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| February 9, 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: Coretta Scott King Buzz Readers: There is no way that I could grow up in Atlanta and not go to Coretta Scott King's funeral. I attended the viewing of the body at historic Ebenezer Church where Martin King once preached and where his funeral was held. I braved the cold rain and went to see and hear Oprah and others speak and pay tribute to Mrs. King at services prior to the funeral. But the thing that I will always remember is seeing four US presidents on the same pulpit/stage. Poor Geedubya did okay for a C- student. And his father demonstrated that he has a sense of humor and can "hang' with the big boys. However, it's not their fault that the masses cheered and clamored for Clinton. Clinton had to quiet the crowd so that he could speak. Regardless of what Sean Hannity and others have said, Clinton never said that he was standing with a future president ( Hillary) ... it was the crowd that began to shout this. There is just something about the man's presence that attracts many of us (maybe it's the fact that so many of us prospered during his tenure). Ted Kennedy spoke well, but it was Rev. Joe Lowery who made a lot of conservatives angry with his humorous, but blistering, attack on Bush's lies about WMDs. It was an experience that I will never forget. Dee Turner Subject: What We Need To Do Nothing is working. Our voting is compromised. Writing letters to the editors of newspapers that are essentially co-conspirators won't work. As indeed contacting the supposed representatives of the people has no or little effect. And sitting in front of our computers composing responses to bloggers is simply preaching to the choir. I do however have a suggestion that has worked in the past to stop tyrannical, imperialistic, militant movements dead in their tracks. Massive peaceful civil disobedience. Using the tactics of Ghandi and Martin Luther King, we need to organize a march on Washington and other major cities of the likes that have not been seen since the 70's. Demonstrations large enough that even the corporate owned media can't ignore them. We need to take back the streets of our country and tell them where they can stuff their "free speech zones." Demonstrations must be continuous and peacefully disruptive to the operations of this government until they have to take notice of the true American majority in this country that recognizes that it isn't "we the people" that are being represented by this government anymore. Yes, your life will have to be disrupted. Thousands will be arrested. Many will be physically harmed and some may even be killed (remembering Kent State). But the failure to do anything less will only enable the powers that be on the inevitable march into a tyrannical police state. (If we haven't already reached that point.) So to BuzzFlash, MoveOn and all the many anti-bush sites, I implore you to start this movement. You have the power and the communication to rally all of those that have felt disenfranchised. We can't wait around for some figure who has the courage to stand against the beast. It's too late for that. For all the blatant criminal actions committed by this administration, if one were to arise they would have done so by now, or if they did, they'd be drowned out and ignored. No, it's up to us, the people. If anyone is going to change things it will have to be us. We need to do this. Nothing else will work. Michael DiBari Subject: MLK Jr. Wasn't Afraid Imagine if MLK Jr. would have reacted to the injustice, the suppression, the hangings, the burnings, the beatings, the bombings, the humiliations, and the inhumane treatment of African Americans ... as "bushists" have to the fear of terror. What if, in order to "protect" the people from "harm," MLK Jr.'s message was ... be silent ... don't encourage those who speak out ... lest you put your family in harm's way ... or you bring upon yourself possible death? What if MLK Jr. instead encouraged his people to live quietly and obey the powers that were, to avoid any further bloodshed and to "turn in" those who would "cause trouble" and to stay indoors when trouble makers took to the streets? And what if MLK Jr's message instead was ... Those of you who complain about the lack of dignity and about injustice ... only help those who want to do you harm to begin with. So, because of MLK Jr's COURAGE, today I say ... I am NOT afraid either ... I will stand up and fight the "bushists" that, due to 'fear,' want the rest of us in America to sit down, shut up, and let America be WEAKENED by a wannabe dictator, all in the name of fear. I AM NOT AFRAID !!!!!!!!! Monica Subject: NBC Disses Bush I normally watch the NBC Nightly News. Last night they had a segment on the Coretta Scott King funeral. As most already know, three former Presidents were in attendance: Carter, Bush 41, and Clinton. Of course, good, ole Rasputin Bush was also in attendance. However, when NBC showed footage, they showed portions of Clinton's speech, and none of Rasputin. Thought this was, indeed, interesting. Is it because Clinton was warmly received? Is it because Rasputin wasn't warmly received? Didn't they want to show Rasputin in his "full glory" in front of an "uncontrolled" crowd? Or have they finally wised up and realize that most people don't give a rodent's posterior about Boy George? Lisa Johnson Subject: FDR Oil Quote
Oilmen don't like governments and are not interested in governing. They are interested in profits and personal perks, and consider themselves above normal human commerce. The same is true of war profiteers. This may go some way toward explaining the Bush attitude. Not-So Rich Subject: Cowards in Congress Tell me something all you conservatives (Democrats too!) out there: Why do Republicans feel they shouldn’t have to testify under oath? The dog and pony show AG Gonzales held with the Republicans on the panel investigating domestic spying was a disgraceful display of administration arrogance. Though Democrats were tougher, this is just another case of their caving on an essential issue and just another of many instances where the Democratic Party should have challenged the Bush/Cheney criminal enterprise. This time, Gonzales should have been sworn and if refused, should have been held in contempt of Congress. Why are Republicans afraid to tell the truth under oath? Why would Republicans allow the AG to forego sworn testimony if they were sincere in their fervor to get the truth? Don't you think they should be held accountable if they give false testimony? Why did the (P)resident refuse to be under oath when the 9-11 Commission questioned him (without being allowed to take notes, I might add)? Bush and his cronies are destroying the republic with extreme prejudice and, it seems, with the apparent approval of people who are supposed to represent us. Why else would Bush's cohorts get a pass when it certainly seems that it's all been pre-arranged to deprive the People of the this country of their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The unprecedented secrecy accorded even the most mundane of information borders on paranoia (where have we seen this before?) and obscures the transparency of government we all are entitled to see. So why are the Republicans so fearful of the real story here? The People are being lied to, spied upon, and systematically excluded from monitoring their government because Bush and his Cabinet of Horrors want to control our existence. The poor are starving, the old and infirm are abandoned, schools are failing our children and security is compromised through inaction obscured by lip service and lies told to us to justify an unnecessary military invasion. When will enough be enough? The next line should be a Democratic mantra for the next four years: Why are Republicans afraid to tell the truth under oath? Ronald H. Withrow Subject: McCain’s Little Hissy Fit Anyone who watched Hardball last night is probably still trying to wash the stink of Kate O’Bierne off themselves. Of all the Hags of Hate, this one is surely the most disgusting. However I will reserve most of my ire for the exchange between Mini-Brain Matthews and Red-faced John McCain. By the end of the exchange I was seriously doubting my own sanity. I am no longer younger, so perhaps I was having a Senior moment? Nope, I watched it again on Crooks and Liars and there was Mini-Brain Matthews panting at the feet of Senator John McCain for throwing a hissy fit because a Freshman Senator dared to not fall in line and do exactly as McCain sees fit. Senator Obama, the target of McCain’s ire, is in the Senate to represent the people of Illinois not John McCain. However, these old Senators who have been in office for so many years seem to think that they have a right to dictate to others. Anyone with a brain, that automatically lets Matthews out, is aware that bi-partisanship is not something the Republicans generally favor. For Senator Obama to work on an ethics committee with McCain when the majority of the ethics problems reside on McCain’s side of the isle might not be to the benefit of Obama or anyone else. McCain’s little fit shows all too well why this old hack doesn’t have the stability required to be president. Wasn’t Ken Mehlman just on This Week with George Stephanopoulos lecturing about Hillary Clinton appearing to be angry? According to Mehlman the American People don’t vote for angry people. Oops, guess that leaves your boy McCain out doesn’t it? Don’t worry though, Mini-Brain Matthews is capable of the almost impossible feat of talking out of both sides of his mouth. He will excoriate Hillary for appearing angry and cheer for McCain’s hissy fit. And Obama, his reply showed more class than either Matthews or McCain would recognize. Marjorie L. Swanson Subject: Ahmadinejad a Crackhead I check in on BuzzFlash.com once or twice a week as you often have links to very interesting articles. However, I often wince at some of your editorialising. I agree with your politics but the way you go about writing your headlines sometimes reminds me of sensational tabloid journalism. Today's example would be calling Iran's leader a crackhead. This kind of writing detracts from your message and certainly damages your credibility. Overall I find BuzzFlash to be a very useful site I just wish your writing was a bit more concise. Thanks BuzzFlash. A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: Glad you're reading us. Maybe the headline style will grow on you? We have to laugh, to avoid crying.] Subject: Upside to a Draft Dear Buzz, Rather than see our military run completely and literally into the dirt by the cheneybush regime of idiots, I'd much rather see an equitable draft put in place. There will never be an end to the GWOT until a true cross section of American society is made to feel the pain that has so far been the lot of a relatively few American families. I would like to offer some well intended advice to these families. The coffers of Exxon, Halliburton and the other oil conglomerates are chock full of cash earned in large part directly from the sacrifice that you have made. Sue them. Organize a class action against them and obtain the recompense that is rightfully yours. Since this chimp wrench became lodged in the workings of our government and our democracy they have somehow managed to push down all blame for their miscreant activities to lowest ranks while mouthing platitudes about "regretting every life lost" etc. etc. We are all living with the larger than life consequences of the misdeeds of the smaller than life cast of characters that is the "bush" administration. But your loss is so much greater than ours. The neocons know that criminal trials are in the offing - if they didn't republicans in congress wouldn't be insisting that the likes of Alberto Gonzales be allowed to testify before their committees without taking an oath to tell the truth. The tide is turning and the vast majority of Americans will support you. Prepare now and when the moment is propitious make them pay in the only currency they know - hard cash money. In the meantime know that the hearts and minds of Real Americans, those that stand on principle - not in fearful support of some "life style" - are truly with you and will support you and your just cause. Tim Mooring [BuzzFlash Note: You're thinking outside of the box, at least. But before we call for a new draft, how about a military recruiting campaign aimed at oil industry employees? Maybe the companies could cap their salaries at the level of average GIs, to even the playing field between corporate "private" America and those serving their country in the armed forces?] Subject: Picking a fight with a black man Does Senator McCain think being nasty to Barack Obama is going to get him even one black vote if he wants to run for president? Or does he think picking a fight with a black man will increase his popularity among the right wing? Maybe he just wanted to impress fox news. We wonder, do you think the Bush people spied on the Kerry/Edwards campaign? And if they did, how would anyone ever know? Diane Anderson Subject: Wiretapping Investigation I was glad to see Republican Heather Wilson calling for a full Congressional investigation into baby bush's domestic wiretapping. History shows us that secretive oppressive regimes like the one we now have usually don't trust anyone, even their closest confidants. Any Congressional Republican who thinks he/she is exempt from being wiretapped, should think again. I suggest that any of you who have Republicans in Congress remind them that their most personal phone calls aren't necessarily exempt from baby bush's secret surveillance, just because they are members of his party. R. M. Johnson Subject: Say What? Our local newspaper, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, featured this quote yesterday morning on its front page (accompanying article was "Gonzales labels spying lawful) from Senator Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican: "A little humility is called for...especially before we accuse the president of a crime." It is important here to note that Kyl is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Excuse me, Senator Kyl, but why must "we" be humble? You, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and as an elected representative for the people, are supposed to ensure that the President obeys the laws of the United States of America and to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Why must "we" be deferential to a president who has shown no humility in his actions, deeds, and words? No wonder this country is in such a freakin' mess with namby-pambies like Kyl representing "We, the People." We need federal representatives with intestinal fortitude and the courage to stand up for the US Constitution and the American people. We do NOT need federal representatives who stand for cowardice, no brains and no guts. If you want to worship at the throne of Bush, be my guest, but don't expect me to do so. I have not and I will not and I think most of the American people will not either. Senator Kyl, if you refuse to lead, but choose to follow, then get out of the way. We don't need you. Lisa J. Subject: A Thank You to Maureen Farrell To Maureen Farrell, I just wanted to thank and compliment you on a superb article on BuzzFlash on the Bush Administration Conspiracy Theories. Factual timelines such as these are desperately needed to put the true history in its correct order, so thanks for the hard work. However, I did want to mention a few additions that should have been included in your article. I understand that there's so much information and only so much time to compile and write about it, especially given the speed they seem to accumulate with this administration, but thought I'd mention them anyway. • The closed door Energy Policy meetings in early 2000 that Vice President Cheney held with the energy companies. To this day we still don't know what was said in those meetings and the GAO has even unsuccessfully sued over it and yet we still don't know where our taxpaying money is going. Speculation suggests major manipulation of the markets for oil profits. • Athan Gibbs the inventor of TruVote suddenly and 'accidentally' dies in a car accident while his invention of e-voting machines with verifiable paper trails begins to gain support over the Diebold (paperless e-voting machines) which loses interest after his death, thus establishing Diebold as the main manufacturer. • And as far as the Military Industrial Complex is concerned, your timeline doesn't recognize that it goes back further in American history than WW II. President Abraham Lincoln warned against financial interests and business corporations being "enthroned," even during the Civil War era. Maureen Farrell Returns: "Top 10 'Conspiracy Theories' about George W. Bush, Part 1" Steve Russell Subject: You can't beat Florida for stupid legislators They want to make it a felony to prohibit guns in the workplace. Had I had a gun during my 7 years of boredom in the accounting department at Southwestern Bell, I could have livened the place up with a couple of mercy killings. Mercy they were boring. The amount of petty crap would sink a battleship. Then, when I caught my supervisor in the SBC plant department putting his hand up the leg of my pants while I was at the top of a 14 foot ladder, he would have been at the very least maimed. He wanted to see if my flared pants were a hazard because a couple of not so graceful employees had gotten the soldering iron attachments hung in their pants leg. Don't even mention the 2 years I spent at Monkey Wards, until the day they told me they wanted to keep me on, but I was to work no more than 39 hours a week because they didn't want to pay benefits and I didn't need their stinking benefits, but others did. I was covered on my husband's. Pratt's Grocery would rush someone over to take your place in the middle of a transaction to keep you from getting 40 hours. And the endless, we love ourselves elevator music, while working at Wal-Mart. Give me a gun and I will improve labor relations, or else. I haven't touched a gun in at least 45 years, and then I was trying to shoot a snake at my uncle's mud hole of a lake in Lovelady, Texas, but I could give it a go. Could I apply in Jeb's office and have a gun? Probably not. Karen Webb Subject: Hillary Clinton not, 2 Add Maureen Dowd to the list of women not gung ho about HC. She writes,
Colleen Clark Subject: Greenfield: 'Do you really do this at a funeral?' (CNN) “I think for a lot of people the idea is, do you really do this at a funeral?” In short, Yes, Jeff, you do. (And thanks for helping Karl Rove and Rush spin this...) Why? Because it is the ONLY place you can find George W. Bush where he is not painstakingly protected from any contact with or opinion from the opposing side of the electorate. Period. For George, there is no “electorate” ... only a thick layer of “protectorate.” Enough of “how gracious” it was for his heinous to “change his plans” and “show up.” That is malarkey of the highest order. In any other daily situation, Bush is not even allowed to hear this ... so unfortunately ... for that reason alone of his own making, it is entirely appropriate to say these things to his face wherever and whenever you get the chance. John L. Johnson Subject: John McCain Is to "Straight Talk" as Bart Simpson Is to "Don't Have a Cow, Man" To Hardball, I've seen yellow journalism, but your show took the cake last night with its treatment of the Obama/McCain spat. Your host grinned ear-to-ear with McCain about how the latter supposedly took Barack to the woodshed, but you provided no discussion whatsoever of the details or nature of Senator Obama's alleged infraction against McCain. As for McCain's letter itself; I've never seen such petulance directed by one senator towards another - and then to puff and grin about it on national television like it was something to be proud of... Time for a little "straight talk," Johnny - you look like you're losing your mind! Perhaps Senator Obama could have been offered a forum on your show to present his point of view? Nah, then you wouldn't be as good a sleazeball TV rag that panders to the corporatist party. Ken Duerksen Subject: A Great Fair Trade Film I noticed that BuzzFlash is now sponsoring "Fair Trade Monday." If you have ever wondered about the connection between songbirds and coffee and the Fair Trade issue, get the new documentary film called "Birdsong & Coffee" by OldDog Documentaries. It is heartening to warn that there is something simple and effective that I can do to help the environment and third world economies. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Commander-in-Chief Hi, Buzz!! GW is claiming power as "Commander-in-Chief" to do pretty much whatever he wants, including eavesdropping on our phone calls and emails. The Constitution (which I have here on my desk as I write this) says that the President is Commander-in-Chief of the armed services only. Article II, Section 2: "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States...." Sounds to me like GW doesn't have any "Commander-in-Chief" powers over civilians. The Fourth Amendment protects us against unwarranted searches and seizures. That's two strikes against Bush, at least. Let's all know our rights and insist on them! Jane Hawes Subject: Conspiracy Theories #11 With the NSA spying story comes to me this theory. One of the weird things about the 2004 race was how Bush kinda followed Kerry around the country. Kerry would show up in one state, Bush or a high profile rep would follow the next day or two. My take on the whole NSA spying thing is that there was massive data mining going on. Probably so much that they can't shred all the evidence or shut up all the key people. Anyway, my theory is that a key Kerry event planner was tapped so Bush Inc could get the leg up on where he'll be. Why would they need this info, because I'm pretty sure that the secret service needs a lot more than a couple of days before getting a location ready for a Bush visit? That's how Rove works, clever little knife cuts here and there to give his man the advantage. I bet a lot more time and money was spent rigging voting machines in Ohio than actually trying to maximize GOP GOTV. So find the names of Kerry event planners and see if their names come up in any of these NSA search databases. It is no coincidence that Bush Inc rebuffed DeWine about making such a program legal; no, Rove wanted this to be secret for good reason. So no one on the progressive side would suspect or have a reason to believe they were being spied on. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Way To Go Senator Russ Feingold!! Hi BuzzFlash, Air America's Randi Rhodes was happy to hear a comment by Senator Russ Feingold during the Gonzales Hearing, and figures that his staff or the Senator must be listening to her Show. The Administration had been saying: "When It Comes To National Security, The Democrats Have Such A Pre-9/11 View of The World." Senator Russ Feingold shot right back and said that: "The President Seems To Have A Pre-1776 View of The The World". Randi had said this on her show. If any of Senator Russ Feingold's staff is reading this, Randi is very happy that you used her comment - - Now you owe her a interview. :-) Tom Wieliczka
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