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The BuzzFlash Mailbag
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Subject: Clear Channel Radio
WGY
refuses to air area man's issue ads (Schenectady Daily
Gazette)
Comment: I believe this article raises the question of who controls
the public air waves. The FCC censures indecent speech on the
air because the broadcast air waves are public property and
it is for the public good to censure certain language. By the
same reasoning it follows that certain speech must be allowed
for the public good. I keep hearing it is
a market economy. If this is a market economy, then I have a
right to buy commercial air time in the market and place I choose.
If you would like to hear the ads they are posted at--
http://hm.indymedia.org/media/all/display/2758/index.php
For AOL users: http://www.dailygazette.net/Repository/ml.asp?Issue...
Robert Millman
[BuzzFlash Note: We are so excited about these ads we decided
to put them up on our site: http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/04/12/con04566.html.]
Subject: press conference
Hello Friends,
I watched parts of this morning's press conference -- only CBS
carried the notation "Videotape" although to their
credit none of the other networks had falsely labeled it "Live"
even though that was the impression.
It's kinda weird when they break into regular programming on
all the news stations to bring a videotaped news conference
in which the reporters are invisible. It's a new day for television
journalism -- they get to correct and fix breaking events before
breaking them.
I've got a bad feeling the White House handed everyone a tape
and said, "Broadcast this at 8 AM [or whenever it was]
Wednesday morning."
How else would they all show the same thing at the same time,
and why else would CBS call it a videotape?
Peace!
David Roland Strong
Austin TX
[BuzzFlash Note: Weird indeed. Here's CBS' story: Bush
Slams 'Stingy' Criticism. Here's the White House version:
Statement
by the President on the Recent Earthquake and Tsunamis.]
Subject: Fw: What are the networks hiding? Why are they afraid
to release exit poll data?
WHERE'S THE EXIT POLL DATA?
The Columbus Free Press reports that the major television networks
have refused to cooperate with the request by Congressman Conyers'
panel for their exit poll data.
TV
Networks Officially Refuse to Release Exit Poll Raw Data; Mainstream
media finally displays true colors (The Free
Press)
This is completely un-American that private companies could
withhold information that is key to our democracy. This information
belongs in the public domain.
We the people of the United States call for the major networks
to provide their exit poll data to the American people.
We further call upon all media outlets to join us in this request
and to report on this lack [of] demand for exit poll data.
Miriam R.
Subject: Rick Santorum and the plasma TV in his office
Hi,
Rick Santorum in the current issue of Newsweek is in his office
in a photo and it shows this huge Sony plasma TV that goes for
$30,000.
Now check out Bill
Summary & Status for the 108th Congress...and do a search
on the page for plasma :)
Peter Johnson
Subject: The president won't lead on South Asia, so we will.
Here's how YOU can help.
The president's response to the South Asia tragedy is so woefully
inadequate, I felt a need to post this. It's a list of 39 agencies
that are involved in relief efforts. Included are Web links,
addresses, and phone numbers. These organizations desperately
need our contributions -- for medicine, water, food, shelter,
and much more. The president isn't showing leadership on this,
so we will. That's what this Web page is all about.
http://BetterWorkplaceNow.com/relief/index.html
Many thanks for your consideration!
Tom
Subject: if you go to the left column
Hi Buzz,
If you go to the left column on www.sojo.net,
where it talks about polls and moral values, you will find that
the media is not accurately reporting what people consider "moral."
Greed and poverty are more important in the opinion poll than
gay marriage and abortion. As a "sojourner," I don't
know why the Christian right doesn't seem to get it.
mev
Subject: Mr Blackwell of Ohio
Hey Buzzers,
Here is the email address of Ken Blackwell, Ohio Secretary of
State. election@sos.state.oh.us
Here is his website that trumpets "A Passion for Truth,
A Quest for Excellence" http://serform.sos.state.oh.us/sos/
Here is the letter I wrote to the son of a bitch.
Mr. Blackwell,
Your website states "A Passion for Truth, A Quest for
Excellence." If those are beliefs you uphold then I see
no reason why you would resist the subpoena to explain the
many irregularities that plagued the Ohio presidential election.
You have stated that as a high ranking official you should
not have to answer questions, however, you are a public servant
and as such it is your duty to insure that every question
about the fairness and openness of the election is answered.
If there are reasonable explanations for the voting problems
you should be bending over backwards to show to the nation
that the election in the critical state of Ohio was clean
and fair. If you have nothing to hide, why are you hiding?
Please fulfill your duty as Secretary of State rather than
your conflicting duty of co-chair of the Re-Elect Bush campaign.
Testify under oath and explain the thousands of reasons for
the thousands of screw-ups that occurred under your administration
of the election.
Leslie Crabtree
Buckeye-in-law
Ashland, Oregon
Subject: Jan. 20, 2005
On Jan. 20th, 2005...I will be wearing my black ribbon pin.
It will be a day of mourning
for me. I will not watch any part of the inauguration parties....or
ceremonies...they are
all phoney...and paid for with blood money.
We have to make our statement, somehow...some way!
Shirley...St. Louis
Subject: Hey Buzz, am I right?
Let's see, we're sending 15 MILLION to the tidal wave victims
AND
His Chimpiness is spending 40 MILLION on his coronation.
Buzz, it sure looks like Jesusland has its priorities straight,
doesn't it?
Joe Bacon
Los Angeles
Subject: Comment
In re
Outrageously Disturbing! Fannie Mae's Ex-CEO May Get $1.37 Mln-A-Yr
Pension for Mismanaging the Organization. CEO Pay is Way Out
of Line with Reality. 12/29
Fannie Mae wasn't mismanaged. It's another Bushian set-up. Yeah,
some procedural things they did made their bottom line look
better but their practices weren't 1/1000th as
deceptive as what Cheney did at Halliburton. This is part of
a smokescreen -- like putting Martha Stewart in jail.
Rosamond
Subject: Bush a miser
Hello Buzz,
Bush is a mean-spirited miser. That is his nature. Self-centered,
unlike Clinton who is from a middle class home has a heart for
the sufferings of mankind. Bush is a spoiled brat and has no
principles. No wonder, under his leadership, Americans are struggling
to survive. He is cutting students' tuition, outsourcing of
jobs, scare tactics, stolen election, etc. You mean to say,
he would care for those Asians? Presently, he has occupied Iraq
for oil under the disguise of democracy.
Elizabeth
Subject: CNN gives you the finger
Hi Buzz,
Sitting down to watch the news on Wednesday night, I came close
to choking on my pretzels when I heard the opening of Newsnight
with Aaron Brown. Yes folks, on prime time news sitting in for
M. Brown was none other than the little bow tie weasel himself,
Tucker Carlson.
Talk about credibility for the "most trusted name in news."
I could have sworn that for a half second Ii saw the CEO of
AOL-Time Warner appear on screen with his middle finger up.
I switched to BBC to watch what was really happening in the
world as opposed to what our corporate buddies want us to think
is happening.
Anyone who doesn't believe in media bias should stop and think
about this.
Shawn
Subject: Thank you for my birthday present!
Every time I have passed a newsstand or walked into a bookstore
and seen that hideous picture as GW Bush of the "Man Of
The Year" it has made me want to throw up. I am a Fundamentalist
Christian. (I do NOT consider GW Bush to be one regardless of
what he SAYS. He might be a Reconstructionist HYPOCRITE but
he is NOT a Fundamentalist Christian based on the words and
DEEDS of Jesus Christ.) I can not think of a man who has done
more against the cause of Christ in recent memory based on his
actions than this evil, evil rich spoiled brat. Imagine my delight
and surprise when I saw BuzzFlash's FAILURE OF THE YEAR.
And the date? December 28th! MY birthday! What a wonderful
birthday present to see this HYPOCRITE (Gee, he didn't fail
at everything. He was quite successful as a hypocrite since
he swindled the election in 2K) as your "Failure Of The
Year." Thank you very much. You made my day on a what is
always a special day for me. :-)
In the heart of every dove lives a phoenix bright to rise
in joyful song beyond the ash of endless night.
Cynthia Summers
Hollywood, California
As old as I am now (29 and holding, never mind what the 29 is
holding up hehe).
Subject: Bush says tsunami's are no big deal
Overheard at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas:
Laura: George, maybe you should make a public statement and
offer some aid to the people who are suffering in Southeast
Asia.
George: Hell Laura, only 60,000 dead. I killed mor'n that in
Iraq all by myself and didn't nobody send no aid to me.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Bob Barr speaks up
Buzz:
I've been in a deep funk since the elections. I believe that
Kerry and the Dems sold us out by not waiting to see what actually
happened in Ohio and by not questioning why exit polls didn't
nearly reflect the actual votes that were eventually tallied.
(I wish someone could slip a truth serum to Karl Rove and have
him expose all that he did to steal this recent election.)
But this morning I was able to question former Rep. Bob Barr
on a local call in radio show (WAOK in Atlanta) about the situation
in Iraq. I stated that I don't trust the Paul Wolfowitz/Cheney/
Karl Rove crowd. Then I asked for his sense of what's going
on in Iraq. I stated that it appears to be another Vietnam.
Barr (someone that I have never liked) stated, "The Iraq
situation will continue to be quite costly, in lives lost and
in terms of the draining of our resources. The billions of dollars
being spent there should be spent here in our country to strengthen
our anti-terrorism defenses, our immigration, our borders and
so forth, and there's so much more that we could be doing. What
the so called neo-con crowd is embracing (pre-emptive strikes)
is a very dangerous philosophy. It can get us into a lot of
trouble and it's very, very expensive."
Barr seemed to be more concerned with the financial aspect
of this ill-conceived war, instead of the many lives that have
been lost. However, since the Democrats are afraid to speak
up, I'm glad that a few of the conservatives (not neo-cons)
are doing so.
D. Turner Atlanta
Subject: just drunk again!
bush has not been able to show his face until today because
he was drunk again and fell or got hit! they know these lame
excuses for his bruised up face are getting old!
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Bush in Crawford
Hey,
Maybe the reason Bush is cloistered in Crawford is he's detoxing
from alcohol AGAIN.
How come we never here about gluttony and greed from the right
wing christians?
Dennis
Subject: tragedy and inauguration
What is wrong with this picture?
Money to be sent to Asia --- $35 million.
Money to be spent on inaugural parties --- $50 million.
Kathleen Connell
Buffalo, WY
Subject: American tsunami Survivors Snubbed by US Officials
in Thailand
Bush appointees are such nice people. Check this out (from CNN):
At the airport in Bangkok, other governments had set up booths
to greet nationals who had been affected and to help repatriate
them, she said.
That was not the case with the U.S. government, Wachs told her
mother. It took the couple three hours, she said, to find the
officials from the American consulate, who were in the VIP lounge.
Because they had lost all their possessions, including their
documentation, they had to have new passports issued.
But the U.S. officials demanded payment to take the passport
pictures, Helen Wachs said.
Those people should be fired (but they'll probably get the
Medal of Freedom).
Derek
Philadelphia
Subject: Never miss a chance to
1) Take a vacation
2) Flip off the world
3) Criticize Bill Clinton (in this case for actually caring
about people, of all things)
So far this story plays just like a page out of the Bush/Rove
handbook. I've seen this movie before.
W needs to quit giving MM more material.
Aid
Grows Amid Remarks About President's Absence (Washington
Post)
John L. Johnson
Laingsburg, Michigan
Subject: quote
Between March 20, 2003 (the start of the war) until December
7, 2004 (approximately 21 months) the Pentagon says that 1,280
U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq and 9,765 have been wounded
there - and that's not counting the casualties in Afghanistan.
But, as Paul C. Roberts - who was Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury in the Reagan administration - reports:
The Pentagon's wounded figure conflicts with the report from
the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, that as
of Thanksgiving week the hospital has treated almost 21,000
Americans injured in Iraq.
A
Catastrophe Calculator (Antiwar.com)
Clearly, the Pentagon is "fudging the truth" insofar
as the "official" number of U.S. casualties are concerned.
Wow! - does the government's lying ever stop? But, then, what
else but lies would you expect from the elites who staff the
upper reaches of the U.S. government, and whose instructors
at Princeton, Yale and Harvard teach that it is no "big
thing" to lie to "ordinary persons;" that lies
must often be -
... employed to condition (common) people just as you would
train animals, just as you would train a dog. [Quote attributed
to William Yandell Elliot, the Harvard Professor who mentored
Henry Kissinger, McGeorge Bundy and Zbgniew Brzezinski.]
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. -- The presidency may be hard work, as President
Bush said several times during the first debate. But his campaigning
these days appears much less so, with a relatively moderate
travel
schedule and an unusually narrow list of targeted travel states.
On
the stump, Bush slows pace to his liking (Boston Globe,
10/22/04)
Two weeks left: The lack of urgency is remarkable.
No it wasn't!
Brad
Subject: DIEGO GARCIA: How did it escape harm?
How did Diego Garcia, the British-owned island in the Indian
Ocean and home of a US base for B2 bombers, escape the effects
of the tsunami?
The island, 1,000 miles south of India and well within range
of the wave, has a highest point of 22ft and an average elevation
of 4ft, yet a spokesman for the US Pacific Command in Hawaii
said that the base had not been harmed. Officials at the US
Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said Diego Garcia had
been forewarned. Other countries were not, apparently because
of a lack of contact details over a holiday weekend.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=596628
Colin
Subject: Keep your heads down!
Dear Buzz,
Peter Goss, himself an unqualified but politically appointed
head of the CIA is cleaning house and replacing highly qualified
top brass with more unqualified but politically appointed personnel
--his House aides!!
Goss states that the "house cleaning" is necessary
since it was these top officials, [not Bush & Cheney] who
allowed 9-11, other terrorist attacks and misrepresented Saddam's
WMD to the Bush Administration!
After throwing-up from the nauseating lies, I realized: Oh God!
We are in big trouble now! Keep your heads down!
Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
Subject: Source of Voting Fraud Articles
Hi BuzzFlash,
Too bad John Kerry surfs the waves and does not surf the web.
He would have come across an excellent source of Voting Fraud
articles.
This is the page with many, many links on it:
http://www.votefraud.org/vote_fraud_articles_national.htm
Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT
Subject: coronation vs Tsunami relief
No wonder Dub has been so quiet lately, especially in regards
to the evolving disaster in Asia! He’s bristling at the comments
from the UN that the US and other "rich countries"
in the world are cheapskates when it comes to relief funding,
and so grudgingly has Colin Powell cough up another $20 million
to a grand total of $35 million.
I wish that I had caught this, but I have to credit Michael
Moore… the inauguration/coronation cost alone stands at $40
million! Compassionate Conservatism at its best! A one day celebration
is worth more to Dub than helping with 70,000 plus dead and
growing; a stark equation.
He stands with a pretty easy choice here, in my opinion:
1) Do the "Christian," altruistic thing and pare down
the "coronation" to a simple $1 million or so swearing
in ceremony. Then, pass on those corporate donations to where
they can do the most good and immediately raise America's ante
to $70 or $80 million for disaster relief. There's not a corporation
that would dare fault him for it, and in fact, with leadership
on the issue from the White House, they may be willing to contribute
even more money, goods, or services. This would also go a long
way to extending an olive branch to the half of the country
that feels he has stolen another election, and demonstrate in
a symbolic way what things he is willing to sacrifice for the
unity of America.
Or
2) Have the "coronation" as planned and do the "Compassionate
Conservative" shuffle… "These people should have should
have known better to build homes and resorts along the coast
in the first place." "They should have had good insurance."
"It's their own fault for not investing in a Tsunami warning
system." "We'll just be harming them by bailing them
out temporarily." "Sure, it's a tragedy, but they’re
all dead, and no amount of money will ever bring them back."
"We’re just opening the doors wide to future frivolous
disaster claims and further waste."
Rarely in history does anyone ever get a chance in one lifetime
at a real "do-over." One could view this as a 9/11
redux. You've got an opportunity to step up and show the world
what America really stands for without an ulterior motive. What's
it going to be, Dub?
A loyal BuzzFlash reader
You've probably got this already, but when I got to the part
about Bush being "alert" I nearly fell over laughing!
Oh, he's alert alright! Ziggy, he doesn't give a damn about
what you're saying, though!
A
Grand Alliance (Newsweek/Zbigniew Brzezinski)
G.
Subject: Great Letter Ed about JOE REPUBLICAN
Hi BuzzFlash,
To Ed, who wrote that great piece about "A DAY IN THE LIFE
OF JOE REPUBLICAN," I have a comment for you - FANTASTIC!!
You "hit the nail" so hard on the head it went through
the wood!!!!
Again, Thank-you!!
Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT
Subject: Compassion from Conservatives
Bush to make "brief" tsunami statement, $20 million
is a "loan," not aid.
WASHINGTON - Hundreds of Americans remain missing two days
after devastating tsunamis struck Asia, but the State Department
says a large number have been located and are safe. Responding
to the disaster, the U.S. Agency for International Development
added $20 million to the already promised $15 million.
PJOnes
Mesquite TX
Subject: The Tsunami disaster and Bush's Inaugural
I propose President Bush consider scaling back his Inaugural
celebration and donate those monies to the relief effort for
the tsunami disaster. Instead of an overblown acknowledgment
of his re-election, the nation could watch a simple ceremony
in the Oval Office. What a message of compassion and moral values
this would send to the international community.
Carol W.
Subject: Mr. Bush's remarks on international aid
Hello, All.
Another letter sent to the NYT, which is rather like dropping
it in a rat hole.
Short of actually being there to hear his remarks, it is
hard to know how Mr. Bush discussed the position of the U.S.
for international assistance following the horrific tsunami.
I'm seeing the news in your article at:
Bush
Announces 4-Nation Team to Coordinate Aid for Southern Asia
The tenor of the story gives as much weight to Mr. Bush's
thin-skinned response to a critical remark made with regard
to developed nations in general, not specifically the U.S.
Mr. Bush's irritation seems to be a significant part of your
story, and his reported remarks trying to add monetary value
by referring to expenses incurred in moving military to deal
with disasters adds to a sense of thin-skinned defensiveness.
This is certainly consistent with remarks Mr. Bush has made
in other circumstances, and may indeed be balanced reporting.
It seems to me Mr. Bush would have been better advised to
ignore a comment by a development specialist at the height
of emotional engagement with suffering, and rather give full
recognition to the weight of the disaster, along with assurance
we will act with generosity and compassion to help suffering
humanity. It would have been nice if he had done this a bit
more promptly.
I don't know whether Mr. Bush's thin skin or the polemical
reporting is more troubling. As I said at the outset, you
had to be there.
John F. Williford
Richland, WA
Subject: Hypocrisy Grows Amid Remarks About President's Absence
Hello Again to BuzzFlash and to all BuzzFlash readers,
With absolute astonishment, I just read the piece "Aid
Grows Amid Remarks About President's Absence" by John Harris
and Robin Wright in the Washington Post. The report elaborates
on criticism from around the world, as well as here at home,
that the White House, particularly GeeDubya Bush, has been slow
to respond to the monumental tragedy of the Tsunami that has
killed tens of thousands (and counting) in countries around
the Indian Ocean.
In it, White House officials instead tried to deflect criticism
and took shots at President Clinton by stating: "He [GeeDubya]
didn't want to make a symbolic statement about 'We feel your
pain.'" The piece also notes that many in the White House
"believe Clinton was too quick to head for the cameras
to hold forth on tragedies with his trademark empathy."
EXCUSE #&%@*$ ME ?!??
People in THIS Administration are critical of someone heading
for cameras to exploit a tragedy?!?? Were any of them present
for the Republican National Convention this past summer, or
did they take that week off and go on an island vacation with
no access to modern technology?!?
What on earth has GeeDubya done with the September 11 attacks
other than ride them to another term?!? And need I remind anyone
about how the White House's hand puppets, Rudy Giuliani and
his faithful (or un-faithful) sidekick Bernard Kerik, have profited
handsomely in the 'security' business after the attacks? Without
his exploitation of September 11, GeeDubya might well have been
better to follow the lead of Lyndon Johnson in 1968 by not running
for a subsequent term.
My immediate reaction after having read the piece was anger
and disgust. Even as the death toll increases by the thousands
every hour, they are so consumed by contempt for any and all
things Clinton that they would slam him rather than stand up
as a dignified presence in the face of such a disaster.
Apparently, if there isn't a bullhorn available and shoulders
to throw an arm around atop a smoldering wreckage for a photo-op,
GeeDubya and this Administration simply aren't interested. It
evidently isn't manly-man enough to demonstrate compassion in
response to another's plight unless they can get something out
of it. They would rather he spend time "clearing brush
and bicycling."
In the piece, retired General Wesley Clark, who knows a thing
or two about winning wars and using America's extensive resources
to save lives and help bring aid to others, is quoted as saying:
"One of the things people look for is a strong response
that illustrates America's humanitarian values." Clearly,
GeeDubya's silence on the tragedy demonstrates that he just
doesn't get this. So who appears more a Christian?
GeeDubya's most influential philosopher, by his own admission,
is Jesus Christ. So what WOULD Jesus do? Would he reach out
to help his fellow man in suffering, or would he take the opportunity
to ridicule a fellow man with scorn and contempt? Perhaps GeeDubya
needs a little "faith-based initiative" of his own.
Given his propensity for tying himself to faith and religion,
I am surprised he didn't avail himself of the opportunity for
numerous "Biblical Proportions" references.
In answer to criticism about GeeDubya's lack of presence in
this tragedy, a top aide said, in describing his view of an
appropriate role: "Actions speak louder than words."
I would offer that, yes indeed, actions do speak louder than
words. As does the lack of action.
Warmest Regards,
GK, a Fervently Loyal, Devoted and Proud Liberal BuzzFlash Reader
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