Subject: 9 Billion Questions - 8 Million Answers?

Let's see now ... Nine-billion dollars is missing in Iraq. Bush really, really ... REALLY wanted a respectable voter turnout in Iraq. Eight million Iraqis go to the polls. Hmm ... how many do you suppose might risk running the gauntlet for a thousand bucks? Just wondering.

Bob Regl
Hattiesburg, MS

Subject: I'll Huff And Puff And Blow Your House Down!

Anyone watching their television this morning saw hundreds of thousands of protesters on the streets in support of Syria, many more then the smaller demonstrations for Syria to leave Lebanon. Though the media defines the action as a “counter-protest,” with more people demonstrating for Syria than against Syria, maybe the opposition should be described as a “counter-protest!” As the “winds of change” shifted back in opposition to Bush, Mr. Bush was in Washington, D.C. at the National Defense University, huffing and puffing and trying to blow the Syrian House down! As he bellowed about their freedom and issued warnings to all dictators and tyrants, the Lebanese were on their streets calling him one.

We have learned the lesson well, that not all is at it appears and how Bush bends the facts to suit his own purposes {WMDS}. Perhaps we should use a modicum of caution before we agree to “ resounding success.” Small changes to “go with the flow” and avoid repercussions have been made from within the internal politics of some countries. Appearances can be deceiving. Mr. Bush, himself, has proven time and time again that there are many “deceptions to the rule!”

So let’s not conclude these changes are because of Bush leadership, or SOLID, because the appearance of change could still be a cheap façade that will crumble as the winds of change shift in different directions. Time is the Master of Change! It is obvious that Mr. Bush is using the withdrawal of Syrian troops as his excuse to escalate his so-called march to Democracy. Maybe he should butt out and let these countries decide their own fate, or “IS HE GOD YET?”

Susan Carr
Tucson, AZ

Subject: Bankruptcy And Fiscal Responsibility

I just sent this letter to my (Republican) Senators about their support of the bankruptcy bill. I think that they ask people in bankruptcy to do things that they are not willing to do with the deficits they are responsible for. I urge you to make this connection with your Republican legislators.

Anne Filiaci
Chapel Hill, NC

Subject: Re: Giuliana Sgrena

Hello fellow Buzzers:

Imagine being held hostage (though reasonably well treated) by the Iraqi freedom fighters, then released, then nearly killed by American forces while on the way to the airport. This is irony in its ugliest form. Did I correctly read that more than 400 rounds were fired into their vehicle? Wouldn't that be considered overkill (sorry for the choice of term)? Perhaps Sgrena knew too much about Falluja. Perhaps she wrote for the wrong publication. Perhaps what she has to say regarding Falluja is not meant to be known. Will a straight answer ever evolve from this incident and be revealed? Not likely.

While reading of this absurd episode, I noticed that the ambassador to Italy is none other than Mel Sembler. I was surprised to see his name pop up. Thought the Aussies were still putting up with his bullshit. For those of you not aware of who this man is, here we go.

For starters, he and his lovely and fragrant wife Betty were the founders of a wonderful, lawsuit-ridden drug-treatment program known as Straight Inc., amongst others. For those of you not familiar with my rantings, I am being purposely caustic here.

Mel is also one of the people responsible for the prevalence of Shopping Malls throughout the U.S.A., and Canada. He was the former president of the Intl. Council of Shopping Centers. Now, I am only going by Canada's standards here, but, the shopping mall has definitely eroded the core of most communities. And by this I mean the downtown areas of most small towns. Mel and his wife Betty are also serious fundraisers and contributors to both Bush Adms. No surprise here eh?

To get a feel for what these people were up to in the 80's and 90's, please take a look at these sites: rickross.com and trebach.org They attempted to set this shit up here, but this crap doesn't fly well in Canada. It appears that everyone involved with the Busheviks has a terrible stain on their auras, and it seems every name I do a search on, turns up some form of impropriety. I challenge any of the Buzzers out there to give me the name of even one person in the present Bush Adm. who is not tainted in some form or other. There must be at least a few. I can't find em'. This bunch just continues to amaze me with their fascist bullshit. And what further amazes me, is that a large % of your population supports these jerks. Though obviously not the good folks @ BuzzFlash.

The Semblers are by and large just another facet of the flawed jewel that has taken root on Pennsylvania Ave. Enough for now. May we all Buzz with the effort to cast these people out, and back into the hell from whence they slithered. Keep up the good work folks. Later,

The Angry Nova Scotian
Tony Gouchie

Subject: sooooooooo intimidated

we believe the media is sooo intimidated by the right wing and fox news that they are terrified of being on the receiving end of that venom, so they all lean to the right on purpose to avoid being dan rathered by the right. even our republican friends now laugh at the idea that the media has a left bias.

randi, renee and liz
madison, wi

Subject: Potential BBC Buyers

In your article about the BBC being sold, I noticed further down that one of the three potential buyers was the Carlyle Group.

Betsy

[BuzzFlash Note: As the Sydney Morning Herald notes, the Carlyle Group is "a US buyout firm with powerful White House connections ... US President George Bush was a director of the Carlyle Group in the early 1990s and George Bush snr was a senior adviser to the Asia advisory board from April 1998 to October 2003. The group was co-founded by former presidential aide and lawyer David Rubenstein." And, Carlyle's Senior Counselor (lawyer) Jim Baker announced Monday he soon will end his 12-year stint with the firm.]

Subject: How To Build A Legacy!

How will history record this period of time? The Bush-Rove political Machine is writing the Bush legacy from its point of view by and at the same time: Compare George W. Bush to Ronald Reagan, and Franklin D. Roosevelt despite a much different viewpoint by the former Presidents’ families! Quickly declare success in the Bush Doctrine before the outcome has been completed and NEVER show dissenting opinions or admit tainted results! Invade Sovereign nations and interfere in their government while proclaiming freedom and Democracy for all! Criticize all tyrants and dictators as you replace them. Using Falsehoods to start an unjustified war, omitting any dissenting opinions and lying to the American public in any war action criticized or questioned by opponents. Send a plethora of old retired military figures out to defend your viewpoint! Despite denials promote the one-party rule and divide, not unite, the political parties and the country! You can always find A Zell or a Joe to see it your way!

Social programs that have provided protection for Americans must go, take the first baby steps to get rid of them or at least rewrite them in the Bush image! Restrict the free flow of information, and influence government agencies to omit any unfavorable results showing ineptness in the Administration. Hide Henry Waxman! Get rid of all whistle blowers and verbally fire at will at anyone opposing the Administration’s viewpoint Sibel Edmonds, Paul O’Neill, Max Cleland, and Richard Clarke, and others of their ilk, and oh yes, Barbara Boxer is verboten!

Leave out the cost of war and any other costs that would make an impact and be disputed when proposing the new budget. Protect large contributors and corporations and the rich at any cost, make sure they receive the benefits. Don’t mention deficits, huge trade deficits, the revisions costs for the Bush Social Security plan. Al Greenspan will help!

Oppose counting the votes or put up hidden blockades for paper verification! Never admit to mistakes, play the blame game when possible! Accountability is for opponents, the retired, or those we ask to go home to be with their families! Show a strong face, a loud voice, and a a “My Way or No way Attitude,” alienate allies and above all remember, a little deception goes a long way, it particularly impresses the indifferent and the gullible!

Ruin the environment but be sure to give your acts great sounding names like Clean Air and Healthy Forests! Put your foxes in charge of environmental hen houses so they can ignore protective regulations! Any higher ups are to be protected in scandals like Valerie Plame, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo. The little guys and the reporters can take the fall! Say you abhor torture but send people to other countries that are known for their methods of torture and, by the way, you don’t even have to charge them with anything! Gonzales can rewrite some memos and Rummy can activate them!

Promote programs such as Education and others but underfund them! Ignore others such as Healthcare! Iraq can use the money! Appoint only those that are loyal to Bush to help keep the most secretive Administration in our history even more secretive Control! Control! Control! Lose, destroy, redact or misplace documents relevant to the truth in any controversial matters! Screen and script all public meetings and press conferences and implant a ringer or two in the Press Corps. Use your "Pay-go" plan to pay pundits to promote the Bush viewpoint! Most of all, remember, BUILDING AN EMPIRE IS HARD WORK--VERY HARD WORK!

Susan Carr
Tucson, AZ

P.S. Don’t ask Porter to help, he’s already overwhelmed!

Subject: New York Times

Your critique of the NY TIMES is spot on. The "paper of record" is resting on its laurels and placating the government, and it's obvious. ... the NYT is a publicity rag. I sent them a copy of The Great Conspiracy, an excellent news piece on 9/11. I can't see how anyone who has watched it can deny a deeper investigation of 9/11 is necessary, whether it implicates the administration or not (though it does); especially since more than half of all New Yorkers don't believe Bush's alibi. I've given up on the NYT and I'm not alone. The NY TIMES sucks. It's a salve. We ... love BUZZFLASH, News with a set of balls! Power to the People. Thanks for everything,

Brian Michels
NYC/NY

Subject: Ny Times Vs Buzzflash

Hi BuzzFlash,

It's not even a fair match and you don't have to worry about any loss of readers! At least with BuzzFlash, we get the news that people don't see in our home paper, not to mention the so-called television news. With BuzzFlash, we're able to stay up to date with the news that papers and television infomercials, formally known as the evening news, refuse to tell us about. Keep up the great work! It's just more proof for my Media corpSE ammo.

Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT

Subject: Osama-Bush

Dear Buzz,

Thanks for your work! BUSH is sure a FLIP-FLOPPER. When it comes to catching 0SAMA BEEN LAUGHING. Yep, get him DEAD OR ALIVE, not WORRIED about him, then he's a CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME. Sounds like a real FLIP-FLOPPER. Hey, OSAMA keeps us in the game, right? You think he wanted Bushie to stay in the White (DARK) House? You're damn right he did!! KEEPS HIM SAFE! and HE KEEPS ON LAUGHING! (like bushie)

Carolina

Subject: A Single Desultory Philippic

Senator Kennedy tried--and failed--to get the minimum wage raised again. This will probably not happen so long as Bush is in the White House; if by some miracle a bill raising the minimum wage passed, he would veto it if he possibly could. After all, what can anybody do about it?

We can make them hurt, that's what. If you have a Democratic Congressman or Senator, please contact them and ask them to introduce bills, or to support bills, that would:

1. make Congressional, Senatorial and Schedule C (political appointee) pay a multiple of the minimum wage, with their current pay being based on a multiple of $7.25 an hour. and

2. raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.

For instance, right now the pay for a Senator or a Congressman is $162,100, the minimum wage is $5.15, and Senator Kennedy's proposal is to raise it to $7.25. $7.25 is $14,500 a year; $5.15 is $10,300 a year. $162,100 is 11.18 times the minimum wage annual salary at $7.25.

If House and Senate pay were made 11.18 times the minimum wage and the minimum wage were raised to $7.25, they'd come out even. If it stayed at $5.15, their pay would drop to $115,154. This would result in a 29% pay cut.

Nobody would dare vote against that bill; if they did they'd get a pay cut. Of course Bush might well veto this bill as well, but the point is that it would throw Republican Congressmen, Senators and political appointees into a panic because it would be a direct threat to them. They cannot help themselves without helping everyone. I really can't see Congressman "Jess Folkes" going down to Confederate Crossroads, Mississippi to give a speech about the Social Security "crisis" when he's worried about dealing with a possible financial crisis of his own. Imagine Karl Rove getting a 29% pay cut.

Mike Lauderdale
Richmond, VA

Subject: In the news

The irresponsible fiscal policies of the Bush administration are threatening to reduce the US to third world status. Calling for huge permanent tax cuts while fighting a never ending war while energy prices are skyrocketing and the dollar plummeting on the world scene will drastically increase the already huge US unfavorable balance of trade even further, which will mean lean times for most Americans into the foreseeable future.

It is time to start wearing black armbands to protest the permanent damage being done by this regime and the rubber stamp Republican majority in Congress. Greenspan recently stated that the unfunded deficit is actually closer to $14 trillion, and that doesn't include the amount Medicare would require, expected to be much higher. Increasing energy prices will increase inflation into double digits this year, in spite of government figures. 

RB

the senate has raised their own salary 7 years in a row while not raising the minimum wage in 8 years. the total they have gotten in the senate is 28,500 dollars according to teddy kennedy on the ed schultz show today [Tuesday].

karin
los angeles

Subject: Goodbye Dan

It's ironic that a man that actually risked his life to cover stories and report what actually was happening in Vietnam is in effect being removed by a coldly calculating, sniveling piece of water buffalo shit of a coward who has to have his daddy hold his hand throughout life. In case you don't know, I'm referring to your current president; someone that has to have others tell him what to do and how to do it because he's wonderfully inept, morally bankrupt, and so incredibly stupid that it boggles the mind!

Imagine sitting in a rice paddy, your life in danger, to bring a story of courage and foolhardiness to the American Public each night while a vile pig of a man (?) attends political dinner parties and uses drugs; all the while pretending to be a soldier. But when it comes time to be a man, he has to have his daddy help him. You remember his daddy; Bush 1. Some thought he was a president, too. What an epitaph it will be for George H. Bush. "I served my country honorably but couldn't let my son (s) suffer danger; that's for other people's children. My son dubya, who aspires to political office, shouldn't have to earn the future trust of people he hopes to represent. That's why I'm here. To change his diapers and wipe his ... Gawd, Barbara and I are so proud!"

Imagine the respect you two taught them for the ideals of this country or was it the almighty dollar? I'm sure that George H. Bush is proud of his son (s), though for the life of me, I can't understand why. Instead, George W. belittled the job; demeaned the uniform and cheated all the vets it stood for. And yet, many of these same vets who saw action in Vietnam, callously support this coward and traitor to the American Way while harboring unimaginable hate toward a man that actually did his job. (Two men, if you want to count Kerry!)

George W. Bush isn't fit to shine the shoes of Dan Rather let alone wear them. Rather is a journalist that spent 30 plus years trying to inform the public through good and not so good times. We all wanted to hear what was going on, then. Now, these same Americans, blinded by fascist propaganda, have jumped on the "Let's get Dan" bandwagon and become war mongers, homophobes, hypocrites because they can't think for themselves.

It's taken a crook, a deserter, a reincarnated propaganda minister and a group of ultra wealthy business men, who don't give a damn about this country, just its money, 30 years to "get this guy." And they're actually proud. For they look at him as a threat to them; someone that could expose their avarice, deceit and treachery. It's interesting that these same people complain about draft dodger Clinton but accept deserter Bush; that what opponents did in the past matters a great deal to them for it exemplifies the man, while ignoring similar indiscretions in their Führer; that they complained loudly about a "too liberal press spreading distortions" that they themselves now spread.

All this time, Dan Rather reported the stories. Some good; some bad; all honestly. But this is not the America that he and we grew up in. To say it's changed is an understatement. This is a country where a minority, yes a minority, of very wealthy individuals, have taken control of us and are going to (try) to subject us to their will. They didn't use guns or force ... not yet; they used something far more powerful; lies and fear; and counted on the naiveté and subservience of the population. And spread it the only way it could be spread, through a propagandist media.

When a journalist like Dan Rather tries to inform the public, he finds he's fighting a system that wants to lie, deceive and mislead a public that wants lies, deception and ignorance as the new political dogma. Dan's recently retired colleague, Tom Brokaw, wrote of Dan's peers as the "Greatest Generation." What happened to the visions and common sense of that generation? Is this what they wanted their kids to inherit? No, don't worry about Dan; he's paid his dues. I imagine him sitting by a campfire somewhere in the Texas country quietly and sadly grinning to himself as he thinks about the future of this country; or rather the future of its middle-class and poor; for they have none. And when the current middle class is gone, yuppie seed, guess who'll be coal shovelers? No, Dan and others like him were fortunate enough to have enough to carry them through their golden years. The MBAs of the 1980s are already finding life not quite as they imagined it. And it will get worse for them; not for DeLay or Santorum or Cheney or their families.

Thank you, Dan, for showing me what was going on in a war that was as irrelevant as Iraq. Thanks for giving your precious time to try to inform an apathetic public to the dangers they will face. Thanks Dan. It's a shame that your colleagues didn't have the balls to stand up for their beliefs as you've done. Thank you for your honesty. Sadly, I think that eventually we'll miss you more than you'll miss us. With hindsight, that's usually the case. And if you're still around when the American Public finally wakes up and cries  "Enough!" to throw off this Bilderbergeresque repression again, try not to smirk at us; though somebody's god knows we'll deserve it. I only hope that we'll be able to sleep as soundly as you. Hopefully, we won't have to share your campfire to stay warm.

Courage

Bruce F.

[BuzzFlash Note: Brokaw's term "greatest generation" referred not to Dan Rather's peer group, but to the ordinary Americans whose heroic efforts and sacrifices helped the US and its allies prevail in WWII. (Rather is younger.)]

Subject: Outsourcing Of The Military-Industrial Complex

The Washington Post had this article today about Pentagon outsourcing of defense contracts. I didn't see it in the headlines, but I might have missed it. See my blog for another link to the article. Thanks! :)

Pentagon's Global View: U.S. Increasingly Looks Abroad For Competitive Defense Contracts

Tammy Day
http://thebeekeepersapprentice.com
Richmond, Virginia

Subject: Banana Peel Democrats?

Several months ago I finished reading The Banana Republicans by Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber in which the authors document in minute detail the Republican war methodology, which is to utterly and literally destroy their opponents. The use of personal attacks is the standard Republican fare as we all have witnessed in the last several years. 

One of the most vicious attacks, and one which was highly successful, was the attack against decorated Viet Nam War hero, Max Cleland who lost three limbs in that war. He also lost his US Senate seat in Georgia in 2002 after Republican ads accused him of being a traitor and a friend of Osama bin Laden. Though the 2002 election was close, the Republicans got just enough seats to control all the legislation and the committee chairmanships.

And of course, another "fortuitous" event that year benefited the Republican Party when Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash.

I needn't say much more about the same kind of treatment against another decorated Viet Nam War soldier, US Senator John Kerry, who was targeted by false, vicious ads which claimed that he was a war criminal, lied about receiving a Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for defending his country, the same war, which George W. Bush sat out. The Swift Boat ads and Republican operatives on Right Wing Screech Radio and Shout TV like Fox News Network demolished Senator Kerry with the most inflammatory verbal abuse and personal attacks ever launched against a person running for the highest office in the land.

But have the Democrats learned anything from this? In my opinion, no. They are now scurrying around frantically trying to come up with some "moral values," and religious connections, accepting the mainstream media's nonsense that the pseudo-religionists claim that they were the tipping point and the margin of victory which elevated G. W. Bush to the White House for another four years of punitive, totalitarian, government rule.

Now, Bush has embarked upon one of the most withering attacks against the working people of this country and the Right Wing are reaping huge rewards for his and the Republicans' main constituents, the corrupt corporate swindlers and their lobbyists entrenched on K Street.

Beginning with the recently passed so-called tort reform, the Bush assault on the right of the people to have class action suits heard in state courts has been curtailed. Now, those who have suffered workplace-related health hazards or physical injuries have essentially been denied access to the state courts. They must now present their case in federal courts which historically have refused to even hear them.

Last Sunday on "Face The Nation," the best that Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin could come up with in defining the Democrats' position on preserving Social Security against the slick-talking Mitch McConnell was to say that private accounts are not negotiable. Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, on the other hand, painted Durbin as an obstructionist whose Democratic party had nothing to offer. And rhetorically at least, McConnell's argument was more persuasive. Instead of countering this specious argument with a forceful message that the transition costs of Social Security to private accounts, which also mandates cuts in benefits, would cost upwards of $2 to $5 trillion. Not a word was mentioned about management costs, commissions and fees which the Ponzi Scheme boys on Wall Street are salivating over as they anticipate receiving more "free" taxpayer money.

Even though most of Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy are not due to expire until late in this decade, Bush wants the Republican-controlled US Congress to vote to make them permanent now. Again, this drains more revenue from the operating expenses out of other programs vital to the interests and welfare of all American citizens.

Today, the proposal to raise the federal minimum wage, currently $5.15 per hour, went down to defeat as Republicans continue their assault against working men and women in our country. Since 1997, the US Congress voted to raise their own pay by $28,000 to an annual pay of $162,000. What are Democrats doing about it? Virtually nothing, since Bush claims a mandate from his "moral values" election results which he intends to spend as a referendum to do whatever he wishes, regardless of how many Americans are impoverished or harmed as a result.

Bush said the public’s decision to reelect him on November 2, 2004 was a ratification of his approach toward Iraq and that there was no reason to hold any administration officials accountable for their actions or decisions. So often we have heard the Republican jeremiad that in order to rein in spending we must starve the beast (STB). But instead of starving the beast, the Banana Republicans continue to pimp and pander for their corrupt, corporate benefactors who lard up their campaign coffers while they hand out no-bid contracts to war profiteers like Halliburton, Bechtel and Kellogg, Brown and Root. A more apt description would be Feed the Beast (FTB) and Starve the People (STP). But if the Banana Peel Democrats continue to play "me-tooism," as they have been, they will fall on their faces every time, and deservedly so.

There is still time to turn things around in 2006, but by then will the Democrats be trying to elect real leaders with strong, sincere principles or will they put forth a slate of Zell Miller Lites?

Richard A. Stitt
San Diego, CA

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE MARCH 10, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG.