January 18, 2005

The BuzzFlash Mailbag

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag.

Subject: What "accountability moment"?

We had an accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 elections," Mr. Bush said in an interview with The Washington Post for Sunday's editions. "The American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the two candidates, and chose me. -- GW BUSH January 16, 2005

Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it was the right authority for a president to have. -- JF KERRY August 13, 2004

Subject: Beyond Orwellian...beyond rational

I just read that Bush has -- imperially, as befitting someone who's staging an extravagant wartime coronation three days from now -- proclaimed himself absolved from and above any further questioning/investigations of his Iraq fiasco.  As his spokespuppets said in their press release, Bush believes that "the public ratified his approach toward Iraq."  From the horse's (ass) mouth itself:  "We had an accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 elections."  Meanwhile, back on the least liberal website I can think of -- AOL, where Bush ran slightly ahead of Kerry throughout the pre-election surveys -- a poll (latest tally at 6:22 a.m. Monday) asking "Do you support the president's Iraq policy" indicates that, out of a total of 112,048 respondents, 67% DISAPPROVED; 33% approved.  Does that sound like a mandate?  I know spin is in, but my head spins just trying to figure out how this take can be rationalized.  (Oh, I forgot:  reality is out, along with facts and logic. These malevolent idiots create their own reality. That's what power means.) 

Of course, that must also mean that the public ratified Watergate (and its ramifications) when they elected Nixon in 1972.  And, by extension, we all ratified Bill Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky, et al., when we re-elected him in 1996.  But why should we be surprised?  When the definition of torture can be narrowed to the point of nearly total improbability, it's easy to proclaim that "this administration does not support torture."  When lies can be twisted into semblances of truth -- where is the mainstream press when we really NEED them? -- and fear is incorporated into every message this administration delivers (e.g., Social Security is in crisis, the prospect of gay couples marrying is a lethal threat to YOUR marriage, more terrorist attacks justify a beefed-up version of the "Patriot" act, predicating further erosions of our civil liberties).  If there's anyone with an I.Q. above a potato's (or Dubya's), he/she would see that the dismantling of the safety nets and our public education system, and the creation of a permanent socio-economic structure of rulers/peasants -- brainwashed, passive peasants, at that -- isn't merely the "collateral damage" of an economy in administration-induced crisis -- it's the core of the neocons' plan for the nation of their dreams.  And, for the rest of us, the nation of our worst nightmares.

Barb in Athens, GA
(Blue soul in Red state)

Equally worthy of attention is their hidden agenda to end federal entitlement programs by running up budget-busting deficits while hiking military spending, which is bleeding the federal treasury and will ultimately result in there simply being no money available to pay for social programs after this administration is gone. These, of course, are programs - such as Social Security and Medicare - that they dare not eliminate.

Subject: Social Security This Week's Looming Phony Crisis

This is a copy of the letter I sent to CBS after listening to Russert badger a Democratic Congressman on what terrible shape Social Security is in.

Dear Tim Russert,

I just happened to catch your interview on Sunday with Rahm Emanuel on Meet the Press. That was a really fine interview on Social Security. The big question that was missing on Social Security was how does GE feel about Social Security? Just from your questions I think I know. The piggy bank is riding through town and everyone should get some. How's GE doing? They pay a faux (pun intended) regular guy pretty well don't they? I think the White House would be very proud of you, which certainly, in this day and age of newsman as stenographer, is good for your career. How come we don't have a show about how we can't stay in Iraq because of the looming fiscal crisis the debt from that adventure has caused? Christ, they've got a printing press for Iraq, printing up inflated money? What's GE's position on which is the greater crisis, Social Security, that pays a little less benefits in forty years, or the mountains of uninsured? What's their position on outsourcing? I think the company has done pretty well with that.

It's Official: My Brother Died in Vain

By Dante Zappala

Why My Brother Died; After two years, the government has called off its fruitless hunt for WMD.

 

This week, the White House announced, with little fanfare, that the two-year search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq had finally ended, and it acknowledged that no such weapons existed there at the time of the U.S. invasion in 2003.

For many, this may be a story of only passing interest. But for me and my family, it resonates with profound depth.

My brother was Sgt. Sherwood Baker. He was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard deployed a year ago with his unit out of Wilkes-Barre. He said goodbye to his wife and his 9-year-old son, boarded a bus and went to Ft. Dix, N.J., to be hastily retrained. His seven years of Guard training as a forward observer was practically worthless because he would not face combat. All he needed to do was learn how to not die.

He received a crash course in convoy security, including practice in running over cardboard cutouts of children. We bought him a GPS unit and walkie-talkies because he wasn't supplied with them. In Iraq, Sherwood was assigned to the Iraq Survey Group and joined the search for weapons of mass destruction.

David Kay, who led the group until January 2004, had already stated that they did not exist. Former United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix had expressed serious doubts about their presence during prewar inspections. In fact, a cadre of former U.N. inspectors and U.S. generals had been saying for years that Iraq posed no threat to our country. On April 26, 2004, the Iraq Survey Group, at the behest of the stubborn administration sitting safely in office buildings in Washington, was still on its fruitless but dangerous search. My brother stood atop his Humvee, securing the perimeter in front of a suspect building in Baghdad. But as soldiers entered the building, it exploded; the official cause is still not known. Sherwood was struck by debris in the back of his head and neck, and he was killed.

Since that day, my family and I have lived with the grief of losing a loved one. We have struggled to explain his death to his son. We have gazed at the shards of life scattered at our feet, in wonder of its fragility, in perpetual catharsis with God.

I have moved from frustration to disappointment to anger. And now I have arrived at a place not of understanding but of hope — blind hope that this will change.

The Iraq Survey Group's final report, which was filed in October but revealed only on Wednesday, confirmed what we knew all along. And as my mother cried in the kitchen, the nation barely blinked.

I am left now with a single word seared into my consciousness: accountability. The chance to hold our administration's feet to that flame has passed. But what of our citizenry? We are the ones who truly failed. We shut down our ability to think critically, to listen, to converse and to act. We are to blame.

Even with every prewar assumption having been proved false, today more than 130,000 U.S. soldiers are trying to stay alive in a foreign desert with no clear mission at hand.

At home, the sidelines are overcrowded with patriots. These Americans cower from the fight they instigated in Iraq. In a time of war and record budget deficits, many are loath to even pay their taxes. In the end, however, it is not their family members who are at risk, and they do not sit up at night pleading with fate to spare them.

Change is vital. We must remind ourselves that the war with Iraq was not a mistake but rather a flagrant abuse of power by our leaders — and a case of shameful negligence by the rest of us for letting it happen. The consequence is more than a quagmire. The consequence is the death of our national treasure — our soldiers.

We are all accountable. We all share the responsibility of what has been destroyed in our name. Let us begin to right the wrongs we have done to our country by accepting that responsibility.

http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1009011.htm

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/...

Hello, Senators and Representative Inslee,

There is an Iraqi woman blogger (Riverbend) who has a good question in her posting from 15 January at Baghdad Burning.

The question is: Why, if there are no weapons of mass destruction or any evidence of active programs in such weapons, are so many Iraqi scientists held in prison?

This seems like a continuation and extension of a whole series of actions based on misinformation, misunderstanding and misdirection.

To the extent scientists are held without charge by our Quislings, I suppose we can claim this matter is one of Iraqi "sovereignty." If these persons are held without charge by the U.S. and covered by the Geneva Conventions of 1949, it seems to me that it is long past time to free them.

The broader issues of illegal confinement, torture and other violations of law with larger numbers of people obscure attention to the matter of imprisonment of civilians, such as the scientists, and officials of the former Iraqi government, such as Mr. Tarik Aziz, who are held without a basis in reality.

How long does this Administration get a free pass on abuses of power and commission of acts defined as War Crimes in both international and U.S. laws?

...what 300,000 [Fallujan souls] equates to. Population numbers from 1990 show these cities in the United States to have a population close to 300,000. Miami, FL 358,548 Fresno, CA 354,202; Toledo, OH 332,943; Buffalo, NY 328,123; Wichita, KS 304,011; Santa Ana, CA 293,742; Mesa, AZ 288,091; Colorado Springs, CO; 281,140; Tampa, FL 280,015; Newark, NJ 275,221; St. Paul, MN 272,235; Louisville, KY 269,063; Anaheim, CA 266,406; Birmingham, AL 265,968; Arlington, TX 261,721; Norfolk, VA 261,229; Las Vegas, NV

http://www.iraq-war.ru/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=36519

Jim P.

Subject: Soc Sec: one more big lie

Conservatives in Congress are already peeling off from the president's still unspecified plan to kill Social Security. Their argument: The system is solvent; benefit cuts will hurt seniors; and the country cannot afford to add $2 trillion in debt given the current strain on the nation's finances. Weekly Standard editor William Kristol [proBush rightwing writer] stated that Republicans are "bewildered why this is such a White House priority. Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT) stated, "Why stir up a political hornet's nest . . . when there is no urgency?" Conservatives are right to challenge the motivation behind the president's scheme to dismantle the nation's most successful social program.

Privatization will not make Social Security solvent.The big lie behind the president's non-plan is that privatization will somehow shore up the Social Security trust fund and ensure future benefits. But private accounts will only speed up the financial problems and the system while exponentially expanding budget deficits that will threaten the overall economy.

Privatization is merely an ideological scheme to secure more voters and political contributions from Wall Street. The president's top advisors, including Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman, admit the privatization plan is a political ploy to turn FDR's most enduring legacy into a GOP voter and money machine. They have no intention of fixing Social Security for the long term. They are out to dismantle guaranteed benefits in retirement by luring younger voters into the false notion that the stock market will answer all their retirement needs. Wall St. investment bankers, already huge donors to the president, are estimated to reap hundreds of billions of dollars in profits from the scheme.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: how sad

I saw a show about Hitler the other night, I watched the crowd as they almost worshiped him, in their eyes he could do no wrong. They loved him! I thought of George Bush. How sad.

Karen Massey
sc

Subject: Don't let down your guard

Dear Buzz,

You write: Bush Still In Office Countdown. It's dependable this time.

No, it's not.

Porter Goss is scaling back anti-terrorism at CIA, while the Bushist House is trying to formalize the dissolution of Congress in case of a "national emergency." When the Bushists scale back anti-terrorism, it is -- as in 2001 -- because they want attacks to happen so they can grab power.

They don't need to conspire in attacks, they merely conspire not to defend against them.

We'll be lucky to make it to 2009 with even the form of our government intact.

If we do keep the form, then Bush can hand the reins to his brother, John Ellis Bush, but are you going to like this very much? Is it a source of hope and comfort for you? Remember, Bushists can steal elections without suffering any consequences. Democrats can win but they won't stick up for their victories, out of fear of Bushist retaliation.

Barry

Notice the fact that the prisoner was captured by bounty hunters and sold, yes, sold, to the4 USA. Does the average American know this? That we are buying prisoners?

Kuwaiti returns from Guantanamo (Aljazeera)

Karin

Subject: Help Boxer cook Rice!

Dear Friend,

Senator Barbara Boxer intends to ask Condoleezza Rice some tough questions at her Senate confirmation hearing in the coming days -- questions the American people deserve to have answered:

* Why did the United States go to war in Iraq based on misleading -- if not false and fraudulent -- evidence?

* Why did we divert valuable resources and intelligence personnel to Iraq, taking them away from Afghanistan and the pursuit of Osama bin Laden?

* Why did Dr. Rice mislead the American people into thinking there was a connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaida before September 11th?

If you agree that we must hold Condoleezza Rice accountable for her decisions, I urge you to stand with Senator Boxer, myself, and millions of Americans.

Sign Senator Boxer's petition at the link below, so she can take your voice with her to the committee room and the floor of the Senate in the pursuit of the truth from Condoleezza Rice.

http://ga4.org/campaign/ricehearings?rk=j1aAmBE1jBQfW

A BuzzFlash Reader

I am a democrat from the blue state--South Dakota. I am one of 45%. I feel that there are a number of reasons Kerry did not win.

One basic reason is apathy and ignorance. Only those people who go beyond the local news--radio, tv, newspapers--seem to understand what the real problems are in this country. Because of republican monopoly of most of the news channels, we only had several hours of convention coverage. CNN provided the most coverage, and we would like to have heard all the speeches, and not CNN's viewpoint, one way or the other. The audience has ears, eyes and a mind and can make up their own mind as the subject matter.

The major networks are licensed as a public service agency, and they should black out all other channels and force the public to see what our leaders want us to know.

So most people follow the Pied Piper, NRA, fundamental churches etc., with no real investigation and intelligent thought going into their reason for voting.

A senior Republican from our fair state stated that he was working hard to get Bush elected...so that the women in Afghanistan could vote. It took between 40-50 years for the suffrage movement in the United States to get their voting rights.

Perhaps the strongest voices during the last few years, have been our democratic candidates. Too bad there was not enough coverage. Kobe and Peterson and Jackson were more important stories?

We have a lot of thinking, caring democrats out here in red country. We have only 2 electoral votes, so we are not considered that important!!

Larry
Wounded Knee, S.Dak.

Subject: WMDs found at last

Dear BuzzFlash,

Now it can be told: Saddam hired traitorous American trial lawyers to plant all his WMDs in the Social Security system, and that is why it's going to explode into a crisis any minute now. Really. Any minute. It's imminent. Sort of. Honestly.

Jim P.

PS Have Democrats considered fund raising by selling the Death Valley Ski Resort to interested Republicans?

Subject: Guess we need to call congress again

I guess we need to lead the congress people by the nose, apparently they can't think for themselves. They need to be TOLD WHAT TO DO ON EVERY ISSUE, and until they are, they sit on their hands. Jesus! what are you going to do with that kind of congressional representation?? Do they need 24/7 babysitting? (From the ap article:) "local members of Congress said they had received few to no calls from constituents upset about the inauguration expense."

Inaugural party cost draws wrath (AP/Daily News)

Another lousy story from AP. No numbers, no research. Nothing but opinion. Oh yes, let's fix this with calls to our representatives. Calls, e-mail, letters, raise hell. Can we get the word out that this is not okay? Oh yes, here is a much better article discussing the costs and plans:

Unusually tight security this time around (Scripps Howard News Service)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Just have patience?

"On a complicated matter such as removing a dictator from power and trying to help achieve democracy, sometimes the unexpected will happen, both good and bad," he said. "I am realistic about how quickly a society that has been dominated by a tyrant can become a democracy ... I am more patient than some."

I don't think Bush has a clue as to how fraught with irony his words were.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: WSJ editor conflict of interest

In addition to making stuff up about two lefty bloggers, McGurn failed to disclose his genuine conflict of interest. Not only is he a liar, he is also a hypocrite. He probably fits in well with the Bush crowd when he serves on that board with Armstrong Williams and writes GOP speeches that no doubt are also full of lies and hypocrisy. Par for the course.

Conflict of interest questions arise at paper which disparaged liberal bloggers (bluelemur.com)

Mike

Subject: US Military To Be Between Scylla and Charybdis . . .

BuzzFlash,

Regarding this article on Truthout -

Graner's Superiors Unlikely to Face Charges (LA Times/Truthout)

I've always felt that when a person is in "charge" of other people and gives the directives and the training of those people . . . then the "buck" or responsibility is in the lap of those in charge . . . but what we see everywhere today in corporations and in the Bush government . . . people who have to carry out their directives are also the ones punished. (What about Bush's Memo regarding abuse?) I've heard it repeated that those in the armed services, if given an order that is against regulations, they can refuse it. Poppycock. Is there anyone who thinks a soldier on a battlefield can get away with this without consequences?

Personally, anyone who has never served in any kind of war or anyone who does not have any friends or families in the military should not be able to lie this Country into a war without consequences.

We have seen what happened when a group refused an order because they were going to be sent out on a mission without proper equipment and they felt it was a death mission for them. We have seen what happens when a serviceman refuses to go back to Iraq after he served his time there and the government lied to him about his time served. Those who refused were quickly brought under control . . . at least it's not in the news. The other military man is back in Iraq. Personally, I think he should have been escorted back to Iraq by Bush.

In my opinion, especially in a war such as the one in Vietnam and this one . . . because they are wars that are not protecting the US at all . . . illegal wars . . . and they become very dangerous within the military itself and I believe when a war is illegal that all types of infractions are committed within such a war. And, the enemy sometimes will wear the same uniform as our soldiers.

It is a tragedy to put soldiers in these types of situations where they have to follow orders and if they don't . . . well, I wonder how many are dead because of that. This is an invasion . . . a criminal act . . . everything else that is criminal within this war will be considered a small part of it . . . in other words, when criminals are committing war . . . people who can carry out an invasion aren't going to worry about soldiers not carrying out orders . . . they either will or they will suffer the consequences.

I really don't think people understand and it's my belief that many soldiers will be too afraid to ever talk about it . . . and that is, they are between the Iraqis and our government . . . Scylla and Charybdis. They are not considered worthy by either group. Bush gave freedom awards or some such nonsense to those responsible in helping him bring on this illegal invasion that has killed so many people. I personally am insulted when Bush pulls these stupid (and he knows it) in-our-face-stunts because he can. The abusers stay on top in corporations or in the military when there are no checks and balances in a country.

And, the Bush administration has stayed on top, because our so-called "Centrist" Democrats in Congress (DLC) want to please Bush more than they want to please the Democratic base. Could it be that they too, don't want to upset the psychotic wrath of the Bush administration? We see this wrath every time the GOP does not get their way. And, as I have said before . . . the decisions made by the Bush administration hurts two groups only . . . American citizens and the World.

"It takes two wings to fly" . . . This was used by the Democrats in the presidential election of 1992 and this is a quote from that time by Jesse Jackson: "I have deep concerns about the ticket. It takes two wings to fly and here you have two of the same wing." New York Times.

Of course, Jesse Jackson was talking about the vice-president spot and the presidential ticket, but the truth is . . . it could be said today that the Democrats in Congress must still feel that it takes two wings to fly and that they are a wing of the Bush administration because they keep helping Bush to keep flying.

The only people flying with the same wing are those in DC. The rest of us look on in sick-at-heart dismay, with the knowledge of many deaths, and a country in disarray and still the two wings keep flying, causing our military and our country to be caught between the actions of two out of control monsters . . . War and US Government.

Just a thought,

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

Subject: Weapons of Mass Destruction

Dear BuzzFlash:

I am from Lexington, Ky. At a city [Richmond, KY] near here is a large stockpile of Weapons of Mass Destruction, a million pounds of mustard gas, sarin, and VX gases. To get the story on this I wish you would read the editorial that appeared in today's [1-16-05] Lexington Herald Leader. Budget cuts made by George W Bush are the total cause of this.

I am a democrat and I have always said that George W Bush, the republicans, and the mainstream news media do not give a damn about this country and the people no matter what party they belong to. If you read this editorial you can see that the state of Kentucky and the whole country for that matter could be in grave danger if these weapons got into the wrong hands.

Just to give you an idea who is writing this, I am a veteran of the Korean war, I enlisted in the army June of 1950 and served 17 months in Korea during the war, but I was lucky. Two of my close friends who enlisted with me were not lucky as both of them were shot and killed in action. I have had to live with that ever since that happened.

On this editorial I am going to make as many copies as it takes to send out to newspapers and television stations around the country as well as to members of the congress and senate. I would like for those people from the 9/11 attacks who supported Bush to know that the state of Kentucky is far more unsafe than it has ever been.

In closing let me say that I read your web page each and every day and I am available if you should need anything from me but I do want to get the word out about these weapons of mass destruction. Thank You.

NEUTRALIZE WMD IN MADISON CO. (Lexington Herald Leader)

Thomas Jelf

Subject: Disgust with Democratic Party

I agree with so many other progressive Mailbag contributors lately regarding disgust with the Democratic Party. I was all afire over the Dean candidacy even though he was quite a moderate when he started on the campaign trail. I think some of the other Democratic presidential candidates (e.g. Kucinich, Sharpton) and his supporters may have influenced his ultimate progressive stances. I was always impressed with his opposition to the Iraq Invasion and his courage to speak out against this and other Bush policies.

When Dean lost in Iowa and when Kerry eventually became the Democratic nominee, I felt that "the fix" was in. The Washington power brokers got their nominee. We would have a pro-war Bonesman running against a pro-war Bonesman. Nevertheless, I worked for the election of Kerry, as did so many other progressives. Was the November election in Ohio a fraud? Maybe. Probably. I have to admire the Green candidate, David Cobb, for putting up the post-election fight that Kerry should have. Where do I go from here? I don't ever want to vote again for a second-rate, corporate candidate like Kerry. Ralph Nader said it: There are few differences between the Democratic and Republican parties these days.

I will wait and see who is selected to be the head of the DNC in February. If it is Dean, I will stay in the Democratic Party as long as Dean remains true to progressive principles. If it is not Dean, I am going to take a long, hard look at the Green Party. I want to start voting my hopes, not my fears. There will be NO reason for me to stay in the Democratic Party. A Democratic Party that is Republican-lite does not represent a second party but just an adjunct of the Repugs. The Green Party could become a real second party if enough progressives like myself join it.

I am anxiously awaiting the DNC results in February.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Just Frustrated

Hi BuzzFlash,

I wanted to submit the following thoughts.

It seems that George Bush is far and away the worst president in the history of America. Go no further than his support of torture and his totally irresponsible and completely immoral war in Iraq. Throw in the mind-boggling pace that he spends tax dollars and the cronyism underlying just about every step in the path of his administration. It all makes me sick to my stomach.

He seems to be much like the spoiled rich kid who pulled the legs and wings off flies for kicks. No sense that others have rights; and absolutely no sense that it takes hard work for most people to just make ends meet. Can someone please explain for me exactly how this person wound up running our country? What is good about him?

Some fools say, "but he's a respectable Christian." My understanding is that Hitler too was a Christian. I have no interest in being a Christian and I have no patience for Christians or people of any other persuasion pushing their wares. Certainly religion espoused by government is shown nowhere as a shining example of success. Whoever said that "religion is the opiate of the masses" was right. That opiate seems to manifest as widespread denial and gullibility. It must have some sort of evolutionary advantage.

Or does it? Come on people. We live on a relatively small planet in one of many thousands of solar systems in an expansive galaxy, part of an unimaginably large universe. We're lucky to be just so far, but not too far, from the source of energy that drives our natural systems. We should be thankful to witness the miracle of life on Earth. No question about that. But, we don't need ancient myths and old wives' tales to live a moral existence.

I laughed when I saw the Georgia people putting stickers on high school biology texts stating that 'Evolution is just a theory...." I wonder how they'd feel if biologists put stickers in their bibles informing that "ideas herein are just one version of a multitude of stories that attempt to describe the facts of life and things."

Our country's, Founding Fathers were right when they set up the wall between church and state. Why is that wall being torn down? It seems that we ought to rethink many of the steps presently being taken by our government. Perhaps we reconvene a constitutional convention where we examine the historic documents that are the foundation of our country. We can use things like the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to compare against our present behaviour. If we're off track we can correct our course and bring back democracy with liberty and justice for all. For our kids' sake, I hope we do something.

Steve W.
Las Vegas, NV

Subject: Expect the unexpected

Dear Buzz,

As we stare down the muzzle of Bush's imminent inaugural, perhaps we can glean some comfort from a comment of the president's during his Sunday interview with The Washington Post: "On a complicated matter such as removing a dictator from power and trying to achieve democracy," he noted, "sometimes the unexpected will happen, both good and bad."

Let's hope, as the bands strike up and the trigger is pulled, that the unexpected will happen here in our own home-grown dictatorship: folks will wake up and collectively usher the boy wonder permanently from the world's stage. Sit down, George, and wipe that smirk off your face.

T. March
Chico, California

Subject: Editorial Comment

Hello:

To be frank I've always considered myself a moderate Republican until this current administration. I totally agree with your recent editorial that the Democrats are missing the boat by not taking on the corporate corruption, corporate cronyism and corporate welfare head on. Enron's Ken Lay is the poster boy and is still living the good life. Lou Dobbs on CNN has done a wonderful job of discussing many of these issues that Americans from both Red and Blue states would agree on.

The Democrats were always the party that stood up for working American citizens (from the laborer to the most highly educated researcher). They were the populist party, not the elitist party that the Repubs and talking heads like Rush have painted them into. Frankly they have themselves to blame as they became totally immersed in issues like political correctness, affirmative action, gay marriage, choice, and feminism. While these issues were important (and they have come a long way), the Democrats forgot about their traditional base and core constituency (American workers and retirees). Many Democrats still worry more about the PCness of calling undocumented immigrants "illegal immigrants" than they worry about the damage they do to the American worker in the form of cutting jobs and wages. It only muddies the water when Ted Kennedy says he is for the American worker yet supports illegal immigration. And I don't believe Bush when he says that illegals do jobs Americans won't do. They just do them a lot cheaper and that's what he and his business supporters want.

Democrats need to make themselves an advocate for the American worker and retiree. They need to work at making US corporate interests responsible to their workers, shareholders and the community first and the greedy interests of the executive office last. This administration has consistently sided with the Business Roundtable and opposed strengthening the SEC, accounting rules and shareholder interests. The Bush administration has made divisiveness an art form (so as to divide and conquer) and I expect it will so divide the younger citizens against the older in the social security fight.

The Democrats need to get in this fight by making it a class issue with the many millions of workers and common folk on one side and the greedy US and multi-national business interests on the other. It's an issue that is a natural fit and one that the USA needs to have on the front burner as business interests have predominated for 25 years. We are all familiar with the numerous examples of somewhat ruthless and greedy practices of CEOs that are greedily padding their own pockets and pensions, while ripping off millions of US workers, shareholders, outsourcing jobs, and hiring illegal immigrant workers instead of Americans.

BTW I find your web site informative and interesting.

Tom Varner
Pennsylvania

Subject: What's on Bush's schedule for February?

Dear Buzz,

I have been saying to my husband for a while that something is up with Bush pushing the January 30th vote in Iraq so rigidly (besides his sclerotic brain). I was trying to figure out if a) it was another way to show Bush is a "man of resolve" prior to the election; and/or b) was just the way the Neocons all repeat their robotic platitudes to help construct their pseudo-reality, which the media then repeats like bobbleheads?

Probably both are true to a certain extent. But maybe that's not the whole purpose of it. I suspected they had some kind of big plan to do something soon after the so-called Iraqi election but didn't know what. I just recently realized that they have Iran sort of surrounded by American military--I don't know how I didn't notice this earlier. With all these festering conspiracy notions in my mind, I found Seymour Hersh's article on the reconnaissance missions over Iran very interesting. A lot of people have speculated that Bush is going to "do" Syria or Iran during this term, so this idea certainly did not originate with me. But how are they going to do it really? Are they going to invade Iran or simply bomb it to smithereens? How many more tens or hundreds of thousands of people are they going to kill and maim for the sake of their corporate imperialism?

Leslie
Winchester, MA

Subject: The Banality of Evil: We are All Torturers Now - Thank you BuzzFlash!

Hello,

Thank you for writing "The Banality of Evil: We are All Torturers Now."

I have added link to your article here: http://www.dataoptions.com/informed.htm#Torture

I saw a headline today saying something like "public is hopeful in Bush second term" --- A sign of lunacy is believing that things will be different this time around even when things are done exactly the same way over and over ...

I want everyone to know that I, Aimee L. Walker, do not endorse the policies of the George W. Bush administration. History is being recorded. The whole world is watching.

BuzzFlash.com, please keep on writing and keeping your valuable information online. You are providing a very powerful service. Not all Americans are on the same page and many are so very misinformed.

Peace, Love,

Aimee L. Walker
Friday Harbor, WA

Subject: re: We all all torturers

I am so 100% behind what you say that any Senator who votes for Gonzales is voting for America to be listed as a rogue nation that endorses torture.

You wrote:

"It is being done in OUR name as Americans. The Statue of Liberty must be weeping in shame and horror. We are."

This Thursday I am wearing a shirt with the decal of a picture I have attached with this email.

I call it the DAS BOOT OF W…CONTINUATION OF THE NAZI REGIME BUT NOW IN AMERICA.

Darlene

CBS/AP) President Bush says his re-election proves Americans agree with his decision to invade Iraq, and that as a result, there's no need to hold any administration officials accountable for mistakes made in planning for the war, or its aftermath ...

Bush: Voters Ratified Iraq Policy (CBS/AP)

If this is true, then why did a Republican Congress continue to prosecute and impeach President William Jefferson Clinton after he decisively won a second term?

Nancy Lynn Nagy 
TN--Home of the last duly elected President: The Honorable Al Gore Jr.

[BuzzFlash Note: And where in the article is the quote from any opposing viewpoint, or a challenging question from the "reporter"?]

Subject: The press finds Bin Laden. Why can't Bush?

Dear Buzz,

"Asked why bin Laden was not been captured yet, the president responded, "Because he's hiding." (GW Bush/CNN)

I have often wondered how the U.S. press always has available at their beck and call a seemingly well kept, healthy looking and "young" Bin Laden who is supposedly hiding so deeply in a cave that even the CIA can't find him!!?

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN --Home of the REAL President!)

Subject: Safer from terrorism?

When citing Bush’s high rating for keeping our country safe from terrorists, the pundits quickly point out that under Bush we have not had an attack in this country since 9/11/01 – over 3 years ago. Time and again I see this reference as to how Bush has given comfort and security to all the soccer moms and so, because of this, many voters rewarded Bush a second term in office.

Somehow, the pundits and the Bushies conveniently forgot that, except for the Cole bombing, which happened outside of this country, this country went 7 years under the Clinton Administration without being attacked by terrorists.

The point is we're no safer under Bush than we were under Clinton, so why continue to use that yardstick and heap credit on Bush?

Charles F. Siford
York, PA

Subject: Iran

Dear BuzzFlash Readers:

Over the weekend, and this morning, I have seen more and more in the press about our "being in Iran to scope out nuclear facilities"...etc.

Journalist: US Planning for possible attack on Iran (CNN)

Inan Traynor, The Guardian, same subject. It was also mentioned on Washington Journal this morning, when they read the snippet about this from one of the papers they read from.

Of course, Mr. Bartlett from the White House is trying to lessen the impact by stating, "report is riddled with inaccuracies"...but then, this is the week of the big parties, and heaven knows, we shouldn't take our eyes off THAT......

Now, one would think, if Bush and company would want to sound less suspect, they would just come out and say that they believe that Iran is a danger to the world...oh wait, they already did that, and it kind of 'blew up' in their (our) face......

Mustn't have that again....didn't work out the first time, but then, they could always be trying to 'get it right'.........

Mary in Indiana

Subject: The Bush Dynasty!

To John Q. Public, It's official! The Washington Post today shows the "FAMILY" at the 60th wedding anniversary party we taxpayers footed for the BUSHIT'S. Headlines said, the NEW DYNASTY, along with mention of the KENNEDYS, the ROOSEVELTS. There is a big difference. The next occupant was in the picture. JEB BUSH! Another big difference is the SUPREME COURT INSTALLED THIS FAMILY, AND DIEBOLD MADE SURE THEY STAYED! Just call me psychic!

The Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Now the Bushes: Second Term Firmly Establishes a Dynasty and Eases Sting of 1992 Loss (Washington Post)

Carolina in Md.

Subject: Social Security plan would cut benefits 75%

Hidden in the jumble of nonsense about Social Security's fake crisis, is this devastating little tidbit. Bush wants to tie future benefits to inflation and not wages. If this exact same type formula were enacted in 1940, it would mean today's average benefit from Social Security would be $300 and not $1,200.

Keep this in mind when listening to Bush. Like a common carnival huckster, Bush is all smoke and mirrors. When his legislation is finally brought before congress, there will be thousands of little time-bombs that devastate the middle class.

The real answer to any Social Security weakness is to raise the cap on which wages are subject to tax. Keep in mind 80% of Americans earn less than the current cap of $90,000, so 80% of Americans would not pay one penny more in taxes. Seeing as how 33% of Bush tax cuts went to the upper 1% (earning 1.2 million per year, or $576 per hour), and 70% of Bush tax cuts went to the upper 20%, I think these people can afford to have their exorbitant tax cuts rolled-back to shore-up the most successful program in the history of the world.

The answer to any slight weakness in Social Security is to have the more well off citizens pay their fair share. Bush's answer is to cut benefits, which will devastate poor and middle class. Bush plan is to balance the budget right on the back of the working man, while he funnels more and more money to his rich buddies through fiscally irresponsible tax cuts that predominantly benefit the super rich.

There is a policy choice that unites Social Security's critics -- from Goldwater to Reagan to Bush -- which is that the program should be balanced by shaving benefits rather than by raising taxes. They favor smaller government, so shrinking Social Security (rather than increasing its financing) serves their broader aim. Indeed, though the public continues to oppose cutting benefits, Bush has ruled out any solution that involves a tax hike.

Reagan said the program had morphed from the humble insurance plan formulated by F.D.R. (for whom he voted four times) into a swollen caricature of government excess. The first Social Security recipient, a legal secretary in Vermont named Ida Fuller, started with a benefit of $22.54 a month. Today's retirees obviously do better (even after adjusting for inflation). Nonetheless, according to Lawrence Thompson, who was the Social Security acting commissioner in the 90's, the retiree program is not really more ''generous'' now than it was in the past. Like other pension systems, Social Security was designed to replace a fixed portion of a retiree's previous earnings. For a single person with average earnings, initial benefits were intended to replace about 40 percent of income. They are still pegged to 40 percent of income.

Since wages generally rise faster than inflation, retirees in each generation get more in real dollars than those in previous ones. Contemporary critics, like Kasich and the Bush council, would slow the rate of future increases by linking benefits only to inflation. Though this would save a lot of money, its effect on retirees should be understood.

Seniors now get an initial benefit that is tied to a fixed portion of their pre-retirement wages. If the index was changed, their pensions would be pegged to a fixed portion of a previous generation's income. If this standard had been in force since the beginning, retirees today would be living like those in the 1940's -- like Ida Fuller, which would mean $300 a month in today's dollars, as opposed to roughly $1,200 a month. "

A Question of Numbers (Lowenstein/NY Times Magazine)

Subject: Ratification?

Now that Bush claims that the election was a ratification of all the blunders he made in Iraq -- eliminating the need to own up to any of them -- the Senate needs to apply his insidious reasoning to the confirmation of Gonzales. Clearly, in Bush-think, confirming Gonzales will be a ratification of his policy approving torture for detainees in Iraq and Guantanamo. After they vote to confirm, the Senate should be prepared to hear Bush claim that, given this ratification, torture will continue as official U.S. policy. This is, of course, because the rules don't apply where Al Qaeda is concerned -- ignoring that the vast majority of those detained and tortured at Abu Ghraib were guilty of nothing.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: what comes next?

Bush truly does think that because he won this election...he has approval to do anything
he wants. And, I would guess that when the election is over in Iraq...Chaos will reign. But,
hey, he will already be off on another attack...Iran looks like the next one. He says and
many of his cohorts say...that Iran has a nuclear bomb...yeeeehaaaawwww!
It will never en,..so long as a Bush is involved.

Shirley......St. Louis

Subject: "The Coronation of the Torturer King"

Dear BuzzFlashers -

The "Banality of Evil" editorial posted on Jan 17 prompts me to say that we should all write to our senators, Republicans and Democrats alike, and ask them to vote against the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General. It is likely, of course, that the majority will vote for Gonzales under the general excuse that the President should get to pick his own team. But senators of good sense who are morally outraged at the practices of torture so smoothly condoned and justified by Gonzales as well as others like Lindsay Graham who spoke eloquently on the practical need to protect our own troops from the threat of being tortured themselves should be willing to go on the record as not supporting this nomination.

I daresay that there is at least one BuzzFlash reader from each state, so every Senator should get at least one letter. I will write Kerry and Kennedy immediately myself.

Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA

Subject: Gonzales nomination

Dear Senators Kerry and Kennedy,

Please vote against the nomination of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General of the United States.

While his personal story is appealing his actual accomplishments for a graduate of Harvard Law School are not impressive.

The serious and important reason to go on the record against this nomination is that Gonzales was the willing servant of President Bush in coming up with legal rationalizations for the use of torture against prisoners captured in the "war on terrorism." While legal hairsplitting may be used to claim that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to certain categories of prisoners, the use of torture and abuse of any sort by any agents of the United States is abhorrent. And Senator Lindsay Graham pointed out why it was dangerous to our own troops and citizens to cede the high moral ground on this issue to anyone.

We understand that it is likely that Gonzales will be confirmed by the Senate. But every Senator who believes torture is wrong and that the President is never above the law (Gonzales said, "I'll get back to you on that") should go on record as opposing this nomination. (There's not even any short-term advantage to be gained by currying favor with the administration by not taking the morally correct position.)

Yours truly,

Subject: Bush in Showcase Theater . . .

BuzzFlash,

Regarding your article from The Smirking Chimp . . . when Bush was talking in a town hall meeting to a group about his raid on Social Security, I saw two things in this article that tells me his inanity is far greater than even I gave him credit for, and at the same time, his off-the-cuff remarks many times remind me of old movies and I really think that since Bush is against reading . . . he actually gets all of his ideas about our world while watching TV and old films . . . the following quotes from the Smirking Chimp:

In outlining his plan to rob the Social Security trust fund to reward wealthy Wall Street campaign contributors with billions in new fees and investment funds, Bush said that "a personal savings account will compound over time and grow over time; a personal savings account can't be used to bet on the lottery, or a dice game, or the track."

So Bush thinks all African Americans -- or "negroes," as his kind calls them in private, if not to their faces -- waste their money on dice games and the betting tracks, huh?

Bush tells 'negroes' not to spend money on dice games as he parties on like it's 1929 (smirkingchimp.com)

First, everyone would have a "savings account" that they didn't have to touch if they made more money than they needed in order to make a living and to raise their families, or if they could even find a job in Bush's America. If they made their money in the same way that Bush made his money, we would all have giant savings accounts.

Secondly, something I have learned while living in the South is that the worst kind of deep-seated racism in people will show its ugly face in comments of casual conversation and the person talking hasn't a clue what is really coming out of his or her mouth, the racism is so inbred, i.e., Bush's comments about how Blacks spend their money. Caucasian Americans shouldn't feel slighted by this open admission of stereotypical racist attitude because Bush really looks down on all Americans other than his "loyal base," even the poor people who live in the so-called red states . . . how much of a break in life does Bush give you . . . or maybe in an unknowingly, masochistic way, you people don't feel that you need any breaks in life.

If I were ever to take any advice from anyone . . . it certainly wouldn't be from a person like Bush, who has never, ever done anything positive on his own and he has lived up to that record as a resident in the White House for this country. Ignorance always talks down to people. Here he is talking to people about how he is going to give them savings accounts. This from someone who has given Americans the largest debt in US history. This from someone who thinks 40 million is okay to spend on one big party for "his" celebration. This from someone who lied the US into a war that has killed more than 100,000 people.

In a perfect world, or even a sane one, people would wonder why is this person not being charged for treason against the United States of America and then billed for all of those White House accounting mistakes . . . such as throwing out the surplus that this administration had just four years ago . . . then there is the "small" matter of billions of missing money in Iraq and the US that no one in this administration seems too worried about finding it. Instead, they just ask members of our Congress for more money and, just as unbelievable . . . without any accountability or excuses given to Congress . . . they get it.

Hail to Bush the Chief who through his humility and moral leadership will bring America to her knees with the whole world watching. Now that's showmanship.

Just a thought,

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

Subject: Trial balloon?

Greetings.

A friend has advanced an analysis of Jim Baker's saying that the US should get out of Iraq. I'm running it by you although you may have already heard it.

The analysis is that the Bushies have had this recommendation advanced as a means to feel out the public reaction. It the reaction is deemed adequately favorable the strategy would be to replace a significant portion of US troops with mercenaries who would keep the oil fields protected and controlled for 20 or so years until they are sucked dry by western companies and interests. The rest of Iraq would be allowed to go to hell.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Bush's Wars

Dear B-F,

Well mad king George has managed to generally screw up Iraq and I now hear rumbles of an attack on Iran. Let Freedom Ring! We are about to achieve democracy in another state thru military action. Won't be long before he attempts to democratise the good ole USA! Next the World - shades of Hitler!

A. Leslie Palmer

Subject: 20 January 2005

Dear Buzz,

This Thursday, 20 Jan 2005, is a day that will live in infamy.

Pamela of the Poconos

Subject: Midterm elections have RNC anxious (Washington Times)

Buzz:

This sounds like more of Rove's machinations.  Define early and often.  Pretend they've got a problem or are vulnerable (remember Jeb was going to be vulnerable in 2002?  Right).  But I especially like the Wisc Rep stating Wisconsin had a terrible problem with illegals voting in the presidential election. 

But the point is they're already focused on the 2006 elections, and Dems are still squabbling amongst themselves.  Shall I pull my hair out now or wait until after the Dems lose by overwhelming margins the next time?  Goddam, the idiots at the DNC piss me off!
 
SherAn

Subject: Bush daughters

First--thank you for all the information you make available---information that would never be found in the Columbus Dispatch.

My question is--Why aren't the Bush daughters joining the National Guard so they can go to Iraq and "fight for freedom"?????

Jan

Subject: Consequences of Uninformed Voting

The ascent of George W. Bush to the exalted position he enjoys today is testimony to the triumph of propaganda over reason. Through the skillful use of indoctrination techniques, otherwise intelligent people have been brainwashed to believe: that a draft-dodging spoiled brat who has blundered into a deadly quagmire is more deserving of trust and respect than a decorated military hero who is documented as having risked his life to save those under his command, that America's interests are better served by a my-way-or-the-highway approach to domestic and international issues than one that employs diplomacy to everyone's advantage, that an inarticulate, crude blockhead who lives in a childish world of black-and-white is better equipped to advance the cause of peace than a multilingual, cultured scholar who recognizes the full spectrum of options available for making decisions.

Now we will suffer the consequences of our collective naivete. To some degree each of the following results is likely over the next several years.

We can expect the downward spiral of wages to accelerate as good-paying jobs are moved offshore.

We can expect privatization to result in the collapse of the Social Security System that has served us well for 70 years and with minor adjustments will remain fiscally sound forever.

We can expect serious financial difficulties as other countries continue to lose confidence in our fiscal responsibility and refuse to finance the out-of-control debt resulting from the reduction and elimination of taxes on the most affluent among us.

We can expect the continued erosion of civil liberties as the government increasingly regards people as enemies of the state to be tortured and held incommunicado indefinitely without trial.

We can expect our country to continue its policy of starting morally unjustifiable wars to assert our world supremacy, perhaps even resorting to nuclear weapons as an economical alternative to troop deployment.

Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas warned, "As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness."

Robert R. Regl
Hattiesburg, MS

[BuzzFlash Note: Ahh, twilight...it used to be our favorite time of day. Thanks for your insights.]

Subject: Democracy doesn't exist in America anymore

It really doesn't matter who the Democrats choose to head the DNC. It will be a waste of time and effort. As long as the media is controlled by Republicans and their, so-called, conservative right-wing supporters, and as long as elections are held using easily manipulated voting machines to rig the vote, there can be no democracy in America.

The Republicans are destroying democracy in the name of freedom and the timid Democrats are either stepping aside or backing down and letting them get away with it. What are the Democrats afraid of? Are they somehow being blackmailed into allowing the blatant destruction of everything America stands for?

There was a time when I and others innocently believed that U.S. government actions would always benefit and serve all its citizens. The Kennedy assassination changed that naive perception. When people commented, "What difference does it make who killed President Kennedy? That happened a long time ago." I would answer "but the people who committed the crime are still out there planning God knows what!"

Well, now we know what "they" are planning. By creating a system where the wealthy and powerful are the ruling class and the uninformed population becomes poorer, less educated and unhealthier, the plan is well under way to do away with democracy in America and replace it with an elitist form of government (ie plutocracy).

No one seems able to stop the direction in which we are headed. It hurts to see what our great nation is becoming. However, because BuzzFlash and others are willing to keep us informed, at least there are many of us who are aware of what is happening. I only hope and pray something can be done before it is too late.

Thank you BuzzFlash for being there!

Linda in NC

Subject: inauguration

Rage, Rage and outrage at the hubris of the bushies to spend $40,000,000 on inaugural parties and balls while our soldiers are dying in Iraq, prisoners are being tortured, tsunami survivors are coping with the death of over 150,000 people and trying to get their lives back to some semblance of order. Not to mention the hungry and the homeless right here in our own very rich country. To say nothing of frightening retirees by threatening to privatize Social Security; I was around before SS was put into effect and do not want to go back to those times, I have worked hard to be independent. Oh, and did I mention public schools that have done away with art program, language programs and any other program that the "powers that be" can exclude?

Where will we be in another four years with this present administration in charge?

Geri
Red Bank NJ

Subject: mailbag 1/17/05

In response to a couple of things brought up in the mailbag...to those of you who are
worried about the Democrats' lack of guts...Ted Kennedy is trying...at last! But, he cannot
do it alone...he has to have some help. I am sick to death of them, too...they are letting
Bush get away with everything. We have waited almost too long...even Kennedy who is
screaming mad now...they should have started way back after the Trade Center incident.
Everyone then just wanted to be a nice guy...and make the country know that they were
patriotic Americans...that was the beginning of the end!!!

In response to John Faroili...the AARP organization ran at least two full-page ads in our
paper...the St. Louis Post Dispatch...denouncing the Bush plan for privatizing social Security, then it disappeared. I have no idea what other papers may have been the recipient of those ads, but, they ran here.

Ted Kennedy...said on the news tonight...that the democrats would not sit by and see
Social Security dismantled...we will have to wait and see. I think he is truly trying, but
he cannot do it alone!

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

Subject: Re More Taxpayer-funded GOP Propaganda

Reality: The calendar does not mention that Ronald Reagan, in his 1966 campaign to become governor of California, endorsed repeal of California's Fair Housing Act, saying, "If an individual wants to discriminate against Negroes or others in selling or renting his house, it is his right to do so."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Inauguration day protest graphic

As a sign of protest on inauguration day, I plan on putting this graphic in my car window (the upside-down flag is the international signal of distress.) Considering the mess Bush has made in four short years, I believe America is under attack by the radical right wing. Bush is on a mission to destroy the middle class and bankrupt the country. I think it is possible for democrats to take back both houses of congress in 2006, thus assuring President Bush gets impeached for war crimes, corruption, lying under oath, or many other crimes.

Mike in Seattle

click for full sized image

Subject: A Hearing In The Ethers!

A Hearing is being held in the Ethers to see if the accused George W. Bush should be held over for trial. Like George Bush’s ruling majority Republican Party, only one side will be represented, that will be the Prosecution. The Prosecution has stated there literally isn't a Defense for Mr. Bush's "misdeeds!" There are many defense attorneys presenting their comments in this ethereal hearing. Some are alive…some are the dearly departed!

Should the accused, George W. Bush, be held over for trial...the jury will be the American people? The distinguished journalist Edward R. Murrow is presiding, all rise!

"This is the ethereal" [not "London," as he said when in his popular broadcast]. The Court will hear an opening statement now, and then the charges will be read.

Ralph Waldo Emerson; "For what are they in their high conceit, when man in the 'bush' with God may meet! Heartily know when half-gods go the Gods arrive!"

During the term of George Bush and his Administration, they have taken a hiatus from the truth as they continue to thwart the American public’s right to know by closing much freedom of information that President Clinton had opened. One of the most recent charges is trying to seal the records of the ISG, the Iraq Survey Group, and not revealing the cost of the WMD investigation, which has been closed. Billions of dollars have been thrown away, as this embarrassing justification for starting the Iraq War has been negated, when no WMDS had been found. WMDS was the first, but not the only one of the shifting justifications used as an excuse for war. It is also noted that pre-war information was bungled and members of Team Bush ignored the obvious information and warnings that led to the 9/11 attack. Furthermore, they stymied the 9/11 investigation until the pressure was on the "Wanted Dead or Alive," Osama Bin Laden is very much alive, and terrorism has been on the rise. Iraq has become a quagmire, but Mr. Bush still is saying we are making progress, but proof of the opposite is readily available every day and downplayed by the media. Two statements made by George Bush contradict each other. On September 13th, George Bush said, "The most important thing is for the U.S. to find Osama Bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." That was in 2001. In 2002, March 13th, Bush announced, "I don't know where he is [Osama] I just don't spend that much time on him really, to be honest with you…I truly am not that concerned about him." We have seen Osama Bin Laden, al-Zarqawi and cohorts flaunting their escape and activity in the face of the world! Though the truth is avoided by George W. Bush, the Administration, most of the military and a slew of retired Generals, occasionally a few will speak of the QUAGMIRE in Iraq. Anticipating trouble, the spin is on about the elections not having as much significance as they had hoped, and we will be facing the same situation after the election. Meanwhile, though we seldom hear it, the death count hovers in the 1400 area. Bush doesn't go to funerals, not showing the coffins are covered up by the government's "respect" for the military families [a few got by the rule recently] and The Iraq war reports are becoming more scarce! This is suspected to be laid at the door Bush, and of large contributors, that support Bush and rule most of the networks! There is doubt we will ever know what Bush, or members of his Administration knew before 9/11 as the blame is consistently put elsewhere, and the Administration, Bush, in particular, never admits failure or making mistakes. We do know ample information was given to them that was overlooked and ignored. Richard Clarke’s testimony to the 9/11 Commission raised many questions, not sufficiently answered, and covered up, or lied about by some like, Condi Rice! "On and on it goes and where it stops no one knows!"

Now that the end of the search for WMDS is over, why are attempts being made to seal records of the Iraq Survey Group so the true cost of this futile investigation will not be known? It is the taxpayer who paid!

Other charges listed are:

What happened to the money Congress specifically approved for Afghanistan, and how much money was diverted to Iraq? Why has this question never been sufficiently answered?

Why did the Republicans vote down an investigation in which Richard Foster was threatened with "severe consequences for insubordination." Foster wanted to reveal the true cost of the Healthcare of $550 billion to the Democrat's inquiries. The amount given by Bush in the budget was misrepresented at $400 billion!

"Confucius," approach the bench with your question. Why does the American public seem more concerned with drug-testing of their athletes, as an example to the youth and to preserve the integrity of the game yet, does not seem to inquire about the integrity of their President, especially with all the mounting evidence against the truthfulness of himself and his Cabinet? I have warned them long ago, "Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established!" "You may repeat that statement aloud for the record, as it goes to the character of Mr. Bush!

George Bush promised to get to the bottom of the CIA Outing of Valerie Plame. This long overdue investigation has not come to a conclusion. It seems as if attention is being diverted away from the Bush Cabinet, to reporters, [But not Robert Novak?] timing, or everyone else, but the highly suspected members of the Administration who were out for revenge against Ambassador Joseph Wilson.

Who told Ahmed Chalabi what? The once highly paid fair-haired boy of the Administration is not so popular anymore.

Who else besides Armstrong Williams has been paid to promote Bush Policy?

Will the truth of Bush dealings at Harken Energy ever be honestly revealed? Bush was a stockholder, director, and consultant of the company. Bush was warned about "insider trading," before the Harken loss. That warning note was revealed to the SEC after the investigation ended Bush sold $848,000 of shares, before Harken filed its quarterly report of a $23 million loss. Why did Bush wait eight months past the legal deadline to report the stock sale? Of course the whole time this debacle occurred, Poppy Bush was the President, Poppy’s friend headed the SEC, and even the General Counsel previously had been an attorney for the Bush family. How did they get away with this, and why didn't anyone, especially the media ask the hard questions? Martha Stewart was sent to jail for much less of a crime! Bush was never fully exonerated by the SEC!

The presiding judge, Edward R. Murrow, interrupted, and said, "To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful!"

Matters of half-truths and cover-ups have been applied to our environment. The Healthy Forests Initiative's name is ludicrous in its claim to protect out forests. Senator Joseph Lieberman had a more apt name when he sarcastically called it, "The No Tree Left Behind Plan!" It destroys other Policy Acts other presidents have enacted. It is not necessary to cut down healthy trees as it is to remove shrubs or other underbrush and kiss the logging industry on the lips! Even wildlife is affected by this irresponsible policy!

The "Clean Air Initiative" is another one, where former precautions have been weakened by diminishing regulations directed by all the "foxes" in charge of the "hen house!"

Global warming has been [accelerated] by George Bush. He would not participate in the Kyoto Protocol effort of the world to help solve the greenhouse gas problem. Bush backed off his promise about carbon dioxide emissions regulations, embarrassing Christine Todd Whitman, who went out on a limb to the world with a promise to help. He ignores the fact we are responsible for about one-third of this problem. In a recent effort to make headway, the world asked again, only to be put off with a vague promise of a "meeting" in the future!

Stem Cell Research is a vital interest to the future health of our nation and the world. President Bush's blockade and half-truths of this research on the ground of "moral values" has been disputed by many, including the family of President Ronald Reagan.

By Bush standards, only stem cell lines that exist currently should be used. His consultations with his hand-picked scientists are questionable and many other experts in the field do not agree with those conclusions. At every turn Bush appears to disregard the health and welfare of the world for his own beliefs and political gain.

The actions of this "Compassionate Conservative" are highly suspect, and have cost the United States untold loss of respect in world opinion!

Are there any more charges against the accused? There are many more, even though we are holding this hearing in the ethers, we do not want to be here for all Eternity listing them! There has been more than enough evidence presented. The recommendation is for the accused, George W. Bush, to be held over for trial by the American jury! As we turn this action over to the people, we must recognize the facts of continuous dishonesty should not be ignored or taken lightly whether the evidence presented is recent or in the past. The whole picture must be considered and even now more infractions of deceit and misrepresentation are being committed by the accused. Nothing less than our Democracy is being threatened, and grim consequences await future generations unless action is taken now! Thomas Jefferson is recognized once again.

I would like to leave the Citizens of the United States with one more admonition, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!"

As Presiding Judge, I, Edward R. Murrow conclude, and address Mr. Bush in absentia as I say, "You have been weighed, you have been measured and you have been found wanting!"

Susan Carr
Tucson, Az.