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Hey BuzzFlash,

Your top headline on 12/11/02 asked "Republicans Can Lie and Get Away With It, Again and Again. Why?" The answer is simple - rather than hoot and holler every time our esteemed (not) President provides public prevarication Dems wait quietly in the bushes (pun intended) and jump all over morons like Lott for stupid public comments.

Republicans lie and get away with it because Democrats are merely a different wing of the same party, and as such they have a vested interest in keeping the status quo in power.

Thanks for the website.

Rama Schneider
Williamstown, VT

Dear BuzzFlash,

When are the democrats going to learn how to be democrats. Why stand up and make excuses for Trent Lott? Let the rep do it all they are the Bigots. By helping them, dems also look like bigots. Would a rep protect a dem? Ill let you ponder that ques.

Ed Peltz

Subj: Gay Translators

Dear BuzzFlash,

During WWII, the British were desperately trying to decipher the German code and understand the workings of the Enigma Machine. Alan M. Turing was a brilliant man who was instrumental in the breaking of the code and therefore saved countless Allied lives, including Americans. Thankfully, the British were not narrow-minded homophobes since Turing was a homosexual. It’s hard to believe that in time of a national emergency, our own government cannot put aside its petty intolerances.

A Buzz Flash Reader

Subj: In Praise of Pink Tutus, Part Two-Two

Dear BuzzFlash,

Trent Lott just made it easier for Blanche Lincoln, Fritz Hollings and Zell Miller to run for re-election as Democrats in the next election, and he probably made fellow Republicans like Richard Shelby and Ben Nighthorse Campbell long for the days when they were Democrats.

By embracing 54-year-old sentiments that Thurmond himself had largely rejected, the soon-to-be majority leader has effectively erected a burning cross on the senate lawn, illuminating the words "GOP."

Daschle was wise to waffle and fudge on this issue if he hopes to attract any two GOP-ers to cross the aisle. Daschle's collegiality is precisely what brought Jeffords over and it could work again.

It is up to other Democrats, if they stop running against Al Gore momentarily, to follow the vice-president's courageous lead on this issue. It would be nice to hear Clinton praise Gore for this, but I ain't holding my breath.

I like Terry McCauliffe, but I would cheerfully see him thrown as a bone to Zell Miller if it would bring us another cracker, such as Shelby, who left in the first place over precisely the same kind of bitching and moaning we now hear from Zell.

Remember how great you felt when you learned that Mary Landrieu had won? Despite her 70-80% pro-Bush voting record? If we could win a seat in Alabama without spending a nickel, how cool would that be?

Steve High

Subj: Elephant Puckey!

Dear BuzzFlash,

I was wondering how long it would take to bring forth the 1980 comment made by Trent Lott.

This guy and his cronies are so full of elephant puckey, it's pitiful. And J.C. Watts, retired Oklahoma representative, is so quick to put republicanism ahead of black ethics. He wouldn't yell racist against a republican in a white sheet, if it meant criticism of the party. Good thing he retired... surely he would never acquire votes from people of color again. Watts can't see the forest for the trees.

Then we have Ari imitating the FedX speed talker. He basically says president Bush has confidence in Lott as head of the Senate. What does that say about the president? Personalities from all walks of life have resigned high powered positions because of unacceptable public commentary. Oh, but this is different, according to most republicans.

Lott can apologize all he wants. He can twist his statement and tell us that it was simply a poor choice of words. But as far as I'm concerned, TWO Freudian slips now expose the man for what he really is... an old south, prejudiced and miserable protégé of Strom Thurmond. The US Senate doesn't need a Strom Thurmond replacement!

~ Cathy

Dear BuzzFlash,

Jim Hightower's article is the BEST, most CONCISE and INCISIVE analysis on the Democrats that I've read so far!!!

Many of Jim's ideas to revitalize the party are mine, too! I realized that Democrats aren't connected by face-to-face gatherings. I agree with that 100 percent! True, many voters will be too busy to do so, but having many gatherings which are fun AND informative will attract many new-comers and will serves a dual purpose --- they get us together to share information, and they get OUR IDEAS to the party leaders so that the party is always united.

Jim is right about the "strategists" in Washington DC being totally out of touch with the Democratic voters. Ask yourself: Why are the "stupid white men" who vote conservative so consistently there to vote? Answer: They're united on the issues! They hear them on hate talk radio (Rush mush, etc.) every day. They know the issues inside, out. But Democrats are disunited on the issues. We're scattered all over the horizon! We need the issues and ideas to START WITH US, THE VOTERS, and be adopted by the party leadership. The party leadership should not be frustrating us with "strategies."

Did you read the transcript of President Clinton's address about the post-Nov. 5 election that I sent out? It reminded me that Clinton, unlike Dubya, WAS A REAL UNITER. He did unite people --- In Congress and especially the voters. He talked about an inclusive belief that includes ALL of us. There's nothing you can say to smear the idea of "all of us"! It's a winner!

I missed my Democratic committee meeting because of a heavy workload at the office, but I'm going to go to the next meeting and bring these points up.

Happy Holidays!

Linda
San Jose

Dear BuzzFlash,

Gee, how did everyone like those punishing remarks that Tom Daschle spewed out to Trent Lott re his latest venture into the world of racism. Boy, he really whooped Trent's ass, didn't he! I'd really love to locate Tom Daschle's anger so I could maybe unleash it. But then again, have we heard from Pelosi, Kennedy, Hillary, McCain, or any of those other unyielding fighters we have in Congress? Nary a word - from either side of the aisle. I won't even get into the media - that's a given. It certainly doesn't surprise me that many of the people who are dismissing the remark as light-hearted fun happen to be notorious racists. But there are many others who aren't racists, and yet they too would like it to blow over. It's these people that I'm afraid cannot really grasp the level of fear that a remark like that can instill in a minority population (or all of us for that matter), given this country's history. Now comes the part where we hear how we're making too much out of nothing. I don't think we should ever let this blow over as these wimps are suggesting. I think it's one more very serious threat to our democracy and there should be severe pressure put on Lott - nonstop. But don't ask me who's going to apply this pressure other than us. How could Daschle say what he did? They've all learned nothing, and I really fear for our future more than ever because there doesn't seem to be anything that will light a fire under their asses. This just keeps emboldening the republicans and it will get worse and worse. I remember months ago watching a pro-Palestinian demonstration on TV. I'm Jewish, and I hardly have a problem with people disagreeing with Israel's policies - so do I. But I remember seeing signs that said "Hitler Didn't Finish the Job". It was so hurtful - I couldn't help being personally horrified and offended. But that's hardly comparable to seeing the MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE make a disgusting proclamation as Trent Lott did as opposed to some idiot college-age faux activists carrying signs.

Barbara in NYC

Subj: Cheney Bunkering

Dear BuzzFlash,

The thunderings coming from cheney's digs and speculation that he is building a bunker (at taxpayer expense) starts a slow burn for me. It offends me that taxpayers are footing expenses so he can hide from the results of his ruthless grab for power. If the US is under attack it has happened because bush and cheney have pushed their suicidal policy to it's logical conclusion. In that event, the bunkers are needed for people of humanity and integrity. Members of the bush cartel belong above ground, sowing the harvest of their evil empire.

Congratulations on the award. You are the first thing I read in the morning and the last thing I read at night. Actually, BuzzFlash is habit forming....could it be an AAADDICCTTIONNN??

anne flynn

Dear Buzzers,

At one point I was the executive assistant to the publisher of a major newspaper. During my time there, the union workers went on strike, and picketed every day right in front of the newspaper's entrance. For weeks. They were loud, they were strong, and believe me, no one inside the newspaper's office got very much work done, including the publisher himself, who spent much of his time on the phone attempting to calm the chaos that the strikers caused (I secretly cheered).

We need to emulate the protesters who rallied in front of the CNN offices.

Targeting our protests directly at the media offices will accomplish two very important things: first, it will distract them from the daily dose of white house propaganda that they faithfully regurgitate each day. It will force them to listen to the every day local people who are buying their newspaper, listening to their radio station, or watching their shows. Second, it will cost these media outlets money, which can really hurt them right now (newspapers are always battling for every dollar). They lose revenue because if they do not begin to listen to the people who are protesting right outside their door, they will lose that readership/listenership/viewership. If they lose their loyal audience, they will lose their advertisers, who will not spend dollars on a newspaper/station whose circulation is going down. Advertising dollars are the life blood of the media.

Media outlets compete against each other. There is only so much advertising revenue to go around. If only ONE newspaper listened to the protesters and began to print the TRUTH to its readership, they would be practicing journalism as it was meant to be practiced. If they would only give us what we are forced now to DEMAND, that is, the TRUTH, their readership would explode.

The "media" think we need them. We don't, as websites like BuzzFlash and Moveon.org prove. Look at what we've accomplished already! Our peace and justice movements are growing, and our main tool is the internet. We can show "mainstream media" that THEY NEED US, and if they don't start giving us the truth and some information instead of propaganda, we will turn off the TV, stop buying the newspaper, and refuse to listen to AM radio garbage. I did that long ago.

Protest the mainstream media where they work!

A Loyal BuzzFlash Reader

the republicans can scream it's over move on all they want. black people don't listen to them anyway. blacks don't cave because the right wing tells us to!

we will not forget come 2004. bush is the same, he has not rebuked what lott said so he must feel the same! that tape should not get any rest in the 2004 election!

shorty memphis tn.

Buzz,

Re: Zack Exley's letter

Hey - I also saw Janeane Garafalo last night and I was just getting ready to write to BuzzFlash about it when I read Zack's piece. Like Zack, I was jumping around. Connie looked like she wanted to get the hell out of there fast. I regret that I didn't get to see the whole thing because I tuned in too late. I was so impressed with Janeane - always have been but it just went up a few notches. I didn't get to hear too much of Mike Farrell but from what you say, he was just as great. I just get so excited over these little triumphs. This reminded me of the time that Larry King was interviewing Bill Maher and I think Larry was literally trying to crawl under his desk every time Maher started in on Bush. Larry was actually crouching down and sort of trying to hide. Body language is so interesting. I so enjoyed watching Connie Chung get whacked a bit. There's just no way she's up to a debate with those two. I love when they get caught with their pants down. The media people don't know what to do when confronted with truth instead of propaganda. This just goes to show that we can do it when finally given a forum. Now we see why we usually don't get a forum. The media people can't endure the embarrassment so they've kept on playing it safe. We gotta break through that. I'm glad others besides Susan Sarandon are finally opening their mouths. We need all the help we can get and I've been wondering where Hollywood has been.

Barbara in NYC

Subj: Keeping the Pressure On

Dear BuzzFlash:

Dreaming again.

Let us for a moment presume the following:

1. The pressure on Lott is kept up, until,

2. He resigns.

3. If he does, McConnell is elected Majority leader.

4. The two Macs -- McConnell & McCain -- despise each other.

5. McCain jumps.

Ooops, I just woke up.

WLC

Subj: Bush and Nukes

Dear BuzzFlash,

You can't fight insanity with more insanity! Yet this is what George Bush seems to be doing with his latest threat to use preemptive nuclear weapon strikes against anyone he deems evil. I believe this man is verifiably insane. I think he has serious issues about his masculinity. He wants to prove what a big man he is to his dad. But isn't this exactly what we teach our kids NOT to do? Can you imagine if a kid came home and said someone was picking on him, and his dad said, "Here. Take my gun and go blow him away before he does something to you." This is exactly what George Bush is advocating. It is the sign of a coward and a bully. It is immoral. It is against international law, and it is not worthy of a nation as great as the United States of America. This is the year 2002. We should be way beyond this kind of immature, out-dated thinking. You don't go dropping nuclear bombs on millions of innocent people just to knock out a few tyrants. I believe that type of action will come back on us tenfold.

I believe George W. Bush is verifiably insane, and I wish there was a way we, as citizens of the United States of America, could have him psychologically evaluated to see if he is fit to be holding the office of president of the United States. I don't believe he is.

Rob Moitoza
Seattle, Wa.

Dear Buzz:

I am scared. I really wonder if this weird administration will go into war with Iraq, even with the list of things that they have...we all know that we will get something. Most people think that no matter what Saddam says, we will bomb the hell out of him. And, I still cannot get one republican that I know or on the air, to tell me why! Tonight I heard someone comparing the "regime change" to Gen. McCarthur being put in charge of Japan after the 2nd world war. But, Guys, Japan bombed us!

Unless something is being kept from us, and it would not surprise me, Iraq really had nothing to do with the trade center bombings....I would believe that perhaps Saudia Arabia did, but not Iraq.

The entire things still boils down to:: Junior was put into this job with one thing in mind, getting Saddam Hussein out, to avenge his daddy!!!!

It does not matter a whit what this world or anyone thinks, that is what this little dim wit is going to do....and if it backfires, all he has to lose is a job...and he will be down there in that bunker, safe and sound! All the innocents will be the starved and dead! See?? I am scared!!!

Any suggestions, Buzzers???

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Republican Sleaze

Dear BuzzFlash,

Has DimSon committed some horrible faux pas of which we are yet unaware, I mean even worse than the ones of which we ARE aware? Or is the economy much, much worse than we think? I for one believe none of the rosy numbers and light at the end of the tunnel crap we are hearing out of Washington, but are things even worse than we can imagine?

My questions are prompted by a sharp increase in the amount of anti-Clinton sleaze oozing out of republicanland this week. First we have the guy from Houston, Texas, who is opening the so-called "anti-Clinton lie-brary" in Little Rock. This is so puerile that only a republican could have thought it up, so I will not discuss it further except to inquire whether the soon-to-be-unemployed Tim Hutchinson will be the head liar-brarian.

Then today during the news a promo for tomorrow's Dr. Phil show said his guest would be Paula Jones. Apparently they are doing a show on the topic "Stories You Can't Forget," presumably to be subtitled "Because the Media Won't Let You." He should instead call it "People Who Won't Go Away" and also have on Gennifer Flowers, Joey Buttafuoco, Tanya Harding, Kato Kaolin, any person who has ever sued either of the Clintons; and any other woman except Hillary who has ever alleged so much as a passing acquaintance with er, uh, "Little Billy." Then while they are all on stage, would someone please drop a net over the whole bunch, nab them and then drop them out of a plane flying over one of Saddam's palaces. Several birds with one stone, I say.

Anyway, for those of you who are a little curious, but just can't stomach a whole hour of Paula and Dr. Phil, Miz Cleo has been nice enough to take time out from working on her legal problems to detail for us the highlights of the show in advance. Here's a transcript:

"Dr. Phil: Oh, you poor thing. You must be so traumatized.

"Paula: Huh? (Has to be told definition of traumatized). Yes, Dr. Phil. Yes I am.

"Dr. Phil: Please tell us what happened when that dastardly person accosted you, you innocent, virginal, demure, fine upstanding example of republican womanhood.

"Paula: Well, Dr. Phil, all I did was just walk into the room. He was so overcome by my beauty, wit and charm that he dropped his pants. Being an innocent young virgin at the time, I was ascared. That's why it took me so long to leave.

"Dr. Phil: Of course. I understand. Tell us, Paula dear, what did the presidential member look like?

"Paula: Huh?

"Dr. Phil: His penis. What did it look like?

"Paula: Oh, I'll never forget the sight of that big shiny bald . . . like your head, Dr. Phil, it looked a whole lot like your head!"

Sorry. That's about all Miz Cleo could tell us. She said shortly after the above exchange, Dr. Phil cancelled any further taping for the day and went out to see if he could borrow a toup from Trent Lott. She could see a little further into the future, however, and said that one of Dr. Phil's shows next week was going to be about the sexual perversions of cheerleaders. He's going to have Dubya and Trent Lott on to talk about their experiences, preferences and fetishes. Then she yelled something that sounded like "hotty totty" or "hotty toddy" and came out of her trance.

I hope this transcript has been of some service to those BuzzFlash readers who otherwise might have had to spend an entire hour to learn of Dr. Phil's uncanny resemblance to a prick.

Helpfully yours,

Callie Coe Catt

PS to BuzzFlash editors: I know you'll NEVER post this, but I hope you get a laugh out of reading it. If you don't understand the "hotty toddy" reference, you'll have to ask Trent or some other Ole Miss person.

Subj: Scuds for our Buds

Dear BuzzFlash,

The Bush Administration has determined that those 15 Scud missiles hidden aboard the North Korean operated mystery ship can continue on their way to our good friend Yemen. So be it if this is in accordance with international law.

All we left to do is speculate on the uproar Republicans would generate in the Congress and the Media if President Clinton had allowed a similar cargo from a country identified as a charter member of the "axis of evil" to continue on to a country known to harbor terrorists.

Yours,

John Bonanno

Subj: Total Information Awareness

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am a volunteer at a community garden in downtown Los Angeles. We receive a lot of information and donations from Common Ground, a wonderful organization dedicated to providing better food and nutrition to low income folks. They also conduct the Master Gardener's class for residents of LA County. This year for the first time, anyone who applies to take the training has to submit to a fingerprinting and background check by the Department of Justice. The DOJ says it is to prevent pedophiles from entering volunteer programs but Master Gardeners don't work with children (I fully support background checks for kids programs). The DOJ also wants all current Master Gardeners to submit to the fingerprinting and background check, which some are refusing to do and will now have to leave the program. Many of us have been active in civil rights and anti-war movements and have arrest records from those events, others are former gang members but are now trying to better themselves and their communities and want to leave their criminal pasts behind.

Master Gardeners are committed to helping low income people grow more food and spend many volunteer hours in training and providing services. Bush has told us how important it is to volunteer in our communities. He didn't mention that doing so requires the creation of a dossier that will be filed with Ashcroft, shared with Poindexter and fed into the Total Information Awareness network.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

This is created by Sidney Arroyo, the only daily Democratic Voice on the Radio in the Gulf South, at WBYU radio, 1450AM, New Orleans.

His show "It's Only Politics", co-hosted with Chris Tidmore, can be heard Monday through Friday from 7-9 AM Central Time live and on the Internet at www.bayou1450.com

On Trent Lott and Strom:

White Christmas
by Trent Lott and the Compassionate Conservatives
(sung to the tune White Christmas)

Trent Lott's dreaming of a White Christmas,
Just like the ones Strom used to know….
When burning crosses glistened,
And hooded klansters listened
as Lott longed for long ago…..

Trent Lott's dreaming of a White Christmas
In every segregated town….
May your politics be extremely to the right….
And may all your neighborhoods be white…

Subj: Indian Reservation Fraud

Dear Buzz,

Seems like it does run in Repug families...hypocrisy, hatred, fraud.

Please follow up the story of Rehnquist's daughter with a story about Circus Circus Cacino Owner William Bennett's daughter, Diana Bennett. TIME, Dec.8 issue. As Education Czar, I don't think gambling casinos represent a viable future for most native American Indians. This program was ushered in by Reagan initiatives and has enabled the Rehnquist family to cash in without paying taxes on profits and without sharing with natives. They are still in poverty. Is this William Bennett's idea of education for all?

Thanks,

A Fan

Subj: Outrage!

Dear BuzzFlash,

Lott said no one in his party or in the Bush administration has said anything directly to him about the remarks.

Lott said that on Larry King, so apparently our president has no respect for blacks and only hired Rice and Powell to get blacks to vote for him! Clearly he does not mind having a racist as the majority leader! We won't forget in 2004!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear Buzz,

Two years ago today the United States Supreme Court shamelessly appointed GW Bush to be the president of United States, against the will of the people.

We will NEVER forget!

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)

Dear BuzzFlash,

Doesn't it appear as if Trent Lott and all those supporting him are doing what they always accused President Clinton of doing and MORE. Talk about parsing words!!!! Talk about the meaning of "is" that became such a joke. Trent Lott said something loud, clear and unambiguous. He has said it before. He has links to a white supremacist group. He supported a college that prohibits interracial dating and hate against other religions. Listen to what Lott and others are saying. Well, he meant that he was praising Thurmond's record on defense. No you weren't Mr. Lott - Mr. Thurmond was not running on defense in 1948. A slip of the tongue? - NOT. Carried away in the moment of celebration? - Not based on your history of comments and actions and associations. And all the Republicans lined up - including amazingly J.C. Watts - to excuse him. Turn this back onto all of those Republicans who decried President Clinton for "lying to the American people". No one is lying more than Trent Lott. No one is defending him more than Republicans. HE DID MEAN IT!!! He means it just like Dick Armey meant to say "fag" when he called Barney Frank - Barney "fag" and then claimed it was a slip of the tongue. Go after Republicans for the same thing they always accused Pres. Clinton of. Keep playing the tape - because no matter what Lott says - the tape speaks for itself. I wish Democrats knew how to fight. Parsing words, making excuses, lying to the American people - that is what Lott and his supporters are doing - Go after him not only on what he said substantively - but also on their parsing words, lying, etc.

Jerilyn Rubin

Subj: Daschilitis

Dear BuzzFlash,

An excellent thought provoking piece on the now largely irrelevant Senate minority leader, Trader Tom. I call him Trader Tom, because, as you aptly point out in your editorial, he has shown on repeated occasion that he is willing to trade sacred principle for what he perceives to be "tactical" victories. His perception is woefully off target however since his supposed victories, like getting his long time staffer onto the FCC, in exchange for Bush getting his rubber stamp judicial nominees onto the Federal bench, are in actuality huge lopsided political defeats. I'll take two life-tenured judges in exchange for the opposition appointing a minority member of the FCC with no political power and a short political tenure any day of the week. The equivalent of his grand "political strategy" in chess would be the sacrificing of rooks and queens for mere pawns.

On the Strom issue, unfortunately Trader Tom was not alone in his deafening silence and moral tepidity. After Trent "Bull Connor" Lott had completed his oration taken straight from the script of Deliverance, every other prominent Democrat, with the exception of President Gore was silent about the moral travesty of his remarks. Only Gore spoke out forcefully and with eloquence in denouncing Trent. Once more he led the way. After Gore's remarks on Monday denouncing Trent's verbal cross-burning, and after prominent African American leaders expressed serious outrage, only then did other Democrats suddenly wake up and "get religion." Even then though, Lieberman and Kerry took until yesterday to issue written statements on the issue. Kerry, jumping on the Gore bandwagon, has now called for Lott's resignation as majority leader, but again he did not step to the microphone immediately, and shout his denunciation from the rooftops as he should have. No he simply chose to make a carefully crafted political statement in a letter. This allows him to have the best of both worlds i.e. he can criticize Lott in writing so that he has political cover but by not saying anything publicly he can avoid antagonizing the Confederate vote and looking "too liberal." Sorry, not good enough.

Lott's words were despicable. They were nothing but a very public chest-beating endorsement of segregation and, as such they should have been condemned roundly and forcefully by EVERY Democrat as soon as he or she heard them. Harry Truman, the man who defeated Strom in 1948, did not back down from his endorsement of the civil rights platform even though it led to the loss of three southern states and caused defections of crackers from the party. Politically, Harry could very easily have been as tepid as Trader Tom and the rest of the silent ones by taking the easy way out and pooh poohing his support for civil rights and "toning it down." Hell there was enormous pressure for him to do so. Fortunately for all of us, he did not. Harry was a man not afraid to stand on principle, and as such he is rightfully recognized as a great President and great Democrat. Al Gore has shown that he is willing to follow in Harry Truman's footsteps and he has now distinguished himself from the rest of the pack of Presidential wannabes. It is this type of Trumanesque "fire in the belly" that has been sorely missing from national party leadership. I much prefer a leader who follows the path of Truman rather than ones who are afflicted with the curse of Daschilitis. The curse of Daschilitis dooms one to being meekly ineffectual and, ultimately, irrelevant.

Dan

Subj: Thurmond's Actual Words

Dear BuzzFlash,

After reading many instances of Thurmond's vicious remarks from his segregationist campaign in 1948 - I came across one on Bartcop http://www.bartcop.com/ this morning that actually used the word "nigger" - when all previous instances I had read used the less offensive "nigra".

So I thought old Bart was maybe trying to get a little extra mileage out of this thing.

To check for myself I did a search on Google. Most of the dozens of mentions used the milder "nigra" form. A very few used "negro" instead.

But then I came to one link that used "nigger" - and fortunately this one included an audio link. I think your readers may like to step back in time to hear what America was like before the Repugs hired all those PR firms.

http://www.crookdimwit.com/MT/archives/002591.html

This may seem like a small thing - but when you think about - it's huge and says much about our "liberal" media - who, even when condemning blatant racism, lies to us.

Thanks Bart - for the truth.

Margi McGhee
Port Townsend WA

Dear Buzz,

After reading your link about the Baltimore City Council's resolution against war on Iraq, I did some searching and found this organization. "Cities for Peace" seems to be very well organized and to have seized on an theme that can make a difference, so I thought I'd send you the link. I hope you will check it out and give this group some much deserved exposure.

Thank you!

Peace and democracy,

Kathleen Trevena

http://www.citiesforpeace.org/

Subj: Lotsa Lott

Buzz,

If, as he claims, Lott was not admiring Thurmond's impressive status as a racist, why does he support him at all based on the 1948 campaign? Thurmond was a (shudder) Democrat. Why doesn't Lott support Dewey, the endorsed candidate of his party? I have been a Democrat all of my life and for me to support someone of the other party, they have to be radically different from members of my own party in at least one way that I value. The main way I know that Thurmond was different is that he was a visible and loudmouthed bigot. He wanted fervently to keep the laws in place that hurt and disenfranchised blacks and other minorities and he wanted to strengthen and expand those laws. Since this is the main thing about Thurmond that set him aside in 1948 and Lott denies that that is the characteristic he admires so, exactly what characteristic is it that Lott admires? Aren't his GHP friends interested in why Lott is so enthusiastic about a member of the other party? Will Buzz reporters ask a few GHP Representatives if they really want a leader who loves someone of the other party more than them?

Sharon Rickert
Isanti, MN

Subj: Trent Lott

Dear BuzzFlash,

I probably am the only person who is not calling for Lott to resign. I feel that looking at him being the leader of the Senate, is reminding all of us, daily, what the Republican Party is all about. The Racist Party. Enough said.

Mary Ann
Delaware

Subj: too late now

we are so disappointed our president did not come out and tell our country lott is wrong and ask him to step down as leader of the republican party. we now wonder if he is scared he will lose the southern racist vote in 2004 if he were to disavow lotts racist statements! if he does so now, it will only be because he was told he had to.

don and diane miami fl.

Dear BuzzFlash,

You make some excellent points in your editorial on Daschle, but I would add the following:

1. We do NOT want Lott to resign. Leave the white hood where it belongs--on top of the second or third most powerful GOP leader in America.

2. All of Daschle's sins are forgivable save one: Losing the Senate.

3. He has a last chance to redeem this failing, albeit a nearly forlorn one. Daschle got Jeffords because he made the Democratic Party seem more congenial to conservative Democrats than the Republican Party is to liberal Republicans. The Lott flap provides a wonderful opportunity for two or more Reps to jump ship.

4. The Senate protects its own. This is what Daschle was attempting with Lott. Although his response was tone-deaf--and mulishly disloyal to Gore, who is the standard-bearer of the party and who was the first white man through the door on this issue--it was probably intended to be reassuring to red state senators such as McCain, Shelby and Campbell who might be considering a walk across the aisle. Incidentally, it was mindless Eastern Seaboard partisanship that drove Shelby and Campbell out of our party. Neither is worse than Landrieu on anything and I, for one, would love to see them back voting for the leadership of the Senate.

5. I agree that the Dems need to learn to throw a punch. Landrieu's Mexican Sugar story was a beaut. But first she had to cover up her face and just accept the pain of the inevitable blows by voting with the GOP as often as necessary to protect her "landslide" margin. She won the race with a perfectly spiced gumbo of white liberals (yes, there are some from down there, including Corp. Cueball, USMC), soccer moms, secret ballot abortion supporters and, of course, Afro-American voters. Black voters were neither less nor more important than swing suburban voters to her victory.

6. Now is not the time to attack Daschle. Let Trent twist in the wind all alone.

7. A half-assed, paper thin, collegial Senate is the very best we can hope for until we can start winning more elections. Daschle and his committee chairs did a good job of stemming some of the potential Bush damage last year. As of now, Bush controls all three branches of government and what he will do with it in the next two years is almost unspeakable to contemplate.

Steve High

Subj: Lott

He's not misunderstood - just "misunderestimated." :)

John T. Kirtley, III
Dallas, Texas

Subj: Free Speech Zones

Dear BuzzFlash,

I think that the current practice of herding protestors into free speech zones provides the solution to the cross burning problem. Each city can have designated cross burning zones.

ja in la

Subj: Drive to replace Lott coming from the WH?

Dear Buzz,

Outside from Trent Lott's racist remarks, I can't think of a better reason for Lott to resign than for cutting too many deals with Daschle!

And how about Daschle resigning for cutting too many deals with Lott?!!

Too much to ask, I'm afraid!

Nancy Lynn Nagy

Subj: Trent "I'm bent a whole" Lott

Buzz,

With everything seemingly going down the drain, like democratic leadership in the Senate, I appreciate your condemnation of Daschle's apologies on behalf of Trent "seriously bent" Lott.

I guess in Daschle's case, it's that there's not a whole lot of black voters in S. Dakota, but shore 'nuf a whole lot of rural white votes.

Too bad Daschle couldn't be more of a man, coming from that 'manly' state; instead he is an apologist for what there can be no apology for: nostalgia for the horror of those good ol' days of lynchings and segregation.

Our country is truly dying, God help us all.

Rick Kelly
Seattle, WA

Subj: Re: Different countries, Different results.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Why don't we argue what "We" means in Lott's quote? (see below)

The precise quote is "...when Strom Thurmond ran for president *we* voted for him. *We're* proud of it. ... we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either."

Trent Lott was born October 9, 1941, in Grenada County, Mississippi. He wasn't old enough to vote in 1948 for Strom Thurmond. Blacks were not allowed to vote at all. The "we" he refers to several times can only mean white folks.

Translation: We white folks wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either, if we had elected (anti-segregationist and pro-lynching) Thurmond.

Paul Lehto

Re: Tom Daschle: Too Little, Too Late, As Usual

Dear BuzzFlash,

Did Daschle just turn into a marshmallow recently? Or was he a marshmallow all along, and we didn't know it because he wears nice suits and has a nice smile.

Whatever, a marshmallow can't be disguised for long. He better not get too close to political fires....we all know what happens to marshmallows when THAT happens. Maybe that is why he's so soft spoken and careful....HE DOESN'T WANT TO MELT.

Donna

Subj: Al Gore

Dear BuzzFlash,

It was a pleasure to watch Al Gore last night on HARDBALL. Matthews was subdued (compared to usual), and Gore was right on the mark with everything he said. The audience loved him.

Obviously, I am one of the majority who think that Al was screwed out of a job in 2000 ~ I'd LOVE to see the tide turn.

Vicki Stein