July 8, 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: source for assertion of kirk as employee of cia
Source for his assertion, and I did verify that he is quoting the Congressional Record accurately.
Congressional Record June 23, 2004 page H4866
Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Simmons amendment. Unlike some other amendments in this bill that are offered for partisan advantage, this amendment is offered by a former CIA officer with detailed knowledge of how the U.S. intelligence community works. To my knowledge, there are only three current Members of Congress who work with the CIA: our chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss), the author of this amendment; the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons); and me, who is detailed to the CIA from navy intelligence.This amendment seeks to change our intelligence culture to become more effective in the age of the Internet. Today, every two-bit terror organization in the world has a Web site broadcasting information on its activities. Internet news, political parties, and foreign government sites all offer new material to our intelligence community.
For years in the cold war, our enemies collected open-source data on us, but we were forced to collect secret data on them. That is now changing. There is a wealth of open-source data on our adversaries. Every analyst in the community should be encouraged to use as much current and accurate... (emphasis added)
Jim B.
john edwards was more qualified for president when he was ten than gw bush is today!
don and diane
miami
Subject: mailbag
Hi Buzz,
A Catholic lawyer has filed heresy charges against Sen. John Kerry with the Archdiocese of Boston, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of bringing "most serious scandal to the American public" by receiving Holy Communion as a pro-choice Catholic.Kerry cited in Catholic heresy case (Washington Times)
Regarding this article on BuzzFlash yesterday, I would like to suggest that others email this lawyer (even though he sounds like a crackpot -- secretary@defide.com -- his name is Marc Balestrieri) and ask him some questions, such as why Mayor Giuliani (among god knows how many others) isn't being sued for being pro-choice and receiving Communion? And maybe ask him if perhaps his motivations are political? I wrote him and he answered me. He answered none of my questions, of course, but he gave me this patronizing little speech on the Talmud(?) (because I mentioned I was Jewish) and then he ended with the following tidbit:
If you are willing to finance personally a suit against someone in particular in the Church, and you have a strong case backed with evidence, perhaps we can address the topic together. Until then, I respectfully ask that you put your money where your mouth is. (He did mention that others are being sued too- - maybe ask him who?)
I did write him back but won't even go into what I said. Just use your imagination. My money is where my mouth is. Maybe he should follow his own advice and take a look at his hypocrisy. I think it would be good if he heard from other people -- after all this is "THE MOST SERIOUS SCANDAL TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC."
Thanks Buzzers and BuzzFlash.
Barbara in
NYC
Go John and John in 2005 -- What a team!
What about the 6 Democrats who voted to confirm J. Leon Holmes to the federal bench after he stated -- in 1997! -- that a wife should be subservient to her husband? I've heard he also said some outrageous things about school desegregation and political emancipation.
If a guy says something outrageous 20 years ago (i.e., rape victims get pregnant as often as it snows in Miami) and later repudiates it, that's one thing. But if someone's beliefs mirror the Taliban and they haven't changed, in word and deed, that's quite another problem. I really don't like to see people with a 17th Century mindset appointed to lifelong positions on the federal bench, and I'm appalled that 6 Democrats supported this guy!
Sue Pastin
Subject: Hot story I think you missed
Bush administration officials broke no laws in withholding from Congress estimates of the cost of the new Medicare law, according to an internal investigation made public yesterday.Officials Cleared on Medicare Estimates (Washington Post)
Surprise! They investigate themselves and find that they did nothing wrong.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: fyi
In John Edwards, Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry found a man who shares many of his viewpoints. One of the most significant for media people may be his opposition to media deregulation. Edwards, who ran his own failed campaign for the Democratic nomination, was introduced yesterday as Kerry's running mate. The first-term senator from North Carolina several times urged the Federal Communications Commission to keep its old media ownership rules instead of relaxing them. Three years ago he signed a letter requesting that the FCC not up the caps on local ownership. When it did, Edwards accused FCC chairman Michael Powell last summer of "betraying the public's trust." He called the move "a massive giveaway of public property to a few privileged insiders." He later voted for an amendment to return the TV audience reach ceiling to 39 percent.
VP candidate Edwards no friend to media dereg (medialifemagazine.com)
Christine C.
Subject: The real problem(s) with Bush as Commander & Chief
BuzzFlash,
As an old Roosevelt democrat, I have naturally always lined up politically with the forces of light, i.e.; the liberal left. I have never found a need to apologize for caring about the needs of other people (which is the real foundation of liberalism) and don't intend to start now. By the way, caring about the well-being of other humans is not the same as demanding that others think, worship, act, and/or believe one predetermined, lockstep ideology. I've always gotten more than a little uncomfortable around anyone who spends more time minding my business than they do their own. But, I digress. In my lifetime (fifty something years), I have never seen such a sorry state of affairs in our body politic as the current administration has managed to heap upon our collective plates. With the situation going from Bad to Damn Bad, as my sagely Grandfather use to say, in Iraq and on numerous domestic and international fronts as well, the real question that needs to be asked is where do we collectively go politically from here? Well, after practicing Psychology in both the private and public sectors for some twenty-five-plus years, I've learned to ask simple, direct questions predicated on basic, common sense observations. For example, I have found that one of the best predictors of future behavior from individuals or groups is, of course, past behavior.So, if you really want a hint about what folks are going to do in the future, simply look closely at what they have done in the past. To that end, let me recommend yet another Bush-bashing book: Bush on the Couch, by Justin A. Frank, M.D.
http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0060736704
If this doesn't scare the Bejesus right out of you, you're probably already an unredeemable Repuglican anyway.
Maurelius
Subject: Will history become a facade?
Dear Buzz:
We are currently in a GOP coup d'etat death grip. That is why it is common knowledge to all right-wingers that the Democratic party is a "...dying party." For once, I think they are actually telling the truth. Even a person under the influence of narcotics could clearly see that!
Activist judges are getting life tenure, up to 4 Supremes getting ready to retire, madmen such as Ashcroft and Rumsfeld on the loose, not to mention Wolfowitz and our good friend, 5-time felon, John Poindexter, Condi Rice will no doubt go down in US history as our most blatant liar for all time. Oil is being pumped out of the ground in Iraq by the millions of barrels a day, and there is no accounting. Corporations, including Cheney's Halliburton and Bush's Carlyle, are war profiteering. A CIA agent is covertly outed with no outrage? Indeed, the majority of people I converse with in public do not even know who Valerie Plame is.
I have always argued that we have long since passed the point of no return. Perhaps I may be pleasantly surprised. Perhaps, after the next massive attack on the US, when thousands more Americans will be murdered, perhaps the US, like Spain, will wake up and "get rid of the bums," but I am afraid it may turn out just the other way. For what is better than a Reichstag fire but a second one, and one that does twice the damage?
Perhaps, too, Kerry and Edwards can hold on to a 15% lead. How much will this dwindle by election day? I have argued all along that if the difference is less than 10%, the election can be stolen, through an array of events such as electronic voting machines, general disenfranchisement, etc.... Perhaps I am wrong here, too, and that we can expect that the election, at least at the 5% level, will be safe. I doubt it, though.
Perhaps throwing bin Laden on the table will swing it their way; or some other spectacular event. Whatever the outcome, if Bush retains power, their coup d'etat will have succeeded, and we will be immersed in future wars (Iran next?) with an ever increasing rise in unfriendliness from the rest of the world.
A reelection for Bush would be a vote for bin Laden; it would be a call to terror recruitment -- I believe most of the world's experts subscribe to this view; that the invasion of Iraq has been a windfall for terror recruitment. Last I looked, terror was on the rise (although Hillary Clinton, on CSPAN last week, admitted that "...sure, we are safer now than before 9-11..." say what?).
Recent reports (Buzz 7-4) suggests that casualties (injuries) in Iraq may be as high as 16,000, though 5,100 is generally reported on all the networks. As a BuzzFlash reader pointed out, those that die long after being picked up from the battlefield may not be counted in the 860+ to date.
That we used hundreds of illegal cluster bombs to murder thousands of Iraqi children seems of little consequence (though I was assured in a conversation with a passerby (educated at that) that Iraqi children were "mean" and couldn't be "trusted," and anyway, it's a price that had to be paid. So what? I wonder if she would feel the same if it was her 6-year-old daughter cut in half before her eyes by weapons that have been internationally banned? Would her answer be the same?
We are in big trouble, but perhaps America can rise from the ashes, perhaps we may have our exodus away from this tyranny, perhaps Kerry will win. I sure pray that it happens. I shudder to think what will come of us if it does not. But my gut feeling is (and I consider myself an amateur history buff) that the GOP, come hell or high tide, is not about to lose grip now.
I hope all of you enjoy the upcoming Circus as much as I will -- but keep in mind that most of the dirty work occurs at night, and behind closed doors. Be careful, what you see just might be a facade.
Louis Lemire
Crestview, FL
Subject: Anyone else notice?
Are we the only ones to see the stark difference in seeing George Bush this morning acting like a spoiled brat who is not getting his way, then followed a few minutes later by Kerry and Edwards with so much class and those wonderful families? We wonder if any of their kids have a drinking problem like Bush's family? You know, family values stuff. :)
Sharon
(Shorty) Swift
Memphis, TN
If you put Hitler next to Edwards, Hitler would have the most experience, but which one would you rather have in charge?
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: An open letter to GKC
Dear Beth Kerasotes and the management of GKC,This letter is in reference to the article at the link below.
http://www.miningjournal.net/news/story/072202004_new01-n0702.asp
I read in this article that your company is choosing not to show Fahrenheit 9/11 because, "We trust that our customers will recognize and respect our own freedom to choose not to show it. During a time of war, the American troops in Iraq need and deserve our undivided support."
How ironic that you trust your customers to respect your freedom but you don't trust them or respect their freedom enough to let them make their own decision about this particular film.
This is especially ironic since, as I was interested to note on your website, your own father's first movie was Birth of a Nation. I don't know if you've ever seen that particular movie but it was frequently pointed to as a propaganda piece that was used to justify segregation, lynching and the Jim Crow laws that existed right until the middle of the last century. As an historic reference point, Birth of a Nation is a very important film, whether one agrees with it or not.
Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 is a different kind of film for different times but it's no less important and historic then Birth of a Nation. Your decision to censor this movie because you think it's not supportive of the troops tells me two important things about you.
Number one, you haven't actually seen the movie. If you saw the movie you would know that it supports the troops on the most important level possible, by encouraging the national dialogue that will bring them back home!
Number two, you don't really think for yourself, you let people like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity do your thinking for you. These unfortunate individuals are apparently unaware that there's a difference between blindly supporting the president and patriotically supporting the troops.
This is not Vietnam, Beth. The troops are not coming home to protesters screaming "baby killer" at them. On the contrary, the world is far more complicated then you and the GOP would like to make it out to be. It's all very neat and tidy to say that your either with us or against us, but that attitude does a grave disservice to the principles of freedom that this country was truly founded on.
So your not going to show the movie until the war is over? That's rather like shutting the gate after the horses have left. It's too little, too late and what you have decided to do in Marquette is nothing less then blatant censorship. According to Bryan Jeffries, GKC executive vice-president of film and marketing, "The company's decision is unprecedented..." "We have never not played a film based on content before."
So, your father and grandfather never found it necessary to censor a movie. But, being first and second generation Americans, they probably had a better grasp of the true meaning of freedom and what it means to lose it.
I sincerely hope that you will reconsider your decision. If you truly wish to support the troops, then you should work to protect the very freedoms that our soldiers are fighting and dying for. How can we have a just and democratic society when over half of us are being told to just shut up and wave the flag? Wake up, Beth, a new Nation is being Born!
Thank you for your time. Sincerely,
Beth Miller
Comstock Park, Michigan
Subject: Newsweek's star investigative reporter has already made seven errors
Don't let Newsweek get away with their lies about F911, send them an email!
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/statements/index.php?id=69
Rex E.
Subject: don't be wimps
when bush says cheney can be president and edwards can't, why doesn't the reporter point out edwards has more experience in foreign relations now than he did when he became president? then bush will say "it's a different world now," then the reporter should say, "and you don't think someone with his experience could rise to the occasion?"
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Bush's housing war at home
The Bush administration's true agenda is now coming to light as states and housing authorities begin to receive their 2004 funding, finding allocations shockingly short. If these restrictive rules are not repealed, thousands of households will lose their vouchers and face the very real possibility of homelessness. In San Francisco these federal policies place 871 households at immediate risk of losing their subsidies, with 2,071 more in jeopardy by 2009.
The war at home (The San Francisco Bay Guardian)
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: cartoons and slogans
Hi, Buzz!!
Kirk Anderson's right-on-the-money cartoon, "Class War," reminded me of a slogan that was widely repeated during the Civil War. I propose reviving it, with a slight revision: IRAQ: RICH MAN'S WAR, POOR MAN'S FIGHT
I am not skilled at computer graphics, but I'm sure there are any number of Buzzers who could make an eye-catching bumper sticker out of that. Go for it, guys!
Jane
Hawes
Emporia, KS
Subject: Massachusetts Liberals
To the BuzzFlash Mailbag:The Minutemen were the first Massachusetts Liberals.
Put it on a bumper sticker.
Love,
Charles in Savannah
Subject: Kiss My Hominy George W. Bush
Dear BuzzFlash:Below is a news story currently running on MSNBC.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- President Bush on Wednesday curtly dismissed Democratic Sen. John Edwards' political skills and experience as a rival to his vice president, telling reporters "Dick Cheney can be president."Do you believe that President Nincompoop has the audacity to infer that John Edwards doesn't have the stuff to be president? The most linguistically, intellectually challenged president this country has ever seen, a man who rolled into office with no foreign policy experience and five years of public service, a man whose only successes were facilitated by daddy and daddy's friends, has the balls to imply that Edwards is a lesser man than he and Cheney???
George Bush, you and your sidekick, you know who I'm talking about, the one with the irritable mouth syndrome, will soon be riding off into the sunset of defeat at the hands of Kerry and Edwards. We're gonna wipe that Howdy Doody smirk right off your goofy looking face. So saddle up, cowboy, we're sending you back to your pretend-like ranch in Texas, and Cheney back to Hell-we-stole-your-money-in-iraq-burton.
From a real southerner to a pretend-like southerner, I have only one thing to say to you, George W. Bush. You can kiss my hominy!!!!!!
Carolyn in Tennessee
Subject: Re: Your Afternoon Buzz
Some thoughts on today's news cycle. As political operatives on vacation we are spending a busman's holiday. The morning news was all about John Kerry's pick (and one we are thrilled about) of John Edwards. Great visuals, great photos of them and their families. As the day progressed, George Bush arrives in North Carolina and is shown bumbling answers to questions. Then news breaks about Dick Cheney holding important homeland security briefings for congressional leaders. A clear attempt to change the story of the day. When this tactic doesn't work -- news is leaked that Ken Lay, of Enron,has been indicted. Having been a part of a high profile federal case, we know that the news is managed carefully and efficiently. The news was clearly leaked to once again change the top story of the day. It was a fun day to watch the Republican media relations machine try to control the news cycle.
Kevin Lampe
Chicago, Illinois
I'm Kevin Lampe and I approved this Democratic message.
Subject: WE ARE UNDER A DICTATORSHIP
Judge silences FBI informant against Ashcroft. Sibel Edmonds case was thrown out. She was a document transcriber for the FBI's DC office who turned informant. She started shortly after 9/11. Sen Leahy and Grassley are gagged about this!!! Get all the information you can about "Sibel Edmonds," because Ashcroft and BUSH want THE TRUTH HIDDEN. Our freedom of speech could be next if THE MEDIA continues to keep your mouth shut about this issue.
I'm beginning to know how the Germans felt when Hitler took over Germany. This website has her story that the lame media does not report about: Legal Eagles Eye Ashcroft Over 9/11 Whistleblower (breakfornews.com)
After you read it see if you are convinced of my prior "dictator" statements. Do a Google on "Sibel Edmonds" and look at all the sites -- right now -- and call /write your Senators and Representatives along with the media corp(se)!!
Tom W.
Subject: Thinking About The Unthinkable
Good Day,
A new possibility occurred to me the other day. It seems that Dick Cheney's been getting in hotter and hotter water with each passing day, whether it's Halliburton links, Senate floor profanity, or his steadfast adherence to claims of collusion between Saddam and Al Qaida. With all of that, how about this: Dick Cheney either: 1) Pleads ill health 2) Dies, or 3) Takes the rap for all of the underhanded skullduggery the Administration has been involved in, and lets Dubya off the hook.Then . . . The Repuglicans nominate John McCain for vice president (he's been AWFULLY sycophantic and nice to the president-designate recently), and all of the fence-sitters who haven't been paying attention to the news, or the job statistics, or the gas prices, etc. etc. etc., jump on the bandwagon with the newly-cleansed Dubya (see number 3, above) and McCain, who many believe to be an honorable politician -- if that's not an oxymoron. I haven't had a good night's sleep since.
Let us pray,
Harry
Subject: Mrs. Kerry
Why does the media use the phrase, "Mrs. Kerry's $3.7 million farm" (some have used the term "estate") in articles about the little get-together the Kerrys had for John Edwards and his family yesterday? Why do they assign a dollar figure to it? Everyone knows she's wealthy, what's the deal?
When is the last time a mainstream media article used the terms, "George Bush spent the holiday at his $(fill-in-the-blank) ranch?" By the way, does anyone know, or even care, what he paid for it? Could be that they are subtly trying to portray Kerry as an Eastern elitist while trying to suggest that Bush is just a "regular guy." It's the little tactics like this that make a lot of difference -- as they say, the devil is in the details.
David Schlomer
[BuzzFlash Note: According to the Associated Press, "[Bush's] beloved 1,583-acre Texas ranch, worth between $1 million and $5 million. He also has U.S. Treasury notes valued at $5 million to $8.7 million." This is the first time we've seen it mentioned, but this is an article specifically about the candidates' respective wealth.]
Subject: July Surprise?
Buzz,
This from The New Republic Online -- July Surprise? -- which is also discussed by Josh Marshall in Talking Points Memo:
...the Pakistanis "have been told at every level that apprehension or killing of HVTs [high-value Al Qaida targets] before [the] election is [an] absolute must." What's more, this source claims that Bush administration officials have told their Pakistani counterparts they have a date in mind for announcing this achievement: "The last ten days of July deadline has been given repeatedly by visitors to Islamabad and during [ul-Haq's] meetings in Washington." ... a White House aide told ul-Haq last spring that "it would be best if the arrest or killing of [any] HVT were announced on twenty-six, twenty-seven, or twenty-eight July"-- the first three days of the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Stay tuned for the next scandal!!
T Quigly
Subject: epithets against trial lawyers
As a trial lawyer myself, I find the Republican attacks against John Edwards' former profession to be utterly repugnant. Edwards' obvious riposte is: "This label never seemed to stop Abraham Lincoln, did it?" The Republicans are trying to destroy the civil justice system in this country, because they are toadies for big business. However, our civil justice system is one of the pillars of our democracy. No less a document than the Declaration of Independence declaims that King George III was trying to deprive the colonials of their right to trial by jury.
With Republican control of all three branches of government, it is notable that the last major piece of pro-labor legislation was the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (passed by a Democratic Congress and signed into law by Bill Clinton). Conservative judges appointed to the federal judiciary are gutting enforcement of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. More than 60% of the federal employment discrimination lawsuits filed in federal court end up being tossed out by summary judgment, meaning that they never get to go before a jury. In a summary judgment proceeding, federal judges are not supposed to be "fact finders," because that is the role of the jury. Unfortunately, they regularly indulge in fact finding when they review a plaintiff's evidence and declare that he has not submitted enough evidence to get to trial.
This deep-seated fear of juries is a Republican/corporate trait. Despite the fact that the Bill of Rights guarantees the right to a trial by jury for all suits over twenty dollars, this right is now being abrogated by Bush/Reagan judges. The last time I saw right wing Republican judges expressing their interest in due process and equal protection was in the infamous 2000 case, Bush vs. Gore. I trust that in the upcoming campaign, John Edwards will not shrink from his profession; he will stand up as he has in the past and say, thank God trial lawyers in this country are willing to take cases into court on behalf of people who have no power, no position, and no money. The Republicans hate the idea that a rich and powerful corporation can be dragged into court by a little "nobody," and that is why they are trying to jerry-rig the criminal justice system.
Donald P. RussoBethlehem, Pa.
Subject: Michael Moore, corporate press whores and the Bible thumpers from hell
The mainstream press is trying hard to tear apart Michael Moore, because he's done their job for them -- the job which they refused to do because they've been too dedicated to sucking hickies on Bush's ass. In order to defend their indefensible lack of critical reporting, their utterly disgusting protection of the 'dim son' golly-gee-dubya, in order to continue to pretend that they aren't deserving of the contempt and embarrassment that I feel toward them, they're working overtime to criticize and marginalize patriot Moore.
Because their masters -- the Corporate CEOs running them -- are also ultra-rich, greedy republicans who know which side their bread is buttered on, the press whores can't be bothered reporting on all the greedy, callous maneuvers of this criminal administration, because the corporate media whores have been too busy standing in line, panting like dogs in heat for their share of the pie. But they find time at the drop of a hat to crank out investigative reports and discussion panels about whether or not Moore's claims are true. They refuse to bite the hand that feeds them, even as they watch the other hand serving out poison to the rest of us.
The whole stinking, corrupt, repugnant mess that has been the mainstream press since the Bible thumpers stole the election just makes me sick. Borrowing from Cheney's sentiment, I'd like to tell the mainstream press to "GO F*** YOURSELF!" You've got a lot of innocent blood on your hands, and you know it.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: "Safer Politics!"
Is anyone really surprised by this news release?
Excerpt:
The number of people living with the AIDS virus has risen in every region of the world. Last year, 5 million people became infected -- more than in any single year since the crisis began. Nine out of 10 who urgently need treatment are not getting it and prevention is still only reaching one in five people who should have it, the report said.
"The virus is running faster than all of us," UNAIDS chief Dr. Peter Piot told The Associated Press. The agency compiles a global AIDS report every two years.U.N.: New HIV Infections Soar (cbsnews.com)
The GOP should feel nothing but shame and disgrace for supporting the archaic policies of an abstinence only sex education, and the right-wing take-over of America's health care policies, led by a moron zealot who let his own religious fervor spill over into his warped policies on HIV prevention. We need to take direct action now. The simple truth is that we have aided the spread of this preventable disease by shaming it, and anyone affected by AIDS, into submissive compliance and fear, and that is nothing to be proud of at all. Literally bullying fellow Americans to death is now a family value? For whose family? Charles Manson, Pit Vipers? And for what?
Excerpt:What a surprise. The bu$h administration is willing to lead their fellow citizens to their deaths for money, and covering it up by disguising their true intentions as "family values." The Corleone family would not even stoop this low. This administration places corporate profit above American lives, again. (Iraq and Oil) What is it going to take before America finally notices that families are disappearing under these values, and that they are not conducive to life? An apocalypse?According to a new United Nations report, "The proportion of the world's new H.I.V. infections occurring in Asia has risen sharply in the past two years." Also, HIV infections last year were "the highest of any year since the epidemic was recognized more than two decades ago." This comes just a day after the Wall Street Journal reported the United States has been trying to limit the use of cheaper generic drugs in the fight against AIDS, in order to protect powerful pharmaceutical companies.
AIDS -- THE EPIDEMIC (Center for American Progress)
Wait, isn't that what evangelical whack jobs want? Or could the real culprit be greedy, slime ball politicians, who want to make a profit at any cost? Who can tell, Dubya's eye's appear more like the leader of that cult, that committed suicide to catch Haley's comet, AKA their "mother ship." The remainder of the GOP looks more like Ken Lay. ( He looks too me at least, like he could achieve an orgasm by simply dropping him into a pile of cash) Use your own judgment, personally I think it is a little of both, and that has created a new breed of morally challenged sociopath's.
The glaringly obvious point is that the GOP has failed yet again in it's attempt to morally supervise the entire nation, no doubt "for our own good," and it has hurt the effort to contain the spread of this infection, and will now produce the largest number of unnecessary death's since we invaded Iraq under false pretenses. If the time has actually arrived that the evangelists seem to want us to believe has, and the second coming is here, then the GOP should be quaking in their boots. Remember that little commandment that "Thou shall not kill?"
Misleading millions of people too their deaths, by contradicting the effectiveness of condoms, or not allowing proper discussions to take place in public about prevention and safer sex, as well as withholding generic drugs to favor political donors profit margins, is tantamount to murder, and should be viewed as such. In my own humble opinion at least. The GOP must love death, everywhere they turn, death's there. 9-11, Iraq, etc,. and now also anywhere two consenting individuals express their feelings for each other, without realizing the potential risk, or how to avoid it, there is more unnecessary, and preventable death.
I feel as though all this may sound irrational, or extremist, but please consider that I have lived with HIV for two decades now, and I have watched helplessly as many of the people that I loved have perished in a horrendous way, knowing full well that is probably how I will die too. Perhaps I have been hurt so badly by this, that I have become extremist.
I cannot apologize for that. I also cannot just stand by and watch this train wreck, without at least trying to plead with others to take this issue seriously. I hope someone in a position to make a difference will hear me, and do something. I don't know what else I can do.
I recall someone saying president Reagan should wear a condom on his head, and practice "safe politics," back in the eighties. Today we should just cover the white house with a giant condom, and shake our heads. The UN's report is heartbreaking news, and sadly it is just the beginning of this story.
David
R. Anselm, Jr.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Subject: more pro-GOP TV news bias
After CNN's biased handling of the Edwards announcement, when the CNN interviewer smooched a Republican strategist while battering his Democrat counterpart, I decided to try watching the network news. The NBC Nightly News, I'm sad to say, offered a big background story based on nothing more than a GOP talking point, and a rather shallow one at that.
Once again I sat and watched a GOP political ad on my television screen delivered by an allegedly neutral news announcer.
It wasn't long ago, the announcer said, that Edwards and Kerry disagreed on a few points. "Are voters just supposed to forget about that now?"
Earth to NBC News: The two were running against each other in the Democratic primary. Do you seriously expect candidates running against each to share the same exact opinion on every single issue?
NBC went on to imply that because Kerry and Edwards differed on trade and tort reform issues, they could not work together. Yet now they would "have to appear to be on the same page."
"Appear" is a loaded, presumptive verb for you. The implication was clear, that two leaders with differing views on a few issues somehow couldn't manage to work together and therefore a partnership would be contrived.
Common sense, not to mention logic and practical experience, show us that people with differing views can and do work together quite well. This story was nothing more than Republican rhetoric, grasping for some kind of negative angle.
After CNN gave soft treatment to a GOP strategist, he joked to the reporter, "We planned this perfectly." But sadly, the joke appeared to be true. And it happened again, this time on NBC Nightly News.
As a former newspaper editor, I am disturbed at the bias and the double standard that was at work during these two news presentations. It was obvious to me that both CNN and NBC slanted these stories in favor of Republicans.
Perhaps the Fox News definition of "fair and balanced" is rubbing off on its more respectable counterparts. I hope future election coverage will show more balance.
Mike in Fla.
Subject: bush comment
When
asked the difference
between Edwards
and Cheney, Bush
answered Cheney
could be president.
Those words scared the hell out of me, and sent shivers down my spine.
Joseph B.
Subject: Bush McCain Train
Looky here people (my favorite people),
I am terrified, let me repeat TERRIFIED, Vacuum Boy is going to dump "dick" and pick up McCain. Considering that McCain has decided to participate in TV spots for Bush, I see no reason for anyone on the left to play nice with this guy any longer. My suggestion is that websites and orgs. supporting Kerry begin an all-out assault on McCain before it is too late. I hope you will see it this way, too, and use your influence to convince MoveOn, the DNC, etc. to reconsider their positions on being sweet to McCain. I know it is a tough call,but once McCain is on board it may be too late. McCain has the S&L thing in his basement -- what else?
Please consider carefully,
Norm
Pettit
La Jolla, CA
Subject: Kerry/Edwards cont.
Just a couple of added thoughts...
The republican right wing is so running scared! After Rush went off today...the veins were literally popping out on his neck...he is going to die right there on his show one day...due to his hysteria...we have another show, that is always a little right wing. If they dare to be one bit sympathetic, the right wing comes on and gives them hell. Well, today, we had a moderator whom I had never heard before...have no idea who it was...but that show is local... And this man had such a cute idea, so innovative! Wouldn't it be nice if the parties would just start getting along...and everyone call everyone else and apologize for anything bad they had ever said about them??? Does that sound like running scared to you? It sure does to me!
He used as an example the things that were hurled at Andrew Jackson when he was running. LOL...He said something about how Mr. Jackson , for heaven's sake, had been accused of being a pimp at one time!! Really!! I could have given him a more up-to-date President....
All we have to do is go back four years...in my lifetime...no one was given more hell than Bill Clinton!!! He was accused of everything from drug dealing to murder! Even after he left office...just to give the republican dimwits...a good start, they still raged on! They stole from Air Force One...they stole from the Oval office...they tore up the oval office...when that ran out, because Clinton himself wrote a letter to Ari Fleischer and told him to make a list with pictures...of the damage and the missing articles...it stopped!!
Then they started on his pardons...for it seemed like a hundred days...we heard Marc Rich every single day...on and on and on! They reached rock bottom when they blamed the Clintons for the death of their beloved Lab, Buddy! But, hey, the Clintons were in Mexico on vacation at that time...then later a story came out on a tabloid...and was picked up by every paper that, Oh, Dear God, "The Clintons had had a dog die in Arkansas!" Oh, now we are sure they are evil!
Whenever you start to even entertain the thought that the right wing is anywhere near good....not perfect...just good....remember the Years that Clinton could not even do his job because of the rightwingnuts! He indicted bin Laden...they would not allocate money to go after him. Trent Lott would grin that stupid grin, you all know the one, and say, "Oh, he is just wagging the dog!"
So, when the right starts to get a little panicky...I get a certain glee out of it!!!!
This ticket is 100 times better than the Gore/Lieberman ticket, if only because Kerry does not care what the right wing thinks. Gore did, or he would never have chosen Lieberman for his running mate. Lieberman was the first senator to stand up and berate Mr. Clinton for his behavior to Gore at the time, that was the right thing to do, he knows it was a mistake now, why do you see him preaching how awful the right wing is...like a Pentecostal minister!!
YEEEHHAAAWWW...as Howard Dean would say! We had too many damn good candidates this time... When my son called me and asked who I voted for in the primary, I told him Howard Dean, and he railed against that for an hour. I was really ready to hang up when he told me what he really called for. He wanted me to baby sit, of course, Mom is good for something!!!! (I love my grandkids...they cannot help it that their parents are so misled.)Shirley........St.Louis
PS: This is a little on the eerie side, but very important! When you see the Kerry and Edwards family together next, check out Valerie Kerry (the blond) and Christopher Heinz...with the sort of curly hair... Are they JFK, JR and his wife...it is scary to me! I would love to hear if anyone else saw that? Incidentally, Chris Heinz is one of the funniest stand ups I have ever seen...he does the greatest "Governator" imitation I have ever seen...no kidding...it is a must see!!!!
Subject: Utterly Hysterical
Hi Gang!
I was perusing Yahoo's news and found a bit where Shrubya himself responded to a question on the campaign trail regarding John Edward's nod to be John Kerry's running mate for the eventual re-taking of the White House and our country.
Reporter: "Mr. President, what do you think of John Edwards as John Kerry's running-mate?"
Shrubya: "Dick Cheney can be President. Next."
Is that all he's got? Is that the best the Great Verbal Combobulator can muster? Goodness help us if Cheney gets asked the same question. What is even more hysterical is that the Surrogates and the Blathering Mouthpieces have all stepped up their harsh language, the volume getting louder, and the heat being cranked up.
They're all scared...so very scared. As well they all should be. They're about to lose it all.
Jerry
Peurala
Westfield, IN
Subject: re: church in Alabama
Dear BuzzFlash,
Regarding that church in Alabama selling sandwiches to raise money for two-way radios for our soldiers -- Well check this out:
One of the many Fillmore residents who bought raffle tickets from Krista Iverson at Fillmore's July Fourth celebration could win a .22-caliber rifle, but Krista's husband will get much more. Lt. Robert Iverson, a Fillmore native, is in Iraq with Marine Artillery Unit 511 out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. Although the unit is on the front lines, the military has not equipped its AR16 rifles with scopes -- which obviously could better enable the soldiers to see their targets. The Tapco company has donated 30 scopes, but Iverson's battalion needs 124, at a cost of $70 each. Krista has raised $1,200, but considering Fillmore probably won't have another festival until July 24, the mother of two is hopeful people will donate funds in her husband's name at any Zions bank
Military wife resorts to raffle to buy gear for U.S. troops (Salt Lake Tribune)
Randal
S. Davis
Portland, OR
CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE JULY 8, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG.