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| December 19, 2005 |
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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. THIS IS PART 2 OF THE DECEMBER 19, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 Subject: The "I" Word So yesterday Carl Levin was directly asked by Tim Russert: "If the President has violated the law, what's next?" Levin did not have the guts to say the "I" word. My God, who will it be with the brains and intelligence to call this what it is? I'd like to see the blogs start a full scale research legal project on why this behavior constitutes an impeachable offense. We've (and I use the work "We" quite liberally, because I'm not up for that sort of research) got to give the gutless bastards the road map to explain it to the ignorant electorate, ASAP. Rita Subject: Bush's Resignation Speech On the evening of August 8, 1974 Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States. Could we not inaugurate a competition for Bush's Resignation Speech - one in which (imagine) he confesses everything, or one in which he reveals his delusional vision. It would help make the reality of such an event that much more thinkable. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Bush Should Resign President Bush has finally accepted he made a lot of mistakes going into the war, but he now asks us to trust him to win the war. But can America afford to invest its trust in a leader who hasn't been trustworthy? America is a nation of laws where we value honesty, trustworthiness, honor, freedom, liberty, and justice. The issue isn't if we want to choose between victory and defeat, but if Bush has a plan for victory that will work. Bush has put America in a hole that we can't get out of by going deeper into the hole. We are on the path of defeat, and if we want to have victory we need to turn around and go in that direction. America can't do that if our leader is a loser. A weak leader puts our nation in jeopardy. I therefore think it's time to ask Bush to resign the presidency so that we can get a leader who can win the war. I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message! Marc Perkel Subject: McCain and Rice Do the Ice Capades It was amazing watching two of my least favorite hypocrites skating for their lives on the Sunday morning talk shows. It makes you dizzy watching McCain these days. He makes the old campaign ads of Kerry windsurfing look like long slow turns. One interview will have a man who seems to believe in all the good, honest, human things that a man who wants to represent the people should feel. The next time he you see him he skitters around like a bull on ice and you are left wondering who the hell was that imposter who just showed up. His spins are becoming less graceful but certainly more frequent. If McCain is going to keep straddling the fence perhaps he should get a cup. Especially when on skates. This is an entertainer extraordinaire. He spins, he glides, and he slides around the questions like a true performer. The more you watch McCain’s performances, the less substance he projects. His reasoned sincerity is wearing a little thin. On Sunday his argument that Bush consulted with members of congress so they have no right to be indignant now is just so much nonsense. Bush doesn’t consult, Bush, His Imperial Majesty, speaks and Congress obeys. Our second performer on ice is Ms. Shoe Shopping Champ, our not very esteemed Secretary of State. Condoleezza Rice could give spin lessons to Dorothy Hamill. (She was the U.S. figure skating champion 1974-1976 and won a gold medal in the Olympics in 1976.) Ms. Rice is not so graceful as Ms. Hamill. She is also getting well known for trying to slide by tough questions with reams of words that go nowhere and say nothing. Kind of like skating round and round a rink. Working hard to skate in a circle. Yesterday on Meet the Press her performance would have gotten no more than a 4.6 from most judges on the skating circuit. And probably a 3.5 from the French judge. Marjorie L. Swanson Subject: Render Me Speechless Please God make George Bush stop talking to the American people. This is torture way beyond anything we can endure. And please make him go to his ranch and get drunk so we can all forget him for awhile and have a decent holiday. Thank you. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Can't Stand It I’m just a regular person, married, working mom, a child of the 60’s that has watched, like many of us, profound changes in our America. But I have to tell you. I can’t stand it anymore. Plain and simple. Over and over again, the same old crap. “I’m just trying to keep Americans safe, doin’ my job to keep America safe.” Oh my god, I just can’t stand it anymore. Do people really believe these smarmy utterances? How can this be? “I’m listening in on Americans’ phone and internet communications to keep them safe, to safeguard Americans’ civil liberties, just like when I want to see their medical and library records, same thing!” This is the latest in the unreal world of 2005 America. While we may not be the most book smart population, we have always had “common sense.” So what does common sense tell you these days? Please, can we just get back to a world like the one I grew up in? One that taught that two wrongs don’t make a right. That you treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. That if you attack someone that has done you no wrong, well sir, that makes you a bully! Tell me, what does it mean, “Proud to be an American”? Funny, I just feel sick to my stomach. Not funny Ha Ha, but funny in an almost psychopathological way. A “bring the white coats and the straight jackets” kinda way. Where are the reasonable elected representatives the people with common sense put into office to maintain and uphold our Constitution? It appears that most of them have turned into, I don’t know, raving lunatics. We see medical diagnoses made on C-Span, the most blatant lies spouted like….well, like gospel, and threats made over bridges to “nowhere,” where we are told we should be ignoring scientific facts, and teach some kind of mythology or religious dogma in our high schools, where kids are already behind many countries in science education. As well as the degradation of the rights of Americans, the very rights that are what make us American! Deficit reduction means cutting health care, food stamps, preschool, and hot lunches for poor kids, while making additional tax cuts for the wealthy. Give-aways to Big Pharma for a so-called Medicare prescription benefit. Subsidies to Energy companies while they are already earning record profits on the backs of Americans. Rampant cronyism that puts foxes in charge of the henhouse, or downright plain incompetents that cause the deaths of many during a natural disaster. Is this what it means to be a proud American? When did America elect King George, with executive powers that allow him and his minions to bypass any oversight or necessary judicial review required by our laws and Constitution? We are at “war,” so the President can do whatever he wants? Why does the democratization of Iraq have to be made on the backs of middle and lower income level citizens and their children for possibly generations to come, while the privateers and profiteers make big bucks? Where is the common sense in that? Why do we not hear anything about the inclusion of UN countries in Iraq’s rebuilding, as we bring troops home? Why are they having so much trouble training Iraqi soldiers and policemen? How long did our troops train before our revolution in 1776? A war that we fought for our physical and ideological independence and those very rights that many citizens now seem so eager to give up to another George. For the last five years I have watched the events in my country with amazement, as well as skepticism regarding the actions of our elected officials. While I watched, I took comfort in the realization that the “common sense” of regular Americans would eventually make things right. That the Limbaughs and O’Reillys would be laughed out of town with their hateful and divisive rhetoric. But I don’t know if I can stomach much more of this, it just keeps getting worse. The whole thing stinks and I want to bury my head in the sand, because I can’t stand it anymore. I must recommend a couple of sites, if you, Dear BuzzFlash readers, have not already seen them. Look over "The Crisis Papers" and the "Online Gadfly." Both can be reached through this link. http://gadfly.igc.org/index.htm Prof. Partridge's book in progress, "CONSCIENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE," is an excellent read about how we got where we are and where we may end up if we are not careful. If you scroll down you will find a link to the "Crisis Papers." Many well written articles and opinion at both sites. Cindy Subject: King George I am shocked and disappointed that BuzzFlash is parroting conservative talking points. Your headline reads ". . . we are Dealing with a Monarchy, Tory Administration Who Would Have **Fought** Against the American Revolution." What lies! Georgie King of the Chicken Hawks never would have *fought* against my courageous forefather revolutionaries. He might have tattled on his neighbors, or paid bribes to induce destitute mercenaries to fight for him, but he, himself, never would have fought like a man. Please issue an apology immediately! P.S. Dear NSA, my name and city are displayed below. Scott Henderson Subject: Bad Taste? Dear Emily Post: I had a question about something I hope to do in the future. If by some miracle this spying scandal leads to impeachment for Bush, would it be in bad taste to display a MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner? Mike Curtis Subject: Bush's Sunday Night Speech Well, I most certainly didn't watch the "Prez'nut" speak last night. Why waste the time? I already know I will hear nothing other than rhetoric and that anything he says is most likely not the truth anyway. Frankly, five-year old reruns of "Cops" on Court-TV were much more appealing and informative than the Prez'nut. Any word on what the ratings for this waste of time and airwaves was? I haven't heard any "overnights" on it, and am just curious. The newest spin is interesting -- that some Congressional personnel were periodically briefed and didn't object. Is this like "They got the same intelligence I got" spin he's trying to peddle now? No matter what he tries to do, his credibility is nil, zap, nada. It is next to impossible to believe a liar and a deceiver even when (and if) they decide to "come clean." Perhaps someone should torture him to get the information out of him. Since some neo-cons have characterized the "torture" as nothing more than "fraternity" pranks, he might be convinced that he is back at Yale and president of Skull and Bones. Lisa J. "More candid"... my ass. You can't be "more or less" candid. Thanks to the modern media, this concept is widely believed. In truth, being "candid" is binary. There are no "shades of candid". You either ARE... or you are NOT. These folks, led by "The Architect" (Arch-Criminal) Karl Rove... lie all the time about everything...including the most mundane. Lying is their "default state". That makes little doses of "truth-like substances" seem so.... well... "refreshingly candid". And once again, thanks to the media they get away with it again, and again, and again. Thanks to sites like Buzz and Bartcop and several others (MediaWhoresOnline...where are you?!?), we just have to keep calling them on each and every lie they commit, without fail. John L. Johnson Subject: BuzzFlash asked THE question Dear BuzzFlash, Excellent editorial today...especially this point:
Exactly. This is what dropped my jaw back in 2000. The entire election "story" was told from Bush's POV. They even went backstage with him and his jackal family before the election was decided! When have we ever seen a candidate before the election was conceded? And of course, the deadly Supreme Court decision on 12/12/00 cited "irreparable harm" to Bush, as if he was the only one who mattered! Please please please continue to hammer this question, including it in your snarky headlines. You know the news media read all your spankings of them. Make it a meme!! Thanks. Robyn Su Miller Subject: Letter to the editor (to Boston Globe) I would like to inform the mainstream media of a new word that they do not seem to be aware of with regards to George W. Bush: it is called hypocrisy (hy·poc·ri·sy, n.). Hypocrisy is defined as “insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have.” For example, Bush stated today that it was shameful to have informed the world that he was secretly wiretapping Americans. If Bush felt that this was shameful, then why has he stubbornly protected those in his own administration who informed the world of the identity of a clandestine CIA agent fighting his “war on terror”? Could it be because he is practicing hypocrisy? Or is he still on the bottle? Or a complete idiot? Or maybe the definition of the word “hypocrisy” was influenced by the defeatist liberal media who only want to focus on the detractive qualities of the word? Harris Bierhoff Subject: The Victory Occurred ...
Senator Russell Feingold, December 17, 2005 (The Nation) A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: My call to my Congresscritter This is the script I used, pretty close, when I called my Congresscritter (R-Scum). I urge *everyone* to do the same, and feel free to use this script - it uses all their own arguments against them.
Mark Subject: How GOP stole Christmas Buzz, can you hear the bells ring? 'Tis the season to be merry -- for repuglicans. "We have a plan to reform the government and achieve savings," said House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, an Iowa Republican. Sounds good, doesn't it. But if you are not a filthy rich repuglican, your Christmas carol will get stuck in your throat when you learn what the GOP plan entails:
Hmm, let's think: What programs would Jesus cut? Health care and social help for the poor? Yeah, that sounds about right -- apparently the "family values" religious GOP crowd in our Congress has that Christian thing all figured out. So Merry Christmas to all, and to rich capitalist pigs, another good year. As for the rest of you, well, tough luck. Elizabeth P.S. The term obscene does not begin to describe this decision. The health care and social programs are growing, because the gap between rich and poor in the US widens by light years each passing month. So the repuglican solution to the problem of oppressive and increasing inequality is to eliminate social programs altogether. That's the Christmas spirit a la GOP. You have to hand it to these guys -- they certainly have no inhibitions (a.k.a. conscience). Subject: Mailbag Hi all, So when is Georgie going to give his speech about the status of the War on Christmas? I know we're "winning in Iraq," but who's winning the Christmas wars? Do we have enough troops? When will we appoint a Christmas Czar? Is there a new Christmas constitution being worked on? Isn't it about time George was straight with the American people about what's really going on in the War on Christmas? After all, we're not seeing the true images and consequences of the war on TV. The embedded Christmas reporters are not giving us enough information (except for taking one survey after another asking if it should be called a Christmas tree or Holiday tree). Some of us just don't know what to do or say. Can we utter the word "holiday," or "seasons greetings," or will there be a heavy price to pay for that? Will I be sent to Gitmo if I say that I'm secular? No, the situation isn't really funny at its core, but I'm sorry, I laugh every time I hear "the war on Christmas." Dr. Whitehurst is correct in today's editorial in saying these people are not harmless. Buy in my gut I feel these idiots won't win - there's nothing to win. It's an imaginary war. Yes, it will create even more divisiveness, but we already have a lot of that, don't we? And I worry about the anti-Semitic aspects, anti-Muslim, as well as all the other bigotry that is being emboldened by this nonsense, so, yes, it does have some serious consequences. To quote from Dr. Whitehurst's editorial - "I am sad to report that even the most tolerant conservatives I know have started parroting the lines they hear and read every day: "It's a shame we're not even allowed to say 'Merry Christmas' anymore," "Christianity is threatened because now you can't call the tree downtown a 'Christmas tree'," and 'It's ridiculous that I have to think before I send out Christmas cards -- why should I have to send 'Happy Holidays' cards to people who might be Jewish or atheist? After all, I have a duty to share my faith…...." Really? A duty? They need to stop listening to those voices in their heads - and the voices of James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson. Some never will, but I believe others will at some point see the absurdity of it. Anyway, what a blatant example of spin, brainwashing, a lack of ability to think for oneself, and a general desperation for something to feel persecuted about. Boy, I'm really dreading Easter. Barbara in NYC Subject: Bush Suspends Property Rights The Bush family now owns everything in the United States. W claims he is authorized to do this by the Afghani proclamation. Gonzales agrees. Bushie followers completely support their uber leader. "Now that US citizens no longer own any property, the terrorists will not attack us." Breschard Subject: that sick son of a bitch! we were stunned to find out the army had accepted the grand son of a friend of ours in arkansas, he is mildly retarded! he can do things if they are easy and they do not require a thought process. he mowed lawns for a little money and lived with his grand mother. he can't even count out change! he will get killed! why doesn't that sick son of a bitch in the white house send his own kids?! karen in sc Subject: Land Giveaway The 1872 mining law is under attack from Pombo (R-Calif.) It has already passed the house. Under the proposed changes, sale of public lands would turn over acres and acres of our wilderness area land and BLM land to private ownership for $1000 an acre. To get it, you would have a mining lease and then if you "found " that it wasn't good for mining, you could do anything you wanted with it. So they get the choice land for $1000 an acre!!!!! so they can build ski hill, condos, mansions, developments etc. Of course normal people will not have a chance to do this. We have to pay $35,000-100,000 an acre for land. (Pagosa Springs, Colorado is in the process of being ruined by an old crony of Bush 1 who obtained land when he was in.) Please write your congressmen to protest this now before the repugs push this through, it is attached to the budget reconciliation bill (this is disguised as a way to help balance the budget but they wouldn't even pay for 1 day of the war). It could affect 6 million acres of land, including Colorado's Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, Idaho's Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, Oregon's Rouge Wild and Scenic River, Arizona's Ironwood Forest National Monument, just to name a few. No consideration is made for the already strained water resources in areas or anything. It's just greed and grab again. A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: This was pulled from the budget bill at the eleventh hour: USA. Sports Fishing Association applauds withdrawal of sale of public land proposals (bymnews); Public land recreation groups say dropped legislation was a close call (New Mexico Business Weekly/MSNBC).] Subject: A Proposal for Ending the War in Iraq (1) An apology from the United States to the Iraqi people for unjustly invading their country, occupying their country, killing hundreds and thousands of their people and destroying vast amount of their resources. (2) Asking for forgiveness from the people of this country, especially from those families who have lost their loved ones for Bush’s lies. (3) Admitting to the world that the US war in Iraq was illegal, and submitting those who are responsible to trial by an international war crimes tribunal. (4) A vow not to establish any military base in Iraq or anywhere in the region. (5) Compensating for the war by: (a) Making Halliburton pay back billions it has stolen from the US taxpayers; (b) Imposing a special tax, especially on those who have financially benefited from the war, for a massive long-term economic development aid for Iraq, like the Marshall Plan for Europe after WWII; and, (c) Providing American families who have suffered death and loss of income, for health benefits of the returning soldiers and for their rehabilitation back into civil society. (6) An appeal to the people of, and exert all the influence (political and economic) it has on, the governments of the countries in the region to create a regional body that would help the Iraqi people with the transition from an occupied country to a free and stable country of the kind the people of Iraq chooses. This body should cease to exist after a specified time of its engagement in Iraq, and can be overseen by the UN Security Council. US must provide the resources for this transition, but not interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq. A date for US withdrawal should be linked to the creation of this entity; in the mean-time it must stop all anti-insurgent activities and engage only in law & order and peace-keeping activities. Continued indefinite US presence in Iraq is certain to perpetuate the current death and destruction indefinitely. (7) Accepting Iraqi sovereignty and dealing with Iraq on the basis of international laws and protocols. (8) Supporting a just solution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. (9) Renouncing Wolfowitz formulated Bush's US-hegemony based foreign policy; instead, adopting a national security policy that respects national security interests of others, based on non-militaristic foreign policy, economic cooperation, respect for local economies, cultures, human needs and protection of the environment. (10) Adopting a nuclear non-proliferation policy that involves ALL nuclear powers, starting with the US, to decommission all current nuclear weapons stockpile. M. Siddique Subject: What a Mailbag! Hi, Buzz!! All the good thinkers are present again, on the main page and the mailbag. It's encouraging to us out here in the Hinterland to find clear thinking everywhere on BuzzFlash. Dr. Whitehurst has it right; the Reich is ruining Christmas for everyone by turning it into some sort of battleground. I've said it before, and I say it again: If you want to keep Christ in Christmas, GO TO CHURCH. That's the church's mission. It's not your local mall's business. And (I've said this before, too), THERE IS NO WAR ON CHRISTMAS. And (eat your heart out, Pat Robertson) the Reich will NOT ruin my Christmas, because I will not allow it. Let's turn our backs on them and let them natter themselves to death. As Dr. Whitehurst says, people are turning their backs; even so conservative a red-state newspaper as the one in my Oklahoma home town is laughing at the Christmas Warriors. There is hope yet. Karen Webb says it for me too; keep your head on straight, girl, just like it is now! And, to the Reader in fourth grade: Well put!! You are a true patriot. Keep your chin up! Jane Hawes Subject: Mailbag Hi, Karen Webb couldn't be more on target in her mailbag post regarding Rep. Jo Ann Davis and her struggle against that darn War on Christmas - the latest being her shock and awe Resolution 579, which cautions Congress to protect the symbols and traditions of Christmas (or else!), and to support all references to Christmas (whatever that means). Our tax dollars at work. But I have a great suggestion Buzz - could you please send her a copy of Born to Kvetch? That would be priceless. Barbara in NYC Subject: "Some Lick Before They Bite!" So, Okay, in Bush speeches, President Chameleon throws out an occasional admission things did not always go well, HOORAH! Give that man a kewpie doll! Finally, Bush admits what he should have from the beginning. In everything he did, and still does, it is still Bush’s Way or No Way. The media falls on its face congratulating him for at last admitting problems, and his “remarkable spirit of candor.” Too many justifications that come too late, changes NOTHING! In a one-party power grab from the start, right up until today’s harangue, Bush insists Congress, and the American people, MUST accept his decisions! In the lead-up to the Iraq War, dissenting opinions were held back and they are still being held back by the Bush Administration and the media. MSNBC, CNN, and others in the media have not seen fit to report the “full extent” of the FISA law that says the court must be notified before or up until 72 hours after. Bush has broken the law. He used the excuse of a quick response, BUT if he acted, he still could have gone to the court after, without inhibiting the action! BUSH broke the law, he DID NOT go to court! WHO is truthful enough to HIGHLIGHT that full law, Not MSNBC, not CNN, will Olbermann do it? Nothing Bush or Gonzales refers to, gives him the excuse to subvert the law! Neither does the over-used excuse of protecting Americans! There is nothing in either Article II or the Bill of Rights that gives King George the authority to wire tap without a court order! It is not legal because George W. Bush wishes it to be. Bush does not want to discuss anything that makes him look bad, not PlameGate, not about spying on Americans. This morning, he used the excuse it “helps the enemy,” citing a cell phone example about Osama. This begs the question and requires an answer Bush does not have after 4 years, after 1554 days and some hours, “WHERE IS OSAMA?” The administration “cut and ran” on that job to go to Iraq, and his methods still have not caught the killer of 3000 Americans! The Chameleon President used a public relations firm, not experts, to write Bush’s National Strategy for Victory which is a P.R. ploy, NOT A PLAN!” The election is also used as a benchmark to gauge success, but all the ballots in the world will not change the Iraqi Constitution that needs to be amended to prevent a civil war. As it stands the majority of experts agree it is divisive, but George calls it a “bold Constitution! The war can not be won by the military, and with George’s actions, it won’t be won politically either! Al Qaeda is in 60 countries now, it is not all about Iraq, where our military action has run its course. At the very high expense of lives and money, progress is far from assured, and the loss of both goes on and on! It is time for the Iraqis to take responsibility. Bush pats himself on the back for setting out to find out why intelligence was wrong! Yet, for those with short memories, Mr. Bush, FIRST FOUGHT and WAS AGAINST, the torture amendment {which he threatened to veto} Homeland Security, the 9/11 Commission, and providing documents until the last moment, {mostly redacted}, letting Rice testify, and a host of other things, until he KNEW he would LOSE. Then abruptly, President Chameleon changed his mind, and embraced them as his own idea! Bush works for and by his own dictates, that hasn’t EVER CHANGED. Martin Buber remarked, “Power abdicates only under the stress of counter-power!” We, as Americans, must be that counter-power that sees that there are checks and balances, especially with a President, the Republicans and an Administration that have been proven to misuse the power given to them! Bush has had to continuously defend himself because of the initial “fixed policy” of lies, and unlawful and inept action ever since. Despite Bush’s changing colors between defiance and the occasional admission of problems, the bottom line is he thinks more like Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda. George W. Bush and his cronies consider the formation and domination of public opinion their absolute right, they carry on with their repetitive message discipline, and won’t brook any opposition to it; no matter how untrue or unjustified, their stance will never change. In most cases, the “Truth has been brought by a lame messenger, and fostered by a smooth hypocrite.” In a Democracy it is essential that the public be enlightened, and not hampered by misinformation or a one-sided viewpoint. The entire King’s horses, and all the King’s men, and all the P.R. speeches in the world, will not, unlike the citizens of Orwell’s country of “Oceania,” “reject the evidence of our eyes and ears!” Susan Carr
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