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Re: Falwell on Liberals, Abortion and the Reinvigorated Right Wing Juggernaut

Dear BuzzFlash,

I think I may throw up! If I were religious, I'd have to say that Dick Cheney is the Antichrist and Falwell and Bush are his minions of hell. Guess it's a good thing I'm not religious.

Jeri Hammond

Subj: Oh Nooooooooooooooo. How do we stop this.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Sen., Tom Daschle of South Dakota told reporters he would seek another two years as leader. He said that Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd (news, bio, voting record), rumored to be considering a challenge, would not run.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Harold Ford's Candidacy for House Minority Leader

Dear BuzzFlash,

If being totally full of himself is a good qualification for minority leader, then Harold Ford's the man. I just caught the end of his press conference, but I saw enough to see that his main theme was "old woman get out of my way." Wasn't that the DNC response to Janet Reno's candidacy for Fla. gov.? And that turned out really well, didn't it?

But I always try to keep an open mind. So, I got online and went to house.gov to check how Rep. Ford voted on the war with Iraq. He voted for it. Pelosi voted against letting DimSon have his war.

Maybe at Ford's next press conference he can explain how he can lead the Dems in opposing Bush's dangerous and idiotic regime while at the same time voting for it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Re: Falwell on Liberals, Abortion and the Reinvigorated Right Wing Juggernaut

Dear BuzzFlash,

Caramba--they pick up 3 seats and think Jesus has walked across the Potomac for them.

When war fever is gone, they will be also.

Kerry/Edwards in 04

Peace,

Johnny Wendell Angel

Subj: Don't be fooled by Harold Ford Jr.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Don't be fooled by Harold Ford Jr. He just announced that he is running for House Minority Leader. I live in Tennessee and I have heard Rep. Ford speak and read many articles about him.

His is very intelligent, capable and a eloquent speaker, but he is very conservative. He considers himself a Blue Dog Democrat. He voted for the W-ar and when I heard him speak at a Democratic fundraiser here in Tennessee he was very supportive of GW Bush and Bush's phony War on Terrorism, and even tax cuts.

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)

Subj: You have the platform - we have the army

Hi everyone,

Appears everyone has reached their limit about the press based on the fast preview of the websites I just visited. I am a just a blue collar worker with the NYC Transit Authority but credit my wife who came up with an idea that I think may just have some merit. She's one tough cookie who believes nothing can be imposed on you unless you permit it.

It has taken me hours to write the following rant/proposal based on her idea that the Democrats should tell the media to go to hell. They don't listen to us but she thinks Tom Daschle, other democrats and their organizations could just pull this off. She's calling for a full BOYCOTT of the media by the Democrats. It worked for the conservatives with CNN and she thinks the democrats should use the same method but this time MEAN IT.

I would appreciate your thoughts on it. I feel if we awaken the staffs of these people, maybe we can convince them CNN and their ilk can not get away with it. We don't need to beat up on the Democrats but CONVINCE them the press was not reporting their message.

Thank you for reading my rant. I hope you agree we need to do something drastic to facilitate this change and we can with your leadership.

Jeff

Subj: Problems/Solutions

Dear BuzzFlash,

<<<......... In reality, several Democrats said, the candidates have similar voting records and each would be attacked by Republicans. For instance, Mr. Frost received an 85 percent rating from the liberal group Americans for Democratic Action in 2001 while Mrs. Pelosi scored 100 percent.

"I don't think there is anybody in the race who is not a fairly liberal Democrat," said Representative Mike Thompson, Democrat of California, who supports Mrs. Pelosi but belongs to the moderate Blue Dog Coalition. "This is not about personal philosophy. She will take the caucus in the direction we need to go.">>>>>>> NYTimes 11/8/02

IMHO, this liberal thing is a part of the problem. The Democrats MUST get rid of this fear of being called "liberal" by the Republicans and the media, as I believe this is the foil. It is in the interest of the "ruling classes or the monied interests" to have a "moderate" Democratic party. Republican Lite. In this way, they feel that their interests are not threatened. Tom DeLay the new Republican majority leader is far more conservative than the country, yet one never hears anyone complaining that he's too far to right, or too conservative for this or for that. Jesse Helms, Phil Graam, DeLay, Rudy, . . . I could name ten more of their madmen . . . will take a position on some issue and no matter what, no matter how unpopular, or how much criticism, they see it thru to success. This sort of behavior excites and encourages THEIR base, while making these people heroes to some. I dare anyone to name ONE such Democrat.

We need leaders who will ban all Democrats from appearing on the FOX network, because it is the Republican house organ. Indeed, we need leaders who have the guts to SAY that it is the Republican house organ, over & over and over. We need leaders who will tell the major that they're biased like hell in favor of the right. We need leaders who will let these media conglomerates know that the pendulum will swing again, and they will be forced to sell off their properties so that there's a more independent media, because this experiment definitely did not work. Hint to Murdoch that we'll ship his as to Australia after he unloads his newspapers and TV stations, because we'll fix it that one company cannot own a movie studio and a newspaper and a TV station.

We need leaders who will stop turning the other cheek, and realize that in politics, kindness and forgiveness are perceived as weaknesses. Payback is a good thing. Thus, the confirmation of Ted Olson as SG, should reflect the shame of the past. We need leaders who realize that they CANNOT appeal to everyone, and there are some folks who just don't belong with us. Stop trying to appease them. We need leaders who enjoy high personal self-esteem. If Bush parades his contempt for the Democrats by re-nominating judges that were preciously rejected, then we need leaders who would instinctively know that he will have to humiliated for this show of contempt. All such nominees must be filibustered, no matter who says what, no matter how many WSJ or NYT editorials against it. If these judges got thru, then there's little hope for Democrats.

The Democrats must have their own strong, distinct convictions and philosophies and if need be, move to the center on those. By way of an example and only as an example: instead of a $15.00 living wage, work towards increasing the minimum wage to say $7.50. The Republicans will oppose it as they are against a min. wage, period.

We have to begin to shout, to scream really, to break thru the noise and clutter, and as Gore said, we have to let it rip. This fear, this timidity, this taking the high road, this not wanting to stoop to their level, this has not worked. We need people with GUTS.

WLCC

RE: The Freedman/Knapp Op/Ed

Dear BuzzFlash,

Below is an e-mail that I sent to the NY Times in response to an OP/ED piece in today's paper by two Democratic consultants who still don't get it. They believe that the Dems must stay in the middle so as to attract independent voters in 2004. Neither one is aware of the millions of liberal voters just waiting for a real leader to come along and stand up for the ideals that once made the Democrats great.

----- Original Message -----
To: editorial@nytimes.com
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 11:27 AM
Subject: The Freedman/Knapp Op/Ed

I'm not sending this to be published. I'd like Mr.'s Freedman and Knapp to be informed about what the voting Democrats feel about their opinion that the Party should continue in the centrist position.

There is a website that was set up by a couple very smart and (emotionally) healthy Democrats ("little guys", not politicians) to let us voters vent. While a few gloating repuglican jerks managed to get their filth printed, it is 99% real people expressing their anger and resentment and frustration with what has happened to the "leaders" in what used to be the liberal, "for the people" Party.

I strongly recommend that both of your writers visit the site and take in as much as they can of the feelings expressed. The most common theme is that we're all sick to death of the movement to the right that the Party has done since the Clinton years. McAuliffe -- who is being credited (?) with that idea -- is vilified beyond belief.

Ever since Gore's Presidency was snatched from us, there has been an incredible amount of rolling over and giving an unelected moron everything he wants -- in the name of "compromise" and "bi-partisanship". We have felt for some time now that we have no voice in the Government -- and keeping what used to be our Party from moving back to the left will only exacerbate that feeling.

It's time for the Democrats to be Democrats. It's time for them to get back to the ideals that once made Democrats great. It's time to be proud of being liberal and stop acting as though that word - liberal - was something to shy away from. It's time for Democrats to really be different from Republicans and accent that difference and not back down from it. They having nothing to lose -- except votes in two years if they continue to kow-tow to a pResident who is hell-bent on giving away what's left of this once-great Country of ours to his handful of cronies at the top of the money hill.

You two are 180 degrees from what the populace wants -- and if you're so unaware, I have to wonder how effective you can be as "advisors" to anyone making decisions in this arena.

Please -- just to enlarge your area of information go to angrydems.com and browse. I guarantee that the experience will change you. And if it doesn't - than you're as out-of-touch as the Congress -- and will lose your consultant positions when the Democrats go the way of the Whigs.

And if you're curiosity is awakened, then go to BuzzFlash.com and start reading the mailbag. You'll see a daily offering of the same kind of expression. Perhaps their site should be daily background for you to be qualified to advise anyone on political affairs.

A citizen demanding change,

Beautiful Barb Seattle, WA

Subj: Election 2001 Reaction

Dear BuzzFlash,

ELECTION 2002 is now behind us, and I am left with a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. Those of us who have followed closely the effects of the current Republican administration are stunned by the realization that there were Democrats in the country who either failed to vote or who crossed party lines. What short memories many citizens seem to have.

What happened to "WE WILL NEVER FORGET?" Surely it can't be the pittance placed in the hands of working families and the poor, when Bush pushed through his tax cut early in his administration. Is it possible that the working poor or middle class no longer understand that their tiny reduction in tax $ was no more than trading our balanced budget, and all it could do for our seniors, environment, schools, and health, for deficit spending to further enrich the most powerful and wealthy elite. Or perhaps it was 9-11. Just as some citizens seem to think they are guaranteed a risk free world and are ready to sue at the drop of a hat, now some seem to be willing to give up the very rights and freedoms our forefathers so valiantly fought for, so they can "feel" safer. If so, the terrorists have already won. What a terrible shame!

The media wants us to believe the cause of the senate's transfer into Republican hands was nothing more than the fault of a weak Democratic leadership that failed to have a plan, and weak Democratic candidates that failed to speak with one voice. But, let us not forget the media's constant fascination with the War on Terrorism, the War against Iraq, the Snipers, and the Air Force 1 junkets by Bush whose time was dedicated to filling the Republican election war coffers. What little air time was left found the commentators casting snide remarks and innuendoes at the loyal opposition, better known as members of the Democratic Party. Prospective voters who relied on the "news" were denied access to broad issue based questions and information they so desperately required in order to make informed decisions at the polls. What is even worse was the bombardment of ads and mass mailings distorting the truth during the final days of the campaign while Bush continued to soar back and forth to further woo the gullible. Who was minding the store, and why bother to educate the young if the sole purpose is to distort facts and confuse citizens?

Well, that is now water under the dam. Bush has what he wanted so desperately. With both House & Senate solidly in Republican hands, Bush can now rest easy. Should an elderly supreme court justice choose to retire or move on to the final resting place, Bush will gain easy approval of his recommended replacement. Most assuredly a replacement with a neo-conservative bias. Other judicial openings will soon be filled with others who share the Bush political bent. What will this mean to our descendants, our country and our world? Decisions passed down for decades to come will be influenced by Election 2002 as new younger supreme court justices serve out their lives. I wonder which of our hard won rights will be the first to go?

How can citizens really believe that the trickle down approach has the best interest of most Americans in mind? What about our economy and the economy of our friends and neighbors? What about our environment and the environment around the world? What about the growing elderly population and the safety of their social security and other retirement benefits? What about the education of our children and those who require retraining in order to remain employable? What about healthcare and prescription benefits for those whose employment situation fails to provide them? We could go on and on.

Sure, the issues will be addressed by the Republicans in power. But how? Will it merely be more corporate welfare with the usual meager leftovers for the rest of us? Will it be the further weakening of EPA regulations with drilling in Alaska, polluted water and air, or rapid thinning of forests and parklands? Will it be school vouchers for only those children who achieve in private schools while poorly funded public schools are left with those children with greatest needs? Will it be moving more jobs oversees to keep costs down while even more citizens move into the low earnings service sector? Will it be keeping costs down through union busting for our social service (fire fighters, police, teachers,...) Or, perhaps, we will be nothing more than an economy built on war and our need for oil. What is the real objective of the Republican elite and what is their plan?

Now what do we do? We already know the Republican's mantra and how their words reflect what people wish to hear. We also know their words will not match their actions. We, as dedicated Democrats, must remain steadfast in our determination to keep track of the difference between words and deeds. Yes, we must do our best to share the truth about those inconsistencies. But, even more so, we must encourage our Democratic leaders to articulate a clear vision and plan for our nation's future. A vision all American citizens will be proud to pursue.

We want to leave the world a better place than we found it. Your help can make a difference! Indifference can destroy our Nation.

Eleanor - A dedicated Democrat!

Subj: Bush Sticks with Cheney for 2004 (S)election

Dear BuzzFlash,

Bush is sticking with Cheney for two reasons. First, Cheney is the one with the working brain and makes most of the decisions. DimSon gets to decide which tie to wear and what to eat for lunch. Second, and most important to the Bush Family Evil Empire, Cheney won't make a bid for the presidential nomination after DS leaves office, leaving the door open for Jebbie to serve a couple of terms.

The plan is subject to change, though. Now that the republiKKKans have control of the Senate and can finish their important work of packing the federal judiciary with right-wing activists like Scalia, they may just choose to do away with our present method of electing presidents and just declare Georgie and Jebbie co-presidents for life. It will save them all that work of taking names off the polls and/or stealing votes.

By the way, I saw the above spelling of republiKKKans in a letter either on BuzzFlash or Bartcop and liked it so much I am going to start using it. Might BuzzFlash consider adopting it as the official BuzzFlash spelling of the Grand Old Petroleum party?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: An Oxymoron

Dear Buzz,

It won't be long before we are waging a massive, violent attack on Iraq killing thousands of innocent children, while at the same time our Conservative "Christian" Congress precedes to overturn Roe vs Wade.

Now that's an oxymoron if I've ever seen one.

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)

War kills children.

Re: Paul Krugman's column, 11/8/02

Dear BuzzFlash,

He's absolutely right - the Democrats must get across the message that they work for the good of ordinary Americans. Problem is, few Americans think they are ordinary. A guy making 40K a year, plus his wife's 30-40k thinks he's rich, that he's in that upper class that will be benefited by Bush's tax cut. Or he thinks he's on track to make the several hundred K - million a year that will also allow him to benefit. And he thinks that his "estate" will be worth so much by the time he dies, that of course that nasty old "death tax" needs to be done away with.

It's time to talk numbers. American understanding of math, let alone statistics, is abysmal, and rattling off figures is a sure way to get branded an egghead or wonk by the other side. But a few well designed graphs, or perhaps "Harry and Louise" type ads, describing in detail just how much money one must make to benefit from the republican economic plan would certainly get through to some folks, as would clear, hard-hitting descriptions of just how much the average American worker's income has (not) risen over time. If communication like this is derided as class warfare, turn it right around and accuse the other side of committing the same, as surely an economic plan designed to concentrate most of the wealth in the hands of the few can be described as nothing else but class warfare.

Also, I believe many of Hollywood's elite are against the policies of the Bush Administration. Certainly some of them could be convinced to donate time, money and resources to help stop the robbing of the American people? If Bush can fly around on Enron's plane, what's wrong with the Democrats getting a ride from Sean Penn?

A BuzzFlash reader

Subj: Keep Your Eye on Eddie

Dear Buzz,

As a native Philadelphian I was just elated when Ed Rendell blew wingnut Mike Fischer out of the water! The more I think about it, the more I think Rendell would be the perfect candidate to take on the Bush Beast. Here's a Jewish guy who is for gun control, women's rights, and partnership benefits for gay couples, winning in the land of Elmer Fudds and Christian Bible beaters. I've seen this guy work a crowd, he's awesome, and the media adores him. He's smart, funny, and comes across as a regular person. He's also a sports nut. Something for everyone. Rendell for President.

~Antonia

Subj: Wellstone's Word

Dear BuzzFlash,

"Organize, Organize, Organize"..he shouted. But..this is what the 'religious right republicans' have been for a lot longer, and realized a long time ago, since back in 1980 at least and 1992 and what the Dems have never, never, ever managed to be able to do....and that is the reason why we are where we are now, and why Paul Wellstone was the ONLY one shouting to an empty choir "Organize with others", get with the grassroots, and Don't give up...

Betsy
Dallas, Texas

Subj: Tom Daschle

Dear Tom and Buzz,

Who is going to stand up and ask for Tom Daschle's ouster? Are there no Democrats courageous enough to even confront a Democrat? One who fails to see the treachery of his adversary has no business leading an attack. Pickett learned that at Gettysburg. One who does not know the difference between compromise and appeasement should stand aside for someone who has the guts to fight. Daschle's attack up Capital Hill was little different than Pickett's ignorant suicide. Stand down, Tom. If you haven't the guts to fight, at least have the guts to admit it. You seem abysmally oblivious to the nature of this fight.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Us vs. Them

Dear BuzzFlash,

I have an idea on how to get the truth back into large Republican-skewed TV News programs. Why not strike a blow to their soft white underbellies? Email, write or hound the TV SPONSORS of these alleged news shows.

Tell the TV SPONSORS that you (and all of your friends) will no longer be purchasing their merchandise until the television shows they sponsor stop broadcasting mind-controlling propaganda to the American public.

Be creative -- do the drastic: Whenever you purchase a competitor's product mail the offending TV SPONSOR copies of the receipts just to prove you are spending your money elsewhere.

Make a lasting impression: Send video and photographs to their marketing departments of YOU convincing 'large groups of people' that the TV SPONSOR'S products are unacceptable BECAUSE they promote Republican-skewed TV News.

Best of all: Find out if any of your friends are presently being targeted by the NEILSON ratings and make sure they don't record news broadcasts on the log provided.

Look, we may not have a voice in Washington but we ARE more creative than they are. Let's be clever, confusing and dangerous. One 'dropped sponsor' costs these companies a lot of money. Maybe if the large TV News Corporations know WHY the sponsors are dropping they'll pay attention to what we're saying.

You may laugh at this idea but you must remember one thing: Most large corporation people are paranoid about their jobs and their clients. Drop a hat and they scramble. I know, I used to work in the advertising industry. So if you can figure out how to play them against each other, confuse them, make them cry a little, then maybe we'll get the truth back.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Buzz,

Note to self - Make new entry into personal list of oxymorons. List immediately after 'Compassionate Conservative'. New entry - 'Democratic Leadership'.

Jim Cloud

Subj: November 7th Mailbag

Dear BuzzFlash,

We will shortly have the draft reinstated. I would like to suggest that when new recruits are issued uniforms they should also be issued body bags. That will save time and lower shipping costs. Perhaps Laura Bush and Barb Bush might embroider "Compassionate Conservatism" on each bag. It will keep the Republican message in front of the voters.

But I have had my day of mourning and now I am ready to get busy.

First, since the Democratic leadership is clearly bereft of ideas, let each of us look around our neighborhood and find one --only one--potential candidate with a fresh face, new ideas, spirit and optimism, and a willingness to challenge the new breed of Rovians that have taken over our political system. One writer in the November 7th mail bag reminded us, politics is a nasty game and we can't be timid. Also,as David Wellstone reminded us, his father once had to "see about that" when it came to bullies in first grade.

The computer expert who said that it is so easy to change the programs that count votes has it exactly right. This time no Tom DeLay thugs were sent to interrupt the voting process--no shouting protestors yelling "Get Over it." Florida was a positive Disney World of good cheer as was the rest of the country. There were no reported voter irregularities, no machine glitches to be fixed.

This time all that was taken care of beforehand. It was simple, quiet, clean, attracted no adverse publicity to anger citizens. Rove's "to do" list was short, sweet, effective: change computer programs in voting machines to register votes 2:1 for republican candidates; hire mechanics to do the preflight checks for airplanes carrying Democratic candidates; have talking media heads, in the days leading up to election, muse ruefully over the fact that all the polls seem to be leaning towards a republican landslide (no overt bias there); show tv ads of drilling platforms in violently rough oceans with over voices of cheery Australian workers -especially vigorous young women in foul weather gear--telling the audience how new technology allows the oil industry to recover millions of barrels of oil, we never dreamed was there.

I know BuzzFlashers will think of many more items for the list. I like Karl Rove. He is not confused by doubt or concern for others. He is a marxist with a single idea and he never deviates from that idea. His desk must be a wonder of order and neatness. In the middle, he has a simple statement: "TOMORROW THE WORLD." Oops, scratch that. "TODAY THE WORLD" (I mean, don't forget the UN vote on November 8th).

But I don't want to be remiss and not follow a suggestion I made above. There is a bright new star in my neck of the world. A woman named Marcia Lauffer took over the moribund Democratic Party in Brookhaven Township on Long Island. (John Westerman calls it "Crookhaven" ) Brookhaven has been a Republican stronghold since the beginning of time. Marcia Lauffer upset that this fall and got a political novice named Tim Bishop, the former provost of Southamptom College (an intellectual yet) elected over Felix Grucci, a local fireworks manufacturer, a republican party pol whom Newsday called "the worst kind of politician." Hey, sounds like the ideal republican candidate to me.

Marcia Lauffer took on the republican machine with savvy, with energy, with unwavering optimism, with long days, and firm convictions. She also helped Hillary Clinton get elected (I am mad at Hillary, right now for reasons too obvious to mention to anyone who watched Robert Byrd's struggle over Iraq). Marcia Lauffer doesn't suffer fools gladly and clearly she knows what to do about "that."

So I nominate Marcia Lauffer to be one of the new faces of the Democratic Party. Now you look around your neighborhood and find some of those new faces and then let us all bring them together early in January and tell them to clean out the current Democratic leadership --the conciliators, the make-nicers, the "let's get along gang " -- with Joe Lieberman and Tom Daschle leading the departing parade.

Once they are gone, we can plan the overthrow of the republican party in 2004. Remember the entire house will be up for re-election, some senators, and gas ought to be cruising around $5/gal to say nothing of heating oil. And, sorry, don't forget the body bags.

Let us learn to frame our own arguments, define our own battles, wear our own "uniforms." Let us stop reacting and start acting. No wonder we lost this election. We responded to empty republican platitudes with all the seriousness of Talmudic scholars. You can not debate "empty ideas. " You can't! Al Gore tried and look where it got him.

We have a chance, a good chance, if we start today. First, we need a nice clean desk with nothing on it except a memo pad and a straightforward directive to the current administration and all its ilk:

START PACKING.

Mim in Brookhaven

Dear BuzzFlash,

The Democratic Party no longer represents the Democrat.

We are the party of the laborer. The unions and it laborers have worked and supported this party for decades. They get out the vote and they are responsible for our wins in many elections. So how did we repay their hard work and dedication to the party...we passed NAFTA. The Republicans couldn't but we did. NAFTA CHAFTA.

We are the party of understanding of our fellow man. We support gay and lesbian rights. They work hard for our party and also help get out the vote and vote strongly for the Democratic Party. So how did we repay their hard work and dedication to the party...we accepted and passed the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in our military.

We are the party who believes in ethnic diversity. The black vote is our strongest. They save our butts in every election. So how did we replay their tremendous hard work and dedication to the party....we abandoned them in the most disgusting disenfranchisement of voting that has ever taken place in this country. We didn't help them, the LIST still has not been purged in Florida and we let it not only happen but still stand during a crucial mid-term election. We let the two people most responsible for this travesty be elected and re-elected because we didn't go help as we should have.

We are the party of compassion, believing we should take care of the widows and orphans, single mothers and yet we passed Welfare Reform so harsh that a single mother can't even take care of her family working two jobs much less one. The Republicans couldn't but we did.

We are the party of Choice. We believe in a woman's right to choose. We believe that a woman should have the right to decide whether the fetus she carries will go on to full term or not and yet, we do not believe it's okay for a person to smoke a cigarette. I don't understand. Do we not believe in the rights of all individuals to have a choice?

We are the people who DID NOT, DO NOT want a war with Iraq. But our Democratic "representatives" voted for it. We DID NOT want the tax cut for the wealthy but our Democratic "representatives" voted for it.

All our "representatives" care about any more is getting reelected not about representing the people who actually got them there. You "represent" us, the people who are your constituents.

You wonder why we lost!!! YOU HAVE ABANDONED US, OUR PARTY AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.

There is no "Democratic Party". There is no universal health care because the AARP was so greedy they wanted everything and got nothing. The environment is now shot because the Greens only cared about their own agenda and not the agenda of the whole. Everyone just cares about their own interests instead of the interests of the all Americans. Selfishness and greed seem to be the motivating factors now.

Worst of all, we allow and accept the true winner of the 2000 election to be ridiculed and made fun of. A man who has done nothing but dedicate his life to serving us. A man who was robbed of the Presidency because folks....HE WON. HE WON THE ELECTION AND HE WON FLORIDA!!! If the votes had been counted and the older people hadn't been screwed out of their votes, he would have won with a huge margin and all of us know it. All of this crap about not calling states, etc., has come down because, as we all know, THE EXIT POLLS WERE RIGHT, they were RIGHT. THE PEOPLE DID VOTE FOR HIM. HE DID WIN.

Bush WAS NOT elected. The Supreme Court APPOINTED him and now we have a dictatorship. Can you all not see this. HOW CAN YOU FORGET THIS.

The Democratic Party better get it together and get behind Al Gore, who is the only one besides Paul Wellstone who had the balls to stand up to the "regime". We ARE NOT right wingers, we ARE NOT centrist, WE ARE the left wing, WE ARE liberals who believe in the rights of ALL people not just the few.

If the 2002 election taught you nothing it should have taught you this, GO HOME WITH THE ONE WHAT BRUNG YOU!!!!!

A TRUE DEMOCRAT

Sharion Hardaway

re "Thrill Is Gone With Hyphen Politics"

Dear BuzzFlash,

Thank you for the link to Jimmy Breslin's article "Thrill Is Gone With Hyphen Politics" where he remembers Robert F. Kennedy. Bresslin says:

"In 1968, candidate Kennedy was exciting and right and gave people so much hope that everybody wanted to do their utmost on the two great topics, war and poverty. Huge crowds reached out and tore at Kennedy. It never subsided. He has lived on in the American imagination."

I remember that campaign. The thing that strikes me the most is that RFK campaigned on the streets of big cities among regular people. He had credibility, not because he was a Kennedy, but because he had proven that he truly cared about the poor and disadvantaged by his actions. My father, who had never voted before, went out to vote for Robert Kennedy. We have not seen a candidate nor a campaign like that since then.

The new so-called Democrats only campaign among the people who pay hundreds of dollars for dinners for the privileged few. Those are the people who get to meet their Democrats now. And then these idiots wonder why their "base" (the one they take for granted, the one whose interests they voted against, the one who is not wealthy enough to meet them at some "fundraising dinner", the one they ignore until election time) didn't go out and vote for them. Amazing...

http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-nybres072995101nov07,0,1553393.column

-Maria
San Rafael, CA

Subj: Another Perspective

Dear BuzzFlash,

"This week's election results weren't really all that unusual. It's pretty common for the party that won the Presidential election to lose seats in Congress in the following mid-term election. (Think about it.)"

From my brother-in-law, Keith Thompson

Subj: bush LIES about EVERYTHING. Dems fail to protect their constituents from bush lies and media complicity. MSNBC/wp....

Dear BuzzFlash,

bush LIES about EVERYTHING.

Dems fail to protect their constituents from bush lies and media complicity. MSNBC/WP

bush's "new, more bi-partisan tone" includes dissing the memory of Senator Wellstone, who died trying to provide HIS constituent citizens an alternative to the "tax-cuts for hyper-rich, uber-terror all the time, bash big government for incompetence while SIMULTANEOUSLY making EVERYTHING that government does 'top secret' agenda." Bush's scorched-earth smear campaign includes tarring Georgia Senator and Vietnam veteran Max Cleland as "soft on terror", and tarring Florida governor candidate Bill McBride as prepared to unleash $27 BILLION in new taxes - a number drawn out of thin air to impress uninformed voters.

On top of that, OVER 100,000 votes went UNCOUNTED in one county in Florida ALONE... leaving any sane and rational voter to wonder, if a full TEN PERCENT of votes in ONE COUNTY WERE NOT counted, if 10% of other counties ALSO DIDN'T COUNT 10% of THEIR VOTES, THAT WOULD BE OVER A MILLION *UNCOUNTED VOTES.*

[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&
u=/ap/20021107/ap_on_el_st_lo/florida_voting_1]

THAT is george bush's new "mandate;" a "mandate" to deceive the American voting public, lie about everything, and stamp everything in government "top secret" to make government that much more unaccountable.

It is disgraceful that a full TWO YEARS after massive, systematic voter disenfranchisement in the 2000 election, we have hints and tidings that an even larger voter disenfranchisement occurred.

BUT THE WHORE MEDIA WOULD PREFER TO INVESTIGATE PAULA, MONICA AND a little two-bit Savings and loan called Madison Guarantee (i.e. "whitewater").

LJBK

Bush rhetoric irks Democrats

Call for bipartisanship seen as hollow
By Mike Allen
THE WASHINGTON POST

http://www.msnbc.com/news/832324.asp?cp1=1

( Photo - President Bush, at Thursday's news conference )

Nov. 8 — With Republicans poised to control the government, President Bush said during his victory news conference yesterday that he wants “members of both political parties to come together to get things done for the American people.”

“I’VE TALKED to leaders of both parties and assured them I want to work with them,” Bush said. That may be difficult, given how Democrats contend he has treated them during the first half of his term. Democratic leaders said that since Bush took office, and even after Democrats gained control of the Senate last year, he has rarely consulted them. They said they have learned about many of his plans — even ones that depend on their cooperation — from news reports. Democrats were particularly incensed yesterday about Bush’s claim Wednesday that Republican candidates had succeeded because of their clean campaigns. “Their accent was on the positive,” Bush told his top aides, gathered in front of the Oval Office fireplace. “If you want to succeed in American politics, change the tone.”

Subj: Post Election Depression

Dear BuzzFlash,

I was starting to get sick just before the election and I know it was from the stress of the election; from the knowledge that there was a possibility the Republicans could take over the last holdout - the Senate. They got the presidency (by cheating), the House, the Supreme Court, and the media, so the Senate, at least for the time being, was all that was left to cling to. And the hope that maybe, maybe, the House would switch over. With the economy as bad as it is, and Bush’s misguided agenda going nowhere but towards war rhetoric about Iraq, I actually had a hope that the House might also leave the death grip of the Dark Side as well. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening.

Now my sinuses are completely blocked, my head aches, and my throat is sore. And while this may be common in most of the US right now just from the change in weather, here is mostly sunny Los Angeles that isn’t the cause (although it has rained here the last two days; I guess the sky is crying too). I’m sick from being depressed.

Times were better during the Clinton years. Although he wasn’t perfect the economy did well, the environment at least got some respect, and unless you were one of the dittoheads listening to Rush Dumbaugh you probably were fairly happy overall. Clinton wasn’t as environmentally friendly as I’d hoped, but he was certainly levels ahead of the clown he replaced, and Al Gore showed promise (ever read EARTH IN THE BALANCE?) of being a President that might really make a huge difference. When I read about Bush winning the debates I wondered why I never saw that. Did I watch a different debate? I heard Gore talk about a future of solar and wind energy and fuel efficient cars and I heard Bush talking about how we could get oil from Mexico so we didn’t have to get it from another country.

In the last months of Y2k I imagined that at this time we’d be getting a much larger portion of our energy from renewable resources, that energy conservation and pollution reduction would be a government priority, and that the economy would still be booming, America would be at peace, and the future would quite possibly look better than it ever had. Then came Ralph.

I almost understand how somebody could have their Ralph pom poms out. I was registered Green all through the 90’s although I did vote for Clinton. It’d be great if the two party race was between the Democrats and the Green party but that just isn’t the case. The Republican threat was something we couldn’t ignore. The media, being owned by giant corporations, almost completely ignored Bush’s lack of, well, brains, and attacked Gore over any little thing they could scrape up or fabricate. Many Americans (who don’t know about BuzzFlash) depend on the Republican owned media for all their information. Now add Ralph Nader telling everyone how there is no difference between Gore and Bush, and constantly attacking Gore for anything and everything he can dream of and suddenly Gore, and America, was in more trouble than I would have ever thought. If Ralph Nader really cared about the environment, like I once thought he did, his goal would have been trying to keep Bush from being in a position of being so destructive rather than trying to make things much worse before they can get better. One thing Ralph had right - things are definitely going to get a lot worse.

So it’s time for me to move from the keyboard to the medicine cabinet. Hopefully the aspirin and Sudafed will get me back to where I can breath and sleep like I did 3 years ago. I do have a small glimpse of hope for the future though. Small indeed, but I refuse to give up altogether. I hope and I truly think that Nancy Pelosi might be able to wake the Democrats up. It won’t be easy with the Republican owned media doing everything they can to discredit her. I wish her the best of luck, and I hope that somehow the people that don’t vote begin to understand the importance of voting. And I hope, now that Ralph has accomplished his goal, takes a long vacation.

Mark McKelvey, BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

Please note that no exit date was given for Pitt and he continues to hold the office.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Aftermath

Dear BuzzFlash,

Well that’s it folks. The die is cast. In truth it was probably a done deal in 2000. And perhaps it needs to be this way. Why should we not suffer under the heel of a right wing dictatorship like those our nation has tolerated even encouraged elsewhere? Chickens are coming home to roost. Course, my sister says, "Not on my children, they don’t." And I’ll fight to see that they don’t too.

But, we’ve been complacent. We’ve been lazy. One thing ought to be clear. It’s not the Greens fault. I’ve talked to a lot of Greens. If there had not been a Green candidate to vote for, many would not have voted at all, that weary and disgusted they were about our political process. So those votes were not "stolen" from Democrats. They were simply votes the Democrats did not earn. Face it!

The Democrats lost because they deserved to period. They lost because a long time ago they attached themselves to the corporate teat and cut off their base. Too many people stayed home. Too many people too discouraged to vote. The Democrats do not know how to reach their base. The one man that did was killed, most likely deliberately. He was a dangerous example and had to be stopped. Too late now. The people’s power must be overwhelming or it will be overwhelmed by entrenched interests. And it can’t depend on just one man here or one woman there, because they can be killed. It has to be all of us. Because, in the face of the people’s power a few dirty tricks here, a few fixed voting machines there shouldn’t, wouldn’t have mattered.

The Democrats whimped and lost. They whimped on national health care, they whimped on the right wing judges they allowed to be appointed, they whimped on Iraq, they whimped on the tax cut. Who cares about them now? I talked to one man before the election. He said, "Give me one good reason to vote Democratic? We’re going to go to war anyway." I said, "Social security." He replied, "They’ll cave on that too." That’s all.

D. Lively

Subj: Bush War Syndrome

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am sick! I have been over exposed to Bush War Syndrome. My doctor told me "no more CNN, or any other cable news TV watching for at least two years." It is a strange illness, as it starts with vomiting, goes to a serious head ache, and if one doesn't get assistance, one can go in to a deep depression. The doctor said that some people, especially democrats, have found relief from this malady is by using the following cure. First note that all bushes will eventually turn to brush, and then think of what you do with brush. I followed it, and I am no longer depressed, but deeply concerned and angry, as and I now have developed "Foolish Bush Syndrome". Once again, the doctor told me that I would have to wait two or more years. I can hardly wait. Although "Foolish Bush Syndrome" doesn't affect me in the same sense physically, it reaches in and takes root into the moral and just fibers that I have learned to live by. I hope that by the end of two more years, this syndrome won't delete not only my constitution, but also the one that frames what this nation stands for. With the help of BuzzFlash, I think that I will make it. Keep up telling it as it is.

Sincerely yours, Richard Cross

Subj: Re: Regis Reynolds. Yes, why not Dick Durbin?

Dear BuzzFlash,

After I finally climbed out of the foxhole on Thursday, after taking Wednesday to grieve, I started packing my bags. Canada sounds good. America, love it or leave it...Or stay here and work to make it better Unlike the other party, who want total power and control, who rule through fear and intimidation, who actively work to keep people ignorant and in need, we democratic types work with passion and love for our country and our fellow human beings. It's not something we can easily run away from. It is who we are, and how we live our lives.

Against all my better sense I started contemplating the future of this beloved land of ours. It's as if the country has been sheared in two. Us against Them. The North against The South. The Good Guys against The Bad Guys. What's the next step? From where will we be able to start anew? Who can step up to the plate with any amount of skill, ability, and , yes balls. Big ones.

It occurred to me that Dick Durbin could be the guy. He's got big ones. He's smart. He's got integrity. He's a good politician. As an Illinois resident I have had occasion to call his office. He is surrounded by sharp, skilled, able people. He steps up when it matters, and he seems to be relatively fearless. He also doesn't give in to the silly and self destructive sell-out behavior that seems to plague so many Democrats in Washington. It never crossed my mind to look in my own back yard. But as Dorothy learned it was right there all along.

Edwards of the Carolinas is often mentioned. He's telegenic and a little slick. No thanks. Gephart... don't waste our time. Who is he kidding? Go away!! Daschle? Wrong guy, wrong time. Gore? Let's not get into it now.

We need someone to come from "left" field so to speak. I'm willing to start the Draft Durbin movement. What do I need to do to get started?

Thanks Regis for a good idea. And keep the home fires burning in the Banana Republic of Florida! We may be down, but we aren't out yet.

Lexie

Subj: Tainted Elections

Dear BuzzFlash,

I voted a straight Democratic ticket. I know many people that also voted a straight Democratic ticket yet how do we know that our ballots were cast correctly? We don't. We have no way to verify our ballots actually went to our selection. And who knows this better than the Republicans. The Republicans have found a way to taint the election process and they are using it to their full advantage.

In Dallas County, Texas, computer programs were used for electronic voting but apparently the programs weren't tested before early voting began (or maybe the programs were tested and the programs worked the way the Republicans paid to have them work). When voters selected a Democratic candidate the screen defaulted to the Republican candidate. After complaints by voters, the voters were told to be sure and touch the screen several times to assure the Democratic selection would register. Not once did I hear of a voter complaining that they selected a Republican and the selection then defaulted to the Democratic candidate. These electronic voter programs are erroneous and have cost us everything we hold dear as Americans - the right to cast our ballots for the party of our choice and to have it count for the party of our choice! The people of the United States have been scammed - again.

Unless someone comes forward to stop this atrocity and actually investigate this travesty, the Republican party will continue their stranglehold on the American people. We must stand against this "Evil Republican Empire".

BGD

Subj: Honesty is A Partisan Issue

Dear BuzzFlash,

Hi. When harvey pitt hollers about his ouster being partisan, why fight it? It's obvious that honesty and integrity are partisan issues. Republicans are grossly lacking in integrity, ready to sell their soul to the highest bidder for the illusion of power. Let's not duck this as an issue; yes, Harvey Pitt, your ouster is a reflection of the rejection of your dishonesty and deceit and it is a partisan issue.

Anne

Subj: Will There Be Another Press Conference?

Dear BuzzFlash:

I read the interview below following a link from one of your links. Helen Thomas brings up an interesting question on whether they'll ever be another Press Conference (or another fair election, we might also ask!) Of course, if they DID hold a press conference, there would be no Helen Thomas in the HeilBush Corps to ask any relevant question.

Anyway, my idea for BuzzFlash, which may not fit with BuzzFlash's idea for BuzzFlash, is to keep a running count of the days since the last Press Conference of the Resident Weevil. Kind of a little tickertape headline to link to this article, plus keep track, every day, of how many days it's been since they've trotted the First Idiot out to field even friendly questions from a lapdog press.

We lost exit polling without a murmur, we apparently have forgotten press conferences even existed, and I think recounts are next. (Did you get the Alabama election article I sent?)

Anyway, I think the Press Conference could easily snowball into a demand if it's spotlighted. Thanks.

~~robyn su

Journalist Helen Thomas condemns Bush administration

"I censored myself for 50 years when I was a reporter," said Thomas, who is now a columnist for Hearst News Service. "Now I wake up and ask myself, 'Who do I hate today?'" Her short list of answers seems not to vary from war, President Bush, timid office-holders, a muffled press and cowed citizens, pretty much in that order.

"Where is the outrage?" she demanded. "Where is Congress? They're supine! Bush has held only six press conferences, the only forum in our society where a president can be questioned. I'm on the phone to [press secretary] Ari Fleischer every day, asking will he ever hold another one? The international world is wondering what happened to America's great heart and soul.".

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/tt/2002/nov06/thomas.html

Subj: Letters. Who Cares?

Dear BuzzFlash:

I have been a loyal reader of BuzzFlash for some time now and it is only recently that I decided to take a peek at your MAILBAG. Maybe it's because misery loves company, but I am finally in seventh heaven.

Thousands, maybe millions share my frustration with the supine Democrats. Fantastic advice and suggestions have been offered on these boards, that if followed could yield success in 2004 and beyond. I, too have found myself writing letters.

The question is though, to what end? Who is listening? Daschle says that he intends to serve as Majority Leader for two more years. We have the numbers, but do we have the force & the clout to stop him? A few years ago, I watched the extreme right wing "thing" Free Republic, become so powerful that they forced Republican congressional leaders to respond and react as they would have them. Can we organize E-Mail writing campaigns to our senators, praising them and pillorying them when called for? Let them know that they have support when they feel weak, which is, ALL THE TIME.

If we are asking our leaders to get courage, to confront and attack Bush etc, then we must be willing to take the gloves off ourselves.

WLCC

Dear BuzzFlash,

Just change the postal abbreviation from AL to AZ and you have the reverse situation exposing the Greedy Old Party for its grand hypocrisy. Alabama's Republican gubernatorial candidate DOESN'T want a recount. He is afraid he will lose if all the votes are counted. Arizona's Republican candidate DOES want all the votes to count. He believes he will win and overtake the woman who the Associated Press has already declared to be the winner if all the votes are counted. We also don't have any Democrats selling T shirts for $10, saying "It's Napolitano Country, cause we voted that way." Tally another one for the Grand Hypocrisy Party.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Open letter to David Cogswell: re: NPR

Dear BuzzFlash,

Thanks for printing my letters. I am a real fan of your website. It has so much to offer. I just heard NPR cover the anti-war march in Italy. It was a decent report since they had been properly spanked by activists for their poor coverage of the Oct 26th demonstration. However, just before the report there was an interview with someone who said that Europeans have always been non-supportive of new American presidents at first in that they are nervous about what the new administration will do. Later the Europeans sign on and become fans. He lied. I can't even properly state the argument, it is so ludicrous. Nonetheless, the disinformation preceded the truth of half a million people protesting the war with "Drop Bush, Not Bombs."

But let us celebrate the victory of the activists who forced decent coverage of the voices of dissent through letters, emails, telephone calls, demonstrations, carrier pigeons and the like. I think the battleground for word-warriors is the media. Since media won't do their job to keep the government in check, we must hold them accountable. The mass media propaganda machine is formidable, but vulnerable nonetheless. More vulnerable than the democrats who will not listen to anybody who is not paying their way. With the media we have a shot. This freedom of speech and public assembly is a major thorn in the side of the Bushniks. We must be relentless to check the lies agreed upon by the people and the state. We've demonstrated that we can have an affect. The people who have clarity of vision have a responsibility to help steer the course of democracy in the face of tyranny. We must grab the reins at every opportunity and not let go. And more specifically, let's keep NPR on the run.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Advice to LANDRIEU About "Moderator" RUSSERT

Dear BuzzFlash,

PLEASE, PLEASE have the Senator be very careful in dealing with Tim RUSSERT as the so-called "moderator" for the upcoming debate. While he and others like Chris MATTHEWS and Pat CADDELL still trade on their "Democratic" history, that history of theirs is LONG past, and they have done nothing but bash Democrats for years, to the point of being de facto partisan Republican operatives.

In particular, Tim RUSSERT somehow has gotten to be a continual "moderator" of debates, as in the upcoming one, and his record is one of SLANTING impressions favorably to the Republican side, being deferential and positive to the Republican, letting sticky issues fade without pressing the Republican------------while doing the opposite with the Democratic candidate.

This pattern can clearly be seen in the Senator CLINTON debate, and most recently in the BUSH-McBRIDE debate.

Please, please, staff, have Senator LANDRIEU be civil, smooth, intelligent-----but TOUGH, unflinching, and CALLING him on his shadings of the questions and follow-ups.

With best wishes for EVERY possible Democratic victory, Sincerely, One, Individual Democrat (speaking only for himself).

John Garza

Subj: Elections

Dear BuzzFlash,

It's over. The democratic party is dead. I've voted democratic in every election since 1968. I will never vote again unless a viable third party is created. I will no longer support the democratic party. I have been very vocal against Nader and the greens but now I'm almost ready to join them. The democrats have abandoned their base for the last time. If I wanted republicans I would have voted for them. If the party doesn't move left it will continue to lose every election. The DLC must be destroyed.

There is now no chance that Bush will be impeached for his crimes. The republicans will never allow it. The democrats should have used filibuster at every turn like the republicans have done. The American people get what they deserve. They allowed the right wing and the media to trash Clinton with impunity for ten years and rewarded them with the entire government. I wash my hands politically. I have watched every politician I supported, since the murder of JFK, come under attack by the far right. I want someone who will fight for what I believe. Unfortunately it doesn't exist in America.

Jim

Re: The Right Wing Republicans Have Made Compassion and Democratic Values Seem Radical

Dear BuzzFlash,

Just to respond to this, I have not become one of the conservative party - in my situation, I am just the opposite - I have become more aware of just what the Republican party is all about and the Republican Party is shameful. Anyone that goes along with their views has not grown up yet, unless they believe they are one of those rich people who feel they are going to benefit from it. What I Know about the Bible and Jesus is that he was always for the little guy and not one that portrayed themselves as a bully. The bullies are the ones that nailed him to the cross. I believe Bush has become one of these people. I used to go along with whatever my husband thought -- not so anymore. I say GUYS AND GALS IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP TO WHAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS UP TO.

Jan Roberts

Buzz-

Who don't you urge your readers to email Tom Daschle and tell him to grow a spine right now, or step down? Same for Terry McAuliffe........

Its obvious from Daschle's comments, McAuliffe's too, since the election on Tuesday, that neither one of them GET IT.

Why else would they complement bush and his henchmen on running "good" campaigns?

When do these two plan to stop bending over -- or maybe they've done it for so long they are permanently frozen in that position...........................

C. Mann

Subj: The New Radical Left

Maureen Farrell has unclouded my vision. For me, the Iran-Contra scandal (if it is still considered a scandal) got me energized about politics. As Maureen says, I didn't think I was a radical to believe that Reagan should not carry out a covert war in Nicaragua. I soon learned how wrong I was.

I didn't march in the sixties, even though I went to college at one of the more activist universities (San Francisco State.) I was against the war, but would have gone if called. I graduated as fast as I could to get a good job so I could support my family.

I guess I was in a radical cell, huh. Maybe I'll be arrested for it soon.

Bob Shields

Subj: Cheney & Saddam: VP Should Resign

Dear Buzz:

If Iraq is such a grave and imminent threat to U.S. security as the Bush Administration maintains, then Vice President Dick Cheney should resign immediately. After all, he was a Saddam Hussein's business partner for six years (!).

As Haliburton CEO from 1995-2000, Cheney sold Saddam Hussein millions of dollars of equipment to keep the Iraqi dictator's oil wells running.

The Bush Administration has repeatedly told us that Saddam Hussein is a brutal dictator who gassed his own people, yet Cheney was more than happy to do business with such a person for six years. What does say that about the Vice President?

During those six years Cheney headed Haliburton, Iraq violated numerous U.N. sanctions, yet Cheney didn't bat an eye and kept doing business with the enemy the U.S. fought in the Gulf War. Doesn't it bother anyone in the press, in the Democratic party, in Congress, in the Bush Administration that the second most powerful man in the U.S. government was consorting with the enemy - a certified member of the Axis of Evil - for six years?

The Bush Administration keeps telling us that Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction, yet that didn't Cheney deter one iota from crawling into bed, so to speak, with such a dangerous man for six years.

This was no fly-by-night relationship, but one that lasted for the better part of the 1990s.

Saddam tried to kill Cheney's former boss George H.W. Bush . . . you would think that man of such supposedly high moral character as Cheney would be repulsed to enter into any kind of business relationship with a ruthless, repressive, undemocratic leader like Saddam Hussein. But Cheney had no qualms whatsoever doing business with the evildoer Saddam.

Who can be sure that Saddam Hussein used Haliburton's equipment for its intended purpose? Perhaps those spare parts were diverted to maintain and manufacture weapons of mass destruction? Can Vice President Cheney account for the equipment he sold Iraq? More importantly, can he account for his actions during the six years he and Saddam were business partners?

Dick Cheney is an embarrassment to the office of Vice President and the American people. He should resign immediately.

GC

Subj: Regarding Nancy Pelosi

Dear BuzzFlash,

We sent this to the LA Times. Don't know if they'll print it.

To the Editor,

Democrats who think Nancy Pelosi is too liberal to be Minority Leader should look to the successful strategy of the Republican Party which has integrated representatives from the far right to the moderate center in their leadership and grassroots structures. John McCain, Lincoln Chaffee, Trent Lott and James Inhofe are all in the big Republican tent. Is Nancy Pelosi any further to the left than Majority Whip Tom Delay is to the right? Democrats who urge further moves to the fuzzy center will fail to inspire party loyalty and voters will be at best confused and at worst disinterested in what the Democrats stand for. A revitalized Democratic party should include popular mainstream issues like tax cuts for the middle class and effective national defense and also promote good ideas from the left like universal healthcare, ending corporate welfare and an aggressive renewable energy policy. By including the Progressive wing's most appealing issues while continuing to embrace centrist democratic values the Democrats can bring back millions of Green voters and broaden their base of labor, minorities, professionals and others who now feel unrepresented. Nancy Pelosi is exactly what the Democrats need.

Leslie Anderson
Jacob Crabtree
Altadena, CA

Subj: Check out this quote! (NY Times - Ark. Rice Farmers Run Dry; Remedy Stirs Debate)

Dear BuzzFlash,

Want to see hypocrisy defined? Check out this quote:

"I'm a conservative person. But if this is what it's going to take for highly productive farmland to continue to provide food nationally and internationally, well, that's the taxpayer's burden."

Conservative as long as it's someone else's ox that's getting gored. When it's his ox, even if it was brought on by his own actions, suddenly it's "the taxpayer's burden."

Alan

November 11, 2002

Ark. Rice Farmers Run Dry; Remedy Stirs Debate

By DOUGLAS JEHL

ULM, Ark., Nov. 5 — Rice farmers like John Kerksieck are on the brink of draining one of Arkansas' biggest aquifers dry.

That alone is troublesome, in a state that gets almost 50 inches of rain a year. But even more confounding — since these Southern farmers will not be the last to find themselves in such a pickle — is the question of what to do about it.

http://nytimes.com/2002/11/11/national/11RICE.html

Subj: Letter from New Zealand - Armistice Day

Dear BuzzFlash,

November 11 1918 the Germans signed the Armistice, and so ended WWI after four long and tortuous years. The so-called "War to end all Wars" alas was not to be. In 1938 the American Congress passed a bill that November 11 "shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace...and hereafter known and celebrated as Armistice Day."

World peace? Could we be further from it? A respected American friend of mine who resides in New Zealand, summed it up so eloquently with the following statement - "The leader of the free world has been endorsed in his self-styled position by an election he considers a referendum. To elect George W Bush once was an act of carelessness, to endorse him, criminal negligence."

D.M.Reid (NZ)

(Keep up the good work)

Subj: Fallout from a memorial?

Dear BuzzFlash - i just had to write to express my disappointment that so many clinton democrats would try to blame the democrats' loss on tuesday to the paul wellstone memorial service - from carville to bill clinton's former pollster, mark penn and i'm sure there are more, they should be ashamed and taken to task for letting the media off the hook once again - how many people actually saw the memorial that night and how many just took the media's message that it was somehow wrong - as far as offending republicans and "independents" goes, this was our night - we lost our wonderful Paul wellstone under suspicious circumstances 10 days before his re-election - a liberal and proud of it, unlike so many other of our senators - don't we have the right to grieve as we want and carry on paul's legacy? for one night i felt what it is to be connected to other liberals and fight the liberal cause - it was so great and just what we needed, i think - i hope it stays in our hearts and minds and keeps us going in these next few years - we don't need any more weak, republican-lite "democrats", what we need is a strong liberal partisan aggressive democratic party - i was glad to see dick gephardt step down - now we need to get rid of tom daschle and terry mccauliffe and replace them with more effective real democrats that don't let the republicans get away with anything they want - democrats that stand up for the people, for workers, for the poor, for the earth, for peace, for justice and all those other good liberal things - as for sen. john kerry calling to apologize to trent lott who has booed (so they say), we don't need democrats like this to run for president - i hope the democratic party will re-access where this nice-nice stuff has brought us and develop that backbone to stand and fight for what Paul wellstone always fought for - a better life for all, "reclaiming the compassionate agenda" - thank you, rick kahn and tom harkin and everyone that night in minnesota - we will carry on and get on the bus - for Paul, for Paul - liberal like Paul, mary

Subj: Bush Doctrine - this is good!

Buzz:

I ran across some a very interesting factoid Sunday while watching the usual offering. On Sunday, I found out where the Bush doctrine "you are either with us or against us" originated. It was not Tim Russert that shared this bit of info, it wasn't from Face the Nation, nor was it George at This Week, or BET's Lead Story. But this bit of heroic wisdom was uttered from none other than the Disney character Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. You'll have to catch it, he utters the Bush doctrine while frightening the villagers that the beast will kill their children and rape their wives. I was trying to get away from news and news events, but that tidbit made even me smirk. Yes, our fearless leader came up with his Bush doctrine while watching Disney's 1989 Beauty and the Beast.

'Nuff said.

PJOnes
Texas

Subj: Democratic Leadership in the Senate

Dear BuzzFlash,

It was disheartening, at best, to hear Tom Daschle tell Tim Russert that he would move for cloture, if necessary, to pass the Homeland Security Bill even if Senator Byrd was filibustering the proposed law. What about the issue of worker rights that has been the sticking point on this legislation since last summer? If the Democrats in the Senate are not willing to go to the mat for the ordinary employees of the federal agencies that the prez-select wants to gain complete authority and control over then it is time for those democrats to be removed from their leadership positions.

In fact, there should be more democratic led filibusters on EVERY SINGLE ISSUE THAT DELINEATES THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUGNICANS! This is war! The democrats and progressives in this country need to merge their energy and their resources and go on a crusade to throw the REACTIONARY BASTARDS OUT OF OFFICE. Making nice is not the way to do this. The reactionary forces, and I do mean forces are using the right wing think tanks, non-profits and the media to shape public opinion and they have been successful to a degree. But they are on the losing end of the numbers game if the progressive and democratic groups in this country organize to fight the reactionaries whose primary goal is to install a permanent elitist white corporatocracy on the rest of us.

Does anyone have direct access to the "Big Dog"? Ask him to lead a movement to bring all progressive minded groups together to beat the bastards at their own game and put this country back on a course that is consistent with the noble ideals of our founding fathers and based on the principles of individual freedoms and justice for all.

A BuzzFlash Reader