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| April 11, 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: Iran, Katrina and Immigration Most of last night I spent tossing and turning, not sleeping. The cause: this administration's rumored plan to bomb Iran with a nuclear bomb. That in itself is frightening. Although I would never disbelieve anything that this administration would do, I wonder if the word, "nuclear," isn't a part of their continuing program of scare tactics. Last week they used immigration issues to keep attention off the fact that the President of the United States committed a federal offense. Before I go on I would like to present ideas about the immigration issue. Within the government there is an agency, VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). There are also many of our states, LA, MS, FL and now TN whose citizens' lives have been devastated by the forces of nature and the select incompetence of others. Why doesn't the government develop an adjunct to VISTA, the IVISTA (Immigrant Volunteers in Service to America)? It could work as follows: 1. All illegal immigrants would register to volunteer on a one-year rotating schedule of a set number of volunteers per year. 2. They would volunteer in states damaged by Katrina, Wilma, the tornadoes in TN. They would assist in rebuilding the levees in CA and in LA. Wherever there is a national disaster in their year of service they would be sent to as a volunteer. 3. In exchange: a) they would be taught English and the U.S. Constitution to prepare them for U.S. citizenship exams; b) any institutional fine would be forgiven throughout his one year of service; c) housing would be provided for them through the trailers purchased by FEMA for the relocation of Katrina victims; d) Each immigrant would be able to choose between this service or pay the $2,000 fine and other requirements set down by the Congress; and e) since this would be a volunteer activity, food could be provided from funds raised for Katrina victims. Do you think any of our politicians would support such a simple plan? Do you think immigrants would be willing to participate in the rebuilding of a country in which they want to live and work? Do you think we would save tax dollars? Do you think Halliburton would want this done? Do you think their investors would? Now to the fear agents. I can still vividly recall 911. That morning one of my co-workers came in saying the WTC had been bombed and we were under attack. The pit in my stomach at the moment, I still remember. It was pure unadulterated fear and disbelief. The only other memory I have of such fear is during my elementary education and we had to practice taking cover underneath our desks (these desks would protect us from an atomic bomb). For five years now that fear initiated by 911 has not been alleviated nationally by this administration. When a system of narcissistic, power-addicted individuals once takes power there are no values, there are no morals, although there are value words -- there is only fear. Fear reinforces their power and their altered view of themselves. Like all addictions it is not an easy habit to break. Long ago, FDR said: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." As a nation we need to see the foolishness of hiding under desks that offer us no protection. When are the people of this country through our elected officials going to stop being a nation of sheep? Fear is not the evil, the evil is its manipulation by unprincipled, power-addicted, seven deadly sin types of people. As always, there is another side, that is inaction against the fear. Examples: The media protects its assets and maintains their individual personal status quo as employees of a newspaper, tv station or radio station. Congressmen have used this fear to ensure personal financial gain, i.e., Congressmen Ney and Cunningham. Fear can even be expressed as a gentleman, when not responding to lies with the truth, as John Kerry did when he was attacked. And, the biggest evil is sacrificing other people's lives and livelihoods, as many corporate CEOS did, as other members of Congress have, and as the President of the United States and his angels of darkness continue to do. This is my country and I want it back. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Scott Ritter Dear Buzzers, I watched a tape of a speech by Scott Ritter about his book "Iraq Confidential He laid out the whole story in fascinating detail. Anyway, someone asked him what WE can do to get more people politically active. He said it's up to each of us do do what we feel is right and to LEAD BY EXAMPLE and maybe enough people will catch on. So just DO it was the message. Works for me. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: New Dixie Chicks Video After reading a letter from a BuzzFlash reader, I went to cmt.com to see & hear a new video from the Dixie Chicks: "I'm not ready to make nice," an allusion to their blackballing from the country music scene for having the temerity to exercise their 1st Amendment right by stating they were ashamed bush is from Texas (also), a few years back. I admire them now, as then, for the beautiful, superbly talented musicians and singers they are, as well as the usual reasons a man loves women. Their new video thrilled me to the core. These ladies are truly great Americans. Hooray for the Dixie Chicks! Willymack Subject: Bush claims he leaked to show his reasons So Bush is saying that his reason for declassifying and leaking the uber secret undercover nuclear weapons tracking CIA operation IN THE MIDDLE EAST headed by Valerie Plame was to show us why he went to war in Iraq. Aren't you glad he connected those dots for us, even if the destruction of this operation guarantees the dissemination of nuclear weapons throughout the area? That sure puts our national security high on his list of priorities, doesn't it? Judith Foster Subject: Illegal Alien, Not Undocumented Immigrant I am a progressive independent who doesn't understand why BuzzFlash posts headlines and articles calling illegal aliens "undocumented immigrants,, and apparently celebrating illegal alien victories over American workers. I have worked in landscaping and seen American jobs and housing conditions go to hell because of illegal aliens. I am not racist, right wing or pro-Bush ... and I know that illegal aliens are not immigrants! They have no resemblance to our ancestors who knocked on the door and came in with permission and documentation and agreements. This unthinking knee jerk celebration of illegal alien power by certain strains of liberal/progressive activism is undermining conditions for American workers and their families, and will contribute to the rise of very proto-fascist/racist backlash when American economics really crash and Americans must compete in their neighborhoods for meager work and housing with illegal aliens (again, they are NOT immigrants!). I call myself a progressive independent, but this "liberal" support for illegal alien power is ghastly and will backfire in an ugly way. Wake up and support your American neighbors first! Shut down the border and support humane cleaning up of our job/housing market of illegals!! Let them finish their year of work and go home ... they aren't immigrants!! They can apply when they get back there for work status ... or better yet organize their real home country into a better society. Americans need jobs, wages, benefits and affordable housing, and with outsourcing and personal/national debt, American workers can't tolerate the competitive burden of illegal alien labor. Why can't politically correct liberals understand this?? You're cutting American throats celebrating the illegal's power, and lending the future to darker fascist/racist reactionaries. What thoughtful working class/average American can possibly support illegal immigrant occupation of our needed jobs/housing?? Please come to your senses and look at the present and near-future prospects for American jobs and housing. God, too many "liberals" are so wrong on this issue!!! Talk to your neighbors and see what is really going on with jobs, wages and housing ... and stop knee-jerk calling all critics of illegal alien labor racist!! We can be very liberal and progressive (pro-impeachment, etc.)--- but sensible and urgent for the needs of American workers and families facing grim economics and housing and illegal competition. Good luck seeing the truth. Very Sincerely, A Pro-impeachment, Unracist, Anti-illegal Alien (pro-American
workers/families First) Progressive Independent BuzzFlash Reader Subject: The People United Will Never Be Defeated Sleeping giants waking up! Surely that's what's happening here in America as millions of people rise up in support of immigrant rights and in France, too, where an attempt by its government to divide (and conquer) the working class elicited so much popular resistance that said attempt had to be called off. What to do now? We have two options. Demobilize and return to the same old, same old business as usual status quo, or stay the course and change the world. Which will it be? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Similarities Are Deep Trent Lott is mad because State Farm is engaging in the practice of destroying evidence contrary to the desired direction the company wishes to go. That sounds familiar. Lott Lawyer: State Farm Destroying Papers (AP/Yahoo) Dave Lewis Subject: Immigration and Citizenship There has been a lot of discussion about the rights of illegal immigrants in this country, and, of course, Congress is now either trying to or not trying to do something about the problem. In looking at the arguments put forth by both sides, it is impossible to agree or disagree with the positions by both. One fact is that we do have a problem with illegal immigrants flooding our borders, primarily from the south, and something does need to be done. If we continue to allow uncontrolled illegal immigration, we are putting our national security in jeopardy. Providing benefits to illegal immigrants while decreasing benefits for legal citizens and immigrants doesn't seem right either. The Republican arguments are too draconian in many ways, but I also can't agree with the Democratic arguments of providing any type of limited amnesty for those who are here ILLEGALLY. Rep. Sensenbrenner's bill calling for criminalizing people who are trying to provide humanitarian relief for dying people is also distasteful. Is Mexico providing any type of subsidy to our country for the money we are spending to take care of these people? How heavily is our government fining those corporations who knowingly hire illegal immigrants? What are the penalties for those who provide false ID? How severe are the penalties for human smuggling cross-border? These are all issues that merit more serious penalties. The people who encourage or condone illegal immigration needs to be addressed. Criminalizing people who provide humanitarian assistance to people who could be dying in the middle of the desert doesn't seem appropriate to me. I hate to suggest the following, but it does seem necessary to provide a physical deterrent. Instead of putting up a big cement fence that will undoubtedly cost a lot of money (and probably can only be done by Halliburton or KBR) (sarcastically spoken, of course), establish a "no-man's" land with strands of concertina wire. I truly hope I don't sound like a fascist or racist as these thoughts are not intended in that frame of mind. But we must be realistic about the cost to the taxpayers of this country of illegal immigration. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the concept of "American by birth." After much soul searching, I've come to the conclusion that this concept needs to be reformed. Simply because a child is born here, of people who are not citizens whether foreign visitors who are here legally or of illegal immigrants, should not confer automatic American citizenship. Lisa J. Subject: Mr. Bush: If You Want To Give God a Good Laugh, Tell Him Your Plans! But then again, He would more then likely weep! Bush speaks as if he had a discussion with God and He agreed with George's plans! If we can't remember the past are we doomed to repeat it? In this case the past happened not too long ago, but the Bush Administration has brought back their replay book on Iraq and is now using it to begin the Iran one. This morning while speaking at John Hopkins Bush spoke with authority and reiterated he knew EXACTLY what he was doing going into Iraq. Mr. Bush's missteps and misjudgments have proved that to be one of his biggest falsehoods. Our soldiers and our nation have been suffering dire consequences for his poor prior planning and bad decisions. The cost in lives in the Iraq War has almost caught up with lives lost during 9/11. His promises to use diplomatic solutions are the same ones he made before attacking Iraq. Bush's conviction has made our nation a victim of his biases. The loss of Life, Limb and Money are the consequences of his ill thought out actions! As more of the Administration plans for Iran are revealed it's a little like standing in the middle of the road waiting to be hit by a tractor trailer loaded with explosives! If allowed to go on, this time, the consequences will be more severe and far-reaching. The fact is how many of us trust the Administration's so called plans are really CONTINGENCY PLANS, because, the last time, they resulted in an unjustified invasion based on a fixed policy! Seymour Hersh's article in The New Yorker, "The Iran Plans," asks, Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?
All the same rhetoric begins again as undercurrents tell us Bush wants Regime Change, and Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has become another Hitler! Will Bush confer with Israel convincing them to attack first this time because of Iran's Prime Minister's threats? Will the new excuse be we must join the fight to protect Israel? How many small beleaguered island countries will be part of the bullied coalition of the forced and unwilling! Will the Pioneer controlled media stand by, not reporting the facts or dissenting opinions? Will Congress be the sheep led by a self-deluded War President and a NeoCon government of wolves AGAIN! If the Deity could speak from the bully pulpit, we might hear them say that if this wrecking crew, that we call the Bush Administration, is allowed to continue with their destructive ways, some day sooner than later, the world will not have many days after tomorrow! A GOAL; THERE SHOULD BE AS MANY PEOPLE PROTESTING ANY MILITARY ACTION ON IRAN THAT COULD LEAD TO A WORLD WAR III AS THERE ARE PROTESTING IMMIGRATION REFORM! Susan Carr Subject: Phone-jamming linked to the White House -- -- so? Really, why is anyone surprised? (IS anyone surprised?) Oh, c'mon. This is just the latest, but by no means the last, of the skeletons falling out of the Bush's closets. There are so many of them that even Scott McClellan is unable to do damage control, bless his hypocritical heart. Luckily for the Bush&Co. thugs, little damage control is necessary, as Americans continue withering in their propaganda-induced stupor. Is it any wonder that the greatest demonstrations the US has seen in years are organized and attended by immigrants, whose eyes, ears and hearts are still open? Perhaps we'll need an immigrant to bring dignity and integrity (and honesty -- what a concept...) back to the Oval Office. Our home-grown candidates are unable to rise to the task. Elizabeth Subject: Harry Taylor: Thank goodness for MoveOn members Buzz - Read the Mailbag and everyone was asking about Harry Taylor... would you please put this in your Mailbag ... or maybe, if you can, on your front page so everyone can see it... thanks ... [excerpts from MoveOn email message]
Jean B.
Stowe Subject: Bush and the "End Times"? The actions of Bush and his followers the last five years makes one wonder if he is truly the harbinger of the biblical end times. It is akin to living totally in a surreal world. Why is he pushing so hard to goad Iran into a war? Now there is talk of the U.S. using nuclear weapons. Have we gone mad as a society? RUSSIA WILL NEVER STAND FOR BUSH USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON IRAN AND THEY HAVE TEN THOUSAND THEY CAN RE AIM IN THIRTY MINUTES. How have we gone so far down this insane path? How does a group as deranged as Bush and his followers remain in power? Will we survive until our nation can rid itself of this delusional, ignorant, dangerous, sociopathic excuse of a human? Lawton Watson Subject: Bush Leaked Classified Information We do NOT need to focus on this. This is being blasted by EVERY news source. Why? Why would CNN and FOX run this? Because there's nothing we can do about it, not a thing. All Bush needs to say, if he has to say anything at all, is it was for national security reasons. I am not a bush supporter, but we need to concentrate on what he is distracting us from. Is he leading us away from Iraq/Iran/immigration? There's something else that needs attention, this is a non-issue that is doing a great job of distracting us (US). This is not the first time he used weapons of mass distraction, it won't be the last, don't get pulled in, run some real news. What he did was wrong, what he did was low and deceiving, but he can say it was for national security, even if it wasn't, and no one can prove otherwise. This is just to keep us away from the other 'thing' he is doing. I don't know what else it is, cause this info leak is eating all the web space/newspaper space, and tv time. Tick Subject: Immigration Although I support BuzzFlash on most issues I am opposed to their stand on unlawful immigration. We are a nation of laws and many of these so-called protesters are flagrantly violating the laws of the US. If we are outraged at W's violation of US laws-and rightfully so-, why shouldn't we also be outraged at the violation of our immigration laws concerning boarder crossers from Mexico? You can't have your cake and eat it too? Please reconsider your stance on this issue. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: They Follow Previous Generations of Americans Before Them? Thank you BuzzFlash for calling them illegal immigrant protests. Yes...we Americans had many immigrants come here over the years...but they had to come with papers, etc. We are not an empty country like at the turn of the century. My grandparents sailed by the Statue of Liberty and went through Ellis Island. They had papers and were legal. That's how it has been done in the past. So to say they are only here following like the other immigrants who built this country is a lie. They are not immigration protests. They are "illegal immigrant protests." There is a world of difference. Immigrants don't need to protest to stay in America and have rights. They are already here legally. Talk about Orwellian use of words! Senators Clinton and Schumer spoke at those rallies. They didn't speak at the protests against the Patriot Acts or NAFTA, CAFTA, and GATS, which took away our jobs and "Civil Rights." Will they protest the spying on Americans? They hate the working base and democracy. Guess illegal immigrants have the ear of our government (especially Democrats, which could lose them the election). Illegal immigrants can't vote. 80% of Americans want them sent back. We've had it. People who don't live in cities can't imagine the numbers coming here. It's easy to be generous and forgiving when it isn't your job or your city/state being ruined and invaded. We are being invaded by Mexico to rule us. We hate to be hard headed but this happened to us in the past (amnesty of millions) and our government continues to lie to us about enforcement, etc. It seems their PNAC to make us the Americas Union (Totalization with Mexico) is on track. Our government invites them in for cheap labor. They want them here. During WWII they rounded up ... Japanese who were citizens. They can't do this to illegals? Our government lacks the political will to keep our borders safe and invites in cheap labor. How dare they (our media and leaders) do this to us. They grew up and were educated in a democracy. They are the very ones who want to destroy it for everyone else. It is pure arrogance and treason. Mexico is a very wealthy country. Seems we are to become like them, full of poverty and crime. NAFTA was a lie to change all that. The elite will rule in both countries. The only way to have Mexicans stay in their own country is to have a better tax system...a larger middle class. They have a right and would like that, too. They don't want to be leave their families behind. Our leader's policy seems to be...poverty and slavery to the world for corporate power. We have a right to secure our borders and demand the law be met for all new arrivals. When we (citizens) protest, they send our riot police and tear gas...arrest us. They don't give us permits but keep us in FREE SPEECH ZONES. They call us traitors and the media make fun of us not even covering the reasons for the protests around the country. WE ARE LEGAL and have a right to protest our government. They do not. Citizens are awaking up to the fact that We aren't important to our government's goal. Fact is, I agree with Professor Mark Crispin Miller who says, our leaders and certain RW religious leaders hate democracy. I know one thing....they are lawless. The clergy who support this ignore our laws for their own religious purpose. They have destroyed America and our democracy in twenty years. Angry...yes. GW Bush's America is an upside down world every six months or so. The numbers of illegal immigrants has to be too low. I'd say, we have conservatively at least 50,000 new immigrants (legal and illegal). They flood into our country from all over the world, not just Mexico (although they can just walk over the border, that's why there are so many of them). What other country would allow me to enter and stay as an illegal immigrant collecting benefits and education...etc.? How many of that country's citizens would be there to demand I stay? Judith Stevens Subject: New Hampshire Why is no one commenting on the fact that the office James Tobin called repeatedly during the New Hampshire election is in the White House? It isn't at Republican headquarters. Wasn't Gore attacked for making calls from the WH? So even in the best of situations, according to GOP spin, there is a political office/campaign headquarters in the WH. Did the law change? Phone-Jamming Records Point to White House (AP/Yahoo) Joseph Bergin Subject: Take His Finger Off the Trigger, Take the Gun From His Hand When a child finds a gun, the solution to the problem springs immediately to the minds of any and all adults in the vicinity: Take his finger off the trigger, Take the gun from his hand and Send him to the Naughty Chair. The solution is not that easy when the incident involves a leader who has the mind of a child and delusions of grandeur, and has been spoiled, in the past, by over-indulgent rich parents, or in the present by adults who have been scared senseless by his previous actions. Complicating the problem is when we find that the leader has surrounded himself with playmates (advisors) who are as delusional as himself. Playmates who for various reasons (financial, fanaticism, egotism) refuse to back away from the gun. Some among them reason that since we've had big guns for over 50 years, why not play with them? They reason that since certain (questionable) circumstances have given them the whole playground--with unobstructed use of the facility--it's now or never. It's not easy to take a gun away from a leader, but it can be done. He and his advisors must understand that his fellow citizens want him to drop the gun, and to drop it now. Citizens can do this if they speak with one voice and censor him soundly. They can do this if they communicate in writing and verbally, on radio and TV, to let others know what he's up to so that they can raise their voices, too. Of course, there may be some who want him to use the gun, or they may simply want to do nothing, to see what happens, or to watch the gun go off. We've got to hope that these people are in the minority and that the majority will prevail. Sometimes, it is necessary to remove the leader from the gun, and this may not be easy, but it can be done. He must be made to leave the room and to leave the gun behind him. Once again, we can do this. We can expel him from the room (or impeach him so that he can go home and play with toy guns and leave the real ones to those who understand their devastating power). It is OK when a child plays dress up and swaggers around with his guns, or when he dresses up as a soldier, like John Wayne. But when the leader of the most powerful nation on earth (in terms of dangerous weapons) plays dress up and believes that the dress makes the man, AND he is the man with his finger on the trigger, he must be seen as being as dangerous as the child. And the gun must be taken away from him so that cooler and wiser men and women can find less destructive ways to deal with the world's problems. Men and women who will take a hard and long look at the world's problems before even considering jumping into the void. Maureen R. Sinclair Hi all, Did anyone see Joe Wilson smack down Blitzer last night (well, Wilson did it in a classy way - he didn't need to scream, he simply had all the knowledge). The Blitz was so desperate he kept jumping in there to defend the administration, but Wilson came back at Wolfie each time with intelligent and informed answers that just crushed anything Wolf was trying to put forth. Blitzer had the deer in headlights look by the end of the interview. Wilson is a great speaker. I wish he got more air time. Some right wingers think he gets too much. He does not get enough. I could have listened to that interview for at least an hour more. It was great fun. Must see TV. Recommendations: I'm reading Down By the River, which is a Buzz premium. I cannot put it down and highly recommend it. Also, Jesus Land is another fantastic book. It is so beautifully written and I admire the author so much for overcoming her wretched childhood. Also, they give you a little break from reading about the Bush administration. Although Down By the River does do quite a job on the part the US played in the drug wars - not too favorable to say the least - and deservedly so. Next payday, I want some of that chocolate (it's for a good cause!). I'm quite confused now - ok, I'm very confused. It's getting harder to follow the trail of scandals, leaks, declassified info?, classified info?, who did what to who?, who knew what and when did they know it? - although BuzzFlash is doing a good job of sorting it out. He truly is a lunatic. They played parts of him answering students' questions on Air America this morning. It's truly amazing. Just amazing. He doesn't know how clueless he his. He couldn't answer one question, and then tried to make it into a comedy act. Do we really want to hear a stand up comic, or do we want to know what in heaven's name this psycho is doing and what further destruction is coming our way? This idiot will make a joke out of anything and it's very sociopathic. I don't know what else to say except GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF HERE! He wants to nuke Iran! He's certifiably nuts. This is very scary. He'll do it, too. As Paul Krugman said - Yes He Would. If only to help the repugs in the election. I'm scared for my relatives in Israel, because that's the first place Iran is tossing their nukes if we attack them - unless Israel does what they did in '81 - take out Iraq's nuclear facility. If this is the best scenario we can hope for, then things are much worse than I ever imagined they could be. Imagine that - a nuclear war so that the Dems can't take over Congress. You can't make this stuff up. If I was reading it in a novel I'd be saying, oh come on, this is just too unbelievable even for fiction. Time for another regime change. Good luck with that, George (and good luck to us). Get ready for WWIII. Someone stop him before it's too late. Take care all. Barbara in NY Subject: Dying Regime Song & Video Those war criminals should be dragged out of the white house in orange suits or straight jackets. Short of a second American revolution, we are pretty much f***ed!The world is watching. Check it out here: http://video.google.com/videoplay...
J.F.William Subject: Piece of Work Richard Mellon Scaife So soulless billionaire Scaife who funded the witch hunt against Clinton, and buys Ann Coulter's books en masse to push them onto the bestseller list, is getting a nasty divorce from his second wife of 14 years and had no pre-nup. Excuse me while I laugh myself into a stupor. All better. Then she goes to his estate, to get the 9 year old lab back that is registered in her name, and he and four of his servants are supposedly overwhelmed by this one lady and she is led off in cuffs by the cops. Oh yeah this'll be good. My sympathies aren't exactly with a woman who would marry that slimeball. But what a totally graceless, undignified jerk. He has his house and servants and can't give the woman her dog. Hope she gets everything he's got. THEN I hope he marries Ann Coulter and the two snarky, evil rodents can live out their pathetic, self-absorbed lives in their gilded hell together. We'll all have alien sex with men from Mars before either of those two people ever do an unselfish, worthy, humanitarian thing. Suzanne de Cornelia |
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