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| June 20, 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: Buzz Prediction: Dems Need To Attack Bush On Fear Campaign Greetings: Thanks for all you do! So, it seems that you are predicting the Bush/Bush/Cheney cabal will stay in power if Democrats don't challenge them on the Republicans' so-called War on Terror, especially the quagmire of Iraq. Please give some thought to these points: 1) Bush is in power because Republicans stole elections in 2000, 2002, and 2006. As is clear from reading Robert Kennedy, Jr., Greg Palast, and many others, documented evidence is plain to anybody who takes time to look. 2) Part of the reason that most people have not taken the trouble to look is because progressive commentators argue that some aspect of what Democrats were doing or not doing "explained" why they were "losing." Rove must love to see those arguments because they serve as red-herrings to help cover election fraud. 3) Improbable election victories by Republicans get "explained" by the very people who should be challenging the results of election fraud. Do you remember the explanation given for Bush's victory in 2004 -- that Democrats had not appealed well enough to voters on "moral issues?" That bogus, red-herring explanation, given legs by various progressive commentators, helped to diffuse the whole issue of election fraud and, implicitly, to validate fraudulent election results. Fooled again. 4) Because of their lies, corruption, and even treason, Republicans have lost all credibility among Democrats, Independents and some Republicans. Polls show that Republicans will lose to Democrats. They cannot win fair elections. 5) Republicans can stay in power if we allow them to steal elections and then we gratuitously provide "explanations" that help to cover their crimes. The truth is that they will lose power if they are not allowed to steal more elections in 2006 and 2008 -- even if Democrats do not directly challenge the War on Terror. Not that they should not. 6) There is no reason to believe that 2006 and 2008 elections will be clean. Are we already advancing ideas to explain Democratic losses to Republicans? Why are we not insisting, instead, on clean elections? For example, why is BuzzFlash not demanding a recount in the massively insecure Bilbray - Busby election in California? Why is BuzzFlash not demanding that Holt's election reform bill get a vote in the House? Why is BuzzFlash spreading confusion by not recognizing the real reason -- election fraud -- that Republicans have gained power and are likely to keep power? BuzzFlash does a tremendous service in exposing how our country is turning into a one-party dictatorship led by liars, fools, criminals and traitors. Please keep up your good work! Thomas Manaugh Subject: We're Not Ready To Take Back America For a moment, let’s put aside the pros and cons of setting a deadline for getting our troops out of Iraq. But, tell me, how in God’s name is it even remotely possible that 42 Democratic members of congress would stand up and -- in unison with Bush Republicans -- declare to an incredulous world that the Iraq war is part of the “Global War on Terror”? Talk about terror! Nothing frightens me more than the realization that, in absolute defiance of all truth, knowledge and reason, there is this sizeable clique of elected Democrats -- of all people -- who still make the connection between Iraq, 9/11 and global terror. The recent actions of these 42 demonstrate just how far progressives must travel in order to “take back America.” Our first focus has to be on taking back our own Party. It seems logical to me that successfully un-electing at least 42 of our own would come well before we can entertain any hope of taking back what can only be described as a well-entrenched and thoroughly self-serving institution. Larry Norman Subject: Lack of Ideas from Democrats Unfortunately your Editorial policy seems to give the same impression as the Main Stream Media about the Democrats' lack of ideas and backbone. Our Representative (Peter DeFazio) has commented regularly on their being blanked out of Media reporting. Then you regularly reprint that crap and berate the Demos. I don't condone censorship by you or anyone but a good share of anything from the Main Stream Media is a lamely worded criticism with their apologia appended. If I were a Democratic Legislator I would do nothing different from them. I won't bother to list the Democrats who showed a little backbone (and many have shown a lot) who have since found other work. I've asked myself regularly whose side you are on. A BuzzFlash Reader [BuzzFlash Note: There's nothing wrong with telling our leadership what we think is best. Here's a recent commentary you may have missed on our site: Fighting The Democratic No Ideas Myth.] Subject: My Very Valuable Vote, 2008 At this moment, there is only one man who could run for the Presidency of the United States that I would vote for and, to date, because of one issue. The man is Senator Russ Feingold. The issue is the war in Iraq. Russ Feingold was the lone, sane, voice that didn't knuckle under to a man who sought a position of power because he wanted revenge on the man who threatened his daddy. Russ Feingold has continued to be the consistent, lone, audible objection to the man who has become the most expensive liability this country has ever produced. I will vote for Russ Feingold, I will write his name in if necessary, but I will vote for him! To date, he is the only one worthy of receiving my much-ballyhooed "valuable" vote. I don't ... give a great big rats' ass about his personal life! I do give a damn when a man publicly stands on his own two feet, states his position and doesn't back down even when faced with a gaggle of dinosaurs. You continue to elect dinosaurs, you will continue to enjoy Jurassic and neanderthal government. I want this man as my next President. If and when he announces, I will support him with my time, my money, and my voice. I am sick of Hee-Haw! government, of Frat house Good 'Ol Boys' bending the rules when it suits them (they should have graduated from that a long time ago), of assignation by implication and no facts, of bull-dozer politics, of side-stepping politicians who don't want to be left out of the loop or out-of-pocket on kickback or pay day, and of wimpy Democrats who prefer cerebral one-upsmanship rather than a solid commitment to their oath of office. I'm sick of it! I pray for term-limits for Congress and I want Senator Feingold For My Next President! Thank you. I now return you to your regularly scheduled dose of NEW & IMPROVED White House Pablum, now in three delicious new flavors. John P. Subject: Robert Kennedy Jr. Robert Kennedy Jr. is the best prospect the democrats have. But he has a drug conviction the republicans would capitalize on. Too bad. He also must fear the Kennedy "curse." But by far he is the best candidate for the leader of the free world. Vice president maybe? Tim McGhie Subject: What's up with Raw Story Is it just me, or is Raw Story shifting right? I've noticed more and more -- if not most -- of their headlines of late, are right-friendly. Too, I see they are running an ad for the corporate version of net-neutrality. I don't know the people operating the site, but I'm beginning to question their place among progressive media and growing reluctant to link their pieces. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Framing We all have to stop using the republican FRAME. ...it hasn't been a war since "Mission Accomplished." It has been, and is - an OCCUPATION. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Turd Blossom I am so sad that Karl didn't go down. What makes me even more sad is the fact that Karl will again steal another election from our country. The voting machines are a huge problem for Dems and they are not focusing on that problem at all as far as I can see. I have no doubt that the elections were stolen in 2000, 2002, and 2004. When are the Washington Dems going to start shouting from the rooftops about the voting machine problems????? Rhonda Subject: Deep Sorrow for Iraqi Families and Distress and Sadness for Ours My heart is breaking for our country, for what we seem to be becoming, and for the Iraqi mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, that live in a country where there is truly no place to hide and no safety to be found. I am trying to imagine what it must be like to not get a night's sleep for fear that your house could be invaded and you or your loved ones taken or "disappeared," by armed soldiers, or to put your children on a bus for school and to find they had been pulled off the bus and executed, to have your husband kidnapped from a bakery where he works and never know what happens to him, to live in mind-numbing fear of going to a market to get food, not knowing if you will make it safely home without being blown apart, along with your babies and toddlers, to not have enough work to buy food, to not have clean water or electricity. In a country that was already oppressed and terrified, we should have been ready to give them hope, not more disaster. The war is not making friends for us, how could it? We have brought civil war and we are stuck in a morass of evil and corruption and profiteering, even if our intentions (god knows what they were) might have been at one time, honorable. (I say that of the people, not the white house.) Nona Woodrome Subject: Your Editorial About Dems: To add further to your editorial about how Dems have to speak truth to power [ Either the Democrats take the truth to power, as Jack Murtha has on national security, or the November elections will be lost. It's that simple], I offer the following points: 1. Attack Bush and the GOP relentlessly for a) Helping Osama Bin Laden and refusing to capture him. b) Supporting Bush's puppet in Afghanistan who is forming a coalition govt with the Taliban. c) Giving the funders of 9/11 (Saudi Arabia) a free pass. d) Hating our troops and military by misusing them the way they have. e) Cutting counterterrorism funding in half prior to 9/11 and ignoring the August 6th PDB. f) Counter this by emphasizing how you support killing those responsible for 9/11 (Bin Laden), those who harbored Bin Laden (the Taliban), and those who funded Bin Laden (The Saudis). Then compare Bush's views to yours. 2. Link the GOP's views on social issues to those of Osama Bin Laden. They are the same. 3. Properly calling every republican tax proposal that helps millionaires as a middle class tax increase. 4. Pound home how Bush is destroying America domestically by alluding to a) Gas prices up almost $2 a gallon under Bush. b) Health care costs up 65% c) 17 interest rate increases d) Higher student loans e) record deficits. f) Dummy downed Taliban like tests replacing true learning in education. If the Democrats simply speak the truth, the Republican Party will become irrelevant. Unfortunately there are too many Joe Liebermans, DLC hacks, and professional "consultants" who call themselves Democrats but represent the values of Vichyites, not the values of our Constitution or middle class America. We must speak truth to power to these individuals and drive them out of the Democratic Party as soon as possible. Big Dave from Queens Subject: Insurgents, Minutemen or Underground Hey Buzz,We have to quit talking about that guy whose name starts with Z* (Bush probably got al Zarqawi mixed up with al Zawahiri, a real bad guy), who supposedly led the Iraqi chapter of the al Qaeda. Forget about him. He was used as a red herring by Rove. The Iraqis don’t need an outside agitator to incite violence against US Forces. It’s reminiscent of an old Bill Cosby routine about the American Revolution. The captains of the British team and the American team meet at center field for the coin toss. The Americans win home field advantage and choose to wear whatever the hell they want and to run around and attack the British whenever they can. The British chose to wear bright red uniforms and to march around conspicuously and to announce when and where they were going to engage the enemy. In the Second World War the Germans raced across Europe wearing their scary uniforms and driving their scary tanks and flying their scary planes and overran the continent. The opposing team in this case had to fight with whatever weapons they could come up with and hide in the night attacking the Germans when and wherever they could. Today in Iraq the Americans rumble down the streets in their desert camos just like the panzer driving Germans (we’re not supposed to say Nazis) and the musket- toting Redcoats. Who needs foreign agitators when you have occupation troops marching down the streets of your home turf? In the revolutionary war the guys wearing mufti (civilian clothes) were patriots or minutemen. In the Second World War they were again called patriots or the underground. Today in Iraq, locals fighting occupation forces are called terrorists. I’m betting King George and Hitler called their mufti-clad foes terrorists as well. This whole deal started when a group of criminal zealots hijacked some planes and blew up the trade centre in New York. This was a crime committed by criminals and was clearly a police matter. No nation attacked the United States. No Iraqis or Afghanis attacked the United States. In the days following the attack, local cops raided and broke up al Qaeda cells all across Europe. Police track criminals. Soldiers should stay home and defend their own countries. Hey, Bush, you’ve turned America into the bad guys. Get out of town. Bring the troops home. Tom Coombs Subject: Wars and Occupations Guys, you're doing a great job but you're also shooting yourself in the foot when you use those right-wing terms "Iraq war" and "insurgents." Isn't it clearly apparent that there is no war in Iraq but there is an illegal U.S. military occupation? You do know the difference between a war and an occupation, right? And those folks trying to drive out the infidel invaders and occupiers - they are members of a rag-tag RESISTANCE, not "insurgents." They can't be insurgents since there is no real government in Iraq - just a U.S. permitted group of people we call a government. Insurgents rebel against legal, lawful governments. Resistance groups fight to drive out invaders who kill their people. We are the invaders and the occupiers. If BuzzFlash can't get this straight, don't go on about Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid because you don't get it either! Jim Steeves Subject: Two Thousand Five Hundred -- Just a Number? When I read about what Tony Snow said in reaction to the 2500th combat death in Bush's brainfart war, well, it got me mad somehow and this is my response to all them chickenhawks. JUST A NUMBER? Two thousand five hundred flown home in a box, Two thousand five hundred, lives thrown away, Two thousand five hundred, cut down in their prime Two thousand five hundred and many more maimed, Two thousand five hundred fists full of red sand Brothers and sisters, please let us join hands, It can be sung to "On Top of Old Smoky," I guess, but I got a lot better melody. Chuck Cliff Subject: The Lack of Republican Corruption in America When the American government speaks, people around the world say: "... Whatever." (That is what most of us say to liars, sociopaths, jackasses and criminals who enjoy murdering 2500 people in the name of THEIR god, isn't it?) If the Bush-style Republicans win both houses this year, the only thing that might save your country is (sadly) a coup. And from what the republicans have shown; it seems pretty easy to exercise a hostile take over of a country within the simple confines of the electoral process. Until you people go back to paper ballots for elections, the rest of us around the globe can only laugh AT America. We used to laugh and poke fun because we were jealous of American life. Today we laugh because we feel sorry for the fact that each American seems perfectly content to have their own country portray them as stupid, uneducated serfs whose purpose it is to serve and worship the king. Rise up America! If not for the sake of yourselves then for the sake of global peace, fraternity and wellness. Note to all lazy liberals: Get off your asses and vote you silly elitist twits. Don't be lazy. Please! I also have a question ... If Bush decides in his infinite wisdom that he should be allowed to run for a third term, does that mean that Bill Clinton could run against him if he so chose? I know it may seem like a silly question, but I'd like some info if anyone can help. Those of us in countries with governments that work, would like to understand why America's system after only two and a half centuries has completely fallen apart. It seems to me that "The Founders" as you call them (sounds very Star Trek-ish) may not have been all that smart after all. Brian [BuzzFlash Note: As for third presidential terms ... they are not now legal. If the Bush side drafts a new law, no doubt, there would be language excluding Bill Clinton.] Subject: Proposed: That We Accept Each And Every “Yes” Vote Cast In the House’s Resolution Proceedings Last Week As A Pledge Of Military Enlistment, And Suit These Wind-bags Up For An Endless Patrol Of Anbar Province. A letter sent to my congressman, Steve Chabot (R-OH): I watched much of the debate in the House of Representatives last week regarding the proposed resolution on the Iraq war. What struck me the hardest and with the greatest frequency was the Republicans’ almost unanimous position that our occupation of Iraq must continue indefinitely in order for our commitment to the government we have established there to be honored. This would be a laughable example of partisan disingenuousness, were it not for the tragic results of this posturing on American troops and the Iraqi people. In the days preceding this cynical grandstanding, Iraq’s new Vice President (a Sunni) and President (a Kurd) advised President Bush in explicit terms that they would like a firm timetable set for the withdrawal of American troops from their country. Additionally, polls show that majorities of Iraqis and Americans share this desire. Yet has anyone counted how many Republican congressmen last week pompously repudiated just such a timetable? How often in that debate did some soft, fat legislator seek the favor of his party leaders by gravely citing our “commitment” to the Iraqi government as a rationale for leaving our soldiers in a hopeless quagmire where their welcome is long outworn? Our troops in Iraq have no mission and are demonstrably and increasingly viewed as unwelcome, permanent occupiers by a majority of the population and by the top officers of their new government. It's well past time for Americans to ask themselves for whose benefit, exactly, this disaster is being prolonged. *House: FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 288 Ken Duerksen Subject: BuzzFlash Editorial rings true I hope that all of the readers of BuzzFlash will copy and send the BuzzFlash editorial regarding the Democrats and Jack Murtha to their elected Democratic representatives and to all of their liberal/progressive/concerned friends. I definitely thank Buzz for this particular editorial. Indeed, if the Dems don't take the "truth to power, as Jack Murtha has done," they will not gain any seats in congress and could possibly lose some. Dems act as if they are not aware of problems with Diebold and the past stolen elections, or is it that they don't care? Dems keep doing the same old thing: trying to fight fair and thinking that the Republicans will do the same. (In all of their arrogance, haven't they shown that they aren't willing to work in a bipartisan manner?) It's stupidity to keep doing the same ole things and expecting different results. Many citizens are getting like me.....disgusted, sick and tired, puzzled, and disillusioned. Wake up Dems from this dream/nightmare that if you keep quiet, you can sneak in a few more seats. It's almost already too late. Karl Rove isn't going anywhere and he's more diabolical than Lee Atwater ever was. John Murtha Cleans Rove's Clock: We'll Follow You Anywhere, John! -- A BuzzFlash Editorial Dee Turner Subject: Gullible Americans or More Lies? Dear BuzzFlash: CNN's "Headline News" reported that Bush's approval rating has gone up another 5 percentage points in the last week. So we see the face of one dead terrorist, watch Bush act like he got Zarqawi himself, see Fox News do their usual propaganda agenda, and presto! People suddenly forget who got us in the war, the fact that the death toll for US soldiers passed 2,500 this week, the Katrina aftermath and FEMA mishandling of over a billion dollars and all the things that were dragging Bush down. Pundits ready to reign in the Democrats in the fall now say the Republicans have seized the momentum again and that neither the House nor the Senate will change hands. The troubling question is: is this shift a really accurate scenario, which indicates that far too many Americans are incredibly gullible and have no long-term memory, ala Katrina or WMDs, or the propaganda machine has declared the poll numbers fact and made it "news." We know Rove is preparing to steal the mid-terms, Diebold is probably already training hackers how to "fix" the voting machines, and the Democrats as usual would be without a sense of direction if they were pushed out of an airplane. Is any Democrat politician hearing what we're saying? Do they understand we aren't seeing or hearing any real coherent messages from them? Why on earth are they so afraid to show any backbone and call the Republicans the horrendous crooks they are? I was guardedly optimistic a month ago about the possibility of at least the House or the Senate having a Democratic majority, but now I'm afraid our inept and cowardly Democrats are marching straight down the road to defeat again. Get Murtha and Feingold out there quick or we don't stand a snowball's chance in hell this November. Scott Subject: Gas Prices It was very interesting to see the Oil moguls defend their gas prices. They state impressive statistics. But of course they would. The more statistics you can throw into a debate the more credibility you add to your position (unless you refuse to cite any at all and label any statistics cited by others as 'fuzzy' ... for some reason that works too!) Every place around the world gets named, provided their gas is more expensive. Funny that no countries are named where gas is less expensive than in the USA. What they do not tell you in their arguments is that the taxes on gasoline in other countries can be substantially higher than in the US. For example (and I cite only one country since I just came from that country) in Germany gas (converted to US dollars) is $5.57 a gallon. That $5.57 contains (actual) $3.58 in gas taxes and another (approximately) $.33 in value-added tax. It is hard to calculate how many $$ in taxes are included in US gas since state gas taxes change from state to state. It would be very interesting for any of the oilmen to cite 'raw' pump prices (gas price before any taxes are applied). Then also there is the profit margin for the station owner/operator... can't forget that. Come on folks, how about a sit-down education session with all the facts? A BuzzFlash Reader So, so much like Viet Nam. Can you foresee the helicopter evacuation of those native embassy staff employees (some of whom they "don't trust") come the day that the "insurgents" take back their capital like the Viet Cong in 1975? Come the day the "insurgents" surround a la Dien Bien Phu [Wikipedia] in 1954 and force the surrender of those five "temporary" military bases? And we think the French our "enemies" for warning us, how many times (?) of our arrogant military follies, instead of "supporting" us like British lap dogs (who now know it)...HUH! Will Wyche Subject: Ava Lowery...Peace Takes Courage I watched this on CNN...she is 15, and is getting death threats...although she says that she is very much for the troops...and she has heard from many who agree with her...and are very much okay with it. A fifteen year old, who has put together the deaths of many little Iraqi children...with someone singing, "Jesus Loves Me"...I don't know whether it is her, or not. It tugs at your heart. She is from Alabama...and her parents approved the entire thing! It is supposed to be on "Peace takes courage" but I have not been able to get it on there...maybe they have not posted it yet. Believe it or not...many of these little dead Iraqi babies were in F/911. I also watched "Dead Wrong," which is mostly things I saw in "Fahrenheit 911" (so is the "Jesus loves me" thing). It is amazing, even with the rightists calling him a fat pig...and G--D---- treasonist...and all the other names you have heard...he had it dead on...There are a few things added since then...Wilkerson had a big part in it...and he said it was the lowest point in his life...much like Powell...and he wishes he had never been a part of it. I think we are seeing proof of Powell's feelings about it, too, unfortunately...he had a big part in the start of the war...and it will take a long time for those of us against it. to get over it.! Shirley ... St. Louis Subject: Speaking Truth to Power We, the congressional Democrats, hereby resign, because our presence in Congress makes it appear as if we're representing the public, when, in fact, we're only feathering our own nests. What's even worse is the fact that we're too cowardly to take on the powers that be, and are letting them get away with mass murder and other crimes against humanity. Not only that, but we haven't done a damn thing to prevent global warming. As a matter of fact the only thing we have succeeded in doing while in Congress is to prove ourselves totally incapable of standing up for the American people. So who's going to take on said responsibility? The American people themselves, that's who, being that, as it's turned out, this is a see-to-it-oneself task. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Is this sad or what? The NYT cannot even name its Iraq writer because of danger, so article says this:
I think this needs to be reported and not that garbage about how the good news isn't getting thru. How sad is it when someone's byline has to be anonymous because of danger? Where did my America go? I am 58 and we are in a steep steep decline. Karin Dicker Subject: Murtha I enjoy reading BuzzFlash because it has a good variety of sources. However, its slant is disturbing. That slant is still towards the Democratic Party. Murtha for President? He's up front on calling Bush, Cheney, Rove, etc., all kinds of good names, but his military plan is to maintain the empire, just not from Iraq. Redeployment means go where it's safer to continue to do evil deeds. Also, look at his voting record. Even Hillary is more 'progressive' than him on social issues. Now that's not saying much for Murtha. Myles Hoenig Subject: Murtha The more I see and hear this guy, Murtha, the more I like him. Some generals are speaking as politicians but Murtha lays it out and tells the truth AND makes sense. How about a Murtha-Edwards ticket, or an Edwards-Murtha ticket? Keep Murtha talking. He's doing great!!! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Murtha For President! ABSOLUTELY! He's the ONLY candidate worthy enough, and strong enough, to go against what the republinazis will come up with. Besides, should the Democrats pick anyone else (read Hillary), they might as well just hand the '08 election to them again! Vote fraud and a crooked Supreme Court, notwithstanding! David Magness Subject: John Murtha John Murtha should be the model for our other Democrat office holders! I am sick of "Repub lites," wishy-washies and Bush administration enablers who do not listen to their constituents. Murtha is a breath of fresh air in a stagnant room. Lou Houston CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE JUNE 20, 2006 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG |
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