June 28, 2002
Important Note: Because we can't always determine your intentions, we need to ask a favor of you when you send us email. If you DO NOT WANT YOUR EMAIL PUBLISHED in the Mailbag or in the Contributors section, please write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the Subject line or at the top of your email. That way we'll know it's just a comment to BuzzFlash. Additionally, if you submit a mailbag item and DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME associated with your submission, sign your email, "A BuzzFlash Reader." If you send email unsigned, we will post your name with your submission, or, if that's not available, your email name (not the full address, just what's on the left side of the email address). Thank you.
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. The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are the not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Thanks again for your email and your patience.
Dear BuzzFlash,
Pentagon expedites missile-defense plan
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
I have left out the body of this article, but felt the important part is this last paragraph:
Gen. Kadish said the Pentagon plan calls for deploying a missile-defense system "as quickly as possible" and then improving the system over time with features that will be able to defeat foreign efforts to thwart the system.
That is exactly what the big software companies do, they dump a load of crap out to the public before it is ready, and let the people suffer until somebody 'patches' the screwed up system. I have heard comments that if any other type of business attempted to operate like that, they would be shut down immediately. What do you think, is it time to 'shut it down'?
Jack D. Craven
Dear BuzzFlash,
Seriously, from Page 10 of Scalia's dissent in Atkins V. Virginia (page 46 of 54 in this document http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/20jun20021230/www.supremecourtus.gov /opinions/01pdf/00-8452.pdf)
Scalia says...
"the fact that 49% of the legislators in a State with a population of 60 million voted against the bill should be more impressive than the fact that 90% of the legislators in a state with a population of 2 million voted for it."
I would remind my gentle BuzzFlashers that California, the largest state, has only 34 million or so people. Perhaps Scalia was referring to the State of Insanity, where he resides?
Josh Narins
Dear BuzzFlash,
I sent this to Crossfire and wanted you to see this...
With everyone dismissing the Constitution these days as inconsequential in light of terrorist threats, I'd like to remind people what the test of a "good" law is versus a "bad" law.
A "good" law is one that can be applied in a variety of circumstances -- to both the good guys and the bad guys -- and come up with the intended result. Just because a law allows you to easily catch a bad guy doesn't make it a good law. The test is whether that same law will protect a good guy who has been falsely accused -- whether by accident or by some sinister intent.
We can't let our fear of terrorism allow good laws that protect the innocent be trashed. If we allow the Constitution to be discarded just because we are scared, then the terrorists have already won.
As someone once said, the main thing we need to be afraid of is fear itself. I believe this is because fear leads us to make rash decisions that can have consequences that are actually worse than what we originally feared. This is supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let's be brave and not let fear control us and our Constitution.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
In reading all of the BuzzFlash links and Mailbag commentaries, it certainly sounds like there is growing concern about the Democrats lack of action in response to Bush hijacking our government at every level.
Perhaps Democrat lack of action is a ploy. In other words, maybe the Democrats have a strategy of giving Bush enough rope to hang himself. Maybe the Democrats think they are gathering ammunition against Bush and the republicans in upcoming elections. If so, has their strategy failed to factor in backlash? I mean backlash from loyal Democrat voters who feel elected Democrats are weak and wishy-washy.
Wake up Democrats! When office-holding Democrats appear to be weak against an abusive administration, many democrat voters will backlash by voting Green or staying home on election day!
~ Cathy
Buzz,
What are the chances these two incidents were linked, and that these soldiers were acting under orders, and that the intent of their actions was to create a devastating explosion which the Bush administration would immediately label "a terrorist bombing," thus ensuring continuing high poll ratings for the president (sic) and his never-ending "war on terra"?
I wouldn't put it past them!
Just putting this on the table for discussion ... or not.
Roy
Adams
Tyler,
Texas
----------------------------------
From the Savannah,(GA)Morning News
May 16, 2002
Fort Stewart soldier jailed in Florida on $5 million bond
Police believe soldier tried to plant explosive device at power plant.
By Noelle Stevens
Jacksonville, Fla., police arrested a Fort Stewart soldier Saturday after finding him armed, wearing black clothes and leaving a power plant where he allegedly left an explosive.
Spc. Derek Lawrence Peterson, 27, is being held on a $5 million bond by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Department of Corrections. He has been charged with attempting to detonate an explosive device.
Peterson belongs to B Company, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor and has been stationed at Fort Stewart since March, said
Dina McCain, a Fort Stewart spokeswoman.
----------------------------------
From the Columbus, GA Ledger-Enquirer
Posted on Sat, Jun. 22, 2002
Soldier arrested
At least three others implicated in theft from Robinson Paving Co.
BY HARRY FRANKLIN
State Editor
Ricky Todd Godsey, a U.S. Army Specialist stationed at Fort Benning, was arrested at 1 a.m. Friday on charges stemming from the theft of 300 sticks of high-grade explosives from Robinson Paving Co. in Columbus earlier this year.
Authorities say the investigation indicates at least three people were involved in the crime. Columbus Police Sgt. John Crump arrested Godsey, 23, on charges of felony theft by taking and possession of destructive devices.
Godsey, a native of Watauga, Tenn., was bound over to Muscogee County Superior Court on $110,000 bond, during an 8 a.m. Friday hearing in Columbus Recorder's Court. The case is expected to go to a grand jury in three to four months.
He is accused of possessing 151 sticks "which were configured as a bomb or similar to said device or parts of such device," the Columbus police arrest report states.
Godsey, stationed at Fort Benning since October 2001, was assigned to a maintenance crew that works on large engines, said Rich McDowell, Fort Benning's chief public affairs officer.
Buzz,
I sent an e-mail to Helen Thomas thanking her for being about the only person at the White House press conferences that would ask the tough questions of Ari Fleischer. I mentioned something about Bush's "compassionate conservative" slogan being a fraud. She e-mailed me back with 3 words ---- "Where's the compassion?" This is one brave lady that makes Ari shudder when he calls on her to ask a question. I know the Bush administration would love to bar her, but she is such an icon they can't. We should all be grateful for her courage. She is a blessing to have with so many "media whores" continuing to do the bidding of Karl Rove in promoting this illegal and inept president.
Gigi
Dear BuzzFlash,
Subj: Book Police?
Books don't kill people.....right to bear books?
How ridiculous, we can't keep records for gun purchases, but books that's another story. How about books on how to make guns? The republicans are nuts! Well, they do have more nightmares.
Progressively,
Cassandra Murck
BuzzFlash,
I am sorry you lost the insider reporter but it does give me hope. Every time I hear about the screening of audiences for the Dim Son and the paranoia for dissent it makes me realize these people are scared out of their minds. They know that most of the United States does not support them and they are terrified that people will start talking to each other and realize this. When the University of Ohio had to threaten their students with expulsion to get them to clap for the Chimp it is sign that the walls are crumbling. Keep up the good work.
Michelle Miller
Hey Buzz
I just had an idea....From now on...instead of calling it the "Bush Administration"...why not call it, what it really is..THE BUSH ABOMINATION"
Genie
Dear BuzzFlash,
I'm devastated that Capitol Buzz will not continue -what a shame? Ever since I discovered the first one I have been waiting with bated breath. The best thing about it was that there was hope that not all democrats on Capital Hill have had the crap beaten out of them and that someone might be willing to say what we are all thinking. I'm encouraged that there is even a staff member that reads BuzzFlash and is willing to contribute. Wish you would stay on Capitol Buzz. To reiterate we are NOT over the stolen election, we want Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling in jail, we want the curtain taken off of lady justice and John Ashcroft to personally pay for the expense of covering her and we want him back on commercial aircraft, we want an independent investigation into why $30 billion of taxpayer money doesn't entitle us to know why 2 known terrorists were not kept under surveillance when they entered the United States when we could spend $70 million of taxpayer money to investigate Whitewater, we want all those nagging little regulations that were supposed to keep flim flam men from controlling the stock market back in place, we want to eliminate the rest of the tax cut and we are tired of wasting our time rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic when it's really time to throw the captain overboard!!!!
BAD
(born-again-democrat)
Remember Democracy is a participatory sport!
Hello,
This is just a little love note form a frequent reader. It didn't take long for the Republicans to blame the "liberal" democrats for the Pledge of Allegiance ruling. Whether you agree with it or not, it's hard to believe that they managed to blame Tom Daschle for it. Keep up the good work!
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Hours after a federal appeals court Wednesday declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, the Republican political machine in Washington geared up to fight the decision.
The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), which coordinates Republican congressional campaign efforts, was set to send a memo to every Republican member of Congress and those running for Congress Wednesday afternoon.
The memo will urge Republicans to contact their local school boards and tell them to "nullify this decision" and urge them to allow the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited as it is in classrooms tomorrow morning, according to a spokesman for the NRCC, Steve Schmidt.
"This is nonsense," Schmidt said.
Schmidt said the memo will also urge Republicans to "blame liberal Tom Daschle for holding up judicial nominees."
"This is what you get" when you don't fill those voids, Schmidt added.
Here's a link to the article:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/06/26/pledge.politics/index.html
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
Everyone should set their VCRs to tape the Hardball replay. Ann Coulter was on to promote her book and Katrina Vandenhuval cleaned her clock. Vandenhuval told of the liberal bias myth, pointed out that the media is nothing more than bush cheerleaders, and was great. Coulter was speechless. She was even confronted by Barnicle on some wifty quote about liberals hating America. He asked if John and Bob Kerry hated America. She was dumbfounded and resorted to sulking and saying I thought I was here to promote my book. She said if Al Franken or Chris Matthews were on to promote a book they wouldn't have someone on to rebut them. Then someone said you mean like Michael Moore having Bernie Goldberg on with him. She was speechless at not having a free reign to spew forth her stupidity.
DON'T MISS IT.
~~~Stevie G~~~
Dear BuzzFlash,
I am really unhappy and sorry that the anonymous capital hill staffer has decided to stop writing the highly enjoyable Capital Buzz column. His take was so refreshing and a window into the workings of hill staff. I will surely miss the column even though it had a short life. Why doesn't he just write a column under a fictitious name? Or why start writing for another liberal site using a fictitious name? Please urge him to continue....if not at BuzzFlash, somewhere else.
His column quickly became my favorite. Please pass this email on to him.
Thanks for being there, Buzz.
Bonnie
Sonder
Merion
Station, PA
Dear BuzzFlash,
So what is so different from what Bush did with his Harken shares in his illustrious oil bidness than the greedy pirates of World.com and Enron? Just asking.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
You know what you guys need? A GHP page. That way we can get info about the scandal du jour. You could keep links to the articles showing the GHPers who are in trouble either ethically or with the law.
You could show an elected Hypocrite's name, his/her state and office, a brief, one-sentence summary of the scandal, and then links to the articles about it.
Of course, you would have to cull the list approximately every week to keep the page from getting too long.
Jeff
[BuzzFlash Note: We're already working on it. We wanted to collect a few more quotes before we released it to the public. Send us your hypocrites and we'll post them. But, like you said, we need four things: 1. the person's name, 2. the person's title/connection to the administration, 3. the quotes that prove their hypocrisy, and 4. links to the articles with those quotes. We want this to be comprehensive and irrefutable.]
Dear BuzzFlash,
I just received word from a Democratic Press Secretary in the Pa. House that Republican House members are passing a bill that would require voters to present either a driver's license or voter registration card at the polling place or be denied a vote.
Republicans are scared to death that Ed Rendell will defeat Republican Gubernatorial candidate Mike Fisher so decisively they might also lose the House on Rendell's coattails.
This legislation is designed to reduce Rendell's margin in the Philadelphia area by suppressing minority turnout.
It appears That Florida worked so well for Bush that Republicans want to experiment nationwide.
Gary Spicer
Marietta,
Pa.
Dear BuzzFlash,
So, on 09/10/01 the NSA intercepted a couple of messages that were very vague. No WAY they could possibly have figured it out, blah, blah, blah.
With that in mind, the following passage from the first in a series of article blew me away -- it seems "the dots" were not only being intercepted but also interpreted and connected. What has changed since then? For one thing, the people who sit around that massive wooden table.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/nation-world/terroristwithin/chapter1.html
"...A month before the new millennium, U.S. leaders are faced with the threat of terrorist attacks by a group called al-Qaida.
WASHINGTON, December 1999
"The grooms are ready for the big wedding."
In another context sisters getting married in a double service this would be an occasion for joy.
In fact, though, this was chilling news, a coded communiqué intercepted in an overseas telephone call. It was news that had the most powerful people of the most powerful nation gathered, grim-faced, in the windowless Situation Room in the basement of the White House.
Among those seated around the massive wooden table Dec. 8, 1999, were Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Attorney General Janet Reno, National Security Advisor Samuel Berger, FBI Director Louis Freeh, CIA Director George Tenet, Richard Clarke of the National Security Council and Michael Sheehan, chief of counterterrorism for the State Department.
Tenet had the floor: For months, the Central Intelligence Agency had been picking up sketchy reports about possible terrorist acts planned for the dawn of the millennium. Now, friendly foreign intelligence agencies were pursuing tips of terrifying inevitability..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liz Taylor
Dear Senator,
I am thrilled at the California District Court ruling yesterday that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because of its inclusion of "under God," added in 1954. And I am APPALLED at the Senate's knee-jerk reaction today in voting 99-0 to oppose that ruling.
Have any of you in the Senate read the Constitution lately? The Bill of Rights? Have you studied the intent of the Founding Founders recently to know that the Founding Fathers would never have condoned a Pledge of Allegiance that joined state and church with an "under God" phrase??
Our Founders, who were more agnostic than Christian, did NOT put "In God We Trust" on our currency. That defilement of the church/state separation was done about 100 years later, long after our founding fathers were dead. And they probably rolled in their graves when it was enacted.
We are not a CHRISTIAN nation, but a multi-religious and free-believing nation. A lot of Americans question the existence of a God, and certainly don't worship one. I realize this statement might upset you, but people who don't believe in a supreme being have just as much a right to live happily and peacefully in this country as those who do believe. We are just as kind and law abiding as you; we just don't happen to believe a God exists, or has any control over our lives. We take full responsibility for our lives and respect our Constitution and Bill of Rights -- perhaps more than those religious people who will allow fear to let them accept the undermining of their civil liberties; who will allow their religious beliefs to infringe on the rights of others not of their faith.
The Senate has made a grave mistake in condemning the California ruling. You've shown that politics means more than your integrity, or your understanding of what this country was REALLY founded on. None of you in the Senate, Democrats and Republicans alike, deserve any respect for this vote. You should be ashamed!
Sincerely,
Jo
Ann Simon
Camden,
Me
Dear BuzzFlash,
Since you are so well-read in Washington, D.C., I hope you will print my letter. I am hoping that the idiots running this country will see it and think about it.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., a former vice presidential candidate, immediately called for a constitutional amendment to make sure the words stay in the pledge: "There may have been a more senseless, ridiculous decision issued by a court at some time, but I don't remember it."
"Let us not wait for the Supreme Court to act on this," said Sen. John Warner, R-Va. "Why don't we go ahead and formulate this amendment, put it together, have it in place, presumably with all 100 United States senators."
------------
Since January 2001, I have watched in total frustration as the pink tutu democrats do NOTHING to stop the robbery of our social security, the robbery of our civil liberties, mass unemployment, mass corruption on Wall Street, financial fraud in companies, mass fraud on all investors, an undefined war on some concept called "terror," a spiraling debt and deficit, a government that runs on secrecy, a tyrant who in our name threatens no less than 60 countries and is openly involved in coups of ELECTED leaders and threatening to kill others to avenge his father, a tyrant who is putting our nation in jeopardy of being attacked again by threatening preemptive strikes on others, and on and on.
Yesterday, the California Supreme Court gave companies the green light to discriminate against people over 40 by saying that people over 40 did not have a right to get the same benefits as people under 40. Imagine what companies strapped for money will do with that! Did I hear even ONE Congressperson express outrage about that or anything else I have mentioned? NO! It was more important to break all Olympic records to run outside to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the words, "Under God." It was more important to drop everything they were doing and break all Congressional records passing legislation 99-0, in protest of the SF Judges ruling. For the last six months, I have been unable to get a job because the economy is such a disaster and there has been no action on the part of the Congress to find a solution for me and millions of other Americans. Yet, they break all records in taking action on something that does not make a damn bit of difference in my life or the lives of the unemployed Americans who cannot find work. Senator Byrd called the SF judge "stupid." No, Senator Byrd, YOU are the STUPID one who doesn't understand what his priorities should be -- you and the rest of the disgraceful DO-NOTHING, PINK TUTU so-called "democrats." YOU DISGUST ME. You made me cry today in total frustration!
-Maria
San
Rafael, CA
Dear BuzzFlash,
Subj: Fox/Hannity: Pledge
....here's one more observation and example of the bias and borderline-insanity of our right wing big media:
i went home for a late lunch today, about 3:15 eastern time the Fox channel is talking about the ruling on the Pledge.
they switch to Hannity running his radio show, for a comment.
he immediately starts in with something like: "..this is the result when the likes of Hillary Clinton, Pat Leahy, Tom Daschle...."
sorry, i didn't hear any more. I switched away after mouthing a quick: "fuck you, shit head" at the tv screen.
here we have a ruling by the most conservative, right wing court in history and this ruling is, according to this right wingnut commentator: The Liberals fault.
you know "under God" is a relatively recent thing. it was inserted into the Pledge after WWII. the country didn't fail before it was there, it will not falter because the two words are removed.
Steve Warren
Dear BuzzFlash,
I have just recently discovered your site and find it encouraging to know that there are others out there that feel the same as I do about the current administration. In this day of 70%+ approval ratings I was beginning to wonder where all the sane persons had fled.
Ever since President Bush announced his "War on Terror," I have had my doubts about his sincerity. He stated that this war would not be one that was fought in just one area but instead it would be a worldwide search for terrorists and those that aid them. To his credit, not only did he invade Afghanistan but he sent advisors to the Philippines and Georgia. My only question is when are we going to see downtown Belfast reduced to a pile of rubble? If this is indeed a worldwide conflict then why should the IRA be spared? Also, just last week there were bombings in Spain. Come on George, send in the B52s now. We all know that when he said "worldwide" he meant "Arab."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
All those letters in the mailbag and links to articles regarding the FBI checking what books we check out of our libraries--just in case we are planning something awful--reminded me of "Minority Report." This concept, in addition to books such as Orwell's 1984, show exactly why the ultra-right fear the arts and artists and mock them when they take stands on issues.
Remember "China Syndrome"? Paul Harvey derided the movie, calling it implausible based on the information he received from his experts. The next day, there was a near catastrophe at Three Mile Island.
It seems that some of those gifted in the arts have an uncanny ability to tap into the truth. Sad when we need to rely on Hollywood tales for facts...we sure are not going to get it out of the bushies!
Tomorrow, I'm taking my ten-year-old to the library. Will 'Hank the Cowdog' or 'Captain Underpants' be considered subversive?
Liz Taylor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ebert on 'Minority Report': "...The movie turns out to be eerily prescient, using the term "pre-crime" to describe stopping crimes before they happen; how could Spielberg have known the government would be using the same term this summer?..."
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-minority21f.html
Dear Buzz,
Lately I have been puzzled by the things that are going on with the economy and wall street. All these accounting scandals that are coming out are troubling. I do not think that these corporations were covering up their bottom lines to make President Clinton look good, and why are they having financial problems after they got that lovely tax break and all the regulations squashed to help them make money? Now is the time they should be doing all they can to make Bush's economy look good. Not only is Bush doing everything to make the economy crash and burn but the corporations are now being found as incapable of making money honestly with tax breaks and regulation lifting. According to them this should be the time when they are making money hand over fist. And most of these people are ones that tell us how to manage our money and analyze how the economy is doing. They supposedly have educations and degrees in these matters and they do not seem capable of balancing their checkbooks!! It must be easy to not go broke when you can just raise prices on people and borrow money from banks with no collateral. We, the general public, have to do that with a limited income and taxes to pay. Why is it that they cannot do just as well or better? So why are all these corporations, and the Stock Market, tanking now? I have this eerie feeling that not only is the stock market an entity unto itself, having not much to do with reality, but also a tool to manipulate the degree of wealth enjoyed by the American public at large. Bush and others do not seem as bothered by the falling stock market prices as they were when Clinton was in office. Now we are seeing a free fall and they have not even blinked an eye. Remember the concern about debt, interest rates, and stock market levels, during Clinton's administration, not only by Clinton, but also the republicans?
JK
Dear BuzzFlash,
Subj: The military, explosives and Rush Limbaugh
I'm beginning to wonder if these two incidents involving military men and explosives, plus the "domestic" nature of the anthrax attacks, has anything to do with the fact that the likes of Rush Limbaugh and other wingnuts have been broadcast on the Armed Forces radio net for the past several years with no countervailing voice from the left.
If these military types are fed a steady diet of right-wing extremism (Feminazies, tree huggers, socialists, etc.) I would not be surprised that they would become a destabilizing force in the country since the reality depicted by Limbaugh is so ugly and distorted.
Durnford King
Dear BuzzFlash,
Just so I can be on record as having said this to SOMEbody, my guess is that Judge Ferdinand Fernandez, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judge who dissented in the pledge of allegiance case, will be Bush 2's nominee for the Supreme Court. Judge Fernandez is a Hispanic who was appointed by Bush 1 in 1989.
The invidious ways these guys operate is amazing.
Have a good day!
Dear BuzzFlash,
Results also show a majority of voters (51%) says President Bush deserves to be re-elected for another term in 2004. In contrast, 28% say it is time for a new president, and another 20% are not sure. Republicans are staunch supporters of Bush deserving re-election (86% re-elect, 4% someone new) compared to Independents (42% reelect, 27% someone new, 32% not sure) and Democrats (27% reelect, 51% someone new, 22% not sure).
This is a lot different number than the 70% we always hear about form the biased media.
above from zogby web site
Michael Rapp
Dear BuzzFlash,
Subj: Bush Urges Congress on Debit Limit
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/3541334.htm
This story on the debt limit is a good example of why people are not informed and why they are not up in arms about this administration.
The AP article which will be widely distributed states that "officials said Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill had other measures at his disposal that could prevent a government default for an unspecified period of time"
The problem with this reporting is that both O'Neill and Sen. Tom Daschle are on record that this situation is likely to force Social Security, disability, and veterans benefits to be unpaid.
In other words, not only will individuals be hurt, but the economy will take a temporary $50,000.000.000 hit at the beginning of July.
O'Neill has been very clear on this although it has not been widely reported. Apparently the Treasury Dept has exhausted temporary solutions allowing it to get around the debt limit.
By not reporting this they do a disservice to the public. There can be no public outcry if people are unaware of the problem.
Apparently everyone is counting on the House doing something so the problem will just go away. The problem with that is that the House once shut the government down. Why should anyone expect they will not continue to be irresponsible.
Over a year ago in the Financial Times of London, O'Neill pretty much said he thought Social Security should be junked and people had a responsibility to fend for themselves.
You would think that that would have been a major story, just as his saying we may not pay benefits in July. But it wasn't.
The real harm to our democracy comes not so much from the slanted stories but from the deliberate decision not to report.
rereynolds
orange pk fl
Dear BuzzFlash:
Apparently the FBI has been forced to take some action in the Anthrax Murder case.
Barbara Hatch Rosenberg laid out a pretty clear description of a suspect in her June 19 article, THE ANTHRAX CASE: WHAT THE FBI KNOWS http://www.redflagsweekly.com/storm_warnings/2002_june19.html
That article immediately followed her June 18 briefing of Daschle, Leahy, and the FBI on Capitol Hill. Can we assume she named the suspect she described at that meeting?
http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2002/06/21/rosenberg/index_np.html?x
Perhaps the presence of the two senators who were targets of the killer when Rosenberg laid out her case made it a bit difficult for the FBI to continue to ignore him..........
On June 25, the FBI searched the home of Dr. Steven J. Hatfill, who seems to closely fit the profile Rosenberg gave us in her article. He had worked at Fort Detrick, been vaccinated, and had publicly warned against the ease of mounting bioterror attacks. Also, the Baltimore Sun reported that:
"Hatfill has worked in recent years for the McLean, Va., office of Science Applications International Corp., a large defense contractor. But the government lifted his security clearance in July 2001, according to SAIC officials.
After waiting to see whether the clearance would be restored, SAIC dismissed Hatfill in March, the officials said." http://www.sunspot.net/news/health/bal-te.anthrax26jun26.story?coll=bal%2Dhealth%2Dheadlines
Hatfill's relationship with Science Applications International Corp. is highly significant. He may indeed have some stories to tell that the CIA and DOD would prefer we do not hear. The Red Herring's profile of SAIC states:
"THE HERRING TAKE Though it's sometimes called "S-CIA" for its intimacy with the U.S. intelligence community, SAIC is highly diversified, with more than half of its revenue coming from commercial sectors" http://www.redherring.com/mag/issue97/520019052.html
I invite BuzzFlash readers to peruse the SAIC website. Start with the companies page and go from there.
http://www.saic.com/about/companies/
Don't miss the director's page. It seems that the name Bobby Inman appears there.
Have fun, and look at this underreported FBI search story with a new perspective.
vgdesign
Buzz,
You've GOT to look into the North Carolina Republican party's actions on voting districts over the last several months. The Democratic controlled General Assembly drafted the new districts last fall and prepared for campaigns in each new district. The Republicans, AS THEY DID IN FLORIDA IN 2000, were the first to run to the Courts.
The districts were upheld at trial. They were upheld in the Court of Appeals. In the 7-2 Republican Supreme Court of North Carolina, the districts were rejected by, guess what, a vote of 7-2. Instead of returning the plan to the legislature, the Republican majority (all of whom are opposed to judicial activism, of course) took it upon themselves to craft a formula which pretty much guaranteed that any plan which followed it would lead to fewer minority representatives and a Republican majority in both houses. They applied a section of the State Constitution which is blatantly against the Voting Rights Act.
The Legislature then drew new districts. The Republicans sued AGAIN. They handpicked a conservative Republican Superior Court Judge who threw out the districts and ordered the state to apply his new plan. Of course, his new plan WAS THE PLAN THAT REPUBLICANS HAD FAILED TO PASS IN THE LEGISLATURE IN THE FIRST PLACE!! He entered his order with no explanation of what was wrong with the Legislature's plan, just an order.
It gets better. One week prior to issuing his order, Judge Jenkins was seen leaving the offices of the Republican Majority leader of the State House and the ranking Republican on the judiciary committee.
He says he was "just visiting my friends in the Legislature."
The Republican Supreme Court has now upheld Judge Jenkins ruling by denying review. Republican Federal Judges in NC, handpicked by Jesse Helms, have refused to intervene, and the Fourth Circuit, dominated by Republican troglodytes, has followed suit. Our member of the Supreme Court of the US who decides whether to take cases or not is Rehnquist. Fat chance.
In the meantime, we're two months past our primary date and no one knows where they're going to run. The districts as they stand now place many of the Democratic leadership in races against each other and wholly eliminate others. It stinks. Another slow-motion judicial coup.
Take a look at the Raleigh News & Observer's coverage. You won't believe it.
John D. Burns
Raleigh, NC 27601
Dear BuzzFlash,
When I joined the US Navy in 1978 there were two main things I had to do before I was actually enlisted and a full-fledged member. 1) Sign the contract, 2) Take the oath. Accordingly, I believe there are two main things that need to be accomplished to become president of the United States. 1) Be elected by the MAJORITY of voters, 2) Be sworn in. King George has only accomplished ONE of these. Thus, we have the reason President Bill Clinton continues to be bashed by the right wing. HE IS STILL THE LEGAL PRESIDENT.
Come back to work, sir. Vacation's over. We need you.
Peter Kallash
Dear BuzzFlash,
On CNN's website report on the hysterical reaction of politicians to the Pledge of Allegiance case ruling in San Francisco, Senator Kit Bond is quoted:
"Our Founding Fathers must be spinning in their graves. This is the worst kind of political correctness run amok," Bond said. "What's next? Will the courts now strip 'so help me God' from the pledge taken by new presidents?"
Someone should clue Senator Kit Bond in that the Presidential oath of office reads:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States."
Where did he see the words "so help me God?"
Wouldn't it be nice if our elected officials knew something about the Constitution?
Frank
Calandra
Webster, NY
Dear BuzzFlash,
A few days ago I received my copies of BuzzFlash's"Bush Knew" bumper stickers (I ordered 15). I promptly began to distribute them to acquaintances and was pleasantly surprised at their enthusiasm! The various conversations that resulted convinces me that folks are just as upset as I am about Bush and company. I plan to "post" the remaining stickers in a few public places to let others know that they are not alone in their thinking. I also will obtain more from BuzzFlash. This will serve the purpose of helping BuzzFlash financially and of getting the word out that many of us are not being duped by the Bush administration.
Dee
Turner
Atlanta
Dear BuzzFlash,
Click Here: Hitting the trifecta
"Bush is probably the only American for whom 9/11 was indeed a stroke of incredible good fortune."
"However, the real problem with the joke is that it is a complete falsehood." Bush is far more void of compassion than I could ever have imagined. Does he really think the death of 3000 people is something to joke about?
Gigi
Dear Buzz:
Although I am a die hard liberal, I am also a die hard catholic and I do not appreciate being labeled by a bunch of right wingers on tv as if it is my fault that the two judges in San Francisco agreed with the atheist that sued the Pledge of Allegiance. All day long they have been blaming us "liberals" for their decision. I don't appreciate those remarks and it gets me really upset because more than 50% of our population is ignorant (sorry to say) Americans are not interest in the estate of the country, they don't even bother to vote! And when they hear accusations such as these by the right wingers they get misinformed and more confused. Yes, I am a liberal Democrat, but I do not agree with the court's ruling on this one.
I don't think this atheist guy should choose for me, if he didn't agree with the pledge of allegiance he should have told his daughter not to pronounce the "God" word and period, end of the story. I really think this guy has a hidden agenda and he wants to hurt us liberals.
Eunice
Miami,
FL
Dear BuzzFlash,
I have watched with stunned amazement as the Bush/Ashcroft cabal has systematically stripped away our constitutional protections and undermine the principle of separation of powers. I have kept hoping that the American people will awaken and protest loudly to keep our country from slipping, irrevocably, into the abyss. But now, I fear, I have lost that hope.
It is truly a sad commentary on the state of our republic when so many of its citizens can be motivated to express such outrage and indignation over a court challenge to what is, essentially, a superficial and meaningless proclamation of one's patriotism. And yet be placated into sitting on their hands in silent acquiescence to the current administrations unrelenting assault on the very principles of "liberty and justice for all" to which they claim to pledge their allegiance.
Have we really reached the point in our history where waving the flag and reciting the pledges mean more to us than the ideals and principles they are supposed to represent? If so then we need not ask for whom the bell tolls...
Sincerely,
Russell
Collins
Germany
Hi Buzz,
It's post card time again. The Supreme Court says it's OK to use public funds for private institutions? Instead of looking for ways to improve public schools that are in trouble, we run away from them? The Infamous Five continue to undermine our democracy.
I like to send post cards because they are read en route. Therefore, the message is spread even if the recipients never read their mail. I sent my last Florida post card to Rehnquist - lest he forget. I sent a BuzzFlash post card to Souter - he should feel honored.
Thanks for keeping me up on the news. I don't have cable. My friends who do are always surprised that I've already gotten the "latest" news as they're relaying a CNN report. Keep it up!
Jean in PA
Dear BuzzFlash,
http://24hour.startribune.com/24hour/opinions/story/447171p- 3579373c.html
Apparently the Washington Times published contents of the NSA intercept on October 3, 2001. They attributed the leak to "administration sources." So it looks like the supposed leak to CNN from "Congressional sources" was not the real spark of the FBI investigation into the committee investigating the FBI. There must be some other motive for the FBI's investigation.
Article 1 of 1, Article ID: 0206260097
Published on June 25, 2002, Scripps Howard News ServiceLEAK WAS NOT NEWS AND NOT NEW
Summertime, and the capital is sizzlin'. It's so egg-frying hot that the squirrels stopped chasing each other in circles - and the politicians are acting squirrelly.Which may explain why the FBI has begun investigating a congressional committee that is investigating the FBI.
It is a very Washingtonian thing, all about alphabet agencies and news leaks. But anyone who pauses to think coolly will see that it there is no reason other than meteorological for getting hot under the
Complete Article, 906 words
The whole Washington Times article is not online for free, but part of it is here:
Andrew Hagen
Hi BuzzFlash,
I just have to remind everyone who refuse to acknowledge, or those who forgot, that the theft of Election 2000, is the reason, as the say *for the season* of the dark cloud we're living under today.
Isn't it grand how ole bush and company, puts the spin on everything but him being in the White House as the cause.
Thank you BuzzFlash for being here for us.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
According to the below Baltimore Sun story, Barbara Hatch Rosenberg briefed Senate staffers last week re: the FBI's stalled anthrax investigation, and the story speculates that this briefing may have spurred Tuesday's search of the anthrax suspect's house:
"It is unclear why FBI agents waited at least six months after they first questioned [Hatfill] to conduct a thorough search of his home. One possibility: a briefing last week for Senate staffers by biologist Barbara Hatch Rosenberg."
Regards,
Jennifer Poole
Baltimore Sun: Scientist theorized anthrax mail attack FBI searched apartment of expert linked to study
By Scott Shane
Sun Staff
Originally published June 27, 2002Dr. Steven J. Hatfill, the former Fort Detrick biodefense researcher whose Frederick apartment was searched Tuesday by the FBI, commissioned a 1999 study that described a fictional terrorist attack in which an envelope containing weapons-grade anthrax is opened in an office.
The study, written by a veteran of the old U.S. bioweapons program, was submitted to Hatfill and a colleague at Science Applications International Corp., the McLean, Va., defense contractor where he then worked.
http://www.sunspot.net/news/custom/attack/bal-te.anthrax27jun27.story?coll=bal%2Dhome%2Dheadlines
Hey ...
Don't know if you've been following this development or not of late... but in the wake of Enron and Worldcom comes news, or at least speculation at this point, that CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS (the right-wing radio conglomerate that distributes such syndicated radio trash as Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura) could soon be investigated by the SEC for accounting issues.
Clear Channel, with its deep pockets, became the primary beneficiary of the Telecom Act of 1996, and was allowed to grow from a few dozen stations to now well over a thousand... and now they're getting the squeeze from Congressman Russ Feingold, whose proposed bill would break up the big radio monopolies like Clear Channel.
And just as a bonus - comes word that the SEC could start looking into their financial books soon.
Buzz - their stock has dropped 25 PERCENT in just the last 2 days, and is down almost 50 percent just this month.
Here's a link from today's article in CBS Marketwatch.
Walter
Dear BuzzFlash,
Subj: Did you see what happened with the Republican "drug bill"
I was watching CNN last night and saw the most shameful acts committed by the Republicans since Clinton's trial. Some sort of "rule" that they pushed through the House did not allow the Democrats to present their plan for drug coverage for seniors.
I certainly hope you had someone monitoring this situation and that you will present an account and condemnation of this latest crime of the Republicans.
We seem to be living in a fascist dictatorship, but the stupid media have not reported the truth to the public.
R.
O'Neill
NYC
Dear BuzzFlash,
I found an article at National Review Online that I thought you'd like to see:
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-levy062402.asp
"Without either constitutional or statutory authority, the administration has decided that it will set the rules, prosecute infractions, determine guilt or innocence, then review the results of its own actions. That's too much unchecked power in the hands of the executive branch - making a mockery of the doctrine of separation of powers that has been a cornerstone of our Constitution for two-and-a-quarter centuries."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
Re: An Open Letter to My Fellow Americans
Mr. Vargas has hit the nail on the head about our involvement in the Vietnam War. I thought Daniel Ellsberg was probably a kook when he released the Pentagon Papers. I now think he was a patriot.
I read a book years ago by Jonathon Quitny of the Wall Street Journal titled "Endless Enemies." He very methodically looks at all the reasons people around the world hate us. Specifically, there are situations very similar to what has been happening. The IMF and World Bank have perpetrated multiple frauds on the American taxpayer and the people of other countries in the name of development. One example I remember was a hydroelectric plant in the Congo -- now Zaire. We financed the project to "electrify" the country. We actually only enabled Anaconda copper to build and operate a plant to process raw materials mined there -- where there was no electricity -- 800 miles away. The people of the Congo paid for the project with export credits for generations to come. Guess what? They never tapped the power lines along the way to the smelting plant to electrify the country. The people of the Congo got zero benefit from their investment and are still paying for it today.
Are we really supposed to believe our Government when we are told that we do things in the name of Democracy? A pipeline around the Caspian Sea? Come on now. Anyone that thinks this whole deal is not about petroleum is either deluded or totally naïve. We were going to war with Afghanistan anyway. The 9-11 attacks simply gave the "Carlyle Group" or whoever runs the government an excellent excuse.
Chuck
Nelson
Yellow Dog Democrat from Alabama
