August 18, 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: Republican Agenda
Maureen Farrell's featured article, "Conventional Facades: Why the Republicans Have to Hide their Agenda," is eerily correct, and this information should be used constantly against the Bush campaign in much the same way the neocons try to frame the Kerry campaign.
Often we hear "pundits" and politicos saying things like, "Kerry is the most liberal senator in the country, which is fine. We just wish he would come out and admit it. Just say what he really stands for."
We have an opportunity to turn the tables on these folks by creating "talking points" for our "pundits," that frame the Bushites in much the same way, as right wing religious fundamentalist fanatics who are leading the world towards apocalypse. Not only that, but they hide their true colors from the public more than any party in history.
Our team could be saying, "Hey, if they want to be fanatical religious zealots, that's fine. We just wish they'd come out and admit what they represent and present their true base at their conventions and in their campaign." And just keep saying it over and over just like they do.
Ethan
Subject: Alan Keyes' Nomination as GOPHTW
Dear BuzzFlash:
Thank you for nominating Alan Keyes as this week's GOPHTW. As a Christian, I am offended by his attempt to justify running for a seat in the Senate in a state he doesn't live in by saying God's ordaining it! If this isn't an example of God's Own Party (GOP) scraping the barrel, I don't know what is!
What arrogance and hubris on the part of Keyes to state that he didn't need to know about Illinois, because he was running on the Lord's Agenda. That is a blasphemous statement to make, considering he hasn't done anything else a responsible Christian would do (like removing that tax lien off of his Maryland home, serving in Vietnam, unresolved debts from his last two attempts to run for public office, or putting himself on the campaign payroll while running for public office).
We are told through daily bible study that a Christian is one who bears the fruits of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Since when does Mr. Keyes purport to demonstrate any of the above "fruits" of the spirit by running for public office in a state that he knows nothing about, and its residents know nothing about him?
As a Christian, it is becoming more and more apparent that true Christians have to call individuals like Alan Keyes on their obvious hypocrisy, especially when they attempt to sell the unsuspecting on the lie that God has ordained them to take the actions that go contrary to His word, or better yet, sell the lie that God signed off on their actions. I've involved myself in daily study and application of biblical principles for over 14 years; nowhere in the Bible have I read where God's edicts resulted in class warfare, discrimination, placing burdens on the poor so the rich can obtain more riches, lack of tolerance, lack of morals and no compassion. To me, that is what the GOP and the majority of it's members represent, this party of "morals and family values" {sarcasm}. Sometimes I want to scream "Tell this crap to those who want to drink the Kool-Aid and deny reality!" whenever I see Hannity, Limbaugh or Imus singing Alan Keyes' praises at running to another state to fail in another election.
Don't be fooled: God is not mocked, and whatsoever a man sows, that he shall also reap (Galatians 6:7). In other words, the GOP is mocking God and everyone else by sending Alan Keyes to Illinois to run for the U. S. Senate seat, and saying their policies are the right way we are live our lives; by demonstrating no tolerance, no love for fellow man or compassion. They are mocking God, but look for them to reap what they have sown. Watch how they moan, scream and holler when they become in need of compassion, tolerance and love. Look at how they want forgiveness for past bad acts (Rush Limpball comes to mind with his Oxycontin addiction), yet withhold it from those who need it the most. Look at the double standard...and watch it reverse itself against those who continue to perpetuate this travesty.
I continue to be encouraged, because I'm looking long-range, and so should you. God bless you, take care, stay focused and take charge, because we aren't drunk on the Kool-Aid. We don't have a choice.
Leutisha
Stills
The Christian Liberal
Forward: "Bush Campaign Refuses To Pull Nazi Web Ad"
07/01/04
Washington, DC: The Forward reports in tomorrow's edition that "President Bush's re-election campaign is refusing to withdraw an ad containing Nazi imagery from its Web site, despite severe criticism from Jewish organizations and from the Republican chairman of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. ...Several groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Congress and the Zionist Organization of America, publicly criticized the Bush campaign and called on it to withdraw the ad." Spokespersons for the Bush campaign have falsely alleged that Democrats have been using the kind of inappropriate Holocaust comparisons portrayed in the Bush ad; Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt denied that the GOP engages in such Holocaust comparisons, telling the Forward, "No attacks have ever been launched by anyone associated with the Bush campaign that have the slightest similarity to those attacks [by Democrats]."
Directly contradicting the words of Bush's spokesperson, The Forward goes on to note, "Conservative Fox News talk show host Bill O'Reilly recently compared both filmmaker Michael Moore and satirist Al Franken to the Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels, according to transcripts featured at the liberal watchdog Web site mediamatters.org. Right-wing radio host Michael Savage also compared Moore to Goebbels and jokingly equated the title of Hitler's autobiography, 'Mein Kampf,' with President Clinton's new autobiography, 'My Life,' in a June 22 broadcast, Media Matters reported."
"It is incredible that the Bush campaign -- even as they are using this vile Holocaust video to draw visual comparisons between Democrats and Hitler -- would deny the constant drumbeat of inappropriate Holocaust comparisons by top conservatives and other Bush backers," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "The Forward article itself puts the lie to Steve Schmidt's ridiculous claim that the Republican Party does not engage in these egregious comparisons. And many more examples abound -- including Republican Representative Tom Cole's assertion in March that voting against President Bush is like voting for Hitler, and White House insider Grover Norquist's October comparison of the estate tax and the Holocaust.
"Today's GOP has a very real and growing problem with using Nazi figures and the memory of the Holocaust for its own political purposes. One need look no further than the Bush campaign's Internet home page to see this," Forman added.
To view the Bush campaign's video using Hitler imagery and sounds, go to:
http://www.georgewbush.com/
The article was here: http://www.forward.com/search/kessler200406291024.php
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: 'wnbc.com - Politics - Mayor Says He Won't Be Embarrassed By GOP Convention Protests'
Bloomberg wants chaos with the hope these "anti-war protesters" will be hitched to John Kerry, the Anti- Vietnam War protester. The All Bush family vs. those evil antiwar people. That's the message he wants to send.
Brad of VA
Subject: Bush Campaign Spam
Look up the phrase:
Then compare it with this.
A BuzzFlash Reader
[BuzzFlash Note: Are newspaper editors ignorant and gullible or working for the Bush administration?]
CHANNEL YOUR RAGE
There are literally millions of us who are furious at the smear campaign against the Kerry/Edwards ticket. Each time we see a news item that distorts their positions on issues or slimes their character (Swift Boat Veterans come to mind), our anger levels soar to great heights. There is something any and all of us can do to defend the Senators, and it only takes a few minutes a week. Join the Rapid Response Network. A few times a week I receive an email that provides a link to the latest outrage and then gives some guidelines in how to respond by phone or email. It doesn't take much of my time, but wow, just doing this little bit to set the record straight does a great deal for my morale and for the education of the public at large. It always puts the media on notice that we will not allow them to report only half the facts or insert their personal opinions into what should be a straight news item. If you appreciate the work that David Brock is doing at Media Matters for America, then this is an opportunity where you can do your own thing and get great satisfaction in the bargain.
Go to the network's home page and check it out: http://rapidresponsenetwork.org/volunteer.shtml
SherAn
Subject: a new website regarding the swiftvets...
http://www.notsoswiftvets.com/
please, all of you loyal BuzzFlash readers, go have a look. Hopefully someone will link this website to the BuzzFlash front page. It was started by a vet who was banned from their boards for "disputing the veracity of the site itself".
Just like me.
Go lend them your support.
Mike
Subject: Latest distortion of Kerry's words
** MSNBC'S MATTHEWS CHALLENGES RNC AD
Chris Matthews challenged the Bush campaign on Hardball last night for taking a clip from John Kerry's January Hardball interview, and using it out-of-context in an RNC web-video. "Matthews complained that the clip was cut off mid-sentence and that the full answer makes the Bush use misleading."
(MSNBC.com - tip from TVNewser)
Sharon
Subject: Larry King interview of dubya and wife
For anyone who thinks they can stomach it, the transcript has been posted of the bush and his missus interview with Larry King.
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/lkl.html
I caught a little bit of the interview, and what little I heard was the same old stuff: Incoherent rambling, repeating the same words over and over again, and self-contradicting statements. I turned the TV off and decided Id wait for the transcript. Here are some of the highlights:
* Regarding the Swift Boat Veteran's smear ads, bush's position is not to condemn the ad, but to condemn the 527 organizations. Both he and Laura claim they haven't seen the ad, and Laura says: "I do know there are a lot of terrible ads against George, as well, by 527s ..."
* Regarding the 9/11 Commission, bush argued he was never against the commission, and claimed hes already implemented many of the commissions recommendations! But he noted he wants a national intelligence director that cant be fired by anyone but him.
* On the national intelligence director position, the guy who claims he rushed to implement the commission's recommendations now says he really hasn't given much thought to the director position -- because the job doesn't exist yet!
* On the Iraq war, bush actually said that the buck really does stop with him. Then he got a bit testy when King brought up the "Mission Accomplished" banner. He avoided answering the question, "Was the sign a mistake?" and made the profound statement: "I owe an obligation to our troops."
* On Chalabi, he really spoke a lot of nonsense. "He came with a delegation of Iraqi citizens and leaders that we were able to herald to our country." And this gem: "And whether or not Chalabi broke the law or violated this or that, the facts will be known on that."
He also talked about how he believes in separation of church and state (right), stem cell research, explained why we're better off now than we were four years ago (that's a doozy), and looked forward to the debates (right again).
Have fun.
Sue
Dear Fellow Buzzers,:
If anyone is interested, the House Judiciary Subcommittees on Commercial and Administrative Law and Subcommittee on the Constitution will hold a hearing on civil law on Friday, August 20th. You can watch it LIVE here: www.cspan.org
Don't count on CNN or the major networks to cover it. Coverage of today's hearings by the Senate Armed Services Committee on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission by CNN amounted to a short snippet (several seconds long) of Rumsfeld testifying, followed by a blurb floating by at the bottom of the screen saying "Turf Wars" and the anchor informing us that they're going to (and I quote) "dip in and out" and let you know if anything interesting went on. (Meanwhile, back to the trials and tribulations of of Kobe Bryant and Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson, ad nauseum.).
Hey, anybody in the Washington, DC area want to assemble outside and peacefully point out to our Congresspeople going into the hearings that free speech in America is no longer "free" and one has to take a loyalty oath to hear the president speak (no Democrats need apply)? Maybe if there were a substantial number of citizens voicing their concerns to those attending these hearings, the media might just report it. (But don't hold your breath.) Let's do what we can, though. Be informed.
Does anyone know who's on the Subcommittee on the Constitution so we can contact them before the meeting, with our questions and concerns--maybe have some protestors recently visited by the FBI or people banned from presidential rallies because they don't plan to vote for Bush, arrange to give testimony at this hearing?
This is important--the hearings will be live on CSpan. Get the word out.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Re: Suppressing the Black Vote in Florida
Sirs,
THANK YOU INDEED, and Mr. Bob Herbert especially, for your/his article on the gestapo efforts of the Florida police to suppress the votes of elderly blacks in the 2004 impending elections, and other elections to come undoubtedly .
It is 2004 after all!! Come on now, surely the numerous civil rights organizations, sympathetic private legal firms and individuals like John Edwards et al himself, the ACLU, the NAACP, the Democratic Party itself must get some testicular wherewithal, get into this environment, raise this issue to the highest dodo, and otherwise someone start suing these police enforcement's gangs/bastards to the hilt.
You know, shout: "We're mad as Hell !! We're not going to take it any more !!!"
Reciprocate, put the fear of God into those Florida police human feces.
There has to be legitimate ways, even though it's too late perhaps and unfortunately to undo the fear of these voters to participate in the election. But get to stop here .....
Show American democracy is more than just a jingo to the world .....
Richard
Subject: Economic Propaganda
It is truly amazing how any minor fluctuations in today's economy are jumped on as a positive trend. Locally, gasoline prices are starting to soar again with the higher price of oil. There is absolutely nothing of any consequence on which to base any hope of improvement in today's economic outlook. Everything the Bush regimes does is wrong for the country.
The only things that are going to turn the economy around are 1. A change of leadership. 2. Democrats regain the majority in Congress. 3. A return to surpluses in the budget instead of record deficits, which will not happen unless the provisions of 1 and 2 are met. There may be a temporary decline in oil prices before the election however, as the Saudis maximize oil production in order to help save the election for Bush, and the oil Mafia here cooperate by attempting to hold down gasoline prices also. This may help keep the election close, and if it works and enables Repubs to steal another election it will be Katy bar the door.
RB
* * *
July Consumer Prices Drop; Housing Starts Soar Rueters
......The report showed energy costs plunged 1.9 percent last month after hefty gains of 2.6 percent in June and 4.6 percent in May. The July drop in energy prices more than offset a 0.3 percent gain in food prices.
Here is another article a little more representative:
August 16, 2004
Industry Scrambles to Ease Pump Pain
Operators of planes, trains and trucks look for ways to hedge fuel costs, cut waste or ask customers to pay more
Subject: "Unaccounted for" then, AWOL now: Bush given free pass on Guard duty while today's Guard is held to tight standards
Have you noticed? Today, a National Guard member missing a single meeting is unequivocally termed "AWOL" by the press. For Bush the standard is entirely different; no amount of proof, not even months of absence is enough to get the press to utter this word in connection with Bush.
Today's Guard:
"The [Wall Street] Journal notes that 109 soldiers of 211th returned home recently, and correctly notes the warm welcome they received. It also notes that last month only 52 soldiers were present at roll call, as "Four were AWOL, or absent without leave. About 30 had decided to get out of the Guard for good. Another 26, who had been temporarily assigned to the company to beef it up before combat, had returned to their regular units.''
Doug
Subject: It would be tragic
After 9/11 families asked for swifter action, Rummy said, "If we move on one easily and get it wrong, it would be tragic."
You mean like moving on Iraq when we knew they didn't have anything. It really is tragic.
Karen
Subject: Media Challenge
If the media is now apologizing for it’s lack of objectivity in pursuing the truth about WMD in Iraq, then it seems to me that they now have a perfect opportunity to make up for past sins. We all know that the real story during the Republican convention in New York will occur out in the streets where in the name of security opposition to the administration will be squelched. Protestors will be denied their civil rights and be forced to free speech zones etc. Also, just like at Bush speeches around the country, the police will be used to arrest those non-violently demonstrating against his policies. Why not cover this story? It’s a sure thing. Interview those arrested. Get their stories. Ask how this can happen in a free society. After all, Bush loves freedom. It’s why he says we’re fighting in Iraq. If it’s important for Iraq, why is it OK to abuse it here?
Mark
Subject: Patti Smith says to get your priorities in order...
I saw Patti Smith (http://www.pattismith.net/intro.html) in concert last night. She mentioned how she had been watching the news lately and it was all about Hurricane Charley and the 15 or so people dead Americans and how it was covered all day. She thought that it was sad that Americans died, but she thought there should be room in the news for the 163 people in Sudan who were massacred. I agree.
"At least 163 Congolese Tutsis were killed Friday at the camp at Gatumba. The State Department said the National Liberation Front of the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People participated in the "vicious attack" on vulnerable refugees, many of them women and children." [Seatlle Post-Intelligencer]
I'd never seen Patti Smith before and I have to say, she really ROCKED!!
http://www.bigtimepatriot.com/default.asp?itemID=150
Signed,
A BuzzFlash Reader and Big Time Patriot
Subject: Why the reps. have to hide their agenda..M. Farrell
It is likely true....that they are so aligned with the Christian right, that it is awesome. I fear that! That is why Bill Clinton was never, ever accepted in the Washington Crowd. He was not the Southern kind...he was just a Methodist...not a fundamentalist. There is a difference...
Everyone thinks that if you believe in the last days, the coming back to earth of the Lord...the Rapture..so many things, like Bush consulting a Higher Power than his father...You will be the most wonderful thing and the best leader...and it has proven to be the opposite.
If you think about it, every war (except the 2nd world war) was fought in the name of God, or to change another country's thought about how they live.
I could not believe my sister (a staunch democrat) when I talked to her the last time, she said, in response to my wanting the gov't to get out of Iraq, "Well, Shirley, we cannot get out until the job is done!" Now, democrat or no...she was for the Gulf war, and I was not. And, I said to her...."Well, Jo, why? We pulled out of Vietnam after losing almost 59,000 american soldiers.....and within 6 months, Saigon in the south, fell to the north...and became Ho Chi Minh city"...And she thought for a minute, and said, "You know, I had forgotten about that!"
To damned many people are just falling into place....she has not turned, but I was amazed when I went to her house, I have never in my life seen anything so decorated in the red, white and blue. Now, for a while when my granddaughter was in Iraq, I had a flag...my son gave it to me....but no more. The only red, white and blue I have now, is the Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker.
On my way home today...I saw the "Bush Out" sign on a front yard in this rightwing neighborhood...there are some of us left. I have been seeing this as a bumper sticker more and more lately....It has a white background...with a bush...and large black letters saying "Vote Bush Out!" I like it....if anyone knows of it or where you can get it.....let us all know...It really says something!
So many, just like Alan Keyes, think that those of us who believe that abortion should be rare, legal, and safe......are sinners..and that is why 911 happened...well, Alan, I could give you a better reason...like, oil...and oil...and oil...and power...and more power! There are days that I feel so good about the election this year...it seems there a many more exuberant crowds at the Kerry stops....but, then I start thinking about the evil people surrounding Bush and the fact that, if they think they are doing anything in Gods name...or, for Godliness.....they can do anything. I have always thought, that anything right wing zealots do in the name of God, is okay with them... How they talk themselves into that, is beyond me! But, God help us all...they do!!!!
Shirley................St. Louis
Subject: Letter to LA County Registrar-Recorder
Dear Buzzers,
Here is the link to a PDF describing the LA County Registrar Conny McCormick's support of Electronic voting. Click on Direct Electronic Voting Systems. Here is the letter I wrote to her in response. Any residents of LA County that wish to offer their opinions on this matter can email her at <recorder@rrcc.co.la.ca.us> She needs to hear from a bunch of BuzzFlashers that she is 100% wrong on this!
Leslie Crabtree
------------------------------
Ms McCormick,
I have worked as a poll worker in Altadena and have used the early voting option on DRE's in Pasadena when I was working at a different precinct than I vote in. I use computers daily and have many reservations abut DRE voting.
Your PDF about DRE is misleading and even inaccurate as it fails to mention difficulties such as machines contacting Diebold on election day before polls had closed as happened in Northern California. Also not addressed are the many voting problems in the Georgia 2002 election where votes disappeared or more votes were recorded than voters registered in some areas. To people who say there have never been problems I say, how do you know? If there is no back-up or possibility of a recount there is no way to check the accuracy of the units. Diebold manufacturers ATM machines, subway ticket printing machines and cash registers ALL of which contain printers that operate with high volume usage. It is questionable to me and many others that Diebold chose to exclude printers when designing this technology. At the very least, printers should have been included to check accuracy as this technology was introduced and bugs were a certainty. There have obviously been problems as there were in Orange County this year. So the question is, how is that possible if there is so much testing and auditing?
As a poll worker who always attends the training workshops, I know most poll workers don't attend them. Many are seniors who don't use ATM's and have no frame of reference with computers to draw from in the event of problems on election day with DRE's. The training for DRE is too complex for the average poll worker who manage the Inkavote basics but may even have difficulty with filling out provisional ballots as was the case at the polling place I worked in for the gubernatorial election last year. As far as being a boon for foreign language or visually handicapped voters, I agree they are very useful for these voters. However, to make all votes use a technology that benefits only a very few is unsound. It's as if we made everyone use Braille because it is needed for blind people. As I have very bad eyesight and may be blind myself in the future, this is a subject I have thought long and hard about. Perhaps one machine per precinct could be available to handicapped voters as a compromise.
My personal solution to voting problems is to have the votes counted at each polling place with all the workers and several observers present. We already do so much after the polls close, counting and posting the vote totals on the exterior of the box would be very easy and would guarantee a chain of custody for the votes from the polling place to the collection area and beyond. It seems so simple and obvious and how I believe it is done in Canada. Let's go low tech rather than high tech. Lots fewer problems, lots less money, lots less training.
Please reconsider you unquestioning support of DRE voting. The possibility of massive voter fraud in the event of hacking as has been shown by Professor Rebecca Mercuri and Bev Harris is much too great a risk when we are talking about the pillar of our democracy. Kevin Shelley is absolutely right on this issue and I hope with further research you will be as well.
Respectfully,
Leslie Crabtree
Altadena
Subject: Bush fundraisers, questionable arbitration firm-Public Citizen news
Doesn't this news just warm your heart? Don't you feel like your vote counts when you read about all of the corporate money that goes into "electing" people to office?
What would happen if the FCC required all television news to provide free air time to all candidates who win their party's nomination? After all the airwaves belong to the public, and for those cable systems that use the satellites, most were paid for by the US taxpayer. We can't have free elections when no one in the mainstream press thinks it's Ok to run political campaigns the way we do now and when lobbyists influence members of congress more than their constituents.
Pogo Possum, the character from an old comic strip, was right when he said:" We have found the enemy and they are us".
As ever,
Neb
Public Citizen Press Releases
Providing the latest information about Public Citizen activitiesPublic Citizen issued the following two press releases today. They are reprinted in full below.
1) Bush Campaign Bolstered by 19 New Rangers and Pioneers
2) Public Citizen Calls for 12 States to Investigate Insurers' Use of Questionable Arbitration Firm
....
The letters are available at http://www.citizen.org
Subject: Readers
Dear BuzzFlash,
I am so happy more people are flocking to your site. It's the only place I go to for the real news. I really enjoy the letters and notice more new people are writing.
It ticks me off that Bush is using (and) has used since he went to our WHITE HOUSE our tax dollars to fly all over this country, day in and day out, and only allows paid republican supporters to his rallies. Isn't he every american's president whether we disagree with him or not?
Shouldn't democratic, green party, independents, undecided people who pay taxes be allowed? Encouraging news! Many republicans I have talked to are saying they'll have to vote for Kerry.
Carolina
Subject: A Frequent Reader
A recent article in the Bostonian, by Boston University had an article about an interview with Rumsfeld.
It said: Mr. Rumsfeld, what is our aim in Iraq and the middle east.
Rummy: We want to bring democracy to all the nations in the area with free elections
Intv: What if a Moslem government were to win a free election
Rummy: Such a result would be absolutely unacceptable.
Bob and Angela K.
Subject: Sean Langan in Iraq
Hi from the UK
Last night I watched an absolutely riveting documentary shot by Sean Langan in Iraq earlier this year. He gets very close to the US troops and also to the resistance fighters. Some absolutely stunning stuff. It was shown here on BBC4 (=minimal audience) I really hope you guys can get it and get it out on DVD or even to TV or the cinema -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/langan-in-iraq.shtml
Highlights? - its all good but the interviews with the distressed prisoners' relatives outside Abu Ghraib was very moving. (shot before the story broke over here)
And the female US Lt flirting with the camera in the midst of the carnage of a car bombing .. She had to borrow the reporter's interpreter to talk to the Iraqi security force platoon she was meant to be commanding .. Stunning stuff.
Get onto the BBC or Mr Langan and get to see it ..
Regards
John C
Subject: Liberty Bound on 8/17 NH viewing
Dear Buzzy,
Just got back from a viewing of Christine Rose's excellent documentary, Liberty Bound, shown at Portsmouth New Hampshire's centuries old State Street Unitarian Universalist Church. Emerson would be pleased!
Rose's work received a standing ovation afterwards from the large audience in the pews. The whole evening was rung in with a local leftist/patriotic "fife and drum" band marching to the church from a downtown square. As a recent American repatriate, I was impressed to see people expressing themselves openly and truly believing in a brighter tomorrow.
To any who have not yet seen the film, I would say it is well worthwhile. Wow, just heard, as I write, Bush on the local cable network lauding the latest attack helicopter to be built in some aeronautics plant! However, fresh from the screening, Howard Zinn's words are still ringing in my ears.
Rose, a first-time filmmaker, has produced an admirable product that combines interviews with common folk like you and I who have been violated -so to speak- by the soft fascism, faux patriotism, and invasive surveillance and paranoia of the first few years of the new millennium. Her film also shows familiar, nay iconic, images from 9-11 and the first two years of the Bush 43 administration. Yet, it is a good re-airing of facts known to those who read widely combined with new input from across America and history. I'm convinced we will show the world we can handle liberty on November 2! Well done Christine!
Thom Burns
Exeter, NH USA
Subject: William Regnery
I'm surprised you didn't make more of the fact that William Regnery, the guy starting up the whites-only dating service ("Racist and Need a Date? Dating the White Way) is the same William Regnery of Regnery Publishing, the publishing company putting out the "Unfit for Command" piece of garbage. Just another example of the kind of company these Swift Boat Liars for Bush are keeping.
Keep up the good work. I start every day at your site.
Patrick Tennent
[BuzzFlash Note: We somehow missed it when we posted the story on the dating service, but Oliver Willis's blog post woke us up: "Racists Behind The Swift Boat Book? 8/18."]
Subject: Ari Fleischer's Yellow Tablet
Regarding Karl M. Evans piece, "Bush's 9/11 Silence," I keep wondering why the 9/11 Commission did not address the infamous message held up on the back of a yellow tablet by Ari Fleischer at the rear of the Sarasota class room after Andrew Card leaned in and told Bush the 2nd tower had been hit and the country was under attack.
Apparently the frames showing Fleischer's action existed on the local Sarasota news station video, but disappeared on 9/13 or 14, 2001. I've cut and pasted the article from the website 9/11 Research.com
"While still in the classroom, Ari Fleischer signaled him, according to Bill Sammon: 2
"But -- the -- goat -- did -- some -- things - - that -- made -- the -- girl's -- dad -- mad."
"Let's clean that up," Mrs. Daniels said.
The president noticed someone moving at the back of the room. It was White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, maneuvering to catch his attention without alerting the press.
Mr. Fleischer was holding up a legal pad.
Big block letters were scrawled on the cardboard backing: DON'T SAY ANYTHING YET. The remarks drafted earlier would be woefully inadequate.
"The -- goat -- ate -- things."
If any BuzzFlash reader has additional information on this, I would greatly appreciate their sharing it with the world.
Thanks BuzzFlash, for your continuing good work.
C. Robert
Holloway
New Orleans, LA, West Hollywood, CA
Subject: This far by filth...not by faith: How Sad!!
Buzz:
Check out the article on a web-site called Africana.com.....There is an article there about the Bush campaign which is called " This far by Filth". Of course there is an old Negro spiritual called " We have Come this far by Faith"....... This article details the extremes that the Bushies will go to in order to be re-selected to the presidency.
D. Turner
Atlanta
P.S. I have heard that there are thousands of unregistered black voters in Ga. who could make a difference in this election . But the Kerry campaign has decided not to focus at all on this state. I know that the Kerry campaign doesn't have the Bush/Cheney/racist / conservative funds, but I am truly disappointed that Kerry has given up on Ga. and so are many others.
Subject: SPINNING SPIES FOR FUN AND ELECTORAL PROFIT
PR Week's Douglas Quenqua applauds "how effortlessly George Bush changed the conversation last week.
Political debate ... had centered on the 9/11 Commission's recommendations."
This was problematic, since "John Kerry unhesitatingly endorsed implementation of every recommendation - and quickly passed Bush's poll numbers on matters of national security."
But Bush's nomination of Rep. Porter Goss for CIA director shifted attention to "Goss and what the Democrats were going to do to stop the nomination - something Bush had counted on."
Newsweek reports that Goss' recently introduced "intelligence reform" bill "would enable the president to issue secret findings allowing the CIA to conduct covert operations inside the United States - "without even any notification to Congress."
SOURCE: PR Week (reg. req'd), August 16, 2004 More web links related to this story are available at:
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: A Message to Demonstrators at the RNC
Hello Again to BuzzFlash and to all BuzzFlash readers,
I want to make sure we get the word out to protesters who are planning to visit NYC to demonstrate at the Republican National Convention the end of August.
Let's all INSIST that we maintain peaceful demonstrations.
I have already seen, particularly on FoxJazeera, the Right Wing attempt to set the stage for labeling any RNC protest as violent, despite any evidence to the contrary. We have also heard of instances where the FBI has been investigating and questioning those who may even be inclined to visit NYC. This seems to be a pre-emptive attempt by the current administration to discourage and intimidate would-be demonstrators.
The last thing we want to see is the exploitation of any demonstration that even remotely gets out of hand. Don't give them any reason to do so.
You've already seen what Right Wingers can do to decorated war veterans who have preserved our right to protest.
Warmest Regards,
GK, a Fervently Loyal, Devoted, Patriotic, Peaceful and Proud Liberal BuzzFlash Reader
Below is text I submitted to major news outlets and local papers...thought it might make good reading here too...
Much has been made of the heckling taken by Teresa Heinz Kerry as well as the protesters who greeted John Edwards in Missouri. Conversely, nothing has been said of the Bush campaign’s sanitization of its rallies and events.
We have in one state people being forced to sign a pledge to support the GOP ticket to obtain entrance (now we know WHICH Pledge of Allegiance truly matters to the President), inquiries as to the race of a fully credentialed photographer at another, and in Springfield, Missouri known protesters having their tickets ripped up by police who said they were “just following orders”as reported at Springfield MO’s News-Leader.com.
If we wish to elect a President who cares about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we must ask ourselves which candidate honors the ideals held within by allowing dissent at his functions. Why does Kerry/Edwards let the opposition say their piece while Bush/Cheney will squelch the freedom of speech entitled by the Bill of Rights of those who disagree?
As we have heard recently, saying it does not make it so. This is also true for the picture presented to the media and those who view it. Not letting people speak not only “does not make it so”, it makes the candidate doing so seem less credible to those of us who truly love our country.
Steven A. Severson
Madison, WI
Subject: Washington Times
Please note that the frickin Washington Times is publishing excerpts from O'Neill's book of lies. And, it is RIGHT under the banner in the hardcopy newspaper!!!
Gheesh!! http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040818-121346-4803r.htm
Marc
Subject: Spitting
Dear Folks at BuzzFlash:
The aftermath of the disastrous war in Vietnam was a time of wrenching recriminations here in America. A favorite topic of those who supported the war and were violently opposed to those of us who spoke out against it was a series of incidents that may or may not have taken place (no documentary evidence apparently exists) but which took hold in the popular imagination. War supporters frequently raised the specter of brave soldiers returning to the United States having to undergo a gauntlet of war protesters who degraded the soldiers' service by spitting on them. Those incidents -- and again, to the best of my knowledge, no proof has ever been offered that they actually took place -- were offered as proof that the anti-war side was unpatriotic and determined somehow to undermine American resolve.
Oh, the irony! Now we witness an all-too-real campaign of spitting on the bravery of an American soldier who returned to America bearing wounds and the medals those wounds earned. We sit stupefied as Republican operatives -- those same folks who have always claimed to love our country and support our troops -- hurl invective at a soldier for, apparently, not being wounded enough! Just imagine how these people would have expressed their outrage had similar questions been asked of an ordinary grunt who returned Stateside in 1969. But today it's all considered fair game since their target is John Kerry.
I urge BuzzFlash and all its readers to raise this issue with media both local and national and to highlight this very real incident of spitting on the service of a brave American soldier.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Goldsmith
Kensington, Maryland
Subject: October Surprise
To many smokescreens for Bush on the horizon. What is the one thing that will launch him into a second term? WMD discovery, minor American contractors kidnapped and murdered, prison abuse, rebellion from people in Iraq, resignation of CIA Director.
How will the Democrats prepare for this. Scary stuff but look at Rove and how can it be to absurd to consider the possibility.
Myke
Subject: Reassessing the Deer in the Headlights
BuzzFlash,
i think the opposition to the Bunnypants Administration is reading the film of the seven minutes wrong. We seem to judge Bush by what he had done, or not done, in that seven minutes by what we knew at the time rather than by what the intelligence community thought was going on and what we knew about hijackings at the time. If we look at that this story is even more disturbing that Bush simply being dumbfounded.
There were several things that Bush knew BEFORE he walked into the room that common sense tells us would dictate that he should never have walked into that room. i base this on the fact that Bush had two updates from the situation room within ten minutes of walking into the classroom.
Upon arrival
at the school Lt. Deborah Loewe, director of the Situation Room informs
Bush of the 1st crash.
(http://www.directsourceradio.com/links/1126200112ON.html)
Minutes later
he is updated by Ms. Rice from the Situation Room.
(http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline/2001/csmonitor091701.html)
This is all well and good but there is no reason to believe that these discussions limited themselves to Flight 11. The function of the situation room in fact suggests the very opposite.
By the time Rice speaks to Bush they knew that at least three planes had been hijacked.
Before 8.30
Boston flight control informs the FAA that Flight 11 has been hijacked.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5233007/
8.37 Otis
is commanded to scramble fighters after flight 11.
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline/2002/abcnews091102.html
Before 8.45
Norad knew about Flight 175 has been hijacked.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/16/inv.hijack.warning/
About 8.55
Flight 77 goes off course and turns off its transponder.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/articles/timeline.html
How could
anyone in the situation room not think of the millennium plot? i mention
this because just after Flight 11 crashes, George Tenet states that
it is a terrorist attack involving al Qaeda. Accordingly he made a few
calls.
http://abcnews.go.com/onair/DailyNews/sept11_moments_1.html
Before he walks into the room sometime after 9 am he knew that at least two and possibly three planes had been hijacked; that a plane had crashed into the WTC, that fighters had been scrambled from Otis, and that the CIA had thought that flight 11 was a terrorist attack "with bin Laden's fingerprints all over it." This was all known before his first briefing by the lt in charge of the situation room. How in the world could he have walked into that room knowing this?
It seems tome to be a photo op gone bad.
john
chicago