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

Subject: The So-Called "News" Media

Dear Buzz,

Kerry/Edwards could win the election. And if they do win the election, they need to immediately address one urgent and potentially fatal problem that has done more to erode our democracy than any other single problem.

It isn't the war in Iraq.

It is not the sad state of our elections.

Is it the environment? No.

Campaign funding? Uh - uh.

Gay marriage? Oh, please --

It is our sorry excuse for a news media in this country.

If Kerry/Edwards create the greatest administration in the history of this nation, it will not make a bit of difference if the major television and radio media are allowed to continue their ways of the last twenty years. The millionaire media will report every little miscue of a Kerry/Edwards administration - magnifying and embellishing and repeating ad infinitum.

That is, of course, unless Kerry/Edwards can force a return of the "fairness regulations" that were shitcanned under the Reagan administration. People like me (over 50 years old) will remember that there was no Rush Limbaugh show prior to the eighties. That's because the fairness regs dictated that the opposing viewpoint would be entitled to "equal time" to express their views; Rush's view doesn't hold up so well when it is met with an immediate rebuttal. In fact, Rush looks pretty stupid when held up to scrutiny - and for a good reason.

He's a liar. And a hate spewing demagogue. As are all of his little clones.

There can be no democracy when a handful of wealthy men dictate the nature of the information that the people are permitted to see.

"Regulation" is not an obscene word. It means "law." People are obliged to follow the laws of our society. It is about time that the corporations should be obliged to do the same.

If my fellow Buzzers buy only one DVD this year, it should be "Orwell Rolls in his Grave." This movie best describes how we have landed in our present situation; every household that is committed to protecting democracy should own a copy of this movie.

It is available exclusively at this website.

Peace and Unrest,

Michael J. Fowler
Mesa, AZ

Subject: 4 words to describe the Bush administration

Subject: Let them eat cake!

Or take Prozac if they don't like their station in life! So says the caring Bush campaign staffer about those poor folks stuck in dead-end, low-paying jobs with no opportunity for advancement. Such compassionate conservatism! But how will they take Prozac, I ask, since they have no health insurance?! Marie Antoinette would be so proud to see these twits carrying on her tradition of noblesse oblige!

Unhappy Workers Should Take Prozac --Bush Campaigner (Yahoo)

Dan D.

Subject: Democratic convention coverage

Hi, just to let you know I called ABC, CBS and NBC and asked them if they were going to have more TV coverage for the republican convention. CBS said that it would be the same and ABC and NBC, I had to leave a message stating that the Republican convention coverage must be the same OR we will boycott their stations and sponsors.

I encourage others to do the same thing. They MUST get the message.

Thank you,

Ken
Sun City, AZ

Subject: Network TV Coverage

BuzzFlash,

Just a note to tell you that network coverage has so enraged me that I have written NBC and CNN and told them that until they get back to the political mainstream I am no longer going to tune in. I long ago quit watching the other networks.

My emails will change nothing at the networks, but as more and more people get their news from the internet the networks will be able to be the entertainment only outlets they want to be.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: RNC steals video idea

The Republican senator from Georgia was part of a Republican "truth squad" that held a news conference across the street from the FleetCenter, where the Democrats are holding their convention, to counter their political message and screen a video detailing Sen. John Kerry's alleged "flip-flops" on the Iraq issue, with the theme from the TV show "Flipper" in the soundtrack.

Chambliss defends GOP 'truth squad's' stop in Boston, By TOM BAXTER
Cox News Service

Sounds familiar. Could they have gotten the idea for the 'Flipper' theme from this flash animation on Take Back The Media?

The truth about the 'Truth Squad' is this -- they can't come up with a good idea on their own, so they have to steal ideas from liberals. Cheers!

Don Waller
Co-Founder, Take Back The Media!

Subject: Cable media coverage of the convention

I, for one, have had all I can take from the convention coverage on CNN and MSNBC, and I must tell you about it. Who else but BuzzFlash will listen?

For the most part I watch the Democratic convention on C-SPAN because I want to see all of it and draw my own conclusions about what I see and hear. CNN and MSNBC have the view that their function is to screen the convention and show the parts which are important for the American people to see, but not to burden the American people with those parts which really don't matter to them.

Now, the way they operate is to show a speech they think must be shown, because the speaker is important or controversial. After the speech they hold interviews with people whose job it is to quell any enthusiasm for the speech by analyzing it to death and pointing out its failures. Of course, all of this is being done while something else is going on at the convention, which it is not important for us to watch. It may be another speech, or a film production about veterans or stem cell research. But certainly something less important than their analyzing and balloon popping.

Last night Bill Richardson, the Governor of New Mexico, former cabinet member, and present chairman of the convention came on to give a speech. I know because I was watching C-SPAN. Out of curiosity I changed stations to see what CNN and MSNBC were showing. (I did not even bother to look at FOX for obvious reasons.) While the Governor was giving his speech, CNN was interviewing Bob Dole. About what I did not wait to find out. On MSNBC Chris Matthews was interviewing, of all people, Ralph Reed. And what was the burning topic on which Mr. Reed was so eminently qualified to comment, while the Governor was giving his speech? The Vice Presidential debate. How well would Cheney do against Edwards...in the opinion of Mr. Reed?

Now, overlooking the fact that this was supposed to be convention coverage, not debate coverage, and overlooking the fact that the debate is still a long way off, who cares what Ralph Reed has to say about what will happen when that debate takes place, if it ever does? Who cares what Ralph Reed thinks about that? Chris Mathews, that's who. And he thinks we need to care, too. We need to care what Ralph Reed thinks will happen in the Vice Presidential debate some day more than we need to listen to Governor Richardson give his convention speech. We need to because Chris Mathews and MSNBC say we need to. You know, I think I could probably have guessed who Mr. Reed thinks will win that debate. Couldn't you have? But, obviously it was a burning and unanswered question for Chris Matthews.

CNN and MSNBC are no longer "news stations." They are opinion and entertainment stations, with news coverage sprinkled in, and no longer deserve to be called "news stations." However, even those corporate outlets should have enough responsibility to realize the importance of a Presidential race, and they should, at least once each four years, have the ethics they need to cover the conventions impartially and fully. And, they should have enough respect for the American people, at least while the convention is still in session, to let them decide for themselves what they will watch and how they will perceive the things they have seen and heard. Is it really the job of the supposed "news media" to tell us that Al Sharpton is "off message" or that Barrack Obama has put Kerry in a tough position because Kerry's speech will now surely be overshadowed? Do they really think that is their function? Do they think that we are asking them to perform that service for us?

The corporations who own these outlets are doing what serves their interests. I suppose that is to be expected from them. But, if I was a "journalist" working for those stations at the convention, I would be ashamed of my work and ashamed of what is passing for broadcast journalism.

(Thanks for listening while I blow up!)

Norman Gutzmer

Forwarded to BuzzFlash

Subject: CNN use of rt-wing GOP shrills to diss Dem's speeches

CNN's Spin Bitches (digbysblog.blogspot.com)

In yet another fine report from Eric Boehlert in Salon he notes, as I did last night, that Wolf Blitzer immediately cut to GOP spin after Edwards' speech.

One other note about CNN's at-times head-scratching coverage last night. Following Edwards' acceptance speech, Blitzer, in what may have been a convention first, immediately turned to partisan representatives from the opposing party for a reaction; Bush campaign advisor Ralph Reed and former Bush Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke.

We'll be watching closely during the Republican gathering in New York City to see if following Vice President Dick Cheney's speech, CNN immediately seeks out Kerry advisor Mark Mellman and former Clinton spokesman Joe Lockhart for their analysis.

Atrios mentioned tracking disparities in spin opportunities earlier in the week. Maybe before the GOP convention we could prevail upon Uggabugga to do one of his great charts so we can keep track of this stuff.

This is becoming a favorite new trick. FOX did it during the Democratic primary debates they hosted (and even cut off the last of the debate itself to fit in Bill Bennett's trashing before the end of the hour.) I have no idea if Reed and Clarke were previously booked for the slot or if they themselves arranged to be there at the appropriate moment. But, the fact remains that the first interview and reaction (and it went on for some time) that was shown on CNN after Edwards' speech last night was from a highly critical Republican operative. If they do this again tonight I think we should make it our cause to demand that Democrats be given the same opportunity to immediately trash Cheney and Bush's speeches in NYC before anybody has had a chance to even catch their breath. Very often, people stay tuned in for just a few moments after an event like that. Those moments can be critical.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Record Oil Company Profits

Here's the nauseating news, folks:

Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, on Thursday said quarterly earnings surged 39 percent on record oil and gasoline prices, rising production and its best refining results in 13 years.

Prices, Output Push Exxon Mobil Profit (Yahoo News)

OK, let me get this straight. The oil companies are experiencing record profits for lots of sunny reasons, according to the above story. But we were told that rising gas prices were due to lowered production overseas and because OPEC was playing with pricing.

Check the other oil companies -- they're seeing record profits, too.

Anyone in the media care to start questioning the repugs about this? And about why prices aren't dropping as much as the repugs said they would? I would especially like to see relentless, dogged questioning about this during their convention, the same way the Democrats are being badgered and relentlessly questioned right now on unimportant non-issues (Teresa's standing up for herself), not to mention the hammering and harping on questions that have been asked and answered many times over (why Kerry voted for the war and against additional funding).

Sue

Subject: Failing media at NPR

Subject: Jack Ryan officially withdraws from Senate race

Buzz,

Apparently, now that Jack Ryan has officially withdrawn from the Illinois Senate race, the GOP is trying to recruit WGN agricultural reporter Orion Sameulson, of National Farm Report fame (on 260 stations), to run against Barrack Obama. Orion (or-ee-yun) is the closest thing that downstate Illinois has to a rock-star (with the notable exception of Chuck Berry). Perhaps the GOP is taking a cue from Obama and hoping that there is a place in America for a chubby kid with a funny name. Regardless, according to WLS-TV, Sameulson already said he 'thinks' health concerns will 'probably' prevent him from running. He meant running for office, not running away, which is what every Senate candidate the GOP have tried to recruit seems to be doing. Is he the 6th or the 7th to turn them down? I am losing count.

GOBAMA!

Dave C.

Subject: CNN looks foolish tonight

Dear BuzzFlash:

What was the deal with CNN's open microphone after Kerry's speech? It carried frantic instructions from the campaign floor manager about balloons and confetti. And it sounded totally ridiculous.

Doesn't CNN monitor itself? The mistake went on for what seemed like forever. Then it was even more amazing to hear them try to cover their butt by actually commenting on the lack of balloons, joking it could foretell doom for the campaign.

If you wanted to see balloons, by the way, viewers could switch to C-span where hundreds of them filled the screen. Flip back to CNN - no balloons. Flip to C-span, balloons.

And then, after the balloon mess, why did CNN let the GOP spokesman and Jeff Greenfield sing a duet of GOP talking points attacking Kerry's Senate record when it was time for them to respond to the speech itself?

Where was Wolf when that little sidetrack was going on? Wasn't he supposed to focus responses on the actual speech? After all, that's what everyone was doing there, or so I thought.

If CNN had done its job, it would have noticed that Kerry not only set forth his agenda, but hit a wide array of demographic targets - veterans, women, workers, seniors, and more. It would have been interesting to hear some thoughtful discussion from all sides on how the GOP might respond in each demographic category. Why? Maybe because the ability to reach these various voter groups will determine the outcome of the election - not the freakin' balloons!

I was saddened at the pitiful job CNN did tonight. It will be interesting to see if Bush's big speech gets the same attack slant. I bet he gets a pass, as he almost always does.

I expect this kind of nonsense from "fair and balanced" Fox. It really hurts, though, to see CNN degrading itself. The network was such a brilliant idea ...if only it could get its act together.

How about a little more thoughtful journalism and a lot less sloganeering?

Mike from Fla.

Subject: convention coverage

Tonight, in a hurry, I turned on the TV to record the acceptance event. There was Bill Bennett, pontificating, with Sean Hannity screaming in the background. So I changed to another cable network. Bill Kristol. Then Tucker Carlson. Then Jeff Greenfield giving a critical analysis with a Republican victory in mind, actually holding up right-wing flyers attacking Kerry and carefully pointing out each individual charge. Then someone I never saw before screeching about lies and lack of values and empty rhetoric.

Once the speech had started, I settled on CNN. Is it a coincidence that I could not find one enthusiastic or even somewhat objective voice anywhere as I looked around? Yet the speeches, and the convention itself, were quite inspiring and wonderful. Then the comments on CNN began to parrot what Bill Bennett was saying on FOX two hours earlier, all about Kerry's complete lack of credentials and career. When I finally turned away, after the great speech, the pundits were still discussing the failed balloon drop as an "omen" for John Kerry's failing campaign. (CNN seemed to go to great lengths to "mistakenly" broadcast the frantic demands of the floor director to "DROP THE BALLOONS!" "WHERE ARE THE BALLOONS?" "WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING UP THERE? WHERE ARE THE BALLOONS?" which continued interminably until the commentators took up the important issue of balloons and omens.

WHAT A COUNTRY! Thank you, Rush Limbaugh and Rupert Murdoch. When's the next flight to Montreal? Oh, I forgot: I should stick around for the debates so I can hear the profound and stirring rhetoric of George Bush as Kerry fumbles and struggles to put together a complete sentence. And, of course, God will be speaking through Bush, so I certainly would not want to miss that. Yea, I gotta stick around at least that long.

Bob D.

Subject: media coverage of Democratic Convention

It's a dark day in the USA. When flipping through the usual news channels and their coverage of the DNC over the past few days it is painfully clear that virtually ALL of the major media are towing the extreme right GOP line.

I was watching C-Span when Brian Lamb had Jonah Goldberg (what a pig) on. It was the day his replacement column ran in USA Today in place of Ann Coulter. Goldberg spewed forth with all of the usual tired hard-right talking points without so much as a peep out of Mr. Lamb. A similar thing happened when I watched Judy Woodruff on CNN.

Time after time she would have these right-wing nut jobs on who were free to obfuscate, misdirect, and lie repeatedly while Woodruff smiled and said "Have a nice day!", never ONCE challenging the bile pouring forth from the mouths of the living dead zealots.

Can Kerry win in November? Only if all of us who care carry his message out into the country and deliver it in person, because the US media is brain dead!

John
Atlanta

Subject: You've got to be kidding!

Dear Buzz:

The New Republic magazine recently published an account of Bush Administration pressure on its friends in the Pakistani government to bring in a "high value" al Qaida leader and announce the capture during the Democratic National Convention. Seemed pretty far fetched but knock me down with a feather! The Pakistani government announced the arrest of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani today mere hours before John Kerry's nomination acceptance speech today. One can only hope that Americans have grown tired of crass manipulation by November.

Yours truly,

Paul A. Moore
Miami, FL

[BuzzFlash Note: More commentary... A July Surprise? Pakistan Announces Arrest of Top Al Qaeda Figure Hours Before Kerry Speech (www.democracynow.org)]

Subject: Is anyone taking bets...

on whether there will be anyone in the so-called liberal mainstream press, who will give Kerry's speech a non-critical review???????? I believe that all pundits will pan it. And, if writer says something nice, it will probably be a left-handed compliment.

Bonnie M. Matheson
Wheaton, MD

Subject: Blovines

Hi Buzz,

I have noticed a word being used here and there in the political opinion pieces that I have just fallen in love with lately. "Bloviate." Here is the meaning of that word according to dictionary.com: "To discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner."

During this convention week, I started out watching the coverage on CNN and MSNBC. I have to admit that it is sometimes entertaining to watch, if I may coin a term here, all the Blovines of the cable TV news press. Then I flipped over to PBS and watched the coverage for a while. As a speaker came on, I flipped back over to CNN and MSNBC to see if they were also covering the same speaker. No. For some reason that is unfathomable, the cable networks find it more important to show the bloviations of the Blovine press.

I could listen to one of the speakers, one of the vision carriers for the Dems, someone with a point of view truly worth hearing or I could watch Chris Matthews or someone picking apart some speech detail like a vulture on a carcass. I guess not all leaders give good TV....

Anyway, I seriously think that the decline of Democracy is being serviced by the media that thinks it's more important to spoonfeed us opinions after opinions after opinions rather than getting out of the way of our leaders who we all need to hear from so we can form our own opinions.

I won't even get into the lack of coverage on the networks! Michael Moore is right in his broadside against the media. They are a bunch of Blovines and what we need are, well, investigative journalists!

Mary T. Wonderful

Subject: Powerful

I'm writing this as I'm watching John Kerry's acceptance speech after having been introduced by a true American hero, Max Cleland. As I listened to his remarks, I was overcome by the memories of the age in which I grew up, that of the Viet Nam era. I could have easily, but for the vagaries of the lottery system of the time, been one of those guys who lost limbs, or even worse, my life, in Viet Nam. Therefore, I have the greatest respect for genuine heroes such as Max Cleland. His story is so powerful, but so selfless, that it defies logic that such a soldier has been so maligned by the likes of Saxby Chambliss and Ann Coulter. What do they know? They have no clue.

I proudly placed in my lawn (and I live in a predominantly Republican county) a Kerry/Edwards yard sign, and I also proudly placed a Kerry/Edwards (complete with the Rainbow flag) bumper sticker on my car today in honor of tonight's validation of our next President, John Kerry.

David Schlomer

Subject: another disgruntled viewer of DNC convention

Hi BuzzFlash,

I have to rant somewhere and as a regular (daily, twice daily) visitor to your site, what better place. My disillusionment with the mass media began shortly after 9/11...and I've been increasingly driven to getting my news from internet, Democracy Now!, World Link and Mosaic...

Thank heavens for CSpan's coverage of the convention! No blabbing biased talking heads...just the speakers, the floor shots -- it's been bliss! I surfed to the other channels from time to time and here are some of my appalling sights:

1. On Public Television, David Brooks!!!!! David Brooks!!!!!
2. Last night (Wed) after John Edwards' speech, I surfed only to find RALPH REED with the CNN talking heads!!!! with much too much to say....Reed of course was behind Saxby Chamblis' win over Max Cleland.
3. Joe Scarborough night after night on MSNBC!!!!! nausea piled upon nausea
4. It goes without saying the Faux News has set up their talking points on Teresa Heinz Kerry; visiting them after her speech, disgusting!!!!
5. Chris Matthews has his own agenda which he keeps pushing, out shouting and interrupting anyone who tries to take him off track.

My list goes on. Where are we on the left with commentators to give "balance" to the Republican Convention next month? Podesta? Carville? Begala?

Fed up with ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, FOX, CNN...

Susan Sulzer
Union, Me.

Subject: Democrat Convention

Hi BuzzFlash,

While watching the convention on different channels, I could not believe how different the talking heads saw the very same people and their speeches, than what I saw and heard. I was so proud of ALL our Democrats.

I got so disgusted, I turned to C-Span, and never left it. If I didn't have C-Span I would not have been able to watch any part of this convention without being thoroughly repulsed.

Watching C-Span, I watched till the last vote was counted and enjoyed it so much.

As for the *shove it* remark from Teresa. She is a lady, and if she had to tell that scumbag to *shove it* then that person had better do it, because he had to have done something pretty bad for Teresa to have said it. I myself would have said something like (what some have suggested) *GO CHENEY YOURSELF.*

Are we to forget everything the Bush gang have done, from stealing the election, to lying about WMD, and possibly could have prevented 3000 people from dying in the WTC? Now 900 lives of our troops were snuffed out, the others who lost arms, legs, and whose minds are wasted from having to kill innocent Iraqis, because of LIES? We're to forget? NEVER! The nerve to try and pin something on Kerry/Edwards.

Mr. Bush, as of Nov. 2nd, 2004, you could not do the job you stole off of Al Gore, *We the People* are telling you, YOU ARE FIRED!

Angie...(Granny who will vote straight Democrat, and love every minute of President Kerry, and V.P. John Edwards taking the oath of office, with Bush and crew in the background.)

Subject: July Surprise, NEVER question BUZZFLASH

After predicting Pakistan would arrest an al Qaeda man during the convention and now seeing it come true, I will never question your journalistic integrity that is vastly superior and wiser than anyone else in America.

Bryan Pilson

Subject: Odious corporate propaganda

Subject: Tonight, I am very proud to be a Democrat

Tonight, I am very proud to be a Democrat. Tonight, I witnessed a rebirth of the Democratic Party and a rebirth of America. Tonight, I was inspired like never before.

From all the speakers at the Democratic Convention, including John Kerry's lovely daughters to Max Cleland and the Band of Brothers who brought back the patriotism fervor I had not felt in a long, long time. I served my country also, from the beginning of the Korean war to almost the end of the Vietnam war. Like John Kerry, I was in Vietnam at the same time, also in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam, and I realized the futility and the mistake of the decade of killing against an enemy which had fought invaders for many decades. Like a large percentage of US citizens who had turned against the war, John Kerry and I were not alone when it came to criticizing the mistake the US made in attempting to save South Vietnam from Communism after the French failed and departed the country. The US finally left without accomplishing anything. And it was very, very costly in lives and money.

Now, we have another quagmire in Iraq, a war which will likely end in the same manner, and although military action was necessary in Afghanistan, we have fought costly military actions in two Middle East countries with questionable results. In Afghanistan we defeated the Taliban, but they are still fighting a guerrilla war and the country is in anarchy.

Iraq is also in a state of anarchy. The interim government is being slaughtered by the insurgents, killing of innocent civilians continues, other countries and organizations are pulling out because it is unsafe to be there. In Vietnam, we had enough military personnel to keep some semblance of peace in the cities and control much of the countryside. In Afghanistan and Iraq, no one is safe anywhere. The US military personnel are staying mostly in their enclaves, but as in Vietnam they are still being attacked regularly.

We will hear Republicans continue to belittle John Kerry's military record, and anything else they can direct their propaganda machine against. But I would take his military record a thousand times before that of George Bush. And trust him a million times more.

When John Kerry gave his speech, it was straight from the heart, and his message was truly that of someone who loves America and wants to make it strong and respected again. He is a man of great integrity, something that is definitely lacking in the Bush administration. He will lead the country back on the right track into the future, not take the country into unnecessary and unjustified wars. He will once again regain respect for the US and not make it feared because of a preemptory war doctrine. He will once again bring prosperity to the US by balancing the budget, saving Social Security and Medicare, and bringing affordable health care to 44 million people who have none. Once again provide support for protecting the environment, improving education and helping the middle class by producing more and better paying jobs.

Listening to John Kerry's speech, he talked on all the important issues affecting all Americans, and mentioned the ways the present regime was misleading the country.

I was so impressed tonight I must have used half a dozen tissues, and I can't remember doing that for a long, long time. Yes, tonight I was definitely proud to be a Democrat.

Repubs will continue to criticize Kerry, but tonight I am convinced he can win this election more than ever.

RB

Subject: ABC Bias alert ... Mickey Mouse uses subliminal messages to deceive America

If you haven't already been alerted, tonight ABC pulled a little trick on John Kerry. During his speech to the convention, ABC dropped their image TWICE, for a screen showing side by side coverage of both Al-Arabya and Al-Jazeera. TWICE they did this. They didn't bother to show ANY OTHER international coverage such a BBC, German, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Aussie, French ... NOPE, they just showed the news station that the "terrorists" watch.

As you're well aware, the Rethuglicans have been mounting a campaign to seed the lie that Al-Qaeda wants John Kerry to win. This is just an obvious effort to make that connection.

Please get this news out ASAP so Disney gets confronted by it. 30 years of accusing the media of LIBERAL bias has gotten conservatives A LOT. It's gotten the American people dumb. We have to point this out to everyone we can and show what an obvious smear this was to John Kerry and the party of Hope, The DEMOCRATS!!!!!!

Will

Subject: mailbag....7/29 convention, etc.

I had two epiphanies today, sort of. I took a girlfriend to see Fahrenheit 9/11. She is the only democrat I know...and with the size of my family, that is a little sad (this was my second time).

Anyway, I saw much more this time than the first time....she was aghast! And, then I watched the Dem. convention tonight, and thought of how horrible it will be if this resident of the White House pulls some kind of crap, and gets in there for another 4 years....horrid,. scary, thought!!!

To Steve K....about the 11-minute tape the wrongwingnuts are planning to do of Kerry, about his waffling of the war (didn't everyone want to believe that war, how could any civilized people think that a president would purposefully do that???).... All you have to do to see that 'deer in the headlights look" is see Fahrenheit 9/11...you will see a lot of it! (and personally, I so hope the dems. decide to play a little dirty, too...).

Dee Turner.....I pray for Michael Moore, too. But, I think even the dimwitted republicans would have enough self-preservation to not kill the man...although, there are a few I suspect. But, as of yet, no one as obvious as Michael Moore.

And, to Sharon Hardaway....I am also a Deaniac for Kerry/Edwards. I hope and pray that there is a cabinet position for the good Doctor! You are right, cowboys should never be compared to geedubya!

Todd, great story about your family seeing the movie in Crawford. I had watched Michael on some show before that, and he was not sure if anyone would even be there, but he had actually invited the president to come, a showing just for him...and of course, he doubted that Bush would show....but, when asked where he was going to show it, (there is no theatre, nothing to show it on)....he laughed and said, maybe on the side of a barn...he didn't seem to know, but said that 'they ' were going to show it. And he would not get to be there....A wise move on Michael Moore's part... While I think Bush is the biggest coward ever....I would put nothing past his henchmen!!!

T.Quigley....Great parsing of the bike accident...how in the hell many things can that man fall off of? A couch.....a segway.....a former bike and this one!!!! Sounds like, when he needs attention, he finds a way to get it!

I am so touched by the Kerry, Heinz and Edwards kids. I can understand why they are so wonderfully spoken...and well thought of. I've got a picture, on the other hand, in our paper of Jenna Bush with her tongue out at the reporter....in the limo going to the airport. (Kinda conjures up something funny, right? A president's daughter sticking her tongue out, in a limo, yet?)

Remember how the rightwingnuts...oh, sorry...wrongwingnuts...love to make the Clintons out to be white trailer trash.... Now, I think we have seen the real deal. uh oh, sorry, Mr. Kerry....not your Real Deal...for sure!!

I do not usually call anyone that, 'cause I come from a small midwestern town...but, I got so tired of the rightwrongwingnuts...during the Clinton years....I just seem to say things like that...they just come out of my mouth....

Love the site....lost my computer for a couple of days...called the internet Co..and threatened to cut out...and all of a sudden , it works....

I still cannot type...but, it does work!

Thanks to Buzz for keeping me sane...at least I could read!

Shirley.........St.Louis

Subject: uh-huh

Oh, so Pakistan just happens to nab one the "most wanted" al Qaeda members on the day John Kerry will accept the Democratic nomination. Isn't that convenient? Funny, didn't we already hear they had orders to come up with somebody, anybody about now...

A bemused BuzzFlash reader

Subject: florida voting

shouldn't someone ask why jeb bush is fighting so hard not to have a paper trail at the elections? i find that extremely suspicious. a reporter should ask him right to his face--as well as ask the people of florida. also, if they have absentee ballots, the public needs to order them and then make a copy of it and if possible have it notarized. something funny is going on.

karin dicker
los angeles

p.s. i felt like deja vu when watching the convention. i think i have been so afraid to get my hopes really really up since they shot bobby-that was one of the worst days of my life...it seemed hope seemed to die with rfk...tonight i started to feel the hope again-i wonder if i will let myself go? i felt it with clinton--but NOW at 56 it is more important than ever to elect john kerry.

Subject: Superb!!

Hello,

Your analysis of John Kerry's speech at the Democratic National Convention is spot on!! It was the best thing I've heard in a very long time and I am so fired up it's a little scary.

And yes, mainstream media SUCKS ROTTEN EGGS!!! Their coverage was so blatantly biased against Kerry and everything Democratic that there is really no reason for pretense any longer. We don't have to be nice to them or about them ever again. I believe a very thick line has been drawn in the sand. With the passing of the Bush cartel, we should also demand the passing of Tom, Timmy, Tweety and the rest of the Twittering Tarts.

I believe there is absolutely no way for us to lose this election. I believe the Democrats will turn out in record numbers. We are motivated and ready to roll. Bring on the slime machine, jerks!!!

Janice

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE JULY 30, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG.