THIS IS PART 2 OF THE MAY 24, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1

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Subject: Little Laura and the protestors .. .looked a little staged to me

Anybody watch the news clip of Little Laura and her little protesters? Seemed like a lot of hype for a small "controlled group of protesters." Reminded me of the "toppling of the Saddam Statue." Is this some PR program designed to make people feel sorry for the besieged Bushies? Like that tiny airplane that went off course, or the grenade that was found near Georgie and now this? Seems like they are trying to drum up sympathy. It's us against the world! Poor us. Not saying there wouldn't be demonstrators, but I have sneaky suspicion that this was all staged for our benefit. There was no way Little Laura was in any real danger. If you look at the tapes from Wolf Blitzer's CNN Edition with Suzanne Malveaux, the video belied the hyped narration. All verbal hysteria and seemed to be a fairly calm entourage.

BuzzFlash Addict

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Subject: that evil coward!

well i'm not surprised! that evil coward talks the talk but never wants to walk the walk! he sends others for that! now the coward had turned the world against us so BUSH SENDS HIS WIFE TO DEFEND HIMSELF AND TRY TO FIX HIS SCREW UPS! this moron would be working at mcdonalds had it not been for the luck of who he was born to!

THERE IS A REASON THEY DON'T TELL HIM THINGS!

da

BY THE WAY, HAS KAREN HUGHES' SON JOINED THE SERVICE YET? BARBARA BUSH IN AFRICA HELPING AIDS VICTIMS LIKE SHE SAID? IS JENNA TEACHING POOR CHILDREN? DO THEY EVEN HAVE JOBS?

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Hello BuzzFlash,

I was with you from the year 2000, and I'm with you today. If it wasn't for you, I think I would have really lost it. But there you were every day, and eased the pain of our stolen votes, and still being here in the dark days we are yet experiencing. I support you when I can (we're senior citizens) You posted several of my letters. Made me proud. Now your writers are so experienced, I felt it time to just be content to read the mailbag and let others share their knowledge, and they do it well.

Sincerely

Angie ... Philly

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Subject: Arnold will be president if not stopped NOW!

No one can beat Schwarzenegger for Guv...NO ONE...Unless...

So many will vote for him just because of his action hero celebrity star, status...like all the people cheering for OJ, people don't think, they react, especially to celebrity-ism. Millions in this State and the whole country for that matter are NOT loyal to any one party or ideology...Rove & the republicans have big plans for Arnold (Republican Senator Orrin Hatch is already getting the ball rolling)...

The republicans are not under ANY circumstance going to let Arnold lose California, the republicans just stole the CA Secretary of State's office a few months ago and that's who counts the votes and the new republican Sec. of State is now bringing in electronic voting machines all over the state of California.

Rove & The republicans are going to lie, cheat, smear, distort, using all their usual tactics to go along with a train-load of money, all the money that muscle head wants and needs so to keep California in the republicans' hands...and the future (Arnold) of the republican party. The media will have their republican owned corporate mainstream media doing all they can to keep Arnold's star rising & glowing, Schwarzenegger is their darling, he sells newspapers and boosts ratings...

The Dems need someone like that. Absolutely the only way the Democrats have a chance to get back the governor's seat and keep the State out of the ultra right-wing religious fascist hands (who are drooling at the thought) IS to have someone with equal star status run on the Democrat side...Like a Warren Beatty, a George Clooney or an Alec Baldwin.

Unfortunately, it truly has come to this, in order to get so many voters with their heads up their ass, to pay attention!!! I can not see any Democrat coming up against Arnold & the republican money machine that's going to beat him... The ONLY way Democrats have a chance, is to have a democrat candidate of the same celebrity status as Schwarzenegger to run for Governor, with lots & lots of money and a Hollywood media machine behind them.

Even then, with the cheating republicans and their republican owned electronic voting machines...The outcome may have already been determined in Arnold's favor, as we sit here and speak!!!! At least a Democrat (Beatty) stood up and said what needed to be said...Did you see how the republicans reacted? "Let's see Beatty say those things in Orange Country." Spoiled babies all them republicans! These same idiots in the California Democratic Party think they can win with an ordinary democrat politician running with a bunch of money…NO way will Rove and the republicans let Arnold lose, they will steal it before that would happen…Arnold's destiny is win California again and become President in 2012…that’s why the republicans will spend and lie and do whatever it takes to make sure Arnold will be elected again.

And these foolish Democrats running right now will get their 48 or 49% and lose, and these same idiots like Art Torres will be saying well, we’ll get them next time. TOO LATE!!!

If the Democrats don’t run someone to match Arnold’s celebrity status, he can NOT be beat. F**k the pollsters, or Union support or any other bulls**t facts you may have…When the republican machine gets rolling the Democrats will be crushed, unless he has that great Hollywood draw and media behind him…The republican won’t be able to point the finger and say what does a celebrity know about politics…because of course they are running a celebrity.

Republicans are bankrupt on ideas that can help the 98% who don't benefit from their economic agenda. As a result, they have to resort to box office appeal...actors, football players, etc.

Why else run Schwarzenator? What has he ever done by way of public service? When Republicans resort to this type of candidate, we need to neutralize that advantage by running a Democrat with a similar celebrity appeal. Don’t make a stupid mistake and then say, we should have run with Beatty or whomever…

Democrats need to be smart for a change and take a page from the republicans…because star power works…Even Michael Moore and others say, there’s no chance of the Democrats winning in California unless they run their celebrity too. Look at the too boring losers the democrats are running right now, Westly & Angelides, nice guys, but when it’s over neither will win…it's all ego on their part.

Al

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Subject: The War for American Constitutional Democracy

To quote a section of

Many of us agree but the follow-up question is, how do we fight back? I agree we should not give up as this is our country, also, but how do we fight against the corporate controlled media, a corporate controlled government and a corporate controlled legal system?

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: You tell those entities, with your phone calls and correspondence, how you feel. You speak up. You also use your consumer dollars to boycott or support, according to your personal values.]

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Subject: Pat Tillman

Why is it, that this entire Pat Tillman story makes me get a sick feeling in the pit of my
stomach? This country is above nothing ... when it comes to selling their war ...

And why would they wait until after the much publicized story ... and memorial service with all the pomp and circumstance ... that no other soldier except Pat Tillman got, that
they break the news about how the man really died?

Pat Tillman was touted as being the most brave american ever....for giving up his huge
Pro-football contract ... to join the army and go and fight for his country ... and many did the same thing after 911.

Dear God, I cannot believe the things that go through my mind..when I hear about things
like this.

And, according to my paper ... he was not just shot once ... he was shot many times.
How long did it take for the troops to kill him? Is that important ... How many bullets ... how many different soldiers fired shots at him?

This one really makes me sick!

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

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Subject: FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and MEMORIAL DAY TRADITION

Another Memorial Day Weekend is approaching, and every American should watch FAHRENHEIT 9/11 again, and again. Before you fire up your grill or head out to some mattress sale, watch FAHRENHEIT 9/11.

Reinforce your emotions ... get angry, get very angry, and never forget what this Bush Administration has done to our brave soldiers and The United States of America. Watching FAHRENHEIT 9/11 over every Memorial Day Weekend should become an American tradition.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Pat Tillman Story is a typical tactic of this corrupt administration

The lies told in the Pat Tillman nightmare are not an isolated instance. This is the pattern of the P R campaign that the likes of Torrie Clark and a corrupt administration and all have put on us. It reminds you of the Jessica Lynch story ... a hero wounded and saved and then come to find out it was all bull. An accident with tragic overtones, a jammed rifle and the United States almost killing her in a friendly fire scene when the Iraqi doctor tried to return her to the US lines. But no, we have to pretend to rescue her.

Every time there is some new story of courage, we find out they phonied the whole thing to cover up a screw up and try to make themselves look good. Or the Italian correspondent being wounded by the USA, bodyguard killed, and we make up a story out of whole cloth to cover up our complicity in this dastardly deed. They are without shame.

BuzzFlash Addict

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Subject: The War for Constitutional Democracy  (BuzzFlash editorial)

Great piece. My sense is that America is quickly replicating Germany in 1933, with an apathetic disbelieving public facing a juggernaut of zealots, hell bent on transforming this nation into a corporo-religious dictatorship. Your conclusion that the time to stop this is right now begs one simple question, how?

The only Democrat who has been consistently fearless is John Conyers. Howard Dean hasn't grasped the subtlety of powerful persuasion and still has his gun aimed smack at his foot. Everyone else on the Left is irrelevant. The media, particularly given Newsweek's tragic and unnecessary retraction, clearly is of no use.

We need a patriot with principles, preferably a Republican who simply cannot see his/her party destroy America, to step up. Why? A recovering Republican is the only one who can make it stick. Democrats have proven to be feckless. Given the mountains of evidence of Bush wrong-doing, the public support of Democratic values and issues and the demonstrable failure of every Bush initiative, they have absolutely no plan, no credibility, no guts. Their reliance on high-road, non-confrontational politics and toxic consultants is as tragic as media's abdication of their role as watchdogs.

So I ask you, how are we going to get traction? Take to the streets en masse? What's it going to take for the vast "silenced majority" of us who believe in science, clean air, a thriving middle class, separation of church and state and our Constitution to get rid of these guys?

David Ellis
Los Angeles, CA

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Subject: Fortas who?

Republicans are guilty of abuse of power. The Republican majority in Congress blindly gives Bush everything he sets his mind to -- regardless of what is not best for the country. The nomination of Priscilla Owen and the furor it has caused is ample proof of their refusal to compromise with Democrats in Congress.

RB

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Subject: Schwarzenegger Begins Fund-raising Journey

Gropenator Schwarzenegger has embarked on his out of state carpetbagger, GOP special interest fund raiser, looking for matching funds for the $80 million of Kalifornia taxpayer money for his unnecessary Republican special interest election.

Arnold is pumping irony, when he wants to kick the butts of what he calls his special interests enemies, the California nurses, teachers and firefighters. Vee haf ways of making this carpetbagger kaput. Protest and just say no.

Jerry Drucker
Tarzana, CA

[BuzzFlash Note: Do you think his "Come to California" ad campaign for tourism will also help fill his campaign coffers?? Nice timing, eh?]

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Subject: Rare news on NPT meetings at UN

Hello, All.

Here's a link to the meetings at the UN on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).

Nuclear Proliferation Treaty talks 'deadlocked' (csmonitor.com)

There has been an almost total media vacuum on this activity, and the UN meeting is now in the third of three scheduled weeks. The opportunity to use this meeting to strengthen the NPT and put the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force may be our best (and last) chance to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and the guaranteed clandestine delivery of nuclear weapons to multiple U.S. cities.

As can be seen by the article in the Christian Science Monitor, the outlaw and spoiler nation in these global proceedings is the United States of America, which seems determined to commit suicide under the "leadership" of GW Bush.

Perhaps, after the fact and after the opportunity has passed, the mainstream press will inform us of the lost chance to join with the global community and system of law to stop our own destruction. The UN itself provides a web site with news releases from the NPT meeting, but so far as I can tell, the mainstream electronic and print media are unaware of any news.

Press Releases (United Nations)

I realize none of this is as important as seeing Mr. Hussein in his skivvies, so perhaps I'm just overreacting.

John F. Williford
Richland, WA

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Subject: RE: Limbaugh (as sent to Howard Kurtz/Washington Post)

Howie, You wrote: "Limbaugh has something like 15 million listeners."

Isn't this a highly misleading number? He has 15 million listeners per week, but that doesn't account for daily listeners. I would imagine that he has 3-4 million listeners who listen every day, which is a far cry from the 15 million number you like to toss around. Please stop with the misleading number. He may have a huge number for radio, but it is a tiny fraction of the public at large.

Surely you can understand this premise.

I also would like to know why Brent Bozo of the MRC seems to have no problem getting on cable, while David Brock of MediaMatters is nowhere to be found?

Tell me about that darned Liberal Media again!!!

thank you,

stevie gardiner
somerdale ,nj

PS- maybe it is my conspiracy minded viewpoint, but how come you spend the first half of your column today quoting conservatives, and then just link to Frank Rich without providing any of his quotes?

PSS - Nice balanced panel yesterday, let's see, a pentagon reporter from UPI (owned by the same guy who owns the Wash Times I think- Reverend Moon), with Moderate Republican David Gergen, and Conservative David Frum. Who books your guests? Where is the liberal view or even the Lieberman wishy washy democratic view?

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Subject: Newsweek, the abused spouse

Buzz,

The Bush admin's relationship with the media is that of abuser to abused spouse. Until recently, it's been in the seduction phase: bribery, endearments, access to secrets - making wife Media feel "special" and anxious to please.

When Media started getting uppity, printing a few words of truth instead of bending down to lick the crumbs that fell from Daddy's lips, the abuser started showing his true face. The Rather affair was the first glimpse of him, the hard, shocking slap to the face. Media took it as an aberration and responded as the newly abused always do: "It must have been my fault."

Now, at a second and worse act of independence by Media, the abuser is showing his truly vicious side. "You think you can walk away from me? I can not only destroy an individual (Rather), I can destroy a whole publishing empire in a matter of days." And for good measure, dangle a far darker threat at the passive and groveling spouse: "Inciting terrorists to riot ... might that be an act worthy of Guantanamo?"

I wonder how the press as a whole will take this revelation of the real face of their erstwhile lover. There have been some surprising articles and editorials in the last few days implicitly supporting Newsweek. It probably won't last; Media will probably need to see very clearly that her life is on the line before she has the guts to walk. But when she does (and I pray she does), she's got a lot of sisters who may join her.

Linda
Tacoma Park, MD

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Subject: 43

The democrats caved again. Due to the republican thirst for absolute power, bush will be the first president in history to get ALL of his nominees for judge approved. All of this with a historically low approval rating of 43%

Diane A.

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Subject: Your editorial of 5/23

Your Editorial was the best piece of journalism that I have read describing the abuse of power by the government since I was old enough to understand abuse of power and I can well remember McCarthyism and Nixon's red baiting of Helen G. Douglas. With your permission, I would like to run it off and put it under car windshields and even better, since I'm a stone's throw from Venice Beach, CA, I'd be willing to bet that the good folks in Venice would be more than willing to spread the word. While I realize, hating bush in Venice is like preaching to the choir, and maybe just maybe, if enough of us can flood our communities we can get the word out about that miserable son of a b****h and his cronies & perhaps they'll stop drinking their kool aid long enough to realize that the sky is really falling!! Please all of you Buzzers make this effort to save America, we don't have much time.

Yours in PEACE

Ruth Gottlieb
Marina Del Rey, CA

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Subject: filibuster decision

perhaps someone could appeal to any of the republicans who have any conscience left to vote down owens, brown and pryor....even tho they could NOW go thru, perhaps they could vote NO and show the world they aren't lemmings. these judges on their own merit should not go thru. read www.congress.org letter to leaders to see how the public is accepting this decision. the right wing is pissed.

karin

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Subject: THE COWARDLY ADMINISTRATION

Greetings, Dear BuzzFlash Readers, from ye old Christian Progressive Liberal.

I don't know, I haven't been feeling ... well, very Christ-like lately. I'm wondering if I'm going on overload trying to keep up with the antics of this Administration and wondering if America has become Orwell's "1984" - where we have to learn "newspeak" these days. Just when I think something's going to crash this house of cards, the Administration finds new ways of spin that would send me to drinking, big time. And I don't drink.

Anyway, I know my articles haven't had too many biblical references - but then again, a studious Christian knows what to say and how to say it, without burdening anyone who hasn't decided to make the call to become a Christian. Hint: it's not what James Dobson says it is. Repeat that until you're convinced ...

The following is to remind you of the need to be ever vigilant. Take care, take charge, stay focused, and may God Richly Bless you. Additionally, props to the National Recognition of BuzzFlash! ...

Some days, I really can't keep up with political events. Having said that, and after reading a godly number of blogs that point out:

Butt-Kicking 101, or "How to Get the Snot Beat out of You" by MP George Galloway;

Newsweek's version of "Thank You, Sir, May I have another?" (Kevin Bacon's character in "Animal House")

Laura Bush being sent to the Middle East to teach a class on "How to Smooth Over Feathers Ruffled by Your Husband",

followed by: The "Saddam Skivvies Skin Pics"...

I have to weigh in on the obvious. For example: I didn't want to be the person who pointed out the obvious: Bush sending his wife to the Middle East to clean up the mess he created. Is it me, or, since Bush is a "man's man," wasn't there just a hint of cowardice in sending his wife to an area of the world where she was placed at considerable risk, by sending her over to the Middle East to make "feel good, and America isn't that bad" speeches? Did he not know of the risk? Or didn't he care?

Has any other President sent his wife to do the job for which he was elected? Would Ike have sent Mamie to the Middle East to smooth things over?

Newsweek told the truth, when Mike Isikoff wrote that story about the prison abuse. They should not have backed down, but since they are literally begging for the opportunity to assume a kneeling position in front of Karl Rove, in their mea culpa, well, that also means that every friggin thing that goes wrong for the Administration in the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, or anywhere else in the world, Newsweek will be held accountable and responsible. Not Donald Rumsfeld, not Dick Cheney, not Paul Wolfowitz, not Doug Feith - no one in this Administration.

Brave people take responsibility and allow themselves to be held accountable. This is something we have yet to see from this Administration - the following words: "We made a mistake," or "We were wrong."

It should not have taken a British member of Parliament to hand Sen. Norm Coleman his behind on a silver platter and call the entire government liars. Every time I see Norm Coleman, I'm always thinking, "If Paul Wellstone hadn't been killed in that plane crash, you wouldn't have that Senate seat."

If nothing else, George Galloway demonstrated the very act of bravery, by facing his accusers head on, never breaking eye contact, never wavering, not being bowed down, and not being broken.

You wonder if any Democrats not named Conyers, Boxer, Kennedy, Feingold, Byrd, Slaughter, McKinney, or Barbara Lee learned anything from a British MP?

And just when the Newsweek debacle is showing signs of dying down, along comes the version of "Saddam's Famous Photo Album" purely designed with the intention of further humiliating someone who really can't be humiliated any more. I mean, who's fascinated by seeing a nearly 70-year-old man in his underwear? Who had the gall, the unmitigated gumption (as my grandmother would say) to take these pictures?

Some poor sod enlisted in the Army, thinking he or she was going off to "Be all they Can Be" and getting short shrift when they were told that the $20,000 payoff for college wasn't going to be there, and they had to pull another six months in Iraq, before they could even be considered being sent stateside. No body armor for protection, food rations that San Quentin inmates would probably riot over, if it were served to them, and getting paid $1300 a month (and I think that's the pay for a Private First Class) to place his life on the line in the name of being a Patriot for his country. The buck private knows he could get a cool $25G's for leaking those pictures to the press; just had to be the foreign press. Unless it was going to be beneficial to the Administration (as in "Big, Bad Cowboy Leader In Charge" enhancement), no MSM would touch them.

Or is this another Karl Rove tactic for drawing the spotlight from where it should go and directing where it doesn't need to be?

The reality is, this Administration is really good at taking credit where they shouldn't, and shlepping off responsibility on to others where they should take it themselves. This is the coward's way out of things - to either hide behind your wife's skirts, or blame the MSM for the poor image of the United States and the Federal Government, instead of owning up to your participation in the mess you created.

First, we have "President Hypocrite." Now, we have "The Cowardly Administration."

And a trip down the yellow brick road to the Land of Oz is probably too late to give this Administration the "bravery" it purports to have. Real bravery comes from within - but if your inwardness is hollow as a pumpkin on Halloween, then cowardice is your only option.

Leutisha Stills
Christian Progressive Liberal

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Subject: QUESTIONS TO ASK OVER AND OVER IN FRONT OF MEDIA RE: REPUBLICANS REASONS-BEST INTEREST OF AMERICANS OR BEST INTEREST OF PARTY?

1. Every time you are in front of a reporter or a camera or somewhere, where you can get this question in the public's mind, ask this question: Are the bills that the Republicans have passed as well as the upcoming bills, in the BEST INTEREST of the hard working American public and the taxpayer or are they in the BEST INTEREST of corporations, and the radical right wing?

2. Why would you trust a party and President who took us from a record surplus to twin record deficits? Why trust these same people to change our safety net, social security? Why aren't they being held accountable for the medicare Rx bill lies about cost and the debacle that is now medicare? WHY WOULD YOU TRUST REPUBLICANS WITH ANYTHING FISCAL??

3. If your child got ill, and perhaps had a chance at a cure with stem cell research, do you really want the religious right to tell you NO, you cannot use science to heal yourself, your parents or your children?

I am sure you can think of important questions as well, but these two are REALLY important to get out in front of the public, over and over and over.

Karin Dicker

P.S. Who wants a senate leader that caves into the right wing zealots and cannot take a stand to help Americans? ALL AMERICANS?

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Subject: Harry Reid's Deal

I read the memorandum of understanding signed by the seven Republican and seven Democratic senators. In a word, it is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I have to hand it to Harry Reid; he's a sly tactician. Rather than risk losing a floor vote on the nuclear option, he was able to peel off seven Republican senators to sign this deal. The bottom line is that the deal saves the filibuster. Essentially, the Democrats have not given up anything. Republicans were trying to use these lower level appellate nominations as an excuse to ram through the nuclear option, so as to spike any future efforts to stop Supreme Court nominations. As BuzzFlash has slyly pointed out, the right wing freepers are fully aware of the fact that they got skinned alive on this one. Bush hung Frist out to dry on this one, knowing full well that polls were showing that the public wants to preserve the filibuster. Karl Rove is not going to let Bush take any more heat on this issue. Harry Reid may not be flashy, but he knows what he's doing.

Donald P. Russo
Bethlehem, PA

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Subject: Homeland Security

How is it possible that the Secret Service has no record of "journalist" Gannon/Guckert comings and goings? Can you imagine where the media would be on this during the Clinton Presidency?

Barry Baker
Bethel, CT

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Subject: Filibuster deal reached ... Another sad day for the republic

An agreement has been reached in order to prevent a showdown over the filibuster of a few of Bush's judicial nominees. The Republican controlled Senate was prepared to invoke what's been termed "The Nuclear Option," which would change Senate rules and prevent the use of the filibuster against the President's judicial nominees. In order to prevent the rule change, which would mean that the Republicans would get an unprecedented control of the Senate as well as the judiciary, the Democrats have agreed to cave on the issue.

This may have averted The Nuclear Option, but now the most controversial judicial nominees will move forward, and given the Republican control of congress, most likely receive appointments to the bench.

The looming vote on changing the Senate rules was critical in showing just how far the Neo-Con controlled administration was willing to go in order to reshape the Nation, going from being a Republic where no single party had complete control, to that of a Fascism. Now some Democrats have instead agreed to pave the road for them.

I really have no words, short of a string of obscenities, that can describe the disgust I have with these Senators and their new agreement, which is nothing more than a pact with the Devil himself.

J. Ryan

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Subject: re: Filibuster Agreement, US Senate

Buzz,

I don't know why you are so sanguine about this "agreement." First off, I never thought for a minute that an "agreement" would not be reached ...Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum ... so the American people will be stuck with three grotesque right wing jurists ... for what? so that the GOP radicals agree to follow the rule of law (not break the law to end the filibuster)?

I would've preferred a real knock down, long drawn out confrontation that would show the American people what the GOP is willing to risk to get its way.

The Dems caved.

D. Shatin
Levittown

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Subject: The Truth About Bush's Judges

This should be an article, not an editorial:

Filibuster issue centers around corporate dollars (Buffalo News)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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