July 15, 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: Gay marriage amendment
One of the first things the right wing idiots did to President Clinton when he first took office was to push the issue of banning gay folks from the military, distracting the new administration from much more important matters at hand (health care reform). The way I see it, the right wing is currently so enamored with the gay marriage issue, seeing it as a divisive ploy to drive a deeper wedge into society, that they are pushing the issue through right now. I am really surprised that they are not waiting until President Kerry takes over to shove it down our throats and to try and make a new administration look bad. I think the rights are out of touch with reality and real people. Most people I know (even conservatives) simply do not care who someone chooses to marry and don't see it as a threat, and really don't understand what all the fuss is about. Also, I have yet to see an argument that tells me why gay marriage is a threat to my way of life, other than a bible verse, or someone's interpretation of one, I should say.If Kerry is elected, expect anything to be thrown his way at first. They are already showing their hand. Lame-o. I think the thugs are going to be unpleasantly surprised.
Go Buzz.
Danielle in the Panhandle
Subject: What are y'all gonna do?
To all the Americans who read and write to the "left wing" web sites/blogs...
I've been up and down since I discovered BuzzFlash, and other Internet sites which question the current administration, or those who hold power in America...initially, fatalistic...then in recent months, holding out hope...now, I dunno. As a Canadian, sitting on the tip of a militaristic society to my south...I'm beginning to wonder...what will happen to us (peace-loving, left-leaning Canucks) if Americans fail to see what is happening in their country? I'm beginning to wonder if Americans have any idea what 'democracy' truly is? Are y'all in the grip of a monarchical-autocratic wet dream? You're scaring the hell out of me. Can you get off the Internet and into the real world and take to the streets and yell from the highest tower and demand freedom? Do you know what freedom is? Are you all so scared of a rag-tag determined bunch of ideologues that you'll kowtow to a determined bunch of self-bred ideologues enough to forsake the philosophies of those who gave birth to your nation?
Have we all in North America become so brain washed by Hollywood and mainstream TV that we truly believe we can live forever, if only it weren't for those damned terrorists? Are we all so willing to give up the great light of equality and bow before the ermine-cloaked liars who lead us, because we believe we will live forever? Can we not as individuals be willing to lay down our lives for a better world for all? Or do we want what we want when we want it and the future and others less fortunate be-damned?
I used to believe (and apparently incorrectly) that the people of America stood first for the 'common man'...but apparently not...that there is any debate at all in your great land about George W. Bush, the consummate failure in all but being rich and stealing the truth, is stunning.
If only one percent of you (and the polls show at minimum there are 40 percent) hold dear the original philosophy that began your great experiment, then get out and show it.We in Canada just held a General Election. Most of our pundits foresaw a "Conservative" win...the 'conservatives' lost. And our scummy press is calling those of us who voted for a Party immersed in a scandalous money-pilfering scheme as 'stupid' and 'scared.' Know what? I'd rather have a bunch of stupid politicians wasting my tax dollars (over 30 percent of my personal income) on idiots trying to buy a province into accepting being part of Canada...than a right wing bunch of knobs bent on kissing American ass. And I do believe Canadians are right to eschew the policies of the current American administration...we're yelled at by our press about how much we rely on the US for economic viability...and riches and trade...but at least, Canadians will take a starving existence in a cabin in the raw North to selling out to a blatantly militaristic society.
I'm stunned that those of you who are noble and thinking aren't yelling at the top of your lungs...in public...about what is going on in your great nation. I remember the 60's when you led the rest of the world in defying the rule of the few. You led us all, back then, on the highway of courage...the courage of fighting those who wish to wield power for their own sake.A Canuck who used to believe in the spirit of the true American public
Subject: cancel elections
According to election officials, the government will not cancel elections in the event of terror attacks, but will instead leave it up to individual states to decide how each will proceed or not. In other words, if only one state suspends elections this fall, we'll have to wait until that state holds elections before we know who is the next president, right? Does anyone see a problem here? What better way to take the heat off the Bush administration than to let a state make the call to delay the inevitable boot up the rump for the Bush administration? All it takes is one state, right? Think, people, think! Some of these people are potentially looking at jail time as soon as they are out of power.
Joe V.
Subject: here's how to call off elections
Election Assistance Commissioner Ray Martinez said he believed the Constitution gave states the power to reschedule presidential elections or even appoint electors directly in case of emergency.
November Elections Won't Be Delayed, Official Says (iwon.com)
So -- any state with Republican-controlled governments who haven't managed to rig their elections yet, can cancel and directly give all their votes to Bush. For example -- where I live -- New York has a lot of powerful Republicans at the state level (including Governor), no Diebold factor and it certainly will go to Kerry. All states like that have a way to override their voters as long as the GOP has a firm enough grip. (I hope they don't.) And our government has plenty of Anthrax around to get strategic individual states to call off elections.
DAB
Subject: Terrorist Attack Talking about cancelling elections to avoid terrorist influence means the terrorists are already influencing the elections.
A successful terrorist attack would mean that this administration has failed at keeping America safe from terrorists. For the electorate to back this administration under those circumstances boggles the mind. This puts the administration in the position of benefiting from a successful attack. Suspicious minds will wonder if, in fact, the administration had any involvement in an attack that would allow them to maintain their stranglehold on power that has allowed them to strangle what's left of our constitution. The administration has not removed the taint left from the 2000 Florida recount/Supreme Court selection debacle. A second term would be further tainted by suspicions of involvement in an attack that keeps them in power.
In short, a successful terrorist attack could put back in power the administration that failed to protect the U.S. because people believe this to be the administration that can best protect the U. S. While an attack should be proof that they cannot protect the U.S., an attack is seen as a way that they will get support. Wowwee, wowwee, wow, wow, wow what a crazy world these neocon-men have brought us!
Sincerely,
Dorson Orba
Subject: strange goings on
This has been a week of total horror...in government! Cheney just gets meaner, Bush gets crazier...and to think that smart folks would even consider postponing an election, after 2000, is about as ignorant as it gets!There is a great article in the Post Dispatch today, written by Eric Mink, about the Cheney bullheadedness!
U.S. intelligence on Iraq: Cheney just won't let it go
No matter what film any interviewer shows him or how many things you can show him in print...he still says, he did not say that, or we do not know if there are WMD yet... This is one scary dude...and we must get rid of him!
I am still getting trouble from my mail /sbc/yahoo server, telling me that my mail may have had a spychecker or some such nonsense placed on it...in other words, 'someone may be reading my mail.' (That wonderful patriot act at work????) I have reported this to sbc global and yahoo...and have not really gotten any help me...or even want to. If I must, I will call them direct!!
I started having trouble about 2-3 months ago, it is hard to remember exactly, but, I started to get many messages on my bulk, which I just deleted!! If I tried to open them, the pink thing flashed up and told me they had detected a virus and could not be sure it would not infect my computer. I am a little computer illiterate...and my son who installed SBC global...is working very hard, has lost his desk job and is having to work construction now. He hates it, but, hey...a lot of people have lost jobs since Bush and Cheney started to rule the world.Just want to keep in touch...I am now going to send a letter to SBC global...and yahoo mail service.
Someone who has the same internet company told me the other day that they were having the same trouble...if anyone out there knows anything weird about them...any help is appreciated..Shirley.......St.Louis
Subject: Freedom of speech
This is utterly ridiculous; people with anti-Bush T-shirts getting arrested!!! Talk about Gestapo tactics!!! And the media does not cover it at all!! I read the newspaper almost every day and I never saw this till I read it in BF.I am PISSED, to say the least. I have a lot on my plate right now and just dumped a few projects, (and potential girlfriend), because I am so busy. But I am willing to take the time and go out of my way to attend a rally where Bush or Cheney will be present, infiltrate it, if I have to, wearing pro-bush paraphernalia. With my anti-Bush stuff on underneath, I will then exercise my constitutional right of free speech and be damned anyone who stops me. I would consider it an honor to be arrested for doing so!
Maybe I don't have to go to such extremes but I want to become active somehow. I want to at least try to make a difference. I just would not be able to live with myself if they get power again and I did not try to actively do something about it. If it is just being an outside the ropes protester, so be it, but that will help. We need to create a ground-swell the media cannot ignore! America needs a mass number of people taking to the streets and voicing their opinions as such. Our forefathers were willing to die for their convictions just by signing a piece of paper. If we care we certainly can do something. I only know of Moveon.com as another source of info. Would they or BuzzFlash be willing to be a communication center for the Bush and/or Cheney campaign schedule? Perhaps even a little info on how to get into these events. We need to mobilize people...freedom is at stake!!CWC
[BuzzFlash Note: The Bush campaign web site has a calendar of events. If you can stomach it, sign up for their alerts. If anyone knows of other resources, let us know and we'll post them in the Mailbag.]
Subject: media bias
The media bias that I've seen on TV is jaw dropping. Cable, national, and local (probably one in the same) are all playing from the same cue cards. All references to the rethuglican party are to be positive and all references to the democrats are to be negative, no matter how small. Rethuglicans will be shown in a positive light during interviews and handled with kid gloves, Democrats will be badgered and talked down to and paraphrased instead of being shown talking. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO REFERENCE TO F 9/11 OR HOW WELL IT'S DOING AT THE BOX OFFICE! Even though we all know that this is commonly charted and covered...with any other movie. Karl Rove and the media giants have had a long talk, he may have even threatened to take something back if they don't help quash the dems. This is an all out attack and shows the corruption of the media at its core.
Paul
Subject: The new trial balloon
Buzz:
The following from iwon.com, November Elections Won't Be Delayed, Official Says, did not miss my attention: "Election Assistance Commissioner Ray Martinez said he believed the Constitution gave states the power to reschedule presidential elections or even appoint electors directly in case of emergency."
Appoint electors? This may be the new plan, to get Republican-controlled state legislatures to appoint electors, as the Florida legislature planned to do in 2000. Don't turn your back on these guys.
Barry Schwartz
Subject: Reagan Bush
Dear Buzz,
The Washington Spectator of July 1 discusses the Reagan legacy and quotes a Joe Conason article which quotes a 1991 Haynes Johnson book Sleepwalking Through History: America in the Reagan Years. The book states that 138 Reagan administration officials had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations by the end of the Reagan term. Sam Pierce, HUD secretary, Att. Gen. Meese & Def. Sect. Weinberger were prominent officials specifically named. A review of Iran Contra history can identify others.
If Congress is ever released from the constraints of Republican leadership and George Bush is not reelected, it may be possible to investigate Bush administration officials. This is a good reason to vote right in November.
Harold Martin
Subject: Waiting for the other shoe to drop
Just a thought...Knowing how this regime operates, I am looking elsewhere for the real story. What is it they are trying to sneak under the radar? Because they certainly have our attention riveted on the possible cancellation of the elections, knowing full well it won't fly. So what's creeping through the back door? Let's stay sharp. And thanks to BuzzFlash for doing the heavy lifting.Lexie
Subject: the Spanish election
Hi Buzz,
Let's keep reminding everyone that it was not the bombing in Spain that affected their election so much as the Spanish government's response to it. It's true the Spanish people were overwhelmingly against the 'foreign adventure.' But when the terrorist attack occurred, Aznar's government immediately blamed the Basque Separatists. The Spanish are quite familiar with the Basque tactics. They have a well-established MO. This was not a Basque Separatist operation. The Basques said so, and the Spanish people knew it, too. The Government lied to them. A blatant, obvious, opportunistic, CYA lie. LIE.LIE.LIE! They rightfully sent the bums packing. I pray we can throw our own bums out, overwhelmingly.
Lexie
p.s. I will be showing up at my polling place on November 2, whether it is open or not.
Dear BuzzFlash:
I just love the “what's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander” mentality of the Bush Administration. It's okay for the Republicans to hold fundraiser after fundraiser (where they no doubt bash Kerry), but when Kerry holds one where (oh my god!) they dare speak negatively of the emperor, they demand that the tapes be turned over. Oh, it's okay for Cheney to hide the names on the panel who put together the bogus, big business Energy Bill (which affects all Americans), but Democrats have to hand over all tapes to a personal campaign fundraiser. The only proper response to the RNC in this matter has already been given by Dick Cheney himself.
Bush blasts Kerry over fund-raiser (cnn.com)
Kelisa
Alexandria, VA
Subject: bush insanity
I saw a good bumper sticker the other day. When the young man stopped at the same place I stopped, I asked him about it. He said a friend had gotten it for him. It was a bush...just a long bush with the "out" sign in the middle...it was subtle, might take someone like me to get it, but it was good. (I am always looking for anti-Bush stuff.)
I like the Roosevelt one, too, to the buzzer who suggested that one...and also Teresa H. Kerry's "Bullies attack...Leaders inspire"...great idea for a bumper sticker or a t-shirt.There is one going around on a chat room.... "Just shut up and drink the kool-aid." That one is a little sick, but what is not sick in this administration???
Elaine, you do have a point there, politics is a nutty game and certainly sick at times. I have stopped trying to figure out what the sick rightwingers are going to try to do in Nov. I am quite sure, they will pull something sick. I have wracked my brain, and thought it was possible that they were not really even planning to win, they were just going to mess the world to hell.....then leave a Democrat to clean it up...and it will take a long time...but, no...likely, they will plan some kind of attack.John McCain may have something up his sleeve... I can remember so much when they begged him to come out with them in 2000 on the campaign trail...and he acted almost nasty, saying, "I really, really do back George Bush!" What a bunch !!
I can tell you, it has gone far beyond my realm of understanding. I am seeing more and more 'Kerry for President,' and it is heartening.Shirley..........St.Louis
I just read that SlimFast has pulled the Whoopi Goldberg ads based on the comments she made at the fund raiser for John Kerry last week. I just fired off an angry email to SlimFast for trying to silence dissent and encourage all Buzzers to do the same. Let them know this bullshit won't be tolerated!
Here's the contact info: http://www.slim-fast.com/contact/contact.asp
Every single fact I state in "Fahrenheit 9/11" is the absolute and irrefutable truth. This movie is perhaps the most thoroughly researched and vetted documentary of our time. No fewer than a dozen people, including three teams of lawyers and the venerable one-time fact-checkers from The New Yorker went through this movie with a fine-tooth comb so that we can make this guarantee to you. Do not let anyone say this or that isn't true. If they say that, they are lying. Let them know that the OPINIONS in the film are mine, and anyone certainly has a right to disagree with them. And the questions I pose in the movie, based on these irrefutable facts, are also mine. And I have a right to ask them. And I will continue to ask them until they are answered. -- Michael Moore, www.MichaelMoore.com
Suzanne S.
BuzzFlash Note: We just wrote to them, too. Thanks.
Subject: NBC (bush network)
I have watched nbc for many years. That is, until last year. After I watched Tom Brokaw carrying bush's balls. I always respected Tom for years and years. NO MORE. NBC has pushed bush and his cronies for months now. Even leno. I never watch him either. I am boycotting that network for good. Once in a while I will watch a segment, like this morning, on today show, and miss prim and proper couric was really hammering John Edwards (in my opinion) and the look on her face showed such disdain when she was looking at him. Made me even more madder.
I hope every one else boycotts nbc, also.
sab
CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE JULY 15, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG.