April 11, 2002

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> "BuzzFlash.com" wrote:
>
> Secretary of the Army White: Give Away Your Ill-Begotten Gains from the Enron Ponzi Scheme
>
> http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/2002/04/10_White_Enron.html

Are we supposed to be surprised by this White appointment?

Isn't this pretty much how Smirkco made his millions?

Arbusto "Oil"

Texas Rangers (with publicly-funded stadium later to be named Enron Field)

Shouldn't we expect Smirkco to look at this dastardly White as one of his own kind?

Just curious.

Jack

Hey Buzz!

Just read the article you linked to from Townhall.com. Where Kathleen Parker criticized what Paul Begala said in your interview with him.

I have to say that the more Conservatives try to explain what was done to Clinton during his administration the more they prove what Brock, Moore, Palast and others are saying.

Trash the Author. Nit pick details. Rant and rave about the smallest detail. But never address the substance of the book. What they are doing is exactly what you would expect them to do if the books mentioned above are true.

Don't they get it?

Why has the conservative media just noticed BuzzFlash all of the sudden? Why no Mention of BuzzFlash.com when you wrote about the stolen election? Or the Enron Scandal? Or Bush family ties to the Saudis and Bin Ladens? Or Poppy Bush's ties to the Carlyle Group?
Or the mysteries surrounding the events of Sept. 11th? And much, much more.

In fact one or two more articles ripping your interview with Begala will be more coverage than all of the conservative press gave to the voter purge in Florida!

At least we know Brock and the others are telling the truth about what the right wing thinks is important.

Keep it up!

Doug Marshall
Dallas, Texas

Dear Buzz,

Regarding the reluctance of Conservatives to appear on Crossfire -- now that the playing field is level and they might anticipate getting the same "polite" treatment Democrats have been accorded there by the likes of Tucker Carlson -- I would like to offer a comment:

Maybe, from now on we should refer to Conservatives as "Chicken-Conservatives" and go "balk, balk, balk" (or however chickens pronounce it!) every time we see a Conservative. Ridicule is to Conservatives as sunlight is to vampires – they can't handle it!

Make fun of Conservatives; that shouldn't be difficult. They are a pretty sorry lot when you get right down to it. There is much there to be ridiculed.

So, from now on, whenever we refer to a Conservative, it's "Chicken-Conservative" – much as the right-wingers loved referring to Liberals as Bleeding hearts. Actually, that's not half as damning as "Chicken" is. And the adjective "Chicken" suits them so well on all levels; they really are cowards.

And nothing scares them more than truth-telling. They cannot abide it, because truth-telling reveals Conservatives in all their arrogant hypocrisy, mean-temperedness and willingness to distort everything to achieve their Dark Ends.

A BuzzFlash fan,

The only way I can really understand what is going on is to compare our government to the Mafia -- "it's just business." It is so easy to accept that a poor desperate man will rob you on the street, but a greedy rich man could rob you also, he just doesn't use a gun. The people in power aren't saints, they are human. They might say they live by the words, what would Jesus do, but it's apparent, sadly, that it's just word service.

Sammy

Dear Buzz,

Subj: An absence of propriety

When MSNBC's Ashleigh Banfield, as she has in all concluding commentary since scurrying to the Middle East, nullifies the barbarity of Palestinian suicide-bombings by essentially asserting moral and political equivalencies to the "frustration" or "indignities" of Israeli occupation, Ms. Banfield is effectively suggesting the atrocities of 9/11 were "justifiable homicide."

M Tavin

Dear Buzz,

I've only been able to watch the new Crossfire two times so far... one with Carville and the other with Begala.

I got a huge belt out of the 4/10 Mailbag comments on the new program format and content. The BuzzFlash commentary was excellent and humorous. I do have to say though, that somebody needs to take that bellboy-style bell out of ding-a-ling Novak's reach. When Carville had Novak down for the count with raised voices, Tinkerbell would reach over and ding the bell like... subject ended! But, it really means Tinkerbell can't compete. Who put Tinkerbell in charge of the bell anyway? On the two shows I've seen, I haven't seen Carville or Begala "ring out" Novak or Carlson. Maybe it's in Carville and Begala's CNN contract that they cannot touch the bell. Wouldn't that be a hoot!

~ Cathy

Dear BuzzFlash,

It seems some democrats are finally finding a spine. Although I'd rather see it over a bigger issue (Enron, domestic policy, Taiwan, Thomas White, various scandals waiting to erupt,etc.), but it's a start. Sen. Joe Lieberman has rallied support against ANWR drilling & presents his argument based on... wait for it... The Truth & Documented Fact!!! Using said facts he basically bulldozes over the Bush admin's validation & reasoning for drilling - while the repugs, once again, drape themselves in the flag to push their agenda.

From Joe Lieberman:

"The fact remains that drilling in the refuge would not produce a drop of oil for a decade, far beyond the time of the current crisis, and even then far too little to change the skewed foreign oil dependence equation..."

But hey, let's not let facts get in the way. Let's go for a knee-jerk reaction by putting it terms of not having to buy Saddam's oil & instead, sustain ourselves. Which, really, begs the question - if Bush has declared war on terrorism AND anyone who supports terrorism (be it with money or harbor), AND has taken measures to freeze any channels for funneling monetary assets to terrorists, AND has made Iraq the cornerstone of his "axis of evil", then how is it that the US is currently buying 800,000 barrels of oil from Iraq daily? For someone who sees things in black & white & doesn't "nuance" (used as a verb, although Merriam-Webster defines it only as a noun or adjective), GWB is ambling down a highway of many shades of gray, whether he knows it or not.

Lieberman adds:

"The Middle East crisis is far too complicated to be calmed by drilling in the Arctic, and the fact that we're hearing such a far-flung argument tells me that our opponents don't have the votes . . ."

Maybe Lieberman is giving a subtle nod here (& perhaps tacit criticism of Bush's ME (non)policy) to the ME crisis being "too complicated" to fit into GWB's "black & white", "good & evil" doctrine. Whatever the case, I hope Joe Lieberman will continue to speak out & that his fellow dems will follow his lead & step up to the plate (as well as some "moderate" conservatives & independents) & say what needs to be said. Hopefully, as the dems crawl from under the shadow of 09/11, the people will find a voice & start asking the hard questions until they get the harsh truth.

And baby, it's gonna be harsh.

Tim Hopton

Kathleen Parker has never had a sense of irony. This is, after all, the woman who called Senator John Kerry (a man who won the Bronze and Silver Stars in Vietnam) a war wimp, while praising George W. Bush (who avoided Vietnam), Trent Lott (didn't serve - was a cheerleader instead) and Tom DeLay (didn't serve - said all the "minorities" got there before him) for their "guts."

Now she explains pathological hatred of Bill Clinton as akin to the way dogs instinctively hate snakes. Sure. Hatred of the Clintons couldn't possibly be due to the fact that for eight years, Clinton's enemies falsely accused Bill Clinton of:

1. Doing "something" illegal in a land deal. ($70 million spent for no charges, no proof of wrongdoing found after at least three separate investigations.).

2. Using FBI files to punish enemies. (No evidence of wrongdoing ever found.)

3. Wrongly firing White House Travel Office employees. (No proof of wrongdoing, no charges.)

4. Murdering Vince Foster. (No evidence found for this absurdity.)

5. Covering up Vince Foster's murder. (See 4.)

6. Being involved in a series of mysterious deaths. (No proof for this smear.)

7. Using Arkansas state troopers to solicit sexual partners. (Story admitted false by both its author and troopers involved.)

8. Sexually harassing Paula Jones. (Case dismissed for lack of evidence.)

Perhaps Parker thinks his infidelity (and lying about it) is responsible for all this hate, though I never heard her castigate Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston or Henry Hyde for cheating on their wives and lying about it. So, yeah, I guess it must be that dog thing after all.

Jeff Ryan
Chicago, IL

Dear BuzzFlash,

I liked your article about teachers supporting the initiative of legislators taking the tests that are required of our students to graduate from high school. Has anyone suggested that presidential candidates be given the tests they are touting as remedy for our supposedly horrible schools? No, I am not a public school teacher. I am a volunteer in the schools and I see teachers work incredibly hard with very little thanks and I would just love to see Bush pass one of those tests he wants to inflict on those teachers' students.

Mimi Lewis

[BuzzFlash Note: We should demand that Bush take any test he expects school children to take. If he's half as smart as the Republicans claim him to be, he might be twice as smart as a pre-schooler. Might.]

Dear BuzzFlash,

Following is a copy of the letter I just sent to Al Gore's Leadership '02 PAC. Please feel free to post it if you think it's worthwhile. I strongly believe we need a leader - the sooner, the better. While many of the Democratic leadership are less than enthusiastic about Al Gore running in 2004, I believe he is our best chance. He would be a great President. The Democratic party is in a mess because they don't have a national leader -
they are floundering. For whatever reason they never really got behind Gore in 2000. It's time they started thinking about this country instead of what the poll numbers say. They need to stop blaming Al Gore for losing the election. You'd think by now they would understand that he won! Maybe they need to read a few of the books you so generously offer at your web site!

Thanks,

Linda Kekumu

**********************

Vice President Al Gore
The Office of the Honorable Vice President
c/o Leadership 2002
2200 Clarendon Boulevard Suite 1201
Arlington, VA 22201

Dear Vice President Gore,

I am one of the silenced majority in America. You see, I voted for you but my vote didn't count. My family and I followed the 2000 election, from the Primaries right through your concession speech. We supported you and Senator Lieberman all the way.

You often said during the campaign "I will fight for you." And you did! You have served our country so well, from Viet Nam right through being a great Vice President. It almost isn't fair to ask you to serve again, you have given so much, but I must ask. Will you fight for us again?

This great country is in desperate need of someone to stand up and challenge the current Administration. It is appalling what has happened over the past 15 months. All of our worst fears are being realized. I am very concerned that Bush is leading us right into WWIII. This is not what we asked for, not what we voted for. Although he acts like he had an overwhelming majority, he does not even have a mandate. Yet, he goes unchallenged. In times past it was the bad guys who started wars but now it appears we will be starting the next one.

There does not seems to be anyone willing to stand up and fight for the Democrats. It's a huge void - one that needs to be filled before our country is totally lost. The amount of debt Bush is racking up is astonishing. My children's children will be paying for it, not mention the horrid environments tortures he has visited on us. Those will take centuries to
correct. The assault on our Constitution and the Bill of Rights is unconscionable and that also goes unquestioned. Our seniors are still without prescription coverage, our Veteran's services are being cut, the numbers of homeless have increased significantly, millions of our citizen's are still trying to raise a family on a minimum wage that is obscenely low and the safety nets are full of holes.

What I see is that the Democrats are in a mess. They really need a leader. The American people are hungry for someone to rally around. We need someone who will fight for us, someone experienced, someone who knows how to lead, someone who knows how to talk and is understandable. We need a champion. Mr. Vice President, you are that person! You are more than qualified to lead, you are nationally known and we desperately need you. I pray every night that you will answer America's call one more time. I pray that you have enough in reserve to face this challenge as I don't expect it will be easy. You will be a target of the rabid right because you are such a threat to them. But I still believe that truth and honesty will win out, I believe in the goodness of America. I hope you decide to run for President in 2004 and announce that you will run with Senator Lieberman as your running mate right at the beginning.

This isn't a very poetic letter, I'm not much good at that but this letter is totally sincere. I'm just an ordinary citizen who loves her country and recognizes a need. We need you. We need you now! Please look in your drawer, find those boxing gloves and come out swinging. Never mind what the media reports, just shout the truth - it will be enough. America will listen, her citizen's are ready. We need to fight the good fight.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,

Linda Kekumu
(address withheld)

Dear BuzzFlash,

I don't really like calling the Chimp "Boy George". I still have my '80s flashback when I see that name. Why can't you use The Shrub, The Smirk, The Idiot Bastard Son (thank you Frank Zappa!) or Chimpy McCokespoon, as they called him on Democratic Underground site last week. Anything but Boy George.

However, there are some Culture Club-related riffs we could make here:

"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me": In G.W.'s case, yes.
"Church of the Poison Mind": the GOP.

and don't forget Boy George's immortal lyrics:

"War is stupid
And people are stupid
And love means nothing
In some strange quarters."

So give the (original) Boy some credit!

Ted

Dear Editor:

Given the magnitude of the scandal already, it's clear the Enron and Arthur Anderson stories have not been scrutinized enough by the national press. There is no media frenzy, no 24/7 blow by blow of the developments (or non-developments) that we grew to expect during the Clinton administration.

More disturbingly, there appears to be no champions of truth digging into Enron's past and the Bush administrations entanglements. Some might say that the public isn't really interested, or perhaps the "war" is more newsworthy, but this doesn't wash. In the early days of Whitewater the public was even less interest, yet the press never let up.

Now we confront a real scandal. The administration, headed by Texas oil men, benefited substantially from Enron's political contributions, met with Enron executives behind closed doors to develop national energy policy and now stubbornly refuse to tell Congress who they met with or when. Then there are the bean counters at Arthur Anderson who blithely shredded Enron evidence even though penalties for obstructing justice are probably more certain than what they might have been for concealing Enron's financial woes.

The evidence of evildoing is overwhelming. Real people have been hurt, yet Enron fails to attract the attention it deserves. Americans may not agree on their politics, but they usually recognize hypocrisy. So why the differential treatment? Where are the seekers of the truth that the wealthy media corporations are supposed to employ to keep us well informed? Why didn't Fox News or CNN figure out sooner that Whitewater was a politically
inspired hoax? Why wasn't Enron investigated over a year ago after a whistleblower spilled the beans? Who is questioning the administrations plans to expand the war on terror or to make conceivable the first use of nuclear weapons? It's time we started questioning those we entrust to bring us the news.

Brian Lynch
Mine Hill, NJ

Buzz,

Among the many other things about your website, I enjoy reading the daily "BuzzFlash Mailbag" with the comments from (often very faithful) visitors. Many of your readers, including myself, have written to say how pleased they are with the new format and style of Crossfire on CNN. Finally Democrats are starting to stand up to the show's right-wing co-hosts and beat them over the head with those nasty and elusive things called FACTS.

While the new show is certainly a refreshing and long overdue change, I am afraid it may not last. I think it's important for those of us who do enjoy the new format to contact CNN and let them know that we appreciate it.

We can be fairly certain the right-wingers are sending rafts of e-mails protesting the aggressive stance of the Democratic CO-hosts We must not let them convince CNN's management the show isn't working.

When Walter Isaacson took over last year, the first thing he did was arrange a meeting with top congressional Republicans (but not Democrats, of course) to find out how he could increase CNN's sagging ratings. When that happened, I fired off an e-mail to Mr. Isaacson to voice my objections. Now that CNN has finally done something favorable for "our side", I think we need to let them know that we approve.

I would like to urge all your readers who enjoy the new format of the show to please take a moment to send an e-mail and voice your approval. The e-mail address is:

Crossfire@CNN.com

Or visit the website at:

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/crossfire/

My thanks go out to everyone who takes the time to do this.

Bob DeLeys

Dear BuzzFlash,

The New York Times today reports that a lawyer for Global Crossing screwed up and sent all of the people bidding for the remains of Global Crossing the same e-mail when all of the bidders' identities were supposed to be kept secret.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/10/technology/10GLOB.html

I don't know if you read this or not, but one of the fifty or so bidders appears to be the Carlyle Group.

The e-mail, which was reprinted by the Times, lists Emerrill@thecarlylegroup.com as one of the people on the list.

So, I guess the Carlyle group is interested in Global Crossing. Seeing as how the House is trying to turn this into a "Democratic Scandal," it certainly appears that the right winger junta at the Carlyle Group is looking to profit from the ashes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/10/technology/10EMAIL.html

Steven Greer

[BuzzFlash Note: While were unable to find an employee of The Carlyle Group whose name is "Emerrill" or whose first initial is "E" and last name is "Merill", we did find a LOT of connections between The Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch, including at least seven of The Carlyle Group's managing directors who have ties to the investment company. The other curious connection would be that the last letter of email recipient's name is actually the first initial of their last name. Is it possible that the famous chef (Emeril Lagasse) is a member of The Carlyle Group? Or, perhaps, it's a fabricated email address, redirected to someone at The Carlyle Group who chooses to remain anonymous. As Emeril would say, "Bam!"]

Dear Buzz:

Is O'Neill out of the loop, or is W. pulling our legs? O'Neill states in the following piece that the Saudis are making up for the oil Iraq is not shipping. If so, then why the push by W. for drilling in the ANWR? The question is rhetorical; we know the answer, don't we.

By the way, why were steel tariffs imposed if the government is going to deal them away in isolated (?) cases? Just wondering.

Sharon Andrews

April 10, 2002

O'Neill Offers Reassurance on Steel Tariffs, Oil
By REUTERS
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-economy-oneill.html

PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said Wednesday the "shrillness" of the reaction to the U.S. steel import tariffs would soon pass and that global economic recovery will not be threatened so long as oil prices stay in their current range.

Dear BuzzFlash:

I was angry when I read the article in today's Washington Post, as written by Bill Frist. It appeared at first glance to run counter to what I recalled him proposing less than a year ago, so I did a quick search. Sure enough, he is eating his words and falling in line with the indefensible position of W. on this vitally important issue. Let's expose him for the hypocrite that he is; what do you say?

The last quote below is clearly from a pro-life group that wasted few words in condemning Frist's position last July. They need not fear since he's changed his tune this year.

Sincerely,

Sharon Andrews

* * *

Not Ready For Human Cloning

By Bill Frist
Thursday, April 11, 2002; Page A29

"...As a physician and legislator who struggles with this inherent tension between scientific progress and ethical concerns, I focus on two fundamental questions: (1) Does the scientific potential of human research cloning experimentation justify the purposeful creation of human embryos, which must be destroyed in experiments? (2) Does the promise of human embryonic stem cell research depend on experimental human research cloning?

At this point in the evolution of this new science, I cannot justify the purposeful creation and destruction of human embryos in order to experiment on them, especially when the promise and success of human embryonic stem cell research do not depend on experimental research cloning..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29628-2002Apr11.html

* * *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2001

FRIST URGES BAN ON HUMAN CLONING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) today made the following statement in response to scientists’ claims that they have successfully cloned a human embryo

"...We’ve learned that research like embryonic stem cell research, which I support, can and will be conducted without a reliance on human cloning, and that prohibiting human cloning does not prevent promising research from going forward..."

http://www.senate.gov/~frist/Press/News_Releases/01-241/01-241.html

***

Where Frist Comes Down
Stem-cell statesman or political cynic?

By Wesley J. Smith, author of Culture of Death: The Assault on Medical Ethics in America
July 20, 2001 8:40 a.m.

Much ado has been made in the media of Sen. Bill Frist (R., Tenn.) coming out for federal funding of embryonic-stem-cell research (ESCR), "with limits," as the New York Times's headline put it. While most of the media emphasis has been on the funding aspect of the story — no surprise since that angle undermines the opposition to ESCR — precious little media focus has been placed on the actual "limits" Frist proposed. That may be a huge mistake in interpreting the real meaning of this latest development in the great stem-cell debate.

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-smith072001.shtml