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

Subject: Our Database Would Collapse!

"This was a new one on us. We weren't aware there were databases that could be destroyed just by copying them," Bob Williams of the Center for Public Integrity said Tuesday. The watchdog group in Washington made the request in January. He said the group expects to appeal the Justice Department's decision.

DOJ: Our Computer Ate the Info (wired.com/Associated Press)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Are Republicans really Republicans?

I just felt like writing this. Buzz, you can print it in your letters section if you want, or not, I just have to write it.

I don't like talking about politics. In today's atmosphere, it's divisive and usually pointless. I'm more politically involved now than ever before, but that is only because I'm an American patriot and my country is in danger. I would rather discuss motorcycles, skiing, flying airplanes, scuba diving, the Cowboys, or who's romancing whom. I usually only talk politics with certain people; I don't like to preach, just as I don't like being preached to.

Today I had some carpet layers come out to lay carpet in my house. The lead guy was a nice fellow who had a lot to say. I had my Harley in the driveway so that I could get at other materials in the garage (I'm renovating the entire house), and he started talking about motorcycles -- something that I love to talk about. We then started talking about taxes for some reason. I said that anytime I hear a politician talk about tax cuts I hold my wallet. The reason we were talking about it is I'm about to move to Philadelphia and the city council is debating tax cuts. I said that I had already calculated the cost of the city wage tax (a scandalous 4.5%), but that the city property tax was very low compared to the western suburbs and that it almost evened out. The people who want a tax cut (Republicans) also want to raise property taxes. I was pointing out to him that "tax cuts" always means a raise in taxes to the middle class. He agreed with me.

We then started talking about how retired people get taxed out of their homes once they retire. I said that I would pay more property taxes if retired people would not be required to pay school taxes once they retired. Then the guy's assistant said that his grandparents were taxed out of their home -- that was paid off -- and had to move to an apartment. We all agreed that my tax idea was a good thing and that we would all pay higher taxes to protect the elderly.

It lead to other discussions, but here's the thing: before, I was talking to some Rush Limbaugh-loving, right wing Republicans (why any working person would be a Republican is beyond me, but they are out there); after, I was talking to some people that actually got that their self-interest was important, rather than the propaganda they have been fed. My point? Never underestimate the average working Joe. He's not an idiot. He has just been bombarded with vicious propaganda. If you actually take the time to talk to the average Republican, you'll find that they are not stupid, just ignorant.

Derek in
Phoenixville, PA

Hi everyone,

I saw Fahrenheit last night and it surpassed all my expectations.  I laughed and cried and also realized I knew so much of the content from reading BuzzFlash.  I can only imagine what the movie is like for people who knew none of this.  I did hear a lot of whispered "oh my gods" in the theatre -- these people probably read the NY Times.  And the most wonderful surprise -- who knew John Asscroft was such a great singer!!  I'm going to tell my brother to hire him for my niece's Bat Mitzvah. 

The way Michael Moore put this movie together is pure genius.  He really is an artist as well as a truth teller.  If my father was alive he would say "the world needs more trouble makers like him"!  It's true.  I just can't wait to see what he does next.  My hopes are that he will take on the mainstream media in a movie.  It seems like an obvious thing for him to do, and we all know it would be explosive. 

The media are literally clawing him apart because he doesn't act in a way that is "proper and predictable" to them.  He's been challenging them in all his interviews, and they've all started reacting the exact same way.  When he asks why they didn't ask the hard questions before the war, they always respond by saying "asking hard questions is what we do everyday on our show."  Oh brother -- the Stepford media at its best -- but I guess they were given that talking point. 

It would take a 24-hour movie to really cover the Bush Admin.  But when these people attack him for making this movie, they should understand that it is they -- the media, the right wing pundits and our lying sack of shit government -- who really forced him to make this movie -- in a way, they created Michael Moore, the provocateur.  Yes, he did make movies before the Cartel took over, but he has really honed his craft under this administration.  I remember in the beginning of the Bush reign of terror, people kept warning that because they are keeping so many secrets, the truth will have to come out in some form, one way or another, at some time or another.  Well, it came in the form of Michael Moore.  We were all praying for a savior -- who knew it would be this chubby, disheveled guy in a baseball cap?  You never know. 

And after his movie about the mainstream media, I have another suggestion for Michael:  "Kenny Boy and Me."

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.  Pay no attention to the men behind the curtain (Ridge and Asscroft).  I hope the city will be empty so I can see Fahrenheit again!

After seeing the movie, the value of BuzzFlash becomes more and more obvious.  We just know everything because of you!

Barbara in NYC

P.S.  Love those Yankee fans!  Don't mess with NYC, Dick.  May this be just a small taste of what's in store for your convention.  And by the way, Dick, go f--- yourself!  (I just had to chime in).

Subject: Repugs ad laughable

Subject: Re: Early Handover

Response to CWC (who wrote in Mailbag 7-1-04):

Subject: Early Handover

A few BuzzFlash readers wondered why the early handover to Iraq, and a couple of readers brought something to our attention that I think could be the reason, but nobody made the link.

I wonder if the WH saw that there was going to be an announcement about the unaccounted-for (missing) couple of billion $$$? They probably went into red code and needed to come up with something, in this instance the early handover. But once again the 'liberal' news agencies did little to report this. Somebody in the know please speculate where the money went.

CWC

It was $20 BILLION, to be exact. Have you ever wondered why Paul Bremer came home on a C-130 (a huge cargo plane)?

nerdeaux in Idyho

Subject: because god said to kill him

we have been watching that trial of the woman who starved her baby to death because god wanted her to do it.  there seem to be so many people who do horrible things because god told them to. are there any studies going on to try and find out what is wrong with these people?

km

Subject: Re: Focus on the Family and Michael Moore

I just called Focus on the Family, the right-wing group run by crackpot James Dobson, at 800-232-6459, and spent twenty minutes sparring with the woman who answered the phone. She said she didn't know if the story was true or not, but kept asking me for my own home address so she could "send me some materials." I gave her my full, correct name and email address but told her I didn't want anything sent to me in the regular mail. She then asked me for at least my zip code so she could record what area the call had come from. I gave it to her. She finally agreed to put me through to someone who could answer my question.

I was transferred to a woman who would only give her name as Shiloh. SHE DID SPECIFICALLY AND OFFICIALLY CONFIRM ON BEHALF OF FOCUS ON THE FAMILY THAT THEY HAD INDEED SENT OUT MICHAEL MOORE'S HOME ADDRESS. She said that a number of members had seen the movie and were quite upset by it. They wanted to contact Michael Moore to "express their opinions," so Focus on the Family obliged them. She added that his home address was a matter of public record. I then reminded her that Michael Moore's email address is provided to the public on his web site so that people can use that to contact him.

I asked if by publishing his home address she was encouraging people to come to his house. She replied, "Absolutely not." They just wanted to allow their members to contact him via regular mail, she said. I then asked her if she had seen the movie. She had not. I recommended that she see it before she tries to comment on it. That was it.

Did Focus on the Family Send Out an Email With Michael Moore's Home Address?

Jonathan Inskeep
Crofton, MD

Subject: Beer Coolers

Perhaps this is the reason for the recent "beer cooler" warning. Buried deep in the story about the domestic terrorists in Noonday, Texas, who were arrested with a huge cache of weapons:

They soon rented space at Noonday Storage and for more than a year visited their units each morning, spending hours unloading U-hauls of military surplus items or picking through piles of bathing suits and beer coolers they said they resold at shops and markets.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Southwest/01/30/cyanide.probe.ap/

The story also tells us that these guys were part of a larger conspiracy. Beware of white guys carrying beer coolers into major events. No press conference from Ashcroft?

Jeanette Castillo
http://www.wgoeshome.com

Subject: Nader

Dear Buzz,

Kudos to the BuzzFlash reader who wrote the letter to Nader. I couldn't have said it better myself....no, I could not have said it better. Here's a quick solution........... how about if we just duct tape him, and lock him in a closet until the elections are over? Sounds good to me....just wondering.

A Loyal BuzzFlash Fan Forever!

Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska

Subject: When Cheney says F You, he means it....

"I guess when Cheney says F**K YOU he means it!"

That is the only appropriate response to the following BuzzFlash headline.....

The Halliburton "gravy train" steams ahead: $50,000 a month for soda, at $45 a case; $1 million a month to clean clothes -- or $100 for each 15-pound bag of laundry.

Susan P.

Subject: F 9/11

In our paper this morning....it tells me that Fahrenheit 9/11 is the largest grossing movie for last week.  The other movies, playing in at least 2000 markets, grossed about 21,000.....and Fahrenheit grossed 24,000...pretty good for a movie that does not even get the exposure. 

As I said, yesterday, the 1:30 show was full....and the line was outrageous when we came out.  Spiderman was starting, but it was showing on two screens on the other side of the cinema....and at least 5 kids accompanied each adult...so this line was coming our way...and was ALL adult.

Now, Rush is out there this morning...saying that it is a complete flop, a pack of lies, etc. And, he says (I think "hopes" would be a better word), that the people will get on to it after a while...all the lies and they will make it a complete flop.

Subject: The Bush Administration in a Nutshell

Juliet Eilperin's "540,000 comment on mercury limits: Power-plant issue inspires record replies" (Washington Post, 6/29) presents the Bush Administration in a nutshell:

Many of the agency's deliberations are taking place behind closed doors, according to interviews with several EPA officials, and with an unusual degree of White House input. Two EPA officials who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation said political appointees had prevented them from conducting analyses that could have led to different regulatory approaches, including one that would have weighed the costs and benefits of adopting more stringent rules.

"Rather than having a sound analysis that informs a rational decision about a rule that would achieve mercury reductions, we're getting a politically driven decision propped up by limited analysis," one official said.

White House political interference in a nonpolitical agency for the benefit of (surprise!) the energy industry, officials fearing reprisal, potentially inconvenient information that's not to be collected, much less publicized -- this is a pattern repeated again and again in the last three years. It's part of what the Democrats need to figure how to communicate to the American people.

Jim Compton
Walnut Creek, CA

Subject: Bush Seeks to Mobilize Religious Conservatives

Bush-Cheney Campaign Seeks Church Directories
The move to organize congregations is sharply criticized by some religious leaders. (LA Times/Reuters)

WASHINGTON-- President Bush, seeking to mobilize religious conservatives for his reelection campaign, has asked church-going volunteers to turn over church membership directories, campaign officials said Thursday.

In a move criticized both by religious leaders and civil libertarians, the Bush-Cheney campaign has issued a guide listing about two dozen "duties" and a series of deadlines for organizing support among conservative church congregations.

A copy of the guide obtained by Reuters directed religious volunteers to send church directories to state campaign committees, identify churches that could be organized by the Bush campaign and talk to clergy about holding voter-registration drives....

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: another "feel good" movie??

Dear BuzzFlash,

I don't watch TV except in odd circumstances, so maybe I got this wrong. I was at the gym and saw an ad flashed on CNN for a film called "Fly Boy" -- yes, actually! -- apparently, it's a movie about GHW Bush and his military flight career. I wonder if it will include bailing out on his crew and killing them?

I did a web search and could not find anything...but I wasn't on the treadmill that long, so I don't think I hallucinated the ad...just a heads up.

Robyn Su

[BuzzFlash Note: See "Barbara's Daily Buzz," http://www.buzzflash.com/dailybuzz/03/10/bdb03171.html]

Subject: Carole Coleman

To Whom It May Concern:

Subject: open letter to Nader....

I was very moved by the letter written in to BuzzFlash regarding Nader and his support from the Rethuglicans. I have tried to keep an open mind about Mr. Nader, knowing he at one time tried to do this country some good, but it is a losing battle.

I have lost great respect for him at this point in time. I do know that my Mother, a devout right-winger, refuses to vote for Bush and Kerry, and will throw her vote to anyone else. I have also heard that same comment from two other right-wingers who voted Bush last election. Nader will draw votes from that "element," so maybe he can do us some good on some level.

I think Michael Moore did a wonderful job on Fahrenheit 9/11, and I have great respect for his views and talent. I am still pretty upset with him over the last election and his support for Nader, tho. I try not to think about it when I see his works, or see him on interviews. At least he is trying to help mend the damage that is being done by the current administration, thanks to the Greens to some degree. (I think the Green Party has some very good intentions... but look at us now.)

On another note, we should all praise Carole Coleman's integrity and throw our support her way. I am sure the White House will do all it can to destroy her after the Bush interview that left him babbling and his head spinning. How about a bumper sticker...

"How's my interviewing? Dial 1-800-waah waah waah"

Go Buzzzzzz,

Danielle in the panhandle

Subject: Reserves brace for call-up notices (abcnews.go.com....)

I cannot but help think that this is going to lose more families their savings and maybe their homes. In a day and age when so many are out of work and going bankrupt, it is cruel and heartless to put more families at risk. Is GWB really trying to send us all to the poorhouse or is it just the inevitable side effect of his policies, especially those of the "war on terror"?

Personally, I think the war on terror is nothing but a fear tactic or a figment of their imagination. Terrorists have always been with us, but stooping to their level and admitting fear is not the answer. If we do as Israel has done and avenge every single death of our countrymen, we will be at war for decades, just as Israel has been. How many people realize that Israel has not had a moment's peace since 1948 and a lot of the reason has been their tactics?

Also, the whole world would be materially wealthier if we could just stop all this brawling over religious details and borderlines. Look at Europe -- they were not wealthy between WWI and WWII because the time of recovery was so short. Now that they have had 60 years of peace, they have made great progress. I think the rest of the world would, too, in a universal peace that lasted more than a few years.

A BuzzFlash Reader

P.S. Kudos to Michael Moore.

Subject: Hi Buzz

Dear Buzzers:

If you attend religious services of any kind, please contact your minister/priest/rabbi/cleric and tell him/her that you do not want your name or data released to anyone for Bush's re-election effort. I have contacted my minister and told them not to release our information.  If enough people do this, it will be effective.

Martisa

Subject: ABC presstituting for BushCo. again...

According to Peter Jennings tonight (July 1, 2004) on ABC World News, Iraq has been quiet today -- a "lull" in the violence. O'Reilly now? Bullshit! It doesn't square with the information published in the NYT today: 'Insurgents Stage Attacks Across Iraq.'

Of course, it was obvious that Peter Jennings was gloating when he stated that only a couple of journalists were allowed to be present at SH's first day in court, and he was one of them. Why doesn't he tell the truth about Bush? Why no real questions? Doesn't want to appear biased? He had no problem giving the world his opinion about the drug war in Bolivia.

Just another glaring example of the "good ol' boy network." Jennings got nearly exclusive access to the first day of the big show. The very same day, ABC was all too happy to convince the public that the violence which took place today in Iraq didn't happen. Gee, I wonder if there's a connection. We report, you decide... Jennings should hang a sign around his neck with the words, "WILL PRESSTITUTE FOR ACCESS."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: mad cow

United Press International: Up to 100 more mad cow cases expected

Have you read the book, The Mad Cowboy? The author is the cattle rancher who was sued along with Oprah for dissing the beef. It is an interesting book, and if you can make it through the first chapter without gagging about what they do to our beef, the rest of the book is okay. I stopped eating beef when my uncle died of mad cow.

This book has a lot of material in it which is interesting and has nothing to do with mad cow. It is in paperback and you might consider carrying it on your site.

Henry

Subject: :  Gone, But Not Really

Let me get this straight. Bush decides to bomb Iraq ("Shock and Awe") and then gets $18.4 billion from taxpayers to help put it back together again ($70 million to open Iraqi ports to world class trade, and of course, for security). Hey, when is our currently underfunded Homeland Security going to receive the money it needs to secure our ports? Just asking...

LINK: http://www.rebuilding-iraq.net/pdf/contracts/another_contract_in_place_constr_iraq.pdf (See pages 2 and 3 for a list of contract awards.)

Bremer has left Iraq, and the Coalition Provisional Authority that "no longer exists" has changed its name and is now operating (business as usual) under a different name.

LINK: http://www.rebuilding-iraq.net/pdf/035_transition.pdf

Our gigantic new embassy in Iraq "will employ between 900 and 1,000 'permanent Americans under mission authority,' as well as 300-400 staff under military command, and an additional 600-700 Iraqi staff by the end of 2004." According to Ambassador Ricciardone at a press briefing on June 9th, "This is not, however, considered as a 'successor' to the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Prime Minister Allawi, President Al-Yawar and the interim government of Iraq are the successors to the CPA."

Ricciardone was asked about the $18.4 billion for Iraqi reconstruction that has to now be managed. Nominally the State Department is in charge of that, but the question was, on a hands-on level, who is going to be organizing how the projects are managed?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: It's more than a nominal management. It's a heavy responsibility of the Secretary of State, which he will depend on and has charged Ambassador Negroponte to discharge. There will be a substantial staff already in the development, many of the people already on the ground, drawn from people who have been serving in CPA.

After the CPA goes out of business, there will be a project management staff for the ambassador called IRMO (Iraq Reconstruction Management Office), a temporary office of the embassy, meaning lasting for a few years, as long as the $18.4 billion needs oversight and planning and spending.

Then there will be, under that staff, the implementing agencies. There will be the U.S. Army's Project and Contracting Office, which will implement the majority of those things. It will do a degree of project management also across other agencies that are doing construction. USAID will be another implementing agency. The Department of State has various elements that will implement contracts, such as State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Legal Affairs that will assist in training programs. The Department of Justice is another implementing agency. So there is a series of implementing agencies, each with their respective inspectors general that are involved.

And there will be IRMO that pulls it all together, that makes it transparent, that helps the Ambassador in staffing the priorities, making sure we test those priorities, have a good conversation among the implementers at post. We check it with the country team, report it back to Washington. We keep Congress informed and we keep Washington well informed.  

LINK: http://iraq.usembassy.gov/iraq/emb_news_20040609.html

So there you have it: The CPA is gone. Negroponte has been charged with overseeing the IRMO (former Program Management Office (PMO) of the former Coalition Provisional Authority, which will keep track of the "implementing agencies" on how our money to Iraq is being spent. Let us hope they do a better job than Bremer and the former CPA in keeping Congress informed. (Maybe they can track down what happened to that money that belonged to the Iraqi people. See Coalition Funds: Where Has All the Money Gone? pp. 15-16:

LINK: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/indepth/310iraqoil/iraqoil.pdf

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: mailbag 6/30

Click here: Nevada Appeal - Opinion

When Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah proclaims that Zionists (i.e. Israel) are behind the recent al-Qaida attacks in his country, you have to wonder just how this person could be considered an ally in this or any war.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Abu Ghraib Investigation

For 2 months now after rummy assured the house oversite committee that the Intl. Committee Red Cross report would be forwarded to them. "There's been a clear intent and desire to provide Congress such reports," Larry Di Rita, Pentagon spokesman said yesterday. "It's been a more challenging process than. . . I think anybody had an appreciation for." So what, do they have a new copier that is so "challenging " to operate that it takes 2 months to copy the report. And it must be very challenging to unbind the report too. A further challenge to dispatch an aide with it to the House?? Incompetence and/or stonewalling at all levels.

CWC

Subject: New Info

Regarding Ms. Farrell's April 6 piece, "Will the 2004 Election be called Off..."

This piece was just emailed to me so while my response isn't timely, the info I have is still usable.

In reference to the Letterman Incident described in detail in the piece, there is another great piece of footage of something happening behind Bush when he's giving a speech that's never been shown in America. If Letterman's people could get their mitts on it.... Ahh, sweet victory.

The D-Day commemorations were shown live, cover-to-cover, in Europe. Bush arrived late, delays ensued. When he stepped up to the podium to speak, there was a Color Guard behind him. During his speech, one member of the Guard passed out (in frame.) As Bush rambled on, the rest of the Guard struggled to keep the poor fellow semi-upright. Delightfully, the image " read" as if Bush bored the guy to sleep. Swiftly, the camera angle was changed: Tight on Bush. The image of the soldier passing out behind Bush was never re-shown.

I was in Rome at the time and saw it. The broadcast was from BBC International. Letterman could have a field-day with it (and keep the censorship controversy at the fore.)

Thank you and good luck.

Sincerely,

Cathy

Subject: Bush Seeks to Mobilize Religious Conservatives

Bush and regime going all out to mobilize their Christian Right supporters. The propaganda continues calling it a neck and neck race with the lowest approval rate yet for the most radical right administration in history.

Ranting about a strengthening economy and increase in jobs, the June job increase which was expected to be 250,000 turned out to be a mere 112,000. The jobless rate remains at 5.6 percent. With offshoring and outsourcing continuing, the numbers entering the work force are as high as the new jobs. Wall Street, Corporate America and the wealthy are the only groups seeing any improvement.

RB

* * *

Bush Seeks to Mobilize Religious Conservatives
Thu Jul 1, 2004 08:04 PM ET

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush, seeking to mobilize religious conservatives for his reelection campaign, has asked church-going volunteers to turn over church membership directories, campaign officials said on Thursday.

In a move sharply criticized both by religious leaders and civil libertarians, the Bush-Cheney campaign has issued a guide listing about two-dozen "duties" and a series of deadlines for organizing support among conservative church congregations.

A copy of the guide obtained by Reuters directs religious volunteers to send church directories to state campaign committees, identify new churches that can be organized by the Bush campaign and talk to clergy about holding voter registration drives.

The document, distributed to campaign coordinators across the country earlier this year, also recommends that volunteers distribute voter guides in church and use Sunday service programs for get-out-the-vote drives.

More

Subject: New Bush/Cheney Campaign Slogan

The Bush administration has been saying the same thing to the rest of us indirectly for the last four years by cutting taxes for the rich, having Enron write our energy policy, gutting environmental legislation, obstructing the 9/11 investigation, withholding documents from Congress regarding our new policy of torturing prisoners, and by distracting US efforts against terrorists to launch a pre-emptive war in Iraq at enormous cost without any credible evidence of a threat.

Dick Cheney should be applauded for stating his party's message, "Go **** Yourself", clearly and concisely.

I plan to reply with the same message in November.

Tom O'Brien

Re: Michael Moore's Public Service

When I woke up this morning, I put on CNN and saw the first of the new ads for Michael Moore's movie FAHRENHEIT 911. They've changed the strategy of the ads from lots of bunglin' Bush to showing typical Americans talking about the film. And wasn't I surprised to see myself portrayed as one of the first of these typical Americans. You'll get a kick out of it. (I'm the one saying, "It makes you proud to be an American." I was always good at sound bites.)

- Howie

Subject: Yahoo! Story About Censored Saddam Trial

Dear Gods of BuzzFlash:

Don't know if you saw this story or not, but it's TERRIFYING.

One of the "highlights" of the story regarding the tapes of the "trial" that were not allowed to be taped WITH SOUND:

Some news editors spent hours scouring the portion of the tape with audio for harsh words leveled at President Bush (news - web sites) by Saddam, but could not find the quote reported by New York Times reporter John Burns, who was the pool print reporter in the courtroom and accompanied by a translator. Burns reported that Saddam said,"Everyone knows that this is a theatrical comedy by Bush, the criminal, in an attempt to win the election."

I hope you'll post this story FRONT AND CENTER on the page. The lies and deception NEVER seem to stop rolling -- from the White House to the full complicity of our "press."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Anybody in the least surprised?

Quote:

"As the silent footage of Hussein began to air on U.S. networks around 8:30 a.m. ET, CBS News anchor Dan Rather explained that the tapes had been "taken to another location, edited, and what you're seeing is in effect a censored version" of what happened in court earlier today."

Saddam Hussein has a LOT to say about the Bush administration, both #1 and #2, and not least the Reagan administration before he goes to his demise. Pentagon is obviously trying to keep it away from the general world public. "Control" anyone???

Click here: Yahoo! News - Sounds of silence

Maria
NYC

Subject: WHERE ARE THE OTHER 24 SADDAMS?

Did I miss any articles by your BuzzFlash readers who might have asked this question? Am I alone among your readers who are still wondering what happened to the other 24 Saddam look-alikes that we were told about on our national TV news programs prior to the invasion of Iraq? Does anyone remember the scene of the 20 or so Saddams at the river swimming? Have they all had plastic surgery and now are no longer look- alikes and may be working as Iraqi police and guards for the new Iraqi "government"? Did they ever exist? Were we lied to then or now, and who else will be captured just before the election?

BBF
MD

Subject: The Show Begins

"You know that this is all a theater by Bush, the criminal, to help him with his campaign" said Saddam Hussein in court today. Judging from the media coverage of this event, only Hussein noticed that his court appearance had little to do with justice. CBS reports Saddam was "unaccompanied by a lawyer," and says no more, as if this were unremarkable. In real trials, ALL real trials, the accused has a lawyer. In fact, it's a violation of the law not to have counsel present. That even this gesture towards of legitimacy was not provided apparently went unnoticed by all but the accused.

Albert Clark, NY

Subject: Staying the Course

I sent my husband to Iraq in April of last year.

While everyone shopped at the mall, rented movies, and lived on in what appeared to be blissful ignorance to
me........I sat in my dank basement reading information that was out there but wasn't being reported much in the mainstream media with worry written on my face every single day. I marched in a parade supporting our troops with worry written on my face. I did everything with worry written on my face.

For me it wasn't a matter of a morally correct war or not, my life as I knew it was on the line and if it took the life of my husband then for God's sake let it be for all the right reasons please.

I was one of the lucky ones. My husband came home.

Our country lost a lot not long ago and we were so hurt and frightened and we wanted justice. We are waking up from the trauma now and some of the things that have taken place during our grief as a nation have been ugly but we are getting on track again!

I had a date with my dad the other day and took him to see Fahrenheit 911. For anyone who found the film shocking........I'm shocked! Everything that I had read about for well over a year now, buried in mainstream media but free knowledge if you care to ask for it on the internet, was right there.

Moore worked his cinema magic though in putting picture and sound to the facts, but anyone who found the picture shocking needed to wake up long ago and I guess a lot of people were sleepwalking through the shopping mall.

I have read a lot this past week about the spotlight being stolen from Kerry by Moore and Clinton but I disagree so much it isn't even funny. Bush has thrown millions of dollars at smearing Kerry but gotten no where....still neck and
neck, yet about 40% of the voters claim that they really "don't know Kerry". I find this interesting and exciting!

Moore knows his people well and we well tended (by third world standards) Americans love our movies and he knew exactly how to deliver the facts to all of us mall shoppers.

Clinton will remind us all that Democrats do not stand for wrecked economies, weak militaries, and being considered liars and/or sissy bullies by the rest of the globe. He will give us a reason to yearn for the good ole days. The days when as one of my Republican friends put it, "that everyone had a table and everyone ate!"

As for Kerry, I don't think that he will do much for awhile other than keep things fairly even and he isn't even
breaking a sweat doing that. This Karl Rove "wag the dog" crew really need him to step out there and say
something that they can play "wag the dog" with but he knows how to really win and he has no intention of
playing their game.

I look for Bush to eventually getting coaxed out of his foxhole all by his little lonesome and he will have to debate Kerry face to face and we all know what will congeal after that. If he refuses....the population already is sick of him not addressing his country and its issues head on in a verifiable and on the record fashion and he will sink himself yet further because Kerry will get up there podium and all and the nation will get to know him better with or without Bush there.

An articulate Irish journalist ate his lunch the other day and she didn't even break a sweat. I don't even know if
Michael Moore had to break an honest sweat for Fahrenheit 911.....it was all right there if you asked the right people.

George is sweating though.....he's having one hell of a time right now. The only thing that scares me is what "wag the dog" will come up with when it really sets in how bad it is.

BETTER WATCH OUT FOR THAT!!!

Kerry will be better able to deal with that too if and when that takes place if he isn't hip deep in OTHER ISSUES OF THE MOMENT. We all know how this Administration plays the other issues distraction game and we all know how our media plays right with it.

As for where we stand though from a long term perspective. We are well rested, fully loaded, and we haven't even broken into a jog yet folks! LOSE NOT YOUR HEART.......get your rest and eat your Wheaties because it may not be too pretty as we get closer to election day.

As for now though I think that we doing just fine!

Tracy Sivacek
CO