Subject: RE: the "Fools for Christ" Scalia headline

I am a liberal and dislike Scalia's politics very much, but I also consider myself a Christian, one who is, at his best, a "fool for Christ." This phrase, from I Cor. 4:10, doesn't mean one should be a Dubya-like ignorant person in life; rather, it means that one should share his faith chiefly by example, by living against the grain of the world, if need be, in order to show one's faith. I like your site, but BuzzFlash shows a Dubya-like ignorance by suggesting that being a fool for Christ is to be a Republican idiot. I don't see it that way. Nor does Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton or Al Gore or the millions of other liberal Christians. Please wise up. Your ignorance will not cause me to become a Republican (that, for me, would be something like a sin), but you will cause me to stop visiting your site.

Bryan M.

Subject: Define the Rethugs!!

Dear Buzz,

Democrats need to define, rather than be defined by the Rethugs. More and more talk is being made of the pResident wanting to change Soc. Sec., because Social Security is going broke. Well we all know the bastard is lying!! He repeats this lie everywhere he goes and if this keeps up, Bush will get away with it, like he has everything else!

Democrats need to have a commercial stating that Soc Sec is NOT in danger of running out of money with HARD FACTS and ACCURATE FIGURES and the statement: "People lie (with a pic of GWB), . . . . .Numbers DON'T!" George Soros, we need your help NOW!

Just an idea, but I think it would work if we can get a commercial out now, and run it day and night and keep repeating it over and over and over again! You know what they say, if you say it enough times it must be true...well we can play this game too.

A Loyal BuzzFan Forever!

Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska

Subject: That disgusting sound you hear is George W. Bush sucking the life out of this country

Dear BuzzFlash:

Everyone is expressing their opinion about the intent and content of Bush’s inaugural speech but I believe the most overlooked and telling paragraph in Bush’s Inaugural address was this:

Believe me when I say, "You will never see a Bush of any gender risk their life in the defense or service of this country," they’re too busy trying to suck the life out of it.

Carolyn in Tennessee

Subject: Bush has no mandate for war! Democrats in the mainstream on Condoleezza Rice! Senate fireworks Tu/Wed!

I and many others are flooding the Senate with letters, faxes and emails opposing Bush’s nomination of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State. Here’s why:

• The war in Iraq is by far the worst and most disastrous mistake that the Bush regime has made, and Condoleezza Rice, whom George Bush has nominated for Secretary of State, has been responsible for conveying the false justifications for this war to the American people and to the Congress.

• We need a Secretary of State whose word we can trust, and who can be trusted by other countries. We furthermore need a Secretary of State who is committed to world peace. Condoleezza Rice does not meet that job description.

• Nearly 60% of the American people oppose the Bush regime's war in Iraq--of which Condoleezza Rice has been the chief spokesperson--and that figure is probably 70% to 80%, if not more, among Democrats (a consideration for Democratic Senators).

• The American people cannot continue to pay for these reckless and bloody policies, and we can no longer tolerate war crimes being committed in our name.

• Condoleezza Rice never answered Senator Boxer’s and Senator Kerry’s questions on the matter of misleading America into war. The interrogation will continue this Tuesday/Wednesday--the Democrats have scheduled 9 hours of debate on this matter.

• Thousands of Americans have been killed and wounded, and over 100,000 Iraqis have been killed, and many have been imprisoned and tortured--in a war based on falsehoods.

• The Iraq war also holds grave consequences for America's reputation as a just and conservative country for whom the use of a force is a last resort.

• In addition to the outrage of Iraq--a war that is hauntingly similar to Vietnam--the Bush regime is now spoiling for war in additional countries.

• A regime that holds power on the tenuous grounds of massive vote suppression against minority voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act, on the further tenuous grounds of a non-transparent election system that is controlled by partisans of the regime, and that has a majority of Americans opposing its war policy, would be well advised not to commit further arrogant acts such as nominating for Secretary of State a person whose lies have resulted in countless unnecessary deaths.

• Ms. Rice has also been less than candid about the failures of this administration to protect the U.S. from the 9/11 attack, and supports policies of completely unethical interference in the internal affairs of other countries, such as Haiti and Venezuela.

• The U.S. lacks a government that has the "consent of the governed." We should look to Bush donors’ control over our election system for the reason why.

• We are asking the Democrats in Congress, and any Republicans with a conscience, to show courage and leadership on this matter, and help to turn the country back from this perilous course.

Mary Pjerrou Huckaby
Elk, CA

Subject: Forget The Democrats!

Everyone keeps clamoring that the Democrats should do this or the Democrats should do that in the next election. My advice is forget the Democrats. Ralph was right, there is not a nickel's difference between them. Another thing, no one is talking about replacing the touch screen vote machines, they will wait until 6 months before the 2008 election and say there is not enough time to do anything now wait until 2012. Man! when will we wake up?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: JESUS GOD!

Jesus God! Barbara Boxer I love you! I'm a straight woman but love you so much I would marry you! You have the balls and guts of a bull elephant! I would crawl through fire ant hills with honey poured all over me to get to a polling booth to vote for you! My husband loves you more than he loves me! Pleassssse, run for president!

Kate in Tampa

Subject: gonzalass

Yeah sure, Gonzal'ass' never remembered trying to excuse the governor, of all people, from jury duty. I guess if I did something unusual for the governor of my state, people would just think I'm a little short on memory. It's bad enough that anyone will take this kind of crap on the street, our democratic representatives are going to take it in the Senate. So when the DNC comes to me again for a donation, since they're so used to it, I'll tell them to "eat shit"!!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Why is the US thumping the Bible?

Republican, Democrat, Right, Left, it doesn’t matter; this is a question for all of us. Is the United States thumping the Bible at the rest of the world?

The message is apparently coming across loud and clear internationally, yet it’s not a message we ought to be sending. It’s almost one of hypocrisy. Whether they listen to the newly re-elected President Bush give his inaugural speech, or listen to the missionaries claiming to be aid workers showing up in their refugee camps, again the message is coming across loud and clear. The United States is sending a very bad impression to the rest of the world, that our mission is Christian. From our preaching President, to what could be called a Holy War in Iraq, to the proselytizing of needy victims in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami’s...

I ask: Where in GOD’S name is the separation of church and state? At a time when our intentions are constantly being questioned around the world, I’m quite certain that a Christian mission is not one we ought to be sending. Not only is it coming from our so-called humanitarian aid workers but loud and clear from our Commander in Chief. I find it anomalous that today everyone is so shocked by the preacher-like words of President Bush. It can’t be because his message is new, because it’s not. And I don’t think it’s because they agree or necessarily disagree; but because time & time again the man seems to ignore the separation of church and state and comes across as sounding like his Presidency is actually one of missionary work.

Whether you are Christian or not, this is most certainly a horrible message to send from the leader of the free world, especially now. In the end I think it would be juvenile to believe that elected officials can somehow check their faith at the door of their offices. A person's faith makes up a lot of who they are as a living being, but I think it is just to, not only assume, but insist that, when addressing the public or public policy, it is certainly to be kept in check. There is the line that must not be crossed, period. Our nation, our public is not a Christian public, it’s a free republic.

Just ask the Jews, Muslims, Atheists, and dare I even say it, the gays of this country. If not, where’s their voice in this so-called land of freedom? Our elected officials are elected to govern this nation, not use their office for their own religious movement. To do so would make the United States guilty of living such a blatant hypocrisy.

The world hears us thumping; do you?

Madelyn Mae
Chicago, IL Region

Subject: Stand for something or fall for anything

Dear BuzzFlash Readers/Supporters:

Greetings from the Christian Progressive Liberal. I've posted the following on my weblog, "Get Rid of the DLC" and in light of suffering through a "coronation" and all the other madness, I've decided to post here on BuzzFlash as well. God bless...

In a day where it's convenient to go along to get along, many people fall for anything that comes along. Otherwise, how do you explain the thought process of 59 million people voting for a known liar whose walk with Jesus does NOT match his talk, as evidenced by his actions and his failed policies?

Why hasn't acknowledgement of lying about the reason for going to war in Iraq called for Bush's impeachment?

Why hasn't Rep. Bill Thomas' attempt to make it a racial and gender bias on who gets a Social Security check in their retirement, generated outrage and a recall election?

My fellow blogger at Daily Kos has a post that indicates a good deal of GOPers up for re-election in 2006 are beginning to distance themselves from Bush and his ill-advised policies in droves. Kos suggests that we "marry" these individuals to Bush, and his policies, when they run for re-election; that we should not allow them to hide out until November, 2006.

I'll go one better - any DLC-Democrat who signed off on any of Bush's policies and caught in the sheets with the GOP; we should "marry" them to their policies, and their ties to Bush with any policy that refutes the best interests of their constituency, for this is not true representation of their Districts. We should hold them accountable.

I wish our elected officials would stand for something. I know how difficult, how uncomfortable it is to take a stand for something of great importance, especially when no one wants to stand with you. As a Christian, I do it more often than I would like; especially being a pro-choice, liberal, progressive Christian. Many times, it's not comfortable, but at the end of the day, I sleep at night with the comfort of doing what is right, and hopefully, being the recipient of God's favor. While I don't support abortion as a means of birth control, or I recognize what the Bible says about homosexuality, nowhere in the Bible do you see Jesus going around being a bigot and beating up those who disagreed with Him.

The Christian Right these days would probably crucify Jesus again if He returned, just because He hung out with 12 guys, and it's not Rapture Time yet. That group consisted of a tax collector (Matthew), an HMO doctor (Luke), a Benedict Arnold (Peter), as well as a known thief (Judas). The Christian Right would probably go as far as to suggest that John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) is gay, because John loved Jesus; yes, they have become that drunk on the Kool-Aid. So when James Dobson is going after SpongeBob Square Pants because he believes SpongeBob is gay, I say Dr. Dobson and the Dumb-damentalists have waaay too much time on their hands, and are really testing their "perceived" power with GeeDubya's regaining the White House by launching such asinine and foolish attacks. Why aren't they calling the President out on his foreign policies and the war in Iraq being based on outright lies? Is it "Christian" to start wars with nations who have done nothing to you, except tell you you can't have their oil?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was brave enough to take a stand for civil rights and civil liberties; he went to jail; he marched, he was beaten - his house bombed and finally, he sacrificed his life. Yet, Dr. King was often alone, because other African-American Ministers - (especially the ones who wouldn't even allow King in their pulpits back in the day) did not have his back. Now these are the same ministers, who, some 40 years late, loudly proclaim Dr. King as a brave and honorable man, while benefiting from the fruits of Dr. King's labors - and conveniently avoiding paying the cost. If any of them has stepped to his widow, Coretta, I would hope she spit in their eye. However, knowing the grace that is Coretta Scott King, she probably gave them a free pass.

These are the same ministers toting Bush's water for a slice of that faith-based money pie. They will probably go the way of Armstrong Williams on the Money Train, when their congregations, many of whom are Social Security recipients, find out that Rev. Dr. GreedyGut and Bishop BMW sold them out for the faith-based filthy lucre.

The motto for this year is "Stand for Something or Fall For Anything." The "Fall For Anything" is generally the DLC theme song.

My name is Leutisha Stills. I am the Christian Progressive Liberal and I always approve these messages!

Subject: Torturing the Enemy

Sirs:

Putting some panties on the head of the enemy or allowing a dog to scare the hell out of an enemy does not rise to the level of 'torture.' Your articles are structured and written to lead your readers to the conclusion that we are committing acts of torture as severe as Saddam or the insurgents in Iraq so frequently perform. This is hardly the case and you know it. Next time you and your writers sit down to do a story denouncing the United States and its institutions, I suggest you download and view the videotapes of the be-heading of innocent people. Then you will truly know what torture is.

Stephen Tollefson

Subject: Remember When...

Remember when the republicans to a man and woman refused to vote for Clinton's tax bill stating that it would kill the economy? Remember when the republicans shut down the government and almost caused a constitutional crisis (something they are very good at doing, btw)? Remember when the republicans lambasted and criticized a sitting president while he was conducting foreign policy by bombing Yugoslavia (not something I necessarily agreed with then or now)?

Why, oh why, can't I see the democrats unite as a bloc and refuse en masse to vote for any of Bush's nominees? Why can't the democrats get together and have someone emerge as a whip who demands that the party vote the same way on every single issue that is dear to their constituents and against the republicans? There shouldn't be any one democrat who votes for that war criminal the prevaricator Condi Rice. There shouldn't be one democrat who votes for anything that Bush can turn around and use to show bipartisan support. There shouldn't be one stinking democrat who is permitted to call him or herself with that label who does vote for any of this administration's disingenuous attempts to erode the bedrock on which this society was built.

Any democrat who does side with the nazis running this government, and I use that term in the truest sense of craven, murderous, ideologues who seek nothing less than the complete destruction of our republic, should be expelled from the party and allowed to side with the republicans as a republican. Cut off the funding from the DNCC or the DNSC; let the turncoat approach his/her constituents hat in hand and explain why it was so important to vote against the interests of the United States and in his or her own self-interest.

The Liebermans, and Reids, and Pelosis, and Kerrys need to be shown the door with a footprint on their butts. Kerry might be introducing some legislation related to children's health care, but where was he when it counted? Lying on his back, legs in the air and smiling, conceding the most important election of this century to the idiot from Crawford and his criminal cabal. Time for some serious soul-searching, folks.

Jeb Bush is already making his play for the White House in 2008 by proposing that the federal government cede control of Medicare to the states. This will be a distraction from his brother's frontal assault on social security, but it demands a national response from the democrats. It calls out for someone in the democratic party in Washington to name this for what it is: An attempt to distract people in Florida (with its large senior citizen population) from his brother's attempt to derail social security while at the same time allowing the republican party to create another crisis that needs to be addressed. Just so happens that the crisis again involves a stitch in the social safety net.

Speaking of tearing the social safety net, someone needs to tell Bill Clinton that we don't really want him to run again. He put the first cut in the safety net by condemning millions of children to poverty, thanks to his welfare reform. No thank you Bubba, your politics suck worse than Monica and I won't swallow that load again.

Let the republicans be the ones who cut and paste the constitution to allow Arnold to run for president; the democrats should not be a part of amending the constitution. I don't want Clinton anywhere near the government ever again, Mr or Mrs. What he allowed to happen to the party and to the country thanks to his libido is inexcusable.

We need to send a clear message that the policies and representatives of the Democratic Leadership Council are moribund and that anyone pimping their line will be ostracized by democratic voters. Let's see someone with a set of cojones stand up in Congress and issue a challenge to these republican thieves. Throw down the gauntlet, for chrissakes. If it was good enough for Cheney to tell a senior democrat to go f**k himself, then it's good enough for a true representative of the democratic party to tell Cheney and his entire stable to go f**k themselves. And that includes the turncoat democrats who are only in it for the fashion.
 
Matt Carmody
Washingtonville, NY

Subject: Gonzales Lying Under Oath?
 
Gonzales lying under oath? It was worth impeachment for Clinton. Isn’t that what the Repubs said? High crimes and misdemeanors and such. Ethics? Hmmm.

["Did Gonzales get Bush off a DUI jury duty?" -- Reuters]

Jeff

Subject: rather odd (as sent to tv outlets)

I have noticed something odd. Fox News is basically the White House public relations department, they constantly attack all the other networks for being biased while they (Fox) get their scripts from the White House. Fox verbally beats the hell out of news people and the other networks. The other networks always take the high road and never say anything. Why? God knows it doesn't help you. Better grow up, you know what they say, nice guys finish last, don't take a knife to a gun fight.

Karen Massey
SC

Subject: Fwd: A reply from Tony Blankley

Dear Buzz,

Just on a lark I sent this sarcastic message to Tony Blankley after seeing your note on his calling for treason charges for Sy Hersh,

Cheers,

Pablo

Subject: redford called o'reilly a liar!


Wow....did ya see it? Robert Redford called Bill O'Reilly a liar! I loved it! It was on Hard Ball!

ss

[BuzzFlash Note: He called him a "barking dog." Link to the show: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/.]

Subject: "the oil factor" a new documentary

I am out of work and have time for some activism. I went to see a new documentary called "The Oil Factor." The people that made the movie were there and it was new. I learned things I did not know before I saw it. I recommend it.

The movie is not paid for and they owe money for the stock footage they obtained from news sources. The event was held at Frank Dorrel's house. He wrote "Addicted to War," a book about war for younger people.

URL: http://www.peaceproject.com/books/dvd19.htm

Ken H.
Los Angeles, CA

Subject: Allawi and "The others"

It has come to my attention the Free and Fair elections in Iraq are a tad unbalanced!!!!! Here is the campaign photo for "the others, who cannot display either their picture or name for fear of being assassinated."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40742000/jpg/_40742103_ad6_300.jpg

Here is the campaign pic for Allawi, who of course has full US military protection.

http://hosted.ap.org/photos/A/ANS10201240950-big.jpg

Can you spot the difference?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: John McCain what a Maverick

I just saw McCain on the Sunday talk circuit. For a long time I came to believe that his name was John "he's such a maverick" McCain. The fact that the mainstream media can call him a Maverick is just another example of how out of touch with reality they are. McCain is a media creation pure and simply. I love the fact that McCain is back out there as a foreign policy critic, after Bush is safely elected and he can stop whoring for the president.

I give the man credit he was smart enough to realize how elections are decided in this country and realized it's better to be installed as a senator, and mouth the words of the monied elite, than it is to drive a cab. And as for the big media outlets they wouldn't know a maverick if they fell over them and chances are they wouldn't put them on their stations anyway.

Gary (a liberal who doesn't believe a word the liberal media says)
Medford, MA

Subject: Where do you dump the body?

Where do you dump the body? That is the first problem after a homicide. I once read of one ingenious murderer who killed his wife and realized that as long as he had control of the body, no one would accidentally find the corpse, and that crime would not be found out. So he took the body and moved to another state and continued with his life as if nothing happened. He continued to renew her magazine subscriptions, answered letters from relatives, opened a new bank account, cashed her social security checks, paid her taxes, all to make it appear that everything was normal and to hide the fact his wife was murdered in a calculated act of spousal betrayal. He kept the corpse in the attic, all dressed up and sitting in a chair with religious music playing on that radio. He would even talk to her lifeless body so to keep his spirits up and maintain the psychological frame of mind necessary to not let his behavior betray the secret that she was dead.

In this day on January 20, 2005, the deceased is Democracy, which was murdered by the current Republican administration on the night of November 2, 2004 in a fatal fraudulent election. Now the body has to be hidden to conceal the homicide. The current government has decided that the best way to conceal the homicide is to pretend that the victim is still alive and convince everyone else that Democracy is alive. So the government and its co-conspirator, the mass media talking head personalities, have decided to have a birthday party in Democracy’s honor. The invitations have been sent out, limousines are out in force, an army of relatives are singing the praise of dear Mrs. Democracy and what a great person she is. There is music, balloons, confetti, dancers, fireworks, speeches, and parades! How could anyone doubt that she isn’t alive?

But in all the excitement nobody actually asked to see Mrs. Democracy. We just get a written message conveying to us that everything is wonderful, and thank you so much for your attending the party and for all the nice things said about Lady Democracy. And we get to see an old video of her vacationing in Florida last year.

The problem that the husband who killed his wife had, however, is the body began to rot. It rotted, and rotted, and rotted, and started soaking through the carpet, and then the floor, then to the room below. Flies in the millions, big green flies, filled the attic until the attic windows turned a florescent metallic green as millions of flies covered the windows blocking out the sunlight. Maggots emerged in moving white masses, gorging the body cavities until it began to jerk and squirm, looking like it was alive again. But this was only a discomfort for the husband living in the house. Soon a stench filled the house and started waffling out into the community with a faint odor that at first only the neighborhood dogs noticed, causing them to howl and bark. Nobody in the neighborhood could figure out what was wrong so the dogs were tied up and ordered to stop barking. And then one day, one hot day, while the neighborhood families sat down to dinner, it happened. The ripe stench of rotting flesh began to seep out of the house; the body that had been concealed in the attic could stay there no more. The smell of rotting flesh overwhelmed the entire community and people started to gag and vomit. The source of this nauseating putrid stench was unmistakable to everyone.

Do you smell it yet?

Dan Williams
Concord, Ca.

Subject: sacrificing children

I was reading Cindy Sheehan's article on the sacrificing of children to Bush's war when I thought that in a nation that defines itself by its religiosity, a good strong visual against the sacrifice of children in wartimes would be to hold a rally or demonstration using the biblical direction to Job to sacrifice his son. The performance of however many (the more the better) anti-war mothers and fathers pretending to sacrifice their white shrouded children, as in biblical times, upon stone altars would certainly create some controversy, no? It would be a visual emphasis to the pain suffered by all those parents who have had their children sacrificed to this unilateral and unjust war in Iraq and any others to follow.

My heart cries out every time I hear that one more human (human, as in every person regardless of nationality) has died as a consequence of the actions of an administration that has most of its leaders blissfully ignorant of the physically true and real visuals of war.

I am not an American, but I am certainly aware of the political machinations of many countries. I read. I also know that Bush is pressuring our country to accept the failed missile defence thing that most Canadians reject. That is, unless they follow and support our Canadian version of Bush; our minority leader, Steven Harper, [he of the original Reform (Deformed) Party, then renamed the Alliance (Alien) Party, now presently, the New Conservative (translation: neo-con) Party: the bland jerk party], who would take away as many of our freedoms as Bush has yours. He wanted us to join you and send our children, too, but I and many other women wrote our Prime Minister saying that we did not want our children to die. Not to say that we had an effect at all since Chretien, then Prime Minister of Canada, would not go against the United Nations, much to the relief of us mothers.

Though neither of my children are in the military, the thought of them dying in an obviously trumped up war was abhorrent! That so many mothers in the States are losing their children, as are mothers in Iraq and elsewhere, is reprehensible! War is not the answer and we all must band worldwide to stop wars everywhere and for whatever reason.

Go Cindy, go! Hold those accountable to their actions, bring them to justice. The world needs peace and tolerance and less consumerism (oil). People deserve to live and to let others live.

In all sincerity,

Marie-France
Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Subject: Hawaii soldier killed in Iraq (The Hawaii Channel)

I saw someone weeping at UH today and heard she'd lost a friend in Iraq. "A victim of GWBush," as a friend said to me.

Susan

Subject: Bayh and Social Security

This is a copy of the email I sent to Bayh of Indiana:

A BuzzFlash Reader
Austin

Subject: In case anyone wonders WHY US finally admitted that 23 tried mass suicide

It's because the Guantanamo Brits, whose release was announced a month or so ago, are now really being released...and they...talk...ENGLISH!! Not that the US government has turned to truth, just to self preservation.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Re: Gold Star Families and The Selling of Liberty and Freedom:

All I can say is that I'm surprised I can stay awake.

This coddling of rich Republicans and rich Saudi Arabians, the sacrifice of the young working class heroes and heroines and the tears pouring out of their loved ones...

Where the f**k is the conscience of this administration? Two years later, it's "no weapons," and soldiers and Iraqi civilians are still DYING????

Lisa in Boston

Subject: Our Founding Fathers Left Us Instructions

First of all, I'm quite perplexed about the lack of action on the part of all the American people that are decrying the Bush regime. Our Founding Fathers did leave us instructions on what to do in the event that this unfortunate turn of events occurred. I'll just repeat the pertinent parts of these instructions here, but to read all of them, see the link following this. READ CAREFULLY!!!

So what are we, the Free People, waiting for???? The other shoe to drop? Let's get this over with. To see this document in its entirety, go to http://www.constitution.org/...

A Patriot and a BuzzFlash Reader

Subject : Please stop appearing on FOX "News"

I suggest asking Dems to stop making appearances on FOX "news" stations. Every time I turn on FOX and see a Democrat they are being put on the defensive and used as a punching bag. In addition, their appearance on this network only lends credibility to their claims of being a source for news. This network is far from a source of news but more of a propaganda tool of the far right. This weekend I saw Dianne Feinstein ready to sell out the party after being asked a couple of leading questions by Chris Wallace. Stop appearing on this network, let them become exactly what they want to be. A right wing tool. Maybe then people will realize what a fraud this news network really is and tune out.

Boycott FOX!!! DEAN FOR DNC!!!

A BuzzFlash Reader
St. Louis, MO

Subject: Bush to back anti-choice measures with doublespeak

Bush in the Wash Times today on anti-choice bills:

I guess that doesn't go for children once they're born in Bushworld.

M. F. Sterling-Golden

Subject: Hypocrites

Dear Buzz,

Watching C-SPAN 2, waiting for the Rice hearings, listening to Sen. Bill Frist, I'm ready to throw up!! Frist going on about Condi's qualifications to serve as Sec. of State. How she will protect us from terrorism, how she will lead, blah, blah, blah,and all the other shit heads getting up on their soap box touting the 'wonderfulness' of Dr. Rice, and how she's "one of our best." God I shudder to think of what the worse ones are if they think Condi's the cat's meow!! WHAT A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES!!!! HOW MUCH MORE DO WE HAVE TO TAKE?? GREAT! Saddam is gone, and WHY are we still there in Iraq?? Meanwhile...Osama Bin Laden is still running around! I can't take this sham of a government anymore, I'm out of here, this country is in a fascist state, and it could go on for years to come...I don't think I have that long to live for this bullshit!

A Loyal BuzzFan Forever!

Sharon Carlton
Bellevue, Nebraska

Subject: Get Busy

The time for active displays of dissent are fast approaching. People...this country is being shaped into something out of the fascist’s handbook…and we are gonna feel the repression in a big way if we don’t get busy. Each one of us needs to spend an hour a day contacting our government officials by phone, fax, mail and e-mail until they are deluged with the will of the progressive people and are energized toward taking back this America we all know and love. What we have now and will have in the near future is frightening. Let's get busy.

Richard Wagner
Saginaw, Michigan

Subject: Media Plays Dirty Pool

Subject: Charges Filed in Election Day Tire Slashing, from AP News

http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=65048

Here is a clear example of media bias: Seems some of the young Kerry people got the bright idea to slash tires on 20 vans rented by Republicans to take Bush voters to the polls on election day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Imagine that... young democrats behaving like republican Brown shirts! And to think that one of the culprits is the son of a US Representative Democrat. Another culprit is the son of a former Milwaukee democrat Mayor. Oh my, this is unacceptable chicanery!

How long did it take the media to point out that the crowd that descended on the Gore/Bush vote recount in FL, was rounded up and sent by US Rep. Tom DeLay? We found out through BuzzFlash. If the rest of America read about the DeLay tactic [at all] it was extremely scant. Today's papers are chuck full of the tire slashing episode...the media is foaming at the mouth over it. Did the papers report on the republicans jamming democrat phone lines on this past election day? Did they report the republicans calling homes in OH, telling the residents their polling place had changed, or that voting would take place a day after the election...campus registrations from democrats thrown in the can? Do you see reports of republican representatives and family members caught red-handed in negative situations reported? If you do, the media conveniently omits any association with the republican party. You have to Google the Rep. to find out that he/she is a republican. I have been watching it for a long time. Not so with Dems. The media puts the full info. up front when a Dem is linked and the tire slashing reports are indicative, classic, examples.

Think about it. We are but a percentage of Americans who get most of our news from BuzzFlash and a few other internet sites. What about the rest of the nation? Simply put, the rest of the nation is in the dark. Personally, I hold the US media co-responsible for the free-fall of our nation. They are knowingly guilty of being accessories to the crimes of this administration through [intentional omissions] of anything negative about the republican party or their president.

Congresswoman son among those charged with slashing GOP tires on Election Day (AP/Boston Herald)

Cathy

Subject: A Thank-You Letter to the White House


Dear Mr. President: For the past 2-1/2 months I've been part of a collective effort to prove that your election on Nov. 2 was fraudulent, and indeed that your election in 2000 was also. I'm not one of your supporters, needless to say. I stood among the protestors on Pennsylvania Avenue as your limousine sped by at about 30 m.p.h. on Jan. 20, holding a sign aloft that read, "NOV. 2---WORSE THAN WATERGATE."

Imagine my surprise, then, to receive (on Jan. 24) an invitation to your inauguration. Included in the envelope was a solicitation for "Inaugural Collectibles," including a "Presidential Coaster Set," a "Lead Crystal Ice Bucket & Champagne Flute Set," and an "Inauguration Key Chain."

Since this generous invite arrived four days after-the-fact, and because you don't brook dissent very well, I know it can't be that you wanted my company on your big day. So from the choices provided below, please select the reason that comes closest to explaining why this invitation has been sent to me.

1) It was a polite way of saying, "You're under surveillance."

2) You confused me with the Robert Mills who designed the Washington Monument.

3) You read my book, "It Didn't Happen the Way You Think," and thought it was about weapons of mass destruction.

4) Karl Rove secretly owns the company that manufactures the memorabilia offered for sale.

5) Tsunami victims have no use for crystal ice buckets.

Respectfully yours,

Robert Lockwood Mills, author/historian

Subject: Contributor Submission

This is in response to Billie Wolf, who wrote that John Kerry did everything possible from behind the scenes to overturn the fraudulent election. Ms. Wolf is correct that much of the evidence was circumstantial and statistical, and that if Kerry had offered it in the context of a protest, the opposing side would have countered his experts' testimonies with dishonest rebuttals.

But that's exactly why Kerry should have fought the fight! I could not disagree more with Ms. Wolf that Kerry did the prudent thing. Yes, Karl Rove would have had "experts" available to rebut people like Professor Freeman of the University of Pennsylvania. But the media would have been obliged to cover the debate, instead of dismissing it as the imaginings of a handful of "conspiracy theorists." A few honest reporters would have written stories with headlines like, "Professor Says Odds Against All Anomalies Favoring Bush 250 Million to One," and "Reports Reveal a Heavy Preponderance of Flipped Votes Favored Bush." That would have attracted the attention of fair-minded people everywhere, many of whom have become jaded about claims of election fraud since 2000.

Karl Rove is clever and ruthless. But he can't overrule the laws of probability. Republican diehards would have fought tooth and nail, but minds would have been changed and the truth would have come out sooner than otherwise. Whatever accelerates the spread of truth is worthwhile, albeit often impolitic in the short run; but rather than heeding that precept, John Kerry, a politician, took off for Iraq and left Barbara Boxer and Stephanie Tubbs Jones to fight the battle in his stead on Jan. 6.

By so doing, he permitted a second consecutive presidential election to be stolen. That isn't prudence.

Robert Lockwood Mills
Monroe, CT

Subject: "It" is tyranny and I will never "get over 'it'"!!!

After the debacle or deliberately diabolical use of WMD’s and ties to 9/11 as the justification for racing to war in Iraq, did anyone expect him to come out with anything he might have to explain later?

Karl Rove is no idiot. Spreading “freedom and liberty” is a lot nobler sounding than forced “nation-building and political manipulation,” which IS what they are doing. He did say we wouldn’t be nation-building back in 2000, didn't he?

Anyone who thinks that Iraqis have any say, whatsoever, in the outcome of their own election needs to clean their rose-colored glasses and refrain from stopping to smell too many poppies. Allawi will be elected, or else!

Only the idiots, and I will not be apologizing for calling them idiots because they are idiots, who voted for Bush, no matter their justification for doing so, have no idea what Bush’s references to “freedom and liberty” mean. They think it has to do with religious freedom.

To Bush it means “freedom and liberty” to do whatever he wants and he doesn’t care how many of your kids get killed in the process. Five more kids died today, but they won’t be getting purple hearts because their vehicle capsized in a river while they were on patrol, and not being shot at.

The rest of the world knows what Bush means and it is delivered with “shock and awe.” I heard a really sad poem, written by a GI in Iraq. He is still trying to convince himself that he was sent to free people and he doesn’t understand why Iraqis are trying to kill him. They can’t kill Bush, that’s why.

Iraqis know why the soldier is there. He has to say he is a liberator because referring to himself as a tool of unbridled greed is unthinkable. The same is true of the people of the USA. When they realize their children are pawns, they will rise up and stop this bloody mess. I hope they will.

Anyone who thinks the US is safer today is being suicidally optimistic. There is absolutely nothing that will give Bush’s “freedom and liberty” juggernaut more fuel than another hit on US soil. The only way we will be saved is if bin Laden is smarter than Bush, which he is.

Since bin Laden goaded Bush into attacking, to further his plans, it is doubtful that the wily guy will allow Bush to goad him into doing anything stupid. I don’t think bin Laden wants to rule the world, as Bush does, I think he just wants Bush not to rule his part of the world.

I’ll admit to not being an expert, but that is the way I see it. If Bush really wants to end tyranny, getting the hell out of DC, permanently, and taking the neocons with him, would be a big first step.

Not over “it”, and not going to get over “it,” as long as kids are still dying because of “it,” so don’t suggest getting over “it”!!!!!! The meaning of “it” is tyranny.

Karen Webb
Moore, OK

Subject: Can Peter Finn

The Washington Post’s Peter Finn deserves to be out of a job.

In July 2003, Finn wrote a long front page article in which he recounted the story of an Iraqi woman named Jumana Hanna. Hanna claimed to have been imprisoned for years, and tortured by Uday Hussein’s goons; she gave tips to the Coalition on Iraqi officials, alleged torturers, who were then imprisoned; she was flown out of Iraq on the government’s dime, and began a luxurious new life in Northern California.

She was also a liar, but the incompetent Finn didn’t interview anyone outside of her immediate family; if he had gone beyond the most obviously biased sources, maybe he would have got a clue. Instead he handed the Bush administration a human interest story that Paul Wolfowitz served up as justification for the war, though there was no more truth to it than there was to the myth of W.M.D.s.

Here are some things Finn did not discover for himself: 1. Hanna’s imprisonment was not at all what the Post wrote: her mother, embarrassed that her daughter was working as a prostitute, asked the police to teach her a lesson and briefly throw her into prison. 2. There was no bodily evidence of the torture Hanna claimed to have undergone; this was confirmed by a respected Baghdad physician and American doctors. 3. Hanna’s husband, contrary to her (Hanna’s) claims, was never killed. Finn said his body had been handed to Hanna through prison gates “like a piece of butcher’s meat.” 4. There was never an Iraqi law that forbade the inter-marriage of Indians and non-nationals; Hanna claimed that such a law had been the impetus for her imprisonment (her husband, she claimed, was Indian).

The entire story was a piece of trumped-up propaganda, but the Washington Post never imagined that that might be the case. The exposure of Hanna – but more than that, of Finn’s shoddy reporting – was made by Sara Solovitch, a freelance reporter who, in the January issue of Esquire magazine, wrote an exhaustively detailed report that traced the unraveling of Hanna’s story. Solovitch revealed the truth of Hanna’s brief internment, pointed out that there was no Iraqi law barring Iraqi-Indian marriages, and reported the claims of Hanna’s family and friends that the husband was alive. (The only real flaw in her story was that she failed to bring across the sheer absurdity of a seasoned reporter like Finn falling for the fabrications of a prostitute, without showing a trace of skepticism).

After a month during which the Post refused to budge on its story (when I wrote a letter of complaint to ombudsman Michael Getler, he told me that “what [Hanna] told the Post has been verified and supported in a reasonable fashion”), the newspaper finally published a retraction – on page A18 (the original piece of propaganda ran on 1A). Solovitch’s name was barely mentioned, despite the fact that Esquire’s story exclusively led to the uncovering of Hanna’s fraud. Outrageously, Peter Finn wrote and researched the new report – a flagrant violation of basic journalistic practice. (I’m sure he had no interest in spinning the story of how his original article came about). He confirmed Esquire’s report that Hanna’s husband was alive and presented the discovery as his own. And thus, in a 1/21 piece of non-journalism by Edward Wyatt in the New York Times, Finn was given credit for this revelation – along with other discoveries that should have been accredited entirely to Esquire. Now, the “Go Finn” version of the story is being reiterated in an Associated Press article whose reporter doesn’t even seem to have read the Esquire story.

What is unforgivable about Peter Finn’s actions is not that his original article about Jumana Hanna was a piece of pro-war propaganda based on threadbare research. It’s not that he himself wrote the retraction. No. It’s that, trying to save face, he’s refused to admit that he was hoodwinked. He published a piece of fiction worthy of Jayson Blair or Janet Cooke, and his short story was seized by the Bush administration and used for the purpose of justifying the war in Iraq. Not only have Finn and the Post failed to apologize for this debacle, they’ve managed a tricky feat of journalistic legerdemain – recasting themselves as investigators of a news story, their reporting work running parallel to Esquire’s. The very idea that they would try to use this failure to bolster their credibility is absurd.

When Gary Webb failed to line up all his ducks for his famous series on cocaine and the CIA, the Post and the Times took out their daggers to shred his reputation – even though Webb was onto something important. When Blair and Cooke fabricated stories, they were attacked – and dumped. But Finn has been treated with kid gloves by his elite brethren at the Times and seems, incredibly, to be turning his incompetent reporting into a self-credit.

The Washington Post should apologize to its readers and give Peter Finn the pink slip.

Pete Martinez

[BuzzFlash Note: Apparently, the Washington Post finally got the message from this BuzzFlash Reader.   The Ombudsman was forced to write a limp mea culpa on Sunday, January 23 of this year: A Powerful Tale Unravels (Michael Getler/Washington Post).]

Subject : Joe "Krell Miller" Lieberman

As a resident of Connecticut and life long Democrat my two biggest disappointments with government in my state have been Joe "Krell Miller" Lieberman's continued support of Bush and his henchman's actions regarding Iraq and that anyone would even consider naming a road for Bush after he denied, by omission, being born here. Lieberman's latest support of Condoleezza Rice to"show unity" is just one such piece of treachery in a long list of actions by this so called Democrat. It is a disgrace that he even has the nerve to call himself a Democrat, let alone that he ever thought of himself as presidential material! Open your eyes Joe and remember where you came from or do a complete, "Little Dubya" and tell the world you were raised in Midland, Texas and years later mention as an afterthought that you were born in Connecticut!

A BuzzFlash Reader
Waterford, CT

Subject: Washington Post = Pravda? (Response to A Powerful Tale Unravels):

Mr. Getler:

With regard to your recent column, "A Powerful Tale Unravels," I just sent the below to the Letters Department. Here's a copy for your information. It would be great to know how many other false tales - which had the effect of shoring up support for Bu$h's illegal war(s) - the Post has printed, either unknowingly or otherwise. And how many of those found out had a retraction buried on page 18-A?

Why do distorted/false stories get blasted on page 1, but retractions quietly buried? Could it be that the media doesn't really want to alter a perception once firmly and successfully planted?

Carolyn Gray

Subject: Thank you

When I read your mailbag, I truly feel I'm not alone. I have watched in horrified fascination as Bush continues to wreak havoc here at home and abroad morphing our society into some kind of George Orwellian travesty. His version of Freedom and Democracy translates into "kill em all, let God sort em out." I hope, earnestly that every American will simply turn their Back on this arrogant, egomaniac who has absolutely NO right to be doing what he's doing. The rest of the world sees very clearly what's going on. The horror of Nazi Germany is not that long ago. They want no part of it. Please Americans everywhere. Stop paying your taxes until the govt. can be trusted with your money. Everywhere, plant your own vegetable garden, erect a windmill, go solar, buy some chickens and livestock, dig a well. Become as self and as independent as possible from the current fascist regime. SHUT CORPORATE AMERICA DOWN. Start a home business suited to your talents and skills.You and your neighbor may have had your jobs shipped overseas but at least you and your families won't starve.

An avid BuzzFlash supporter.
Support independent radio and media. It's soooo important right now.

Subject: Social Security Fixed Fairly For All ....

President Bush's private personal savings account plan for Social Security endangers the financial security of America's retirement, and transfers hard-earned money to brokers and financial managers. There is a simple solution that Congress seems to be ignoring: Eliminate the cap on the Social Security tax. Let the $100,000,000, the $1,000,000, the $100,000, and the $10,000 earner all pay the same percentage of income into social security. Wouldn't this simple fix guarantee the security of Social Security forever? Shouldn't this idea be at the top of the conversation. Shouldn't Congress "save or reform" Social Security in a way that serves the interests of hard-working Americans, and stop extending extra privileges to the rich? Why is no one suggesting this obvious idea ?

A BuzzFlash Reader
Roxton, Texas

Subject: Denver Cop threatens girl for F**k Bush bumper sticker

Here's an amusing story of over-zealous policing.

Sticker stuck in cop's craw (Rocky Mountain News)

A BuzzFlash Reader
Denver, CO

Subject: interesting statistics

If you go to this web page, you'll see statistics on the percentages of disability cases that are won and lost. What's interesting is that the people who live in the poorest states are the ones who get denied on their disability claims the most. And what's ironic about that is this: these same people voted for bush, the same bush who is trying to cripple the social security system (which, inevitably, will affect benefits for the disabled, too). the link is:

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/disability-resources-index.html

A BuzzFlash Reader