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

Subject: Bush lies about "forgeries"

I was sickened by the mendacity of the Bush campaign again today, when I read an article on Yahoo in which a Bush operative claimed that the memoranda written by the late Lt. Colonel Killian describing Bush's wartime refusal of direct orders and generally derelict performance were "forgeries" because they contained a raised "th" at the end of squadron numbers, a typographical feature which supposedly did not exist before Microsoft Word according to the official Bush line.

Yelling louder does not make a phony statement true, Bushies. I attended high school and college during the 1970's while Bush drank his way through "service", and even my inexpensive Smith-Corona typewriter had a feature called "changeable type" which allowed adding special characters like the degree sign, editing marks, foreign currency signs, and the "nonexistent" raised "th" for military squadron numbers. If the Bushies had written and typed their own term papers, they would know that!

To make matters worse, a cursory look at the 01 August 1972 memo by Lt. Colonel Killian shows it to be typed in the standard Elite typeface, with absolutely NO special characters, as would be common in that era. The 01 August 1972 memo, of course, is the "60 Minutes memo" which details Bush's refusal to follow a direct military order, and suggests he be replaced by a competent and appropriately subordinate pilot.

May the Truth prevail!

James M. Reaume Jr. MD
Ionia, Michigan

Subject: Bush National Guard Memos

Dear Buzz:

I'm surprised that no one seems to be considering the obvious if it turns out that the CBS (60 Minutes II) memos are forgeries. Just remember that after James Hatfield died, the publisher of Soft Skull Press revealed that Hatfield had confided to him that the source of the cocaine allegations in Fortunate Son was Karl Rove. Rove fed Hatfield information that the Bush Crime Family could easily discredit, thereby blowing up the cocaine allegations through the remainder of the election season.

Has 60 Minutes II been Roved?

Jim Higdon

Subject: Reward Offered for ID of Convention Kicker

Hi Guys,

I got together with a bunch of the friends to offer a reward, currently $250, for information leading to the identification of that cowardly bastard who kicked the AIDS protester at the Republican Youth Convention. If you haven't seen the film of the incident, check it out at http://tinyurl.com/3zgsj

I made a wanted poster (PDF) so that people can print and distribute it.

I'd appreciate if you could mention this on BuzzFlash. We need to get that guy, and we need exposure to do it.

Thanks.

Russell Wallace
Democracy For Wisconsin

Subject: Forged Memos?

Dear BuzzFlash,

Consider this possibility concerning the recently released memos concerning Bush's guard duty that were obtained by CBS, then obtained from CBS by the White House, and then RELEASED. Is it not possible that the Bushies forged these themselves, knowing the forgeries would be proven, so that all documents concerning Bush's guard time would be put under a cloud of doubt? The more I think of it, it's the only thing that makes sense.

Yours in patriotism,

Susan Yabumoto, Librarian

Sent to: Howie Kurtz <kurtzh@washpost.com>; reliable sources <reliable@cnn.com>:

Re: Bias?

Howie,

You wrote:

As a reality check, I watched the network newscasts. They all led with Hurricane Ivan. When they got around to it, both NBC and ABC questioned whether the documents obtained by CBS are real. On Fox, Fred Barnes said they're fake.

Please tell me again about how the liberal media is out to get Bush. After a month of Swiftboat BS on cable and now the forgery allegations, how can the media be liberal?

Can you tell me with a straight face that if the situation was reversed, the media would be as quick to jump all over the forgery allegations in less than 24hrs.

I mean come on some freeper comments on a message board and then a conservative website picks it up and finally Drudge links to the CNS story. This is then picked up immediately by the national media.

Please show me where a liberal message board comment has been picked up by a liberal website and then linked to by some site like BuzzFlash and then into the mainstream media within 24 hrs.

You can't do it can you.

I'm not saying that it isn't a story, or that it should be ignored, however the immediate introduction into the mainstream in less than a day is further proof that the mainstream media if anything is easily bullied by the conservative media. And until the teleprompter parrots start growing a set, we will not be able to have a mainstream media that is much more "fair and balanced than Fox."

thank you,

stevie gardiner
somerdale,nj

Subject: Criticizing Bush/Cheney

We have a local writer ( Jay Bookman ) with the Atlanta Journal/Constitution who has written some very courageous articles that speak to the truth about the Bush regime. He isn't too popular with the Zell Miller/Bob Barr/Lester Maddox loving crowd and I think that he is getting some nasty mail from the local red-necks. Last week he wrote a column criticizing the Bush/Cheney campaign of fear. In it, he mentioned that Zell Miller had sent a letter indicating that he wanted to kill him. In the article he says that he didn't take it serious, but he will re-think it since he heard that Zell has challenged Chris Matthews to a duel. Hopefully BuzzFlash can pull up this article and those who like his style should send a note to him to show appreciation for his courage. As we know, anytime you are critical of the Bushies, you have to watch your back!!

D. Turner
Atlanta

Subject: CBS Memos

The bottom line on the CBS memos is still the same, while Bush was working on a senate campaign for one of his daddy's buddies, brave young men like John Kerry were risking their lives on the battlefield for their Nation! No matter how the Republicrooks try to distort the issues, the bottom line is still the same!

BTW, I learned how to type on an IBM Selectric back in 1978 at a public school. I always thought the interchanging type heads were one of the coolest features about this typewriter since you could even do foreign characters with a different "ball." Something else that is often overlooked, is the fact that the Selectric was able to skip down half a line which gave a lot of flexibility in creating characters.

Sweet Dreams,

Billy Bob Goldberg
Miami, Florida

Subject: The Daily Blowhard

This is from the washington post today.

I think it shows the HEART AND SOUL of the repuplicans and their real COMPASSION.

*"He will be with us a while longer because we understand that hell was full-and he will be granted a full recovery. We do know that he is getting bypass surgery, but we cannot confirm it is of the heart. It may be of another organ" conservative radio host Michael Savage, referring to Bill Clinton.

Let's all bombard Savage and let him know that no one is getting in hell lately, because he is in the doorway!

carolina

Gee, with all the hurricanes hitting Florida perhaps God is punishing Florida Republicans and Governor Bush for their disenfranchisement of thousands of Black voters in the 2000 presidential election, thus stealing the election for the Governor's brother, and warning them not to try to do it again in this upcoming election.

Two can play at the far-right religionist's game like, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, who like to claim, "God is on our side and is punishing our country for not agreeing with us and doing what we want."

The Rev. Robert Barker
Clare, MI

Subject: TV Ad

When the partial birth abortion law was recently passed (before it was ruled unconstitutional) it was signed by the shrub, surrounded by a motley group of white men (rethugligan senators & congressmen all). The dems should run a commercial with this same picture, stating all the losses women have endured during the last four years and end it with the tag line "Do you want these men making decisions about your body, if not vote for John Kerry"

Mark Podhorzer
Decatur, GA

Subject: Cattleprod Kerry

Buzz,

Please urge your best writers and media influencers to get Kerry/Edwards out of first gear. I suppose it's not up to you....but, damn there's so much at stake. My irritating neighbor dem always takes the first next bit of "bad" news for Kerry and delivers it to my front door. Being a loyal BF'r I try bringing him down with references to the bogusness of many polls and the avalanche of Bush lies......nontheless, It shouldn't be this way. Kerry/Edwards should be leaving the Robot and Cheney in the distant dust. Forward.

Thanks,

Steve W.
Las Vegas, NV

Subject: Bill Moyer's NOW on 9/11

Last night on PBS Bill Moyers did a show on the events that led up to 9/11. It also showed the lack of cooperation of the Bush Administration.

I wish that this show would be re-aired and that you would please advise your readers that they can probably get a video of the show. (I think!)

Thank you for BuzzFlash. I am a 'senior citizen' in age only and I read this everyday. It provides me with some hope for our future.

Alice Lynch

Privilege got him in, privilege got him out.

'Nuff said,

A loyal BuzzFlash reader

Subject: It isn't a big stretch.

If it was as easy as it appears, with the help of family friends in high places, to get preferential treatment in securing a position in the Texas Air National Guard by leaping to the head of a 500-name waiting list, it is not a really big stretch of credibility and imagination to believe that with that same help, getting out of the commitment with honorable discharge papers would be any more difficult.

Bill Sybert
Dallas, Texas

Subject: Typewriter History

Dear Buzz:

There have been several main points raised by the 'experts' who are questioning the authenticity of CBS's documents regarding GWB's service record. These experts contend that the documents show features not available on equipment used at the time. The features in question are:

a) proportional spacing
b) the Times Roman font
c) the special 'th' character

In 1967 IBM introduced a modified version of the Selectric typewriter which was capable of proportional spacing. It came with a print head for a Times Roman font, which was called "Press Roman" by IBM. Here is a link to an IBM document from 1969 that describes the Composer. The last page shows an example of proportional spacing in the "press roman" font, which looks very similar to the font used in the documents in question.

http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/rd/121/ibmrd1201C.pdf

The Composer also introduced a"dead key" that was used for typing special characters like foreign language accents, fractions etc. IBM also sold customized printheads that could include any kind of special symbols. It would make sense that the military had print heads capable of printing a superscripted 'th' using the dead key, since they use that symbol constantly. Here is a document that describes the printing of special characters on an IBM Composer.

http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/rd/121/ibmrd1201F.pdf

So, the documents could very well have been created on machines available at the time. Confronted with this fact, the doubters contend that such an expensive machine ($4000) would not have been available to a Colonel in the Texas ANG. However, the Composer was indeed widely used by the military (I used one myself while serving in the Army in 1975). It was used for typing manuals, newsletters and other documents that required a typeset appearance or special characters like technical symbols or foreign languages. They even had machines that typed in Russian. Moreover, the machines were modified and used as output devices for computer systems.

Here is a link to an Air Force Data Systems Design Center (at Gunter Air Force Station, Alabama) document that shows that the Air Force service tested the Selectric Composer for use in April of 1969.

https://web1.ssg.gunter.af.mil/ho/documents/chronologie...

Another point of interest, is the fact that IBM Selectric Composers were manufactured at a specially built plant in Austin, Texas beginning July 1967:

http://www.ar.utexas.edu/Courses/parme...

Of course, whether the documents are real or fake is irrelevant. Either way, using a well worn Rovian tactic, the overall discussion has once more been reduced to arguing a point of minutia. Instead of addressing whether our President was a rich brat who used his family's ties to avoid service in Vietnam, goldbricked his way through National Guard duty, then lied repeatedly about doing so, we are arguing over whether or not typewriters in 1972 could print a superscripted 'th'. This is similar to how the whole argument over the justification for the War on Iraq, was reduced to the technical veracity of 16 words in the SOTU. It is a tactic often used by defense attorneys. Remember Johnnie Cochran's, "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit"?

Dave

Subject: ABC: Cheney signs O'Neill book, aides deny he knew what he was signing...

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/NotedNow/Noted_Now.html

CHENEY SIGNS O'NEIL BOOK: Vice President Cheney signed a copy of the John O'Neil book "Unfit for Command" for two gentlemen at the Golden Basket Restaurant in Green Bay Friday, reports ABC's Karen Travers... According to a BC04 campaign official, Cheney did not know what he signed and did not know it was O'Neil's book on Kerry. "Someone stuck something in front of him, he signed it and moved on," the campaign official said.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Fake Documents

Isn't it ironic that the buzz now is in detecting whether a particular font was in use some 30 odd years ago? I thought the Bushies didn't do nuance? Rove is chuckling, after yelling: HOAX! It's like screaming FIRE in a crowded theater. The puppet masters are sitting in the balcony enjoying the stampede. The Harpy-Ho press is happy to pick up the thread & spin. Guess being so close to power results in schizoid meanderings, kinda like Gollum's dotty droppings in "Lord of the Rings?"

Of course, White House talking points are easily dispersed nationwide with the help of RNC-talk radio, Fox News & all of the other usual suspects in the chattering class. Neat trick - no one is discussing the content of Bush's frat-boy Guard record, or lack thereof, and certainly not talking about Bush's own inherent lies in his fraudulent biography, "A Charge to Keep." Instead, the punk pundits are devoting 1 minute to Bush's spotty history in the Guard and remaining mum on Bush's behavior when he was young & irresponsible.

It's easier to turn their show over to smear artists as witnessed on "Hardball" the other night. A new 527 group, armed with a grainy documentary, that accuses Kerry of personally inflicting torture on them while they were POWs is incredible. Yet, there sat a stupendous Chris Matthews playing host for two-thirds of his show to embittered partisan men droning on about how Kerry's anti-war Senate testimony resulted in more pain from their North Vietnamese captors.

Okay, so get this straight kids - examination of Bush's past = BAD TV, distortion of Kerry's past = GOOD TV. As amazing and true like Bill Maher said a few weeks back: "Bush could kill his entire family LIVE on the Six O'clock News and 40% of America would still vote for him."

The flat-Earthers cannot be reached and the Fourth Estate will not recognize, validate or lend credence to outside voices. Apparently, we can't handle the truth. Notice we are not discussing issues of the day. How convenient for the Bush Administration to not be held accountable for ANYTHING. It's like the Peter Principle cubed. Ditto for the print journalists.

They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-1935.

N.B. Dondero

Subject: Corporate controlled news media is undermining Kerry's campaign

Dear Buzz,

John kerry has a serious problem. The news media which is corporate owned and controlled are against him. He is either ignored or attacked or his attackers are helped in their attacks. Most of the facts or events or documents that raise his standing with the voters are muddied and discredited. He is continuously being put on the defensive. So the end result is that the public is getting a picture of Kerry that is distorted and defined by his opponent's campaign.

Austinite123

Subject: Further evidence of Colin Powell's integrity

"The policies determining who would be drafted and who would be deferred, who would serve and who would escape, who would die and who would live, were an anti-democratic disgrace. . . I am angry that so many sons of the powerful and well-placed. . . managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units. Of the many tragedies of Vietnam, this raw class discrimination strikes me as the most damaging to the ideal that all Americans are created equal and owe equal allegiance to our country."

from "My American Journey," Colin Powell's 1995 memoir

A BuzzFlash Reader

Sent to Josh Marshall <talk@talkingpointsmemo.com>:

Subject: Choosing the Field

Dear Mr Marshall,

Once again, BushCo's opponents have let themselves be played. Let me explain:

If you spend your time proving Kerry is truly a hero despite the Swift-Boaters provable lies, you are discussing the question: "Does Kerry Have Integrity?"

By it's very existence in the collective "ether" this adds to the impression that Kerry does not have integrity. You see, you are on their battlefield. You are advertising their "brand." You lose.

All the bloggers and pundits let themselves be fooled by this diversion. We should have come back with "The Worst Loss of Jobs, A Bungled War, The Worst Deficit, in all of American history. No wonder he gets his friends to add lies about me to lie after lie after lie he has told Congress and the People. To wit..."

While we proved that Kerry was a hero and the Swift-Boaters are liars, Kerry saw his momentum and lead evaporate. And Bush spent zero time and zero resources in defending the worst Presidency in living memory, if not in all history.

Now, with the CBS forgery allegations, web-dom is once again playing defense on the ground that BushCo has chosen. It's absurd to waste a minute or a paragraph on this issue, when records no one can possibly question establish Bush's deserter status, that Bush did every thing he could to escape responsibility, and that to this day he continues to lie about what he did.

But no, we're going to piss away another two weeks debating whether IBM Selectrics had ligatures 30 years ago (they did), proving the claims of forgery are politically motivated, etc etc etc. And then they'll make up yet another lie--probably about Ms Heinz--and what do you suppose we'll do for the 2 weeks after that? I can see it now: "No, she couldn't possibly have been an agent for Idi Amin, because..." And of course, she wasn't. And Bush will just slide right by.

If, given what we know already, our best can be so easily distracted by " Dirty Tricks 101" we are probably too stupid to defend our nation. Wake up guys. Attack on our ground, stop defending on theirs. Time is wasting.

Jim P

PS: I'm watching C-Span's re-run of Thursday's House Hearing on Pharmaceutical Drugs and children. Dr Woodcock, the FDA's person, is busy trying to explain why the FDA, when the drug companies' own studies showed the drugs didn't help children with depression, and when the FDA's own studies indicated children might react suicidally, decided to let the drug be sold as useful for child depression, and decided not to put any suicide warnings on the label. She can't.

There are some ten million children taking anti-depressants, and it turns out Bush lets any old shit be pushed on them. I mention this as merely one example of the pervasive corruption we should be talking about, rather than the arcana of forgery.

Subject: PLEASE, PLEASE READ THIS...

Dear BuzzFlash:

I have been an ardent reader of your website. I've written several times and, understandably, you are probably overwhelmed with the deluge of emails in your bag so I shouldn't expect a response. I think my ego can sustain itself from a lack of replies so I will still remain a loyal reader.

Many of us are feeling a growing uneasiness at the Kerry campaign's lack of commitment to fight back and to take aggressive control of the talking points. It seems that the Kerry campaign strategists have taken so many of "our votes" for granted and have adopted a failing policy to "appear more moderate" so as not to be labeled the dirty "L" word: "LIBERAL."

The problem, that I foresee, is that they are losing their balance by failing to demonstrably exhibit the clarity and focus on real issues and concerns in this election.

Are we, the very voters apparently taken for granted, expected to do all of the campaign's dirty work? Because aside from many of us out here on the fringe, I have yet to hear the direct full frontal assault by the Kerry campaign to fight back and call the Bush administration exactly what they are: LIARS! CHICKENHAWKS!

Look, many of us have temporarily abandoned our own fundamental principles and political ideology to throw our unwavering support behind the Kerry campaign.

For instance: Over 90% of the core Democratic constituency doesn't support the War in Iraq--and that doesn't include the millions of Conservative and Independents that recognize an unjust invasion. Yet, we are still, for lack of choice, throwing our support behind a candidate that supported the war and, regardless of his campaign rhetoric to pull out in 4 years, will in all reality keep U.S. soldiers' presence in Iraq for years to come.

The hardened reality of facing another 4 years of the Bush administration is almost unimaginable and far too horrific to fully contemplate.

However, we all recognize what is at stake here, and unfortunately, we've waited very patiently for the Kerry campaign to gain traction.

Well, folks, the clock is ticking and time has almost run out! Who is going to sound off the alarm bells and wake up the Kerry campaign?

Truly, like in any heavyweight title fight, you have to win by KNOCK-OUT! We all know what happens when it comes down to a judge's decision...the 2000 election.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Send feedback to 60 Minutes!

It would be worthwhile to post a notice to people to send feedback ( found on the CBS home page) for Dan Rather and the 60 Minutes staff.

They deserve appreciation for engaging in real and courageous journalism, as opposed to most of what we see on television"news".

They not only investigated and ran a story that they KNEW would bring fire on them...they have also stood their ground against the Karl Rove smear machine.

I salute them!!

But, I also know now how the GOP works...and I am sure that 60 Minutes is being swamped with negative feedback from the right.

So please...let us communicate our appreciation and support when it is so needed.

Barbara, New Mexico

[BuzzFlash Note: You can contact 60 Minutes via this web page.]

Following the Democratic National Convention attacks on John Kerry's military record were justified by the claim that he had made his military career the centerpiece of the convention.

President Bush has just wrapped up the Republican Convention in which he made his efforts or lack thereof, surrounding "911" the centerpiece of the convention.

During the "Summer of Threats" George Tenet told the 911 Commission, "the system was blinking red", he said further it could not "get any worse".

So what did our president do? He went on vacation for a month. Who was left in charge? Not the Vice President, he went on vacation for the month too. In fact, the Director of the CIA, Mr. Tenet was also on vacation and he testified to the 911 Commission that he didn't talk to the president at all during this period.

On August 6th, 2001 the President's Daily Brief, stated that "Bin Laden Determined To Strike in the US".

Following the briefing, the president spent the rest of the day fishing. When questioned by the 911 Commission, the president told them that the report "was historical in nature". It is now.

Respectfully,

Mike Scott

Subject: Bush's "many, many" positions on Iraq

Bush has been pounding Kerry for his "many, many" positions on Iraq.

This is coming from the guy who came up with a new justification for invading Iraq on almost a daily basis? One justification got disproved by inconvenient facts, and presto, the Bushies came up with a new justification. Honestly, why hasn't Kerry hit him back on this? Bush is more vulnerable than Kerry on this issue.

No matter how unclear Kerry has been, he can't touch the ever-shifting Bush justifications for invading Iraq.

This is just a variation of the flip-flop issue. We all have seen the countless Bush flip-flops and Iraq is one of the Bushies' biggest.

It's time for Kerry to always start his response to a Bush attack by first asking if Bush himself is guilty of what he's accusing Kerry of .... Almost every time Bush accuses Kerry of something, Bush himself has a far worse record on the issue. And Bush's "many, many" positions on Iraq is just the tip of the iceberg.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Thanks to CBS & Dan Rather for speaking to truth

The Kerry/Edwards ticket is having to fight Bush/Cheney/Faux News/Hate radio and the major media. CNN is pathetic! I appreciate that Fox/Faux is at least sticking to its guns and not pretending to be fair and balanced.....they know that they are the right arm of the neo-cons and they don't operate on any other pretext. Let's support CBS which is trying to REPORT the NEWS about Bush's service record!!! I emailed CBS and Dan Rather to thank them. The rest of the media is trying to downplay Dubya's service which we know is bogus. When we find writers and networks that are trying to sincerely report the truth, let write to encourage them. Let them know that we are appreciative.

D.Turner
Atlanta

Subject: Osama Bin Laden

Dear BuzzFlash;

Thursday, September 9, I believe I heard on CNN that a terrorist stronghold on the Pakistani border had been raided by Pakistan and fifty people were killed. Later the same story was repeated and additionally that a video tape had caught the likes of Osama bin Ladin. The next day, on NPR I heard that the video was unsubstantiated. Later on that day Rummy was on the air blathering that we hadn't seen OBL in two years and that meant that he was cooking up a new terrorist attack. Are they getting ready to roll out OBL? Anyone have any thoughts on that? October isn't far away. Just wondering.

Katy
Las Vegas

Subject: Who is fit to lead

John Kerry volunteered for Viet Nam military service.

George Bush joined the National Guard to avoid Viet Nam service.

John Kerry as a young man was before congress reporting on war atrocities.

George Bush as a young man was drinking, getting into trouble and doing drugs.

John Kerry moved on to public service in congress.

George Bush, moved on to be placed at the head of several companies which he led into bankruptcy.

John Kerry has spent his adult life in military and public service to his country.

George Bush has spent the majority of his adult life as an irresponsible drunk.

Who is fit to lead the country?

Pat

Subject: When the polls were dead wrong

Democrats are getting worried about Kerry falling in some polls.

They need to be reminded that the 1948 polls predicted a Dewey victory of between 5-15 percentage points, but Truman won by 4.4 percentage points. Do Dewey's numbers sound familiar? The labor vote was energized as Democrats worried about Dewey's strength in pre-election polls, and Republicans were sure their candidate would win. The Republicans confidently played golf when polling ceased a couple of days before the election. Evidently, pollsters should have continued to sample right up to election day, lending much credence to Yogi's statement, "It ain't over, til it's over!" The polling industry has made progress in methods of sampling and timing, but it still has plenty to learn about methods, wording, and order of questions. Identifying likely voters is still a mystery to most polling organizations. A unique lesson for pollsters from the 1948 Truman/Dewey election continues to be true today, which is [every time you get cocky, you lose.] Hopefully, the links will be filled up with confident Republicans when Kerry wins the election!

~ Cathy

Subject: a two by four to bush's head!

if john kerry and john edwards do not have commercials ready to go on the air at a moments notice in missouri in the event bush is so scared of a town hall type debate (in other words scared of what the people in mo might ask him) and refuses the debate, then they deserve to lose. they should hit bush with that like a two by four to his head and don't stop the pounding! ACT LIKE A REPUBLICAN ATTACK DOG!

diane a.
miami

Subject: politics is getting scarier and scarier

For starters, I got "punk'd" twice...you have to be very afraid...very afraid.

The first one was sort of funny...my religious zealot rightwinger who e-mails me once in a while....sent me an e-mail about the connection between the bible and Iraq.It is a direct quote from the Quran(Koran) about chapter' '9'...verse '11"...got that...9:11???

Okay...her quote is that, supposedly reading from the Islamic bible...that an Eagle would appear.....and a son of Abraham would come into the land, and free the people of iraq from their horrid dictator....Please excuse me, I am taking liberty with words, just to shorten it....But, this is exactly what the intent was.

So, me being me, Curious'...I wrote and asked her if she had a copy of the Koran, that I would check it out. Not a word came back...so I called my local Library and the woman, very intelligent sounding...read the exact quote to me from the Koran...translated in english, by hebrews...so it read right to left...it was a little hard, but she read it...it was short, something to the effect that they must abide by the rules of the Koran...or yada yada yada...pretty much like our own Bible would teach (Not, she said, a mention of an Eagle!!!!).

Then I went on the internet...and googled "islamic bible...chapter 9 verse 11" And, it popped up, that this was an e-mail being sent to people all over this country and explained the verse in the koran...as quoted in the Koran....and at the very bottom..(.they said this is a piece of crap.)...sent to unsuspecting people who will believe it..I would suppose.

It is the old "Girl who tanned so much, she microwaved herself to death" way of thinking...that story went all around this nation about 10 years ago...started by some college student in the west.

The other punk...was not so funny. I talked to my cousin last night...he is running for the Missouri House of Rep....and he wondered if I have heard anything about Kerry visiting the southern portion of Missouri...many of the democrats of Missouri are from there. Matt Blunt, son of Roy Blunt is running for the republican governor seat!...Our candidate, the first woman, democrat Claire McCaskill, my cousin and the Secy of treasurer....are trying to get the Kerry campaign down in that part...

So, I get on the site, and typed a message to Mary Beth Cahill wondering if Kerry had any plans to go down to that section. I know they are pretty sure that they have no place in Springfield...both Blunt and Ashcroft are from there, as are many of my relatives (some dems...some republicans). But, they need him in Poplar Bluff, Rolla, Ft. Leonard Wood, one of the only military bases, left in Mo..

When I got off, there was a 'junk' on my e-mail...telling me that I had just "written and excellent text...very good."..Period. I tried to reply.......because the e-mail address sort of brought me up short.!...It was my cousins e-mail address...with the word 'ghosts' in front of it...of course, it came back as a mailer daemon...no such address.. I printed it out...and sent it to my cousin.

I do not think, in my long life, I have ever seen politics as nasty as they have become with Bush/Cheney....they are the EvilDoers...that we didn't see coming!!

I am almost afraid to get on my mail anymore....because I so not want to jeopardize my cousins campaign. If things are this nasty in outstate Missouri, imagine what we will have to fight going into Nov.2nd.

Shirley.............st.Louis

PS: I did not get to go to the candlelight vigil last nite...was supposed to, for the 1000th american killed in Iraq...nor did I get to see Kerry today......flu!!! I hope to get another chance...the vigil I really wanted to go to. There were 65 signed up...and supposedly 175 showed up...a silent vigil in front of the History Museum.

[BuzzFlash Note: Shirley, take care of yourself. Also note that you can debunk many of the right's junk email at Snopes.com or TruthorFiction.com. In fact, the "9:11" fiction you mentioned is debunked here and here. Both appear to be non-partisan and dedicated only to the truth.]

Subject: Bush and the National Guard

George Bush has gotten double duty out of the National Guard. First he was able to use his family's political influence to get into the Guard as a way of avoiding military draft and a tour of duty in Vietnam. Now as president he uses the Guard as a virtual draft to send it's members into a war that he started. That's a bit of irony for you. And to add insult to injury he claims that any criticism of of his service in a champagne unit of the National Guard to avoid Vietnam somehow demeans those Guardsmen who are serving open ended tours in Iraq today. George Bush may not have any guts - but he does have lots of gall.

Tim M.
San Francisco

Subject: Bill Schneider: "We have a frontrunner."

Dear BuzzFlash Readers,

If any of you are as upset as I am with the report by Bill Schneider, CNN's political reporter, indicating that Bush is now a frontrunner, be sure to look up Schneider's bio. You'll discover he belongs to the American Enterprise Institute. Next research the AEI, a think tank for conservatives, neo-conservatives, and conservative libertarians. Pay particular attention to the list of contributors and to names of the some members of this organization.

Don't despair. Is it possible that by making this statement over and over again, an attempt is being made to discourage the Kerry-Edwards supporters?

I, for one, intend to change the channel anytime Bill Schneider appears on the screen. In my mind he is comparable to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Bill O'Reilly. Political analyst, my foot! He should be exposed for what he is---a shill for Bush.

A loyal BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Cheney Knows eBay

Friends,

We couldn't resist:

http://www.GeorgeWBuy.com

Yesterday, Cheney said the economy is not as bad as the numbers say it is because they don't take eBay into account. With the auctioning off of policy to the highest bidder, eBay is the right analogy for this White House. We listed just three examples on the site. If it takes off, we'll do more.

Thanks for posting info on the ad!

Take care,

David

Subject: The Resident in Chief largely resides elsewhere

How can the president protect us, if he's hardly ever there? Just asking.

"Following the Sept. 11 events, Bush is spending the rest of the weekend at Camp David, Md., continuing his frequent absences from Washington. With stays at his Texas ranch and his family's home in Maine, he has not spent a full day in the capital since Aug. 2."

LINK: "Bush Attends Service on 9/11 Anniversary"

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Boycott Monday Night Football

Hello BuzzFlash

I'm asking everyone to spread the word to boycott Monday Night Football.

Thursday night I was trying to escape politics for a while and decided to watch MNF. I couldn't believe my ears when Al Michaels started ripping on Kerry. I got so pissed I turned it off. Later I was at Media Matters and found out that Al Michaels is a total Rethug, and he makes rightwing comments all the time during the games.

Here's the link to the info on Michaels. http://mediamatters.org/items/200409100009

Please boycott Monday Night Football.

Thanks BuzzFlash.

Rick
Seal Beach Ca.

Subject: Blackboxes are NOT to be trusted --their development is a SCAM

BuzzFlashers:

Votes cast at a precinct should be counted at that precinct then forwarded.This simple solution would solve the problem of not knowing whether your vote had been compiled, canceled or switched. So simple then just to follow all the totals from all of the precincts. Most precincts have fewer voters than the average high school student body election; it's not rocket science like so many disingenuous Republican Secretaries of State would have you believe. Making voting complicated, makes it so much easier to corrupt the process. Electronic voting machines should be banned period, the only thing necessary after the initial count is a speedy computer that keeps the precinct outcomes in clear sight as it tallies the votes.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Bush's Honorable Discharge Was a Fraud!

Whenever Bush is challenged about going AWOL in 1972, he claims his Honorable Discharge absolves him of all sins. But for the first time, the conservative weekly US News is challenging the validity of Bush's HD. " Some experts say they remain mystified as to how Bush obtained an honorable discharge. Lawrence Korb, a former top Defense Department official in the Reagan administration, says the military records clearly show that Bush 'had not fulfilled his obligation' and 'should have been called to active duty.'... The regulations must be followed, adds James Currie, a retired colonel and author of an official history of the Army Reserve. 'Clearly, if you were the average poor boy who got drafted and sent into the active force," he says, "they weren't going to let you out before you had completed your obligation.'" Coming from US News, this is huge!!!!!!!!

John Aravosis adds his thoughts:

"Now is the time for some blogosphere coordination, friends. Send this story to your friends. Send it to your favorite blogs, your favorite email lists, your favorite bulletin boards. Hell, put the link to the story as the signature on your email or you bulletin board postings. Do whatever you can to make sure that as many people as possible take and run with this story so we can FORCE the mainstream media to pick up on this. It's what the vast right-wing conspiracy would do, it's time we did the same. Let's make this story BIG."

Share your thoughts in "Bush's Honorable Discharge Was a Fraud!"

Bob Fertik
Democrats.com
http://bobfertik.com

Subject: Kerry, the warrior. W, the smirker.

Dear Buzz,

It is so good to watch and listen to the less inhibited Kerry. He needs to stay in the warrior mode and increase the pressure on the Bushmen. They have a lot to fear from him, since they have NOTHING to offer to us, save more domestic and international disasters.

And speaking of disasters (sort of), I wonder if you or your readers saw the news footage from W's performance in Pennsylvania today? Apparently, W was interrupted by hecklers a couple of times, and, as the protesters were being removed from the room, the camera zoomed in on W's face.

His expression was unforgettable. I wish it was shown everywhere. He had a look of utmost arrogant, gloating disdain, complete with his more than usually vicious smirk. This was not a face of compassion (unless that's what conservative compassion means) by any stretch of imagination. When W is unscripted, his true colors painfully show -- and this is happening more and more lately.

Interestingly, the extremely unflattering close-up was gone from the evening news, though both ABC and NBC showed it twice on the afternoon broadcasts. The same report was repeated on the evening news, but without the image of his gloating smirk this time. Somebody must have decided it was too revealing... I tried to locate the footage on their websites, but had no success.

A picture is worth more than a thousand words indeed. We should combine these conservative mugs (Freaky Miller, Growling Cheney, Disdainful W -- and more) into one scary gallery for Halloween this year (as 'Ghosts of the Past,' let's hope).

Buzzer.

P.S. The similarities between Bush and Bundy in those two photos from today's Mailbag are uncanny!

Subject: It's because he lied about it

I remember when the Republicans were trying to get President Clinton kicked out of office saying, "it's not that he had sex with that woman - it's that he lied about it." Now we get to say the same thing. It's not that Bush has strings pulled to get him out of Vietnam - it's that he lied about it. It's not that he didn't show up for his national guard duty - it's that he lied about it. It's not that they didn't find weapons of mass destruction - it's that he lied about it. And - it's not that he got us into and unprovoked war against the wrong enemy that has crippled the economy and got 1000 soldiers killed - it's that he lied to get us in there.

Well - actually - it is about getting 1000 soldiers killed - not just that he lied about it.

Marc Perkel
San Francisco, CA.