The BuzzFlash Mailbag

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Dear BuzzFlash,

After voting proudly for Jeanne Shaheen, I decided I would offer my services to people who need rides to the polls, so I attempted to call up the volunteer line for Democrats. I'm steaming!

The right wing Newspaper Union Leader had a front page story about the thousands of volunteers willing to help at campaign Headquarters and give people rides to the polls. The article ends with a a phone number to call for those who need rides.

Only problem: FOR THE DEMOCRAT LINE THEY PUBLISHED A NONEXISTENT NUMBER! Of course, the Republican number was correct.

Hard to believe it was just a typo.

Just another attempt by can't-win-legally vote-stealing republicans to keep democrats from the voting booths.

Despicable!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Bush's Praetorian Guard

Dear BuzzFlash,

It has been obvious for some time now that the dominant media is not, in any sense of the word, liberal. In fact, most Americans get their "news" from General Electric (NBC, CNBC), Microsoft and General Electric (MSNBC), Rupert Murdoch (Fox News Channel), Westinghouse (CBS), Disney (ABC), and AOL/Time Warner (CNN). These companies that control the majority of "news" that people are exposed to are also major shareholders in the Republican party. This is why they selectively slant their coverage and misinform their viewers in order to suit their own political interests which lie with the Republicans. For this reason, I think a more fitting title than "dominant" or "conservative" media would simply be "Republican media" because that is what they have become.

To any impartial, objective and fair person, these companies have not only served to promote the Republicans while helping to slander their opponents, they have also protected Bush and other Republicans from bad publicity. When the story of Bush's DUI arrest broke they played the story as if it was a dirty trick by Democrats rather than deal with the actual incident itself. This has been repeated over and over again. Cheney is allowed to stonewall the GAO and federal courts, Bush's shady business dealings are given short shrift, etc., etc. This is all in stark contrast to the constant media witchhunts of the Clinton presidency.

Unfortunately, these companies and their employees who masquerade as journalists are worse than whores, who at least have some degree of integrity. They have betrayed the American people and the Constitution. American is now well on its way to being a one party state with a corrupt and ideological federal judiciary that will continue to pervert the wishes of our Founding Fathers for decades to come. This is what happens when a Supreme Court works with an unethical media to overturn the will of the people.

What this all comes down to is quite simple. In a metaphorical sense, these media giants have become little more than George W. Bush's Praetorian Guard.

Lee in Davis, California

Subj: A rainy day in Ga.

When I awakened this morning I was depressed as hell. It was raining! On election day! Now, people don't vote like they should anyway, but it's a really, really RAINY DAY IN GA., so I was worried. I decided to change my attitude. I dressed in one of my better outfits and called around to see who needed a ride to the polls. Before heading out I called a local call-in show (emceed by former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell) and begged everyone who knew me to please go out and vote for Max Cleland. I then put some "Please Vote" signs on my car window and headed out to face the day. I was happily surprised at the folk at the precinct.....I saw a blind woman and a young man who was voting for the first time. I don't know if Cleland will win or not, but I'll feel better because I know that I gave it my best efforts. The rest is up to other citizens and our Creator.

Dee Turner
Atlanta

P.S. BuzzFlash, the check is forthcoming. Keep up the good work.

Subj: One voter's view of this years election

Dear BuzzFlash,

The terms "liberal" and "conservative" have been hijacked by fringe groups who now insist that, "they and they alone have the revealed truth".

My simplistic contrast between the two is:

Liberal, one who believes that nature's bounty and sorrow should be spread equally across all Earth's peoples

Conservative, one who believes she/he is unique and entitled to the majority of nature's bounty and the rest of Earth's peoples should receive the majority of nature's sorrow.

Joseph Boyett

MARCH ON THE MEDIA

Republicans latest rallying cry is "We need to speak with one unified voice behind our president. If we don't we are aiding and abetting the enemy." The Iraqi people just spoke in a "unified voice" behind Saddam Hussein by giving him a 100% approval at the polls. No dissent there. Is this what we want in America? I don't think so. Yet all across America people are being attacked as "unpatriotic" because they will not line up in goose step behind George W. Bush and his policies.

Recently I traveled to San Francisco for the anti-war demonstrations. Nearly 100,000 people showed up to register their opposition to Bush's policies. The "Top Story" in the news was the Giants/Angels baseball game! So, throwing a baseball is more important to the news media than the voice of thousands of concerned Americans, many of whom traveled hundreds of miles to make their voices heard for the country that they love.

The New York Times received so many complaints about their inaccurate and demeaning coverage of the Washington D.C. protests that they were forced to run another story two week later!

Everywhere Bush travels these days there are mass protests. However, all we see on the news are wildly-cheering Bush supporters. Protest is being blacked out. This coverage is more akin to the former soviet TASS news agency or Al Jazeera than it is to a nation that prides itself in a free press.

Bush's campaigning, being covered as a "news story", is really just free advertising for the Republican Party without equal time being given to opposing views. This is Un-American and should not be tolerated in a free society.

Thousands of people are being arrested by police because they will not agree to be herded into "First Amendment zones" set up by the Bush administration to keep dissenting voices away from the cameras and out of the news media. This attempt by the president is unconstitutional. On Labor Day, Bill Neel of Butler was arrested during an appearance by Bush on Neville Island. Neel arrived with a sign that said: "The Bush family must surely love the poor. They've made so many of us." After refusing to stay confined in what he said reminded him of a "concentration camp", he was arrested. Neel took the case to court, and last week District Justice Shirley Rowe Trkula threw out the disorderly conduct charge against Neel, saying he was guilty of nothing except trying to peaceably exercise his First Amendment right to free speech."This is America," Trkula said in dismissing the case without Neel having to put on a defense. Trkula decided that Allegheny County police were overzealous in their attempts to herd Neel into a fenced area for protesters, then handcuffing him when he resisted.

Members of the Republican Party in Seattle, upon hearing about the distribution of "No Iraq War" placards suggested that their members "mess up their hair, plead poverty and go get as many free signs as possible to keep them out of the hands of demonstrators."

Gov. Mike Huckabee made the following suggestion to the Republican faithful at the NRA Rally in Springdale, Arkansas, "If you find someone who is not going to vote for us, put a nail in his tire. Don't let him out of the driveway."

What exactly do Republicans have against free speech? Isn't this what America prides itself on? Yet it seems these people will do anything including physical violence, subverting our constitution, and telling outright lies in order to make sure their agenda is the only one that gets heard. Is this the kind of America YOU want? I think these people would be happier in a totalitarian country that already lives by these rules. Not in my country! Not in my name!

So, I am proposing a "MARCH ON THE MEDIA". We must let the mainstream media know that it is not okay for them to black out the voice of dissent in a free society. I want to see 100,000 protesters surrounding CNN headquarters, 100,000 more around the Fox news headquarters, and thousands more around every local television station in America. Let's let them know that this is still a government "of, by and for the people" and not a nation owned and controlled by George Bush and his corporate friends. If anyone out there is in agreement, I'd love to hear some ideas on how we might organize such an event.

I feel that time is running out. We must make sure our voices are heard before this country goes the way of Iraq and becomes just another "unified voice" behind a despotic leader. America is better than that.

Rob Moitoza

Subj: Polls

Dear BuzzFlash,

There is something really strange going on in Colorado. All the local polls released a couple of days ago were pretty much correct on all the candidates with the exception of being way, way, way off on Strickland/Allard and Feeley House of Representatives. That seems very odd to me. It isn't over yet, but I would bet Strickland loses by a mile here. If I am right about what I am thinking and if the fix is in along the line, expect a big humiliation for Mondale. Something is not adding up here, and I don't think there is a thing we can actually do about it or prove. We can however be very afraid.

Sally McDonald

Subj: Keep the Faith. We have not yet begun to fight.

Dear BuzzFlash,

The election results of last night are the direct result of two years of accomodationism of His Fraudulence by our so-called party leadership.

Remember that when the Democrats took over Congress in 1992, the Repugs filibustered all of President Clinton's initiatives to death. They were energized and united in their opposition, and the steady opposition, and lack of coherent Democratic response, resulted in the take-over of Congress two years later. The Republicans did not play Mr. Nice Guy and try to be faithfully obeisant as Daschle and Gephardt have unfailingly done.

Let's face it the fate of our party was sealed the moment our "leadership" did not forcefully oppose Bush's tax cut for the rich in January of 2001. At that point in time they lost a genuine opportunity to be a powerful, credible political force. More people had voted for their candidate than Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush's policies had been repudiated by the voters. However, rather than stick to their guns and continue to fight for the core ideals and policies set forth in the Presidential campaign, they instead elected to sign off on his plan with noting but token opposition. That sealed their doom. That set the tone and the pattern which they have followed on most major issues since.

If nothing else comes of this, then maybe it will teach our party that to win elections act like Democrats. It is interesting to note on Election Night Tom Harkin, using a strong message that focused on the needs of working and middle class Iowans, and an army of grass roots workers armed with Palm Pilots, trounced Mr. Ganske who was Bush's well-funded special interest boy. It's proof that the Paul Wellstone model works. Adapting this model for future races becomes especially important especially important now that McCain/Feingold is taking hold and parties will be less important from a financial standpoint, but more important organizationally.

It is quite evident that the next generation of Democratic candidate will have to come from the Paul Wellstone model, not the DLC model. The DLC model is done, broke and finished. It has done nothing but depress our base and cause us to lose our identity as a party. It has been so easy for the Republicans to portray themselves as Democrats in recent years precisely because our party at the Congressional level has adopted safe, careful bland "centrist" positions. The Republicans have used that to their advantage since their candidates do not have to move very far to match our candidate's positions. Thus voters can't tell the difference in many races.

This is why strong, principled leadership of the party in Congress at this time is essential. Recall, historically, that the Republicans under the timid unassuming Washington insider Bob Michel were the party of obscurity until young turks upended the party leadership and began openly challenging Jim Wright. I am not saying we become like their young turk, Mr. Gingrich, BUT some guts and vision would be nice from our leaders. We can be passionate and forceful without being disgusting humans like Gingrich and DeLay.

We have to start rebuilding somewhere and I can't think of a better time than now. The battle for 2004 begins in earnest today. The first step is regime change in the party which must happen NOW.

Dan

Subj: Harvey Pitt Resigns!?

Dear BuzzFlash,

Just reading the headline: "Harvey Pitt Resigns" I reflexively rolled my eyes and said, "Here we go again" as the Bush administration gets tough on corporate crime with another round of smoke and mirrors.

Tomorrow the scumbag Pitt will be making the round of right wingnut talkshows telling the dittoheads how he was driven out of office by a pack of liberal hellhounds. What more do these liberals expect of a poor, old SEC chairman, hell he got Martha Stewart didn't he?

Then Dubya will take all the credit for sending the fur-faced incompetent packing while the "liberal" media sings hosannas that this proves he can really deal harshly with the corporate "evil-doers." And of course the only man honest enough in the whole United States to replace the disgraced Pitt at the SEC is James Baker III, former Secretary of State under Bush 1, chief Republican counsel during the 2000 presidential Florida recount and Senior Counsel for the Carlyle Group (yes, that Carlyle Group, the one Poppy Bush works for.)

But, hey, I'm guessing about Baker. I mean what's Ken Lay up to these days. Here's a guy with loads of experience with corporate corruption. Or maybe Jesse Ventura for helping Coleman? Ollie North? The list of Republican scumbags and sycophants is endless.

G'night

Bob Jewett

P.S. Oh, yeah. If yer smart (an' I don't always take my own advise) take your dough out of your 401(k) and stuff it in yer mattress. It'll be safer there.

Subj: Speaking Words of Wisdom

James is the Man. Time to listen to James. We won the White House in 92 because we listened to James. Forget Terry McAuliffe. James is the only one who understands how to win elections.

From Salon Magazine 11/6/2002:

But faced with losing his job, Daschle also came in for criticism from the right and left Tuesday night. His decision to delay the homeland security vote was blamed for giving Bush an issue to use against incumbents like Cleland. Critics on the left blamed Daschle and the Democrats' reluctance to energetically challenge Bush on his handling of the economy and Iraq for the party's unprecedented midterm defeat. "It's not about moving right or left, it's about standing for something," said James Carville, an architect of President Clinton's victories.

Dan

Subj: Daschle Dems, Gephardt goofballs, and other incompetent jerks.

Dear Senator Daschle:

You could have whipped the Republicans by telling the truth about any of the issues below, which I am typing off the top of my head. Instead you ran a gutless, incompetent, content free, let's not offend anybody campaign.

Now, because of you, Gephardt and numerous other fools and cowards who control the Democratic Party, and who decided to roll over rather than stand for something, we'll all suffer.

I hope you feel lousy, you pink-tutu wearing weakling. You deserve it and I, and tens of millions of other Americans and upstanding Democrats, don't.

The stolen 2000 election
The rush to war
Tax cuts for the rich
Corruption in the administration
Bush's business corruption
The environment
Radical right-wing judges
Reproductive rights
9/11 incompetence and coverup
Pitt, Wall Street corruption and Enron
Social Security bald-faced lies
Health care, and on and on and on.

Jonathan R. Davey

Subj: GOP Smacked

Dear BuzzFlash,

Now, let me check my reality and see if I am lined up correctly. We have Republican control of all three branches of government and the "free-press." We now have the right to lob missiles at anyone anywhere anytime we want. We have a woefully ignorant arrogant unelected president leading a woefully ignorant and "patriotic" populace.

I think this is reality. I am scared beyond belief. I believe we can call it GOPsmacked.

Regards,

Linda Deak

Dear BuzzFlash,

What happened guys? My gut tells me that the main stream Democratic Party really does not have it any more. I am not talking about intelligence (although I am questioning that), what I am talking about is good old fashion BALLS! The Demo party either gets as pissed off as you guys rightfully are, or they will become minor player, for they are up against some of the most immoral politics and politicians I have ever seen in my 53 years. And if they are not willing to gravel in the dirt to the same extent their opponents are, then we are in serious trouble. As a closing note, what until the public see what they have voted for, are they in for a rude surprise. Hang in there guys, I appreciate your efforts.

Bill Savard

Subj: Dems NOT EVEN a whimper as gop intimidates voters...wsws site (because no one else will even talk about it..)

Dear BuzzFlash,

Not to jump on the GOP bandwagon and bash Dems after their election drubbing last night, but the day before - on election day, that is - I put in one last pitch to a friend of mine on the virtues of voting for, if not the personality of the Democratic candidate, well then at least for a little RESTRAINT on the Republican secrecy/resentment/big government/deficit spending and social cutbacks/ agenda.

My friend replied to me (and I quote his vulgarity) "The Democrats are pussies and wimps. They are yes men who go along with whatever they are told, and don't speak out or fight for their stands."

With that statement, I couldn't really rebut my friend, and certainly not in the few moments I had at the time.

And, to a degree, it is true. Republican candidates are free to accuse Democratic candidates of "being soft on terror," or of "raising taxes," when it is they, the Republicans, who have bankrupted state treasuries across the land. I supported the McBride campaign, but that campaign steadfastly refused to mention the huge tax cuts which went to Florida's healthiest, most profitable corporations (FPL practically has a license to print money). In Georgia, Vietnam war-avoider Chamblis was able to paint Democratic Senate incumbent Max Cleland as "soft on terror" despite Cleland's war wounds from the Vietnam war - wounds that lost him his arm and both legs.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Republicans marshal "poll watchers" to intimidate Democratic voters

By Kate Randall

4 November 2002

The Republican Party, with the backing of the Bush administration, will post thousands of party functionaries at polling stations in various parts of the country on Election Day, November 5, to intimidate working class and minority voters from casting their ballots. This anti-democratic operation in being carried out under the cover of “poll watching.”

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/nov2002/poll-n04.shtml

darkness descends on the land
watch for the markets to plunge
osama has no reason to hold back now
fuel and electric rates have no ceiling
civil liberties are now only a distant memory

=====

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."

--Sir Winston Churchill

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

--Theodore Roosevelt

Goodbye Bush administration probes,
Hello open corporate cronyism.

Goodbye jury trial,
Hello military tribunal.

Goodbye habeas corpus,
Hello enemy combatant.

Goodbye Bill of Rights,
Hello Homeland Security Department.

Goodbye rule of law,
Hello rule of Bush.

Goodbye Constitution,
Hello executive fiat.

Goodbye USA,
Hello Bushamerica.

Bob Shearer

Dear BuzzFlash,

Now what? This election was a complete disaster. This is the worst political situation I've seen in my entire life, and I'm 55 years old. It's 1933 in America.

Ralph Davis

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am stunned....no...disgusted at the obvious apathy infecting this country. We handed George Bush a wet dream, he not only controls the House and the Courts, but now the apparently the Senate as well. The idea that American citizens gave him even more power is sickening.

Get ready for the invasion and colonization of Iraq, get ready for Roe v Wade to be overturned, get ready for unchallenged despoiling of our environment. Get ready for the further terrorist attacks which George prays for.

We had a chance to tell George Bush "No". Instead we curled up and went to sleep. This country deserves George Bush. It deserves the oil cartel that will ruin it. I am so furious at our citizens.

I am hoping (beyond hope) that the opposition members of Congress vote to a person to actually OPPOSE the insanity. I doubt that will happen though. The majority of the Democrats are nothing more than spineless traitors joining the Big Traitor because they are afraid not to.

What was once a great country died in 2000 with illegal coup, that coup has now gained legitimacy, causing the final nail to be put into the coffin. America is now officially buried. I hope you are happy.

How terribly sad, how terribly tragic. I had hope until the elections. Now hope is dying along with our country. It just astounds me that in the 21st century the populace can be so easily mislead. You think we would have learned better.

RIP America. We dug our own grave and gave George the power to bury us.

Phil Mohorich

Buzz,

This country is screwed. Boy-oh-boy is it screwed! There'll be no stopping the far right now. America just bent over and asked for more. And it'll get it, just wait and see, the republicans will be all to happy to oblige.

How can so many people have such a short memory or be so stupid, ignorant of the facts, easily tricked, gullible, uninformed about the true voting records of their leaders, apathetic, mob-minded or whatever it was that made them push the button that was in essence a request for a bigger screwing than they've received already these past two years? Are that many people really that easy to mislead with 30 second commercials and printed lies on mass mailings? How can so many people be so easily made to sway with the wind, blowing in a different direction with each 30 second sound bite from a political ad?

God, I had faith that Americans were more intelligent than that. My heart is broken. If the last two years of far-right control didn't convince them that the country is better off in the hands of the democrats, then nothing will. I see bad times ahead. Everyone must become an activist now. Everyone. Everyone must become totally active in government and make our voices heard about everything the government does in our name from now on. Jesus, how could America really want this???

A BuzzFlash Reader

LIES,

PROPAGANDA,

HATRED,

DOLLAR$ AND

LACK OF AN OPPOSITION PARTY

ARE WHAT

WIN ELECTIONS

IN THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The joke is on us, my friends.
Bush and his cronies
Are laughing their behinds off
About how many people
They have fooled into voting
Against their self-interest.

You and I will pay the price.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

Don't blame the media.

Don't blame the Republicans.

Don't blame Paul's plane.

Don't blame 9-11.

Don't blame the Greens.

And sure as hell don't blame the American people!

BLAME THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP.

Terry McAuliffe is an idiot. Daschle is a complete wuss. Biden might as well not exist. It's time for us all to admit it.

And you know what?

They're not even going to take the right lesson from this. No, instead they're going to decide that they need to pull back even further, to submit even more completely. What the hell are we going to do? The American people have no leaders who represent them: that's why only 40% of register voters turned out.

Well, that's just my opinion. I know that probably a lot of other people are angry too. I set up a little site for people to vent. Use it as you see fit:

http://angrydems.com

Sincerely,

Your faithful wartime Webmaster,
Zack Exley

Subj: Why No Mention?

Dear BuzzFlash,

This win by the Right was in no small measure a function of their ability to dominate AM Radio as well as the internet, ie. Drudge plus FOX NEWS Channel.

Here in Central Florida WFLA et al have talk shows all day everyday that are nothing more than a branch of the GOP. On one station O'Reilly goes for about 3 hours then the next show is Hannity for another three hours. As late as 4:30PM Hannity had Jeb Bush on promoting himself on the day of the election!!!!!!

This amounts to millions of unreported FREE ADVERTISING. There was no need for Republicans to buy time on these stations......it was all FREE.

God Save the Nation Now!

Phil Weissburg
Tampa, Florida

Dear BuzzFlash,

Well, it looks as if Rush Limbaugh has taken complete control of the US government. I only wonder how much torture the American people will permit before they emerge from their stupor. What bugs me most is that Bush will be considered to have a bona fide mandate to do his wilding. From now on, all we'll hear is how great a leader and what a winner he is! Vietnam-dodging AWOL/deserter from the Texas Air National Guard, presidential election thief, insider-trading rip-off artist, right-wing inheritor of Nazi-derived largess, life-long slacker, unlikely svengali to the mass-media, pretzel-choking drunk-driving coke fiend, religious nut, oil company whore, mean-spirited frat-boy elitist, militaristic warmongering thug and global loose cannon, environmental snuff-out artist, anti-choice whacko, US Treasury-emptying big-business sugar daddy and billionaire's best friend, embarrassingly anti-intellectual moron...Our President. But what a nice guy! Ugh.

Hold on to your hats, my friends. Hate to say it, but we deserve what we get.

Pat Monteleone
Pennington, NJ

Subj: Election Disaster

Dear BuzzFlash,

I finally know why Bush is so popular; he's as stupid as the voting majority in this country, so they feel he really is one of them. Even though we (not me personally) did reelect Bro. Gov. Huckabucks, at least we had the balls to get rid of Tim Hutchinson. I think the most obscene results, far and away, were the defeat of Cleland and Mondale. I guess those fine military minds in Georgia would rather be led by a bunch of chickenhawks rather than a genuine military hero and defender of veterans. Maybe all that extreme cold in Minnesota finally overloaded the brains (I am assuming that the voters once had brains) of their voters, how else can you explain choosing an empty shell over an accomplished statesman.

Oh yes, I will never get over elections won through fraud and intimidation and through the help of those fine upstanding members of the Green Party. I guess those folks are finally happy; they have helped us get that much closer to total destruction. Isn't that their mantra--tear it all down before rebuilding. News flash--when Bush and his cronies get through raping and pillaging this country's Treasury and natural resources, there won't be anything left to rebuild with.

To the pink tutu Democrats left in Congress, get a backbone. You've got nothing to lose now. Your disgraceful kowtowing to Bush didn't do you any good, did it? So why not try Sen. Byrd's way; fight like hell with every means at your disposal to save this country from what is sure to come--partisan politics Republican-style.

I feel sick and ashamed at what is to come. With Bush's handlers in control, the military better hope they have enough body bags and initial notifiers (those who inform relatives that their sons, daughters, spouses, etc. aren't coming back from the battlefield) to go around. God help us all in the coming months!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: 2 + 2 does = 5 in this country!

Dear BuzzFlash,

The entire country seems to have a math problem. They also think right is left, and left is right. Up is down, and down is up.

Going into the Nov. 5 election, Americans said the number one issue in this country was the economy. Seems if you don't like the economy, you'd vote the responsible bums out. Nada!

I can find no rational reason for the results of this election.

~ Cathy

Subj: We Must Accept A New Mission

Fellow Democrats and Fellow Americans.

Yesterday and through the night of Nov. 5, the American Electorate, the percentage that actually performs its civil duty, did the most illogical of political things.

It decided to compromise and not punish those responsible for: the current condition of our economy, the lack of health care for 43 million Americans, the lack of affordable prescription drugs for our elderly, a safety net for baby boomers entering the Social Security system, decent schools and education for our children, job protections which included safety and health and a deficit that has returned to pre 1991.

By returning all Senate Republican incumbents and adding one for now, thus giving complete control of all branches of the Government to one political party, there is no longer any institutional check and balance that guarantees the survival of our 200 plus years of democracy.

What our new mission must be is to cool the rage and wipe away the tears of frustration.

Its probably too late to prevent a wholesale vote on the Bush nominees to the Federal Benches. And to late to prevent 1-3 USSC judges from retiring and being replaced by cloned partisan judges.

Our mission then, if we decide to accept it, is to, starting today, play the game by the oppositions rules. We must find and continually report any and all dirt, true, possibly true, and for those that can stomach it, outright lies. The latter may not be necessary because the truth will be accepted as lies anyway.

Bush/Harken and Cheney/Halliburton must be pushed at all costs. They must be shown for the immoral-unethical con men and criminals they are.

Our loss of freedoms at the hands of Ashcroft and the Patriot Act must be in the forefront daily.

Sec. Rumsfeld and Sec. Powell must be shown to be in the pockets of the oil companies and warmongers willing to put the lives of our sons and daughters on the line no matter the loss of life or limb.

We've got to show by what ever means available that individual House and Senate Republicans are willing to push any Bush agenda, even at the expense of their constituents in their home states.

I realize that all these suggestions have been tried before and failed. But, we haven't been playing with the Rule Book of the Republican Right.

I want a call to go out to impeach Bush on even the most unlikely of accusations: the proven ones will take care of themselves. We are in a war to save our democracy and in love and war anything goes.

I would like to see new websites headed something like: "fairfight4freedom" or "freedomchallanged" or "thisisyourusa" or "democracyifwecankeepit."

I am a 63 year old-retired-self educated old geezer. I served my country in the USAF and this is decidedly not the country I fought for, I maybe should back away from all this and leave it to you pros.

Good Luck

Jerry Brooks

Subj: Now what do we do?

Dear Buzz,

I could hardly bring myself to get out of bed this morning because my gut told me that when I turned on the TV I would hear terrible news - I was right! Now that the thugs are in complete control of this country what do we thinking, caring, ordinary Americans do? The thought of what they will do makes my stomach turn - the environment, our civil rights, free speech, the economy, jobs - EVERYTHING - is up for grabs.

You are probably feeling the same way - what do you think is next - what do we do now?

In Despair!

Deb Skup
Sturgeon Bay, WI

Subj: The Bastards

Dear BuzzFlash,

Well, the little emperor won! Prepare yourselves; war on Iraq is close at hand. And for that matter, war will be everywhere; the environment will be raped; greed and wars over oil and other resources will rule the planet.

What is the matter with the American people? Are they (not me or we) content to have one party rule? I think this is the beginning of the end of America. The Democratic party has shown their impotency and unless they move back to their progressive roots, they are finished as well. I admit my age, age 60. I lived through Nixon, Reagan, Bush Sr. and I have to put up with conservatives all the time in this Great Plains state. Have those younger than me really gone so conservative that they cannot see the damage that the Bushites are doing and will do to our country? I am incredibly angry but I refuse to keep from speaking up and out against the policies of this illegitimate pResident.

I look forward to the opinions and views of fellow BuzzFlash readers in the coming days/weeks. We can't let the bastards get us down!

Let's keep on fighting!

Irma

Dear BuzzFlash,

I have started emailing, writing, faxing, phoning Senators Lincoln Chafee and John McCain, begging them to save and protect the country by switching parties.

I also am contacting the Democratic Senators, begging them to develop backbones, and filibuster.

Joann Olbrich

Subj: Sad day for America

Dear BuzzFlash,

When I went to bed last night it looked like we'd hold the status quo. On my way to work I hear that the GOPigs recaptured the Senate. Not a good way to start the day!

I'm still trying to decide if there is hope left. When I figure that out, I'll know where to proceed from there.

At the very least, we are truly f---ed for the next 2 years. I lay the blame for this squarely on the shoulders of Daschle, Gephardt, and the leadership of the Democratic Party. They f---ed themselves, and thus...us.

First, they voted for Bush's Welfare for the Wealthy Plan last year. Then they gave him a blank check to wage unprovoked war. Some Dems even campaigned on a theme of "I'm with Bush!" Hello? Any Democrats out there? Remember that platform thing?

And what was the crucial difference in this election? Turnout. Most of the people who stayed home would vote Democratic. I'm pissed at them, but I don't really blame them. If all we get is a choice between a Republican and a faux-Republican, why should people age 18-24 (or 18-34) bother to vote?

When the Democratic Party starts fielding candidates who are actually Democrats, things might get better. As long as we have "Republican Lite" with a Democratic label shoved down our throat, expect more elections like the two we just saw.

Mike Kress
Spokane, WA

Buzz:

Someone please help me see the light at the end of the tunnel because I can't. I'm so completely consumed with illness right now over last night's disaster that I need some encouragement. To get my mind off the fact that I live in a state that elected a nutcase like Jim Talent to the US Senate, I keep telling myself that we lost because AL GORE was actually the last democratically elected president, not bu$h. Does anyone else have another/better explanation?

Discouraged & Distraught in MO

Buzz,

You have fought the good fight and have been in beacon in this age of darkness.

I know you're tired. I only hope that you will have the strength and energy to hang in there. My hopes of recovery from this mess are pretty low right now.

My conclusion is that the voters of this country have either been completely brainwashed or are absolute idiots. Brainwashing is my number one choice! We can only hope and pray that something will bring them to their senses and I pray that it won't be body bags.

Hang in there and keep your socks up! I'm doing my best but it isn't easy.

Cynthia Putt
Cloverdale, OR