December 4, 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.

Following are the two questions I sent to Barbara Walters to ask Bush on Wednesday. I hope she asks at least the short one - I really want some answers.

Sir,

I have not heard you utter a word as to what you might suggest be done about our horrendous exposure to nuclear terrorism. I have not observed that any meaningful monetary means have been set aside to secure our 110 nuclear power plants against terrorist attack. Now you say you will veto any further spending, including protective infrastructure spending, beyond the relatively miserly stimulus package you have been backing. Why do you oppose infrastructure spending on security and protective systems that would benefit all of us, stimulate the economy and provide jobs all at the same time, while you aggressively advocate more and more tax-cuts that benefit only a few and
would be entirely useless as a stimulus since business is over-capacitated at this time?

Follow-up question. What is your position on the Price Anderson Act due to expire in 2002, will you be backing continuing to subsidize the nuclear industry with 5+ billion tax-payer dollars per year or will you allow a dangerous industry that will never be able to support itself die of natural market forces?

Regards,

DB Decot
Phoenix, Arizona

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am watching the evening news--KHOU--this is how Enron announced the layoffs:

They called a meeting and told all in attendance that they were no longer employed and that they had a half hour to leave. If it was typical of other industries that have fired en mass, the former employees are generally escorted by security out of the building. Here's your hat, what's your hurry?

I'll send further articles if they have more details.

This article at KHOU's website:

Enron Lays Off 4,000 Employees
Thousands head home to a bleak holiday
12/03/2001
By George Smith / 11 News

Monday Enron laid off 4,000 of its 7,500 employees in Houston. This comes after Enron filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and filed a breech of contract suit against its rival Dynegy. Dynegy answered by filing a lawsuit of its own.

The news of the layoffs began trickling down around 10 Monday morning. Company officials gathered employees this morning, floor by floor and told them they had 30 minutes to gather up all their personal belongings and vacate the building.

Click Here for the full article

Liz

Dear Buzz,

Below are my questions submitted to 20/20 for their interview with Dubya. Though I doubt my questions will make it to the final cut - for what promises to be a cozy puff-piece - I wrote my queries in a way that I hope will have some positive effect on a staff member
for the program....

I would like to ask President Bush:

If America was attacked by terrorists because "they hate our freedom," why have you and Attorney General Ashcroft been dismantling our freedoms via executive orders, legislation (e.g. USA PATRIOT Act), and Justice Dept. policies that violate the Constitution and its amendments?

Furthermore, though the war on terrorism has been used to justify your administration's policies since September 11, I wonder why you will not ask Congress for a declaration of war? As a veteran, I am concerned that my brothers and sisters are getting killed in an
undefined, secret, undeclared war. Shouldn't such a long and far-reaching war be put before our elected representatives?

Thank you for your consideration of my questions.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Mike Kress
Everett, WA

Hey Buzzflash,

Here's an UTTERLY DAMNING quote from Bush for which there are presently TWO SOURCES on the web -- including the whitehouse site.

Recall that during the campaign Bush repeatedly promised not to tap Social Security, with only three exceptions: war, recession, and national emergency.

In mid-September, apparently, he told his budget director Mitch Daniels:

"Lucky me. I hit the trifecta."

Look at the fifteenth paragraph on Daniels' press release on this page:

Link to Daniel's press release

It was reported by the Miami Herald here:

http://www.miami.com/herald/content/news/national/digdocs/059707.htm

Someone *heard* it on CNN, but I have no link for that.

This remark really displays his callousness. Hell, maybe an admission of guilt, really...

Gene Witmer

Dear Buzz:

Thanks for the very informative piece from Roll Call on Weller's New Economy Republicans little club. Sadly, he is the congressman from my district and always has been a little weasel & just keeps getting elected.

I've already called his Washington Office and my mission, when time allows, will be to fax the Times, Tribune and even our little "Monee Monitor" newspaper out here, the article from roll call.

This is a prime example of what is wrong with our Country. These lousy politician's only listen to the people with large amounts of money to give and boy, does this little New Economy Republicans Club, fit the bill. I'm sure John McCain must be aware of this, but he's also getting a copy.

I've written Mr. Weller time after time and I always get the same standard form letter back, which never addresses the issue I've contacted him regarding. I'm sure Delay & Armey are his best buddies.

Well, hopefully they'll shut Weller off big time on this one & thanks for the heads up.

Regards,
Marlene W.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Re: WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR DECEMBER 3, 2001

Very interesting stuff. Will we have any allies left when Smirk goes home in 3 years? Are the dems ever going to show some backbone and take on this goof? The writers of these op-eds must not have read the Newsweak article about how much weight the Chimp has
lost, or how he gets his guidance from God and Laura.

Keep Buzzin'
The Doctor

Dear Buzz:

I think the "average American" doesn't think the government has overstepped the mark because they only hear what the television news says about how useful the new powers will be in tracking down terrorists, and very little about how these measures aren't effective or are dangerous suspensions of our basic rights. The "average American" won't worry about an infringement on rights until it affects them, because Americans are busy, self-involved, and credulous of the mainstream media, not to mention systematically mis- and under-informed.

Frankly, I think before the pollsters ask someone if they support the steps the administration has taken, they should make them name at least one of those steps; or else ask about specific actions. Asking a general question will result in answers more based on patriotic sentiment and the desire to stand together than careful consideration or even knowledge of basic facts.

As Oscar Wilde said, "patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." To me, this doesn't mean one is automatically vicious if one is patriotic, but rather that elevating patriotism to a virtue can obscure brutality and avarice. We cannot let patriotism stand on a level with virtues such as compassion and reason, because it can be made to run counter to both. If patriotism is to do good, it must be reclaimed from the ignorant and the malicious.

Good job so far.

Regards,

Beth

Dear Buzz,

RE: YES, GEORGE W. BUSH HAS STATED HE'D PREFER TO BE A DICTATOR AT LEAST 3 TIMES

I remember hearing a similar refrain in the Candidate Debates. In front of millions. Can't say he didn't warn us.

Hunt Sharp

Dear BuzzFlash,

My opinion! I was delighted to be able hear Sandy Berger on C-Span Sunday morning. The illegitimate Bush Administration is getting the credit by the news media like CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, for their effort to link Osama Bin Laden and his involvement with the terrorist attacks that have taken place since l992. Mr. Berger talked about how the Clinton Administration, during their administration went after the terrorist and in l998 they were able to link bin Laden with the attacks. That information was provided to the Bush Administration by the Clinton Administration and with that information the Bush Administration went to UN and started bombing Afghanistan. President Clinton was criticized by the Arlene Spectator and the Republicans in Congress for the bombings in l998. The Republicans fought to the nail against everything President Clinton tried to do, for they did not want President Clinton to receive any credit for the job he did. Chris
Matthew's states Bush has "grown in the job" since the war. In my opinion, the only thing Bush has done is "gotten more arrogant and has become a bigger Dictator since stealing the election." Even the New York Times is now starting to call "Bush the Dictator!" The American people only receive 1/4 fourth of the truth by the news media for they are so bias towards Bush that no matter what wrong Bush does the news media will never condemn him for his dictatorial leadership and the stealing of the elections and the economy. Today, if the American people speak out against Bush we are not "patriotic", well that is wrong! I am more of patriotic American today, even though I do not fly the American flag that is made in China, because I seek the truth not the lies put out by the Bush Administration and Ari Fleischer. Yasser Arafat has been known as a terrorist for years, for he talks out of both sides of his mouth and has since he took office.

A. Carlson
Helena, MT

Dear Buzz,

RE: YES, GEORGE W. BUSH HAS STATED HE'D PREFER TO BE A DICTATOR AT LEAST 3 TIMES

Interesting and funny. However it is slightly blunted when you realize that what the quotes actually show him saying is that a dictatorship would be easier for him not necessarily that he would prefer it. In some ways this is more frightening.

John Kehoe

Dear BuzzFlash,

Notice the headline versus the content! More Republican venom being pushed!

Clinton aides rejected al Qaeda info, story says
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/12/02/ret.terror.sudan/index.html

The top Clinton administration official in charge of African affairs, former Assistant Secretary of State Susan Rice, told CNN Sunday the allegations were "erroneous and irresponsible."

Cynthia Putt