Subject: Long Live Boxer

The mexicans would say, "Viva." I would like to say, "Long Live, Boxer." Great News. I think she is gutsy and I like women to be gutsy because we have lost lots of gutsy men these days.

Elizabeth

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Subject: The Brave and Wonderful Barbara Boxer

Thank you Senator! I have always admired you in the past, but now my admiration has grown so much more.

I have called my senator to challenge the 2004 presidential election, I've called family and friends to do the same with their senators, as of now I don't know if they will protest, I can only hope they will. It's time for the Democrats to step up to the plate and do what's right. It may not stop Bush from the presidency, but the Republicans will be exposed and the American people will know the truth. Hopefully they will do the right thing.

Judy Walsh

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Subject: AP: Democrats force Debate on "Mishaps"

The ASS. Press (also known as the Associated Press) declare in headline "Democrats Force Debate on Election Mishaps." Yeah the whole election was just a gigantic series of mishaps, glitches and guffaws - 99.99% of which benefited Bush. I hope to see the day when people turn away from these squalid, unmanly, pseudo journalists, the water carriers for the elite Power structure.

Mishaps. Mishaps? That is as moronic a statement as saying JFK was felled in Dallas on November 22, 1963 - accidentally caught in the crossfire between Dallas police and local bank robbers.

Another "mishap" that the AP might wish to report on is the amount of provisional ballots discarded in the Blue (Kerry) counties relative to the discard rate in Red (Bush) counties in Ohio.

Blue county discard rate:

Cuyahoga (Cleveland) 33.8%; Lucas (Toledo) 41.2%; Mahoning (Youngstown) 15.6%; and Trumbull (The Mahoning Valley) 31.5%; Hamilton (Cincinatti) 29.5%; Franklin (Columbus) 16.3%.

The following counties gave Bush in excess of 70% support in certified official returns. The discard rate of provisionals were as follows:

Clinton 8.3%; Mercer 8.5%; Hancock, 4.6%; Holmes 4.6%; Van Wert 7.3%.

Brad F.

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Subject: Names to remember...

From the U.S. House of Representatives:

Congressman John Conyers

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones

Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters

Congressman Robert Scott

Congressman Mel Watt

Congressman Jerrold Nadler

From the U.S. Senate:

Senator Barbara Boxer

Senator Chris Dodd

Senator Hillary Clinton

Senator Harry Reid

Senator Barack Obama

These people deserve our support and thanks, because they will stand up for democracy and fight for the right to have every vote counted. This isn't even primarily about whether or not Senator John Kerry won the presidential election, it's about preserving democracy.

Also a name to remember, because it is conspicuously absent from this list: SENATOR JOHN KERRY.

He should be at the top of the above list, but instead of "reporting for duty," he's gone AWOL. This just confirms my suspicions that he has either struck a deal with someone or else simply doesn't deserve to lead anyone.

From Five Senators and Eight House Members to Challenge Election (ILCA)

Mr. Jackson [Sr.] couldn't be more right!

By not supporting this effort to preserve our democracy in the face of massive and widespread election corruption, Senator John Kerry is not simply one less voice in the chorus of the indignant, he's directly undermining the very effort and giving legitimacy and cover to the crooks who've committed the fraud. How dare he! This outrages me even more than the way he betrayed his supporters by suddenly bowing out before the votes were counted. This isn't about him anymore, if it ever was. It's about the right of WE THE PEOPLE to vote and have our vote counted fully and fairly. With the very person whom the fraud was committed against marginalising the voices of those concerned, this effort cannot succeed, but will be brushed aside as conspiracy theory without even a superficial official investigation or hearing by the the mainstream press in this country.

Joe

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Subject: Keeping all of Christ in the Holiday Season

Okay, I need some help here about this "keeping Christ in Christmas" thing. Shouldn't this also apply to the other holidays this time of year? I'm specifically referring to New Years.

I'm a retired Catholic and all of this hoo-hah from the right concerning the secularization of Xmas gets under my skin now and then. They're essentially trying to force everyone to kneel down to their interpretation of the year-end celebrations, and it doesn't fit into my world.

So, I got to thinking about this and I remembered that when I was little I used to enjoy it when Xmas fell on Sunday -- you only had to go to church once that week and didn't have to provide the bonus attendances when it fell on any other day of the week. And that applied to New Years, too. And then I wondered, why exactly did we have to go to church on New Years? Well, a little research brought me the answer -- the Feast of the Circumcision.

As I found:

Couple things bother me about this -- mixing the words "feast" and "circumcision," the need to make a feast day out of a pagan holiday that apparently featured orgies (where did that little focus group come from I wonder), and the fact that "circumcision" has to be capitalized.

So, in keeping with the move to put "Christ" back into Xmas, shouldn't this be part of the same effort? Shouldn't we put the "Circumcision" back into New Years?

How would we market that? Greeting cards? Special arrangements from the florist? Circumcision gift packages we can get at WalMart and other fine retailers? The post office could offer special "Feast of the Circumcision" stamps? Ornaments to hang from the tree? Claymation Circumcision specials? I dunno, need some help here.

Really, if there's a special group that wants to put Christ back into the holiday season, then this has to be part of that effort. Religion is religion is religion -- you can't partake of only those portions of the lifestyle that are appealing to you. You have to take the whole enchilada and go with it. Any thoughts?

Roma Pelegrino

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Subject: My letter to John Kerry

Dear Mr. Kerry:

I must tell you that this was my first time exercising my right to vote. I did this for a number of reasons, one is because I was strongly opposed to the war in Iraq, although you did vote for it, I was willing to put that aside, because I had other issues with George W. Bush other than the war. I was concerned about the No bid contracts in Iraq, the vote on the Social Security bill, the Patriot Act, the detention of prisoners (some being American citizens) without the opportunity to seek legal counsel, the leaking of the CIA agent's name, the new rules on torture and the image of America.

These are some of the reasons why myself and millions of other people wrote letters, made phone calls, stood out in the rain and did everything humanly possible to get the vote out for you.

On November 2, 2004 I actually had root canal surgery, but I knew how important this election was, and I wasn't going to let a little discomfort stop me from voting. I waited outside in the cold rain, I was excited and I felt like I was part of the process. When I put my hand on the lever after selecting Kerry and Edwards, the future of America flashed through my mind, I thought how we are once again going to be a country that is looked up to, rather than looked down on.

I thought this nightmare with Bush will soon be coming to an end. Our troops will get the help that they need from our allies and our civil liberties will no longer be threatened.

Fast forward to January 2005, we now know that there were some questionable voting practices in Ohio, yet you're telling us to once again get out there and fight to make sure every vote is counted. With all due respect Mr. Kerry, if you're not willing to stand up for us, why should we stand up for you? You told us that you would fight for us, now you're telling us to go it alone, history has shown that going it alone doesn't work. Show us your gratitude for our hard work, with actions not words... You owe us that much... don't you think?

Kimberly D.
New York

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Subject: Kerry's Lack of Fight for Right

Buzz:

I worked in the 2004 Demo Campaign. I voted for the wimp. I would never again support Kerry as we witness his contempt for the DISENFRANCHISED VOTERS IN THIS COUNTRY. Kudos to CONYERS!

Jean

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Subject: Kerry Went AWOL and So Should WE if He Runs in 2008

Dear BuzzFlash Readers:

Greetings from the Christian Progressive Liberal and Happy New Year.

While as a Christian, I should not be advocating retribution, revenge or retaliation, seeing the BuzzFlash headline, Will Someone Please Find John Kerry and Tell Him There are Valiant Members of the Black Caucus Trying to Restore Democracy and One-Person, One-Vote, and His Help His Needed. Oh, Forget About It. He Has More Important Things to Do. Like Save Face. 1/6 one has to wonder what to do about him in 2008. I don't know about you, but it smacks of pure arrogance to promise African-American voters that their votes would be counted and then concede the election less than 24 hours later, thereby breaking his promises to us voters. Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. summarized it best by saying Kerry's concession was a slap in the face to those of us who supported him as the best chance to oust GeeDubya.

I mean, he looked like a President. He didn't embarrass us in public and abroad, as GeeDubya does. Kerry had manners and didn't do the diplomatic equivalent of "slurping his soup" like GeeDubya does. Yet, he goes AWOL on us and steals away in the night, while arrogantly stating he's considering another run in 2008, and readily expects we will support him again. No way in hell.

Therefore, I'm declaring right now that Sen. John Kerry would do well to remain in the Senate and not consider a run for POTUS in 2008 because he has established himself as a true "flip-flopper" and is not worthy of our consideration. He has no political capital, and he can't enlist coalitions run by the NAACP, the Congressional Black or Hispanic Caucuses, or any other progressive political organizations, because he failed to stand with us when we needed him the most, thereby losing any "street cred" he had through the endorsements of Rev. Jackson, Kweisi Mfume and others.

My vote is to go AWOL on Kerry and give serious consideration to supporting any ticket with Barack Obama on it for 2008. I think a John Edwards/Barack Obama ticket works quite nicely...too bad we can't consider a Howard Dean/Barack Obama ticket because we need Dean to run the DNC. As I said, I'm not supposed to advocate revenge, but in the case of Senator John Kerry, some payback is not only necessary, but required to send a message: "NOT REQUIRED FOR DUTY, SIR."

My name is Leutisha Stills; I am the Christian Progressive Liberal, and just like my fellow Bay Area native Marc Perkel, I approved this message!

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Subject: another inspiration

Dear BuzzFlash,

We should also remember Adlai Stevenson's great line in 1952:

Keep up the good work.

Catherine Atherton
Los Angeles, California

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Subject: changing the rules

Rules? What Rules?

Hey buzz and any golfers out there,

Just have a look at little georgie and tell me he doesn’t cheat at golf.

Those "quaint" little rules were made for the rest of the world, they don’t apply on his watch.

"Out of bounds!" ...Hell, he just moves the stakes back and creates his own playing field.

If he whiffs or misplays the ball, the whole country gives him a mulligan (or a Reagan) and lets him flail away again.

He doesn’t have to abide by the USGA rules if he’s not playing against a pro. He can make up his own rules if the guys aren’t wearing proper golf togs.

His caddy Gonzales marks and signs the scorecard for him. He can’t be held responsible for cheating.

Mr. Gonzales replied calmly that many questions about cheating were "hypothetical" because "the president has said we're not going to engage in cheating."

When Gonzales is confirmed as head of the USGA rules committee, we can kiss the Ryder Cup and President’s Cups goodbye…The rest of the world doesn’t have a chance if we have to play by geogie’s rules.

Tom Coombs

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Subject: Paul Harvey Comments

Just heard Paul Harvey's noon "news" in which he reacted with surprise to the news of Democrats' actions in the electoral vote count. He called the action "petulant silliness"... maybe we need to let him know what we think about that assessment? It's form mail linked on the main page at www.paulharvey.com.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Sontag and Tsunami

Friends at BuzzFlash,

I could not ignore the irony of the "flood of photos" we have received documenting the victims of the recent (and tragic) tsunami--and the lack of photo or video coverage of the victims of the ongoing and tragic war in Iraq. The death of Susan Sontag and her interest in the political implications of photographic images inspired the attached poem--which you may use, if you wish.

Jeanne St.John
Newport, OR

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Subject: Gonzales

Dear Buzz,

Looks like they're going to slide Gonzales in just ahead of any conclusion the Guantanamo investigation could deduce.
 
What snakes.

Every time I contact them I mention how embarrassed their descendants will be of them, because in another generation, the purpose of their deeds will be perfectly clear.

A Devotee and contributor

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Subject: What do Republicans believe in?

Hey Buzz,

So, I thought Republicans were supposed to be strong and unwavering in their beliefs. I thought they always stuck to their guns...er...principles, that is. I thought they never "waffled." But, help me out here. Didn't Bush make a big deal about how when it came to preserving our national security, we would never be held hostage to the whims of international bodies and other foreign entities, while implying that John Kerry would give veto power to such "alien" entities over decisions affecting our national security? But, what about Pakistan? It is my understanding that most intelligence experts believe that bin Laden is hiding out in Pakistan, and that we are itching to go in and get him, but that we are afraid of offending the Pakistani government. So, what gives? It sounds very much to me like we are allowing a foreign government to dictate to us our foreign policy when matters of national security are at stake. Can you explain this apparent contradiction to me? Could it be that foreign policy issues are not as cut and dried as the Bush junta wanted us to believe? Did they lie to us, yet again?

There was a time when Republicans prided themselves on being hard headed realists when it came to foreign policy. Promoting our national interests always trumped promoting Democracy. And they scoffed at the very notion of nation building. But not anymore. Now they're fuzzy headed idealists. So, now if we end up with a fundamentalist Theocracy in Iraq, cut from the same pattern as Iran, well, hey, that's the price of Democracy! And if Iraq disintegrates into years of chaos and pulls the entire region down with it, hey, at least we got rid of that bad man Saddam! It looks for all the world as if the Republicans are willing to undergo all manner of mental contortions, even to the point of sacrificing long held principles - and for what? To protect their half-witted boy king, and, by extension, their own political skins. What has the Republican Party come to, I ask you? Can you say craven flip-floppers?

Best regards,

G. Will Hunter

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Subject: comment

Dear Buzzers...

First I must take a moment to thank you for providing us average Americans a place to speak and hear the truth that is so distorted or ignored in the mainstream press. You are a blessing to what is left of the first amendment.

I've tried watching the congressional whitewash of Alberto Gonzales and his position on torture, a position based on his undying loyalty to Bush, therefore a reflection of the true position of Bush himself. Just another brick in the wall of Bush doctrine. The entire administration is now in place to curry the Boss's favor by enacting his far right, oppressive agenda these next 4 years. To be followed by the coronation of good old Jeb. Plan on some tough times in the future my friends. Unless some true patriot senator makes American history today, and stands with congressman Conyers and calls for the investigation of the corrupted Ohio vote. I see John Kerry isn't gonna stand up. I can't believe how weak and pampered that man is. And we almost put him in office!

Where are the true statesmen heroes in America today??

Richard..........Michigan

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Subject: Gonzales as quoted on NPR -11 AM, 1/6/05

I just heard an excerpt (on NPR) from Alberto Gonzales' testimony before Congress this morning.

Gonzales was saying in effect that if appointed to the post of Attorney General, he would no longer be representing the interests of the White House but rather the interests of the American people.

Duh! Are the interests of the White House not supposed to be the interests of the American people? And if not, what the hell is Congress doing by allowing George Bush to take the oath of office to "protect the Constitution," etc., etc.?

I don't have the resources to access the Gonzales quote - word for word. Perhaps you do. And perhaps you can make more of it than I can.

Dennis in Atlanta

[BuzzFlash Note: He said: "I will no longer represent only the White House. I will represent the United States of America and its people. I understand the difference between the two roles." You're right: His claim to have represented "only the White House" places the onus for the torture memo on Bush, doesn't it?]

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Subject: what the hell?

re: Man Charged Under Patriot Act for Laser

what the hell is going on? this is insane! what is happening in this country? a guy is playing in the back yard with his seven year old and the next thing you know he is being charged under the patriot act like a terrorist! so if they don't have the evidence to go to trial, will they just lock him up for life? HEY BUSH BOY, HOW ABOUT PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES INTO FINDING THE FELON WHO PUT ONE OF OUR CIA AGENTS' LIFE IN DANGER, FINDING THE GUY BEHIND 9-11 (OSAMA) AND THE ANTHRAX TERRORIST! DEAD OR ALIVE!

kate

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Subject: Bring Back President Truman . . .

BuzzFlash,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your editorial about President Truman and remembering what it meant to be a Democrat back then. I would love to hear that kind of speech today. As I was reading your editorial, I wondered what the media had to say about Truman during his race for the presidency during those times. One thing I think is true about Truman, and that is, he spoke from his heart and his beliefs. Also, listening to Truman and the words that he spoke, it was clear that the working body of America felt that he knew them and that he knew about their life and the hardships they faced. And, because of Truman's background, I believe that he did understand the American worker.

Today, again, in my opinion, many of our politicians can't possibly relate to the American people. Their votes and their quiet acquiescence prove this. Many of our politicians have become workers themselves instead of representatives of the American people. They have placed their jobs before their job duties, in my opinion, and they worry more about bashing or the approval of their opposing Political Party, than they do about their own constituents. And, how do they keep getting their jobs back, well, maybe we should check out the Republican votes.

I was old enough to remember one thing about that Truman race, though . . . I remember people in my community talking about Dewey and besides being Democrats back then, in a Republican Kansas today -- which is so hard for me to believe -- the "talk" was that some Democrats didn't trust Dewey because of his mustache. :)

So, I have to laugh when I think about that today because in some ways things haven't changed too much. :) And, I don't know why I remember that; maybe it seemed silly to me at the time or maybe I was left wondering if I should ever trust anyone with a mustache and should that include bearded ladies. :)

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

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Subject: dear mr. bush

Dear Mr. Bush:

I few months back a woman was killed in a hospital because someone injected her with a cleaning antiseptic instead of the dye for her x rays. Should that = 250,000? when an 18 year old girl has her female organs removed instead of her appendix (insuring she will never have children) should that = 250,000? When the doctor performing the surgery to remove the right leg on the diabetic gentleman and oops, sorry, got the left one by mistake......no prob, we will just go ahead and remove the right one now. should that = 250,000?

DA

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Subject: my letter to Senator McCain, in support of Senator Boxer

I write as an Arizona Independent. What happened today shows that Senator Boxer believes in democracy. You should support her. Many of our senators want rule by Kings and Queens, but they want it to appear that we have a democracy. My taxes pay the salary of senators, so I expect them to represent me as Boxer did. What is wrong with questioning the vote? The Republicans are certainly doing it in Washington State. What raving hypocrites they are!

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: senatorial objection validation (Ohio)

Well, they have done it and it is horrid, we as democrats just may as well throw in the towel. The vote in the senate was 33/yea, 257/nay and 137/no vote.

So, we know where we stand now...I watched it...and only Barbara Boxer stood up for what she wanted (and all the black caucus). This is scarier than the fact that it even happened.

Does anyone doubt that the rightwingnuts in this country will get anything they want...even machines without paper trails in 2008... I don't think I will even bother.

Then I turned over to the senatorial hearings with Gonzales...and after watching the house fawn all over the damned crook..........Some senators are trying, Kennedy is one! And Specter is trying to rob him of his time...and Kennedy is trying to stand up to him. Happy to say...he at least has some guts.

This is truly a bummer. If we do not take control of something and get those machines outfitted with paper receipts...does any one of you democrats even feel up to voting in 2008? I went through a lot this time...I worked...I donated a little...I displayed yard signs and bumper stickers...right now, I am saying never again! Something has to happen to change my mind between now and Nov. of 2008...and I cannot for the life of me figure what it would be...they are simply getting away with murder!

I am starting to look at every republican now....with a jaundiced eye...I am having trouble respecting anyone who cannot even watch his president give a speech...and changes their ideas about social security, when they have screamed all their lives, that if the government just would keep their hands off it...it would be okay...Bush is a scary person...he can change the lives of so many...even if you never would dream of voting for him!

Shirley.....St. Louis

[BuzzFlash Note: The AP report indictates: "The Senate session lasted just over an hour and ended when the chamber voted 74-1 to uphold Ohio's votes, with Boxer the lone vote. The House used its full time and followed suit, 267-31. For Ohio's votes to be invalidated, both Republican-controlled chambers would have had to uphold the challenge."]

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Subject: Yahoo! News Story - U.S. Soldiers Say Iraqi Faked Drowning Death (Reuters)

Truly incredible. We as a nation need to stop and collectively examine our conscience. It is getting worse and worse by the second. It is obscene.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Repuglican Nominees

Dear Buzz,

Isn't ironic and very telling how Repuglican nominees who are involved in a sex scandal, money or an illegal alien conflict of interest are dropped like hot potatoes.  But when a Repuglican nominee is instrumental in the killing/torture of Black or Brown people and/or the violation of their rights, these nominees sail right through the process...many times with the blessing of the so-called Democrats!!! 

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)

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Subject: Bush Tort Reform

Dear BuzzFlash,

It seems to me that George Bush’s latest crusade against regular people by capping punitive damages in malpractice suits is yet another example of Republican hypocrisy. As a Democrat, I actually do think some tort reform in terms of excessive awards in civil cases is perhaps warranted. I think about cases, such as the man who was awarded millions of dollars because he rode his bike at night and was hit by a car. His lawyers argued that the bike manufacturer was liable for not having a warning label on the dangers of riding a bike at night. However, I believe that such cases are rare and anecdotal. I’ve yet to see any hard data proving that excessive malpractice or product liability awards actually drive up cost as much as the Republicans would have us believe. Rather than having caps, perhaps a system of judicial review can be applied to weigh the facts and merits of the awards and adjust down, or up even, if they are found to be faulty.

The hypocrisy comes from arguments Republicans use on other matters. In criminal cases, the Republicans constantly advocate harsh, strict sentencing guidelines. Remember John Ashcroft ordering federal prosecutors to report judges not strictly abiding by such guidelines. Or, they promote "three strikes and you’re out" laws that can put petty criminals in prison for life, costing the public tens of thousands of dollars to incarcerate. Of course, they support such things for non-white collar crimes only. If you are a corporate behemoth found guilty of some form of malfeasance, you can expect a small slap on the wrist and retire a millionaire, regardless of how many people you hurt. The other area in which they are inconsistent is in their typical laissez faire argument they apply to regulating any business function, including insurance regulation. But if some common person is actually hurt through negligence, then they argue that it’s perfectly legitimate for the government to limit and dictate damages the plaintiff may receive.

In his latest polemical speech on the topic in Illinois, Bush failed to mention that the state’s lax oversight of the insurance industry could be as much a contributing factor to doctors leaving the state as is excessive jury awards. Instead of working with the Democrats to forge a policy of fair tort reform, which includes insurance regulation and an equitable system of determining awards, he would rather shove down our throats a system paid for by his fat-cat contributors. As a toady of big business and with control of both houses, I’m afraid this is all the public can expect from Bush, for at least the next two years.

Patrick J. Shoff
St. Louis, MO

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Subject: Objection to Ohio Electoral Count

Dear M. BuzzFlash,

Much will be said about today’s objection to the Ohio electoral count by Barbara Boxer and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones. As a nation, I believe we should focus on how the Democrats calmly discussed fair voting and what we could do to make the process better to ensure that everyone has the right to vote while the Republicans called the discussion "unfortunate."

How can a discussion of our right to vote be "unfortunate"? The Republicans seemed overly eager to use their time to criticize Michael Moore rather than to discuss the health of our democracy.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with the outcome of this election, the Republicans' behavior today was not in the best interest of our democracy or of the world. They do not wish to have a calm and open debate. They do not wish to ensure that everyone has the right to vote. They do not wish to discuss facts and issues. They wish only to attack personalities, and when the Democratic members of the Congress do not give them even the smallest morsel upon which to base their attacks, they switch to attacking Hollywood figures such as Michael Moore. Their closed-mindedness and resulting behavior should be questioned by all who value our system of government.

Sincerely,

Maria E. Wells

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Subject: Fax a senator a roaring success

In less than 24 hours more than 17,000 faxes were sent through the Fax a senator system! Thanks for your help in promoting this effort. Fax machines in Washington churned all day yesterday and all night long. Citizens responded, let’s hope our Senators listen.

This morning, we had to shut the system down though many of the senators' machines are still struggling to print out the onslaught of faxes generated by concerned citizens. Seeing the power of people in action is amazing, simply amazing.

Thank YOU for your help!

Kali

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Subject: Video of DeLay: Who thinks tsunami victims died because they're not good Christians

Allan Colmes asked Pat Robertson about Delay's weird reading from "Matthew 7:21. at the prayer breakfast, and to Robertson's credit, he didn't lend credence to any biblical reasons for the tragedy. So basically DeLay is more fanatical than the Evangelical preachers!

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/01/06.html#a1255

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Bush's Speech writer to leave job

Dear Buzz,

I just couldn't stop laughing when I read about the poor speechwriters of Bush to leave job. He may have been fired for Bush's incompetence during the first and the second debate or he failed to speak out through his microphone to Bush. Remember all the wiring on his back? No wonder, Bush struggled even to pronounce some of the words and counter-attack Kerry.

Elizabeth

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