 |
|||
| June 30, 2006 |
GET BUZZFLASH ALERTS | MAILBAG ARCHIVES | |
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: Midday Eclipse Thank you for today's Thought Heard Round the World! Darkness at Noon for Democracy Vic Anderson Subject: Bush v. Constitution, aka Hamdan v. Rumsfeld Yesterday our Supreme Court showed the entire world what our form of Government, which is based on our Constitution, is all about. Although it may be quite complicated and hard to understand, what is easy to understand for everyone in the world is that in America even "terrorists" will be given a fair trial because of our Constitution. I think perhaps this landmark (it will be) ruling could do more to spread Democracy throughout the world than any military action by bush could ever achieve. The headlines should be, "Despite bush, America's Constitution Prevails in Law," sub lined by "Gitmo Detainees Learn First Hand About Democracy!" I've always thought that American should lead by example, and yesterday's ruling is a giant step that Americans everywhere should applaud and work towards getting this positive momentum running. Instead of criticizing our Supreme Court upholding our Constitution's laws and respecting the Geneva Convention, and trying to write legislation that will only cause further contempt for America around the world today, Americans should loudly embrace this triumph of our Constitution and its Third Branch of Government. If America's government is going to claim "superiority," they should act in a dignified and respectful manner as demonstrated by yesterday's ruling. Monica Schrack Subject: Supreme Court Ruling Against Tribunals As we approach the Fourth of July, our anniversary remembering the founding father's signing of the Declaration of Independence, citizens of character are heartened by the high court's ruling. We are not pleased by the back door left open, giving the Bush administration the ability to seek retroactive cover through congressional authorization of tribunals. Nor were we pleased when Senators DeWine and Specter authored legislation to retroactively release George Bush from legal action for his violation of U.S. law regarding spying on American citizens. It is not surprising that Justices Scalia, Alito and Thomas dissented with the majority opinion. Chief Justice Roberts properly recused himself since he had previously ruled against the defendant Hamdan while serving on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. In essence, as pointed out on PBS's Newshour, the Supreme Court in this ruling overturned the current Chief Justice. We have little doubt how Roberts would have ruled had he been eligible to decide on this case, as his previous opinions have consistently sided with private interest rather than the public good. George Bush has inarguably demonstrated that he serves private interests at the cost of American lives, American health and American welfare. This American, while briefly enthused about the prospect for a return to democracy, is still extremely uneasy about the unilateral power seized by this administration which has documented ties to defense industries-producers of WMD. I believe it is imperative to expose the widespread election fraud and voter intimidation, also well-documented, which brought this administration to power. The purport of logic and reason herein asserts that a president whose ascent to power is fraudulent cannot legally appoint any Supreme Court nominee, Circuit Court nominee, cabinet official or any representative of the United States -- period. The complicity of Congress to approve such nominees where Congressional approval was required could be said to be done under duress. All recess appointments are automatically invalid. If election fraud can be proven in congressional and senate races as well, insidious legislation that has served private over public interest can and should be rescinded. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Bush Ally, Osama Bin Laden Just heard on PBS a tape played purportedly of the voice of Osama bin Laden - remember him of Tora Bora fame? - extolling the fine work of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who served the cause well, etc. What do you know? How very serendipitous that, yes, indeed, we have slain a very significant dragon! Call me too skeptical if you wish, but I suspect this quite fortuitous tape is another rather crude example of Rovian type disinformation issued by Bush's select few to exaggerate the significance of al-Zarqawi and thus aggrandize the good work of the administration in pursuing their war. Bin Laden announcing the death of his all-important associate, so-called? Gimme a break. I suspect that between now and the November elections we'll be treated to more and more of the creative announcements of the Bush-Cheney-Rove-Rumsfeld axis. I would be thoroughly and thus self-protectively skeptical of every word issued between now and November that has any kind of official ring to it. Don't even trust their semicolons, commas and periods. Their modus operandi feeds on lies like snails on algae in fish tanks. Indeed, be prepared for more well-timed statements from such as bin Laden, whether he's dead or alive, because he and Bush are in a macabre symbiotic relationship, which I examine somewhat, by the way, in my brief play, "Friends In Need", at http://www.mybarbaricyawp.net/. I wouldn't be surprised if the Republican National Committee were to place bin Laden or surrogate on their pay roll. The Party and such need him to help justify those sparkling lapel flags. Norman Weinstein Subject: Thoughts at Large Just a few thoughts at large over the past few days: 1. Last night on either Hardball or Countdown, there was a video clip of some blond named Nicolle (with two L's) who is listed as the White House Communications Director talking about the USSC ruling on Bush's military tribunals. She mentioned the administration was going to "sit down with some smart policy people." Who, pray tell, would that be? I haven't seen any smart people in the administration. 2. What is it with female neocon talking heads? I'm not familiar with too many of them, however the past few days I've seen: Ann Coulter, Melanie Morgan, and Kate O'Beirne -- all of them blondes. They start screeching, contort their faces and take on such diva attitudes. I haven't seen Mary Matalin or Michelle Malkin lately so I don't include them for purposes of this observation. 3. Bush says he's going to work "with Congress" to try and resolve the "what to do with the Gitmo detainees." DUH? Did it ever occur to these idiots in the executive branch that this is what they SHOULD have been doing all along? Instead of using his infamous signing statements to proclaim his interpretation of what congress passed, why wasn't Alberto sent to the Hill to get clarification? 4. Bush says he doesn't think judges should "legislate from the bench." Isn't that what judges are SUPPOSED to do? Interpret the law? What am I missing here? 5. Jenna Bush is moving to Latin America? Is it so bad here now that even one of the twins is leaving the country to live elsewhere? I hope she doesn't move to Venezuela. At least Hugo Chavez is trying to help the poor and needy of the world -- she could blow that all to hell for us. Lisa Johnson Subject: Swift-boating the media I sent this to the editor of my local newspaper: This White House is waging an intense war, not only in Iraq, but also against the American media. Currently its sights are set on The New York Times. When the Bush administration isn't directly sending out ill will and threats towards the so-called liberal media, the Fox network, along with national and local radio right-wing ditto heads do the job for them (witness the assault on Mike Luckovich and the AJC). I don't know what more the media can do to make this White House happy. In my opinion the media has been largely cowed and sufficiently frightened from reporting the news the way that it did prior to the Bush-Cheney regime. Under the guise of refraining from aiding and abetting terrorists, America's media is becoming more like that of Russia's Pravda. In fact, if the Swift-boating of America's media and Bush critics continues, Americans will soon find themselves saying "heil to the chief"! Dee Turner Subject: Hamdan v. Rumsfeld Bush is very happy with the idea of going to the Republican Congress for new legislation to authorize his military tribunals. Not only is he sure that the Republicans there will pass a bill according to his specifications, but I'm sure he's already preparing a signing statement to complete his drive to do whatever he wants. It makes the SC's suggestion to go back to Congress seem rather silly, but at least procedural due process will be satisfied. Douglas Miller Subject: Next White House Resident To Shirley in St. Louis, There is no mystery as to whom the squatter will put in the white house next! I'm putting my money on Jeb! rising out of the ashes! A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Latest S/C Ruling Re: Gitmo Let me guess: Now that The New York Times has published a report on a Supreme Court opinion which is going to adversely affect the administration's antics on the Isle of Cuba, Bush and Cheney will respond tomorrow with tirades about how the latest article in the Times has further hurt our war on terror. Lester Sanford Subject: Rubber-Check Republicans I'll explode if the GOP persists in presenting itself as the fiscally responsible party again in the mid-term elections this fall. Bill Clinton proved that Democrats' "pay-as-you-go" philosophy is the best way to run the government. Patrick Subject: Mailbag ... 6/29/06 The story about Terri Lisk, the dead soldier on the ground in Iraq...made me catch my breath. I remember well, when my brother died in Vietnam...and we wondered how he died...at the time, the war was covered by media...but, it was not personal...it was not like you could read about one soldier. When their buddies have to carry their lifeless bodies, in a body bag...crying all the way...it is so sad. At those times...I do not feel sadness...I feel rage! I have never in my life even held a gun...I have had a horrible feeling for guns since the Vietnam war...even the 21 gun salute was horrible, I jumped with every shot. while the bugle playing taps...we were so sad! ... 2500 is just a number when you have never seen war...none of your relatives have ever seen war, and in essence...you have made fun of two of the most decorated military persons in the battle of Vietnam. We thought Jane Fonda was bad...hey, meet the present republican party...including the wicked witch of Ohio...Jean, whatshername [Schmidt]...then you will know what evil is...you can look into the eyes of evil! In fact, most of the republican party now...is pure EVIL!!!!! Shirley ... St. Louis Subject: Taepodong-2 Missile Interception Ok guys read this article and tell me what you think about this set up. Not ready, aim, fire! (Toledo Blade) I don’t want to be a big conspiracy nut, but…what if America worked out a back room deal (similar to the coalition of the coerced deals leading up to the Iraq war) with N. Korea. Now hear me out before you scream conspiracy nut. What if this so-called sky shield that the neo cons have had a boner for since Reagan was to prove successful against a vague threat like a N Korean missile. Wouldn’t that just make the day of the neo cons, the defense industry and the homeland security boys, I think it would. Follow the money is the name of the game. Now imagine Kim Jung Il was to test fire one of the only (if not the only) long range missiles he has and the US military had the exact coordinates of the test fire. That patriot missile would of course intercept it and destroy it. What a coupe for the neo cons that would be huh? OK so knowing that the current guys in charge are ruthless megalomaniacs willing to screw the nation to remain in power what is to stop them from 1) supplying the ancient Russian (later made by the Chinese and topped with a worthless knock off from N Korea) missile to KJII and 2) require that KJII give all the info to the states before the fire of said missile. Remember the price Turkey turned down for complicity in Iraq was 1 billion USD, do you think Kim Jung Il would let that kind of scratch go? If you think about it the pieces start to fall into place. If it is proof you seek about this scenario look at the build up to the “secret” launch of the only real long range missile KJII has in his possession. The proof is in the weeks of build up to the “secret launch” in the 24 hour entertainment news in America in the hopes of paralyzing the public with fear. The political gold involved in turning the tide back in favor of an all but defunct political ideology that the republicans have recently embraced (at all of our peril). Finally; who stands to benefit the most from such a test fire? The missile in question is already known to be capable of what it has been said to be capable of which in fact isn’t that much (a Russian missile of old technology recreated by the Chinese and duplicated by the N Koreans.) The missile is an inferior Chinese CSS-2 missile topped with North Korean No-Dong missile (or something that is merely a modification of one). The truth about this “some kind of penis” missile (or Taepodong-2 pronounced “type of dong-2 “) can be found here… The Taepodong-2 Missile (astroprof.spaces.msn.com/blog) So I guess that brings us back to the question of …“Who stands to gain the most from this launch and subsequent interception?” The logical answer is the Bush administration and the military industrial complex here in America (not to mention the sweat shops of N Korea and Kim Jung Il.) After all these three groups stand to make billions of your tax dollars if the interception is successful and stand to lose trillions if not more for a failure in the interception. People please think logically and critically. Who stands to lose from a miss fire…? Well the military industrial complex does; the bush administration does and the N. Koreans do also (not to mention that megalomaniac Kim Jung Il.) Think about it without faux news on for just a few minutes. Thanks for your time and have a great day. Craig Struthers Subject: Bu$h and Company With all that is happening, the scandals, disclosures, lies, lies, and more lies and now today with the Supreme Court's ruling and his response, thumbing his nose at it, this "village idiot" is getting away with it!!!!!!!!!!!! It makes a person shake their head in bewilderment, and walk away, mumbling to themselves like some "street person." Peace!!!!!! Rivertree Clearwater Subject: Bush/Cheney Attacks on NY Times Buzzers, Notice how Bush and Cheney are selectively bashing the NYTimes for reminding us of the international effort to track transfers of money around the world. They ignore the LA Times because it doesn't have the clout the NYTimes does and the WSJ because they love its editorial page. Although both papers published similar "news." Of course, as a BuzzFlash reader reminded us in the June 29 Mailbag, in Sept 2001 the White House itself touted its efforts. I guess the Bushies think everyone is stupid. They want to do everything in "secret." What they're saying is they'd rather try to catch terrorists than actually prevent terrorism! If following the money flows actually impedes al Qaeda etc., then it makes it harder for them to plan and finance terrorism. Isn't that the goal? Bush Cheney & Co. would rather eavesdrop and peek through keyholes than actually do anything. It looks better on the nightly news if you can claim to have nabbed a bad guy than be able to say that all the government's efforts might actually have made us safer. Slimeballs! Dangerous slimeballs hating democracy! John Dean is absolutely right about the toxicity of secretiveness - "Worse Than Watergate" indeed! Colleen Clark Subject: Annual Congressional Pay Raises Are Unconstitutional! Buzz: Ten years go by with NO increase in the minimum wage. It's incredible that the Republi¢an ¢ongre$$ gives itself pay raise after pay raise, and plenty of ¢ongre$$ional Republican$ talk about their "Golden Society" while those at the bottom get nothing. People on Social Security, who are no longer able to work, get cost of living increases every year. Shouldn't those who work at the minimum wage be allowed the same right? Meanwhile the Republi¢an ¢ongre$$ is only interested in dumping a lot of hot air to appease their pals in the religious right. Seeing the Republi¢an ¢ongre$$ in action, it sure proves the Peter Principle, doesn't it? The more incompetent you are, the higher you rise! Just like ¢ongre$$ional pay¢heck$! I find it amazing that there is TOTAL SILENCE about the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1992. That amendment plainly states that:
According to the 27th Amendment, Congress CANNOT have an annual pay raise. It is ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL. They can only have a pay raise after a Congressional election. Therefore they can only get a pay raise the year AFTER an election. The Constitution plainly states they CANNOT have a pay raise every year! And, as usual, the so-called Main$tream Media $tenographer$ (YES, THAT INCLUDES THE $¢REW YORK TIME$) are totally silent. Every "Think Tank" in D.C. is ALSO silent. Has anyone heard even ONE "talking head" even utter anything about this? I sure haven't. Where are Common Cause, the A.C.L.U. and even Ralph Nader on this? Not a peep... Is there ANYONE who will rise to the challenge and enforce this article? Joe Bacon [BuzzFlash Note: Evidently, the Ethics Reform Bill of 1989 established the annual cost of living increases, and the courts have said that it is not a raise (which the 27th Amendment forbids), according to Wikipedia.] Subject: Big Brother Is Watching Everyone! I strongly suggest everyone read this article: I strongly suggest that everyone do the tracert on every site you go to. You will be amazed at how invasive the illegal spy game is. While I'm venting about invasion and illegal searches: I recently found out that in the state where I live, if you renew your driver's license, you must allow them to take your fingerprints. What's next, a DNA sample for the mega database of illegally gained info on each one of us? It is like Nixon on steroids!!! Next, if they don't like you it will be off to the concentration camps for you - brought to you by that $385 million contract for Halliburton. You don't actually think all those concentration camps are for illegal aliens do you? They have already changed the law so that those in these camps can be forced into labor. Sound like any crazy man in power in the 1940's yet? If you aren't outraged, you must be in a freekin coma. KJ Lovell Subject: Voting Machines Hi Buzz.. .To Shirley in St Louis ............You and I agree...........It doesn't mean "one whit" how many Dems are "SUPPOSED" to win...If you don't get rid of all of the Diebolds in the poll booths...the same thing is going to happen again...and I don't hear very much to make be believe that they are being gotten rid of.......I am watching along with you Shirley....... Genie Subject: Darkness at Noon for Democracy Nice editorial. Unfortunately the 35-49% of Americans who still call themselves Republicans don't care about reality. Anyone who calls himself a Republican after the Bush takeover is either a Fascist or a fool. As I have stated previously, the Democratic Party is dead, and they prove it every day. Watch the videos of the corrupt corporate boot lickers in the Senate debating flag burning. The US was never a true Democracy and we are now a bankrupt banana republic police state - soon to be a dictatorship. All with an unbelievable moron at the helm. Face it, America as a Republic is toast. This country is a toxic lunatic asylum and the only thing a principled individual can do is get the Hell out and quit paying taxes to this regime. Depleted uranium and the dirty nuclear war we are conducting in Afghanistan, Iraq and at military installations around the world is the BIG STORY - focus on that. DU will end up killing us all. Dennis Subject: Precedents for Presidents: Darkness for Democracy One more sign that the radical right plans to rid itself of the inconveniences of democracy is that they have no fear of the dangerous unconstitutional precedents they are setting and/or attempting to set (you know, Guantanamo, torture is ok as long as you don't intentionally damage vital body organs, wiretapping without judicial review, the Patriot Act, etc., etc.). Right-wing Republicans would never, never allow Hillary Clinton or Al Gore such power. Such power can only be given to those who represent the corporations and only the corporations in their drive to global economic empire. Hillary knows she has to appear to be one of them in order to have any hope of avoiding being totally destroyed by them (given that the media are now so very corporate). Paradoxically, she must risk losing the base of Democrats to the left in order to try to dampen the right's instinctive hatred of her. Yes, it's one of many brilliant but totally evil and immoral strategies on the right: pander to us or we will destroy you...oh, and yes, we do know, your pandering to us will certainly alienate your base. Oh, well, life's tough. They have several other strategies...including, of course, use of electronic voting systems and machinery to steal elections especially in divided right/blue states. For example, they could be using data mining of telephone system records to find not just potential terrorists but also probable liberals so these liberals can be deleted from the voting registries (just as they're doing with blacks today). They must have very clear plans to ensure that they will win "elections" from now on or they would be concerned about the precedents of giving so much power to the Presidency. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Good Ol Flag BuzzFlash, From Bush's Brain page 138: "[Atwater] talked about wedge issues like gun control and flag...His whole thing was wedges and magnets...creating new coalitions...dividing opponents." That was late 1970's. So when the Iraq war is pulling GW down in the polls he goes back to his right-wing basics. Nothing new. The soft-on-torture liberal Subject: Bush/Supreme Court Decision Is Georgie-boy having a difficult time abiding by the decision of the Supreme Court about the Guantanamo prisoners? He sure didn't have any trouble abiding by their decision in December 2000....did he! ...and his supporters don't think Georgie flip-flops.... A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Gene Lyons Editorials I enjoy reading Mr. Lyons editorials in the Southeast Missourian published in Cape Girardeau, Mo. It is surprising to me that this Republican newspaper would consider publishing Gene's articles. Being a good Democrat it pleases me to read articles exposing the Bush administration's fallacies and lies. The Iraq war is political and mostly about oil, in my opinion. Cheney's Halliburton Co. receiving no-bid lucrative contracts in Iraq is so crooked, I cant understand why people can't see this as the fraud it is. Keep the editorials coming Gene, I say bravo, bravo! Gene Lyons: Rhetoric over reality 6/29 Sherman E. Hill Subject: Great Editorial RE: Darkness at Noon Great editorial, Buzz, it is time to call a fascist a fascist. Joan Vennochi’s column in the Boston Globe serves as a fine compliment to your piece. A White House win in diverting the message at home (Boston Globe) Both pieces emphasise the problem we face. We don’t have a viable free press. How many swing vote fence sitters read Buzz? As long as the fascists control the mainstream press we are doomed. Maybe we should take a tip from the neo-cons and “stay the course.” Let’s not get diverted by their red herrings and swiftboating. Let’s respond with one of georgie’s signature “heh heh” snickers and say “yeah, nice try, guys, we’re not gonna get caught up with your sloganeering.” Let’s keep exposing their death threats to democracy. Let’s keep on them about the unitary executive, the presidential signings, the torture, the eavesdropping, the fixed elections, the disenfranchisement of voters, let’s just keep on them. You’re doing great, Buzz, maybe we should air drop leaflets of your editorial. We might reach the unknowing oppressed citizens relegated to reading the bad guy’s sound bites in the mainstream press. Tom Coombs Subject: Impeachment!!!! Sirs, enough is enough!! I'm tired of Rove/Bush running dead Bin Laden up the flag pole when things get dicey for Bush!!! Enough of ALL this. It's time the American people called for and brought Bush up on charges. Where do I sign????? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: What Are We, Chumps? You have to have at least $100,000 for your elected rep. in Washington to pay any attention to you. Voter fraud is covered up by the right and the left. Bush has packed the courts so it's hit and miss now for that avenue of justice. I'm seeing the same attacks on the press in Canada, I live at the border and get Canadian news on TV. Their new PM started out attacking the press. One of the newspeople said, "He wants to put journalists in jail. I'm sure he didn't mean that." I'm sure he did...Meanwhile their terrorists have already struck. One of the them wants to cut off PM Harper's head. I am not making this up. The Toronto News, AP and NY Times are suing for the prisoners' charges. So, this newest round of madness from Bushco against the NY Times has global implications. No taxation without representation. We have to fight for our country again. Does it seem odd to you that all of the great democratic leaders die under similar circumstances? Not one Republican has met with this fate. The closest they have come was Reagan...and his death would have allowed G. Bush the first to become president. Time to quit paying taxes and boycott Exxon, buy CITGO. That money pays for health care for poor people. It's a matter of time before Venezuela is a target. He has lots of oil. It's time to stop pretending we live in a democracy. Tax dollars pay to fight oil wars, while we get ripped off at the pump. Martha Thacker Subject: Democrats and the '06 Elections To the good people at this invaluable website: While contemplating what the Democrats should be doing for the upcoming election this November, it occurred to me that what these pseudocons have done is nothing short of creating anarchy through deregulation and filleting of our Constitution. They have also created an economic apartheid system here in the US. By using the media as their mouthpiece, they control the propaganda, and the majority of Americans only see and hear what these "people" want them to see. This behavior, to me, is that of sociopaths. One characteristic of theirs is the use of projecting their own psychopathology onto their adversaries, trying to make it appear that their opponents are the ones with the faults. "Traitors," "soft on terrorism," "unpatriotic," etc. are terms they use about others when really it's they who are the guilty ones. I suggest that Democrats predict that Republicans will use this strategy, and respond with the facts, the truth, and confrontation of the person with whatever unethical, illegal, hypocritical behavior they have engaged in (Ney, Abramoff, DeLay, Boehner, Hastert, need I continue?). I'd also like to see governors use the National Guard come election eve, election day, and the day(s) after the election, to enforce the election laws. Bumper stickers could read, "Count Every Vote. Vote Democratic." One other bumper sticker I thought of (I don't know if Democratic management has the stomach for it) could read something like: "Stop the Bleeding. Start the Healing. Vote Democratic." Well, that's about all I have. Thanks for letting me speak my mind. John Kalmus Subject: Oil Industry Millionaires There have been stories over the past several months in the Lubbock, Texas, newspaper about the chief financial officer of Patterson-UTI Energy Incorporated embezzling 78 million dollars from that company. Jonathan Nelson, 36, has pled guilty and his incredible estate is being auctioned. A 5.5 million dollar 19,000-square foot home, a half-dozen other homes, 5 or 6 airplanes, dozens of expensive vehicles, boats, cattle ranch, and countless other expensive items and equipment are among Nelson's assets. He spent $100,000 on one birthday party for his wife. During eight years of employment as CFO, VP, Secretary and Treasurer, Nelson was legitimately paid $10 million. If a person can embezzle $78,000,000 from his employer and get away with it for eight years, what in the hell kind of accounting systems do oil companies have? And how justified are the freaking prices we now pay for gasoline? And what about the IRS? A BuzzFlash Reader |
|||
| back to top | |||