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THIS IS PART 2 OF THE JULY 8, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1.

Subject: Shrub and Cheney

When Bushie was asked to compare Dick Cheney to John Edwards, he replied "Dick Cheney can be president." HELLO!!!! Earth to Shrub, Dick Cheney IS the president!!!

Thanks...

Susie Loucks, Houston, TX

Subject: he certainly isn't the man everyone believed him to be

Is the possibility of a Bush/McCain ticket in November the reason why George is suddenly John's best friend? Oh the things that men will do, the values and morals they will set aside, the principals they will overlook to get what they want. Frankly if McCain is willing to sell his soul in order to get a nod to run for the Vice Presidency, then he certainly isn't the man everyone believed him to be. I wince every time I see him embracing George Bush, because everything is not fair in the game of politics, and Bush stepped over the line with his brand of dirty politics in South Carolina in 2000!

"Ex-GOP Senator Suggests Bush Dump Cheney" (The Guardian)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

Anyone taking bets on weather dubya will dump VP Halliburton in favor of McCain or Powell? Could be a good fundraiser and Bush is great at flip-flops. McCain is on everyone's side and Powell is in Bush's pocket. Seem like possibilities to me!

Linda,
North Wales, PA

The below link adds to the Scully article on Yahoo. I want to point out this paragraph left out by the Rutgers story.

This is near the end

->snip<-

In recent weeks, Mr. Scully has registered as a lobbyist for major drug companies, including Abbott Laboratories and Aventis; for Caremark Rx, a pharmacy benefit manager; and for the American Chiropractic Association and the American College of Gastroenterology, among other clients. All are affected by the new Medicare law, which Mr. Scully helped write.

"Report Confirms Medicare Cost Estimates Kept Secret by Threats from BushCo Member Tom Scully 7/8"

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: No Foreign Media Allowed During Elections?

"Journalists hit by new US visa rules"

Exactly what do they have in mind for us that they don't want the world to know about?

Maggie Anderson
Mount Vernon IA

Subject: Fahrenheit 9/11

Dear Buzz,

Well I finally found a theater that was playing Michael Moore's movie, and I took a friend along, and we went to see it last night.

All I can say is brilliant, simply brilliant!! I will admit, almost all of it I already knew thanks to BuzzFlash, but it was wonderful to see how Michael put it all together.

My girlfriend Shirley was in total shock! She doesn't have a computer, so I relay all that I've learned from Buzz. I don't think she really believed all that I've told her, but when we left the theater, and she was able to finally close her mouth after her jaw hit the floor by what she saw, she was seeing red even more than she had before! This movie really shows what a bunch of immoral creeps the GOP's really are!

I just read on another email sent to me by Capitol Hill Blues that it looks like VP Cheney is being indicted...like we didn't already know!

WOW ...things are looking up! According to this article, senior WH officials are worried, and other party members has asked the Pres. to dump Cheney, instead asking either John McCain or Colin Powell to be placed on the ticket!!

If that happens, we may not win the election! Oh GOD I don't think I can stand another four years of this sh..t!

Oh my I' m venting again.........sorry!

I forgot to mention, that after the movie, we stopped at a hamburger place, and at the drive thru window, the gal said we had gotten there just in time as they were about to close....I explained that we had just come from the movies, and then she asked "which one"? When I told her, her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and she expressed how she wanted to see the movie also, and I asked if she was a Democrat, and she said yes, so I gave her the web site for BuzzFlash for her to get her information, as here in Nebraska it's like an infestation of cockroaches..... this is a Republican state, and the Repugs are everywhere!! But every once in awhile you run across another Dem.

So many Repuglicans...so little time!

A Loyal Buzz Fan Forever!

Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska ( so. of Omaha)

Subject: George Bush and Ken Lay sitting in a tree....

After 3 long years, Ken Lay is finally being charged with stealing billions of dollars from over 20,000 of his employees. The following link seems to paint a very cozy relationship between Bush and Lay. No wonder why Bush/Cheney will not let the American public see documents from the "Energy Policy" meetings.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bushlay1.html

Mark Scherer

Subject: RE: What the Hell is Going On?

I don't know where else to direct this correspondence to. You are one of the sites I go to as soon as I make my morning coffee...I do that so I can get a real grasp of the day's events!

There is not even a word to describe how I feel at this very moment! After I finished reading some of the headlines for today, I thought I'd grab a bite to eat & listen to the "news" on major media. I turned to some story about a toy recall & hoping to hear about Ken Lay, I turned to NBC. To my surprise (she said w/great disdain), Katie Couric was interviewing someone - a former client of John Edwards who had been awarded $4 million followed by an interview regarding TORT reform. I have one thing to say: What the hell is wrong with these people? I have sit & watched MY country be turned into something I don't even recognize any more by a man who was never elected in the first place! I have watched this man & his cohorts do a hatchet job on every decent thing I placed my faith & belief in as an American. I have watched them lie through their teeth while grinning & patting all of us on the head like we are little children who need cajoling & protecting from some yet unnamed boogie man.

I have signed thousands of petitions & written letters until to anyone & everyone...I wrote every single Democratic Senator begging them to look into the reasons for the Iraq war. I've written to Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, & all major media news people. I've e-mailed Scott Ritter, Karen Kwiatkowski, Helen Thomas, journalists who dig for facts...I have done everything I know to do & this idiocy keeps rolling down the highway like one of our tanks rolled into Baghdad.

This morning feels like the last straw. I've had it & I am tired of taking it. I've gotten involved in local politics...I'm trying everything I know how to take back our country but watching this type of non-reporting slander is just about it. Can't some plain Joe like me sue these idiots?

Sorry you are getting the brunt of this but where else does one go?

Rebecca Flaherty
A Loyal Reader for well over a year.

[BuzzFlash Note: Yesterday we emailed Katie Couric and Lester Holt and asked them if they were whores for the RNC, because they sure were reciting the RNC Kerry/Edwards talking points as if they had a gun to their head and Ed Gillespie whispering in their ear. And THEN they had Elizabeth Dole on to comment on Edward's record in the Senate? What a disgusting, useless woman she is, with nothing of importance to say. It's all quite frustrating. We completely understand.]

Subject: Repug attacks on Kerry

During the publicity over Kerry's choice of John Edwards as his running mate, I was listening to the radio and heard the official response from the Republican National Committee. It jubilantly pointed out that Edwards is considered to have the fourth most liberal voting record in the Senate, adding (as always) that John Kerry's voting record is rated the number one most liberal of all.

Republican leaders apparently feel confident that no one in the party is noticing anything odd about their two-pronged attack on Kerry. On one front, they are trying to convince voters that he is a man who constantly flip-flops. At the same time, they never pass up an opportunity to accuse him of being absolutely consistent on the job.

Evidently the RNC knows its crowd. I haven't heard of a single Republican bothered by that lovely example of hypocrisy. Maybe one of those hard-hitting reporters will ask a few questions. Just kidding.

Libby Hicks

Subject: This from homeland security

Now they are announcing that they are going to announce a terror alert...

Thursday's announcement of terror must be too far away from the vp news for kerry... had to give an announcement of an announcement...

No new change in the alert color... just another vague threat...

Of course if they just keep putting out these warnings about every month... one year they are going to be right!!

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/08/ridge.alqaeda/index.html

Craig

Subject: top ten october surprizes--- it oughta be a T-shirt by now--- how about running a contest or getting this on letterman

There are several predictions for our upcoming surprize and I think it is time to get them on T-Shirts, Posters, Bumper Stickers, and in full public view at the democrat convention. By announcing these " top ten election surprizes" we will take some of the air out of them:

1. bin laden or other top al-Q dogs caught or killed
2. cheney family and heart problems force him to drop out in favor of someone more popular
3. we attack Iran/Syria based upon new "intel"
4. we attack Africa because...they have oil too
5. Saud oil prices drop bigtime
6. big attack on US soil
7. The Hungary Caterpillar II is published
8. Cheney gets a heart, Rumsfeld some courage, W gets a brain, and Condoleezza goes back to Kansas
9. -------add a couple and pass this along-----
10.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Extremists

Greetings,

A small group of ideological extremists and religious fanatics threatens the world today. They have killed thousands of innocent people. They are guilty of kidnapping and torture. They lie, cheat, and steal for their cause. They spread vicious, hate-filled propaganda to persuade the unwitting to their side. They will do anything and stop at nothing - even destroying the world - to achieve their goals.

They particularly hate America. They hate our freedoms and our democracy. They want to impose a religious dictatorship on the whole world and to destroy anyone who disagrees with them. We must protect ourselves from this threat.

That is why we must vote them out of office this November. Go to the polls and vote the Republicans out of office. Do your part to protect America and our precious democracy.

Fighting for Truth, Justice, and the American Way,

Dick Sattler

Instructions to get your day off to a good start:

1. Open a new file in your PC.
2. Name it "George W. Bush."
3. Send it to the trash.
4. Empty the trash.
5. Your PC will ask you: "Do you really want to get rid of George W. Bush?"
6. Answer calmly, "Yes," and press the mouse button firmly.

Forwarded by Ann M., Chicago

Subject: Shrubya: "What, Me Worry? Heck No, I'll Just Suspend the Election!"

Hi Gang!

The 2 out of 3 political expert prediction of an attempt to possibly stay the upcoming Presidential election may actually be in the works.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5394851

No specific threats again...but a continuous stream of them with Iwon.com reporting that the terrorists may have entered into an "operational phase."

But all this begs the question: If somehow, somewhere, and someway Congress and the Senate both vote to suspend the election, wouldn't that mean the terrorists win?

Sorry, but I don't think the American people would stand for a sitting President to be given an extension on their term by the politicians and not by our vote.

Jerry Peurala
Westfield, IN

Subject: Bush Commits TREASON for a July Surprise - Ignoring Nuclear Terror in Return for Osama's Head During the Democratic Convention

Bush knows he will lose in November unless he captures Osama - or perhaps Ayman Al Zawahiri or Mullah Omar. In an explosive story, The New Republic quotes Pakistani officials who say Bush is pressuring them to deliver one of these "high-value targets" (HVT) before November - best of all, at the height of the Democratic convention. As a carrot, "Powell pointedly refused to criticize Musharraf for pardoning nuclear physicist A.Q. Khan-- who, the previous month, had admitted exporting nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea, and Libya - declaring Khan's transgressions an 'internal Pakistani issue.' In addition, the administration is pushing a five-year, $3 billion aid package for Pakistan through Congress over Democratic concerns about the country's proliferation of nuclear technology and lack of democratic reform." Folks, this is TREASON - and it's time for Democrats to start screaming!

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040719&s=aaj071904

Bob

Subject: Deja Vu All Over Again

I was this story from this past January 23, and was surprised at how well Cheney has stayed on-point.

"Cheney claims al Qaeda link to Hussein; He also says regime had program for prohibited weapons"

Warren O.

[BuzzFlash Note: Cheney must be a pathological liar. That could explain his disconnection with reality.]

Subject: The culture of cultivated denial

Dear Buzz,

There is an excellent and very important article in this week's "The New Yorker" magazine on the toll of war on soldiers' mental health. Unfortunately, the article, "The Price of Valor" by Dan Baum, is not available on-line. Run to your bookstores to get a copy.

The article exposes the chilling culture of massive denial permeating the Army on the subject of war trauma in soldiers. It turns out -- and this is the dirty and unspoken secret -- that the major source of trauma for soldiers is not personal injury, even if severe, or witnessing their comrades deaths, but killing (surprise). Yes, killing other human beings (and "enemy combatants" count as human beings in a normal soldier's mind, the various euphemisms notwithstanding) actually changes the soldiers' psyche -- for the worse; and as obvious as this fact may be to you and me, the Army cannot acknowledge it. (Not surprisingly, since doing so would blow the whole war machine out of its muddy waters.)

Baum gives heart-breaking examples of normal men whose lives have been ruined by killing in war, and shows equally damaging effects of the nationally sanctioned murdering on those associated with the war enterprise, specifically on the Army mental health professionals and chaplains. His interviews with them provide scary examples of how even the most noble of human pursuits -- and I'd say that the desire to alleviate human suffering and aid human spiritual development count as such -- can be corrupted and bastardized by association with war.

The "help" for veterans and their families dealing with effects of killing trauma (let's just call it what it is) is beyond dismal, bordering on absurd. A wife of the soldier interviewed by Baum said that before her husband came home from Iraq, the Army gave her little cards "that said things like 'Watch for psychotic episodes' and 'Is he drinking too much?'" She was also contacted by the Army mental health professional who told her, "Don't call us unless your husband is waking you up in the middle of the night with a knife at your throat." "Don't call us unless he actually chokes you, unless you pass out. He'll have flashbacks. It's normal.'"

This must be the Army's definition of "normal." And as such, it really shows its soulless, psychopathic and inhumane nature.

Baum's article should be on the first pages of all American newspapers. Reading it will probably make you sick, but do it anyway.

A Buzzer.

Subject: Bush's domestic policy is all about what's best for one person...

What does the American government do for rich people? Do rich people need welfare or unemployment insurance? Of course they don’t. Do rich people need Head Start pre-schools or Medicare or Social Security? Nope. Do rich people need public schools? Their kids don’t go to public schools, their kids will never be taught by a public school teacher. Do rich people need affordable medical care? They can afford medical care at the current prices just fine.

Rich people don’t need much from the government, but they do pay taxes. So the biggest thing the government can do for rich people is lower their taxes. What a coincidence that of all the social and domestic issues the President could have put his weight behind, he picked the one issue that would benefit him personally to push the hardest. "Compassionate Conservatism" might sound nice, but repeated Tax Cuts are something that puts money right into the pockets of our President, George Bush Jr. And who better to champion the fight against the "death tax" than someone who would save MILLIONS of dollars when his parents die?

What are the odds that of all the domestic programs that Bush might have selected to push through, at the cost of all other domestic programs, he picked one that helped little ol’Georgie? Those tax cuts are SACROSANCT and must be made PERMANENT. Or else, why bother to be President at all?

signed,

A BuzzFlash Reader and Big Time Patriot
http://www.bigtimepatriot.com/default.asp?itemID=103

Subject: Kerry and Edwards talking point

Dear BuzzFlash,

Now that we have a vp candidate, it's time for the Democrats to start talking with one voice about at least one thing - "the failed presidency of George Bush". It won't be hard to find the failures of "the failed presidency of George Bush" such as Iraq, 9/11, a lack of a balanced budget, a lack of jobs, you name it. Every time any Democrat appears on tv, they need to be sure to say these words - "the failed presidency of George Bush" and then list his failures and say it again. Every speech any Dem makes, be it Kerry, Edwards, Dean or whoever, they need to say these words - "the failed presidency of George Bush" and list his failures. Like a Republican talking point, such as "tax relief", it will soon be a common truth to everyone and not just to Democrats. But, unlike a Republican talking point, it will be really be true. Pass it on.

Gary from Phoenix

Subject: Michael Moore brands [Aussie PM John] Howard 'disgraceful', nails Psuedo-leaders!

As Michael Moore does our work for us, maybe picking up where we left off in our attempt to stop bushes wars, he forces bush and Tom Ridge to put out another false warning about Al-queda (bushco and boys), these guys know when all terrorist' attacks will take place, as they are behind most of them. It is sooo easy to see through these machinations of the press through increasing the publics fear. Everything you see on the news appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to Moore's movie, and the Kerry-Edwards ticket. But the media blathers on, as though this is 'real', and are now talking about how the election could be canceled due to terrorists. But I sense Moore's movie has awakened the publics skepticism, and with no credible evidence of a real 'threat', this just confirms Moore's hypothesis, that bush is behind most acts of terrorism. Just read between the lines!

Great article, by the way!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200407/s1149077.htm

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: CNN

I just about fell out of my chair early this morning when CNN announced that the Bush administration was working to get bin Laden about the time of the Democratic convention. However, I haven't heard them or any other network repeat it. Did someone goof and let it out by mistake? Tom Ridge was just on telling us to look for another possible attack, but couldn't give any specific details as usual. Could it be because Kerry and Edwards are drawing record crowds wherever they go? Also, it's funny that Ken Lay is being indicted at this time after three years. I tell you, the repugs are in a panic!!!

Carolyn in Illinois

Subject: NY Post: Closeted Gay GOPs to be Outed as Part of FMA Debate

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/17805.htm

July 8, 2004 -- GAY-rights activists are threatening to "out" closeted queers on Capitol Hill as part of their campaign against the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The gay-rights Web site www.dearmary.com, named after Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, is taking out an ad in gay paper the Washington Blade, Roll Call reports. "If you are gay, end your silence," the ad reads, calling on gays in Congress to "stop aiding and abetting those who would make us second-class citizens." "If Congress wants to debate our private lives in public, we're going to debate their private lives in public," www.dearmary.com founder John Aravosis tells Roll Call, noting there are "lots" of politicians who could be outed.

See also http://blogactive.blogspot.com/2004/07/fun-action-jay-timmonsstand-up-for.html

Jay Timmons, Exec Dir of Republican Senatorial Campaign is openly gay.

Jon P.

Subject: Edwards' experience

The New York Times reports:

At President Bush's first campaign stop in North Carolina on Wednesday morning, he was asked how Vice President Dick Cheney stacked up against the new Democratic vice-presidential candidate...

Mr. Bush was ready with a one-liner: "Dick Cheney can be president."

=====

You mean to tell me Dick Cheney ISN'T the president?! Eek, someone needs to contact the White House and let them in on the secret.

I'm wondering if Georgie-poo considered himself qualified to be president when he ran in 2000. Senator Edwards has a helluva lot more experience than George did when he ran. Damn, I'd go so far as to say Edwards has a helluva lot more experience than George does at this very moment! Three and a half years of sticking your foot in your mouth, head up your ass, and fumbling around lost in the dark doesn't constitute 'experience'. It's more like proof positive Duhbya wasn't up for the job in the first place, and still isn't.

Ari Reyes, New York

if we are to have terror attacks from now on, it will sure be nice to have kerry and edwards in charge. i don't think they will sit reading my pet goat after we are attacked because no one is telling them what to do.

katie johnson
tampa

Subject: Drudge plays the homophobia card

http://drudgereport.com/kerryk.htm

Sickening, but I suppose it's to be expected coming from the Party that brought us the "John McCain has a black baby" push poll.

Luke P.

[BuzzFlash Note: Another reader asked if Drudge was gay or homophobic. It's reported that he is gay, but he acts like he's ashamed of it.]

My grand kids went to see Fahrenheit 9-11

Could someone please explain to them why bush just sat there for 7 minutes after learning our country was under attack? I just can't think of one good reason to give them!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, we used to be mccain fans. we now know he is just another do anything say anything to get elected politician!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Election Cancellation

Do the rethuglicans plan to seize the government through terror and canceling the elections?... Do you set up bowling pins with the intent of knocking them down? The process has begun, welcome to the soviet states of America. With the look on disaster monkeys face, the shadow government is now in charge. What won't they do to stay in power?

Paul

Subject: Bush and Lay

Bush administration distances itself from Lay By Rex Nutting

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Following the indictment of former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay on 11 federal criminal charges, the Bush administration distanced itself Thursday from a long-time political suporter. At one time, Lay was President Bush's top career political patron, earning himself the nickname of "Kenny Boy" from a grateful Bush. On Thursday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush and Lay were never particularly close, saying the two had not spoken "in quite some time." Lay "is a past supporter," McClellan emphasized to reporters. McClellan said the White House took no role in the indictment. "Cracking down on corporate wrongdoing is a top priority for this president," the spokesman said. Bush has always been most concerned for the workers and shareholders, he said.

Ha! What a joke! When Bush was asked about Lay during the early days of the Enron scandal he pretended he didn't know him and said something to the effect, "If I recall correctly, he supported Ann Richards in the Texas governor election." The fact is, Lay and Bush go way back. Lay did, in fact, contribute a little more than 10,000 dollars to Richards, but he contributed over $300,000 to Bush. (Information comes from "Big Lies" by Joe Conason.) We do have to credit Bush for his shameless lack of loyalty. Not everyone can do that.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Ken Lay/ Enron - Bush/Harken Energy

Buzz,

With the indictment of Kenny Boy can Bush/Harken be far behind Surely what Bush did was as illegal as what Martha and Kenny Boy did. Molly Ivins made this case long before the election in her book Shrub. Let's shed some light on this. Maybe we could use an oil lantern to do it. Keep up all the good work you guys do. Try to read you everyday.

Thanks,

Al Moseke
Lorton,VA