The BuzzFlash Mailbag

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 Buzz,

I could just scream. I am so frustrated and, for once, don't know what to do.

In Minnesota, where the highest ranking Republican happens to be the Secretary of State (remember Katherine Harris in Florida) has not only declared she WILL count absentee votes FOR the Republican senate candidate but will NOT count absentee votes that have been cast for Paul Wellstone, she is STILL instructing County clerks to MAIL OUT the absentee ballots, to voters requesting them, WITH Paul Wellstone's name on the ballots.

In other words, the Secretary of State KNOWS these ballots, with Wellstone's name on them, are ILLEGAL AND WILL NOT BE COUNTED (the ones FOR Wellstone will NOT be counted, but the ones FOR the Republican WILL be counted), but she continues to order them to be sent out as if she didn't KNOW that!!!

Isn't it against the law for a Secretary of State to instruct County clerks to mail out INVALID ballots, which she KNOWS to be INVALID?

There was a time when I thought we might appeal such things to the U.S. Supreme Court, but I no longer have any confidence in that either.

I do not understand WHY there is no provision to extend the deadline for mailing in absentee ballots. In Florida, overseas military ballots were permitted to arrive up to ten days AFTER Election Day and still be counted.

If Minnesota law declares that no deceased person's name can remain on the ballot (and an appointment made to fill the slot after the election, as occurred in Missouri in 2000), then I would think provision must have been made for the printing, mailing and receiving of absentee ballots that included the name of the replacement for the deceased person. In Minnesota, the name of a living candidate MUST be placed on the ballot unless the death occurs within FOUR days of the election. All they have to do in Minnesota is to extend, by two weeks, the date by which absentee ballots can be received and still be counted.

The smug Republican Secretary of State says that people who voted for Wellstone by absentee ballot can still have their votes be COUNTED if they come in to the polls to vote!! Tell that to the people who are in Europe and Japan. Are they supposed to get leave to fly home to cast a legal ballot?

This is an OUTRAGE and I don't know what to do first.

I do know if this had happened to a Republican, we would have had Republican Congressional aides flown in from Washington D. C. to scream, stomp and bang on doors until they got their way. And Republican lawyers and politicos would be screaming about disenfranchising "our brave men in the military."

Why can't people just play fair?

Why doesn't the Minnesota Secretary of State – at the very least – STOP the sending out of illegal ballots? Oh, because they favor the Republican candidate. That's why.

I could scream.

-- excerpt from:

"Ballot troubles anticipated"

<<"It's very difficult to say that it's a fair election when they've already said that anyone that voted absentee with the name 'Paul Wellstone' won't be counted, and anyone who voted absentee with the name 'Norm Coleman' will be counted," Ventura said. "That to me right there creates an unfair election.">>

Read more at: http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/politics/4391516.htm

It does not mention, in this article, that the Secretary of State "clarified" that County clerks should still mail out the INVALID absentee ballots; I heard that on CNN this morning in a report from Minnesota.

I should point out what the highest-ranking Democrat in Minnesota said:

<<Hatch [Attorney General Mike Hatch, the highest-ranking Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) constitutional officer in state government] and Kiffmeyer [Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, the highest-ranking Republican] said those who have cast an absentee ballot for Wellstone will have to cast a supplemental ballot — either at their county auditor's office or at their polling place — if they want to vote for the new DFL candidate. That means those who can't return to the state before Election Day "are going to be out of luck," Hatch said.>>

What the hell is that? He says the voters who voted for Wellstone on an absentee ballot and who cannot re-vote at "their county auditor's office or at their polling place" are "out of luck"!!

Is that what we're down to here in America – LUCK?

How about if those UNCOUNTED Democratic votes would tip the election to the Democratic column and give the Minnesota senate seat to a Democrat – thereby tipping the U.S. Senate to the Democratic Party, and saving us all from a fascist junta takeover of our government?

Is that all just a crapshoot too, pal?

I am enraged.

This means that any Minnesotans -- WHO ARE DEMOCRATS (the Republicans are doing FINE) -- who are traveling or working overseas, or are at their winter homes in Arizona or Florida, HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED.

Is anybody else as angry as I am?

signed,

A BuzzFlash Reader who still wants to believe in a fair and honorable America

Subj: Interesting Encounter

Dear Buzz,

Wanted to tell you and all the buzzers about an interesting encounter I had Monday.

I was gassing up at a truck stop in Montana before heading home when I literally almost bumped into Democratic Montana senator Max Baucus. I walked right between him and some reporters, but I thought he was a local politician. I got in my car and saw his RV, plastered with signs, and got the idea to talk to him.

I went inside and found him in the cafe, shaking hands with truckers, etc. Not wanting to interrupt, I approached a campaign aid chatting with a university reporter. I asked him if the senator had supported Bush's war resolution, to which he said "yes" -- thinking I'd approve. I asked the guy, "Why? Why would he do that?" Taken aback, he said I could talk to the senator and ask him myself. So I stood and waited while he took my name and phone number.

Thus began 15-20 minutes of this gentleman, and a man named Jim (who appeared to be Sen. Baucus's campaign manager), running interference. They talked with me, listened to me lay out all the reasons we shouldn't go to war, heard me explain why Democrats were turning to the Greens or not voting, how sick we are that the Democrats roll over for the Republicans, blah blah blah. They showed some concern, but always made sure I knew the senator was "on a tight schedule."

This Jim guy was particularly disturbing. He told me to my face, twice, that Iraq "has nuclear weapons." I told him to his face, twice, "No, they don't." I also told him I will take the word of experts like Scott Ritter, who spent 8 years in Iraq dismantling its weapons, over the word of hard right ideologues like Bush and Cheney. I said if it's true that Iraq has nukes, why aren't we invading N. Korea? Why isn't the world supporting us? I also asked this guy why the senator chose to play politics with innocent people's lives, and why he didn't vote with Wellstone, who was much more vulnerable in this election. He didn't have an answer. I told Jim that the Dems were getting steamrolled and that they voted for Bush's resolution to change the debate, but the debate has STILL been Iraq ever since. I asked what happened to the economy, health care, social security?

Jim said those things are definitely being taken care of. I said, "Well, maybe I don't see what's going on behind the scenes. I don't see it." Then the guy tells me "Well, you'll be surprised what happens" when the recess is over. I replied that the Democrats have been promising surprises for almost two years, but they've been rolling over since they gave the wealthy a $1.6 trillion tax cut. I said Democrats are wondering where the opposition party is.

That was about all Jim could take. As he turned away I shook his hand and got his name. I think Sen. Baucus was kept inside so that the university reporter wouldn't have a chance to record me talking with him. Before leaving, I stopped by the senator's RV and spoke with a perky, well-coiffed reporter. After a little chit-chat, I suggested she might want to ask the senator why he approved Bush's unconstitutional war resolution. With a look of distaste she said, "I'll see what I can do."

I realized three things yesterday. First, our representatives are afraid to confront informed and well-reasoned dissent face-to-face. Granted, I'm not a Baucus constituent, but his decisions affect us all. Second, the chance of a local reporter even THINKING about asking a difficult question is zero. Third, our reps and the press need to personally feel the heat from us about our opposition to Bush's agenda.

Keep Buzzin,

Mike Kress
Spokane, WA

Subj: King of the Greedy Old Party

Dear BuzzFlash,

Why has no one pointed out that King George has imposed the largest tax hike ever on the people of the United States. The actions of the GOP under his and minion Armey's leadership have led to tremendous loss of jobs and a huge draining of investment capital (resulting in a 20% drop in the DOW year-to-date). There have been large withdrawals of foreign capital as a direct result of the world's collective loss of confidence in the US as a safe, peaceful nation. And, there have been large job losses as a direct result of the loss of consumer confidence in an economy run by corporate chieftains known mostly for their unbridled greed and malfeasance. These actions, and the parallel inaction of the king & company, are taxes on the 99% of us who will have to watch neighbors, friends, and relatives struggle through illnesses with no health insurance, or live in retirement with neither investments nor social security, or eak out a living when there are no jobs.

On top of this the imperial presidency is spending huge sums...on its favor cause...making war, while making sure to line the pockets of the new king's aristocracy. He has cut taxes, but only for the aristocracy. The Greedy Old Party has labeled it a death tax. Well, I think it should be called an aristocracy tax and it should be reimposed. There is no sensible economic reason that Bill Gate's children should have an additional 10 billion dollars to get by on. For everyone other than the new aristocracy this king is the worst "tax and spend" leader ever.

George is not a real king, of course. He's just the king influence peddler of all time. He used eminent domain to take land for his own benefit as governor of Texas and he's now willing to use our sons and daughters as a downpayment on benefits from the oil and gas companies who are the only people he actually represents.

Anyone with children, investments, and not a corporate chieftain is expected to swallow king George's "tax and spend" approach without regard to your own interest. Conservatives and liberals alike, in the privacy of your voting booth, vote to protect your children, your investments, and your job. Tell George exactly what you think of the new monarchy. It may be your last chance!

Phillip Michaels

Dear BuzzFlash,

Here is part of a message I sent to a friend. The information is accurate and can be verified through many sources. Please share this little tale with as many "I vote Republican because it is the party of 'family values'" crowd as possible.

Rob

****EXTRACT "Steve Largent in the News Again"*********

Yes, more politics. But this one has a particular connection to you.

It will also help explain why I like Bill Clinton.

I remember first encountering Mr. Largent when he was running ads for Pete von Reichbauer who was Mike Kreidler's opponent for Congress way back in 1992. That Mr. Largent was a hard-right conservative, "family values" man became very clear very quickly. He then went on to become a member of Congress from Oklahoma during the 1994 Gingrich revolution.

Please review the following two links:

http://www.oologah.net/political.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20021015_1786.html

Although Mr. Largent trumpets himself as a "family values" man, he seems to have trouble conveying those all important moral lessons to his own children. Considering that he, George Bush in White House, and Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida (the State where our votes were stolen), all LOUDLY sound the "family values" trumpet, it is fascinating to look at their own families and see that they seem incapable of actually instilling their so-called "values" in their offspring.

George Bush's daughters have been arrested twice each for public drunkenness, only to be seen later drinking in public in apparent violation of their probation (why obey the law when you're a Bush?).

Jeb Bush's daughter, Noelle, was sent to drug rehab in lieu of jail for falsifying a prescription for Xanax, only to be caught at treatment with crack cocaine, a charge that Jeb Bush got tough on by championing a law that puts people merely accused of possession in jail for ten years (apparently, not his daughter, though).

And finally, Mr. Largent, whose children appear to have enjoyed some rather favorable treatment in their escapades which aroused the attention of law enforcement.

It is not that kids don't get in trouble; they do. Ours may. The difference here is that their parents repeatedly claim a level of moral superiority over the so-called "feel-good, do anything liberals." But, I NEVER recall EVER seeing anything about Chelsea Clinton getting involved in such activities. If she had, don't you think that the Rush Limbaughs and Pat Robertsons of the world would be pounding the public about the Clintons' obvious failures as parents? Of course they would...

Who are the better parents here? Whose family values should our Nation emulate? The Bushs' and the Largents', who seem content to demand tougher and tougher laws against wrongdoers, just not against their own families, or the Clintons?

Okay, I'm done. Share this with anyone you like.

Rob

Re: Wolfowitz: Clinton let Saddam off lightly

Dear Buzz,

Is this criticism the Bush version of “better late than never?” Now he’s being criticized for doing too little, but when President Clinton took the most direct military action against Saddam since the end of the Gulf War, the Grand Hypocrites fell all over each other to scream about “wagging the dog.”

David Paquette
Woonsocket, RI

Subj: American hasn't a clue...so it seems...

Dear BuzzFlash,

I just read a poll with several thousand responses from CompuServe that asked the question:

"Has Noelle Bush received special treatment because of her celebrity status?"

The results:

Yes: 58%
No: 42%

...therein lies the problem with America's war on drugs. After committing about a dozen narcotic felonies (none of which she was charged with, nor has she lost her driver's license) nearly half of the respondents think it is quite appropriate to send your son or daughter to jail for 5 or 10 years for similar offenses and that Noelle receives only 10 days.

R. Thomas
El Cajun, CA

Subj: Bush the "front Man"

Buzz,

I want to thank you again for running the article about Alex Sanders confronting Lindsey Graham in the SC primary about using "Mr. Moon Pie's" paper to attack him. I sent Sanders a big thank you and some notes on The Moonie Times, in case by some miracle Graham would make it an issue. I wrote it on the way out the door to DC last week, I am sprucing it up and will send a copy for your perusal in a couple days.

Thought you might find this 'prescient' piece(below) from 'Columbus Alive' in 2000 interesting.

Thanks again

phillip

Dear BuzzFlash,

I see that President Bush was going to send Cheney, (then switched to Thompson) to Senator Wellstone's memorial. It is odd to me that President Bush is not going himself. When South Boston Democrat US Rep Joe Moakley died, I recall that President Bush attended the funeral in MA. What better way to rise above it all and show we are "united" not "divided" than by attending the memorial service of Senator Wellstone. Perhaps Bush doesn't know how to be president of the United States - just leader of the republican party.

I saw reports that Senator Wellstone's family "disinvited" Cheney. I wonder if the family had a view on Bush attending? I wonder if Bush was afraid to be in a room of 20,000 people who were not hand picked to be there for him?

K McGlynn
Boston

Dear BuzzFlash,

In the Rockies today, the demographers and analysts were wrong. In the early 1990s, they predicted the influx of newcomers into the Mountain West and the shift from traditional industries to a New Economy would moderate the region's politics.

Instead, more than 1.4 million people -- mostly white-collar, mostly conservative and mostly Californian -- moved in, bought property and took up residence.

And now, the region is the most staunchly Republican in the nation, and its voters are critical to control of both House and Senate

USA Today deftly puts figures and context to the region's politics

Jackie Corr

Subj: Election

Dear BuzzFlash,

Please encourage people to call anyone they know, write; whatever they can do, to encourage Brad Henry (Dem.) for Governor in Oklahoma. I know we(Okies) aren't all that important to some; but we have lived under a repub gov. who has just about "sunk us" in every way. I still have hopes for Walters vs. Inhofe but know that is a LONGGGshot for sure. Also Roberts vs. Cole is also a hope but I do believe we can swing the govs race.

Thanks,

Phyllis Gilbert, OK teacher

Subj: In a Meeting with President Fox of Mexico

Dear BuzzFlash,

"...Mr Bush reportedly balked at Señor Fox’s invitation to make a state visit to Mexico next year to mark the tenth anniversary of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"Maybe we’ll be at war,” Mr Bush replied, according to the Los Angeles Times. Señor Fox said: “If you’re at war, you’re at war. But right now you’re not at war, so think about it.”

http://commondreams.org/headlines02/1028-01.htm

If the Republicans are not thrown out on on November 5th, you can kiss this democracy good-bye.

T. Jefferson
from the grave

re Wellstone death a conspiracy...?

To Bartcop:

Thanks for the great "conspiracy" links re the tragic Wellstone death. The WSWS site wasn't quite as "far out" as the VoxF. site I read earlier (and again today).

As anyone who has flown small 'planes knows, the rudder, aileron, and elevator linkages of small aircraft are nothing more than overgrown bicycle hardware... no more than pinky-finger thick, and often thinner. If the elevator linkage fails, its a 99% chance you will have a nose-dive straight into the ground. At any rate, WSWS notes that the Wellstone death will negate the Dem's lame-duck Senate power... all the worse since this generation of Dem. senators are entirely unfamiliar with (or scared to use) the veto power.

I NEVER thought I would say or think this! but our Dem. Senators are so lame and timid around the the bush-cheney-rove-scalia-delay-lott-scaife (et al) axis of evil, that they (the dems) are starting to make Al D'Amato and Dan Burton look like stand-up guys who at least weren't afraid to take the stage or make some outrageous charges (much less ask the questions that any competent rookie journalist would ask).

Oh, Fox news has been giving us a TEXTBOOK example of media-brainwashing. On the eve of a PIVOTAL American election in which the Republican party is asking for power and authority with virtually NO real restraint (remember all those high school lectures on the virtues of "federalism" and shared and mutually restrained power?) - (and, worse, the GOP hasn't got the guts to come out and request that, just badmouthing Dems as usual...) Fox news had ONE and ONLY ONE issue on their broadcasts last night: "Which state will try the DC sniper suspects, so we can fry them immediately?"

That's Fox for you... THREE TIMES NOW Gulf War Vets have flipped out under the stress of money, relationships, and that media tidal wave of garbage information (burying unemployment and debt stats under the uber war hype) - and in all three cases, Fox leads the charge to FRY 'EM NOW. I would (sadly, regrettably) go as far as to say that Timmy McVeigh and the DC sniper are the Karma the American public has paid (and is paying) for neglecting the plight of Gulf War Syndrome survivors. And don't forget, AH was also a poison-gas survivor. Sad, sad, sad, that Fox can talk about "execution, execution, execution" 27-7, and millions of ditto-head Americans will tune in like that is the most important news in their lives.

Like the Kennedy assassination preceding the US war in Vietnam, the only place we see any real questions asked is on the conspiracy pages.

LJBK

Dear BuzzFlash,

I've been so disgusted with the cowardice of the congressional Democrats about the Iraq "war" that I wasn't going to vote for the first time that I can remember. And then Paul Wellstone reminded me of what a Democrat really is. Passionate, courageous, principled, humble and compassionate - a man of the people. One of us. What a tragedy and loss - for his family and for this country. When I finally absorbed the news, I knew I would vote because to see this shining star next to the black hole in the White House and not try to change it makes me feel ashamed. Like Robert Kennedy, I don't want to see things as they are but rather as they could be. May God bless Senator Wellstone, his wife and daughter and the other souls onboard, give his family peace, and protect us all.

SOS

Subj: TownHall.com Reader Comment

Mr. Limbaugh---

You dumb ass---contrary to your typically right-knee jerk column's assertion, the Bush Republicans stole the 2000 election, not the 2002 election as you stated. (Of course, I do not doubt the Republicans may at least attempt to steal a few elections next week as well) Please hire a better fact checker in the future.

Michael Baxter, Dover, Ohio

Subj: Dick Cheney and Anderson

Dear BuzzFlash,

So last week President George W. Bush moved to relax the capacity of the corporate fraud investigation. How do you do that? Well by simply taking away it funds thereby insuring that nothing will happen. I mean you have to do this when your Vice-president is one of the chief corporate crooks in America.. Just what did Cheney do some of you might ask? Well how about this.

Well, there is a lawsuit that is going through the courts and it says he overstated the profits of Halliburton Oil by about 445 million and this led to the overvaluation of the stock. So what? You say. If you think this is all some political satire you might be right because it gets juicer.

------------------------------------------------------------

It seems that Cheney once made a promotional video for the now disgraced accounting firm Arthur Anderson. In the video he explains how Anderson had given him advice over and over again. Mr. Cheney states: "I get good advice, if you will, from their people, based upon how we are doing business and how we are operating, over and above the normal, by the books auditing arrangement." Yeah! But whose books?

Since the mainstream press gave Cheney a pass on his voting record during the last election, I think, considering the stakes in the up coming election, we should look the voting record of a man who just might cast the deciding vote on future legislation. It is not a pretty sight.

He is only one of eight House Members to Oppose Renewing the Older Americans Act Providing Nutrition and Support Services for Elderly People in 1987. Dick Cheney voted against the Re- authorization of Head Start Plan in 1986 was one of 27 House Members to Oppose Funding for Head Start that same year. He also voted against College Student Aid in 1986. To those of families who have lost members of their family through service to the community he opposed Death Benefits for firefights and police widows. Nice guy this fellow. Cheney even fought against Nutrition programs and Hunger relief programs. This is his voting record of the 1980's. It is fair and necessary to examine this man.

------------------------------------------------------------

Dick Cheney has always stood on the side of those with power and against working people. It is right there in the record. But the question for those who study history is how he was able to get away with this with nary a question from the press. Why does press let him off the hook?

We all can understand what went on with those meetings with Enron. They were setting policy according to their insider world. Some day history will record what went on and the "Robber Barons" of today will look much worse than the Carnegie's of the late 19th century. At least they built some- thing.

- Denis Mueller

Sources: BBC Television

Hi Buzz

To all of your viewers..........DONT GET MAD!......VOTE......& GET GLAD!!!!

Genie

Subj: A Repulsive Piece of Pond Scum

Dear BuzzFlash,

Please disseminate this article far and wide. It details how a rabid right wing Coleman supporter, a talk show host go figure!, openly expressed his desire to see Paul Wellstone dead before his plane crash. This is what they say in public! Imagine what people of their ilk and party affiliation say (or plan) in private? Is it any wonder, given the expressed attitudes of people like this, that Paul's plane crash is viewed as highly suspicious?

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3395332.html

A BuzzFlash Reader

Hello!

I understand that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has issued a memorandum reserving the title Commander in Chief for the president, and discontinuing its use for military officers who head the U.S. military's nine regional and unified combatant commands, and that "combatant commander" was more appropriate.

I also understand the CINC is literally in millions of data-bases, legal print, text, and spread among all information sources of the U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Atlantic Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Space Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Transportation Command, and U.S. Strategic Command.

This new memorandum to make these changes will run in the millions, if not billions of taxpayer dollars. Would it be possible for the GAO to affix an estimated sum for the necessary changes, as the taxpayer has a right to know.

Thank you for your time & consideration in this pressing matter.

Mike

Subj: Gulf War Veterans

Dear BuzzFlash,

Maybe Bush 2 should think first about sending our young American boys into the Gulf War....after all, Tim McVeigh was a decorated Gulf War veteran, and the Oklahoma City bombing was the result, and the recent Washington Sniper was a Gulf War veteran, and now I read that the killer of the Tuscon AZ college rampage, who slaughtered all those women professors, was ...a Gulf War veteran....oh, I forgot about all those people on the east coast (the Carolinas?) who killed their spouses in domestic violence, then killed themselves, that they were also Gulf War veterans...what's up? Its so weird...si many people dead by those who went to the Gulf.

Lucy

Subj: Wingnuts Fuming Over WELLSTONE Memorial

Dear BuzzFlash,

Today's wingnut talking point started with IMUS using his usual vulgarities to proclaim that the WELLSTONE memorial service last night was NO memorial and WAS just a political rally. The WORST phenomenon in his wingnut world was the very THOUGHT that President GORE, the CLINTONs, and MONDALE had ovations bestowed upon them. DRUDGE is already onboard with the same talking points, and as the day wears on, expect the same volcanic SPEWING from Rush SLIMEBAUGH, HANNITY, O'REILLY.

It's just their SOUR GRAPES. They are conveniently forgetting the traditions of jazz funerals, Irish wakes, and the comfort some people take that "death" is going "home". The MEMORIAL was Senator WELLSTONE's SPIRIT alive and KICKING-----and that's GREAT and it just EATS the wingnuts UP!!!!

John Garza

Dear BuzzFlash,

In your email, it is stated:

George W. Bush is featured on a tape recorded phone message in Illinois urging Republican voters to take an absentee ballot if they want, even though there are only certain circumstances that qualify for taking an absentee ballot.

I can assure you that THE SAME TAPE RECORDED MESSAGE IS BEING USED IN GEORGIA. A neighbor of mine (who is not Republican that I know) received and kept this recording on their answering service, thinking it most peculiar.

Just for the record.

Tim O'Donnell
Atlanta, GA

Subj: Make Sure Voters Remember Florida

Hi All:

Just a heads up... I still have a number of bumper stickers left and the election is drawing close. At this point I just want to get as many as possible out to those who can put them to good use. I will reprint them with 2004 instead of 2002 in the text, but for now I can send some out to whoever can distribute a good number of them--I would like to recoup postage and maybe a little more. But at this point it's about more than the money. These might be especially relevant in close races where a motivated voter turnout is key, and a segment of the progressive population is still actively pissed at the Florida election fraud. [REMEMBER FLORIDA--VOTE DEMOCRAT IN 2002....also the Spanish version RECUERDA FLORIDA--VOTA DEMOCRATA EN 2002] We're down to the wire, and the Senate races are hot in more than a dozen states; governor's races critical in MA, Florida, Texas, and others. We've sent out almost 2,000 more in the last few days alone, bringing the total to over 12,000 nationwide! Senate or Congressional pickups are possible in Texas, Colorado, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oregon, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Maine, (see moveonpac.org for more info on close races--campaignline.com for odds). View the stickers at the URL below and get in touch SOON--I have to send them today or tomorrow to be of much use. I would also appreciate your passing it on to others who might be interested. Keep up the fight!

Danny
www.fringefolk.com/RFVD.html

We're at a Level Yellow

(Sung to Donovan's Mellow Yellow)

Osama gave us World Trade Al Queda
Home terror is now reality
There's always somethin' to be afraid of
Tom Ridge is my security?

We're at a level yellow
keep fright
We're at a level yellow
incite
We're at a level yellow...

Now I've just had it with killers
Media pumps killers in me
Every day a mass destruct filler
Why don't they just leave me be?

Repeat chorus:

Now its the mid-term elections
Repubs will swarm like killer bees
Pre-emption gives them huge erections
The Dems so weak they're on their knees

Repeat chorus:

Dictator sniper suicide bomber
Your antics are not my main fear
It's the nightmare of a White House moron
Who gets to stay for two more years

I'm at a level yellow
keyriiiipe
I'm at a level yellow
its not right
I'm at a level yellow...

Stephen

Subj: CNN and Wellstone Memorial

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am gravely disappointed by the lack of coverage by CNN last night on the memorial to Paul Wellstone. It seemed not a problem to cover the memorial for Sonny Bono, a Republican Congressman, when he died. Was Paul Wellstone, not worthy enough? Was it more important for the network to interview former family members of a possible sniper, who barely knew anything about his actions ad nauseum? This is a blatant show of bias by CNN. When did CNN become RNN (Republican Network News)?

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: CNN became RNN when its only goal became greed.]

S: Wellstone Memorial

Dear BuzzFlash,

This morning, CNN's reporter, Bob Franklin interviewed an official from the Wellstone camp about Mondale and the memorial. The wingnuts must have sent their talking points out via their Blackberries because Franklin mentioned the word "rally" and the booing of Trent Lott. The spokesperson eloquently said that was unfortunate but these people were grieving. Let me remind you wingnuts that Hillary Clinton was rudely booed during the "Concert for Heroes" broadcasted on VH-1 after September 11th. Your brain dead spokesman in chief, Rush Windbag, had plenty of fun at her expense for weeks and even provided a link.

I was prepared to cry throughout the memorial last night and dreaded watching it all day. It is a credit to the people of Minnesota that this memorial was a celebration of the Paul Wellstone legacy not some republican's wet dream for the extinquishing of a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

FS
New Rochelle NY

Dear BuzzFlash,

I had a dream last night after watching Paul Wellstone's memorial service on CSPAN. In my dream, Bill and Hillary Clinton were solemnly listening to Sen. Wellstone's friend (Kahn?) who gave the wonderful speech. As on television, Bill was listening intently, eyes focused and shining, and occasionally nodding at a particularly heartfelt or inspiring statement (contrast with the photo of the Unspeakable One sitting next to a dignitary at the Asian Pacific summit last weekend, bored and arrogant smirk as usual on his face: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/021026/168/2jahc.html).

In my dream, the last elected President of the United States leans over to his wife and says of Paul Wellstone: "An Idealist with an Idea List."

I don't know if I've ever heard that phrase somewhere before but it woke me up and I felt so so sad at the loss of this positive, hard-working and exuberant human being, Paul Wellstone. And his wife, daughter and the others. Why does it always seem that the Good die young?

And how I miss Bill Clinton!! The look on HIS face: truly compassionate. You just can't hide that.

elaine in Petaluma