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Dear Buzz,

This little tidbit is in the last paragraph of an editorial calling for Lott not to be named Majority Leader.

"No one has put more effort than George W. Bush into ending the image of the Republican Party as a whites-only haven. For all the disagreement that many African-Americans have with his policies, few can doubt Mr. Bush's commitment to a multiracial America. But unless the president wants to spend his next campaign explaining the majority leader's behavior over and over, he should urge the Senate Republicans to get somebody else for the job." http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/12/opinion/12THU1.html

Excuse me? George Bush committed to a multiracial America? I'd laugh if I wasn't crying. The Times must be trying to be funny. The only thing George Bush is committed to is paying back campaign contributors and disassembling the Bill of Rights.

African American? Screw you, your votes don't count anymore. Arab American? You're all the same, and are all suspects. Women? Too bad for you, you should stay at home and have babies. Just let me get more judges in and we'll be back to 1948 soon enough. Children? Forget real learning, pass this test (drug or standardized) and we might let you move on.

Remember folks, it's what he does, not what he says.

Jeff
Ferndale, MI

Subj: George Mitchell Resigns from 9=11 Committee

There seems to be little hope for the 9-11 commission. Now that George Mitchell has resigned, he will be replaced by Lee Hamilton.

Those of us who remember the October Surprise investigation headed up by Lee Hamilton and its failure to come to any conclusions harbor no doubts that Bush must be rejoicing over this change. Hamilton was the one who took the position that even if the Republicans had done it, so what it was over. A failure to recognize treason. He went along with every request of the Republicans and they in turn used the concessions to obstruct progress until time ran out. Thus the investigation was never completed, the findings were "inconclusive", and the Republicans and George HW Bush were off the hook, even though the head of French intelligence, a personal friend of Reagan, stated that it did happen and he had helped facilitate it. And the former President of Iran also said it happened.

I feel for the 9-11 families. They are being sold out. The were sold out by the joint intelligence committee headed by Graham, Shelby, and Goss.

They should expect to be sold out again.

Your excellent editorial on Daschle pointed out all the different issues largely ignored by Daschle including 9-11. But it wasn't just him. With rare exception it was all of the Democrats in the Senate. Had they made a point of these issues from the very beginning we probably would not be going to war, GW would not be regarded as a "fearless leader", and they might very well today control both the House and Senate.

In the past, had the Democrats shown the Republicans to be the traitors they are instead of brushing it off as "just politics" there would be no GW and no fascist coup.

In the present had they the courage to thoroughly investigate 9-11 and the cowardly and perhaps treasonous conduct of GW we would not now be facing a war no one wants. Instead, under the leadership of Daschle, they gave him a free pass. When it came time to vote on war, the Senate ignored the voice of the people and voted to give Bush the authority to do as he damn well pleased.

Perhaps George Mitchell realized that his long and distinguished career might forever be sullied by serving on the commission. His excuse for quitting seems awfully lame. But, I don't blame him one bit.

Robert E. Reynolds, Orange Park Fl

Subj: A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Dear BuzzFlash,

Today, the resident in the White House issued a statement denouncing Trent Lott's words. It took him an entire week to do this. What has he been doing all week? Why so long? Is he now retracting his previous stance that he "supports Lott as Republican Senate Majority Leader? Or What?

Trying to do damage control, realizing that it could hurt his re-election campaign. Who knows. His silence said it all. It's a little too late now.

But since we are on the subject, will Senator Lott be asked to step down? Stay tuned.

Anita

Subj: It's the Southern Vote

Dear BuzzFlash,

Bush's comments about what Trent Lott said are too little and too late! He held is finger to the wind to see which way to go! He also appears to want to keep a racist as majority leader. Both Gore and Kerry asked him to step down. Our president should have been the first to do so!

Karen in SC

Subj: Trent (dead-man-walking) Lott

Dear Buzz,

You folks sure predicted that the oust Lott effort was inspired by Rove. The 1 p.m. speech Bush gave today skewered Lott with an atomic harpoon. Lott would rather have had his kneecaps busted with a baseball bat.

The only question is, will he even finish his term in the Senate? Bush is a bi-partisan son-of-a-bitch-on-a-roll. Rove was sitting back, listening to the speech and cheers and counting the newly won black votes.

Does it get much better than this? Inhoffe for majority leader. He's a regular at the holy roller meetings. Start calling Rove the Don.

Bob Gaiek, Atlanta

Dear BuzzFlash,

Monitoring Media coverage of the Trent Lott fiasco, I'm amazed that I haven't heard any major medial mention that Thurmond's platform was not only segregationist, but pro lynching.

How any self respecting "journalist" can fail to mention that, and still live with themselves, I'll never know.

J.P.R. Jenkins
Pueblo, CO

Dear Buzz,

The last few sentences of Bob Herbert's editorial in the NY Times read: "There are calls now for the ouster of Trent Lott as the Senate Republican leader. I say let him stay. He's a direct descendant of the Dixiecrats and a first-rate example of what much of his party has become. Keep him in plain sight. His presence is instructive. As long as we keep in mind that it isn't only him."

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/12/opinion/12HERB.html

He's so right, and this is exactly why a lot of repugs are now calling for Lott's resignation. Because they realize this. Trent will be gone soon.

Barbara in NYC

Subj: Careful What You Wish For

Dear BuzzFlash,

Although I join BuzzFlash in it's condemnation of Trent Lott's outrageous statement regarding lynching and segregationist platforms of the past. And, I'm disgusted, but not surprised, at Sen. Daschle's lame response, I'm a little worried about the repercussions for the Democrats, should the Republican's succeed at ousting Lott from his leadership position.

If Lott were to leave his post as Senate Leader, the GOP will claim that the Republican party actually does something about racism, while the Democrats simply pay the black Americans lip service, as has been the norm of late.

Another concern is what is to be gained for the liberals, if the White House were to get a GOP Senate Leader, that's less obvious about his repugnant beliefs?

Although I didn't agree with the first President Bush, when he allowed Saddam to stay in power after the first "Gulf War," there is something to say for the logic behind the old cliché "be careful what you wish for, you might get it."

If the White House is behind the conservative drive to oust Lott, why hand them another victory?

Trent Lott will be just as much, if not more, repulsive an individual in two years as he is now, and his presence in the GOP can only hurt them, and strengthen any other opponents in the next election.

I am no fan of Tom Daschle, he's the wimpiest Democratic leader I've ever been aware of, and should resign. There may be some logic in his behavior. As your recent article mentioned, Trent Lott and Tom Daschle have been able to work together, who knows what the next GOP Senate Leader will be like?

All the above being said, I think maybe the Democrats should learn to fight, and start getting nastier toward the GOP juggernaut. Considering the risk that progressives face in ousting Lott, perhaps it's a fight and a quest we should prosecute anyway, with the foreknowledge that we must be just as difficult as we can possibly be to the any successor of Trent Lott.

If progressives are going to relearn how to fight for America, we should fight for things that are right, and ousting Trent Lott, not only from his leadership position, but the United States Senate, is the right thing to do.

Sincerely,

J.P.R. Jenkins
Pueblo, CO

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

Dear BuzzFlash,

I totally agree! No wonder he's no longer the senate majority leader! Like so many other democrats in leadership Tom Daschle just rolls over and played dead for the republicans. When are these guys going to get some backbone!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Al Gore is the ONLY ONE WHO CAN WIN IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

Dear BuzzFlash,

We must get behind this man. I can't take another four years of Dubya and his minions. Just when our country would have nothing left -- then (shudder) Jeb -- to finish the job of destroying our country. This is a serious nightmare scenario. We've had enough of mediocre Bushes in public office. Help.

Abfabdem

Subj: Hypocrite come lately

Dear BuzzFlash,

Once more Junior demonstrates his craven, shameless political hypocrisy. With his fixation on being reelected in 2004, Junior has now begun to repeat his 2000 election strategy of aping Al Gore. President Gore roundly and rightfully excoriated Trent "Grand Wizard" Lott for his paean to apartheid and the repeal of the thirteenth amendment and called for his resignation. After mounting public uproar over Trent's "failure of the head, not of the heart" (must be a mighty cold heart then to harbor those deep racist desires) Junior's chief Mayberry Machiavelli, Floyd "the barber" Rove decided that Deputy GW Fife couldn't continue to take his normal dumbstruck pose on the issue. So he wrote him up a right nice speech and had him deliver it today in Pennsylvania, a state he's visited 17 times since taking office. (Couldn't be visiting for those 23 electoral votes could he??? Naw George ain't political, at least that's what Floyd says. Wonder what Mr. DiIulio of Penn has to say on that subject? Oh I forgot he already spoke at length on the subject before he was forcibly shut up as the result of a political maneuver worthy of Joseph Stalin.) Anyway, Deputy GWB done delivered the canned speech right nice and said pretty much what Al Gore had said before, EXCEPT for one glaring omission, he felt that Trent was still a good ol' boy and there wasn't no reason for him to be steppin down. Wow, sounds an AWFUL lot like trying to have it both ways there Deputy. Isn't that what you accused Sheriff Clinton of doing? Looks like it's you who are the real master of the Texas two-step.

Oh and by the way Deputy Fife where the hell were you with these denunciations of racism during Sonny Boy Perdue's redneck campaign in Georgia to bring back General Lee's Battle Flag as the official state emblem? And where were you denouncing cracker boy Saxby Chambliss who suggested that Georgia's anti-terrorism strategy be to "arrest every Muslim that crosses the state line." You was just plain too busy loungin' at the ranch I reckon.

Here's a plain and ugly fact: Trent Lott has shown that he harbors racist beliefs, no matter how much he now belatedly realizes that outside of Klan meetings, those beliefs are no longer those of mainstream America, thanks in large part to the success of the civil rights movement championed by the Democrats over the staunch opposition of people like Strom. He is therefore unfit to be majority leader of the United States Senate. However, George can't bring himself to say this, so he takes the politically expedient way out, criticize him publicly but privately assure him that he can stay, for a price. Hence the coordinated issuance of a statement from his office agreeing that the President should have taken him to the woodshed. Typical phony Bush empty politicking, nothing more.

See if GW Fife were really a man of principle he would call on Lott to resign as President Gore has done. However, principle and this administration are mutually exclusive. The best thing the Democrats can do to expose this ugly truth is force Bush to put his money where his mouth is by forcing votes on Democratic legislation in the upcoming session of the Confederate Senate run by Jefferson Davis Lott. Show people that Bush's rhetoric is empty and hollow and that when it comes time to act, he shows his true colors. I would start with a vote on removing the liability protection for Eli Lilly which Dick Armey now admits to having slipped into the Homeland Security Bill. As Republican Dan Burton said on tonight's CBS evening news this was done specifically at the request of the White House. So I would hoist them on their own petard. They wanted it and they got it, behind the American people's back. Bring up a direct unconditional repeal of this provision and make Bush and his cronies publicly squirm on it. They won't offend their loyal constituency by supporting its outright repeal, so here is an opportunity to show them for the pawns of corporate America that they are.

Oh, and one more thing, Dems can learn something after all from ol Strom, the art of the filibuster. When Trent and his band of reverse robin hoods come to take more from the poor to give to the rich, Dems, one by one, should stand and speak against there regressive policies. They have a filibuster proof margin in the Senate, and unlike Strom, our cause is just. If a segregationist cracker can summon the courage to stand for 24 hours to speak against the cause of racial equality, then Democrats can surely muster similar stamina to filibuster against allowing this country to be returned to Trent's favorite days of the ante-bellum South.

Dan

Re: Is the Drive to Replace Trent Lott as the Next Majority Leader Coming fro...

Hi Buzz,

My take is that having a full GOP deck opened the door for some competing forces.

The open mouth comment from Lott was his way of saying that he is 'boss' and will do as he likes.

Not a good position when the pRes that he is the 'boss' and does not answer to anyone.

Well, Lott has to go.

Who knows what other infighting was going on? When the cat is asleep the rats attack -- each other.

Best

Cole...

"Et tu, Brute - then fall Caesar"

Dear BuzzFlash,

Trent Lott is not going to survive and it will be his "best friends" who will deliver the final stab wound. I am not sorry to see Trent Lott go, but he has been a loyal servant to the Bush Boys and unfortunately for him, he has outlived his usefulness to them. When the "Rush" starts "rushing" someone off the stage you can bet his script is coming straight from Karl Rove to Rush's lips. There is a nagging voice that keeps saying "the enemy you know is better than the one hidden." So, who is next to fill the Majority Leader's spot. Wouldn't it be stunning if Trent Lott turned out to be an implacable enemy of group in the bushes. What a concept. Mr. Lott has managed a good deal of "back-stabbing" in his day and everyone has their comeuppance eventually, however, when there is no honor among thieves the battles can become bloody. Fridays seem to be the favorite day of GWB to lower the boom so I would expect to see Mr. Lott step down on Friday the 13th or the next week. Mr. Lott certainly handed the WH the dagger and they are turning it into their advantage or so they think. I don't believe that in the long run this will be pretty.

Sally McDonald

Subj: Smallpox Vaccinations

Dear BuzzFlash,

Before smallpox vaccinations are given to military personnel and health workers, shouldn't Bush, all the members of his family and his administration,the members of Congress and their families first volunteer to be vaccinated? Just asking.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: We agree. Bush, Cheney and their families should get their shots on national TV before a single non-military citizen sees a needle. Unfortunately, the military has become, with the aid of the Bush Juntas I and II, Big Pharm's testing facility and will see the first rounds of shots in the coming weeks.]

Dear BuzzFlash,

Unfortunately, I really don't believe they will replace Lott with a better man. They will just find another racist who is slicker at covering up the truth.

Rob
Seattle, Wa.

Subj: Lott-a Trouble

Ms Parker:

I just read your article A whole Lott of trouble.

You're surprised Lott made those comments, he's been programed? He's been making statements like that for at least twenty years.

It seems to me that for you (conservatives, I mean), not to notice twenty years of this guy's racist comments, (as well as the hundreds of other examples of racist comments by politicians' and columnists' who proudly call themselves conservatives), you'd have to have been programmed pretty well yourself.

[One of the most recent examples I can think of is the fact it took W a whole week to figure out something was wrong with what Lott said.]

Yes, Kathleen, the Republicans are a very racist group, especially toward our black citizens.

And if you don't believe me, you can just ask all of the black Republican Senators and Congressional Representatives in the new Congress.

Tony Romano
Austin, Texas

Re: Replacing Trent Lott

BuzzFlash,

If Bush or Rove decide to replace Lott, there must be another criminal in the waiting room of paybacks and in line for an appointment or job with this Regime. Now, who could it be? I am waiting for the first person in this Regime to be handed a job who does NOT have a criminal past. Wouldn't that be a hoot? :)

Enjoy you everyday!

Shirley Smith

Dear BuzzFlash,

Thank you so much for your passionate editorial on Tom Daschle. It's about time someone somewhere publicly took him to task. After the last election, I wrote to my Senators and begged them to dump Daschle and elect someone with a spine to lead the Democrats in the Senate. I knew that wasn't going to happen, but I had to do something! Watching Tom Daschle going up against the republican thugs is as painful as watching Mr. Bill and Sluggo (on SNL). Unfortunately, it is our side who was stupid enough to pick Mr. Bill to battle Sluggo! Keep those editorials coming; maybe they'll do some good. While you're at it, try to break the news to him that he probably won't get too many votes if he runs for president.

-Maria
San Rafael, CA

Dear BuzzFlash,

Trent Lott says we should look at his record over 40 years as proof of where his heart lies. And he cites his giving money to historically black universities over the past 40 years as his proof. Okay, I did...consider that as his record. And I concluded that his giving money to historically black universities is consistent with his segregationist views. Probably his college fraternity Sigma Nu didn't rush right out to start up too many chapters at historically black universities. On the other hand, I don't think the money he gave the universities had his name written on it when it was spent. I support historically black universities. I also support black students attending every university: Yale, Harvard, Ole Miss, University of Texas, University of Alabama, UCLA, etc., and joining Sigma Nu or any other fraternity, even at Ole Miss.

Trent Lott still doesn't get it. That's what's bad for our country. He will lead. And that's why he should be told to resign as Senate Leader by those who do get it.

Keep up the good work, BuzzFlash.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Democrats should turn away from the dark side

Dear BuzzFlash,

Former president Bill Clinton recently told Democratic Party leaders that a vague, disparate platform was the reason for their November defeats. Clinton advised the party to focus on national security and the economy.

"When people feel uncertain, they'd rather have somebody that's strong and wrong than somebody who's weak and right," Clinton said.

Instead of listening to "Slick Willie," the democrats should try restoring their moral integrity.

Here's an idea, Democratic politicians could get serious about honoring their oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

When the Bush regime began its assault upon our civil liberties by proposing the Patriot Act, the majority of Democrats voted for it.

When the Bush regime demanded the unrestricted ability to wage war on Iraq or any other country of their choice, the majority of Democrats voted for it.

And when the Bush regime sought to consolidate its power over the American people via the Homeland Security Act, the majority of Democrats voted for it.

Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) was the only senator to maintain his integrity by voting against the Patriot Act. Democrats who endorsed George Bush's war on our freedom included former co-president Senator Hillary Clinton.

Defending civil liberties is a concept the Republican Party has completely abandoned. The Democratic Party has an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to defend our civil liberties by demanding the immediate repeal of the Patriot Act.

The choice is clear. The Democratic Party can step into the light and defend individual liberty or it can continue to cower before the creeping fascism of the dark side.

End

Walter F. Wouk
Cobleskill, NY

Subj: What Happened To America?

Buzz,

Were you aware that Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker signed a bill into law this week requiring every school, public AND private, to mandate either the singing of the national anthem or the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by every student? Is it just me, or didn't this used to be America? And didn't America used to have freedom of speech?

Oh, and there's also a new law requiring first-time voters to bring picture IDs to the polling place. Hey guys, why stop there? Why not a poll tax? Do I even need to point out the PA legislature is Republican-controlled?

As to Mr. Lott: The real kicker is, it doesn't really matter whether Lott - or Bush, or any of their minions - are racists. I think I'd almost prefer it if they were.

No, it's that despite any personal misgivings they may have about racism, the GOP has still quite happily raised the use of cynical wink-and-a-nod racial code words to an art form. Notice how the words always sound so innocuous on paper - and yet are always so unmistakable in meaning to the intended audience?

They may not be racist - but they sure as hell don't mind playing one on TV.

Susan Madrak
Bensalem PA

Subj: Lott

Dear BuzzFlash,

Gotta give it to Bush. Lott sticks his foot in his mouth and shows his racist stripes. The Dems (other than the Black Caucus) piss around afraid to alienate anyone. Bush drags his feet but then blasts Lott. Who gets the credit for chastising Lott? The Dems. No. BUSH AGAIN. Meanwhile, the North Korean Scuds go to Yemen and, at the bottom of some stories, well out of site of most readers, we learn that Clinton was negotiating with North Korea to get them to stop selling scuds, but Bush did not pursue the negotiations. BUSH does it again-- screws up below radar range. I give up.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Mr. Bush or Tony Soprano?

Dear BuzzFlash,

I've searched every major newspaper from the first to the last pages looking for a report on Treasury Secretary to be Snow's CSX tax records. To my dismay there is no mention that CSX paid ZERO in Federal income tax in 3 of the last 4 years... despite making a profit in each of those years. I thought perhaps the papers had somehow missed the story, so I emailed:

- The Washington Post
- The New York Times
- The Wall Street Journal
- The Los Angeles Times
- Time Magazine

To date, none of these publications have reported on the story. What gives? Why wouldn't they find this an extremely important story? Is Bush like a head of a mob family and frightened every single journalist in the country?

Here is the link to the Citizen's for Tax Justice's website.

http://www.ctj.org/

Kevin Phillips

Subj: What Dems should have said about the Lott Affair

Dear BuzzFlash,

This may seem counterintuitive, but, by and large, Democrats should NOT have spoken indignantly about Lott's comment at Thurmond's birthday event. Instead, they should have collectively shrugged their shoulders, looked into the cameras and said, "Yeah, he's a bigot, but what's the big deal? Where's the surprise? What do you think Republicans stand for, anyway? Next question, please...." And no one should call for Lott to step down! Keep him there, urge him to say how he REALLY feels! He is, after all, a transparently stupid man who is likely to say ignorant things from time to time. We need MORE outspoken Republicans like Trent Lott, speaking their minds in public and to the media. Democrats should continue to (should I say, "BEGIN to"?) strongly rebut Republican policy issues, of course, but every time a Republican lets an amoral bigoted statement slip, as Lott did, the Democratic response should be unsurprised, NOT flustered or upset: "What? Republican X just made a stupid, racist comment? I'm not surprised, and you shouldn't be surprised, either. That's modern Republicanism for ya! Next question...." When a Republican does or says something stupid that threatens to strangle the Republican party with a rope of their own making, don't tighten the noose, but don't help loosen it, either.

--patsy devlish

Subj: North Korea

Hey Buzz,

Whoa…somebody’s got some ‘splainin’ to do.

Bushcorp is ready to whack Iraq because they think they may have some heavy duty weapons. Iraq denies this and UN inspectors on site haven’t found any evidence thus far to repudiate Iraq’s claim.

North Korea on the other hand comes right up in Bush’s face and threatens to incinerate Seoul if BushCorp doesn't supply the oil and light nuclear plants it promised in the 1994 agreement. North Korea admits it's working on nuclear weapons. Rumsfeld figures they have at least one and perhaps two weapons already.

When you pick your own enemy it's pretty easy to look tough and resolute. When a true bad guy kicks dirt in their face the chickenhawks in BushCorp start leaving telltale white droppings all over the oval office carpet.

So what's the deal? Regime change and annihilation for the Iraqi end of the axis and a lube job for North Korea's east end? Poindexter's back with all his Iran/Contra expertise. What's the plan? Does BushCorp take Iraq's oil to pay off North Korea’s ransom note?

'splain to me, Lucy.

Tom Coombs