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| July 5, 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: Freedom Dear BuzzFlash As the U.S. government of, by and for the corporations continues to erode our legal and civil rights, it's important to remember that they can never touch what they really want from us - our freedom. They may be able to redistribute and remove some of the trappings of freedom that have been part of our government and laws, but those can be recovered. The core essence of freedom is in our hearts and minds. It cannot be touched, it has the power of human evolution behind it, and it will prevail against this tin-horn tyranny we are seeing. Remember, no one can oppress you without YOUR permission. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Fascism Thank you for your editorial Darkness at Noon for Democracy. On the day the Supreme Court handed the White House to Bush in 2000 I knew that the US had become a Fascist state. It's about time that more and more people recognize what is happening in this country. You know the old saying: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... I am so g**-d**** pissed at the Supreme Court ... ruling! They have left the door open for Congress to write laws justifying torture and the continued incarceration of the people in Guantanamo. The only explanation I can find is that BushCo owns the court. Bush is like a wall. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AFFECTS HIM. He doesn't give a damn about anything or anyone. My god, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? They call themselves human beings? Have all of them lost the ability to empathize? Have they no ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes and TRY to understand what it must be like to be the victim of torture? I am so TIRED of fighting this crap. I am so TIRED of what is happening to my country. I am so WORN OUT with screaming to a deaf people who absolutely do NOT want to know the truth. WHAT...IS...TO...BE...DONE? HOW IN HELL DO WE END THIS? A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Treason! At The NY Times! I suppose it is treason for the NYT to print something that has been a well-known fact since 911, but for the White House to out a CIA operative is not? Give me an F'N break!!! Perry Stigall Subject: Follow-up to Beinhart's Article on "Treason at The NY Times" Everyone seems to have forgotten that Bush, himself, outed his spying on financial records, in The Rose Garden, September 24, 2001:
Kevin O'Morrison Subject: America for Sale Again If you hadn’t noticed that the America we all knew and loved was being sold off bit by bit you haven’t been paying attention. Congress has been running a sale on America for years. We soon won’t have to worry about pledging allegiance to the flag; it will be flags. It will be many nations, not one, indivisible, with liberty and justice for whoever has the money to pay for it. You might have thought that after the Dubai Ports deal drew such outrage from the public Congress would have pulled its horns in about selling out America and Americans. But our traitorous elected pinheads are at it again. I watch all the news I can stomach and it is only on Lou Dobbs Tonight that there is a consistent stream of news about the sellout of America. (Yes, Dobbs frequently says things most liberals disagree with. So what? Just pick what you agree with and discard what you don’t. He is also the only one who seems to be outraged about Diebold and the electronic voting.) This issue is one where we can thank Democrats as well as Republicans for their total disregard for the well-being of this nation. The Corporate States of America surges on. The United States of America is on the auction block. Put there by the very people who have sworn to protect the United States and its Constitution. The latest assault, the Oman Free Trade Agreement, was helped along by 10 Democrats. They were Baucus, Cantwell, Clinton, Kerry, Landrieu, Lieberman, Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Obama and Salazar. For anyone who thought either Kerry or Clinton deserved to be president this should offer proof that they don’t. Lieberman, no surprise. Landrieu, she’s another DINO. Obama, well just because someone is bright and articulate that does not make them a statesman. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call... This now goes to the house where we can hope, against past performance, that elected officials will act like Patriots, not Corporate Flunkies. (This is me not holding my breath.) Will Any Lawmaker Ask About the Paulson Payoff at the Bush Treasury Department? (David Sirota) Marjorie Swanson Subject: New York Times and Wall Street Journal Please excuse me if I can't muster crocodile tears for either or these newspapers or any others, for that matter, they have all been complicit in aiding and abetting the rise of this ignoramus who usurped the White House. They hardly gave the stolen election of 2004 the least credibility. The New York Times is getting exactly what it deserves. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas! Sandy Subject: Guardian Finds Afghan The US government said it could not find the men that Guantánamo detainee Abdullah Mujahid believes could help set him free. The Guardian found them in three days. http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story... A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Rush Limbaugh Rush Limbaugh is an incorrigible recidivist ... that's why he's a pro-Bush republican. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: To Sharon Marzano of Chicago Illinois from Buzz Mailbag on Thursday Dear Sharon, I know exactly how you feel. Many years ago I left the Democratic Party because I felt that many who seemed to speak for them did not speak for me. Although I was absolutely against the war in Viet Nam I came from a military family and when I saw war protesters spit on returning servicemen I was sickened. I became an Independent. Have been for a very long time even though I still vote for Democratic candidates most of the time. I felt a little lost at first. In time I found myself becoming a more informed and a better voter because of it. No votes along a party line. Each vote is based on what I have learned, what I believe. Independents are growing in numbers all the time. I honestly believe that in time you will feel less lonely knowing that there are a lot of us out here who prefer to keep our options open and vote for the candidate not the party. But right now in spite of many problems I have with the Democrats the alternative is too horrible to contemplate. I really hope that it will not be too many years before there is a viable 3rd party. I think that would take a little of the arrogance out of our two party politicians. That and term limits. Might as well mention public financing of elections since I am rolling out my wish list. Hang on Sharon. Concerned and informed voters like you and others at Buzzflash will be the salvation of this country we all love so very much. Marjorie Swanson Subject: Re He's Not Leaving by Rich Miles - 6/30 No, Rich, you're certainly not the only one with those thoughts rattling around in your brain. Far from it. Only people who are NOT seriously looking at what has been going on day by day (because they are afraid to) would call us tin foil hat wearers. In fact, I think the ones who are out of touch are the ones who are going around saying "don't worry, in November we will vote these people out, and in 2008 will vote in a Democrat." Oh, really? What would make any clear thinking person believe that these people will allow themselves to be voted out of office? What makes anyone think they will willingly give up power and hand it to the Democrats? How many people out there still don't understand that the 2000 election was a long-planned coup, as were the 2002 and 2004 elections? And what possible reason would they have to believe that an honest election will suddenly occur out of nowhere while not a single thing has been done about the voter fraud? I mean, who's wearing the tin foil hat? I would love for someone to explain to me exactly how the Democrats are going to take over Congress in 2006 and the presidency in 2008 with Karl Rove manning the Swift Boats. Try and imagine how emboldened these people are after almost 6 years of getting away with anything they try. And they're suddenly just going to give in and give up? Come on people. Any of the scenarios you mentioned in your editorial are absolutely possible. I and so many others have articulated this - but of course we get looked at like we're nuts. We'll see. I can only hope that we're wrong. But I'm not seeing any evidence of the tide turning. I don't care how many Supreme Court decisions they lose, or how many more republicans get indicted, or how many more Katrinas happen or how many more republican "family values" congressmen get caught with their hands in the cookie jar (so to speak) or how low his approval ratings go - none of these things matter when we've lost our democracy. It's getting late. Way too late. And on that note - have a happy 4th. Celebrate our independence … NOT. Barbara in NYC Subject: Hitler and Bush Dear BuzzFlash: It was interesting to read your editorial piece "Darkness At Noon." I was just thinking about the comparisons between neo-cons and Bush, and the Nazis, and I do note some differences that maybe will make us feel a little better - not much, but a little. Comparison #1: Hitler was much much smarter than Bush. Crazy but smart. "Mein Kampf" had, of course, his infamous hatred for Jews and horrible plans for them. It, however, also had Hitler's thoughts on crowd control, propaganda and the mentality of the average person, and those insights were stunningly accurate. Bush couldn't understand "Mein Kampf," much less be able to read it, even with pop up pictures. Comparison #2: Hitler had very capable deputies and with the exception of the Jews and intellectuals, most of the German populace adored him at first for creating new jobs, mainly in defense factories, and installing a new pride in their country which had been deflated completely thanks to the Treaty of Versailles. Bush never had more than just under half of this country voting for him, and had to steal the elections to get in. Some of his deputies are crafty, like Rove and Cheney. However, our country will not allow extermination of those who oppose Bush and Co. (At least not yet.) Comparison #3: Bush does not have the luxury of complete control of news outlets like Hitler did. Sure, he tries to spin, influence, bribe, brainwash, whatever, but with the Internet and some cable outlets, total media control at least for now is beyond his grip. Maybe these are small points, but perhaps it's important to celebrate the small differences and cheer when the Supreme Court finally stands up to this twit. You know it's driving Bush up the wall, and that's just fine with me. Scott Subject: Attack on NY Times Just saw a blurb on CNN that communist China passed a law against reporting on natural disasters and emergencies. Wouldn't that be a blessing for our leaders if it was illegal to report about Katrina or the failures leading to September 11? Now I see journalists {and not just on FOX} joining in the attack against the NYTimes for reporting a story that is largely a rehash of previous Administration press releases. I would like to hear just one question asked of the critics of the First Amendment; what is your alternative? Should the Press submit stories to the Administration before they are allowed to print them? I watch a lot of news from a lot of different sources, but I have never seen this brought up. There is a reason the Founding Fathers put freedom of the press in the First Amendment; it is one of the most fundamental freedoms of a democracy. TimPat Subject: Supreme Court Ruling As an Australian, all I can say is thank God that something seems to be left of the America the world used to admire so much. Even if it's taken a long time, the principle that any accused person is entitled to a fair trial seems to have emerged like a gold nugget finally dragged out of the sewage pond of the Bush administration. And if you think I'm being rude about your government you should see the morons who are running my country. If George Bush got up and said the world was flat, our Prime Minister would be out there next day warning people not to get too near the edge. Alan Burnham I have a question. The right wing foaming at the mouth nut jobs all over TV (including George Bush) seem to think the Times committed treason. Ok, then why not charge them as such? Seems to me if someone commits treason, they should be put on trial. I will tell you why. Because they know they don't have a case. When the Times lawyers put on all those tapes of Bush over the past few years telling us how we are tracking the financial records of the terrorists, it would all be over. This is nothing but a diversion tactic and red meat for the right wing cult. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Here's a happy one Dear Friends, Last night we went to see Al Gore's movie on climate change, "An Inconvenient Truth," which we recommend most highly. This morning [we were sent] the following article, which we think is a great example of the hope and creativity that Al Gore is exhorting us to have.
Sheila & Denny Don't you think Karl Rove did the same thing to Dan Rather and CBS? This Administration has done this many times. How about Joe Wilson? John Murtha? John Kerry? John McCain in 2000? The tactics of Karl Rove, Dick Cheney (if you will :) and GeWHOREge W Bush is to drop a "daisy cutter" in the middle of their opposition's camp. Cut Throat politics from jamming Democratic phone lines in New England to placing fetus photos on the windshields of Texas and Florida church goers. Michael Murphy Subject: Ted "The Coward" Nugent Here's a letter that I submitted to the Chicago Sun TImes regarding the has been rocker and right wing coward Ted Nugent who toured with pseudo patriot country star Toby Keith. Approximately 2 years ago they met with bereaved family members who lost loved ones in the Iraq War. The country music stations won't talk about this hypocrisy yet they attack the Dixie Chicks for merely speaking their opinions.
Tony Nozzi Subject: Kerik Now A Criminal (NY Daily News) Getting off with a fine - $221,000. 105-day penalty - $2,104.76 a day earned. Book deal – legal costs. $290,000 profit he made on the sale of the illicitly remodeled apartment – profit. "But I think today is a way (sic) in which I've been held accountable for what I've done, or did not do," he said. Priceless… Smike Subject: A David Horsey Cartoon on the Flag Amendment Hello. I submitted a piece thanking the three Republican Senators that voted against the Flag Amendment to the Constitution, but having a kind word to say about ANY Republican vote apparently isn't entertaining. (These Senators are Bennett of Utah, Chafee of Rhode Island, and McConnell of Kentucky.) David Horsey had a good political cartoon on the demagoguery of the Flag Amendment, available on-line at: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/horsey/viewbydate.asp?id=1415 I sent a copy of this to the 14 Democratic Senators who voted in favor of this Constitutional Amendment, putting pandering and fear ahead of their oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." I added the simple comment SHAME ON YOU! FYI, Democrats voting Yea on the Constitutional Amendment and their mailing addresses are: Senator Blanche Lincoln 355 Dirksen Senate Building Washington, DC 20510-0404 Senator Dianne Feinstein United States Senate 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 U.S. Senator Ken Salazar 702 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Bill Nelson United States Senate 716 Senate Hart Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Senator Evan Bayh 463 Russell Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Senator Mary L. Landrieu 724 Hart Senate Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Senator Debbie Stabenow 133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Senator Mark Dayton SR-123, Russell Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 Senator Max Baucus 511 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 2010 Senator Ben Nelson 720 Hart Senate Office Bldg. United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Harry Reid 528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Robert Menendes 502 Senate Hart Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Tim Johnson 136 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Jay Rockefeller 531 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 If you agree that protection of the First Amendment should trump pandering to troglodytes, you might want to drop them a line. John F. Williford Subject: Fun With Anagrams Extract and rearrange letters to form new words from a given word. You don't have to use all the letters, so Tony Snow could become NOT NOW or SNOOTY. Get out your pencils and start lampooning the proto-humans that infest the White House. George Bush=BUGGER SHOW Some people just lend themselves readily to parody. A BuzzFlash Reader CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE JULY 5, 2006 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG |
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