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| October 6, 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: Intelligent Design I wish that someone would point out that this fake 'debate' is purely an American phenom, and that it tellingly reflects on the state of our American public education system. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Mindset of the Rich and Powerful Barbara Bush told the evacuees at the Astro Dome they were living better than they had been in New Orleans. Considering Bush’s mother, Junior’s lack of humanity is understandable but no less tragic for the world. He shamelessly lied to occupy Iraq causing untold suffering and death. To further his noble cause, he is willing to pay the price in other people’s lives. He can’t trouble his mind with body counts, estimated at 100,000 mostly civilians. The same disregard for human life and suffering was painfully apparent in the hell and high water of New Orleans as he proclaimed job well done. There is more here than just inhumanity. There is also the attitude that he is above the law. As president he proclaims, the best part of the job is that he is unaccountable to anyone. He believes his spin doctors can control public opinion and reality. What is real is what he says it is. He demands unquestioning support from his team players. With a total disregard for domestic or international laws, Bush will have it his way. So he unilaterally abandons international treaties and subverts our own Constitution. International treaties are considered quaint relics and don’t apply. Constitutional civil rights are aborted by presidential orders. Where does this unprecedented arrogance come from? When asked, He couldn’t recall ever making mistakes. No laws apply, not moral or legal. No opposing opinions are considered, so he doesn’t need to read newspapers. Can we understand where such a mentality comes from? Least you think this an aberration; take a peek into the frat boys at the Ivy League finishing schools. The upper crust is there because they are inherently superior. They are born and bred to rule. How dare anyone question or circumscribe their rule; they are accountable to no one. This mindset allows one to make war on the poor. The number of people living below the poverty level as well as those without health coverage rises perceptibly. We now rank 29th in the world comparing our nation’s health care to others. Let’s destroy the social contract, cut social programs, give tax cuts to the wealthy, and identify American citizens as refugees in their own country. Treaties, such as the Geneva Conventions, the Antiballistic Missile Treaty, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the Ban on Weapons in Space, are not recognized anymore as binding in the U.S. In the same vein, we can launch preemptive wars anywhere in the world whenever he determines American interests are threatened, a violation of the UN Charter. As signatories, these agreements are legally binding, Article VI of the Constitution, all blatantly disregarded by this president. The International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction is not honored by the war making regime. Respect for human rights takes second place to his self proclaimed “WAR ON TERROR”. An artificial, extra legal, category of “enemy combatant” is created where, upon his own say so: U.S. citizens have lost rights guaranteed by our Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An imperial presidency is being instituted as the Constitution is subverted. The legislative and judicial branches no longer provide checks and balances to executive usurpation of power. The Congress has abdicated its war powers to the president. The Supreme Court has upheld the “enemy combatant” designation of U.S. citizens, undermining our Bill of Rights. Our Constitution is fast becoming a quaint relic of a vaguely remembered past, wreckage on the side of the road left by the out-of-control train of Neoliberalism’s “compassionate conservatism”. How can we remain neutral on a moving train? Only we, the American people, can take back control of our country. The Rule of Law is a universal principle; all people and nations held accountable to a common standard is what binds us together in a common humanity. We abandon humanity at our own peril and our children’s future. Ramon Puga Subject: My Wife as the Next Surgeon General? Why Not in Bush World! When President Bush remarked “You’re doing a heck of job, Brownie,” even I was surprised that the President could say something so foolish. Not one to rest on his laurels, the President yet again surpassed his high standard of underachievement and foolishness at today’s press conference. When asked if, of all the people in the United States he had to choose from, is Harriet Miers the most qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, he answered unequivocally, “Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have put her on.” Really? Harriet Miers is the most qualified? Well let me make some suggestions for future appointments that meet the President’s criteria. For future Supreme Court appointments, may I suggest my lawyer Saul Rabinowitz. Over the past three decades, Saul Rabinowitz has built a stellar record of accomplishment in the law. I've known him for more than ten years. I know his character. He’s a man of principle and deep conviction. He's been a model of service to his country and to his people. He is an active member of the Rotary Club. He was the first man of Jewish persuasion to achieve the level of Eagle Scout in Buffalo, New York, and his wife makes a gefilte fish that melts in your mouth. Should the President need a new Surgeon General, may I suggest my wife Barbara. Dr. Barbara S. Blanco is an outstanding individual to serve as Surgeon General of the United States. Over the past fifteen years, Dr. Barbara S. Blanco has built a stellar record of accomplishment in medicine. She's been a model of service to her country and to our citizens in need of the services of a board certified radiologist. I've known her for more than twenty years. I know her character. She's a woman of principle and deep conviction. “Thirdly,” I know her well enough to be able to say that she's not going to change. 20 years from now, she will still get steamed if I don’t get a haircut every two weeks or if I play “that Philip Glass music” when she’s home. When John Bolton’s recess appointment expires in 2007, may I suggest for Ambassador to the United Nations, Boston Red Sox slugger David “Big Poppy” Ortiz? As a Yankee fan, I make this suggestion in the spirit of bi-partisan cooperation. David “Big Poppy” Ortiz has built a stellar record of accomplishment in Major League Baseball. Admittedly, I've not known him for more than ten years, but after watching him engineer the demise of the Yankees in the 2004 American League Playoffs, I feel I know his character. He’s a man of principle and deep conviction. He's been a model of service to his country and to the citizens of Boston. I realize that he has no experience whatsoever in the diplomatic corps, but I think that’s a good thing. Besides, he speaks at least two languages, can read Mariano Rivera’s cutter, and is the most dangerous hitter in baseball in the late innings. Martin Blanco Subject: Katrina as Punishment or God Missed I have a very simple question for those who claim that God was somehow punishing New Orleans for its sianzzz. Why was the French Quarter spared? Yes the French Quarter was virtually unscathed. The French Quarter, home to (among other things) public drunkenness and nudity, home to gay bars, home of Southern Decadence (with its leather-clad boys and their various toys), home to most of the major debauchery associated with the Mardi Gras (including exposed breasts, chests, and all the rest), home to strip joints, home to voodoo shops, and home to the deep fried decadence of the Café Du Monde … yes, the New Orleans home to all of this eeevull … The French Quarter …was spared. Did God miss? Just asking. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Draft Al Gore? Hell No! He Tucked Tail Like Kerry We don't want a guy who will not stand up and be counted. Like Kerry, Gore bent over at the first ripple of dissent. Frankly, the only way to beat the Republicans is for ALL of us to register as Republicans. Think about it. AL Kirkley Subject: Deadly Legacy! Heads up Buzzers, I just heard a chilling interview on KPFK free speech radio between the host Jerry Quickly and a spokesperson for the first Gulf War veterans who has an extensive military background in her own right and has been seeking to get the truth out about what has been happening to our veterans for some time. Her Website is titled Beyondtreason. Her name is Joyce Riley and she JUST shared that a year ago in August a microbiologist warned her that in "one year's time" there would be an outbreak of an avian flu and to look for it. She readily admits she doesn't know how he knew that, but it bears paying attention to. She said for listeners to look up the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act which is active in Missouri at this time though she and other high profile individuals campaigned mightily against it. She says what we are about to see is the implementation of a Police State. When I heard this and then read the other letters from your other mailbag readers I got a definite chill. People, for a long time now, the powers that be have been warning us of a possible deadly biological attack. Could they have been talking about one coming from their own hand? When put that with Bush's push for military control within our own borders, it doesn't make a pretty picture. Joyce Riley was saying under this act anyone who is thought to have this so-called deadly flu can be whisked away and detained, including school children if necessary, and under this act, according to miss Riley, our homes, belongings, clothes and anything else they want can be confiscated at a moment's notice if there is a "health threat." Buzzers I admit to you I haven't had a chance to look further into this myself but believe me, I INTEND TO! Stock up on LOTS of garlic, chicken soup, and antibiotics, everybody, because it's apparently an extremely ill wind that blows our way. They've already declared eminent domain on the whole country. If I could afford to move to Australia, Canada, or Europe, my family would've been on a plane YESTERDAY. One of your readers wants solutions and answers. Here's mine. We ALL collectively turn our backs on the criminals in office, STOP paying our taxes (especially our war taxes), refuse to cooperate with them in ANY way, form a separate society apart and outside of this government (completely separate), plant organic vegetable gardens, dig a well, erect a windmill, become self-sufficient, go solar WHERE WE DON'T NEED THIS GOVERNMENT FOR ANYTHING, and have a small home business or trade skill that will feed self and family. Everybody read Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States (which have become United Corporate States) of America" and let the revolution begin!!! If you have to, let it be a non-violent velvet revolution, BUT LET IT BEGIN!!!! Dominie K. Robinson P.S. After you have started your own organic vegetable garden (not using Monsanto's seeds), dug a well, installed a reverse osmosis water system, gone solar, erected a windmill, started your own home business to be self sufficient from the behemoth up in Washington, file ALL of it, including yourself and loved ones, under Uniform Commercial Code. Can you all see a WHOLE NATION of individuals doing that and helping each other along the way? The way we did after Katrina while FEMA sat around fumbling? Please everyone, go see: http://www.arcticbeacon.com/arcticbeacon.html. Subject: Impeachment Party in 2006 Hey, what if we elect a new Congress with candidates who pledge to IMPEACH the Bush Crime Syndicate as their first order of business in the new session? That way we could GUARANTEE the outcome, and we wouldn't need to spray-starch the limp Democrats into standing up. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Bush Using Military for Pandemic I would like to know: Is there any military left here to use for this? Where is he going to get more? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Bird Flu!? Hi, Buzz!! So W now wants to use the military to enforce a quarantine in the event of a bird flu outbreak?! Where, pray tell, are the soldiers going to come from? Last I heard, the military was having a problem with recruiting. The Louisiana National Guard was understaffed after Katrina because so many of them were in Iraq. Is God miraculously going to make soldiers for W out of stones? Or is W thinking of resurrecting the Berlin Volkssturm of 1945? Jane Hawes Subject: Blaming TV for Dumbing Down . . . I wasn't born in the USA, and learned most of my english (American) via television. It seems, to me, to be totally unfair to blame TV for the stupidity of the USA public. I won't use the term "American," because that can include those who live in central and southern America, too. Journalists in the USA have been bought by large corporations which control the news media. There is no doubt about that. Even politicians (multi-billion dollar politicians like Bush, Cheney and other republicans) can buy and sell most of the owners of news media, so they control them. The news media is no longer free to present the free, truthful, honest news. It's now controlled to only report what the big business, and rich politicians want them to report. Why don't we see the pictures of the dead from Iraq??? Why aren't we informed about the actual numbers of people who died in Iraq/Afghanistan on a daily basis? This country is making a huge mistake in the middle east! Let's get our troops out!! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: "Reaching Beyond the Choir" from another BuzzFlash Reader last Friday Absolutely essential, but so is the choir. Specifically, our very own BuzzFlash choir, because that's where one can engage with like-minded change the worlders, each of us being after the same thing - Peace on earth, goodwill to all living beings. Our BuzzFlash Reader suggests no more talk, time to walk the walk and, what's more, calls for a solution to the mess that together we're all in. The author is concerned that she won't find any politicians with as much anger and passion for changing the world as she herself has and therein lies a fundamental problem. We can't count on politicians, never could, because they're in it mostly for themselves. As to changing the world - that's strictly a do it oneself thing and when everybody's a leader, forget politicians. Let's see, BuzzFlash, five million readers a month and growing and what percentage read the Mailbag & what's the least number of individuals who if each at the same time receives and spreads the word and those words are magical? Isn't that what the Internet's really all about? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: John Edwards and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Gore is awesome. Why didn't he say those things during his run for President? Why didn't he fight louder and harder in the 2000 election??...Running on the higher moral ground idea won't, unfortunately, work right now...It's all TV BS ...Our candidates must be no-nonsense. My suggestion is John Edwards and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. They are very intelligent and unabashed Democrats! I don't want to see 'DLC Hillary' or Bankrupt Biden. The last thing we need here is Repub lite!....Yes, it would be great to have a woman as President...but I want real Democrats first! My suggestions for female Presidential candidates are Marcia Kaptur (D-Ohio)and/or Maxine Waters (D-California). I've listened to both of them on C-Span and they're EXCELLENT DEMOCRATS! Orrrr...my personal hero (other than Michael Moore) is Jon Stewart...But now I'm just dreaming..... C.L. Robinson Subject: Military Use in Event of Pandemic I don't know about you folks, but I was flabbergasted, but not flabbergasted at Bush's suggestion of using the military in the event of a possible pandemic. First of all, there is not even an epidemic although the bird flu in Asia is a flu to keep an eye on. There was something said on a news source that it perhaps has a resemblance to the 1918 flu. Still, it has not mutated at this time to spread from human to human yet. Bush is just using this to grab absolute power, and we CANNOT let him, he will take the rug from underneath our feet! He is like a spoiled little child who if you give that child an inch he/she will take a mile. Can we allow him to get by with this? No! In 1918 the county health departments dealt with this and the county authorities took care to see that it was told to everyone that certain activities were curtailed for the time being until further notice, the county was to be kept informed of any cases and homes with the flu were under strict quarantine. Those who did not follow this procedure were in trouble with the law and the county would enforce the law to the full extent. I know these are not the same times, but this was the way it was handled. Must Bush think that he must take pre-emptive action like he does everything else (except Katrina) and declare martial law way before it is needed? If a health crisis starts getting out of control, and the health department and county cannot handle it, then let the national guard in each state help out, then, to help enforce things before it goes to federal. Tell your senators and representatives how you feel about this whole issue now, so it will be nipped in the bud before it does become a reality and Bush uses this measure to gain the total control that he wishes for over each and every one of us. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Bush and the Military and Bird Flu Why is everything with this bush character about the military? Just how far will he use the military to intrude upon Americans and their way of life? I truly believe this sociopath is of the most dangerous kind! This bird flu thing (terrorism) is simply leading up to another big taxpayer giveaway to the pharmaceuticals. Bush will give them $billions to develop a vaccine. Count on it ! Lawton Watson Subject: Heartless Soulless Congressional Republicans strike again In addition to cutting assistance for the poor and elderly in coping with their energy bills this winter, the Republican Congress has decided that freezing the poor and the elderly in the dark is not sufficient, they must also be starved as well. So they have hatched a scheme to slash federal assistance for food and nutrition. This is the true ugly nature of compassionate conservatism on display, billionaires have their tax cuts funded on the back of the elderly and the poor. It is disgusting and repellant beyond words, and the Congressional Democrats need to fight them as hard as is humanly possible, since people's lives are at risk because of this inhuman callousness of these right wing fanatics. GOP proposes cuts in food aid to poor (Associated Press/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Dan DeLisio Subject: Thanks Shirley! Hey Buzz, I just want to say, "You are so right, Shirley!" Would you like to move to Alabama and be my neighbor? I agree with pretty much everything you have to say. Keep up the good work!!! Loved Al Gore's speech. I sent a letter to the DCC, last week, asking them what are they doing to get their message out to the public. Until the progressives and liberal people have a way to speak to the people via television, radio and newspaper, we are just spitting in the wind. Working people don't have the time or inclination to do anything other than watch TV and listen to the radio. I suggested they be proactive and start buying up advertising spots on radio and TV and buying billboard space. I wonder if they understand the problem, or if they do, what are they doing about it? Thanks Buzz. You're the best!! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Al Gore How many of you remember the Black Caucus contesting the 2000 elections and begging for the support of a SINGLE senator, while Al Gore was presiding and reminding them of the rules? I can't forget it, personally, I blame him, too, for the problems that are destroying our beloved country today. He will not get my vote!!! I have been suggesting that we vote against most incumbents, with very few exceptions. I believe that this will be the only way we can have some accountability and honesty in what is today a brothel of political whores. We have to stop the nepotism and cronyism existing in Capitol Hill and demand term limits to avoid the current outrageous corruption. He didn't have the courage to defend himself in 2000, why should we believe in him now? Jocelyn Subject: America Needs Al Gore to Run in 2008 BuzzFlash, I have been reading several Draft Gore letters in your Mailbag section, BuzzFlash, and decided to share a letter not only with you, but your readers, that I faxed to former Vice President Al Gore. As you and your readers will see, I was angry and I am still angry with the collusive acts by many within this Democratic Party. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and as your readers will read below, I pleaded with many of our Democratic leaders to accept any and all aid coming from Venezuela and Cuba. Some of these leaders include Senators Clinton and Senator Schumer, I also called up my congressman, Tim Bishop, properly identifying myself as a writer for VHeadline.com, and none of them were willing to go up against Pres. Bush to help these victims of Hurricane Katrina. On two occasions, a receptionist who works for Minority Leader Pelosi hung up on me. The second time she hung up on me, before doing so she said, “Thanks for your concerns, now I must move onto something else.” That was the day where it was reported that 49 patients were found dead in a hospital. Well, I exploded back stating that “49 people are now dead where Venezuela and Cuba could have helped them and you wish to move onto something else?” I think that Al Gore is the right man for us to run as president in 2008. He shares many of our shared values and visions where many other Democratic leaders do not. Many foresee that it will be Senator Clinton who will be our candidate and again citing the Iraq War Resolution and the Patriot Act which she voted for, I cannot support any candidacy by her. When President Chavez was in New York for the United Nations World Summit, I was sent to New York on my own dime to interview Pres. Chavez. But that press conference was canceled, partially due to the fact that his security detail was not allowed off of his plane. I then called upon many of these leaders only to be told, “Thanks for expressing your opinion.” I since wrote about that on VHeadline.com in a column called “Access Denied” which can be read by going to this link: http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=46006 In closing, I will not be leaving the Democratic Party, since I have the right to say what so desperately needs to be said, and second, it is incumbent upon all of us who want Al Gore to run to contact him. We must remember that Richard Nixon did not become president in 1960, then came back eight years later and went on to become our president. I think that 2008 is exactly the right time for Al Gore to launch a comeback.
Mary MacElveen Subject: What Can We Do as Concerned Americans? Hi, I read the BuzzFlash everyday. My wife and I are concerned about all the issues you folks are concerned about. The big question is what can we do to take our country back? Obviously civil disobedience such as protest marches in Washington have little impact because mainstream media chooses to ignore our cause. I just heard today on Democracy Now that the President even wants to use the military in the event of a health epidemic such as the flu to help with quarantine efforts. What?.............Give me a break.....Mainstream media even is trying to rally pundits to help get Harriet Miers put in a more favorable light. Katie Couric on Today was talking with someone who knows her very well, trying to put a positive spin on her nomination and appointment to the Supreme Court. This country has gone mad, and I personally don't know what we can constructively do to prevent it from going down the tubes. I'm open to suggestions on what I can do proactively to bring democracy back to our once proud country. Thank you for listening. Timothy Franzen CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE OCTOBER 6, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG
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