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| April 4, 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: The ABC's of It Bringing them down in alphabetical order. First there was Abramoff then Cunningham and now DeLay. Don't worry. We can backtrack and go after B (Bush) and C (Cheney) later. Kimberly D. It seems fishy for Bush to be going to Crawford at this time just for the weekend. I've kept a watch (without notes) on his travel which always coincides with something else, but it's highly unusual, just to rush all the way down to Crawford just for, what, 2 days? Then back to D.C. to spend the night before going to Cincinnati? Hmmm. What else is going on? Any info on who were his visitors there (o.k. I know it is a secret)? O.K. he's throwing out the pitch today ... I'd like to know at the end of the day how many US and Iraqis have been killed "on my watch"? as he says ... how many maimed while he's been on an unusual extended weekend vacation, while just visiting Cancun and sightseeing for 2 days? Who else in Cincinnati did he meet, for example? What wealthy donors? Reminds me of Nero fiddlin' while Rome burns, though Bush has been fiddlin' all his life. How come there's a blackout of national news about the Enron trial? Never mind. I've got to stop, there's just too much. I think I'll go work on my organic spring garden now, and chill out for a while. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Who Is Guilty? CNN today asked the question: "Did Moussaoui's lies result in at least one death on 9/11?" They show the answer "Yes," and the jury found Moussaoui eligible for the death penalty. Why aren't they asking the question: "Did Bush's lies result in at least one death in Iraq?" (Feel free to multiply that.) We show our abhorrence for killing --by killing the killer. Sometimes I watch the news and I just feel like crying. All these centuries on the planet, and we have yet to become truly civilized. A Buzzflash Reader Subject: Iran and the Mid-term Elections Dear BuzzFlash: The mid-terms are coming quicker than we realize so Bush will have to decide fast whether bombing Iran will be a good or bad idea for the Republicans and himself. He is probably hoping that another military campaign will rouse the NASCAR crowd and stir up patriotic mania again. To ignoramuses that love a good war, the mentality isn't much different than a football game, unless your son or daughter is starting the game. Then it's different. Of course, those who have a direct interest in the war with family over in Iraq have limited success conveying to Bubba and the American Taliban (evangelicals) that war is not a game. However, with Bush's numbers so low, it's becoming a real political toss up for his wishes to bomb or invade Iran. Left to his own devices, the whole Middle East would be ground zero in WWIII. Now, however, will enough citizens raise Hell, march in the streets or whatever it takes should it become obvious the war maniac is at it again? Will the spineless Democrats go along with the military actions or bend over in the wind as usual? Even Republicans who can sense their own political demise are likely to buck up against further military action. If the Demos and enough Republicans send out the word that another invasion is out of the question, Bush will be forced to consider the consequences of impeachment and probable conviction should he continue on his merry way. The scary part is that he's just crazy enough to do it regardless of Congress or the will of the people. It'll take a straightjacket and stun gun to shut him down. Meanwhile, we must hammer our Senate and Representatives hard, voicing our opposition to any military action in Iran, and make it damn clear that failure to stand up to Bush will mean that Senator or Representative will not receive our vote. Scott Subject: Moussaoui Ruling I see where Moussaoui has been ruled to be eligible for the death penalty. I wonder if he is truly guilty--or were his little tirades of being part of Al Qaeda perhaps showing off to look like he was 'someone' ... and BY GUM we have to show the world we MEAN it when getting tough on terrorists. Too bad we can't see what a jury would decide on Bush/co after 'blowing off' the August 6, 2001 PDB. It is actually evident that THAT little "oopsie" DID kill "at least one" ... on 9/11. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Zinni Zinni for President -- He's fantastic -- how refreshing to hear the truth! Betty Loriz Subject: Mailbag Hi Buzz and Buzzers, Jackson Tops 'Most Foolish' Poll (BBC) Well, Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise may very well be foolish, but they're not running the country. And foolish is an extremely mild word to describe Bush and Cheney. I can think of some better ones but don't want to foul your site. Keep up the great work Buzz. Barbara in NYC Subject: NAFTA, CAFTA & Immigration The surge of immigrants this past decade coincides with these free trade agreements. Take El Salvador, for example. According to a recent report in The Nation, entire high school graduating classes in El Salvador take off for El Norte as soon as they get their diplomas. What else can they do? There's little or no local industry and farm jobs are rapidly disappearing because agri-corporate America is now flooding El Salvador (and other signatories to the above free trade agreements) with cheap, U.S. government-subsidized produce. Better they stay home and overthrow their corrupt governments, several Mailbag Readers suggested yesterday. Yes, that would be nice, but Salvadorenos tried that a couple of decades ago and, guess what? That's right, our government trained and armed El Salvador's military, enabling it to withstand the popular uprising (which took upwards of fifty thousand lives) and led to a U.N.-negotiated peace accord. Considering the plight of Salvadorenos today, surely that was an unsuccessful revolution, as would be any popular move to overthrow the current government in El Salvador. What about doing it at the ballot box? Even if that happened, the victory would be short-lived because you know who would be sure to intervene, as in Chile, as in Guatemala, and as it's scheming this very moment in Venezuela. What's the answer to the immigration dilemma? Solidarity, that's what. Solidarity with workers in the U.S.A. with workers in El Salvador, with workers in Mexico, with workers everywhere. For starters that means doing something about the so-called free trade agreements so that workers in El Salvador (and elsewhere) will be able to support themselves and their loved ones and won't feel so much pressure to head north. After that, what? We the people change the world, that's what. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: A Departure Too Long Delayed Perhaps celebration over the exterminator's (The Hammer's) departure is justified, but I think not. The harm done by this grinning excrescence on the face of democracy has indeed been done, and much of its effects remain; those egregiously gerrymandered districts in the Great State of Texas, for example, or the further gifts to that de facto criminal enterprise, the pharmaceutical industry. In a sense the collapse of this disgusting, Bible-thumping embarrassment is not unlike arresting a murderer for income tax evasion. That such a nauseating, dangerous being can ascend to the kind of power he exercised is not a very attractive endorsement of democracy. To the contrary, his history mocks our sacred rags-to-riches mantra, instead becoming "from manure heap to thug uber alles," striking fear into the souls, such as they are, of cowardly, even willing, Congressional sheep. I almost feel sorry for the bugs one might assume he will now be exterminating maybe just to keep his hand in, although he might put his riches to other uses, such as stumping for family values and that old-time religion. Ding-dong, the bastard's dead, but oh, what he has left behind! Relief over his departure? Yes. Celebration? I'm not so sure. Norman Weinstein [BuzzFlash Note: See the Time interview, and other coverage, if you want to know all the evil DeLay has done, which he is boasting about even now.] Subject: Constitution Every congressman, senator, and president takes the oath to protect, defend, and uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. The bushes and cheneys believe it's only a piece of paper. According to the executives, there should be a more robust presidency. The Constitution is seven pages long. Why are their lawyers telling us how to live when we have our blueprint for democracy? Larry Hanry Subject: YESSS!! DeLay has exterminated HIMSELF!! Dear Buzzers -- It couldn't happen to a bigger or more repulsive pest. I have no love for cockroaches, but even THEY don't do as much damage to the country as DeLay did. This pest was a menace to EVERYTHING America stands (or USED to stand) for. I hope he fired a big blast of bug spray into his own ugly face and got a big whiff!! Of course, it will take years (decades?) to undo his attempts to turn the U.S. into a permanent Republican ghetto. Maybe we can start with undoing the redistricting so we can have -- imagine! -- FAIR elections. (What a concept!) Hmmm. Maybe the Democrats (or what's left of them) can put out bumper stickers for the November elections: "BRING BACK DEMOCRACY -- WITHOUT DELAY!" or "PEST CONTROL BEGINS AT HOME." Actually, I don't see DeLay's quitting as any sort of noble self sacrifice. I strongly suspect that the Repukes finally saw the writing on the wall and ordered him to exterminate himself...or they would do it FOR him. This cockroach isn't what anyone would call an altruist! Still, it's good to see him on his way out the door. As we used to say in 3rd grade, "Good riddance to bad rubbish." Barbara Lee (Barb) Blazyk Subject: And Yet He Keeps Smiling Buzz, you gotta give it to the man -- despite the deep doo-doo he's in, Tom DeLay keeps his trademark grin on. Admirable, in a deranged way. Either he has succumbed to incurable paranoia (wouldn't be the first GOPer to do so -- right, Ms. Harris?) or he is being fed some marvelous drugs. Possibly both. If the latter is true, I'd like to have what he's having. Elizabeth Subject: Read the Warning Label on Your Democratic Candidate Sure: Bush is in a popularity free-fall; DeLay's gone on the lam after his henchmen go state's evidence; 9/11 "conspiracy theories" are actually being given MSM attention. Even the Democrats may be able to win some elections against the crumbling Republican crime syndicate. But if they do, America will be no better off if the ones we put into office are, in fact, cryptic conspirators in the same big confidence game. Any Democrat who tacitly accepts the tenets of Free-Market Fundamentalism; any who embraces the neoconservative hubris that we can improve the people of other countries by bombing, killing, and robbing them of their resources; any who defends the Washington DC status quo of money-for-legislation; these people are as bad or worse than what we have now, in that they are traitors to their espoused convictions and could very well hijack the crucial progressive pendulum-swing that appears to be getting under way. I have been begging every Democrat I know or meet, and writing to every editorial page within reach, begging Democrats to critically evaluate the people behind whom they put their political voice. We have the opportunity starting this Autumn to really put America back on the right track, but we won't get there if we enthrall ourselves to high-pocketed Skull-and-Bones alumni and errand-boys for Wall Street, Big Pharmacy, Big Insurance, and Big Credit who refuse to talk about bringing the New Deal back in force. Ken Duerksen Subject: Thank God for Tom DeLay being gone One day, I was in Houston in a prayer circle with two Wes Clark supporter friends from Texas. Sure, we were praying for Clark and his family during the campaign. At the end, we prayed that God would take down Tom DeLay. Sometimes God doesn't give us the answer we want, but this time He did. It is always in God's time. mev Subject: Where Is the Church in the Fight Against the Immoral War in Iraq? An open letter to the leaders of faith: Where are the leaders of Judeo-Christian faiths? Why aren't you organizing your congregants to give voice to the injustice and immorality of the war in Iraq? Why do you sit idly by when it is plain to see that what the United States of America is doing in our collective name is shameful? We are wantonly murdering innocent men, women and children. We are stealing resources, which don't belong to us. We are denying human rights and committing atrocities in the name of profits for amoral multinational corporations. Even Pope John Paul declared that the war in Iraq was an unjust war! What further proof do you need? Since the fourth estate has become so corrupt that it can no longer act as a defense against the lies and manipulations of politicians in service of the corporate masters who control them, it is the Church alone that must bear the burden of conscience and justice in America today. Without the moral authority of the Church, the struggle against the injustice of this war, and the oppressive forces of amoral capitalists which led us here, becomes easily maligned as the work of a few maladjusted malcontents. Why is there so much apathy in America today when there is plainly so much injustice and immorality? I can only conclude that it is because not enough people of faith are standing up for the values they claim to believe in and risking the safety and comfort of their station to do the hard work of fighting mankind's inhumanity towards other human beings. I am not a religious man. I was raised in a Catholic household, but I do not consider myself a Catholic. I have no particular faith. But I can see that this war is wrong. I have always known it was wrong. I knew that before we went to war, and that's why I marched in the street on February 15, 2003: to protest. Why? Because my conscience told me that the war was wrong. That it would be wrong to kill innocent Iraqis, and that it would be wrong to destroy their cities and towns and culture. That it would be wrong to pillage Iraqi resources, and that it would be wrong to send our soldiers there to do despicable things in the name of corporate profits and to commandeer oil reserves to shield ourselves against the oncoming Peak Oil crisis. But through all of this, American churches and synagogues have been virtually silent. Occasionally, you will see a small band of Quakers by the roadside, armed with signs and protesting the war, but not enough of them and not often enough. I believe the reason we don't see more people protesting more often is that they are not being led by their spiritual leaders to simply put the precepts of their faith in action. Do not the Bible and the Torah teach us to be just and scorn greed and avarice, to stand up for and with the poor and weak? Are the Iraqis not our brothers and sisters? Are they not deserving of our protection and love? How does the name of the ruling party they live under or even the name of their faith change our duty to each other (and if you are faithful) our duty to God? I say this because, without the moral support and strength that leaders of churches and synagogues can put behind anti-war efforts, sadly most Americans won't do it on their own. Rabbis, pastors, clergymen and women of all denominations, we need you. We need you now more than ever. I call upon you in the name of every priest and rabbi who ever stood up against racism, poverty and unjust wars, on behalf of your fellow human beings. Now is the time for action. We are fortunate to live in a country where I am free to speak and say these things, though some may disagree with me. But if the Church does not stand up for what it says it believes in, then who will? Who will lead the struggle against oppression and injustice? Who will save us from ourselves? Don't be misled. Iraqis have done nothing to us. Afghanis have done nothing to us. This war is between a few men with apocalyptic visions of death and twisted sense of God's glory. I do not know what God's plan is, but I do know that the only way for us to have peace on earth is to love, honor and protect each other from the worst of our collective desires. Here in the 21st century, as we slip the false boundaries of the oceans and mountains that separate us, it is becoming ever more clear that all we have is each other and the planet we call home. If you read any travel book, they will always tell you people are more the same than different. That it is wiser to talk about the similarities of people of different cultures than the differences. I believe that we are all brothers and sisters and that we should care for each other as such. If we do not stand up to protect the weakest and most disadvantaged among us, what does that say about us as a people, and what exactly, then, is the value of what our faith teaches us if we won't put it into practice? I love you all. Peace, Allan Martin Kemler Subject: Remind Them Who They Are Hello Buzzers. I've been thinking about the titles we give our elected reps. There is a "honorable," of course, there is a senator, and there is a representative. It looks like the "honorable" likes to go to their heads, more so than just representative or senator. Seems like they get drunk on it, thinking that they are blue bloods or something royal, anyway. Most of the time the only royal thing I can associate with them is pain, but that is another story. My proposition: cancel the titles. Change the "representative" to "public servant," and senator to "senior public servant." And entirely do away with the "honorable." Some of them just don't fit the description, unless we add "dis" prefix to "honorable." That would go for those public servants who dwell in pockets of their corporate masters. (OMG, that would be nearly ALL of them!) Thanks for letting me vent. Malgoska Subject: A Perspective on Degrees of Guilt and Blame! Perception lies with the beholder! A jury yesterday completed the penalty phase of the Moussaoui trial. Both yesterday and today the networks gave the reason for conviction as, “the lies he told and the things he didn’t tell that cost the lives of 3000 people.” Moussaoui will be held accountable by death as we see our legal system in action! Most would say that he is guilty by 100 percent degrees. What of the 19 Saudis who caused the disaster, or who is responsible for all the pre-war warnings that weren’t acted upon? Whatever happened to “phase two” of the 9/11 investigation of the Administration’s failures? They put it off until after the election, and despite Reid’s one-day wonder of calling for answers, there wasn’t any FOLLOW-UP, and Pat Roberts and the rest of the Bush/Republican Guards put it off forever. This typical avoidance of all the Bush Administration’s responsibility for anything continues on and on. Lady Justice has a blindfold where responsibility and accountability of an incompetent Bush Administration is concerned. The unjustified political decision to engage our country in a war built on a "fixed policy," lying to its citizens, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies doesn’t make the network news! Many would say George is guilty for “the lies he told and the things he and his Administration didn’t say!” George W. Bush promised Americans to get Osama bin Laden dead or alive 1659 days ago and al-Zarqawi is somewhere in the wind too! Our soldiers’ deaths stand at 2342 now and 17000 are seriously maimed. After all this time Iraq is still in chaos, some say civil war, and where is the accountability of this Administration? “Shock and Awe” and all the bombings since, have caused destruction of cities, homes, air, and families, and from the Iraqi perspective many blame the U.S. and Bush for the desecration of their country. Many blame us much more than they do the insurgents. Reports from Dahr Jamail and other journalists confirm this, despite the rosy outlook put forward by Bush and the Lincoln Group, many Iraqis and the Muslim World feel we have 100 degrees of guilt, and are the terrorists. They blame Bush for taking a country that wasn’t a terrorist threat and turning it into one that is! Reports of massacre and mishandling from Iraqi citizens have surfaced. The Manning Memo followed the Downing Street Memo, both proving the Bush Administration and Tony Blair lied. They even had a start date for bombing on March 10, and were ready to do anything to provoke Saddam into a breach. Disguising planes, Colin Powell’s false assertions of WMDS, and anything went to achieve their ends of an invasion of a sovereign country. Photo ops from the Administration can not cover the mass demonstrations against the Iraq War around the world. The Pew Poll and many others have shown our loss of respect of world opinion. From the world’s perspective we are the bully, and shoulder the blame for the rising terrorism across the world! Sure they isolate Bush and his Administration representatives on diplomatic visits, showing misleading photo ops, but they can’t hide all the discontent as witnessed by Condi Rice’s last visit to Great Britain. “The secret that isn’t” is the practice of torture, hidden prisons and rendition by the United States. Despite John McCain’s original efforts, negated by his recent flip flop to all things Bush, and Bush’s original signing of a bill against it, followed by Bush’s flip-flop of the added addendum giving him the power to act as he wants, the conclusion is under Bush leadership, we can consider ourselves 100 degrees guilty of crimes against the Geneva Conference! Russ Feingold almost stood alone against the war in Iraq. Unflinchingly, he put himself out on a limb again, seeing the illegal actions of George W. Bush on the FISA ACT! He called for a “CENSURE” of Bush and again almost stands alone with the exception of Senators Boxer and Harkin, and an “almost” defense by Senator Leahy. The Republican Party would rather rewrite the rules to make Bush’s crimes legal. The Democrats fade into the background with flimsy excuses for not backing Feingold, or standing up for the rule of law. Many of the silent and many outspoken, would find them all guilty of subverting justice.
My favorite tee-shirt says it all. It shows Bush behind bars with the caption, “I have a dream!” As far as I’m concerned the rest of the Neocons could join him! Susan Carr Subject: Re: Marcus Woodward's letter (Subject: GOP: God's Own Party ) Did you notice that the license plate that goes with that God-awful sticker is a Texas plate? I have one just like it on my car. Fear not, Marcus, I have some great stickers on MY car that drive every right-wing-nut crazier than they already are! My stickers include: "Enough is Enough: Vote Democratic"; "Our Troops Deserve a Smarter President"; a sticker that looks like that "w: still the (p)resident" sticker, only mine says: "M: still the Moron"...plus, to really mess with their minds I have "Marine Mom" and "Texas A&M Former Student" stickers. Now, that's what I consider 'fair and balanced'! Liz Subject: McCain Suggests Bush Re-Evaluating Putin (Washington Post) Hellooooo! That's the problem ... Bush has been wrong on everything ... and we have to keep re-evaluating everything after he makes the mess! His decision making and judgment are like that of an 8 year old! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: LA Times Photo Story Thanks you so much for having a link to the LA Times photo story "The Lifeline." The LA Times Continues Its Grim, Grisly Tribute to Our Nation's Wounded Soldiers 4/4 It was very disturbing, yet everyone should see it.- Thanks again. Sallie B. Subject: Hammer Down? Hi BuzzFlash, Once DeLay is tried, convicted, and pardoned by Bush, look for his appointment to the Bird Extermination Commission when bird flu hits. What Cheney can't shoot down, DeLay can kill from the air with his lobbyist-funded poison gas bird-duster airplane. Hammer in the Sky could be in our future! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Ohio, Paradise for the GOP Here I am in Ohio, I'm a registered Democrat and just wondering who I should write a letter to in order to complain about our government. My two senators are both Republicans, my representative is Boehner, and our governor reminds me of "Howdy Doody." Talk about a waste of a stamp or an email. I dunno, you'd think that with all of the GOP politicians running and representing this state that we'd be considered to be nirvana, or paradise. Geez, you'd think that Ohio would be proof positive that the Republican view of governance is the model to be emulated for the rest of the country. Hardly. I'm just waiting for the ongoing investigations to finger all of these hacks and see how fast they can plea bargain. State sponsored incompetence and cronyism -- now that's Ohio, "The Heart of it All." Mick Subject: Troops in Iraq President Bush indicated in his White House News Conference on March 21, 2006 that our military forces may well remain in Iraq for years. I have a suggestion for early withdrawal, in that President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Karl Rove all be sent to Iraq to serve with the troops, rifle in hand, and see how long it takes for Bush to call withdrawal, especially with them the last to leave. It is a shame President Bush did not understand his father's position, in Gulf War One, in not invading Baghdad. It would stir up a hornet's nest among the Islamic world. Colonel Colin J. N. Chauret, |
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