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| March 31, 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: Today's Immigration Battle - Corporatists Vs. Racists (and Labor Is Left Behind) Finally...Finally a Democrat that gets it. I hope everyone reads Thom Hartmann's article. Where are the Democrats on this issue, why have they been so silent? Don't they understand that the Chamber of Commerce is pushing this "guest worker program"? The Democrats should be fighting to make sure that our workforce is not diluted and our wages are not suppressed by a flood of undocumented workers. This is about lowering the wages on the Middle Class. When are the Democrats going to get it and start contacting their representatives? Where are the labor unions? Thank you. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: They Do Have a Plan!!! The Democrats came out with a plan and a platform to build on in National Security. Bush has never had a cohesive plan as indicated by so many failures in Iraq, with Katrina, and national security. Recently both border and port security underwent tests and FAILED miserably, the buck STOPS with Bush! In the final tests Bush's plans starts with his distorted vision, then all fall apart in the execution. At the same time the Democrats were coming out with their plan, Bush was still shoveling more smoke about his Iraq policy and he was carried live on the networks! Guess which got more media attention? Part of the problem is the DELIBERATE RELUCTANCE of the media to NOT give coverage to Democrats or their message, then; they repeat again and again the Democrats do not have a plan. Anyone with eyes and ears knows about the tendency to downplay news of the Downing Street Memo and the recent news of other memos proving, despite Bush’s denials, he had a plan to invade Iraq no matter what happened. Yet, when Howard Dean and others have a message you don’t hear it on the news, only if they can turn it AGAINST them, will the media make an issue about it. {Howard Dean scream taken out of context is a good example.}If you don’t get it from the Internet, the message of the Democrats barely surfaces! How can it be a “fair” fight if only one side gets represented??? The Democrats now have offered a viable solution to National Security, as Bush still is pissing in the wind! What did we hear on the networks yesterday?? The Republicans calling it a stunt. Bush was the one elected to office, but his plan or statements made remain vague and ineffective, with well-greased rhetoric! The Democrats' Plan IS For REAL Security and it brings with it a commitment to work on specific tasks. It can be read point by point here: Real Security: The Democratic Plan http://www.democrats.gov/RealSecurity.pdf The Democrats do have a plan, while in too many vital issues George Bush and his Administration have shown their only consistency is failure, proving IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE in 2006 and 2008! Susan Carr Subject: Italy Hi, Buzz!! The courts in Afghanistan will have to answer (to God, at least) for their treatment of the Muslim-turned-Christian who could have been put to death for his conversion. But I take my hat off to the Italians for offering him asylum. Molto bene, amici! Jane Hawes Subject: The Seven Sins of GWB The Holy Bible (Living Bible Version)
Of all the Scriptures written, this one perfectly describes GWB! And, as a Believer, I know his actions will be dealt with in the end. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: "I'm So Sick of Him" I had to write and tell the BuzzFlash reader thanks and that it was eerie reading the letter, it was the same dialogue in my mind, I could just cut and paste it for my next letter! I do think we are becoming mainstream, and those still under the influence of the kool-aid are now oozing toward the fringe. Thanks, BuzzFlash, for existing. Peggy Subject: Where is the outcry? Scalia violated basic canons of judicial conduct sitting on the Guantanamo case on which he had already rendered his opinion. Or does he get the special rendition dispensation? Even the similarly ethically challenged Roberts recused himself for sitting on the case previously, when he rendered the decision that pleased the man who appointed him to the Supreme Court, to which there was a similar moral silence.
wmb Subject: Molly Ivins Molly Ivins is exactly right. Before we have meaningful change in Washington and take our nation back we must first clean house. Enough of the DC Dems (The Progressive) This is an almost impossible task I realize due to "breakwater politics" which includes gerrymandering and the strong political stranglehold the lobbyists have on America, but damn it we must try! Public Campaign Finance and tough regulations on lobbyists with severe penalties would go a long way to regaining control of our government. Public finance of campaigns would save taxpayers $billions upon $billions. It would close our treasury to corporate greed, fraud and no bid contracts. Too much reason ingrained with logic in these solutions though! Lawton Watson Subject: Immigrant Strike What would happen? Major industries would be shutdown, restaurants would close, construction would suffer and the net result would be an economy on the ropes. Then there'd be a call for the unemployed to step-up and fill-in, which they would, but only for a decent salary ($20/hr minimum + full benefits) because there'd be nobody willing to work for slave wages no more. The owners, in their desperation to keep their shops (factories, offices, transport etc.) going, will agree to these terms. But soon it's apparent that those businesses and industries that had been profitable when they were hiring indocumentados, couldn't make it when forced to pay real wages, because prices for goods and services immediately go up and, guess what, sales drop precipitously. No surprise, this; who can afford the new costs, what with everybody already stretched to the limit from wage stagnation, job loss (due to out-sourcing) increased co-payments for medical expenses, pension defaults, pump price increases, etc. etc. Soon economic alarm bells go off, "What'll we do, the economic indicators are way down?" Turns out there'll be two options - either we ask immigrants to call off their strike and stop all this talk about "wet-backs, law breakers" and such, or, we dump capitalism (with its amoral market that turns us all into commodities) for an economic system that serves we the people instead of vice-versa; and, in so doing, we change the world, such that there's no pressure to leave one's birthplace and travel thousands of miles to El Norte. But what about TINA (there is no alternative)? TIAA (there is an alternative), that's what! A BuzzFlash Reader Dear Mr. Bush, If we can't trust you to enforce our boarders, enforce our laws...then we can't trust you to fight a global war on terror. If I can't trust my caterer to make 24 cup cakes and cookie snacks for my daughter's class, then I can't trust him to cater a party for a hundred and fifty people. Nora Hess Subject: A Talk I know a lot of my friends would like to have a shot at an interview with the president. They have questions they’d like to have answered. They’d ask about the war, the environment, education, tax cuts and all the horrible things he’s done. It sounds like an ideal situation, finally getting him to answer honestly about those sins, but it wouldn’t happen. He’d just spout the five or six standard answers they’ve given him, the same ones he uses all the time. The interview would go nowhere. My idea would be to sit at a bar and crack a couple of Lone Star longnecks. “George,” I’d start, “have you ever seen one of those high school movies where the popular, pretty girl gets even with her boyfriend by dating the school idiot?” “Sure,” he’d say. “It’s a really good plot. See,” he’d gesticulate, “the girl isn’t really interested in that goofy guy. She still likes her boyfriend, and she’s trying to make him jealous.” I’d nod and take a sip. “Do you think anything like that happens in real life?” “I s’pose.” “How do you think that goofy guy feels when he finds out that the girl was just using him to get back at her boyfriend?” I’d ask. “Well, see, the girl, the pretty one, she gets her guy back, and the other guy, the nerdy one, he always finds a girl that was in love with him all along.” “Yeah, it happens like that in the movies,” I’d suggest, “but in the real world when that guy finds out he’s been manipulated and jerked around, there’s almost never anyone around to be in love with him. I mean, he’s still dumb. He still isn’t good-looking. He still doesn’t have a chance of finding a girlfriend. What would you think if it turned out that you were that guy?” George would have to let this idea soak in for a minute. He’s always thought of himself as the guy the girlfriend wanted to get jealous. He’d squint. “I’m not followin’. What are you gittin’ at?” I’d have to collect my thoughts, here, because I’d like to make it plain without being too painful. “George, I’m going to tell you the truth. A bunch of guys made you president so they could have their way. They figured if they could put this bumbling dufus up as president, they’d be able to do whatever they wanted to do. All the time they were telling you that you were a great president and a great leader and that the American people loved you, it was a scam. You’re no more fit to be president than I am. I know it, you know it and they know it. You are the goofy guy, and when this is over they won’t want anything to do with you. You’re going to end up bagging groceries in an Austin food mart. You’ve been chumped.” George would look directly across to the barroom glass and his eyes would get wet and steely. He might envision 20-year-old Marines dying in Iraq for nothing. He might envision children in Louisiana drowning. He might see an alternate version of Christianity. He might realize, finally, that he is President of the United States. There would be a long pause. “I gotta go,” he’d say, and toss a five on the bar for the bartender. I’d look at him. “Where you going?” He’d thrust his hands into his pockets. “I got some presidentin’ to do,” he’d say, and he’d head out the door. Jeff Horton Subject: Apocalypse Now? Your contributors have stumbled unwittingly into the territory of my pet peeve. I say, "unwittingly" when in fact, I mean; ignorantly. The term "Mayan" is only proper when used to describe the language of the Maya people. In fact, it is the Maya Calendar, the Maya lands, Maya history etc. How the hell am I supposed to respect the opinion of people who claim to be knowledgeable about a subject, when they can't even use the proper descriptors? Regards, A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: Have you perhaps stumbled into one of those "American English" idiosyncrasies? Merriam-Webster Online doesn't draw the distinction that you do. We note, however, that Wikipedia confirms that "Maya" is the preferred adjectival form. Generally, we and our contributors are respected as sources of political news and commentary, not as grammarians. Thanks for reading and writing to us.] Subject: U.S. War Crime ? Guantanamo treatment medically unethical? It violates protocol to which American Medical Assoc. is a signatory. wmb Subject: Immigration The progressive anger over the immigration, does not take in consideration the damage that illegal immigration has on the African-Americans. I believe a more balanced discussion would be helpful to all concerned. Mattie from California Subject: Baghdad, Istanbul, Sacramento -- it's all the same Buzz, Kaloogian is such a funny fellow. I can't stop laughing after reading his excuses when he was caught lying: Kaloogian said the mistake occurred because some of the people on the trip, which included conservative radio talk-show hosts, went home through Istanbul. All the group members pooled their photos. Kaloogian said his Web master selected a photo of Istanbul. Photo by candidate not taken in Baghdad (San Diego Union-Tribune) So Kaloogian, like Domenech, had nothing to do with his own lies -- it was "other people" who screwed up. Blah blah blah ... This republican song is getting tiresome, even though it's funny. (A preschool kid would not buy their "explanations." How can they think they are fooling anyone?) But if we were to take Mr. K's explanation at its face value, then a more serious question arises: How could he allow the obviously wrong photo to stay as long on his website, with a caption that reflected his own testimony on how wonderfully things are going in Baghdad? This photo is light years away from reality of a Baghdad street -- even in peaceful times. Anyone can see that. If Kaloogian couldn't, then was he even in Baghdad in the first place? Or did his trip conveniently start and end in Turkey (which in his mind obviously was close enough to Iraq -- and much safer)? But then, who cares, really. Nothing the guy says is believable anyway. Move America forward, indeed. Elizabeth Subject: "Spineless" Democrats We have all been doing it............."Where is the democratic party's spine, guts, courage, whatever?" I have been, this morning, watching the hearings in the senate on Censure of the President. They have spine....they are in the minority ...everything now, unlike the Nixon years, is right down party lines. When you get kicked in the belly enough...you seem to lose your backbone...it is much worse than I could imagine. They took calls from the public after the hearings.....in between other programs, and out of 12 calls, these are from the public...voters. There was ONE person who thought it was wrong to Censure Bush.....the lines are: democrat ...republican...Independent. All the dems and independents...I was pretty sure of...but there were 3 republicans who also raked him over the coals! I am sure nothing will come of this...because the Congress has not even had hearings...but, if you watch...you pretty much see where you stand with a Dictatorship! They are enablers to this criminal regime! Shirley..........St. Louis Subject: Buy Domino's Pizza Monaghan sold his stake in the company in 1998 to a private equity firm. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: New Legislation Will Lead to Apartheid in Iraq (It's not diamonds, but oil is just as good) Please, take the time to read the following alert regarding the emergency war funding bill before the Senate. Some of the most important legislation is going before the Senate this month. Hidden under the emergency war funding bill is hundreds of millions of dollars for permanent bases in Iraq, making the difference between short and long-term involvement in Iraq, and thus, the war there perpetual, and imposing an apartheid system on the Iraqi people. Please write and call all Senators and denounce the passage of this emergency war expenditure. And pass this information on to any group/constituency you think would be interested.
Grant Marcus |
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