 |
|||
| January 10, 2006 |
MAILBAG ARCHIVES | ||
The BuzzFlash Mailbag The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. More reader opinion is at "Contributors." You can write to Mailbag at http://www.buzzflash.com/contact/mail.html. Guidelines for submissions are at BuzzFlash FAQ #18. Subject: Alito without pulled punches During his opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Alito said: "A judge can't have any agenda." To the contrary, Alito's longstanding agenda has been that of the right-wing, racist, bigoted, reactionary, sexist, warmongering and totalitarian Federalist Society, of which he has been a longtime, most active and very prominent member. Basically put, it is the agenda of the Federalist Society and Alito to push back the U.S. Judiciary in general and the U. S. Supreme Court in particular beyond the Franklin Roosevelt administration and its New Deal to what they believe to be the "good old days" of Herbert Hoover and his disastrous administration. Justice Sam Herbert Hoover Alito? Let the borking begin. Francis A. Boyle Subject: Alito and the Democrats How many Democrats will tip the balance in favor of Alito? I'm watching! Are you? http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.cfm Lawton Watson Subject: Is There a Silver Lining? This weekend proved to be, to me, one of despair and gloom. All about me were the signs of political chicanery corruption, lies, deceit and thuggery. This was the current status of America. A country led by neo-fascists mired in the muck of lies and greed. But wait - there is a glimmer of hope - the mid-term elections. We have the chance to win a majority in the House. But we have to speak with one firm voice. We cannot accept the diverse bleatings of the so-called centrists - the republican Lites. We must have a bold positive message/agenda. The agenda? Repeal the tax cuts for the rich, provide universal health care, bring the fascist war to a conclusion, provide higher education to all at little cost, make friends with our allies - and enemies, change our belligerent foreign policy. Turn us towards democracy. Dump the DLC, get our ducks in a row for the Presidential Elections in "08. (Forget Hillary, the Joes - Biden and Lieberman.) Send Kerry back as a taste tester for Heinz. Bring back Howard Dean, a forthright, bright and decent man who was cruelly treated by the media - in particular that spluttering yahoo Chris Matthews. The silver lining is coming thru. Thx BuzzFlash for allowing me to meander. A. Leslie Palmer Subject: Grace Corporation Wasn't the Grace Corporation (now fouling the west) implicated in the "Love Canal" pollution scandal in New York? SK Figler Subject: One Goal-Line Stand One will do it for us because that's all it's going to take for we the people to jump-start changing the world. They know this, too, the powers that be. That's why they never ever fess-up to their criminal acts. What's more, they don't worry that they won't be able to get away with their crimes; why should they worry with the mainstream media out there pimping full-time and nonstop for them? And they couldn't care less about the casualties that they cause along the way. As to the proposed goal-line stand - It doesn't matter about what our first stop occurs, as long as our victory is decisive. Could be the Supreme Court thing or bringing the troops home now or reversing these damn budget cuts or, perhaps, something else. What matters is that it be the kind of stop that, afterwards, folks will be saying, "Who'd have believed it and, glory-be, it wasn't just me." A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Alito Can't the general public (or, those who call themselves "moderates") see what an Alito nomination would do? I'm so furious after reading the quotes of Evangelical Christian after Evangelical Christian claiming that an Alito nomination would restore "morality" (their word, not mine, believe me!!) I mean, I can hear (at least in my head) many a moderate voter saying, "Well, things *are* rather out of control. Maybe we need a return to *some* tradition." The thing is, WHOSE tradition? As Kate Michelman opined in the Boston Globe, Alito has a very narrow view of even 1950s America, where women who, once their breadwinner-husbands left them, were forced to really start over and learn everything from paying monthly bills to running a home to raising a child or children ALONE (again, these are my words, as I'm paraphrasing Michelman's editorial). So, what does this mean? Staying in a stultifying (sic) marriage at best, an abusive one at worst? Denying your true nature, particularly if you're a self-sufficient, intelligent woman who has to "dumb herself down" in order to preserve the ego of the man who chooses her (notice it's HE who chooses, not SHE)??? I know I'm rambling. But, I'm so furious that the general citizenry's full lives (and, I consider myself a member of the "general citizenry") keep them from being truly informed. For that, BuzzFlash, I thank you. Lisa Navarro Subject: Machine Gun Sammy As an Italian-American, I strongly object to your featuring of the article headlined "MACHINE GUN SAMMY" referring to Judge Samuel Alito. The picture of him holding a gangster era Tommy gun attempts to link him, and by implication, all Italian-Americans to the Mafia. I resent this. As a liberal Democrat, I'd like to remind you that we can't afford to insult and alienate whole groups of people. How about a little common sense? Rocco Cuteri, Jr. Subject: Political Bribes and Payouts Becoming a Business of Whores Hi BuzzFlash, Black Box Voting's website has an article on DuPage County Elections PAYING Thirty Thousand Bucks to a Republican Consultant named Frank Salvato. Gee, this wouldn't be some type of political bribe money they used to throw the 2000/2004 election vote counts, now would it? After all, with all the other "Bribe and Buyout Money" getting tossed around like "One Hundred Bills at a whore"; by the likes of DeLay, Abramoff and "The Dukester," not to mention many, many more, why not buy out another Republican consultant while your at it? Isn't that what they specialize in?
Tom Wieliczka Subject: Letter on Lies Damn, Statistics I want that 108,000 figure for employment for December broken down into manufacturing, service, office, part time, seasonal, student jobs. Union, pay, benefits etc. Not for them to hide behind one figure. Of course know clinton/gore with NAFTA and bush followed with offshore outsourcing has taken all our union, good paying, good benefit blue and white collar jobs offshore. 48 US welfare agencies in India have taken US social worker and case workers job from here. And on TV, said because of CAFTA, 17 million service jobs will go offshore. So don't let them hide behind that one flat figure, have them break it down, and have them keep doing it. And not for them to count flipping hamburgers at McDonalds as manufacturing jobs like the republicans did two years ago. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Anyone out there remember the "Pogo" comic strip by Walt Kelly? Dear Buzzers: I started reading "Pogo" as a little kid, but (in addition to the characters) I remember, when I was older, this phrase: "We have met the enemy and he is us." I can't think of a more apt description of the endless, pointless, strategy-less "War on Terror" that we're supposedly fighting now. The neocons/Busheviks clearly don't have a clue. They're feeding our troops into the traps, with no end in sight. (Hint: this assministration doesn't WANT an end in sight: The more "insurgency" or "terrorism," the greater the excuse for unlimited "executive powers." (If you could call this sad excuse for a President an "executive." Hell, he couldn't stop himself from running a BASEBALL team into the ground. Now he's got a NATION he's bent on destroying. Messianic complexes -- whether they belong to Bush or Alito -- do NOT belong in our government.) Since I've discussed other Alito views that I oppose -- e.g., his stance on anti-abortion/anti-contraception rights -- I'll stick to the "war on terrorism." There IS no war on terrorism; one does not and cannot wage "war" on an abstract, ever-changing concept. Anyone with half a brain can see that our actions in Iraq and here at home have INCREASED violence and terrorism. In other words, thanks to the Busheviks' efforts, we're losing a mile of ground for every foot we "gain." The secret, of course, is that they WANT it that way: what better excuse to strip us of our civil liberties, justify billions (and eventually trillions) of crony-based, unaccounted-for payoffs for services not rendered, and cut services to the non-rich? Let's face it, folks. We are dealing with an attempted coup here -- an attempt to create the monarchy of King George IV. The so-called "war on terror" is the neocon strategy to keep us peasants in line. (Of course you all know what happened to King George III. Stay tuned. And keep writing!) Again -- and this message is directed to people who either voted for the current *ssh*le in Chief or who don't speak out against what's happening to our country -- I'll cite Walt Kelly: "We have met the enemy and he is us." Barbara Lee (Barb) Blazyk Subject: Link Who can give me a functioning link to
A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: http://www.research.fsu.edu/researchr/winter2005/features/battlefield.html.] Subject: Disaster Area The northern states should be declared a disaster area with our December heating bills being twice what they were last year. And probably more than that in January and February. Tell us to get more insulation, fireplaces etc. which cost more than the heat. Fireplace logs can attract carpenter ants and cost $1,000 to exterminate them so that alone cost way more than heat being doubled. What with the heating bills, other bills and bush's bankruptcy which some demorats voted on with him, the people of the north will be out in the street like the people of Katrina, only permanently. I thought war profiteering was a Capital Offense. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Maybe we should boycott the 2006 and 2008 elections Dear Buzzers -- Just got a response (actually, I was surprised; most Repukes don't bother replying to my messages) stating how perfectly qualified (Sc)Alito is to serve on the Supreme Court (and further dismember what's left of our Constitutional rights). This is what we're dealing with. (And if any of you have put on a few extra pounds during the holidays, this should kill your appetite for at least a week!) I'll paste the letter here:
I'm sure others trapped in Red states also have fools, predators on the non-rich, and sell-outs representing them, but GA is up there for the political equivalent of the Academy Award. Even our Dem. Rep., John Barrow, seems to be caving/selling out. Back to my subject line: If ANY Democrat votes for Alito's nomination (I mean, WE know what he's not saying but will do; if THEY don't, they don't deserve to be re-elected. Since, by caving, the Dems will lose anyway, we should deny them our votes in 2006 and 2008. Maybe that will teach them what they need to know. Barbara Lee (Barb) Blazyk Subject: Hang in There, Chris Hardaker Hi, Buzz! Chris Hardaker writes that paranoia loves company, especially in our present situation. Remember this, Chris, and everyone else: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you! Jane Hawes Subject: Reagan Called him "teflon president" because never got anything to stick on him because he had all his people falling on the swords for him and Nancy running interference for him. bush is teflon president too. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Alito Hearings Sitting here watching Joe Biden! My God, will someone tell him to shut up and ask a question? He rambles and rambles. Of course, his lips are probably chapped from so much ass kissing. And this man has aspirations of being President. God help us and I am a Democrat! Don Ingold Subject: BuzzFlash Anti-Gun Stuff Just reading BuzzFlash today (first web site I read each day), and followed the link to http://www.gunguys.com/?p=552. What gives? There are tons of us dems and lib'rals and even watermelons out here who own handguns, rifles, shotguns, etc., weapons of all sorts ... some even hunt animals (though I don't). Most of us who own these weapons take care of them, keep them secure, and we don't break laws with them. If we'd only enforce the laws already on the Federal and State books, we'd have much fewer problems. Trying to further limit rights of non-criminals to own guns will gain us nothing, and knocks many dems off the toilet seat, if you know what I mean. Now why would we do that, and drive good people away from our "big-tent" democratic party? Thanks for the opportunity. Bill
(watermelon)
Darbyshire Subject: Just Another Job Application No matter how many ways you dress it up and comb its hair and try to pretend this is somehow a sacred rite, a nomination hearing is just another job application. The big difference here is that the applicant gets a lifetime appointment. The Supremes are somehow supposed to be discussed in hushed voices as if they are above all the rest of the citizenry. Really? Individuals acting as if these Justices are somehow better than the rest of us would seem to negate that whole created equal thing. The media seems to find it amusing when a Supreme Court nominee bobs and weaves and makes fools of the Senators who are trying to get an answer to their questions. Amusing? This person is sitting before duly elected representatives of the people of the United States. Their job is to try and figure out what kind of a justice this nominee will be. God forbid that a nominee for a lifetime appointment tells us what he/she thinks. Oops, my bad, women make up 50.9 % of the population of the United States but will be 1/12 of the population of the Supreme Court. Ten white men, one white woman and one black man. Doesn’t really seem representative of the population of the country does it? Judge Alito is undoubtedly qualified. He is undoubtedly intelligent. That is not enough. This position demands the very best that America has to offer. It’s unfortunate that the media is treating honest concerns about Judge Alito’s philosophy as just another partisan battle. Not informing the public seems to be a very bad habit. Both from nominees and the media. No wonder they don’t find much of anything wrong with his stonewalling those who question him. They are more interested in a circus. Makes for better television. That’s the important thing. Marjorie L. Swanson Subject: Are you listening to this? Alito hearing The slimy little worm, in responding to Biden's question, said the reason discrimination cases reach appellate courts is that they are weak cases. The strong cases settle at the trial level, the questionable cases settle for less money and the hotly contested cases are the weak ones, and they are the ones that reach the appellate courts. Conclusion: Because only the weak discrimination cases reach the appellate courts, those cases deserve to be dismissed. This shabby reasoning speaks for itself. Please contact your legislators and tell them to vote against this intellectually lazy, dishonest poseur. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Alito Questions that need to be asked: 1) Are you a born again Christian? 2) Are you a believer in the Machiavellian concept that the end justifies the means? 3) Do you believe that once you are saved, committing an evil act in the name of your religious beliefs (ie: in the name of good) is a forgivable act? 4) Do you believe in the Calvinist doctrine that God is rewarding the rich and punishing the poor? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Let Boiling Frogs Boil Dear BuzzFlash, In response to the reader contribution "We Need the Rest of the Country," I don't think the shopping-mall zombies and hi-def tv junkies are ever going to care about government. The poor and near-poor are too busy surviving. The rich don't need government. So that leaves us - the activists. The reason the religious thing worked for the right was that it was married to huge money from the Republicans. We have to keep doing what has worked (in a relatively short time, e. g., Air America Radio and the blogs) and develop new methods to elect our government officials. The Right may have the media and the money, but we have the enormous power of truth and the momentum of human evolution on our side. We Need the Rest of the Country ... How Are We Going To Get It? - A BuzzFlash Reader Contribution A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Bush kicking off Alito confirmation This is very disturbing ... take a look at the video; whether he was actually being fed the text via earpiece or not, there is obviously something very, very seriously wrong physically with this president. This is a very short set of talking points that are virtually identical to what he has been using for months now, even through the Harriet Miers and Roberts confirmations, and he just cannot hack it. I disliked Clinton, and was not a fan of Kerry, but at least they LOOKED like a g**d***** President http://www.democrats.com/bush-earpiece-alito A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Bush appointed judges in other "democracies," i.e., Afghanistan - Chief Judge
A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Domestic Spying The Bush administration simply cannot answer this one question: If time was of the essence, why didn't they conduct the searches and get the warrants after the fact -- something that is allowed under the FISA law? General Hayden said that they didn't get the retroactive warrants because it involved "paperwork" and "making arguments." Let's swiftly debunk each of these lame arguments: 1) "Paperwork" -- Suggests concern for expediency. But this wouldn't have been an issue, as they could have performed the search immediately and later sought retroactive warrants. 2) "Making arguments" -- Suggests a fear that the court would deny the warrant. But the court has refused only 5 to 15 of 19,000 warrants that have ever been requested. The only reason the court would refuse a warrant in post-9/11 America is if the warrant were for something outrageous (such as, oh I don't know, spying on an American elected official or an American journalist). The administration knew that its request was a pretty outrageous one if it was afraid the Potemkin court would say deny it. There is no answer to this question, short of the administration's simply wanting to defy the law. K. McClafferty Subject: Re: Bush Advisor Says President Has Legal Power To Torture Children
My personal opinion is that giving him this power makes it possible for him not only to do whatever he wishes, but also gives him a semi-moralistic out; "see how restrained I am, I could be crushing this guy's 5 year old son's testicles, but I am not." In fact the entire exercise of saying we don't really do it, is so we can get right up to the threshold and then say; "we aren't doing what we could do, so give us an award for compassion." This administration is not only callous, but criminally sadistic. Whatever we do gives a license to our enemies to do whatever we do. Imagine what they could do to the reporter now in their custody from the "Christian Science Monitor." Karen Webb |
|||
| back to top | |||