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Subject: yee gads, royalty now?
Jesus, what happened? I turned on the news
any and all the news and I find we now have
king George, queen Laura, princess Barbara and
princess Jenna.
Diane A.
Miami fl
Subject: Let The Impeachment Begin!
Dear Buzz,
This should be the rallying cry from this day forward for all truly
patriotic Americans. We need to keep saying it. We need to work
to elect enough Democrats in 2006 to make it happen. We can do this,
America!
A Loyal Reader
Subject: Holy Crap - Our Government is a "Jesus and Freedom"
Cartoon
The forehead-smacking irony of cops dragging out protesters while
the crowd was cheering Bush's platitudes about "liberty"
and "freedom" may have escaped the notice of the news
and conservatives, but the clear Bush message did not.
Basically, it was:
America is great and benevolent, and freedom is good. Also, results
of policies don't really matter or deserve mention, and no connection
between statements and actions should be expected. Shut up and shop.
Freedom good. Eventually good things may happen.
I hope many Americans found it creepy that the preacher giving the
closing prayer "declared" that God shone "favor"
on Bush and that Bush was divinely protected from all weapons. Too
bad no preachers could "declare" that Iraq, the economy
and our national character would be restored.
Scott McGlasson
Denver, CO
Subject: Letter to Big Joe Re Confirmation Process of Condoleezza
Rice
Dear Hon. Senator Biden,
This morning, before you approved Rice's appointment as Secretary
of State, you compared yourself to Samuel Johnson's man, who by
remarrying, exemplifies the triumph of optimism over experience.
While I generally admire the approach of actively taking a hopeful
stance under discouraging circumstances, I'd like to point out that
a man who not only remarries, but marries the same psychotic bitch
twice, is a masochistic idiot, and possibly suicidal.
Sincerely,
Rosamond
Subject: Iran or Saudi Arabia
Though a case could very easily be made for invading Saudi Arabia
because it is an official "state sponsor of terrorism,"
the Bush admin and neo-con hawks that control it are focused on
Iran.
Could this POSSIBLY have more to do with accessibility to Caspian
oil than terrorism, especially in light that Saudi Arabia not only
produced the actual terrorists of 9/11, but also all the funds,
support, planning logistics, and cover for entry while Iran has...well,
Iran has helped us fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, and has tight
control of Al Qaida within its own borders, and is trying to negotiate
with the outside world to let it put its oil in the global market.
Hmm? What is the problem with Iran? What's that? They dare want
to have control over their own oil fields and keep the profits in
country to support their own literate people? I can only imagine
how much more money our country will pump into the private defense
industry and oil subsidies for this next phase of Bush's Little
Adventures in the Middle East.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: torture and the CIA
Folks,
Now that mr. gonzales has clearly defined his torture philosophy,
I can rest easy....Oh wait...now the CIA can still torture...!!!!..wait...didn't
I read on BuzzFlash that the Special Forces (Rangers, Green Berets,
and whatever other label they use for mean mothers) are not under
the jurisdiction of the Pentagon anymore? They are under the jurisdiction
and command...or.....wait.....oh yes...the CIA...so I guess they
can still torture. Beware the Blowback.
Geoff
[BuzzFlash Note: These questions are addressed in
Seymour Hersh's "THE COMING WARS" in The New Yorker
and in
"Gonzales excludes CIA from rules on prisoners" (NY
Times/Int'l. Herald Tribune).]
Hi guys,
1/20/05. What a sad day for America. I can't bear to watch any of
it. But I've got my black ribbon on and am passing them out to everyone.
I can't imagine what this country will look like in 4 years.
Barbara Boxer is a hero. How tragic that there's only one of her.
I read the transcript of her and Condi and haven't felt that uplifted
in a while. I join the chorus of people almost giving up on the
Democrats.
This is all making me very sick. This idiot thinks he doesn't have
to answer any questions because he "won" a second term.
This is the logic of a 3 year old. Nancy Lynn Nagy brings up a good
point in the 1/18 mailbag. Why was it OK to keep on persecuting
Clinton after he won his second term? Didn't Clinton have "political
capital?" Well, I guess we all know the answer to that one.
Try and get through the day, everyone. And thanks Buzz.
Barbara in NYC (thanking god that the inauguration isn't being held
here)
Subject: quote of the day.....and I'm no fan of Kerry but this
yes!
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic presidential nominee
last year, accused the administration of under-funding efforts to
secure nuclear material in the former Soviet republics. "I
don't understand how the administration can choose to spend ...
close to $300 billion in Iraq to disarm weapons that weren't there,
and yet $1 billion a year to secure weapons that we know are there,"
he said.
Hakuna Matata,
debra
Subject: Most Democratic Politicians Have Deserted Their Voters
To The Non-Existent Democratic Party,
As far as I, and many BuzzFlash readers are concerned, The Democratic
Party Has FOLDED Their TENT and Left Its Voters Voiceless in Congress
and Unrepresented!
I, and others DESPISE The Republicans, yet MANY OF US feel we no
longer have a party!
Like Ronald Reagan once said, "I didn't leave The Democratic
Party; The Democratic Party Left Me."
It is time for what's left of the Democratic Party, except for Senator
Boxer, to disband and for an Entire New Party, under Howard Dean's
Leadership to get created with all NEW politicians - NOW!!
If the existing democrats want to remain in Congress and continue
to be weaklings, the new Party will eventually take over as the
primary party against The Republicans.
Everyone should contact all of the ever-dwindling Democratic members
of Congress, and simply ask them if they are a Capital "R,"
a Mid-Sized "R" or a Small-Sized "R." Tell them
that the letter "D" is not one of the multiple-choice
answers, because we currently only have Senator Boxer and a few
Representatives acting like a Capital "D," Real-Democrat.
Butt-Kissers of Republicans need not apply for Political Jobs in
Congress for The New Party!
Otherwise, if we keep things as they are, the current Democratic
Party will go out of existence by way of the "Rigged, Diebold
Voting Machines," and we will only have a 100% Republican Party
running everything to their heart's content.
The Republicans won't have a worry in the world, because they will
have 100% Complete Control of every Branch of Government and they
will have bought out every possible Cable Channel, Internet Provider
and Newspaper by then.
Oh, that's right. They already did that.
The Republicans can now say...
"The Constitution? Abolish It!" "Elections? Let's
Terminate Them Now!" "Term Limits? Let's appoint ourselves
forever!" "News? Let's take every form of it over, around
the world!"
There are two words for this type of a National Takeover. They are:
Communism and Pravda!
FDR was in a wheelchair with heavy leg braces (like me) and he could
not stand. Yet he had more willpower and determination then today's
Democratic politicians in The Senate and House.
And speaking of FDR; he cancelled his Inaugural Ball in 1944, because
he did not see it as appropriate for our soldiers to be fighting
in WWII, while he is throwing a lavish party for his re-election.
In 2000, we had FL Sec of State Harris, assuring Bush that he would
win. We had numerous Florida Representatives complaining about Voter
Fraud and Black Voters being unable to vote. Yet, not ONE so-called
"Democratic Senator" had the guts to Stand Up and REPRESENT
THEIR PARTY AND VOTERS. They all sat there like voiceless, gutless
manikins.
In 2004, we had the same problems, only this time it was in Ohio,
where their Sec of State had again assured Bush of a win. Rep Stephanie
Tubbs Jones complained about the fraud but only FIVE Democratic
Senators had the guts to stand up, the most prominent being Senator
Boxer. And how did these Senators, except for Senator Boxer, vote
after "complaining"? Let's just say their votes equated
to saying: "To Hell with the fraud complaints and let's get
on with business with our Republican Buddies"!!
I'm so peeved, I was expecting Terry McAuliffe and The DLC's Al
From to get invited to come out onto The Senate Chamber's Floor,
for a "curtain call" so we could hear them say; "Yes,
the election was rigged, but Democrats should stand-up for 'their
man Bush' and sing "Cum by yah" with Their Fellow Republicans."
Do you think for ONE moment that The Republicans would just lie
down like a shabby, old rug and let The Democrats walk all over
them with their Muddy Boots, if the election results in 2000 and
2004 were opposite of what they turned out to be? Hell No!!
Yet that is exactly what today's Democratic Party and its so-called
"strong" politicians let The Republicans do to them AGAIN,
with the mud oozing from their "elephant boots" onto the
donkey's face. We need only look at how The Republicans and James
Baker maneuvered in 2000 for proof, along with how they now want
a new election in Washington State for the close election.
The answer, by an Ever-Shrinking-Minority of Democrats in Both Houses
of Congress, to the voter fraud continues to be: Okey-Dokey!!
I'm not the only one who feels outraged, as more BuzzFlash Readers,
Voters and Campaign Contributors have been writing angry letters
to the democrats!!
Yes, I'm afraid to say it, but The Democratic Party is DEAD.
Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT
Subject: Did I see what I thought I saw?
I was watching the news last night and they were showing all the
preparations for the inauguration and they showed someone decorating
rectangular-shaped white petit fours with little flags.
They looked just like little flag-draped caskets. According to CNN
there are 1370, but that doesn’t include all the ones they choose
not to count.
Maybe they will have them in a C-130 shaped platter?
Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.
Subject: Exit Polling Report
ROWING WITH ONE PADDLE or THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN OBVIOUS
Dear Buzz,
Where does one even begin? With the release this week of the "official"
report on what went wrong with exit polling in the 04 Presidential
race, we, the public, have been treated to one of the most bizarre
and egregious displays of circular reasoning of all time and a crash
course in the rhetorical device known as "begging the question."
It's like reading a statistician's version of Abbott & Costello's
"Who's on First?" routine. In fact, this report was nothing
but a predetermined effort to conform exit polling to the final
vote result.
The report's first mistake is that it assumes from the outset that
the exit polls were faulty, not the vote counts. The question should
never have been "what went wrong with the exit polling?"
but "what went wrong with the election as a whole?"
But here is where it gets downright maddening. The report's conclusion?
Exit polls skewed to Kerry because more Kerry voters talked to exit
pollsters than did Bush voters. That is like saying the sky is blue
because there is more blue in it. Of course more Kerry voters talked
to pollsters. THERE WERE MORE KERRY VOTERS AT THE POLLS!
Here is the report's argument in a nutshell:
1) The exit polls did not reflect the final vote tally. There must
be a problem.
2) Kerry was favored by the exit polls.
3) More Kerry voters must have responded to exit polling than Bush
voters.
4) How do you know this?
5) Because there were more Bush voters.
6) How do you know that?
7) Because the exit polls did not reflect the final vote tally.
8) But if these alleged Bush voters didn't respond, how do you know
they were Bush voters?
9) Because the exit polls did not reflect the final vote tally.
And Round and Round We Go. . .
The report went on to conclude that there was no outward evidence
of election fraud. But the whole premise of the report was BASED
on the assumption that the polls were in error, not the votes. So
OF COURSE they are going to conclude there was no evidence of fraud.
The very premise of the report excluded any other possible outcome.
One of the primary purposes of exit polling around the world is
to safeguard against electoral fraud. We just witnessed exit polling
expose and overcome electoral fraud in the Ukraine. In the last
three major national elections in the US, exit polling has come
under fire because it did not reflect the final vote tally - sometimes
drastically. And in each of those elections there have been serious,
credible and often provable allegations of vote tampering and vote
suppression on the part of Republicans and their corporate allies
- more widespread and aggressive than usual. Yet it is always the
exit polls which are blamed - the very same exit polling (and often
the very same pollsters!) that is considered so reliable enough
everywhere else to keep elections honest. And the darker allegations
continue to be casually brushed aside.
"Not to worry," the pollsters suddenly tell us, "There's
no reason to suspect wrongdoing since exit polling frequently favors
Democrats." They cite 1992 as an example, and how Clinton did
not win by as great a margin as expected. And this is supposed to
comfort me? All it leads me to ask is, "Then just how long
have serious Republican vote rigging efforts been going on?"
K M Evans
Subject: Jeb's wife
So, Jeb wasn’t seen too much meeting all the grief-stricken victims
of the tsunamis recently, but today did anyone see his wife during
all those photos ops? Maybe I just missed her, but surely they wouldn't
let that go by. I heard on MSNBC that the Bush family had 130 family
members there. Well, where were all the pictures of them? Where
were Jeb's wife, his kids, his daughter, you know the drug addict?
They at least let Mary Cheney hold the Bible while her dad was sworn
in as VP of the USA, but where was her long-time partner standing
beside her? By the way, where was Neil Bush and his new wife? We
are all being so duped…and they laugh.
Betsy
Subject: Re: Report Says Kerry Vote Overestimated by Exit Polls
Report suggests changes in exit poll methodology (CNN)
How's this for spin:
Exit Polls overstated John Kerry's share of the
vote on November 2, both nationally and in many states because more
Kerry supporters participated in the survey than Bush voters, according
an internal review of the exit-polling process released Wednesday.
Of course more Kerry supporters than Bush supporters would participate
in the poll if there were more Kerry supporters than Bush supporters
to begin with. Talk about dumb---sheesh!
Here's why the report came to this conclusion and that faulty methods---rather
than an accurate indication of the results---were to `blame':
The report was issued by Mitofsky International
and Edison Media Research, the polling firms that conducted the
polls on behalf of the so-called National Election Pool, a consortium
of six national media organizations (AP, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and
NBC).
William Wilgus
Silver Springs, Florida
Subject: Liberals promote liberty...conservatives don't...simple
as that
I keep hearing all the talking heads today saying that Bush is talking
about liberty. Just wondering why they don’t mention that liberty
is the most liberal concept ever conceived. If they weren’t basically
the same concept the words wouldn’t be spelled almost exactly alike.
It is NOT a coincidence. It is a basic concept. Just wondering how
a “conservative” can even use the word liberty with a straight face
and how the talking heads are too dim to even notice the striking
irony. Conservative liberty is an oxymoron of the first order.
From a liberal libertarian who actually DOES believe in liberty……
Shunk Wugga
Hi BuzzFlash heroes!
I've been on vacation for a month and didn't realize my remote
access had a limit and caused my email to bounce back to you. I
appreciate you alerting me to the problem, and want to cancel my
BuzzFlash subscription, but wanted to tell you a couple of things
first.
Number ONE!! THANKS FOR YOUR MAGNIFICENT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're
the BEST!!! I had a radio show called the Aggressive Progressive
on my college station for six months before the election, for the
express purpose of getting rid of the Shrub. I passed on quite a
bit of the information I received from your emails. I always attributed
your site and promoted you as much as I could. Thanks so much for
your work!
Number two: I've sadly decided to give up on America. After the
election, when the mainstream media refused to even recognize the
rampant voter fraud with any kind of validity, I realized that continuing
down the path of rage against the machine was futile. Our country
has been bought and sold to the highest bidders, and too many Americans
are too ignorant and/or apathetic for it to ever change.
I'm fifty years old and realize that our nation has been based
on a lie since its inception. Just one example is what we did to
Laos. We bombed the crap out of them with a planeload of cluster
bombs every eight minutes for NINE YEARS, yet the average American
is totally unaware of that, or of the fact that those bombs that
didn't detonate, still kill people, mostly children, every single
day. Nobody here knows and nobody here cares.
It seems that every single system we have, including, but not limited
to, the 'sickness' care system (funded by the pharmaceutical and
insurance companies), the 'injustice' system, the educational system,
the agricultural system, and the economic system, is ruled solely
by the lust for money. Little to no social consciousness is present
in ANY of them.
As a result of all this and more, including the fact that this
country is now responsible for the death of 200,000 innocent people
in Iraq alone, I can no longer be a part of it. I've tried for 35
years to change things here and they just seem to be getting worse
and worse. I've decided to move to Canada if they'll have me because
they don't attack and occupy countries in the name of liberating
them and because they seem to care more about their people than
they do money. I know Canada isn't perfect, but their problems aren't
nearly as insurmountable as America's.
So, I'm moving on to a new chapter in my life, working for the
planet's children, photographing the bonding of newborns, children
doing art and being well-cared for, and doing whatever I can to
promote the conscious care of our young.
Thanks again BuzzFlash heroes! You rock!
yours in peace,
doris
Subject: "Please say it's not true!" from Shorty in
Memphis, Jan 20 Mailbag
To Shorty and all BuzzFlashers -
Re number of Iraqi children killed.
The US is NOT keeping track of Iraqi dead, or so Rummy keeps saying,
but there was a study by researchers from Johns Hopkins school
of public health published in "The Lancet,"a highly
respected British medical journal, last fall that estimated 100,000
Iraqi dead. Even if that estimate is off by 50% surely well more
than 3000 Iraqi children have died since March 19, 2003.
We don't know what Bush knows, but we should know and weep and
then praise Barbara Boxer for pointing up Condi's lies. Also read
Maureen Dowd's "Don't Know Much About Algebra" in the
NYTimes, Thursday Jan 20.
Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA
Subject: Where are my tickets?
Dear BuzzFlash,
I have to share with your readers how overjoyed I was to hear
that the Washington Post was forking over $100,000 for the boy
king's inaugural.
Dear Washington Post,
I'm very disappointed as a card carrying liberal not to have been
invited to the swell party you had in the capital yesterday. There
is nothing that confirms my deep held belief as the press as an
independent arbitrator than hearing that the Washington Post just
gave $100,000 to the Bush inaugural fund.
What did you get for this? I hope you at least got good seats
at the boy king's knee. Or maybe a special interview with the
vice-president of how deadly Saddam's weapons were. Maybe my
invitation was just lost in the mail. If you want to send me
the money for a free trip to Washington all will be forgiven.
You won't even have to put me up in too expensive of a hotel.
Gary (a card carrying liberal who's told that you represent
me. I guess you probably gave them the 100,000 because I was
actually a little short this month. Keep up the good work. I
wait on your every word with regards to the Sun King.)
Subject: And so it continues
BuzzFlash:
And so it continues........four more years of lies, deceit, and
warmongering! And after Georgie's term is over, Jeb will continue
for 8 more years (if there's a US left to govern). As long as
Karl Rove has his minions at the appropriate state levels to cheat
for him, as long as the media hides behind its 30 pieces of silver,
and with the Democrats not insisting that voters are provided
paper receipts when they go to the polls, I see no end to Republican
rule. Only God can help us because the rest of the world (with
the exception of India, which is benefiting from the jobs being
shipped their way) hates us and is suspicious of the U.S.A.'s
every move.
Dee Turner
Atlanta
Subject: Senate Hearings
Dear BuzzFlash,
There are two things important in my political world, BuzzFlash
and C-Span morning journal. I review each every day.
I listened to Barbara Boxer and Joe Biden question Condoleezza
Rice and sent commendations to both. They were magnificent, but
Joe Biden lost his standing with me when he said he would vote
to confirm. I asked him when the loyal opposition would finally
follow Barbara Boxer's lead and take a stand. We went to war in
Iraq with the approval of a lot of liberals who should have known
better. I told him a lot of reasonable, moderate, democratic voters
are waiting for leadership.
I love the principled, articulate ladies who Email BuzzFlash.
The letter from Susan Lynch was marvelous
today and I always love the liberal christian, Leutisha Stills.
Keep it up, ladies.
An older senior citizen,
Harold Martin
Subject: Letter to the Editor - Social Security
Dear Buzz,
I sent the following letter to my local newspaper. I hope they
will print it.
To the editor:
The politicians will not tell you the whole truth in the social
security reform debate. That is what they do. Will the media,
and this newspaper, tell you the whole truth, as is their duty
in our so-called democracy?
First, they won't tell you that the Republicans have never liked
social security. The Republicans, chiefly representing the corporate
interests of American, have hated social security since its
inception in the 1930s. Since half the money going into the
social security trust fund comes directly from the employers,
it has always been viewed as a tax on corporations.
The president and the media are very busy framing the debate
in preparation for a huge advertising spree to convince you
of the merits of the president's proposals. This is not new.
Over the last 20 years or so, they have successfully framed
social security as a social and cultural issue, equating it
to the welfare state. In the meantime, in the corporate boardrooms,
where the Republican Party actually resides, they know the true
motive of the reform movement is to reduce costs and increase
profits of business. There's nothing wrong with that, except
they have not been honest with you.
Secondly, social security was never intended as a retirement
account for YOU. It is an account for the current retirees,
those who have not been fortunate enough to save generously
for their own retirement, or have lost their savings for reasons
beyond their control. Should we allow these old folks to starve
or freeze to death? I think, in a civilized society, the answer
is NO!
Thirdly, the plan is to transfer 1/3 of the money currently
going into the social security trust fund into personal accounts
that the individual can invest. This will create a great windfall
of profits for the brokerage companies that support Bush. However,
under the current rules, these funds would be no longer secure.
The stock market can be a very risky investment. The investor
who is not knowledgeable or vigilant could lose his savings.
Meanwhile, the big, experienced investors can sell their stock
before the market crashes, in effect taking your money to enrich
themselves.
You should ask yourself if Bush's plan to reform social security
is the best solution for you and your loved ones. You can only
make a decision if the government and the media carry out a
truthful discussion of the issues.
Thanks.
Dave
Subject: The End Of Social Security SSI As A Regressive Stealth
Income Tax
Social Security has never been a "locked box." In fact
SSI has for more than 25 years been a primary method of financing
corporate welfare and global corporate wars packaged as "economic
development" and "national defense." It has been
used to temporarily balance the foreign trade deficit in the Clinton
years and to in part offset the huge trade and budget deficits
of the Bush Administration. SSI funds have been dedicated to financing
the out-sourcing of US production and jobs to low wage enclaves
in China and many other areas in the 3rd World. It has even been
used to insure these new-styled "industrial plantations"
from "nationalization" by uppity 3rd World regimes who
are insolent enough to want to control what is produced on their
own soil.
SSI has been in effect a stealth income tax--raising tax money
from the working poor and [disproportionately in terms of total
costs] from small and medium producers. High income individuals
and producers with small wage bills relative to total costs get
a free ride or at least a cheap ticket on this gravy train. But
critics insist that retirees must be compelled to pay for their
retirement--ie be "responsible" for their own upkeep.
Increasingly this fairy tale "responsibility" of paying
your own way is avoided by most global corporations who get various
kinds of corporate welfare using numerous pretexts.
In short, corporations don't pay their own way in most industries.
Monopoly, corporate welfare and giveaways are the rule.
The Bush Administration wants to clamp down on [the less than
10% of] lawsuits involving individual litigants vs corporations,
whereas expanding the unlimited right of corporations to sue,
garnishee or otherwise appropriate property of individuals. The
encroachments of monopoly with the support and aid of government
is in turn reflected in prices not determined by the market but
rather determined and administered "in house"--within
their demand segments. Labor, on the other hand is increasingly
competitive with the demise of the American labor movement and
the rise of outsourcing. In the past labor was generally "scarce"
in America relative to the rest of the world. In fact this is
the very fundamental secret to American success; US producers
have historically had a strong incentive to invest in machinery
in order to reduce these very "high" labor costs. With
the wholesale abandonment of producing in the US by the global
corporations, high wages and pension programs have become "obsolete."
In this scenario the mass market and the suburban life-style
that developed as a by-product of high US wages have become "obsolete"
as well--and are in fact due for a severe redefinition, if not
implosion. US workers must now compete at all technological levels
with workers in the hinterlands of India, Pakistan, or China.
All of the corporate sermons/castles in the sky about re-training
or new industries magically appearing out of this applied voodoo
economics not-withstanding--the gig is up. Any new high tech jobs
can soon be outsourced as well.
The most heavily subsidized [or "communized," if you
will, economy] in the world is the American economy. Even the
USSR never came close, but this is a corporate communism and not
a communism for the masses. Corporations and CEOs have pension
plans and golden parachutes, not workers. Prices are more or less
totally set in-house by monopoly corporations for all essentials
like utilities, gasoline, insurance and health care. The only
vestiges of competition are in the non-essential industries and
labor markets. Even where some competition still exists, new product
entrepreneurs must practice payola to gain access to jobbers or
onto the shelves of supermarkets or chain stores at malls. Corporate
welfare has expanded at such a clip that 92% of all welfare payments
go to corporations rather than individuals.
You might notice that there is no connection at all with this
corporate welfare to a pay-as-you-go scheme. Global corporations
don't pay for corporate welfare--in fact most pay no corporate
income taxes at all. In the late 80's when Neil Bush and his Texas
oil buddies looted the Savings and Loan banks in the western states
for a total of anywhere from $300 billion to $1.3 trillion, depending
on your source, the government transfer payments to these institutions
alone exceeded the total outlay of welfare payments to INDIVIDUALS
from the inception of FDR's program to the GHW Bush Presidency.
Other significant corporate welfare payments since include such
ponzi schemes as Enron, Global Crossing and Halliburton--where
CEO's and CFO's scammed the taxpayers, competitors, suppliers,
workers, and investors alike. In this age when billions of dollars
can be transferred in mere nanoseconds, investors have become
little more than cheerleaders for corporate ponzi and warfare
schemes. Sometimes this lottery system engineered by the corporate
elite turns on its own cheering sections when the squeeze elsewhere
meets diminishing returns.
The fact is that Social Security has never been a "fund"
for retirees. Since the 70's it has served as a source of general
revenue--the same as the regular income tax.
The fact that the "surplus" of income over outlays
was taken by the treasury and spent, and that the treasury has
paid a nominal "interest" charge for this use, is little
comfort as this misappropriation was not paid the usual market
rate for savings. If this "fund" ever actually existed
why wasn't this surplus of worker/small business contributions
ever returned to its "rightful" owners in the year when
it was remitted? As far as I know no member of Congress ever demanded
that the surplus from workers'/small corporations' contributions
be returned in a timely way to its "rightful" owners.
It is only recently that we have heard anything much about this
SSI "fund." Suddenly, when a time horizon was established
where this "fund" was no longer in perpetual surplus
(i.e. 2042-2052), this tax became a "fund" again--requiring
a balancing of income and expenditure. That is to say it can no
longer be used as a stealth tax on workers and small businesses,
even though it has always been treated as general revenue--enabling
language aside. Not only does the Bush Administration want to
"privatize" the "fund" by providing a tie-in
and diversion to the ponzi factories of Wall Street--it wants
to reconstruct a new very regressive stealth tax system to finance
the massive corporate welfare schemes and tax breaks under consideration.
If this "fund" is yet in surplus until 2042/2052 why
can't the surplus merely be returned in the year realized?
Why is there a social security "fund" and not a corporate
welfare fund? Why is there not a "fund" for "defense"
spending which taxes the Halliburtons of the nation for indulging
in war profits? When corporations continue to diminish the health
of American workers and consumers with pollution, additives, genetic
engineering and other unhealthy productive techniques not reflected
in pricing or profit calculations--where are the cleanup "funds"
supported by the corporate offenders rather than a "superfund"
supported by the taxpayers? Schemes such as a national sales tax
are being pushed by the corporate media to replace the SSI stealth
income tax.
Perhaps even worse than the new schemes now circulating to replace
the SSI stealth tax is the use of voodoo economics to justify
a productive system which resembles the mercantilistic monopolies
of late feudalism--rather than competitive capitalism. Nowhere
in history can one finger an economy that self-developed in conditions
of cheap wages. In short there is no incentive to invest in these
conditions. Income trickles up and not down. If there are no external
markets or internally generated mass market, increases in income
at the country clubs or board rooms is unlikely to find its way
into new investment. Out-sourcing is not investment, but dis-investment.
It is bad enough when an economic theory justifies unemployment
among the leisured class at the country clubs, but much worse
when it mandates mass unemployment and low wages among those who
depend on labor for their livelihood.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: This is worth a reminder
BuzzFlash,
In his inaugural speech, Bush vowed to end tyranny around the
world but has he forgotten that one of his new best friends since
9/11 boils people alive? This is worth a reminder to people in
light of Bush's lofty goal of spreading democracy around the globe,
except of course in places like Uzbekistan.
Our
Presidents New Best Friend Boils People Alive (Information
Clearing House)
06/26/03: Let me introduce you to our presidents new best
friend, President Karimov of Uzbekistan.
President Karimov government was awarded $500m in aid from the
Bush administration in 2002. The SNB (Uzbekistan's security
service) received $79m of this sum.
The U.S. State Department web site states "Uzbekistan is
not a democracy and does not have a free press. Many opponents
of the government have fled, and others have been arrested."
and "The police force and the intelligence service use
torture as a routine investigation technique."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Duhhhbya never heard them
Buzz,
Great line in the Chicago Sun-Times article, Anti-war protesters
mourn those killed in Iraq - "The president continued speaking
without interruption and there was no sign that he heard them."
He Never "hears" anyone who isn't licking his ass as
they speak. And why is it that every article on protests against
this murderous cabal, whether written about the February 15th,
2003 world-wide pre-invasion rally, or the rethuglican convention,
or the coronation protest, why is it that journalists have to
discuss the 'violence' of the protesters - but they Never talk
about the extreme atrocious violence of the creeps the pro-peace-activists
are protesting against? What are a few coronation banners ripped
down compared to the slaughter of 100,000 innocent Iraqis and
the deaths and woundings of thousands of young Americans? Why
do these articles Never mention that? Just asking.
T Quigly
Subject: Fire for Freedom speech
To All Americans,
Somebody better look "carefully" into exactly what George
W. Bush was saying today in his "fire for Freedom" speech!
If you want to see the same speech given-but given 72 years earlier,
RENT the documentary "Triumph of the Will" by Leni Riefenstahl.
Leni Riefenstahl's infamous propaganda film documenting the Third
Reich's 1934 Nuremberg Party Rally features a cast of thousands
-- including Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels,
Rudolf Hess, Hermann Goering and other top officials. Images of
cheering crowds, precision marching, military bands, banners lining
Nuremberg's streets and Hitler's climactic speech illustrate with
chilling clarity how Germany fell under his spell.
This movie I have looked over 3 separate times (it's all in German,
BUT with ENGLISH subtitles) to make sure I was not mis-reading
what the Nazi leadership was actually saying! I wanted to know
how a "total nation" could become so mesmerized to buy
into such a regime, that DID such horrible things to anyone not
aligning with "their agenda." How could their press
be so silent?
They are "all" there in their "glory"-spewing
out the "party line" in order to SELL THE FOLKS - their
"heartfelt" and "spiritual" calling to "bring
the Aryan people together"! GOD help Americans see what is
actually happening to us! THIS MOVIE is the Karl Rove "template,"
just "updated" and messaged into place!
Freedom of the MEDIA to spew out a "positive agenda"
(for who) is exactly what the Nazis employed in the 30's with
the help, of course, of some very influential western financiers
and "businessmen"! What has changed people??? What has
changed!
John Richardson
Beaverton, Oregon
P.S. Go get that book The Secret War Against the JEWS; it names
names and "documents" what our press will not! And,
the documents come from the archives of the west. And guess whose
names keep coming up? Hmmmmm! Please! Put Triumph of the Will
on your "must list"! I promise you-you will be "awed"
with the similarities! Could it be just coincidence? I don't think
so!
[BuzzFlash Note: The special edition Triumph
of the Will dvd is available as a BuzzFlash premium.]
Subject: Bushmania
I realized today, during the coronation, that I was witnessing
a phenomena not unlike the marketing of a new drug. GW Bush and
his cure-all message for what ails you. Colonel Tom woulda been
proud, son! Bush's America must take on the world and install
Democracy (read: Fundamentalist Christianity) in every corner
of the globe. "Freedom" to think the GW Bush way is
the legacy our hubristic leader wants to leave in world history.
And the acquired power of the United States of America is his
means of slinging his ego and religious bias around...like a drunken
bar fighter on any given Saturday night. The man is on a self-induced
high and needs an uprising of popular opinion spoken through the
media and on the streets, to bring him back to earth.
Plus he needs a good ass whoopin'!!! Eat some dust, cowboy!!
Richard...Michigan
Subject: "yeah, watch out iran, you're next!"
"oh yeah? you and what army?"
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: To The Bush Administration . . . It's Not About You
and Yours . . .
BuzzFlash,
Regarding an article in my town paper stating that "Attorney
General nominee Alberto Gonzales told the Senate that he would
like to extend the federal ban on assault weapons, which expired
in September." But, then went on to say, "I believe
the USA Patriot Act has greatly improved our nation's ability
to detect and prevent terrorist attacks," that was in response
to Congress that he wants them to get rid of a requirement that
would eliminate part of that Act this year.
I would like to know of the proof of his statement about how the
USA Patriot Act has improved our nation's safety. Of course, no
one ever has to back up what they say in the Bush administration.
He says that his brother is a SWAT officer in Houston (Bush's
Town) and that is why he favors the ban on assault rifles. He
worries about his brother's safety (paraphrasing).
As I have said before, people in the Bush administration, including
Bush, only think about themselves . . . they never consider this
Nation as a whole and they never consider their decisions to be
not just a part of their "jobs," but all about their
jobs . . . they are supposed to Serve the American people . .
. not themselves.
The only reason the Republicans would be against the ban would
be for the profits received from the gun manufacturers, which,
without knowing, I'm sure they are large Republican Party donors,
and sales to just about anyone, including our enemies. That wouldn't
worry Republicans because none of them or their families are in
the military. And, I doubt that Mr. Gonzales would really turn
back the clock on those rifles as Attorney General, anyway. How
can we believe anything said by anyone from the Bush administration?
Below, I listed two articles on a Google search, and when I went
to the NRA page, this article was not there.
NRA/GOP
Target Kerry on Guns (CBS News 4/19/04)
In his steady, serious monotone, Vice President Dick Cheney
told the National Rifle Association's annual meeting Saturday
that "John Kerry's approach to the Second Amendment has
been to regulate, regulate and regulate some more."
NRA-ILA:
In The News - Home |News | In The News Archives. Gonzales Supports
Gun Ban Wednesday, January 19, 2005.
Political Jabberwocky is all that the public will ever get out
of DC.
Thanks BuzzFlash,
Shirley Smith
Subject: Letter to the Editor - End of Tyranny?
Mr. Bush talks about an end to tyranny, but if he really wanted
to end tyranny - he would resign. That way senior citizens wouldn't
have to eat dog food so that the rich can get tax breaks. He uses
words like "expansion of freedom" to mean that we are
going to start more wars. The darkest places in that world may
be right here at home.
I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message!
Marc Perkel
San Francisco, CA.
Subject: why?????
Why the many should allow the few to dictate the rules? Are you
still as naive as to believe that our government is by and for
the people?
just asking
Jocelyn
Miami, Florida
Subject: Axis of Evil Doubles
BuzzFlash,
On an under reported story in May 2002, the Axis of Evil doubled
from 3 to 6 countries. It is only now getting coverage it deserves
because it was mentioned in Bush's second fake inauguration. Think
of it. Six countries now have WMD, ties to Al Qaeda, and were
involved in the 9-11 plot. And one of these world powers, Cuba,
is right next to our shores. We are less safe! If this had been
widely publicized before the election, Bush might have lost by
a wider margin. With a second term, will we soon have twelve?
US
expands 'axis of evil' (BBC)
Larry,
Maryland
Subject: Messiah Complex in the Oval Office
Hey Buzz,
The fact that George W. the Warrior Prince fancies himself to
be a spiritual man disgusts me and makes me feel sick to my stomach.
Granted, I don't find most Christians to be spiritual so much
as dogmatically religious, but I don't understand how he can claim
allegiance to any God, even the Christian one. He just radiates
a vile maliciousness that is even more disturbing in light of
his fierce religiosity and unrivaled stupidity. It is painfully
clear to anyone who has a thought not fed to them by the mainstream
media that his only concern is for himself, how much power he
can amass, and how many countries he can conquer. This former
cocaine addict turned Christian now clings to the fantasy that
he is a Warrior for God, a Messiah that all the sheep will blindly
follow as he decimates their enemy and fulfills Biblical prophecy
with the blood of our soldiers. Anyone else who believed this
would be sedated, strapped to a bed in the psych ward, and fed
a steady diet of psychotropic meds, but instead we crown him King?
We put the lives of our soldiers in his hands? What is that? Can't
they see that he is a Wolf among sheep? I know sheep are stupid
by nature but come on people, get a CLUE!
Patricia Schoenberger
Eden Prairie, MN
Subject: Hold the democratic party and the press responsible
for what is happening
No one can take the upper hand, unless the other party lets him/them
take it. Please let the timid democrats and the press know that
it is they who are responsible for what is happening today. Any
bully, thug or hooligan will do whatever he/they want, if there
was no one or nothing restraining them. Unless and until the democratic
party acts like a real opposition party, and is courageous (not
be afraid of losing), democracy is at stake. Perhaps, you should
give them lessons in courage. Keep up the good work. God bless,
Anoja
Subject: Is there no end to their greed?
They've been doing so many outrageous things over past few
years. I thought I was in an 'emotional dead zone' due
to emotional overload and therefore figured I was beyond feeling
incensed at their gall, but I was wrong. This one tears it.
They want to destroy our children for no other reason than to
put more money into the pockets of their friends and supporters.
Anyone who knows anything about these medications knows that
suicide can be one of the side effects, especially in children,
along with excessive weight gain, diabetes, high cholesterol,
and heart disease.
The love of money is the root of all evil. So true. These
people are truly evil!
Screening
a child's mind (Christian Science Monitor)
Should every child be tested for mental-health problems?
Although there are no present plans, a federal report stirs
fears the US will require it eventually.
Joyce
Tempe, AZ
Subject: Evil lurks
Buzz,
FuriousGeorge pledged to fight evil wherever it lurks. He
should look in his own closet.
TQ
Subject: Tucker Carlson on PBS
Hey BuzzFlash Folks,
You may already know this - but PBS has started a new program
with right wing mouthpiece Tucker Carlson as host. This link
takes you to it:
http://www.pbs.org/tuckercarlson/abouttucker/
Given the fact that PBS is one of the few remaining mass broadcast
outlets that maintains any sort of balanced outlook, this show
is just one more way that media is creeping right.
I think that all of us who support public TV need to write to
complain about promoting this blatantly biased idiot.
Eric Thompson
Galesville, WI
[BuzzFlash Note: Here's the "Feedback"
link.]
Subject: Iraq Oil
I would like to see an accounting for the 100 million dollars
a day in Iraq oil. Is there one? Is anyone keeping track of who
gets the money?
Gwenn McGrady
Subject: Reminder: Dow Jones DOWN over GWB's 1st Term
Dow Jones Industrial Averages:
Inauguration Day 2001
1/20/2001 (Saturday, market closed)
10587.59 (1/19/2001, Friday close)
Inauguration Day 2005
1/20/2005 close
10471.47
Summary: In four years of Bush misleadership, Republican Houses
of Representatives, and mostly Republican Senates, the bellwether
indicator of American financial strength LOST over 100 points.
Also of note, especially in the Republican environment to throw
Social Security to the "mercy" of the market, is that
(over time) stocks are expected to ADVANCE at about 10 PERCENT
PER YEAR. That's over 4,000 points in the Dow GWB owes us.
Keep hammerin',
Eddy
Isn’t it interesting how changes made by the administration or
excuses made by the administration always seem to start with.well
it’s post 911...things aren’t like they used to be. Seems like
there are no changes for the coronation...00PS…..inauguration.
They certainly didn’t think how things have changed since 911
when we planned that "happening."
Yes, it is post 911…since then we have: all the dead from Afghanistan,
Iraq, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, etc., hurricanes and floods, avalanches
and fires…so many unemployed and so many confused and anxious
senior citizens…BUT the American people would want him to have
his whing ding. Maybe so, but so elaborate? LET THEM EAT CAKE.
Phyllis
Subject: Next pres?
Dear Buzz,
Ok, I promised I wouldn't tune in to the Coronation, but I
did, just as the parade of fools started so I could see all
the protesters and cheer along with them. While the commentators,
whoever they were, were making comments that Giuliani and McCain
were almost sure to run for Pres in 08. The comment was made
that if McCain ran he might likely choose Jeb as a VP, since
Fla is a swing state. I feel that McCain would win, and the
Bush crowd would find something about McCain to impeach him,
why else would McCain suck up to Bush, when Bush and his thugs
slandered McCain, and McCain went politicking for the smirk
face........ Anyway, McCain would be out, and ol' Jebber the
Hut would slide right in to the oval office, and the same shit
continues throughout his term, with his brother's help. I know
this seems far fetched, but it is a thought. As far as Giuliani
is concerned, not a chance since the Kerik 'incident.' Did anyone
else hear this like I did, and what's your take on this??
A Loyal BuzzFan Forever!
Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska
Subject: Moving To The Center
I am really sick of persons who claim to be Democrats saying
that we need to move to the center. Has anyone ever asked them
what specifically does this mean? Does it mean that we should
not support a plan for health care, a plan to aid education,
a plan to protect the environment, a plan to raise the minimum
wage, a plan to support a woman's right to choose, and a plan
to insure individual rights?
If being a 'centrist' means something entirely different, what
in the hell does it mean? I notice Lieberman, a centrist, supports
Bush's war in Iraq. He was a leading supporter of relaxing the
accounting rules so that Arthur Andersen, and Enron became possible.
Senator Bayh takes money from drug companies. Zell Miller supported
the President in the last election. Frost, who wants to head
the Democratic Party, ran TV adds showing his support for Bush.
So when it is all said and done, it seems to me being a 'centrist'
means being a whore for the large corporations and repudiating
the roots of our party.
Why do we let the 'centrists' get away with saying let's move
to the middle? Make them say what in the hell they are really
in favor of.
Bob
Subject: liberty?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Does anyone else find the president's inaugural address as alarming
as I do? This is the quote that jumped out at me...
"The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends
on the success of liberty in other lands."
Considering the fragile state of our liberty here at home, and
the slim chances it has in other lands, given that just about
everyone in the world hates our policies, this statement sounds
to me more like a threat than a promise. And I can just hear
the explanation from the bushies now..."in order to bring
liberty to other lands, we have to bring order to our own."
It sounds to me like Bush is angling to remove our liberties
in the name of freedom in Iraq.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subject: Letter I just sent to Dianne Feinstein
What is it going to take for you to acknowledge your disastrous
lapse in judgment when you decided to vote to give "President"
Bush the authority to go to war in Iraq two years ago? Over
100,000 Iraqis have since died, while hundreds of thousands
(possibly millions) more have had their lives destroyed - all
at the hands of our own troops, who themselves were once innocent
kids full of potential. And the reasoning for going to war?
All lies. ALL DAMN LIES.
Meanwhile, a whole new generation of terrorists has been created;
not by Al Qaeda or Muslim fundamentalists or some shadowy figure
in Jordan, but by the United States. What do you suppose happens
when you take a normal, oppressed citizen who is just trying
to get by day-to-day, and turn them into someone who has nothing
left to lose? I'm sure you're smart enough to come up with the
answer to that question yourself.
Personally, I am ashamed that I voted for you twice. I am doubly
ashamed that I used to view you as gubernatorial or even presidential
material. If you ever hope to redeem yourself to your constituents,
you should publicly abjure your 2002 decision and issue a formal
letter of apology. If you're not willing to do that, then I
guess you're not really representing California Democrats anymore,
are you?
Good luck to you. Please send me your letter of apology at the
address listed below.
Best regards,
Joanna Curtis
Subject: It's Friday, ya' bastards! - A BuzzFlash Reader Call
for Action
Dear Fellow BuzzFlash Readers,
I would guess that, like me, many of you are listeners to The
Randi Rhodes Show from the Air America Radio Network. Well if
you live in southern California, it wasn't on the radio today.
Right before the show, the KCAA 1050AM host announced that due
to a number of listener complaints, it would not be heard today,
but would return Monday through Thursday. When I called to find
out what people could possibly be complaining about, they told
me that it was because of "the B word."
As some of you may know, Randi starts every Friday's show
by saying, "It's Friday, ya' bastards!" It's said
in a funny, good-natured way, and frankly it raises my spirits
as a reminder of the impending weekend. I pointed out to their
general manager that the word "bastard" can be heard
on regular network television and that it was EXTREMELY childish
to can a whole show because of that word. His response was that
it could jeopardize their license for "violating community
standards." I told him that I was part of the community
and that censorship violates MY standards, but he claimed I
was only a MINORITY of the community. However, he couldn't give
me any idea of how many actual complaints they had received,
or whether those complaints were of the American-Family-Council-form-letter
variety.
But he DID say that if they received an overwhelming response
to the contrary, they would bring it back on Fridays. I am writing
this to beg for anyone in their listening radius (or anyone
who may ever be) to call, write, email and fax them to let them
know that we will not stand for this immature censorship (contact
info below). Please help me show them that our community standards
place freedom of speech higher on the list than protecting our
poor little brains from the word "bastard." Remind
them that people can change the station if they don't like it,
and that we will be changing the station OURSELVES until the
show is returned.
I am sick to death of this ass-backwards, Puritanical way of
thinking that has invaded our culture. I firmly believe that
my community is NOT offended by that, but rather that a small,
childish, vocal group of people who are afraid of their own
minds and bodies are being allowed to control what the rest
of us get to see, hear, and read. Let's show them that adults
can be vocal too.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
KCAA 1050AM CONTACT INFO:
Mailing Address: 254
Carousel Mall, San Bernardino, CA 92401
Craig Schott
Redlands, CA
So where is osama bin laden, the guy responsible for killing
3000 of our people on 9-11? where is the anthrax terrorist?
randi kerry....no relation
Subject: how funny! :):):):)
Thursday i turned on the news and all the channels were full
of talking heads saying bush says what he means and means
what he says.......then i went shopping, came home and turned
on the news and saw all the talking heads trying to figure
out what bush's speech meant:):) they all seem to have a different
meaning. :):):) just thought it was funny. :):):)
A BuzzFlash Reader
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