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 AUGUST 2, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1.

Subject: DNC and Media Coverage...

Dear Buzz,

I've watched DNC coverage all week and I was so thankful for CSPAN for their wonderful coverage. I flipped the channel through CNN, MSNBC and local stations just to see what they were saying about the convention. By the time I was done listening to CNN, MSNBC, and local network for few minutes each channel, my ears were burning. I can't believe how America mainstream media has trashed DNC convention all week, and this goes to show you, they all are Right Wing.

I am not a well-educated woman; however, I do know the difference between right and wrong. And what happened this week with media coverage was very un-American in every way at the DNC convention.

Thank you BuzzFlash for the true media coverage.

Karoline

Subject: "We've Turned A Corner"

The Bush-Cheney campaign team has come up with the uninspired theme of "we've turned a corner." When they tell Americans "we've turned a corner," we need to tell them, "we've turned a corner -- down a dead-end street with Bush." How about, "we've turned a corner -- off of the highway of progress to the backroad of regression?" Maybe, "we've turned a corner -- a right-hand corner, from the path of mainstream America towards the ideals of the right-wing-nuts?" I'm sure I could go on all night, but I'd rather hear other people's ideas.

Wes Slaughter

Subject: How will Kerry win with the media in tow for bush?

If the convention coverage, or lack of it, reveals the corporate media agenda, it doesn't look good. It looks like even with the Kerry Landslide I predict bush steals the election, now that a law was passed last week preventing the canceling of elections due to a terrorist act, with a terrorist act in a major electoral college vote state, such as Cal-i-Forn-ia, excluding the votes of millions, a giving bush a terrorist victory. The media will trumpet the 'Rightness' of the canceling out of the affected state, and shut out most debate, and do its rah-rah bush thing it has perfected in the last four years. Something to think about. Just read this article, if you have any doubts!

Beware of Media-Assisted Republican Dirty Tricks (Intervention Magazine)

Rex E.

Subject: Heinz Kerry wore a "muzzle"

Dear BuzzFlash:

This is my 7/30/04 email to the Orange County Register - -

How could you run this column ( "Heinz Kerry wore her muzzle") which compares bright, intelligent Teresa Heinz Kerry to a dog? Robert Novak's columns are garbage, sensationalism as opposed to journalism, since he has nothing important to say, he reverts to sensationalism. His columns should not be run in a respectable paper but some tabloid like the Star, Globe etc.

As an American woman, I am COMPLETELY OFFENDED by his columns. And I am doubly OFFENDED that the Orange County Register would print his columns. Especially since you don't feature any progressive women columnists, Molly Ivins, Ellen Goodman, Arianna Huffington who would/could refute his insulting and disrespectful remarks...

What the Orange County Register is saying by running these types of columns -- is that they agree that it's perfectly okay to DEMEAN WOMEN by characterizing them as "DOGS."

Susan L. Petrella
Fullerton CA

(Formerly of Amherst NY where we elected the bright, smart Hillary Clinton to the Senate...and are proud of it!)

As sent to Colin McNickle...

Subject: Mr. McNickle, third time, what was your exact question to Ms. Kerry?

Dear Mr. McNickle,

I'm requesting your help again. This is now the third time, and it's a really simple question. I hope your inbox is filling up at a slower rate lately, now that John Kerry's rousing speech last night kind of overshadows everything else. I'm sure, though, that you'll be quite busy thinking of new questions to catch Democrats off-guard until the election. After all, maybe one day you'll bump into Mr. Kerry himself, so I can appreciate that you have to be prepared! Can you imagine if you got him to say something worse to you than "shove it"? Fifteen minutes of fame twice!! That would be something else. So hopefully I've caught you at a good time.

I still cannot find anywhere an exact quote of your question to Ms. Kerry, the one that appears at the beginning of that famous video from a couple of days ago. It's difficult to hear on the videotape, and in fact it seems to start well into your question. Would you kindly tell me what your exact question was, word-for-word? I know that your website says "this editor asked what she meant by 'un-American activity,'" but only the words 'un-American activity' are quoted, and that's not really a lot to go on, and with you being a journalist and all I think you appreciate the need to aim for precision and to avoid nebulous phrasing and the ambiguity it invites.

I would therefore appreciate knowing exactly how you presented your query--a direct quote of the full question. Otherwise, you see, it's quite possible that some would say you probably asked Ms. Heinz-Kerry a leading question such as: "Ms. Heinz-Kerry, can you clarify what you meant about the Republican party being a festering pile of malodorous un-American activity?" Do you see how that might cause embarrassment if it were not what you had really asked? I'm willing to bet that's not exactly what you said, and so I thought you might like an opportunity to clear things up a bit. I still believe it is a reasonable request, and I do look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,

Warren Opheim

Subject: Two Newspapers Define Rules for Bush Lies

Micki Schomaker
Bellingham,WA

The Media does need to shove it. Teresa Heinz Kerry was right when she told that right reporter to get lost.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: fire all the yellow journalists

Hello BuzzFlash:

Thought you'd like to know that I just sent an email to Katie Couric (which I'm sure she will get and read--yeah, right) telling her, in the now infamous words of Donald Trump: "You're fired!" I think it would be great if BuzzFlash created a new bumper sticker with a similar sentiment.

Thanks for all you do to try to salvage our great democracy.

Mary McCrimmon
Aurora, CO

Dear Buzz,

After 9/11 we've seen a lot of "United We Stand" stickers and placards everywhere. This omits a crucial lesson of the motto from which that phrase is taken: "Divided We Fall." This seems to be the essential division developing between the Bush and Kerry campaigns, with Bush adopting the latter strategy, and Kerry the former.

John C. Pitblado
Simsbury, CT

Subject: real time with bill maher

caught 'real time' with bill maher last night-great show-he had michael moore on plus some republican big shot trying to discredit moore-what a joke-he made himself look stupid- he was trying to say that parts of the movie were not accurate-when moore called him on it & asked him if he even saw the movie he said no-he said he would go & see the movie if moore gave him $9.50 for the ticket-can you believe it? here he was there to try & put moore down & he didn't do any research at all-he just looked like a fool-cute part of the show was that moore & maher both got on their knees & begged nader (who was also there) not to run-we read in today's paper that bush's new slogan is 'results matter'-yes, they do matter-that's why he will be a one term president-

a buzzflash reader from michigan

Subject: new GOP approach to Edwards?

Subject: notice AOL and their right wing slanted pro bush headlines

Notice AOL and their right wing slanted pro bush headlines. They are pulling a fox style internet for the masses...very sly very subtle but ever persistent and always there.. Headlines of Bush are always popular and pro.. While headlines of Kerry are always as a man that we can not trust or who looks very suspect..It's a disgrace...I feel helpless.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: George Bush and Baghdad Bob

I just began reading a news flash from Reuters. It began as follows:

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Despite a record budget deficit and slower-than-expected economic growth, President Bush on Saturday insisted that the nation's economic prospects were improving as he campaigned in battleground states hit hard by job losses.

How could he even utter those words? I feel as though I'm watching the former Iraqi Information Minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf ("Baghdad Bob") informing the world at the beginning of the Iraq war that Baghdad was safe while American tanks rolled past behind him. We all laughed at him - why aren't we all laughing at the Bush administration's audacity?

Mark L
New York City

Subject: News of Sandy Berger being cleared seems to be suppressed

Dear Buzz,

Atrios posted the fact that Sandy Berger was cleared on Friday morning, I think. I have no doubt that you saw this post and read the WSJ article about it, since you have already included a few links about it.

I did a Google and Yahoo search on Sandy Berger Saturday, July 31st at 11 PM, and this information is just not coming up. The only official report seems to be in the Wall Street Journal, which of course is available only by subscription.

I also searched cnn.com, and they have several long pieces on the original charges, but NOTHING on him being cleared.

I hope you will continue to publicize this in a big way. It is rather disturbing that very few news outlets see fit to report it.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/...

Leslie Smith
Winchester, MA

dear buzz

it hurts to see bush's face on the front cover of all the newspapers starting on friday the day after the convention.

kerry couldn't even get a full day of media front page on the internet...msnbc and cnn and cbs and abc all have bush (ugh) on the home page...

it is troublesome.

craig martin
ny,ny

Subject: To the media comment section

Hi Buzz,

I don't know why we don't get a revolution started AGAINST the media. They are why we have gotten stuck with the Republicans in the first place. When are we going to block the media entrances, not let them in to go to work, and shut down their stations?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: absentee ballots

Re: double message in Florida: a) voting machines are accurate, and b) use absentee ballots to make sure your vote counts.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading that absentee ballots do not have to be co-signed by someone who is guaranteeing that, "Yes. This really is this particular voter's signature."

If Florida officials are hell-bent on stealing the election again (and I think we can assume that they are), wouldn't it be easier for them to substitute bogus absentee ballots for legitimate ones actually received than to have to explain voting machine inaccuracies again?

Just a thought --

Joyce Zborower
Tempe, AZ

Subject: to the media

The talking heads on network and cable news are an insult to my intelligence, as they ravage the speech of every Democrat, and a waste of salary. I am looking for a revolution to get rid of the right-wing media.

I have known, as a Clark supporter, for a long time, that CNN was just as bad as FOX. They have been trying to push Bush back into office. Their first casualty was Clark. They made short work of him, so he would not be a threat to Bush. If you heard Clark's speech, you will know why Clark supporters know he could defeat Bush.

Well, I am putting my support behind Kerry, but we better take on this media, through a revolt, barring them from entering the premises, and charge them with unfair coverage. The media is destroying our democracy.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: Part of Clark's speech: "...The safety of our country demands urgent and innovative measures to strengthen our armed forces. The safety of our country demands credible intelligence. The safety of our country demands cooperation with our allies. The safety of our country demands making more friends and fewer enemies. The safety of our country demands an end to the doctrinaire, ineffective policies that currently grip Washington...." Clark...at the...Convention (PR Web)]

Subject: 9/11 commission hearings at Apple's iTunes Music Store

Subject: I received this article ("Bush Using Drugs to Control Depression, Erratic Behavior") from a relative in Texas. Is this true? Have you hear or read any other articles about Bush's mental health? If it is true, he needs to step down immediately as it sounds like his mental capabilities have been greatly diminished with the use of drugs. When considering his limited mental capabilities and inability to distinguish between reality and his own lies prior his taking drugs, I get a knot in my stomach that doesn't go away.

This is scary, very scary.

Also, I have come up with the perfect word to describe Bush -- an ignoranus, which is someone who is stupid and an a**hole at the same time.

Cheryl Lynn
Peoria

[BuzzFlash Note: We have not been able to find any corroborating information on some of Capitol Hill Blue's articles and don't link to their site. We do think Bush is off his rocker, but we'd be guessing if we said we knew it was related to drug and/or alcohol use or abuse.]

Subject: Finger printing everyone entering the US?

I'm not surprised that I have not seen any media coverage on Homeland Security's proposed finger scan.

Are all our civil liberties being stripped away?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: 'Oil: The World Over A Barrel'.

Hi BuzzFlash,

Just dropping a line to alert you to a new documentary series on Canada's CBC network. It's called 'Oil: The World Over A Barrel'.

Over the past year, Documentary film-maker Bill Cran has been turning his cameras on the politically unstable countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Ecuador and Angola, as well as the environmentally sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and the tar sands in Alberta-all areas targeted by the oil industry to meet the world's insatiable and growing thirst for oil.

Check out the excellent web feature at...http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/oil/index.html

The bizarre scene of a group of Azerbaijani soldiers singing the American national anthem in front of an endless pipeline on the steppes was truly chilling. Their U.S. trainer explained that they were being trained to fight the 'war on terror', not to protect Bush's oil fields. Surreal.

The first of three parts aired Wednesday. The next is on Aug 4th. It will be repeating September 7, 8 & 9, 2004 at 8 & 11PM ET on CBC Newsworld

I doubt many Americans will ever see this stuff. I know you Yanks don't have much of a free press down there, but sites like BuzzFlash are doing a fine job. Keep up the good work.

Andy Grainger
London Canada

Sent to ABC, 2020@abc.com:

Dear sirs/madams;

When your (ABC's) parent company Disney refused to allow its Miramax subsidiary to distribute Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11," company CEO Michael Eisner offered this rationale (5/5/04): "We just didn't want to be in the middle of a politically oriented film during an election year." So why does ABC air one-sided political commentary during an election year?

Of course, political candidates are fair game for criticism. But given Stossel's politics, it's unlikely that he will be doing a similar attack on George W. Bush or Dick Cheney this campaign season-- certainly not one that fits in with their opponents' talking points so well.

When are we going to get the news w/o glass half-full/half-empty water bias and JUST STATE THE FACTS ....like ''a half a glass of water....PERIOD!!

IF WE NEED NOT HAVE ''HOLLYWOOD TYPES ESPOUSING THEIR OPINIONS....WE ALSO NEED NOT HAVE ALL SHADES OF PARTISANS AND MICROPHONIES OF MEDIA ESPOUSING THEIR VIEWS NON-STOP IN ''NEWS'' SHOWS AS WELL!!!

THANKYOU;

JT

Subject: Tom Ridge and his financial worries....

I have a solution for Mr. Ridge and his worries over having enough money to send his kids to college. Tell them to join the army like my daughter did to earn their degrees!!

Nice to hear T. Ridge owns a $873,000 home and 4-500,000 in stocks. My home was foreclosed on after my ex wife neglected to make the payments eight years ago and I am still working to pay off the capital gains tax the IRS says I owe... on money I never received. Oh well, I guess somebody needs to support that small shrub's regime and I should be thankful I was not imprisoned for trusting someone else with my financial concerns.

I realize the $175,700.00 a year he makes as a cabinet secretary is barely adequate to survive. Heaven knows I couldn't send my kid to college making barely over the poverty level income...

My daughter joined the U.S. Army in peacetime for the benefits allowed and now has the opportunity to serve her country in war.. although I do believe she and our country would be of better service to stay at home and take care of her three children.

This 'news story' about Ridge just goes to show what the people in the present administration are all about.. profits.

Peter B.

[BuzzFlash Note: And how COMPLETELY out of touch the whole bunch is about the needs and worries of 98% of the population.]

RE: Scott McClellan just don't lie as convincingly (or as well) as Ari Fleischer

" Bush watched some of the Democratic convention from his ranch near Crawford, Texas, according to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, but did not stay up Thursday night to watch Kerry's speech. He read accounts of his address in the morning newspapers, McClellan said.

"Bush dismissed what he characterized as 'a lot of clever speeches and some big promises' in Boston, suggesting that even good intentions 'do not always transfer into results.'" [LA Times]

LMSAO!!!!! What makes this so outrageously funny is that Bush's ranch is located in the Central Daylight time zone, one hour behind Boston in the Eastern daylight time zone. Now we've been told that Dubya goes to bed at 10:00 p.m. So am I to guess our "Great American Hero" couldn't tough it out and instead had to don his bunny-footed sleeper at 9:00 p.m. local Crawford time on Thursday night and crawl under the covers when his arch rival was on TV giving his acceptance speech? Oh, puleeze.

Now the same dum bulb is campaigning on his "Heart and Soul of America" tour (a "subtle" dig at Kerry's New York fundraiser comment, natch) telling his supporters that "Results count." By that comment, how do we calculate the numbers of jobs lost or shipped overseas during the last three and a half years? Huh, huh, huh?

(And if you haven't read the book "Bush on the Couch," please do. It's so encouraging to learn that our resident paranoid is a blatant sadist who enjoys watching people suffer. I've always considered this over-sized child to be a certifiable sociopath, but even that term doesn't do him justice.)

Sharon Andrews

[BuzzFlash Note: We'll be offering "Bush on the Couch" tomorrow as one of our premiums.]

Subject: Dying woman's wish and her horrible rabbi

I read the article about the Florida woman's dying wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to organizations seeking to defeat President Bush in November 2004. I was, however, startled by the statement of the rabbi who presided over her funeral service. His statement disagreeing with the now deceased woman and his own support for Bush was part of a developing pattern I have noticed within the American Jewish community.

In the article, the rabbi claimed to be a Democrat who was voting for Bush. I have spoken often enough with such persons such that one can pinpoint how a Jew who is a member of the Democratic Party can even think of voting for Bush II. The way to understand how a person who is a Jewish Democrat could vote for Bush II is to learn that person's views regarding the State of Israel. The Jewish Democrat who votes or considers voting for Bush is in most cases a person who identifies with the Likud Party in Israel or the Likud Party's view of the world. It is more likely than not that the rabbi identified in the article is a person who supports Likud Party policies in and beyond Israel. What I have noticed is that such a point of view about Israel tends to act like a virus that eats away at one's otherwise so-called "liberal" or even "moderate" views at home in America until one "comes out" as a raving Bush supporting Republican hack.

This virus has, by my largely anecdotal observations, already afflicted at one level or another about 20% of American Jews inside the Democratic Party. What is interesting to me is that underneath the macho pose of these particular American Jews is their deep fear about the world and how it resembles an old style "Jewish ghetto" view of the world. To put it another way, they resemble the scared child who finds solace in watching westerns on television where the white hat cowboys kill those dastardly "Indians." Such a view of the world, when we look at it squarely, is hardly courageous and is more pathetic than anything else.

Further, contrary to their macho posturing, their view is not pro-Israel in any persuasive sense because one can make a better argument that Israel is less safe today than it was, say, 10 years ago. And Israel was less safe 10 years ago than 10 years before that. Much of the Israeli public has recognized that the settlements built (and continuing to be built) in the West Bank and Gaza are themselves the virus that makes Israel less and less safe, but the political will in that nation (which lack of will is further affected by the active and monied zealots inside leading American Jewish organizations) leaves a slim majority of Jewish Israelis paralyzed into continuing to vote for the Likud and other right wing parties in that nation. Every terror bombing continues to maintain Sharon in power even as one can see how his policies play into the terrorists' hands. It is a symbiotic relationship that is little remarked upon in the mainstream political discourse in America and within American Jewish Temples or organizations.

I write this because I am of the Jewish faith myself. I write because I believe those Americans of the Jewish faith who disagree with Sharon and the Likudniks need to speak out about this phenomenon among certain American Jews in leadership positions in American Jewish organizations and in Temples. It is high time we who disagree with such leaders confront these Likud-supporting American Jews who attempt to define their views with the word "pro-Israel" and castigate those who disagree as either anti- or soft about Israel. Also, we must speak up to provide support for those who are not Jewish who in turn are often chilled or silenced to avoid being labeled anti-Israel or worse, anti-Semitic. This is an issue for American Jews but it affects and will continue to be affected by larger forces outside that relatively small circle.

As part of this confrontation, more needs to be said of the fact that the policy discussions inside Israel, particularly within Israel's own mainstream media, are far more "critical" regarding the settlements, Israeli military conduct in the West Bank and Gaza, etc., in both the sense of actual criticism and the sense of critical thinking, than most anything provided in American mainstream media. It is ridiculous to listen to those American Jews who attack the American mainstream media as anti-Israel when they offer no sense they are even aware of how Israeli media covers that nation and its leaders' policies.

In conclusion, I stand proudly with those few American Jewish writers such as Eric Alterman who speak out in a truly courageous manner on the topic of Israel and American Jewry. I stand with the growing rank and file American Jews who are noticing a disconnect between themselves and certain Jewish leaders who push the Likud Party line or world view. It is also this disconnect that played out between the views of dying woman's funeral donation wish and her rabbi.

Mitchell J. Freedman
Poway, CA
July 31, 2004

MJF background: I am a lawyer in Southern California. I am also the author of an alternative history novel, "A Disturbance of Fate" (Seven Locks, 2003), which is about what would happen if Robert F. Kennedy survived 1968 and became president.

Subject: Kerry Sweat

I hear the pundits and Repugs talk about the sweat on Kerry's face as he made his speech. After all the vacation time Dubya has taken in the last three and a half years, it's nice to see a leader work up a little sweat, I say.

Karen in Austin

Would “turning the corner”be a flip or a flop?

Shunk Wugga

Subject: Fraud/Dr. Evil

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether Mr. Bush is doing a campaign speech or a standup routine.

Michael Barry
Reston, VA.

Subject: Crawford and Fahrenheit 9/11

The media coverage of the outdoor screening of Fahrenheit 9/11 in Crawford TX truly shows one of the worst aspects of corporate media consolidation - sloth. Too lazy to actually do their job most major media have referred to the attendance as "hundreds" or "almost a thousand". These numbers come from pre event expectations of crowd size. In truth what happened on a Wednesday night in largely the middle of nowhere was that some 5,000 people showed up to let our Oval Office Resident in on a little psychiatric secret. Recently and publicly diagnosed as a "paranoid meglomaniac" we thought Bush needed to know, it's not paranoid if they really are after you! Much thanks to the all the 5,000 (overheard estimate of Crawford police) people who packed that parking lot in a town of some 700 odd people. The counter protestors were small in numbers but made up for it in rudeness and lack of intelligence. They stood at the entrance to the event waving signs and hollering that Michael Moore is a liberal whore but refused to watch the movie which they still have not seen. Mostly young 18-24 year old types and products of one of the worst educational systems in the country they displayed their ignorance with pride and abandon. Texas, now number one in percentage of adults without a high school diploma and dropouts, has no miracle in education to export. While this is no doubt not news to BuzzFlash readers it never ceased to amaze me during the 2000 election that people across the country believed this enormous falsehood. Even though I live in Austin, where Bush was never popular enough to win a citywide race for dog catcher, and could tell them much about the Bush family and education in Texas, including the fact that our school district was actually indicted for lying about numbers, non Texans seemed convinced there was a miracle to be had. Kool-Aid is a strange addiction. Hopefully it is wearing off. One suggestion I found highly appropriate for dealing with the young fascist/Bushevic crowd is this: go to your local military recruiter and stock up on enlistment forms. When they try to question you patriotism and call you traitors shove a form in their face and tell them to put up or shut up. Volunteer or zip it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: China's view of US

Re: “Ashcroft-Ridge Hooligans Strike Again: Chinese in uproar over attack at U.S.-Canada border 7/31”

Please read the Chinese Press’take on this. The bottom half of the story is a fascinating view of how we are perceived around the world.

Eddie K.

Subject: Help--Give to DNC and your Bank might Punish you

Dear Buzz and Readers;

I wrote in about a week ago and relayed that I had given a donation to the DNC. I made the donation via credit card.

Just a bit of background. My Credit card was a APR of 6.49. Notice I said WAS?

I just received notice from my credit card company that my rate is being changed to 19.9 variable rate.

As another bit of background, I always pay more than the minimum amount and my credit score is 700. They told me they are changing my rate because of my payment history and other factors.

As I received this notice a week after giving to the DNC, I cannot help but draw a correlation.

The Bank is MBNA.

Has anyone else who recently gave to the DNC received similar treatment and does anyone think I am right to find this specious?

Mike
Tampa

Subject: E-Voting Machines

The BuzzFlash article regarding the republicans urging other republirats to vote on absentee ballots to insure their votes, is to me, an admission that they did indeed illegally steal the 2000 election (as if I had any doubts !). politically, nothing has changed in Florida. The same fascists are at the helm. People should raise hell about the e-voting machines, and insist that they leave a paper trail, and if not, urge everyone to get an absentee ballot. When Kerry becomes president, he should, in my opinion, bring the fascist thieves to justice, including the five supreme court traitors, who deserve impeachment, and then a death sentence for treason.

Thanx for letting me "vent".

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: those balloons!!!

hey buzzers,

i don't know what the guy at the convention center was having such a fit about with the balloon drop. we were watching C-SPAN and from that vantage point it looked like there was a red, white, and blue confetti blizzard, and that everyone there, by the time it was over, was up to their asses in balloons.

what's the deal focusing media attention on a mike left open and listening to the frenzied directions given by a harried convention director? because someone said the F word? EEK!!! well, that just cancels out all of the incredible positive energy in all of those great speeches, from al sharpton to obama to john edwards to jimmy carter to max cleland to john kerry. obviously.

what a bunch of fools those media people are.

jan in georgia

Subject: Talking Points

Like many of you, I am fed up with the distorted Republican talking points that are repeated so much that they are turned into "facts" by the media. But really you kind of have to admire the evil genius and discipline of the Republicans for staying so very consistent with their message that it gets woven into fact. I think the Democrats have to do the same thing. I think every time they go on the air they have to include the words "failed Presidency" or "Bush's failure" or "failed policies" in their discussions.

Repetition is key. "Failure" is a very high impact word and even if there are no examples are used, this kind of repetition is bound to catch on. They can also tie in other failures of George W. Bush, his governorship of Texas, his poor record as a businessman, his poor grades, and his failure to show up for National Guard duty.

Hopefully, the discipline of message shown during the convention will carry over to the rest of the campaign and the Democrats will overcome the uphill battle of message definition that the Republicans seem to have been winning thus far.

Tony

Subject: First Spotting of Dick Cheney Bumper Sticker

Dear Buzz,

While walking back home from my neighborhood Chinese restaurant, I saw a bumper sticker that said:

"Suck my Dick Cheney"

First time I've seen that one, and it made me smile.

A BuzzFlash Reader
(who ordinarily favors clean language but is willing to make exceptions on a situational basis)

Subject: Important Note re Absentee Ballots in Florida

Regarding the notice sent out by the Florida Republicans about using an absentee ballot so "your vote will count".

*It is important to know if you apply for an absentee ballot....you have to say that you want one because you will be out of town and cannot vote in person, Florida will not issue an absentee ballot if you say you want one because you do not trust the machines.

A Follow Up Question, Please

" Mr. Bush told Mr. Gore that his brother Jeb, the governor of Florida had just assured him that Florida was his." " Let me explain something." Mr. Gore said. "Your younger brother is not the ultimate authority on this." -New York Times, November 9, 2000

Bush's tendency to blurt things out might well have gotten him in trouble, if any member of the press had bothered paying attention. The vote was still in doubt with many tens of thousands of Fl ballots still uncounted, and the exit polls all pointing to a victory for Gore. How, therefore, did Florida's governor know that Bush had won????????????????

Elizabeth Wynters

Subject: Message to the Democrats, We must fight fire with fire

You have to get down in the slime with the Republicans in order to win. You must be willing to be as mean-spirited and vile as the Republicans are, and not give a rat's ass if you're called un-American or UN-patriotic. There's too much at stake to let them steal another election.

Kerry kindly bring up GWB's drug and alcohol abuse. Bring up the fact that he was arrested, and he showed reckless judgment then, just as he's showing it now with his foreign policy. Ask him to tell the American people where he was for the last five months of his National Guard service.

If they attack your wife, mention the little accident that Laura Bush was involved in. Don't you dare let them get away with sliming you, your family, or your friends. Fight fire with fire.

Kimberly D

New York,

Subject: Oh Really?

BuzzFlash Link: US State Department warns employee, Kerry's sister, over political activity

Excerpt of Darla Jordon, State Department Spokeswoman, statement to the press:

Jordan noted that US law bars career government employees from taking active part in partisan political campaigns while they are on duty and that Kerry had asked for and received guidance on the matter in February.

Oh really! How 'bout DeLay's government crowd taking an active part when they stormed the Dade County, FL 2000 vote recount, beating on the door and violently waving fists at the people inside? They were not only on active duty, they were on nut-case duty. Oh silly me! That was then... This is now.

~ Cathy

Subject: Protestors arrested in Springfield, MO - home of John Ashcroft

Several anti-Bush protestors, lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights, were arrested and jailed, some for hours, simply for protesting the President at his appearance this week in Springfield, MO. It is no coincidence that Springfield is the home of the President's fellow pre-millennial Christian, John Ashcroft.

One of those arrested was a grandfather. He may well have been wearing a T-shirt saying F*** Bush, but, as we have seen, such language has been employed and endorsed by none other than VP Dick Cheney who said saying it 'made him feel better'.

Almost no news has leaked out of Springfield about this mass arrest and abrogation of First Amendment rights. One of the protestors is facing a serious charge of assaulting an officer, which observers say is patently untrue.

Historically and in the very recent past Springfield has been the scene of several hanging deaths of young Black men, all of them suspicious, all of them declared 'suicides'. From 1906 to the present, Springfield has been tarnished with the presence of active KKK, Christian Identity, Hammerskins and other hate groups whose predations have gone largely unremarked and unpunished. The protest this past week, however, received the fast intervention of the law.

In keeping with other such actions, those protesting the President are being treated as if they were terrorists, and such actions deserve to be pursued in the media but are ignored.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Band of Boozers

I have heard that the planners for the Republican Convention,having been very impressed with John Kerry's embracing of his Band of Brothers-veterans who had served with him in Vietnam-tried to find a way to counteract its effect on the voters. They couldn't actually find anyone who had served with Bush in the National Guard in Alabama,but they did manage to find a number of his former drinking buddies. They will come on stage with him and be introduced as the Band of Boozers. They have also decided to award him, belatedly, a Purple Heart to honor the wound he received while serving in the Guard. It is not widely known,but he did sustain a grievous wound . It was a large bruise he got on his ass when he fell off a bar stool in Alabama. They feel that this award will go a long way toward proving that he is just as much a hero as is John Kerry and may well move some undecided voters in his direction. I think they are aiming at that narrow band of voters who have shared his experience of falling off a bar stool. Every vote counts in such a close election whether the voter is drunk or sober.

Jim Benjamin