Subject: Camilla Hughes & Charles Bush

Hi, Buzz -- You say "Nurse Ratched," I say "Wet Nurse Karen." Bush really, really needs her now!

Camilla Parker Bowles banned from White House ... for being a divorcee (Hughes for America)

Liz W.
Greenville, S.C.

Subject: Richard Wagner From Michigan

I agree completely with your March 11 comment re. the three ladies, and all BuzzFlash contributors that have posted great articles in the mailbag. More people need to get involved and help us achieve the goal of impeaching GWB!!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Shoplifting Social Security or Revenge ... or Both

BuzzFlash,

Regarding your article from the LA Times ... Knowing how Bush loves revenge, I have wondered if some of his dismantling of FDR's programs are related to what FDR did to the elderly Bush, who was making money off of the war and supplying Nazis at the time that we had soldiers dying during WWII. He had to be threatened with jail by FDR.

Too bad, we don't have leaders like FDR today. We wouldn't be in Iraq and Bush wouldn't have been given a free pass for his lying the US into a war and killing thousands of people and then pillaging that Country's assets ... using US taxpayers' money in order to do it.

Bush does what his family knows best. If it isn't in the genes, then it's in the Bush family environment. Make money off of war and don't send any family members or friends of the family off to fight it. Use all of those poor kids. What else do they have to live for anyway ... they are out of work ... except to help the Bush Republican administration make war on a Nation that can't fight back and then steal the assets and to cover up that theft of taxpayers money taken during this invasion of Iraq ... rape and pillage the Social Security of the American people ... then those people will have to work for us (Republicans).

Also, his "real" base are those he relates to ... the "wealthy." That wealthy base includes the very wealthy Right Wing Evangelists, but Bush's programs aren't going to do one thing for those poor people who keep voting for him and they, too, keep giving their money to those "wealthy" Evangelists.

FDR Stars in Bush Pitch to Alter His Safety Net (LA Times)

One of the greatest Presidents this Country has ever had (FDR) and Bush, the worst president this Country has ever had, talks about the program needing his (Bush) fixing. If there weren't people so gullible as to believe such a ridiculous statement, this would be the joke of the year ... instead it is the biggest "scam" of the year and except for the war, it will be right up there as number two of all of the big, potbelly lies during the Bush administration. Here is Bush, who should be impeached for lying this Country into a war and murdering hundreds of thousands of people ... and killing our own military and calling it "supporting the troops," then cutting the throats of hundreds of useful programs in our government and some have been for our fighting military, causing taxes to be increased on everything Americans will purchase because he cut money that usually goes to States and so the States will be blamed for all of these raises in taxes and blown projects, setting back upkeep of infrastructure for years. Roads and streets will again become trails ... don't expect the wealthy to build anything they can't make money on as we watch the crumbling of US assets.

How can the Bush Republicans get away with this ... because of an uneducated public about how our government really works, which leads to misplaced blame. Bush is an icon to his family ... he has surpassed his father's debt, death and destruction and placed it somewhere "out of this world." In other words, the human mind can't comprehend the numbers that will define the debt caused by this Bush administration.

Who is going to clean up his mess? And, who is going to impeach Bush for his crimes of High Treason, while in the White House. Americans have already paid too high of a price for the short terms of Bush in the White House. He is pandering about how much money people's investments will make, when all of this time, he has put over 10,000 of debt upon each American for four to five generations to come and he wants people to "trust" him, a person who lied this Country into a war that has caused a big part of this Country's largest debt ever, not to leave out his constantly giving tax breaks back to the wealthy, also helping to create this serfdom Bush pushes as ownership in this society. Who can afford to own anything and if they can't he has increased the laws for the credit companies to take it out of a taxpayer's hide. If this isn't serfdom, then why does the smallest percentage of Americans own the largest percentage of the US? It is not only ridiculous, it is insane.

A healthy Country is a wealthy Country for everyone. A dysfunctional government will only bear bananas. I can't imagine anyone in the future of the US pandering and using Bush's name without using it in vain and as an example of what not to do. The war in Iraq will cause a debt for generations on babies that haven't been thought of yet, and Bush is still allowed to run around the US at the paid expense of taxpayers, trying to ruin the only decent thing that is left in this lame government that has been run by the Bush administration. Talk about a masquerade. And, the only people who will benefit from this Plunder Party, will be Bush and his Republicans.

So, why are people "buying" into this sales pitch Bush is giving ... ask the guy that was arrested for stealing your identity and taking all of your credit and bank accounts. He might know. Just a thought,

Subject: Minimum Wage

Every day I come into contact with minimum wagers. We all do. Every day our lives and our society are better because they come to work their crap-ass jobs and it benefits all of us. They are the friendly smile when you pay for your cup of coffee every morning. They are the person who tells you it's in aisle five but here let me show you exactly where it is. They may be the unseen person who kept toilet paper stocked in a public restroom. They are everywhere and they are even friends. We count on their gentleness to make us feel safe at all the places where they are, when in reality they should all be pretty pissed off at the rest of society. For we are really saying to them they are not worth it and don't deserve the basics in life.

When they are given a raise it is the biggest investment in our economy, as we raise up the least amongst us. They should be rewarded as any other in our society would earn increased compensation. They are some of the hardest workers in our society. There are many of us who might be one "downsizing" away from that minimum wage job that in the future we may be grateful to have. The future is always uncertain, but we help our own selves and our own society by caring for those that make our daily lives work.

It's long overdue to raise the minimum wage, either that or let everyone under $10 an hour unionize--that would be a pretty powerful union. The leaders in this country are refusing to do anything that benefits anyone on the bottom. A national unskilled workers union might just be the right action to take since congress was given the opportunity but couldn't handle its responsibility to a large portion of their voters.

Suzanne Fox

Subject: Facts Are Sometimes Hard To Swallow

There are ugly facts about war that Republicans and supporters of Bush either don't know about or simply don't wish to face. Facts. "Modern war is directed primarily against civilians." - Chris Hedges in his book "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning." Of the estimated 100,000 Iraqi casualties, over 90% were civilians who were wounded, killed or maimed. 34% of those were under the age of 14. - Dr. Gino Strada, author of "Green Parrots."

These are sobering facts. To any supporter of the Iraqi war out there, I challenge you to read Chris Hedges and Dr. Gino Strada. Then get back to me. I assure you, you won't hear these facts on Fox News.

Kevin Mcdermott
Los Angeles, CA

Subject: Mr. Bush's Tea Party

Editor

While floating my pink and white body in the bath tub tonight, in the manner of Archimedes, a brilliant thought came to mind. For reasons unknown, I started thinking about the new credit card/bankruptcy bill that Congress has been joking about for years and has now seemingly passed. The President and the Congress tell us that the reason for the bill is that many of our good people are are acting irresponsible by wily-nilly running up credit debt. I reckon that if you can't beat these birds, it's best to join them. Well, not exactly.

Back in Boston in 1773, the patriots of old threw a mess of tea into the harbor to protest a law that was imposed by an unrepresentative and uncaring government and now nobody drinks the blasted stuff. Judging from all of the anti-consumer law flying out of Congress, I propose that it's now time for a new kind of tea party.

Credit card companies typically charge the merchant 2-3% for each transaction. We could significantly lessen the banks' profits on these transactions through merely keeping the plastic in the wallet. I would propose that we stop using our bank credit cards whenever possible and practical, and start paying cash. In this manner, we would become responsible citizens and gently bite the hand that is making the Congress the best Congress that money can buy.

Will Rogers Gorenfeld
Ventura, California

Subject: Consider the alternative

I'm on deadline for an editing project this weekend, and I SWORE I wouldn't write to BuzzFlash until I finished. But I just read Joe Dunphy's letter (3/11) and had to respond. I don't doubt that the rules about tourniquet use are as he states them. But -- MAJOR but -- that doesn't excuse the fact that, just as in the case of providing (or failing to provide) adequate body and Humvee armor, the creaking, lumbering, gear-grinding, red-tape-clogged Pentagon system urgently needs overhauling. The absence of both armor and tourniquets ignores a fact that glares out even through our timid media: the increasingly sophisticated and powerful "improvised explosive devices" our troops now face have rendered both traditional equipment and emergency treatment obsolete. (From what I've gathered from various blogs, the wounded -- just like the dead -- are hidden away in an attempt to conceal the fact that missing or shattered arms and legs are the signature injuries of this war, just as blasted/seared lungs emblemized WWI.)

What is our government's response to this radically changed (and constantly changing) situation? Paper shuffling, stalling, passing the buck up and down through endless corridors, and -- in a pinch -- invoking outdated technicalities. (A related example: our "allies" managed to go directly to the manufacturer to obtain armor for their troops -- something the Pentagon, with all its power and money, couldn't find a way to accomplish.) The new, "improved" IEDs are causing -- and will continue to cause -- more severed limbs and other traumatic injuries where seconds can mean the difference between living and dying. If the "rules" mandate that a first responder must stand by and watch someone bleed to death rather than apply a tourniquet -- that is, of course, IF tourniquets were available -- out of fear of a lawsuit or other punitive action, THE IDIOTIC RULES NEED TO CHANGE. FAST!!

I'm not talking about a "study" with results published (or, more likely, heavily censored or classified) sometime after the 2006 elections. This situation is unacceptable. Immoral. And stomach-churning. However, it's also typical of the Neocon mindset and Bush's personal "gutset."

Remember when Marie Antoinette, looking out the palace window at peasants rioting in the streets below, asked why they were so upset? Told that it was because they had no bread, she replied sweetly, "Let them eat cake!" The official response to the tourniquet(less) situation in Iraq has much the same ring to it. I can just hear Rummy, sneering as usual, saying, "So what? They don't NEED tourniquets. Let them use...RED TAPE!"

Barb in Athens, GA
Blue Soul in Red State

Subject: Letter To CNN

Dear BuzzFlash,

Thanks for your link to the New York times article on government paid news. I sent my own tip to Time-Warner CNN This is it.

Subject: VA Violation Of 38 USC 1722a

I wish it was shorter, however ... This important message I send to veterans. For those of you not aware of the dispute, I have been involved, since March 2002, in a dispute with the VA over their billing procedures, which is in violation of 38 USC 1722a, specifically paragraph 2. Title 38 USC Sec. 1722A. “Paragraph (a)(1) subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall require a veteran to pay the United States $7.00 for each 30 day supply of medicine … if the amount supplied is less than a 30 day supply the amount of the charge may not be reduced.” Paragraph 2. “The Secretary may not require a veteran to pay an amount in excess of the cost to the Secretary for medication as described in paragraph 1.”

Veterans who receive VA medication requiring pill splitting, you are being over-charged. Look up and read 38 USC 1722a, if you're interested. Paragraph 2 will tell you, veterans’ do not have to pay, “an excess of the cost” for medication. However, for over two years I had deducted these excess over-charges from my VA payments, all the while continuously and vigorously protesting this penalty. After my participation on GCN radio’s, “The Veterans Hour,” the Treasury Department advised they would “off-set” this alleged indebtedness. I coughed up. The VA seized these over-charges, my property, without explanation or due process, in violation of the 5th and 14th Amendments.

Briefly the violation. Paragraph 2 will tell you, veterans are not required to pay “an excess of the cost” for medication. Example; two (2) exact prescription supplies. The first 30-day supply, 30 pills, $7.00 co-pay. The second 30-day supply. 30 pills, $14.00 co-pay, (2 month, split pill supply). There is something wrong with this picture! An “excess of the cost” does exist.

Take this same example, and to put it in another way. 1 pill each day for 30-days @ $7.00 co-pay. The cost per pill, .23 cents. Because a veteran may be required by prescription to split that exact same pill, the cost now increases by 50% to .46 cents. I advised Hines VA hospital I am going to file an appeal with the Veterans Board of Appeals and as required, a denial of my claim is needed from them. With laws, factors, and regulations in making their determination. Also, the veterans advocate, advised me that the VA billing system does not recognize paragraph 2.

In other words, the VA knowingly cheats, defrauds, ignores, and violates the law by taking your money illegally. If it were not for my letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, I would have not received a reply as to my request from the Hines VA legal Department. Their silence should dispel any doubts you may have regarding this dispute. In violation of the 1st Amendment (my right to petition the government to redress grievances), they have not answered or explained. I find I am at a point where I have, as well as all veterans, lost all Constitutional rights, as I had just described.

To summarize, if it is agreed that two (2) 30-day whole pill supplies, of 30 pills, are exactly alike and both can be obtained at a cost of $7, we must then agree, when a prescription that calls for splitting, the cost of the supplies did not change. What then has caused a $7, 30-pill supply to increase in co-pay cost to $14? Splitting 30 pills will now cover a 2 month supply. 15 pills, ($3.50) each 30-day period. This, then being a veterans 30-day supply, it cannot be considered less than a 30-day supply. Which would then require a co-pay of $7. With no mention of quantity, the amount of the 30-day supplies involved, neither the Code of Federal Regulations, or the United States Code itself, gives reference, to greater co-pay costs beyond what has been established for like 30-day, $7 co-pay supplies. The cost has, indeed increased for a 30-day supply in prescriptions that call for pill splitting. The amount, or the quantity, for these 30-day supplies has become, in the absence of a clear express intent, and no apparent justification, the reason for an increase “in excess of the cost” in violation of 38 USC 1722a UPDATE 2/16./05.

After writing Secretary of Veterans Affairs Mr. Jim Nicholson, the VA Hines legal department, regional counsel, Mr. Earl Parsons finally decided to reply. After reading his reply, I wrote, "Consider this as my Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with your assessment of my dispute with the VA violation of 38 USC 1722a." I enclosed my 13 page, single space argument. I am to receive from them a response from a Decision Review Officer (DRO), a "statement of the case" (SOC), along with VA form 9.

UPDATE 3/2/05. From Dept. Of Veterans Affairs, Hines Hospital: “Your disagreement of the legal opinion of our Regional Council was noted. Your request for an appeal before the board of Veteran’s Appeals will be honored.” ... It took three years of contacting everybody, and I mean everybody, either ignoring you, or passing it off to someone else. But it took a letter to incoming Secretary Nicholson to get this far.

You see, nobody in the VA could explain simple math, “excess of the cost.” Because of Secretary Nicholson, I had the opportunity to explain it in my Notice of Disagreement (NOD). And I am prepared to explain further if necessary. Welcome home veterans.

William H. Heino Sr.
Frankfort, Illinois

Subject: White House announced strengtheningsocialsecurity.GOV web site; forgot to block strengtheningsocialsecurity.COM

Hi BuzzFlash,

At the beginning of Friday's press gaggle, McClellan made the following announcement:

Notice, the .gov suffix on that URL.

I believe that the contents of that site go way beyond simply reporting the facts and status of the current Social Security program and instead its contents are clearly part of the Bush administration's efforts to use misrepresentations, lies and propaganda to phase-out and eventually destroy the Social Security program.

You might want to tell your readers about this one; and I think the internet fact checkers need to be alerted to this site in order to expose it for what it is.

Personally, I intend to bring this to the attention of my local Congressman and urge him to follow-up and/or investigate the legality of using Treasury Department resources to promote this politically motivated propaganda. Other readers might want to visit http://www.house.gov/ and bring up this matter with their own congressman.

If for some reason it's not obvious how inappropriate the content of that "official" web page is, you can simply compare these two web pages:

http://www.strengtheningsocialsecurity.gov/

and

http://www.strengtheningsocialsecurity.com/

The first is the "official" Treasury Department page, and the second is a page which basically turns everything around 180 degrees. Both pages are obviously politically biased and both versions contain questionable content which make both versions inappropriate material for an "official" government sponsored web site. But of course only the first web page, which promotes the Bush Administration's phase-out agenda, was done using my tax dollars.

Someone connected with the In This Together Campaign apparently noticed that the .com variant of that domain was still available and immediately set up a strengtheningsocialsecurity.COM web page (that corrects many of the lies of the "official" anti-SSA web site).

The In This Together Campaign is obviously not in any way associated with the US government and can legally put anything they want to on their web pages, no matter how politically biased it is. As far as I know, the Treasury Department (or the White House) doesn't (yet) have that authority.

For example, the "real" web page says,

And the samizdat web page (more correctly) says,

AFAIK, the Social Security Administration is supposed to be a wholly *independent* agency and is not a part of the Treasury Department.

http://www.ssa.gov/history/indepen.html

What business does the Treasury Department have setting up any sort of "official" web site to (mis)-represent the SSA? If there's any public (mis)information to disseminate about the SSA, it should come from a www.ssa.gov web site, not web site run by www.treasury.gov. And discussions about future policy changes belong on the floor of the House and Senate (or in their committee rooms). And even if it only discusses *current* SSA policies, the Treasury Department is over-stepping its authority.

Is the Treasury Department going to set up a web site to explain the "facts" the next time the US Post Office decides to increase the cost of First Class postage to bring in more money, or the next time the USPS proposes eliminating Saturday Residential Delivery Service to save money? Both of those issues are less partisan than Social Security and yet I'm certain the USPS (an independent agency) would scream bloody murder if Treasury tried to so blatantly poach on such USPS-territory (regardless of whether Treasury came out for or against increased postage or Saturday delivery).

I believe it's inappropriate for Treasury to set up any sort of official web site to (mis)represent the SSA's past official history, or the future actuarial expectations of SSA benefits, or disseminate blatantly false propaganda such as this gem:

That's only possible if one assumes that the government is run by complete idiots who would do absolutely nothing before 2042 to correct the minor (about 1%) shortfall between current SSA revenue and current expenses.

And that's only possible if the current so-called Intermediate Model defies history and doesn't turn out to be overly pessimistic (like it has always turned out before).

And that's only true if one ignores the fact that since the creation of the Trust Fund (in 1983 during the Reagan Administration), it's no longer a pay-as-you-go system. It's now a let's-make-prudent-plans pension system (which the Bush gang is intent on looting; to them, the SSA trust fund is just another "over-funded" corporate pension asset that's ripe for picking).

If any business tried to put up a web site that contained so many falsehoods and misrepresentation they'd (rightly) be shutdown and perhaps prosecuted by the FTC (or some state's Attorney General) for false advertising, or bait-and-switch, or for simply running a con-game.

By calling attention to this we should at least be able to get a few clear-thinking members of Congress to publicly question Treasury's (mis-)use of government resources to promote partisan policy changes.

Bruce

Subject: Snow And The Snow Job!

The East in particular and the country as a whole has been inundated with snow, but the whole nation has been bogged down by the biggest “SNOW JOB” in the history of our nation by George W. Bush and the Bush Administration for over four years now! It is clear that accessibility has deteriorated by leaps and bounds since George Bush and the Republicans have been in power. A new poll out showed even the public has become more aware as 70% stated they were worried about government secrecy!

Anyone not living under a rock is aware of the Gannon/Guckert plant and the paid pundits promoting Bush Policy. News articles like the one in The New York Times, draw attention to the pre-packaging, using government sponsored reporters, reporting on what really amounts to Bush Propaganda. George Bush’s “regular guy façade,” has stopped the media from asking the hard questions! The “We’re Good-They’re Bad” philosophy has been bought and paid for by the media, literally and figuratively! The“Y’all are welcome” attitude by Mr. Bush, believed by only some, is likened to the view George Orwell reflected as he related orders to the people, “You must LOVE Big Brother. It is not enough to obey him; you must LOVE him!” Both the world and citizens in this country are aware of the screened public events, prescreened questions and the scripted testimonies given from the time George Bush entered politics as President, and probably before. In a recent world tour, one event was cancelled because the Germans wouldn’t give in to the false Photo Op and the restrictions given by Mr. Bush.

BuzzFlash {a great web-site with acerbic headlines that will make you laugh!} offers this BuzzFlash Reader’s experience at a Bush event:

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/03/con05086.html

Under the old excuse of “security,” documents show up redacted. Under the “ole bone” of “Executive Privilege” information has been withheld. One notable example was the Supreme Court’s collaboration with Dick Cheney in hiding just who was on the elusive Cheney Energy Task Force, and who set policy! Many truth seekers, who have learned not to hold what the Bushies tell us as sacrosanct, know about Enron and the others because we did a little research!

The 9/11 investigation committee had to pull teeth {like many other investigations, Plame etc.} to get information and when they finally received the information, much was blacked out under the “security” guise. A few members complained about this to deaf ears! I must once again refer you to the many reports of California Representative Henry Waxman, who time and time again has exposed not only wrong information but the covered-up information by the Bush Administration and government agencies. One enlightening letter was addressed to Christopher Shay:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0312-02.htm

When records have been asked for by many regular citizens, they are turned down! The door to public access promised by the Freedom of Information Act was opened up more by President Bill Clinton and was shut down more by the actions of Mr. Bush! The best explanation of Bush Policy was revealed by Edward Hunter, in a document called, “BRAINWASHING, the Story of Men Who Defied It.” In it he gave the definition that stated, “Brainwashing was revealed as a political strategy for expansion and control made up of two processes. One is the conditioning, or softening-up, process primarily for control purposes. The other is an indoctrination or persuasion process for conversion purposes!” Karl ROVE must have been an avid reader of its contents that George Bush enthusiastically uses!

Susan Carr
Tucson, AZ

Subject: A Challenge

If President Bush feels the Social Security issue is important and believes his solution is the best for the American people, then I challenge him to prove it. He should come to Chicago and have an open town-hall meeting with a representation of "all" Americans, not just his usual hand-picked audience. Spend some time with and answer questions from a "real" group of people. My guess he is neither sincere enough nor man enough to do it.

Jeff Gahn
Chicago

Subject: Look - The Sky is Falling!

Another coup for Rove? While everyone's up in arms over the social security issue, Herr Rove und die Republican Company have quietly got some legislation passed that wouldn't have had a chance had the public's eye been elsewhere.

Let's cut funds to Amtrak; it'll make it harder for the poor and lower middle class to travel. Allow the Drug Companies to reinstate Viagra 'cuz they could lose too much money, risks are acceptable. Help the credit companies re-institute indentured servitude (slavery no matter how you cut it) after they convince you to spend their money you don't have. What's next, George, debtors' prisons? Cut funding for mentally handicapped people. That could affect 59 million Republican voters! Cut the food stamp program to save 3 billion while giving Halliburton billions; for what, again? Penny wise; Pound foolish! We know there's more, and more on the way.

Maybe worse than any of these is this: Just exactly who is paying for the propaganda for these new bills from "government and private sources" and the attacks the WH levies almost every day? Who's paying for Bush's travel vacation across the country to spew SS reform? Isn't there a law against using tax money for "election style" proposals?

And make no mistake, the SS debacle is exactly like running for election. Bush is stumping, and the opposition gets no federal (tax) money for rebuttal. Evidently, Rove found a loophole in the way federal money can be spent. A president can propose something no matter how idiotic and then tap into the nation's bucks to try to pass that law and in the process pay private companies millions to advertise and propagandize his views.

Why can't every Senator and Congressman and even local officials do it? Wouldn't it be just great to see DeLay propose a bill to exempt Republican Representatives from the "law" then go on a 50-state tour paid for by us to try to sell it? Is it all Party-raised money or are the taxpayers footing the bill? If it's us, then I'd like equal pay and time to answer the morons.

With all the new laws and restrictions, I'd not be very surprised to soon see check points at all state borders; you know, like W.W.II. You'll have to produce papers to travel across state lines. This'll keep the riff-raff at home and leave more space for the upper crust to go where they want. Buh Bye Disneyworld. Guten tag, Herr Bush.

So while you're all upset over this SS thing, pay attention to the man behind the curtain. He's got people screaming the sky is falling, when it's not; and everybody's looking up - not around! Everybody that is, except the Bloggers!

Bruce F.

Subject: Christians Under Fire (yeah, Right)

So the Rightwingers say Christianity is under fire because malls don't display the EASTER BUNNY!? The lunatic fringe seems not to have noticed that the Easter bunny is a pagan symbol. Fertility, rites of spring and all that stuff. I haven't seen churches displaying Easter bunnies either.

I have news for my Christian brothers and sisters on the far right: We are not under attack in the United States. Under attack means you get jailed for being a Christian. Today is Sunday, and I went to the Presbyterian church of which I am a member. Right out in public, in front of God and everybody. There were no storm troopers at the doors with jackboots and automatic rifles. Nobody got arrested. Sure, lots of people reject the Christian gospel. Read the Constitution: THEY ARE FREE TO REJECT - OR FOLLOW - OUR RELIGION OR ANYBODY ELSE'S. THEY ARE FREE TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN. If Jesus has to depend on the overt support of public institutions for His gospel's survival, He's no Messiah.

Note to Newt, while I'm on the subject: God has not been driven out of the public arena. Nobody can drive God out of anything. He is GOD, people! Read the Bible: GOD IS ABOVE ALL, IN ALL, AND THROUGH ALL. He doesn't need us to admit Him to our space. It's all His space, whether we acknowledge it or not. As Lincoln said, the Almighty has His own purposes, which He can and will achieve, with or without our help.

Using God to make political points looks to me like a violation of the third commandment ("You must not make improper use of the Lord's name"): a point my sisters and brothers on the right wing should take into account.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest, Buzz!!

Jane Hawes
Emporia, KS (a red-state Democrat)

Subject: Condi Won't Run!

Well, gee whiz! I wonder why? After talking with three Red State, Christian Conservative women I can tell you she would not have a chance any more than Hillary would. These people are told weekly from the pulpit that women can not be in lead government positions, not president or any other higher office. They do not believe women can be the head of a church either. My husband and I were told point blank (here in Idaho by a worker on our house) that it is no wonder that our local Methodist Church is losing members because "you have female ministers and that is not Biblical." This place is unreal!! They have all drunk the kook-aid en mass.

Sandy
Idaho

Subject: FICA

Dear Buzz,

I am amazed how little people know about the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.
Most only think about it as a pension plan. People need to educate themselves about the survivor and disability benefits. Try to buy an insurance policy with the same guarantees as social security. I don't think you will find an insurance company willing to write that policy. At least not for the kind of money that is paid into social security by you and your employer. Social security is a great bargain for those of us in the working class. This social security scam is just another in a seemingly endless string of preemptive attacks on the middle class.

Dave in WV

Subject: Mike Bailey

God love and protect the Mike Baileys of the world. How I wish I could have the nerve and the opportunity to do that ... how brave can he be? I would love it if he (Dubya) could come to my home town ... even though this state is a red state ... and most of my little town are blue ... he would be dumb enough to stop there, because they are small town people and George likes them. He thinks he is slick enough to get one over on them. And, with the rightwingers ... the hard right ... he is! I have had the same venom pointed toward me. In my own family. I know exactly how he feels ... but, I have a feeling that Mike Bailey enjoyed it so much ... I would love that feeling. Congrats ... Mike Bailey!!!

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

Subject: Republicans Can't Be Trusted With Other People's Money

We don't need George W Bush fouling up anything else. I removed the period after the Dubya because there seems to be no stopping him now. George W Bush has jinxed the country and too much stuff has come crashing down. The World Trade Center and the Pentagon came crashing down, and then the Space Shuttle came crashing down. George W Bush has delusions and a credibility problem. He imagined things in Iraq that were not there and started another war, and now thousands of Americans have died or been crippled for that oil grab scam. When that cowboy came to town, gunmen started roaming the streets and killing innocent people. In the meantime his rich chums stole the life savings of working folks at Enron and all these other corporate swindles. And now George W Bush wants to set up the next big scandal in his sleazy private investment scheme with our Social Security money. Republicans can't be trusted with other people's money.

A BuzzFlash Reader