Subject: See Ukraine election

Senator Lugar was sent to the Ukraine to monitor the elections and called it
fraudulent. The monitors cited exit polls as proof.

If only in America!

Jenny C.

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Subject: St. Louis Move-on group is trying to organize a boycott of the STL Post Dispatch—Goodbye democracy. Hello fascism.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Last night I attended a Move-On house party with about 50 other people who are furious that the election fraud story is being ignored by mainstream media outlets. Move-On had us take a survey about the two most important issues bothering us. The majority of us held our hands up for election reform and media reform. Then they asked what strategy we should use to solve these important issues. There were several good suggestions, but the one we thought would be most effective in the short term would be a boycott of our local newspaper, the STL Post Dispatch.

We feel we have a small window of opportunity to stage a boycott on the newspaper this week, because it is their biggest week for advertising dollars flowing in from businesses for the holidays. Plus, it is the time when the voter recount is going on in Ohio. If we could have a convergence of those two happenings, then perhaps we may be able to make an impact on the kind of attention the voter fraud story will receive in the next few weeks.

We are writing them letters warning them that we are canceling our subscriptions come Wed. morning, if they continue to refuse to focus on the most important story to unfold in
our country's history...that of election theft! We are a small group of people with high hopes that this effort may turn the mainstream media around, but we need help if we are to be successful. This boycott effort needs to go national, so I am hoping you can help us out.

This is such an important & urgent matter. Or else it is—Goodbye democracy. Hello fascism.

Peace,

R. Levin
St. Louis, MO

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Subject: Bush "Victory Dance" in Ohio: A Case of Premature Congratulation?

There are now 135,000 valid provisional votes in Ohio yet to be factored into the official vote total. If Kerry does as well as Al Gore did in 2000 (85%-15%) over King George, The Bush margin statewide shrinks to a mere 40,000 votes. Given the outstanding issue of the mysterious 92,000 "ghost voters" in the white suburbs of Cleveland, it would seem that Kerry, if he had the requisite stones, would declare that he had only yet begun to fight.

And think of all the votes stolen by the willful, malicious and illegal decision to apportion to African American Communities in Columbus and Cleveland an insufficient number of voting machines to accommodate the throng of voters that election officials knew were coming. This is Jim Crow Politics and a Violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Kerry lawyers should be acquiring the evidence--and there's a ton of it--to substantiate these allegations in Court.

The Remedy: A new election in Franklin and Cuyahoga Counties. The days of the Poll Tax are over. The suburbs of Cleveland had more than enough voting machines while blacks in the same County had to wait hours to cast a ballot.

There is also the issue of absentee voters not receiving their ballots on time--if they received them at all. This pernicious behavior is on par with E-Voting fraud. Take this all the way to the Supreme Court. Let those bastards defend Jim Crow--and steal another election for the Unelected President of the United States.

Brad F.

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Subject: DO NOT CONCEDE THIS ELECTION!!! PLEASE

BuzzFlash,

What's up with these people who are saying that they're "part of the 49%" who voted against Bush? To me that is defeated language!

I personally am one of the majority that voted for Kerry. However, Bush may yet pull off another election theft? And this will be made even easier if he, and his minions, are successful in convincing the public that he did, indeed, win the election and we - as was done in 2000 - stop the recount.

NOW, if, as I have read, John Kerry did squirrel away $15 Mil. for just such an emergency, it proved to be a wise move and it is now time to start challenging the election results in EVERY STATE!!!

So Senator John Kerry, if you've got some funds, it's time to give it up. Because - most grassroots activists - like myself, have the heart for the struggle but little else. There are many of us gathering at the following URL:

http://www.politicalstrategy.org/archives/000838.php

Please go there - read and join us!!!

Allen K.

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Subject: Do not get Daschled again

I was disturbed to see incoming Senate Democratic leader Sen. Harry Reid say this:

In danger of falling into the very same trap his predecessor did:

Bush/Cheney stalled just long enough to never have to face Senate Hearings or a single subpoena...after Paul Wellstone and Max Cleland were out of their way.

Was Paul Wellstone Murdered? (alternet, 10/28/02)

If you want to win an election, just control the voting machines (Online Journal, 1/21/03)

Matt in Michigan

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Subject: "Outfoxed"

You really do not realize at this time of the year...and after a horrid election, how
busy you have been...how little time you take to just do something for yourself...that
you have been meaning to do.

Your copy of "Outfoxed" sent to me...had gone by the wayside...I cannot explain it except that after Bush was installed in 2000, I never, ever would watch it again... Oh, yeah, I heard all the STUFF...the fight with Bill O'Reilly and Al Franken on the book review that night, and thought to myself...he has not changed. The trial that he and Roger Ailes tried to bring against Franken...and lost...I also remember his promise to the audience, that if Bush did not find WMDs...he would publicly denounce him. Of course, another lie...I didn't watch his explanation of that lie...but I am quite sure it was just more of the same.

But this movie...put me over the edge...and I no longer wondered about Fox Phony News. I laughed until I thought I would die...with all the "Shut Ups"!!! and the "Some people say." That way they do not have to even try to reveal a source...just "some people." The buzz words that they start with...and carry all through the other shows...the dimwits I remembered from the morning show...Oh, such embarrassments. The way Roger Ailes tried to impress people with their Liberal reporters...like Alan Colmes...the poor uninformed creature who has to put up with Hannity every night...that is such a pity. I suppose it is part of the plan! He also mentioned such people as Greta Van Susteren...and a couple of others who cannot for one minute out talk any show host...including the greatest sellout in American History...Geraldo Rivera. People...this show has not gotten better...it has gotten worse!!!

I was reading in the paper today...about them at a deadlock in the government about passing bills...and I just thought...you guys go at it now...if you pass nothing, it is not one democrat's fault. They have no one to blame but themselves...it is hardly likely that they will try to blame it on a minority in the house or the senate. Just keep on makin' Government mistakes...ruin the country...even more...and then try to pick up the pieces. What a situation...what a crime!!!

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

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Subject: If only those hunters had been armed to defend themselves...

This is not funny: it is horrible, of course. Good goin' so far with that assault ban thing expiring, huh?

Hilary

[BuzzFlash Note: In this tragedy, a sixth person died in the hospital.]

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Subject: Clarification on a BuzzFlash Statement on DRAFT - IMPORTANT

Dear BuzzFlash,

Regarding this statement made in your newsletter this morning: "Can You Feel the Draft? Officers See Need For Bigger Iraq Force. U.S. Assessments Cite Tenacious Resistance, But Everything is Just Rosy, According to Bush. 11/22"

I think you folks are way off on this one. As I mentioned in the essay I sent you for posting last week (rejected):

I think you all would be better served publishing material on both the "poverty draft" and the "back door draft" of formerly retired service people. Some 4000 have been called up recently, and more than 2000 have refused to report or requested exemption. Also, they plan to expand this back door draft to another 15,000 formerly retired personnel.

This is very important. Dissent in the ranks of former service people can be used to foster greater public dissent against the war.

Please consider it.

Charles Shaw
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Newtopia Magazine
www.newtopiamagazine.net

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Re: Can You Feel the Draft? Officers See Need For Bigger Iraq Force. U.S. Assessments Cite Tenacious Resistance, But Everything is Just Rosy, According to Bush. 11/22

We should only draft the kids of registered republicans and make sure none of the kids of republican politicians slide under the door, like Bush did!

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: The fighting Republicans

I have been reading the papers ever since the republican led congress and senate went
back and are trying to pass legislation...the only thing they have gotten done, is the
[rule change] about Tom DeLay...you know, the one where he does not have to step down if he is indicted??

Funny....they cannot even get along with each other...which is gonna make it very funny when Bush really wants to pass something...He has a short fuse anyway...so it's gonna get interesting, folks...hang on...for the ride.!!!!

I am gonna be sitting here, laughing, and Tom DeLay is the Architect of this entire thing.
He made it so, with his hard work, and illegal pandering to the Texas Supreme court,
that state is all red now...almost...and I am not sure if any democrats are even left. I read in the paper this morning that most republican presidents counted on the moderate dems from the south...to help them...now, they just have hard right-wing republicans...insane ones who slip little two page silly legislation into the middle of the 200 page bills...that no one could read anyway...in time to pass it. (The two page stupidity has been removed, and of course, no one knows who did it.)

All this makes me think of a lazy mailman we had at a place where I worked in the 1990s. He would bind up our mail in a huge bundle...and on Saturday...I would always have to make a run back...because right in the middle he would put 8-9 pieces of mail
that he did not want to take the time for...it was silliness at its height!

The Republican run houses are gonna be a giggle one after another for this president. Good luck with your right wing mess, guys!! They all think this is a game and we, the taxpayers, are not even watching...this has gone much too far, and is going to have to take years to straighten out!

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

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Subject: I've finally figured it out!!

I have finally figured it out! Bored with the quarterly celebrity scandals or pregnant wife murder trial that lasts only a year, the media has decided to go for the BIG KAHUNA! To get the most from readership, sales and viewership, the media types have all agreed that a US CIVIL WAR will be THE STORY OF THIS CENTURY and they are obliged to help that
along as much as possible. Mike Jackson going to jail, Martha Stewart, Bill Clinton impeachment, good but not lasting---didn't sell enough papers. A US Civil war will have nothing the events of the past -- World Trade Center Towers falling to ground NOTHING! Think of it! Americans killing each other, red versus blue, legal vs illegal, black vs  everybody else, white vs everybody else, gun owners vs flower children.

I cannot think of any other reason for the media's complacency. THEY WANT CHAOS.

P. Jones
Mesquite

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Subject: A no-confidence vote, not a mandate

J.T.

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Subject: Red and blue states

Dear Buzz,

Hey y'all, enough already! It was bad enough to be a "yellow dog" Democrat in Georgia and watch the political parade pass me and my fellow progressives by because both candidates knew Georgia was in the bag for Bush and wasn't worth the time of day. But now, despite the fact that large numbers of people across the South worked tirelessly for Kerry, donated big bucks to his campaign, and cast our vote for him, we are being subjected to hostility and ridicule. Folks, this red state/blue state mentality is divisive, self-destructive, and simply plays into the hands of Karl Rove & Co., who are probably laughing their heads off at this convenient turn of events.

Take a closer look at the vote distribution, and you will see not blocks of red and blue, but lots of purple. In other words, there are spirited progressives in every part of this country, and it's not their fault that they are momentarily outnumbered by their brain-dead neighbors. By the way, my congressional district is one of the few in the country that was able to unseat an incumbent Republican (Max Burns) and replace him with an exciting young Democrat, John Barrow, who comes from the best of the southern Democratic tradition (that is, nothing like Zig-Zag Zell).

Thanks, Buzz, for keeping us informed in this desperate time.

Prudence
Athens, GA

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Subject: GOP wants to snoop on your tax returns

Republicans’ first three acts, upon consolidating their control of the federal government:

1) Lower the ethical standards for their Leaders

2) Kill the Intel Reform bill (the one thing that actually would make us safer)

3) Try to give themselves AND THEIR STAFFS the power to snoop on your tax returns.

G.O.P. Says Motive for Tax Clause in Budget Bill Was Misread (NY Times)

Todd

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Subject: College Republican military recruitment drive...

Because we now have military commanders, and Sen. John McCain, saying we need a lot more troops in Iraq to fight the insurgency (McCain estimates we need another 50,000!), I propose that we organize a College Republicans military recruitment drive.

Officers See Need For Bigger Iraq Force (Washington Post)

More troops for Iraq insurgent says lawmaker (iol.co)

We should go to every Campus in the United States with a College Republicans chapter, and actively recruit them to defend America and Support President bush by joining the armed forces.

Make sure you recruit them for the Marines or the Army, so they will be guaranteed to be sent to Iraq.

Also, take out full page advertisements in every college newspaper in the country asking for students who voted for President bush to join our armed forces and support the President and defend our country in Iraq.

Tell these patriotic Americans that supporting our troops means more than putting a sticker on your car.

Hesiod

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Subject: Pot, Meet Kettle

When I read this article on Yahoo News, US Threatens Punitive Steps Over Ukrainian Election (Reuters), I just sat here, mouth gaping, like a landed fish. Then I started to laugh uncontrollably. I think I might have been hysterical.

The opening paragraph got me going:

Let's see, who's failing to investigate allegations of fraud and abuse in presidential elections? But then, this:

It's an old tradition in Europe, taking to the streets in protest, and I guess Americans are just too lazy to do that. Seems we'd rather sit in front of the TV and whine.

Seriously, maybe this is what it will take. If we believe so strongly that this election was stolen, we have to force ourselves to be heard. We've done it before -- during Vietnam, and hey, we did it during the republican convention. I watched as an estimated quarter million people paraded through Manhattan in peaceful protest. I just wonder why we're not doing it now. Doesn't the absolute complete total hypocrisy of this article make you angry? That this administration will straight-faced say things like this about another country, when exactly the same thing happened here? Look at the percentage difference in their vote -- it's almost the same as ours. It's enough to make them take to the streets for what they believe in. Can we do the same?

Just wondering.

Sue

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Subject: Send In The Clowns . . . Please

BuzzFlash,

The highlight of my day today was when I read in your mailbag the letter from M. Escudero of Santiago, Chile and his summary of Bush's visit. Of course, we have heard of Bush's excesses when traveling abroad; he even pissed off the Queen of England for ruining some of their gardens while there.

But, what I see is that Bush is the perfect candidate for the GOP when it comes to selling their ideas about terrorists plotting all over the world, lurking in the shadows, behind every tree, or in the drain pipes of buildings ready to exterminate us and ours at any minute. Bush's paranoia is probably real, but also is a useful tool to convince the Republicans' confused base of political backers here in the US. that the threats of the "evil doers" from around the world must be real.

In some way this plays out as just another not-so-real reality show for the US . . . but in another way, it shows the sad and tragic reality that's playing out now in the US. Heads of Countries and Heads of State around the world are not fooled. They know that hitting on Bush would not change one paragraph in the GOP's lustful program of power and greed in the world, and that the GOP would keep on trying to fulfill their agenda they have planned for the US and our position in the world.

Those same Heads of State and Heads of Countries . . . along with a little over half of the US, maybe, also know that, "Bush is not the man behind the curtain, Bush is the curtain."

So, send in the clowns, if we want laughs . . . they are a whole lot cheaper.

Just a thought. Thanks BuzzFlash.

Shirley Smith

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Subject: Associated Press Damage Control

Hi BuzzFlash,

Liberal Media Bias?

I was waiting for damage control to start and it only took a day or two. A Nov. 22 Associated Press article on Iraq contains an obviously planted story to ameliorate the negative press the U.S. Army is getting over the wounded Iraqi killing that was 'caught on tape.' Not content with pressuring the embedded 'journalist' who filmed it to soften the story (kiss that job good-bye Mr. Sites)...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/22/2015/0198

the military apparently felt they needed to add some 'context' by supplying AP with the unattributed, unsupported claim that 'Marines shot and killed an insurgent yesterday who opened fire on a patrol after pretending to be dead,' then linking that to the first story.

Iraq's election set for Jan. 30 (AP/London Free Press)

Iraq sets date for elections as violence sweeps through Sunni Muslim regions (Shaw/Canadian Press)

Election date set as violence rises (AP/Jordan Times)

Do these guys just print a statement like this out of the blue...and who wrote this piece?

A. Grainger
London Canada

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Subject: Election

Hi Buzz,

What happened to our Election, the powers that be altered and dinged with the touch screen Machines, just enough to intrigue the checkers, and keep them busy watching the voting, in the mean time when all the votes were sent to the State house, where they are to be tallied. They are tallied on a regular every day type PC Computer, no guards no special inspections.

Everyone should know that a standard PC is easy pickings for a hacker, a good hacker is not even bothered by Fire walls or other safety type software, SO, while the vote checkers think they are keeping everyone honest in the Polling Places, The hacker or hackers are busy modifying the final tally to reflect the winners. The hackers only have to alter tallies in 52 computers while the checkers are watching thousands, and the worst part is we probably never will find out who did it, as hackers do not leave calling cards. Keep up the GREAT WORK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert T.

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Subject: PM Carpenter op-ed

BuzzFlash:

Normally I would agree with Mr. Carpenter's analysis/prediction of Republican imperial hubris being the precursor to their downfall...but these aren't normal times. The difference? They're immune to public opinion, because they've just proven that they can steal elections on a national scale. With a solid enough minority masquerading as a majority (of people who actually bother to vote, anyway), they obviously feel that they answer to no one. And the truth is, they're right about that, as the "election" just past has shown.

That's why public opinion won't stop this runaway freight train to hell. My first reaction, perhaps like Mr. Carpenter, was "give 'em enough rope." This was quickly followed by the realization that this time, they've stolen the rope, and the danger is that they will not only hang themselves separately, but hang all of us together.

You want a clear, simple message for the Democratic party? Try this: Count Paper Ballots. I suspect even some red-staters are not totally comfortable with faith-based elections, they just like the results so far. But with control of the public work of democracy now in private hands - bloody red hands - we can't expect fear of electoral backlash to act as a check on the fascists. Short of armed insurrection, we can't expect them to change course - and in that case, it would be to clamp down even harder. (But hey, at least they'd have to bring the troops home.)

Yes, things will get worse - much worse. And without recourse to an actual choice, as opposed to an elaborate and very expensive theatrical production, I fear things won't be getting better, since even what semblance of a means to change things we once had - the ballot box, our actual physical democracy - has been lost to us forever.

Rich Hatchett
Gainesville, FL

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Subject: Pro anything to get elected

TIME TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION SO THIS GROPENATOR CAN LEAD THE NATION WITH .....THIS LOGIC.... Conan the Environmentalist Governor Groping Austrian Beefcake is promising to boost hydrogen as an alternative fuel source in California - a laudable goal. Perhaps, though, he could start by practicing what he preaches. Arnie turned up at a photo-op last week driving a hydrogen-powered Hummer, which he proceeded to fill at a special pump in front of a crowd of enthusiastic photographers. Unfortunately the makers of the Hummer admitted later that it not been retrofitted but built specially for the occasion and, could only travel 50 miles before needing to be refueled. And, uh, no hydrogen actually came out of the pump that Arnold was photographed using, it was just a prop. Finally, after the press had put their cameras and notebooks away, the Gropenator left in a regular gasoline-powered Hummer that gets 15 miles to the gallon. Oh well, at least he looked good for the cameras.

Green Hummer for Schwarzenegger? (MSNBC)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: sick of this

Dear Buzz,

I am so sick and tired of hearing and reading about how and what Democrats did or did not do to win this election. HEY! Lets call a spade a spade and get down to the crux of the matter. The Repugs stole this election just like they did the last one, and this country
doesn't have moral values, as shown by whom they voted for! But you'd think the
Democrats were the heathens of the world......well let it be known, it's the Repugs who have gotten us into this mess with Iraq, and now possibly with Iran, now that Iran has to' prove' to Bush that they've stopped their nuclear program. The Gigantic horrendous
deficit, the loss of thousands upon thousands of jobs, health care, and other social programs, clean air, and thousands of our soldiers in Iraq, and also the ever rapid falling dollar which will further drive this country into the ditch of despair, and 60% of the Jim Jones kool-aid drinkers think Bush is doing a swell job!!! IT'S THE REPUBLICANS STUPID! God help us all, and get me the hell out of dodge, as I can't take it anymore!

A Loyal Buzz Fan Forever!

Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska

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Subject: Yes! - Boycott Corporate Christmas!

Buzz,

Kudos to November 22nd "A Loyal Reader" suggesting boycotting Christmas. But it isn't a boycott of Christmas, but a boycott of corporate-provoked spending sprees [that have nothing to do with Christmas and that in these hard times of corporate lay-offs, put families in debt].

Make a pact with family and friends to limit gift-giving to one present per person - and all gifts are to be home-made - thus the giver puts his/her heart, imagination and creativity into the gift. Or if store-bought, a gift only from a small, locally-owned store [stay out of
WalMart! and other big-box corporate stores].

Or better, as Loyal Reader suggested, give a gift card saying that the money usually spent on the person's presents has been donated in his/her name to a worthy cause [e.g., Oxfam for their Iraqi children's program, or Seva for their Native American programs].

If Buzzers did this, we would make an impact, a statement. Return year-end gift-giving to its spiritual origins. And have fun doing it! "Pretty shiny things" come in many different packages.

T. Quigly

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Subject: Bush finds "Field of Dreams" in IA

Field of Dreams was a movie about some guy playing baseball with the ghosts of departed Baseball Legends. The setting was an Iowa farm that was converted into a baseball field.

Bush, the former managing general partner of the Texas Rangers, clearly had some ghostly apparitions in the Hawkeye State throwing curveballs for his baseball team on Election Day 2004. Why?

In 2000, Gore defeated Bush 638,517 to 634,373. During the '04 Iowa Caucuses, angry Democrats nearly doubled their participation in the Caucus over 2000, eager to find a replacement for Bush. In 2004, new Democratic registration outpaced the Republicans 45,058 to 6,478 votes. Not all of these folks voted, but it certainly gave Kerry a nice cushion going into Election Day.

Kerry would also not have to face the irritant of Ralph Nader. His '04 showing was a mere 5,000 votes, down 24,000 votes from '00, when he nearly cost Gore the state.

IA, although rural, has voted for Gore ('00), Clinton ('92 & '96) and Dukakis ('88 by 8%). Another nice cushion. Also, the state is pacifist in nature. Conservative Republican Sen. Charles Grassley was the only Republican in 1991 who voted against the 1st Persian Gulf War resolution.

They now approve of what is going on Iraq? Freed of the Nader threat, buoyed by an energized party base, and enjoying a huge net gain in voter registration for his party were all major factors boding well for a Kerry Iowa victory (in the vicinity of 2 - 3 .5%).

What happens? Bush defeats Kerry, 745,980 (50%) to 732,764 (49%). The exit polls showed Kerry either tied or up 2%, depending on which wave of polling you read. The Des Moines Register published an Election Eve poll showing Kerry ahead of Bush 48-45%, an ominous sign for an incumbent. Kerry was leading in early voting 53% - 41%. The paper noted that Kerry's strength was increasing beyond 3% margin in the latter days of their polling.

This state is a microcosm of so many states. The numbers don't add up. There is a secret Bush caucus hiding in the IA cornfields, throwing spitballs into the wheels of Representative Democracy.

Brad F.

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Subject: Talking To the FOX

Bass Ackwards.

Dear FOX News,

Once more FOX has turned reality on its head when attempting to describe Bush's rude behavior at recent dinner in Chile as brave and bold. When a scuffle ensued regarding the admission of Bush's bodyguard to a private dining room, Bush reportedly reached over and grabbed the bodyguard by the lapels and pushed him into the room. He was so "brave" he wouldn't attend a small dinner party without a bodyguard behind his chair.

Likely it was a culturally based combination of respect for the office (for which we should be very grateful, considering the bruising methods practiced by the Bush administration) and shock at his crude behavior that stunned the Chileans into capitulating.

This sort of incident leaves bad feelings in its wake that may well haunt us in days to come. The record of strained relationships this administration has created are the harvest of bullying and stupidly boorish behavior. Bush travels with extraordinary and burdensome security. More than that of any other President. It seems to me, that behavior is more reflective of fear than courage.

We all know what happened on 9-11. First Bush froze, then he fled. Dick Cheney was doing what little was done to secure the country while Bush was playing hide and seek. Congress had to shame him into returning to Washington.

We all know what Bush did during the Viet Nam war; got a cushy billet flying outdated jets that guaranteed he'd never be sent into battle.

Bush acts tough when he thinks he has an overwhelming advantage. The old fashioned name for that sort of behavior is bullying.

The Chileans, having suffered under bullies in the past had no trouble recognizing another. The citizens of Chile let Bush know they understand who and what he is. They took to the streets in an unprecedented way.

Bullies are universally hated and invite resistance. Bush should take heed, not liberties.

Sincerely,

Carol Davidek-Waller
Kirkland WA

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Subject: What Really Matters

Here I am, a veteran of the Air Force during Vietnam, someone who protested the war once I got out.

Here I am, a veteran of Election 2004, someone who took days off work to go help get out the vote in nearby Ohio.

And here I am, listening to damn near everyone trying to explain away the groundswell of support for change, the damnable exit polls that seem to have lied, the hundreds of ways in which the vote was intimidated, suppressed, prevented and manipulated.

I have no faith in our current administration -- how can I after watching the unbelievable justification for invading Iraq? Or the twisting of war into peace, economic devastation into prosperity, shredding of the Constitution into freedom and liberty?

That said, we have now one shot at taking our country back by peaceful (relatively) means. Either we make this past election right, or there is nothing left for us but revolution.

I'm looking to see who emerges as a leader. Kerry is not it. I'm sad about that, but he's too buttoned up to do it. Dean could do it. Why can't the Dems see they have a huge population out here looking for a leader?

Ah well...I can hope for some hope. But I'm not too optimistic at the moment.

Sincerely,

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: A Plan?

Thousands of opposition demonstrators continue to flood the heart of the Ukrainian capital Kiev rallying for pro-western liberal Viktor Yushchenko, charging their presidential election that gave Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych a narrow victory was rigged and are calling for the result to be annulled.

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Subject: Mysterious 'George W. Bush: Our leader' Clear Channel political public service billboard graces Orlando freeway

A billboard recently put up in Orlando bearing a smiling photograph of President Bush with the words “Our Leader” is raising eyebrows among progressives who feel the poster is akin to that of propaganda used by tyrannical regimes.

Paul

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Subject: Another good idea from Canada!

I just read the letter by the Christian woman who feels that BuzzFlash uses the term "Christian" in a way that makes it sound like a dirty word. While, being Christian, I do not find myself offended, I can see where others might. Some Canadians have taken to calling the people, to whom I refer as crusading-chukoos, "Evangelofascists," which I find very descriptive. It does not even mention Christ and refers only to that group of Evangelicals who believe in the crusading mentality we have heard expressed non-stop by people like Foulwell and Robertson as well as the belief that their literalist interpretation of the Bible should be codified into U.S. Law.

Not even all Evangelicals approve of what Bush is doing, once they actually find out what that is.

I have been frankly astounded by the lack of leadership I have seen in the more mainline Christian Churches. If anyone should be taking the E.F.s to task, and in public, it should be the more moderate and Liberal Christians. So, if we mainliners do not wish to be lumped in with the crazies, perhaps we should take on the crazies ourselves, like we all demanded that the moderate Muslims do, after 9/11. We have allowed these hate-filled, war-mongering people to Hijack the religion of the Prince of Peace, whose only commandment, according to the Book of John, was that we love one another. It is up to us, not our more non-religious Brethren on the Left to hold these people directly accountable, every chance we get.

Thanks Buzz for all that you do, which I might add, includes posting letters from self-identified Christians all the time.

Peace be with you.

DD+

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Richard from Michigan

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Subject: Right Wing Permissiveness

Dear BuzzFlash,

Just today we read headlines about an enraged hunter gunning down innocent human beings with his legal semi-automatic weapon in Wisconsin. We read an article in the New York Times that shows how the righteous Values Voters enjoy plenty of network television sex and violence, free from slightest notion of hypocrisy. Over the weekend violence springs up in sporting events, the worst seeming to be the NBA game in Detroit, but not limited to just that one venue. On top of all that, the radicals in the Republican House of Representatives tell the average American that their security and safety will just have to take a back seat to the Pentagon. After all, violence against Americans to this crowd is not as important as power and profits.

With so much of the recent political dialog centered on the sham issue of Values, it would seem a bad time to add to the dialog with another arguable point about bad values. Perhaps, but it is also time to fight fire with fire.

The simple fact is this. The Values Crowd is the new home to Permissiveness and Societal Disintegration. While on the warpath to make sure women do not control their own bodies, or that homosexuals find real happiness, they have balefully looked away while their fellow citizens indulge their most violent and sick fantasies. The facts of their hedonism are everywhere:

Blood lust fills our Big Corporate Media. They cater to a wide audience, mostly of Value Voters who do not need to leave home to get their fix. Now, more than ever, violence is combined with titillation in the same images creating a sadomasochism that is undeniable. SM, as any Psychologist will note, is aberrant behavior mainly conducted by people whose lives are tightly controlled or who control others, tightly. It goes hand-in-hand with the kind of top-down fundamentalist religious structure that the Values crowd so desperately seeks.

The permissiveness of the Self-Righteous Right is to do nothing to curtail this aberrancy. Though progressives will always side with the free flow of information, we can and should demand that the Values voters begin to live the values they want to force on the rest of us. We should not indulge their permissive attitudes towards violence and violent sex, and the tools of violence. We should demand that they stop watching shows that celebrate violence and violence and sex. We need to demand that they stop indulging in the two most dangerous facilitators of violence, guns and alcohol. We know many of the Value crowd delight in the images of death and mayhem that emanate from Iraq. We should point out that the biggest consumers of violent images from Iraq, even more than the Islamic world, are the Values crowd that enjoys a good beheading as much as any insurgent.

Perhaps it is high time to expose these hypocrites for the kind of self-serving, imperfect and uniquely unqualified to judge their fellow human beings that they truly are.

Yours,

Alan Diede

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Subject: John Kerry

Hello folks,

Y'all are the best web site on the internet, bar none. I can't make it through the day without giving you a visit or two or three... I do have to take exception to some of the headlines you've put up lately that seem to insinuate that John Kerry wasn't a good enough candidate. I don't buy that.

I started out in this election as a big supporter of Howard Dean; I went to meet ups and gave money. Initially once Dean's star began to fade--after the media hit on him--I threw my support to Edwards (who had been my second choice all along). As it became inevitable that Kerry was going to get the nomination, I did some studying up on him and grew to respect him in ways that I haven't respected any presidential nominee in my brief voting career (started in 1996 with Clinton and voted for Gore in 2000).

I think John Kerry is a man of integrity and great honesty, especially in comparison to many of the other hacks we have running this country today. I voted for Gore reluctantly in 2000 (almost voted for Nader at the last moment), but I respect him more now and am glad that I voted for him in retrospect. I voted for Clinton despite disagreements on various issues (welfare reform and NAFTA come to mind), because I liked him as a person and I trusted him to make the right decisions mostly. I respected his intelligence as well.

I voted for John Kerry because I liked him and thought he was truly the most qualified person for the job. I don't think any of the other potential Democratic nominees--with the exception of Edwards--would have done any better. We were running against a demagogue, a truly evil man, if you ask me, and a cabal of power hungry amoral bastards out to get the job no matter what. Looking back, I can't imagine Howard Dean carrying any state outside of the bluest of the blues on each coast. I would love to have the man as president, but...

Can you imagine the distortions of Wesley Clark's military record? Can you imagine milquetoast Gephardt up against Bush? Or Bush-lite Lieberman? Al Sharpton? You gotta love him, but come on... Kerry was the best choice we had this year, no doubt and he came so close.

The mistake that the Democrats--all of them--make is that they believe the American public is essentially rational and well informed, etc., and that's baloney! I live in one of the most conservative states in the union (where an amendment to take segregationist language out of our constitution failed!, and it's also one of the poorest states. I know countless people who walk around not knowing where their health care is going to come from, who live paycheck to paycheck, but who are concerned about the socialization of medicine! Several decades of mind-numbing television, irrational religious beliefs (and I say this as a regular church goer), mindless consumerism, etc. have destroyed the ability of large segments of our population to vote rationally...or to even think rationally...

I don't know what the solution is, but I feel like the only way to get people to face reality is a massive crisis. With these nuts in office right now, brace yourselves... We'll be back... In the meantime, don't criticize John Kerry for losing this election...

Keep fighting ignorance!

David
Birmingham, Alabama

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Subject: For the love of Democracy

For the love of Democracy…

Let the recount begin!!!

Just as the election should not have been about party politics neither should be the verification of our vote.

Let’s be honest with ourselves and others, and admit that Republicans would be up in arms if there were even a hint of impropriety in the vote if the Democrats won the election. Let’s be honest with ourselves and others, that we do not know a fraction of what really happens in our own country because of the politically owned and operated mass media. The media silence on possible fraud in the 2004 election is disturbing. I should think that every American whether blue, red or purple, would want absolute transparency and verifiability in our voting systems. After the 2000 vote debacle, the 2004 vote fraud question is even more feasible. The more often we turn a blind eye, the more often we will be duped. Please help concerned citizens like myself have a voice in our democracy. Let’s dig out the truth, no matter what it is. If there is nothing there, wonderful. However, if the suspicions prove true, better to know now while there is still time to stop the highjacking of our democracy and our country. My "moral values" include a desire, no, a demand for the truth. How about yours?

Sincerely,

Lisa Westervelt
Ewing, NJ

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Subject: Media Wimps

The Media is a weapon of mass distraction for Bu$h. For example, the top story for the past few days has been the killing of the hunters in Minnesota. I believe the media is afraid of Bu$h Co. Did they ever find out who sent the Anthrax letters to the Media and Democrats? Thank you for writing about the media wimps.

Slim

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Subject: 2004 election

I keep reading about the voting machines used all over the US and I still can't understand why people believe that computers are needed to simply count votes. No machine of any kind should be required to count up a few hundred votes from a polling station and add them to the larger total. Scrutineers from each party can watch and see every ballot for themselves. As the numbers add up, nothing more complicated than a $10.00 calculator would give the correct tallies of the paper ballots with all necessary oversight. It's very frustrating to watch the polarized debate on who won the election as it becomes more and more obvious that massive fraud is possible with the system being used.

Gary Smyth

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Subject: The Hard Right Knows

Dear BuzzFlash Supporters:

Greetings from the Christian Liberal. I know I haven't written in a while. So much to contemplate. But I do have a few observations.

Is it me, or are you asking the following questions?

If what the Religious Right has the Bush Administration doing - if it's God's Will, then why are they being so secretive about it? Why not shout it from every pulpit in America?

Why can't Americans know to the exact eyeteeth how many of our kids are getting killed in Iraq and Afghanistan? Why can't we see the planes as they bring back the bodies of dead soldiers who bravely died trying to protect this country?

Why won't the American media report such atrocities, but you can look in every media printed outside the U.S. and see them report to the world what we citizens are subjected to on an hourly basis?

Why not have a recount to ensure that the Sock Puppet really won the election fair and square? Why all the intimidation and tactics worthy of Lee Atwater to keep us, especially African-Americans, from the polls to vote?

Why is poverty and wrecking the environment, not to mention access to health care, jobs that pay livable wages, and affordable housing, not considered a sin, but gay marriage and abortion ranks at the top of the Right Wing's lists?

Why is there all the subterfuge about the real damage that No Child Left Behind is doing to the public school system? Why don't they just tell us that it's about privatizing schools and eliminating the public school system all together?

Why won't they tell what a woman is supposed to do with her reproduction if she is forced to bear a child or risk her life because of a back-room abortion because she got pregnant as a result of rape or incest? What is she supposed to do with a baby she was forced to carry? And if you're going to outlaw abortions, why are you refusing to educate the public about birth control options?

When will it be explained that outsourcing jobs overseas is not good for America's economy? Is it the reason the U. S. dollar is tanking in the international economy?

Why can't they just tell us the truth? Why won't they admit they are trying to turn our country into George Orwell's "1984"?

Because, to tell the truth requires revealing things so ugly, so heinous, so degrading - they KNOW that revolution will come sooner than they expect.

Because they KNOW that what they do is of a god; just not the Lord Jesus. Everything they have done, has been contrary to God's word. We all know that it's a sin to allow poverty of others when you have the means to stop it; that it's a sin to destroy the natural resources of our environment; that it's a sin not to provide a person with access to health care when they need it. They KNOW it's a sin to render someone unemployed, just for the sake of lining an already wealthy man's pockets on the backs of the poor and downtrodden.

Or, maybe they KNOW that in trying to become like God, they are committing the most heinous sin of all.

So, they are forced to keep silent. They are forced to hide the truth. They are forced to cover up what is reality. And that's why they deal in secrecy, and in silence, because they are the Hard, Religious, Right.

Be vigilant, fellow BuzzFlash Readers. As I wrote in a commentary before, the truth cannot be silenced and She won't be silenced. While she doesn't rely on us to help her out, we make Truth's job a whole lot easier when we don't remain silent on the things that matter to all of us. The price we pay for our freedom is eternal vigilance. Take Care, take charge, stay focused, and God bless all of you!

My name is Leutisha Stills. I am the Christian Liberal, a loyal supporter of BuzzFlash, and I approve this message!

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Subject: Framing the Republicans

The number one priority for the Democrats is to frame/define themselves. For decades the Party has been both schizophrenic and ambiguous about who and what we are. The No. 1 rule in politics is that if you don't define yourself and your positions, your opponent will be glad to do it for you -- and so it has been.

If the Dems don't know who they are and what they stand for, how can we expect the public to know? For me, that fact alone explains the electoral futility of the last few decades. Personally, I would like to go back to the party of FDR and HST -- Populists. Somebody needs to be for the average citizen -- Lord knows the Republicans aren't -- but the Dems aren't perceived in that way either. It appalls me that the GOP is looked upon by the majority of citizens as the party of "morals" and "values" when they are the biggest bunch of liars and corrupt politicians to ever hold office. Will Rogers is still right: "I'm not a member of any organized political party -- I'm a Democrat!" As long as that is true, we will keep losing.

Grace,

Rev. David Heckenlively
Franklin, WI

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Subject: Is Buzh chasing the dragon?

Well … the cranial-anial-inversion factor has raised its ugly head again, and to me, it looks more like an ugly little shrub on the body of a monkey. But let’s be truthful here, this has been going on for many years; long before this twisted little twerp was sucking beers and waving pompoms.

People in the Ukraine are in the streets to protect their right to vote while Sen. Lugar, as Buzh’s envoy, comes back to tell us that there are major problems with their voting system…it failed! The exit polls are the proof of that!

… and the lead on all three networks this morning was that basketbrawl, including guest speakers to sicko-analyze it. Are we that interested with what happens in the corporate-comped seats? Nope, but the corporations that are our thought-police want us to make that our issues.

Farmers in Columbia can’t afford to grow coffee because the big four corporations that set the price won’t pay them enough to pay the corporations that have privatized their water rights to water the plants, much less feed their family or flush a toilet. There’s only one crop left that will pay the bills …

But Buzh has pledged more millions to chase the billions we have spent to support the military of that country’s fight against the Marxist gorillas and opium growers with a vow to fight on until Colombia is "free of the scourge of terrorism and drugs."

"We cannot stop this task halfway through. We will win but we have not won yet. We have made progress, but the serpent is still alive," he said.

He has vowed to rid the world of the evil Fidel Castro because he tortures people in Cuba while we use a piece of land that we have taken from that country many years ago…to torture people from middle eastern countries.

He has chosen to fight a war in Iraq so they can have freedom, at the expense of ours, even if he has to kill every one of them to do it. Today, we lose more American lives in that war, so they can have an election in January; even if most of them won’t be able to vote.

And that gets back to that Balkans election. It’s not the voting that counts; it’s the appearance of a vote that suits the purpose that is being counted.

We have chosen to give up our jobs, our freedoms, our health, our votes, our children (not mine, the TV assures us), because freedom is on the march...with God on our side!

But we are really more concerned about basketball and too much beer...our TV tells us so.

And Buzh wants to buy an old yacht that its owner doesn’t want to sell…because he needs more vacation time from his mandates.

We proudly raise our flag and pledge to support our troops, thanking God that they were never an abortion. We sneak their dead bodies home in the dark of night, calling it disrespectful to honor their end as we’ve done every time a cop is killed on duty. But we will bow our heads at the family gathering to pray for them in quiet, mostly thanking that it wasn’t me or mine.…there…it’s done…Thank God!

As we ritualize our over-stuffed freedoms with yams, we won’t think that there is anything wrong with an election that has a few flaws here and there…all flipping to the same candidate. No one has pointed to a single count that went wrong towards Kerry…but let’s not be picky, paranoid and sore losers…

It’s God’s way of ridding us of liberals, killing babies (without bombs or bullets) and educating the heathens how the Grand Canyon was really made…maybe they will even find the ark there!

People continue to sink into debt as they take away our credit cards because we haven’t honored our debts to the corporations that bleed us…but we voted for this, because we need Buzh to protect us and spread freedom as Jesus told him to.

As we continue to turn a deaf ear to the shouts of anyone who sees something wrong with our democracy, we get ready for our more important traditions of holidays…Thanking the turkey for our freedom, engorging for our duty to shop, shop, shop. Shame on anyone who can’t honor that right…and a whole month to reflect on our personal failures for not affording to spend more than the rest of the world makes, strolling the malls while enjoying the spirit.

Most of us have read the blog, "Things you must believe to be a Republican." Most of us have seen a few shows, like 60 Minutes; Most of us have read more things that are wrong than we can digest…but will that change anything? NO! …we’ve got to decide, will it be turkey or ham?

There’s nothing wrong with this picture…but if you are so miserable, that you see things that way…it just proves you to be a liberal…and this is our God’s way of punishing you.

You will be properly taken to the shed by our leader, who has just been chosen to lead us for that purpose; and that purpose only. Your numbers don’t count, your votes count even less…it's a miracle!

You will be eradicated just like your anti-Jesus votes…you have been found out…you are against us!

You’ve but one chance to redeem yourself! …watch the FOX channel so you can erase all that self-inflicted misery!

Just continue to stare at that lobotomybox that offers you so many channels…so much proof that YOU must be wrong!

If we just sit here and be quiet…well, it’s on that lobotomybox, and that’s not my dead body…so we’ll get over it.

Just turn the channel… Don’t you think suspending those players for a WHOLE YEAR is unfair?

Jesus, some of them will loose 5 million dollars for that...that really pisses me off!

Happy Holidays,

Everett English

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Subject: Arlen Specter

Here is a man in his seventies who probably will not run again failing to take some stand on principle. He wimped out. Anyone else with a shred of integrity would have told the GOP to stuff their chairmanship and if necessary declared himself an independent. As for Sen. Specter, I could carve a man with more backbone out of a banana.

Ellis L. Bert
Dallas, TX

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Subject: An accounting long overdue!

There comes a time in every Administration when it is necessary for a President and his Administration to give a TRUE account of their stewardship. That time is long past due and has been misrepresented in many areas. How can Mr. Bush and his Cabinet anticipate every contingency and take care of it, or solve problems, when they do not take responsibility for their action, distort the truth, and refuse to admit the reality of a situation? How can an Administration with very little checks and off balance, leaning way to the right, serve the people in a fair way?

It is of real significance and importance that all Americans demand the truth and take action if their intelligence has been undermined by lies, lies of omission, cover-ups, or stonewalling of investigations for political gain. It is hard to understand how the cleaning the house of all moderation and having forms being signed to provide loyalty, never question those in power, and agreeing to secrecy, can in any way be beneficial to our nation. It feels more like a dictatorship or theocracy, or monarchy than a Democracy!!! In one example, the "impartial" Porter Goss said to reveal the 9/11 CIA Report, phase two, would be an infringement of the individual's rights (they avoided relating this especially BEFORE, and now including AFTER the election). What about the infringement on rights of the American people to be told the truth? This report laid the blame of avoiding action or recognizing pre-war warnings and intelligence at the feet of those tied to the Bush Administration! How about the long overdue Valerie Plame CIA Outing, or WHO told Chalabi what? This is just a drop in the bucket of Deceit and Secrecy that must be stopped!

Our Government has not been functioning smoothly, and in many areas it is near chaos. Consider the Iraq War, fiscal irresponsibility has led to a Huge deficit, a Trade Deficit, that will eventually cause us to pay higher interest rates (according to our financial wizard Mr. Greenspan) and Iraq war costs that amount to about 6 billion a month. It certainly hasn’t been paid for by Iraqi oil, like we were once promised. Iraq has become another "state" that deprives our United States of funds for education health, environment and other matters vital to our well-being.

More importantly is the death of over 1200 of our own soldiers, thousands of injuries, many thousands of non-combatant injuries, connected to the war but never revealed to the American public, and the almost near elimination of the media’s mention of body counts. In seemingly collaboration with the Bush Administration, we are given the report of "success" over in Iraq. Not mentioned is the slaughter of thousands of innocent Iraqis and the ruin of their cities with a blitz of bombs. Meanwhile Al-Zarqawi and his insurgents lead us in a merry chase around Iraq, as we hit the wrong houses in a so far futile attempt to find him! Discovering hideouts with information they meant us to find includes all but a note signed "with Love, Zarqawi." By the way, where’s Osama? I just heard yet another speech from the infallible Mr. Bush, defending this war that can not be defended, with flowery, but empty words! "Me thinks he doth protest too much!" This dog not only doesn’t hunt, but disaster is dogging his steps!

A report was just announced that the President’s job approval rating has gone up????? I ask myself, am I still living in the U.S.A.? Have we become so apathetic, so self-centered, that we can not see or hear what is going on? Are most of us really that gullible? Is what that is unfolding daily never noticed or questioned? Are we too lazy, or unconcerned, to back up our beliefs with action or write to our Congress and make our voices heard?

Once in our history we had the backbone to fight for what is just and equitable! We are living in a changing world, our future and our world respect depends on it!

Susan

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Subject: An idea to help "frame" the debate

This is something that desperately needed doing earlier, but hey - better late than never! The neocons are masters of propaganda, as your editorial today notes. But it seems that most of the American population and the mass media have forgotten what propaganda is. We (or you?) need to remind them.

We need a simple list, compiled weekly, and posted on the web -- and also emailed to key media figures -- of propaganda terms used by the neocons that week, and the real meaning of the terms.

For example, during the first weeks of the Iraq invasions, the resisting military forces in Iraq were almost unanimously called "terrorists" by the media. No one pointed out that this was an incorrect term used solely for its propaganda value.

Someone needs to keep the heat on the media, and point out every time they mindlessly repeat the carefully crafted propaganda from the neocons. Can you help? Or suggest someone who can do this?

Linda M.

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Subject: about your editorial 11/23/04

Precisely. Begin with exposing this election's glaring shenanigans. Be the party of the people -- the party that is for all eligible voters being allowed an equal opportunity to cast their vote, and to have it be counted correctly. Start there. Don't stop until you
have framed the Republican juggernaut for what it is. Otherwise, as I've been sayin', forget winning again.

Doug S.

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Subject: Democrat message framing

Your commentary on framing is right on, Democrats have plenty of ammo to frame the Republicans as a party of busy-bodies.

Republicans are like the old guy with binoculars ready on the window sill, waiting for a peek at what's going on next door. He's not sure what perversion is happening on the other side of the window shades, but he intends to find out, and when he does, put a stop to it.

The busy-body, consumed with knowing and interfering with the private lives of others, is an apt metaphor for the Republican party, and that fact should be stuffed up their pinched butts at every opportunity. Moreover, their God-fearing nut-case base has demolished the charade that Republicans are the party of individual liberty.

Americans, and not just those living in Arizona and Nevada, get their dandruff up over the government nosing around in the most private affairs. Doesn't the First Amendment say something about "the right of people to be secure in their persons, house, papers and effects"?

How to get the moribund and pathetic Democrats to take up the charge of personal freedom, liberty and privacy is the big question.

Greg Larson
Minneapolis

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Subject: Ukraine knows fraud

In the Ukraine and the Republic of Georgia, when the exit polls and the official vote tallies vary greatly, the people know there is fraud in the official tallies and they demand justice. When it happens in the US in 2000, 2002, and 2004, the Republicans and the media try to convince us that there are problems with the exit polls. Too many Democrats think it would be wrong to question the results of an election. They just say "wait until next time."

"Glitches, mistakes, flaws, errors, and accidents" occur at random. They do not favor Republicans 100% of the time. If they do, then it is called FRAUD.

Dr. Steven Freeman of U. of Pennsylvania, expert in research methods and PHD from MIT, says the odds are 250 million to one against the discrepancies between the exit polls and the official tallies happening the way they did in Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania. His study can be seen here:

http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/04/11/Unexplained_exit_poll_discrep_v00l.pdf

The CEO of the company making the machines swore to deliver Ohio's votes for Bush. The head of elections in Ohio and Florida are highly-partisan Republicans.

Not very long along in the South, conservatives would kill any Afro-American attempting to register or any Whites helping them. Those conservatives are still around today--they have just become a little more sophisticated.


Keith Gordon
Arroyo Grande, CA

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Subject: If you look at the latest casualties, many were wounded & died in Germany

Sgt. Michael C. O'Neill, 22, of Mansfield, Ohio, died November 21 in Landstuhl, Germany, of accidental injuries sustained on November 17 at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, during preparations for combat operations. O'Neill was assigned to the Army's 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

I think about 4 of today's list....because there are apparently no facilities in Iraq, they are putting these extremely wounded boys on planes and shlepping them to Germany, which is at least a 3 hour plane ride, depending where they even get them on a plane.... if they hadn't bombed and destroyed all the hospitals in Fallujah, they could have used the facilities there....

They don't give a damn about the soldiers....

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Unadjusted Exit Polls were Correct

The unadjusted Network Exit Polls showing Kerry winning the popular vote 51% - 48% were correct. Using several historical models and analysis of past and current voting trends is quite clear on this point.

1) If you adjust the projected 2004 election outcome by allocating the 85% of the Nader defectors (2.4% of the vote) to Kerry and allocating 85% of the '00 Buchanan vote to Bush as well as factor in "first time voters" (11% of the 2004 vote) your projected outcome: Kerry 51.0% Bush 47.6% .....

2) A president never does better than his approval rating. Zogby puts the Bush approval rating on 48%, disapproval 52%. This strongly suggests a final outcome of Kerry 51% Bush 48%......

3) Incumbents receive, on average, about 12% of the undecided vote. On Election Day the Bush poll standing composite average stood at 47.3% with an undecided vote at 4%. This formula leads to a final result, Kerry 51% Bush 47.8%......

4) The unadjusted Network Polling, as mentioned earlier, showed Kerry winning the popular vote 51%-48%......

5) An analysis of Early voting and absentee balloting conducted by ABC News showed Bush running 2% behind his 50%-50% major party standoff with Gore. Factoring in third parties, you come up with the projected final result: Kerry 51.3% Bush 47.5%...

6) Since 1952, Incumbent Presidents--on average--receive 1.5% less than their final Gallup horse race projection. Bush was projected by Gallup to receive 49% of the popular vote. This argues for a final popular vote tally of Kerry 51.3% Bush 47.5%..... Where does Bush get the additional 3%?

a) Independents favored Kerry by landslide proportions.

b)Hispanics did not give Bush 44% of the vote, a fairy tale that has been completely discredited by many analysts.

c)The Democrats had a huge advantage in signing up new registrants, particularly in the battleground states.

d) New Voters favored Kerry by 11%--according to the "adjusted" US national exit poll.

e) Kerry did 4% better than Gore among rural voters. Rural Voters comprised a smaller portion of the electorate in '04 than '00.

f) Kerry crushed Bush among the African American voting populace in a manner simi liar to the beating he received from Gore.

g) The portion of the US Electorate that attended church at least once a week favored Bush by a slightly higher margin than '00, but these voters comprised a smaller portion of the electorate in '04 over '00.

Conclusion: The evening exit poll was correct and the vote was fixed.

Brad F.

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Subject: Ukrainian elections

For details of what is going on, click onto the opposition web site and go to the english version http://www.razom.org.ua/

There are demonstrations in every major city--300,000 in the streets today in Kyiv (I have family members who were there and e-mailed me about it), 100,000 in Lviv, and smaller demonstrations everywhere, even in supposed Yanukovich strongholds. People are trying to get to the capital, but the authorities are blocking roads, turning buses back, closing gas stations, arresting drivers, anything to stop them. The trains have been sold out.

This is real democracy in action--as opposed the the American variant, democracy inaction.

Luba Petrushav

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Subject: Welcome to Bizarro World!

OMG!! What next? "Punish" healthy heterosexual outlets for teens by introducing them to S&M kink???? Is the flip side to such transcendent beatings secret orgies such as Scalia recommends?

BTW, did you catch the arms akimbo on the Bush Unzipped photo? Maybe he really is just a chimp who can't be taught to dress himself. Bush himself is the missing link of proof of...um, de-evolution?

rs

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