 |
|||
| November 21, 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: Unfit Commander Dear BuzzFlash... I love your site and visit it several times a day and have passed your link on to many of my friends. I have to ask you though, to PLEASE, PLEASE take the unfit commander advertisement off the top of your page!!!!! You can't imagine how awful it is to see Shrub's face first thing every morning and any other time you sign on. I don't know a soul myself who would want to see his mug shot all the time. It just ruins your day. Thanks! Keep up the great work... A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: House GOP Seeks Quick Veto of Iraq Pullout In 1968 when I was a young man and Vietnam was raging, I was enraged that hypocritical old men "supported the troops" like myself at the time by sending me off to a gratuitous, vain death in a steaming mud hole in Southeast Asia. Today, as an old man, I am even more enraged by every "support the troops" sign I see as the same old men (and women)--this time from my generation--play politics with the gratuitously destroyed lives of our children and grandchildren. The only difference between now and then is that we don't see the body-bags nightly at Dover AFB. Every time you see a "support the troops" sticker, ask the bearer whether they've given to the USO or not. If not (and they haven't), ask them why they haven't volunteered at their local induction center for an immediate Iraqi assignment. And after they give you the excuse, let them know that their excuse is no excuse; that chickenhawks and hypocritical cowards are only good for serving in Congress. Tell them they have every right to become worthless vermin like Jean Schmidt and vicariously judge sane, experienced vets by just paying for long distance phone call. Will Wyche Subject: Reprehensible Defined Reprehensible, to Dick Cheney: Questioning his motives for war. Reprehensible, to the rest of us: torture, dead bodies floating in New Orleans, toxic mercury levels in our unborn children, suspension of habeas corpus, clear cutting forests, Ken Lay, unprecedented debt, voter suppression, secret energy task force meetings, mass graves in Afghanistan, drilling in ANWAR, tax cuts for the rich paid for by programs for the poor, the outing of Valerie Plame, Tom DeLay, the hypocritical religious rightwingnuts, unprotected nuclear reactors, rapture-based foreign policy, media consolidation, Karl Rove, a far-right Supreme Court, homeless veterans, 100,000 dead Iraqis, more than 2000 dead American soldiers and a 200 billion dollar war. The list goes on. Feel free to add to it Kristi Warriner Subject: Wow There was a caller to Maureen Dowd on Washington Journal this morning who really hit the nail on the head. The comment was in reply to Ms. Dowd's remarks about how she thinks Bush had to one-up his dad ... talking about all the 'agendas' that those in this administration had to go into Iraq. The caller stated that perhaps we wouldn't have had to kill untold amounts of Iraqis, and over 2000 of our fine young men and women in uniform had we just given Bush a medal and called him a 'hero' ... much like the medal awarded to the Cowardly Lion in WIZARD OF OZ............ I was waiting for the opposition to rail against that.....but no other caller mentioned it, either for or against. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Vargas Gets It Wrong The fact that Bob Woodward now joins Judith Miller, Matt Cooper, Walter Pincus and Robert Novak as a reporter who was shopped the story that Joe Wilson's wife worked for the CIA is, of course, irrelevant to the charge that Scooter Libby lied to obstruct justice. I was dumbfounded, therefore, to hear Elizabeth Vargas on ABC tell us that Woodward's announcement that he, too, was leaked the fact Valerie Wilson worked for the CIA is significant because "Scooter Libby is charged with being the first to leak it." Have they lost ALL meaningful editorial oversight at ABC?? Or is repeating Republican talking points now their primary function? Albert Clark Subject: Reasons for the War In all the hoopla surrounding the current media coverage of the Administration's alleged lies and manipulation of data concerning the reasons for going to war in Iraq, some facts aren't discussed much at all. If they were, then the negative poll numbers might increase faster than they're currently doing. For instance, when our troops first arrived in Baghdad it was reported that permanent military bases began to be built immediately. Permanent. That told me that we didn't plan to get in there and get out. We were going to stay there indefinitely, just as we have done in Germany since the end of WWII. And remember the reports of most everything in Baghdad being subject to destruction when we first arrived? Except what? The Oil Ministry building. Our troops were ordered to guard that and keep it safe. I wish reporters would bring these things up and hammer the Administration about them. I wish more American citizens would do the same. This war is about oil and its control. Family members and friends of our troops on the ground there know the real story. Our troops realize the truth once they arrive in Iraq and learn what's going on; and they tell their family and friends. Many of these folks are ones who are being polled. That's why the numbers in support of the Administration are tanking. May God bless our troops and bring them home safely. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: House and Senate Votes it would help me to monitor my federal elected officials if I could find easily in one place lists of how they voted on critical house and senate bills. such as the House budget bill that passed early this morning. if BuzzFlash regularly published (perhaps on a link) the yea nay votes on critical issues, it might motivate more people to hold their reps accountable. plus it would transform BuzzFlash from more than a headline service (which a number of places on the web are doing now) into a support service for local advocates. if they hear from enough of us, who knows, they may start to listen, though probably not my reps: curt weldon, arlen spector and that junior senator from PA, proud winner of the first BuzzFlash gop hypocrite of the week award! cathy higgins [BuzzFlash Note: Not a bad idea ... if we had the resources. Meanwhile, use the links at the bottom right side of our home page to nudge your reps. Also -- we are not just headlines. If that were the case, then what headline is this?] Subject: R.I.P.-ublicans Hi BuzzFlash, It was nice to see the House Republicans add more nails to their party's coffin with the budget bill. Yes the party of halitosis-ridden old men and Mary-Kay-encrusted women escalated its war on the poor, the sick, and the elderly in America to pay for their tax cuts. I guess their panties must still be in a frist (thanks Stephanie) over not being able to drill and kill in Alaska. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: The Smallest of the Small Republicans in the U.S. Senate refused to bring up for consideration a resolution that honored Bruce Springsteen's legendary album "Born to Run" in honor of the 30th anniversary of its release. Though no reason was given for the refusal, Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg's spokesman said, "Resolutions like this pass all the time in the U.S. Senate, usually by unanimous consent." It's believed that the reason for the objection is that Republicans are still upset that Springsteen supported John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race. That the Republican leadership of the U.S. Senate is comprised of such small-minded, vindictive people is far from a surprise. Their leader, the liar-in-chief, is known for his insanely petty attitude. They are only following in brown-shirted lockstep with the simpleton who is bringing their party down. (Not soon enough, we might add.) One suspects that plenty of anti-Clinton artists were honored with similar resolutions during the Clinton administration. (Though it is difficult to verify this because I could not find one story about a similar situation taking place during the Clinton administration.) What is most surprising is that Republicans seemingly took more time considering this resolution (and shooting it down) than they did considering a resolution that forced this country into an unjust war and led to the deaths of thousands of American soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis. Nice to see that their priorities are in order. Roy Opochinski Subject: Vote We have about a year to get people registered and get them into the voting booth. This time it really matters!!! And you people in Ohio, and wherever else there are Diebold machines, had better do something because you've been disenfranchised. We've got a democracy to save and failure is not an option. Douglas Miller Subject: Letter To The Editor - Gotta Love Those Republicans The U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut $700 million dollars from the food stamp program cutting off 235,000 people who will now go hungry. But what I find more shocking is that the $700 million is less than the tax cut that Bush gave Bill Gates. 235,000 people are going to go hungry so that a single individual can keep billions. Gotta love those Republicans! I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message! Subject: Murtha Vote Last evening I watched briefly some of the arguments and spin being thrown about the Hill before the house voted on the ‘replaced’ Murtha call for removing our troops from Iraq immediately. That to me folks was the real deal of ‘Shock and Awe’ ! I was absolutely speechless to see a room full of adults, who by the way are supposedly running our country, acting in such a frightening way. The room was set ablaze by childish, egotistical, playground bickering, fired up by leaders arguing because they wanted their way. It was beyond a disgrace, it was so shameful it was, as I said before, frightening! No thought was being given to the men and women dying at that moment in Iraq, what we witnessed were partisan games and a frantic need for people to get their own way. The consciousness levels of our leaders is sadly lacking for people who are put into such a high place to guide our country and uphold the law. Our leaders are still locked into their own egos so strongly that they can’t see the forest for the trees, and that, my friends, is a terrifying fact. In order to evolve in this world and raise our consciousness levels higher, we must first learn to tune out our egos and leave behind us ego’s trademarks of anger, fear, greed, blame, REVENGE, hate etc. Until we make the supreme effort to get beyond this limited way of thinking, I am afraid we will see repeating patterns of war, corruption, control, destruction, lies and deceit being played out time and time again. Have we as a species not progressed more than this? Are we even trying? I found the behavior being demonstrated on the floor of the house very troubling indeed. To see such behavior showed me we have a very, very, long way to go to reach a state of mind in this country that supports peace and compassion, honesty and integrity, and truly honors the law of ‘By the people, for the people’. The answers to solving this dilemma cannot be found by any one leader demanding change. The answers will only be found through each of us mindfully working to change our own ways of thinking, to raise our own consciousness levels beyond the lower realms of selfishness, aggression and revenge! It is truly time for all of us to grow up if we want to save our country and the world. So to our Government leaders I say “Grow up, get off the playground, before you take us all down with you!" A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: July 4th Napkin Set "...She looks like she got attacked by a July 4th napkin set.... " Thanks guys - you just made me snort chocolate milk all over my keyboard. :-D A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: We Are Not a Democracy My spouse and I want to thank you sincerely for your continued fight against the horror and sheer nightmare of a fascist sociopath and his GOP henchmen aka anything for greed.com I want to correct BuzzFlash and its/his/her readers when the editor/writer sez save our democracy or keep our Democracy etc. WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY NOW - A DEMOCRACY HAS LEGALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND AN ELECTED PRESIDENT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. BUSH LOST IN 2000 - FIVE SELFISH IMMORAL POLITICALLY DRIVEN PEOPLE ELECTED HIM. THE VOTE COUNT IN FLORIDA PROVED THIS AFTER THE BUSH MAINSTREAM MEDIA BURIED IT. GORE WON BY 602 VOTES. THIS AFTER THE GOP MADE FELON LISTS - AKA LIES TO KEEP BLACKS FROM VOTING, DITTO FOR ALL THEIR OTHER TACTICS - CAN YOU SAY SLEEPING YOUR WAY TO ELECTION, KATHERINE ...? ANYWAY SORRY GANG WE ARE A FASCIST STATE WITH A SICK TWISTED THEOLOGIAN SOCIOPATH AT THE TOP. HE AND DIEBOLD STOLE 2004. YOUR VOTE IN OHIO DID NOT COUNT. THE ELECTRONIC VOTING WITHOUT A PAPER TRAIL MADE SURE OF THAT. BUSH STOLE DEMOCRACY FROM US - FACE IT AND KEEP FIGHTING. I ABHORE LIVING IN A FASCIST COUNTRY, BUT WE DO. David West [BuzzFlash Note: We do keep fighting. Best form of anger management we know. But we'll vote, too.] Subject: Murtha Won The GOP pushed for a vote on a non-binding resolution of a distortion of Murtha’s proposal. E.g. Murtha called for phased redeployment of U.S. troops beginning immediately. Murtha's resolution included language the Republicans wanted to avoid, such as "the American people have not been shown clear, measurable progress" toward stability in Iraq. It also said troops should be withdrawn "at the earliest practicable date," although Murtha said in statements and interviews Thursday that the draw down should begin now. The GOP version: Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) drafted a simpler resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops, saying it was a fair interpretation of Murtha's intent. In effect, it was a parody of Murtha’s withdrawal plan. That’s what was voted down. But the genie is now out of the bottle. The vibes are out there. House Rejects Iraq Pullout After GOP Forces a Vote: Democrats Enraged By Personal Attack (Washington Post) A BuzzFlash Reader P.S.--You’ll be fighting terrorists in the streets of America anyway, as long as imperialist arrogance, corporate-totalitarian hubris & utter stupidity rule. Subject: Amtrak Some years ago, I had to fly from Washington, D.C., to a business assignment in New Hampshire. The pleasant man sitting next to me in the coach section introduced himself, saying he worked for the Washington, D.C., metro rail system. He peppered me with questions about my experiences with the metro system. How often did I use it, and how far did I travel? What fare card denominations did I typically purchase? When I told him, he pointed out an option that would save me 10% on the fares. It was not until some time later, when I saw an article in the Washington Post, that I realized my seat mate was David Gunn, who was then manager of the Washington Metro, and later went on to his position in charge of AMTRACK. To this day, I am impressed by his concern for user's transportation experience, and for the fact that this man, who could have justified a first class ticket, was riding in coach. We need more people like David Gunn running public services, and fewer of those who find his competence a shock to their systems. The chairman of Amtrak: Savior or undertaker? (New Jersey Star-Ledger) The Cronification of Government (goverup.com) Linda Lewis Subject: Stay the Course Article This is just one of many slogans being used by the Bush administration and their allies when discussing Iraq. It is a tired, worn-out phrase that means nothing. But it sounds good – projects decisiveness, strength, clarity of purpose. In reality, it means nothing. What course? For how long? What is the destination? None of these questions are ever answered, because the shouters of this useless slogan have no answers. Stay the course.
The argument that once we have incurred deaths that we must stay was shown to be wrong then, and it is wrong today. And why is it always the people who were so unwilling to shed their own blood when it was time for them so willing to order others to die for their own beliefs and causes years later? The President tells us we must sacrifice. I ask, who is sacrificing? The only people sacrificing are those military people and their families unlucky enough to be in the service when this insane war was started. Certainly none of the President’s friends, family, supporters, seem to be sacrificing. Stay the course. Captain Smith probably uttered these words before retiring to bed one April night years and years ago, as he captained one of the mightiest ships afloat in that era – much like our President captains our ship of state. But just like Smith, with his arrogance, his self-assuredness, his belief in the indestructibility of his ship, he continues sailing head on into ruin, spurred on by those who tell him that all is well, and nothing can harm him or his ship. Stay the course. I can only hope that whether through his own order, or by someone grabbing the wheel, that we as a nation turn in time to avoid further useless bloodshed and destruction, and put our nation on a course that will once again make our nation the envy of the world. Donald Mlodoch Subject: Kerry It's great Senator Kerry said something, but whatever you think of the campaign he ran in 2004, he won, we won. But of course, you won't see that in the media. I'm looking forward to reading Mark Crispin Miller's new book "Fooled Again". I sure hope he gets it right. Kerry didn't lose - I don't know why he gave up so fast. I have my theories, but we won that election by a good majority and unless we get our vote back there's not much point in anything we do. What does Bush care what people think of him or want or how they vote, when he and his buddies control what is "official" and who wins? Kerry: 'Let Iraqis Stand Up for Iraq' (ABC) Mary Subject: Who Told? I keep waiting for someone to come up with the name of George bush as the source who informed reporters about the cia operative. Oddly, no one has mentioned his name. I know damn well it was probably him. Another question-- why haven't the media brought Richard Clarke back on, and get him to reveal how the big A***ole reacts when you don't do as he says, and says what he tells you to? Could it be that the media does not want to get the truth out? Sarah [BuzzFlash Note: Clarke was on The Daily Show last week; he's promoting his new book, a novel.] Subject: How To Prove Limbore Is a Greedy SOB Hi BuzzFlash Readers, Heard this idea on Air America and I investigated. Rush LimBORE wants us to send him FIFTY BUCKS for his Cheesy letter by sending that he will send to the troops! Well, as a Democrat, I suggest that we instead send money to The USO for Calling Cards. Donations can be made in MEMORY or HONOR of someone. May I suggest they all be made in HONOR of Representative John Murtha!! This is the Description Of Making The Donation In HONOR or In MEMORY of Someone link. ttps://www.uso.org/donate/default.cfm?action=memorialDetails Phone Cards for Troops To Call Home Link https://www.uso.org/donate/default.cfm?action=donate.step1 Making The Donation Link If you have problems with these links, Google USO and look for "Donate Now." It is a secure site. So while Bush is back in Crawford chopping wood and ignoring yet more PDB's and while LimBORE is selling his CHEESY LETTER to the troops at $50 Bucks a pop, at least our troops will able to talk with the families back home during the holidays, in HONOR OF Representative John Murtha, because of Democratic and Independent Voter Contributions! Republicans won't contribute because that would cut away from the Big Tax Cut they Just Got - Again! https://www.uso.org/donate/default.cfm?action=donate.step1 Tom Wieliczka Subject: Sun Tzu ...
... name used by the unknown Chinese authors of the sophisticated treatise on philosophy, logistics, espionage, strategy and tactics known as 'The Art of War.' Frank Subject: Richard Armitage's Seamy Background Here's a link for info: http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/politics/armitage_SS.html Janet Warren Subject: The So-called Vote to Invade Iraq! Why is it that nobody addresses the wording of the resolution that granted Bush the right to invade Iraq? I believe that it granted him that right, only after he had exhausted all diplomatic efforts and then only as a last resort (am I wrong). If I am correct then they were voting to give him negotiation power, mistakenly believing that he would use it wisely (dream on). A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Thanks for Your Daily Links & Eds; Comment on Woodward Below It's Miller time at the WaPo jd sherlock Subject: "Question?" I just have one question for those of you advocating staying in Iraq until the job is done, what do you define as "winning the war?" I'm just curious because not one person in this country's leadership has told us what that means. The answer is an abstraction and not questioning this reality is a distraction. If you occupy a country of people in loin cloths with modern day weaponry they're going to fight back. Don't believe me? Ask the Brits about it or open up a freaking history book. There is no winning. Winning isn't a real concept. Think about it. The Indy Voice Subject: "She Got Attacked By a July 4th Napkin Set" !!!!! Re: "Video of Jean Schmidt's hysterical, demagogic attack on John Murtha. (Check out her outfit. She looks like she got attacked by a July 4th napkin set.) 11/19" I love it. The funniest one-liner I've read in a while." A BuzzFlash Reader Hi Buzz, I wanted you and your readers to know ... that I got my "Cindy Sheehan Bucket Hat " a couple of days ago ... and I love it. ... I wear it everywhere I go....and it also covers up a bad hair day very nicely. I also want you to know that I wear it backwards (doesn't make any difference) so that people behind me can read your BuzzFlash logo ... and ... they do ask about it ... so now I carry little slips of paper with me that say "buzzflash.com" on them ... and hand them out ... and tell them that it is the site to go to ... to find out what is going on in their government. It is just one of the little things that I can do to promote your great site. I am advising women out there to send for one. Keep up your great work Buzz. Genie Subject: Time to research Cheney prewar assertions of secret info Good morning BuzzFlash: I remember on several occasions during the run-up to the Iraq war that Dick Cheney stated publicly that he and the (administration) possessed information regarding Saddam Hussein and his WMD that the rest of us DID NOT HAVE. If memory serves me correctly he made statements to this effect on Meet the Press and possibly on Face the Nation. I was left with the impression that only Bush, Cheney and the key players in the administration were privy to this info. I don’t have the resources or the time to check out and review Cheney’s statements prior to and immediately following the attack on Baghdad, but I believe it would be advantageous for the Democrats to go back and review Cheney’s on the record comments. Cheney clearly behaved and indicated that there was much more intelligence, (classified) that wasn’t shared with congress, that backed up the administration's plan and decision to go after Saddam. So maybe it’s time for the Dems to make Cheney put up because he obviously isn’t going to SHUT UP! C in TN [BuzzFlash Note: How's this? (Senator Byrd's stab at it) Byrd uses Cheney's words against him 11/21.] Subject: Saddam as Hitler? I just read the BuzzFlash interview with Scott Ritter. I read Scott Ritter carefully all through 2002 and came to trust his information. It was easy for me to see that Bush and his minions were lying. We know that Bush 1 and the neocons were tight with Saddam in the eighties. They convinced him to invade their arch enemy Iran. They then conned him to invade Kuwait. Kuwait was slant drilling into Iraqi oil deposits and April Glaspie gave Saddam the green light: The Bush Administration is not concerned with Arab/Arab conflict. My question is, why did Bush 1 turn against Saddam? Mamosa Subject: Tip: please do not denigrate women Please do not denigrate women even if they are on the wrong side.
I read BuzzFlash everyday. I have sent many articles and opinion pieces you have done to my email list. While I personally think Jean Schmidt is a typical right-wing 'fighter', as long as she is not being killed or maimed, I read with dismay your description of her talk (if you can call it that) and her outfit. Please do not denigrate 'all' women by using the stereotypical adjective of 'hysterical' and then discuss her clothes. This happens all too often to progressive/liberal/democratic women all the time by the media. Again, please don't go there, too. Thank you for your attention, response and the great work you do. Kenya Paley [BuzzFlash Note: We're all for gender-neutral insults. Point taken. We've atoned today by calling Cheney an erratic, bizarre desperate cornered rat. That conjures an image, too, we hope.] CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE NOVEMBER 21, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG
|
|||
| back to top | |||