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The BuzzFlash Mailbag
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Subject: Boycott Bogus News
Since the presidential "election" I have gained about an hour
of useful time each day by refusing to watch the "news." To
give our time to the bogus corporate news is to endorse its validity.
Boycott is one of the few powers we have left. Using it offers two positive
outcomes: it removes our endorsement and it gives us more time for useful
activity, such as organizing, writing letters or seeking out honest
investigative journalism.
I invite you to join me, and to please encourage others. Just say NO
to counterfeit news.
Thinking of changing my name,
Jim Bush
Subject: Wheel of VOTER Challenge 2004: SAVE THE MACHINES, SAVE
THE VOTING MACHINES!
My Fellow 'Americans:'
I will send a $1,000 cashier's check to the first election official,
politician, statistician, professor, broadcast journalist, blogger,
editor, vote machine manufacturer, programmer, anyone who can convince
me of the superiority of non-paper trail voting to paper-trail voting.
I challenge you, READER; You, Keith Olbermann; YOU my right-wing brother
in Utah; YOU, Jim Baker, YOU, Tom DeLay; YOU, David Corn; YOU, Bill
O'Reilly; YOU, Katherine Blackwell. You and you and you and YOU. Knock
this battery off my shoulder. Don't worry, I have overdraft protection.
Please explain to me why no paper-trail machines are superior to paper
balloting? No matter how this gets spun, you know what ... we are still
talking about the fallibility and tinkerability and FINANCIAL COST of
machines. Why was vote tabulation not the major issue in the 60s, 70s,
etc. that it is today? We have gone backwards, prehistoric even. A single
machine error can turn an election, can a single paper balloting error
do this? Maybe dead people voting can, but it takes work. The solution
seems obvious so I am putting my money where my fool heart is. My stomach
is in knots and I cannot sleep. My reasons are two-fold: 1) I WANT to
give you my money so I can feel good about this election, and 2) Republicans
seem to understand this over wimpy liberal therapy sessions.
I have ZERO confidence in this last election. I am not the only one.
I am digging in my family history to prove I have Ukrainian blood. Damn,
those people make me proud. Prove I should trust OUR system. This reminds
me of the Sparks song "Everybody's Stupid (that's for sure)."
Bring it on. I will keep you all posted on the winner, especially if
it is me. Oh yeah, paper costs less than these machines that need to
be replaced, leased, maintained, sodomized. Do discuss cost in your
argument.
Machines have failed miserably in the election arena. Period. I will
debate you and I will win.
Now I just finished reading today's More
on the 'Stolen Election' by David Corn (CBS
and The Nation 12/1) and here is my final position on this whole ordeal:
Canada (the country with no voting controversy) votes with paper ballots
and they find out their results two hours after the polls close. We
use machines and we get Corn's patronizing article and Blackwell's stonewalling.
On and on and on. I now see Palm Beach, Florida now creatively proposes
to stretch out the whole process as a cheaper solution to fixing the
machine situation we are supposedly all so heavily invested in:
Florida
election officials propose change in voting (AP/news14)
Isn't this called early voting? Wow, creative geniuses they are. Idiots.
Here's an idea, let's get rid of most of the machines and all Warren
County, Ohio and Palm Beach County, Florida election officials while
we are at it. What are the drawbacks? NONE. Unless I lose my challenge.
I will keep you posted.
One way to go: Everyone should use a standard serialized paper ballot
(I like felt tip pen filling in line, put them in a clear acrylic lock
box, and they can be op-scanned at the end of the night by bi-partisan
officials (one of each) at the same location. There, I don't hate all
machines when used in the proper context. I actually programmed them
to score student multiple-choice tests when I was a teaching assistant
at North Carolina State University. 200 at a time no less. Straight
into DBASE. Remember DBASE?
Would a paper trail kill anyone? This honor system no longer deserves
the benefit of the doubt. 57,000 reports to the GAO? Tossed out poll
tapes in Volusia County, Florida? This same county registered -16,022
(that's right, negative) votes for Gore. A media lockout in Warren County,
Ohio? THESE ARE FACTS. NOT CONJECTURE, FACTS. Forget that every irregularity
favors one candidate over another, I won't get into the stats and strange
mathematical anomalies that just seem to muddy a picture that is very
clear to me. If you win I will fax all our congresspeople to "SAVE
THE MACHINES" with your arguments.
Please stop defending the insanity. I defy anyone to justify that no
paper trail is better than a paper trail. Did you know Diebold makes
ATMs? You know, those ATMS that print receipts?
I'm right on this and if anyone gives me the reverse challenge I will
take your money and send it to Bev Harris at www.blackboxvoting.org.
She deserves it.
Robin Baneth
Raleigh, NC
Subject: Mandate?
"He couldn't get a mandate if he stood in the middle of the West
Village in chaps . . . buttless chaps." -- Randi Rhodes
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Red....Blue.....Moral...Immoral.....
Could someone please 'splain' to me why it is so horrid that the
Ukrainians had an election that our government...even Powell...cannot
stand for? I have never been so confused since this heathen bunch
took over Washington, DC.
Just what the hell are they going to do about it?? Are they gonna
go over there and
throw their weight around.....like they do here? I would bet not!
There was talk....in some circles...you know "some people say"...(Fox
news favorite saying) that it would be dangerous for Bush to even
go to Canada...pikers...they didn't do anything! (Course, he is
not out of there yet.)
To the lady who so wonderfully gave all our able newsladies...the
credit they so deserve: I agree. We just recently started to get
Amy Goodman's Democracy Now show...twice a day...on a local station...and
I think she is great...she goes all over the world, too...is much
smarter than our president...but, most of these women are!!!
And to David Walker...who wrote of the days at Yale...I come from
the same state as Ashcroft...and I did not know he even went to
Yale...but, likely he did! All I know about Ashcroft and Cheney....Ashcroft
was deferred from service in Vietnam a horrid 8 times, because he
supposedly had to teach at Evangel College in Springfield, Mo.
And, they let him!! Cheney was the one who chased right to Yale
and got himself admitted to avoid the draft....immediately, flunking
out. Then he re-joined when they came after him the second time...and
he also flunked out...I am not sure if he ever graduated. The third
time...fourth and fifth...were a fast wedding...(then they decided
they would take husbands)...nine months later to the date...their
first child was born, and then the second came right in for daddy
when he was called the 5th time...after that, I think they got tired
of chasing the no-good draft dodger. He now smiles and brags about
having better things to do during Vietnam. Yeah...my brother did,
too, but he had no money for school...so he was drafted...went to
Vietnam...and lived a total of 2 months...at 24.
That is what this country is for...the wealthy...and what they
can push off on others.
But, what the hell do I know...I am a blue person, living in a red
state that got even redder after this election. My cousin who was
running for the Missouri House of Reps.
was smashed by a guy who went on a little radio station and did
an interview with my
cousin....(not)...about his presiding over the largest tax increase
in his district....never
happened...but, did not matte.! The right wing in this country will
believe anything!!
Doesn't really matter if Stalin said it or not. It really is Not
the vote that counts, it is who is counting the votes....
Yeah, I know...we in the blue states are immoral...and if I have
to defend my morals anymore to anyone...I am gonna get sick...all
over 'em!!
You save us BuzzFlash!!!
Shirley..........St. Louis
Subject: NCLB has the military chumming for jrs and srs
Well, as I was driving along with reasonably low blood pressure
listening to Air America, my paranoia was confirmed and I found
myself in need of Big Pharma. The No Child Left Behind Act has a
provision for the military to contact your junior or senior student
unless, you, a parent, direct them not to. Yes, no child is going
to be left behind.
Just like the Patriot Act, this is astoundingly brilliant planning.
A couple of months ago, it was announced that, golly gee whiz! We're
gonna take those kids that want to fight for their country whether
or not they have a high school education! Want to? With the NCLB,
we're going to produce kids that have nowhere else to go. I had
been trying to figure out how these guys were going to capture the
kids that they flunk out of school with their crazy school testing
to throw into the military. Never fear! It's built into NCLB!
Even if we want to take to the streets about any of these insane
policies (speaking of, remember that Big Brother tax provision that
was a mistake? It's out of the press and to my knowledge, it hasn't
been removed from the Sasquatch Omnibus Bill, or whatever repugnant
vehicle it was attached to, so yes, Congress can now access your
tax returns), you'll find yourself in the stocks due to the foresight
of the Patriot Act. It's going to be a long, ugly four years.
S. M. Di Paola
Seattle, WA
Subject: My Thank You To Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
Dear Reverend Jesse Jackson,
I know when it comes to speaking out at what is wrong with our country,
we who cherish and love our freedoms can always depend upon you
as being our voice. I mean that with all sincerity, Reverend.
I am simply amazed and in awe at how other citizens around the world
do pay attention to their freedoms where the counting of votes are
concerned. I think the reason is that they know all too well what
it is like to live where freedom does not exist and they do not
wish to ever relive that. It wasn’t so long ago that the citizens
of the Ukraine were part of the Soviet block and where her citizens
were ruled and not governed. So, what is our excuse here, Reverend
Jackson? Why do Americans care less about the counting of votes?
There are some that do, but you would think that everyone who voted
for Senator Kerry would
be up in arms demanding that all the votes be counted in Ohio, Florida
and other states where voter irregularities have occurred. You would
think that millions of Americans would be up in arms, yet they choose
to sit by and acquiesce their responsibilities as citizens of this
great country of ours. Why do most Americans not give a damn, Reverend
Jackson? Why do most Americans choose to sit on the sidelines of
their democracy and fail to partake in it?
After outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell stated to the Ukraine
people that their election was a fraud and that the world would
reject it, I faxed a letter to the Ukraine consulate which you will
see for them to equally call our election fraudulent and asked that
they too reject it.
After Judge James G. Carr denied a request of third party candidates
a recount, I faxed him as well telling him basically by his actions
he has spit upon the graves of every American soldier who gave their
life for the very freedoms we should cherish in this country where
one of the tools to preserving said freedom is our right to vote
and to have that vote counted. I am sending you my faxed letter
to him as well.
After reading your column Something's
Fishy in Ohio, which appeared in both the Chicago Sun Times
as well as the Common Dreams News Center, I want to congratulate
you, Reverend for being the moral voice that we always depend upon
to speak out for all of us. There are some like me who fear these
next four years, where some will choose to leave our country and
others like me who will choose to stay to keep on fighting, but
we will need your consistent voice and others just like you to help
us in our quest for a democracy we see slipping away from us.
When some will say that we in the Democratic Party have lost the
moral high ground, I only have to look at you, Reverend to know
that is not true. You often speak out for the poor and the powerless
and that is exactly what God would expect of you. You, Reverend,
are paying attention to God’s teachings and that is what a reverend
does and where you do not pretend that God speaks to you telling
you who will win elections. What I am referring to is when the Reverend
Pat Robertson alleged God spoke to him telling him, "Bush would
win this election." In my opinion, God is not a Republican
or a Democrat and shame on the right wing evangelicals for stating
that God is on their side.
In closing, Reverend Jackson, keep speaking out for all of us, pray
with us so that we may see hope come alive for our very future.
Reverend Jackson, you have always inspired me, given me hope and
where you have my deepest respect and I truly want to thank you
for that.
Sincerely and With Deep Respect,
Mrs. Mary MacElveen
Sound Beach, NY
PS: This letter to you is now being shared with fellow activists
on the Internet and being passed onto the media as well.
Subject: Ukraine and Ohio
If, in the interests of fairness and democracy, people are calling
for a re-vote in the Ukraine, what about Ohio?
David Wyles
Venice, CA
Subject: History Will Judge
The Bush administration will undoubtedly go down as the worst in
the history of this country. His copying of the "voodoo economics"
of his hero Ronald Reagan might very well spell the demise, or at
the very least a severe economic crisis in the next few years. The
huge tax cuts for the wealthy and corporate America while fighting
an expensive worldwide war against terrorism which may continue
for decades has resulted in record deficits far into the future,
causing a rapid decline in the value of the dollar against foreign
currency. That will result in a further increase in this country's
unfavorable balance of trade in an endless cycle of fiscal blunders.
By ignoring the expert advice of his top general regarding the numbers
of military personnel required to defeat Iraq and occupy that country,
our military is stretched thin and exhausted, with increasing numbers
of casualties in Iraq. Now, we are seeing whole cities being wiped
out. The situation in Afghanistan isn't much better. Our reserves
and National Guard troops have been ruthlessly exploited with personnel
in their fifties called to active duty in Iraq. This represents
a colossal failure of military leadership. Regular troops' enlistments
are being forcibly extended, in effect, they were drafted against
their will.
Our enemies are now aware of our vulnerability and emboldened by
what they see. Our enemies in Iran, North Korea, and especially
Iraq could not be happier. Bush could not be doing more to further
the terrorists' interests. Bush would not let the UN inspectors
do their job in Iraq. He was determined to go after Saddam Hussein.
As it turned out, the UN inspectors had done their job and no weapons
of mass destruction were found, and sanctions were effective, proving
that Iraq presented no threat to the United States or any other
country. Saudi Arabia supported terrorism. The attack against Iraq
was nothing but an act of aggression, denounced by legal experts
and even UN Secretary General Annan who called it illegal. Now the
Bush administration is attempting to remove him just as they have
attacked many others who criticized their incompetent leadership.
The war against Afghanistan was justified, however, it was badly
mismanaged also. Bush said Osama bin Laden would be brought to justice.
He was allowed to escape, and now al Qaeda is regrouping their organization.
And Osama is a Muslim hero. The poppy fields in Afghanistan are
back in production also.
How will history judge the Bush presidency? It could very well be
as follows:
The worst president in the history of the United States of America.
The worst commander in chief of the military in the history of the
United States of America. The worst uniter in the political history
of the United States of America. The worst fiscal policies in the
history of the United States of America. The worst foreign policy
in the history of the United States of America. The worst administration
with the largest number of liars in history. The worst policies
on issues important to all Americans in the history of the United
States of America. The most vengeful administration in the history
of the United States of America. The most incompetent administration
in the history of the United States of America. The worst administration
to support war crimes in violation of the Geneva Conventions on
treatment of prisoners in the history of the United States of America.
The worst record of supporting corporate fraud and corruption in
the history of the United States of America. The most radical right-wing
administration in the history of the United States of America. The
worst record in numbers of lost jobs during his term in office and
still managed to get reelected in the history of the United States
of America.
There likely will be many more "worst records" to be added
to the list.
RB
Subject: Where is the media?
Dear Media,
In the 2004 US Presidential race over 3 million votes were manufactured.
Kerry and the entire country got "screwed" by Diebold
and the corrupt, soul-less, lying thugs in the whitehouse. My guess
is those three million votes are just a hidden line of code...ones
and zeros and will be exposed. Where is the media? Where is the
outrage? Please know this is a case of MAJOR FRAUD and it's not
going to just go away. Surely you don't believe that all the miscalculations
in Ohio and Florida just happened to favor bush IN EVERY SINGLE
INSTANCE? What are the odds of that happening?
It really pisses me off that a very large percent of provisional
ballots cast were not even counted from all over the US. I say to
bush "mandate my ass," His days are numbered. This is
now a fight for the CORE VALUES of our country. Lying, cheating,
stealing are the VALUES of this admin and its followers, but not
the American people I know. Do your job and report the news...all
the news.
Shirley Anderson
San Francisco, Ca
Subject: Re Bush negative campaign
Wish the Pollyanna Democrats would stop whining - yes Bush operatives
ran a nasty campaign. Where in the heck were Kerry's people?? If,
after 4 years of these Repugs, Kerry and his people didn't know
what they were up against, THEY didn't deserve to win. I am sick
and tired of all this woe is me attitude. Wake up...get tough...real
tough...start looking for the holes and exposing them. The heads
of the Democratic campaign ran a losing campaign and I am beginning
to wonder WHY.
RioRita/MD
Subject: bye bye dems
My parents always taught me to stand up for myself and not take
any crap from anyone. Especially when I know I'm right. We need
democrat leaders that have the attitude that they are not going
to let anyone get away with lies and spin.
Bye bye Tom Daschle. I'm very glad to see you go. You have been
the republican whipping boy for too many years. You never learned
to defend your party or your candidates. You do however, have the
apologetic whine to the republicans down pat. Well good luck with
that.
Bye bye Terry McAuliffe. Watching you on the talk shows during the
campaign was painful. Your republican opposition on those shows
made it too easy to show the country how easy it is to prove the
democrats don't know what the hell they're talking about.
Bye bye Tad Devine. You were even more painful to watch than McAuliffe.
Maybe now that the election is over you will have the time to research
exactly why Kerry voted for the $87 billion and then voted against
it. I know you don't know that answer, because whenever it was presented
to you, you never did explain it. Instead you let republicans, didn't
matter which one, run roughshod over you with their lies and misleading
statements.
Bye bye Donna Brazille. You are another one that never even tried
to expose the lies on the other side of the table. Always the nice
one. Always the one that never wanted to say anything too bad about
the other side. Be polite. Be the opposite of Bay Buchanan.
Bye bye Paul Begala. Please don't speak for me. I'm so sick of you
laughing at Tucker Carlson's condescending jokes and letting Bob
Novak frame the democrats however he sees fit that day. Please resign
from "Crossfire" so I can watch it again without yelling
at you as well as the conservatives on the show.
Bye bye James Carville. (see above re: Paul Begala)
The democrats don't have to run to the right or pander to the religious
moralists. The democrats don't have the wrong message. The democrats
have the wrong leaders. If the democrats can ever find a leader
that has the guts to call the republicans just what they are and
not worry whose feelings will be hurt, we will follow. If the democrats
can ever find a leader that realizes there are some voters we just
don't want and not try to appease everyone, we will follow.
So to all the old guard democrats, we need new blood. Sorry, but
the republicans have the recycling of old party members to run things
perfected. It doesn't work for the democrats. So sorry to say Tom,
Terry Tad, Donna, Paul, James and all that ilk, but BUH BYE.
Bob Lambert
Subject: Question regarding election theft
Greetings BuzzFlashians,
I've been following the saga of the exit poll controversy in Ohio
and elsewhere, and I've seen/heard a lot of discussion over whether
or not this was the deliberate result of actions by the GOP to get
Junior Bush elected (or re-appointed, or whatever). You all seem
pretty convinced, and you may be right, and I look forward to any
smoking guns or other irrefutable evidence you or someone else uncovers
to prove this.
One thing I haven't heard mentioned, however, is what happens next.
Let's say someone came up with drop-dead undeniable proof that the
election was stolen by the GOP and that Kerry really won Ohio. What's
the next step? Do we swear in Kerry? Does anyone at BuzzFlash know
what the Constitutional procedure is for handling a situation this?
Would
Bush have to step down? Would there be a run-off election? Would
we just have to settle for impeachment? (Which wouldn't really help
since Cheney would become president. Swapping an incompetent smirking
buffoon for a dangerously insane war profiteer isn't exactly progress.)
Any ideas? Or is the whole point of this just to make sure Junior
Bush goes down in history as the worst president ever (a title he
surely earned years ago)?
Just asking.
Regards,
John dEFROG
Subject: Censoring of Church of Christ Ad
Hello,
As you may have already heard or read about today, CBS and NBC will
not allow the Church of Christ to run an ad on their networks. The
ad is very simple and not very controversial, simply showing the
church allowing people of all walks of life into a service. In its
depiction of diversity it shows some same sex couples (aghast, blasphemy)
entering the church as well. The networks claim it is too controversial
at a time when President Bush is calling for a ban on same sex marriage.
I don’t get it, could someone please explain this connection to
me? Does it have anything to do with access to the White House,
corporate cronyism and outright pandering or is it about blatant
homophobia?
Please let me know because if this is the way things are going in
this country I’m about to cancel my cable.
Daniel LiBoissonnault
Milton, MA
Subject: Dark Ages Redux
Dear BuzzFlash! -
I've been trying to put my frustration into words regarding our
apparent slide into the new dark ages. It pisses me off that 2/3
of the country don't believe in evolution and 1/3 believe the creation
"science" interpretation of the Bible. I think it is absurd
that science textbooks are being labeled in some states with what
is, essentially, a thought crime warning.
When I find the time, I may formulate my thoughts into a meaningful
essay. I wish I could find a nice way to persuade these people,
instead of wanting to shout at them, "I think you're crazy!"
For now, I've drawn the obvious response to this stupidity.
Regards,
Joe Anger/Bill Kelly
Subject: Bush in Canada
from his speech in halifax:
Three years after the worst-ever attacks against civilians on
American soil, Bush said Canada had a duty to step up its part
in offensives against potential threats to North America.
He raised the example of a former prime minister, William Lyon
Mackenzie King, who did not wait for Hitler's Nazis to attack
Canada before sending troops to fight in the Second World War.
hey bush, mighty america ignored the conflict for a couple of years
and didn't get involved 'til the attack on pearl harbour....georgie
some of us have long memories...
tom coombs
Subject: CBS censorship of church ad
Attn: Mr. Leslie Moonves
I am writing to express my disbelief and outrage that your network
is refusing to air the recent United Church of Christ ad.
Link to press release about this censorship: http://www.wfn.org/2004/11/msg00231.html
Link to the ad: http://www.stillspeaking.com/default.htm
The reason CBS gives for censoring the ad: "Because this commercial
touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups
by other individuals and organizations," reads an explanation
from CBS, "and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed
a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between
a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the
[CBS and UPN] networks."
This ad has a positive, welcoming message, and is not controversial
in the least. I am appalled that your network would censor this
message. Just because there are some people in our country that
do not welcome gays and blacks into their churches does not mean
that churches that DO welcome everyone should be hidden from the
public eye. There are plenty of commercials that "touch on
the exclusion of …. Minority groups" for NAACP, and those are
aired and are also not controversial. It is the media’s duty to
share with the American public what is available to us, within reason
of course. The reason given referring to the proposed governmental
policy, has nothing to do with this ad; this ad does not address
gay marriage at all. It doesn’t even say "gay" in the
entire spot. Reading about this censorship makes me wonder what
else your network has decided to censor. I can’t help but imagine
this was a political decision by someone that does not believe in
gay marriage and doesn’t want the world to know that many people
do accept gays and other minorities. I sincerely hope that someone
in your network will look into this and make some changes.
For the record, I am not gay and not a member of this church, just
a concerned citizen.
In the meantime, I am contacting your advertisers to let them know
of my boycott of your station and their products.
Julie Johnson
Subject: thanks for thank you george
"You opened your homes and churches to strangers . . .
and you asked for nothing in return," Bush said in speech
that was also expected to outline his foreign policy goals for
the next four years.
"How does a person say thank you to a nation? Well, that’s
something a president can do. So let me say directly to the Canadian
people and to all of you here today who welcomed Americans. Thank
you for your kindness to America in an hour of need."
Bush
in Halifax: 'Thank you for your kindness' (CBC)
three years late george...kiss our maple-glazed buttocks...
tom
Subject: Ukraine, secret ballot
By just a handful of votes in the secret ballot Wednesday, lawmakers
chose to dismiss the government. Minutes earlier, a non-secret
vote failed to pass the same motion.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Question the Election
While a lone voice stood up to tell the truth about election fraud
in the Ukraine using sign language, it appears that such patriotism
and courage in our "American Democracy" is truly dead.
The people and media of this country are currently more concerned
with holiday
shopping statistics and NBA scuffles here at home than they are
with the fact that there is evidence of massive disenfranchisement
and voting irregularities in our own presidential election.
Numerous reports and statistical analyses now concur that significant
anomalies are present in vote tallies and voting access in data
from several battleground states and yet the media (you) are silent.
Only Keith Olbermann, of MSNBC, and the Boston Globe
(12/01/04), have had the temerity to discuss this issues in a open
way. Others, including the NYTimes, have repeatedly labeled citizens
with legitimate concerns about the election as "conspiracy
theorists." I ask you, what could possible be more important
to investigate than questions of possible election fraud in our
own country?
If investigations prove that George W. Bush was rightly elected
to the Presidency, so be it. It is not the place of the media to
bestow the presidency on anyone and I am ashamed that investigative
reporting has sunk to such a low that journalists themselves try
to crush debate on this issues. This is not just a crisis for freedom
of the press, it is a crisis for democracy.
Sincerely,
Evon Hekkala
Covington, KY
Subject: We're down 52-48% in Fl, Ohio in Exits: "WE'VE WON...IT'S
OVER"
This clip was taken by a movie producer who was interviewing the
Lush, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) - I guess about the election?
http://homepage.mac.com/duffyb/.Movies/peterking.mov
Loose lips sink ships. The sociopaths at the White House also
couldn't contain their glee that this scam was apparently working
as designed. They spilled the beans to the War Wimps at National
Review who were wetting their britches at the crummy exit poll numbers.
Kerry Spot: Red state echoing white house/BC sources (National
Review Online)
http://www.nationalreview.com/kerry/kerry200411021845.asp
Maybe someone can e-mail this clip to Michael "Phony Opposition"
Moore.
Brad F.
Subject: daily news updates
I like so many others in this country voted for Kerry. I can see
G. Bush as an empty suit, spewing the words he speaks taken from
others' brains, just the front man. I view him as totally immoral,
and evil.
I was very depressed knowing that he stole the election, and wandered
around for a week along with many of my friends not knowing what
more we could do.
As I read the daily buzz, all I hear is a lot of moaning and groaning,
and whining coming from all sects of people. Personally I am sick
and tired of us liberals doing nothing but crying in our beer.
What we need to know is where do we go from here, what can we do
as individuals for the next four years?????
Please help those of us that can not find our way. We need a direction,
not more and more whining about what is in the past, but what do
we do for the future?????
Help us with some answers, no more questions please, we now need
answers.
S. Edmonds
Subject: Battle of Algiers
Hi BuzzFlash,
Thanks for your superb site, and for the current headline to watch
"The Battle of Algiers." I own an independent movie theatre
in San Luis Obispo, Ca., and was glad to show this classic film
for two weeks when new 35MM prints were made last year. It is a
must-see for a perfect analogy to the madness in Iraq. Bottom line:
military occupation never works. Or to put it another way: How many
American military bases are there in other countries? And how many
foreign military bases are there in America?
Keep up the great work,
Jim Dee
Palm Theatre
San Luis Obispo, CA
[BuzzFlash Note: "The
Battle of Algiers" DVD is a BuzzFlash premium.]
Subject: I was a little surprised by the Canadian Story
A BuzzFlash contributor wrote about Bush's visit to Canada today
(Pleeeeze, I NEVER refer to this guy as "President").
Mr. Martin is expected to respectfully suggest that Alberta,
despite being rather like a recalcitrant child, is not for sale...
On the subject of selling property, I was thinking that it might
be a good idea to sell Texas to Mexico to pay off the NATIONAL DEBT.
Texas deserves this for sending us BUSH!!!!
Any one agree with me?
A BuzzFlash Reader
1984 is finally here. Only it's twenty years late and WAY over
budget.
Larry G.
Subject: Democrats For Automatic Weapons - All We're Asking For
Is a Level Playing Field
Were you a victim of yard sign theft or vandalism? Then the people
who own assault weapons know where you live. We must have fully
automatic weapons to trump these semi-automatic weapons. Our right
to protect home and hearth is absolute and protected in the Constitution.
Since Tuesday, we know there are more of them than us. We can
only level the playing field with superior firepower. You have
every reason to be fearful for your family’s safety. It’s time
for Democrats to arm themselves in self defense. We need bigger
guns now!
So I went to my neighborhood gun shop today and you can imagine
my surprise when I discovered that Americans can’t own automatic
weapons! Every Iraqi teenager on the evening news has several
AK-47s and his big brother has a grenade launcher, but you and
I are forbidden to own one. They had guns that looked like AK-47s
but were not "real" automatic weapons. These evidently
were the guns that the Assault Weapons Ban was all about. After
much discussion, I chose a semi-automatic deer rifle with a scope
that the gun dealer claimed was accurate up to 1,000 yards, a
Browning BAR Safari 338. Perfect for suburban self defense. I
recommend everyone get one.
Since the NRA has been so remiss in protecting our Second Amendment
right to bear arms, I’m forming the Democrats for Automatic Weapons.
Arm yourselves immediately and send a $25 donation to help assure
military superiority over your neighbors. Join Democrats for Automatic
Weapons Now! Your family’s survival may depend on it.
Mark Salditch
President
Democrats for Automatic Weapons
Subject: The term "WASP"
Dear Buzz,
I know that you know the term WASP means White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.
I am a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (originally--I am an atheist
now). There are many excellent people who have this ethnic and
religious background. There are many religious Protestants whose
ancestors are from the UK. These people are technically "WASPs"
who support everything BuzzFlash stands for wholeheartedly. I
know that the writer does not intend to malign people like us.
However, the term is an epithet, and it is my personal opinion
that you should not use it. Regardless, I still love you, I just
got a job offer, and I will be able to send you some money soon!
Leslie in Winchester, MA
Subject: fake news by our government
Dear BuzzFlash,
I think that the fake news on Iraq, such as the invasion of Fallujah,
had much more to do with controlling the U.S. election than it
had to do with psy ops on the Iraqi insurgents. Fallujah had been
the big egg on Bush’s face before the election. So what else was
fake?
Pentagon
Propaganda Shop Lives On, 'L.A. Times' Reports (Editor
& Publisher)
A BuzzFlash Reader
And he wants private stock market investment instead of Social
Security?! How many people have this kind of money
to play with?!
Frist
Political Fund Can't Cover Bank Loan: Senator's Investment in
Stock Market Has Lost $460,000 in Value Since 2000 (Washington
Post)
By Dan Morgan and Brian Faler
A campaign fund controlled by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
(R-Tenn.) has lost almost $460,000 in stock market investments
since 2000 and now does not have enough to cover a sizable bank
loan, according to federal election records and the manager
of the Frist account.
The heaviest losses, totaling more than $500,000, occurred in
a stock index fund in 2001 and 2002, years when the securities
markets suffered a major downturn. But the Frist campaign account
lost an additional $32,050 in July and August, a setback that
was only partially offset by a gain of $11,472 in September,
according to Linus Castignani, treasurer of "Frist 2000," which
was created to finance the senator's successful campaign for
a second six-year term in 2000....
Records:
Frist campaign lost $500,000 (AP)
Marty
Subject: The Fish Stinks From the Head First
The New York Times reports today that a new election in
the Ukraine is likely. Still, there are hundreds of thousands
of people on the streets, people who haven't slept in days,
who are out in the cold, hungry and uncomfortable, but demanding
Democracy, demanding a fair election, demanding an end to
fraud. And leading them every step of the way was the opposition
leader Viktor Yuschenko.
Compare that to what has happened in the United States.
Compare Yuschenko to John Kerry, who conceded defeat without
a whimper, without a sigh, even before all the votes were
counted, even after John Edwards had shortly before said,
"we'll wait for every vote to be counted."
When one reads the many articles, mostly in blogs and hardly
at all in the mainstream media, contesting the results of
the election, angry about the inconsistencies in vote results
in various key States, still demanding some kind of justice,
one is not fired up, but saddened, maybe even amused. Because
the man whose fight they keep fighting isn't IN a fight.
If he ever actually was. Those who may have noticed during
the election were so eager to get rid of Bush, that they
closed their eyes. But why don't they notice now that their
anger toward Bush should be directed toward John Kerry and
the Democrats?
John Kerry hasn't lost a word about the election since he
conceded some time BEFORE the last vote was counted. He
may have had a little more fight in him if he had put his
Senate job on the line, but he didn't have to. The US Congress
probably offers the only job in the land which you don't
have to give up when you openly lobby for another. So John
took a little break "maybe I'll get a bigger job with
more power and prestige" break, why not?" break,
which just didn't work out and is happily back in the Senate
with most of the other Democrats.
And while everyone else is scrambling to give the Democrats
advice on how to get back into the game, our Congressional
representatives seem to be totally unaware of a problem.
The Democratic Senators elected Harry Reid, an anti abortion,
anti environment, pro war Mormon as their leader. He may
be a skillful negotiator, but the Democrats haven't been
doing much negotiating in the past 4 years and will surely
do even less now. If the Democrats see Harry Reid as the
person who will lead them to the voters they lost in this
election, is he also the leader to RETAIN the "progressive"
voters, who've come out of the closet and without whose
tireless efforts on behalf of voter registration in 2004
the Democrats would not even have done as well as they did?
In order to move forward, progressives will have to wake
up to the fact that hardly any Democrats are representing
THEIR interests, stop concentrating on an election which
is a done deal, and refocus. Bush and Co. are plowing ahead
full steam with their agendas on social security, environment,
civil rights, abortion, Iran and dozens of other neo Con
issues. If ANYONE is to put some breaks on, it's the Democrats,
who, unfortunately, seem to be right back where they've
been for the past 4 years.
On the first major bill to be voted on in the Senate after
the election, the budget with the clause on officials being
able to peek at income tax returns, 23 Democratic Senators
voted FOR and 2 abstained.
On the really terrible selection of Alberto Gonzales for
Attorney General, Senator Patrick Leahy was quick to express
his delight: "I like him....The President could have
picked a more polarizing figure.... I applaud him for that."
Huh?
Gonzales was responsible for developing the administration's
policies on the treatment of prisoners; for developing
a new definition of torture to allow more aggressive questioning
of prisoners. He developed the policy that allowed the
indefinite detention of American citizens deemed to be
enemy combatants without [being charged] or [having] access
to counsel. . . . The Supreme Court, though, rejected
that [Gonzales] theory . . . "Top legal brass in
the army, air force, and navy say that Gonzales deliberately
left them out of developing policy on the treatment of
prisoners because he knew they would oppose."
Liberty
Beat by Nat Hentoff
Worse Than Ashcroft: Bush's new attorney general helped
write the Patriot Act and supported torture (Village
Voice)
This man is not polarizing? THAT is very scary.
The new Secretary of the Army, defense executive Francis Harvey,
whose background is in private enterprise, namely as former
chief operating officer for a division of Westinghouse Electric,
a leading defense contractor, and who also serves on the boards
of two Carlyle-affiliated companies, Duratek and Kuhlman Electric,
was approved by all but 12 (with 2 abstentions) of the Democrats.
On the Intelligence Reorganization resolution, 9 (nine) Democratic
Senators didn't bother to vote, while one, Senator Lieberman
voted AGAINST it.
Looking at the Senate roll call votes it is also apparent
that Senator Kerry has fallen right back into his habit of
not voting at all, and in general more Democrats seem to have
given up on voting than Republicans.
There is an old Greek saying, "the fish stinks from the
head first,and it means that no matter how much effort is
made to determine the real result of the 2004 election or
to inform the public about the dangers the Bush Administration
is putting them in, if the elected leaders don't fight with
them, "we the people" haven't got a chance in hell.
Isn't it possible that the Democrats are simply not the answer?
That they are too comfortable, too politically correct and
set in their ways to be a real opposition party? Instead of
looking backward to an election which was certainly tainted
but no one cares, those who are angry should be looking elsewhere.
As innovative and creative as Americans are, the idea of a
viable third party does not seem to occur to them, but perhaps
that is just what we need. A real CHOICE.
S.B.
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