November 22, 2005

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.

You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowin'. Give the credit to Rep. John Murtha, Rep. Walter Jones, Sen. Robert Byrd, Cindy Sheehan, or any of the precious 2083 gone from us as this is written. But now is the time for sober rejoicing in our nation for it appears the madness of the Bush Administration's Iraq war adventure is over. All that remains is the helicopters airlifting the last Halliburton contractors from the roofs of the Green Zone, the long process of reconciliation with the Iraqi people, and the war crimes trials. The lives that have been saved! The comfort that Thomas Jefferson's promise that tyrants can be defeated by a free American people still lives in America.

Paul A. Moore
Miami Lakes, FL

Subject: "America Can Do Better" … Duh!

Leave it to the Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We have just had 5 years of the most dishonest, corrupt and brutal administrations in, not just the history of the U.S., but the world. THE HORROR. All we Democrats need now are good candidates and a great national slogan for the 2006 elections and victory will surely be ours! So the best and brightest of the Democratic strategists have put their collective minds to it, and they’ve come up with the perfect slogan to encapsulate and capture the pulsating, raw anger existing in the rank and file of the American populace … here it is … get ready …

AMERICA CAN DO BETTER!

Please hold your applause.

I was alerted to this nauseating turn of sloganeering by reading a great post by Arianna Huffington (if you haven’t done so you should check out her site). And she is dead-on in her criticism of this lamo jingle. AMERICA CAN DO BETTER. (Whew, the stench.) This has got to be the most milquetoast, lukewarm, tepid and completely inappropriate slogan for these dark Bushian Times that I have ever heard. Do I need to remind our colleagues that we are talking about the GEORGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION? How about something a little more specific?

I’m no marketing expert, but just look at how easy it would be to beat such a 3rd grade quality piece of sap:

• COMPETENCE, NOT CORRUPTION

• LET’S BRING HONESTY AND ETHICS BACK TO GOVERNMENT

• SECURITY WITH SANITY

This is a truly serious matter. If the Democratic strategists think their comfy little slogan is going to motivate voters to vote “blue,” I’ve got news for them. AMERICA CAN DO BETTER. Sheez. This putrid, snoring blather does nothing more than perpetuate the stereotype that Dems are a party of elitist wimps. In a time of war no less. Can we really afford this?

Question: If you can’t display the least bit of passion in your election slogan, how in God’s name will you be passionate enough to protect the country from terrorists? Voters may well want to know.

This is no John Murtha slogan. This is a slogan from party leaders who are completely out of touch with the seething anger which exists in all corners of the electorate. We’re mad as hell. And we damn well want a slogan which captures that feeling. Or at least a winning one.

Dear DNC: Fix this slogan problem and fight these GOP bullies with some passion and intelligence or I’m headed to the Green Party. (Or somewhere, anywhere, blue.) I will no longer countenance a party competent to govern, but too incompetent and spineless at election strategy to get elected.

PG Bowden

I am so glad that big wig at nbc pointed out Liberals do not watch tv! I have been trying to tell people those high ratings for shows like desperate house wives and Jerry springer are a result of those hypocritical Christian conservatives watching them and then pretending they don't like them!

http://www.fulldisclosure.net/flash/441-442fromson.php

shorty

Subject: my thoughts

I am an ordinary citizen who is scared to death. I am worried about what Bush and Cheney can do BEFORE the next election. These people have no moral convictions beyond aiding the wealthy corporate types who "bought" them to office.

While we wait for the next election cycle, more of our soldiers will die, more Iraqi citizens will die by often horrible and inhuman methods, more insurgents will be "justified" in their suicidal martyrdom, more of our environment will be irrevocably destroyed, more people in this country will fall into poverty and more CEOs will enjoy unprecedented profits. This is insanity.

When Bush ran for office, I truly thought the American people would see immediately that the man is a fool, has never held a job, and his only claim to fame is being the very wealthy son of a president with a myriad of business connections. I was astounded when he was elected and even more when he was elected a second time. (I am using the word "elected" loosely.") His agenda was clear from the very beginning, and if our media had been honest in its approach to the truth, we might not be in the mess we are today. Why the media abandoned their commitment to unbiased journalism is beyond me.

I am terrified.

I hope that responsible Republicans will join Democrats in advocating impeachment proceedings of both Bush and Cheney immediately. A mass demonstration on Washington by responsible citizens would certainly aid this effort.

Thank you for allowing me to sound off.

Diane Wilde
Sacramento, CA

PS. I saw a great bumper sticker: "At least the war on the environment is going well."

Subject: Putting 'Vice' into the High Office of Vice President?

1vice \"vïs\ n 1 : depravity, wickedness 2 : a moral fault or failing 3 : a habitual usu. trivial fault 4 : an undesirable behavior pattern in a domestic animal

'Cheney is vice president for torture' (itv.com)

A former CIA director has claimed that torture is condoned and even approved by the Bush government.

The devastating accusations have been made by Admiral Stansfield Turner who labelled Dick Cheney "a vice president for torture". ...

The former spymaster claims President Bush is not telling the truth when he says that torture is not a method used by the US.

Speaking of Bush's claims that the US does not use torture, Admiral Turner, who ran the CIA from 1977 to 1981, said: "I do not believe him".

On Dick Cheney he said "I'm embarrassed the United States has a vice president for torture.

"He condones torture, what else is he?"

Admiral Turner claims the secret CIA prisons used for torture are known as 'black sites', terror suspects are picked up in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan. ...

Former CIA director accuses Cheney of overseeing torture (Agence France-Presse)

LONDON (AFP) - Admiral Stansfield Turner, a former CIA director, accused US Vice President Dick Cheney of overseeing policies of torturing terrorist suspects and damaging the nation's reputation, in a television interview.

"We have crossed the line into dangerous territory," Turner, who headed the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1970s, said on ITV news.

"I am embarrassed that the USA has a vice president for torture. I think it is just reprehensible. He (Mr Cheney) advocates torture, what else is it? I just don't understand how a man in that position can take such a stance." ...

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Chuck Hagel

Dear BuzzFlash readers,

Don't become too enamored with Sen. Chuck Hagel. He now seems to be criticizing Bush's, but he will invariably support von Bushy. He is up for re-election in 2006. I am not native to Nebraska, but I have been here long enough to feel like one of the mailbag writers from Kansas--not represented at all by Nebraska's congressmen. Would you please link to these two articles about Hagel and his connection to the computer election machines? The articles are a little old, but I think still relevant:

While Diebold has received the most attention, it actually isn't the biggest maker of computerized election machines. That honor goes to Omaha-based ES&S, and its Republican roots may be even stronger than Diebold's.

The firm, which is privately held, began as a company called Data Mark, which was founded in the early 1980s by Bob and Todd Urosevich. In 1984, brothers William and Robert Ahmanson bought a 68 percent stake in Data Mark, and changed the company's name to American Information Services (AIS). Then, in 1987, McCarthy & Co, an Omaha investment group, acquired a minority share in AIS.

In 1992, investment banker Chuck Hagel, president of McCarthy & Co, became chairman of AIS. Hagel, who had been touted as a possible Senate candidate in 1993, was again on the list of likely GOP contenders heading into the 1996 contest. In January of 1995, while still chairman of ES&S, Hagel told the Omaha World-Herald that he would likely make a decision by mid-March of 1995. On March 15, according to a letter provided by Hagel's Senate staff, he resigned from the AIS board, noting that he intended to announce his candidacy. A few days later, he did just that.

A little less than eight months after stepping down as director of AIS, Hagel surprised national pundits and defied early polls by defeating Benjamin Nelson, the state's popular former governor. It was Hagel's first try for public office. Nebraska elections officials told The Hill that machines made by AIS probably tallied 85 percent of the votes cast in the 1996 vote, although Nelson never drew attention to the connection. Hagel won again in 2002, by a far healthier margin. That vote is still angrily disputed by Hagel's Democratic opponent, Charlie Matulka, who did try to make Hagel's ties to ES&S an issue in the race and who asked that state elections officials conduct a hand recount of the vote. That request was rebuffed, because Hagel's margin of victory was so large.

As might be expected, Hagel has been generously supported by his investment partners at McCarthy & Co. -- since he first ran, Hagel has received about $15,000 in campaign contributions from McCarthy & Co. executives. And Hagel still owns more than $1 million in stock in McCarthy & Co., which still owns a quarter of ES&S.

http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2004/03/03_200.html

One underlying issue is whether Hagel properly disclosed his financial ties to Election Systems & Software (ES&S), a company that makes nearly half the voting machines used in the United States, including all those used in his native Nebraska.

ES&S is a subsidiary of McCarthy Group Inc., which is jointly held by the holding firm and the Omaha World-Herald Co., which publishes the state’s largest newspaper. The voting machine company makes sophisticated optical scan and touch-screen vote-counting devices that many states have begun buying in recent years.

http://www.hillnews.com/news/012903/hagel.aspx

Thanks. You all are the best.

Irma S.

Subject: Kerry? NO WAY!

I was sitting around this afternoon, CNN on in the background for noise, and heard a voice that sent chills down my spine. John Kerry, talking to Wolf Blitzer, disagreeing with Congressman Murtha on an Iraq pullout. Kerry: "I disagree with him, and I have a plan that ......"

I froze in terror at the words "I have a plan ..." The presidential campaign come back to haunt me! And now I hear talk that Kerry is going to run again. We have to stop him! Geez oh holy man, we have got to stop this! The worst thing that could possibly happen for Democrats is for Kerry to run again. Doesn't he know? Hasn't anyone told him that all Democrats didn't love him, but he was the only option?? Someone please tell him that lots of Democrats reluctantly supported him! DNC, are you reading this? You have got to tell Kerry to drop it, forget it, don't bother!

Surely this party can come up with someone who doesn't make our skin crawl. Now is the time to put forth some real leaders, a real candidate that can carry on the momentum that's starting to build now, the anti-republican momentum. But it can't just be an anti-republican movement -- it has to be a progressive agenda. Real ideas, real solutions for the real, awful screwed-up mess of a world the repugs have made for us in this country. And there are some good possibilities, but hear this: John Kerry isn't one of them!

Breathe deeply. The panic will subside.

A Buzz Reader

Subject: GOP engineers defeat of higher education

Dear Buzz,

At first, Representative Pelosi said they defeated the Republicans by a stunning margin and so programs like higher education assistance for poor students were saved. Then we wonder what happened. I have it from a very good source in Sugarland that DeLay used to hold votes open to the “wee hours of the morning”, send thugs into restrooms and beat up members who did not support his choices. Is Roy Blunt the same? Look at these two articles. This is important to higher education. As a guidance counselor, I am concerned. The fact that they thugged out these programs should be exposed. Look at the difference in these articles. Look at the date and time each was written. Americans, we can’t put up with this. Why isn’t the media calling the GOP “sore losers”?

Difficult budget talks ahead in Congress (Nov. 19/AP/MSNBC)

House Democrats Defeat Spending Bill (Nov. 17/AP/Yahoo)

A Buzzer

Subject: three limbs (sent to corporate media)

re: calling murtha a coward

oh for christ sake! why is the media acting sooo surprised at that woman calling him a coward? all these guys who have never seen combat outside of tv do this all the time! they always take men like that senator who lost three limbs on the battle field, john mccain, john kerry anyone who gets in their way and lie about them, the media goes along with the lies because they like the controversy. HOW SAD FOR OUR ONCE GREAT COUNTRY!

karen massey
south carolina

Subject: House votes for public land mining sales (AP/Boston.com)

The House agreed to reinstate sales of mining lands at cheap prices as part of its budget cut plan approved Friday, a move that could transfer into private hands up to 20 million acres of public lands on Western ranges, national forests and even national parks.

... the longer they wait to start impeachment proceedings.. the more of this crap will need to be undone.

Ed M.

Subject: Mr. Clinton goes to the Middle East

Thank you so very much BuzzFlash for that great downlink covering the Clintons' trip to the Middle-East, his remarks on the 'big mistake' of going into Iraq, the bogus use of the Constitution to impeach him, and the Clintons' visit to Jordan, etc.

What a breath of fresh air to read quotes of remarks by a balanced, sane, intelligent, articulate man. Imagine. A President who can think on his feet, get to the essence of complex matters, and use compound sentences that are not memorable only for their thuggery, butchery, or malaporporri (I just coined a GWB), [or] their Wild Westdery "We're gonna smoke em out of their spider holes." Jesus God Almighty Smoke em out of WDC!

How wonderful to hear that audiences jumped to their feet and cheered, and they weren't politically arranged puppets. How amazing to remember that an American president was actually invited and welcomed and loved.

Brought tears to my eyes. Bill Clinton I love you!!! I'm not as fond of Hillary...even though I know she's a brainiac and better than anything the GOP will ever find. But I'll vote for her to get Bill back. And if she has Wesley Clark as VP!!!!! I can dream, can't I?

Clinton Calls Impeachment of him an Egregious Abuse of the Constitution 11/12

Suzanne de Cornelia
San Francisco

Subject: U.S. employers eliminated 136,280 jobs in 742 mass layoffs in 3rd quarter

Ohio near top of mass layoff list in 3Q (columbus.bizjournals)

but the economy grew by 3.8%

Economy Grew 3.8% In The 3rd Quarter; Wages Failed To Keep Up With Inflation (Investors Business Daily)

... wages failed to keep up with the inflation (that we aren't supposed to have)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject:  George's Mama Didn't Raise Him or Any of Her Other Children 

I just read Cindy Sheehan's Open Letter to George's Mama, and while my heart breaks for her and every other mother who has lost a child to this ill-conceived madness we call the Iraq War, it occurred to me that Cindy is making a mother-to-mother appeal to a privileged, disconnected woman who was not truly a mother to her own children.

In an overt act of masochism, I read Barbara's A Memoir (mostly an endless litany of name dropping) in which she tells of her life from meeting and marrying George H. W., to their departure from the White House. While I long ago added Barbara's book to the recycle bin (which, in my opinion, is the only good it will ever do), what has stayed with me is the peripheral, window-dressing tone in which she wrote about her children.

She tells of the time when their first daughter became ill and their time spent away from home while they fought for her life - commendable, certainly. Meanwhile back in Texas, the boys were farmed out to "friends and neighbors." From that point on she really only mentions the kids in terms of their holidays from Prep school and how well they campaigned for their father as young adults. I remember in one instance Barbara laughingly, in a "isn't she so silly" way, recalls that their second daughter pleaded not to be with her parents but to go away to Prep school instead.

As a mother myself I hear, and take to heart, Cindy's plea, because we raise our children ourselves. We learn their hopes, fears, needs, moods, intellects and their hearts on a daily basis. Barbara seems to have squandered that gift not once, but several times over. Never have such heartfelt words fallen on deafer ears.

Gillian Childers

Subject: Are there any adults left in GOP...? 

Buzz,

I'm referring to the Republican posturing in response to the Murtha's proposal. Someone needs to remind these bozos that this is not kindergarten anymore and that real people's lives are at stake here. (And to think we pay their salaries...)

If Republicans can't act like serious adults when it comes to ending the war, it means that obviously they cannot be trusted with our lives or with our money. It is time for us then to end their bullish and irresponsible rule.

Maligning Murtha (Washington Post)

So fed up with the GOP crap,

Elizabeth

P.S. And after we vote them out of office, let's ship them all to Iraq -- the real Iraq, not the Green Zone -- and see if they can practice there what they preach now from the safety of their well-furnished offices.

Subject: Please use new meme: Republitic

Dear BuzzFlash,

Saw in a 2nd-hand store an old copy of "None Dare Call It Treason" a right-winger bible of the 1950s and 1960s. "Commies everywhere." The intro bemoaned that the right was portrayed as a bunch of lunatics, and argued that it was necessary for them to erase that "frame." If you're old enough, you'll remember that was in fact the sense the general public had of the extreme right--crackpots. We've lost that accurate appraisal.

Hence, my new short-hand for the rightist putschists our nation is cursed with: Republitics are lunatic Republicans. Also, there is the fortunate association with "ticks": These, too, are blood-sucking, disease-inducing parasites.

So I hope this can become a standard term to refer to the Bush Gang.

Thanks.

Jim P.

Subject: When saying sorry ain't enough 

I tend to agree with most of the posts about this. If I, an ordinary senior housewife, could see Bush lying through his teeth....and Cheney and Rummy...and everyone who wanted this war.....why in the hell could the dems who voted for it...not see? I never, ever believed a word...I alienated most of my family....many of them do not even like me...and that includes close relatives........and it will be worse, now that so much proof has been found. It will be like I am gloating....which I am not...we will be together this weekend and I intend to stay clear of the subject...even if someone else brings it up. You can do a lot more with a look...or a half smile...and keep it to yourself.

Look at all the documentaries...please....in every one of them....Bush is 'acting' like a bad actor! That phoney concerned look he gets on his face...you never see it now...now, you see fear...FEAR!! But, back in late 2002 and early 2003....you saw his acting in whatever form you would want to call it. The reading of the teleprompter...that moved from one side to the middle to the other side....watch it...."We do not want...(move) the smoking gun, (move)..to come in the form of a mushroom cloud".... And Cheney's equally as bad job of lying with a sneer....."We know beyond a doubt now, that he is reconstituting his chemical weapons.....and is ever closer to a Nuclear weapon!"

We have been invited to a beloved Niece's 50th birthday party in two weeks....this woman will be there who thinks that Bush is God. I have to admit...I am trying to think of excuses, and that is small...I know. But, the thought of being in the presence of any person who agrees with them is much too much right now. This particular lady....never had a brother who wore the uniform...much like the administration...all three brothers were deferred, in peace time. Their Momma had a bad feeling about their being in the uniform... Strange how some people see things (my brothers all, wore the uniform...all my uncles wore the uniform...two in the 2nd world war...one brother died in Nam, another was in Cambodia at the same time..I have never known anything but, the uniform!)

I saw the lies from the first, and got taken down for it, time is showing that I was right!!..And more frightening is this U. of Utah, science instructor who is out there wondering....why did building 7 implode? I have been hearing about building 7 since the attack...had no idea...because everyone tries to skirt the issue! But, nothing....nothing would surprise me, now!

Shirley....St. Louis

Subject: Washington D.C. in December

Thought you would like to know.

There will be no Nativity Scene in Washington, DC this. This isn't for any religious reasons. The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in Washington, DC this Christmas season.

The reason, they simply have not been able to find three wise men and a virgin in the Nation’s capitol. There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

Jane

Subject: Remember Surge in Bombing Campaign?

Just prior to the official "war" the Brits and U.S. were found to be increasing the daily bombing of Iraq. I think that's how I remember it.

http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/2005/06/blair-lies-again-on-pre-war-bombing.html

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/37/11574

C. M.

Subject: Friend or Foe? Are they going to have it on cards?

I can't imagine any sadder way to celebrate the Holidays than with the term "friend or foe." I am a cashier at a store that does most of their business from Thanksgiving through New Years, and I have worked at other stores, and the only thing anyone has ever told me I had to say is "Thank you." If the customer says Merry Christmas then I will say it in return. If I say anything first it is usually Happy Holidays, because, unlike Jerry Falwell, I respect the beliefs or non-beliefs of everyone. What a heartbreaking use of the holiday of giving.

Falwell fighting for holy holiday (Scripps)

"You're either with us, or you're against us" (blogs.knoxnews.com)

Speak up or they assume you agree!!! ABB

Karen Webb
Moore, OK

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