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| March 20, 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. THIS IS PART 2 OF THE MARCH 20, 2006 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 Subject: Bush Classed as "Incompetent" - Is This the Most Appropriate Angle? Let's not get too excited about the Pew study that identifies the adjectives that Americans currently associate with Bush. "Idiot," "Incompetent," "Ass" were all relatively high scorers on this limited study, and that general trend seems disturbingly familiar. Republicans started weeks ago distancing themselves from their President. Conservative stalwart Bruce Bartlett began plugging his book "Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy," and talk from the neoconservative inner circle started blaming mistakes and thick-headedness for the disastrous ends of the administration's policies. More recently, the trial balloon has been floated that the president and his advisors are "exhausted," and have fallen asleep at the wheel. This is all balderdash. Not that I in any way dispute that George W. Bush is a certifiable moron - he is. But anyone who would suggest that this ne’er-do-well has anything at all to do with setting the policies of the dangerous cabal of which he is a figurehead has mental problems of their own. However, the overt destruction wrought by years of pressure and political victory by the conservative movement has made the Right realize that to retain its legislative seats and the support of its base it has to put a lot of ground between themselves and the small crew that’s been manning the cockpit for the past five years. To do otherwise would require a frank repudiation of the chimeric "Reagan Legacy," and the clear understanding that Free-Market Fundamentalism is a cancer on our society of which the ungodly deficit, the growing class division, environmental degradation, and the cultural malaise of America are the inevitable result. Therefore, the individuals heading the current administration must be scapegoated with harsh personal criticism and sent into a retirement of brief ignominy and enduring material wealth. Sadly, the mild-mannered Democratic leaders who sternly echo these "Incompetent" or "Exhausted" canards as if they constituted relevant critiques of Bush policies are guilty of the same devious protection of the corporatist status quo. No, Bush and his band of cronies have not screwed up; in fact, they have made very few mis-steps that were not fully prepared-for and mitigated by their iron grip on the American media. Chaos in Iraq; in New Orleans; in the American psyche following the 9/11 attacks: all were components of their careful plans - or at the very least opportunistically acquired and amplified in order to facilitate their rape of our nation's wealth and public institutions. In short, I am not encouraged by the Pew study - its just another of their propaganda successes that goes down, as planned, heralded as a "fumble." We need to get the words "Criminal," "Pirate," and "Usurper" out there and branded on the foreheads of all the Republican leadership. Ken Duerksen Subject: Band of Brothers This website is awesome. Mike Lyon stated the movement for vets in Congress. Take a look at http://www.bandofbrothers2006.org/. Belle Star Subject: Bush and the Democrats I don't know who to be pissed off at more, Bush for turning this country into a dictatorship or Democrats just standing by! This is truly pathetic! I'm beginning to think that the Democrats are really afraid of this administration; shows that there's more to the Bush administration than meets the eye. The explanation that the Dems are just as corrupt and beholden to corporations is too simplistic and just doesn't wash. And remember, the Repubs want the Dems destroyed. Seriously I want to know if there are some real threats being made against Dems in Congress. I want answers, dammit! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: I Will Remember Bush For ... I will remember Bush for ... Making the largest Trade Deficit in History ... for making the rich richer and poor poorer … for making fools out of believers … for knowing Osama bin Laden was to attack somewhere in the U.S. before 9/11 … for cutting funds to college student loan programs ... For allowing his close circle of friends to become multiple millionaires in a short time ... For lying to the American people multiple times ... for being a flip-flopper … For making more poor people than ever … for trying to take away social security from the middle class and poor … for creating a boon for companies benefiting from the drug benefit attached to Medicare …. For making people apologize for voting for him ... For corruption at the voting booth … For the IRAQ war … For mad cow disease .. for bird flu … for Katrina ... for corruption and incompetence ... for giving Rumsfeld the opportunity to make millions on the bird flu vaccine ... for ignoring global warming … for allowing ID theft to reach epidemic proportions ... for reducing income for the working poor ... etc., etc., etc. ... Ron Subject: Reply to Bush's National Security Strategy Letter In the recently released National Security Strategy of the United States, President Bush wrote an introductory letter to "my fellow Americans" that noted, "Our national security strategy is founded on two pillars: The first pillar is promoting freedom, justice and human dignity...Free governments are accountable to their people, govern their territory effectively, and pursue economic and political policies that benefit their citizens. Free governments do not oppress their people or attack other free nations." Now if we apply those noble aspirations to our own country, Mr. President, I believe we are falling short. For example, let's take the statement, "free governments are accountable to their people." Polls show that more than 60% of American people realize that the Iraq war wasn't worth the cost in our tax dollars or peoples' lives. Yet, soldiers and Iraqis continue to die on a daily basis. Is the Bush Administration accountable to the American people about the war in Iraq? How about "free governments govern their territory effectively?" Do you think that having $350 billion annual deficits and $9 trillion in total debt is effective, Mr. President? And let's review the phrase, "free governments pursue economic policies that benefit their citizens." When one remembers that 41 million Americans do not have health insurance and considers the confusion and fear faced by senior citizens who still struggle to obtain drugs they need because of a prescription drug law championed by you, Mr. President, would you say we are pursuing policies that "benefit our citizens?" And how about the phrase, "free governments do not oppress their people?" Isn't it oppressive to spy on American citizens without a warrant? And by the way, Mr. President, is it okay for "free governments" to oppress other people? For example, what about the people in Guantanamo Bay? Aren't they being oppressed when they are tortured and held for years without charges or trial? They may not be American citizens, but they are in American custody and the rule of law should apply. Otherwise, all your lofty pronouncements about "promoting freedom, justice and human dignity" are meaningless. And speaking of dignity, is force-feeding prisoners who protest their years of confinement through hunger strikes dignified? Lastly, Mr. President, you wrote that "free governments do not attack other free nations." Yes, Saddam Hussein was a dictator, but he was not a threat to our security. And yet our free nation attacked his country and opened a Pandora's box of civil strife, endless bloodshed, pain and misery. In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like to know how you could let our proud nation go from being a place of freedom and justice admired around the world for our democratic values, including our adherence to the rule of law, to a country now known for domestic spying, torture, force-feedings and imprisonment without charges or trial? The actions now practiced by our government do not reflect the values you promote in your letter to your fellow Americans. Nancy Klein Subject: Abortion I sent this to the editor of Seattle Times regarding the story about allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense birth control (Dan Kennedy wrote a letter to the editor stating that the pharmacy had to be sure the patient wasn't preggers because that, you see, would be murder):
Kathy Ready Subject: Bringing the Troops Home Now One way is through a military defeat, such as that which the fascist military junta that ruled Argentina twenty-two years ago suffered in the Falkland Islands War. With this defeat, the Argentinean military was totally disgraced, popular support for the military junta suddenly collapsed and, what's even better, the Argentinean people promptly reclaimed the freedom and democracy that the junta had denied them. But can a resistance movement armed with ad lib roadside bombs defeat the most powerful military that the world has ever known? Of course not, but said defeat won't be by the Iraqi armed resistance but by the people themselves, out in the street, Iraqis in the millions, calling for freedom and independence and demanding that the troops (ours) go home. What'll happen then? Our troops will return home, that's what. And what happens to those in our neo-fascist military government who sent our best and brightest off to fight and die in an illegitimate and immoral war? The same as what happened to the fascist military government in Argentina after their Falkland Islands defeat. We the people will demand that justice be done, which means that these criminals will go on trial for mass-murder and crimes against humanity. And, as happened not long ago in Argentina, here in America, freedom and democracy will have been restored . A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: 500 Anti War Protests Why is it no one is reporting all the 500 protests around the United States during the last few days and the upcoming week? Linda [BuzzFlash Note: A "Google News" search brings up 6860 reports on "Iraq war protest."] Subject: Excellence I just wanted to thank BUZZFLASH for your contribution to THE TRUTH. J. Allen Subject: Rummy's Repetitive Rot We're resigned to the fact that Rummy doesn't think much before speaking, and now apparently the WaPo is aiding the Pentagon propaganda machine in America by publishing more of his blatant lies. What We've Gained In 3 Years in Iraq (Donald Rumsfeld/Washington Post) In today's surrealistic, rambling, misleading Op-ed, he continues to accuse critics of using the "words of terrorists" and repeats the Bush mantra tying "terrorists" to Iraq. That approach apparently is never too old for the Busheviks. The educated among us might have thought that "history" is constructed from all relevant documentation on a particular subject, however Rummy disagrees. In his world, the "bigger picture" doesn't include "blogs ... headlines or the latest sensational attack." Reviewing his professional history one would have to deduce that it also doesn't include truth, fact, intelligence analysis or military assessments that conflict with his own perspective. History apparently is the neocon vision in his head. I love the title of his article. What "WE" have gained in three years??? "We've" gained over 2300 flag-draped coffins and thousands of maimed soldiers, along with debt that will cripple our grandchildren if it doesn't bankrupt our government first. What have the Iraqis gained in addition to a devastated country, thousands killed & maimed, basic collapse of infrastructure and endless fear???? Big benefit #1: Iraqis have elected a government and ratified a constitution. Yes, and neither is working! Libya & Cuba - glorious emblems of freedom - both have ratified constitutions & elected governments. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ly00000_.html Big benefit #2: Significant transformation in Iraqi security forces. The non-partisan Council on Foreign Relations sees things a little differently: After Three Years of War, Concerns Abound as does the LA Times: U.S. Expands Training to Address Iraqi Police Woes We're all well aware of what a "free and stable Iraq" will mean. We're also well aware that the Iraqis want the coalition to succeed. Not one word in Rummy's article offers a hint of how that will happen! If he can't do it with bombs, he can't do it. Unfortunately, Rummy is a miserable failure who should have resigned years ago. He & the Busheviks are incapable of producing success in Iraq or anywhere else, as they've proven repeatedly. And that is the most important thing "well worth remembering" on the third anniversary of death & destruction they've orchestrated via Operation Iraqi Freedom. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Military Recruiters It is disturbing that military recruiters are allowed on campuses. A number of years ago our high school senior son was contacted by an army recruiter who painted a rosy picture of what the army could do for him. His indecision about his future made him vulnerable to the lies he was told and so he joined up. He entered a college program that included becoming an officer. The recruiter told him that this would open many employment doors for him, but this proved to be of no advantage at all. He was told many other lies, as well. Our son is now a low level government civil employee. His military background did absolutely nothing for him. If this had happened under Bush's watch we would be even more concerned - not just for employment, but for his life. Buzzflash Reader in Oklahoma Subject: Plan B? What do you do? You have built 14 permanent military bases in Iraq so it may be in your best interests not to have the Iraqi army be able to take over on its own anytime soon. Rummy doesn't think there's a civil war (although it's "possible", he adds) but IF it were to occur, the Iraqis can handle it themselves, he says. But of course, they can't (not yet). They still need our help. Which means we get to stay another one, two, three, four? more years. By then everyone will have gotten used to those permanent bases and even if most of the troops are reduced, it justifies keeping a sizeable contingent in country. Eventually things will get straightened out, one way or another. But why do I have the nagging thought that the real goal of invading Iraq was less about Iraqi freedom than a clever excuse to insert those permanent U.S. bases, which after all the money spent on constructing and filling them, are not likely just to be handed over to the Iraqis? We closed all those US bases to save money (so they said) but maybe it was to fund more strategically placed ones. The date is 2094: "Now U.S. engineers are focusing on constructing 14 'enduring bases,' long-term encampments for the thousands of American troops expected to serve in Iraq for at least two years. The bases also would be key outposts for Bush administration policy advisers. As the U.S. scales back its military presence in Saudi Arabia, Iraq provides an option for an administration eager to maintain a robust military presence in the Middle East and intent on a muscular approach to seeding democracy in the region. The number of U.S. military personnel in Iraq, between 105,000 and 110,000, is expected to remain unchanged through 2006, according to military planners." http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2004/040323-enduring-bases.htm I'm not sure I like this image of my country: "muscular approach to seeding democracy" and "long-term encampment." Calling the bases "enduring" means they plan to be there long after the civil war in Iraq has subsided. "Enduring" -- like the war on terror. That was the plan all along. If the Iraqis ever become truly "free" and decide they don't need or want that those bases--what then? Say in year, 5 or 6 of the war in Iraq, things finally settle down and a government starts functioning -- what exactly is Plan B for that contingency--because you don't build "permanent" bases only to have to dismantle or relinquish control of them. Mr. Rumsfeld? Plan B? Care to comment? A BuzzFlash Reader out of country P.S. I went to an anti-war protest yesterday ... with a busload from my town. Most of the protest seemed to be directed at Bush, who was decried as an assassin, a terrorist, and a criminal. Less protesters than last year's march. I hope this is not a trend. Anyway thanks. Thanks so much. I check into your website at least 6 times a day. Subject: The War How can any rational person believe Iraq can secure their country with a few more months or even a few years of training? Our military, the most powerful force in the world, has not secured the borders or stopped the insurgency in the past three years. We have 130,000 troops with armored divisions and the most advanced combat aircraft in history, but we have not secured the country. I don’t think spending billions more will buy us a victory. In Vietnam, we finally asked; who will be the last to die for a lost cause? It’s time for America to admit this war was a terrible mistake and demand the Bush administration bring the troops home now! How many more brave Americans will die because our leaders are foolish and arrogant? Recognizing reality is not unpatriotic, but the alternative is Un-American. H. S. Keheley Subject: I Say What I Mean and Mean What I Say MOOGUMBOO BUSH WAFFLE ADDENDUM 3-19-06 From-President Bush-Flip Flopper-in Chief Against it-For it List-- “When I Make Up My Mind It Stays Made Up” 1.campaign finance reform—no/yes A Great Record for My Mind Stays Made Up. I do not like vulgarity. But he is pure MOOGUMBOO. During a visit to Africa he spoke to a Tribe of several hundred. He started making promises of help with schools, jobs, and roads. Thunderous stomping of feet and yelling Moogumboo greeted each promise. The more they yelled Moogumboo the more Bush promised. The Chieftain took him to view his prize herd of bulls. As they entered the pasture the Chieftain turned to Bush and said-----“watch your step do not step in the Moogumboo.” The Recovering Drunk means when I say something believe it ... sometime-once in awhile-maybe-now and then—aw! who cares? I answer to no one. I needed a war and I got it so I am successful. I changed the size of government (up ain’t down Ronnie II) so I am successful. 59 million voted for me who cares about the other 5,000,061,000,000? Clarence Swinney Subject: Re: Bushevism a Cult Great start, lousy ending. BuzzFlash Now Officially Declares Bushevism a Cult First, about the great start; this is a much needed topic for discussion. I think you correctly surmise that a large chunk of the 34 percenters are people who irrationally idolize dumbya. Recognizing this is but the first step in dealing with it. Therefore, I think it would be better to change the message from one of IMPEACH BUSH, or censure etc., to IMPEACH/INDICT CHENEY and RUMSFELD. Probably at least half of them don't even know who Rummy is, and half of those don't know Cheney either. Most importantly, the Bush Lovers won't take it so personally, since we wouldn't be going after their IDOL/HERO/GOD. Now, for the lousy ending, the list. It isn't hard to imagine what a Bush Lover's list looks like: Better: Purple fingers mean the World loves us! We're staying the course! We're getting rid of Roe V Wade! Tax cuts! Everyone loves Tax Cuts! Cheap, Huge SUVs! We're finally gettin' after them "librals" and their "civil rights" and that "equality" thing. Worse: How dare you suggest that anything is worse?!?!? You must be a terrorist, trying to plant doubt in our saviour, W. Obviously, this exercise serves no purpose but to reinforce each side's own thinking, further dividing. Nothing wrong with that, IMHO, but if the goal is to actually do something to stop the impending train wreck, and lower support for bush, I think that Bush should be given a pass for now, while we concentrate on getting rid of Rove, Cheney and Rumsfeld. Without them turning the knobs, and pressing the buttons, Bush would be the lamest duck that ever quacked, or he would resign. Peace - :) A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Offensive Operation The latest "offensive" in Iraq, Operation Swarmer certainly is offensive. But perhaps we should call it by a more accurate name: "Operation Dumbo's Polls Drop." Thanks. Joey Luna Subject: IED's and Searching for Technology to Render Ineffective It appears as if millions of dollars are to be spent seeking a technological solution rendering IEDs ineffective. As usual, over sophisticated technology often blinds the seeker's vision to a simple problem. No target, IED harmless...! Example, the best trained sniper in the world will not fire his weapon disclosing his "hide" until "target is acquired"....! Reiterating the process....NO TARGET, IED denied. Ron Curtis Subject: Democrat's Direction The Democratic Party needs to get a direction; and, I believe I’ve come up with that direction thanks to my daughter. She said something so significant to me this morning it just struck me as to how true and important it was. She said, “This administration and the Republicans are living as if there is no tomorrow.” She is so correct and this should be the new direction of the Democratic Party. “Don’t stop thinkin’ about tomorrow” is more important now than ever. No thought about Global warming, no thought about the environment, no thought about education of future generations, no thought about using up all our resources, no thought about the national debt, no thought about food safety, no thought about the consequences of torturing people or lying to people, or keeping them under lock and key without any rights, no thought about sending jobs overseas, no thought about using up social security, no thought about taking retirement from people who have worked for years thinking they were taking care of their futures, no thought about the welfare of all. It’s all about profit now for me. It’s time our goals as Democrats should be: It’s not the end of the world, and there is a tomorrow, and we need to take care of that for generations to come. We cannot go on as if there are no consequences. We can’t go on as if we’re the only ones of importance and continuing to live in the now. It’s not just about “you.” It’s about your children, and your children’s children and their children. We have a responsibility to protect what we have been blessed with and to conserve and preserve this world to the best of our ability. We are running this country like a reverse mortgage. Get our money and take care of ourselves and to hell with our children. Let them make their own. That’s not the way Americans used to believe. Passing on your heritage, your belongings, was extremely important and should still be. It’s just selfishness on our part. All we seem to care about is just do it. No sacrificing anything for future generations, just what is good for me now. We need plans to solve some of these problems. We need thinkers who can sit down and give some direction as to what needs to be done to solve some of these significant problems. We can’t keep saying we have problems without solutions to those problems. We need a plan to bring our troops home, we need a plan to safeguard our food supply, we need a plan to safeguard our ports, we need a plan to protect our water resources, we need a plan to attack Global Warming, we need a plan to get this planet back on track. We need farsighted people to set down steps to correct our current path and get us back on the path we should have been on since 2000. Anybody who doesn’t realize that we took the wrong path in 2000 and that we’re heading in the wrong direction is blind and deaf. We lost our democracy in 2000 and it’s time we got it back. We can’t go on thinking because we are America that it will all be okay. It’s not okay, and it’s not going to be until we move this country in a different direction. We must start caring about other people, not just Americans, but all people all over the world. We must care again. We must follow our Constitution and our Bill of Rights again. We cannot go on as we are going without severe consequences. Democrats, wake up and take back this country. There is a tomorrow, and we can’t stop thinking about it, and doing something about it, now!! Sharion Hardaway, a True Democrat Subject: DLCC asking for money Got a phone call about five minutes ago from the DLCC -- asking if they could count on my $100 contribution to fight the Republicans. I unloaded on the guy. I'm a Democrat and I told him in very strenuous words that until the Democrats start getting a spine, they won't get a dime. Kinda catchy isn't it? "Not one dime until a spine." Can you imagine -- the Democrats have the likes of Biden and Lieberman and all the other "pink tutus" and we've been getting our guts ripped out for years and I'm supposed to reward this behavior? Remember, not one dime until a spine. Mick [BuzzFlash Note: Catchy, yes; but you can send your dime straight to some of the good guys. Individual candidates whose records you probably like have progressive PACs.] Subject: Russ Feingold Verse Subject: Media Propaganda CNN and other so-called cable news media pounded America all day Sunday with Bush and his lead up to war quotes on Iraq and Iran. Every fifteen minutes or so. WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE. HAVE WE NOT? Will it be an air or full ground assault ? Will we see "Shock and Awe' again? Ground assault will require the return of the draft! Many more $billions will be required! Lawton Watson Subject: "French Police Subdue Riots Over Jobs Law" As an American living in France since 1978, I wish to alert fellow BuzzFlashers to the consistent untrustworthiness of the U.S. media's reporting on French matters (assimilation of immigrants, alleged anti-Semitism, labor issues, etc.). The above Associated Press dispatch (to which Buzzflash refers its readers) is a case in point. The very title is misleading. Why stress the rioting, when in the body of the article the reporter herself acknowledges that most of last Saturday's demonstrations were peaceful? The AP journalist further relates that 500,000 people attended the various demonstrations throughout France, but omits or conceals the fact that this is the police figure; the organizers claim 1.5 million (one Frenchman in forty). It is customary to provide both figures to readers; the AP reporter's failure to do so suggests a will to minimize the import of the protests. The report provides little context, and only the most cursory explanation of the reason for the demonstrations: the passage of a law making it possible for employers with at least twenty employees to hire -- and fire without explanation -- workers under twenty-six years of age. "Students see a subtext in the new law; make it easier to hire and fire to help France compete in a global economy," writes the AP reporter. That is not the "subtext"; it is the PRETEXT of the government. The ulterior motive (and not "subtext"!) perceived by the students (and by 68% of the French, to judge from a poll) is the erosion of traditionally strong French protection of workers, in the name of Wal-Martian"flexibility." "Some demonstrators became violent as the march ended," asserts the AP. False. It was not the protesters who became violent, according to other reports, but the hooligans who commonly attach themselves like leeches to demonstrations in France in order to loot or to promote anarchy. These delinquents, the AP labels "extreme leftists." That is at best a half-truth. Even Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Minister of the Interior (top cop) and an unrepentant Bushist, quickly acknowledged Saturday that the violence also stemmed from "far right-wingers." The moral of the story: Caveat lector! Let the reader beware, when the subject is France, and the press agency or periodical is American ! Daniel Birnbaum [BuzzFlash Note: Maybe you would want to send us urls occasionally to help us link to less biased reports: You can use the BuzzFlash news tip link [http://www.buzzflash.com/contact/newstip.html] that is below our logo on the home page.] Subject: Perverts Hey Buzz Pretty rough reading and viewing this weekend. I followed your link to Salon and saw the new Abu Ghraib photos and their commentaries, read about the black room torture chambers at the Baghdad airport and just finished watching "Torture" on Frontline. I'm outraged, once again, almost beyond words. (I'll let you fill in the URLs, Buzz.) We've been hearing for months about rough interrogations, the few bad apples, the need for actionable intelligence, but everyone is ignoring the facts that the "emperor and his courtiers have no clothes." This administration is full of perverts. Why the fixation with nakedness, excrement, sodomy, hoods, every kind of humiliation? Such hatred and misery. Torture, sadism. Rumsfeld and Cheney are the kind of filthy old men you warn your kids to stay away from, the guys you want the police to warn you about when they infiltrate your neighbourhoods or your kids' schools when they come recruiting. How can their families bear to look at them? Bush is at least a moronic voyeur, probably much worse. Hitler apparently had executions of his enemies filmed and made his sycophants (ass-kissers) and their families watch, even small children. Can you imagine the White House party when Saddam is executed following his illegal fake trial? Oh, how he'll crow. Remember that Bush only makes English mistakes when he tries to sound kind, but never when he talks about cruelty. Karla Faye Tucker? Necessary sacrifices? Cindy Sheehan's son, your kids, but never theirs. How can Bush imagine that America is losing the war for hearts and minds over the cancellation of the ports deal? The reality of how all of America is perceived by the rest of the world is on display. I'm sorry to say that you will all be judged by the actions of these sleaze balls; you already have been, which is too bad considering all the smart Americans I know and whom I've come to love and respect thanks to you, Buzz. What does it take to wake up the last 33% and congress? How long till these creeps are booted out of office and sent to the Hague, where they will receive justice, not the kind of revenge that they love to mete out? That will be the first necessary step toward restoring any kind of US credibility? Why isn't the Christian right screaming blue murder about the actions of these so-called Christians instead of supporting them, encouraging them like Romans at the coliseum? Don't they know their reservations have already been made for the one-way trip to hell? Like seeks like. Gonzales and Yoo, Condi, Bolton, Negroponte, Hadley and so many more are pond scum as are Generals Miller, Sanchez, Abizaid et al. Don't show any respect to these sleazy bastards; they don't deserve it. They don't respect you. They reek. P. Coombs Subject: CNN I just got through watching the spectacle on CNN Morning (actually it was around 6 something, Monday morning, the 20th of March, eastern standard time) show with Soledad. Her little group was making fun of a movie about Cindy Sheehan and how Susan Sarandon might be playing her. They called it type casting! They were actually making fun of the whole idea of a movie about a war protester! Honestly, they were laughing at the idea, and who would watch this?? As if they were on the White house station, Fox News!! I couldn't believe how callous they were. It was disgusting! I guess I'm outraged at their attitude!!!! The most trusted name in news just took a giant leap into stupid!! I of course wrote them. A hell of a lot of good that'll do. I wish we could organize a Boycott against them. But that won't happen, because we as Dems have no organization to help us, like for instance, the DNC. The RNC would be helping their base, but we couldn't get our DNC to help us do anything!!!!! Cheryl Robinson Subject: The Wretched Dims OK, I finally get it. The reason the Dims won't find a spine is very, very simple. Yeah, they're cowardly, and yeah, they live in some world that the rest of us can barely comprehend. But the reality is, well, follow the money, folks. They are just as much on the take as the Rethugs. What other answer is there? Different party, same s**t. I'm fairly sure Feingold is clean, but that's where it ends for me. And this is why the Big Clean-up in DC will never come from within. And it's also why the next President has got to have no dingleberries hanging from his/her feet. Now who does that leave? Hmmm. Could it just be me, or does that leave the man who won the presidency in 2000, despite an almost unimaginably bad and mangled campaign? Well, live and learn. Gore is our last chance at jump-starting what may or may not be a possible recovery for the Republic. So, I say the only rational choice for 2008 is Gore/Feingold. I don't see that, in truth, we have any sane alternative. Sally Subject: Pathetic Iraq War Protest Numbers Someone please explain to me why other countries had fairly large war protests over the weekend yet here in America the protests were the lowest since the war began? If the polls show more and more Americans are against the war in Iraq, why are they not protesting? Are we all a bunch of chicken sh*t cowards? Or are we just lazy? Steven [BuzzFlash Note: Where did you see low numbers? Keep in mind that this year more than 500 events were planned in the US alone. Wikipedia has an entry on war protests that reviews the 2003-2006 period.] Subject: Don't Overlook Making Donations BuzzFlash Readers, I, too, am pessimistic and discouraged about the current situation. But don't overlook the easiest way to do something positive by giving money or time to any of the excellent organizations fighting for good government and an informed public. From the ACLU, Common cause, People for the American Way, BlackBox Voting, Public Broadcasting and numerous others, including of course, BuzzFlash and Democracy Now on the web. And having given both time and money, I can tell you that giving money is a lot easier and less painful than actually getting in the thick of it. I am very thankful that there are so money people in these organizations that are willing to fight unceasingly against such strong odds with so little reward. Thanks, Fellow Reader Subject: CNN on Cindy Sheehan's New Movie There's apparently going to be a movie made about Cindy Sheehan, with Susan Sarandon playing the part of Cindy. Here's how CNN news anchor Carol Costello feels about the movie: "Who wants to watch a movie about Cindy Sheehan anyway? hee hee, hee hee, hee hee (wide grin). "Oh well, they'll make lots of money anyhow." Hee hee, hee hee, hee hee. Last week after another anchor mentioned something about the ongoing civil war in Iraq, she made a comment, something to the effect that, Oh, let's not talk about stuff like that right now--what we REALLY want to hear about is, hee hee, Jessica Simpson!!" (Wide grin appears again). It's so nice to learn how our news anchors personally feel about the issues of the day. Jack Cafferty and Lou Dobbs often interject their personal feelings about the ineptness of the Bush administration, so I guess you could say CNN is at least attempting to have some sort of balance. But the absolute glee with which some of them denigrate Cindy Sheehan, Michael Moore and the "Hollywood Liberals" is so much more evident than say when they reported on Michael Jackson's trial. That "news" was treated as a serious crime story which played on, and on, and on. News about Cindy is plugged into the "There they go again, those silly liberals!" category. When Jack Cafferty jokes about Bush incompetence, or Lou Dobbs emits an exasperating "What in the WORLD are they thinking?" about the immigration issue, they're addressing issues of importance. The message Ms. Costello seems to be sending (at least to this viewer) is: "The war is boring. Been there, done that. Let's get on to the REAL news--celebrity gossip." When Cafferty and Dobbs speak, they speak just for themselves. When Ms. Costello joked about Cindy Sheehan this morning, she pretended to be speaking for everybody, as if the audience shares her view. One of the comments the right-wingers always throw at Cindy is: Cindy Sheehan, you don't speak for me!! Well, Ms. Costello, you don't speak for me! Stop panning a movie you haven't even seen yet and assuming everyone agrees with you. The Iraq war is not boring. Celebrity gossip is not "news". Stop trying to entertain. Stop giggling at serious subjects. Please. A Buzzflash Reader Subject: Helping Iraqi Children Hey Buzzers, I saw something on Democracy Now that we can do to help wounded Iraqi children. There were two groups mentioned that are bringing gravely injured war victims to the U.S. for medical treatment. One is the Global Medical Relief Fund (www.globmed.org) and the other is NoMoreVictims.org. Both need financial support. The father of one child said he first refused to come to America until someone told him the American people weren't like the American military. What a great way to show our compassionate side and help these innocent victims of this war. It will make us feel good too! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Katrina vs Larry While my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cyclone in Northeast Australia (I have several friends down under) I will also be watching (as should we all) to see how much more effective their government is in helping the victims than the faux government we have. After all, they're not blessed with FEMA down under. Mike Curtis Subject: Latest BuzzFlash News Analysis You asked a question, basically, why are the Democrats so craven? The answer is, because they are statists, too. When the left gets in power it uses the police state to cram higher taxes, gun grabs, UN control of the environment and education, socialized medicine etc. etc. down our throats. So why do you keep asking this question? It has been asked for many years in different ways. The answer is always the same. Russ Feingold may be the only actual constitutionalist on the left (if one could ignores the First Amendment butchery of McCain-Feingold). Ron Paul is the lone honest man on the "right" (mislocated). Ron Paul is a libertarian. Until you guys stop thinking in two dimensions, and see the whole problem which both sides share, that of authoritarian vs. libertarian, you will still be confused when the g**d***** police state of whichever color kicks down your door. A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: We thought this libertarian commentary clarifies that position (not ours). Here's our take on taxes: If You Don't Like Paying Taxes . . . ] Subject: Are You Linked to a Perception Management Piece at CNN? Your link How Bush Confuses Virtue and Viciousness 3/18 links to a CNN article titled "Three years later: Insecurity, instability and hope in Iraq." After a careful reading of this article, I have more than a sneaking suspicion that it is a "perception management" piece, approved at least, and possibly partially written by some "minders" in the newly subservient State Department. The last sentence did it for me - it's so obvious, its contrived nature. Give it another read, and perhaps you'll change the wording of your link. A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: It wouldn't surprise us if you were right ... it is from an anonymous source. Since it's older news now ... we won't revisit it on the home page.] Subject: Boycotting South Dakota Dear BuzzFlash; Now that South Dakota has made its priorities clear, many have suggested boycotting the state. If we are going to EFFECTIVELY boycott South Dakota, we need to keep a few things in mind: 1. one of South Dakota's biggest money-makers is tourism http://www.state.sd.us/factpage.htm 2. use the GOP's favorite game, zero sum, against them http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_sum 3. the GOP will play victim, claiming (among other things) that liberals hate Christians. 4. the GOP will play the race card and claim liberals hate Native Americans. and finally, 5. all politics is local. If our boycott is going to be successful, we have to keep those 5 things in mind. The first 2 points are related. For every dollar the Christo-fascists spend in Mt. Rushmore, we will spend one ANYWHERE ELSE. Next, we need to counteract the GOP's favorite tactic: playing the victim of 'liberals', then co-opting liberal ideals. Get all your friends together, go to Mt. Rushmore and ask someone if their state supports a doctor's right to do business there. And when they say no, LEAVE and spend your money just across the border. (Preferably with another Native American tribe in the closest town that still allows doctors to practice medicine. Be sure to let them know you're doing it because you're a 'good Christian.') Tailor your boycott to the state you visit. For instance, if you go to Montana, be sure you do something that sympathizes with the problems they are having with GOP energy deregulation. Remember, we do not need to go to Nebraska, Minnesota, Wyoming, North Dakota, Iowa or Montana to get involved--we don't have to buy gas to join in this boycott. This is the 'politics is local' part. In your everyday conversations, make South Dakota's backward choice synonymous with regression, immaturity, un- (or under-) developed, medieval, unAmerican. Also, do business with the RIVAL of any business with its headquarters in South Dakota. And let them know about it--in writing. Let your ELECTED representatives know your displeasure with South Dakota's choice. First, in a brief phone call, then IN WRITING. Make this an issue come election time, NO MORE GOP JUDGES. No more GOP ideology. Let them know South Dakota made a poor choice, in words AND ACTION. A BuzzFlash Reader P.S. I am sure BuzzFlash Readers have suggestions to make this boycott work. Maybe someone can come up with a postcard, or sticker to accompany any boycott-related correspondence? Subject: The perfect Republican world Bush and the Republicans are not only greedy and selfish, they are cruel and violent. They have already cut back on funding for education, while simultaneously mouthing platitudes about the need for American workers to become more skilled. They have already cut back funding for healthcare, so that people will get more seriously ill before seeking medical care and will have to go to emergency rooms to have their illnesses attended to. They have already cut back on programs to help young women and girls learn about birth control, but at the same time they are making it more and more difficult to get an abortion even in the case of rape, incest or the fragile health of the mother. They have already cut back on funding to go after dead-beat fathers who will not pay the child support the courts have ordered. They have already cut back on funding for day care so that single mothers can have safe, secure places to leave their children when they are at work. They WANT single young mothers to suffer. But they do NOT want to make sure men pay to raise and care for the children they have fathered. If they saw a homeless young mother holding her baby and sleeping on the sidewalk in front of their church -- homeless because she has no child support and cannot take a job because she has no safe, affordable child care -- these "good Christians" would ask the minister or priest to call the police to have the young mother and her baby removed because it offends their delicate sensibilities to have to look at such misery on their way into church. Now, at the urging of George W. Bush, these same greedy, selfish, cruel, violent right-wingers will be cutting back on funding for cancer detection programs, meaning that more people will have cancers that go undetected until the person is so ill he/she will need hospitalization. But since many of those people cannot afford doctors and expensive medical tests in the first place, we can be sure they cannot afford hospital care. So, one of two things will happen: they will get hospital care at the expense of higher insurance premiums for those who have health insurance, OR they will just die like so many stray dogs on the streets. That, my friends, is the perfect REPUBLICAN world. A BuzzFlash Reader re:bush speech oh for christ sake! bush is starting to sound like a crazy man! so is dick cheney, i saw him on face the nation. i don't know if they are drunk or nuts. diane Subject: Are You Kidding Me??!? I read with interest the BuzzFlash link to Senator Chuck Hagel's (R-NE) comments about Iraq 'helping to bankrupt this country' on ABC's THIS WEEK. So after all my emails and letters and phone calls and protests and marches and expense and worry, now I have to stomach the *Republicans* speaking out against this incompetent administration, when the *Republicans* are the ones that put it there and keep voting & supporting it?! Other than the rare few, the Democrats are sitting on their asses while everything blows up around them, and STILL they sit and wait. For what?? For the Republicans to swoop in and "save" the country? Great, just freakin' great. Jennifer D. Subject: The greater danger We were just watching Mr. bush's speech. I hate to say this but he has become a great embarrassment to our country. Why in the world should anyone believe anything he says now since he has lied to us from the wmd beginning? Not only is he a known liar now, but he is an incompetent idiot, too! He can talk and talk all he wants, he is the boy who cried wolf. Unfortunately, Mr. bush's lies have cost thousands of lives. My mom thinks he is a far greater danger to our country than the terrorists. Dana Johnson Subject: Machine Voting Is Bad News I have been banging the drum on the issue of voting machines since election 2000. In my humble citizen's opinion, HAVA should have been named "Help Americans Steal the Vote for Permanent Republicans Majority." As I argued yet again prior to the 2004 election, it doesn't matter who you are voting for - the voting machines are owned and operated by large corporations who support the Republican party. Most people don't know this. They actually think that the machines are owned and operated by the counties or local municipalities that handle the voting. They're dead wrong. The software belongs to the corporations, they refuse to let the precincts even review or have keys to the software and they do whatever they want. The most misleading argument is for so-called "paper trails." This is nonsensical. As with any computerized activity, it's garbage in/garbage out. Any "paper" you are going to get is simply going to reflect the manipulated results. So the crux of the issue as I see it is that we need these voting machines gone. We the people of this country are entitled to a paper ballot that can be hand counted. That doesn't mean a machine that is owned by a major corporation which has a major conflict of interest in its affinity for and support of the Republican party, or any party. Interestingly, when HAVA was established, one of the companies that was chomping at the bit for a piece of the privatized voting machine pie was Choicepoint. You may remember them. They were involved in roll scrubbing in Florida in 2000. I found it interesting to read in one publication that one of Choicepoint's investors, at least at some point in time, was the Bin Laden family. Besides jettisoning these machines, we must work to stop these discriminatory laws that prevent people without a semi-ID or permanent address to vote. Think: How many relocated Gulf hurricane victims do you think have a permanent home? Or an ID? It's time to put this vote stealing machine issue to rest and clean up the voting act overall right away - or it won't matter if we vote at all. We must take it seriously and make sure we have clean voting or we are doomed to this alternate political reality we are experiencing forever. S.M. Di Paola Subject: Operation Swarmer Last week I am sure that all of you at BuzzFlash were aware of the "Operation Swarmer" where the military went into Samarra to try and get any insurgent strongholds or information that would be important. Well, mission accomplished but it was not anything that the media told us that it would be. I am infuriated that the U.S.government and media would make our loved ones,our soldiers in Iraq, suffer more untold and undue emotional anguish. We were led to believe that this was supposed to be a very dangerous mission which would go on a number of days. All right, I know that when one has a beloved family member in the service it is wise for one's overall health not to over worry but it is easier said then done. You take certain steps so that you will not become a total wreck, but then these guys just play on everyone's emotions. That is in my books the lowest of the low, and this administration continually does it and I personally am sick and sick and sick and tired of it! (No people, I do have all my marbles ...) Why does this adminstration play on people's emotions everyday by their trickery and their fun and games, also policies at the expense of the American people? Yet they have absolutely no shame in what they do. It is not an honorable thing to wish harm on someone, but some days one wishes that someday they may suffer as they have made others suffer, less fortunate and less vulnerable than themselves. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Russ Feingold is an American Hero Since when is telling the truth a political liability? I can't believe we have sunk to this level in this country when we can't find more than one politician willing to stand up and defend the US Constitution. We have limped through this Bush administration while the GOP has conspired to destroy the economy and our nation's international reputation with no dissenting voice to be heard. People wonder why the blogosphere seems so shrill. They are screaming because there is no one left in politics to speak up for common sense and decency. No one except Russ Feingold. Hats off to you, Senator Feingold. Fred
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