 |
|||
| June 15, 2005 |
MAILBAG ARCHIVES | ||
The BuzzFlash Mailbag The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag. Subject: GOP Wanting to Turn CA into a "Red" State Actually their plans probably go like this. Put key GOP-controlled officials into the election apparatus. And use whatever system allows them to rig the vote in the next set of elections. Increase and consolidate. Then claim that the state is red (i. e. voter support for their policies no matter what the polls show.) The strategy is designed to promote the idea that they own each piece of conquered territory and that they're incontestably the "wave of the future." We've already seen that the supposedly "liberal-lite" governor Schwarzenegger is just another form of Bush GOP control when he stage-manages his press conferences, shills for Bush at the convention, etc. In other words, when you need to, talk one way to fool the voters and then go the other when you don't. Edward Pfeiffer Subject: 2006 Election (2008, Too) Gee w got so much spin out of all those ink-stained fingers during the Iraq election I thought it could work for our democracy, too!! Let's see, no voting machine paper trail, exit polls no good, what are we to do to show that a majority voted the scoundrels out? Blue ink on the finger flashed to the media to PROVE we voted the scoundrels out. Blue state ... blue ink. Lots of blue inked fingers in those red states would be great to see. Paul Euclid Subject: The American Secret Service Now that the Secret Service (that protects the President, but works for the American people) has become a political arm of President Bush, we can now refer to them as the SS. Hitler had his SS and now so does Bush. John Andersen Subject: How to Head off the Religious Right As you know, the religious right has no shame. How to head them off without wasting your time/energy getting into a shouting match. When your self-righteous interlocutor asks, "But you do believe in God, don't you?" Reply, "Define your terms." This stops them every time. When one cozies up to you and murmurs confidentially, "Tell me about your religious life" ... Reply, "Tell me about your sex life." Works every time. Joanne Forman Subject: Are retired US Army Colonels more progressive than Democratic Party strategists? See below quotes. With Rethugs urging withdrawal and coming out against the war over the weekend on TV, I wonder how Joe Biden feels?
Bill Wolfe Subject: Howard Dean Speaks For Me (sent to editorial pages) I am sorry that once again your editorial/opinion page has decided that Howard Dean is fair game for attack. While Dean speaks bluntly, and most frequently without being politically correct, he speaks truthfully, or at least offers his honest opinion. Who can dispute that the GOP is predominately dominated, these days, by white Christians. (As is Dean, I am also a white Christian; but not affiliated with the GOP.) Who can deny that conservative Christians are demanding more and more of GOP leaders, and expressing outrage designed in garnering more support, and overtaking the agenda of the GOP-dominated Executive and Legislative branches? This isn't happening only at the Federal level, it is happening throughout the States of the USA. When Dean suggested that a lot of Republicans don't hold jobs, he wasn't talking about Republican voters, he was talking about those who predominately fund the GOP, as well as GOP leaders. Of course, in quoting Dean, media ignored the real topic. What was the real topic? Voters standing in line for over 8 hours, especially in the poorer areas of counties throughout the country, seeking participation in our supposed democracy (you know the whole "let freedom ring" kind of thing). Now, we all know we aren't a democracy, we are a Republic, based upon democratic principles. Government supposedly represents the people; but how many working class people can afford 8-hour-long waits in line for voting on a typical work day? Didn't we see those long waits in our own country? Then again, what typical Mr. Smith can run for office against the power of money? Or ... What typical Ms. Smith can run for office against the powerful sway of media? I say: "Speak on Howard Dean." It is about time someone told us the truth. Media will only focus on a few words of an entire speech; but those of us who have long listened to Dean, know he is speaking a lot of truths, that media simply refuses to give voice. The war in Iraq was wrong. Killing Social Security is wrong. Running huge deficits is wrong. Appointing extremists to the court is wrong. Killing the filibuster is wrong. Some politicians are corrupt, and should be exposed as corrupt. Today, the Editor and Publisher released a poll result that said media is sinking once again in trust. Only 28% have a great deal of confidence in print media, and if I were one of those polled, I would reduce the number. Of course, if it weren't for Howard Dean, I wouldn't remain in the Democratic Party. You can be equally certain I wouldn't join the GOP. I fear for the future of our country. I hope all honest, thinking, informed, individuals do as well. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Riverbend The last post on the riverbend Iraq girl website was on may 30. She was explaining how the american military was going into neighborhoods and even entering houses. Is this a normal length of time for her not to blog? Should someone start wondering about her? Or, is this typical, and not to worry? http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/ A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: You Are All Too Sadly More Than Correct!!!!!! I am a single disabled mother who is now unemployed and homeless thanks to Mr. Bush and his so-called presidency. I am American Indian and was on the waiting list to have help getting a house built. That program is now a joke as are most other social programs to help the "poor." Thank you Mr. Bush for your consideration to people like me. Do you even know we exist? I didn't end up here because I lack motivation or lack of hard work. I have raised four children and worked two jobs for the last ten years to do it. My children have a deadbeat Dad who has never filed taxes in his life (except when we were married I filed, but he never paid the $250,000+\- tax bill he has which caused me and my children to lose the house we were buying in Guthrie, Oklahoma six years ago). I am sure he is still making around 40 to 50 grand a year as a self-employed carpet layer but a "fake" tax return in court goes a long way. I have made thousands of phone calls over the last six years. The IRS won't do anything and Social Services doesn't have the power to do much of anything that gets his attention. I have tried to collect child support with the help of DHS and a private attorney for years. I wonder if I can still vote without a place of residence? I hope you are enjoying your air conditioned home provided by the American public. My only reprieve during the day is the library where I am sending you this message. I thank the Lord every day that I have two sons in college who can make a difference and bring America back to all of us. I just hope they don't see this because I haven't told them everything that is going on. I don't want to take a chance that it will cause them to drop out of school to help me. Most of my family was marched here to Oklahoma or brought over by ship. I WILL make it somehow. I wonder how well you would do in my situation Mr. Bush. Come join me during the heat of the day in my Geo and we'll talk. A. Lynne Asbery Subject: Howard Fineman's bias (sent to Newsweek) Howard Fineman has been part of the Washington media scene since 1978, but achieved widespread fame during the Clinton impeachment crisis. He was the distillation of inside-the-beltway conventional wisdom, spending most of his face time deriding President and Mrs. Clinton and suggesting, with a smirk not unlike that of George W. Bush, that they must be guilty of something. When the second Bush administration took over the White House, Fineman said with relief, "The grown-ups are back in charge." In one of those marriages with interests that straddle two different Washington camps, he is married to the senior counsel in the Office of Policy and Plans of the Federal Communications Commission. With his background, it was not surprising to read Fineman’s latest screed attacking Howard Dean, new chairman of the Democratic National Committee ("Scream 2: The Sequel" – Newsweek, June 20 issue, via MSNBC). This sentence in particular leapt off the page: "Earlier in the week at an ‘ethnic press round table’ in San Francisco, Dean had branded the Republican Party ‘pretty much a white, Christian party’—as if that were some kind of a crime." First, anyone with a fair grasp of current events understood that Dean was not "branding" anything but simply reiterating a fact that had been stated far more forcefully by former senator John Danforth (R-MO) – an Episcopal minister – in the editorial pages of The New York Times. Danforth wrote on March 30, "By a series of recent initiatives, Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of conservative Christians." Second, even if Dean was speaking in shorthand, the current character of the Republican Party should be cause for alarm. As Danforth wrote, in terms even Howard Fineman should be able to comprehend, "The problem is not with people or churches that are politically active. It is with a party that has gone so far in adopting a sectarian agenda that it has become the political extension of a religious movement. When government becomes the means of carrying out a religious program, it raises obvious questions under the First Amendment. But even in the absence of constitutional issues, a political party should resist identification with a religious movement. While religions are free to advocate for their own sectarian causes, the work of government and those who engage in it is to hold together as one people a very diverse country. At its best, religion can be a uniting influence, but in practice, nothing is more divisive. For politicians to advance the cause of one religious group is often to oppose the cause of another." Fineman and his colleagues whose names appear on the article also try to cast Dean as a weak fund-raiser as well as a loose cannon. However, they are forced to acknowledge that he has significantly improved the DNC’s financial position compared to Dean’s predecessor by strengthening the party’s broad base of financial support among those who gave less than $250 rather than relying mainly on traditional fat cat donors. But what irritated me more than the Republican-oriented spin was that title: "Scream 2: The Sequel." As every honest journalist and most Americans realize by now, Dean’s cheer during a party for volunteers on the night of the Iowa primary was distorted by amplification. Dean was trying to be heard over the enthusiastic crowd, but those in the hall said he was barely audible. Yet MSNBC, along with hundreds of other national and local media outlets, ran the amplified clip of what they dubbed the Dean Scream more than 700 times and Dean’s presidential candidacy was destroyed. A title such as "Scream 2: The Sequel" perpetuates a lie, and those responsible for this article know it. Howard Fineman writes well, even if the inevitable slant is predictable. I am not suggesting that he doesn’t have a right to express his opinion, but Newsweek and MSNBC should label it as commentary rather than passing it off as news. Michael Calmes Subject: Remember Bush's Trifecta Statement? Buzzer's ... Remember what Bush said shortly after 9/11? Quote ... "I never thought I would hit the Trifecta!" It's not the first stupid remark he made in the first year of his administration. But it's the most telling, when you think about what is being revealed now with the discovery of the Downing Street Memos. The media dropped all references of that Trifecta statement he made, and I can see why now. I wish Howard Dean would look into that and bring it up to the public and the media over and over again. It can not be said enough. I want to hear what Bush has to say now about that remark. Just exactly what was he referring to? I want to know ... and no more LIES!!! I'm a former Minnesota Buzzer now in Arizona where I see a lot of Kerry bumper stickers .. no Bush ones though ... A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: Are you referring to this? "The recession -- no question, I remember when I was campaigning, I said, would you ever deficit spend? And I said, yes, only if there were a time of war, or recession, or a national emergency. Never thought we'd get -- (laughter and applause.) And so we have a temporary deficit in our budget, because we are at war, we're recovering, our economy is recovering, and we've had a national emergency. Never did I dream we'd have the trifecta. (Laughter.): -- President Calls on Congress to Show Fiscal Responsibility (April 2002)] Subject: Military Action Won't End Insurgency Military action is what caused the insurgency. How can we hope to end it by staying there? We invaded and destroyed a country that did nothing to us, and when this country fights back we call them insurgents and terrorists, and jail them for crimes we don't intend to explain. We triggered a civil war and nothing will be resolved until we get the hell out of their country. To them, we are the enemy. We created this madness and we are no longer a proud America. Our President lied to us, and continues to lie. His propaganda is being exposed for what it is but we are being robbed of our Democracy and our "America The Beautiful" in the mean time. Red Cross reports 8000 soldiers dead. The Pentagon does not count the soldiers that die after they get to German bases or U.S. bases as dead in Iraq. It's 1700 dead in Iraq, 8000 dead FROM IRAQ. A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: We can't verify, but here's one attempt to count the dead: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/318911.shtml.] Subject: "Little Tin Gods on Wheels!" -- Rudyard Kipling Kipling’s description seems tailor-made for George Bush, his Administration and most Republicans! The problem with these “little tin gods on wheels” is the Iraq and Afghanistan war is not a game! There has been violence and a surge of death in both areas that shows no sign of abating! George W. and his cronies lied us into war, and to this day, they are still lying, denying and ignoring the proof that shows them to be liars! Unlike Bush, and his cohorts, the soldiers and the Iraqis, who have lost their life, are not “tin soldiers,” but flesh and blood! The death of fellow human beings and destruction of a country is real! Bush’s mantra of “we are making progress” or “success” has been achieved, is not believed by 6 out of 10 Americans now, who think the war has NOT been worth it!! Over 1700 deaths of soldiers and about 13000 seriously injured, plus uncounted Iraqis and the rise, not the abatement, of terrorism, flies in the face of the Bush Administration’s assertions! Betting that they are right is like betting the tide won’t come in! Yet these “little tin gods on wheels” continue to slant news their way and deny the truth to all Americans! Just today it has been reported that an explosion near a U.S. military vehicle wounded 4 American troops. On June 1st, in the largest attack since the Taliban was ousted, an al-Qaeda suicide bomber killed 20 people and hurt 40 others! Thirteen U.S. troops have died since March, leaving no doubt of an increase in violence. The Taliban seem to be building and more active, especially in South or Southeast Afghanistan for the past months now! Security issues are prominent and Karzai hangs out in Kabul for this reason! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8197613/ In Iraq Sunni and Shiite leaders seem to be at a stalemate! Many experts, including military experts, believe it will take years to train the Iraqis and so far, in all this time, VERY FEW are considered being operational! On June 10th five Marines lost their lives in a roadside bomb and at least 37 soldiers or more have died just since April 28th when the new Iraqi government took over! Violence all over Iraq has accelerated! Dahr Jamail is one of the very few reliable sources reporting on the Iraq War! His dispatches relate the truth! In the last one, he said: “Recently, the US-backed Iraqi “government” announced it had detained nearly 900 “suspected militants.” A “suspected militant” in Iraq looks more and more like anyone in the wrong place at the wrong time when Iraqi or US forces conduct an operation! Are we winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis, as their cities are destroyed, and their children are orphaned? I think not! If only this was a game, we could take these “little tin gods on wheels” and pack them away in some dark attic! The Iraq War is a meltdown, and it is time we call an end to this war and bring our troops home! George’s game of building an empire has overextended us in more ways than one, ruined our reputation, and it is time we knockdown this “little tin God!” Susan Carr Subject: Despicable actions on Friday Here's a copy of the email I sent to Congressman Sensenbrenner. I hope everyone at BuzzFlash will contact him. His email is: sensenbrenner@mail.house.gov You may also reach his office by calling 1-800-247-2971 and request that you be transferred to his office. He needs to know that while he may not believe in democracy, there are millions of us who do. Dear Congressman Sensenbrenner, Since George Bush won his first election for President, we have watched in horror as our civil liberties have been threatened over and over again. Had Mr. Bush been paying as much attention to the terrorist threats as he paid to cutting taxes for the rich, we may very well have avoided the tragedy of 9/11. And then even after that horrible day of death and destruction, the Administration chose to use the tragedy as a means to an end, as a way to further erode civil liberties. You've been by his side all the way; you'll do anything for Bush and the Republican Party, and absolutely nothing for the people of America. But you really went over the top on Friday when, just like a dictator from a Banana Republic, you abruptly ended a legitimate hearing where genuine victims of the Patriot Act were finally being heard. What is it about democracy that you treat it with such contempt? Do you not love this country and our cherished Constitution and Bill of Rights? Your actions tell me that you're neither a believer in democracy or individual rights. If there was ever a doubt about your true feelings, your behavior on Friday, June 10, 2005 makes it perfectly clear that you have no business in the United States Congress. The citizens of Wisconsin should recall you immediately. You're a disgrace to your state and your country. You're not fit to hold office in the United States Of America. Yours sincerely, Judith F. Maclean Subject: Regarding Congressman Jones' recent call to withdraw troops Reading about "Freedom Fries" Jones seemingly turning on W over the weekend and calling for US troop withdrawal plans raises mixed feelings. As a critic of Bush's wars of choice and oil, and one who supports respect for international law, I have long concluded in my mind that no matter what other course begins in Iraq (and in the US) after a US pullout, the US should commence pullout immediately. In a best case scenario, we offer to pay reparations, submit our leaders (and ourselves) to judgment by an international tribunal, and ask the Iraqi people for forgiveness. But my heart sinks when considering what other harm the neo-cons are likely to place our military and our citizens in if the troops are suddenly available. No doubt they have learned no lesson other than to not collaborate with Brits who save memos, and are even now planning more tragic mischief to be brought down upon the people of Syria, North Korea, or Iran. Certainly the best thing to do is to recall not only our troops from Iraq, but to recall our administration from Washington. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Mailbag 6/13 To Margaret Miller and all the other Buzzers who are standing up for Howard Dean ... I join you and thank you!! We have needed someone with guts for so long ... and as you said, no one denounces North, Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh ... or DeLay. I think they are wussie democrats who want to please the other side, more than their constituents. I say ... tell 'em to go to Hell Howard! As to the reader who wrote in about Harold Ford ... Poor Harold, I used to think he was going to be the first Black Prez in this country. And, this does not mean he will not, but, he has an uncle in the Tennessee legislature who is being sued for some kind of political corruption ... in Nashville. Harold is trying to play both sides of the fence. All dems who are more interested in telling Howard to Cool It ... are always those who are more concerned with keeping their position than they are about the human beings of this country! The country is falling down around them ... and they cannot even see that this corrupt administration has ruined the country ... already ... and I suppose if they think that Bush and his minions are going to rule the country forever ... then they have to suck up ... just to keep their jobs. Personally, I would rather have my conscience! Shirley..............St. Louis Subject: Letter to The Times Of London To the Editor, I beg of you to start writing about America's inept, lame, incompetent news media corpSE (a dead media) as soon as possible in your paper. Include the television news media in your article. Our US news media is so lame over here, I have to go to a Foreign Newspaper and news websites to get the "real news" about the Iraq War. Over here it is Michael Jackson, 24/7, or any other Hollywood Trial. Major Newspapers and television news have done everything they can to kiss Bush's, Cheney's, Rumsfeld's and Rice's Butt and obey their Non-Coverage Orders. So please, send a reporter over here - fast - to report the real news to us!! Tom Wieliczka Subject: Jon Stewart Watcher I could not agree more with the BuzzFlash reader who is tired of watching Republicans on The Daily Show. I am so fed up with it that I have just quit watching. He is going to lose his base just as the DC Democrats are losing theirs. Write to Jon and let him know, I certainly did! Sandy Subject: Fun with Numbers As the cost of the Iraq war closes in on 300 billion dollars, I started to wonder just what else that money could have been spent on. I did not waste time on mundane issues such as social security, education, the environment or the deficit, but went right for national security or protection from terrorist attack. The USA has, according to Google, a circumference of 8,700 miles You could pay a person $86,206 a year to man every 1/4 mile of our border and create 34,800 jobs doing it Granted, this is a one-year price tag, but how long did it take us to spend 300 billion in Iraq? The bonus is what effect this would have on the war on drugs. We might actually start to find some of the contraband. So why are we dumping this vast amount into Iraq? WMD (none) we knew before we went too (oil) Fight terrorism (no connection) we also knew that (oil) Create a democracy and free people (oil) If we want Democracies in the Middle East, how about our allies, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait? What have we accomplished so far? Killed 1700+ of our best Killed ?????? thousand of Iraqis Split two nations - ours and theirs Created thousands more terrorists We have removed the power structure of Saddam. We need to leave, if the Iraqis want a democracy they will establish one without any more help from us. This will result in more bloodshed, but that’s the price of freedom. You remember freedom, don't you? We used to have it before the Patriot Act. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: The Good Doctor Dean It's so good to hear Howard Dean speak, after hearing so many whining Democrats, and so many lying Republicans, I felt dumbed down. It feels like oxygen finally cleared the air and I can breath again. Our Howard tells the truth with confidence, and courage. As so many have quoted Harry Truman's "I'll tell them the truth, and they'll think it's hell," so goes Howard Dean. The Good Doctor Dean tells it like it is, and doesn't have to say he's sorry for saying what should have been said long ago, by our elected Democrat Officials, and they think it's hell. Be forewarned, Democrats, those who aren't with Howard Dean, are against US, "We The People." The Good Doctor will always be in our hearts, when those who wish him silenced ,will be long gone. We love you Howard, just as you are. Keep going forward, and never, never, back pedal, for anyone! Angela (A Long-Time Supporter of BuzzFlash) Subject: No Michael Jackson Thank you profusely for not wasting my time on the Michael Jackson verdict. I realize this e-mail negates whatever time I might have saved as a result of your "oversight," but such is the depth of my gratitude. PS-- Any word on the runaway bride? I MUST KNOW! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: www.democracyforamerica.com Go to this site to help Rep .Conyers and put together new campaign to push the "British Memo" scandal to the forefront ! We need creative minds to do this right and not let the effort die like bush-cheney would like. Give us your best ideas and thoughts. This atrocity needs to be on the front page of every newspaper. Lawton Watson Subject: Howard Dean Is a Phony and a Fraud Most BuzzFlash readers are enamored with Howard Dean. They have been fooled. Howard Dean is a phony and a fraud. He changed his position about the war, now he is supporting the war. When he was a governor of Vermont, he sided with big business in most disputes with the public. Now, instead of talking against the war and addressing the pressing issues of the middle class and the working people he utters stupid remarks that do nothing but distract attention from the important issues of jobs with living wages, health care, fair progressive taxation, secure retirement etc. etc ... Regards. It is time for a third populist party. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: If they are dangerous then charge them with something "The individuals who are at Guantanamo Bay are dangerous terrorists who seek to do harm to the American people," said presidential spokesman Scott McClellan. "We're always looking at all alternatives for how best to protect the American people." Dangerous terrorists should have been charged before now and taken to court, what is the hold up Scotty? Dear Scotty is betting there are more paranoid Americans than sane ones. We have to keep people because of the way they look because that is apparently all the evidence they have. If you have hard evidence then charge them and try them. "Now, does this hurt us from the standpoint of international opinion?" he asked. "I frankly don't think so. And my own personal view of it is that those who are most urgently advocating that we shut down Guantanamo probably don't agree with our policies anyway." Right, use Amnesty International's figures to invade, but not to get out. The crux of the problem is whether they are praising Bush or his enemies. Saddam is abusing prisoners, we must invade. Bush is abusing prisoners, no, if Christians lock you up in the tropical heat for no verifiable reason, don't give you a lawyer or let you see your family it is okay. They have evidence it is hidden in a big trailer with the WMDs. The he said, if we didn't do it in Cuba, we would have to do it somewhere. How about one of the military bases they are closing where it isn't so hot all the time? Connecticut, maybe? There is plenty of room at the ranch for what they claim is like a camp-ground with arrows pointing east so you can know which direction to pray in. Of course we abused them, they asked permission before they did it. Hey Dick more and more are disagreeing with your policies. How about changing policies? But you won't because changing a policy indicates you have made a mistake. We need to teach children that admitting mistakes is evil. It is a little un-Christian, but no harm no foul. Never confess your sins, just demand that redemption. Karen Webb Subject: Everyone knows it's bad, right?
Can the Senate apologize for this, now? jj Subject: Open Letter to The New York Times Dear Mr. Calame: In the June 14th edition of the NYT, under the headline Memo Seems to Link Annan to Contract of Son's Company, Judith Miller again carried water for the Bush administration. By that I mean that her report is the beginning of another "psyops" campaign to discredit Kofi Annan. Clearly, she learned nothing from the public disgrace of her collaboration with the White House, the Pentagon's Office of Special Plans, and Ahmed Chalabi in touting the administration's case for war against Saddam Hussein/Iraq. Kofi Annan was cleared of the same charges by a thorough investigation conducted by none other than Paul Volcker, who was appointed by the president himself. In a transparent attempt to further discredit the United Nations, the administration's black bag men and Judith Miller are now engaging in proffering such statements as:
Absolutely authentic, just as authentic as the CIA could make it -- clearly as authentic as the forged documents that alleged a "yellowcake" deal in Niger. Ahem. Yes, why not change the subject from the disappearance of $8.8 billion of Iraq's money by the CPA? Why concentrate on a thoroughly investigated scandal involving the United Nations when there [is] no investigation by Judith Miller as to why this administration and this congress fails its responsibility to account for those funds? The newspaper's management should be ashamed to be drawn in by such an obvious disinformation campaign. Clearly, Ms. Miller believes she can slide "another one" past a public numbed by the antics of this scandal-plagued and thoroughly corrupt administration. Is this latest "don't look here, look over there" campaign intended to take the heat off the burgeoning scandal the Downing Street minutes have uncovered: the high crimes of the Bush administration? Well, perhaps the White House is more concerned about deflecting the public's concerns with respect to the latest revelations from Guantanamo? There are certainly the earmarks for same, what with Bush, Cheney, and co-conspirators making the rounds of the cable network talk shows. I wonder, what's on the administration's collective mind these days? After all the administration's approval ratings are in the tank only seven months after the so-called re-election of the president, and the "I" word (impeachment) is now only two decibels below a crowd roar ... What I find somewhat amusing about this latest outrage, however, is that the NYT seeks to charge for part of its online content beginning in September. That any thinking individual would willingly pay to be further propagandized is like asking one to bend over with the admonition "smile and act like you enjoy it." Judith Miller, without doubt, is continuing her intimate collaboration with the same traitors who smeared Amb. Joe Wilson and outed his wife, Valerie Plame. No, I have not forgotten, nor has anyone else. I have no sympathy whatsoever for Ms. Miller, regardless of her protestations of innocence, even though she did not actually write a report. After this latest smear against Mr. Annan and the United Nations, it is my belief that Judith Miller displays not one ounce of contrition, exudes not one ounce of decency, and does indeed deserve to cool her heels behind bars for continuing crimes against this country. Perhaps I missed something. Since when did the NYT mind meld with Rupert Murdoch's propaganda-as-news organization? And explain to me, please, why I would pay for content that is suitable for nothing more than wrapping fish? For your own edification, sir, I ask you to do a Google search on the term "Operation Mockingbird" and then ask yourself why you chose to accept your present position. Yours truly, Sharon Andrews Subject: FYI That Everglades buyout scheme, even though it went through the Interior Dept [originally under Gale Norton], was actually hatched by George and Jeb Bush in the spring of 2002 with support from environmentalists who saw it as a way to preserve the Everglades not knowing at the time it would overpay and benefit the Bush's corporate donors with taxpayer money. Not sure if the Bloomberg article ... made this clear or not but the US News & World Reports article on this was very clear this scheme started with the Bush Bros. The Bushes are extremely skilled at using taxpayer monies to their advantage and profit and now are able to dole out more to their friends and donors as well. George Bush's first batch of really big money was made this way when taxpayer money was used to build Arlington Stadium for the TX Rangers. Thanks for posting this article as it is another good example that demonstrates how these people operate for their own self interest and against everyone else's. R. J. Crane Subject: Howard Dean - The Man I join my voice to those of Cathy L., Margaret Miller, and the BuzzFlash Readers, in support of Howard Dean. Howard, YOU THE MAN!!! All the Republican (and, alas, intimidated Democratic) bloviating about how "unacceptable" Dean's remarks are, reminds me of this verse of Scripture: "Stand up to the Devil and he will turn and run." Dean stands up, and the Devil runs. And screams. And whines. Jane Hawes Subject: Letter re Bushies response to AI report on Gitmo Dear BuzzFlashers - On May 28 I sent a letter to the Boston Globe on Condoleezza Rice's dismissal of the Amnesty International report on Gitmo. Neither my letter or any other appeared until this Sunday, when 7 were published, including mine. Here's my text as it appeared.
There have at last been some calls for closing Gitmo. Cheney will have none of it. At the National Press Club yesterday he said the detainees were being treated better than "by virtually any other government on the face of the earth." But even he offers no defense for the continuing secrecy and lack of judicial process by "our great democracy." http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/14/politics/14cheney.html Meanwhile the drumbeat about the blatant lies to the American leading up to the Iraq invasion revealed by the British memos won't die away, despite the best efforts of the NYTimes and others in the MSM. This story by Todd Purdam on the memos appears today (June 14) on A6. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/14/politics/14downing.html?pagewanted=all Purdam writes, astonishingly, that the memos "are not quite so shocking ... the near-conventional wisdom ... held that Mr. Bush was determined to topple Saddam." Well, yes and no. Mr. Bush had the gall to say as recently as last week when Blair was here that he really hadn't decided to go to war until the last minute! Is the rule that it's OK for the president to lie through his teeth as long as the "conventional wisdom" has the story otherwise? On the same page as Purdam's article, and almost of equal length, is one by everyone's favorite Judith Miller about yet another link of Kofi Annan to the oil-for-food scandal. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/14/international/14food.html?pagewanted=all Maybe one of the reasons the administration is so eager to get Bolton up to the UN is so he can wrestle Annan to the ground. I understand that the US is not without blotches on its oil-for-food program record. Now that the Michael Jackson trial is over how many days will it be before the TV media come up with some other distracting scandal to keep the minds of the masses off the real action? Colleen Clark Subject: Hypocrite John Cornyn, Texas Senator Well, he’s not a Hypocrite; he’s just a junior Goebbles. I wish Buzz could get his interview with Suzanne Malveaux on Inside Politics this afternoon right now as I type this! Just listen to how he answers the questions! He makes me want to gag. I can’t even type them there are so many!!!! Check it out. Barf! It’s the language that the Republicans have mastered so supremely, and the Democrats are stuttering and stammering on TV (except Katrina), all the while they say “to my friend ...” here and there, or God Bless America. John Cornyn is a sleeper. Watch out. There needs to be a heads up about him. Really. Betsy Subject: Calling Sensenbrenner by his True Name Dear BuzzFlash, Given his hiding the national ID legislation in one bill, and his proposal to force family members to rat out their drug-using relatives or go to jail for 2 years in another, his name cannot be "F. James Sensenbrenner." It's F. James Stasibrenner. After all he wants to turn us into Communist East Germany. He might also be called F. James Stalinbrenner. Jim P. Subject: David McCullough I just read the guest contributor's comments on David McCullough's lecture at the Heritage Foundation. This person does not know David McCullough. I know David McCullough and he does not have a partisan bone in his body. His love of history is his driving force. I did not see the video because I am still at work and I can't open it at work. However, knowing him as I do, I think he was just being polite regarding the opening remarks made by the Heritage Foundation. Regarding his quote at the end, it was just that - a quote. I don't see what this person is talking about. "Real Americans?" I am one of the "Real Americans" he is writing for by making history readable - by creating a story. Just like his book on the Johnstowne Flood, when you knew what happened - that the dam bursts and many lives were lost - you were at the edge of your seat reading what lead up to it, even knowing what was going to happen - his books on Truman, Adams and now George Washington are woven as a story to make it more readable for "Real Americans." That's all he meant by that. I am very much a liberal and am suspect towards the Heritage Foundation, but I think this person read way too much into his appearance there. Oh, and limiting government power is also a Libertarian ideal, so I don't know why the guest contributor objected to that comment either. Ilene Flannery Wells Subject: Leaving Iraq Well, on the one hand it's good to see that the American people have seen the light and now believe that the Iraq war was not the best use of our resources. But it pains me to say that that change is for all the wrong reasons and that, unfortunately, the American people will never suffer the consequences of their actions. If, for instance, the United States were forced to suffer the consequences of its illegal conduct, as are other countries in similar circumstances, we would be paying reparations to the government of the country we illegally invaded. We would pay to compensate that country for the loss of life of its citizens and the destruction of its property, as well as paying punitive damages, so that we would remember for a very long time that we had done something very wrong. What would America look like after the imposition of international sanctions? Well, first, much of our government's income would be taken by the victim country. This would mean that there would be little money for roads, for schools, for social services, for police and fire protection, for medical services and the like. Streets would not be cleaned, garbage would remain uncollected, and life would become much more miserable on a daily basis. Americans would be forced to pay much higher taxes to assist in providing compensation. This would mean that many people would have to double up, as people would no longer have the incomes to maintain their homes. Young people might have to leave school to go to work to help support their families. There would be little money for entertainment or leisure. People would no longer be able to drive much, let alone purchase SUVs. (Hmm, within every cloud there is a silver lining.) Life for most people would be very much like life in some of the more hard-pressed developing nations. Luckily, for us, however, this will not likely come to pass. And our fellows can change their minds -- deciding one minute that we have to invade a country, overthrow its government, murder its citizenry, wreck its infrastructure, and humiliate the survivors -- and then the next minute decide that the "cost" is too high, too many of our people are dying, and shouldn't these people just take care of themselves? Frankly, I think it's just one more example of the amazing willingness of the American middle class to countenance the suffering of others. Alison Brennan Subject: Validity of Downing Street Memo It has been noted by several blogs that the papers called Downing Street Memo were actually the Downing Street Minutes generated by British Parliament. They are recorded and certified as MINUTES of their meetings. Nothing can be more authentic or reliable than that. The Rove Machine is good at attacking validity and authenticity as a way to deflect from the main issue. In this case, the main issue is Bush fabricating and falsifying ( and we all watched him do this on national television), not the veracity of others. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: What the Hell Is Really Going On? A male prostitute slipping by secret service on a daily basis under an alias POSING as a reporter. Some mysterious stranger posing as an agent escorting people out of a so-called PUBLIC EVENT over a dissenting BUMPER STICKER. A CORPORATE OWNED AND CONTROLLED MAINSTREAM MEDIA. A Patriot Act passed quickly and quietly BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. Passage of a NATIONAL ID act (Papers Please). Stories upon stories of atrocities and continued human rights violations abroad AND at home, as Bush smugly insists "Freedom and Democracy" and Condoleezza Rice defends to the teeth his so-called right to be WRONG. A hearing about continued violations of the Patriot Act suddenly and inexplicably shut down. Stolen elections, rigged voting machines. The situation gets weirder and weirder. All I can do is visit sites like Buzzflash, Democracy Now, Common Dreams, and other sites dedicated to the real truth and true human values and say a great big THANK YOU! for all your hard work and dedication and the honor you pay the people of this country and abroad who hold these values dear and continue to seek truth under the continued onslaught of Bush/Cheney Propaganda. My heart goes out to ALL the families who have suffered at the hands of these people, American AND Iraqi, Afghanistani and ALL the families of foreign countries who lost sons and daughters in this ATROCITY committed by madmen. It's time for IMPEACHMENT and a HIGH CRIMES TRIAL with SWIFT JUSTICE. Just out of curiosity I looked up the Nuremberg Trials last night. I couldn't help but notice those who were found guilty seem to pale in comparison to the massacres Bush has and continues to commit. As I read article 6, 7, 8, 9 of the Nuremberg Trials I felt like I was reading a commentary on what's happening NOW TODAY. THANK YOU BUZZ for keeping us abreast of what's really going on and for your continued digging and digging for the truth. Just for the record I am a Christian and have been since a teenager but my Christianity is more the American Friends Service Committee Quaker Peace Testimony kind of Christianity. Social justice, helping the poor, true compassion, what the neo-cons would call "DANGEROUS LIBERAL." I consider that a compliment coming form them. I used to watch the 700 club on occasion but the day I heard Pat Robertson implore his viewers to support Bush and vote in favor of his social security "reform" I QUIT watching in disgust. Keep on keeping on Buzz. As these madmen in their quest for power continue their onslaught on our freedoms and all we hold dear, we need you more than ever. Here's a thought. As these power-hungry neo-cons increase their draconian measures, WE need to print up copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, the Geneva Conventions AND International LAW. We need to circulate those copies EVERYWHERE with these words at the bottom: THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT!!!! Then about three million or more of us need to march hand in hand to Washington chanting "YOU DON't have the right!" "You Don't have the right!" "We won't do as you say because you DON'T have the right." "NO National ID, you don't have the right!" We WON'T comply because YOU DON'T have the right." NO Patriot Act, you Don't (as in DO NOT!) have the right to violate us in this way. No secret detentions, no behind closed door hearings.YOU DON'T HVE THE RIGHT. Rich American blood was spilled in past wars precisely so these atrocities would not happen. Quite simply THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT! Thanks again BuzzFlash. Dominie K. Robinson CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE JUNE 15, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG |
|||
| back to top | |||