November 27, 2001
Note: The BuzzFlash Mailbag is updated on an ongoing basis, with the newest material and comments on top. Again, we can only post a small percentage of what is sent to us. Thanks again for your email and your patience.
Dear BuzzFlash,
Great quote from the Philadelphia Inquirer's Frank Fitzpatrick. This appeared in his sports column last Friday.
Friday, November 23, 2001
Things to appreciate - and regret
Good news. Bad news. Good news: Rush Limbaugh can't hear us. Bad News: We can still hear him.
Frank Fitzpatrick
Roger Christman
Dear Buzz,
The Bushites are out in force now that an official recession has been said to have occurred in March of this year. They are claiming that the indicators look good and we are already in a recovery, thanks to the "strong leadership of Bush." (Gag me!!) Well, if this is the case, why do we need such a big stimulus package with all those give-aways to big corporations. According to all the administration talking heads on TV, the recession was Clinton's recession and we are well on our way to recovery thanks to the tax cut package the Congress passed under Bush's leadership. Well, we can't have it both ways.
What is really going on here is the grand cover-up and the need to try to hold off dire economic consequences of the war on terrorism, bad tax cut policy, and the slashing of anything that supports Americans with real needs. They may be able to prop up the economy until 2004, but we are going to have hell to pay over the next decade to undo what this administration has brought us domestically and internationally.
Their economic spin is just as conflicting as their military readiness spin: First Clinton destroyed the military readiness of troops over his eight-year term BUT we still have the most talented, well-trained, well-armed, technologically outfitted servicemen and women in our history (according to Rumsfeld, Powell, and the rest of the military brass running the war).
Well, which is it? Are are troops worn out and ill-trained because of being stretched too far for unmeritorious reasons like ending ethnic cleansing and stopping the spill over of the Bosnia conflict into EU or are they best military force in our history?
Homer Hooker
Buzz:
As always, I agree with just about everything you say here, and in fact already sent a thank you to Sen. Leahy. One thing that really bothers me is no one can show me how all of this curtailment of our rights would have stopped the acts of Sept. 11; and will stop future such acts. In fact, if anyone is convicted and executed by a secret military court (by the way, am I wrong that on all occasions in the past when this was used, we were officially at war, that is, via congressional declaration of war?), it will be all the more excuse for the terrorists to say that what the US was trying to hide was --- well, you pick it -- the Israelis did it really, the US had no evidence, whatever. It also seems to me there are lots of things the US could do that are perfectly legal, that might have curtailed the 9/11 actors, like looking more closely at who's taking pilot training, monitoring visas as they do in Europe, establishing a system for getting a driver's license that actually requires the state to do some inquiry (my Fla. driver's license still bears my 14 years old picture, for example, and will be good for 4 more years, or a total of 20 years since the picture was taken!!) etc. Ahh, but that might interfere with the right of those flight schools to make a profit, regardless of the cost to America. Oh I forgot, can't interfere with capitalism.
And what's up with removing Mary Jane White as the prosecutor?? Maybe she wasn't putting together the evidence against Bill Clinton fast enough for the bushies.
Jill Hanson
Dear BuzzFlash,
I received my copy of "Too Close To Call" in today's mail! It was sent on 11/24/01!!! Talk about FAST service!!! I found your site right after the 2000 election and read it daily! I also mention BuzzFlash to my friends. Keep up the good work!
Wardendom
Dear Buzz,
Thanks for the honest reporting. Certainly won't find it in any National news org or publications. Since the selection of Shrub, there is nothing but LOCKSTEP reporting -- no meat, just icing again.
Thanks,
David McCamis
Dear BuzzFlash,
I remember going through several recessions while working in radio and television. During each recession radio, tv, and newspapers only felt a blip and none of them were really touched by large losses. As a matter of fact there were increases in ad spending during several recessions. It's not the case now. Here's what the Seattle Times recently said:
"Television, radio and newspapers should be riding high these days, spurred by intense interest in the first foreign attack on U.S. soil in six decades. Instead, they're going through one of the worst downturns in their history. Advertising spending; the lifeblood of media companies, is experiencing its biggest decline since 1942 as the faltering economy shutters businesses and forces survivors to cut advertising to save money. If the trend continues next year, as some now expect, it would mark the only two-year decline in ad spending since the Depression in the 1930s."
This will definitely affect other ad related businesses in a trickle down effect. Most probably so called "public relations" companies will be taking a big hit this year and well into next year. It's all a matter of cut spending wherever they can; it's a matter of survival for many of them.
It's also time for all of us to take a serious look at the machine that drives big business here in America, the stock market. More than ever this past decade has shown us how big businesses work. Their entire purpose, or bottom line, is to show stock holders that their stocks have earned money. In theory there's nothing wrong with that because it's investments that allow companies to expand and create more jobs. On the other hand stock market investors are always hovering over the heads of CEOs causing them to freak out much quicker than they would normally. It's also appalling that Wall Street should have so much say in our lives. Wall Street is a cold hard bastard that has only one intention, produce continuous profits bigger than last year or dumpsville. This doesn't leave much room for maneuvering especially in the research and development areas. Couple this with the takeover of America by Big Businesses and you have a very unhealthy environment.
As the result of big businesses taking over our government we are likely to see the following in short order:
1. To hell with the environment as businesses who are polluters are given relaxed rules under the disguise of "Helping Business Maintain".
2. Being driven by a bottom line mind-set many more jobs will go overseas leaving even more people jobless here in America.
3. The government will go back into a deficit situation as the top businesses are given tax breaks that make no sense.
4. There will be increasing unrest among the unemployed as the Republican administration continues to refuse to help the jobless.
5. Sooner or later a brave politician or two will try to expose the greedy who are hiding behind the war effort to further their wants.
The Republican right wing, the Rush Limbaughs and clones, and others of like mind are taking us to hell in a hand basket. Sooner or later I hope America wakes up to what these greedy bastards really stand for. Thanks BuzzFlash for telling the real story about what's going on.
Lan Roberts
Near Dallas
Check out the unauthorized Lan Roberts web site at
Lan's Daily Editorial is at:
http://www.texoma.net/~lanbo/laned1.htm
Dear Buzz,
I hope the suspects have the good sense to tell the feds to hit the road. Who would have ever thought that this could happen in America? Liked your piece with Gene Lyons, good job! Your site is like a breath of fresh air in the media out house.
Bob Squiers
Dear BuzzFlash,
Remember the good old days: Nov 25, 1986, Ronald Reagan (one of our presidents actually elected into office) was outed for selling arms to Iran, a renegade nation, for 30 million dollars. Twelve million went into our treasury and the other eighteen million, or some of it went to the Contras, according to Oliver North who handled the deal---subsequently the San Jose Mercury reports the Contras were importing drugs into our USA. Where do you think their seed money came from ?
Don Phelps
WCDR
Dear Buzz,
The interview with Gene Lyons was outstanding! I have experienced the hateful remarks of compulsive Clinton haters, and have been searching for a rationale to explain their intense, knee-jerk reaction to vilify him. He explains it very well.
Recently, an article (by Mike Clancy) appeared in our local paper (AZ Republic) referring to Limbaugh's unfortunate hearing loss. As if in adulation, Clancy said, 'even if we disagree with his politics, we must agree he has been successful.' Successful? Limbaugh should be tried for treason! Every aspect of his hypocritical life has repulsed me.
I am so grateful for Gene Lyons and Joe Conason! Please keep supporting them! Without the genius of their insight, we, my husband and I, would struggle to keep our sanity. Americans must wake up to the manipulation that is collecting their very brains! Don't think me a nut case when I say Nazi Germany started this way. I really am fearful the average American is too distracted to realize what is going on!
G. Domenic
Surprise, AZ
Dear BuzzFlash,
Three cheers for Gene Lyons all things positive for him! I couldn't agree more with the things he said in your interview with him. I can't help but think "a prince among thieves". I really agree that the Democrats need to be more organized and we really need to fight back. I don't believe we would need to stoop to the level of the Repuglicans by lying--we need only to see that the truth gets out there to expose these self-righteous pricks for what they are!!!!!
Barbara (Atlanta)
