The BuzzFlash Mailbag
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Dear BuzzFlash,
I hope you monitor what that slimeball at Drudge is doing today in the Louisiana Senate race. As of about 8 am this morning, he had this on the site:
"Sen. Landrieu accused of 'trying to buying military votes' with $10 Thanksgiving food gift certificates..."
It doesn't link to any other stories; it just throws this allegation out there. Drudge did the same thing the Sunday before the November election when he started raising allegations in the Pryor-Hutchinson race in Ark. He started trumpeting allegations about Pryor having hired an illegal alien. But again, it was very brief and non-specific and it didn't link to any other stories.
Eventually, I think the Washington Times did a story, specifically citing to the still very nonspecific report on the Drudge report. By the midday Monday, Arkansas TV stations had picked it up and the RNC was calling on Pryor to "answer" these allegations.
It will be interesting to see if this follows the same pattern. I'm sure Rush Limbaugh will be trumpeting this today.
How long will it take before we hear the RNC demanding "answers" on this so-far unsubstantiated allegation?
A BuzzFlash Reader
Hi BuzzFlash,
Why are they even bothering to have a 9/11 investigation? Kissinger's findings are a foregone conclusion - it was all the Clinton administration's fault! That's one of the major reasons the Moron picked him. Why are the democrats not rioting over this? I guess the same reason they're not rioting over all the other atrocities that have befallen us over the past 2 years. THEY GOT NO SPINES. I'm getting too overwhelmed by the things that are piling up. Every single day we're faced with some new calamity. DiIulio, Poindexter, Kissinger, Eli Lilly, the repub's illuminating discovery that middle and lower income people don't pay enough taxes. The lies, lies, lies and more lies. The useless media. It's become so surreal that I feel like I'm a character in a science fiction movie. If I don't see more people getting really, really angry, I think I'm going to Canada, or maybe Italy, where you can find 1,000,000 people in the streets protesting against a president that WE should be protesting against!
Ciao for now,
Barbara in NYC
Subj: Bush takes Gore's advice and gets rid of his incompetent economic team!
Dear Buzz,
This is the happiest day since January 20th 2001! Bush finally took Al Gore's advice and "resigned" his incompetent economic team. Proof that Bush's economic policy is a failure!
Yippee!!!
Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
Subj: Saudi PR -- Our Allies Speak
Dear BuzzFlash,
The phrase "Saudi PR" could start a whole new rash of ethnic jokes. These two articles make the point. The first is posted on BuzzFlash, about how the Saudi government is trying to show the world they are fighting terrorism:
"Saudi
Arabia fights soft-on-terror image"
http://www.suntimes.com/output/terror/cst-nws-saudi04.html
The second reports on this week's interview with a high Saudi official -- we know the saying "there is no bad PR" -- but perhaps that is in need of revision:
"Saudi
interior minister says Jews were behind Sept. 11 attacks"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/12/06/international1320EST0612.DTL
'Nuff said.
Regards,
BC
Dear BuzzFlash,
First of all, congratulations on the award. You're the best thing on the net.
As Bernard Weiner suggests in his article, http://www.onlinejournal.com/Commentary/Weiner120502/weiner120502.html, it would be a great idea for everyone to push for your cities and towns to do what the city of Northampton, MA has done regarding the USA Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act. As you probably know, Northampton, MA and about 22 other cities so far have passed resolutions protecting their citizens from a lot of the corrupt powers granted by the Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act. For instance, they have requested that the local law enforcement preserve residents' freedom of speech, rights to counsel and due process, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, etc. (you remember, all those things listed in the Constitution?) They have also requested that federal and state law enforcement officials work in accordance with the local police departments. This is one great grassroots way of fighting back. He said there are about 40 more cities pending. I live in NYC - don't know what the chances are here, but here's where it's sorely needed because there's such a huge population and potential for corruption. I've written my senators and reps about it, but then again, they all keep voting with Bush so there's probably no hope. But everyone should start pushing for that in their hometowns and cities.
Barbara in NYC
Dear Buzz,
Heard a good cock and bull story lately?
November's SHARP rise in joblessness was "unexpected".
In an effort to offset massive amounts of accumulated debt and a sagging Bush economy, corporations have implemented cost cutting strategies that include mostly job reductions. Did this Nation's economists and so called analysts really think that these efforts wouldn't result in anyone getting laid off??????
Just asking.
Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
jesus god! ap says at 9am that the unemployment rate is at 6%. at 9pm orrin hatch is on live hardball and does not have a clue what the unemployment rate is! then practically calls mathews a liar over it! shouldn't a senator know something so devastating to millions of people! that shows you how much the republicans care about the poor!
karen massey
Subj: YOU GO GIRL!! (Helen Thomas)
Excerpt from 12/5 Press Briefing:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-7.html
Q Ari, two questions. What was the President thinking when he appointed an alleged war criminal to investigate a war crime? What was he thinking?
MR. FLEISCHER: Who are you thinking of?
Q Chile, Allende, Cambodia, Kissinger.
MR. FLEISCHER: Would he appoint --
Q Kissinger.
MR. FLEISCHER: Oh, I see what you're saying. Everything that I said when Henry Kissinger was appointed two weeks ago, about the outstanding integrity of Henry Kissinger and the high regard in which he's held. You should have been here two weeks ago; you missed that one.
Go ahead, you get a follow-up because you haven't been here.
Q You said Iraq has lied in the past and its continuing to lie. Kissinger lied to Congress about Cambodia. Kissinger lied to Congress about Chile. How do we know he's not going to lie about his investigation?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think that if you want to compare what Tariq Aziz said last week to what Henry Kissinger, who has ably served the United States and who continues to ably serve the United States and is held in very high regard by people in both parties, including the families of 9/11, that's your judgment, your business. The President rejects that line of thinking.
Q Where does find these great men? Where? Every one from the Iran-Contra scandal has been named to this administration. (Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen, tomorrow I announce your appointment
Subj: I thought the faltering economy was Clinton's fault!!??
Dear Buzz,
"Jobless Rate Surged Unexpectedly in November" (2002)
"Resigned: Treasury Secretary O'Neill and Economic Advisor Larry Lindsey" (November 2002)
Hey wait a minute Buzz! I thought the faltering economy was Clinton's fault????
Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
Subj: Sox & Buddy - "white house"
Laura & George Bush are very evil, petty people. How ridiculous can you get? And a damned dog with a video camera - oh well, smartest person there. I'm sickened by such things as Laura Bush as "nurturing mom" for the nation. How about for her kids? Obviously, their kids can't stand them - stay as far away as they can get. I'm so sick of this. And of course, no tours of the "white house" - after all, it's only ours, but we've let them steal. A dog & a cat - their jealousies are unbelievable.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
Could "ja in la" write some more?...I.loved this person's astute and articulate observations
O.K. what about right above the Lighter Side? How about a BuzzFlash OpEd section which people like Louis Ewin in NJ , Shirley in St. Louis, or JA in La could write some eds?
***I'd also love to see Gloria L, just for one month, maybe 2, monitor every day, including especially Sat and Sun weekend, the Washington Journal segment on C-Span where they claim to be balanced, etc., but I swear if your really listen and analyzed their programs they are about 60-40 conservative, some of them are really disguised but are right wing think tanks, or centers for this or than, but it is just Heritage Foundation or Manhattan Institute, Fox clones, etc. stuff getting all the air time. (OK maybe I'm wrong and just happen to tune in to when they have the conservatives on...) But it seems like when they do have liberals/progressives, they are either low key, kinda goofy, or just can't talk well, stammer and stutter, aren't passionate and articulate, or they are "paired" on the same desk, same time with an aggressive highly verbal right winger who talks over them loudly...
I would love to see a weekly report from Gloria about on C-Span's 6-9 a.m. (central time) "balanced" coverage, and maybe a paragraph about her analysis of that week's political coverage. I really like some of the moderators (Susan, Connie, and of course, Brian Lamb) on C-Span a great deal, but its the selection of their guests I have a problem with. And C-Span is just about the only TV that I watch anymore. Does anyone else feel the same?
.....Betsy in Dallas
Subj: Bush sacks economic chiefs and then lies about it
Buzz,
Compare this article to NYT:
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021207-68157654.htm
"A senior administration official told The Washington Times the president asked weeks ago for their resignations, which were submitted yesterday morning. The White House waited until after last month's midterm elections to announce the firings, which were couched as forced "resignations."
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/07/politics/07BUSH.html
"It fell to Vice President Dick Cheney, the man who brought Paul H. O'Neill into the administration, to confront his old friend with the news late on Thursday that President Bush no longer required his services."
PLUS:
More
Republican Cash & Carry Government for Sale
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021207-67395616.htm
Debra Haskins
Subj: Lott
Dear BuzzFlash,
They gotta keep Mr. Lott away from the eggnog, it's making him a mean drunk. According to Eleanor Cliff, Mr. Lott has let the DC Lobbyists know that they shouldn't hire any out of work Democrats if they want to stay cozy with the GOP, and he thinks Strom Thurmond should have been President in 1948. What are they using to spike his water. Are the Republicans so insecure that they figure they cannot win fair and square without repressing any and all opposition. Can't say we are looking at a party of "winners" here when they make sure there is no competition.
Sally McDonald
Subj: An Israeli doctor stated...(great joke!)
---
Just recently an Israeli doctor stated that in his country doctors are able to take a kidney out of one person and put it in another person, and have that person looking for work in six weeks.
A Russian doctor stated that in Russia doctors could take a lung out of one person and put it in another and have that person looking for work in four weeks.
A Japanese doctor then stated that in Japan doctors could take half of one person's heart and put it in another and have both of them looking for work in two weeks!
But the American doctor stated that in United States we took a man with no brain out of Texas and put him in the White House and now half of our country is looking for work!
---
Passed on by,
Nancy Nagy
Pass it on!
Dear BuzzFlash,
CNN is truly repellent. All morning long they have been beating the war tom toms, fulfilling their apparent newfound role as chief propagandizers for the Bush Administration. Yet, astronauts are orbiting and running out of fuel. Their life support is due to run out TOMORROW! Why are they not down yet? Because the Bush Administration's NASA is more concerned with saving money than astronauts lives. They could have landed in California already, BUT because of money concerns they are keeping them in orbit until the very last possible moment so they can land at Florida. It is entirely possible that the Florida landing will be seriously complicated by the weather, yet they are willing to risk it anyway. Sound familiar? Anyone remember the Challenger fiasco in 1985 when PR loving Reaganites forced the launch of the space shuttle even though engineers warned against it because of freezing temperatures and the tried to cover up for the cost cutting defense contractor that manufactured the seals that failed. Money is more important to this administration than lives as this shows, yet of course our heroic national media ignores any serious reporting on this situation since war is everything.
Dan DeLisio
Subj: The Bush Calendar
Dear BuzzFlash,
I found it a little heartening while doing some holiday shopping here in Lincoln, Nebraska to see that both Barnes and Noble and B. Dalton (which is owned by Barnes and Noble) had prominently displayed the Dimwit calendar, "They misunderestimated me". Are even these corporate booksellers catching on? No, they probably just see a buck! Maybe the local managers?? Or am I just grasping at straws hoping that people realize what a foolish, misguided, petty person is the pResident.
I plan to get that calendar from you all!
Irma
Subj: Blindness Caused by Fear
Dear Buzz,
Until about 5 minutes ago I was a regular poster on the forum at anncoulter.org. I went there originally in July due to some outrageous article she had written, found the forum and jumped in. Her articles are rarely discussed, however, perhaps because she is nothing more than a hate-mongering, shrill seeker of attention, rather than a legitimate concerned citizen. She is a one-trick pony continually attacking the New York Times because she has nothing of relevance to say.
Although the vast majority of people who post there are conservatives (and think George W. Bush should be called Saint George) the discussion was, for the most part, civilized and stimulating. They had some good points and the few of us liberals who dared to tread on their turf had some good points also.
What has led me to abandon the forum is the obvious voluntary blindness of the conservatives there (and their refusal to objectively entertain even one critical thought of the Bush administration) to the very real threat to our freedom and liberties we face today.
Every time I would mention the curtailing of our liberties the conservatives would respond with "conspiracy theory". That is their answer to any criticism of the Bush administration.
Questions about 9/11? I am a conspiracy theorist. When I asked if anyone was concerned over the newfound powers of the government given to them in the homeland security bill, I was accused of hating America.
When I raised the issue of the photographer in Denver being detained because he was taking photographs, no one would believe the story because of the source (if you deny it, it doesn't exist, right?). When I stated that my concerns are for the POTENTIAL abuse of these newfound powers, I am told that "When we see the jackboots marching in the streets then we'll worry about it". They are too obtuse to realize that by then it will be too late.
The conservatives in that forum, and around the country, are so immersed in their fear (which the Bush administration continually fuels, and depends upon) that they are like small children, cowering under the covers and believing if they just stay there and close their eyes then the monsters won't come.
Today is December 7th, 2002. Sixty-two years ago today our freedom and way of life was attacked.
Today, our freedom and way of life are also being attacked. But now the enemy is coming from within: Blind conservatives who refuse to see the truth and the Bush administration, a cartel concerned not with the welfare of our citizens or country, but hell-bent on globalization and doing whatever it takes to increase their power and wealth.
I only ask that everyone open their eyes, put aside your fear and be REAL AMERICANS and stand up for what is right. Anything less is an insult to all those who have died to defend our freedom.
Peter K.
HOW STRANGE
I SEE THESE REPUBLICANS ON TV, INCLUDING THE MEDIA PEOPLE SAY WE CAN'T BLAME BUSH FOR THE ECONOMY BECAUSE IT WAS CLINTON'S DOWNTURN. THEN IN THE SAME SHOW THEY WILL SAY IN DEFENSE OF BUSH THAT PRESIDENTS DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE ECONOMY. YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. AND ANOTHER THING, IF BUSH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ECONOMY WHY DID HE FIRE O'NEAL AND LYNDSEY? :):) WHY ARE WE WASTING MONEY ON PEOPLE IN THOSE JOBS?
KAREN M. IN SC.
Subj: The Zittomeister and his Zittoheads
Dear BuzzFlash,
Let's call Rush what he is: a Zittomeister! Simply put, he escaped the Vietnam war because of a zit on his butt and any one of the sheep that follow the Zittomeister must be a zittohead, imo.
I was disgusted but not surprised to read what was on his site when the truth was told on his show before he could hit the kill button. It certainly must have hit home for him to even comment on it, I hope more people get through to his show, using whatever subterfuge needed. It is time to hit back, and hit back hard, using the same tactics, if necessary, in order to show what he is, a mean spirited zittomeister, who wouldn't know the truth if it bit him in the butt.
Bev
Subj: Unemployment is Actually Much Higher Than 6%
BuzzFlash,
I used to be a clerical worker at the unemployment office. Actually unemployment is much worse than 6%. That figure is only based on how many people are actually filing unemployment claims and qualifying for those claims. There are many people who haven't earned enough to qualify, many who have already exhausted benefits, and many who are too brainwashed to apply in the first place. I know one thing. When my job ends next year, and it will, I will definitely file for benefits because the more unemployed who actually file, the more the number will be bumped up to its true figure, which is probably about 9%. If you are out of work, be sure to file an unemployment claim. Otherwise the truth is hidden as to the real percentage of unemployed. Don't listen to all the stories of "you can't get unemployment if you are this, that, or the other". One woman thought because she was a teacher, she could not file. That is not true. She had been laid off. She wasn't just off during a summer break. Go down and file. That's the only way to find out. Everyone has a right to at least file. Then the office will determine whether you qualify. You have the right of three appeals in most states if you are denied. Denial of a third appeal usually means you cannot get it.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Re: Landrieu Wins in Louisiana
Dear BuzzFlash,
Well, well, well, SEE what happens when you pay attention to your base. She ignored black voters the first time and it cost her. Having realized the error of her ways, she has rebounded. She better not forget them or they will forget her. More importantly it explodes the oft repeated myth that Junior's alleged November 7 "victory" was a "mandate." Horsehockey. It showed only that he rallied his base with demagoguery like assailing Max Cleland's patriotism and winking at the Confederate Flag issue, not to mention slanderously accusing Democrats of not being concerned with the American People's security. So, in the end, 21% of their voters voted, while only 19% of ours did since DASCHLE/GEPHARDT DID NOT GIVE any of our people a reason to vote. So we lost, by a mere 41,000 votes in two states.
This now opens up possibilities. If Chaffee and McCain would see the light and switch, life would be grand. Listening to Trent, "Bull Connor" Lott speak and watching Bush's actions in waging war on the environment these last few weeks they should realize that they are the best hope to save our country from a long national nightmare. Except that if I were McCain I would demand to be made majority leader if I switched. I would like to see him over Daschle any day. I certainly don't agree with John on certain issues, BUT he is a fighter and takes no guff. Very Trumanesque.
Dan
Subj: Landrieu Wins in Louisiana From BuzzFlash
Letter to the SF Chronicle after reading BuzzFlash's news alert:
Dear Editor of the SF Chronicle,
After hearing of Senator Landrieu's re-election win in your article, "Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana fends off GOP challenge in last Senate race of 2002" I am reminded of that phrase, "the south shall rise again". Well it most certainly did so today with her reelection as well with the unexpected congressional election of State Rep. Rodney Alexander in a highly conservative district.
It is heartening to know that two Democrats beat out a so called popular stumper in George W. Bush. Perhaps with the economy in the tank and other serious issues facing our country, that he has not addressed, since he has been too busy promoting a war with Iraq. This might be the reason for these Democratic wins in Louisiana. It is my hope that kitchen table issues which have been neglected by this administration ever since it came into power in 2000, will regain the spotlight, and we Democrats can look forward to many more wins.
Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
++BILL CLINTON, WHERE ARE YOU? WE NEED YOU BACK!!!!!!!
Dear BuzzFlash,
Although I did not vote for either Clinton or Gore and I am not a democrat I miss the intelligence of Mr. Bill Clinton. I also miss the prosperity, a Bill of Rights, a Constitution, low unemployment, peace, the good will of other countries toward the US, almost nonexistent terrorism, zero debt, a surplus, no interest payments, and of course press conferences. Since the mentally challenged Bush has taken control of the White House every measure of our country's health, security, health care, unemployment, prosperity and the rest have all plummeted. Even the heart of our way of government is being bled dry by the current regime. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights have been under constant assault since Bush took office. It is beyond belief that people could applaud what Bush and his corrupt regime have done to destroy our country. Will they wake up in time? I don't think so. Our country is going to be destroyed by Bush and his cohorts.
Signed,
An independent voter and a real American.
In Praise of Pink Tutus
The estimable Bartcop, a liberal Democrat (http://www.bartcop.com) who packs a Glock and doesn't mind sounding like a redneck, says Democrats who vote with Bush "wear the pink tutu." In essence, he says they're unprincipled candy-assed hypocrites. He may be right, but desperation will make a rat eat red pepper.
I say the Dems would do well to start shopping for those little ballerina dresses and tippy-toe shoes.
Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, won yesterday because she looked good in a pink tutu. She's voted 3/4 of the time with George Bush and bragged about it. Like senator-elect David Pryor, D- Arkansas, she was able to attack her opponent effectively because she took defensive positions on the GOP's favorite attack issues, principally taxes and guns.
I know what I'm talking about here. Last November, I used taxes and guns to pound a Democrat into the ground like a tent peg. (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2002/11/prweb51175.php)
Terrell lost because she wouldn't bend on abortion rights. Unlike Bush, who supported legal abortions for victims of rape and incest in 2000, Terrell stuck to the pure Right-to-Life line. Terrell's position is an extreme one, backed by only about 25% of American Catholics. Had she been willing to wear the pink tutu on this issue, I say she would be a U.S. senator today.
Bush and Rove needed fortitude to take their abortion medicine; it drove Pat Buchanan out of the party. But wearing the pink tutu took a lot of sting out of one of Al Gore's best attacks. Terrell, by contrast, said that if an escaped convict with AIDS rapes your 15-year-old daughter, congratulations, you're a grandpa!
Campaigns are all about attack. The most effective attacks are not personal attacks, but issue-based attacks. Why? Because voters care about what affects them. On Tuesday, voters cared about abortion rights and sugar cane, which Landrieu turned into a poster child for GOP corporate greed. Only by wearing the pink tutu--taking guns, taxes, loyalty to the commander-in-chief and other Republican Top 40 hits off the table--could she make these attacks stick.
Elections are won by the candidate who promises the least amount of pain.
Despite major-league bitching about Landrieu's conservative voting record, black voters came around for her, just as Right-to-Lifers did for Bush.
Landrieu votes with the GOP many times, as does her colleague, John Breaux. But neither one will vote for Trent Lott. There is now an outside possibility that McCain and Chafee could help form a Daschle majority. This matters, because the party in charge has investigative authority and extensive powers to force compromises on judicial appointments.
Personally, I wish all Democrats could be like Nancy Pelosi, Zoe Lofgren, and the rest of the House delegation in the nine San Francisco Bay counties where I live and work. But callous-handed, gun-toting rednecks from the South and West will decide if we ever see Speaker Pelosi setting the votes on tax bills for a Democratic president.
Hey, Bart, you Okie! Can I play with your Glock?
Steve High
Subj: An Additional Award
Dear BuzzFlash,
Congratulations on your Gold Medal award. You certainly deserved it for all you do.
I'd like to take this occasion to give you an additional award from your faithful readers. And the "Platinum Award" goes to... (l-o-n-g p-a-u-s-e)... BUZZFLASH!
~ Cathy and your thousands of informed readers
Subj: Landrieu Campaign
Dear BuzzFlash,
Please try and post this article with special attention to last few paragraphs. Democrats need to learn how the despicable Republicans conduct themselves ... no action is beneath them to achieve their aims.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24308-2002Dec7.html
"Republicans had virtually no chance of attracting a significant percentage of black votes, leaving them free to concentrate more intensively on white voters, targeting particular demographic and geographic segments of the electorate with speed-dialed, recorded phone messages.
In one such pitch, a raspy-voiced caller imitating Bill Clinton identified himself as "Bubba" and, in folksy terms, painted Landrieu as a liberal far more at home in Washington than in Louisiana -- a major theme of the Terrell campaign.
"Mary Landrieu is so liberal, she might be closer to Hillary than I am," said Bubba, invoking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who is unpopular in this conservative state."
Nate
Sent to the president@whitehouse.gov:
Subj: Dissing Buddy and Socks
Well I have heard that your reputation is as a person who preaches Christian charity, but is basically a vindictive SOB.
I didn't believe it. But now I do. You and your wife have dissed the Clinton pets in your Christmas display. Hate Big Dog if you must. Hate Hillary if you must. But Buddy and Socks?
Maybe you are jealous that they showed love and affection for the Clintons, while your own dogs lounged indifferently when you fell off the couch and passed out....well, passed out. Lets let it go at that.
Rove has blown it this time. We cat lovers in particular will take our vengeance at the polls. We haven't forgotten your abandoning your cat. Now this!
Robert E. Reynolds, Orange Park , Fl
Subj: Newsweek's spin on proposal to abduct Iraqi scientists
Dear BuzzFlash,
Noticed at http://www.drudgereport.com/ --
http://www.msnbc.com/news/844173.asp?0cv=KA01&cp1=1
The Quiet Power of Condi Rice
<< Last week Rice met with chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix to press him to take a hard line: to remove Iraqi officials (and their families) to a safe place where they can tell the truth about Saddam's WMD program. >>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In contrast with
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/dec2002/iraq-d07.shtml
White House demands weapons inspectors abduct Iraqi scientists
<< Blix angrily rejected the US proposal, declaring Friday: "We are not going to abduct anybody and the UN is not going to run a defection agency." >> >>
A BuzzFlash Reader
Dear BuzzFlash,
RE: Why won't Miramax Release "The Quiet American?" 12/8
I'm amused at Weinstein's reasoning for not releasing The Quiet American to the general public. Weinstein Reasoning = Hogwash!
Excerpt From The Nation, Quiet in Hollywood:
But after 9/11, distributor Miramax shelved the film; Harvey Weinstein, Miramax co-chairman, told the New York Times the studio concluded that "you can't release this film now; it's unpatriotic. America has to be cohesive and band together. We were worried that nobody had the stomach for a movie about bad Americans anymore."
Shame on you Mr. Weinstein for giving us censorship with hogwash reasoning! Let's look at Weinstein's statement, "We were worried that nobody had the stomach for a movie about bad Americans anymore." Next, let's take a look at the CBS made for TV movie, MASTER SPY: The Robert Hanssen Story. Hanssen was a mole inside the FBI, clearly a bad American. He sold sensitive material to Russia over a period of years. The movie was in two Sunday evening parts, airing Nov. 10 and 17 at 9:00 pm. CBS had pretty stiff competition, one being Sunday night football.
Regardless of stiff competition, a collective audience for the two nights numbered nearly 16 million viewers. Nearly 16 million people tuned into a [no stomach for a movie about a bad American] Mr. Weinstein! And CBS must be unpatriotic for informing the people about a bad American... huh, Mr. Weinstein? And by the way, Mr. Weinstein, Americans will be better able to be cohesive and band together when they get truth!
~ Cathy
Subj: RNC going after Dems in Mississippi to convert
Dear BuzzFlash,
Sad they were on Fox News Channel tonight that Landrieu won and that Bushie boy doesn't reign supremo everywhere. They said that the Repubs are enticing the Dems in Mississippi to switch to the Repug party so that that state will then become a Repug state. They want an empire, for crying out loud. It's like they are playing Monopoly and gathering all the spoils with no recognition of anyone who doesn't think like their monotheistic viewpoint. Sick.
A BuzzFlash Reader
Subj: Landrieu's Victory
Dear BuzzFlash,
The victory of Senator Landrieu proves just one thing: Democrats can win regardless of ideology, provided they are willing to fight, to get down in the mud and quit acting like they're having tea with the Queen.
Eldon Leuning
Bothell,
Washington
Subj: ACTION ALERT ON ROLLING BACK *ALL* LIMITS ON MEDIA CONSOLIDATION
URGENT
I know everyone's tired of action alerts, but this may be THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE facing us right now. Hearings on eliminating controls on all media consolidation will be held in February. If Michael Powell gets his way again --as he has so far--the last vestiges of a "free press" (or what's left of it) will be gone for ever. And so will our chance of fighting back this regime. PLEASE don't ignore. Here's what you can do.
The "Call for Media Democracy", organized by FAIR and other groups includes a link where everyone can file a statement with the FCC in opposition to this outrage. Visit the sites listed below, contact your congressmen, send statements to the FCC, write letters, forward this email.
HERE'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY GET THEIR WAY
* The newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership ban will be gone. Newspapers will be absorbed by the broadcast TV industry.
* Chain ownership of newspapers, television and radio stations would likely increase dramatically.
* Dissenting political viewpoints will be further marginalized -- or eliminated.
* Independent media will be history
PLEASE VISIT THESE SITES:
http://www.fair.org/activism/fcc-call-action.html
The Center for Digital Democracy has a form that simplifies the process: http://www.democraticmedia.org/getinvolved/ownershipAction_FCCFiling.html
Finally -- from FAIR:
"Asked to explain his understanding of the public interest, Chairman Powell once replied that he had "no idea" what it meant."
Monica
Dear Editor:
FEAR SERVES BOTH TERRORISTS AND TYRANTS!
Fear has always been the driving force behind repression and control in every totalitarian state. Tyrants foster a state of unrelenting terror among the people. The primary source of this terror -- the type of fear used to justify all other means and methods of control -- is usually the fear of attack from foreign enemies.
Even in democratic countries, governments in power sometimes spread fear to suppress dissent and extend its control. We saw it operate during the cold war. We were told that Communists were everywhere among us trying to destroy our way of life. We willingly shed some of our liberties, compromised some of our founding principles, withheld our charity and squandered our resources in response to that threat. Neighbors suspected neighbors and those accused were condemned in the same breath. We conducted foreign policies that permitted, or even caused unspeakable atrocities in third world countries. We spread tyranny abroad in the name of national defense while those American industries that thrive on fear profited.
Our foreign policies during the "cold war" helped spawn the international terrorists we confront today. Terrorism is not a disease or a religious ideology. Terrorists are molded from childhood through trauma, poverty, oppression and despair. They are people who are blinded by hatred and revenge. We can kill them. We can destroy their bases and disrupt their operations, but the spawning grounds of terrorists are only fertilized by war.
What should our response be to this new foreign threat? We should pursue the terrorists for sure, but not use them as an excuse to invade the world’s second largest oil field. We should invent new ways to reach out and hear their grievances. We should earnestly encourage peaceful dialogue and greater understanding with the terrorists' constituency, the desperate people who have no voice. Our battle cry should be "liberty and justice for all," not "let's roll!"
At home, we should not capitalize on foreign threats for political gain. Substituting the "communists threat" with terrorist threats will further erode the liberties that set America apart. Let’s be true to our American ideals and live up to our creed so that we can be a force for world justice and a source of hope for those oppressed in their own land.
Brian
Lynch
Mine
Hill, NJ
Subj: Could the Iraqi Report Be Embarrassing to the U.S.??
In
the AP news report today (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&
e=1&u=/AP/20021208/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_arms_declaration) the Iraqi
Lt. Gen. Amer Al-Saadi is quoted saying that the report "will embarrass
some nations and companies" cited as having assisted in Iraq's pre-1991
efforts to build weapons of mass destruction, which Baghdad insists it
no longer holds.
We wonder just who those companies might be??? And which states they are located in?? Weren't we involved in arming Iraq against Iran?? Could Sadaam's report contain a weapon that Bush & Co. hadn't counted on -- a smoking gun?
Waiting to see.
BC
Dear BuzzFlash,
I called every one of our representatives in the House, even though only one was Democrat and I let them know exactly what a terrible unpatriotic and inconsiderate atrocity they had leveled against Americans by refusing to even vote on the bill to extend unemployment benefits and giving the shaft to American workers three days after Christmas. If you don't call your representatives and yell at them, they are not going to do a thing. They are going to let workers down. They need to start worrying now about their re-elections now. Go to www.house.gov and look up your state. Yell at ALL of them.
MV
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MAILBAG ARCHIVES
