September 9, 2004
The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag.
THIS IS PART 2 OF THE SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1.
Subject: What have we come to?
Being retired I have time on my hand and I enjoy passing it by chatting on the Internet with people in other countries. I try to steer the conversation along cultural issues, but all too frequently, I don't even have the opportunity.
Just yesterday I chatted on the Internet with three men from Greece. With each of them I began the chat by congratulating them and their country for producing the most successful Olympics in recent memory. Each of them responded, basically, by saying, "Thank you. But why does America hate us so much?"
I never got to the point where I could ask if their attitude is clouded by the fact they are still harboring disdain of us because, back in the '80s, our government backed the military junta which overthrew their elected government and established martial law, Or if it was the more recent "reporting" by the press that the Olympics would be a startling failure because it was obvious the Greeks didn't know what they were doing, none of the venues would be completed in time for the start of the Olympics, security was in a muddle, etc.
I finally had to tell them to not be offended, that we have a penchant for attacking anything that is not American. If we do not do it -- is is suspect. This, despite the fact that recently is appears that everything we tough turns to caca. It's as simple as that.
Not too long ago America was respected, admired and envied by the entire world. Thanks to our recent new direction in cowboy diplomacy we are now admired by very few, hated by many, and despised by the masses.
I long for the good ol' days. Where are you Bill Clinton when we need you? Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery -- we need your voice of sanity, clarity, and assurance in this floundering world.
Bill Sybert
Dallas, Texas
Subject: Bush's speech in Poplar Bluff
There is a short article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch this morning...on page A4, about something he said in this speech. He and Cheney have tried unsuccessfully to attack Edwards for being a Trial Lawyer.
The article reads exactly, President George Bush offered an unexpected reason Monday for cracking down on frivolous medical lawsuits." We've got an issue in America.
Too many good Docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country" Unfazed, the president went on to say, "I'm for medical liability reform now".
We know, if we have read the poll numbers, while Bush has a narrow 2pt.lead over Kerry....Edwards beats Cheney hands down...about 10 points...and has since they first started!!!
Shirley.............St.Louis
Subject: Veteran Returning Medals
This was on a forum I frequent. This veteran has 12 medals. I support this veteran and am very sad that he has to give up his medals to make the american public open their eyes.
I sincerely hope you will take this story and run with it and print it and put it on the news for all to see.
This is a damn shame.
Peace, Ms. Bunkie Weir.
* * *
September 6, 2004
The Honorable Gordon R. England Secretary of the Navy 1000 Navy Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20350-1000
Dear Sir,
I was highly disturbed to learn that Senator John Kerry’s wartime decorations are to be reviewed by the Department of the Navy, with regard to irregularities.
As a decorated military veteran and retiree, I am quite frankly disgusted; particularly since this investigation involves a combat veteran.
I am not a combat veteran; nevertheless I highly respect and honor the decorations bestowed upon such individuals. My father received several during his career in the 11th AB Division during the invasion of Luzon in 1944. I’m certain he earned his; and I’m just as certain that John Kerry earned his.
I’m returning my own decorations now. That way, if I decide to run for public office, I won’t have to worry that a military service cowed by politicians who never served on active duty will question my achievements. You can have them -- I don’t want them.
Sincerely,
John E. Lamphier (CTI1-USN-Ret)
Waconia, MN
Subject: AWOL, yet the nation's defender?
From Salon.com
"A six-month historical record of his 147th Fighter Interceptor Group, also turned over to the AP on Tuesday, shows some of the training Bush missed with his colleagues during that time.
Significantly, it showed the unit joined a ‘‘24-hour active alert mission to safeguard against surprise attack" in the southern United State beginning on Oct. 6, 1972, a time when Bush did not report for duty, according to his pay records. "
So, the guy who went AWOL rather than take part in a mission to defend the U.S. from surprise attack is the one who should be trusted to protect us from terrorists? Just asking.
JP Smith
Minneapolis
Subject: Am I Reading This Right?
Hi Gang!
Dick "The Very Appendage Itself" Cheney essentially has said that voting for John Kerry is a win for terrorists?
Did he actually say that if you don't for Shrubya and the terrorists attack then its the American peoples' fault?
How monumentally stupid and dangerous can you get?
Just more playing on fears to get a vote.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/07/cheney.terror/index.html
Jerry Peurala
Westfield, IN
Subject: A Strong Leader
A strong leader is all we need. Yes indeed, that's just what we need, a strong leader like Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Idi Amin and that lead lemming who guided his herd off the cliffs into the sea.
Yes indeed, a strong leader, that's all the US needs.
A.M.Howard
Daettlikon, Switzerland
Subject: Go buy your assault weapon!
Bush fans, How can you justify THIS?
On Monday, September 13th, at midnight, the national ban on military-style assault weapons will expire, allowing these murderous weapons back on our streets.
Congress is feeling the heat and is prepared to renew the ban, if the president will only ask -- but President Bush is letting the ban expire, on behalf of the gun lobby.
**we are so lucky to have a president who is more concerned about the health and safety of the American people than that of the National Rifle Association.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: you are the best....keep the articles coming
Is your site mandatory reading for for Kerry Campaign operatives???????? It needs to be....the info in your postings needs to get out there to the public over and over again between now and election day. I just sent the article THE TRUTH IS CRYING.....by Anthony Wade to a bunch of people....the points he is making are so important. I was wondering myself why the Experts against Bush, all the top ranked people that came forward got no good media coverage and wasn't brought up at the convention and isn't being hammered home now!!!! This info has to get out there. Can you get the Kerry/Edwards people to use your site more and get it to the media......best.
Tim Danker
Subject: Cheney Warns of Terror Attack if Kerry Elected
Knowing what we know about the deviousness of this administration and the vile manipulations of some of its executive branch members, should we take this as a warning to the nation as a whole from DICK that if people don't vote the way he wants them to, he and his Halliburton "contractors" will ensure that something evil this way walks?
After that hatefest in New York last week, I wouldn't put anything past these people.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/08/politics/campaign/08bush.html?th
Matt Carmody
Subject: "be afraid if Kerry wins..."??
Dear BuzzFlash:
Regarding VP Cheney's recent comments which links a Kerry win to future terrorist attacks. Seems to me Mr. Cheney has some memory problems.
Who was in the white house on September 11, 2001 when we were attacked? Who disregarded a report that say Bin-Laden determined to attack? Who sat in a classroom for 7 minutes while we were being attacked? Who invaded Iraq and thereby boosted terrorist recruitment? Who's tax cuts have caused fire houses to close, towns to lay off police and other first responders? Who hasn't adequately funded Homeland security that leaves our borders and ports wide open? Who raises the alert levels? Who was against Homeland Security then was for it? Who was against a 9-11 investigation then was for it? Who blames the FBI, the CIA, and everyone else for failing to adequately protect the country? Who was against the 9-11 Commission recommendations then was for it?
With our current state of Homeland Security and the president being wishy-washy on these related problems -- I have no doubt that we will have another terrorist attack.
Every terror alert or warning is a reminder of Bush's miserable failures to adequately protect us.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Cheney
John Edwards tepid response today to Cheney's diatribe about A vote for Kerry will mean that we will be attacked again needs to be revamped.
The Bush/Cheney administration has allowed the worst attack on American shores ever, The response should be, They failed at stopping terror once and we hope they don't fail again.
The kid gloves should come off now.
Let's print t-shirts Bush/Cheney we failed at terror once and we hope we don't fail again..
A BuzzFlash Reader
Quote of the Day
"Wealth is too important to be left to limousine liberals."
- - Karl Rove, 9/1/04
(Speaking to state chairmen of College Republican National Committee, Windfall Bar & Grill, Manhattan)
Thought this might be of interest to you if you weren't already aware of it. It's an item from today's e-mail briefs from govexec.com, a news/info site oriented to government managers. Brief synopsis:
===
An Agriculture Department senior economist and two Farm Service Agency officials made a presentation to a dairy group this past April in which they said USDA's "goals and objectives" this year are to "maximize votes" in major dairy states-California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York and Michigan-and suggested how those votes could be maximized.
The presentation, complete with a USDA logo and boxing elephants and donkeys, was also placed on the Web site of the American Dairy Products Institute, the sponsoring organization, and has recently caught the attention of other farm groups and congressional aides. It says on the page that bears the USDA logo the presenters were Larry Salathe of USDA's Office of the Chief Economist, and William March and Milton Madison of FSA. It also noted that the presentation was given April 20.
A page is illustrated with a cartoon that shows a woman and a man putting their votes into a ballot box, with a sign that reads, "Your support and influence are appreciated." It also indicates that the way to maximize votes is "strong market prices" through "market fundamentals and supportive policy actions." The next page, which includes a drawing of a laughing cow, says market fundamentals look strong in 2004, but that "constituents" would be concerned about the federal budget deficit, the continuation of nonfat dry milk donations, dairy compacts and imports of milk protein concentrates.
===
Given that it's from high levels within the USDA, it would appear to be either illegal (if by a gov't employee) or else a blatantly partisan effort to assist big business (if by an appointee). Either way, useful & intriguing, no? }:)
Regards!
Bill Nichols
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090704cdpm2.htm
Subject: BUSH was AWOL before 9/11 when it came to defending US airspace from surprise ..
from http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040908/D84V54IG0.html
Title of link should be :BUSH was AWOL years before 9/11 when it came to defending US airspace from surprise attack
Money quote:"Significantly, it showed the unit joined a "24-hour active alert mission to safeguard against surprise attack" in the southern United State beginning on Oct. 6, 1972, a time when Bush did not report for duty, according to his pay records."
A patriot.
Subject: Worming Out
Dear Buzz,
It seems like the slimy, pencil neck, AWOL, beady-eyed, smirk faced retard is now backing out of one of the debates on Oct 8th. I just read on my MSN headlines that Bush is backing out of the 'town hall' meeting that was to have been held in St. Louis, Mo. ...The Bush campaign is citing that some of the 'undecided' voters that show up may be partisan. Seems like the shrub, the 'leader' is squirming his way out of this particular debate because he can't handle the slew of questions that may come his way. Oh how I would have loved to seen this debate in a town hall meeting and have Shirley of St. Louis there to ask the moron some hard questions and watch him squirm....maybe he would have had the same expression on his face that he had on the day of 9/11 while sitting in school with the kiddies and the 'goat' book. He's nothing but a chicken-shit!!
A Loyal Buzz Fan Forever!
Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska
Subject: Bush's Guard Time
Dear Buzz,
I had just seen on Good Morning Amer this a.m.,9-8-04, and it was reported that the Boston Globe has picked up on the story of Bush NOT completing his tenure in the guard.
I wonder if this story will grow, or be thrown under the rug again?
A Loyal Buzz Fan Forever!
Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska
Subject: Boston Globe 'breaks' RAW STORY exclusive
Chalk another one up for the bloggers.
Finally the mainstream media gives weight to what RAW STORY reported Aug 1, that President George W. Bush failed to adequately perform his service to the National Guard and was effectively absent without leave. The Globe story, which quotes Reagan Asst. Defense secretary at length, was RAW STORY’s primary source in their original Aug. 1 story. I actually personally called the story into the Globe the first week of August, and the following week, the Globe reporter who wrote their new ‘exclusive’stopped returning my calls.
Sadly, neither RAW STORY nor, more importantly, Paul Lukasiak, the Philadelphia researcher who invested five months of his life doing the research on which the Globe story is based, are not mentioned. But everyone who’s been paying attention to the story knows who reported it first. Just thought you might throw in a link to our original story if/when you post the Globe link
John Byrne
Publisher | Editor-in-Chief
Raw Story Media
http://www.rawstory.com
Hi BuzzFlash,
Cheney 's words are a laugh. We wish they would clear the fog of lies out of their heads, and speak on their accomplishment they have put forth for the four years they had their chance.
Do I hear the sound of silence?
Why did 1000 of our troops, have to die?(so far) Please, We need to know, other than it was thought the right thing, to bomb, and send our troops to fight in another country, just because it sounded like a good idea at the time. We all knew this was wrong before they dropped the first bomb, on the innocent!
Please do not, Mr Cheney, try to scare us into voting the Bush/Cheney ticket with this trick. It won't work! Americans are smarted than that.
VOTING THE
KERRY/EDWARDS TICKET.
Taking our country back!
ANGIE AND
LEN(Korean war vet.)
Philly, PA
Note to Dick Cheney
In response to today's link: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040907/D84V15AG0.html
If Kerry were elected, Cheney said the nation risks falling back into a "pre-9/11 mind-set" that terrorist attacks are criminal acts that require a reactive approach.
Well, doesn't the pre-9/11 mindset he's referring to encompass 8+ months the current occupiers of the White House -and co.- were in before the attacks occurred? And 7 minutes after?
Just asking.
BuzzFlash Reader and absentee voter living in Germany
Subject: Bush: Not only scared to debate but take real questions from real people
"Bush Likely to Bow Out of 1 Debate"
The democrats should be all over this. From how this article reads, Bush won't take the town hall style debate b/c he may have to take real questions from real people. This is consistent with Bush censoring who comes to campaign rallies, how few press conferences he has had and ultimately how his administration is unaccountable to the American people.
Jason
Subject: Anyone care for an Orange?
Dear Buzz,
Now that the story of Bush's going AWOL from the National Guard is surfacing with renewed vigor, Iraq is falling to pieces and Senator Bob Graham's book is revealing White House complicity in covering up for the Saudis who perpetrated 9/11, isn't it about time for Tom Ridge to raise the national terror alert status to orange?
Jon Krampner
Subject: Another Terrorist Attack
Dear BuzzFlash,
Dick Cheney says if we make the wrong choice we will face another terrorist attack. I wholeheartedly agree. If we choose Bush/Cheney we will most assuredly face more than one terrorist attack. We will face more terrorism from both outside terrorists such as Al-Queda and we will face more terrorist attacks from inside terrorists such as Bush, Cheney and Ashcroft. It is understandable why Bush/Cheney are freaking out about the election. If they are not elected, it is quite likely that the crimes they have committed since they were not elected in 2000, will be exposed. Cheney says that Saddam Hussein is in jail where he belongs and I whole heartedly agree with that. I also believe that is where Dick Cheney belongs. Bush/Cheney are anti-American, organized crime bosses that make the old fashioned mob look like a bunch of beginners when it comes to robbing the public. Not only are Bush/Cheney guilty of multiple crimes against the American people, they are guilty of treason against the United States. Bush/Cheney and their underbosses and lieutenants have created the largest organized crime organization in the history of the world and they should be exposed and made and example of.
Not a day goes by when I do not read of multiple examples of crimes being committed by Bush/Cheney. Crimes against the environment such as allowing natural gas drilling in the Rocky Mountains that is polluting the drinking water with benzene. Crimes against the United States such as the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act is an act of treason that usurps the constitution by overruling the Bill of Rights. Crimes against the United States such as lying about the reasons for starting a war with Iraq. Crimes against the people such as robbing the people of trillions of dollars by awarding tax cuts to the rich people and taking the money from the middle and lower classes by putting the cost of these tax cuts on credit to be paid for at a later date by those who can least afford to pay it. Bush/Cheney sit in their ivory tower and laugh at how they have pulled the wool over the eyes of the people. They laugh as they take our money to the bank and put it in offshore accounts where it can't be traced. They commit crimes against the people by awarding multi billion dollar contracts to companies that they have vested interests in without competitive bidding. Bush/Cheney have committed so many crimes that it is difficult to list them all. I am sure it would take a team of full time investigators many years to find them all.
Dick Cheney is absolutely correct when he says that we need to make the correct choice in November. If we choose Bush/Cheney it will be the biggest mistake the American people have ever made.
Richard
Stencil
Washington State
Subject: A little logic punches holes in Cheney's claims
Hi Buzz,
So if Kerry wins the election then the terrorists will attack and it's all our fault. Ours. We, the American people will be to blame for the attack because we voted for Kerry.
If (hurl!!) Bush wins then the next attack will be whose fault exactly? Certainly not the Bush mob. Nothing is their fault. Nothing. They like to blame the lowest person in the organization, the one least able to make decisions. When another building is bombed they'll probably claim it was the janitor's fault.
Judith Foster,
Berkeley
Subject: Is This All Planned?
Hi:
I was just going over this bit of nastiness from the de facto president and something hit me: Is Cheney saying these things so that Bush can replace him with McCain come October, thus appearing to distance himself from the vitriol?
Surely, Cheney means every word that he says and is as bitter and nasty as he appears, but I believe there is something else behind this rhetoric. Aside from distracting people from the fact that 1000 servicepeople have been lost in Iraq in the neverending war on terror and from the inconvenient fact that the mainstream press is picking up on the story that Bush actually was missing from his guard responsibilities, is this just prelude to another master stroke from Karl Rove?
After all, if Bush is seen to publicly disagree with the utterances that dribble from this maniac's mouth, he can take on the role of the great conciliator, upbraiding Cheney for his brutish language by replacing him on the ticket with someone who, at times, has been critical of his political style; not critical of his politics, but of his style, and that is a huge difference.
John McCain knows that George W. Bush is not a man of honor. He knows how the Bush family feels about the rest of the country, himself included: We are serfs to be worked until our usefulness is over and then cast aside into some Dickensian nightmare existence with no affordable health care, little affordable housing, and no one to stand up for our interests, while the real men, those who don't actually dirty their hands, capitalize on our misfortunes.
The fact that so much of America is willing to go along with this plot, like lemmings to the sea, is just evidence of the old saying: There's a fool born every minute.
You'd think that on top of the S&L debacle carried out by Bush Sr., the tax cut fiasco of his idiot son would have opened the eyes of the American people to the three card monte game. But no, suckers keep bellying up to the table, hoping to find the right card and flabbergasted when they are proven wrong, not just once, but every single time.
That's life in the Bush family vision of America: A stacked deck with all the aces already dealt out to family members and cronies and nothing but deuces and treys left for the rest of us.
God Bless America!
Matt Carmody
Washingtonville, NY
Subject: Prophetic may be an understatement
Many of you may recall this article from the Onion entitled "Our Long Nightmare of Peace and Prosperity is Finally Over" that was printed in January of 2001 right after the Bush inaugural as a piece of satire.. Here it is again, with all kinds of textlinks, to show just how close those goofy guys actually were http://chak.org/pages/onion/bush_nightmare.html
Bart
Subject: Just Asking
I wonder how many hypocritical republicans in Florida will apply for FEMA assistance. Isn't that just one of those "liberal" social programs that help people in need? Would a republican actually take a government handout? You better bet they would. As long as they benefit. We should take a page from the Bush/Cheney campaign and have everyone that applies for FEMA sign a pledge they will not vote republican.
Bob Lambert
Northridge, CA
Subject: Just Asking
Why is it that whenever The Shrub or "gfy" Cheney make a speech or a comment, the talking heads need to be all over the media to explain what they REALLY meant to say? Hmmmm. Just asking.
Bob Lambert
Northridge, CA
Subject: Re. Death figures from Iraq
Dear BuzzFlash:
I have a simple question which I've never heard properly addressed by anyone in the media: do the "combat deaths" figures from Iraq and Afghanistan reflect soldiers who were not killed on the battlefield but were evacuated and later died of their injuries? It seems to me that they should be included in the overall death statistics, though I'm guessing they aren't being included.
Keep up the excellent work!
Jeff Webb
[BuzzFlash Note: Those numbers are difficult to determine, in large part due to the Defense Department. The Iraq Coalition Casualty Count has more info on the reported numbers.]
Subject: Swift Boat Liars
Why can't someone get the message to the Kerry team to challenge the main individuals on these unbelievable swift boat ads to take lie detector tests. Obviously they will all refuse and will not accept the challenge----this could be a great factor in exposing them for what they really are and could be dynamite for the Kerry campaign.
Doesn't this make sense?
Regards, Ray Lagueux
Subject: My email to CNN
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing this to you because I think it is a relevant topic for posting on your site. I went to CNN.com today to see what they had to say about the 1000th US casualty in Iraq. I found NOTHING on their entire homepage. I had to click on the US tab to find the "story". Which turned out to be a little blurb about the milestone and then the regular story that I have read for what 18 mos now? about how there were x casualties, fighting raged in this part of Iraq or that part, etc. There was NOTHING about even considering that 1000 casualties for this damned imperialistic war was about 1000 too many, NOTHING! So I am now forwarding my e-mail to them for consideration in posting on your website. I would also urge you and your loyal readers (like me) to swamp CNN.com with complaints because if nobody asks any hard questions we'll be stuck with the same regime 4 years from now, and that is unacceptable.
Here is my e-mail:
* * *
Dear Sir or Madam,
I find it particularly appalling that the day after the citizens of the US have learned of the death of the 1000th brave service member in Iraq (not to mention the thousands of wounded) there is NOTHING relating this to people just looking at your homepage. This is a huge milestone, a time when people should maybe re-examine their assumptions about why they supported (or still support) the war, and give pause to following our leadership blindly.
However, you currently have as the big (picture) headline the genesis crash landing. Additionally on the other top stories you have:
Bush, lawmakers meet on intelligence reforms
Ivan devastates Grenada | Florida struggles after Frances
New details emerge on Russian school attackers
Greenspan: Recovery regains traction
Lawsuit uncovers Bush Guard records
Police testify about tip that Laci was being held captive
Fraternity suspended after student found dead
Robber uses rusty pitchfork to hold up bank
Are you SERIOUS?! The Lacy Peterson murder trial, a drinking related death at a frat house, and a stupid criminal are bigger stories than the people dying ostensibly in "protecting" our country in Iraq?! Have you no shame? If you don't start asking tough questions about whether this is all worth it, then who will? FOX NEWS?! Gimme a break.
Also I like the positive/negative comment selection...I'm sure this will end up in the junk mail box and nobody will ever open it up.
Thanks for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
William Diehl
Decatur, GA
Subject: Bush's "Texas Miracle"
Just thought you might be interested in posting this link, it is CBS' 60 Minutes debunking Bush's claims for education success in "The 'Texas Miracle'."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/06/60II/main591676.shtml
Linda Ireland, Seattle
Subject: Bush the Deserter
Y'know, Michael Moore was right. Bush is a deserter.
Given the new information that Bush blew off his promise to continue his Guard obligation in Boston, he committed desertion.
Please take a gander at our brief post on the subject with citation to the applicable statutes.
Thanks,
Frank at OrwellianTimes.com
Subject: Zell Miller and Emperor Palpatine
Frightening. And am I the only person who's noticed the disturbing visual similarity between George W. Bush and Ted Bundy?
Erin
[BuzzFlash Note: We did a little digging and found the two photos below from here and here. Thanks, now we're going to have nightmares about George W. Bush and a freezer full of dead people.]
