April 8, 2002

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Subj: DOJ re: Anderson

What can we do, as normal citizens, to object to this outrageous
(inappropriate) treatment of Anderson?

That's just great -- setting a new standard -- if a person kills someone, just admit it and say you're sorry, and you're off the hook!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Sent to Post41.com:

sirs and madams,

with respect to your headline/link "bush watch - 83%"

unless you are taking an average of those polls on the pollingreport.com, a site i visit almost daily, you are very high in your estimation of his numbers.

and if you are averaging all those figures, you had better factor in somehow the fact that a large number of those mid-80 percentile figures are from late last year or january this year.

you'll notice that with the exception of fox news (what a surprise), all polls taken in february/march have bush's job ratings in the 70's.

And even fox news only has him at 80%, which is in the 80's technically speaking, but only just barely.

for a real treat visit the same web site's page for bush's favorability ratings and look at the investor's business daily/christian science monitor ratings for dubya as of march 5 thru 11 of this year, a paltry 67%. remember, clinton's favorability ratings were in the 60's at the height of the impeachment process.

gil christner
american citizen

Dear BuzzFlash:

Your help as a driver is needed to make the new year a more secure one for America and the environment. At http://wwww.SaveaBarrel.org, I just took some simple steps to reduce our dependence on oil. It was fun and I learned how we can meet our energy needs in smarter ways while saving oil and money.

No matter how you feel about the war, you can take the Patriot's Energy Pledge and have your savings count towards the initial goal of one million barrels saved this year. Our action will help to inspire automakers to rise to their patriotic duty (and business opportunity) and offer a full line of vehicles that go twice as far on a gallon of gas. That would save more oil than the U.S. imports from the Persian Gulf, reduce our reliance on vulnerable pipelines and avoid the surrender of our natural landmarks like the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

Please take a minute and go to http://www.saveabarrel.org - it's a good thing to do.

Thanks,

Stephen Corrick

P.S. Please pass this message on to EVERYONE you know who might be interested in helping America reduce our dependence on oil. But don't forward this message indiscriminately - spam only hurts our cause.

Hi, Buzz;

99.9% of the time I agree with everything you say and applaud you for saying it. In the case of Arthur Andersen, though, I think there's more here than meets the progressive eye. In most cases where an accounting firm is found guilty of wrong-doing, only those who are guilty are charged. Usually this means the office in question and the individuals responsible are made to pay in some way.

In the case of Arthur Andersen, they were trying to make some 84,000 employees (most of whom who are innocent support personnel) pay for the deeds of less than 50 executives. This is a little like blowing up a good-sized town to try to get one or two criminals. I say this because an indictment and prosecution of Arthur Andersen such as the justice department was planning would mean an end to the firm and the jobs it offered. This may happen anyway, but this way AA has a slim chance of surviving, albeit in a smaller size.

Not only that, I submit that going after Arthur Andersen is a way of creating a scapegoat. The Bush administration would sacrifice them and draw attention away from those at Enron whose hands are truly soiled.

Hope you'll rethink your condemnation of Arthur Andersen and put the blame where it belongs -- on those who committed the crimes.

Thanks for your wonderful news coverage,

DL Day

Hi Buzz:

Normally I am in total agreement with every article you post and almost everything your readers write. You are my first stop each morning, however I do disagree with your stance on Andersen Accounting.

Grant it, Andersen's past record is not perfect, nor is the shredding of documents for which the Government has indicted them. For the Justice Department to indict the Company and displace approximately 85,000 employees world wide seems ludicrous. How many actual employees where involved in Enron or say Global Crossings? Why not go after the people in charge who ordered the shredding, who ordered the misdeeds, rather than close down an entire Company? Just who ordered the guys at Andersen to shred? Could it have been some very powerful people at Enron or perhaps someone with even more to lose than Enron? Andersen was willing to settle with the little guys at Enron to the tune of millions of dollars. That option is now gone.

Enron caused it's own bankruptcy, leading people to lose their jobs, life savings, etc. The Justice Department did not put them out of business. I believe many criminal actions took place at Enron yet I doubt the Justice Department will indict any one from that Company.

I believe the Bush Justice Department is using Andersen as their scapegoat. Congressman Waxman and all the others who were so incensed by the Enron debacle, all the Enron hearings, will disappear from the radar screen just as everything else that may hurt the Bush regime does. The Justice Department has gone after Andersen big time, but let's not hold our breathe waiting for them to do the same thing to the big boys of Enron, who were joined at the hip to the current administration and helped write our Countries energy policies. This was going on while their own employees and shareholders were being set up for the fall.

Lou Dobbs is now being attacked because he dared to criticize the Bush Justice Department, plain and simple. One Company will get off with barely a slap on the wrist and the other devastated. Anyway you look at it, it's always the little guy who loses the most and there seems to be no real justice here. None at all.

Regards,
Marlene

Dear BuzzFlash,

I have been reading "Stupid White Men," by Michael Moore. His accusations of Democrats are inaccurate at least in part. On page 223 of this book, Moore claims that no Democrat in the House of Representatives stood up and challenged the votes of the electoral college. That is not true. On January 6, 2001, Alcee Hastings(FL), Corrine Brown(FL), Maxine Waters(CA), Patsy Mink(HI), Bob Filner (CA), Barbara Lee(CA), Jesse Jackson Jr.(IL), Sheila Jackson-Lee(TX), Peter Deutsch (FL), Carrie Meek(FL),Cynthia McKinney (GA), Elijah Cummings(MD), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), and Eva Clayton(NC) stood up and challenged the electoral votes.

Martisa Vignali
Phoenix, AZ

Dear BuzzFlash,

Re: A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL: WHO WILL DENOUNCE
THE SPOILED RICH KID WHO RUNS TH...

Bill Moyers every Friday on "NOW" takes these guys on and does a great job-but we need many more voices and it seems slowly but surely things are starting to surface and get in the air waves-keep up the good work BUZZFLASH-keep being the leader for our Democracy and defender of our civil liberties.

-Anthony

Dear Buzz,

From the days when Gov. Chiles, Lt. Gov. Buddy McKay, and Pres. Clinton were in office, the Florida legislature today looks like a house of clowns.

No surprise here... conservatives in Florida have feasted on their "bash Clinton" and "those damn, liberal, tax-and-spend democrats" for so long - EVEN as they help their big-sugar benefactors reap multimillion dollar government subsidies (extorted from taxpayers) - that they really have no other agenda besides tax-breaks for the wealthy, and more power for themselves.

That's the whole Conservative agenda in Florida. Of course, to maintain their power-base, they must massage the masses with the image of the day, using campaign funds from business lobbyists. Today's "issue:" all this silliness about religion in school.

As so often happens in politics, Floridians get what they deserve, in this case taxes to pay for subsidies for wealthy sugar growers, government in secret, increasingly polluted beaches and fresh water sources, and a public education system that no longer has a real champion in all of state government. Governor Chiles, thanks for showing Florida what could be done.

LJBK

Session of chaotic consistency
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/06/news_pf/Columns/Session_of_chaotic_co.shtml
By LUCY MORGAN, Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 6, 2002

Dear Buzz,

I was disheartened, disappointed, dismayed and disgusted to hear, first, Ari Fleischer, last week, and, then, George W. Bush, more recently, try to pin blame for the current Middle East debacle on President Clinton.

Yes, Ari Fleischer later "retracted" his accusation that President Clinton's "attempt to shoot the moon" led to the increased violence. Nevertheless, most rational people knew Ari's statements were NOT in contradiction to White House attitude, but rather expressed precisely Bush White House attitude.

We did not need to wait long for proof we were correct. Just a few days after Ari's "retraction," Mr. Bush, himself, weighed in with the same shabby, slimy, slippery accusation.

Mr. Bush has occupied his lofty office for sixteen months now; during which time he has used as his guide to decision-making, regarding Middle East policy, the "any way but Clinton's" way. That is a pretty poor substitute for actually KNOWING why one is doing what one is doing.

Yes, later (as is customary after some GWBush off-the-cuff remark), aides tried to smooth over his distasteful allegation by claiming Bush was blaming Yasser Arafat, not Clinton. The Big Trouble with that lame excuse was that Bush never mentioned the name of Arafat; the name Arafat appears NOwhere in the White House's own transcript of the remarks.

What are we to take away from these two sets of remarks within days of one another? That they were mistakes, as Ari said? That Bush really meant to accuse someone he never mentioned?

I say it's hogwash! And I say, also, that such reasoning on the part of Mr. Bush demonstrates only too well how lacking in maturity, dignity and honesty he remains.

Sad for America, and sad for the poor souls in the Middle East who have been harmed, maimed, killed and betrayed by Mr. Bush's year-long inability to come up with a better solution to any crisis than to NOT do anything Clinton did or would have done.

Sad, sad, sad,
Lois Erwin.

Dear Buzz-

After missing the last part of the Greg Palast C-Span interview on its replay when they cut away to a Rumsfeld press conference, I decided that I would go down to my local Barnes and Noble. They professed never to have heard of the book and could not find it on their data base despite tons of BIAS and O'REILLY books very obviously displayed as you entered the store as well in aisle stacks and prominently in the current affairs section. They did not even have a copy of STUPID WHITE MEN!! Only GERMS, of all the books that are offered by you as perks, was available at the Barnes and Noble store in NE Tarrant County, TX. Not the Brock book and none reflecting the stolen Florida election.

Persisting in having them search for the Palast book, which no one had ever heard of the author or the book, the manager finally was able to locate a copy in the warehouse but it would take 6-8 days to get it to the store.

I refused -- going across the street to the large NE Mall I thought perhaps Waldens might have a copy. Their selection was as limited as B&N. As a matter of fact, Walden's told me that they might be able to get me a copy, as it had to be ordered from the publisher and it could take as long as a month if they could get one at all.

This is ridiculous. Not only is the media filtering our news but the bookstores are not stocking voices from the opposition. Not even when the book is a bestseller such as Michael Moore's STUPID WHITE MEN but there is certainly no shortage of O'Reilly, Bush, Cheney and other conservative writers and subjects. Talk about BIAS -- this is the real thing -- not just a book title. Thanks for giving your readers the opportunity to acquire these hard to find titles.

Peggy Carlin, Hurst, TX-

Dear BuzzFlash,

Re: WHO WILL DENOUNCE THE SPOILED RICH KID WHO RUNS THIS NATION?

After hearing George Bush's spurious attack on Clinton, yet again, as the person responsible for Bush's own failures, I was asking the same question as you have in your editorial. At what point will the American people come out of their 'bunkers' and start demanding accountability from this president and its corporately corrupt administration? Without leadership from the left, breaking the strange and eerie silence about this administration, the very principles on which the United States is founded are in grave peril! As a Canadian, I am very concerned at what is happening to my neighbour. It is not unlike watching a close friend acting out in a self-destructive manner and feeling helpless. I can only hope that someone will step up to the plate very soon and say "The emperor has no clothes!"

Bev in Canada

Dear BuzzFlash,

It's time to offer articles that represent a Palestinian perspective on the current conflict in the Middle -East. What are you afraid of? I thought BuzzFlash was about progressive perspectives, beyond the corporate government drivel that typically passes for news? Stop being politically correct and help your readers understand the Palestinians and their just cause.

I am very surprised and saddened by your editorial censorship. You can and should do better than this.

Sincerely,

Charlene Fassa

Sent to CNS News:

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?
Page=/Nation/archive/200204/NAT20020402a.html

I just read the article "Columnist's Gridiron Dinner Behavior Irks Bush Officials," by Scott Hogenson and felt I needed to comment.

What country do we live in? I thought we lived in the United States of America. I thought we lived in a nation that prided itself on individual freedoms and liberties. I thought we lived in a land that held free speech and dissent dear to our hearts.

I thought our nation and its leaders always held the "rugged individualist" in high regard.

Ben Franklin once wrote: ...."Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."

Yet, I read this commentary about Paul Krugman. Here is a columnist who "stuck out like a sore thumb, " by...." by refusing to applaud President Bush, Vice President Cheney or any other Bush administration officials..."

My God!!! Horror of horrors! A man who refused to stand and applaud Bush, Cheney and other administration officials!!!!!!

Are you the new thought police? What country is this? Do we all need to bow for King George now?

Another quote from your commentary: A senior White House official said on background that Krugman "applauded Sen. (Tom) Daschle and (Washington, D.C. Delegate) Eleanor Holmes Norton, but refused to applaud any of the military leaders who were announced, nor did he applaud the president, the vice president or any members of the president's staff. He just applauded for one party."

When did it become law to stand and applaud for the president or vice-president or military leaders? I wish more journalists had the integrity and honesty of Krugman. This administration is so steeped in sleaze, you need a program to keep up with the players.

I really hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but being a patriotic American doesn't mean we have to march in lockstep with the powers that be. If it did, we'd still be British subjects. The fact that Krugman's "behavior" was beyond some people's "comprehension" or "astounding," should give one pause for thought. Nobody died and made Bush King.

It's bad enough that we have a president that wasn't elected...we surely don't need to treat him like an emperor.

Randizzle

Dear Buzz,

Subj: Vinson & Elkins story

The story also says Kirkland and Ellis will be investigated -- Kenneth Starr's firm, if
I'm not mistaken.

Richard Roth

[BuzzFlash Note: Sure is -- http://www.kirkland.com/kenneth_starr. Isn't it ironic? Ah, the Grand Hypocrisy Party always comes through for us, proving once again that Republicans are the first to point a finger, almost always to hide their devious and culpable ways.]

Dear BuzzFlash,

Re: WHO WILL DENOUNCE THE SPOILED RICH KID WHO RUNS THIS NATION?

Great job guys - November is right around the corner and all I've heard is a squeak every now and them from the Dems. Sometimes I think they've caved and really want the Bush Regime to continue for eternity.

You know what I think? I think the Dems let President Clinton down by rarely coming to his defense in eight long years. Now they are letting this Country down for not coming to it's defense. Look what's happening and 99% of the time, they praise Bush or hem & haw in the very rare criticism they may have. How do his poll numbers come down, when everyone says what a great job he's doing? C Span is one thing, but just how many Americans watch it? Mainstream media is where most Americans get their news and when's the last time you've seen a Dem hammer this President? Perhaps at a speech in Maine with a very limited audience
and limited press coverage.

The common sense of the people is great -- maybe we won't lose the majority in the Senate in fall and maybe we will control congress, but if that happens, it won't be because of the Democratic Party itself. And, if we lose the majority in the Senate that's it for me. I will give up and simply not care -- yes, they will have won, because that's just what they want to happen. A Government run by the Corporate America which completely forgoes the will of the average guy.

Sorry for the rant. Let me clarify. Sure, Begala, Carville, Michael Moore, that matters, but I'm talking about our duly elected Congressmen and Senators. The people we entrusted our vote to -- where's their outrage at the things that have been happening since the election? Just makes you believe, they all must agree with Mr. Bush, doesn't it?

Marlene

Dear Buzz,

I heard something VERY interesting the other day and have failed in my attempts to find a mention of it someplace -- anyplace -- on the net.

Thursday was the opening day for baseball. In ballparks all over America a short tape of pResident Baseball hisself was played. According to a very reliable source who was at Dodger Stadium, Bush's statement was met there with rather vigorous booing. For a president who enjoys "stratospheric" popularity ratings, for a president known for his love of the game of
baseball, don't you find it interesting that his very benign remarks were met with booing? (I thought from the way he told the story that Bush's statement had been one about the Middle East but my baseball nut brother told me it was a pep talk inviting everyone to have a great season).

Do we see in this a disconnect between the [so-called] polls and the truth about Bush's standing among ordinary Americans?

If you know of anyone who would like to track this story down, I heard it from Larry Mantle, host of Airtalk on NPR affiliate KPCC (http://www.kpcc.org/programming/airtalk/index.html). He made the remarks on the air during an interview with Congressmen Xavier Becerra and David Dreier. He can be reached at mail@scpr.org.

If you don't have time to explore this maybe you could suggest someone who might find it of interest.

Thanks so much and keep up the good work!

Keta

Dear Buzz,

It is just amazing how the "evil-doer" Saddam always seems to play right into the Bush family's plans. When Poppy was facing off with congress over the defense budget, and his approval ratings were at an all time low, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Now that jr. is facing opposition to his energy (company) plan, Iraq cuts oil exports in protest against Israel. This move will have absolutely no effect on what is going on in the Palestinian territories. It will, however, almost insure the passage of the Bush/Cheney giveaway to the oil and coal industries. It will also provide a great windfall to bush buddies in the oil biz, at the expense (as usual) of consumers worldwide.

However, Bush can nullify Iraq's action even before it occurs, by promising to release the Strategic Petroleum Reserves. This is precisely why the reserves exist. Of course, that would mean no windfall for his buddies. It would also mean that the energy (company) bill will not have the support of a price-gouged and panicked public. This is the moment of truth, where we see just how much the Bushes are willing to sacrifice the economic well-being and security of this nation so their friends and relatives in the energy sector can reap huge profits. If Saddam really wants to hurt the Bushes, he should flood the market with cheap oil instead.

Dave Collins

Dear Buzz,

Re: WHO WILL DENOUNCE THE SPOILED RICH KID WHO RUNS THIS NATION?

If George Bush Junior had any decency, shame, self respect or scruples he would not be in the White House right now! I think to expect him to behave like a statesman (something he has never, nor will he ever, be) is hopeless. He's a coarse, vulgar, dimwitted cowboy and sad and embarrassing for our country "a-president-in-training."

Rachel

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: Malkin in all her glory

Have they no shame, no decency. now the wingnuts are blaming the liberal/left for the sex abuse scandals in the Catholic church!!!!

Malkin (link to her column is below) was on Hannity/Colmes tonight spouting this bulls#*t. Of course, Hannity in the end couldn't resist dragging in Clinton and taking his usual cheap shot (something about oral sex not being sex and implying this thus undermines morality and exerts a bad influence on people).

On my drive home from work today I happened to switch the station to a local right wing AM talk station and lo and behold Michael Savage (Savage Nation) was propounding the same crap about the left being responsible for the sex abuse scandals in the church.

I swear I cannot think of a crisis (political,social, medical, etc) or scandal (especially about sex), or crime or national, regional or local tragedy that the right will not exploit for ideological purposes. Pure pond scum!!!

http://www.creators.com/opinion_show.cfm?next=2&ColumnsName=mim

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear Mr. Bush,

For a man who changes his policies, domestic and foreign, seemingly with the wind, I find it laughable that you are blaming the current Israeli - Palestinian problem on President Clinton.

Actually, considering the fact that your 'party' spent eight years eroding the office of the Presidency, maybe I shouldn't be surprised at all.

There seems to be a matter of "personal responsibility" here...your reluctance to get involved in this crisis is what has fueled all this violence. You have never displayed a clear, cohesive Mid East policy...you stuck your head in the sand and pretended that there was nothing wrong. But, that didn't work...did it?

So, why don't you display some personal responsibility and admit that you made some mistakes in your Mid East policy?

I think it is horrendous that you would blame President Clinton for your current problems and failures. Can you and your party do nothing else but blame others for your shortcomings?

It sure seems that way.

Randizzle

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: McCain Describes Bush's Foreign Policy

While the following quote [altered for relevance] was supposed to be about the Clinton administration, it is a perfect description of the Bush Administration:

http://www.issues2000.org/Celeb/John_McCain_War_+_Peace.htm

"This administration is poll driven and not principle driven . . . And this administration has conducted a feckless photo-op foreign policy for which we will pay a very heavy price in American blood and treasure. You have to have a concept of what you want the world to look like. Our interests and our values lie in how we are going to bring this world into the next century and call it, again, the American century."

--Hesiod

Dear Buzz,

I've had to do a little catching up. I ,too, searched all over before I found "Blinded by the Right" and can't wait to start reading it. I looked at four stores before they found one copy. There is something fishy going on, folks! I would hate to think that someone is getting something to keep them off the shelves of book stores! Good Grief, who would do such a thing? Also, am getting a kick out of Crossfire now. At last we are getting some left-wingers who can out talk, and out yell the cowardly right wingers. It is so funny!

Shirley.....St.Louis

Hi Buzz:

I read recently, don't remember where, Great Britain will make tons of money in government contracts for war products. Guess airplanes, etc., so this could account for Blair's poodle posture. Maybe one of your crack staffers could look into this. You know how you always say "Follow the money."

By the way, you guys have landed the best people to interview -- done such a great job. Thank you.

Regards,
Marlene

PS. Did you see the article that Dan Rocco, the guy in charge of Florida's voter's cleanse list, died in a plane crash. It was a vintage plane he just purchased and his instructor was with him. Another coincidence. I emailed the article to Gregg Palast - I think he would find it most interesting, since he had highlighted him in his expose of the Florida mess.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: WashPost: Should we rename it the Ari Fleischer Daily?

...or the Karen Hughes Gazette? or the Rove-ing Reporter?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4222-2002Apr5.html

an Xcerpt...

The speech President Bush delivered Thursday, ending his long struggle to keep his distance from the Middle East conflict, was born in a videoconference the morning before with his top foreign policy aides and wordsmiths.

I dunno, is this a story or a White House Press release? Enquiring minds wanna know!

Randizzle

Dear Buzz,

Subj: is Bush a conservative

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/020415/opinion/15pol.htm

U.S. News: Gloria Borger: Is George Bush conservative? (4/15/02)

A poll that says that 52% believe that Bush is a liberal or a moderate. Where have these people been (or the trumped up pollster, maybe).

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

Is there actually anyone out there with an IQ over forty who is surprised by this dim wit blaming someone else? We came, in 2000, from peace, prosperity, low unemployment .....to having everyone in the civilized world and uncivilized world wanting to take us out. And, folks, it is going to get worse before it ever gets better and it may never. He is digging our grave deeper and deeper all the time. I am amazed the this man even knows what "significant intefadeh" even means, if he does, and if someone else didn't and doesn't tell him every word to say. I, personally, am terrified every minute this man is in office, and I use the term loosely.

So far as Alan Colmes is concerned, he is one of the dim wits on Fox network, need
we say more?!

Shirley.........St.Louis

Dear Buzz,

Re: Who Will Denounce the Spoiled Rich Kid Who Runs This Nation...

My anger at Bush and his regime of money grubbers, and the fact that they have completely erased the line between corporation and government, on purpose and fairly out in the open, is quickly turning toward those "quiet" democrats. Why won't they push for investigations into the Bush junta? It's not for lack of fodder, that's for sure.

Who cares about Bunnypants' supposed high poll ratings. The repugnant republicans certainly didn't care about Clinton's when they spent millions of our taxpayer dollars trying to bring him down. And, they barely even had a case. But that didn't stop them. And you can be sure that what happened September 11 would not have stopped them either.

In the April 15 Nation, the editors write about "Lieberman in Enronland." They question whether a senator who received contributions from Enron should be heading up the investigation of Enron. Duh! Lieberman is in no hurry to investigate Enron, and he certainly won't point the investigation toward the White House where it belongs. I guarantee it.

This is the real problem with the "timidity" of our elected democrats in the Senate: they're in bed with the same corporations Bush is. Maybe not by as much, but they are still there. They don't want to go after him because it would expose them.

Why won't they denounce Bush and investigate him? Simple. Because they love the money contributions from big business more than they love this country. Personally, I'm sick of it. I wonder if other liberals and progressives are beginning to feel the same way? We'll see.

Keep on Buzzin'. You and other websites like you seem to be our only hope.

Ellen in Denver

Hello BuzzFlash,

Does the embargo on Cuba still make sense? It shouldn't, cause even (neo-liberal) financial columnist Matthew Ingram is very cynical about it in "A gigantic blind spot called Cuba":

http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/WireFeedRedirect/RT/D,D,D/20020404
/wmattapr4?cf=GlobeInvestor/config&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=
wmattapr4&date=20020404&archive=rtgam

Peace,
Yann Grenier
Ottawa, Ontario

Dear BuzzFlash,

It's no surprise to me that Republicans are afraid to go on "Crossfire." Right-wingers always act like tough guys, but when push comes to shove they are mostly a bunch of bullies and cowards. Throw a little truth at them and they all run like scared rabbits.

Rob Moitoza
Seattle, Wa.

Dear Buzz,

"Who Will Denounce This Spoiled Rich Kid Running this Nation?"

Yes indeed, who will? I read columnists that you can hear them screaming through their words. Books and authors parading their massive research of Bush, his family, their practices, their lies, their control on this country. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see or understand what Bush is doing. His actions haven't been kept secret. Europe is jumping up and down about the dismantling of environmental issues, the shadow government, the "war." I've read articles in European papers denouncing in the strongest of terms, this war on - (who is this war on again?) Anyone reading this, do you still need a list of what's happened in the last 15 months of this pResidency.

There are plenty of people raging all over the world but it hasn't caused a ripple in Washington. Before he became the head of this country, I couldn't stand to look at him, now I can't look at him at all. Oh yes, we, and millions of others, are raging, and we are seemingly completely powerless to stop this insanity.

Since what passed in this country as a presidential election in 2000, the list of what would and should have been major scandals and impeachable offenses is huge, but we've just let them go by like the breeze. We obviously cannot depend on our legislators to stand up and do the right thing. There aren't any "Mr. Smiths" in Washington these days. That leaves we, the people to organize throughout this land, at least the 20 or 30 percent not giving GWB high marks. This year we have got to get the vote out in masse and hope it's counted.

One thing I would suggest is don't email representatives, call them and keep calling them, keep demanding answers, keep putting the issues in front of them, keep reminding them that "you vote." Maybe the Supreme Court will decide that we are a dictatorship and the Constitution will be shredded, but for right now they cannot count on that. Let the Democratic Party know that they need money and support but we need to first see a leader from them. We need someone who is not so afraid of losing their job, or afraid of not being liked or getting money who will stand up and keep standing through all the slings and arrows. And we, the people, have to keep standing and tell people every chance we get that this country is being subjugated for the benefit of the few. We need to remind people that we can love this country and not like the way government is leading us.

Right now it doesn't look as if we have a leader anywhere to "Denounce the Spoiled Rich Kid Running the Nation" so we may have to lead ourselves and stand up with our voices, our words, our money and our vote. Is there anyone out there with any influence on anyone we can get behind? If so, let's get to it, let's stop looking for someone to "save" us and do what we can to save ourselves.

Sally McDonald

Dear BuzzFlash,

Bush's Mideast policy is shameful, hypocritical, and nauseating. Mr. Bush has no apparent trouble is dragging this country into a never-ending war against all terrorists wherever. Except in Israel, of course. There it seems terrorists are to be catered to. And why? Because, this, the most powerful country in the world, is apparently scared to death of Arab displeasure, whether it manifests itself by attacks within our shores, an oil embargo or ruined business dealings. The hypocrisy of it is beyond belief. We are legitimizing this kind of barbaric behavior which means it is effective and will only escalate. Israel has every right to protect its citizens. They would have been out a long time ago if the Palestinians had been able to give up their rabid anti-Semitism and hatred. No one is putting a time limit on our war although I might suggest that a trip to the ballot box will do wonders about ending it. If, in fact we are after countries that give aid and comfort to terrorists, then what the hell are we doing with Saudi Arabia? Does this administration truly believe it is fooling anyone with this confusing, two-faced mishmash of a policy? And how dare they try to tarnish President Clinton when they didn't apparently feel people dying every day on both sides was important until they realized it might ruin their little plans for Saddam Hussein. If he would have be dealt with correctly to begin with, we wouldn't be having this problem today but, again there was this consideration of the OIL! C'mon!

Sally Simms

Dear BuzzFlash,

re: The Carlyle Group's Competition in War-Profiteering 4/6
http://veritascapital.com/defense.asp

So, the "Corporate Shill in Chief" sends a Defense Industry Shill to make PEACE?

In yet another egregious case of conflict of interest, Bush Inc. has selected Anthony Zinni, a member of Veritas Capital's Defense Advisory Council as a peace mediator in the Middle East!

Veritas Capital, unlike Bush I's Carlyle Group, invests almost solely in defense and aerospace
industries. As their website explains:

"The Council provides Veritas with high-level insight into the direction the armed forces are moving, both from a strategic as well as a technological perspective....."

and Zinni is quoted in a Veritas press release dated September 6, 2001:

"I am pleased to join Veritas and the exceptional team on the Advisory Council, "said General Anthony C. Zinni. "This excellent organization has benefited the defense industry and our nation’s security. I look forward to being part of the continued high performance and exciting direction Veritas has established."
http://veritascapital.com/view_news.asp?ID=15

Yesterday's article in The Deal, "Defense buildup pays off for Veritas", states:

"Today, Veritas' shift in orientation from a standard-issue middle-market LBO shop to a niche defense investor is paying rich dividends. On Feb. 26, buoyed by the Bush administration's robust rearmament campaign, the firm led an IPO for Integrated Defense Technologies Inc., a Huntsville, Ala.-based producer of ultra-sophisticated military electronics. On Wednesday, Integrated's stock closed at $29.10, and Veritas boasted a $285 million largely unrealized profit on its $43.8 million investment. Veritas continues to own 51% of the company.

A consolidation play, Integrated bundled seven of Veritas' 13 acquisitions since October 1998, when the firm's fund wrapped its first deal. The bulk of the firm's other deals — and all the most profitable — are in defense.

They include the $270 million June leveraged recapitalization of Raytheon Aerospace, a Raytheon Corp. unit that maintains military aircraft, and two deals Veritas did between 1992 and 1995, before it raised outside money from institutions: the acquisition of H. Koch & Sons, a maker of safety harnesses for fighter pilots, and that of Hitco Technologies Inc., which makes advanced sheathing materials for stealth fighters and space shuttles.

Veritas isn't the sole weaponry specialist in private equity. Bigger and better-known, the Washington.-based Carlyle Group — famed for its politically connected advisers, including former President Bush and ex-Secretary of State James Baker — has reaped huge profits from LBOs of United Defense Industries Inc. and other contractors. Yet just a fraction of Carlyle's $13 billion-plus capital base resides in defense. By contrast, Veritas' single-minded approach may be unique.

Moreover, Carlyle inhabits the large-cap market. With the exception of J.F. Lehman & Co., the buyout shop captained by former Navy Secretary John Lehman, "We pretty much have the middle-market defense area to ourselves," McKeon observes.

Veritas has emulated Carlyle in one key respect: It has assembled a battalion of recently retired four-star brass to counsel it ; Barry McCraffrey of the Army, Richard Hawley of the Air Force, Joseph Prueher and Leighton "Snuffy" Smith of the Navy and President Bush's current envoy to the Middle East, Anthony Zinni of the Marines."

Robert McKeon of Veritas explains:

"Of course, because Clinton had cut the budget so much, it was clear to us that the U.S. needed to spend more on defense. Now growth in the budget has resumed. Industrywide we're seeing 10% to 12% annual top-line growth. And in defense electronics — an area we're involved in — the growth is much faster.

Sept. 11 has accelerated that trend. But even before 9/11, the trend was evident.
So our timing was right."

http://www.thedeal.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=TheDeal
/TDDArticle/StandardArticle&c=TDDArticle&cid=1017676261660

I realize that this is "business as usual" for Bush Inc. "PEACE" really is just not in their vocabulary.

But innocents are dying in the Middle East. Can't we do better than a cynical appointment like this???

vgdesign

Dear Buzz,

I checked out the link you posted to Veritas Capital, "The Carlyle Group's Competition in War-Profiteering". Every time I think I can't be any more shocked and appalled by what the Bush regime does, they get me again.

One of the members of the "Defense & Aerospace Advisory Council" (a.k.a. gun-running division) is General Anthony Zinni. That's right, the guy Bush sent to the Middle East supposedly to make peace is on an advisory board for a company that makes big bucks from war.

Major conflict of interest, you think? Business as usual for the Bushies.

Maia Cowan

Written to right wing website that posted paul krugman attack story:

I just found your column because of a link from BuzzFlash.com You have got to be kidding, right?

As with any such nasty innuendo, I'd like to be able to "consider the source," but in this case, you don't tell us the source. So... I guess... we'll have to draw some conclusions about these sources based upon what you have provided for us:

(1) "senior White House official" Whomever this person is, could not he or she be, perhaps, partisan on their own part? You haven't shared with your readers who this speaker is, so we are not given enough information to make up our own minds based on past history.

(1) "senior Pentagon official" Again, we can only guess the identity of your "source," so we are not allowed to make up our own minds about whether this speaker might also be exhibiting the very thing of which they are accusing Paul Krugman: being "partisan."

(2 or more) "others in the administration" explaining how it isn't silly for people to be picking at Paul Krugman for acts that were actually non acts at a traditionally private function. Hmmm. Who are these people? Have we ever observed any of them acting in the manner that they've accused Krugman of acting? Well, how could we know? You haven't shared your "sources" with us.

That's a total of 4 or more gossipy people making nasty statements about another person, and they are not ethical or courageous enough to stand by their statements with their names. And these are the people whose (nonpartisan?) point of view (singular intentional) is that Paul Krugman has somehow been guilty of .... what? I can't understand the point of your column at all except, perhaps, to generate a certain emotion for those disinclined to allow their common sense to get in the way of a good temper tantrum.

Are you trying to imply that he's somehow un-American or pro Terrorist because he doesn't want to pretend to enjoy something he doesn't find enjoyable? Please. Rather than any sort of wrongdoing, I'd call that honesty and courage. It's very difficult to stand up to the crowd and NOT be a sheep, which appears to be the basic substance of your insinuations against Krugman.

And what about the irony of the very dirtiness of the actions of these unnamed sources, for leaking these opinions to a columnist, when the whole point of this evening was, apparently (according to your own historical background about the event) that no one is supposed to be doing exactly what these sleaze bags have done. And, you gave them the forum to do so. Hmm. How dumb do you think your readers are, anyway? What about the ethics of a columnist who would leak this information? I find myself wondering if you were an attendee at the event, since if you had been, why aren't at least one or two of the observations you relay your own first hand corroboration?

Why were these people not willing to have their names attributed to their comments? Sounds like a smear to me. Maybe Paul Krugman has a point, when you so superciliously quote his response to his critics as being a "witch hunt." He's been getting a lot of flack lately for his opinions (this is based on firsthand observation of many attack columns), and frankly, I think this particular column of yours smacks of character assassination, rather than journalism. If it looks like... a "witch hunt," and it smells like ... a "witch hunt," and it tastes like a... "witch hunt," then maybe it IS a ... "witch hunt."

In case you think I missed the point of your nasty column, I don't CARE if Paul Krugman stood on command or applauded or not. That is NOT THE POINT. It is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS (given the ground rules of the Gridiron event) and I have to suspect that you only expose it to destroy (you hope?) an effective critic of the current U.S. government. Or is it professional jealousy on your part in conjunction with being paid big bucks to do just this? I'm considering the source(es) and and I find them seriously wanting!

Rebecca Whittemore
Starksboro, VT

Dear BuzzFlash,

Right Wing Website Helps White House Try to Trash Paul Krugman 4/7

>New York Times columnist and Princeton University economist Paul Krugman reportedly
>"stuck out like a sore thumb," at the dinner by refusing to applaud President Bush, Vice
>President Cheney or any other Bush administration officials, according to people who
>attended the exclusive affair.
>....
>The official said he considered Krugman's behavior "contrary to the spirit of the Gridiron,"
>and said if Krugman "has that much disdain for the people they cover, then don't go to the
>dinner."

Um, are these comments from the same party which refused to shake Bill Clinton's hand, turned their back on him during speeches, and refused to attend his State of the Union addresses (and those who did attend refused to stand when he entered and sure as the sun will rise tomorrow they didn't applaud)? (just asking).

Regards,
Jeff