January 17, 2006

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: We Need To Contact Our Senators Re: Alito

It's all great and wonderful to discuss politics here at Buzz, but we also need action.

Aren't you all scared to death of Alito getting confirmed as a Supreme? Yikes, I sure am!

Everyone needs to call their Senators at one of these toll-free numbers: 888-818-6641 or 888-355-3588 and tell them how you feel.

I keep these numbers on a post-it note on my computer and call frequently.

Just do it!

Kathy Ready
Camano Island, WA

[BuzzFlash Note: Here's a link to MoveOn's action page if you also want to lobby via the media with a letter to the editors. And here's contact information for the Democratic Caucus in the Senate.

Subject: Retribution

Do ya 'spose the repugs are even thinking about how the precedents set by bush are going to play out when we get a democratic president? Or even better, a democratic president with a democratic congress.

Ask conservative repugs to imagine President Clinton still being in office during the 9/11 attacks and running our country the way bush has. I doubt you would get an honest answer from any of 'em though.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: The Circular Logic of Alito

I was watching NOW on PBS tonight when I caught an interview w/ a former Reagan d.a. (I was unable to find a transcript of the show) who was arguing for the president's right to wiretap without going through the proper FISA channels. David Brancaccio asked her who has the oversight to determine whether the president's actions are legal. "The Supreme Court," she said.

Samuel Alito, in his confirmation hearings says a president could violate a statute "if statutes are unconstitutional because the Constitution takes precedence over a statute."

In the new Roberts court world, the president need only cross his fingers, sign a signatory statement, do as he pleases and then send out to the 6-3 court for a rubber stamping of his policies.

I don't think it is too crazy to ponder really far out things like the suspension of elections, or the detainment of Americans for our own protection (currently possible but not in widespread use).

I've called my senators. Please call yours.

Kristi Warriner

Subject: Enabling and expanding destruction of the rule of law

Hello, Senators Cantwell and Murray and Representative Inslee,

Nothing the Bush administration does surprises me. The lack of mainstream coverage or any attempt by Congress to act in a manner other than that of a coconspirator does remain troubling.

An article in one local press describes the activity to make a substantial investment in the multistory, maximum security prison at Guantanamo Bay, where it has been forcefully demonstrated the intent is avoid compliance with the U.S. Constitution and international law:

Duluth News Tribune | 01/12/2006 | U.S. builds new Guantanamo prison

Congress needs to stop enabling the affront to law embodied by the offenses at Guantanamo by blocking the funding of this project, and by issuance of a new Joint Resolution on compliance with Treaties and adherence to Constitutional due process.

Funding for this project at Guantanamo needs to be terminated by an act of Congress at once as a start, but more is needed.

Regards,

John F. Williford
Richland, WA

Subject: Nazi Terror backed by the government ... "Protection of the People and State"

Excerpts from:

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William Schrier, 1960, Simon and Schuster, from pages 188-196

The Nazification of Germany: Chapter 7

On the day following the [Reichstag] fire, February 28, he [Hitler] prevailed on President Hindenburg to sign a decree "for the Protection of the People and the State" suspending the seven sections of the constitution which guaranteed individual and civil liberties. Described as a "defensive measure against Communist acts of violence endangering the state," the decree laid down that:

Restrictions on personal liberty, on the right of free expression of opinion, including freedom of the press; on the rights of assembly and association; and violations of the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications; and warrants for house searchers, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.

In addition, the decree authorized the Reich government to take over complete power in the federal states when necessary and imposed the death sentence for a number of crimes, including "serious disturbances of the peace" by armed persons.(8)

Thus with one stroke Hitler was able not only to legally gag his opponents and arrest them at his will but, by making the trumped-up Communist threat "official," as it were, to throw millions of the middle class and the peasantry into a frenzy of fear that unless they voted for National Socialism at the elections a week hence, the Bolsheviks might take over. Some four thousand Communist officials and a great many Social Democrat and liberal leaders were arrested, including members of the Reichstag, who, according to the law, were immune from arrest. This was the first experience Germans had had with Nazi terror backed up by the government.

"The Parliament must be abolished and an end put to all the democratic nonsense." -- Hitler

http://www.maebrussell.com/Articles...

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: "An Air That Kills"

Fascinating. First the Grace Corp -- as W.R. Grace -- stars in "A Civil Action" about how they dumped chemicals in the water in Woburn, MA, poisoning the locals. Recall that the movie with Travolta was about 8 families suing W.R. Grace and Beatrice Foods in 1981.

Now, here we are in 2006 and the Grace Corp is staying strong. Talk about star power.

Looking forward to the sequel. Should be around 2031, if the corporations haven't decided to cut expenses by just merging with the federal government by then.

Best,

Michael

Subject: Why?

Why is the United States of America running a prison camp in Guantanamo Bay Cuba? Some would dispute that there ever was a need for this now infamous prison camp. Others would argue that there may have been reasons we knew nothing about.

Whatever the reasons that may have existed in the past there is little doubt that Guantanamo has provided a focus for distrust and disdain of America all around the world. Bush can make as many speeches as he wants about it being a necessary part of protecting the American people. The fact remains that to the rest of the world and a significant portion of the American people, Guantanamo Bay is a stain on the honor of the United States.

There are dangerous individuals held at Guantanamo. But there are also many men who have done absolutely nothing to deserve incarceration. Now after being held for so long and treated with no respect for their rights they are angry. It is doubtful if they were released today that they would be in any hurry to kiss and make up with the country that has imprisoned them. In fact, they just might be angry enough to want to go back to the middle east and join up with whoever is engaged in killing Americans and their allies. I know that’s how Americans would react were they subjected to such treatment by another country.

We hear all the time from this administration that they cannot release the prisoners because they pose a danger to America. Some of them always did. Some of them sure as hell do now.

Marjorie L. Swanson
Kenosha, WI

Subject: That Liberal Press

In announcing that Michael Skakel lost his appeal and will therefore remain in jail for the 1970's murder of teenage neighbor Martha Moxley, CNN Headline News described Skakel as a "Kennedy Cousin." Skakel is a blood relation of RFK's widow ... so ... that makes him a Kennedy cousin? I'm figuring they are really ticked at Ted for standing up to Alito and Specter. Go Ted. And by the way, Dem's: thanks for doing what you could to give some power back to the people.

Pam Clifford

Subject: Murtha's Medals

I'm so tired of all these pseudo heroes hanging out their war medals as if that made them a hero. Anyone who puts him/herself in harms way to protect our country is a hero. The medal only indicates that the recipient was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have yet to hear Murtha utter a word about his medals, however, the pseudo heroes yak away knowing full well that their own medals will be mentioned in the report. What brave men they are not!!! They should be totally ashamed of themselves for putting down a fellow service member who volunteered for a dangerous tour of duty. And trust me, I have this same opinion regardless of the person's Party affiliation.

Another William A. Rusher group – Choosing this moment to attack Murtha's medals -- A BuzzFlash Reader Contribution by Margie Burns

Surya-Patricia Lane Hood
Phoenix, AZ

Subject: Oprah & Lyin' Writers

James Frey's not the first non-fiction fiction writer to sit on Oprah's couch. Judy Miller sat there on the October 9, 2002 show discussing why we needed to go to war with Iraq, while simultaneously plugging her book Germs, published the previous year.

Kristi Warriner
Middleton, WI

Subject: Republican Most Important Gain in Forty Years

According to David Gergen talking to Bill Maher on the Larry King show Friday the 13th.

This is the pinnacle of the hopes and dreams of all republican conservatives. They have been drooling at the mouth over the Alito appointment and now they are assured it will come to past.

Talk about "Constitutional Crisis"? Folks we ain't seen nothing yet!

We have no one to blame but ourselves. We were asleep at the wheel. We the citizens of America had it so good under the Democrats that we failed to see the conspiracy formulated in the nineties that is now at culmination. It has slithered into a position of all powerful and its tentacles have firmly grasped our nation.

We will be aghast at the changes coming forth in our way of life and the things we believe in. Republican criminality will reign as never before, Roe will be overturned (just a smokescreen anyway) civil rights and liberties will be trampled and cast asunder. Corporate law and lobbyists will rule supreme. America will become a world predator, some believe we already are, and the draft will be reinstated.

The survival of our country depends on the outcome of the 2006 elections and 2008 and 2012 and beyond.

Lawton Watson
Springdale, Ark.

Subject: Murtha's Medals Questioned

As usual, the right wing is now focused on attacking Murtha's medals...or, more likely, the reason he received them.

Someone has spoken out that when Murtha was in congress in the 1980s, he and a fellow congressman, (who is quoted in the article, who had also received medals), were discussing that fact. From what the moderator on Washington Journal read from the article in the paper, was that Congressman Murtha stated that he: (and I am paraphrasing): 'had not done as much to receive his medals, only had a 'scratch'"...

Why is it that a Democrat's wounds are not considered as grievous as those for Republicans? (I would imagine there are people who believe that Max Cleland has his two arms and leg hidden somewhere in his house, and PRETENDS to be horrifically wounded.)

Good grief-does anyone ever consider that Rep. Murtha 'played down' his wounds so as not to pontificate?

Shades of swiftboating.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Attention: Citizens of Earth

The planet Earth is about to be introduced to the most powerful and ruthless dictatorship in our entire history of this planet. The Bush Regime is about to be given full and total power over all people and countries of planet Earth. Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff bought the power, and the U.S. Senate will vote to confirm Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Bush Regime will have all three branches of the U.S. Government in their back pocket.

After George W. Bush won re-selection in 2004, he announced he earned a lot of political capital, that he intended to use. Bush spent it all on making sure there were no impediments to allowing him full and total power in the country with the strongest military in the world.

The Bush dictatorship will start quietly and with little fanfare. There will be a lot of parties by the authors and workers who planned and executed the theft of America. However, after the parties and the backslapping are over, the Bush Dictatorship will quickly go about their business of taking control over every aspect of American life.

They will begin to take full control over all the small countries of Earth. The Bush dictatorship will then take over all countries with any oil reserves. Then, with the ransoming of the Bush oil reserves, all the remaining countries will fall in lockstep to keep their economies from folding. PNAC will have accomplished its goal of total world domination with nary a bullet fired. Even Hitler would be proud of how efficiently and quickly it was done.

The people of the United States will not be better off when all is complete. Between 70% and 80% will be no better off than the people of third world countries of today. We have all watched our lives and freedoms erode over the past 5 years towards that third world status. We could see the signs leading up to this and the perfect example of these signs is how Bush admitted spying on Americans, claimed it is legal, tells us he will continue, then says he will destroy those that outed this information.

I wish I could say it will all work out and the world will prosper but when you see what has been done since 2000 the opposite is more likely. Remember the saying: Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Americans have until Judge Alito is confirmed to the Supreme Court in the next couple of weeks to stop this scenario from becoming our future. Please, we are at a crossroads in world history. We need anybody, or groups to come forward and stop this American/Earth nightmare from coming to total reality. Remember you can wake up from a nightmare, but this will go on every day till God brings it to a merciful End.

R. B.
Tucson, AZ

Subject: Confirmation Hearing and Democrats

I was totally disgusted with the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, with the exception of Senators Kennedy, Feingold, and Durbin. The other Senators were more interested in posing and making long stupid statements than in asking direst questions and getting direst answers. As a result the Republicans are declaring victory, and so is the news media.

Joe Biden will vie with Dr. Phil for the honor of being named 'Gas Bag Of The Year.' If you thought Kerry was verbose, Biden puts him to shame. And his stunt with the Princeton cap was really stupid. Can you imagine this jerk running for President?

It would be nice if in the future both the Democrats and the Republicans would each appoint a lawyer to ask the questions of the Candidate for Supreme Court. There would then be a moderator to keep control of the proceedings.

I don't ever intend to watch another one of these dumb proceedings if they are to be conducted like this one.

RN
Tempe, AZ

Subject: The Moral Consequences of Having a Congenital Liar in the White House

From a man who witnessed the twin totalitarian states that persecuted and killed millions in Europe.

In a Jan. 1 address to the world, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the consequences of lies such as these, in what can only be a thinly veiled reference to the president of the United States:

… Sacred Scripture, in its very first book, Genesis, points to the lie told at the very beginning of history by the animal with a forked tongue, whom the Evangelist John calls 'the father of lies' (Jn 8:44). Lying is also one of the sins spoken of in the final chapter of the last book of the Bible, Revelation, which bars liars from the heavenly Jerusalem: 'outside are... all who love falsehood' (22:15). Lying is linked to the tragedy of sin and its perverse consequences, which have had, and continue to have, devastating effects on the lives of individuals and nations. We need but think of the events of the past century, when aberrant ideological and political systems wilfully twisted the truth and brought about the exploitation and murder of an appalling number of men and women, wiping out entire families and communities. After experiences like these, how can we fail to be seriously concerned about lies in our own time, lies which are the framework for menacing scenarios of death in many parts of the world.

Proof Bush Deceived America (Ray McGovern/antiwar.com)

http://www.tompaine.com/

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Fear

Dear BuzzFlash,

Fear is the main psychological weapon of the neocon evildoers. They need the people to be afraid and paralyzed. We are afraid because like all human beings we fear death.

But - news flash - we're all going to die someday. So now that that's settled, wouldn't you rather LIVE your life than spend it FEARING your death? Also, when fear is examined, it is found to exist only in thought and only in the future - thus it isn't real at all. What it really reflects is LOVE. We fear because we love - life, peace, nature, freedom.

That LOVE is real and is right here now in the present. Those who use fear as a weapon are projecting their own unexamined fear onto others to gain power over them. They are more scared than anyone because they somehow lost touch with love as the source of everything.

So stay grounded in this truth that LOVE is the only reality and you will have all of its power. The promotion of fear will be seen as someone else's projection and will not touch you.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Constructional Rights

Hi, Buzz!!

Judge Alito says the Constitution doesn't guarantee reproductive rights to women.

I took another look at the Constitution and found this:

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Sounds to me like the Framers were saying that the fact that a right is not expressly written into the Constitution doesn't mean we don't have it.

Read the Constitution, everybody; know what your rights are and insist on them!

Jane Hawes
Emporia, KS (red-state Democrat)

Subject: Commission of Inquiry on Crimes of the Bush Administration (forwarded press release)

The International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration of the United States, Second Session of hearings, Jan 20, 21st and 22, 2006

JAN. 20th, FRIDAY 5PM & JAN 21st SATURDAY 10AM at THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH, 91 CLAREMONT AVENUE. JAN. 22nd SUNDAY 1 PM COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL, 116th & AMSTERDAM AVENUE.

Weekend pass $20 or $10 per day. Senior and Student discounts available. WE INVITE YOU TO COME HEAR THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT THE SECOND SESSION. WE ASK YOU TO HELP US ADDRESS THE ACTIONS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. HELP US PREVENT MORE OF WHAT WE HOLD AS CRIMES BY INSURING THAT THE TRUTHS ARE TOLD BY THESE HEARINGS. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE CAN BRING JUSTICE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN DENIAL. PLEASE HELP BUILD THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

PARTICIPANTS FOR THE SECOND SESSION INCLUDE: Janis Karpinski, Scott Ritter, Ray McGovern, Craig Murry, Michael Ratner, Dahr Jamail, Jeremy Scahill, Marjorie Cohn, Ted Glick, Barbara Olshansky, Stephen Brower, Ajamu Aiyetoro, Ann Wright and others.

PLEASE CHECK http://www.bushcommission.org for updates of speakers and witnesses.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: News Flash

Doctors report signs of brain activity in Sharon's brain. Still no sign of brain activity in Bush's brain.

Test shows activity in both sides of brain (National Post)

Rob Moitoza
Seattle, WA

Subject: Bremer

I read about a soldier in Iraq who wants to know, when it comes to accountability, whatever happened to the millions that Paul Bremer was in charge of and just seemed to disappear. Then he comes back and writes a book about his time there.

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m19634&l=i&size=1&hd=0

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5139135

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1522983,00.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.audit/

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Attacking Murtha's Record, here we go again

So now they are attacking Murtha's military record and his purple hearts? Some people just never learn. I know absolutely nothing about Murtha's record, but if he served even one second in uniform he is way ahead of Cheney who never served anywhere, at any time. If he was in any war zone for even one second, he is way ahead of Bush. From everything I have read, the most dangerous mission Bush was ever on was delivering tropical plants from Florida to Texas for his commanding officer. Of course he decided to skip out on the remainder of his time and refused to show up for his flight physical when they started testing reserve pilots for drugs.

They have attacked the military records of John McCain, John Kerry, John Murtha and Max Cleland, who lost two legs and part of an arm in Vietnam, and probably others. This is Karl Rove at his best, except when he is outing CIA agents.

Do these two cowardly nitwits ever get tired of this? If Draft Dodging Dubya and Deferment Dick haven't already, they will be coming out shortly saying they don't agree with whoever is attacking Murtha's record. They respect his service, but he doesn't have any idea what he is talking about.

Murtha's been there and done that and Dick and Dubya haven't. By the way, I hope what I read today isn't true, but if Dubya started the NSA spying on Americans before 9/11 he should not only be impeached, but locked up.

Speak up or they assume you agree!!! ABB

Karen Webb
Moore, OK

Subject: Impeaching Bush

After reading Poll: Americans want impeachment for the crimes committed by Bush 1/15 (democrats.com), I sent the following email. I encourage everyone to send similar email, and COPY your congresscritters on it.

If we make enough noise, it MAY happen. At the very least, we put the congresscritters on notice that We Are Paying Attention.

Subject: Question for you (Sen. Schumer, Sen Clinton Cc'd via web form)

Dear Mr. Morin:

I recently read a partial transcript of a chat you had on 12/20/05, during which you stated the following: "... we do not ask about impeachment because it is not a serious option or a topic of considered discussion--witness the fact that no member of congressional Democratic leadership or any of the serious Democratic presidential candidates in '08 are calling for Bush's impeachment. When it is or they are, we will ask about it in our polls."

Excuse me, Mr. Morin, but since when has the "conventional wisdom" of the beltway dominated what "on the street" American citizens think or should be asked?

Please - allow me to give you some admittedly anecdotal evidence about how "regular" Americans think. I own a small retail establishment in upstate, NY. By "upstate," I mean the REAL upstate, as in the Mohawk River northward, NOT White Plains. Schenectady is an old, small, largely blue collar city who has seen its fortunes drop weekly over the past two decades as good paying industrial jobs are sent to China, South Korea, India and anywhere else corporations can treat labor as glorified slaves. The people of Schenectady see their hometown dying a slow death, consumed by the cancer that is "the global economy," and wonder when a politician of ANY stripe will try to find a cure in the form of the same promise of prosperity for their children that their parents gave to them.

Let me tell you, Mr. Morin, these folks are NOT happy. They are NOT happy that their children (and subsequent grandchildren) are forced to move hundreds or thousands of miles away to earn a decent living. They are NOT happy that their kids and neighbors are being sent to Iraq, and they are NOT happy that Bush and company have been dismantling the Constitution of the United States for the benefit of themselves and their conies.

I see a couple of hundred of these people every week, Mr. Morin, and they are NOT happy. Indeed, many of them are ashamed of our "leadership," and disgusted that we, the United States of America, the country we were all raised to believe was The Most Noble of Nations, invades a sovereign nation that posed no threat to us, and upon conquering that nation, engages in the torture of its citizens.

The people of Schenectady are proud Americans, Mr. Morin. Our fathers fought against the Nazis and Fascists in WW II (my own father was at Normandy on June 6, 1944), and the people of Schenectady are appalled and disgusted that our "leaders" are acting in the same fashion as those our fathers went to war against.

Wake up, Mr. Morin. There is a big, big country outside the beltway - a county of more than 290 million people - and a lot of those people are plenty pissed at the moment.

Your continued attitude that "as long as the movers and shakers in [Washington, DC] see nothing wrong, nothing is wrong" betrays the solemn responsibility that you, as the polling editor of one of the most widely read, referenced, and respected newspapers in the country hold.

The way I see it, Mr. Morin, Wapo has but two choices: either continue with the hard earned legacy the Post has come to enjoy due to years and years of hard work and good reporting; or be left behind and discarded as a media dinosaur with the status of the Washington Times or the New York Post.

You think you're keeping advertisers happy by not asking hard questions, I'm sure, because the answers to those hard questions will not be to the benefit of your corporate sponsors. Here's another bit of unsolicited advice: you will see from my signature file that I am also a Graphic Designer. I spent over 20 years in advertising, and while it may have been in a "backwater" market like Albany, NY, I can assure you that one thing holds true over all: advertisers will put their money where the eyes are. My caution to you is that, if you ignore the reality of the public's sentiment, the Post will, before long, become irrelevant and forgotten.

And when those readers eyes leave, Mr. Morin, my 20 + years of advertising experience tells me that your advertisers will as well.

Wapo can be a valuable source of information, or it can be overpriced lining for bird cages.

Your choice.

Respectfully,

Tom Vincent
Schenectady

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE JANUARY 17, 2006 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG