July 16, 2004
The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag.
THIS IS PART 2 OF THE JULY 16, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1.
Subject: Runnin' Scared
Dear Fellow BuzzFlash Readers:
The Christian Liberal is in a sober mood, today.
I am concerned when I begin to hear rumors that you and I may not be allowed to exercise our fundamental right as American citizens to vote on November 2, 2004. I have pondered this in my heart and I am led to believe that we are looking at a man on the run, a despot who is willing to do anything, and I mean, ANYTHING, to retain the power he and his cartel were illegally handed by the Supreme Court in December 2000. When I remember that opening scene in "Fahrenheit 9/11" where several members of the Congressional Black Caucus were begging for a U. S. Senator to come forth and sign off on their amendment to invalidate the voting results, and NOT ONE SENATOR stepped forward. In my opinion, that is where our country hit the pathway to the destruction of democracy. So I thought.
We haven't, though. Through blogs like BuzzFlash, Black Commentator, MoveOn, People for the American Way, AlterNet, Op-Ed News, The Political Junkie, and others, we have managed to keep the flame lit on the issue of destroying democracy. With the polls showing GeeDubya tied, if not trailing John Kerry, all the lies, all the manipulations, all the attempts to distract with "wedge issues" to hide behind the fact he has done an absolutely abysmal job as President; the embarrassment one must feel when he travels overseas and is our global representative to the World, and even professing his belief in Jesus Christ as his Savior, the tide of public discontent is not turning, as it did in the early days post 9/11. For the most part, people, regardless of race, nationality, religion, or political affiliation, are FED UP, and GeeDubya, and his handlers, Karl Rove and Dick Cheney, are alarmed that their bullying tactics are ceasing to have their intended and desired effect. So what to do now?
Bring in the lapdog (aka Cabinet Member) that you appointed the Head of Homeland Security (what a joke) and get him to start harping about how a terrorist attack on home soil is a near certainty either during the elections, or during the Democratic National Convention. How would they know this information...UNLESS THEY'RE PLANNING IT?
It seems that Americans are on to the Cartel about their staged "events", too. Now that even staging events isn't appearing to work, Rove is left with only one option....CANCEL THE ELECTION, and use what happened in Spain as the rationale. One key thing Rove is forgetting....when that bomb blew up the subway in Spain, the people voted out their President, because they believed his alliance with GeeDubya put them in danger of the attack. So, this is quite a gamble for Rove, a "Win at all Costs" mentality that hasn't been seen since Richard Nixon. How does he know that America won't react in the same fashion?
Let's face it, when a sitting President of the United States has his Administration resorting to:
Finding or Plotting ways to cancel the election;
- Controls all crowds where the President is scheduled to speak by removing anyone who wears a t-shirt or holds up posters and signs that clearly communicate they disagree with the President's policies (silencing dissent);
- Have four of five Republicans investigating Tom DeLay for ethics violations that are already compromised because they accepted money from DeLay's PAC (a blatant attempt to control Congress) Ridge or Ashcroft always going on TV after GeeDubya takes a policy hit and cry "Terrorist Attack Likely!" This is worse than the boy who cried "Wolf!" Will they actually go to the extent of actually manufacturing an attack to prove their point, now that we feel like they are crying "Wolf" with the pronouncements?
- Using Ralph Nader's ego to finance his campaign to take away votes from John Kerry. Peter Camejo, his running mate, has already asked Ralph to return the money. Ralph said no. Look for Camejo to take himself off the Nader ticket, because he's running on principle, not ego.
- Having Jeb trying to rig the Florida elections, first by a voter purge, second, by failing to restore the voting rights of ex-felons who have paid their debt to society, or third, bringing in voting machines that leave no evidence of a person's vote. Since he failed at all three plans, the fourth plan is either (a) cancel the election or (b) allow another terrorist attack. However, I give Osama a little credit; because he knows he's expected to attack us, count on him to do the unexpected (i. e. should GeeDubya cancel the election, that terrorist attack will occur after November 2nd.) It has already been established that 9/11 didn't happen until the results of the 2000 election was certified, and GeeDubya had been in office nearly a year, with so many negatives to his credit, he was virtually assured of being a one-term President, just like Poppy.
- Scheduling the Constitutional ban on gay marriage two weeks before the Democratic National Convention. Even Lynne Cheney is saying this is one issue that is best left to the states.
- Silence from the pundits: O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage and Matt Drudge at the potential"hijacking" of another election, by not allowing it. I'm giving them a few days to come up with justifications in support of Bush.
Right now, I'm praying for our Nation and the restoration of democracy. I also believe that those who are living by this Orwellian concept of democracy will also die by it, and I don't mean a physical death. Every life is precious, whether an individual uses it for good or evil. I am also praying that we be encouraged, that we don't give up, that we are not in a fight for just for survival and our ways of life, but that we are fighting for the right legacy to leave the generations that will follow us. Democracy, as it was initiated when our country was formed, is what our children have a right to. The freedom to disagree and not get tagged " unpatriotic". The right to question our government - that's patriotic. The right to hold our leaders and elected officials accountable for not doing right by we, the people. The right to a government that's open and transparent, not secretive and in the dark. The right to respect, and have our basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, met in ways that do not place the burden on the least who can bear up under it. I will pray, pray, pray until I see something happen and my hopes become a reality.
My name is Leutisha Stills. I am the Christian Liberal, and a loyal supporter of BuzzFlash.
Subject: Election
Hello,
the shruB t4ell us constantly that America is safer now. Yet he also warns constantly about terrorist threat and an imminent attack in November (arranged by his staff with al Qaida?!). What is it: are we safer, or are we not? Doesn't anyone ask that shruB to explain this contradiction?
Frank A. Lojewski
Subject: Kerry's NAACP Speech...
All the press-coverage this appearance will get will be related to the opening jab at Bush, but the real focus should be the content of his whole speech. I wish the 'liberal' media would stop LOOKING at John Kerry (on the bike, hugging Edwards, searching for Botox) and LISTEN for once. When you do that, you actually get an opportunity to hear something interesting:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0715.html
James Y.
I am going to start with the hard part, because it is so hard to take umbrage with a buzz bagger....but, to the Canuck writer...i can tell you in a few minutes why we do not speak out sometimes.
For instance.....when you speak your mind, in you very own family, for starters...watch them get up and leave the room, or tell you just how unpatriotic you are.
In early 2003, I developed an ulcer from the horrors of my own family.
One is a son, who's daughter is in the National Guard and she was being deployed to Iraq...while I was scared to death...i knew what that war was, and how much Bush cared about any of the military.....my son beamed like a peacock....his daughter was fighting the good fight...she was a military hero...and his rightwing buddies told him all day how proud they were of her and all those brave men and women over there! On the night before her deployment, I got a call from him, I was to go to the the deployment the next day at the local barracks.
He tells me that he does not want tomorrow to turn into a bashing of George Bush.. and I was crying by the time I got off the phone...you must know something else, this son, nor his wife...nor the girl that went to Iraq...have ever voted.
As for me, I have voted all my life, obeyed the laws of the land, served 7 times on juries, paid taxes for 50 years....and gave a brother to VietNam...but, no, that was not enough pay....to make it okay for me to disagree with this war!!!
She came home, incidentally, safe as did her entire regiment, who were lucky...they did not have to face the bombs and guns every day...they were engineering!!
The other brother...who had discussed this with him...my younger son...had talked about this situation to him, and they decided that they should make sure Mom did not storm the stage and preach about how evil George Bush was....I am a very stoic person...not at all aggresive. I shut up my mouth and got an ulcer.
During the year of 2000, when Bush was running, my daughter had already killed me almost with her reason that Clinton was the scum of the earth..."He lied"! She told me that a thousand times....and has since, seen the error of her ways, told me in a quiet moment that she had voted for Bush, found out what was going on and will have to live with that for the rest of her life...It is an okay punishment for someone who thinks that Bill Clinton's lie was worse, than Bush's lie...WMD...and inferring that Saddam caused 911.!!.In the meantime...I had a brother who was worse, he started on the e-mail business, with the 'wormy' Clinton and how he had voted for Bush and was glad of it. And in the year of 2001-2-3...he made it worse, even though I wasn't as hurt by that as my own kids. My husband is a republican, you see, and he will never discuss politics...never! I have no idea why...except that during the tear down of Bill Clinton , the two things he preached about that had made Clinton scum .....he was guilty of himself, so when we got that straight...I never had to worry about him and his preaching again. Incidentally, we have been married 50 years...so there is still hope for Matilan and Carville!!!!
But, let me tell you, when your son looks you in the eye and tells you that Bill Clinton, in my eyes, the best president since Kennedy (and he was not with us long), and tells you that he should have been hung in the White House...because that is not his house, it belongs to the people....You just somehow do not have the breath to ask him when he last visited his house....or remind him of the horror that took place in Gracie Mansion, from Mr.Guiliani (because you see, he is a republican, and it would not be the same)
Sorry, I do not ask for pity....I am trying to tell people how hard it is to be a person who is trying, and I truly think that democrats are right, and live in this world that we have been force to live in for the past four years!!!!
To the person who wrote about the Riggs Bank scandal.....it is eerie. My favorite movie of all times is 'The Pelican Brief"....and in that movie, much of it filmed in Washington, DC....there is an entire scene, using the name of the Riggs Bank!
To the writer from the Reno-Gazette Journal....what a wonderful way for anyone who is republican to know....it is so true, it was almost funny!
And to Suzanne...regarding Whoopie...I am now, after I get off here, writing to the people who make Slim Fast ( I have a refrig, full...i am on a diet and trying to use it) and tell them that I am destroying all I have left!!! People out there are going to have to realize that they cannot tell us how to think!
Shirley.............St.Louis
Subject: War is hell on the homefront, too
Dear Buzz,
Somewhere in Iraq, there is a soldier who has not been able to contact his family for two months. Somewhere in America, Thursday night, a young woman called in a song request to Delilah, who hosts a radio show every weeknight. This young woman asked Delilah to dedicate a song to her mother whose birthday is Monday, July 19. She said her father was stationed in Iraq, his tour of duty had been extended twice, and that the family has not heard from him in over two months; that they didn't know if he was alive or dead.
Excuse me for spitting nails, but I am outraged that a husband and father who is living up to his commitments is not able to communicate with his wife and children for over two months. The sound of a loved one's voice, or a letter with their handwriting, means everything to those who wait at home; it helps the family to keep the faith, to keep believing everything will be all right.
The mother's name is Laura , but the daughter did not mention her father's name. I hope Enya does not mind the reprinting of the lyrics here. Maybe someone, somewhere, can find out who the soldier is and pass along the message of love that his daughter dedicated to his wife.
ONLY TIME (By Enya)
Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows?
Only time...And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose?
Only time...Who can say why your heart sighs,
As your love flies?
Only time...And who can say why your heart cries,
When your love dies?
Only time...Who can say when the roads meet,
That love might be,
In your heart.And who can say when the day sleeps,
If the night keeps all your heart?
Night keeps all your heart...Who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose?
Only time...And who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows?
Only time...Who knows?
Only time...Who knows?
Only time..
_____________________
? 9/11 ?
Elaine
Subject: Great Quote from Calpundit
"Between the Medicare bill, the energy bill, and this bill, the 108th Congress has surely distinguished itself as one of the most debased in recent history."
Joey Martin
Subject: You must run this headline: Desperate Illinois GOP considers Ted Nugent!
-snip-
Republican sources say that the Republican Party will now focus on two potential candidates: Jim Oberwies, who finished second in the primary for this nomination, and John Cox, who ran a couple of years ago. Both have the distinction of being multimillionaires.
But another name surfacing is that of rocker, outspoken conservative and gun rights activist Ted Nugent.
"He grew up in Arlington Heights. He went to St. Viator High School," said Cook County Republican Chair Gary Skoien. "He has more connection to Illinois than Hillary Clinton had to New York, and he's been a very articulate spokesperson on constitutional issues. He would be a very interesting candidate."
Nugent couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday night.
-snip-
http://www.nbc5.com/sports/3528603/detail.h....
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Riker's Island GOP Scandal
Hey Buzz, did you guys post anything about this scandal:
“Politics and Punishment on Rikers Island,”a two-part series and half-hour documentary, looks at how hundreds of New York City Correction Department employees worked on Republican political campaigns often while on-duty.
Apparently, Rikers Island (an NYC area prison) employees were required to work on GOP campaigns.
Here's a link to the two part radio broadcast: http://wnyc.org/news/articles/33329
Notice it's on WNYC -- public radio. I wonder why the mainstream media hasn't covered this? (That was rhetorical -- I know the answer).
Post this. It's an important story about how the GOP works.
-Jeff
Subject: Rush's voice print analysis of Teresa Heinz
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html
I happened to listen to Rush for 20 seconds today when I got in the car...his latest suspicion is that a woman with a foreign accent who called his show and identified herself as Ingrid is most likely none other than Teresa Heinz Kerry...he played the Ingrid clip and a clip from Heinz-Kerry during the recent 60 Minutes interview...he's going to have voice print analysis let his loyal listeners and the rest of the world know the results...Ingrid told him something to the effect that the vile stuff that he spews on the air to his minions...etc. (This is on his web site.) He flatters himself to think that Teresa Heinz-Kerry has nothing better to do but listen to Rush and call into his show, disguise herself, and rattle his chain...and that no one else would ever consider these kinds of thoughts about him except someone unless they were part of a vested interest political machine liberal left-wing conspiracy. What moved out of his belfry to let the bats move in?
Here's his laughable announcement:
http://mfile.akamai.com/5020/wma/rushlimb.download.ak...
A BuzzFlash Reader
[BuzzFlash Note: Perhaps Rush is taking too many prescription drugs again and he's hallucinating.]
Subject: Bush Family are Delegates to the Olympics
I wonder how much THIS security detail will cost US taxpayers...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040715-5.html
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Re: What are y'all gonna do?
Canuck, you hit the nail on the head, in more ways than one. I can only hope that our conservatives lose big as yours did in Canada. I, too, wonder why we're not pouring into the streets to protest the criminal acts of this administration. I wonder how any thinking individual can sit idly by while all this corruption takes place. I'm stunned at the continued support for bush and his band of crooks, and am mystified how anyone can still support him in any way.
I don't believe that you're incorrect in thinking that America stands first for the common man. This administration certainly does not, and it has used fear and division to gain and keep power. I do, however, know that many in this country have become mere sheep, blindly following their shepherd, because they have bought into the fear. Why we aren't in the streets as we were in the 60s -- I wish I knew. I wish I could respond better to what you say, but I feel at a loss for words. Like you, I find myself going up and down from day to day, feeling hopeful one day, distressed the next. I come to Buzz for validation, for an outlet, to know I'm not alone. But maybe we are indeed at a time when we need to do far more than this.
Sue
Subject: Sleaziest Bush/Cheney Move Yet
According to the BlueGrassRoots blog (http://bluegrassroots.blogspot.com/), the Republican Party in Louisville is handing out yard signs that say "Kerry is bin Laden's Man/Bush is My Man"
Afredo G.
Subject: Attacks on Joe Wilson
The intensity of attacks on Joe Wilson will vary directly with the probability of indictments coming down shortly.
These attacks are form of jury tampering.
And, they're irrelevant. One or more persons committed a felony in outing Val Plame.
VJ
[BuzzFlash Note: Ambassador Wilson defends himself quite well in this "letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee pointing to errors in the Republican senators' additional comments to the report and demanding corrections."]