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| September 28, 2005 |
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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. THIS IS PART 2 OF THE SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 Subject: Call Your senators As most already know, the vote to confirm (or deny) the nomination of Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court (as Chief Justice no less) will take place this week. What I have read, it will happen either Wednesday or Thursday. What seems to have happened is, the frequently used toll free number to the Capitol switchboard has been jammed (ala the New Hampshire 2000 election). Here are two other toll free numbers to use to call your senators, or the senators who seem to have difficulty being members of the loyal OPPOSITION: 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588 My senators have already let their votes be known (opposed). Others have already voted in favor of this nomination (Kohl, Feingold, Leahy in particular). I have called these senators' offices and urged them to change their position in the floor vote. I also advised both the senators from Wisconsin that I would be happy to work to unseat them in their next elections as hard as I campaigned for the Kerry/Edwards ticket last year. And I will. We have such a short time to work on this. Please call the senators - any senators and urge them to vote against the nomination of John Bolton. Leslie ....... Evanston p.s. The rally and march in DC was amazing! It was so much larger than the last time I was there. (March 2003) I took my BuzzFlash tote on the trip and that was a good thing, I had many people ask about it. I hope this drummed up many more buzzers... or are we flashers??? I forget. Subject: "That's Outrageous!" Down through history, civilizations have ended for many reasons--incompetent leadership, wars, famine, and natural disasters. However, another reason can cause more internal strife, revolution and even collapse of civilization. It involves a country in which a small portion of the population manages to gain most of the wealth. Throughout most of history, this was mostly by the ownership of land. Today, in the United States, this process is progressing at a rapid pace with the wealthy becoming ever richer, aided by the Bush administration and the Republican majority in Congress with huge tax cuts which are enriching them at an even faster rate. It is like a snowball rolling downhill getting ever larger as it picks up speed. The US citizens are in dire danger of losing control of their country to fascist elements gaining complete power by giving their supporters everything they desire in return for their huge contributions to keep them in power. We are witnessing the abuse of power, wars, corruption, illegal activity, incompetent and irresponsible leadership. All driven by the creed of greed consuming and threatening the very existence of this country and its citizens. It's a wonder that more corporations don't go belly-up through internal corruption. That is why I quit buying stock. The following are excerpts from the October Reader's Digest, "THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS!" (Michael Crowley).
RB Subject: Comment on Tim Russert's Purpose in Life -- A BuzzFlash Reader Contribution Great piece on Russert. For some time now I have said to friends that Russert's show should be called "Gotcha'" when it comes to liberals, "How ya doin'" when it comes to the Republican Religious Right. "Meet the Press"? Hardly. With every good wish, Steven Jonas Subject: Mike Brown - Shoving blame down the wrong hole Hi BuzzFlash: I read your news piece about Former FEMA Director Mike Brown blaming Louisiana officials for the pathetic Federal Government response to Katrina. As I read Brown’s petty, pathetic, self indulgent, denials of culpability I could only think of one analogy that fits this situation. Mike Brown blaming state and local officials in Louisiana for the post Katrina disaster is like blaming the one surviving victim of a plane crash for not rescuing the other victims. God knows how many officials at Homeland Security and FEMA are even more incompetent than Mike Brown. The thought of these people being in charge of our safety and security is enough to make you scream in horror. Today Mike Brown told his story to the world and ended up looking even more like an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny man than he did before. He would have done himself a favor if he would have behaved like a real man and gone silently into the dark night. But as everyone knows the term, “real men” and “Bush team” isn’t synonymous, that is if you don’t count Condi! Carolyn in Tennessee Subject: Censorship in Broward County Florida
This is not the first time a movie was banned by order of the Cuban community. Fahrenheit 911 was banned last year with little notoriety. I believe it is time that an end is put to censorship in our library. There will be protests at the library on Monday night and we are trying to schedule a nearby room to screen the film for those who want to see it. Gene Subject: I suppose the republicans just don't want Louisiana in their column
What an incredibly arrogant load of poop. How dare they tell people to go to the nearest high ground which was the Convention Center when the levees overflowed without telling him that on Saturday? Brown said: "Those are not FEMA roles. FEMA doesn't evacuate communities. FEMA does not do law enforcement. FEMA does not do communications." They also don't stage supplies and get them to people for 5 or 6 days, so what is it that they do? This is beyond the pale, if they don't fry this jerk's butt, he is getting off easy. I hope he never gets a job in Oklahoma again. Colorado can have him. He is absolving himself of all guilt, so I guess that leaves it all to Bush. You guys in the news keep your ears open because I would like to know where this dude finds work because wherever it is I don't want to be going there. Karen Webb Subject: Bush and Brownie Dear BuzzFlash: Now we hear of Mike Brown blaming local and state government for being ill-prepared for the hurricane Katrina devastation. When usually sycophantic Republicans like Rep. Shay even criticize Brown and call him "clueless," you know you've sunk to new lows. Just in case anybody hasn't figured it out, Brown was providing Bush's response to the criticism and taking the fall for it while Bush flies around Beaumont and acts "concerned." Bush himself was frightening in a sound bite featured on "The Daily Show" when he said he was interested in seeing how local and state governments work. Like Jon Stewart pointed out, wasn't he a governor? Of Texas, which took the brunt of Rita? No wonder talk radio has to pound its sucker audience all day long to cover for this imbecile. Of course, not much can be said for anybody who listens to O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Beck or any other shill. These people are simply beyond educating. Scott Subject: Turning the Tables Dear Buzz, I was there in Washington at the Sept 24 March. I know it is hard to believe, because I am nobody special, but I was interviewed by both NPR and The New York Times. It seems my sign "Make Levees Not War" was of interest to them. NPR did not broadcast the interview they did with me, nor did Michael Janofsky write a word of his interview with me. He did mention my sign. Of course I may have offended both of the reporters by turning the tables on them and asking them if they thought the media was doing a fair job of covering the Bush administration. Both said they thought their respective outlets were doing a good job. My response was a surprised "really?" I asked them to look at the people at the rally. We are ordinary people. We don't have a lot of money; we can't influence politicians with huge campaign donations. This rally is our way of trying to get the politicians' attention. We need the media to help us tell our story. Please help us...I pleaded. Obviously my words fell on deaf ears...or they are just as helpless as we are. Despite my disappointment with the Media, I loved the rally. It was great just being with people who feel as I do...people who have strong misgivings about Mr. Bush. Thanks Buzz, Raging in Alabama Subject: Lynndie Got Busted How come young women get the rap for the criminals who are ordering them to torture their prisoners? I think that we need to go to the top and send mr bush, cheney, and all the rest of the gang to jail for at least 10 years! Enough said. I can write if you want. Let me know and and I'll deliver. Patrick Clark Subject: A Real Leader Dear Buzz, Just read the link from you re: NO Police Chief Resignation. I do agree, Bush and a whole lot of other people need to resign. I object however to your characterization of the Chief's failure. I would ask you to walk a mile or two in His Shoes... He has served as an officer for 26 years, in a job where life and death were a daily occurrence, and as everyone knows a person who deals/lives through such a crisis as Katrina, and all the aftermath, can reach his limit. I know my nerves would be shot, and I might want to step down too... He should not be denigrated for his decision, for it may be the honorable and right thing to do. Give the man a break!! I have been a loyal and supporting buzzer for a very long time. I can hardly believe your headline... must be a slip, because I trust your input on a whole lot. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Privatization Through Disaster; Redistricting Through Evacuation Dear Buzz; When we were attacked in September, 2001, this administration gave us The 'Patriot' Act. I fear that with this hurricane season, this administration will force privatization on us. Privatization of education, government services, first responders (police, fire and emergency medical) and perhaps military (Halliburton taking over for the Army Corps of Engineers?). The GOPNAC talking points seem to hover around how everyone else did everything wrong, and how they (and only they) can solve the problem. How long will it take for these criminals to create a Homeland Security-like department to insure our taxes are funneled into GOPNAC faith-based groups to protect us from their policy disasters? I have read many things on the tragedy of the recent hurricanes, but not much about the change in voting patterns resulting from the evacuation of the poor, African-American electorate of New Orleans. Did the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans vote predominately Democratic? If they did, where are they now? Will they be eligible to vote absentee from wherever the hell they are now? Not to mention, how many citizens will be scrubbed from future voting rolls for 'looting'? What will happen to the elected leaders of the area, now that there is no longer a district, per se? Many people are warning about the inevitable gentrification of New Orleans, and perhaps now that the Lower 9th was evacuated to predominately GOPNAC TexASS, Disney-fication and so much more is all but guaranteed. One can only guess how the GOPNAC will take advantage of this 'opportunity'. Only Republicans would exploit the disaster their poor leadership created. The Donkey Subject: Help Wanted: Leader Position Vacancy Where is the liberal leadership? Where is that loud strong voice to lead us out of chaos? All the name brand Democrats are being oh so careful to position themselves carefully in the middle. “We cannot afford to lose this war now that we are in it,” they say. “We must not abandon the Iraqi people yearning for freedom.” It would seem that a majority of Americans disagree. According to top Republicans and democrats we just need to be educated about the war and we’ll all happily jump back on a bandwagon that is getting emptier by the day. There were always a lot of Americans who were ambiguous about the war. Somehow they just didn’t quite connect the dots from 9/11 to Iraq. They saw some wisdom in attacking Afghanistan but Iraq, not so much. Many kept quiet as they saw any dissent savaged as a lack of patriotism. The media pounded the war drums so loudly it was difficult to hear anything else. Why doesn’t the Democratic leadership understand what people really want? Out of war, out of debt, more jobs, less tax breaks for the rich, and competent people in positions that mean life or death. We as a people seem to accept the fact that our leadership is always corrupt. We just want them to be good thieves and leave some scraps for the little people, hmmm? It is difficult to lead Liberals. We do not march in lockstep as the republicans do. We are individuals with different ideas of what we want from our government. We go to church to pray, not to be told how to vote. We don’t always vote the party line and we insist on thinking for ourselves. Nowhere is there any sign that the democratic party has any idea of what to make of all this. Bush is sinking and the democrats gleefully think that is enough. To paraphrase Bush the Blunderer; “If you don’t stand up, we may all just stand down.” Liberals I’m afraid don’t just want you to say you will lead; they expect you to actually do so. Talking points may be enough for the right but liberals expect that you actually say something that means something. There is an army of us out here in grassroots land waiting for a leader to come forward. Waiting…and waiting…and waiting… Marjorie L. Swanson Subject: Al Gore What a different America we would have today if Al Gore wasn't cheated out of his presidential bid in 2000. We would have no war with Iraq; a healthier environment; more respect from our allies; less division by race, class and political party; better economics; a stronger America based on American ideals rather than distorted ideals that give more power to the rich vs. no power or perks for the rest of us. Best of all we would have an accountable government, run by honest men who want the best for all Americans. Loretta Dabbs Subject: Swallowing the Ultimate Bush Cover Up Too few Americans are aware that the cause of our national health crisis is reflected in our collective acid reflux. The right to choose what we swallow has been replaced by patented, fee based food from Monsanto. The makers of PCB's and Agent Orange now grow 45% of our corn, 85% of our soy, provide most of our dairy laced with hormones and more. Below is an excerpt from the scientific study which supports a world wide ban on the rBGH dairy hormone dating from 1983. It's still banned worldwide but generously supported by USDA subsidy for Americans. Is rBGH milk labeled? No. Do consumers get a right to choose if they want to swallow it? No. Are we free to choose what we eat? No. Why does the whole world ban it from their food supply? Read on...
Are Americans seeing rates of these diseases increasing from 1983 levels? Yes. Who are the primary drug companies offering remedies? Subsidiaries of Monsanto including Pfizer and Searle. Surprised? Alternate news needs to start covering the issue of food. This might even bring a few of the religious right into the fold when they discover that God's bounty has been legislated into the chemical industry's domain and pesticides in plants (PIPs) are fee based foods USDA approved. Check out the organic consumers site to see what's been going on as they team with the tobacco boys of Phillip Morris hiding behind the trusted names of Nabisco and Kraft and more to put illness on America's table. This is the tip of the iceberg. There are land grabs and the systematic elimination of family farms as well but let's start with putting the issue of our food on the table. Let's add the the voices of a group who've been refusing to swallow bull**it for over a decade. Thank you. Pamela Drew [BuzzFlash Note: ... not our area of expertise ... but thanks for sharing your take on this.] Subject: Hurricane Katrina Not having read the columns every day, I do not know if this Web site has been identified before. Anyway, if you go to ... http://www.volunteertoday.com/Firstperson.html ... then go down to "Hurricane Katrina-Our Experiences by Larry Bradshaw and Lorrie Beth Slonsky," you will see how racism is still alive and well in New Orleans. It makes illuminating reading. Colin H. [BuzzFlash Note: The link is to the Katrina survival tale of Larry Bradshaw and Lorrie Beth Slonsky.] Subject: "Brownie" After watching almost all the Michael (You're doin' a heckofa job, brownie") Brown hearings, he is taking a page from the playbook of our leader. He is not to blame for anything that happened in Louisiana...the locals were to blame there, you see...not in Mississippi, Alabama..or Florida. He could not hide his politics there. It was, of course, the dysfunctional leaders of the state and local government...period! Poised to answer questions..with his sidekick, Tony Soprano over his right shoulder..he blamed and blamed and blamed.!! Much like Bush did in both of his fund raising events during the time...even after he asked Bill Clinton once again to do the S+++ work for him....he spoke at a fund raiser, and according to our paper....blamed every one of the Presidents since Carter...even Reagan for all the things that have gone wrong in his administration (of course, Bill Clinton)! He literally blamed every president, including Reagan...but, not his father....for all the hell that has wrecked this nation since he became president. Even Michael (you're doin' a heckofa job, Brownie) said, that in the past few years, FEMA had gone from about 2500 employees down to 500...and whose fault do you suppose that is...is it Reagan...is it Carter...is it Clinton.....not!! Homeland Security was so very important....it is Bush's Baby! Bush is so delusional, it is scary...and he is getting away with it. Already, rightwingers, including Tim Russert are watching his back. I hope when the next disaster comes....the backers will get it first...'cause they will never blame the man, even then. A local talk show...that never delves into politics....took a turn yesterday and did an hour about whether we should get out of Iraq. He asked specifically for people who had been there....and others to call in. Most who called agreed that we should get out...one guy said no, because the place would crumble into a civil war like the world has never seen. One man who had been there for two tours...said, yes...it is horrid. He said, they literally hate us over there, my entire unit agrees. He said they spat on them...they throw rocks at them and call them names....and they had devised a bomb using a cell phone....and would set it to go off when the number rang...put it beside the road...and when they come by...ring the number and it blows up onto the vehicle they are in. He was stringent about his ideas...and even agreed that they would be in utter chaos if we left...but, he said it was absolutely insane to stay there! Lord help us all...this country is doing without so much because of this war....I think the insane leader's father might not even agree with it now! At first, I think they all thought it was going to be good...(the family)...and I think they thought it would make his place in history...but even fools have to admit it is over at some time! How in God's name...can republicans still back this man?? Shirley..........St. Louis Subject: Meet the Press: Is Russert Serious? It's tempting, sometimes observing Tim Russert's demeanor in dealing with guests, to consider him a semi-serious journalist. But as Gary of Medford, Ma. points out, he feigns serious questioning to those who really ought to be seriously questioned on certain important developments (Pres. Bush, V-P Cheney and the like) while pretending to grill folks like Katrina victim Broussard over meaningless detail (the gist of the man's story was believable). Russert also does not follow up by making certain guests stick to (and not simply deflect) the questions posed (prime example: Ken Mehlman, a consummate avoider like McClellan); and if guests present answers that suggest a more serious delving beyond the superficial response, he won't pursue and call THEM on their senseless/scripted answers when, as a journalist, he ought to be. Call me disappointed, at a time when we NEED more probing high-profile people in the news business... Randy FINALLY, someone has nailed Tim Russert, the milquetoast of network television. The guy has no principles and always softens the blow for the Bush Administration. Thank you for all the great work you do. Jody Hoelle Subject: Rally Sept 24th Well I was at the Rally on the 24th, I have been in several crowds ranging anywhere from 500K to over 1 Million and this crowd was EASILY in the 500K range. http://win20ca.audiovideoweb.com/ca20win15004/DCMARCH2005512K.wmv 25-30 abreast non-stop just like this for about 5 hours is obviously to anyone with 2 brain cells to rub together a lot more than 150K. http://win20ca.audiovideoweb.com/ca20win15004/march512K.wmv There were bus loads of people there from every state. Meanwhile how many were at that PRO-War rally again? Oh yeah ONE busload LOL Here ya go count them. I did while I was there and never could get past 147 and that was counting everyone on stage and the cameraman LOL rtsp://video.c-span.org/archive/iraq/iraq092505_honorrally.rm?mode=compact I think the question that should be asked is WHY the Mainstream media flatly refuses to cover 100s of 1000s of people marching on Washington DC, yet covers something as ridiculous as the Schiavo case ad nauseam. We have a Lame Duck idiot in the White House that is a total failure, his poll numbers are in the 30s and falling, he LIES continuously, so what exactly is it going to take? Nunyabiz Subject: The Republican Spin Machine I really don’t understand how the republican spin machine has been so successful, are the American people so utterly ignorant? Every immoral, illegal and unethical question brought up against them has been countered with either, well the Democrats did it too, or I had no knowledge of it. Why would either of those two answers be acceptable? The 1st answer, well the Democrats did it too, is like a murder suspect using the fact that there have been other people who committed murder before he did as a defense. I was taught as a small child that just because someone else did something wrong it was no excuse for my behavior. The 2nd answer, they didn’t know about it, says they are incompetent and they don’t have even the basic skills to perform their jobs. Neither answer would stand up in a court of law so why do they stand up in the court of public opinion? Cary Subject: GEORGE W. BUSH'S ALCOHOLISM The Republican Party needs ALANON. ALANON is the 12-step recovery program for families, friends of alcoholics. The Republican Party exhibits a lot of the qualities of an enabling ALANON: George W. Bush is an untreated alcoholic. What that means is he exhibits all the traits of an active alcoholic while not drinking (open to question). Those traits being: blaming others, justification for his behaviour, never, ever taking responsibility for his actions, not dealing directly with the consequences of his behavior, etc., etc. People who work with him have often said they tiptoe around issues, because he has a hair trigger temper when he's told something he doesn't want to hear. CLASSIC ALCOHOLISM. The United States of America is living under the cloud of alcoholism. WE HAVE AN INFANTILE, UNTREATED ALCOHOLIC AT THE HELM, AND LAURA AND BARBARA BUSH ARE CLASSIC ENABLERS, OFTEN COMING TO HIS DEFENSE, OR SPEAKING ON HIS BEHALF. THE PRESS ALSO ENABLES THIS SERIOUSLY ILL MAN. Everyone around George W. Bush has given away their power to this sick man. Analiese Miller Subject: Oh Happy Day! I read the yahoo piece last night about the indictment coming for Tom DeLay today. Even so, how happy and surprised I was to hear on NPR that he was indeed indicted. The last time I was that happy driving in my car was when I learned that Jim Jeffords had switched parties giving the democrats temporary control of the Senate. I still remember the night the house of representatives voted to impeach Clinton and how DeLay sneered into the camera and spoke the most vile, hypocritical words. I wish he was indicted on more than one count, but let's hope it packs a big punch! Andrea B. Subject: Re: 9/28 headline on Bush "hitting the sauce" again Dear Buzzfolks: Thanks for pointing this out. I've been writing (for at least two weeks now) that the Chimp is obviously on SOMETHING. I should know. I grew up with alcoholics on both sides of my family, and I know what they look like (even if they use enough mouthwash not to SMELL) and how they talk and act. The signs are unmistakable. Of course, it's quite possibly a combination of booze and drugs. (Would that surprise anyone??) My family members weren't rich enough to afford the "in" drugs; they settled for booze. But they eerily resembled our Chimp in Chief in all respects. I had my suspicions when W fell off his bike (more than once). When he kept (keeps) disappearing to the faux ranch for weeks at a time. When he fell off the automated scooter. When he choked on a pretzel and got his face all bruised and battered; not even make-up could conceal it. (My father, an alcoholic, used to fall off the sofa regularly; even HE didn't look as bad as the Chimp. I mean, what is it? 2.5 feet from sofa to carpet?) And this...alcoholic/addict...is in charge (well, nominally, at least) of OUR COUNTRY? Making decisions to go to war on false pretenses? Planning to gut the programs that keep the poor and middle class members of our society alive in order to further enrich the haves and have mores?? We need a second revolution. Like before 2006! (If you don't hear from me again, you'll know I've been nabbed by the Internet Police.) NOTE: I'm not putting people with alcohol or drug problems down. Many have sought help and are in programs that help them to change their behavior. I admire that. But decades-long denial combined with nearly unlimited power -- and getting less and less limited with every law that gets shoved through Congress -- is a deadly combination. I'm sure you've all heard the slogan: "Don't drink and drive!" Well, it's time for a NEW one: "Don't drink and drive a country into the ground." Barb in Athens, GA Subject: Giveemhellharry.com Nevada's Senator Reid has just set up a great new site: You can click on and sign his petition asking the big oil honchos why they refuse to appear before the Democratic Policy Committee questioning the 50 percent rise in gas in the past year. None have shown up. Maybe some tens of thousands of letters will help them change their minds. BuzzFlashers, alert all your friends and have a great week despite Bush, Inc., and remember to buy your gas from Citgo. Thanks, Steve Moore Subject: Contractors Volunteer Work Your headline is as follows: Federal contractors want taxpayer money for Katrina reconstruction but none of the liability. 9/27 I am a daily visitor to the BuzzFlash Web site and find it extremely useful as part of my news addiction. However, This particular headline is misleading. They are not seeking immunity from projects that they are hired for and paid to fulfill. Here is a quote from the article;
This seems to me to be a reasonable request from a group of volunteers. Rob Jordan Subject: Cindy/Brown/and........ Hmmmmmmm.......Let's see...... As your letter writer put it: Cindy gets arrested for sitting on a public sidewalk.... Brown gets REHIRED as a consultant for FEMA...... Not to be nit-picky, but.....the writer forgot one..... OSAMA is still FREE A BuzzFlash Reader |
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