September 16, 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,
The staging of George Bush's entrance to Ground Zero on the anniversary of 9/11 was perhaps the most disgusting spectacle I've ever seen.
Here is a man who has never wanted for anything, who has "failed upward" his entire life, who sat idly by while warnings of attacks were piling up, now grabbing the spotlight from the thousands of gathered victims whose lives were forever shattered in the most horrific way.
That anyone would think he is some kind of leader as opposed to a sniveling coward is proof that we've gone through the looking glass.
A large part of America has lost its collective grip on reality.
I can only assume that as he descended the ramp and got closer to the families he probably wanted to wet his pants, realizing suddenly that he was completely out of his depth.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
I was reading your mailbag section and I say Kudos to RA in LA!
My wife has noticed that the NYT letters section has been iffy lately. I haven’t seen one letter in response to Senator Kerry’s piece that ran a couple of weeks ago. She sent the following letter to the NYT and so far no response:
Re: Investigating 9/11: An Unimaginable Calamity, Still Largely
Unexamined by Jim Dwyer, September 11, 2002, A19
Dear Editor:
Please assure the victims’ families that many of us continue to contact our representatives in Washington DC regarding the establishment of an independent commission to investigate the failure of our government to protect us last September.
Are our representatives too imitated by an administration that views any level of dissent as unpatriotic or simply unmoved because our requests did not accompany a campaign donation?
After she watched the Phil Donahue show on Tuesday and Wednesday with members of the victims’ families, she went nuts. She has a postcard campaign going to our NY Senators and Representative with a similar message. You would think NY Senators of all people would be using the bully pit to demand this commission. If our Senators weren’t whores, they would.
JB
NY
Subj: Senator Robert Byrd
Dear BuzzFlash,
I don't have a URL, and that's the problem; Senator Byrd, both yesterday and on Monday, made a heroic stand to save our democracy. It was as though Daniel Webster had risen from the dead! As far as I know, not a single mainstream media outlet is covering this historical event. Senator Byrd, after several hours of filibustering, yielded the floor with the guarantee that he would be the first to speak today at noon. DU had two threads last night on Senator Byrd, and I do have those URL's:
I haven't had time to check CSPAN because I've been emailing every single member of the Senate to urge support for the Senator. I hope you will follow up on Senator Byrd; a Democrat has finally spoken out--and with a vengeance!
Thank you,
Kathleen Trevena
http://www.americalivefree.com
Subj: A case for regime change, in which the speaker describes his own regime.
Dear BuzzFlash:
As I listened to the Resident's UN speech, I was struck again and again by how accurately his condemnations of Saddam's regime describe his own.
Here are a few quotes:
The founding members resolved that the peace of the world must never again be destroyed by the will and wickedness of any man.
Above all, our principles and our security are challenged today by outlaw groups and regimes that accept no law of morality and have no limit to their violent ambitions.
And our greatest fear is that terrorists will find a shortcut to their mad ambitions when an outlaw regime supplies them with the technologies to kill on a massive scale.
In one place -- in one regime -- we find all these dangers, in their most lethal and aggressive forms ... exactly the kind of aggressive threat the United Nations was born to confront.
He has proven instead only his contempt for the United Nations, and for all his pledges, the U.N. Commission on Human rights found that *Iraq* continues to commit "extremely grave violations" of human rights and that the regime's repression is "all pervasive."
...political opponents and ordinary citizens have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment,
...even as he uses his oil wealth to build lavish palaces for himself, and arms his country.
...he bears full guilt for the hunger and misery of innocent Iraqi citizens.
...regime is a grave and gathering danger. To suggest otherwise is to hope against the evidence. To assume this regime's good faith is to bet the lives of millions and the peace of the world in a reckless gamble.
The conduct of the Iraq regime is a threat to the authority of the United Nations, and a threat to peace.
Free societies do not intimidate through cruelty and conquest and open societies do not threaten the world with mass murder.
And a regime that has lost its legitimacy will also lose its power.
The regime will have new power to bully, dominate and conquer its neighbors, condemning the Middle East to more years of bloodshed and fear. The region will remain unstable, with little hope of freedom and isolated from the progress of our times.
We cannot stand by and do nothing while dangers gather. We must stand up for our security, and for the permanent rights and hopes of mankind.
It takes one to know one, I guess.
vgdesign
PS: Can someone please get a phonics reading program for this jerk, so he can sound out the word NU-CLEEE-AR??
Subj: Lint and War
Dear Buzz,
The Karl Rove-driven invasion of Iraq is sucking all the oxygen out of our national dialogue. (Karl Rove is Mr. Bush's political advisor and -- on the record -- told Republicans war is a good issue for Republicans.).
No longer are we debating what the sudden necessity is for eliminating Saddam Hussein. According to the Karl Rove-driven White House agenda, the only question is, "Are we going to go it alone?"
How did this happen?
Did it happen because summertime is a slow news season and Karl Rove was not going to take any chances that reporters, with only shark attacks to comment on, might turn their sights to investigating more deeply into such troublesome (for Mr. Bush) issues such as Enron, Harken, Halliburton, the sad state of the American economy, corrupt corporate chieftains with ties to Bush, the stock market devastation, global warming, broken international treaties, Bush's AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard (or does absence without leave become "desertion" after a month or two?), forty million Americans who have no health coverage, the ballooning national debt, the mounting budget deficit, the executive branch's assault on our civil liberties, and -- let us not forget -- the White House Energy Task Force, which is under subpoena for possibly designing Bush's energy policy?
When Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to "have evidence in my pocket" of treason, or communist sympathizing, or whatever he was charging someone with, all he had in his pocket -- it turns out -- was lint.
When America's Bush and Britain's Blair claim to "have evidence" of the need to invade Iraq but won't reveal it, we need to ask when we will see such evidence -- or will it also turn out to be just so much Karl Rove-created "lint"?
I think we need to know before we stomp around the world killing people and putting our own military in harm's way to – possibly -- just serve as a diversion from Mr. Bush's domestic problems.
Lois Erwin
Subj: Thank God for Sen. Byrd and NOW, thank God for Sen Jim Jeffords
Dear BuzzFlash,
Senator Byrd is still holding forth on the (mostly empty) Senate floor asking that care be taken with implementing the Homeland Security Dept. and that Lieberman's amendment (and also Byrd's amendment thereto) be approved. Sen. Jim Jeffords is now speaking in support of Sen. Byrd. When Jeffords stood up to speak, I nearly rose to my feet to applaud him. I will now go to "politicians" on the Internet and e-mail each of these guys to thank them. This important all-emcompassing Act scares the wits out of me. Can you believe that Bush is still attempting to appoint the director of the new Dept. so that the director will not have to report to Congress and so that Congress will have no oversight over his budget? This will have great effect on the lives of our grandchildren and their grandchildren, etc. forever. Let's hope someone else will jump on the bandwagon to support them.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
I wanted to note, for the record, that the report that Bush lies about and the satellite photo that he referenced were both held up as proof that we need to take out Saddam. Bush actually said (I don't remember the exact quote so I will paraphrase - I will be happy to track down the exact quote if you wish) that he didn't know what further proof we needed to justify attacking Iraq.
No one seems to be pointing out that this lie seems to be what Bush is basing his crusade to oust Saddam Hussein on, and is the only proof so far that he has offered to support his crusade. If this is all the proof he has, then it becomes crystal clear that his crusade is based solely on what is politically advantageous for him and his party, not on the threat of Saddam Hussein.
A BuzzFlash Reader Commentary - Bush a Liar, Liar
http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contributors/2002/09/14_Liar.html
Troy Torstrick
Subj: Republicans, naturally
Dear BuzzFlash,
What would we do without you? Where could we write about the things that bother us the most? It is most gratifying to read you each day...the writers are thoughtful, and have much to say. Thank you for being here.
Well, what has gone on in the Far West has finally reached the Midwest. In today's mail, My husband received a letter from Marc Racicot, chairman of the RNC. My husband has been a registered Democrat for years...and the republicans thought they had a live one.
Enclosed in the envelope was an information card. All info on the card was correct, except for the party affiliation. The republicans filled that in themselves with Republican. My husband could have gagged. It was: Dear Mr. ---, Are our records right? Are you a fellow Republican?
Mr. Racicot shows his feelings about September 11 when he says 'Despite all our country faces, we must still be prepared for the elections this November. Keeping our Majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and regaining a Republican Majority in the U.S. Senate is critical to enacting President Bush's agenda. This must be a top national priority.'
He goes on to say 'Indeed, as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, my top priority is the success of this Party-buildiing project.'
The rest is drivel about the need to have a republican controlled Congress so that bush can continue his work to strengthen our national defense, bolster the economy, modernize Medicare, protect Social Security.......
We intend to write a letter to Mr. Racicot and tell him exactly what we think about receiving this missive.
And, in response to many of your writers....just how can we get the Democrats out to vote? If there are any ideas out there, let's hear them. One of our cars has a BuzzFlash.com sticker in the window...along with a flag...just to let them know that Democrats are fine folks too....as well as a Vote Democrat sticker next to the first two.
Stephanie
Dearborn
Subj: Proof that the truth about what really happened at Booker is circulating widely!
Dear BuzzFlash,
The fact that the Bush/Rove propaganda machine is in full throttle by publishing two articles, one in the NY Post and one in the L A Times and some reports on CNN regarding Sandra Kay Daniel's accounting of Bush's visit to the Booker Elementary school on 9-11, is solid proof that the TRUTH about what REALLY happened at Booker that morning is circulating widely throughout the United States and maybe even around the world.
Thanks BuzzFlash, I think you can see too, the impact you are making. Maybe Karl Rove reads BuzzFlash!?
I have been making several copies of the Booker Elementary video, and the "Bush Knew Requiem for America" on cds and passing them out to everyone I know. (along with the Buzz URL and Bush Knew bumper stickers!) --especially to young people who are registering to vote for the first time this November. I find that the young people especially are very receptive!
Nancy Lynn Nagy TN
Dear BuzzFlash,
In last Friday's mailbag, a few Floridians expressed embarrassment at another screwed up election in their state.
I'd like to tell the Floridians not to be embarrassed and that we, who frequent the Mailbag, know who is responsible for two voting messes in a row now. I go to Florida now and then and the residents are bright, intelligent and gracious. It's not the Florida voters and poll workers who are inept. It's your governor and his cronies who are inept, and may I throw in crooked too. The remedy is as simple as this: If Floridians get rid of Jeb Bush in November, they can be sure of getting rid of their embarrassment too.
~ Cathy
Subj: The Carlyle Group
Dear BuzzFlash,
Check out the revamped Carlyle site...no mention of Bush the Elder. Bios are missing....strange stuff here...are they distancing themselves, perhaps?
http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/
Rick Boyd
Subj: The War That Should Not Be
Dear BuzzFlash:
Thank you for providing real and up-to-date news. Please accept my comments below regarding the current debate on war with Iraq.
The constant reminder by our country's administration that we need a war with Iraq NOW, as if Iraq were the only country in the world with "weapons of mass destruction", and the continuous focus of the main media on this war (propaganda) are not a sign of a so-called "civilized" society. In fact, they are a sign of a society that has abandoned moral decency and the values that would assure and support a global common humanity. Those people of this country who join the "war-cry" have been well indoctrinated and have obviously never lived through a war on their soil. I have survived the most gruesome and horrendous war actions in Germany during WWII. I have been on the receiving end. I am for peace at all cost.
My suggestion however is, if Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rice want this war on Iraq so badly, they should please equip themselves with the appropriate parachute gear and an automatic rifle, board a C130 and request to be dropped over Baghdad and overthrow Saddam. That would be a truly admirable and honorable act of courage. It would save thousands of innocent people from perishing by our bombs and missiles.
Regards,
B. Watson
Subj: Why Invade Iraq?
Dear BuzzFlash,
From his speeches of late, it sounds like George Bush has no idea why he wants to invade Iraq.
In reality, he knows EXACTLY why he wants to invade, but also knows that there is almost no one who would support him if he gave the real reasons.
The thing is, we don't even have to know what those reasons are to know we wouldn't support them. The fact that he won't tell us his real reasons shows us that. Ironically, this is one instance where George Bush's opinion about something approaches reality.
So, speculate away, but remember that if George Bush believed that his reasons for invading Iraq were honest, upright, moral, ethical, and believable, he wouldn't hesitate to tell us what they were.
Mel Walker
Dear BuzzFlash,
I have lived in Florida practically my whole life and started voting in 1972. Since I have lived here, Florida has never had problems with voting until Jeb Bush became governor. I think it should be noted that both elections had a direct effect on Jeb Bush too. He has quickly fired supervisors at DCF when someone under them made a mistake, even though the supervisor may have been new and had no control over the situation. He's very good at laying blame but the buck never stops with him. That seems to run in the family.
I seem to remember that after the 2000 election, the supervisors of elections from each county had a meeting and came up with some ways to improve the process. One of the suggestions was to request the State for money for voter education, but Jeb Bush turned them down.
I would also have to point some of the blame on Katherine Harris, as up until July 15th or August 31st or whenever she supposedly stopped being Secretary of State, the elections were under her supervision. I'm sure she won't be blamed for this either.
Another note of interest is that after the 2000 election, Jeb Bush and the Republican legislature changed the election laws doing away with run-offs in the governor primary. It was obvious, and even noted in some newspaper articles, that this was done to ensure Jeb would win the governor's race in 2002. After all, up until 9/11 there were about seven Democratic candidates running for governor. Jeb wanted his opponent to be Janet Reno. If they hadn't changed the rules, right now we would be looking at a run-off and wouldn't even have to deal with this mess of recounts again. Of course, the recount is only going to help Jeb as McBride may not be able to start campaigning. I really wish Clinton would come down and talk some sense into Reno. Even if she wins the recount, she cannot beat Jeb. McBride can and will.
Oh, yeah. As far as the law the Republican Legislature and Jeb passed on no run-offs in the primaries, they just so happened to make that law for this election only. Sound familiar? I just wonder how long before the Supreme Court decides just to appoint Jeb as governor for another four years.
Of course, Jeb himself is talking about replacing an elected Supervisor of Election and appointing someone himself. He and Jim Smith say that Jeb can do that. I'm just wondering who was behind the mess in Miami. It certainly seems to be helping Jeb in his election bid.
A reader from Florida
Buzz,
I have a question I hope someone can clear up for me .....
I read where Jeb Shrub said something about why democrats can't vote.
Here in Washington State we don't have voting machines marked for either party, am I to conclude that republicans vote on republican machines and demo's on another? ...... Or was junior shrub just conning the people again? ....
rk
Seattle,Wa
Dear BuzzFlash,
Reno should take McBride to court over the stolen election. All because it's "inconvenient" to deal with fraud is no excuse for allowing the wrong person into office. I think there is something wrong with a man who is willing to enter the office knowing he got there through fraud. McBride has a choice and his actions under these conditions continue to show who I thought he was from the beginning. Reno, if she has an ounce of backbone, will not allow fraud to prevail and voters to be ripped off.
I also want to point out how a non-terrorist incident completely hijacked the news coverage just like the fake trashing of the White House hijacked the news during Bush's stolen election.
Sincerely,
A devoted Buzz fan
Subj: Jumping on Bush's Iraq Bandwagon - It's a long way to fall!
Dear BuzzFlash,
I am deeply disappointed at the number of possible Democratic Presidential candidates who are jumping on Bush's Iraq war bandwagon. They apparently fail to see that a large percentage of the population is not behind Bush and by encouraging him, they are endorsing him for reelection. What can they be thinking! This is the time to be questioning this headlong plunge to war, this is the time to stand up and say STOP THIS MADNESS!
The precedent that would be established by attacking Iraq would be saying to the world - you don't like your neighbor - then eliminate him!
Nelson Mandela, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, was mocked by Bush for saying that diplomacy and restraint should be practiced. If those Democrats would pay more attention to Mr. Mandela than Bush, we would all be in a better place.
Cynthia
Putt
Cloverdale,
OR
Subj: Limbaugh Key Policy Maker in Bush Inner Circle
Dear Buzz,
From Rush's lips to Rove's ear:
1. See below from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1900-2002Sep11.html In 1998 the Dems were talking about military force to destroy Saddam's weapon capability, not, "Regime Change"
2. Press Dems for a vote on Iraq before elections. Rush has been ranting for this for weeks. Bush-Cheney have made this their political strategy
EXCERPT: Here's the right-wing conspiracy in action, from Rush Limbaugh <http://rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_090902/content/truth.guest.html>'s Web site:
"Vice President Dick Cheney made a brilliant appearance on Meet the Press over the weekend. On Friday's program, I read an advance copy of Stephen Hayes' story in the Weekly Standard, which unearthed all those Bill Clinton quotes from 1998 on the necessity of going to war with Iraq and wiping Saddam Hussein out. The quote was almost word-for-word like what George W. Bush is saying now.
"Tom Daschle even led the Democrats in Congress in an attempt to pass a resolution authorizing the use of force back in 1998! Yet the same Democrats who were hawks then say Iraq is no threat now.
"So Vice President Cheney brandished Clinton's quote on Iraq to Tim Russert - and it rocked."
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: A very critical time in our history
Dear BuzzFlash,
I just made a contribution to your site. I am proud to do so, and it will not be the last. Your site is truly amazing-keep up the good work.
My "pleasure reading" is usually history, and I try to always remember that "those who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat its failures." (was it Churchill who said it?) As a nation are about to forget the lessons of history in this madness over attacking Iraq. I am very concerned.
Speak forcefully with your site...America needs your voice. -
Randy Natalino
BUZZFLASH,
Please do some drastic action! What the F*ck is up with all our Democrat representatives in Washington DC? They won't stand up to Bush and the GOP, they won't speak up about the War, we are either for it or not, but we need to make up our minds, vote on it. Please put out some sort of massive e-mail telling our representatives to get a back bone or risk losing us in November by not voting. If you put it up thru your website, which I think is one of the best, it can reach many people and if you tell other websites to do the same we might get some results. One of the ways where the Republicans have an edge is that they work together in a grass roots type of way and and use scare tactics. It works for them and we have to do it too. If the DNC, BuzzFlash, Bartcop, Theangryliberal etc. all get together via the internet and use their sites with one big spot on the site that states (contact the democrats and tell them to stop acting like pussies and do something). This works for the HRC.org and other liberal sites and it works effectively. They make it real easy by just e-mailing you and ask you to contact a certain rep. if you hit "contact them," the e-mail message is already written and addressed etc. all that is added is our name and other info that my be required. How easy is that? This is why I have no problems helping them out time and time again. This is what works for the GOP too, and they have perfected it. We need to work the same way and use all our resources to win back the House and gain seats in the senate and then maybe we might get the White House. Maybe I'm just wishing, but I've never written to some website about what you might want to do with your site and like I said before, BuzzFlash is the site I visit every hour when I'm at work and many times at home. I love your site! Thanks for allowing me to mouth off a bit and I hope you did at least read it.
Steve, (HM3 USN)
Subj: Democrat(ic)
Dear BuzzFlash,
It has always seemed to me that of the two major political parties in the United States, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, the former has always been more adept at language. They have always been able to popularize catchy phrases like "class warfare", "tax and spend", "invented the Internet" etc. and play them up in the compliant media.
Some time in the 1990's we first started hearing the word "Democrat" used as an adjective, as in "Democrat policy" or "Democrat Senator". When I first heard these phrases I thought the speaker was just illiterate, but when it happened again and again I came to realize that it was a conscious campaign - most likely by the Republican Party (though they would perhaps prefer "the Republic Party") to alter the language. After all, "Democratic" has some favorable connotations in our culture that Republicans would prefer to downplay. I've heard that the Fox and CNN networks now actually have a policy of using the word Democrat as an adjective; probably not surprising considering the ownership and control of the U.S. Media.
What surprised me greatly, however, was to hear the word Democrat mis-used as an adjective on BBC America. Could you comment on whether this is now a BBC policy now, and if so, how that policy developed?
Paul Cohen
San
Jose, CA
Dear BuzzFlash,
I am in total agreement with Richard Siegel's letter on the Florida Election. I was and am a supporter of Bill McBride. However, if Janet Reno had won the nomination I definitely would put my support behind her. We need to unite the Democrat Party in Florida and get all the support and help we can in order to defeat Jeb Bush. He has been a totally ineffective governor for the state. Of course we cannot forget the election system that produced a selected president for us.
I hope that Janet Reno concedes and let the campaigning begin. Our goal is to defeat Jeb Bush.
Please keep up the good reporting -- first website I visited in the morning.
Joyce
Sheets
Tampa
Florida
Subject: What about Truth?
Dear Buzz,
Has Truth taken a hiatus? Doesn't the TV media miss the simple unvarnished bleak Truth? Does Truth count anymore or has the "party line" taken its place?
Anyone who keeps abreast of world events is aware that the "party line" about George W. Bush and the attacks on 9/11/01 is that he immediately took command and that it was his finest hour and his defining moment. That he grew in stature and became a Churchillian, Rooseveltian giant. That the sleeping giant was awakened. This is the image they presented to the American people and to the world on 9/11/02, a year later. He was seen with all the finest cinematic props and symbolic backdrops doing and saying all the perfect things befitting a President on a photo-op tour. And still riding this "wave of greatness" he followed up with the greatest photo-op of all - addressing the entire world at the UN and telling them they better do what he tells them or become irrelevant. Remember he told us the adults were now in Washington.
But I and millions remember differently. And this is the ugly Truth as I saw it on 9/11/01. While the rest of the world instantly dropped everything and turned to their television and stayed glued to it in absolute compulsive and paralyzed horror, Bush chewed the inside of his cheek while appearing to flounder in an attempt to make some kind of decision AND THEN PROCEEDED TO FINISH READING TO THE CHILDREN!
While the firefighters and police of New York City were running into harms way and to their deaths and while Mayor Rudy Guilliani ran towards the collapsed towers to assess the situation of the Unthinkable, Bush sat in a classroom and finished reading a children's book.
While the passengers of flight 93 fought the highjackers and died saving more lives on the ground, by his own admission Bush was "getting out of harms way."
The entire world watched in shock and disbelief and clung to Guilliani's words as he had one press conference after another giving us the latest assessment. The latest estimated number of victims, of buildings damaged, of emergency action. We were in profound shock yet we were deeply comforted because Guilliani knew what to do and we knew he was in charge. He made us feel less helpless. He told New Yorkers where to go, and what to do. He mobilized the city's and the Boroughs supportive machinery and still found time to tell the world what he knew, when he knew it and what was being done.
Bush? Bush was nowhere in sight that day. After reading a short prepared statement from the school saying what everyone had already figured out for themselves, he was whisked away to fly on some crazy zig-zag terrorist evading maneuver. All the thousands of commercial aircraft were grounded and the sky over the United States was completely safe and empty when he finally returned to Washington, DC that night. At that time he gave us another short statement, one that made no lasting impression on me and I don't remember. This is the Truth I recall of the day of 9/11/01.
I don't like it, but I expect political image makers to think up the "party line". That's their spin generating job. What I do mind is that they have the mainstream media at their complete disposal as if it's just another arm of their political machinery. I resent deeply and passionately that the television media have dismissed Truth and Facts and have substituted them with the glamorized, flag wrapped, jingoistic war mongering "party line".
And just beneath my anger is a growing sick fear that the honest journalism that is being expressed in publications and newspapers and throughout the internet and in other countries is in danger of being blocked. I fear being cut off from the Truth and left in the dark, unable to know and helpless. Helpless to do anything about my country killing and warring using "party lines" in place of the Truth.
I prefer to know the Truth in all its gut wrenching and ugly, ugly starkness and know that it's the Truth than to live believing the sugar-coated manipulative falseness of the "party line", no matter how seductive it sounds.
I pray that those who tell and write the Truth prevail because I think these times will be remembered in history as a dark hour in our country.
Thanks for being there BuzzFlash, and for allowing all of us to read and write the Truth.
Judith Foster
Dear BuzzFlash,
(1) "For anyone to sit around and joke...about a couple of thousand people being killed - they should be prosecuted just for that." - Eric Finch, neighbor of Eunice Stone, who reported Middle Eastern looking men in Florida to authorities alleging that she overheard them planning a terrorist act.
(1) "Making a mockery or laughing about 9-11...gives us all some concern." - Jeb Bush commenting on the incident.
(2) "Lucky me, I hit the trifecta." - George W. Bush to budget director Mitch Daniels, referring to the tragedy of 9/11.
Hypocrisy, anyone?
(2) http://www.charm.net/~marc/chronicle/trifecta_jun02.shtml
Troy Torstick
Buzz,
On David Letterman the other nite, our last elected president was asked by Letterman what he was doing with his time. Pres. Clinton said he felt that ex-president's should spend half their time doing public service and that he was doing just that. Has Bush, Sr. ever done any public service since he left office, or does he just give speeches that he charges hundreds of thousands of dollars for? I don't ever remember him giving of his time.
Carlyle seems to be his idea of "public service". If it doesn't involve money, you can be sure the Bushes won't be involved.
Gigi
Dear BuzzFlash,
Below is an address which shows that Jeb Bush has wasted no time putting an ad on the air showing how he stood with the superintendent to put a stoplight near an elementary school. It doesn't take a salary like his and a governor's mansion to add a stoplight on the street. I called the city, got a streetlight petition, and walked up and down my street getting the required approval to get a streetlight. VOILA! There is a streetlight there now. BIG DEAL. I still think Jeb is responsible for the voting irregularities in the Broward and Dade counties. I'll bet he knew he would profit by tying up the democratic candidates. He should have the decency to wait until the race between McBride and Reno is cleared up before diving into his campaign mode. That way he can demonstrate that maybe he had nothing to do with the vote problems in Broward and Dade.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/4071102.htm
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: Jeb Pick Spanked On Church-State
Dear BuzzFlash,
Florida's controversial new child welfare chief is raising hackles for promoting a character-training program with Christian roots that Jewish groups have fought to keep out of public schools. Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to head Florida's troubled Department of Children and Families, Jerry Regier is being scrutinized by Jewish groups for having reportedly required past employees to undergo Character First! training programs. As head of Oklahoma's Office of Juvenile Affairs in the late 1990s, Regier required workers to take the classes, a secular version of fundamentalist preacher Bill Gothard's character-training curriculum, according to reports in the St. Petersburg Times and the Palm Beach Post. Although that version was stripped of all biblical references and Gothard has distanced himself from it, Jewish groups have taken issue with the origin of the program and have claimed some of its principles are exclusionary to non-Christians or are too authoritarian.
Chewgababy
Dear BuzzFlash,
The U.S. Senate should declare war on Florida. The current regime should be replaced with one that is a democracy, viz., has democratic elections. I realize that it will probably mean that we have to occupy the renegade state through the next presidential election. I expect that we can get the backing of democratic nations all over the world, at least the ones whose leaders have not yet been bribed to support an invasion of Iraq.
Margaret Waid, Ph.D.
Subj: It's a dirty old world...
... it'll make a man cry
All the do-nothings live....Godamighty now
And the good people die-Patrick Sky
I can't look at Noelle Bush's eyes without feeling a little sick. She is a human being and no one should suffer like that. She is ill and helplessly addicted. Is it just that she should suffer from our unfair drug laws because thousands of others have? I don't think so. The laws her father supports are wrong and should not be enforced at all. I hope she gets off, as I hope others will get off.
If I were McBride's campaign manager, I would urge him to use this issue against Jeb. If he were paying me, I could not ethically refuse to share ideas with him that might help him win. But I would fervently wish he would forbid me to use this issue.
Tactically and ethically, Dems should recommend compassion for Noelle. The time-honored technique of saying, at every campaign stop, that one is not going to make an issue of one's opponent's daughter's crack cocaine problem would probably be sufficient.
Pointing to the hypocrisy in the drug laws is probably not a good idea, since the public supports the drug laws. The important thing is to defeat Jeb Bush, reform the criminal code later.
Keeping the issue on the front burner, while disavowing any malicious intent, will probably discomfit Bush, as any attack on a man's family would do. Keeping him unhappy and off-balance is good. It is a nasty, low form of politics that both sides should agree to eschew. But we are dealing with the family that brought us the Willie Horton revolving door commercials as well the attacks on John McCain's patriotism.
So I know that politics ain't beanbag. But look again into the eyes of Noelle on her mug shot. Here's more Patrick Sky on the agony of addiction:
So here I sit in a world without pain
While the nectar of God.....Godamighty now
Flows through my veinsLate in the evening, early in the Fall
The mist on Dog Mountain hangs low
And the voice of my mother
Rides in on the damn wind
Sayin' son, Don't stay too long
We have to be able to sleep after the election. Suppose this fragile women were driven to suicide. We have to remember why we are Democrats and they are not.
Steve High
Subj: Iraqi Doubts . . .
Dear BuzzFlash,
There's something fishy about this new Bush War.
I can't help but doubt the saber-rattling motives of administration Hawks, particularly when their collective military backgrounds are woefully lacking compared to that of vocal moderates like Powell and Zinni. Even former General Schawrtzkopf has stated his misgivings, not to mention the public doubts of many proven policy and military professionals such as Brent Scowcroft.
Why are the men who have fought our wars voicing reasoned caution while others who actively avoided service are beating the war drums? The list of Bush officials who not only failed to volunteer for military service but also actively avoided our nation's call is troubling in and of itself. But even more alarming is the disdain with which the view of proven leaders, whose mettle was tested in places like Viet Nam and Korea, are being brushed aside for those of bellicose poseurs in the Bush government.
The intelligence community clearly believes Osama is alive; No evidence exists for Iraq's involvement in 911; the containment policy has worked well since Bush 41. So why are we going to war? Why has Osama Bin Laden disappeared from the news?
Could it have something to do with long-term unemployment being at an all time high or that the Congressional republicans are trying a privatization scheme worthy of Ken Lay? Maybe it's because the government is operating in the red again and the economy is a mess?
Suddenly, Bush decides he needs a war. Wag the Dog indeed.
Skip
Van Hook
Lexington,
Kentucky
Dear BuzzFlash,
There's got to be a national drive to register apathetic people to vote in the next election! Hopefully you'll do an article or editorial on this? There's still time to register and wouldn't it be great if the Republicans lost the House? Thank you for your great website!
Ken Levens
Dear BuzzFlash,
http://www.farleyfiles.com/content/Byrd091302.htm
Here's a partial transcript of Byrd's commentary on Friday. It's long--49 pages, but he talks explicitly about "posse comitatus," "October Surprises," the blood price of war--our "lambs," alludes to Smirk as a "pampered brat," i.e., he basically says it all. And he gets support from Hillary Clinton and Jim Jeffords. Why isn't the media covering this historic moment? We have until Tuesday to stop the fascistic Homeland Security legislation, and Byrd needs our support.
We all wish someone other than Byrd was our "champion," but who else among the Dems can do so without being labeled"unpatriotic" and without destroying his/her career? Byrd as "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" seems like some smart strategy to me.
I hope you will find a way to get this word out because the mainstream press won't.
Thank you,
Kathleen Trevena
GIVE
ME LIBERTY! CITIZEN ACTION!
Citizenship
Day, September 17th
http://www.americalivefree.org
Dear BuzzFlash,
Is it true that Ashcroft used one of J. Edgar Hoover’s old dresses to cover up lady justice?
San Arvino
Dear BuzzFlash,
Is it me or what? I don't understand how Bush's approval ratings can continue to be more than 50%! Is it possible that the various news organizations that usually conduct these polls are tampering with poll results? Are the American people this naive? We are being led by an unelected dolt. How can sensible people not see him and his cronies for what they are? America is hated almost world wide and world leaders question our sanity and the policies of our "leader".
Will someone with knowledge of what is really going on, please clue me in?!!
Dee
Atlanta
Re: Bush to U.N.: 'Show Some Backbone'
Dear BuzzFlash,
Backbone?
Where was Bush's backbone when daddy saved him from going to Vietnam? Where was Bush's backbone when he was AWOL from the national guard?
Randi
Kerry (no relation)
Madison WI.
Dear BuzzFlash,
It appears that Democrats are all starting to cave in to Bush's war plans. It's up to us to launch a major protest.
Rob
Moitoza
Seattle,
Wa.
Dear BuzzFlash,
No roads closed over Coulter's NYT crack
From CHARLES PIERCE: If you're keeping score at home, this is how it works. If you happen to be the lunatic blonde spalpeen of suburban Connecticut, you can talk about blowing up the New York Times in the pages of an important weekly newspaper, making sure the reporter quotes you to that effect, and you will be an essential part of the national dialogue and the heiress to Lenny Bruce, besides. However, be Lebanese, and tell a similarly tasteful joke in the middle of the night at the Shoney's in Calhoun, Georgia, and they'll hunt you down all the way to the swamps of Florida.
from www.poynter.org
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: The 3 medical students driving in Florida story
Dear BuzzFlash,
I was on the road all day Friday, and NPR...that "Bastian of the Liberal Media" kept filling me with the same updates that CNN and local Florida "news" outlets kept pumping out.
It seems to me these kids were guilty of "driving while being Arab"....much like "driving while being black"...
From the first report, my initial reaction was that some Cracker in Ga saw some "swarthy" guys and wanted to mess with their lives.
Dubya, and of course....the Ayatola Issisomo General Ashcroft must be proud of such a patriots who reported 3 kids driving to where they wanted to go...After all, freedom of movement is a threat to all of us...especially non white bread "suspects".
Robert
McCloy
http://www.robertmccloy.com/
Dear BuzzFlash,
What if the investment managers that controlled your state university's money told you that they wouldn't handle your money any longer because they didn't want to provide public reports of how well they are doing with your money. I bet you would be happy to find other managers to handle your money and that would provide detailed results. That is unless you are the University of Texas and the investment managers are some of the major contributors to Shrub Bush....Carlyle Group, Wyley Brothers and Tom Muse. Then all you have to do is not provide the information to the citizens of Texas....because you are special and you are making millions of dollars with your handling of citizen's tax dollars.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1576368
Cary Lindsay
Dear BuzzFlash,
I was reading the story about the mis-information on the three guys in Florida, and it occurred to me that these stories sure took the focus off the Florida election screw-up.
Sonny Scott
Subj: Thank you for publicizing Texas death row inmate with claim of innocence.
Dear BuzzFlash,
Thank you so much for posting the link to the Sept. 12 "Houston Chronicle" article about the case of Anibal Rousseau, who was sent to death row in Texas for a crime to which another man has confessed. This prisoner has maintained his innocence from the day he was arrested in 1989. From the beginning of this case, it has been obvious to those who have followed it that there were serious questions of police and prosecutorial misconduct.
I happen to know Anibal Garcia Rousseau and his family. They are extremely poor and have suffered unimaginably during these twelve years of injustice. I know that they will be extremely grateful that you have widened the publicity for this miscarriage of justice.
With all best wishes for your continued success,
Mary O'Grady
Subj: Terrorizing the News in Florida
Dear Buzz,
Just read that article you posted about all the coverage the bomb hoax from them good -old- Florida -boys. So this explains the lack of coverage about the soldier who planted a bomb at a Power Plant in Florida - remember he pled no-contest and received 14 months probation - and this was from arrest to probation in approximately 4 weeks - If it is the truth almost no one will report it but if its spun hoax then ole CNN is Johnny-on-the-spot.
Tim Jacobson
Subj: What's The Correct Headline?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Apart from the astonishing revelations about King George's plans for Iraq revealed by the Sunday Herald http://www.sundayherald.com/27735 in your link entitled "Bush planned Iraq 'regime change'..." there is one that is earth-shattering, though maybe unnoticed.
I refer to the last item on the list: "...advanced forms of biological warfare that can 'target' specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool'"
My God! Is this now US policy--to target genotypes! That means finding a chemical/biological marker for, blacks, asians, latino, irish, whoever to be able to blackmail entire sections of humanity.
What is this, and when will this become an issue in the US Press?
Jim P
