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HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
This is the last BuzzFlash Mailbag until January 2, 2003.
Enjoy the Holidays! Happy New Year!

Dear BuzzFlash,

Remind readers how bush brother Jeb campaigned against and then ended Affirmative action policies in Florida after Jeb was elected to his first term.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: "Tell me why I should send my son into battle to die?"

Dear BuzzFlash,

This is where I am as a mother thankful that my only son is ten years old. If he were eighteen and the draft were back, like hell I would send him to fight a bush war. I would scrape up my money, sell my jewelry to send him to a country that can protect him. Bush has not made the case for this insane war and is acting like a sociopath in promoting this war. Like Al Gore said, "you concentrate on the war on terrorism first before even thinking of Iraq". Which one deserves to run our country and the world? But angrily Gore is out of the running.

Mary MacElveen

Subj: Draft Al

Draft Al petition

While Kerry, Dean or Edwards can carry some areas Al could carry the whole country.

If any one caught C-span call in after Al's press conference on Monday, one woman's heart felt plea for Al to stay make me think of how many people would vote for him today ?

Al said he thought he was best to challenge dubya. Well I think he can do it. It is up us citizens to choose to put this ghost to rest. Bring back populism. Meredith Vieira mentioned drafting Al on Monday's show (the view).

Could BuzzFlash or Democratic Underground know how Al could be drafted? Would it need to happen before the primaries. Could Al be drafted at the convention?

Thanks,

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

I have a solution to the Trent Lott "situation." Watching him recently, it appears he has had an epiphany. Now he's for affirmative action, he's for a Martin Luther King holiday, etc. etc. If he has truly seen the light and has legitimately repudiated his past positions, why not just switch parties and become a Democrat? He will surely feel at home in the party and can work with others who have long been interested in promoting inclusion and tolerance. Perhaps the Democratic leadership should offer him a committee chairmanship or something to make the switch.

Jeffrey Rueble

Subj: Trent Lott, the White House and the Abortion Issue

Dear BuzzFlash,

After the Republican victory last month, Senator Lott promised to push legislation banning partial birth abortions through the Senate in January 2003.

Abortion is one of those conservative social issues that the Bush administration talks up big to the anti-abortion crowd but the president wants the courts to address the issue, NOT himself.

If the president has to sign antiabortion legislation, the abortion issue will be put in the media spotlight. Remember, a lot of those same suburban women voters that Karl Rove tries to impress with Republican inclusiveness are pro-choice.

I'll even say that Karl Rove would rather take his chances with a Democratic senate majority than have the president take positions on far right conservative legislation which would alienate the president's moderate supporters.

And then the president can blame the Dems for "obstructing" his grand vision for the next two years.

Jamie Peppard
Huntington NY

Subj: Strom

Dear BuzzFlash,

Lost in all of this talk of Lott is the fact that Strom Thurmond, although losing the '48 election, was a Senator for 500 freakin' years, setting our country back who knows how far!!! Isn't it a bit hypocritical for the Rove machine to attack Lott for a stupid comment about Thurmond, while the entire GOP celebrated this mans "great accomplishments." The fact that Lott exposed the GOP for the fascist regime it is, is at the heart of the issue. They have no tolerance for anyone ripping the mask off of the "kinder, gentler conservative movement." The fact that Strom Thurmond is a respectable man in these circles speaks volumes about their politics and beliefs. No matter what kind of picture they try to paint about the direction they want to take us, they need to have leadership positions that can better mask the vile hatred and class warfare that are central to the right wing agenda. Thanks for your time.

Jackson Bergland

Subj: Kean, 9-11 and NED

Dear BuzzFlash,

According to USA Today's bio, Thos. Kean, Bush's new appointment to head the 9-11 investigation, is a a member of www.ned.org -- The National Endowment for Democracy.

If anyone knows about terrorists, it's the members of this group. They underwrite American terrorism around the globe. Takes one to know one?

Here's what William Blum and David Corn have to say about this organization....

Trojan Horse: The National Endowment for Democracy
William. Blum
(from Rogue State: Guide to the World's Only Superpower)
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/TrojanHorse_RS.html

Our Gang in Havana by David Corn
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/South_America/Our_Gang_Venezuela.html

Reagan's Legacy: Eight Years of CIA Covert Action by William Blum
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/CIA/Reagan_CIA.html

The National Endowment for Democracy -- anonymous
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/CIA/National%20EndowmentDemo.html

A BuzzFlash Reader

Buzz,

This latest video of the Bushies saluting Enron is the icing on the cake. Between the Bush-Bush/Enron video, the Cheney/Anderson video, the Lott/Racism (with Bush in the background) video, the Bush/9-11 Booker Elem. video and MANY video/audio tapes of Bush trying to sound coherent, the 2004 election campaign commercials write themselves.

Any Democratic candidate with a strong, coherent message will be able to win in a landslide.

Phil

Subj: General Wesley Clark

Dear Buzz,

Why are the democrats wasting their time with the likes of Gephardt and Lieberman? Are they that out of touch with the country? They should be kissing General Wesley Clarks boots to represent their weenie party.

And what is their talk him being a Vice Presidential candidate? What are they thinking? Dan Quayle is the defining example of the fact that no one gives a rats ass about who bears the role of presidential running mate. If that is their strategy, they deserve to lose to the Clown Prince of Ignorance in 2004. I hope they wake up soon.

JB Bryan

Subj: Playing the Race Card

Dear BuzzFlash,

An article in today's Boston Globe about David Duke pleading guilty to mail fraud and tax charges mentions that some of this involves selling a list of his supporters to Louisiana Governor Mike Foster in 1995 for $100,000.

Two things came to my mind. One, anyone who supports such an outspoken and public racist like Duke is probably at least a closet racist. Two, no one is going to pay that much money for a mailing list unless he intends to use it to appeal for support from those on it.

Now the article doesn't mention what party Foster belongs to, so I looked it up, and darned if he isn't a Republican. Imagine that, the GOP playing the race card. I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked!

Herbert Korn

Subj: Rounding up Muslim immigrants in S. California

Dear BuzzFlash,

The following is an email I've sent about the Rounding up of Muslims and immigrants by the Immigration Department in Southern California to Gov. Gray Davis, Senators Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, and Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee of California.

The article was a link from your web site and as far as I have read it's the only one that tells about this sort of thing happening openly. It is so reminiscent of the Japanese/Americans being put in camps during WWII that it sickens me.

Judith Foster

************

Re: Hundreds of Muslim Immigrants Rounded Up in Calif.
Wed December 18, 2002 08:47 PM ET
By Jill Serjeant (Reuters)

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=1931961

Dear Governor Gray Davis, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee,

Please do everything in your power to stop this arresting of California's Muslim immigrants and visitors by the Immigration Department. We are a state that is essentially made up of ethnic groups and citizens from all over the world, and we are not intolerant and jingoistic.

We must not allow such blatant illegality and such horrible actions to happen. Our state must be one of the ones that categorically repudiates the PATRIOT ACT because it is unconstitutional. Without the foundation of our Constitution and our Bill of Rights we will never remain a living Democracy or a free people.

To arrest a whole class of people or a whole nationality of people in the name of national security or as an excuse because this administration has decided we are in a state of War on Terror is monstrous. No thinking or decent person can pretend that because some self-appointed so-called "leaders" think it's OK to persecute and jail a people that it can be condoned. Please intercede on behalf of our state and try to stop these actions. You should condemn these actions with all your might in the name of Californians.

Sincerely, Judith Foster

Subj: Bush administration choices for the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

"at least two of the new appointees had direct financial ties to the lead industry"

"the Oklahoma toxicologist who has testified on behalf of lead-paint companies"

"One of the nominees had repeatedly stated that the current standard--endorsed by everybody from the National Academy of Sciences to the American Academy of Pediatrics--was too strict"

"Another had stated that children could tolerate lead levels seven times the current standard "

http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20021223&s=cohn122302

Regards,

Jeff Kwapil

My letter to the editor was printed in the Tennessean:

Subject: Did the DNC hang Gore out to dry?

As a Democrat, I would like to know what is going on at the Democratic National Committee. Al Gore made his decision not to run by stating that he had the energy, ambition, and will to run again; and felt that he could beat Bush, but there are those at the DNC that would find it "exhausting."

I want to know that if the political operatives feel they can not run a competitive race with a man who not only won the popular vote, but won more black votes, more votes than ever cast for a Democratic Party candidate, and the second highest number of votes cast in history--why I should give moral support or money to any other candidates on the Democratic Party ticket?

Trent Lott has spent days explaining and apologizing because he offended a segment of our society. Well the higher ups of the DNC have offended a segment of the Democratic Party. If I could speak directly to Terry Mcauliffe I would say, "LUCY, you have some 'splainin to do!"

Susan C. McIntosh
Columbia, TN

Dear BuzzFlash,

I remembered that Bill Frist didn't register to vote till 1988 and this is what I could find on it......

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/area_guide/article
/0,1406,KNS_1336_955232,00.html

Did HCA settle to save the Frist Family embarrassment?

http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/
02/12/26668757.shtml?Element_ID=26668757

This article makes Frist 's father/son relationship seem remarkably like how the rw describes Gore and his Dad's. Maybe it's a Southern thing.

http://www.tennessean.com/government/archives
/02/12/26633503.shtml?Element_ID=26633503

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Anthem for the Democrats

Dear BuzzFlash,

I was just listening to Garth Brooks' song "We Shall Be Free" and realized that this is the anthem the Democrats should be using, it says everything that needs to be said and that the Bush administration and the Republicans are against! It is well past time that the democrats got back to their roots and focused on the issues raised in Garth's song. Trent Lott's inadvertent truth telling is partly what brought home to me that the song epitomizes what needs to be said yet is not. The Republican Party is one of discrimination: discrimination of color, religion, gender, social "status", etc. Freedom happens when there is no discrimination, freedom happens when each of us cares for each other, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, country of origin.

Until the Democratic Party goes back to it's roots and realizes that the corporate bloodsuckers are not their friends, they are their worst enemies, the party will be the wannabes, not the leaders!

Bev

Subj: ACLU

Dear BuzzFlash,

Anyone listened to Bill O'Reilly the last couple of days? He has been spewing venom all over the place regarding the ACLU. Some of his quotes are "it's fascist, it's dangerous to America, it's destroying American values, it's destroying Christmas, we must fight them and destroy them," those are just a few. Between Billy Boy and the INS rounding up hundreds of Muslims in California and detaining them for who knows what purpose, I joined the ACLU today. I urge you to do the same, any and all organizations or media who are fighting to keep this country from falling totally into the hands of a "dictator," needs our support and that includes BuzzFlash. Whatever we can afford to give we must dig down and give, help, support, be pro-active. Is there a day that goes by that everyone of us doesn't ask "what the hell is going on here?" Every single dime matters to these groups, send yours, let's give our change to make a change.

Sally McDonald

Dear BuzzFlash,

George Bush is the luckiest man alive. If the Trent Lott episode had happened before the 2002 election, there's not a chance in hell the Repugs would have won control of the Senate and the House. It would have been their Waterloo!!! The Republicans have now been exposed for the "stupid white men" they really are. They hide behind their wealth and smiles, but they are really the party of racism. Let's include George Bush in that list "bigtime". What about South Carolina? Bush never spoke out against the Confederate flag flying atop the capitol. Karl Rove helped promote the race issue by spreading rumors John McCain had fathered a black child. What about Bush appearing at Bob Jones University? Don't try to tell me Bush didn't know exactly what they stood for. Not to mention John Ashcroft receiving an honorary degree from them, and then being appointed Attorney-General by Bush. What better man to be an enforcer of our laws than a racist, religious nut like John Ashcroft? Bush knew all of that when he selected Ashcroft. He was pandering to his religious right base --- the fruitcakes like Jerry Falwell. George Bush has his photo-ops with the African-American community to try and show his "compassion", but from education to social issues he has stabbed them in the back.

The true face of the Republican Party has been exposed and it is an ugly one.

Gigi

Subj: Conan O'Brien is a friggen Wussy!! (Gore whipped him)

Dear BuzzFlash,

Ok, let me say first I missed Al Gore on Conan last week. But luckily my local NBC station plays repeats a week late.

Conan has been real hard on Clinton in the past, but for some reason he gives Bush pretty much a pass. But at the same time Conan always ribs Gore, calling him stale or dull.

And Conan LOVES to do his Gore robot dance any chance he gets.

So after missing AL last week I made sure to catch the re-run last night.

Well guess what happened ... ?

The ole robot AL Gore came on O'Brien's show ...

And when Conan started taking shots at him, Gore went toe to toe, burning O'Brien on almost every try.

Conan started taking shots at Al and thought he was going to get away with it..

but Al Gore was sharp as a tack!

Conan kept pushing it and kept losing.. at one point there was a camera shot after a comeback by Gore and Conan's face was bleach red!!

To sum it up.. Conan thought he was going to push around the 'dull' guy..

and Gore kicked Conan's ass all over the studio!!

It was great to watch, especially after Conan doing all the cheap Gore jokes over the last few years.. Gore finally showed up in person and kicked his butt.

Well, well, well.. guess what?!!

The next night (which I just watched on the rerun) that little wussy Conan did a segment about the night before with Gore..

And he put together a bunch of edited clips that made it look like he got the best of Gore!

Conan had dissed Gore forever, then Gore not only has the guts to go on his show and face him, but Gore proceeds to hand him his ass in a basket.

Then the next night after getting his butt kicked face to face, Conan O'Brien uses fake clips to take cheap shots.. after the guy who whipped him is gone?!

Pardon my French ..

Conan O'Brien is a p#ssy!!!

This may not seem important.. But I wonder if the biased media didn't have something to do with Al Gore deciding not to run.

Even if this isn't a news channel.. We should hold ALL of them accountable!

Email Conan and ask him why he pulled such a cowardly stunt, after getting beat face to face by someone he had repeatedly attacked..

Click here to Email: LateNight@nbc.com

(It doesn't have to be a letter, if nothing else just say something like "ha ha, Gore kicked your butt, why are you being such a wimp?" )

Takes about 60 seconds, Do it!

Thank You

Kelley Kramer

[BuzzFlash Note: Learned sources have informed us that "Conan O'Brien is a p#ssy!!!" contains no actual French words.]

Subj: Bush proposes tax increases for the middle class

BuzzFlash readers,

Go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov and call or snail mail (don't email - they don't read their emails) your Congress representatives and senators. Tell them that if they approve the Bush tax plan, which imposes a 33.3% tax increase on households making between $50,000 and $75,000 per year, that you will vote against them when they run for re-election and that you will not forget. Tell them that no matter how much Iraq news comes on your television, you will remember the tax increase that Bush put on you, in contrast to the relief he promised you. During campaign 2000, he promised tax relief for the middle class, but now he wants to burden you more, and give only tax breaks to the wealthy. If you DON'T call your congress people, then this will pass, and you will pay more. I don't care what party they are in, you have to call them and threaten not to vote for them. They don't know whether you voted for them last time or not. You DO NOT have to leave your name unless you wish.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

Jesus God! The White House is scared Santorum might win so they are trying to hijack the Senate election like they did in FL.!

Katie
Tampa

Dear BuzzFlash,

So do ya think when trent lott was singing the praises of george bush he knew there was a bulls eye in the oval office with his name on it? :):):):):)

Shorty
Memphis TN

Subj: Bill Frist for Senate Majority Leader

Dear Buzz,

In Tennessee we have two Repuglican Senators, Frist and Thompson. Even though they do not agree with my political agenda I still call both of them to express my views and how I would like them to vote on certain issues. Fred Thompson's office staff is very nice over the phone, even though he does not agree with my views. He always sends me a form letter explaining his positions and why he is voting a certain way.

On the other hand, whenever I call the office of Bill Frist and express a view that is different from his or the Repuglican's point of view his office staff is very nasty to me, even to the point of hanging up on me! I never get a letter explaining his positions as I do from Fred Thompson.

Columbia HCA, is owned by Bill Frist's deceased father and his brother. Dr. and Senator Bill Frist has inherited millions of dollars from his father's company when he died. Bill put that money in a blind trust just before running for Senator.

What is noteworthy about this money is that Columbia HCA made millions of dollars by defrauding the taxpayer funded Medicare system. Future Senate Majority Leader (?), Bill Frist has made millions of dollars off of his father's bilking of our Medicare system!

Sounds like a good one to me! A typical Repuglican HYPOCRITE!

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)

PS. I think there is some news out there regarding Columbia HCA's fraud case. The Federal Gov. just settled with Columbia. Far short of what was stolen $$ wise, I'm sure. Maybe you could find the article.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Hmmmmm, I think we know now why even the media is scared of this administration. I also wonder since it was the conservatives who jumped on him right out of the box, I think they were the ones behind the downfall of Trent Lott from the start. I would also like to know if it is true that Bush told the Governor of Georgia he did not want to have to answer any questions about the confederate flag going into the 2004 election?

Disgusted in Wisconsin

yikes! these republicans are like a pack of wolves, the head of the pack is wounded and they all go in for the kill. i also have noticed something the media has not noticed. this white house was basically lying to the american people and working behind close doors in an effort to get the man they wanted, bill frist. i think i would rather have a pack of wolves on my tail than the republicans. now i'm not so sure this wasn't a set up from the very beginning to get trent out and their own man in. yes, trent said it but then the rove wheels started turning, this was their chance.

kate

++Iraq Infrastructure

Yesterday, there was a report that Saddam intends a "scorched earth-humanitarian problem" before --during? -- any attack.

Then today, I found this article, which would lead one to believe that there is a bit of disinformation floating out from the administration. Looks like it will be a 'he did it/they did it' situation.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20021220-27287747.htm

A BuzzFlash Reader