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| May 3, 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: Plame's Focus Was on Iran? If anyone can prove that, the news is earthshaking! Shuster (from Hardball) who broke this story only credits an anonymous source.
If true it makes perfect sense. In fact even more sense than outing her as a punishment for Wilson's Times piece did. They were saying that the White House was trying to discredit Wilson by implying his trip was a mere junket arranged by his CIA wife, but that never made much sense to me, since Wilson, the ex ambassador to Niger, was the obvious best choice for the job and his findings have never been discredited. However, maybe the unmasking of a CIA operative with knowledge that Iran had no near term nuclear capability was all they intended. We know they fix the intelligence to fit the policy. If it's true that Ms. Plame's job actually involved Iran's WMD, then obviously her exposure had nothing to do with Wilson and was intended to avoid receiving intelligence that would discredit Bush's years-old intent to attack Iran. This I think would be treason. Tim Clarke Subject: Let's Not Forget What's Behind Our New King George The BuzzFlash editorial, "From King George of 1776 to King George of 2006, It's Time to Declare Our Independence from Monarchal Rule," is motivating, cute, and helpful to the serious cause of restoring our freedoms. However, as I wrote to my local Boston Globe, after their equally helpful exposure of Bush's 'signing statement' abuses of the law, "this is a worse political pathology than monarchy, and Bush is not a single 'bad actor'": The Globe deserves credit for increasing the level of discussion among Congress, the media, and all Americans regarding Bush’s abuse of executive power with ‘signing statements’ (“Bush challenges hundreds of laws” 4/30). However, such informing of debate needs to be more focused and accurate in several respects. Most of the columns and discussions triggered by the Globe story, such as Scot Lehigh’s “Our monarch, above the law” (5/2), err in both diagnosing Bush’s law-breaking as a disease of monarchy, and in focusing uniquely on Bush as voiding a ‘balance of power’ between executive, Congress and the courts. To more effectively focus on the real problem we face, Americans need to be informed that empire, not monarchy, is the only pathology that republics have ever morphed into, and that the balance of power between executive, Congress and the courts has not been upset ---- all three had been (before Bush), and continue to be, fully in the hands of a ruling-elite corporate empire. While I am certainly no fan of Bush, the Globe report is having the effect of causing most to believe that concentrated power, outside the hands of democratic citizens, can be remedied by simply restraining a single ‘bad actor’, rather than the more rigorous effort of recovering the entire system of a democratic republic. As Franklin might say today, “Now we can have our republic back ---- if we can recognize and expunge the empire.” Sincerely, Alan MacDonald PS. I am glad to see that the more politically astute BuzzFlash piece correctly notes that the more modern political pathologies of fascist empire pertains. Subject: National Anthem Did you Buzzers out there catch this ..... He's such a piece of sh** ..... Talk about a flip flopper ..... On Friday, President Bush blasted the idea of singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. But Bush’s highly-scripted 2001 inaugural ceremony actually featured a rendition of the national anthem sung in Spanish by Jon Secada. From Cox News Service, 1/18/01: The opening ceremony reflected that sentiment. A racially diverse string of famous and once famous performers entertained Bush, soon-to-be First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney and his wife, Lynne, who watched on stage from a special viewing area. Pop star Jon Secada sang the national anthem in English and Spanish. Apparently, Secada singing the anthem in Spanish was a regular feature of the Bush campaign. From the 8/3/00 Miami Herald: The nominee, his wife Laura, erstwhile rival John McCain and his wife Cindy joined Bush on a platform where children sang the national anthem - in “Spanglish,” Secada explained. Robert Kinney Subject: One for the White House Listen to them. Oh, yes, Colbert simply wasn't 'funny'. Well, it's obvious, watching the Right and its literal mindedness, that they'll never get Colbert. We've seen it over and over, their having no idea what he's doing when they come on his show. But not funny? Well, why not. It was Truth, after all. And none of the real truth is very funny -- not the hijacking of Democracy, the lawless invasions, the lawlessness in general, or what passes for law -- Bush has used the White House to legitimize White Collar crime, to subvert the Constitution. The country is ruined, in debt that can't be even imagined, let alone kept account of. Our worth to the world is little more than our military, a military whose brass refuses to stand up and be true to the Constitution it vows to uphold. Colbert made all these points and more a stone's throw away from the man. No one else has come close. Colbert is a hero and a patriot. And that is the reality. And the really big reality that all this illustrates is the strength of our Republic of Letters... the blogosphere. Who of us depends on the Corporate sham news, the commentary our Corporate-owned sham media churns out -- hello, all of you at that lovely dinner -- for anything more than a gauge of which way the spin blows? There's no news, no truth there. Who watches it but the faithful? It's a land of dim bulbs. The Emperor. He is butt ugly naked. We, in this Republic of Letters, as individuals united in respecting our difference and rights: we are recovering our Democracy, our souls, the future. It's happening HERE. And the response to Stephen Colbert is another affirmation of that fact. Feeling alone? Beloved -- we ARE the majority. And we walk the high ground. Deborah Conner The only thing that worries me about the bird flu is the fact that Bush is in charge. Karen Massey Subject: Getting Out the Truth Dear BuzzFlash, I am repeatedly reminded by the ignorance of my friends who are Dems, but do not take the trouble to go to the internet to explore the true news, that we need a major newspaper that prints what is really happening in the US. There are many wealthy Dems who could pool their resources to buy a large newspaper and thereby let the public know the truth. A BuzzFlash Reader PS: Thank God for the internet! thank God for BuzzFlash! Subject: Stephen Colbert Earth to Tweetie ... After hearing Chris Matthews say that Stephen Colbert "[did] not have a sense of the room" at the Correspondents Dinner, I sent the following message to the Hardball show:
Susan Lynch Subject: Thank You! Dear Buzz: I'd like to thank you for your EXCELLENT commentary on Stephen Colbert's performance. The people who said he "wasn't funny"... really didn't get it. He didn't go there as a court-jester to entertain "King George." He went there to deliver a message to Bush, his corrupt Administration, and the doormats (who call themselves "reporters"). The message was: You have collectively failed the American people. Bush has been totally detached from the suffering he has caused at home and in Iraq, because of his failed policies. Mr. Colbert's performance will go down in history as one of the greatest moments in television. Kimberly D. Subject: New 'hearings' I see where Senator Spector is advocating another set of 'hearings' into Bush's 'by-passing laws.' Oh well, as Reagan said once: "Here we go again!" I hate to have to bring this up, Senators on the Judiciary Committee, but Bush has been 'by-passing laws' since 2000. Perhaps you people will have REAL hearings this time - not just a "most powerfully staged photo-op." Or is it: "Practice makes Perfect"? Please, oh PLEASE, DO YOUR JOB this time. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: It's Hard Out There For a Bush... Ay Buzz, it's not easy to be Dubya, what with the accusations, allegations, and abundant crimes and incompetence for everyone to see. And now that Colbert dude, disrespectfully poking fun at the miserable failure, right in his face: Skewering comedy skit angers Bush and aides (US News & World Report) Dubya was offended -- imagine that. Boo hoo. Well, it's hard out there for a Bush -- the pampered, sheltered from reality by a combination of stupidity and undeserved privilege (plus yes-men), sociopathic son of Barbara. Elizabeth Subject: Immigration I think that we should offer total amnesty for all that are here without the proper papers.We need these people.We need to sign them up so they can pay taxes.We need to welcome them like our own ancestors were welcomed.We are a nation of immigrants except for the Native Americans.Lets do the Christian thing and help all those who come to us for help. Larry Subject: Some Drum Some think it’s in vogue Some think that it’s o. k. Some think that war lets Some don’t seem to blink Some are thinking twice Some know Americans Some march in the streets Subject: Wondering Why (On the Occasion of Stephen Colbert's Great Act) Guess I am just a naive little country bumpkin but I can not help wondering why Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson were there to honor the press and Bush! Why was that arch liberal, George Clooney there? I can only conclude that Washington DC is indeed, The District of Corruption. This whole thing is just a little game they play with our lives. Did anyone else on BuzzFlash find the guest list rather strange? Sandy [BuzzFlash Note: Editor and Publisher had an interesting article discussing the guest list and various White House Correspondents Association dinner traditions. They note that incoming WHCA president Steve Scully of C-SPAN suggested Colbert as guest host.] Subject: Conservatives Wary of Bush Power Lust (Financial Times) Gee, they noticed. Publicly. That puts them ahead of most Democrats. And perhaps behind the majority of the people. wmb Subject: Congressional Sex Scandal Hey, Buzz, I went to the abc news sight to read the article on the Watergate sex scandal and got "cannot connect to the site". What juicy stuff was I missing? Has Jeff Gannon (James Guckert) resurfaced there? Who was he servicing this time? For that matter, who was he "doing" when he was at the White House? Inquiring minds want to know. Bill Mac Bean [BuzzFlash Note: The ABC site seems okay at the moment, plus the NY Post has covered it: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/congressional_s.html.] Subject: Santorum says he's not a tool of big oil (video) Rick Santorum has received over $400,000 from oil and gas companies while he's been in Congress. Last summer he voted for the energy bill, which contained over $2 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas companies -- even though they were already reaping huge profits. Now he tells KDKA's Jon Delano that he's not on the side of Big Oil and that oil companies support him because he's for American energy independence. Watch the video. http://santorumexposed.com/... Brian Subject: find iraq hey buzz, i thought starting wars was the way americans learned geography Six out of 10 young Americans cannot find Iraq on a map (The Independent) tom coombs [BuzzFlash Note: Here's the geography quiz.] Subject: Zarqawi Again I'm glad that this story is showing up again. If you look back, I've been making noise in these pages about this one for a while. I still don't understand why Kerry didn't hammer away at the fact that Bush let him go. They must not have been trying to win the election. I can't think of a better way to reverse the myth that Bush is strong on terror than by pointing out the obvious truth, that Bush let Zarqawi go. It would have made a great television ad. The Republicans have no problem punching below the belt, and swift boating (Bullshi**ing) to get their point across, why couldn't the Democrats respond in kind? As we look forward to the next election, it's this simple fact that worries me: Are they going to really try to WIN this time? Bush deliberately allowed Zarqawi to escape. Why? 5/1 S.E. Subject: An oil man is about to tell us why gas will be $4 this summer on NBC I am not listening because I feel certain he won't say anything about conserving and he probably won't say, "it's extortion," which it is as far as I am concerned. If we don't let them drill anywhere they want then it won't go down. Why else would they stick the ANWR on their $100 bribe for votes? Why else would a conservative pundit on NPR say yesterday that there is no shortage and mention huge reserves 30 miles off the coast of Florida? And he said that Cuba and others were about to exploit it and we could do nothing because of restrictive laws. If they can't terrify enough people into voting GOP with Iran, then they will do it with Cuba. Invading Cuba over oil would be very Bush-like and pretty inexpensive. We might be able to send Cuba into oblivion without planes even. The GOP would be drilling on the White House lawn if they thought there was oil there. Nowhere would be safe. They want to muck up any area in order to make money because the new EXXON CEO wants his half a billion for 10 years work. The man said that the thing to do is give people what they want and deserve which is more gas because telling them to conserve or limiting their movements is un-American. It's called supply side and it didn't work in the 1980's and it isn't working now. Give them everything they want and to hell with the consequences. Speak up or they assume you agree!!! ABB Karen Webb Subject: How Many Have Died? I hate to hear the reports that about 2400 of our soldiers have died in this senseless war. I would like to know, and I'm sure the American people would be horrified to know, how many Americans have actually died in this war. We know that the number reported is the number that have died on the battlefield. It is my understanding that the government does not include those that have died in the hospitals, en route to medical care or have died days, weeks or months later because of their injuries. How many of our loved ones actually should be counted? 5,000? 10,000? I'm sure it's a number the administration guards better than W's National Guard records. Bob Lambert Subject: My Letter to Congressman Hoyer Congressman, Those of us who toil in the service of Democratic ideals have few champions in the media these days. In a world where the airwaves are dominated by Fox and Limbaugh, it is rare indeed to see someone stand up and take on the neo-cons head on. That was why I, and so many others, were deeply disappointed with your comments criticizing Stephen Colbert's performance at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. Colbert used humor and irony to express the outrage that has been kindled in a great many hearts across America. President Bush, with his exaggeration of intelligence as a predicate to war, his illegal wiretaps, his tolerance of torture, his disregard for the Constitution and federal law, and his emasculation of the Congress (the very body in which you sit) has earned at least that much. You may consider the dinner to be an inappropriate venue for the expression of that outrage; even if deserved. Yet, sir, I ask; if not there, where? The main stream media, consumed with the need for "access," has proven unable to hold the President to account. And, without subpoena power, Democrats in Congress are largely ignored by the press and punditocracy. The neo-con movement has adopted a take-no-prisoners approach to politics. It has crossed every line of custom and civility in its pursuit of power. It has routinely slandered its opponents...even to the point of questioning the patriotism of decorated members of congress. That the President is now made to "squirm" a bit by the irony of a humorist doesn't even begin to balance the scale. What's more, we elect Presidents, not kings, and are under no obligation to treat them with any more "respect" than they have earned by the manner in which they discharge their duties. Perhaps Mr. Colbert's performance was a bit "disrespectful of the office." Yet it strikes me that George Bush has disrespected it far more. While condemning Mr. Colbert, you might also have mentioned that. Thank you for your time, Sir. I know we are all alike in our prayers that the next election will bring us a majority; and, with it, the opportunity to get to the bottom of the scandals which were the subject of Mr. Colbert's laudable effort to speak truth to power. Roger Pike Subject: Limbaugh's Easy Go He is building this up to be like he is getting off so easily. Does anyone know what it is to give a supervised urine sample? i am sure you have heard ... but my husband recently went through it, with a male nurse, when he broke his arm at work. They literally go with you into the stall, and watch ... they cannot take the chance, especially in drug related cases, of you bringing your own clearn urine with you ... yikes! I would love to see Rush go through this every month for 18 of them ... wanna take bets on his trying to ge a clean sample through? Shirley ... St. Louis
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