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| June 23, 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: Congress Is a Mess Congress is a mess. Its credibility is zero. Republicans are guilty of imperial actions, while Democrats are guilty of being spineless. Congress is a mess, and the only mop in sight is the next election. With regard to rising gas prices, Republicans tried to placate voters with a $100 gasoline rebate, roughly equivalent to a week's worth of gas for a two car family. This idea was offered by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, in another attempt to jump start his transparent 2008 presidential bid. Democrats tried to placate voters by agreeing that the offer was ridiculous. Senator Frist has already moved on and is entertaining other "jump starting" ideas. In order to convince the president's perceived base that the administration is, of course, continuing to work on the far right's agenda, the Republican-controlled Congress decided to once again bring up flag burning and the marriage amendment, topics that caused Democrats to run into each other saying, "Huh?" Republicans jammed Democrats with an all or nothing resolution supporting the global "war on terrorism" and rejecting any set deadline for pulling the troops out of Iraq, a move calculated to continue the bounce in the president's approval ratings caused by three things: the death of Jordanian terrorist, Muhab al-Zarqawi; additional progress in the formation of Iraq's government; and the president's top secret, middle of the night, five-hour visit to Baghdad, the purpose of which was to find out what color eyes Iraq's Prime Minister has. Even though the bounce turned out to be a blip, Democrats offered no memorable remarks. Though the war in Iraq has been botched from the start, it does not preclude Republicans from making the war in Iraq the cornerstone of their campaigns in upcoming elections, attempting to show that no matter what the outcome militarily, those who have never served know best. Even though the majority of Americans are disillusioned, angry, and more vocal than ever before on the subject of Iraq, Democrats plan on ignoring Iraq in their election campaigns, proving that Democrats are crazy and desire only to avoid being Swift Boated. Republicans repeat G.O.P. talking points ad nauseam, proving that they are glassy-eyed robots, with no independent thinkers among them. Scandal is the only thing in Congress that is bi-partisan. Republicans think "stay the course" is a good plan, and that "cut and run" is not an option. Democrats think "stay the course" is not a plan, "cut and run" is not an option, and "what to do" is beyond them. Republicans act tough, and Democrats find it tough to act. The president is afraid that Congress is trying to keep him from having all the power. Democrats in Congress are afraid that they will never be back in power. Republicans in Congress are afraid of Karl Rove's power. Congress is a mess, and it cannot change until the voters change Congress. Patricia A. Weller Subject: Terrorist Activity in Miami Well, I am listening to Robert Mueller on the Larry King Show and the facts are becoming clear. A homegrown terrorist threat, not posing any immediate danger, being tracked for sometime. To maximize the photo op, the raids were planned to coincide with "Tricky Dick" and Mr. Mueller's appearance on TV. What more does any voter need to know about these two lunatics? Everything is staged. I'll vote to stay and finish the job in Iraq under one condition. These two idiots and their sidekick Rummy have nothing to do with it unless they feel so strongly, they wish to lead the troops personally into battle. If they don't want to stand by their convictions, strap them to the side of a humvee to serve as long-awaited body armor! We'll see how critically our presence is needed after they start pulling shrapnel out of their ass. Tim Krause Subject: Propaganda Central I am soooo sick and tired of the MSM being the main prop of this corrupt and dissolute government. I was working out the other day and I had to watch FOX news (puke!). Anyway, they had some jerk military type guy on saying that we should free all of the Marines charged with the Haditha massacre - and get this ... since it is nothing but a hoax!! Geez - I never would have believed it since I read BuzzFlash non-stop all day. Anyway, this was followed in quick succession by FOX telling us that the deficit and Voodoo economics was actually good for us. Well, you see, Bush the first and Junior really had it right all along - because with the tax breaks, more money was coming in and now the deficit was only 2.5% of the GNP - whereas, under Clinton - it was 3.5% - did you get that??? I mean, why don't we just call FOX news propaganda central? It is disgusting to call what they call news as news. This country is going down the tubes faster than any us could have imagined - except for me - who cried all night the first time the election was stolen here in Florida. Keep up the great work, BuzzFlash. We love you. Kent in Sarasota Subject: Dems Stand Up With a Plan! Big Ed REGURGITATES righty talking-points. Thank, Eric Boehlert, for explaining...! The Press Derides Dems on Iraq; The Public Praises Dems on Iraq (Huffington Post) (sigh) After spending at least an hour writing up an e-mail to Big Ed earlier today, I listened to Big Ed for the first TWO minutes this afternoon, then switched off. After going through his infotainment stuff (hey, I live in South Florida, so I'm happy to hear about the Heat pulling home the NBA championship), what is Ed's lead-off story?? "DEMS DIVIDED!" Big Ed screeches, while noting that "Some Dem. Senators don't vote on either resolution (to get out of Iraq immediately, or start a phased withdrawal.) And then Ed totals up, "WHICH Senators did NOT support EITHER Resolution" and ... Surprise! they are all Red-state Dem senators (the two Nelsons, Mary Landrieu, and some others.) How about JOE LIEBERMAN? According to SALON, he SIGNED ON to the REPUBLICAN War refrain! Now, Ed asks, "WHAT do Dems HAVE TO GAIN by coming out with an Iraq plan... they will just be FODDER for the Karl Rove/GOP/'mainstream media" to chop up. Well, I wasn't going to write a reply to Ed's "say nothing " agenda (too damn much effort!), but then stumbled on this great article by Eric Boehlert, which summarizes the answer to Ed's question perfectly. (Answer in 11 words or less: Finally! Dems are giving voters like me a voice and some real representation. "REPRESENTATION"... when Dems stand up to the thuggish Bush-war-propaganda machine, I feel like I am some small part of the American flag. When The Repugs want to win an election, they motivate their base by firing up some "hate them ___!" issues (gays, immigrants, job-stealing enviros, librul democrats; New Orleans looters, terrarist insurgents, yadda yadda yadda). Hey, maybe more of us Dem/librul voters would have showed up and voted if Gore or Kerry had made us proud to stand up to the right-wing lunacy, instead of the stupid issues Kerry and Gore concocted ("time for a change," "lockbox", "vote for the wonk with the measured voice!" etc.) Hey, Gore could not even face environmental protesters--- he literally, honestly, ran away from an Everglades campaign appearance to avoid Nader-Greeny protesters! and Kerry sat there like a cow being led up the slaughter chute "Call me a flip-flopper on national TV! Go Ahead! I'll sit here like a box of rocks!" (Please forgive my mixing animal and inanimate objects metaphors - I'm DESPERATE to convey that Dems. NEED TO COME OUT SWINGING, and STAY PUNCHING, THROUGH THE WHOLE 15 ROUNDS! - to add a sports metaphor!) When Democrats try to seize he initiative, Ed counsels ... SILENCE?? Thank you Ed, for trying to crush the opposition message re the Iraq war, with your lame "we'll get beat up if we make a stand" routine. As someone said the other day, "Better to have convictions and be wrong, than no convictions and be right." And, surrendering the media battleground to bush/rove/cheney/scalia/scaife/murdoch/moon/GE/and Co without a fight isn't just UNAMERICAN, it is downright cowardly. LJ PS - And, Ed asks, "What good have the two competing Iraq resolutions done for the Dems??? Answer: Ed himself spoke the benefits, even it he didn't realize 'em. We know who stands where, how far apart they are; we have got the resolutions "out there" so they are making a stand; and we are starting to refine our talking points to counter the righty smear-and-spin machine. The horrifying murders of two U.S. soldiers in Iraq are wrenching to read about. I can only imagine the pain that family members are feeling today. After these murders, after the deaths of 2,500 U.S. soldiers in Bush's unnecessary and unjust war, and after the release of the internal memo from the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, Bush can no longer hold out the fiction that things are getting better over there. The fact that more Democrats still are not demanding withdrawal is an absolute disgrace. Oh, I understand it only too well. It's craven political cowardice. But at a time like this, I would hope that more Democrats (more Republicans, too, for that matter) would stand on principle and vote to bring the troops home. With the splendid exception of Wisconsin's Russ Feingold, the ONLY Senator who had the cajones to vote against both Bush's unconstitutional "Patriot" Act back in 2001 AND Bush's unholy invasion of Iraq in 2003, have ALL of you been bought and paid for by campaign donations? I've been a proud, registered Democrat since 1971, but I'm now forced to admit that, quite simply, I've been betrayed and humiliated by my party's gutless actions and/or its lack thereof -- again and again and again -- ever since Bush's s/election in November of 2000. Today's sorry voting record in the Senate on the Feingold-Kerry Resolution was the last straw. Who will be the last wo/man to die for Bush's lies? Shame on the cowardly lot of you. Go Green!
Laurie Johnson Manis Subject: Sad "State" of Affairs: Georgia Buzz: I am that novelty in my city: a native Atlantan. It's a beautiful, progressive city in the midst of a state of retro-politicians. The Republican led state legislature is attempting to disenfranchise many voters (mostly blacks, seniors, and urban whites who vote Democrat) by requiring a state-issued voter ID card. This is nothing but a poll tax. Items that have been used in the past for identification purposes will no longer be accepted and will require many citizens to spend money to get what the state requires. Republicans say that they are afraid of fraud at the polls, even though statistics have proven that there has been little fraud in the state ... (unless you count what happened to Senator Max Cleland, and Republicans had no problem with that). Meanwhile Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Ga. is trying to interfere with the renewal of the Voting Rights Act. He doesn't have sense enough to realize that it's people like him that make the Voting Rights Act necessary. The irony is that he is a Ga. representative and Ga. is already attempting to put restrictions on voting. Isn't he your typical racist, Repuglican politician? Because he is "Special" ... probably rode the short bus to school ......he doesn't have sense enough to see the irony. Dee Turner P.S. For those interested in contacting Westmoreland, his fax number is 202-225-2515 and his phone number is 202-225-2515 Address: 1118 Longworth House Office Bld. Washington, DC 20515 Subject: A Prediction Written March 6, 2003 I wrote this in a notebook on March 6, 2003. I had not seen it since then until yesterday when I was reorganizing my file cabinet:
A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: I Am Sorry, But ... Why is it that something smells about this story meant to scare the hell out of us? Is there anything I would believe anymore ...from the first minute ...I was ambivalent ...just too timely, just too convenient! This bunch in DC have been so very good at this. Cheney was on tonight... earlier...and someone, I think Anderson Cooper, was questioning him...and he was not taking it easy on him...it was about bringing the troops home ...and of course, Cheney was having none of that. It's okay for him to run...but, let the others die...and he was uneasy...this was before the big ...BIG scare! Mueller could not discuss it because it was an ongoing investigation...blah blah...blah ...sooooo...here we are again with another ...gotcha!!!! Sometimes I wonder if something really happens, will I be leery of it...think it is a lie? Why not...with this insane bunch in the White House...One older lady said she did not believe a word of it...I have no idea what she meant... everyone else was telling scary tales. It is funny to me., that every person in this administration were so good at Cutting and Running, but, none of these poor, third time deployed troops ...can catch a break! Cher is more caring ...and anyone who helps them, than this bunch, Bush, Cheney, Rummy, are Devils helpers...Rummy ..."We go to war with the Army we have, not the one we would like to have!" What nerve ...and then there is Bar...who does not dare mess up her beautiful mind with the sight of the caskets ... I really cannot imagine a God who would give any one of them a break! Shirley ... St. Louis Subject: Interesting Choice of Words!! Buzz,
This is just the first paragraph. I found the choice of words used quite interesting!! Let me elucidate, starting with "quick." Perhaps the word "timely" would have been a better choice. "Withdrawal" could be replaced by "redeployment." "Mocked," well, how about "questioned" or "called out"? While we are at it, let's change "championing" (the not so subtle allusion to the word champion seems inappropriate here) to "selling," and "war" to "occupation." Finally, the "big, fat backside"... how about "turd conveyer"? (Just kiddin about that, though the guy is called "turd blossom.") The point that I was trying to make here is that while the facts were reported, just the choice of words used to describe them can change the impression they have on the reader. Freudian slip or an honest mistake, y'all decide! Akhil Bhardwaj Subject: Sen. Harry Reid Kerry's Proposal to pull out of Iraq was voted down in the Senate June 22nd with the help of 31 DEMS. This list of 31 DEMs included Minority Leader Harry Reid. A Leader is a person who should be able to form a coalition of support and rally his party together. Reid has repeatedly shown he is unable to oppose the Republicans or rally his party together. The vast majority of people want OUT of Iraq, yet Reid follows blindly the Republican party. It is time for new Senate Minority leadership. Please contact the DNC and all Dem senators to ask for a true leader capable of acting as a true opposition party! Thank You for caring about your country. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Joe Lieberman for GOP Hypocrite of the Week If the junior senator from Connecticut is going to walk, talk and vote like a Republican, he deserves the GOP Hypocrite of the Week award. His hypocrisy is equating Iraq with Bosnia. We deposed Saddam, now we're there only to subjugate the Iraqi people. A fairer comparison is the Soviet Union's occupation of Eastern Europe. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Soledad mocks Democrats Soledad O’Brien had such fun this morning ridiculing congressional democrats’ failed resolutions on withdrawing troops from Iraq. She had her republican talking points at hand: they are divided; they should only have come forward with a complete and comprehensive plan. James Carville on his part did a poor job of making the point that the democrats are the only ones in Congress doing the peoples’ work: a clear majority of Americans think the war was a mistake and want out of Iraq. In CNN's own poll 47% say we should be out within a year. If Soledad read CNN's polling, and not just a TelePrompter, perhaps she wouldn't find it all so laughable. Poll: Majority wants Iraq pullout date set (CNN) Albert Clark Subject: Staying the Course Is it the war in Iraq that all us Liberals are cutting and running from, or is the true objection that we can no longer follow the Bush/Cheney team anywhere? If the latter is the case, and Bush/Cheney continue to believe staying the course is absolutely necessary, I have a suggestion. Bush/Cheney resign, allowing us to replace them with two leaders we would follow into war. For it is my position that it is Bush and Cheney we refuse to follow any further. Not that a majority believes pulling out of Iraq is the right thing to do. If Bush/Cheney have the conviction that staying the course is the best thing for America, let them prove it by resigning their offices, so someone we trust and view as competent leaders, can come to the same conclusions they have, and lead us to victory. President Bush, the ball is in your court Tim Krause Subject: "Cut and Run" Democrats How about the "Sit and Spin" Republicans? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Uproar About the 'Leak' About Bank Records Searches Of course, we all knew this was coming. The second any paper put out information about what this White House is doing in the name of 'protecting the American people' aka: The new headlines talking about how this administration has again overdone its hand on checking bank records..... Funny....I sure didn't hear any of this outrage from those same people when it was found out that SOMEONE in the White House outed a covert CIA agent..... ....silly me, what was I thinking! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Vote on End Occupation in Iraq You democrats are a disgrace--you know the people want their boys home and yet you vote for them to stay over there in harm's way. Shame on you, if they were your sons I'll bet your vote would have been different. You know this war was built on lies, you know the trillions of money it cost [money that should be going into our schools, our sick, our poor] yet you vote for it to continue. Why don't you start asking where the 9 billions dollars disappeared to? Get some damn backbone and do what we put you there to do or get the hell out of office. Dorothy Mangino P.S. Are they tapping your phones, too? Too bad you can't ask WHY. Subject: 'Terror Plot' First we have the 'black problem' (1960s)...then we have the 'Jihadist/Muslim problem' (2001).... ....now we have the 'Jihadist/Muslim/Black problem'..... I wonder if we could find out if The New York Times building was included in this 'plot' ... perhaps then it could be discovered that these guys were simply taking up the challenge by Ann Coulter. On CNN just now, a Paul Callen, who is a former Federal Prosecutor, was stating that the FBI informant was the one who was giving these guys the ideas. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Olbermann Rips Santorum on WMD Last night, Keith Olbermann eviscerated Rick Santorum's recent claim that weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq. Watch the video: http://santorumexposed.com/... Brian
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