Subject: Biblical Law

They've got it nailed. Tom DeLay, Ashcroft, Bush and his "Onward Christian soldiers" whistling puppet-master Karl Rove. The "Confronting the Judicial War on Faith" conference, who tell the faithful "I'm a radical! I'm a real extremist. I don't want to impeach judges. I want to impale them!" THEY WANT BIBLICAL LAW FOR THIS COUNTRY. FOR THE WORLD. People, when will you wake up???

A Culture of Death, Not Life (Frank Rich/NY Times)

In Contempt of Courts (Max Blumenthal/The Nation/Yahoo)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Found a Great Article, Guys

Came across a really good read by a Conservative writer about Bush's hypocrisy in the war on terror. Really worth reading at the below website, title is "Hypocrite-in-Chief."

Website here: http://cunningrealist.blogspot.com

Mary Riceton
New York

Subject: I Sent This Note to About 25 Elected Repubs - Probably Won't Answer the Question

Where in Hell is the republican party taking us? Do the conservatives really want a single party system? Or is it a dictatorship, a theocracy or fascist state they are promoting? Otherwise, why would this be allowed to happen?

Do the republicans really believe that the last two elections were not rigged with corporate-owned electronic voting machines, hacked/programmed to modify the advantage to their party?

What about Democracy? Is this only for everyone else? Where are you taking America? Does the republican party intend to turn the American government over to corporations (think enron, think worldcom, ad infinitum) as their solution to today’s problems? Do republicans desire/promote a media that fears the current administration and won’t report actual news that might bring disfavor on their corporate well-being?

How can this administration trample our Constitution by stating that the judiciary is obligated to follow congress’ radical, fundamentalist, christian lead or else they will be threatened with physical harm or impeachment? How far do you think this will fly?

Where do the republican conservatives find logic in a massive deficit, massive negative balance of payments, and a budget that is failing to provide for anyone but the wealthiest Americans? How can any true American justify an attempt by this radical administration to gut the federal treasury (“drown it in the bathtub”) to end any support for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, public education, the interstate highway system and all other successful social systems, totally in favor of granting huge, enormous, obscene tax breaks for the very, very wealthy?

How can the republican party and this administration continue the outright lies, distortions, half-truths and continual mendacity with regard to policy and politics that leaves America and this administration completely without ANY trust or credibility in the rest of the World as well as with anyone in America with a modicum of intelligence?

Do the republicans REALLY believe that this policy of scamming their electorate will stand the test of time? When would anyone with any common sense allow them to gain back their credibility when they’ve totally corrupted their party for the short-term gain? Does the republican party, its radical neo-con element and karl rove really consider that their program and plan for America is more intelligent than that Constitution and Bill of Rights which were designed by our Founders?

THINK ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO-ZERO-NEIN-ZIP-NADA CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND ABOUT THE SAME FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY WHILE THIS ADMINISTRATION IS IN POWER. Please tell me that the republican party doesn’t stand for all the above hypocrisy and mass dishonesty and destruction of the true American way of life.

Bill Powell

Subject: Your Headline, Depends on Your Point of View

Headline from BuzzFlash "... since the passage of No Child Left Behind. Of Course, If It's a Bush Program, It's a Failure!"

I would suggest that Bushco is not incompetent and they have been quite successful. First, forget all rhetoric and understand they are against all government programs that support the working classes. Their goal is a return to the world of Dickens. NCLB was designed to damage public education, it has.

Andy
Miami

Subject: 4/12 Mailbag

Marc Perkel, San Francisco, CA had a contribution in the 4/12 Mailbag in which he gave some opinions about the Catholic Church and disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law leading a Mass for thousands at St. Peter’s Basilica days after the funeral.

I too find it hard to forgive Cardinal Law for moving offending priests from church to church rather than bringing civil law into their crimes. I suspect that Pope John Paul II forgave Law for his distorted decisions of the past, just as he forgave Mehemet Ali Agca, a Turkish, Islamic fanatic who tried to assassinate him. It was an amazing event. In a world where revenge, hatred and violence are common place, the world saw an image of unbelievable forgiveness. Pope John Paul II demonstrated the forgiving capacity of the love of God. We needed and will always need such witnesses of the Pope’s forgiving grace. As to the result of the Pope’s forgiveness, Agca fell to his knees and kissed the hand of Pope John Paul II. If the Pope forgave the man who tried to kill him, I feel confident that he also forgave Cardinal Law after accepting his resignation.

Yes, the Pope acted slowly in addressing the American priest scandal, but his ruling stated condemnation of the pedophilia and a "One Strike and You are Out" for priests who are guilty of this sin. In the following months, 174 guilty priests or suspected of guilt resigned or were taken off duty. Zero Tolerance for priests is the Vatican rule. This does not sound like a church that condones pedophilia to me. Instead, it sounds like a Church that had a horrible problem divulged and met that problem with zero tolerance, plus forgiveness. Forgiving the unforgivable takes a mighty spiritual person. Pope John Paul II was that spiritual person. Although I find it hard to forgive these men, Pope John Paul II is the reason I continue to have faith in the Catholic Church.

John Paul II showed us the way through his life and actions. It is up to us to follow or reject his teachings.

Cathy L.

Subject: mailbag (poll vault)

It's always easy to sense when there is administration panic about Bush's low approval ratings. The latest telltale signs are:

Earmarks of a strategy that ignores any real attempts to bolster ratings through actually doing something positive about the failing policies that are being glossed over.

YT Cai

Subject: Letter to Judge Roy Moore

Hi, Buzz!!

The letter from the "BuzzFlash Reader" who is self-identified as a Jew should be a source of considerable embarrassment to Judge Moore and the Religious Reich - that is, if they were capable of shame (I'm not holding my breath). This Reader understands Christian teaching better than the Reich does. But then, it was Jewish teaching before it was Christian. It's all there in the Law of Moses. Too bad the Reich evidently hasn't paid attention to Scripture.

Jane Hawes
Emporia, KS (red-state Democrat)

Subject: The Window To The World Is Halfway Closed!

Will time strip the illusion of success in Iraq or support it? The Danes say the sky is not less blue because the blind man does not see it! Will logic and reason finally be the swords that cut through the Bush illusion and propaganda of success? We can’t answer that if the Bush/Rove political machine propaganda in collaboration with the media is the ONLY information we get! We can not rely on front page headlines to tell us the whole truth!! The "we will not interfere in the new Iraqi government" myth is believed only by the naïve!

American covert pressure has been used time and time again. Donald Rumsfeld was sent for the NINTH TIME with instructions to the new Iraqi government! Besides the story of his visiting the troops, also on the agenda was to covertly put pressure on them not to ask for a time table for withdrawal! Insiders out of Iraq have said appointments were rushed as the new government responded to the pressure of a disillusioned Iraqi population to get “things done!” In order to do this many unresolved arguments were postponed! There is still mounting tension and growing fragmentation that continues to hold the new government back from making headway!

Mr. Bush bragged about the success of his war policy on the anniversary of the taking down of Saddam’s statue. Yet, 300,000 Iraqis celebrated in Fridos Square by pulling down the effigies of Bush, Blair and Saddam shouting Americans “Go Home!” The protesters also demonstrated against the brutal tactics of Americans, the destruction of Falluja and the rising Iraqi deaths! Yes, they blame insurgents but also blame the occupation!

It is considered an improvement that Iraqis defied insurgents to go to the polls. They should be commended for their bravery! However, it is also known that a great majority urged on by their religious figures were told participating in the election would be a peaceful way to END THE OCCUPATION! At different times Bush and his cohorts have blamed al-Sadr, Sunnis, Al-Qaeda fundamentalists, the Sunni Triangle, and militant outsiders for the dissent, however facts show much of the dissent is HOMEGROWN!

In the meantime death continues of both Americans and Iraqis. From the book Project Censored 2005, many things are NOT brought to the awareness of the American public including this statement:

We have to live under the Bush Administration's one party rule, propaganda, and the general media’s bias and cooperation with them for awhile, but if the media, who is supposed to be our window to the world, operates with the shades half drawn, it's time for us to open the window all the way and let in the light!

Susan Carr
Tucson, AZ

Subject: Contributors to the Tom DeLay Defense Fund

Hi BuzzFlash,

This is a 12 Page PDF that shows all the contributors by Members of Congress and Companies that have given to Tom DeLay's Defense Fund and their Amounts.

http://www.citizen.org/documents/Anaylsis%20of%20Contribution%20Records%202-1-05.pdf

How ironic that some "Self Employed" people that gave are too ashamed to show their company's name or their name. If you find your member of Congress on the list, go to http://www.c-span.org and call or write to your Representative. Let them know how angry you are at them. Then take your business elsewhere when you see the list of companies.

Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT

Subject: Riverbend's Reflection on Iraq

Riverbend could just as easily be walking next to Winston in London in "1984." Sad, depressing, and scary.

Morgan
Rochester, MN

Subject: Re: Justices defend court's independence (USA Today/Yahoo)

Aren't we getting really weirded out at the high court? Link is still there.

So if we promise not to be critical will you step down? I suppose he means if you are elected to a short term then criticism isn't allowed. DeLay is planning on putting into law, I think.

but

You need protection from "democratic dialogue," it is just a little criticism, make that lifetime short and it will be easier, but you are wrong because this is definitely "republican dialogue" from the Critics Corner which is on the far right as you enter the Majority Leader's office.

The internet, is that what Thomas calls the floor of the House which is where DeLay is inciting from, when he isn't doing it from under the rotunda or the pulpit of in any church that will have him? There had to be a first time that I would agree with Thomas because they are on borrowed time, with the right. They only thought the lefties were hostile. Righties are the ones with all the guns and think terrorists should have them as well.

Is he thinking of applying for assistance from homeland security to protect him from Compassionate Christians incited by DeLay? I'll agree DeLay is a terrorist, but he and Michael Schwartz aren't big enough to impale the judges, they will need help.

If they have enough good judgement to be executed, then they have enough judgement to vote, get married or run for office. Most 15 year olds are at least as bright as Tiahrt, whoever he is.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: 60 Minutes

In Orlando, 60 Minutes, with the Italian journalist, was pre-empted by a Billy Graham fund-raising special. Do you know how many CBS affiliates censored the program?

Italian Journalist: U.S. Lied (CBS News)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Tammy Day

THANK YOU MS DAY! YOU SAID IT ALL AND YOU SAID IT WELL AND TRUTHFULLY! BUZZFLASH YOU ARE THE BEST...SINCE BECOMING A DAILY READER IT HAS BECOME APPARENT TO ME HOW LIMITED AND SLANTED THE NEWS COVERAGE IS VIA TELEVISION.

Jane
Green Cove Springs, Florida

Subject: "Loudly, With a Big Stick" by David Brooks

To the [NY Times] Editor:

David Brooks argues that John Bolton believes in the United Nations as a place where "sovereign nations could work together to solve problems," but not in certain "...other people who saw it as the beginnings of a world government." These straw men aren't identified, and Mr. Brooks' only evidence for a world-government view of the U.N. is the opinion of one man at Cornell University. Having postulated an unproven division as to the U.N.'s purpose, Mr. Brooks advances a circular argument that returns to a single proposition: The United States is the most powerful nation in the world, and no international body may restrain our conduct, because we know best. In other words, "Might makes right." John Bolton's track record shows he believes devoutly in that premise.

Robert Lockwood Mills, author/historian
Monroe, CT

Subject: Beetles Named After Bush Cheney and Rumsfeld

Re: "New Slime-Mold Beetles Named for Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld. Entomologists said it was meant as an honor. Yeah, okay (wink wink). 4/14"

You all missed the joke, including Newsday. The genus "Agathidium" is in the family of beetles Staphylinidae - the common name for this group of beetles is "rove beetles" ... Karl Rove ... Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld ... now do you get it....?

see: http://www.spuriousgeorge.com/sg_monkeytroop.html

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Gun Guys

I am a left wing, liberal, progressive Democrat who loves and uses BuzzFlash daily as well as other left (correct) thinking sources. I am also a supporter of the Second Amendment and have owned and used guns for more than half a century.

I belong to no gun rights groups and I believe the NRA is the greatest enemy of responsible gun ownership and usage in the nation. Their irresponsible stands may well lead to the revocation of the Second Amendment.

By contrast, my reading of the positions of the Gun Guys suggests you’ve got them all wrong. I believe they are an enemy of the irresponsible positions taken by the NRA and stand as a stalwart for responsible gun ownership, use, and storage. Take a second look at what they say.

A BuzzFlash Reader