The FBI said on Thursday (1/13/05) it may have to scrap a new $170 million computer program designed to allow agents to share information instantly and fix a main problem identified after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The software is already outdated and inadequate, with the bureau able to use only about one-tenth of the program, an FBI official said on condition of anonymity.

FBI may have to scrap new computer program (Reuters)

Subject: A problem with Social Security in 40 years away when George Bush is bankruptying

We have a crisis with the deficits now and George Bush is being successful at confusing everyone about the threat in 40 years. WHY?

The US is like a plane flying across the country. The Social Security problem (which may or may not actually exist) is a mountain that's 1000 miles away. The plane is unfortunately running out of gas because they are burning way too much fuel and if they don't do something about it now we won't get anywhere near the mountain that we can fly around.

Don't let Bush use his magic to distract the people from the problem he's created with his tax cut.

Drew Swanson

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Subject: Crisis in Texas

More and more states with Repub governors are experiencing a fiscal crisis. Texas is one of them. Bush left Texas with a $10 billion deficit. Also, the Bush administration has done nothing to mend the broken border with Mexico, even encouraging millions of more illegal aliens to enter this country.

There is no homeland security. Laws have been enacted, but neither the executive nor legislative branch is willing to apply them. Meanwhile, illegal immigration is destroying this country.

Before long, wages will be at third world levels. The following are excerpts from The Dallas Morning News.

(Note: When Bush was governor, he attempted to put the worker's compensation fund into the general fund.)

RB

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Subject: Kudos

Thanks for reprinting Ted Kennedy's speech 1/13 on recreating a Progressive Democratic Party. I hadn't seen it anywhere else. I agree with him, and I appreciate the opportunity (and reminder!) to recommit to the values that are important to me. NOW I'll buy a book through you guys!

Sincerely,

Carolyn O'Hara

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Subject: Bush morals, to paraphrase Churchill on the Royal Navy

To paraphrase Winston Churchill on the traditions of the Royal Navy, "I can give you the morals of the Bush administration in 3 words: Greed, Bigotry and Torture."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Hi Buzz and Buzzers,

Haven't written in a long time. I even had to stop reading for a little while because I was just too depressed after the "election." But of course I'm hooked again and reading Buzz every day, and I promise a donation is forthcoming. Anyway, in the article below from the New York Times, the headline just jumped out and bit me on the nose - or should I say smacked me in the face.

Overhauling Retirement Is Worth Risk, Cheney Says (NY Times)

Oh really Dick? Whose risk? Are you at risk? No, I didn't think so. Is anyone you know at risk? No, didn't think so. So I guess you think OUR risk is worth it. Fun to put people at risk, isn't it Dick?

He's a lying, satanic bastard. Just another great idea that Dick and cronies can get rich off of. I swear, this guy could suck money out of a rock. And let's talk about chutzpah - using FDR to push their dismantling of Social Security. I can't take the irony anymore. FDR is rolling in his grave.

Hope everyone's well and holding up.

Glad you're around, Buzz

Barbara in NYC

[BuzzFlash Note: Using FDR this way is like using Vietnam to hurt Kerry, but help Bush, in the election, don't you think? And it kinda worked.]

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Subject: Progress for America

Dear BuzzFlash,

For more information on Progress for America, which one of your correspondents mentions, see:

http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Progress_for_America

This makes it clear that this "Astroturf" organization has clear links with the Bush administration.

Keep up the good work.

Catherine Atherton
LA, CA, USA

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Subject: How Much More Will It Take To Convince You?

Hi Gang!

Whenever you have the misfortune of dealing with a Republi-Nut supporter of Shrubya, toss this morsel at them.

Jerry Peurala
Westfield, IN

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Subject: Terrifying! NewAmericanCentury.org

Absolutely terrifying website.

It's the Bush & Company plan for world domination. What's terrifying is the date. 1997.

Look at the signatories under "Statement of Principles."
http://www.NewAmericanCentury.org

Then do a search using the term: New American Century Jeb Bush

Read about their need for an event that is the equivalent of another "Pearl Harbor" to achieve their ends.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: The web search failed when we tried it. We share your horror of the NAC.]

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Subject: US says Orwellian world in 15 years. We're off to a good start !

(see 4th bullet pt about midway thru the article)

In a new report the The National Intelligence Council proposed four hypothetical scenarios of what the world will look like in 2020, including: A "cycle of fear" scenario in which aggressive responses to terror threats lead to increasingly intrusive security measures, "possibly introducing an Orwellian world."

The NIC coordinates the production of intelligence reports that combine the views of all 15 of the nation's intelligence agencies. It is housed inside the CIA, although operates independently.

Prediction: India, China will be economic giants (USA Today/Yahoo)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: A sinking ship!

Sirs, one article after another. One abuse after another. Just how much does it take to see a sinking, stinking ship? How many more abuses?? If the Bush administration had a mascot, it would be a skunk! Just how strong does the stench of corruption in one White House have to become, before action is taken???

Xft.

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Subject: Jan 20...celebrate what????

January 20, 2005, Inauguration Day. Wear black. Here are just a few reasons why.

How will you "celebrate" this Inauguration Day? Here's an idea about how we as a nation can honor those who deserve to be honored: our troops. Read on, and if you feel moved to do so, pass this on to others.

As a nation we all experienced the unbelievable horror of 9/11 and its aftermath. We were never more united than at that point, and we never had more of the world's understanding, sympathy, and support. We stood behind George W. Bush when we thought he was waging war on terrorists who threatened our country. We stood behind him as our nation fought the Taliban in Afghanistan. And the world stood with us.

Then so very suddenly we were also going to war in Iraq. And at least half our nation, plus most of the world, believed this invasion to be significantly ill-timed and a misstep.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not, and never was, a fan of Saddam Hussein. ...He's in prison now awaiting trial. But our children are still dying in Iraq at a rate that gets higher each and every day, and there's no compelling evidence that this will end or can end.

Many of us don't feel like celebrating four more years of leadership guided by arrogance.

Many of us are horrified at counts from Iraq, rising daily, of our dead or wounded sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, or friends. Those who went bravely into battle, not for a political agenda, but because of duty, honor, and to protect the men and women who fought beside them.

These are the ones we should choose to honor, and many of us do honor them privately each and every day.

But when should we honor them publicly?

When should we stand together in our grief over our dead and wounded?

Let's make a public statement that we support and grieve for our troops. Let's do it on a day when George W. Bush will be trying his best to make us believe that he had a mandate to send our loved ones to Iraq to fight an ill-planned and self serving vendetta: Inauguration Day, Thursday, January 20, 2005. Read on.

As a nation we need to ask the hard questions.

What's your solution, George? Do we kill all the "insurgents," even though estimates from current Iraqi leaders indicate the "insurgents" at this point outnumber the occupying forces on the ground? Do we indefinitely detain those we don't quite know what to do with? Do we now stay as protectors long after the election until even the moderate Iraqis decide they are tired of us and start to attack us? And as we kill them, aren't we creating a brand new generation of enemies in their children?

Why can't we seem to find the guy who really IS responsible for attacking our country? Where is Osama bin Laden? We can find Saddam in a hole, but the man we went after is still able to produce and release videos?

WMD's...our reason for going to war in Iraq...no where to be found. In fact, the search for them is now officially ended, almost two years after this was used as the justification for war. Men and women are dying because of faulty intelligence? Or perhaps there was a rush to believe what Bush needed to believe in order to avenge his father? Another country, also with oil, borders Iraq and DOES have WMD's...are they next?

And what about the impact of all this on our American economy? Our national debt is staggering, and it will only get larger as we are forced to pour more and more money into the war in Iraq... the war of our own creation. Ironically, at the same time, war is good for some big business, so lots of corporations are profiting...was this part of the game plan?

Okay, yes, I'm plenty ticked off. I simply don't feel like celebrating four more years of THIS.

Back to the reason for this email: As of today, there are 1357 American victims, 1357 American families who are suffering the loss of a loved one, and well over 10,000 wounded, some missing legs, some missing arms, some blind, all of them with scars, visible or not.

(Check http://icasualties.org/oif/ for the current body count.)

We're not fools. George W. Bush started something, but he didn't anticipate the results. NOW we know that pulling our troops out would be tantamount to creating a bloody civil war in a very unstable country. We can only continue down the path that leads to more dead, more wounded.

If you lived through Vietnam, you know that the parallels are frightening. You also know that more Americans have already died in Iraq than in the first fours years of the horrific Vietnam conflict.

So here's the idea.

On Inauguration Day, 2005, choose to honor those who really deserve it: the men and women who have died, and those who are destined to die, in our armed forces in service to their Commander in Chief.

Wear a black armband, or dress in black. It's a simple statement, and it's a public statement. Show those around you that you support the troops and grieve for them, and that you choose to honor them rather than to celebrate the inauguration of the man who sent them to their, in our views, unnecessary deaths. If enough people do this, the message will be covered by the local and national news media, and the message will get to the White House on the very day that George W. Bush will be trying his best to believe he has a mandate. He doesn't.

If you feel so moved, pass this on to others.

Greg G.

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Subject: Coined term

The term "porno-puritan" is much more descriptive, I think. You guys are welcome to use it. ;O)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Not looking at Bush

(Sounds like a good idea to me!) But seriously, maybe the reason the peons aren't supposed to look directly at our Great Leader is because, like the sun, he might blind them with his glory.

Leslie

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Subject: OOOOPS

With one party calling the shots, and given the Bush arrogance and his inability not to admit Failure, particularly in Iraq, I highly doubt things will change. It very well could get worse. It is beyond me how one President gets away with so many mistakes, lies, and poor planning. For all those cheering at the inauguration, my response is do I laugh or do I cry, when I contemplate Gore Vidal's fitting quote, "Half of the American People never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half!" OOOOOPS!

[See: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/gorevidal135791.html]

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Ann Veneman

Hi Buzz,

Could you consider reposting info on Ann Veneman, the Ag Sec. who Kofi is going to appoint head of UNICEF? I was shocked by this. Also, do you know how it came that Bush got to nominate 3 people from which he chose? I liked Carol Bellamy. If Ann had to step down for "health reasons" then shouldn't that same reason prevent her from being head of such UNICEF? There's something very fishy about this appointment, esp. regarding food to the world's poor (ADM, etc.), it seems to me, very fishy (like all Bush actions).

Betsy

[BuzzFlash Note: Disinfopedia has a lengthy entry on Ann Veneman.]

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Subject: Fun With Numbers (Corrected)
 
Say the Iraq war cost is at $150 Billion.

Since this war was not defensive and totally optional it is Bush’s war.

If Bush is responsible, then Bush’s supporters are as responsible as he is for this war.

According to the 2004 popular vote 60,700,000 people voted for Bush.

$150,000,000,000/60,700,000 = $2,471 per Bush Voter

The bill for every Bush voter would be $2,471 for their war.

Would they have voted for Bush if they had to pay $2,741 up front to do so?

I don’t think so.

Jeff

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Subject: Soc Sec surplus invested in safest place on earth

The whole purpose of increasing Social Security taxes in 1983 was to build up a trust fund to handle the baby boomers' retirement. Obviously putting this nest egg in a box or a mattress was stupid. So we invested the surplus in the safest investment on earth -- United States government bonds. To finance the baby boomer retirement, we will need to start cashing in "our" bonds beginning in 2018.

Keep in mind these are the same exact bonds we sell to China or any other private investor. Just because the money is invested from a huge pool of US taxpayers, doesn't mean the government can or will default on these bonds.

What we need now is a relatively minor adjustment to the Social Security system. Any adjustment will be minor, way less drastic than what happened in 1983. In fact if they raise the cap on which taxes can be collected to $125,000/$150,000 instead of $90,000, this might take care of the shortfall forty or fifty years from now - problem gone. Plus if they raise the cap, it would probably only affect the top 10% of earners in the USA. The bottom 90% would not pay one extra cent in taxes. Seeing as how 33% of Bush tax cuts went to the top 1% (with an average income of $1.2 million), I think these rich people can handle the minor adjustment. Seeing as how 70% of Bush tax cuts went to the upper 20% of earners, I think they can easily give back a small portion of their tax cuts ("rollback" is what Kerry said), to totally save the most successful social program in the history of the United States.

Now we can spend time on runaway medical costs (Medicare) and really solve long-term fiscal problems.

The problem for Bush is he doesn't want to tackle runaway medical costs because the medical and insurance companies are making huge profits with the current system. And these industries are paying Bush and other Republicans huge campaign contributions to further their agenda, which is huge profits with the middle class paying the bill. So Bush pretends like Social Security is the problem, so he can protect the medical industry cash-cow. It is all about money with Bush.

Mike Reinholz
Seattle, WA

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Subject: Jonah Goldberg

I would be willing to bet Jonah Goldberg is on the White House payroll. Read his columns and you will find nothing but Bush propaganda. Thanks for all you do.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: A pretty good guess... His own bio at the National Review Online touts his National Enterprise Institute ties; and it says his wife is Ashcroft's chief speechwriter.]

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Subject: Crisis or Hype?

President Bush stated last week at a "Town Hall" meeting on Social Security, which was held at the White House, that the program was in such dire circumstances that it would soon go "flat, bust, bankrupt."

The Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan agency for fiscal matters in the Congress, recently projected that Social Security was solvent through at least the year 2052 and after that date payroll taxes would still be sufficient to cover 81-percent of benefit claims. This is a much different story of "gloom and doom" than the one being told to, and -- unfortunately, believed by -- a large portion of future claimants. It somehow reminds me of the assurance given us regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) which, at the time we were assured, required immediate, drastic action or the sky would fall. For many, many years we will be paying the high cost of that rush to judgment. And now we learn -- mistakenly and belatedly -- that the WMDs never actually existed, and the crisis was based on faulty intelligence and the resulting haste to correct the problem before we really knew what was the true situation and what were the better ways to solve it. Haste makes waste? Always has and always will.

The problems facing Social Security's future should be addressed, and hopefully solved, with diligent thought and action from both sides of the political aisle -- before the year 2052. But there is no need to rush into the "solution" of privatization which offers no assurance it will not end up being more beneficial to Wall Street than the retirees, just as the quick-fix of the medical prescription bill for seniors will ultimately end up helping the pharmaceutical and HMO industries collectively more than it helps the seniors' needs.

I have not seen anything suggesting what will happen, and who will bear the financial responsibility, if the retiree's private investment account turns up "flat, bust, bankrupt," because its assets were invested in another Enron-like fiasco. Do we tell everyone who lost their investment, "Tough luck!"? I sincerely hope not. I have trust we will always take care of those in need. But I see no necessity of subjecting the entire country to the possible financial liability of a retirement plan which is based on a crap shoot.

Bill Sybert
Dallas, TX

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Subject: Agency Running Social Security to Push Change (as sent to NY Times)

Reacting to your informative piece entitled "Agency Running Social Security to Push Change," "No one ever got in trouble by underestimating the intelligence of the American people." This seems to be the underlying premise of the current administration.

Paradoxically, after spending most of the last century trying to convince the American public that the federal government is terrible and untrustworthy, the Right Wing now benefits from an incredible reservoir of trust. Americans will believe anything their President puts forth as truth. The percentages of those who feel the Social Security System is in crisis are similar to those who initially believed Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9-11, and in possession of massive stores of weapons of mass destruction.

If the media and cowed politicians give Mr. Bush a pass on the matter of Social Security, as they did with Iraq, then the ideologically driven desire of the Right Wing to destroy Social Security will be realized -- the dream of Conservatives for as long as I can remember. "Hopefully, it will just wither on the vine."

Please continue to show backbone and rationality in defending an excellent social contract that serves the needs of millions of Americans at miniscule administrative cost. The Social Security System is not broken, and doesn't need to be fixed.

Surely there must be some limit to the credulity and stupidity of the American public, and one can only hope in this instance Mr. Bush has crossed that line.

Social Security Agency Is Enlisted to Push Its Own Revision (NY Times)

John F. Williford
Richland, WA

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Bush is using the same technique as he did for the build up to invading Iraq. Remember the case for WMD's? There isn't any Social Security crisis, at least not for the next 40 years. The GOP has been trying to dismantle S.S. since its birth over 60 years ago.

Social Security Push to Tap the GOP Faithful; "use Bush's campaign-honed techniques of mass repetition, never deviating from the script and using the politics of fear to build support" 1/15 (Washington Post)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Hiding in Plain View: The GOP Conspiracy to Steal Our Franchise

It can be summed in the words crafted in Section 30 Line 19 of a bill that was pushed through the Fl. Legislature at the request Of Governor John Ellis "Jeb" Bush: "A manual recount may not be conducted of undervotes on touch screen machines."

What possible innocent explanation for passing this clause in a bill laughingly labeled "Electoral Reform" Legislation. The fix was in. The Tin Foil Hat "Kooks" (myself included) were right. The undervotes were going to Brother Bush - and no one was to know. After all, who reads Section 30, line 19 of a bill passed by the Florida Legislature?

Furthermore these machines just happened to contain a flaw making a recount impossible. My what a coincidence!

Fla. Voting Machines Have Recount Flaw (NewsMax.com)

The fix was in with regard to the issuance, maintenance and counting of absentee ballots. Another "reform" clause would facilitate a Grand Florida Tradition: Casting Ghost Absentee votes. No witness or notarized documentation of ballots required for the '04 Election.

http://askpang.typepad.com/relevant_history/2004/08/voting_in_flori.html

Of course, the unstated policy of debauched Fl. election officials was to only count the absentee ballots of Bush voters.

http://www.progressivetrail.org/articles/040830Palast.shtml

The Democratic absentee ballots were to be "lost."

http://blog.democrats.com/node/14

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3960679.stm

And lost they were - without a squeak of protest from the purported victim of this chicanery, John F. Kerry. The fix was in indeed.

Brad F.

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Subject: Nancy Pelosi

Dear Buzz:

You have recently quoted Nancy Pelosi as follows:

"Having admitted the error of his words, the President must admit the error of his ways."

From the January 14 issue of the National Catholic Reporter (subscription required), in an article authored by Stephen Zunes, a Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco, under the following headline:

Pardon the length of the quotes, but as I said, subscription is required. All emphases are mine.

If one admits that one erred, forgiveness usually follows. Obdurate reliance on false information is not to be forgiven. A "mea culpa" from Ms. Pelosi, who in many ways is an admirable lady, would be most welcome. To hell with Bush. Were he to apologize, it would give new meaning to the tears shed by the repentant crocodile.

Jesús B. Ochoa
El Paso, Texas

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Subject: The real threat

I guess this will receive little if any popular media coverage. This week in Britain the venerable Law Lords (Supreme Court?) shot down Blair's attempts to erode the Human Rights Act, and DREW A LINE that we''re all aware of but hadn't quite been able to express in simple, 'legal' language.

Well, here's the phrase Lord Hoffmann used in this historic judgement, which I fully expect to see on stickers and t-shirts across the English-speaking world. "The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these."

Ridiculing the government's determination to suspend the Human Rights Act in order to imprison foreign terror suspects without trial as "the real threat to the life of the nation," the reverent Law Lords, by an 8-to-1 majority, drew a line which leaves the Government little option but to rethink its key policy on terrorism.

"This case calls into question the very existence of an ancient liberty of which this country has until now been very proud: freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention." -- Lord Hoffmann

In response to government arguments that the anti-terrorism Act was necessary to protect the 'life of the nation', Lord Hoffmann said: "The real threat to the life of the nation comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these. That is the true measure of what terrorism may achieve. It is for Parliament to decide whether to give the terrorists such a victory." I Suggest the slogan as: "The real threat to your freedom comes - not from terrorism - but from oppressive laws." One small step on the road back to constitutional liberty and justice. Time to push hard for the next step.

Regards,
Joe Bryant

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Subject: Feinstein

Re Feinstein Enables Bush Administration, AGAIN, While Boxer Plans to Take on Rice's Penchant for Lying and Failure 1/15...

It's not Diane enabling Bush, it's Condi sending a message to Cheney. Diane's the consummate backroom dealer and I hear they're having some degree of success popping Condi loose from the neocons... get her ear, you get GWB's ear, such as it is... every bit helps.

Rosamond

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Subject: Baba Wawa, ABC 20/20

I watched Barbara Walters interview the Bushes on Friday night. I was so pissed off that I sent the following email to ABC News and 20/20:

James Garry
Delmar, NY

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IF Charles Darwin, a naturalist, and author of the theory of evolution were alive today, he would be astonished. Today scientists readily accept Darwinian evolution to explain how a species' successful adaptation to its environment promotes its further growth and development. But now, they are theorizing - can evolution generate variations that will have just the opposite effect, namely to reduce in importance a species' role and function, ultimately leading to its extinction?

Case in point, the scientists cite the response of media journalists to CBS's coverage of Bush's "service" in the Texas Air National Guard, and point to an apparent spontaneous loss of bone structure and nerve tissue along a journalist's spinal cord.

I don't think you have to be a scientist, or even familiar with Darwin's brilliant theories, to see that many American journalists have lost both their backbone and their nerve and are de-evolving and becoming increasingly unable to "stand tall" to demand Bush give truthful answers.

How else might one explain, for example, why journalists from major media organizations have failed to recognize the testimony of Marion Carr Knox, who was then secretary to Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, Bush's commanding officer? Ms. Knox is a bona fide eye witness to the events that occurred. She appeared before a national prime-time TV audience confirming that the content of the memos did reflect the feelings of Lt. Col. Killian at the time and accurately portrayed events that were taking place in connection with then-Lt. Bush's Texas Air National Guard service. Now she is being both ignored and discredited.

Could the American journalist, once the bulwark of our Democracy, be heading for extinction, quickly de-evolving, and soon to be replaced entirely by a new species such as Bushus SuckUpiensis, or MotorMouthus ORiellyensus?

Harold S. Kramer
Marblehead, MA

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Subject: This is rich - Pentagon TV!

Now on the Dish network around NY, channel 9405 has started "Pentagon TV" -- aka 24-7 military propaganda. Probably to balance out "Democracy Now TV"...

We can't wait for Discovery Flight to change over to Discovery Military either, that'll fix that pesky Palast & them!

Michael T.

[BuzzFlash Note: Here it is...http://pentagonchannel.feedroom.com/iframeset.jsp?ord=206942.]

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Subject: commentary on HIV prevention

I sincerely hope these Dem.'s aren't holding their breath waiting for a response from this administration. They would look like Smurfs by now.

In the gay community here in Philadelphia we tracked the effect that public safe sex workshops had on our gay youth, and new infections in our community, based on the data collected from the group that indicated on their HIV test request form, which is otherwise confidential and anonymous, they were gay, and within the age group we were looking at. From the late 80's, until this administration seized power, the number of new infections dropped dramatically, clearly demonstrating that safer sex techniques work. Since the wall that divides church and state in America has gone the way of the Berlin wall, those decreased numbers began to flourish at an obscenely accelerated rate

The CDC (Centers For Disease Control) has reported that last year the number of new infections has risen to its highest level ever. That alone should clearly indicate that the very notion that our youth will embrace an abstinence only stance is about as likely as a red carpet welcoming for Dubya, from France. Didn't this administration learn anything from the "flowers" that would be greeting our "liberating soldiers" in Iraq debacle? I'll bet many of those soldiers would beg to differ, if they were still alive. I had many friends who likewise would also beg to differ on this issue.

If the Rabid right is so intent on an abstinence only policy for public education, and disregards all of the proven scientific evidence that shows education is still the most effective weapon against the spread of AIDS, and after becoming fully aware that safer sex works yet still ignore the many tools that have been laid out in front of them, then they truly deserve whatever heartache AIDS brings to them personally, because they chose to ignore the facts.

It reminds me of the story often heard around churches about a flood, a man on his roof, and he says God will rescue him to every lifeboat that offered to help him, and he remained on his roof waiting for God to help him, so he drowned, and came face to face with God and asked him why he didn't help him. God said, "I did, didn't you see the lifeboats?" I personally like owning a gun, however I would never give my teenage kids an assault rifle, they have to learn how to use a gun, like I did. Same difference.

I also wouldn't give an underage kid with no driving experience the keys to my car, yet how many accidents are reported on the news involving just the same crowd? How many logical comparisons can be made, and the facts debated until this morally challenged group of NeoCon fanatics finally gets the message? With the slutty behavior we all read about in the New York Post regarding Dubya's daughters' latest drunken antics, and the too-many-to-count indiscretions committed by some of those same NeoCons pushing this abstinence only policy, my guess is probably not too long?

This year alone we have had the highest number of new infections since the disease started. In a country as advanced as we are "allegedly," how can this be? I can only speak for myself, but in my experience as someone living with HIV/AIDS for the last twenty plus years as I have, all of my nephews, and nieces, know the facts, as do their friends, I made sure of that because it was the responsible and loving thing to do. In my own personal opinion there is no excuse for any parent, teacher, or government to respond in any other way. I can sleep at night knowing I don't have blood on my hands. Can the NeoCons withholding the facts from the next generation say the same thing?

It is too bad we don't have condoms that prevent the spread of fanaticism. You would think, at least I do, that the war, the Tsunami, the genocide in Sudan, the attack on America 9-11, and the fact that Americans have literally turned against each other ALA brother against brother, that all of this chaos would be interpreted by those inclined to believe in God, that we are following the wrong path, and we had better get on the right path, or forever hold your peace. I don't mean learn fanatic apocalyptic evangelist tactics as the right path, either, look at Jim and Tammy Faye to see how well that path turns out.

Enough is enough already. We have already paid too high a price for indulging, and tolerating this self serving, self absorbed administration's many colossal failures at making workable policy, at this point we can't afford to lose even more. If the election results were to be believed, and accurate, and untampered with, which everyone I know believes this election was rigged, then at least half of the country has only themselves to blame for what comes out of this, as they say "you asked for it, now like it." God help us all.

David R. Anselm, Jr.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

[BuzzFlash Note: We like your analogies. AIDS education is indeed, like drivers' education, a sensible way of taking care of our children and helping to keep them safe.]

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Subject: Violence is in the air....starting at the top

Today I participated in a march for justice on Martin Luther King's birthday in the town of Columbus, Georgia. It was quite appropriate that this march occurred on King's birthday. In Columbus, a young black man (Kenneth Walker) was shot to death by a white officer who said that he made a mistake...his gun fired accidentally and 2 bullets hit the head of the young man whose car shouldn't have been stopped at all! The officer has served no time for this dastardly deed (mistake?).

In the black community we term this: "Driving while black." A young woman and child are without a husband and a father. A mother and father (both teachers) have lost a son. Jesse Jackson, Dr. Joseph Lowery, and Judge Greg Mathis were a few of the many speakers at this march. But one of the most significant statements that I heard was when Rev. Jackson mentioned that the violence that we are experiencing starts at the top! He said that we are "living in a season of state-sanctioned violence in our nation." Today it's Iraq and Columbus, Ga., tomorrow it might be your town or family member. People, we must "make it plain" that we won't condone this type of violent mentality. Bush/Cheney/Rove/Wolfowitz will have us living in a Nazi type situation, if we don't stop them now. As they used to chant in the sixties, we'd better give peace a chance, while we can.

Dee in Atlanta

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Subject: Bush Says Election Ratified Iraq Policy - Waffle Fatigue

Dear Buzz,

Bush Says Election Ratified Iraq Policy (Washington Post)

So, Bush says a 'clear mandate' equates with half of the accountability for his policies? Hmmm...

Kurt
Dallas, Texas

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Subject: "centrist" democrats?

Why won't the so-called centrist Democrats make exposing and prosecuting crony capitalism part of their agenda?

Your editorial says, "They don't know what they're doing." I have a different slant on it. Democrats are compromised, if not to the same extent Republicans are.

My home state senator, Joe (stock options are good for everyone) Lieberman, is a perfect example. He accepted the financial support of Silicon Valley dot-com billionaires in exchange for blessing every fly-by-night industry concept.

Tax breaks? You got it, guys. Regulation of the Internet? No way. Looking the other way at stock swindles? Sure! Privacy questions? We'll look at those some other time. Good old Joe lost his leverage when the dot-com bubble burst, but he still insists stock options benefit the little guy in the face of mountains of contrary evidence.

Remember the savings and loan scandal? Why wasn't anyone punished for that? Because it was a bi-partisan deal, involving among others Republican war hero John McCain and Democratic icon John Glenn. The solution? Ignore it.

I'm afraid what's needed here is a third party, folks, dedicated to clean government and a one-way ticket out of Washington for every lobbyist. You are not going to get that from centrist Democrats...they're part of the problem, so they can't be part of the solution.

Kind regards,

Robert Lockwood Mills (author/historian)
Monroe, CT
"The Greatest Story Never Told," FreePress 12/20/04
"The Real Reason Bush Wants to Privatize Social Security," FreePress 1/12/05

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Subject: AARP

Where's the AARP on the proposed changes to social security? I would think they would be running ads on TV informing its members of the pros and *cons* of the issues. Would you consider an article on the leadership of this organization and its lack of interest in issues pertaining to its members? I have heard its director once worked for Newt Gingrich.

John Farioli
NYC

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Subject: Re: Diane Feinstein and Zell Miller

should get married-one and the same. I really HATE the Democrats -they are WEAK and INEPT - and never seem to learn from their mistakes. I don't think Howard Dean has a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected to the DNC..they will pick an old 'establishment' crony once again and fall flat on their face subsequently. NADER is right, both parties are the same, Lieberman is yet another Republican in Dem clothes as is that old ex mayor of NY Koch...another butt kisser.....

Colette Miller
Wellington Fl

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Subject: LOVE YOUR SITE!!!

I have just discovered your site through a mention of it in another blog site. It is absolutely fantastic and I spent all of last evening reading all I have missed.

I am from Toronto, Ontario, but have lived and died this past election of yours. I could go on and on about my feelings and thoughts on Bush and what he is doing, but you say it all too well. Please know that there are MANY Canadians who are 100% behind you. So many of us feel the pain and sorrow of the lives destroyed by this senseless war, the damage to world peace, and his destruction of the environment. There is nothing more pitiful than listening (or reading, as I can't stand to watch him on TV or hear his voice) to his comments...it is impossible to even follow what he is saying or trying to say. How sad that Americans re-elected this idiot. I continually return to the piece written by E. L. Doctorow that appeared in the East Hampton Star on 09/09/04 entitled "The Unfeeling President" - it is so articulate and pretty much says it all.

GUESTWORDS: By E.L. Doctorow, The Unfeeling President (East Hampton Star)

Thank you so much!

Gail Bennett