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| April 14, 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: All the Lies Coming Home To Roost? I have been calling the words out of this Administration and their supporters lies, while others have been wishy-washy about it. Calling them lies, just doesn't seem to bother anyone, anymore. Even Christians are not upset about the lies. We need a stronger word. "Texan Truth" or "Republican Truth" is too wimpish. "Bulls**t" is used too often on trivial matters. Since there is way too much manure for even cowboy boots to protect us, I have had to come up with a better word to use. Since only Crap comes out of their mouths, I now call it "ButtTalk." Crude? Yes! Tells it like it is? I think so! It is refreshing to finally hear some of the tv/print media finally pointing out some of these lies. But: How long do you think the media will continue to cover these "new" disclosures? Of the lies told to sell and continue these wars? They have seen the polls, and may realize that their buddies may lose this November. Better show a little reporting. Not too much, but some. At least, until the next "Cheney shot that man," et al. story comes along. Or the Bushies let us know they have started another war. See article on my site: "Media: Fourth Estate or Fifth Column?" for one longtime, daily BuzzFlash reader's opinion on the job performance of our Free (owned by Republicans) Press. And "Bush Talks & Our Faces Turn Red" on the lies. Thank goodness we have BuzzFlash and other online sites which inform us truthfully. Susan Strouss Subject: Illegal Aliens/Undocumented Immigrants (Whichever) With all the rhetoric and propaganda surrounding the issue of illegal immigrants, I thought I could put in my two cents (1.65 cents with exchange). Perhaps the flow of immigrants (both legal and illegal) into the "Land of the Free" could be lessened if your government stopped propping up dictators, organizing coups (or assassinations) of democratically elected leaders, undermining democracy through the (ironically titled) National Endowment for Democracy, keeping foreign workers underpaid and exploited, keeping aid from countries with leftist (read: communist) leaders, etc., etc. By keeping other countries under their thumbs, and constantly trumpeting how great the USA is, what choice do you leave a poor, oppressed (potentially hard working if given a chance) person? Heading for the land of opportunity is what I would do. How about yourself? Joel Brown Subject: One Republican's Advice We Should Follow! Dwight D. Eisenhower gave Patton some good advice that we can use today! He explained in no uncertain terms that, “You must not retain for one instant any man in a responsible position where you have become doubtful of his ability to do the job. This matter frequently calls for more courage than any other thing you would have to do, but I expect you to be perfectly cold-blooded about it!” If only Congress and Bush supporters would follow that advice! The past few months should have told them what the rest of the world seemed to know before them, a vote for Bush was one of the biggest blunders voters have made in our election history! Considering the ineptitude, the culture of corruption, the lies being revealed every day, and the obvious failures in the Bush Administration’s domestic and foreign policies, impeachment is the best idea, but with a Republican Congress, unlikely. Abraham Lincoln reminds us, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” Before George and the NeoCons turn their “Contingency plans” into “Operational Plans” and bullets and bombs start flying again, this time in Iran, we have to dump these suckers one way or another, and as soon as possible, using any and all options open to us. How long can George and his cronies accuse others of not having a “plan” when as the elected officials, it was their responsibility to have one? We see how and where their judgments, poor prior planning, decisions, and lies have taken us, and it isn’t a pretty picture! It’s time for Americans to take their blinders off! With every revelation, more of the falsehoods of the Bush Administration are being exposed. Even Republicans see the noose tightening around their necks. Recently, new questions were raised about the White House’s role in leaking classified intelligence, as Bush and Cheney were accused by Libby as the “leakers.” Yesterday came more exposure of falsehoods claimed about the mobile weapons labs, even when experts’ reports had shown them to be benign. This morning serious questions were raised about Ari Fleischer’s and Karl Rove’s part in leaking Valerie Plame’s name to reporters. Judge in CIA leak case considers ban on public statements (Jurist/U. of Pittsburgh)On all counts it is evident there was a cover-up. The White House knew the truth all along and still was guilty of giving out “misinformation” and pretended innocence of the facts! The Bush Regime and the Republican Party’s rule have deteriorated into tyranny. They have forgotten their duty to the citizens of our nation and continuously refuse to be held accountable or to render justice upon themselves! Susan Carr Subject: They have to see it to believe it A comment from a BuzzFlash Reader:
I have been trying to impress on people in Oklahoma why it is necessary to protest somewhere for Bush's visit to Stillwater for OSU graduation. They can continually delete or ignore e-mail, but no one can ignore large crowds of people. I think Cindy Sheehan has done more to stop this bunch than anyone, because she has made herself visible. I can remember when we had a small, but vocal group protesting the 2000 election before 9/11 called "fringefolk." They kept saying there was just a small fringe group of lefties. I have shirts that say, "Proud to be part of the anti-bush fringe." I have a vest with a fringe on it. I am still on their site and the picture is from the March on DC in April, 2000 and I haven't shut up. http://www.fringefolk.com/fringepage21.html Speak up or they assume you agree!!! ABB Karen Webb Subject: Retired general wants Rumsfeld out - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni told CNN that Rumsfeld should be held responsible for a series of blunders, starting with “throwing away 10 years worth of planning, plans that had taken into account what we would face in an occupation of Iraq.” Retired general: ‘Uplifting’ if Rumsfeld removed: Six former senior officers have publicly called for change due to Iraq (MSNBC) Rumsfeld: “That evil Clinton’s stench was all over those plans. They were ruined when I masked his scent with my own ethereal essence...” He added, “You got a problem with dat?” John L. Johnson Subject: Iran and the Polls We may have seen a preview of the near future concerning the Moron-In-Chief and his band of merry parrots. The reaction to Sy Hersh's "New Yorker" article claiming that Bush apparently sees himself as some sort of messianic demagogue and the only one who "understands" why we should attack Iran (like we filthy liberal voters have been telling everybody since 2000 and some of the easily duped are just now catching on) was fierce and fast. The White House had to scramble post haste to deny any such goals, although they didn't come right out and say they wouldn't nuke Iran, which gives us plenty to still worry about. This swift response, in addition to the latest info about those bio-terror trailers everybody in the Bush staff lied about, well after they knew there were no biological weapons to be had, may give pause to the neo-con's thinking that more military action will boost Bush and the Republican's poll numbers. It appears now that there is a very real possibility that any such action will be the nail in the coffin for Republicans this fall. If they feel this is the case, the Congress and Senate will not vote to support a military strike. Bush would then have to act in contempt of Congress, not that such a risk would matter much to him, but maybe the world would understand that not everybody here is an evangelical maniac who wanted war in the first place. What a shame that with the exception of the American Revolution and the Second World War, so many lives were lost around the world because a handful of megalomaniacs got bored and wanted to raise hell. Bush should just duke it out with Hussein, bin Laden or whoever he deems anti-Christian and not worthy of life (i.e., anybody who isn't an evangelical Christian) to the death. Leave the rest of us out of your mental disease. Scott Subject: The Undocumented Are a Symptom Capitalism's the disease. Curing it? Impossible! It has to be replaced which means changing the world. Ridiculous? Nonsense! Look around. In France an uprising of young people and workers has just forced the government there to give ground on workers' rights; and, likewise here at home, the energy of millions of people marching for immigrant rights is forcing Congress to pay attention to their demands. And not to forget the popular movements now sweeping over South America. Put all this energy together and what do we have? A moment, like 1968, when the powers that be are in serious trouble, that's what. Despite this real opportunity, some BuzzFlash contributors are saying, "Wait a minute, these so-called indocumentados are the equivalent of scabs, they're taking away our jobs and depressing our wages. Besides, this is a nation of laws and they're breaking the law, so our government should send them back to where they came from." Now in revolutionary moments like these, when solidarity is a must, such statements have to please the powers that be, because instinctively they can sense cracks in popular solidarity and, when that occurs, guess what happens next? Divide and conquer, that's what. But if our indocumentados take jobs away from us citizens and us legal residents and, if ours is a nation of laws, what's wrong with the above statements? Just that, again, it's mistaking the symptom, "illegal immigration," for the disease, Capitalism. How is that? Well, focusing upon recent events only, Capitalism's greed begot NAFTA/CAFTA, which has flooded our southern neighbors with cheap U.S. govt.-subsidized produce which wiped out farmers there which begot immigration to El Norte lest said farmers (and their families) starve. So what's the revolutionary position? Solidarity with immigrants to reverse or change these trade agreements towards a level playing field in regards to wages, environmental protection, etc., that's what. Then there won't be such pressure to immigrate to El Norte. Couple that with raising the minimum wage & guaranteeing everyone (immigrants as well as citizens) a living wage plus full benefits, together with demanding that Congress change the laws so as to punish corporations that have deserted America for places where poverty and oppression forces people to accept ten-cents-an-hour jobs and which instead rewards corporations for contributing to the re-industrialization of Americas. As for America being a nation of laws? Yes, capitalist laws, laws that favor the powers that be. Down with these! Only solidarity in the fight against Capitalism can jump-start us towards getting rid of this disease of a system. And once the momentum has shifted our way ... A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Mass Demonstrations & Marches Kevin Schmidt is soooo right. Only a massive show of disapproval of the bush cartel's harebrained, immoral, and illegal, shenanigans will serve to awaken our moribund press and non-thinkers to our plight. We absolutely MUST prevent an attack on Iran, nuclear or otherwise. Congress doesn't seem to have the guts to oppose this insanity, so it's up to the people of the U.S. to do it. Willymack Subject: Kill The Poor That's compassionate conservatism in practice, putting "those" people out of their misery. And this is the same law Bush signed even though the Senate and House passed different versions -- that's right, it's UNCONSTITUTIONAL -- not that you'd ever know it from media coverage or the principled protests of the "opposition" party.
WMB Subject: On the History of Car Bombs The worst thing about car bombs is the casualties. But there's also the psychological effect, particularly the feelings of helplessness and powerlessness. Having made it through two such bombings in West Beirut during the U.S.-backed Israeli '82 siege of that city, perhaps describing those experiences will help BuzzFlash readers to more fully understand just how devastating such bombs are. On both occasions I was inside a building, chatting with acquaintances, when suddenly, there was this enormous "Boom" which, while it shattered the windows that faced the street, luckily left those of us who were inside completely unhurt. Unhurt, but for sure unnerved. Here's how it went. Immediately post-blast, there was about a full minute of total silence. You could have heard a pin drop; if, that is, your auditory apparatus was operational, which is doubtful. Meanwhile, it was impossible to formulate a thought, a kind of moment, it seems (in retrospect) of total mental paralysis. After each bombing, what was my first thought? It was "Am I alive?" followed by a brief period of disbelief, and then came the anxiety, all the what-might-have-been imagery. Needless to say, following such events, walking down the street became a really scary experience. Which car has a bomb? Should I run past this van, or cross the street, but what good will that do, because there also are cars on the other side. Maybe it's best to walk down the middle of the street? So one could never feel safe; outside for sure, and, when inside, certainly not when facing the street. And that, BuzzFlash Readers, is what I consider terrorizing. Compared to what's going on in Iraq now, though, it has to go down as a cakewalk. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Dee Turner (Conyers) Dee Turner ... we must have seen the same film, I wondered when they would try to get the only real democrat ... the one who stands up and works for us more than anyone in Congress. They slammed him about this phony baloney worker's extra duties ... came suddenly ... I will wait until all the women come forward and tell their stories. It's a deep, dark mystery why they waited so long to tell the story ... eventually, the Bush gang will get every one of them ... we didn't get enough of that back in the Clinton days ... what hogwash! I also heard a man speaking today about Billy Graham ... he has written a book, cannot remember his name ... but he was making a big "do" about the fact that Bush was the first president to be a "born again Christian," which is not true ... Carter was ... but he did not use it for his own purpose ... you know, the lies. I can tell you, including myself, I know very few real Christians, it is one special person who is almost perfect ... and Bush ain't!! Real Christians do not believe in lying and being responsible for killing so many innocents. They also don't believe in lying to cover another lie ... etc. ... Shirley ... St. Louis Subject: CNN It was absolutely pain and torture to watch CNN's Heidi Collins interview Ken Mehlman this afternoon. (Thursday) She asked a question and then proceeded to let him spew about the Democrats, Harry Reid, the Democrats, Howard Dean, and the Democrats. There was no follow up at all. Then Heidi asked another question, sat back and let Mehlman spew about the Democrats, Harry Reid, The Democrats, Howard Dean, and the Democrats. My 15-year-old grandson certainly would conduct a better interview. My question to CNN is, why did they need Heidi Collins there? All that was necessary was to put the camera and microphone on Mehlman, point at him, and say "go." Bob Lambert Subject: Would a military coup save America? I received the attached column by email this morning: Military Coup in the United States of America? On the Possibility of a Military Coup in the United States of America (Anwaar Hussain/malakandsky.blogspot.com) Are there any generals who would rush in to prevent Bush/Rummy/Cheney from triggering a nuclear war? Congress certainly wouldn't. Can only a military coup save us? Or has that been the plan of the neocons all along? Linda Subject: 2006 & 2008 Elections As a diehard, lifelong Democrat, I will not vote for ANY candidate of ANY party that voted to grant amnesty, guest worker status, or any other wordspeak that allows a single illegal alien to remain in this country. The Democrat's position on this issue baffles me. I thought they were the protectors of the middle class. Any legislation that allows 12 million plus illegal aliens to remain in this country only hurts the middle class and threatens our national security. DEMS - Do the right thing and support enforcement legislation. No AMNESTY or I will vote on the basis of a single issue - IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, whatever party that happens to be. Sick and tired of illegal immigration. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Generals retiring Dear Buzz, I grew up military and married military. One thing all members of the military and their dependents have drilled into them; military members and their families have no right to a political opinion, we are ruled by the civilian leadership. If a general were to tell a president that they will not follow orders to do anything, up to and including a nuclear attack, he would be relieved of duty, forced to retire, or sent to jail immediately. All those generals who speak out now after retiring may have been forced out for expressing a view contrary to the civilian leadership, in other words, Bush. A former military brat Subject: US pressuring Germany to take more than a dozen Guantanamo detainees The USA is putting pressure on Germany to take more than a dozen Guantanamo detainees. But the German Administration refuses to give harbor to Muslim Uigurs from West China. Berlin - The detainees are 15 members of the West Chinese Muslim minority, the Ugurs, who have been held in Cuba since 2002, reports "Die Welt". The United States has for some time been looking for a country that would admit them, as the Ugurs are threatened with death if they return to China. (And the US can't take them?? It HAS them, after all....) Germany is considered to be appropriate because a group of exile Ugurs are already living in Bavaria. Counter to the wishes of the US, the German Administration is blocking the extradition due to concern about its relations with China. The Chinese leadership would see the admission of the Ugurs as a hostile act, reports the newspaper, citing diplomatic circles in Berlin. The German Administration did not wish to comment on the report. It is assumed in diplomatic circles that US President Bush will broach the subject again when German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Washington at the beginning of May, reported the newspaper. The US finds that particularly those countries which are in favor of the dissolution of Guantanamo are obligated to accept prisoners. The Ugurs demand more self government, and according to human rights organizations are exposed to repression by the Chinese authorities. (So the US imprisoned these persons for 4 years without due process to HELP them??) http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,411534,00.html (in German) A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Does Google censor in US too? Spiegel: Rice demands UN use weapons against Iran But I don't find this on Google News..... Like der Spiegel was the only media outlet who heard this? And are US, UK media self censoring? Following is a translation (mine) of the German article:
A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Re The Generals Revolt Against Rumsfeld: Just Short of a Coup? Rumsfeld will not resign, but even if he did it would not make any difference because the (visible) person running policy, his alter ego from the Nixon/Ford days, Cheney, will stay in place as long as he can stand up (or maybe even from a hospital bed, who knows?). Hurrah for the courageous generals, but again, their statements will have no influence on policy. They will also have no influence on the political situation as long as the Dems. are behaving themselves exactly in the way you describe. What gives me hope is this. As long as the Dems. continue to do what they are presently doing, we are headed for a Second Civil War (this is a subject on which I published a lengthy series of TPJ columns last year and to which I shall return later this year). At least we now have an indication that there may be some experienced and skilled generals who will line up on the side of Constitutional Democracy. We will surely need them. Best, S. |
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