October 7, 2002
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Hi BuzzFlash,
Watched Senator Byrd on the Phil Donahue Show, and saw a bright, intelligent, true American.
GWB AND COMPANY, take heed. Senator Byrd, is what America is all about. He doesn't wrap himself up in the American Flag, he doesn't have to. He is everything the America stands for. Other Democrats who want to line up with the opposition, look to Senator Byrd,and follow his lead, you may learn something!
BuzzFlash supporters and readers
Dear Buzz,
I sent my BuzzFlash copy of Will Pitt's "War On Iraq" and the following letter to my congressman.
----------
Congressman
George R. Nethercutt, Jr.
223
Cannon House Office Building
Washington,
D.C. 20515
October 3, 2002
To the Honorable Congressman Nethercutt,
Thank you for replying to my phone call of last week. I appreciate that you actually signed the letter and included a copy of Mr. Bush's recent speech before the UN.
I'm returning the favor by giving you a copy of "War On Iraq," by William Rivers Pitt and former UNSCOM weapons inspector Scott Ritter. If you appreciate Tom Paine's "Common Sense," then I'm sure you will appreciate this book.
I am a veteran who served two tours in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. I do not get my news from the TV, but rather from books, magazines, and newspapers, so let me enumerate my reasons for opposing Bush's proposed war on Iraq:
Only Congress has the power to wage war. Congress abdicates its constitutional duty if it approves Bush's resolution.
A unilateral and unprovoked attack on Iraq is against international law -- if we break it, others will do the same.
An unprovoked attack upon another nation is immoral.
There's no evidence that Hussein is linked to Bin Laden or al-Qaeda.
There's no evidence that Hussein is a threat to the US. His military is a shadow of what it was in 1990.
There's no evidence that Iraq is presently a threat to its neighbors (who oppose a war against Iraq).
Iraq is a sovereign nation that has been militarily contained for 11 years.
Iraq has agreed to unrestricted inspections under previous UN resolutions.
All the world opposes an unprovoked, unilateral attack against Iraq.
A backlash of terrorism on US soil will result from our arrogant war-making.
We haven't found Osama bin Laden, nor have we investigated the domestic failures that led to the attacks of September 11.
Too many problems are being ignored here at home. We are losing our liberty and our prosperity with each passing day.
Congressman Nethercutt, we both know that the wheels were coming off this administration before Sept. 11. Since then our domestic situation has further deteriorated, and the eroding economy, corporate chicanery, and the looming elections contributes to this insane rush to war.
Will you rubber stamp the extinction of a few thousand ordinary lives for party? For re-election? For Ken Lay? For chickenhawks who call for war, but who will never fight or send their children to fight?
I hope and pray that you won't invest your political career, your conscience, and your soul in the rhetoric and lies of those who demand war at any cost and for any reason. Don't accept soundbites in place of sound evidence.
If there's such a thing as a moral war, this is not it. Listen to the facts. Listen to the people. For the sake of our children and the lives of innocent people around the world, I ask that you read "War On Iraq" and consider the principles within our founding documents before you make a commitment.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Mike Kress
Subj: Is the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics cooking the books?
Dear BuzzFlash,
It would appear so from today's unemployment numbers. One report issued today said that non-farm jobs fell by 43,000 in September. And yet, the DOL unemployment numbers for September claimed that the unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent from 5.7 percent in August. That seems pretty convenient for weeks before an election. Who wants to bet that this figure will be revised upward after November 7.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-economy-jobs.html
Dennis Greenia
Subj: Time for Gephardt to learn: Stay away from Bush!
Buzz,
In addition to contacting Byrd, Senators and others who oppose granting GW Bush the absolute power to conduct war in the ME, I believe that it is important to voice our disgust with House Minority Leader, Richard Gephardt's alignment with Bush and with his clear politicization of this war for his presidential run in 2004!
Please contact Gephardt at:
Toll free: 800-648-3516 (ask for Gephardt's office) or
Office phone: 202-225-2671
Office fax: 202-225-7452
email: gephardt@mail.house.gov
I see a pattern emerging. Anyone who aligns himself with Bush gets scorched by a scathing rebuke from their people. Example: Tony Blair and 400,000 anti-war protestors in Hyde Park, London. Huge protests in Germany, France, North Korea, whenever GW Bush visits their country, and Germany's election won because of its candidate's opposition to Bush and Iraq war. Now its time for Gephardt to learn a lesson--stay away from Bush!
Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
Hi,
I haven't seen anything on BuzzFlash about the frightening nominations of Tony Blair and George W. Bush for the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced on October 11th. I am terrified and appalled that W is even being considered. Any information that you can provide would be appreciated as I plan my move to Europe!
Thank you!
Michael John Rizzo
Subj: J.C. Watts vs. Frank Brogan
Dear BuzzFlash,
"I've got a pretty simple definition of character. It's simply doing what's right when nobody's looking. For too long, for too long, for too long we've gotten by in a society that says the only thing right is to get by, and the only thing wrong is to get caught."
U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts, (R) Oklahoma
Remarks to the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/conventions/san.diego/transcripts/0813/w atts.shtml ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"And I think for anybody to believe that any governor, or any member of the Legislature, or any individual member of the public at large speaks in exactly the same way in one room as they do in another, I think, is naive." (Tampa Tribune, October 5, 2002)
Florida Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan commenting on Gov. Jeb Bush's controversial comments to Panhandle lawmakers, caught on tape by a reporter, about having "devious plans" to thwart the will of the voters, flip flopping on the issue of teacher salaries and discussing the sexuality of Rilya Wilson's caregivers.
Ryan Banfill
Subj: Why McCain is Not A Democrat
Dear BuzzFlash,
Too many liberals, including Tapped who should know better, keep repeating the canard that McCain has become some kind of liberal. Check out this post on the goods on McCain's voting record on labor, enviro and general liberal issues in recent years. He's still a hard-right Republican, despite the gushy press fawning from the liberals in the media.
http://www.nathannewman.org/log/archives/000409.shtml#000409
Nathan Newman
Dear BuzzFlash,
This is a .gif my daughter and I created during the Florida 2000 fiasco.
BuzzFlash is free to use it in any manner they wish. Credit to my daughter Jennifer for the computer expertise to create the flash cartoon.
Gerald Sneirson
Dear BuzzFlash,
FYI:
The Bush administration claims Cincinnati is a great microcosm of the nation. Cincinnati is the cradle of republicanism and by no means is it a typical cross-section of America! And it always has been. Ever hear of the Tafts? One is governor of OH and, of course, the other was president of the US. The governor is a former mayor of Cinti. Most representatives to congress from the area are republican. Cincinnati is nothing more than a strategy tool of the administration to make it look like, "As Cincinnati goes, so goes the nation" in gaining approval from the people for a reckless act. Cincinnati is nothing more than a microcosm of republicans. I'm surprised that the Cinti. Enquirer allowed cautious comments from the Methodist Bishop and Senator Byrd in the report.
Notice that this event is BY INVITATION ONLY (as usual.) What a crock!
~ Cathy
http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/10/05/loc_bush_puts_war.html
Subj: Fundraisers and Iraq
Buzzy,
Between fundraising and Iraq talking, I guess Bush has no time to realize that his inattention to the longshoreman's strike will grind the nation to a complete halt.
mari
Subj: Bush- WWII parallel.
Dear BuzzFlash,
Administration flacks selectively use parallels from the WWII era to justify actions and attack dissent. The fittest parallel is probably Mussolini's attack on Ethiopia.
Bryan
J. Ogburn
Austin
TX
Subj: Lockout on the West Coast
Dear BuzzFlash,
Does it strike you peculiar that the Bush administration has not intervened in the West Coast dock lockout? My take on this since most people this day and time don't know the difference in a lockout and a strike and therefore mistakenly blame the workers, I think that this nonintervention is part of a plan that will allow GWB to use the situation as an illustration for his argument against a unionized workforce in the Homeland Security Agency. He will point to the ships with all the Walmart, Gap merchandise standing out in the harbor and say this is why we cannot have union members in this agency. He will assert that union members and union bosses will put the country in jeopardy. He will blame the faltering economy on this lack of goods sitting offshore. See, he will say, those union workers and union bosses will not allow those ships in putting our economy and all you Gap and Walmart Christmas shoppers at risk. How can we avoid seeing Homeland Security in the event of a threat be held hostage by the unions as we all have seen on the West Coast, Bush will say. We cannot afford for their costly work rules to put our country and our nation in jeopardy. See I told you so- Bush will say and unfortunately, the opposition will fold like a house of cards and Homeland Security will be exactly like Bush wanted in the first place and the employees will be without job protection, whistle blower rights. Mark my words -- unfortunately.
Peggy in TX
Dear BuzzFlash,
I just thought of this: and am sending it to you because I (underlined) think it is funny....
"A Byrd in hand is worth 2 of Bush"
Barbara
Ruether
NYC
3 cheers for Senator Byrd. We need more like him and the sooner the better.
Also, have you noticed the all but total lack of mention in the media about the NYC Peace Rally on Sunday Oct 6. ?
Subj: 60,000 guns are sold each month in the US...
Dear BuzzFlash,
Hopefully they catch the Maryland sniper soon; such a terrible tragedy. But it brings to light the issue of terrorism in America, how easy it is to pull off, and only the imagination limits the possibilities.
I am reminded of the fellow in Alaska a year or so ago who shot a "single .22 bullet" into the Alaskan Oil Pipeline. 80,000 gallons of oil was released into the environment before the "bullet hole" could be "capped off."
Perhaps this is God's way of reminding us to quit snubbing the rest of the planet, and be sure to move forward in the war on terrorism in a just and equitable fashion -- no doubt things could get worse very very fast.
Genevieve
DesRochers
Eastman,
WI
Subj: Splitting Hairs
Dear BuzzFlash,
Congratulations on reposting "Anthrax for Export" - it is the most direct and authoritative article on the subject.
What is fascinating is reading this alongside the "Veterans Group calls for Rumsfeld's resignation".
I'll explain. We all remember how Clinton did not have sexual relations with Lewinski. Does a blow job count?
Well, the 1994 Senate report (as far as I have been able to find out) talks of biological equipment or biological materials that were exported to Iraq from America. Rumsfeld can truthfully say at the Armed Services committee last week "....I had no knowledge of any such shipments (of biological weapons) AND DOUBTED THAT THEY EVER OCCURRED". The 1994 Senate report says biological materials were converted to military use by Iraq. So, America never sold Iraq Biological weapons!!!!!!!!!!!!....just Anthrax, Botulism and much more.
Cheers Antony
Dear BuzzFlash,
From Senator Robert Byrd's speech against the Iraq war resolution:
Representative Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to William H. Herndon, stated: "Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose - - and you allow him to make war at pleasure. Study to see if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect, after you have given him so much as you propose. If, today, he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada, to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, 'I see no probability of the British invading us' but he will say to you 'be silent; I see it, if you don't.'
"The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress, was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. But your view destroys the whole matter, and places our President where kings have always stood."
If he could speak to us today, what would Lincoln say of the Bush doctrine concerning preemptive strikes?
http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_newsroom/byrd_news
_oct2002/rls_oct2002/rls_oct2002_2.html
Michael Scott
Subj: More selective breaking of laws from the Pugs
Dear BuzzFlash,
FYI
This isn't national but a good example of how the Repugs handle bending the law. In this instance, they had another dyed in the wool Repuglican (Ken Blackwell) break a 2-2 tie to permit Nelson to run for a judgeship. Our Bush rubber-stamper repuglican congressman, Steve Chabot (one of the Bill Clinton impeachment lawyers for the GOP) is campaigning like (a carnival barker) for Nelson all over TV. Read it carefully.
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/10/01/loc_nelson_eligible_to.html
~ Cathy
Dear BuzzFlash,
I was not a supporter of Ronald Reagan, but I didn't dislike him. I rarely agreed with Bush the 1st, but somehow I felt that he possessed common decency. But the current president is a fright...his policies are absurd, and the willingness of Republicans and Democrats and the American people to follow his policies is beyond me. In fact it has finally gotten the best of me! I GIVE UP! I AM DEFEATED! He and his buddies have won! The world as we have known it and envisioned it will never be the same. My heart can't take it anymore and for that reason I won't write any more letters to the editor or to my uncaring representatives. I won't donate any more of my hard-earned money to "reasonable" candidates and I refuse to listen to the news, or C-Span, or Crossfire, etc. Indeed, I probably will not check out the BuzzFlash site on a daily basis anymore. What's the use???? Looking through my paper today I saw where Phil Gramm gave a tongue lashing to that "turn-coat" Sen. Zell Miller for supporting a man ( Max Cleland) who left much of his body in Vietnam! What's the use gang? Kudos to Sen. Bob Byrd for continuing the fight, but I surrender!
Dee
Turner
Atlanta
[BuzzFlash Note: Dee, know that you aren't alone in your frustrations or this fight and that others will continue in your place until you are ready to rejoin the battle.]
Dear BuzzFlash,
I just donated to the cause with a $30 contribution (Forbidden Truth) and I'm so glad that with the corporate media we (the Buzz KaTTs) have a voice. I want to make my voice heard that I think this nation of union workers or just the American worker is being changed to a society of slaves. If not, then why is the administration making such a big point about this so called National Security Act. The president didn't want it (the Security Act) but he then wanted it after he crafted a plan that eliminated all the "union jobs" that had been fought for which had been on the books for years!!! So-Dear BuzzKaTTs remember -this congress and elected members-and the president in my view expect us as American workers to roll over and be SLAVES to their policies-sending our young athletes to war and to ask us to live on nothing while they drink the wine and take their loved ones out to dinner and tell us to stick it it up our ass because we don't keep up with what they are doing!!!!!!!!!!!
Anthony M. Arias
Subj: A 20 year old making a mistake? Whoever heard of such a thing?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Now that John Lindh is going to serve 20 years in prison I'm feeling wonderful. No evidence that John had any intentions of fighting the US, the poor kid was scared to death -- deciding that he would be executed by the Taliban if he tried to escape -- which is what he wanted to do once he found out the US was involved in a fight against the Taliban. He apologized saying he made a critical mistake in his judgment.
How many 20 year olds do you know that make a "critical mistake in judgment?"
But Ashcroft has to imprison someone. A 20 year old kid who never fired a shot against us. What a wonderful compassionate message to send. Forgiveness? At such a young age? Not us. Perhaps this is an insight into why America imprisons the greatest per capita of its population then any other country in the world (we surpassed Russia in that category about the time Bush came on board -- hey, we're No. 1 in putting citizens into jail! Passion. Forgiveness. Understanding. Second chance. These used to be the qualities of a loving, embracing America that I grew up in. Now its retribution and vengeance. God I feel much safer now.
R.
Johnson
Idaho
Springs, CO
[BuzzFlash Note: Apparently, the Bush family used all the available second chances for their drug addictions, that's why no one else gets one.]
Dear BuzzFlash,
I was recalling the Clinton run for the presidency and there was some old footage about Jennifer Flowers. Remember Jennifer Flowers and the interview with CBS that Bill and Hillary did? During that interview, the lighting scaffolding crashed very near the couple. Could have caused great damage if inches closer.
These sick bastards were trying to kill Bill Clinton and all along the way they had someone on the inside. That revelation brought a chill down my spine. This is compassionate conservative. So compassionate for their conservative ideas this is what they will stoop to. This is the VRWC.
I wonder what those new black preachers, vying to become the new "black leader", will do when they realize they have formed a pact with the devil himself.
PJOnes
Texas
A BuzzFlash Reader Email to Matt Drudge:
http://www.democrats.org/social_insecurity/
Dear Matt,
Thanks so much for giving us the link to the "Bush pushing old people off the stock market crash cliff" ad! I hadn't been able to find it because of all the news coverage of our upcoming attack on Iraq. Sometimes people want something other than what the White House Stenographic Corps gives us and I, for one, am grateful for the link to some non-fiction.
Thanks again,
Dick
Smith
Alexandria, Virginia
ps If we get all the way to election day without an attack, do you think we might be able to make do a blockade or something? I guess not; too many of the president's friends feeding at the trough might get caught doing business with Sadaam. I guess we need to blow it all to hell. Forget I asked.
Subj: That Jeb Bush....What a Killer Sense of Humor
Dear BuzzFlash,
I just saw the news that authorities had just found the body of 9-year old Jennifer Short. I wonder if Jeb Bush has any "juicy details" about this incident. Or does he only make sick jokes about Florida's missing children?
Oh, and don't you just love Jeb's "apology"? He didn't know there was anyone from the press around when he said those disgusting remarks, and, beyond that, he has no comment.
Bush, Inc. is nothing but a den of bigots and thieves.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: The press is either lazy or asleep . . .
Dear BuzzFlash,
How long will the media allow this? How can we have an informed election in November if the only time we hear from the Prez. Are stump speeches on the campaign trail? The media is asleep.....America deserves a full press conference.
E Clarke
Subj: Have the GOP Lawyers Thrown in the Towel?
Dear BuzzFlash,
Why challenge Uncle Frank to debates before the Supremes have spoken? Because the Reps have a stinky case and they know it. You don't wake up Justice Souter and ask for a restraining order against some kids playing loud music. They could take the case--to clarify Gore vs. The World--but I bet they won't interfere with this election.
Of course, I'm acting as my own attorney here, which Lenny Bruce said is how "I got my year."
Still, I have lost count of the times in California where I've personally seen post-deadline changes to sample ballots. The hearings are typically a few minutes long and revolve around a single question from the judge to election officials: Is it still physically possible to print and mail new ballots?
If so, do it, the judge says.
Hope Lautenberg's guys accept the debates and spend the next 30 days arguing about where to hold them.
Steve High
Dear BuzzFlash,
Forrester's whining and crying all week was, simply put, music to my ears. To hear the Republicans crying over "a fixed election" is such a wonderful sound. How 'bout one of you BuzzFlash readers out there putting this to music!
One of the 50,000 Democrats earmarked as a "felon" in the 2000 election and told to "take a hike" at the voting booth in Florida.
J.
Smith
Navarre
Beach, FL
Subj: Rude and crude
Dear BuzzFlash,
We know George H.W. and George W. are; why is there a surprise about Jeb? Seems the family is fairly dysfunctional, with rude and crude being just a part of the equation. I'm guessing that international opinion of the U.S. is diminished to some extent for the fact that we allow their ilk in high offices.
Pamela of the Poconos
Dear Buzzy,
When George W. Bush was running against Ann Richards for Governor of Texas, he found that he needed a hunting picture to combat Ann's great skill in dove hunting.
The picture that came out in the Houston Chronicle showed Bush holding a poor kildeer (endangered species) with its neck broken as proof of his dove hunting prowess. You see, either he couldn't tell the difference between a kildeer and a dove or he didn't care when it came to offering proof.
At any rate, we all know he was elected Governor of Texas, even though this "scandal" came out before the election. And I don't think he was prosecuted for killing the kildeer. I guess the people of Texas wanted to be fooled.
Such is the debate on Iraq.
Keep on buzzin', Buzzy. We need you.
Margaret Waid, Ph.D.
Dear BuzzFlash,
I didn't know who to send this to at your site but how's this for an idea to slow down the Bushie's lust for war: a Congressional resolution that would forbid any business entity tied to Bush-Cheney from profiting in any way from the war -- we're talking Halliburton and the Carlyle Group.
I wonder if their ardor for war might cool just a bit, and show the world that it's all about????
A BuzzFlash Reader
Ferndale,
WA
Dear BuzzFlash,
I am from West Virginia and am very proud to Robert C Byrd as my senator. I emailed him a suggestion this morning that may really put the brakes on the war movement. Why not put an amendment on the bill which would give criminal penalties for war profiteering. The Shrub administration might not be so hot for war if they know their buddies will not profit from it.
Michael Hawk
Subj: Unprecedented Propoganda
Dear BuzzFlash,
Tonight ABC aired a version of "AIR FORCE ONE" with the first 45 minutes completely changed to a new version that included a storyline involving Iraq! Why did the director, producer and President of ABC do this? I've seen this film about 5 times over the years...why was this done on the eve of a vote in congress? Please bring this to the attention of your readers and investigate this. Thanks.
--- Debra Coffey
Subj: Press is saturated with $$ millions of Bush raised soft money!
Dear BuzzFlash,
Before you criticize Daschle, beware the deceitful headlines!
I did not watch Meet the Press with GE Russert Sunday morning but I did notice the disturbing headlines on the Internet: "Daschle backs president on Iraq" and "Iraq war resolution likely to pass". I read the articles and immediately became angry with Daschle and quickly fired off an email telling him what I thought of his support for Bush and his war!
Later I watched the re-run of Meet the Press and boy was I ever fooled! Tim Russert had a nice chat with Tom Daschle and even showed a clip of Al Gore's Iraq speech without a single word of criticism! (Hmmm... why the niceties?) But on the Internet its a different story. Its clear that the press is misrepresenting, distorting, and taking out of context Daschle's words!!
Be careful. Karl Rove is targeting those of us who use the Internet in place of the television for news, and who use the Internet to organize efforts to fight the Bush machine!
Clearly, Rove is trying to anger and divide the Democratic, antiwar leaning voters, especially the Greens, and turn them away from the Democrats in Washington. Rove intends to keep them home November 5th or voting third party in disgust!
Please don't get fooled! Our so-called free press is saturated with millions of dollars of Bush raised soft money!
Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
Subj: Please look for . . .
. . .a transcript of Paul Wolfowitz' comments on the talking head shows Sunday morning.
He was asked what the US would do if Saddam Hussein were retaliate for a US led attack by attacking Israel.
His response was that Iraq would never do that because they don't really have the capability of attacking with weapons of mass destruction, did not really have the capability of delivering WMD and if they did attack Israel would face awesome reprisal from the US!
The host, Tim Russert, did not respond to any of this! He should have pointed out that Wolfowitz' revelations, shoot holes in any administration argument that WE need to attack Iraq. This is news!
Mark White
Subj: Those Sneaky Bastards
Dear BuzzFlash,
Another infuriating thing about this Iraq ruse: a great many of us are spending time with the stop-the-war effort that could be spent on get-out-the-vote and other campaign efforts. We have to sleep once in a while, damn it.
Keep doing what you do.
Martin
Dear BuzzFlash:
I attended a talk given by Scott Ritter last night in the university district in Seattle. It was standing room only, perhaps 1,000 people were present, and we were told at least 500 had been turned away at the door. Ritter was electrifying and challenging, but the most electrifying moment came when REPRESENTATIVE Jim McDermott entered unannounced. The entire crowd stood, clapped, cheered, and shouted spontaneously. We know we are extremely blessed to have such a man of courage representing us in Congress. The single most important statement he made last evening is that time is very, very short if the American people are to stop this insane, bloody grab for empire. Scott Ritter challenged us to send a million people to Washington next weekend to give Congress and the administration the same sort of demonstration of will that Tony Blair received last week from 450,000 citizens of his country. He told us that when he posed to Richard Perle (the self-named Prince of Darkness) the scenario of Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and Israel exploding as a result of a unilateral attack, Perle's response was, "And the problem is...?" I urge all BuzzFlash readers to take up the gauntlet and do all you can to get to D.C. this weekend. This is OUR country, OUR government, OUR armed services and not one voter in 2000 voted to turn this democracy into world empire, not even those, like Scott Ritter, who voted Republican.
Rita W.
Dear Buzzy,
One of the BuzzFlash writers, Dr. Waid, wrote an excellent article about what she noticed about George W. Bush when he was in Texas. Breaking the neck of the endangered kildeer was just one of his many crimes. If he didn't know the difference between a kildeer and a dove, then he is stupid. If he did know the difference, then he is a criminal. Either way, you are not a good hunter if you have to have your staff break a bird's neck. George W. wants to kill anything and anyone in order to serve his god, Big Oil. That has been his destiny, and his entire life's goal. Anything for Oil. Hail Oil. Oil be praised. That is why he is going to Iraq. That is the second largest producer of the world's oil after Saudi Arabia and he wants control of it just like he wants to put a pipeline through Afghanistan (that was about oil too) so he can get to that oil in the Caspian Sea. Wouldn't it be nice if Iraq were opened up to pave the way. Look at the geography. Bush bows down to oil.
a BuzzFlash reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
Finally the American people are concerned about the economy according to recent polls.
Why? Because the repercussions of the Bush administration are hitting home. I've often said that Americans will not wake up about Bush until the economy touches them personally... stock market, unemployment, recession, national debt. All of these economic indicators personally touch most Americans.
We had better get used to the idea of having a poor economy and how it effects us, as Americans. I'm convinced that Bush is seizing upon the idea of a global empire. First Afghanistan, now Iraq. Certainly North Korea will be next, possibly followed by Iran. As the empire machine rolls through many countries on Bush's hit list, the US will have to maintain a military presence to police the conquered regions. The expense will be tremendous. It will also lead to reinstitution of the military draft in order to spread our grunts across the globe. Hint: That is why Bush has no exit strategy after attacking Iraq.
Who is going to pay for Bush's idea of the US policing the world with he as emperor? The good old American taxpayer! Cuts in programs that benefit Americans will be swiped away also. The cost of the US taking on the role of global policemen will financially cripple the American people. Will the wealthy chip in? We see where Bush already wants to make their tax-cuts permanent. Will the corporations chip in? Nada! They will be too busy making money hand over fist in the wars. We can consider Clinton's outstanding economic years a murmur from the past... just a wonderful memory of a point in time when common Americans were afforded a chance to get ahead... a time when the Master of Diplomacy kept the US in sinc and on an even keel.
Bush has not presented a pretty picture, but Americans need to study the artwork he has submitted. Familiarizing themselves with much worse times ahead for Americans, is mandatory. In other words, get used to it.
~ Cathy
Subj: Jeb FCAT Letter called Outrage of the Week
CNN: Capital Gang
Oct. 5, 2002, 7pmMark Shields, Al Hunt, Robert Novak, Kate O'Beirne, Margaret Carlson
SHIELDS: Now for the "Outrage of the Week."...
HUNT: Former President Clinton, assailed for directing assistants to New York to help his wife's Senate campaign a couple years ago, is a piker next to George W. Bush, who seems to have given the entire federal government to help his brother's struggling reelection in Florida.
Now, last week, Jeb Bush falsely charged his opponent, Bill McBride, would cost Florida billions in federal education moneys. Then he brandishes an equally phony letter from the U.S. Department of Education threatening the same.
This is a Bush-league fleecing of the taxpayers for political purposes.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: The Difference Between Patriotism and Faux Patriotism
Dear Buzz,
I have been thinking a great deal about this "debate' about patriotism and those who say that to criticize George Bush and his plans to attack Iraq are "unpatriotic". To me, patriotism is love of country not love of a man, and to love one's country is to protect and preserve it's founding principles, that of freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and all those rights that are now in jeopardy. Patriotism is to speak against those who would limit or destroy those rights.
Faux patriotism, on the other hand, is to accuse and belittle any voices that do not speak in lockstep to yours, to use fear to engender an acquiescent public, to yell in hopes of drowning out voices of reason.
Sadly, it seems that faux patriotism is winning, patriotism has been muted.
Bev Dendys
Subj: Milquetoast Democrats & Iraq
Dear BuzzFlash,
After reading the Washington Post article "9/11 Changed Equation for Democrats," that BuzzFlash posted Oct. 7, I'd like to posit a supposition for the Milquetoast behavior of our national Democratic Congressional leaders: there is no free press in this country.
Except for the Internet and web sites like BuzzFlash.com there are no opposition voices within the so-called "mainstream" or "liberal" media.
One can well imagine the field day a Rush Limbaugh or a Robert Novak would have if Senator Tom Daschle would publicly denounce pResident Bush's stance on Iraq. I do believe I've already heard right-leaning pundits hint that Congressmen David E. Bonior and James McDermott's trip to Iraq is treasonous.
Our best hope is that Bush's warlike chest-thumping is politically motivated. Perhaps once the dust of the campaign has settled and there are Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress, Karl Rove will have Dubya turn off the bellicose rhetoric.
Bob Jewett
