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| June 7, 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: What Are We Going To Do? Every day I read BuzzFlash, Common Dreams, Truthout, and other anti-Bush blogs on the Web. We KNOW that Bush did not win the 2000, nor the 2004 elections. We KNOW that the Bush administration falsified documents that led the American people to believe that Iraq harbored terrorists, and WMDs, in order to wage an illegal war against Iraq. We KNOW that the Bush Administration is giving huge tax breaks to corporations and the rich, while cutting social programs for the needy in this country. We know that this FALSE PRESIDENT and his FALSE ADMINISTRATION are taking our rights away, one at a time. The big question is; what are we going to do about it? I am so tired of reading about all this stuff, day after day, and NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. There should be a rebellion, and either Al Gore or John Kerry (maybe both) should be put in office. THEY BOTH WON THE ELECTIONS!!!!! We can't afford to wait for another election. If the American people can't do something, or aren't willing to do something, then all the writing in the world is not going to help. We need to act, while we still have something to save. I am not afraid to say what I have to say, or to do whatever I need to do, to help salvage this country. Lucille Gould [BuzzFlash Note: Yes, it's time to act. BuzzFlash's general advice is outlined in What You Can Do.] Subject: The War They Wanted, the Lies They Needed Well, then, is the story that lies were told? I think that the story is, rather, that lies are the currency of power and the "yellow cake uranium" cock and bull is the tip of an iceberg - the one involving not just Ms. Plame and her husband but the entire nation and the world. These scum lie for a living. Only the terminally deluded could think otherwise. Love and kisses... And oh, yes: Buy the newest Dixie Chicks offering. Non-liars deserve our support, and truth tellers even more so! Tim Harrington Subject: Letter Sent to My Mercenary Republican Senators Senator DeWine, No one has ever lost the "family farm" or street-front business to the estate tax; this is only a cynical canard used by mercenary Republican legislators to gain unwarranted public sympathy for the handful of oligarchs to whom they are obliged in a variety of unseemly ways. Certainly there are some vast private corporations that have had to downsize or diversify ownership due to this measure, but that was the whole point of Teddy Roosevelt's initiative for an estate tax in the first place! Senator, as an intelligent veteran legislator, you must know full well that the estate tax is an essential protection for our democracy; shame on you for your crass promulgation of lies and demagoguery against the interests and political franchise of the vast majority of American citizens. Please change your position on the estate tax and fight its repeal. Thank you for your consideration Ken Duerksen Subject: Get Your Priorities Straight Congress! Let me see if I have the high priorities of Bush and his congressional cohorts straight. · This country is at war in both Afghanistan and Iraq with the number of troops killed rising every day and other bad news coming out every day from Iraq. Gee, whatever happened to "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"? · We still have not caught Osama bin Forgotten nor have our soldiers found any WMD under Bush’s Desk. · We have Iran “upping the anti” with their harsh rhetoric about Nuclear Weapons. · We have Pakistan on the verge of being run over by the Taliban, and civil wars breaking out all over the place in Iraq. We also are starting to see the unfortunate impact, on a few of our soldiers, after they have been sent to Iraq for the third or fourth times. · We just saw the Canadian government capture seventeen terrorists in Toronto, with three tons of ammonium nitrate, for use in another fertilizer bomb. The Oklahoma City bomb only needed one ton. These terrorists had three tons of the same material. Meanwhile, we have Homeland INsecurity cutting their budget to the major cities that got hit in 2001. · We have IL-legal immigration alive and well into the United States from Mexico, along with the stealing of our valid Social Security numbers by these “fence jumpers.” Yet, the White House and Senate have supported such IL-legal activities. Their solution is for the IL-legal immigrants to pay a fine to become citizens. Have you ever heard the president of a robbed bank tell the burglar that if he pays a small fine, he would be able to keep the rest of the money he IL-legally stole from the bank? I didn’t think so. Leave it for Congress to think this way and do this very thing with their IL-legal immigration laws. · We have Runaway gas gouging and record oil company profits. Congress and the President are sitting on their hands regarding other forms of fuel and transportation. · We have lost our American privacy and freedoms to the NSA thanks to Bush and his Congressional Buddies. Now that The FBI breaks into “one of THEIR Offices”, Congress has a conniption and flips out at Bush. Sorry Congress but where on earth were you when it impacted the little guy? After all, Congress was all gung-ho at supporting Bush’s “Spies-Are-Us” Patriot Act. · We have higher and higher Republican budget deficits and more and more tax cuts for the super rich. The little guy and future generations get to hold the bag yet again for the greedy! · We have more and more companies leaving the US and taking their business and jobs to foreign countries. This country can hire just so many hamburg flippers before we don’t need any more of them. So much for artificially low unemployment figures. Ever hear of giving up looking for a job and falling off the unemployment charts? · Our so-called Homeland INsecurity has allowed very porous borders and seaports, not to mention unguarded nuclear power plants and chemical plants. · We have teachers being forced to “Teach To The Test” instead of “Teaching The Essentials.” Just look at all the newly required languages spoken in China, India and Mexico that must be taught. Face it folks – they took us over, right under the noses of Congress, and now we have to speak their languages! · We have “a dictator” (Bush’s own words) in the White House, who has told Congress he does not have to follow the laws they passed because he has used “signing statements” over 750 times. Ask Senator McCain about his bill pertaining to prisoner abuse and how Bush wrote in so many words: “I don’t have to follow any of these laws.” · And we still do not have tamper-proof voting system and those new electronic voting machines still do not leave a paper trail. So, with all these problems facing us and many other important items I missed in this list, what do Bush and Congress, in their insane wisdom, say they are going to tackle head-on for the next three weeks in debate? Well, for starters, how about: · A Constitutional Amendment to make sure a man only marries a woman. · A Constitutional Amendment to make sure people cannot burn a flag. · And God knows what other INEPT, UNimportant items Bush will have Congress tackle to soothe his quickly evaporating Christian Conservative Voters. Perhaps yet another Tax Cut? Are these clowns in DC on drugs? Now, I’m no fan of either gay marriage or flag burning. But for God’s sake, Congress, get your heads out of your butts!!!!! Get with the real world and its real news because we have one hell of a mess out here with many, many, more important issues that have to be tackled!! And before Congress starts to tell America how to handle their marriages, it’s time for Congress to get their OWN marital acts together. After all, just ask a member of Congress what “heterosexual” marriage number they are on by saying: “Is this your first, second, third or fourth marriage, Senator or Representative?” Now Lou Dobbs is reporting that the states with same-sex marriage or unions or no marriage laws on the books also have the lowest divorce rates in the nation. Those states that are pushing hardest for this anti-gay Constitutional amendment are also at the tops of the divorce rates. Go figure! When the world becomes a Utopia, then fine, look at amending the Constitution regarding flag burning or same sex marriage. Just don’t hold your breath for that tranquil day to come any time soon. Then again, if the world really does turn that peaceful and all the items I listed are no longer a problem, Congress should simply skip out of town, which they seem to know how to do real well lately, and avoid upsetting the apple cart! Tom Wieliczka Subject: DHS Allocations Hi, Buzz!! Once again, I am agape at the perfidy of the federal government. HOW, and I repeat, HOW could they not recognize the importance of Topeka, Kansas, to terrorist aims? Topeka, of course, is not getting any DHS money to protect itself against terrorist attack. And Topeka has the world-famous mural of John Brown, right there in the State House. A terrorist magnet if ever there was one (John Brown was a terrorist himself, in my opinion, but that's a subject for another day). I suppose the right wingers think Kansas is sewn up for the Republicans and doesn't need any pandering. They might be in for a surprise in November; Democrats are pretty fired up here. But, really, SERIOUSLY, how can they expect ANYONE, even a life-long midwesterner like myself, to buy the idea that New York City has no historic monuments or cultural icons worthy of protection? New York City IS a cultural icon; New York City IS a historic monument. And beyond that, NEW YORK CITY HAS ALREADY BEEN HIT - MORE THAN ONCE!!!! Even a prairie hayseed like me can manage this much reasoning: If it's already been attacked, and is still standing, it's probably still on the hit list. Terrorists are nothing if not persistent. The only conclusion I can reach from this is that the Repugs are punishing NYC for being such a hotbed of unAmerican liberalism. Good going, guys - that's really going to swing New Yorkers' votes your way! Jane Hawes The past six years have been, if nothing else, most interesting if you enjoy people watching. I happen to be a people watcher and it's been truly fascinating. It is a three-ring circus, which beats a "Dog and Pony Show" by a long shot. The Bush-Cheney administration has provided more than enough laughs for independent thinkers around the world. If the consequences of Dubya and Darth's gross incompetence weren't so damned serious to our future, and perhaps that of mankind, I'd be doubled over, sides hurting from laughing so hard, staring off into outer space, and muttering "I'll be damned." My reality has been to analyze, on just a superficial basis, the words and deeds of the Dubya and Darth production. It takes me back to those mental pictures of a Wild West Show shuckster who is also an "old-time" preacher, and snake-oil hawker. You know you can't believe anything he says because the truth is so diametrically opposed. You've done your research, you've talked to people, you've chosen to adopt a way of life based on your concept of God's values, which are family values. In my case, family values means doing what you can to make your small part of the world a better place to live, foster peace, and stand up for honesty and truth. You are distracted by our 21st century religious snake-oil men, Dubya and Darth. The reality of the Dubya and Darth Wild West Show is just the opposite. It is good to be a draft evader, but screw you if you actually served your country proudly because it was the patriotic thing to do. It is good to build more weapons, but screw you if you need life-prolonging drugs and don't have the money. It is good to shoot from the lip because, shucks, you can only always say you misspoke, but screw you if you stand for clarity, honesty, integrity, or dare to challenge me. It is good to be "Commander-in-Chief" because what I lack in intelligence I make up for by telling other people to fight my battles, but screw you if you have a child killed because of me and just want to know why he died. It is good for me to cheat and lie as long as I get what I want, but screw you if you're poor or elderly or young and can't get healthcare or a home that you can afford. You have to take a few steps back in disbelief, shaking your head with those tell-tale frowns of "Huh? That doesn't make any sense. And what about (insert your favorite nonsensical claim here) that they just said or did? You think, trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but not being the least bit surprised that you can't - you just can't make any sense of it and ask yourself, "What the hell were they thinking?" So, you ask them for answers. Why did we REALLY invade Iraq? Why didn't you let the U.N. inspectors finish their job? And then, you actually lied about why you had to "invade" Iraq and said they WEREN'T even there, but they were. Why do you keep referring to a 1991 intelligence report, instead of the more current inspection report of Scott Ritter, a USMC intelligence officer? Did you think about getting updated and current information? It's a very curious move anyway. My own training as a military intelligence analyst kicks back into gear after not having been used for a few decades now. Their newest claim doesn't make one bit of sense, and no matter what the truth really is, it's damned scary. If they DID rely on a 1991 intelligence report and forsaking the intel from Scott Ritter AND Hans Blix, they have a lot to learn about operations and security. If they DID rely on the 1998 Intel report, however, invading doesn't make any sense because they didn't have any WMD. Oh wait, now it's about getting rid of Hussein, but we can't find it. Oh, I remember now, it's really about bringing democracy to Iraq. We don't believe in nation-building, but as long as we're here, we'll rebuild your country for you from the ground-up. Damn, those bombs did more damage than we thought they would. We've never really had the military experience by serving our country, so you just really can't blame us. I am, after all, the "Decider-in-Chief," so nothing is ever my fault and I can do what I want because it would be easier if this was a dictatorship and I was the dictator." You shake your head again in disbelief. You start laughing at the absurdity of it all and looking for your mood-altering preferred substance and go for broke - what the hell else do you have to lose? And then, thank God, you awaken – you pinch yourself and ask yourself again – is it a damned nightmare or is it reality? You console yourself when you realize, yet again, that life would be better if it were a nightmare. Unfortunately, it isn’t. Lisa Johnson Subject: Russ Feingold Thanks for the downlink to the interview with Russ Feingold. If he runs with Wes Clark he could win. I worked my behind off for Kerry...and I like him, but a recent Hollywood Liberal piece on a meeting with him proves he STILL doesn't get it about the fixed voting machines. If Hillary runs, I sit the election out, period. Go to Santa Barbara, get a manicure and a tan. I will not vote for her or work for the Demo party if she runs. If Feingold/Gore/Wes Clark/Gore in some combination run...I'll work again. The DLC can go screw themselves, I'm done with all of them. Transcript: Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin): Interview Suzanne Subject: Bush/Amendment Alrighty, now ... let's see. We have Bush determined to push an amendment to the CONSTITUTION ... to ... yep ... I said, the CONSTITUTION ... the very same Constitution I do believe that Bush referred to as a "G......D......piece of paper" ....! Glad to see he finally realized we have one! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: GOP: Masters of the Obvious Americans should speak English. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Flag burning is bad. Did you ever know someone who had an annoying habit of pointing out the obvious? Like saying, "That looks heavy!" instead of helping you carry it or telling you to do something you were about to do anyway? By grade school, this is usually met with "DUH!" "DOY!" or "No shit, Sherlock." In college, a slightly more diplomatic friend used to say "Thanks, MOTO (master of the obvious)." Not that I agree with GOP on these things, but when was the last time you felt the need for a law to let you know which language would be most useful to speak? Did you ever get up and wonder if today was a Portuguese day or maybe Hindi? Were you ever uncertain about which gender to marry or date and wish there was a federal law or even constitutional amendment to clear it up for you? Were you ever uncertain whether burning the American flag is a sign of respect or disrespect? Most of us feel pretty competent to figure this stuff out for ourselves. Apparently, a lot of Republicans don't. In fairness, they will be quick to tell you that they PERSONALLY wouldn't marry someone of the same sex just because it was legal, but someone else might be weaker than them, and their children's sexual orientation is apparently as arbitrary as their taste in music or clothes, subject not only to fads but the fad of a distinct minority. That makes sense though since these are the same people that think their children will forsake their religious beliefs if they don't hear about God during the six hours of the public school day. The parents themselves might become stone atheists if "In God we trust" wasn't on our money so they could pull it out and read it when they start to doubt his existence. Their thought processes are a closed loop: I have a prejudice, I want society to make it a law, so I can point to the law to show that my prejudice is valid. They never ask a question that requires evidence or that they haven't already decided what the answer is. If most of us were concerned about whether Terri Schiavo's husband was ending her life while she still had a chance for recovery, we would then want to hear about the tests of her brain activity, see CAT scans, and things like that before we were certain he was doing something wrong. If most of us were vaguely uncomfortable with gays and wonder if gay marriage influenced kids to be gay, we would want to see research by psychologists, sociologists, neurologists and other scientists before we decided it was a legitimate concern, and we might actually change our minds. Not the MOTOs. They have a prejudice, Pastor Buford and President Bush confirm it, and that's the end of the discussion. We all have our moments when we are the Sherlock of "No shit, Sherlock," but when someone does nothing but point out the obvious or make rules about things most people were going to do anyway, you begin to wonder if they aren't a little retarded, and rather than argue or agree with them, you try to steer clear of them and put important things on shelves they can't reach. I don't think republican politicians are retarded. They are just profoundly cynical like an ice cream man who whispers in kids' ears that he'll sell them bogey man protection if they give him their lunch money or let him touch their little brother in the back of the truck. We aren't doing the GOPs constituents any favors by treating their hot button issues as legitimate concerns any more than we would be helping the retarded kid by asking him if his bogey man insurance is all paid up to date. Mike Dixon Subject: Alleged Terrorists in Toronto May I remind all the American media outlets that we appreciate (as Canadians) your concern for your national security, but I find all the accusations about Canada being a "Pipeline to Terrorism" absolutely ridiculous. Note all Americans: WE CAUGHT OUR TERRORISTS!!! Follow up: YOU LET YOUR TERRORISTS BOMB THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE!!! And as a nation you have the unmitigated gall to question Canada's ability to stop terrorism?! Please! I hope as Canadians that we can show America, in particular, that the climate of fear perpetuated by your corrupt government will not permeate the Canadian way of life. America really needs to grow up and stop pointing fingers at the success of others and calling them failures. It's unbecoming. It's tragic, and it's sadly "oh so American." When you should be congratulating us for doing what's necessary and succeeding at it, you instead insult us. Never thought I'd have to say this to America as a whole but ... "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Your incessant whining and crying is becoming annoying now. We've put up with it for quite sometime because we felt bad over 9/11. Time to get over yourselves and 9/11. Get over your president (small P) who is by definition a war criminal. Get over your idea of democracy, get over your holier than thou attitude. It's time to move on. How about trying to look towards the future? Or at the very least try and look more closely at your own faults like those of soldiers killing women and babies for sport in Iraq and Afghanistan. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Ann Coulter I just read the article on ann coulter being on the TODAY SHOW today. I haven't watched the show in ages, except the day Katie left. It was my favorite morning show until I saw how they tiptoed with the republiCONS. Now i listen to C-SPAN. Today, I caught a little of the Ed Shultz show. He said Ann Coulter HAD CALLED AND wanted to be on his show to promote her book. Well, I was very pleased that Ed told her he wouldn't have her on his show. Hooray for Ed Shultz. Carol Keegan Subject: Marc Perkel's E-mail of June 5, 2006 I totally agree with Mr. Marc Perkel's assessment that we can not blame Bush this time for the Haditha massacre. Each soldier is responsible for his own actions. Bush, Rumsfeld and the big Dick are responsible for Abu G. prison atrocities and secret prisons because they set the tone by ignoring the geneva convention. This happens in every way. My father, who was in World War 2, told me it happened. He would not elaborate but simply said, "War is hell," as reported, and "We were not angels." Sandra Subject: Mailbag...6-6-06 Yes, K J Lovell...the end of the world. Every time I hear that phrase...I think of the movie, "The Birds"...tells you how old I am. The older woman in the restaurant...in Bodega Bay....was telling them...It was the end of the world..because of the birds acting up like they were....that was, I think, in 1963. I understand the need to giggle...I hope you see or hear that Bible thumper soon...ask him...what happened? You know, it is bothersome to have to take supposed Bible thumpers to task...but, they are truly illiterate! The Jesus People have been telling me that since I was born...and the first time, I remember going to church in a small town...I try to avoid those places now! And this is truly scary...and borders on child abuse...but, I was told so much that the world would end in fire...that when I saw smoke...and was alone...I would walk for miles ... just to find another adult! Mike Allen...what a good post....you could write a book on the reasons we are in Iraq...I can tell. but the more I hear of 911, and the oddities of it, the more I think unfortunately (none of us back then did, even BuzzFlash) you just cannot ignore the strangeness of 911! My son and daughter, when we talked about it...later, we all mentioned the oddity that it happened on 911, the call for help! Do you think that the Evil Chimp thought of that? I do! Oddly, I thought of something happening on 6.6.6.....just to show us. All these years...I have thought of his look in the school, as being terrified...but, go back and look at your copy of F/911...and look at it now, he is saying to himself "Okay...right on schedule"... Now, to the Wal-Mart issue...and the Dixie Chicks. I know they are doing this to me just to drive me crazy...but...I went to the Kirkwood store Friday...and it was nowhere to be found. Anyone who knows the St. Louis area...knows that Kirkwood is an upscale part of the county...good public schools...and beautiful old homes. Today...I went to the one nearer me...in the south section of the county...I think, Oakville. For any of you who know anything about this area, you know that in some cases the southern county is known....in some areas...to be redneck country (But, I would admit...just certain areas of south). I worked in this area for about 5 years...and literally did not like the people who were insured with us...they were narrow minded...and thought if you lived in the city...you were just ghetto...no doubt about it...even though the persons passing judgement were even worse off. In this Wal-Mart...not only did they have the CD displayed in the new country...but, in three bins and with an added description of the song, "Not ready to make nice" with a pull up description...by the automatic scanner where you can listen to it. Will someone explain these Wal-Marts to me...or do they just play to the area they are in? I would never have guessed the southern county one would be pushing this CD. For instance, Kirkwood is near Frontenac...where they are showing "An Inconvenient Truth" first. They showed F/911 first and most of the movies that are controversial to right wingers! Go figure! Shirley ... St. Louis Subject: Bush Players Presents ... Looney Tunes, their interpretation of the famous cartoon show that has been on for decades. The following roles have already been cast: Foghorn Leghorn -- Dick Cheney Any other casting suggestions are welcomed by the White House. Contact Tony Snow, Press Secretary. Lisa Johnson Subject: Lessons To Be Learned Liberals can jump for joy over one more “close call.” “We almost won in a hugely Republican District,” they trumpet. Some might wonder if “almost” should be the new Democratic Party theme song. Close just ain’t good enough. We would like to win, you Bozos! It will take a while for us to know exactly why Republican Brian Bilbray won the 50th District in California over Democratic candidate Francine Busby. Might it have something to do with Ms. Busby sticking her foot in her mouth by appearing to encourage illegal immigrants to vote for her? She quickly tried to assure folks she didn’t mean anything of the kind, but that’s what it sounded like she was saying. You know that Democrats would be all over any Republican who made that kind of mis-speak, so don't bother to act outraged. We know that Republicans have a huge majority in this district. Democrats may take comfort from this “close” race, but it seems that if a Democrat can’t win Duke Cunningham’s seat against a lobbyist there just may be something wrong. It might be that not all voters are as enamored of the amnesty thing for illegal immigrants as the Senate and the President. It is being reported that the immigration issue is very important in this district. I sincerely hope that the Busby loss is not a sign of things to come. I really do think that the ugly Republican Party now in power must be removed. I really do think they are worse than the Democrats. Jon Tester, the populist farmer who routed John Morrison in the Montana Democratic primary should also be a lesson. The pick of the Democratic Poobahs in Washington was rejected by the voters. The people seem to think they should have a voice in who they send to Washington. Whodathunkit? Republicans retain House seat in California (Yahoo) Tester routs Morrison, will challenge Burns (Billings Gazette) Marjorie Swanson Subject: Gay Marriage This really has already been answered in one court case. Just substitute the word gender for race.
The opponents of Gay Marriage have three main arguments: 1. Historical or Custom: Marriage has always been, since the beginning of time, between one man and one women. This is not true. Even today, in many countries, polygamy is a fact...even in America. We forced Utah to stop polygamy for statehood. Which begs the question; why certain Christians should be allowed to place their religious beliefs into laws of the land and other religions cannot? Many historical documents, the Bible being one, report on many marriages which were between one man and one or more women. 2. Biblical: Marriage is a sacred, religious union and is between one man and one women, for life, as the Bible states. Here is a short list of some of the Bible’s laws on marriage. A. Solomon … had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. 1 Kg.11:2-3 B. Marriage shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5 C. Marriage shall not impede a man’s right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21 D. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow, even if he already has a wife. If he refuses to marry his brother’s widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. Gen. 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10 E. Marriage shall not impede a man’s right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21 3. Legal: Marriage is codified into law as being between one man and one women. Many laws have been passed which are unconstitutional. They are overturned. What other License can the State deny an American based on sexual orientation? Driver’s License, Real Estate License, Beautician License or Hunting License? See my article at: http://www.lastbastionofreason.com/2006/03/11/by-the-power-vested... Do everything that you can do to stop these idiots from messing with our Constitution. All Human Rights are for All Humans! To be treated fairly, like all other Americans, is what America, at the core, is and was the dream. It is what we should always aspire to. Susan Strouss Subject: Election Reform Well, I've never written a contribution before, but the recent reawakening on the stolen 2004 Presidential election has caused the old ideas in my head to begin speaking to me again. They are speaking more loudly than ever and I can't get them to shut up so I just have to get it all out in print. First my utmost praise and felicitations to the much revered Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (what aren't you in office?) for getting all the facts together and trying to get them into the limelight. And also to Thom Hartmann for his excellent article on the same matter. Now onto my ideas. I don't think I'm the first to think of any of these, but hopefully if I say what I feel, more people will think the same way. 1) The existing rules have to be enforced. Period. No more Floridas or Ohios please. I won't say anymore about that. 2) The electoral college has got to go. It is completely outdated. A strict popular nationwide vote is the only democratic way to elect a nationwide official. At the very least I'd compromise and say that the states should split the votes as Maine does, the winner take all business is nonsense. It's still preferable to ban the whole thing entirely. 3) Most important point, and no doubt will be the hardest to implement. We must separate money from politics all together. Do you hear me? This is legalized corruption built into the system. No more fundraising. No more political contributions. No more lobbying. All gone. All candidates who meet the minimum criteria to run should be allotted identical public funds for their campaigns and given a free amount of airtime. They should be forbidden from spending any of their own money on the campaigns as well. All the existing regulations regarding this only limit such things. Limits are no good. I'm not limited in the amount of murders I commit before it becomes illegal, am I? The incidental benefits of such a system are appealing enough. First, less time would have to be wasting trying to raise funds. If a candidate wants to speak, then the candidate should speak, but not for the purpose of adding funds to the campaign. I am continually disgusted with the amounts of money that Presidential candidates raise. Every cycle the number is higher, and for what? To create some vindictive television advertisement that says nothing about anything important anyway. So much money could be used for so much good, but it just gets wasted, or ends up in the pockets of media corporations who sell airtime. How many people could be fed or clothed with the money spent on campaigns? Sickening. If every candidate is guaranteed an equal amount, they will be more frugal with how they use it, and the election would never be decided by who spent more money. If everyone is given a fair attempt at getting their message out, then the election will always go the the best person. 4) Minor parties need to have more public encouragement. As above, if their candidates meet the eligibility requirements, then they get some funding. However, if their candidate is a clear loser, than he or she should be able to yield his or her votes to another candidate. For instance if Candidate A gets 4 votes and Candidate B gets 4 votes and Candidate C gets 2 votes, than Candidate C is the clear loser. Therefore Candidate C should be able to yield his voted to A or B if he chooses. This would benefit all parties since it would eliminate the "spoiler" factor in many elections and people would be able to vote more with someone who represents them, rather than voting for someone just so that the one they really hate doesn't win. In other words, people will not have to vote strategically, but will vote consciously. Most importantly this will reduce voter apathy and get higher turnouts on election days. This is of paramount importance. 5) Voting machines. Lots of bad stories have come out about voting machines in the last two major elections. I say, the states should not be the ones deciding what machine to use. It's a national election, therefore a national standard must be used. The states can do it however they want when it comes to internal affairs, but when your state is potentially throwing the outcome for the others, it's not fair. I really am tired of one state deciding who the President of the other 49 should be. I think that's all I had on my mind about that. I agree with a lot of other publicized election reform ideas, too, but I haven't heard a lot of discussion about these things I bring up here. I know most of my ideas will not be popular, especially with Republicans, but it really is the only fair and democratic way to run things. I think especially the separation of money and politics will upset them, as it's really the only thing they have going for them. If these things were implemented we'd certainly have a lot less of them in office. It's both funny and sad that the best way for progressives to win office is just to make the opponents play fair. Thanks BuzzFlash. Alexander Durnan Subject: California Election Your flash laments the Democrat losing. While I am no fan of ANY politician, I feel strongly that the Democrat beat herself with her comments about illegals. I also think that John Kerry, et al., have done the same thing. I am not sure what should be done, but both current parties have sold their souls to corporate and special interests. It is readily apparent that they have no interest in representing the will of the people, but only in protecting their cushy lifestyles. E. H. Canada Subject: Thank You, BF and All BFers I would like to say a big thanks to the editorial staff of BuzzFlash, and all of the BuzzFlash who continually make this site relevant and meaningful. Your articles are always very interesting and the range of sources is wonderful. As to fellow BFers, I am continually amazed by how astute and succinct all the people are who either send in letters to the Mailbag and those whose pieces are selected for Reader Contributions. You have all been a bright light of sanity in an increasingly insane world. Lisa Johnson Subject: Official returns differ substantially from media reports in CA-50 The official results at McPherson's site (the California Secretary of State) show with 99.6 of precincts in, that Busby beat Bilbray by 8,999 votes. CNN and other media outlets are reporting that Bilbray won, by roughly 5,000 votes, with 90% of precincts in. Something is rotten here. http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/usrep/5000.htm A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: We called the San Diego County Registrar of Voters office and they explained this to us. Go to their site and you can scroll down through 3 sets of numbers: the "run-off"; the Republican primary; and the Democratic primary. The numbers you saw were about the primary wins of the top Republican and the top Democrat, who will then run against each other in the fall. San Diego County has the latest numbers (which they provide to the Secretary of State), to be updated again late Thursday afternoon. Bilbray beat the other Republicans by winning 32,117 votes, and Busby beat the one other Democrat by garnering 41,165 votes. In the so-called "run-off" election, to fill Cunningham's seat immediately, Republican Bilbray has 60,319 to Busby's 55,587, as of Wednesday afternoon.] Subject: Francine Busby The democrats better get their act together before November. Where was democratic support for Francine Busby prior to the election? Why wasn't Howard Dean in San Diego plugging away for her? The dems better get off their lazy butts and pay attention. THIS IS ABOUT WINNING ... PERIOD. If we don't win over congress in November, the only hope we'll have of returning the country to the American people is to storm Washington en-masse with baseball bats, knives and guns, and just start killing this degenerate neocon vermin ... in other words, we'll need another revolutionary war. We can't afford to lose this November because the Dems are asleep at the wheel! The blame for Francine Busby's loss doesn't lie with the stupid Republirat voters, but with un-motivated Democratic leadership. Sheldon Ceresnie Subject: Flag Desecration I see that, once again, the collective of evil, servile clowns in our nation's capitol want to pass an amendment proscribing desecration of the American Flag. I'm curious; is the act of drenching the American flag in the blood of innocents, infants and other civilians on the behalf of petroleum corporations considered desecration? Just asking... And another thing. Why aren't there any laws against wealthy politicians ignoring the rule of law as set by the Constitution of the United States of America? Can't George W Bush and Dick Cheney find something else to use for toilet paper - other than "that damned piece of paper" as the patriotic Bush terms it? And why is it that my Southern Baptist Congress Representative Trent Franks think that "gay marriage" is the most important issue facing the city where I live when I see bunches of people sleeping outside here? (hint: the answer is NOT more prisons; I think even your Jesus might agree) The Evil Michael J Fowler |
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