 |
|||
| November 18, 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: Simulated Reality - White House Style Recently, as people have begun to raise concerns about how the Bush administration rushed this country into war in Iraq, various minions of the White House have been rushing out to the ever obsequious media offering highly dubious descriptions of events leading to the invasion. This shows the current Cheney-Rove administration (let's not pretend Bush knows what he’s doing, he’s just programmed by the Evil Puppet-Master, Cheney) is still committed to spinning webs of deception to further confuse the electorate. Let’s examine some of the newest Twilight Zone twists on reality they are spinning now. They say that the Democrats “voted for the war”. Now this is a good example of lying by distortion. The Democrats did NOT vote FOR a war. They voted for a resolution which gave the President the authority use whatever military force was necessary ONLY if it was necessary AFTER MAKING A GENUINE EFFORT AT AND EXHAUSTING ALL DIPLOMATIC AVENUES to a solution. The Democrats fully expected (perhaps naively so) that the president was going to make a good faith effort to use diplomatic means to get Saddam Hussein to straighten out his act. Diplomacy is negotiations, and in this matter to have voted against the resolution allowing for use of military force would have greatly weakened the President’s hand in any negotiated efforts to get Hussein to submit to inspections by the U.N. Everyone in Congress understood that the president would need that ability to use military force or else any negotiated effort would probably not succeed. But this was not a vote to invade. The Democrats expected an honest effort to achieve a diplomatic solution to the problem. They are also making it sound as if the intelligence was stronger than it was. Actually, we now know that the CIA told the White House three times that the WMD evidence was highly suspect. But no one at the White House cared about what the real intelligence professionals had were saying, they preferred to believe disaffected Iraqi with no credibility and plenty of political ambition. The rumored meeting between Hussein and a member of al-Qaeda was scoffed at by the CIA. The remotely piloted aircraft rumor was debunked, too, but they still used it to sell the war. But this administration has no love for the CIA. Cheney, Libby and Rove all were in the Bush senior’s administration, and they all wanted to go after Hussein during the Gulf War, but they were stopped. And who stopped them -- the CIA. The CIA told Bush senior that if he removed Hussein from power, the situation would be much worse and unstable than if he stayed. Cheney and Rove didn’t forget this, and decided they wouldn’t let the CIA get in their way again. That's why they put their man, George Tenet in place at the CIA. Mr. Tenet would do as he was told. That’s why when Tenet said the intelligence on WMD was a “slam dunk” it didn’t mean anything, because the real intelligence professionals in the CIA were saying the intelligence wasn’t there! Now the administration seems to be arguing that since they conned the Democrats (and the nation) that we shouldn’t hold them accountable for their crimes. It’s sounds like they are saying “No-fair, no-fair! We cheated and fooled you before, but time has run out now!” -- another principle of irresponsible governance courtesy of the GOP. This administration is so committed to the principle of the Big Lie that speaking simply and truthfully has become alien to them. Since George W is the nominal president, he has to bear responsibility for this administration's crimes and punishments (Wilson - Plame). But in a way, I feel for the W. I mean, he really is a pawn. His meager intellect is no match for the Magnificent Malevolence of the Evil Puppet-Master, Cheney, or for the sly and subtle machinations of Karl Rove (who outwitted the redoubtable Mr. Fitzgerald, no less). (I mean, Rove CREATED George W, out of various political parts: theocratic totalitarianism, anti-individual liberty hypo-C(h)ri(s)tians (who would have the government assert authority over people in the most private and personal matters of their life), gayophobic ignoranceophiles (“The liberals are gonna make you hold hands with a homo! – yeah, they are!”) to name a few.) I guess that makes Rove the Dr. Frankenstein of politics (“He’s Alive, He’s Alive!”) And therein lies the problem. When the people who are really responsible for policies are moving quietly, unobserved, in the legal shadows behind the scenes, they are more likely to act irresponsibly and with reckless disregard for the consequences of their acts. The lack of accountability leads to reckless behavior in people and in Governments. And if there is one thing the Evil Puppet Master and Dr. Rovenstein are not burdened with, it’s a conscience. And with the Puppet they have inoculated themselves to accountability. They do not make for a comely couple. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Oil chiefs lied when testifying to US Congress, document shows at 2001 Cheney task force Wednesday's Washington Post front page reports that Oil Executives lied to US Congress last week when testifying regarding meeting with the Cheney energy task force in 2001. Document Says Oil Chiefs Met With Cheney Task Force (Washington Post) The executives denied such a meeting took place when they testified last week. Cantwell Insists Oil Execs Testify Under Oath (Press Release) ... can the oil executives be criminally charged with lying to Congress? http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc... A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: George W. Bush: The Deeply Irresponsible President President Bush really seems to like the words, "Deeply Irresponsible." He has used them many times before in speeches and statements to describe various things he didn't appreciate. You can see this for yourself by clicking here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22deeply+irresponsible... His friend Tony Blair uses them too, as you can see by clicking here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22deeply+irresponsible... It is not a good thing to be "Deeply Irresponsible," particularly if you are an elected official. If you are Deeply Irresponsible, then why should anybody ever do what you think they should do? And why should they permit you to continue in whatever office you now hold? In [his] Veterans Day speech, George W. Bush said, "While it's perfectly legitimate to criticize my decision or the conduct of the war, it is deeply irresponsible to rewrite the history of how that war began," And when I read this, I thought, "He just now perfectly described his own conduct as President: Deeply Irresponsible." If you look at some of the main things he has done, or tried to do, you will see what I mean: 1. Social Security - The reckless changes he tried but failed to enact were Deeply Irresponsible, because they would have needlessly endangered one of the most successful government programs ever devised, all for the sake of appeasing his anti-government friends. 2. FEMA and Katrina -A bad appointment to be head of FEMA, plus sloppy oversight, led to a needless disaster when Katrina came along. This was Deeply Irresponsible. 3. The 9/11 Attacks - By disregarding all the warnings, he made it possible for the 9/11 attacks to occur. This was Deeply Irresponsible. 4. Tort Reform - He is trying to change the laws so that when someone is badly injured because of a corporation's negligence, it will be very difficult to sue. This is Deeply Irresponsible. 5. Tax Policy - Huge tax giveaways to the very rich, while borrowing more money to pay the bills: this is Deeply Irresponsible. 6. Privatization of Everything - This takes ownership and economic power away from the people and gives it to the corporations, all in the name of supposed "efficiency." It converts Public to Private. Deeply Irresponsible. 7. Deregulation of Everything - By throwing out necessary regulations, he destroys all structure in competition. Thus the corporations run free to do anything they want. And our economy turns into one big street fight, where the most powerful corporations always win everything, and everybody else loses. Deeply Irresponsible. 8. The Idiot War In Iraq - The stupidest thing this country has ever done. Saddam was totally under control and had already destroyed his weapons, as the Bush administration must have known but chose to disregard. Conceived in delusion, justified by lies, begun without planning, botched on all levels: this war may never end. Needless, reckless, murderous, illegal, immoral, inherently wrong - Deeply Irresponsible. So in the future, whenever we hear the words, "Deeply Irresponsible," we should immediately think of President Bush. And whenever he uses these words for any reason, we should realize that he is talking about himself. Blessings to you. May God help us all. Bill McGinnis Subject: Change the agenda If there's one thing in the news right now that I'm sick of hearing about, it's the fact the Brown students had a party where drinking and sex was involved. I'm especially annoyed by this agenda-driven, O'Reilly incubated non-story of a story because there are good things that some Brown students are doing right this minute about an important situation which should be making more national headlines than how college kids party -- and that situation, the real story, is the genocide in Darfur. With this in mind, I listened to talk radio today. The Brown party has been the main topic because Brown is in Providence and I'm in the Providence media market. I got sick of hearing about it, so I called in to the liberal leaning Howie Barte show in an attempt to change the topic. I was let onto the air, and Howie was very friendly with me like he is with all of his callers. He pretty much agreed with me, too. After I was introduced, I told him that there are good things which Brown students are doing, and then asked Howie if he had ever heard of Darfur. He acknowledged that he had, but knowing that some of his listeners may not have, I rambled off a couple shocking facts: 400,000 people dead, 2.5 million are now homeless refugees, and why isn't this a story making national headlines? Howie wondered about this, too, and made a note of the fact that O'Reilly is hyping "news" like this party on the Brown campus but hasn't made a mention of Darfur. I was also able to mention on the air that some Brown students have formed a Darfur Action Network, whose web address is http://geocities.com/browndarfur, and that they are leading a campaign to get people to email Senator Chafee and urge him to support the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act that's stuck in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which Chafee is a member of. I didn't have time to mention that I setup an email form which you can use to easily email Senator Chafee, and that it will only take you 30 seconds to participate. http://loadedmouth.com/node/2408 I also didn't have time to mention that the Brown Darfur Action students emailed me today, informing me that it's National Call In Day for the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, and they are urging anyone who will listen to contact your congressional reps via the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in changing the agenda and callers that Howie had on after me still talked about the party, but it doesn't mean that I won't stop trying to push the real story. Adam Dupont Subject: Re Cindy Sheehan's Letter To Barbara Bush This letter from the mother of a true soldier to the Mother of All War-makers, George "A.W." Bush -- A. Dubya O. L. -- was touching. Gregory Wright Subject: Video Games As a teacher I was bringing up the war in Iraq and the DOD finally admitting to using white phosphorus as weapons. A student exclaimed that he had used them in video games put out by the Navy and the Army as recruitment incentives, applications included. The games are "SoCom US Navy Seals II" and the Army's "Syphon Filter III". The player can choose a grenade launcher with phosphorus shells and instantly turn the enemy into ash and smoke leaving their clothing intact just like in the real world. Is the DOD preparing desensitized young people for future operations of "shake and bake" as it is called in the field? Has the public become desensitized to the horrors we ask our young people to commit? Ramon Puga Subject: Tricky Dick 2 Electric Bugaloo So far the only person involved in the Plame leak who hasn't come forward with a denial is the vice president. Unveiling Woodward (Salon) SE Subject: Yesterday Was Special Nixon made his famous statement "I am not a crook" statement in a news conference in Orlando, Florida on 17 November 1983. Gary Taylor Subject: We Need To Clean Our Own House This fraudulent president’s veteran’s day address was despicable. As flawed and dishonest as his assertions were, the opponents he skewered are not all that pure. Bush/Cheney Inc. has been trotting out the voting records of opponents, and yes, those foes of Fascism do share blame in the debacle in Iraq. They were the Neville Chamberlains of our day, they appeased a two-bit phony puppet dictator for what? They cowered in the face of Bush’s public approval ratings in a post 9/11 environment. Kerry. Clinton. Edwards….et. al... Don’t apologize for your dumb vote, saying you were lied to. I was lied to, and it was obvious to me. You couldn’t see it? Admit your pandering to the polls. That would show true political courage. Robert McCloy Subject: Mrs. Sheehan I'm glad that Mrs. Sheehan is standing up for what she believes in, if only there were more people like her in this country that are able to forego fines for demonstrating. Once again that goes to show the dictatorship this administration is bringing about, the last time I checked, demonstrating for or against something is as American as dissent. If we don't have these checks and balances for the government, then what we really have is the Middle East without the torture chambers. I guess Bush thought that everyone was just going to roll over. But as we have seen from his actions while he has been in office, we can no longer do that. We must listen very closely to what he is doing as with any president, because the moment you stop demonstrating and complaining, that's when the government starts slowly taking rights away. So I applaud Mrs. Sheehan and those like her that continue to fight to not only bring the troops home but also to keep dictatorial presidents like the current one walking the line. It's people like her that make this country what it is. Semper Fidelis, Mrs. Sheehan Devil Dog USMC Subject: Re Reid Speech, 11/17 To Senator H. Reid: From your speech of this date: “...their failure to lay out a strategy for success... “We’re at war. We need...a plan for success or answering the serious questions of the American people... “...President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Karl Rove... a weak, spineless display of politics at a time of war...” Pathetic. We don’t need a “strategy for success;” we need orders to the Defense Department to bring the troops home ASAP. We don’t need a “plan for success;” we need the war halted now and the troops ordered home. We don’t need answers to “the serious questions of the American people” from Bush, Cheney, Rove, Norquist. All they ever offer is lies, food for academics to take apart and discredit piece by piece... What we need is not words but an end to the occupation of Iraq and orders to bring the troops home at once. A “weak, spineless display of politics” describes you as much as them. In your utter failure to speak against this war, hoping to gain political advantage? you display a lack of guts and - in all likelihood - bad political judgment. This is certainly not how to speak for free people. What this nation is about was made clear at the beginning. "We, the people of the United States, in order to...provide for the common defense. Promote the general welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty...do ordain and establish this Constitution..." In October 2002 you caved in. You didn’t demand a vote on a declaration of war. You caved in. You didn’t provide for the common defense. You haven’t promoted the general welfare. [For Pete's sake; you even voted for the bankruptcy bill.] You broke your oath of office. You have some responsibility for all the deaths, dismemberments, broken families, smashed cities...You are close to qualifying for trial as a war criminal... My family has voted Democratic since before Franklin Roosevelt. You have not shown a fraction of the courage and wisdom he brought to a time even worse than the present. Many Democrats seem pleased with you. Not me. I think you’re a wimp. Give Our Troops a Strategy for Success Not an Attack Campaign, November 17, 2005 A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Heartless doesn't even begin to accurately describe this gang May all the GOP (Gang Of Pillagers) pay so richly and dearly at the ballot box for this grievously immoral act of screwing the poor to preserve their welfare for the rich. Not one Democrat voted for this abomination. Remember that the next time someone feeds you the standard line of bull that there is no difference between the parties. It passed only because all Republicans (including Ms. Melissa Hart and Phil English) stood united in their desire to hurt the least fortunate among us in order to preserve their precious corporate subsidies and tax cuts for billionaires. Appalling does not even begin to describe their actions coming mere weeks after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina has left millions more in dire need and depending more than ever on the programs that these callous SOB's just enthusiastically cut with reckless abandon. This is clearly no longer a government of the people by the people and for the people, it is a government of the plutocrats and oligarchs functioning solely for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the many. November 2006 must be a day of reckoning for these heartless, morally bankrupt bunch of reprobates who think nothing of cutting food stamps for the very poorest while preserving tax cuts for the very richest. The ultra hypocritical alleged "party of morals" apparently forgot to ask themselves the question "who would Jesus starve" before they cast their votes. They obviously care not a whit about the biblical admonition that he who harms the poor is offensive in the eyes of God. This demonstrates clearly and unalterably that it is long past time to take our democracy back from this extremist right-wing cult of the rich that has hijacked it. People's lives are quite literally hanging in the balance. House Republicans eke out budget cut (Seattle PI)
Dan D.
|
|||
| back to top | |||