on the United States, the biggest and Baddest macho Machine in the
world.
To BuzzFlashers concerned about the repeated lies linking Saddam Hussein
and 9/11...
Judy Munro-Leighton
ADDRULEHERE
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N) and ChevronTexaco (CVX.N) have received subpoenas
from a federal prosecutor regarding the U.N.-run oil-for-food program
in Iraq, the two largest U.S. oil companies said on Friday.
Let's not forget Condi was on the B of D of Chevron and that Hamid Karzai,
the President of Afghanistan, is a former oil consultant for Chevron.
In reading your mail, I saw that a reader was disappointed in McCain's
flattery towards Bush as he introduced him (paraphrasing). Just a wild
guess, but if Cheney goes down, I think McCain could be asked to join
the Bush team. Why not??
If he were to accept, I think it would be the end of his bipartisan career.
Just a humble opinion, but the Bush team will stop at nothing and if they
think he (McCain) could win them votes, this would not surprise me. Cheney
could step down for several reasons -- because his . . . VP seat is getting
too hot . . . certainly for medical reasons, or "just to spend more
time with his family."
Maybe McCain is popular with everyone (both parties), but these are dangerous
and deadly times and principles should dominate over political party or
popularity . . . but I haven't seen any sign of this judging from the
"congealed state of the Republican Party."
Just a thought,
Shirley Smith
Reston, VA.
to kill..." fill in the name! Yes, there is, Mr.Bush...you started
an illegal war, invaded a country, tore it all to hell....killed innocents...what
else do we need? I remember seeing an entire family wiped out by our soldiers...before
the statue in Baghdad fell...a poor old family going to town in a broken
down car...just to get supplies...the old woman was running around like
a crazy person.... As her husband and kids lay dead, she said they had
held up their hands and told the soldiers, "We are peaceful, we are
a family, we are just going to get food." But, the soldiers killed them
anyway!! Is that humane? Where am I wrong? Why does
everyone around me look at me as if I have lost my mind when I ask that?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Your story about Ashcroft seeking Corporate help to stymie lawsuits...
It was subsequent to that revelation, by the way, that Greenpeace found
itself charged under a law not used for over a hundred years.
Here's an except from the Greenpeace link.
...In the email, Myron Ebell of the Exxon-funded Competitive Enterprise
Institute writes to Phil Cooney, a senior official at the White House
Council for Environmental Quality. He describes his plans to discredit
an EPA study on climate change through a lawsuit. He states the need to
"drive a wedge between the President and those in the Administration
who think that they are serving the president's interests by publishing
this rubbish." He notes his group is considering a call for the then-head
of the Environmental Protection Agency, Christine Todd Whitman, to resign,
and openly suggests that she'd make an appropriate "fall gal"
if the administration is serious about getting back into bed with conservatives
opposing action on climate change.
His memo to the US government official begins "Thanks for calling
and asking for our help."
Jim P
Re: Lauer interview with Michael Moore on Dateline:
Michael Moore to Matt Lauer: "You know I've been sitting here for
like the last 20 minutes thinking, man, if he would have only asked
Bush administration officials these kind of hard questions in the weeks
leading up to the war, and then when the war started, maybe there wouldn't
be a war.
What Mr. Shenon curiously avoids printing, and most certainly must
have known (and most certainly SHOULD HAVE known, if indeed, he did
not), is the fact that the Tampa International Airport has recently
acknowledged (on June 9, 2004) that the flights in question carrying
Saudi Arabian nationals DID take place, during the time of the "No Fly"
order, which kept all other commercial and private flights grounded,
and both Bill Clinton and Al Gore (in separate global locations) from
returning to the United States.
See the article TIA
now verifies flight of Saudis of June 9, 2004 in the St. Petersburg
Times:
The St. Petersburg Times article also states:
Two days after the Sept. 11 attacks, with most of the nation's
air traffic still grounded, a small jet landed at Tampa International
Airport, picked up three young Saudi men and left.
I would like to know if I have just missed the contempt of Congress
meetings for Ashcroft and his torture memo. Does he not get punished?
Just what is happening?
Dennis Tucker
Hey fellow Buzzers,
San Francisco, CA
Now the administration is saying that they never said that Iraq was
involved in 9/11. Surprise, it's another lie!!!! Could they get more
deceptive? Well, let's look at the letter Bush was forced to send
to congress to comply with the War Resolution:
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Consistent with section 3(b) of the Authorization for Use of Military
Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), and
based on information available to me, including that in the enclosed
document, I determine that:
(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other
peaceful means alone will neither (A) adequately protect the national
security of the
United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor (B)
likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security
Council resolutions
regarding Iraq; and
(2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is
consistent with the United States and other countries continuing
to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and
terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations,
or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or
aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
San Francisco, CA
Winchester, MA
Is there any chance the Ken Lay prosecution is heating up so he
can make a plea bargain
Subject: Cold Comfort
"I read the news today, Oh boy." This line from an
old Beatles tune played in my head today as I finished reading
my newspaper. Like all good music, it gives me a different meaning
at different times in my life. The news today. Oh boy.
...Russia is estimated to have the second largest petroleum
reserves in the world after Saudi Arabia. For his part Putin
wants to control the Russian oil industry from his Kremlin office
rather than the upstart capitalist Mikhail Khodorkovsky, head
of Yukos Oil. At one time slated to become the fourth-largest
private oil producer, the company is now in danger of bankruptcy
as a Moscow court ruled it must pay $3.4 billion in back taxes.
Not only that but Yukos chief Khodorkovsky is under indictment
for fraud, tax evasion and embezzlement. Khodorkovsky's biggest
sin seems that he had the temerity to consider a run against
Putin in last year's Russian election. Now it's not that Khodorkovsky
probably isn't guilty of some of the charges against him, Hell
he's a businessman after all, but for Putin it was a mighty
convenient way of eliminating a political opponent. Dubya probably
wishes he could get rid of John Kerry so easily. So as Saudi
reserves shrink oil addicted Uncle Sucker looks for a new pusher.
Dubya and Puti-Poot understand one another and if they can direct
oil profits into their own pockets so much the better.
NO:
C heney
A shcroft
R umsfeld
B ush
Moore, Ok.