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| March 17, 2006 |
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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: Tragic Iraq Game The Bush administration's pitch to Americans that we're winning in Iraq is like telling us the Texas Rangers were victorious when the score was 0 - 72. Maybe in the build-up to this preemptive fiasco people believed the myth of President Bush and Colin Powell: that they had secret proof of WMDs. But now we have the score. Now we know there were none. Hadn't been for over a decade. But there are 2,300+ troops dead, 17,000+ casualties, countless psychologically wounded; over 100,000+ Iraqi families killed, not to mention the unborn families on both sides maimed by depleted uranium. Americans also know the financial score - $300 billion tax dollars (and counting) that could have provided health care to all Americans; built New Orleans into a gleaming metropolis with levees to withstand the next hurricane season; and maybe lower the growing poverty level in this country. But instead of righting the wrongs of the past, the President has launched a propaganda campaign to justify and intensify it. The Rangers have lost; the Iraqis have lost; Americans have lost. Because no one wins in war. Even those who have financially gained will most likely lose in the end, because greed has a way of destroying itself. The polls show that the Presidency is unraveling; that the majority of troops in Iraq want to come home; that the majority of Iraqis want them to go home; and that most Americans now see the invasion as a tragic mistake -especially the way it's being handled. Many well meaning observers think pulling out now will bring chaos. But what have we seen for three years? Could anything be worse than Fallujah? Rival the terrorists that are breeding faster than oil gushers? Not to mention the loss of freedom of speech, press, assembly, and even the right to wear peace T-shirts in this country? By all accounts - except those of the official "reality makers" - the presence of our troops only exacerbates chaos. Even the Green Zone, where many of our troops are hunkered down, is treacherous. Life for the average Iraqi is worse now than under Saddam. Life for the incarcerated "enemy combatant" isn't much better. We need to demand that Congress - including the Republicans - take a stand. Stand up to the President and the Rovian dream machine, get behind Representative Murtha, and come up with an exit strategy. NOW! What are we waiting for? Hell is melting fast. Lisa Stewart Subject: "Strategic Doctrine" Dear Buzzers, I can believe it but not believe it. I cannot believe that this "pre-emptive" bull crap that Bush and Rovian friends force feed us is called a "Doctrine" of all things. I actually laughed my arse off, I mean, of all things, this is some kind of "doctrine"??? This does not even come close to, much less constitute one! Where does this come off as even being one? This is no way to even co-exist peacefully with other nations. This is only the way to bully one another with no diplomacy at all, we destroy, plunder, and rape. This so-called "doctrine" makes a mockery of what all our former presidents tried to do or accomplish. Today we started another air strike similar to the one in March, 2003 in Baghdad, only this strike is in Samarra. It is said that this may last for some days. I know that this is done by the military thinking we must get after those causing trouble as one exterminates mice from their home. My nephew is stationed in Iraq and I have not been able to focus much on anything today and I am on pins and needles sort of wondering if he is on this mission. This "mission" seems in my estimation to have a certain timing and it stinks of something more to come soon. Be very aware of the Israeli elections in the near future. I smell a rat in the woodwork... A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Mailbag, 3-16-06 There is a letter today entitled "Censure" from Dale Edwards wondering why we are going from impeachment to censure. Dale, only the House of Representatives can bring articles of impeachment against a sitting president. John Conyers has been working on this for quite some time and over 30 other house representatives have signed on to Conyers' efforts. Since Senator Feingold is in the Senate he is unable, at this point, to do anything legally with regard to impeachment. He can, however, sponsor a resolution to censure Bush, which he has done. I hope this clarifies the issue for you. We can add our voice of support for both of these efforts by going to Congress.org and go to both Conyers' and Feingold's individual sites and send them an e-mail of support. At Congress.org, you can also contact your own federal representatives and let them know you also support these efforts by Conyers and Feingold. Lisa J. Subject: What To Do? Where To Run? Even though I continue to read the Buzz e-mails, I have not posted in quite a while. While I understand the views of those who say, "Never trash the Democrats because we must stick together," I ask, when does it become a matter of being true to your self? Why should we vote for any spineless Democrat just to avoid voting (God forbid) for a Republican? I personally will never vote for any Democrat who did not support Sen. Feingold and so, unless he runs, I will be doing a write-in for future presidential elections. Words can not say how fed up I am with all the rest! Cowards all! I heard on a newscast that the dems were afraid that if they supported Feingold, they would anger the voters and lose votes. What bunk! How many voters have they already lost? I wrote to Sen. Clinton again yesterday to let her know she has lost my vote. This descent into a monarchy will only be stopped by the people when they have truly had enough. Do not look to congress. They are all marching in lockstep to the music of the almighty dollar. Sandra Subject: Oh, it keeps getting better. Just heard the news that Bush is making noises about "pre-emptive" (yeah, right) war on Iran. How stupid do the Busheviks think we are? Answer: VERY, VERY STUPID. What do they do when ONE war is in the toilet?? Of COURSE: they start ANOTHER one -- and go into the old song and dance about how anyone who doesn't support the attack is "with the terrorists." That, obviously, gives King George (at least Barbara Bush named him aptly) the right to increase his powers of surveillance on those of us who protest. Not to mention the right to cut domestic spending even further, if that's possible. I wrote an earlier letter (yesterday, I think) that didn't make the Mailbag, in which I said "Where are they going to get the troops for all of these endless wars?" I think I said they'd start by drafting 10- to 12-year-olds. Now I think we'll be digging down and hitting on kindergarteners and nursery schoolers. ("Look, Tommy: this is a REAL gun. You're too much of a man now to play with toy ones. You used to LOVE to play war. Now you get a chance to fight a REAL war.") Actually, I have a serious point here: i.e., we can't even supply enough troops to cover Afghanistan and Iraq right now, much less supply them with adequate protection, including safer vehicles and effective body armor. And yet this assministration's solution is to launch MORE wars on MORE fronts and let the chips fall where they may. We Buzzers know exactly where they'll fall: on the heads of the poorer and more powerless members of society. Frankly, I think Congress should pass a resolution stating that, before any more "pre-emptive" wars are launched, we demand that both Bush twins, Cheney/Rummy grandchildren, and relatives of anyone else who supports this lunatic diversion from the REAL issues we face -- and WILL face -- send their OWN flesh and blood over to join the battle. I'll bet that clause would kill the bill...FAST. Barbara Lee (Barb) Blazyk Subject: Bush's New Attack on Iraq Well, gee, that makes sense doesn't it? The country is in a civil war, the country next door is being threatened with a 'preventative' attack. Our 'Secretary of State' ie Bush's girlfriend, admits we are hated in the world. Wonder what caused that? One of our major cities has been lost by administration incompetence, apathy, and neglect. So let's launch another full scale attack on a country that we have destroyed, and where the people have suffered so much because of Bush over the last three years. It makes perfect sense. If you're down the rabbit hole. Which we are. If America is now a hologram of its former self. Which it is. But it certainly knocks all of the Bush related scandals off the front page/airwaves. Doesn't it? And gives Halliburton/Bechtel more to do. Will their multi-billion dollar contracts to restock/repair what was just destroyed be announced in tomorrow's news? Will Halliburton start selling caskets in Iraq? They do everything else. Why not grab the market in that, too? The Pentagon can "roll out their new product" as their chief psycho calls it. Bombs and caskets all in one. Suzanne McIntosh Subject: Relative in-fighting....war I got a call from my son...last night and again today. Last night the call lasted about 3 1/2 hours....I was wiped out....It was all about the way I believe in politics as opposed to the way he believes....and he is always right! I try to tell him why I think the way I do....but, he always finds something wrong with that! This is very hard, he is my son...I love him. Right at the start of the war.....both sons...and a daughter were like this. It was hard, but as time went on and the proof started to come to light....I started to be a little more confident in my thinking....and let it go....after healing from an ulcer. They are all different now...except the one son who is a clone of Bill O'Reilly. He will google everything on earth he can....to try to prove me wrong. At last today...when he called, I happened to be cleaning....and everyone of you may know how it feels to be in the middle of cleaning....anything....we all hate it, right? I was out of patience....and tired. At last, after his starting an argument, I actually started to make excuses for Saddam. That was literally the end! He asked me if I thought Bush was worse than Saddam....and I said yes! Horror of Horrors...I asked him who attacked who....and he said okay...and hung up! I went back to my cleaning and did not hear the phone ring and he called back and told me that he loved me! Something is making this kid more scared than ever of losing this administation...Has anyone out there ever been through this kind of thing? It hurt so much more in the beginning, because it was like an open sore after the treatment of Bill Clinton (apologies to Barbara Blazyk), and his policies were good! This country was in great shape when he left office...and he was not to blame for any war...he did not create any war for profit! It was bad for me back then...because the entire family seemed to be against me for any number of reasons...even the granddaughter who went to Iraq...but even that seems to have changed....this kid is the only one. And, mother that I am, I tend to worry more about why he is doing this! Is he losing his base...did he have someone who agreed with everything he said? Why is he trying to change me? His father will not discuss politics...he voted for Bush twice, but does not like the turn of events now! But, will not talk about it...sooooooooooo this story is continuing...I am sure.... If anyone out there has had this problem...did it finally just take care of itself....or does the kid have a problem with politics? He sounds like the Entire Fox Network...all at once! In watching these things.....it seems that the younger men are more into the war than ever...He also was the recipient of medals that my brother won in Vietnam... because he is named for him. I did not do this, my sister and my mother did it for Christmas one year... Shirley...........St. Louis Subject: Save America, save the world Let's keep it simple so everyone understands what must be done. We must try, convict, impeach, and execute Bush. Anything less would be uncivilized. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Not on my watch, you evil cad! So, if I work at the Holiday Inn and one of my daughter's 19-year-old friends comes in with a young man whom I personally know is married to someone else, can I refuse to give them a room based on my own moral beliefs? If I'm a cashier, can I refuse to ring up condoms? I could go on and on and on and on with examples. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Support for Iraq War Down To 28% With our president's favorable rating only a few percentage points higher, we must be getting close to the tipping point; that moment when (at the coffee break and at the water cooler) one hears, "Why that no good lying SOB. Impeach him!" And towards reaching said goal, maybe a very brief impeachment proposal, circulated on the Internet would be of help. Something like,
Admittedly there are more detailed petitions circulating but perhaps a short version might be more expeditious. Let's see, upwards of twenty percent of the public now relies on the Internet for its news. That's 50-60 million folks for starters. Say that 1% (about a half million people) pick up on our abbreviated impeachment pledge and sign it. And that each of said half-million folks cc's this impeachment petition to everyone in her or his email address book. And say this was coordinated through all our progressive Internet sites. And that the Internet impeachment campaign began on a certain day. How long would it take, then, before the actual tipping point (see above) would be reached? How many days, that is? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Chris Matthews to Bush: "Got Any Irish in You? Want Some?" (a letter sent to "Hardball" and others:) Chris Matthews managed to avoid the word "Censure" or the name "Feingold" in tonight’s (03/16/06) broadcast of "Hardline," but it cost him. "Let’s take a look at this very unpleasant bit of polling here..." Matthews said as the results of today’s Pew Research Center poll were shown on the screen: 48% of Americans label Bush as "a liar," "an idiot," and "incompetent." These results, Matthews regretfully identifies as a part of a "... long trend-line down from the high point, of course, when he was so heroic after 9/11." Sigh. The ongoing cognitive dissonance wrought by these poll numbers caused Matthews to ask his guest, Democratic strategist Steve McMahon (Why is EVERYONE on this show Irish?) the existential question: "Who is he (President Bush)?" McMahon: "well ... 48% think he’s incompetent, he’s an idiot, or he’s a liar; and the most dangerous thing there is that people are moving from disagreements over issues to character conclusions about a person, and once that happens; you know; if they think you’re a liar it doesn’t matter what your policy is on Iraq because they don’t believe it anyway (audible labial "click" from Matthews); if you get caught in lies it doesn’t matter...." Matthews interrupts with an unintelligible comment to Kate O’Bierne (Irish) that contains the words "Kate" and "sympathetic," and goes on to say: "I need to ask - we will not be too evil here tonight. Let’s try to be understanding on the eve of St. Patrick’s, OK? Deal?" Evil? Matthews’ reticular nano-bots must be sparking overtime. McMahon said nothing that the Pew results - that "Hardball" presented all on its own - didn’t say very explicitly already. Matthews just cannot handle a living person expressing any negative perspective regarding his heart-throb. And what's with all the Irish? Ken Duerksen Subject: Canandaigua Good article about the Idiot in Chief's visit to our mutual home town. I was from Canandaigua many years ago but now live on the "Left Coast." Still love the Finger Lakes though. My friend who still lives there was shocked that despite the considerable number of protesters, there was little or no coverage of it. Keep up the good work. Bush Visits My Hometown -- You Got Trouble, My Friends! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Re Impeachment Calling for an impeachment of a Republican president with a congress controlled by Republicans would not succeed. But if by some miracle it would happen, guess who is next in line, the VP ... There are elections coming this fall, voting counts (be sure to use paper ballots) it could shift the balance of power in the congress. Then hopefully the powers now abused by the presidency could be brought under control or hopefully even be rescinded in some cases. I'd like to see this president out of office asap, but the possible replacements are not acceptable to me. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Public Notice to Bush and Congress: Stop the Killing Now Thank you Buzz for providing this public forum for me to advise my employees - Bush and Congress - as they rev up the killing. (They've been shipping out hundreds of National Guards from Arkansas to Iraq very recently.) And now the horrendous Air Strikes! My message to Congress and to Bush is as follows: DON'T USE MY MONEY TO SUPPORT THIS KILLING AND MAIMING. DO NOT USE ONE CENT OF MY TAXES. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW. Everyone you run into around here now knows someone who has lost a loved one or has suffered a life-altering injury - I know of kids who have lost fathers. Tell me BUSH - cause you're about the only one who knows: FOR WHAT????? This IS the BUSH WAR. Now I guess we're getting ready to get out of BUSH WAR part one and move into BUSH WAR part two (Iran) and kill a few hundred thousand people there. This is Criminal. CONGRESS - YOU MUST stop the money from SUPPORING THIS CRIME! NOT ONE MORE DIME. Jean Turley Subject: Go See "V Is For Vendetta" I saw "V" last night and felt compelled to write this. If you are appalled by the Bush administration's use of fear to undermine the democratic process, SEE THIS MOVIE. If you feel powerless to have any say in the policies of our government that you feel are morally wrong, SEE THIS MOVIE. If you are concerned that we are slowly, but methodically moving towards a Right Wing controlled autocracy, SEE THIS MOVIE. Republicans do not want you to see this movie. "V’s" release date was slated for six months ago. This has given “the powers that be” time to develop a strategy to turn people away from this movie. The obvious strategy is to avoid the “Passion of the Christ” effect. Meaning, If all of the talking heads on Fox news tell you not to see this movie, it will only spur ticket sales. Conservatives have taken a much more subtle approach. Take a small handful of “moderate” movie reviewers, and get them to play up that the hero blows up buildings like bin Laden. Get their reviews out in the media before the movie is released and hope this movie doesn’t have a big opening weekend. This movie will be a hit either right out of the gate, or on the DVD aftermarket. Don't be fooled. "V" is not about glorifying a terrorist; this movie is about giving the people back their voice. Go see this movie and find your voice. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Ms. Harris You say that Ms. Harris is tainted by the Cunningham fallout - But how is what Cunningham did (accepting payoff from a defense contractor) different from what Cheney has been doing since Ms. Harris, et al., put him into office with Halliburton? Art McBride Subject: Colorado Bellwether Although I haven't lived there in 9 years, Colorado was my home for most of my life. Home of the cheeseburger, the Denver boot and the Denver shuffle, and with its schizophrenic politics over the past fifty years, the bellwether is not new although its political "firsts" have been a mixed bag: First to vote in women in a general election after suffrage law went into effect, 1894. First to elect a post-reconstruction black state representative before the civil rights era began in 1956 (Ed Brown). First to pass abortion rights law signed by Republican Governor John Love in 1967. First and only rejection of a site designated for the Olympics. 1976 Colorado has also provided some of the most liberal and original contemporary political minds in the country (Pat Schroeder, Roy Romer, Tim Wirth, "Governor Gloom" Richard Lamm, and presidential candidate and political philosopher Gary Hart), while, on the other hand, it's barfed some of its most dangerous reactionaries: Representative Tom Tancredo (whose district encompasses Columbine High), James Dobson and his Colorado Spgs. Focus on the Family headquarters, along with political turncoat Ben Nighhorse Campbell. Finally, for a fiscally conservative state, the 1982 oil shale bust that produced the 2nd worst economic disaster in the state's history (20% of Denver's residential real estate was owned by HUD in 1988) triggered the most originally successful public/private infrastructure spending spree of all American states in the last century that continues today: Denver International Airport, Pepsi Center, Coors Field, Invesco Stadium, expansion of the Denver Center of the Performing Arts (2nd largest after Lincoln Center), and the T-Rex Light Rail public transport system to name a few notable public projects. Will Wyche Subject: Success Iraq holds elections and Iran wins ......... bush suspends our rights and Osama declares "Mission Accomplished" ... yep, we're winning alright Monica Subject: Scary What if present administration had been in power in October 1962? Mike K. Subject: When Power Is Irresponsible! Every week Americans witness an abuse of power from George Bush or his Republican cronies! Their effort to manipulate and control is never-ending! Yesterday a new press report stated,
These groups inflicted grave wounds to the Republican Party so the move was made to take power away from any opposition! Forget the Swift Boaters, the Democrats are the ones the Washington Post article “highlights!” The domination of the Republican one-party rule, and the Bush Administration’s misuse of power is a living lesson of why the power should not be concentrated on one side. Americans have witnessed this “culture of corruption” turn our nation and our government into tools for aggression and monopoly, without balance! We have seen them use power to reject and destroy those who refuse to go along with their version of “reality!” We have seen that they suffer no consequences for their actions again and again. Daddy Bush once remarked, “The one just use of power was to serve the people!” The son of Bush uses it to serve himself, his corporate buddies and his supportive cronies. Their power is used to “bully” or conceal! Their methods have put our country, our soldiers and the world in peril. Two excerpts from two great articles:
As Erich Fromm claimed ... “Power on the one side, fear on the other, are always the buttresses on which irrational authority is built.” Susan Carr Subject: All Promises, No Achievements Mr. Bush, Get your butt out of that ivory tower and your head out of those clouds and take a look around you. I just read a news report saying that you are planning to waste more of our time trying to convince us that you are “winning” in Iraq. Sir, you have been there and done that. Remember the aircraft carrier where you played a fighter pilot and announced that Iraq was a done deal? “Mission Accomplished,” I believe the banner read. I know it may be hard to believe, but we Americans have more important things to do than give you validation on your Iraq invasion. You may not have noticed, but Sunday night, another of those super storms jerked our attention away from your war with a vengeance. A 400 mile path through five states; Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, produced 20 tornados. It killed 11 people and destroyed millions of dollars in property. It looks a lot like New Orleans right now. Speaking of New Orleans, isn’t it past time for you to do something about the tons of trash left lying around down there? Six months later and there are still bodies being found in houses. Doesn’t that penetrate that “beautiful mind” your family possesses even a little? Perhaps a different sort of “tour” is needed. One blogger posted a video “drive” through the devastation of the 9th Ward, complete with a house still in the middle of the road. I know you’re still collecting your salary, I know you are still taking long vacations, and I know Iraq is still your “baby”; but what I don’t know is what you are doing about the condition of the country! Mr. Bush; are you with us or against us? We have yelled at you and been rewarded by being shoved into oxymoron “free speech zones.” We have marched against you and you make sure you are out of town. One grieving mother even camped out in the Texas heat trying to get your attention and you ignored her. You give political “cronies” charged with criminal acts more attention and praise than you do the suffering citizens of this country. You, sir, need an attitude adjustment. You can feel the pain of presidential aids caught in criminal acts; you can dismiss the careless shooting of a person by your vice president. But you breeze through our devastated land with a panacea of words that feeds and houses no one. And those actions DO speak louder than all of your malapropisms. You had a lot of words when you stood on that mound of rubble after September 11, 2001. And you had a lot of tough words about capturing Osama bin Laden. You spoke a lot of words about lowering taxes for your “elite base,” for invading Iraq and for taking away our civil rights to “keep us safe from terrorists.” But they were just that - words. A BuzzFlash Reader |
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