Subject: Reason for Optimism

Dear BuzzFlash,

There's reason to be optimistic about the future of the Democratic party and electoral victories. Consider the following, all taken from Senator Boxer's statement on her objection to Ohio's electoral vote:

Ready for the good news? Kerry won Franklin County, which was that blue spot right smack in the middle of the big, red Ohio map that viewers saw on election night. Franklin County is also my home and I remember feeling optimistic about Kerry's chances as we got near November 2, mainly because of what I saw around me: the events, house parties, fundraisers, signs, bumper stickers, and most of all the palpable excitement, made me believe we really would unseat Bush.

Turns out I was both wrong and right. Wrong about who would occupy the White House for the next four years, but right about what was happening at the local level. Here in Franklin County we actually defeated the republicans and all their sickening, cheating tactics.

There's hope in this story. And a lesson. And a mantra for the future: Remember Franklin County.

Sincerely,

Cathy Vance

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Subject: Personal party at white house

I am so mad. To think that we have to pay for the bash at the white house for the bushes. Don't tell me we won't be billed for it. That bunch keeps on keeping on, and both pickle faces (i am including lardy, I mean laura) get in front of the cameras and sneer at us real americans, to continue to show they can do what they want, and, no one can do a thing about it. They continue to break the law, change the law, and insert new laws to accommodate their evil ways. I cannot tolerate them. To think we have to pay for their personal party. I want to see the bill they present to the taxpayers for that big bash. Talk about brass balls!

SAB

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Subject: venomous letters

If I were to receive that letter, or e-mail, I would post it faster than that little student's
head could turn. I'd post it in the halls, and on the internet, and I'd make certain that
anyone who needed to know, would know about it. It is a threat and more. And the
little punk who wrote it is afraid to show his face. It is the professor who should be
suing for this kind of attack.

Things like this just make me want to throw up. If the war is so almighty good, then let
these bullies go fight in it. If it is good enough for my son, daughter, niece or nephew to
fight in and be killed, then it is good enough for those people who say they really support killing to volunteer for.

I, along with many thousands of others, risked our lives, names, souls so that this student
could threaten someone for stating his opinion? Let these vocal supporters of Bush go
take that same risk. I dare them. They hide under the cover of threats. They are the real cowards. They are the ones who have no respect for civil liberties - except for theirs.

Leslie (evanston)

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Subject: Am I Being Narrow Minded . . . or Maybe I Have Just Blown a Fuse . . .

BuzzFlash,

We do live in a crazy mixed up assbackwards time, when we have to send "thank yous" to Democrats who stand up for Democracy because by doing so, they are putting their careers on the cutting edge.

So, I did send a thank you to Barbara Boxer . . . but, what should we send to all of those Democratic Senators who have been in DC long enough to care more about what their "friends" in the Republican Party think than about the OBVIOUS criminal action in Ohio that will, again like Florida, go without punishment. And, they can all go out to dinner in DC and laugh it up with all of those extremely funny Republicans and just charge it to expenses. And, we get angry when people say they see no difference from a Democrat or a Republican in DC.

As I have said before, if that lame document that Congress signed giving Bush authority to act on his own . . . is enough to keep him from paying for the crime of lying this Country into a war and killing over 100,000 people . . . how then, can we ever expect anything from any Democrat in DC?

I'm to the point where nothing makes any sense any more. Debating about this vote while Kerry took off for Iraq, not counting his giving in to Bush the day after the election, he made us all look like conspiracy fools and we actually got no coverage. How can we punish the guilty when our candidate doesn't want the office enough to care about the honesty of the votes? He should give back that 15 million bucks, plus interest because of his "lack of interest."

Killing innocent people doesn't mean anything any more; votes don't mean anything any more, why don't we just open up all of the prisons and allow everyone out because to be fair, crime does pay and isn't punished by this government. And, I'm more scared of the Bush government and their crimes, than I am of anybody in our US prisons.

Just a pissed off thought,

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

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Subject: tsunami

As we continue to find more dead bodies, it just means we have a very successful tsunami. Does that sound like Bush speaking?

carolina in md.

(you know the more killed in Iraq, shows we're succeeding)

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Subject: Cat-Killer Frist's Quote of the Day

Unbelievable.

Actually, all too believable.

A young woman down the street from me committed suicide by burning her house down. It was the most devastating fire I'd ever witnessed. While the neighbors all stood dumbfounded, horrified and depressed, the newsmen came in. The cameraman got the anchor live in front of the raging fire as firemen battled to keep the fire from spreading to nearby trees. After the shoot, the two HIGH-FIVED each other and started chortling and gabbing. They saw me looking over at them in stunned silence and apologized, saying they didn't mean for it to look as if they were celebrating and added, "We know someone died."

But, in fact, everyone's lives are just backdrops to all these people in power.

Did you see the Globe article? By Derrick Jackson, I believe. "In Iraq, we were the tsunami."

robyn su

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Subject: Staples still loves Sinclair

Here’s a letter I received from them.

Theresa Keefe
Houston, TX

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Subject: Contact Armstrong Williams and Tell Him You Want Your $240,000 Back

  http://cf.townhall.com/contact/columnists.cfm?ID=65&Post=14809

Jim

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Subject: Share Your Thoughts Concerning the Direction of the Democratic Party (as sent to http://standupdemocrats.org/ideas/index.php)

To Whom It May Concern,

As Democrats, we must not be afraid to fight for our principles and stand up for the poor and the powerless that are being left behind by ineffective leadership at the top levels of our party. We must grow a spine and never waver. We must put the D back in Democrat. We must stop the move to the right by this party, or the core members who are the base will leave it. The bloodletting in our party must come to an end if we are to save this party. As someone who fights for our ideals when I see my ideals are no longer being represented by our party it angers me and makes me at times want to throw up my hands and walk away. But, then I think of those people who are very poor and powerless and I stay in fighting the good fight. But many like me NEED AND DEMAND leaders that will support us. We take great umbrage at not being listened to.

Once you have lost the base, the base will no longer be there to help in the future.

We also need to rid ourselves from the likes of Al From, Senator Joe Lieberman, Terry McAuliffe and start replacing them with real progressive leaders such as Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich. Both Gov. Dean and Congressman Kucinich rallied the base, fired them up and their efforts were squandered by the DNC and the DLC. During the presidential primaries and by reading the AFSCME magazine Public Employee, candidates like Reverend Al Sharpton were connecting the dots in how to unseat Pres. Bush. I have more respect for Reverend Sharpton due to his presidential bid. Given a choice between listening to him or say Joe Lieberman, I would listen to Al Sharpton.

We must come roaring back stating there is absolutely nothing wrong with being liberal. Liberals like me are Americans too and must have a say in our party and our government. To shun us and silence us will be the nail in the coffin of our party.

You want us to stay in the game and continue to fight, then you must start giving us all reason in order to do so.

Quite frankly, it is my belief why we lost the presidential campaign, failed at retaking the house and senate is because voters saw no real difference between the parties. What we needed was many more anti war candidates and anti U.S.A. Patriot Act candidates.

Regards,

Mary MacElveen
A WELLSTONIAN, GORE AND DEAN DEMOCRAT

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Subject: Armstrong Williams on Crossfire

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/01/07.html#a1269

Robert Novak talks to Armstrong and tries to help him out by saying that Williams isn't bound by journalistic ethics. Now what's your excuse Robert?

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Senator Barbara Boxer

Dear BuzzFlash,

I hope you will support this cause.

In case some of you do not have Senator Barbara Boxer's email address (her web site address, that is), here it is. I just sent her a "heartfelt thank you" for standing up for Democracy and fair elections. I, personally, think it would be great if her office got flooded with "thank you" emails. Perhaps several of us will do this and share her email address with "others" that might do so also. Maybe even her "office" will be able to get some mainstream media attention to cover her great response from the masses.

Email: http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

Carol

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Subject: I applaud Barbara Boxer...and the black caucus

The other senators....including Boxer...made beautiful speeches. I always admire Obama, but, why did they make those flowery speeches...then vote with the republicans?

Will wonders never cease...at this rate...we might just as well give up every liberty we thought we ever had. We are such a minority now, anyway...unless someone grows a spine in 4 years...we will just keep going down this broken road!!!

We are going to have an Attorney General who lies through his teeth...has not one shred of decency...does not care about anyone but himself. Does anyone wonder why thousands are coming into the country every day...taking jobs...the state of California and Arizona might just as well chuck it all, I think Texas is open for anything...they let Dubya live there...a few illegal aliens are surely not any worse.

I have nothing against aliens...we are all aliens unless we were born of the American Indian...but, we have worked our collective asses off...to get a paycheck...and they are getting those things for free. They are starting a program here in St. Louis, I read the other day, where the state will no longer provide a translator for Drivers License testing. If the person does not understand the language...they must hire the translator themselves or just not get a license to drive.

If anyone out there ever figures out why Bush has got everyone in this country bamboozled, please inform me. I just cannot see it!

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

PS: I hope the idiot makes no progress in Social Security reform...or, tort reform. No one seems to want that, anyway...and from what I have read in the papers, they all agree that Insurance Companies and doctors are the problem...I would love to think someone is gonna kick his ass!!!!

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Subject: FORGET IT!

John Kerry may have written his own political obituary with a pathetic letter to his supporters saying that he won't back a protest by African-American House members against voting fraud in Ohio. I poured my heart and soul into campaigning for the kerry edwards ticket! i gave money, money and more money! If he is smart he will not even attempt to run again! i don't know a democrat now who would vote for him!

diane in miami

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Subject: How can she do it?

I was just watching coverage of the tsunami on Dateline and heard some incredibly strange things. A woman, an American, saying she was on a beach in Thailand and there was no shortage of water or food, it was wonderful and tourists need to come to help the economy.

What kind of person can talk of enough food and water and toss frisbees around a beach when thousands, within a short distance, have died, many are injured, homeless,  in danger of disease and not getting enough food or water?

How could anyone do what she was doing? I don't have a problem with going there and spending your money, but how do you ignore all the suffering? It reminds me of a program we used to do at church. You invite a group over for dinner. You serve a complete steak dinner to one guest and the rest get rice and water. We found that the person with the dinner couldn't eat it without sharing.

I find it particularly callous that anyone could enjoy themselves surrounded by so much suffering. There is no way I could do that.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.

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Subject: A New Party

Fellow BuzzFlash Patriots,

I think I could probably speak for many of my fellow BuzzFlash friends when I say I have finally had it, am finished, and am completely and totally disgusted with the "Democrat" party.

I quit!!

Like many of you, I gave my hard-earned money to that Benedict Arnold John Kerry. Like so many of you, I have protested, marched, emailed, called and faxed on so many issues these past four years: the war, the vote, civil rights, abortion rights, health care education the environment and on and on and on. Hell, I even started a Civil Liberties Defense Group in my home town to ask the city council to pass a resolution against the Patriot Act! Did they? Hell, no! Too many corrupt, bought-and-paid-for Repugnicans and even one National Guardsman who is now in Iraq (I wonder if he's changed his tune?).

I quit!!

My final phone call to a Democrat was to Barbara Boxer. And she came through for me. Thank you Barbara. You will have my vote for the rest of your career because you have more balls than the entire Senate put together, and that is a hell of a lot of balls! But to listen and watch the rest of your "colleagues?" Forget it. Just forget it.

It's obvious by now that the Democratic Party as a whole is either a completely terrified quivering shivering mess of invertebrates, or Repugnicans in Democrat clothing.

Never never NEVER AGAIN will a Democrat get my money, my time, my hopes or my dreams (with the exception of Barbara, of course). I hope she doesn't let us down.

Our only hope, my friends, is in a New Party. Take the most progressive Dems, like Barbara Boxer, Dennis Kucinich, Howard Dean and anyone else who has proven, with their vote or their actions, that they care more about Americans than their own careers, and mix them with the best Progressives Greens we've got. There are A LOT of alternatives out there.

Look at how the Greens spearheaded the Ohio vote protest. THANK YOU GREENS!! For that, they have earned my respect and my future donations.

The only way to change the dictatorship we are living under is for a Revolution. The Democratic Party died yesterday, January 6, 2005.

Today, the day after only ONE Democratic Senator added her voice to the debate, I QUIT the Democratic Party.

From now on, only the most anti-war, pro-labor, pro-women, pro-environment, radical leftist advocating hard-working underdogs...the Independent American spirits...will get my energy and my vote!!

Let's start right here on BuzzFlash, my friends! Shirley, you can be our Eleanor Roosevelt-like elder stateswoman (I know you're not that old, dear, but you are so wise). And Buzz...you are our Paul Revere, our Benjamin Franklin, our John Adams, our Martin Luther King, our Ghandi and our Mark Twain. I can be a cheerleader/marketing/promotions person, and all the wonderful writers like G Will Hunting and Barbara in NYC and the Liberal Christian can rouse the rabble. And my gosh the brilliant Paul Krugman, Maureen Farrell and the many other guest authors and commentators like P.M. Carpenter and the wonderful Angry Liberal and the marvelous TruthOut.org and so many others...we've got a veritable think tank on our hands, everybody!

WHY NOT US? WHY **CAN'T** WE lead this country and the world to a better place?

Is this totally naive of me?

Heck, THAT'S WHAT THE INTERNET IS FOR!

Buzz, you are the broadsheet of the Revolution.

Let's do it. I'm sick of being afraid and depressed and worried about my child's future and war and destruction and the melting polar ice cap.

We can change the world. We just have to shout and scream and kick louder and harder than those despicable Repugnicans. They are just Evil. We can conquer them!

elaine in Petaluma

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Subject: Can the Democrats spell Vichy?

Dear BuzzFlash,

The Senate Democrats truly ARE French. Unfortunately, they are Vichy collaborators not Free French fighters.

Yeah, they certainly came out fighting! NOT! The Congressional session has only just started and the dems have rolled over and played collaborator on what may well be two of the most important issues they'll take on.

First, on the Ohio vote protest. Only Boxer voted for it. Not Kennedy. Not Byrd. Not Kerry. Or Dorgan or Gephardt or Lieberman. What a pathetic joke. We HAD one senator untainted by a vote of collaboration. Obama didn't vote to give the president permission to make war at will or to fund it. Now he's tarnished along with all the rest. Come on, people! Just because the republicans will prevail in the end vote doesn't mean you have to go on record as supporting them. All the more reason to keep your record intact. Vote against, against, against. Let them dig the holes and bury themselves. When the worm turns, and it will, the voters will look to candidates who didn't contribute to the problems.

Second, Alberto Gonzales. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Joseph Biden rip Donald Rumsfeld a new hole over the Abu Ghraib torture? And wasn't it Biden who threatened Ashcroft with a contempt charge? But Gonzales, the man who greenlighted the atrocity and called the Geneva Convention "quaint" is allowed to skate on all his evasions and outright lies. His record in Texas alone should have blacklisted him.

Perhaps the dems need to look a bit further back in French history. Or will they say, "Let them eat cake."

Kathy Gustafson
Brookings, SD

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Subject: For the mailbag

First of all, thank you for BuzzFlash. I found out about it about six months ago, and while I don't remember how I heard about it, I'm glad I did. It's a valuable resource, and I've learned a lot of things from it.

Concerning Thursday's vote, I applaud Sen. Boxer and Reps. Conyers and Tubbs Jones for their courage. I'm sorry they ended up standing alone in the final outcome. But I never expected to be able to reverse the outcome of the election. It was about calling attention to the numerous discrepancies, inconsistencies and acts of fraud that marred the vote in Ohio, because that's the best chance of avoiding a repeat of that episode. More people know about it now.

I'm from Illinois, and while I would have liked for Durbin and Obama to have voted with Boxer, I'm not down on them. I saw an earlier letter from Colorado, who said of Ken Salazar, "I am certain he will vote with the dems more than 75 percent of the time...The party needs all kinds of dems: liberals, moderates, progressives..." I agree, and I'm not going to abandon Durbin and Obama because of this vote. They take the same position I would almost all of the time. I feel fortunate to have them representing me, as I do in having Lane Evans as my Congressman. I applaud him for his vote and his role in this process.

As for Ric Keller's inanity, "Get over it": get over yourself, Ric! Real Americans do not "get over" the presidency being stolen, twice in a row, no less.

And as for what direction the Democrats should take: may I use a military analogy? Generals fight wars; diplomats negotiate settlements. This is the time for the Dems to stop playing diplomat and start playing general.

Will Burpee,
Springfield IL

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Subject: Armstrong Williams ....

$240,000 to promote the Bush No Child Left Behind Farce .....

Doesn't surprise me .... this same pundit is still spewing the Saddam's Iraq and Osama's Al Qaeda 911 Link. Wonder how much he gets paid for that one? Gotta be worth at least
a couple hundred thousand ..... ya think?

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: I teach BuzzFlash

Dear Buzzflash,

Subject: Top Moonie may get top U.S. trade job, WaPo reports

Hi, guys,

One of the most powerful Rev. Moon operatives may be tapped to replace Zoellick at the U.S. Trade Representative's office, opening who knows what doors for the extremist Washington Times owner and international billionaire Moon.

Moon movement VIP under consideration for top U.S. trade job (iapprovethismessiah.com)

Bush Announces Zoellick as Deputy to Rice (Washington Post)

John

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Subject: Letter to Bill Frist

Your report about the AP quote from Bill Frist prompted me to do some research on the event and I was so inspired to send him the following letter:

Thank you for keeping us informed. We remain diligently committed to keeping this administration from making the gains that it envisions. Keep the drum beating.

Respectfully,

dawn m carroll

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Subject: Seems you underestimate the enemy

Your 8 January Editorial "Confederacy of Dunces" hits the spot. However, seems you underestimate the determination of these murderous thugs. They will kill and destroy whatever is necessary. They will not be stopped.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Republicans in Kentucky

Yesterday, the Republican controlled Kentucky senate seated a woman that the courts ruled ineligible to serve in the state senate because of the constitution's residency requirement.

I'm sending two links. The first is to the story that appeared in the Courier-Journal this morning. The other is to a search page that should give you some background on the story.

Keep up the good work. I'd send you some money if I had any to spare.

GOP-led Senate seats Stephenson  (1/8/05, Louisville Courier-Journal)

http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=Stephenson...

Dean

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Subject: IF

IF Fritz Stern is right, and the tools of Hitler's propaganda are being hidden in plain sight --and-- IF an administration that does not recognize a law when it sees one proceeds to affect its greedy agenda with force at home --and-- IF one day we wake up and FEMA is at our door to "escort" us to a camp --and-- IF the poor (remember them?) become us will the other nations of the world invade the USA to protect us citizens from ourselves ? will they stand by and shrug their shoulders? will we know?

Deb

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Subject: Need some working definitions, so here's a start

It seems to me that we need to reshape the discussion. Many more people need to know what the bosses (I can't call them leaders) are about. For that, we could start with some definitions, and get them better understood.

Let me suggest one: Neocon: A power-hungry person who favors unilateral aggression, especially against weak nations; imprisonment without counsel, charge or communication; torture; the indiscriminate murder of innocent civilians, especially women and children; and lying to cover it all up. A pal of crooked executives everywhere, and a person with a complete disregard for accepted standards of behavior, respect, law and treaty. A thug willing to take advantage of another person in any way, legal or illegal, based on avarice, ignorance or vengeance. A massive polluter with no regard for other people's health, safety or well-being. A person who would help a crooked business steal grandma's money, dump grandma in the street, and then gloat about it. Generally, a completely self-centered imperialist, who believes that if you have money, you should get all sorts of government support, paid for by people who work for their money. A person to whom ethics is something to pretend and talk hugely about while robbing and defiling everything he is involved with. And a person for whom the "truth" is whatever propaganda is convenient at the moment. Frequently, a person who hides shameful behavior behind a religious front. One who shirks accountability for unscrupulous actions, but takes credit for the good work of others.

I'm sure there are many other terms that need a good definition, and this one is just a skeleton of the whole topic. But I thought we have to start somewhere. It might even become a contest.

A BuzzFlash supporter

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TVNL Editor's Comments:

There is a lot of noise regarding the "pundit" who was paid by the Bush administration to push the no child left behind program. Of course, this is a blatant violation of journalistic ethics (a phrase that has become an oxymoron recently), but do you know that there is a better example of this violation at, you guessed it….FOX News! William Kristol is a regular face on FOX, most notably on Brit Hume's show.

FOX touts Kristol as the editor of the Weekly Standard, which is true. But a more notable credit that FOX has never mentioned to their viewers is that Kristol is the chairman, let me repeat that…CHAIRMAN...of the Project for a New American Century (PNAC). In other words Kristol is one of the authors of the neocon agenda and he is propped up in front of a "news" watching audience as a pundit/journalist who is simply sharing his views on the events of the day. In other words, he is a shill.

FYI there were 10 PNAC members in the Bush administration. Several have left like Richard Perle and John Bolton (just announced). But many remain in place, in essence running the show; like Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz. Kristol is the CHARIMAN of their organization. Think about it!

Sharon

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Subject: RE: A Rose is a Rose?

I do understand that the Bush administration is characterized by a high and noble rank of morality - no lying or knowledge of mistakes.

But, this Armstrong Williams matter gives me cause for doubt. If the charges are true, it seems there just might be an element of 'corruption' in Mr. Williams' actions on behalf of this administration.

Is that labeling on my part a trifle too harsh?

peeteekay

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Subject: Here's what I think...

I don't happen to think that someone with a plastic Jesus statue on the dashboard of his car is any more religious, moral, ethical, or decent than I am simply because he advertises his religiosity with a plastic statue and I don't.

I don't think when we all arrive at The Pearly Gates the first question to us will be to inquire how many plastic Jesus or Mary statues we were able to fit on the dashboard of our car.

I also don't think someone with an American flag flying from his car is any more patriotic, law-abiding, more loving of our country than I am, or more respectful of our flag.

I don't think attaching a yellow Support Our Troops "ribbon" to one's car is persuasive that the car's owner is any more supportive of our troops than I am (he has probably enriched the manufacturers of that "ribbon" more than he has aided our troops), and I certainly do not think the car's owner could be any more appreciative of the sacrifice our troops make on our behalf or have greater sympathy than I do for those who are killed or wounded in military service.

I don't happen to think parading one's religiousness, patriotism or "moral values" around in public for all to admire is inclined to prove anything more than a person's penchant for self-promotion, along with a sorry need for admiration.

I think real patriotism would require us all to make every effort to see to it that our country lives up to its ideals, and I think any religion worth anything should lead its followers to want to be better, kinder, fairer, more compassionate people.

A Loyal BuzzFlasher

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Subject: The 8th editorial

I'm grateful for BuzzFlash to exist, I'm pleased to read it!

Here's some ideas of mine:

For me, Mr. Bush seems to be the personalisation of a majority of semi- or under- educated, self-concerned and isolationistic US citizens, who repeat the propaganda they are being fed to themselves as soul food for their own satisfaction. So as he appears to be one of them, and apparently taking care of their worries, everything he does must be alright and in line with their expectations. And why should a population bother with other people's problems, if there are enough of one's own. (- created by themselves, since they wanted this leader -)

The plutocrats have chosen the right person to deceive his own kin in mentality – to exploit the nation and then move on to the next big challenge – whatever or wherever that will be. To make more money and destruction.

That one, who has the U.S. as friend, has no need for another enemy.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS

Question: Who is the favorite singer of Armstrong Williams?

Answer: Johnny CASH of course!

Thanks so much for your website.

Mark Wilson

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Subject: Bush Deceives the American Public AGAIN, with BIG Tax Deduction Plan

Here's a good example as to how Karl Rove has a fantastic brain. Certainly George Bush's pea brain isn't good enough to come up with this one.

And, as usual, it looks good in the headlines and is sure to buy a lot of votes from the ignorant electorate.

Bush, in his generous manner, has pushed the congress to allow all donations to the tsunami relief fund to be declared as a donation on this year's tax returns for the year 2004.

Wow, that is great, isn't it? What a nice guy.

Well, in a sense it is a good offer, but who is really going to get the benefits, and reap the BIG dollars from it.

Certainly not the average, hard working guy on the street, the middle class and even the lower class, all of which really had feelings about the suffering in the stricken areas. They dug into their pockets and came up with twenty bucks here, and fifty bucks there, and maybe even a hundred or two, and they

donated it...BECAUSE THEY CARE, THEY REALLY CARE.

But the ones who WILL benefit, greatly, from Bush's alleged generosity, are the corporations, the multi millionaires, and the ultra wealthy, who all gave in big bundles and will now see it all come back to them in the form of HUGE tax deductions this year.

Do you think that the majority of them gave those big bucks because they cared about the suffering, and the death and destruction? Hell no, they are the big dollar backers of Bush and the Neo Con party, and, they get paybacks for ever dollar they give, so why not a big tax deduction?

I, for one, seriously doubt that they gave one thin dime because they care about the victims.

In fact, I wouldn't doubt that they were told, BEFORE THEY DONATED, that Bush was going to do something to make sure they got it all back, or most of it back, in the form of an immediate tax deduction on this year's filing.

So, once again they have deceived the public, with this big hullabaloo about how Mister Nice Guy president wants to thank all the people who donated by letting them claim it on their tax return this year.

Yeah, right, its gonna make a big difference for Mister Middle class and his 25 dollar donation, isn't it?

But it sure will help out those million dollar donors, all the way to the bank.

And, as usual, the American public will be brainwashed into believing that Bush did it for them.

What a scum bucket this Bush really is, or perhaps he is just too stupid to see it, and does exactly what PRESIDENT ROVE tells him to do.

Some of us are smart enough to see through the lies, and deception.

Mike Allen
Phoenix, AZ

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Subject: Boxer rebellion

Thanks for suggesting we all thank Boxer et al., for their courage and heroism.

Wouldn't it be cool to put our thanks into a fund for the Congressional Black Caucus, perhaps set for vote fraud investigation, in Boxer's name?

I’m trying to find out how this might be done; will get back to you.

L. Lynn LeSueur

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Subject: You guys rock!

Hiya Buzz,

I just wanted to say that I've been reading your site for a while now, and honestly, if it wasn't for BuzzFlash and other progressive media sites, I don't know what I would do. Sometimes the sheer arrogance, ignorance and hypocrisy of the current administration sends me into utter despair, and I wonder if we'll ever get our country back. Thanks to sites like yours, I know I'm not alone, and knowing that there are others out there who feel as I do gives me hope for the future.

I bought several premiums today, and plan to buy more in the future to support your work (and after I watch them, I think I'll loan them to my Republican in-laws *evil grin*). Keep fighting the good fight!

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject:Impotent Rage

Dear B-F,

Is there any longer doubt that we, the people of the United States, are in the maw of virulent Fascists, To hell with this comfortable namby pamby phrase Neo-cons. They are bloody Fascists steering this country to eternal war and social destruction.

All I ask is a Progressive Party with strong leadership. Gov Dean? Someone to redeem the promise of the New Deal. A true Democracy.

After the Kerry Collapse count me out as a member of the Democratic Party

A. Leslie Palmer
Mill Valley, Ca

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Subject: i sent this to rnc

what kind of message are you sending the world by having an expensive inaugural celebration on january 20th, at the same time confirming an attorney general who wrote torture memos? think about it. we preempt iraq and all the intel was wrong. people are getting killed (innocent iraqis and our soldiers). today we again, dropped a bomb on the wrong house. are you nuts? we look like terrorists of the world. we look shallow and empty. helping with the earthquake victims doesn't stop the murders in sudan or the aids in africa. there is too much pain in the world to have anything other than a swearing in on january 20th. anything else is tacky and shows no empathy and is completely without class.
karin dicker
los angeles, ca

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BuzzFlash,

Regarding the news article Gonzales picks up support from Colorado's Salazar, other key Hispanics . . .

Reading this article prompted me to think about several things . . . I feel that Gonzales was in the plan of the Bush administration for some time. This is his pay off. I was disappointed to see that once again, a Democrat has helped to uphold the facade of the Bush administration. Feeling that the Gonzales appointment was not something pulled out of the blue, then the Bush administration may have been watching Colorado and thinking that Salazar, as a Democrat, would be much more helpful to them in the future than Coors, who was just another sanctimonious Republican. They already have plenty of those.

I too, was on the email list of Salazar and I really thought that conservative Colorado would go for Coors and was surprised, and pleased when they didn't and I thought this might be the beginning of the awakening of America. But now, I wonder if Salazar had any Republican help. Gonzales will help the Hispanic community in the same way Clarence Thomas has helped the Black community. And, Republicans will help the minority communities the same way they have always helped the poor by giving to the wealthy....Republicans, such as Bush, have never held any respect for those who cross the Party line in order to help them. When that person is no longer of any use to the Republicans, they are refuse to them. Remember Daschle?

For years, we hear the DLC and the DNC and their consultants constantly telling Democrats they need to lean further and further towards the "Center," which actually has proven to be more "Right of Center" for those who like directions about the leaning up against the Republican Party. When a Democrat is running against a Republican in office, the Republican always wins. After the loss, what does the Democrat leadership think should be done the next time? . . . Get closer! But, even though this is what the Democratic leadership keeps believing . . . it is the opposite, the Democrats have been helping the Republicans win all along.

As in any case, where the Republicans should be put on the defensive, they use a Democrat to help blur the issues and Democrats just love to help out. It's the nature of the beast. Think of the family dog. Salazar introduces Gonzales and makes Gonzales look acceptable to the unknowing public because of the association of a Democrat who also is a Hispanic. It is the association with the Democrats that make those Republicans look good, not the other way around.

What Party has taken care of the American people and had control of the government for most of the last Century? If our Democratic Congress keeps giving Bush the silence of approval . . . the public will follow. Maybe people aren't informed and they look to see where the crowd is going . . . they follow the crowd. It's not that the Democrat candidates don't morph enough into a Republican . . . it's that the Republican changes the face of that Democrat from cozy to cozen and confuses the public. The public never sees the difference in the two Party Platforms and the difference is vast . . . from one pole to the other pole. Democratic candidates that cross party lines without a strong message, come out looking bipolar instead.

Anyone who believes that Gonzales will "toe the line" when it comes to law and the abuse of law, just because he says so . . . is a fool. We have a leader in the White House who lied us into a war that killed over 100,000 people. A leader who doesn't give a damn about how our military is dying in Iraq or how Iraqis are dying in Iraq. He is thinking about his next war. Afghanistan has been blasted back to 10,000 years ago. They are never mentioned. Iraq is never mentioned. Nothing strange about this because most criminals don't talk publicly about their crimes.

Strict party lines need to be drawn. It's important that the public knows what a Democrat is and what a Democrat is not and the public should also be made to recognize the many faces of the Bush Republican Party. Bipartisan politics today is . . . for Republican esteem and entertainment. Democrats need, instead, to tell them (the Republicans) to take a walk.

Just a thought,

Sen. Salazar baffles on Gonzales (Denver Post)

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

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Subject: Kid Rock

I don't know what brand of incense this moron is burning (along with who knows what) but the "F-Word" and sex-craziness and licentious partying are a Bush family tradition. Does anyone recall that the current WH resident had Ozzy Odd-Born (and I was seeing Odd-Born back in the early 1970s while he was with Black Sabbath) at some official dinner early on in 2001-02? The "pro-family Americans" have deluded themselves to think that there is any other "family" in the Bush's interests than the Bush Family. As the VP basically told everyone, "Go F-word yourselves!"

For the Bushes, Black Sabbath rocks, everyday, every way ...

Alamaine
Grand Forks, North Dakota, US of A

[BuzzFlash Note: A quick Google search suggests Kid Rock hasn't been confirmed by the inaugural committee. However, it looks like he met GWB when he (Kid Rock) was stoned...]

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Subject: Bush's Approval Rating Falls in AP Poll

Dear Buzz and readers,

Think about it. Exit polls showed Bush losing to Kerry. Now, polls show Bush's popularity at an all-time low for returning encumbent.... And yet he WON the election? Low numbers before, low numbers after ---

Lucky he got a surge of approval for the few hours necessary to 'win' the election.

But then, Bush is a lucky guy. Ain't he?

Bush's Approval Rating Falls in AP Poll (AP/Seattle Post Intelligencer)

Mary K.

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Subject: SUV debate

I'm really sick of getting trashed for being a SUV owner around here (BuzzFlash). Some of us are actually responsible people who choose that vehicle for logical reasons. My trade-off was that I reduced the amount of driving I do personally. We use the SUV for work, recreation, hauling people around, like during the election when the local campaign needed volunteers to drive out of state volunteers. I carpool all the time for shopping and things like that.

My point is that we're not all idiots. You do have to learn how to drive it safely, something I highly recommend for any vehicle. You do have to take into consideration the impact it has on the environment and try to compensate by driving less. There are minuses to having one, obviously, but it isn't as if owning one makes you suddenly retarded as some of your linked articles would suggest. Over 90% of our driving is on busy highways. It's not like we use it in an urban area to pop over to the coffee house daily. These highways are filled with morons driving zippy, little cars that like to dart in and out of lanes. Many spots have almost no shoulder. If I'm going to get hit at 55 mph I'd really rather be in my big assed SUV than a little Ford Escort.

All this bashing of a group of people that I happen to be a part of seems as divisive as much as some of what has come out of this last election.

Kay

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Subject: Look at the WORDS they use

The words our military (and this administration) use to describe events in Iraq are very telling. Our military recently obliterated "the wrong" Iraqi house. The owner of the house and an AP photographer at the scene (eye witnesses!) said the blast killed 14 people, 7 of whom were children. Our military's "report" claims only 5 were killed, and issued a statement regretting "the loss of "possibly innocent lives" in the strike. POSSIBLY INNOCENT? Seven Iraqi children are POSSIBLY INNOCENT? Does our military now consider all Iraqi citizens "guilty" unless proven otherwise? (When in doubt, bomb first, then sort it out and hope nobody notices?)

Troops Kill 8 Iraqis After Convoy Bombed (AP/Yahoo)

The article acknowledges: "The discrepancy between the death counts could not be reconciled." Well, neither could the statistical anomalies in the exit poll numbers in our recent presidential election, but hey---things "happen" (or as Rumsfeld chirps, "get untidy").

Also, notice the wording in this article (and elsewhere) re: the upcoming Iraqi elections. "The United States has insisted that the vote go ahead on Jan. 30." The US "has insisted." In an interview last week--I can't remember if it was a top brass in the field, a retired armchair general or some pundit from a conservative think tank--they all seem to use the same phrases anymore--but he pontificated, repeatedly in his upbeat spin-a-log.... "WE WANT (the elections to go ahead on time).... WE WANT (democracy to take root in Iraq) .... WE WANT (a free Iraq).... WE WANT ... WE WANT ... WE WANT....

That, to me, says it all. Imagine what would happen if the elections did take place--and some radical cleric faction gets the majority of votes. And tells the US to get out, go away, you've done enough damage. Well now, that means the permanent military bases already constructed and being constructed will have been for naught. What if the Iraqis decide to take care of reconstructing their damaged cities with the unemployed engineers and workers they have, and tell Halliburton and Bechtel to get lost? (Oh no, "we" don't want that!)

When are "we" going to start listening--instead of giving orders? Has the military mindset completely taken taken over in foreign policy? Frightening.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: baby steps...

Fellow Buzzers:

Little by little, one small victory at a time, we can make ourselves heard, and have some say in what happens in our country and local communities. I used to buy my veggies from this guy when I lived in Vermont. He inspired me to attend local council meetings. Way to go, David!

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=2780032

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Foreign Media

BUZZ:

I think you should just print news from foreign outlets. Our entire media is corporate owned and operated, we've got nothing on the BBC or the CBC. You get better news overseas and from Canada than in the United States of Corporations.

Brian

[BuzzFlash Note: Check out the BuzzFlash feature, World Media Watch, by Gloria Lalumia, which runs Monday/Wednesday/Friday.]

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Subject: Death Squads

Death squads?? How insane does it have to get before it dawns on the mutton heads in the White House, that more violence will only breed greater hatred for America. This war is the downfall of America in the world and Bush is the man responsible for that downfall. His place in the history books is well secured as the worst president ever to lead our country. A clown and his disciples...ever creating gallows humor that if it were not so real/surreal, would make the basis of a whopping good tale of adventure for a spooky night. Scary!!

Richard...Michigan

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Subject: Barbara

Hi Buzz

where is Barbara? i miss reading her BuzzFlash minute

Helen in NC

[BuzzFlash Note: She's back today. She had a holiday break, then a computer break.]

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Subject: Election Mishaps - Even in ole' Kain-tuck

Kentucky has long been known (to Kentuckians, at least) as having questionable politics - whether Republican or Democrats....although I am a Democrat and the state was Democratic (some Republican pockets) until the Republican Revolution upset our political order...

But...just to set the record straight, we've still got corruption - and it's almost totally the Republicans.

Democrat Virginia Woodward ran for the 37th District seat in the state Senate and was opposed by Republican Dana Seum Stephenson (whose father is already in the Kentucky legislature). The peculiar thing about this is that Stephenson received the most votes, but was not a legal resident of Kentucky.

Woodward went to court to challenge Stephenson's residency and a judge ruled Stephenson had not lived in Kentucky for the required six years before the election and ordered that her votes not be counted.

The State Board of Elections certified Woodward the winner, and she took an oath of office on January 1.

Stephenson asked the Senate, which is dominated by her fellow Republicans, to decide who should be declared the winner and take the seat.

She lived in Indiana, including filing income taxes, voting there and registering her car and getting a driver's license there.

Of course, accordingly, a vote was taken and the Republicans, who control the state government, put her in office. It is being suggested that Woodward take the case further.

Senator Bob Leeper, a Republican from Paducah, complained about the partisan situation that has existed for these last few years (this, perhaps, being the straw that broke the camel's back) and has stated he will resign. Governor Ernie Fletcher has asked him to reconsider so they will not have to call for another election in that District.

Ho-hum....not as bad as Texas restructuring...but it's the best Kentucky can do in following Texas' lead!

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Election coverage

I'd like to share with your readers my response to the big media corporations that wouldn't know a news story if they fell over it. They too need to know what's going on in the country as it's got to be tough living inside an environment without real news.

Gary
from MA

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Subject: RE: Carolyn Goodman (Mother of Andrew Goodman)

In 1994 when my son was in high school, he spent the summer working for the Andrew Goodman Foundation. The Foundation was established that year by Carolyn Goodman, the mother of Andrew to commemorate the 30 year anniversary of the murder of her son, Michael Schwerner, and James Chaney in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where they were working to register African-American voters. (Andrew Goodman was an alumni of the high school that my son was attending.)

One day Dylan was asked to deliver some papers to Carolyn Goodman. She invited him into her apartment on a hot August day to have lemonade and to talk. On that day my son met a woman of extraordinary courage and grace. It was a memorable afternoon for him.

Now I read that Edgar Ray Killin, a 79 year old man, has, finally, been arrested for the murders. Killin was head of the KKK in Neshoba County, Mississippi. The extraordinary thing is that Killin was a preacher, a religious man, at the time of the murders.

As I think about the events of the past 4 years and in the last two presidential elections when so many African-Americans have been disenfranchised from voting, it is hard not to be pessimistic about the sacrifices that so many people made to ensure the right of all Americans to vote.

I can't help but wonder whether Edgar Ray Killin was one of those "values" voters who cast his vote for George W. Bush.

I can't help but wonder why the disenfranchisement of African-Americans has been so unimportant to John Kerry, Al Gore, and all those in Congress who are our elected officials and work for us.

I can't help but wonder why the richest country in the world can't have a uniform system of voting where every vote can be verified.

And I can't help but wonder why millions of voters followed their basest instincts of fear and prejudice when they voted for a president who has demolished our credibility in the international community, is destroying the economy and environment and is taking away civil liberties (including voting rights) in an unprecedented way.

But I do know that although there are few enough heroes in life, one of mine is an 89 year old woman who is living in the same Upper West Side apartment where she raised her son, Andrew.

Reputed KKK member charged in 1964 deaths (AP/London Free Press)

Cheryl Tyler
New York, New York

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Subject: Journalist paid 1/4 million for Gov propaganda

The United States government paid a journalist $240,000 to present fake news stories promoting President Bush's deeply flawed No Child Left Behind legislation (which Bush refuses to properly fund.)

Now the journalist, Armstrong Williams, won't give the money back! Remember this is OUR MONEY. The government paid this guy to spew propaganda to unfairly influence us to support highly questionable legislation. This is right out of communist Russia!

Everyone should ask themselves why everything Bush pushes has to be backed up with a propaganda campaign? Do you think maybe everything that comes out of his mouth is so full of holes that the only way to "sell" the programs is to lie with propaganda?

And it begs the question: how many more "journalists" are being given payola to flood the airwaves and newspapers with tax paid government propaganda?

Mike Reinholz Seattle, WA

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Subject: the Kerrys visit the Schwarzeneggers

While Americans who took the election seriously were in Ohio, Florida and New Mexico (just to name a few places) fighting for democracy against time, arrogance, apathy, and criminal intent; at computers working to compile, catalog, and disseminate evidence of election fraud while the big-bucks media ignored, suppressed and belittled that same evidence (except as it occurred in Ukraine); writing letters and making phone calls to editors, reporters, members of Congress...all those people whose job it is to give a damn about fair and free elections in this country, from the San Francisco Chronicle...

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: The Final Solution

Over the past few days I have heard several prominent Repugs refer to their plan for fixing Social Security as "The final solution." It seems to me that the last time I heard that phrase used so often was when the Nazis were talking about their plan to rid Europe of all Jews. Looks like Grover Norquist has the same plan for Social Security that the Nazis had for the Jews. Extermination.

Stukin
Stamford, CT

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