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| April 12, 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: Immigration Dear Buzz, Looking through the Mailbag and the forums of du, I have to wonder if the immigration issue was brought up at just the right time to divide the democratic party? Just in time for the pre-election organizing, too. Maybe we should just oppose ANYTHING that the republicans wish to do between now and January, when a new congress will be seated. Hopefully, a chastised congress. A Buzz Reader Subject: Okay, Let's Get This Straight I just finished reading your news analysis entitled "Okay, Let's Get This Straight" and must tell you that it is one of the most brilliantly written commentaries I've read in a long time. It is, to be sure, factual in everything that was written, and I couldn't help but laugh hysterically as I read it. Kudos to the BuzzFlash staffer who not only thought up the headline, but wrote the entire analysis. I've been reading BuzzFlash on a daily basis for several years now, and I thank you for the fine job you continue to do to provide us with pertinent and interesting articles from around the world, but for standing up for truth, decency, and integrity. Lisa J. Subject: Far Worse Than Just "Smearing" Re: "He Lied About Leaking a Lie to Smear Someone" It was far worse than just SMEARING (shaming someone for alleged wrongdoing) -- it was RUINING her (destroying her career by exposing her covert identity) and GRAVELY ENDANGERING her and others (putting them at risk of being killed, once exposed). A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Immigration issue is not as easy as you think I have two grandnieces and their dad's father was and probably still is illegal. They are saying send the kids back, and that would include my grandnieces' father, who was born here, and I guess them, too. Or will there be some sort of thing for blended families like; if they are less than 1/32 illegal, they can stay. I particularly resented what the guy said about these immigrants aren't like the earlier ones who had permission to come. Bull, why does he think the lines were so long at Ellis Island during the early part of the 20th century? There have been 100's of thousands of Cubans taken in. A lot of Vietnamese came in without documents. Speak up or they assume you agree!!! ABB Karen Webb Subject: Willymack...Klamath Falls, Oregon You may have followed my lead to see the video by the Chicks. I liked what they did so much, I went to the site and watched it every day...but, no need...if you can stand the rest of CMT....they are playing the thing twice in 3 hours. I could not believe it. They are playing it as a 'Premiere video' and sooooooo....I think someone at the programming dept. at CMT must want to be on the "getting it out first" side. It is going to be a smash, they always are.....and CMT needs the audience...they lost big time when they banned them before. Mystery to me is, why the Chicks are allowing it to even be played on CMT. Sounds to me like someone is bigger than someone else. Right??? I love it because it is very different...they are more in the pop field...and not everyone who watched CMT for the music...is a Toby Keith or Trace Adkins fan...so, maybe they are doing it trying to get the Dixie Chicks crowd back...they used to win every award, every year. They did a video some time back that the country station played around with not showing..."Goodbye Earl"...about wife abuse...They had a couple of big stars in it...but, CMT played it, and it won for video of the year. It was a big hit...and believe it or not, it was done with humor. Everyone needs to see this video about black, black oil! Shirley ... St. Louis Subject: Religious Extremism and the Death of God - A Short Poem At the alter of their ego a child died and the bible thumpers screamed- more blood of men and they prayed who has died in shame Akhil Bhardwaj Subject: She said it all... Susan Carr wrote in Tuesday's Mailbag: 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! Amen to that. I was wondering the same thing myself. Anti-war demonstrations have fallen off this year. People seem to be inured. Not wanting a third World War should get everyone mobilized ... you'd think. What's it gonna take to make it happen? Anyone? A Buzzer, tired of being scared Subject: Target - Iran So the dear old idiot-in-chief, GDubya is dismissing rumors of our going into Iran as being foolish and without merit? Don't believe him for one second. One thing that has become clearer and clearer over the past five years is that to figure out what Bush really intends to do is the polar opposite of what he says he will do. For example: Bush said long ago that he had "been to war" and he has raised twins. He would rather go to war. We know from the record that Bush has never been to war. In fact, it is clear from reviewing his military records that he didn't have the gonads to complete a tour of duty in the Texas Air National Guard and do so in an honorable manner. Yeah, yeah, I know he was given an honorable discharge -- but that was a result of his PI (Political Influence -- not his mind you, but his dad's). For example: During the run-up to the War on Iraq, Bush swore up and down, through his slimy mouthpieces, that Iraq had WMD, sought to buy yellowcake from Niger, and an array of lies so numerous, it's impossible to remember them all. One that was the most egregious, however, was when he stood at a "press conference" at the White House with Kofi Annan, and blatantly said that Saddam "wouldn't let the inspectors in." Of course, the UN inspectors were in Iraq inspecting previously restricted sites, and were taking "requests" from the American government. For example: Bush saying that anyone in his administration who leaked classified information would be fired. He's still there. As we can tell, what Bush says and what he actually has done or will do, are always polar opposites. He is planning on attacking Iran because he says he's not planning to attacking Iran. Lisa J. Subject: Newt I wonder if the right wing will vilify Newt for his comments that the occupation of Iraq was a terrible mistake. That the United States should pull out. That Iran should be changed from within. And the illegal immigrant problem is mainly brought on by the companies that break the law and hire them. According to how the right thinks, Newt hates America, does not support the troops with his demoralizing comments and is against business making untold profits. Damn that Newt. Start the smears immediately. Scoop for Sioux Falls Paper: Newt Gingrich Wants U.S. Out of Iraq (Editor & Publisher) Bob Lambert Subject: BuzzFlash, You Are Going Down the Wrong Road! I've been reading the Mailbag and I know I am not alone in saying I object to the position BuzzFlash has taken regarding illegal immigration. The only people who will benefit from a guest worker program are the ones running the corporations that profit from slave labor. This problem has an easy solution that does not require any type of new legislation: 1. Enforce the current laws on the books regarding illegal immigration (hire more border guards, build more fences). 2. Enforce the current laws regarding the hiring of illegal immigrants. If an illegal can't find a job here, he will go home. 3. Get tough on Mexico! Stop playing footsy with this bastard Fox and make him start acting like a real leader and create some decent jobs. Of course none of this will ever happen, because it's just too easy and oh yeah, big business would not like any of it. Steven Subject: Democracy in the Arab World, a U.S. Goal, Falters 4/12 The above BuzzFlash headline says it all! When will democracy have a chance in the Arab world? When the Arab world (including its oil) belongs to its people, that's when, which translates into troops out now and justice for the Palestinian people. No independence, no democracy; simple as that! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Those Detention Camps Maybe I'm way off base, but I think I know why Halliburton is building detention camps. Up until now, I thought this administration wanted a place to put liberals like me or gays, but now I think they want to actively criminalize the illegal aliens, round them up, put them behind barbwire, and work them as slaves in the manner of China. The Republicans opposing illegal immigration didn't make sense, since they were the ones benefiting from the cheap labor. Illegals are often paid below minimum wage and/or forced to give kick-backs under the table. Such criminal activity, while common, makes the perpetrators nervous because they could easily end up in jail. These corporate CEOS don't really want to move their operations away from the good old USA; Mexico has murders and pollution, China is on the verge of a Pitchfork Rebellion, and Egypt has terrorists. No, they want to keep their companies here, but they desperately want "legal" slave labor. And forget about having to pay for benefits; good old Uncle Sam will foot that bill! Perhaps the American-born children of the slaves can visit them on the weekends. Such a deal! KBR awarded Homeland Security contract worth up to $385M (Marketwatch) Feds Schedule $385 Million Concentration Camp To Be Built By Halliburton Subsidiary (Counterpunch) Why Is Halliburton Building Internment Camps? (Information Clearinghouse) Darlene BuzzFlash Note: According to the Halliburton subsidiary, KBR, "the contract from the Department of Homeland Security [is to support] its Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in the event of an emergency."] Subject: Where Are the Donations for Ned Lamont? How come BuzzFlash and MoveOn aren't encouraging people to donate to Ned Lamont's Senate primary campaign against the Quisling Democrat Joe Lieberman? I searched online for someplace to donate to Lamont's campaign b/c Lieberman's disgusted me ever since he became the lead Dem who pushed to censure Clinton (for lying about consensual oral sex!) - and his behavior since has only made it clearer he's a Bush Nazi in Democrat's clothing. Ned Lamont is a Democrat running against Lieberman - and obviously the Traitor Lieberman (and the Rethuglicans who want him to replace Rumsfeld as Defense Secretary!) is scared enough that they're "Swiftboating" him regarding his daughter's cancer. That alone is enough for me to support Lamont over Lieberman - well, and that there's a chance to bring Lieberman DOWN.... http://www.actblue.com/page/nedlamontforsenate A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: For the record, we are not an activist site or campaign fund-raising site, but a news and commentary site. We do publish news about the Connecticut race for Senate.] Subject: Article: 'Rational Americans' Must Restrain Bush From 'Insanity' (Pakistan Frontier Post/watchingamerica.com) I found the repeated use of the term "Jewish" in this article to be very troubling, both in tone and in substance. While I disagree quite often with the policies of the country of Israel, that doesn't mean that I disagree with "Jewish" policies - no more than if I disagree with the policies of Germany, than I disagree with "Christian" policies; or with Indian policies, I disagree with Hindu policies. I don't find this article liberal or progressive or in anyway advancing peace - I find it hostile and divisive. Simply because someone finds Bush to be insane, does not make them part of the solution. Cleveland Bob [BuzzFlash Note: We found the Jewish references disturbing, too. But it's valuable, we think, to note what's being written about Bush and the U.S.] Subject: Happy Holiday Hag sameah -- Happy Passover. You're doing a great job. Thank you! May this year's festival of freedom mark the beginning of our exodus from these troubled times. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: So Bush thinks he is doing “God’s work” ... “God guides him” and “God speaks to him.” I do believe he hears voices in his head. I do believe those voices guide him. I do believe he “thinks” he is doing God’s work. I DON’T BELIEVE it is God speaking to him. By his actions, I have determined what the voices in his head are telling him: Install your buddies that helped you steal the election into the Supreme Court in other powerful positions. Protect those that protect you. Ruin anyone that opposes you. Spy on those that don’t support you. Deny people their rights, if they are powerless they can’t hurt you. Hurriedly enact legislation that removes people’s rights of protection and privacy. Repeat your lies until the uninformed believe them. Pardon those that do your bidding and get caught. (Just like dad, a clip off the old shrub.) If meeting in public, screen and edit the audience. Make a ceremony out of what should be announced in normal press conferences to take the heat OFF of any controversy in your administration. Make your entrance from a hallway so you don’t have to pass by press that may ask embarrassing questions about what you are trying to take the attention AWAY FROM. Refuse to be accountable to anyone. Refuse to release information that is not flattering to you. ... Cultivate fear, hatred, racism and intolerance in others. Turn your hatred and intolerance into the law. Use intolerance to justify future incarceration of gays. Wait until the proper moment to lock up your social deviants and detractors. And above all, don’t start the “final solution” until it is widely acceptable. (Remember Grand Pappy’s idol, and how it cost him the world order.) That’s not right for America! It is a mental disturbance. KJ Lovell (I posted this about a year and a half ago on another site - still rings true!) Subject: The Thom Hartmann Solution on Immigration! Buzz, Thom Hartmann has a very simple solution to our illegal immigration issue! "Create a law that anyone who employs an illegal immigrant then would receive a mandatory sentence of 10 years in jail and a $100 milion dollar fine per illegal immigrant they employ!" Thom Hartmann also says, "With no work available for illegal Mexican workers, we then would see a new crisis on our border with Mexico. Millions of illegal Mexicans trying to get back into Mexico!" It is so ... simple of a solution, I just know that it would work! Question now is? How many Americans are truly serious about the illegal immigration issue and would support it? Matthew Habben Subject: Why would the BBC interview Richard Perle on US position on Iran? According to the BBC's own archive, Richard Perle resigned from his position on the Pentagon advisory board in March 2003. Yet this morning, it was Richard Perle that the BBC was interviewing in depth about the US plans in Iran. Was this at the recommendation of the State Dept.? The BBC must have had some indication that his opinion represents the USA. Rather curious, isn't it? A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: According to Wikipedia: "George W. Bush appointed Perle chairman of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee, which advises the Department of Defense. ... On March 27, 2003, Richard Perle resigned as chairman of the Defense Policy Board, though he still remained a member of the board."] Subject: Think Progress VIDEO: Cheney Loudly Booed During First Pitch Sounds like Cheney is in his last throws. John L. Johnson Subject: Which Hypocrisy Party Will You Vote For? Ain’t hypocrisy wonderful? You should also appreciate the ability of people to speak out of both sides of their mouth at the same time. It is truly awe inspiring. For years we have had the “Pro-life” party promoting a war that has benefited no one except the corporations who are the real rulers of this country. Anyone who was against the war was “a wuss” or “unpatriotic.” This is supposed to also be the Christian party. The folks who go to church to discuss politics and go to Political rallies to discuss religion. (I know, I know, it is all very confusing.) Lately the Democrats have rambled on and on about the “Culture of Corruption” and that we are a “Nation of Laws.” But when push comes to shove it is all just more talk. U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan — the ranking Democrat on the House Ethics Committee faces accusations that he has failed to disclose the full value of his assets on required government financial disclosure forms. It also has been alleged in published reports that Mollohan has close financial ties to individuals affiliated with projects for which he has earmarked federal funding. There are calls for Congressman Mollohan to step down from the committee pending the resolution of the investigation. This should be a no-brainer. When you are calling the other guys unethical you really do need to keep your own ethical behavior pristine. Instead Nancy Pelosi doesn’t think that Mollohan needs to step down until the investigation is finished. So much for ethical behavior. As for a nation of laws? Guess that just applies to those who are elected officials. Millions of people who disobeyed the laws of this country and entered illegally are just fine. We don’t care about laws then. Could be that the Democrats will win the House and the Senate in November just because they are not Republicans. As a moderate, liberal, Independent, that just isn’t enough for me. B.S. is b.s. no matter if it comes from a Democratic mouth or a Republican mouth. And hypocrisy is hypocrisy. Most Democrats seem to hate Republicans so much that anything that hurts them is fine and dandy. Neither party cares much about the country. It is all about winning. And as usual, the losers are the people. Marjorie L. Swanson [BuzzFlash Note: By way of background, The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), which seems to have led the charge against Mollohan, boasts that they also have attacked such other Democrats as Nancy Pelosi, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Hillary Clinton, Maria Cantwell, organized labor ... and they quote Rush Limbaugh on the NLPC site. He calls them a "very reputable group."] Subject: Canadians for Free America As a my friends and I began to witness America fall from grace we all speculated that America was on the brink of civil war. We had our first conversation about this in 2002. I would have never thought it could happen. In fact I thought that the idea was ludicrous myself... Now, I'm not so sure. I watch the news every night and I wonder; how long will it be before these people, who have taken to the street in their fight for the right to save your immigration system get pelted with rubber bullets, or worse. Let's face facts, it won't be long before they're caught in a non "free speech zone" and it will be then that Bush asserts his totalitarian (or more appropriately, his despotic right) to control the populace. America is on the brink of civil war. It's sad, but it's true. Groups like (and I had to laugh) Mothers Against Illegal Aliens will raise the ire of the 12 or so million illegals and in turn, those illegals will be able to raise the ire of another 30 million Americans lacking healthcare and living in abject poverty. That's 42 million people taking on the US government. It is no longer a matter of "if" but rather "when" America gets attacked again. This time however, it will be attacked from within, by it's own hungry masses. It's a shame. My friend and I watched as Bush did his best flag waving the other day and I shouted at the TV: "Are Americans stupid! This guy is sh***ing all over the flag! Doesn't it (the flag) mean anything anymore?!" My friends answer: "It used to, Brian. It sure used to." Let's forget about "God Bless America." The world is sick of the slogans and jingoism. Try this instead: "Somebody help us, because Bush is a maniac." Good luck to you all and may your nation survive in peace. I doubt it ever again will, because what Bush started can never be stopped, but we can hope. Brian Subject: Immigration Yes, Illegals No I couldn't disagree with you more on the subject of "immigration." Yes, we are a country of immigrants but these protests aren't about immigration - they're about giving taxpayer funded rights and assistance to illegal aliens and there is a difference. People who don't obey the law about getting here should not be rewarded. That will only open the floodgates for more and, in the end, change the character of this country forever. We were designed to be a "melting pot," not an indigestible stew with lumps of culture vying with each other and clashing along the way. In recent years if you go to an area that has had a high degree of "immigration" you find, not assimilation, but closed off enclaves that don't resemble what America is supposed to be. We are all allowed to follow our cultural heritage - what we can't do is let that heritage take over what this country is supposed to stand for. I think this is all about one thing. People will probably think I'm nuts but it is driven by globalism with Mr. Bush as its puppet in chief. In order to have a world government run by mega corporations, you can't have a super power and I think what we are going through is a leveling process and as long as law abiding citizens accept it, in the years to come the United States won't look at all like what the founding fathers envisioned. Just ask the legal immigrants who will be hurt by this, ask the Native Americans who, to this day, are treated like "wards of the state." I've been a life-long democrat but here is where I part ways with what the party is trying to do in order to garner votes. I'll never vote republican, what they stand for now is foreign to everything I believe. I just think it is time for people who are concerned about what is happening to this country start to vote for the person whoever that may be who articulates the importance of freedom from racial, religious, and class persecution. There are Americans here who are in desperate need of help but, in this upside down thinking of our government, they are the ones being told to go to the "back of the line." SOS Sally Simms Subject: Polls It has been widely reported that in a poll taken by The Washington Post most Americans do not favor censure or impeachment for Bush. I find that poll hard to believe...with Bush's polls in the toilet, with the constant daily news of the latest lie Bush and his administration have been caught in, the barrage of bad news from Iraq, the lies that got us there, trying to drum up support for attacking Iran by using the same rhetoric used to attack Iraq. Categorically denying responsibility for all failures...the people of this country still want this man as our leader? Could it be that they are more afraid of a President Cheney, than a President Bush? Do the people realize that outing Valerie Plame appears to have been a high level conspiracy, including Cheney and others in this administration? I would like to understand the thinking behind the polls, that basically gives the Bush administration a green light for further and future gross misdemeanors and felonies... If Zacarias Moussaoui can stand trial and perhaps receive a death sentence for NOT telling what he supposedly knew about 9/11, why are not Bush and Cheney on trial for what they knew and ignored pertaining to 9/11, to the deaths of Katrina (they knew 24 hours before), to the lies that have killed thousands including our own sons and daughters in Iraq...the torture they not only knew about, but condoned, that has resulted in death...why are they not on trial? Chabuka [BuzzFlash Note: The poll taken April 9 showed 45% favoring censure (poll question #40), and 33% favoring impeachment (question #42). 21% of respondents identified themselves as liberal.] |
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