 |
|||
| November 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: The Problem with Lying Most of us tend to take people at face value and it’s only after catching someone in a lie that we mistrust. (Except for telemarketers) There is an acquaintance of mine that I caught in a lie. Not a huge lie but an untruth all the same. This particular lie was not a harmless little white lie. This lie attempted to harm someone else. Subtly I found my perception of this person changing. Not that everyone who lies is evil. That would be all of us. The end result of catching someone in a lie is that you never completely trust what that person tells you again. The question, “Is he/she lying” comes rapidly to your mind. That is the place the President of the United States has reached with the people of America. We know that he lied to us about some things. Does that mean we can’t trust his word? For many of us that is the reality. Once fooled, twice shy, as they say. Or perhaps the words Mr. Bush himself had so much trouble with are more to the point. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Marjorie L. Swanson Subject: Interesting Change of Tune
Well it's progress of a sort. Used to be if you claimed we should talk about a pullout Bushie would say you're "emboldening our enemies." I guess now that he's busy worrying about the lies he told us to get us into Iraq, he'd rather we talk about leaving than about investigating and impeaching him. Theo McCarthy Subject: At least Nixon had enough sense and dignity to resign In 2000, it was stunning to witness how Bush successfully coordinated his appointment to the Presidency via his brother’s friends in Florida and his father’s friends in the Supreme Court. In 2001, it was embarrassing to witness his reading “My Pet Goat” while the terrorists struck and then cravenly fleeing in Air Force One. In 2002, it was outrageous to witness Bush discrediting weapons inspectors and his own Counter-Terrorism Advisor who informed him that there were no WMDs, meanwhile stepping up his rhetoric to paint Iraq as an immediate threat. In 2003, it was appalling to witness what appeared to be a breach of our national security from the White House due to the vocal dissent of a visible Former Ambassador. In 2004, it was disturbing to discover the acts of torture committed by US troops at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq; tactics that are currently being vigorously defended by Bush’s Vice President Cheney. In 2005, it was not surprising as much as it was horrifying to once again witness Bush’s flawed leadership in the midst of Hurricane Katrina. Examine the very nature of his claim to power. Face his painfully weak leadership during 9/11. Determine his misconduct in rushing us to war in Iraq. Judge his mishandling of the American dialogue where dissent is concerned. Confront the war atrocities ordered from the top levels of his administration. Encounter the deadly combination of Hurricane Katrina and Bush’s detachment from the plight of human kind. The history of Bush’s stewardship in the White House is far more transparent than he would like it to be seen, as his dignity continues to descend into political depths, the likes of which perhaps only Nixon would know. At least Nixon had enough sense and dignity to resign. Harris Bierhoff Subject: Democratic fundraising is down -- perhaps everyone's too content Dear Folks: Regarding the drop in Democratic fund-raising under the leadership of Howard Dean--the article ... suggests that analysts are troubled because, "The DNC has not replicated the success of Dean's presidential campaign two years ago in tapping vast numbers of new and smaller contributors over the Internet." Democratic cash flow lags under Dean (Washington Post/contracostatimes) Clearly, there's a fundamental misunderstanding of the problem here. The DNC is not suffering from its relationship with Howard Dean--Howard Dean is suffering from his relationship with the DNC. Dean's vast reservoir of small contributors chipped into his presidential campaign because Dean had the moxie to stand up and [speak his mind]; they were supporting him in spite of the DNC, certainly not because of it. The fact that candidate Dean, if nominated, would have to make pragmatic accommodations with the DNC in order to get elected was not enough to discourage his supporters. They imagined that making Howard Dean a force was going to compel changes in the way the DNC went about losing elections. But now, the fact that Howard Dean is something of an outspoken maverick in his DNC post is not enough to offset those same supporters' reluctance to send money to an organization that has routinely betrayed their trust in the past. Like registered Democrats across America, I've been approached repeatedly in recent months for donations. Like a great many of them, I suspect, I've questioned the poor [jerks] running the phone banks: "What am I donating to and for, exactly? When is this party going to stand up for something--and when is it going to stand up to the thugs and criminals running Washington today?" I like Howard Dean a great deal--but in the real world of American politics, a party chairman is someone heard by political junkies on C-SPAN, if he's heard at all. Ed Gillespie was plenty obnoxious as the Republican chair--but 99 out of a 100 Americans would have no idea who Ed Gillespie was. It's elected officials who have the opportunity to raise hell out in plain sight, and get heard by the public--and by and large, our Democratic elected officials have simply failed to seize that opportunity and run with it. That's what people are seeing--a queasy reluctance to offend or alienate anyone, and an astonishing willingness to simply be rolled up and smashed by a Republican political machine that has no such qualms. John Edwards and Harry Reid have shown encouraging signs of life lately, and you can always count on Teddy--but still there is no evidence that the rebellion is spreading. I believe that Doctor Dean can help his patient to recovery--but the Democratic Party and its DNC leadership are going to have to participate in their own healing. They're going to have to take the medicine he prescribes and stop sitting around hoping the cancer will go into remission by itself. I can just about guarantee you this: the minute people see that the Democratic Party is serious about delivering America from the death grip of the Republican Party, the money will come rolling in. As long as the Democratic Party stands around wringing its hands, sitting on the fence, and hoping the Republicans will collapse from the weight of their own guilt, the money will NOT come rolling in. It's a pretty simple choice, really. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: BuzzFlash might want to check into this I live with my grandmother. She received a phone call (which I intercepted because she's not at home this weekend) from a man saying he's from the "Presidential Commission." Now, when I asked, "Presidential Commission for what?" he said it was a presidential commission set up by Dick Morris and it was "anti-Hillary." This person didn't identify the "commission" until I asked him what it was for. It wasn't presented as a partisan effort until I questioned him. I am sorry I didn't tape the conversation and can't remember the caller's name, but this is obviously something to be investigated. Obviously the Neo-Cons are worried about a Hillary run in '08. If I hear from them again I'll let it be known. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Premium/Robert Ingersoll Dear BuzzFlash, First, let me get a quick disclaimer out of the way. I felt pretty silly sending the news article about the Dover school board vote days afterward, and I feel awful that I've not been a faithful BuzzFlash reader or contributor. The fact is that when I make a living it's in the world of bankruptcy and since that new law was enacted last April, it has consumed my life. I've studied, written about and lectured on the new law since mid-April, leaving me little time for anything else. With that, here's the point of this note: Have you offered "What's God Got To Do With It? Robert Ingersoll on Free Thought, Honest Talk & the Separation of Church and State," edited & with an introduction by Tim Page, as a premium? I don't see it on your current premiums list, but thought it might have appeared over the time I vanished into my bankruptcy world. The book is nothing short of incredible. It's an edited work of Ingersoll's writing, compelling in its own right but absolutely vital in our current culture. It reminds us why state must be separate from any church and vice versa, that it's men proclaiming to speak for, or be chosen by, God that leads to tyranny, oppression and suffering among people. I picked it up at La Guardia and was almost done by touchdown in Columbus. It's powerful and an absolute must read. But if you knew this already, accept my apology for wasting your time and just know that my work has been on the right side of this dreadful new bankruptcy law. Sincerely, Cathy Vance Subject: Bedtime for Bonzo? Re: Bush furious about summit. Isn't it beyond embarrassing when a GROWN MAN whines about being up past his BEDTIME while dining in a foreign country? Let alone this is supposed to be the head of our nation! The crowning indignity is that such a Bonzo is representing the U.S. His staff did drop the ball, though. They should've upped his meds.
Robyn Miller [BuzzFlash Note: Anybody else wonder why Novak, of all people, dropped this unflattering gem?] Subject: Abraham Lincoln's Words Suggest Bush Cannot Recover Abraham Lincoln said, "If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can't fool all of the people all the time." http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/abrahamlin151233.html http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/abrahamlin110340.html This is what is happening to President Bush: he is forfeiting the confidence of his fellow citizens. And things can only get worse for him as more and more dirty truths about his administration are uncovered. I was hoping this thing would have come unraveled for him before the 2004 election, but it did not. Now the process has finally begun. Always remember, "Impeachment is an option." Rev. Bill McGinnis Subject: Pleeeze... Today's laughable headline: Bush Didn't Mislead on War, Adviser Says (AP/Yahoo) OK, if Bush did not mislead, but instead started the war based on hyped-up and ridiculously flawed misinformation (which 99% of the world did not believe in the first place), it means that he is not malicious, but only criminally incompetent. Is this supposed to make us feel better? Elizabeth [BuzzFlash Note: And lest we forget: by July 23, 2002 (if not before) the "facts were being fixed around the policy" -- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1593607,00.html.] Subject: Re: Daniel Ellsberg (article in Sunday morning Buzz Headlines) Dear Buzz -- I just read the Sunday morning BuzzFlash headlines. I'm commenting on the article about Daniel Ellsberg's speaking out. I never met him face to face, but -- in Cambridge, MA, where I was living at the time -- and was part of a group that called ourselves the "Radical Caucus" at Boston State College; we were in our 20's and were, unlike the older faculty/administration, not only opposed to the Vietnam war but open and active in our opposition. None of us, that I know of, was arrested, though -- as I've said in previous letters to Buzz, I DID earn my very own FBI file. (I discovered this by accident.) However, my point here is that when Ellsberg's book, The Pentagon Papers, was published and caused a major eruption on the political scene, of course I read it in one big gulp. Shortly afterward, when he was in hiding (for fear of prosecution for telling the truth -- sound familiar?) I was asked if I would be willing to "lend" my home phone number -- this was before the days of email and voicemail -- for purposes that they couldn't tell me about. Of course, being who I am, I said yes. To this day, I don't know exactly what they used my phone number FOR, but apparently it helped to keep him from being arrested for his views. I was more than happy to help. (Ironically, my phone was red -- and I called it my "hot line"). Telling the truth usually gets the tellers (and their peripheral helpers) in trouble. Meanwhile, the liars, cheaters, DeLays, Cheneys, Bushes get the "out of jail free" card. As, again, I've said often before, we no longer have a democracy, and yet this sorry excuse for a democracy, rapacious for oil and more power over the rest of the world, is peddling the same old, same old excuses and false accusations. WHEN WILL THE DEMOCRATS AND MODERATE REPUBLICANS STAND UP AND SHOUT "ENOUGH"?? I'm no hero, but at least I took the risk (and the consequences for taking it) back in the Vietnam War era. I am far from the bravest person on the planet. But if we Buzzers can stand up and fight against this fiasco of an "administration," why can't our Democratic Senators and Representatives (who do NOT face the risk of dying in poverty without medical insurance) at least get together and stand up to this continuing effort to strip us of our rights as citizens in what we USED to believe was a free country? Barbara Lee (Barb) Blazyk Subject: The Myths That Took Us to War Were Known as Myths at the Time I keep wondering how Congress could have been so ill informed. Is it awake yet? Or will nothing change, and we'll just be lied into another war? Why did so many "private citizens" know more than Congress knew? 13 MYTHS ABOUT THE CASE FOR WAR IN IRAQ (islandimage.net) Maybe because we looked at all the news, listened to the UN people who were on site. Chief U.N. Inspectors Cite An Encouraging Iraqi "Change Of Heart"; Democracy Now! Confronts Chief Inspector Hans Blix About No-Fly Zones (Democracy Now) We learned to judge a reputable source by its track record. As Bush tries to rewrite history, what people knew about WMD and when, it's good to look back at the stories that were being ignored at the time. Remember the plagiarized thesis? First casualties in the propaganda firefight: All's fair in the war for hearts and minds: frustrated by the failure of the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq to find the 'smoking gun', Downing Street resorted to plagiarising a 12-year-old US doctoral thesis. (observer.guardian)
Claims and evaluations of Iraq's proscribed weapons The British Dossier on Iraq's Intelligence Infrastructure Deborah Subject: Your Headlines Dear Friends: I've only lately discovered BuzzFlash, and I'd like to give you my reactions to it. I do this in the spirit of support and good comradeship. I think your choice of articles is very good. I also like very much the fact that you update your items frequently. Both of these I find very helpful in satisfying my desire to make sense of the bizarre world the Bushies have sent us into. My one negative criticism has to do with the way you editorialize in your headlines -- what we see before we ever get to read the news or opinion articles themselves. When you do this, it gives me (and, perhaps others) the feeling that you don't trust your readership to be able to understand the import of the articles themselves; you come across as seeming to feel that you must "help" us toward a basic grasp of what we are about to read. This is unfortunate and unnecessary. It's unfortunate because in so doing, you run the risk of alienating those who might benefit the most from reading the articles: those who are open to new ideas -- ideas which they do not (yet) hold -- and those who are reconsidering beliefs that seem less correct today than when they first adopted them. It's unnecessary because the people who get to your website are fully capable of understanding subtleties and nuances. They don't need to be hit on the head with the obvious. Please consider whether I have a point. Keep up the good work! Gene Glickman [BuzzFlash Note: Welcome to BuzzFlash, Gene. We hope you'll stick around, but don't be expecting a change in our headline style. We have fun with the headlines, as do our readers (usually), and it's a big part of what makes us unique. Why bother to put up headlines and not tell you what we think matters in the stories? We have a viewpoint, but then the links ensure that our readers can judge for themselves.] Subject: A Fake Assassination Attempt? If I remember correctly, Reagan's sagging popularity was reversed after the attempt on his life. I wouldn't be surprised if Rove is already contemplating, if not planning it. It seems nothing is beneath that man. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: 14 Signs of Fascism I found this on http://www.rense.com/, and it makes for very interesting reading. http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm Profile of a Sociopath: http://home.datawest.net/esn-recovery/artcls/socio.htm That profile fits Bush to a T. The American People really need to wake up, don't be apathetic and carry on like 'business as usual'. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Why Is a Big Eco Group Funding Big Timber PR? An open letter to the National Audubon Society (Please stop funding pro-timber educational materials) The National Audubon is a multi-million dollar environmental powerhouse with tens of thousands of members. A recent survey suggests that nearly 50 million Americans bird watch! Yet, go to the American Forest Foundation donor list (an organization loaded with multi-national timber corporations who thrive on cutting bird habitat) and you find a most unusual “donor”: the National Audubon Society. One-fifth of all bird species on earth are now facing extinction (some 1,212 species!) and the major cause is habitat loss: mass deforestation and fragmentation of habitat. Why is this organization (Audubon) recognized as the environmental group most associated with our feathery friends colluding with the worst forest destroyers and actually funding their education programs? With one-third of U.S. bird species facing extinction, students and their parents need accurate data on habitat loss. The American Forest Foundation (AFF) produces environmental education materials with the earthy name, Project Learning Tree. One might suspect that any “educational materials” supported by the likes of the Weyerhaeuser, Georgia-Pacific and Sierra Pacific timber companies might be prone to omission or bias. And why would a prominently timber funded curricula have the name “National Audubon” in the midst of its donors? Is it politics, the neutering effect of trying to be centrists or maybe just a simple lack of courage to stand up? The timber industry wields vast financial assets to influence public opinion. It is unseemly to have the credibility of their omission-laced curricula validated by the “protectors of birds”: the National Audubon Society. Some will suggest an “anti-Project Learning Tree” agenda tone to this letter. I do: I want it either taken out of every school and outdoor learning center in America or I want the curriculum to fill in the omissions. How could Audubon help fund “miseducation” materials that fail to discuss forest fragmentation, the problems caused by mass clear cutting, cutting forests and replacing them with tree plantations and total avoidance of the horrendous track record of timber multinationals? Native forests are not prone to fire, it is the replanted tree farms, dried out by winds channeled through logging roads and the disastrous after effects of years of clear cutting that is the main fire culprit. Upon reading that Audubon continues to fund “big timber omissions” through AFF, I decided to go public with this story. Many will find it interesting that Audubon bigwigs looked to libel my efforts to “get the word out,” yet, openly pander to the timber industry’s vehement backers of forest education minus the reason why 1/5 of all birds are now endangered. Some vital email data is at the heart of this open letter and connect the puzzle pieces. I joined an “Audubon-Chat” list back in late 2001. In early January, 2002 (1/8/02 to be exact) an Audubon email from Audubon Senior staff person John Bianchi (now Director of Communications) brought joy and hope to my heart. It states a simple message,
The words, “Audubon does not support Project Learning Tree” and “we recommend against its use” left me ecstatic. Overjoyed, I sat up late into the night and emailed this piece to a number of Audubon members, members of the environmental education community and providers of Project Learning Tree around the nation. With Mr. Bianchi’s exact message as above, I included a simple note.
This email created a firestorm of controversy, with many PLT supporters outraged and some Audubon members nervous about the use of PLT in Audubon centers across America. I called John Bianchi in New York City to get clarification, because he now was pulling a “Bush administration ploy:” let’s change the official transcript. In our private conversation, Bianchi admitted to me that PLT’s materials had a timber bias and had many crucial omissions. He stated if it were up to him, he would like to see its use stopped. Yet, he stated that since many people used PLT, it would upset many to take a strong stand. I have kept this to myself for a few years now, since it was a private conversation. Yet, John Bianchi attacked me in public emails, tried to re-write history and succumbed to pressure put on him by pro-timber interests who dominate Project Learning Tree. Seeing Audubon’s name on AFF’s current corporate donor list forced me not to be a silent lapdog. Children, some 55 million nationwide, are now being served up this type of “corporate sponsored” curriculum. Evidence that John Bianchi now would use “political spin” to cover up his original statement went nationwide in 2002. (I have the original emails and will kindly make them available to anyone who would like to read them.) An angry PLT supporter from South Carolina who sits on the SC Forestry Commission became unglued about the buzz created over Bianchi’s statement in the 2002 email. Bianchi sent back a public email to this individual in South Carolina that relies on bold faced lies and smacks of quisling politics.
I thought about John Bianchi this past August. While finishing a Power point program for teachers, comparing tree plantations to native forests (which PLT conveniently omits in its “dubious curricula”) I traveled to the Biscuit timber sale in Southern Oregon. A few years ago, the Biscuit fire had been the biggest wildfire in the United States. Now the timber industry was adding insult to injury by clear cutting the remaining live trees in the name of “forest health.” As I snapped pictures of mass clear cuts, where big, healthy Ponderosa pines had been butchered, I wondered if school children would ever learn the truth about the salvage hoax? And now, some in Congress want to “speed-up” salvage logging and replant tree farms. Fire is a natural and needed tool for forests: these forests are not sick the science behind salvage is political and rooted in timber spun lies. Well, John Bianchi and President of the National Audubon Society John Flicker, school children are not going to learn about the this tragedy of “salvage logging” from a program you sent money to: Project Learning Tree. And they are not going to learn about how forests are not tree plantations either. They are not going to get the facts behind the massive fragmentation of native forests on public lands either from Project Learning Tree. Shouldn’t children learn how timber multinationals have manipulated science, fought the listing of the Spotted Owl and now want the Marbled Murrelet taken off the threatened list? Will PLT curriculum discuss how a pro-“get the cut out” timber lawyer is now a Bush point person on forests? Mark Rey is orchestrating a plan to open roadless lands to logging across America. Or is it another simple omission by Project Learning Tree and the American Forest Foundation? I was told as a boy that omission is the greatest form of a sin. Mr. Bianchi, I do have great acquaintance with the truth. Massively fragmented forests, where silt chokes out ancient salmon runs and fire prone tree farms now stand in place of old growth forests, surround my home. I invite you and the entire operating committee of Project Learning Tree to visit these areas: any time. Bring along some reporters and a camera and let’s talk about the truth. This ruthless damage is done and continues to be done by the same funders of Project Learning Tree. The National Audubon Society stands at a crossroads. Birds, the symbol of the Audubon Society, are in great peril, mainly due to deforestation and mass clear cutting. The paying members of Audubon must have the same fervor of protecting forests as they show when they mark down the birds they have witnessed at an annual “Audubon bird count.” How will future bird watchers, indoctrinated by corporate sponsored curriculum, supported by an influential environmental group, know the truth? It will not come from PLT. Mr. Bianchi and Audubon President Mr. Flicker must demand that either PLT fill in their “pro-timber omissions” or remove PLT from its recommended tools for education. Do Audubon members want their monies given to the likes of the American Forest Foundation? Will Audubon members stand up and demand that our children, the “future” birdwatchers, be fostered with accurate and current scientific data? The old saying, “this is for the birds,” apparently doesn’t apply to Audubon and their unsavory alliance with the American Forest Foundation. John F. Borowski is an environmental and marine science teacher in Oregon. He is an educational advisor to the Native Forest Council and has written pieces about education in the NY Times, UTNE Reader, Z Magazine and numerous other sites. He can be reached at jenjill@peak.org John F. Borowski LOL - Jeb is the only smart Bush son but he's an arrogant prick. Still, they're going to have to kill that Xanaxed klepto wife of his first. She's not going to be as easy to 'hide' as Laura is. Rosamond Subject: Medicare Buzz, It's time to remind our fellow Americans that if they think it's confusing and nearly impossible to sort out all the options offered with the Medicare drug coverage, they should just wait until the Republican party privatizes their social security coverage. Beth Martin Subject: The Whimpering Right Wing Here come the poor, pathetic, little republicans whining that the nasty democrats let them take the country to war. The rest of the untrustworthy world misled them too. Oh the things a party in power has to put up with! We have listened for five endless years as the whimpering right wing has moaned and groaned about the nasty old liberals. Now Bush is giving speeches again bashing John Kerry. Did he forget that he won the election? If so, shouldn't someone tell him? It is doubtful we will ever be told the whole truth about how we were manipulated into believing we had to go to war. We may never know all of it but bits and pieces are quite enough to show that we were conned. We were spun. We were hoodwinked. We were duped. Over 2,000 Americans are dead and over 15,000 are wounded and all because we believed the President of the United States when he told us that Iraq posed a threat to us. Americans didn’t believe in the war because of any Senator or Congressman. Americans believed the President of the United States because of the image they had seen after 9/11. He was perceived as a strong leader. That little bullhorn moment came with a high price tag. Now these sniveling fools want to blame someone else for what they have done. No doubt most of their base will believe. Tell these folks up is down, black is white, right is wrong and those air heads will nod like a bobble head doll in the back window of a 65 Chevy. Do Republicans just have an inability to take responsibility for anything they do? Stop blaming Bill Clinton. He’s been out of office for 5 years! You have the Congress, the Senate and the White House. You are the majority party as you have bragged about for five years. You won! You have been in charge and the Democrats have not been able to stop you from doing pretty much whatever you wanted to do. Any attempt from them to act like an opposition party has been greeted with howls about Democrats being obstructionists. So for God’s sake, quit your whining! Marjorie L. Swanson Subject: Scottie clone at State Dept! Dear Buzz: When did briefings from the State Department become a pointless exercise in deflecting honest inquiry by a press corps apparently far more knowledgeable about current events than the Administration's spokesman? Asked about several specific issues or events widely reported in the daily newspapers, Sean McCormack professed to be completely unaware of them. The "briefing" was sprinkled with repeated responses of: "I am not aware..., I'll check.... let me check... I'm not aware ....I haven't checked to see if there's been any update ... "I'm not aware of that..." (Does he not READ newspapers?!!!!) Look at this brief exchange, and tell me if you think Sean McCormack justifies getting the salary he's being paid to be so completely uninformed in these public "briefings":
Read the "briefing" in its entirety. I have to say, he even beats Scottie in this one, in the art of complete obstruction of acquiring any useful information whatsoever (How much are we paying this guy again to "brief" us on what's going on vis-a-vis the State Department? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Voting the Republicans Out All the wonderful information and facts submitted by BUZZFLASH and it's readers are truly necessary and inspirational in the American political climate of today, however all comments become moot unless we, the people, are able to vote in upcoming elections. I believe "THE" current and most important agenda is electronic voting machines. If we can't cast our ballots in fair and just elections, all this information which motivate the hearts and souls of Americans to "Change the Course" becomes lost. If our votes can be altered, and the rich and powerful remain in control of our country, what good becomes of this forum? Never forget the 2000 Presidential Election. Melanie Gaensslen Subject: Who will be allowed back into New Orleans? Dear BuzzFlash; There has been talk that only the rich will be allowed back into New Orleans. Speculators Rushing In as the Water Recedes (LA Times/Truthout) and New Orleans, September 8: Who Will Bury This Man? (LA Weekly) But is that just the "liberal media" hurting the poor, poor GOPNAC? And if that were true, how could it be possible? How could anyone get away with it, especially with the whole world watching? Certainly no one would do such a dastardly thing...and even if someone is THAT EVIL, how could they pull off such a dastardly plan? Well a story on NPR gives a clue: Radical Changes Await New Orleans: Schools (npr.org) Apparently, several New Orleans schools will become privatized. Somehow someone came up with the idea *cough* Nagin *cough* Lower 9th residents' wait stretches on (Times-Picayune weblog) AND someone VOTED for it. Note the "thundering crowd" in this excerpt from The Times-Picayune from October 29, 2005:
Would it be rude to suggest that perhaps only those people who can afford to and whose children will perform in these schools will be the only ones allowed back? the donkey Subject: The Latest from Geedub "Black is white, white is black, two plus two equals five, the world is flat and I'm sick and tired of being called a liar." Ronna Subject: The Pinocchio Factor With every lie, and every lie to cover the lies, George, Cheney, Rice, Powell, and the rest of their lying gang stretched the truth to take us to war in Iraq... They stretched and stretched and stretched the truth until it became so long, it seemed endless. Bush and the Republicans and all their pundits have long, long noses and very short legs! This time they can’t escape!
Unfortunately for George, there are reams of documents, news articles, government records, books, and witnesses to discredit George W. Bush’s and the Republican’s rerun of hypocrisy and deception! In a commentary called, “So You Want Details About Who Lied!” an excerpt tells us:
You could consult the document itself.
If you look closely at the Bushie’s rhetoric it makes no sense for us to fall for their rhetoric a second time. There is timeline of the Bush Administration's lies available for any or all who wish to discern the truth by doing a little research!!! The evidence to the contrary is plentiful, including the Downing Street Memo, and it is all available from many sources. The unprecedented political attacks on Democrats as unpatriotic is another lie, just as Bush’s whole defense is the ultimate lie that has damaged the national character of our nation as it is viewed by the rest of the world! The Bush Administration, from the election on, has had a lot of difficulty telling the truth, and it is in our national interest that we expose them! Susan Carr Subject: Sliced Bread (Medicare Drug Plan) Dear Buzz, THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD!!!!!! OMG.......I just called on my first plan.... and it is supposed to be a non deductible plan..... due to my meager income....with AARP..... Well after sitting on hold for OVER 1/2 hr ......I had to hang up.......You know how Bush wants to be in bed by 10pm?.........well I HAVE TO EAT LUNCH because Im a diabetic.......so therefore after all that time of waiting....I had to hang up..... I didn't get any answers and it is only the first one on a list of 16........Tell me do all of the millionaires in Congress have to go through this to get their medicines?????? A Loyal Reader Subject: Bush on Iraq Send all those people who refuse to believe Bush misled us into the war with Iraq to: This website identifies 237 specific misleading statements about the threat posed by Iraq that were made by Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld and Powell in 125 public appearances in the time leading up to and after the commencement of hostilities in Iraq. It is an extraction from a 36 page congressional report prepared by Representative Henry Waxman. Charlie Siford Subject: shows how dumb he is we read that bruce willis has put up a one million dollar reward for information leading to bin laden. since there is already a 40 million dollar reward on his head.....does willis really think someone out there would say "gee, now that the reward is 41 mil instead of 40 mil, i think i will turn him in"? willis needs to stick to acting. he is not real sharp and when he tries to talk about foreign affairs and shows how dumb he is, he is just trying to get attention. Bruce Willis offers $1 million for Osama bin Laden (Hollywood News) randi, liz and renee Subject: Absolutely Astounded Over the weekend (I can't remember if it was Fri or Sat), while surfing channels on cable I paused briefly on MSNBC's Tweety hour. I also briefly stopped by Faux "News." I really can't remember which of these incidents occurred where, but I was dumbstruck. The first was about whether or not Georgie girl manipulated intelligence. The guest proceeded to claim that it wasn't, but it was in fact faulty...why???, because President CARTER had weakened the CIA's human intel section. CARTER??? I guess 12 years of Reagan and Bush I couldn't fix it. Silly me. The second I know came from that mealy mouthed little columnist John Fund. In this "discussion" he tried to let Georgie Girl off the hook for the current deficits. He said something to the effect that they were the results of those liberals in congress. Well, considering that the Gorging Old Party has made all of this possible, I guess every member of the House and Senate are not conservative but liberal! The Liberal media, the Liberal congress, the Liberal Judiciary...Damn, how come we're in this mess? Maybe we liberals and progressives are really to blame. I'm simply astounded that Fund thinks the American people are THAT gullible. John M. Subject: W on Veterans' Day Hi, Buzz!! While I was re-reading W's obnoxious Veterans' Day speech, a phrase jumped out at me: W said that in our country, "political leaders can discuss their differences openly ..." Political leaders? What about the rest of us? Do we not have freedom of speech anymore? We need to watch this administration very closely. Fortunately, we have BuzzFlash and other vigilant Web watchdogs who make it possible. Thanks, guys; buzz on. I wonder if the F.B.I. has talked to Bill O'Reilly yet? He did seem to be inciting a terrorist act ... Finally, an observation: It has been reported that W came into the White House determined not to repeat his father's mistakes, one of which was to ignore the wishes of his base. Seems to me W has been pandering to his base and ignoring the rest of us, and that's going to be his downfall. And he'll likely take his party with him. Which is good news for the rest of us. Jane Hawes Subject: Watch Out for the Bushevik Hail Mary Pass? What? This is new? I've been saying for 4 years, the Bushies ain't going quietly anywhere. They showed in 2004, they'll hang on no matter what. They will continue to spew their lies (regardless of the fact that the majority of Americans no longer believe them). They absolutely cannot (or will not) understand that most people don't believe them anymore. And I can kind of understand that because most people DID believe, them before Katrina. I've been crying and yelling since 12/7/00 that this is a corrupt bunch of people and as a consequence, I've been branded a traitor, American-hater, godless, you name it. I'm truly happy to see the American people finally wake up to the realization that this Administration is the most corrupt and dangerous we've ever had. That's just wonderful. I just wish they'd been awake and as outraged 5 years ago. Before this bunch did as much damage as they've done. Too little, too late? Damn betchya. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Open Letter To My Georgia Representative Representative Lyn Westmoreland: I can't in my wildest dreams imagine you taking time to read an email posted from a constituent. I based that statement on the off topic, canned replies that I have received from your staff in the past. So, since I KNOW that you won't personally be reading this, my primary objective is to communicate with your handlers in the hope that they will forward this to you. Based on the latest polls (See Below), it appears that many supporters of George Bush will soon be looking for jobs. Representative Westmoreland is not immune to the coming changes in our government just because he represents Georgia. Many in the South, as well as the rest of the United States, are very aware that this administration, this president and his in-pocket senators and representatives are not the best choices we can make to lead this great nation. If Representative Westmoreland were to experience an epiphany regarding this administration, I believe the citizens of Georgia would accept his rebirth if it were done well before the bottom is reached by the Bush presidency. Thank God change is coming. I hope you’re able to convince your boss that the poll below is not the only poll recording this fact.
Mike Post Let me get this straight. G W Bush wants us to blame the media and the democrats for this war because they should have stopped him? They should have asked more questions? Am I in the Twilight Zone? Karen M. Subject: Bird Flu Hysteria All that I'm saying is that stories like this need more than absolutely no coverage here in the states. And it just so happens that one of the people who were perfectly comfortable BS-ing us into an immoral war just so happens to be making a handsome profit from it. Rumsfeld's growing stake in Tamiflu: Defense Secretary, ex-chairman of flu treatment rights holder, sees portfolio value growing. (money.cnn.com) How's this: "Rumsfeld and his former contacts at Gilead are using their contacts at the CDC and in the media to hype the bird flu so that they can get (much) rich(er)" ? Is that the nuttiest thing that you have ever heard? Is that more strange than the missing plane with the nonsensensical hole at the pentagon? (which is also really really weird!) Hardly a day goes by without hearing about the bird flu on Fox, CNN, etc. And I just don't hear anybody questioning the science. SE Subject: Caesar Disgustus Attacks 'Roamin' Senate This Caesar Disgustus in the White House is now trying to intimidate the Senate, which has finally started to 'roam' away from the war party line. If he effectively shuts up the senators who have lately begun speaking up for the truth, both Democrat and Republican, then the war machine has won a great victory for thought control and countrywide submission. I believe you have an idea of the tragedy and huge spiritual loss this would be for the nation and world. History is already judging Bush, so he is getting what he asked for (see Woodward book), only a lot sooner than he expected. No one can stem the tide of a just history, and any attempt in this case merely expands and prolongs the bloodshed. If only Bush were smart instead of vindictive, there might be an easier solution, but if that were the case he wouldn't be Bush. Thanks for listening.
Larry Piltz Subject: You (yeah, I'm Talking To You) Can Be Classified Enemy Combatant and Denied Habeus Corpus Thanks to some DINO's like Lieberman, the Senate has said it is ok to suspend habeus corpus for enemy combatants. Well, that's all right because they are by definition ENEMIES, right? But who defines the enemy? A shiny apple to all who answered THE PRESIDENT. In April of 2005 the Department of Defense specified those who can be detained as enemy combatants. While it says that the Geneva Conventions afford protections to those who are either civilians or soldiers (what else can you be? It reminds me of Trent Lott who likes to talk about men, women AND minorities) enemy combatants can be those or others. Whenever the president defines the conflict, he defines the enemy. Where you might find yourself, any of you my friends, in the DOD list is under sub-category E: " (e) Security Detainee. A civilian interned during a conflict or occupation for his or her own protection." http://www.discourse.net/archives/2005/04/pentagon... Are you afraid yet? If I wanted you locked up indefinitely to get lost in the system and denied access to a lawyer, your family, the phone, fresh air and sunshine, all I have to do is start a campaign of harassment against you. Say you have that nice blue sign with the dove in your yard that says 'Say No to War'. Well, I don't like it. I'll throw bricks through your window. I'll denounce you in letters to the editor as Anti-American. Your support of liberal organizations like BuzzFlash or the ACLU only proves it. Let's look at your library records. What have you been buying at Amazon or Barnes & Noble? Maybe your kids will feel frightened at school. Accusations against you will be made that will seem ridiculous, but it will be up to you to disprove them -- 'I have never beaten my wife' becomes "Traitor denies beating wife." Think Swift Boat Veterans for truth. Then the threats will come. They will intensify in degree and specificity until the FBI knocks and says you need to be taken into custody for your own protection. Who will deny that you need the aid of the government, when there is a group of crazy people out to get you? But once you are in you are in. Once you are in, you will not be found. Those are the rules. What can you do to be released? Prove to the government that you are not in danger? How do you do that? And because you are being processed under the rules that pertain to enemy combatants, you will be known as an enemy combatant. Should you be released that will be a dark cloud over you for the rest of your life. While in detention it will be ok to torture you, the definition of torture being somewhat fluid. After all, how will the government know what information you possess unless it is extracted from you? Or maybe a mistake will be made in your documents, and you will be housed with terrorists. Then you will be a known consort of terrorists. If the scenario I've outlined above only happens to one person it is still the death of democracy. Particularly if that one person is you. To those who say fascism has not yet come to America, I say yes it has. It has crept in one small step at a time. Kristi Warriner Subject: NY Times Posting NY times editorials for free here: John Smart [BuzzFlash Note: Good tip. ToppleBush.com also posts the editorials, if you scroll down the home page to "Sounding Off."] Subject: Arafat Was a Terrorist I read the article Arafat the obstacle has been exposed as a myth at http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment..., linked from the BuzzFlash homepage headline "Arafat as an obstacle to peace has been exposed as a myth 11/15". The Guardian article is signed "Karma Nabulsi is a politics fellow at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and a former PLO representative." I wasn't surprised that the "former" PLO "representative" posted a mythical eulogy for Arafat a year after his overdue death. That the PLO eulogy would cite no facts whatsoever to "expose the myth," but merely assert myth after myth about one of the worst terrorist kingpins in my lifetime, was no surprise. That BuzzFlash, which I read frequently to cut the media PR myths that cover for warmongers and terrorists from all nations, would push such drivel, was a surprise. Arafat was a terrorist. He bombed people personally in his youth, and accumulated enough power in his old age to "merely" plan, direct and support terrorism. He was a tool of Syrian, Iranian and other terrorists, including his soulmate Israeli terrorists like Sharon. Sure, he built some schools and hospitals while stealing $BILLIONS from Palestinians and foreigners who trusted him. He was a man, not a myth. But he was a monster - the myth that he was a "man of peace" will be believed only when sensible realists like BuzzFlash's staff participate in the lie that his PLO supporters, still living, are spinning for him. Matthew Subject: Scott Ritter and Our War Dead If Scott Ritter is on the money about the reason we are in Iraq, our soldiers are dying because no one in Washington, the democrats or the republicans, wants to look bad, and this rationale goes all the way back to the first Gulf War, if not further. Cindy Sheehan, there's your answer. There is no just cause, only rotten, filthy, selfish, corrupt, murderous politics feeding the military-industrial war machine. Every single representative, every single senator, every government employee who remains silent, is complicit in the vile deception. The truth is coming out, however, and will help those of us in the upcoming campaigns understand what to hammer our candidates with: What did you know about this? When did you know it? Why didn't you act sooner? Interesting, isn't it, that it's only Washington outsiders like Howard Dean who took the anti-war path immediately. That's because he spoke from his heart and mind. That's why he was trashed. Susan Subject: "Lions in the Den Torture" Man, I just got wind of the article on computer news (netscape-11-15-05) which told about American soldiers in 2003 who tortured by putting two detainees near the lions in a den to get them to give information on where Saddam Hussein was. They did this a number of times and then pulled them out of the door. The detainees suffered trauma on account of this. When I saw this I got to thinking just how our country is over the line and getting to be like the ancient Roman civilization who had their downfall. You would think after learning about the Romans in history class in school, these soldiers would have known doing this they crossed the line. This is so apparent. There have been too many reports of abuse toward Iraqis and other people of the Moslem world to know that there have been way too many incidences. This seriously needs to be given proper attention and no more Bush and Co. being allowed to escape accountability for this. An investigation must be done and no one that may owe allegiance to Bush and Co. ought to be allowed to investigate this matter. Raise holy hell to Congress about this incident and that we are sick and tired of systematic torture! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Well, It Does Feel Good To See Some Dems Coming To Their Senses -- At Last Dear Buzzers: But what the h*ll TOOK them so long?? I'm no genius, but I knew the "logic" (irony intended) behind the Iraqi invasion/pre-emptive war was bogus from the day after 9/11. If even I knew it before the invasion occurred, why didn't the Dems?? (I also opposed the first Gulf War before it was launched -- and during it as well. That made me very unpopular back there in Phoenix, AZ, where 99.9% of the population supported it. Maybe there's a special gene that makes some of us progressives. I mean, seriously, why can SOME of us (including almost all Buzz readers/writers) see the writing on the wall while the rest of the population swallows the bait and switch act?? This scenario is getting old. And DANGEROUS. (Not that I need to point this out, but it's possible that the "official" -- and, as most of you know, the death total is based ONLY on U.S. troops killed in someone's definition of "combat," which, I suspect, is quite narrow -- without regard to others whose lives have been destroyed by this lied-into, totally botched "pre-emptive" war. (Personally, I'd substitute "greed- inspired" for "pre-emptive." At last the American public seems to be waking up (check out the polls) -- but, as I keep saying -- these *ssh*les will stop at nothing to maintain their power (and rapacity). Again, as I keep saying, there may be a fortuitous terrorist attack on another site (I'm personally acquainted with the ports in NJ, since my family, when we lived in NY, often visited relatives in Jersey. I've seen them. Retrospectively, I KNOW how vulnerable they are. I remain torn between hope that the Dems are -- finally -- relocating their backbones -- and fear that the neocons will do whatever it takes to retain power. I can imagine a number of scenarios, which I will NOT (!!!!) share with them. Even if I end up in Gitmo or some eastern European prison where -- as Cheney (how convenient that he's called "Dick"; I could do some word play on that name, but I'll restrain myself) and others are still arguing that the CIA should be exempted from anti-torture restrictions. I can hear ALL of the founding fathers/constitution writers screaming from their graves against this abomination. Yes, they fought with each other. They had their disagreements on many parts of our Constitution. But they finally settled on a draft of a document that has served our nation well. Until now. Buzzers, please stay vigilant. And vocal. There's no end to what these thugs will try to sneak past us if we look the other way. Barbara Lee (Barb) Blazyk Subject: Flu Vaccine Shortage If anyone dies as a result of this vaccine shortage, the physician signing that person's death certificate should list "failure of the free market" as the cause of death. The same diagnosis also belongs on the death certificate of anyone who dies for want of health insurance since, only three years ago, this accounted for eighteen thousand lives. How to save all these lives? Change the world, that's how! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: What Did They Know and When Did They Know It? Dear Buzz, I agree wholeheartedly that being late rather than never is an improvement, but....where was the NYT back on March 8, 2003 when my mother, sister and I were marching in Washington, carrying peace signs, trying our best to stop an illegal war??? How did we know Mr. Bush was trying to feed us a pack of lies and the NYT's didn't? I have tried to recall where I was getting my information. (Was it from the NYT??) Maybe I believed Scott Ritter. Had Richard Clarke spoken out at that time? When did Mr. Wilson write his opinion editorial? How did I know what the NYT didn't? And when did I know it? Maybe I was suspicious of a President who more than likely never served his country (honorably)--nor did any of his cabinet. Maybe I didn't quite trust the man the Supreme Court had elected President. Maybe, having lived through the Vietnam era I had enough skepticism about war to know to question the prospects. Maybe I remembered losing good wholesome young friends to a stupid war. Maybe I wanted better reasons than Mr. Bush was giving to start a STUPID WAR. Heck, maybe I found it hard to support or trust the wisdom of a man who could not utter two sentences without a script. Maybe like a good friend of mine says ... "I would like the President of the United States to be smarter than me." (I'm not that smart--but my friend is!) I don't know how or why I could see that Mr. Bush was no leader way back in March 2003 (actually way before that!) And the NYT couldn't? Yes, I guess it is better late than never. But Good Lord--wouldn't earlier--like before all those soldiers and civilians were killed--have been good? They get it--Now! How very very sad!! Do they read their own paper? Thanks Love ya Buzz, Raging IN Alabama I don't care who gets the credit for withdrawing from Iraq, so long as we get the hell out. The Dems share the blame - if I recall, Sen. Ron Paul was the only person in Congress who didn't vote to go *into* Iraq, and even Kerry was still supporting the war during the election! The rest of us knew it was a mistake; why didn't they? - especially when that's their job. The USA desperately needs a viable third party (or four or five) and a voting system of proportional representation. Democrats and Republicans are just Tweedledum and Tweedledumber! Geneva [BuzzFlash Note: Ron Paul wasn't alone. Here's a web site listing anti-war voters in Congress, and urging that we give them our support: http://usliberals.about.com/...] Subject: Bushie, you're doing a heck of a job -- Not! Buzz, Watching Bush squirm, huff, puff and act righteously offended that anyone could accuse him of lying is quite a spectacle. For a long time he denies that anything is wrong; and then, in a split second, without even acknowledging that things are indeed wrong, he shifts the blame away from himself (this is cognitive -- and emotional, of course -- pathology at its breathtaking "best"). "No, I did not lie -- how dare you say that? Oh well, if I was wrong, then you were too. Actually, it was YOU who were wrong and made me do it. It is all your fault." http://www.slate.com/id/2130295?nav=wp Bush's performance is tinted with a deja vu flavor. (I'm not talking about kindergarten squabbles among playground buddies.) Not too long ago, we saw Brownie acting with similar denial turned into self-righteous fury when called to explain his criminal incompetence before a Senate committee. The angry and offended look on his face was eerily reminiscent of the one we can now observe on Bush. "It was not my fault -- it was THEM -- the evil Democratic local leadership -- who failed." These guys are obviously reading from the same book -- and the story grows more ridiculous by the minute. Too bad that rolling up their sleeves will not fool anyone now... Elizabeth
|
|||
| back to top | |||