Important Note: Because we can't always determine your intentions, we need to ask a favor of you when you send us email. If you DO NOT WANT YOUR EMAIL PUBLISHED in the Mailbag or in the Contributors section, please write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the Subject line or at the top of your email. That way we'll know it's just a comment to BuzzFlash. Additionally, if you submit a mailbag item and DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME associated with your submission, sign your email, "A BuzzFlash Reader." If you send email unsigned, we will post your name with your submission, or, if that's not available, your email name (not the full address, just what's on the left side of the email address). Thank you.

The BuzzFlash Mailbag is updated on an ongoing basis, with the newest material and comments on top. Again, we can only post a small percentage of what is sent to us. The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are the not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Thanks again for your email and your patience.

Subj: Let the media sort em and shred em

Dear BuzzFlash,

I have written to all the cable and network news stations informing them that the obvious pro-Bush propaganda they are panning out is not journalism and is not acceptable. I have written them that I will not watch their news stations, not buy any products sold by their advertisers, and I will not use their website propaganda tools. I will instead rely on independent news websites such as BuzzFlash who report the truth instead of the rote propaganda spit out by the current White House squatters. My letters are sent by snail mail which supplies real paper sitting in their PO Boxes. If we all did this, there would be visible evidence of our discontent with the media. Emails are too easily deleted or hidden.

A Chicago Reader (which is also the name of a good alternative paper.)

Subj: Jeff's wife's proposal

Dear BuzzFlash,

A total boycott of the media is probably not going to catch on with too many people but a selective boycott should. I remember a few years ago when the Catholic League ran a very good show called "Nothing Sacred" off the air with a threat to boycott its sponsors.

My idea is to write emails to the three network news programs promising to switch the dial the minute the daily soundbite from the White House comes on and not return to that channel that night (or at least for the duration of the news hour). Thus they may be assured that their commercials will not be seen after that point. We can bookmark the URL's for all three and send a quick e-mail every night saying at what time we tuned out.

--- Jo Ann McNamara

Subj: SS privatization back on GOP agenda

Dear BuzzFlash,

If you go here:

http://www.conservativealerts.com/poll/gop.htm

... and pull down the issues list, you'll see that "Social Security Privatization" is on the list of issues you can ask "Senate Majority Leader" Trent Lott and Speaker of the House "Denny Hastert" to legislate and put before the President.

Didn't take 'em long, did it?

Doug Bostrom

Subj: War and Other Things

Dear BuzzFlash,

First of all, Daschle needs to go. Almost the first words out of his mouth after the Repug's "mandate", as a person called it the other day, was how he was going to work with Bush to help him shove his "plans" down the American publics throats. This is not the kind of leadership we need now. Second, we need to get the press off its Bush-loving ass. The media needs to start looking very hard at the past election. There are some strange numbers showing up in different states, especially when you look at the numbers for voter turnout. They just don't seem to add up. Enough states have had articles in local papers that would indicate that there is a problem. I hate to sound like a conspiracy nut, but who really gets your vote on the new computer machines, and if there is no print-out, how do we know it went to the person we voted for? We need to make them stop giving Bush a free ride and kissing his ass. The American people are being lied to, and they seem to be lapping it up like milk. Third, is it just me, or is it every time Bush or one of his cronies gets up to talk about this un-needed war against Saddam, they are either laughing or smiling? I don't think there is anything funny about combat. Unlike our "Chickenhawk"-In-Chief, George W. "If-You-Need-Me-I'll-Be-AWOL" Bush, Dick "had other priorities" Cheney, Saxby "Bad-Knees-Kept-Me-Out-Of-Vietnam-But-I'll-Malign-The-Patrotism-Of-A-Real-Hero-Like-Max Cleland" Chambliss, Rush "Anal-Cyst" Limbaugh, and his other cronies, I've been there...done that. I certainly don't think the flag-covered caskets that will start rolling into Andrews before too long are anything to smile about. As I've written this, Bush has been on TV smiling, grinning, joking, and talking about his war. When, or if the press has the balls, to show the fighting in Iraq, our dead servicemen and women, the new terror attacks on our country (you know as well as I do they'll happen), and the dead Iraqi civilians, I hope the people in this country wake up, wise up, and start demanding we get our country back and scream for this clown's head. I just hate to see it happen over the graves of our dead. That's why Daschle has to go. We're going to need a strong leader to get the Democratic party back together to get Bush out of the White House, and regain control of the House and Senate. We need to get a strong candidate to run against him starting now. Whoever it is will have to run a tough campaign. He's going to have to call Bush on his policies, and if the Repugs start their "Un-American", "not big on America's defense" crap, call them the liars they are. Use their own tactics against them. Point out the economy is in the toilet. Unemployment is rising. Don't take the defensive like was done in the past election, but come out on offense. It's fourth and goal for our country, and we need someone that has the balls to go for the win, and not the tie. But that's just my opinion. Maybe someone else has a better plan. But whatever the plans are, we need to get them in motion now, and not wait till the last minute.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Veteran's Day

Dear BuzzFlash,

What a hoot! Our beloved prez "braving the chilly rain" to salute Vietman Vets at the Wall, while also making a campaign speech supporting the war on Iraq! There's no end to his talents!

And, why oh why have we not seen nor heard a word criticizing the inappropriateness (to the point of disgust) over the "politicizing" of this Memorial?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: A Dem Message Boarder Wrote This

Dear BuzzFlash,

***********QUOTE***************

A Few Words About GORE... He won the popular vote in 2000, despite the fact that the media not only was against him, but lied about him. He won Florida, too, but the Supreme Court decided to give the election to bushie boy.

Al Gore was my congressman and senator. He was always available and responsive. He had a listed phone number, and you could call him at home if you wanted to. The media said he grew up in Washington. Well, his father was a senator who represented Tennessee and this country very well. They lived in Tennessee...his father worked in Washington. Al Gore Sr. used to teach school in a one-room schoolhouse, and he never forgot his roots, even though he became a powerful member of the Senate.

The descriptions of Al Gore Jr. as "stiff" are just completely ludicrous. He is warm and funny. I live in Nevada now, and during the 2000 campaign, I drove VIPs in a Gore motorcade in Las Vegas. When I told the Vice-president where I was from (a small town 30 miles from his home), he stood and talked to me for 5 minutes with a line of people waiting and his plane engines roaring. In the midst of a campaign, on a tight schedule, he had time to spend with someone from home.

This is a personal story, but it says something about the kind of person he is. You don't grow up where we did and not develop an appreciation and understanding of ordinary people and their struggles. And I think that is a good quality for a President to have.

I don't know if he will get the nomination again. I will support the Democrat who does get it. But let us at least recognize that this decent, kind, and intelligent man fought and won against great odds, only to have it taken away. Could he have run a better campaign? Did he make mistakes? Sure....but damn it, he won!

*********************UNQUOTE*****************

John Garza

Subj: The Democrats have sold us down the river...Cheap!

Dear BuzzFlash,

It was the DLC Democrats like Senator Evan Bayh who blamed Gore's loss [sic] of the 2000 Presidential election on his hapless campaign. Now after a 2 year hapless performance by these same Centrist Democrats in Congress, they are flooding the airways with excuses for why it isn't their fault that the Democrats lost the election!

And speaking of airways, how come for two years there were never any of these Democrats on the television making a case against Bush or a case for our Democratic values? Now after losing the election and '04 is near, they're crawling all over my TV set!

Proof that when it comes to covering their own butts, or when it's beneficial to their own presidential aspirations, Democrats can get on the news anytime they want to!

Face it people. The Democrats have sold us down the river... Cheap!

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)

Dear BuzzFlash,

If I hear the word popular and Bush in the same sentence one more time, I believe I will lose my cookies. The only reason this word is associated with him is because of the constant use by the media and even those who don't like him. It is propaganda put out by the White House and and perpetuated in ad extremum and I would appreciate it if all Democrats would keep that in mind.

I find it amazing that polls show that they don't like Bush on the majority of issues but amazingly, they suddenly think he's wonderful. Could it be because of the fear that they might be considered unpatriotic to say otherwise? If anyone has ever been polled, would they please share how the question is worded.

Cynthia Putt
Cloverdale, OR

Subj: War with Iraq

Buzz,

In spite of the fact that I'm in my fifties and ought to know better by now, I can't help but be absolutely and repeatedly astounded by the gullibility of the American public as well as outraged by the abysmal quality of news reporting in this country.

It's clear the impending war with Iraq, as immoral and unjustified as it is, is going to happen, because Bush will never take "yes" for an answer. This has absolutely nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction. The only way to stop this war would be for Saddam Hussein to sign over Iraq's oil fields. Bush talked about Iraq during the 2000 presidential campaign, so we know the subject was on his mind back then. Bush never provided any credible justification for his intentions to attack Iraq other than that Saddam Hussein "is an evil man". Bush told such obviously transparent lies in his efforts to link Saddam to Al Qaida, and in the end he never was able to produce a shred of evidence to support his claims. His contention that Saddam Hussein presents an imminent threat to our national security is completely ludicrous. This whole affair is actually quite simple: it's about plundering another country's assets--it's twenty-first century imperialism on a grand scale. Bush doesn't care how many innocent people are killed or what they have to endure. He doesn't care what it costs. The US military already has a budget that's equal to the budgets of at least the next 15 highest spending countries combined! That in itself is nothing short of obscene, especially when there are so many unmet social needs in this country and abroad.

I am convinced this country is about to embark on a terribly immoral enterprise. Thousands will be killed so the US can subjugate another country for its natural resources. I am not a religious person, but I hope some of my hyper-religious fellow citizens will at least contemplate that thought while they are sitting in church next Sunday. I will not be mindlessly waving a flag when America attacks Iraq. And if someone tells me I'm not patriotic, I'll tell them that they might just be right--because they made America turn away from the most noble ideals I support, choosing instead greed and profit for the rich, no matter what the cost to others. It's shameful, and I can't and won't wave a flag for that.

Those are my thoughts.

Bob

Subj: NEXT TARGET: IRAN - November 8, 2002

"Georgia's defeated Democratic Senator, Max Cleland, sitting in a wheelchair, missing both legs and an arm lost in combat in Vietnam. This highly decorated hero was defeated by a Vietnam War draft-dodger who had the audacity to accuse Cleland of being 'unpatriotic' after the senator courageously voted against giving Bush unlimited war powers. I do not recall a more shameful moment in American politics."

http://www.foreigncorrespondent.com/archive/next_target.html

Lori Goldstein

Subj: Backdrops

Dear BuzzFlash,

Just curious how much the American taxpayer has paid for all the subliminal, one-use backdrops that Bush stands in front of whenever he has some prepared speech to read to us.

Another thought about why Democrats and not Republicans die in plane crashes: Corporate jets are more dependable.

Why do voting machine errors always seem to take votes from Dems?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Cowards

Dear BuzzFlash,

On Veteran's day Mr. Bush marched around Washington praising veterans for the sacrifices they made serving their country. Shouldn't he feel a little "uncomfortable" referring to their sacrifices when he, with help from Papa Bush, evaded the draft when it was time for him to make his "sacrifice"? And what about the other "war promoters"....Cheney, Ashcroft, Delay, Lott etc., etc., etc. . . . all failed to serve their country when they were asked to . . . and you can bet that the children of these "great and fearless" leaders will not make any sacrifices for our country in our next "failed policy" war in Iraq.

What a bunch of cowards.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Nov. 6 Mailbag - March on Media - idea

Dear BuzzFlash,

Rob Moitoza wrote that we need to start protesting media outlets. How about a February 11 March on Hollywood? That's the day Oscar Nominations will be announced, so the town will be crawling with media. Wouldn't it be something if we could shut down LA the way we did DC, on a day when reporters and celebrities will be whoring it up for each other and no matter what's going on the big news will be "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was nominated for ... Oscars? A Feb. 11 protest could really spoil what should have been a "fun" day for the media, and I think it would teach them a lesson to see our collective anger focused directly at them.

Leigh Ann

Subj: Tom Daschle & Dem Senators

Dear BuzzFlash,

While Daschle deserves some criticism, the strongest criticism should be directed at the senators belonging to the Democratic Leadership Council. They have done more to undermine Daschle's leadership than Rove. Particularly: Breaux, Miller and Lieberman. The DLC is supporting Ford's position over Pelosi. It's time BuzzFlash take the DLC out of the shadows & start giving them hell.

Michael Caputo, Sr

Dear Buzz,

Maureen Farrell asks for mentoring from some of us "old left" types. The first thing she should learn is not to be led astray by the persistent lies and dirty tricks of the media whores in thrall to the right. Her first paragraph plays right into their hands with a vengeance.

White males certainly have done a lot of widely publicized whining about the effects of affirmative action but this does not make its proponents their enemies. There were, to be sure, a lot of well-publicized hate mongers associated with the black power movement and the ever-sensationalist press allowed them to drown out the voices of the authentic civil rights leaders of the sixties. But those leaders have soldiered on and none of them have ever beat the drums of hate.

No feminist I have ever heard of has become a champion of "unwed childlessness." I don't even know what that might mean. It sounds like someone who supports sex education programs that promote abstinence as the only solution to unwed motherhood.

A year or so ago, I read a study (and I regret that I cannot remember where) in which social researchers reported that they were unable to identify a single incident of peace demonstrators insulting veterans or active military personnel. This story seems to have been an urban legend fostered, again, by the hostile press. Certainly, no one in the peace movement that I knew ever embraced any tactic aimed at men whom we saw as victims of an unprincipled war machine.

--- Jo Ann McNamara

Subj: Ventura on MSNBC

Dear BuzzFlash,

Reuters says that MSNBC may give Jesse Ventura his own talk show, I nearly puked. Chris Matthew is bad enough. Are they trying to be a FOX clone or what?

Stephen Farris

Subj: These are ironic times

Dear BuzzFlash and Mailbaggers,

The republicans spent record amounts of $$$$ on the Nov. 5 election. That money came from special interests. As I write, those special interests are lining up for big paybacks, both in Washington D.C. and in the states. The irony in it is this: The republicans will be paying the special interests back with our hard-earned money!

~ Cathy