BuzzFlash Mailbag for October 08, 2008

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

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Subject: That one!!

You know, that angry nasty troll, Senator John McCain who would not look his opponent in the eye, not address him by name, and lied. That one. You know, that angry nasty troll, Senator John McCain who used his wife as a human shield so he wouldn't have to shake his opponent's hand at the end of the debate then ran away as quickly as he could. That one. You know, that angry nasty troll, Senator John McCain proved once again that he is not fit to be the president of The United States of America.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Where was McCain's flag pin? This is 2 debates in a row. No flag pin!

Pat Gorman

Subject: McCain

It has become a common sight for the McCain Campaign... The large crowds of excited gatherers, waiting to become part of something larger than themselves... and well they have. Most who attend these rallies, are truly interested in issues, but lately they've gotten much more than they asked for. In a Florida crowd the boos were much louder than the cheers. Angry statements, racist slurs, even a man yelling "kill him!" referring to Obama. A woman tells off an African-American camera man to "sit down boy".

People bring their children to these rallies, which are increasingly being attended by hate groups. They're there because the agenda is very plain... don't let the black guy get in. As I was doing voter registration this year... and attended sign rallies on the side of the road, one of them outside McCain's residence in Az. (a condo on Camelback Rd.) the strongest anti-black statements were yelled at us. Those who were aggravated by our presence, were mainly yelling racist slurs. (However, most of our attention was very positive.)

Please, I ask that it is pointed out to the candidate, John McCain, and the general public who attend these rallies, that these crowds are loaded with some very angry people. Whether John McCain ever intended it or not, he's brought out Aryan activists, and these aren't really the greatest places to bring your kids. My daughter had a few questions for me after our peaceful sign rally on a calm upper end street corner ... mostly about what certain words were, and why was that man so very angry.

It's our responsibility to make sure our country isn't led down this scary path. Division of race isn't healthy, not for either of our candidates, or misinformed supporters. Please bring this frightening trend to light, for all of our sakes.

Andrea Laired

Subject: Conservative Columnist Kathleen Parker Continues to Criticize Palin 10/9

Why, Buzz, do you waste space in contrasting the pond-scum politicos of Parker with Palin? Vermin like Parker (as with Palin) should be seen and not heard. Eight years ago (April 10, 2002) her poison pen was let loose on the "Vast left-wing conspiracy invents Clinton complex" to wit, she could only hypocritically stated that she was "constitutionally incapable of holding a grudge, much less mustering the energy to hate someone [like Bill Clinton]." She however disliked Clinton "for the same reason that dogs, knowing nothing [sic], instinctively bark at a snake until somebody either gets bitten, killed or disappears, usually the snake."

It was too much. So the following was my unpublished reply and should be Buzz's too while hauling her off to the Hypocrite of the Week Award or whatever.

Ms. Parker:

I'm not quite bilious yet, but your intellectual dishonesty is just tooooo cowardly for me to slither away from.

Despite your masterful attempt at disinterest, a pathos argument that "people dislike(d) Clinton for the same reason that dogs, knowing nothing, instinctively bark at a snake..." or "they 'know' when something or someone 'just ain't right'" neither answers nor supports your "basic" conclusion of why you card-carrying members of the vast reich-wing conspiracy are so full of it (except, of course, for the "knowing nothing")--insulted decency, blasphemy and all. You really should apply for employment at the Washington Times.

But, I have to admit, it was a meritorious try. Your nonchalant (like the article's title) discredit of Begala's psychological analysis that has been supported by more than just political pundits is likewise "brilliant" (or an attempt at it).

Just one more wiggle of my forked tongue: hypocrisy. It seems ssssoooooo endemic on the right-from your employer's funder to your pretense of journalism. To say that you don't and never have hated Clinton or that you're "constitutionally incapable of holding a grudge must less mustering the energy to hate someone" is so clearly and insultingly phony in a column that does just that--particularly coming from a website populated with the mediawhore-likes of Coulter and North with the pretense of being--well--psychologically (let along politically) balanced. [My ethos argument.]

Sssssssoooooo, anyway, forgive me for lapsing into "moral absolutes." I try to "demonize" only that which is patently false. You should try it too. Does wonders for all that self-jhate.

Pathologically yours,

Will W.

PS Of course looking at "hating what's become of one's country" today in light of the then Clinton peccadillos of just six years ago is the epitome of laughable cynicism--particularly when viewed in the "moral absolutes" of moral filth like Parker. Elitist Parker only makes Six-pack Palin look good.

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

Subject: McCain's Plan For A Commission That Would Vote 'Up Or Down' On Medicare Cuts = Mass Murder

"Why is that?"

"Any vote to cut off health care to Medicare patients with expensive chronic illnesses would be tantamount to a death sentence."

"For example?"

"The thousands of Medicare recipients who suffer from end stage renal disease and are being kept alive by hemodialysis."

"Cost per patient?"

"Upwards of fifty thousand dollars a year."

"Which might lead McCain's Medicare Commission to vote for, say, a 20% reduction in dialysis funding, with the elderly patients thereby cut off from dialysis dying within a few months."

"Cause of death?"

"Medicare cuts."

"But if Medicare spending isn't reduced where will the money come from that's needed to provide health care to the millions of uninsured Americans?"

"Ending the Iraq War will save ten billion dollars a month."

"Anything else?"

"Demilitarization will save hundreds of billions."

"What else?"

"Decriminalizing drug use will put billions more back into the treasury."

"Will these savings be enough to provide health insurance for all?"

"Not only this, but improve education, rebuild our infrastructure, safeguard pensions plus much more."

"And then what sort of world?"

"It'll be up to us."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: BUTTHEAD POLICE - press release

We can't think of anyone who would appreciate our arrival on the scene more than you -- and your audience.

We are the BUTTHEAD POLICE. We are here to help stem the tide of buttheadedness that has gripped humanity. But fret not. Our appearance is yet another sign that a transformation is under way -– that the elevating of the collective human experience is at hand.

NOTE –- during this transformation, many people -– starting with the buttheads in power (see website) -- may need to be CrevASSed (an ass stamped on their heads). VOTE NOW AT:

www.buttheadpolice.com

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: NYT headlines about Stock Market's second plunging day

My guess is that the stock market probably will respond as the Fed lowers interest rates and government pours another half trillion (of taxpayers’

money) into the financial industry, but we have to remember that 200 of the world’s top economists said the bailout would not work and could make things worse.

Altogether, the money the USG has given and is proposing to the New York bankers and irresponsible corporations is approaching $2 trillion! A lot of money. Are investors smart enough to see that this is $2 trillion more debt for the United States? This is at the heart of the economists’ concerns these policies will make things worse.

Little to nothing is being done to fix the U.S. longer range problems -- that would make it a strong investment -- and nothing can be done quickly to fix the problems of $800 billion/year trade imbalance, $700 billion being borrowed from abroad and poured into the purchase of foreign energy.

10/7 U.S. Markets Plunge Despite Hint of Rate Cut

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/business/08markets.html?th&emc=th

Wall Street extended its heavy losses on Tuesday despite reassurances from the Fed chairman that the central bank was prepared to lower interest rates.

10/7 Forget Logic; Fear Appears to Have Edge

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/business/...

The markets have become a case study in crowd psychology, experts say, as investors seem to be selling first and asking questions later.

TWIGA

Subject: What about Ted?

When Ted Bundy was in college forty years ago, he belonged to an organization called "The Young Republicans". Using the McCain/Palin "guilt by association" theory, every member of this group who met and socialized with Bundy should be considered a potential serial killer!

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: A quick internet search indicates that he campaigned for Republicans, but not that he was in the Young Republicans.]

Subject: A Suggestion to Elisabeth Hasselbeck

I don’t really watch The View but I've caught an episode or two and I really don’t understand Elisabeth Hasselback's hate for Barack Obama. I say hate because the very essence of hate usually revolves around a lack of understanding the target of that hate.

In my humble opinion, watching Fox News does not give one a well rounded world view of the political establishment and/or the world in which we currently live. Further, living a life of privilege does an even further disservice to one's understanding and/or empathy towards those who don’t live within that world of privilege.

It’s been reported recently that pensions have lost 2 Trillion dollars, the economy's in shambles, people who work every day are being thrown out of their homes, health care costs are crippling family budgets, gas is $3+ per gallon, milk more than that yet diehard Republicans continue to embrace those who got us here. I can go on and on but no one needs me to tell them the troubles we see around us.

The latest clip I saw of Elisabeth's hate for Obama was related to the Bill Ayers connection ... or lack thereof. I won’t split hairs, instead I will ask this one question and I challenge Elisabeth to look into these connections to see if they are more or less damning to John McCain or the Republican establishment as a whole.

Is Obama’s connection to Ayers any worse than McCain’s connection to G. Gordon Liddy?

Is Obama's connection to Ayers any worse than Palin's connection to the secessionist movement via her husband’s direct membership and her advocacy?

I know I won’t get an answer, additionally, I don’t think Elisabeth cares or wants to approach the situation openly in an effort to look at her allegiances for what they are as well as what they aren’t.

What I do know is this, Elisabeth is on the wrong side of history, period. Republicans have led us to where we are today. Democrats are worse, on some levels, in my opinion, I say this because they could've blocked the Republicans from going into Iraq and every other bill that President Bush has pushed through much like the Republicans are filibustering every piece of meaningful, helpful legislation that’s been introduced since Democrats took back the House and Senate in January of 2007.

Having said that, there really is a better path to pursue this election and that path is clearly laid out by Barack Obama. Should he get in office and not make an earnest effort to do what he said he would do, what needs to be done, then he would be no better than those who brought us to where we are today.

In my humble opinion.

John Deseprtt
Pflugerville, TX

Subject: Republicans abandon voter challenges

Here is what happens when citizens and their leaders stand up to the repulsive GOP tactics of denying citizens their right to vote.

Republicans abandon voter challenges By Jennifer McKee - 10/07/2008 HELENA — The Montana Republican Party on Tuesday night announced it was abandoning its contested challenge of the legitimacy of thousand of Montana voter registrations.

In a letter to Vicki Zeier of the Missoula County elections office, Jacob Eaton, executive director of the Montana Republican Party, wrote that the group no longer wished to challenge thousands of Missoula county voters or any other voters statewide.

The letter was released to Montana reporters Tuesday night.

Eaton wrote that the party launched the challenges in "good faith," but media reports have since suggested the challenges were an effort to suppress voter turn-out.

"As a disabled combat veteran who has fought Al Qaeda to defend this country and our democracy and who has voted absentee en route to a war zone, I regret that my actions have been perceived as such," Eaton wrote.

At issue is the legitimacy of some 6,000 registered Montana voters. The Montana Republican Party challenged the legality of those registrations last week, saying the voters had moved since they last registered to vote and were not registered to vote at their current address. The GOP challenge asked counties to verify the current address of thousands of voters, a task that would have involved affected voters receiving a letter asking them to prove up on their address.

Caleb Weaver, a spokesman for the Barack Obama campaign in Montana, said the party's decision to withdraw "proves what we have been saying for several days." The challenges, he said were "desperation by party that has brought no new ideas to the table," and he said, and had resorted to voter intimidation to win.

The challenges involved seven counties, but the vast majority of the voters lived in two, Democratically-leaning counties: Missoula and Lewis and Clark.

So far, only a few hundred letters have gone out.

The Montana Democratic Party and two challenged voters filed a lawsuit Monday asking U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy to issue a temporary restraining order halting the challenges and any new challenge efforts.

Molloy did not rule on the request Tuesday.

The lawsuit also said the challenges violated federal elections law and were a transparent effort to suppress voter turnout in Democratic counties.

Secretary of State Brad Johnson's office on Monday asked all county elections officers to stop sending out any letters to voters requesting proof of current address until Molloy ruled on the matter.

Bown Greenwood, a Johnson spokesman, also said that no one has ever complained to the secretary's office of widespread voter fraud based on inaccurate voter addresses.

Some 714 of the challenges involved Butte-Silver Bow residents. Mary McMahon, Butte-Silver Bow clerk and recorder, said this week the challenges are unwarranted and that the database of Montana voters is trustworthy.

"I would really like to see it stopped," she said of the challenges.

McMahon she had personally reviewed some of the challenged voters in her county and some "are just plain erroneous." For example, the GOP challenged the registration of one voter who has been politically active in Butte for 70 years. In that case, the woman only moved from one apartment to another in the same Butte apartment complex.

Such a move would not affect the woman's voting precinct or the ballot she would receive.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Republicans crossed line with voter purge attempt

This is a letter to the Montana Standard from our lt. gov. It is a breath of fresh air!

Republicans crossed line with voter purge attempt

Guest opinion By John Bohlinger - 10/05/2008

Frank St. Pierre, of Anaconda, fought in World War II. He is one of the most decorated living veterans in America. And yet, on Wednesday, my party -- the Montana Republican Party -- tried to invalidate his voter registration because he lives in a county with a lot of Democrats. Incredible as this may sound to you, it is the truth.

When people ask why, as a Republican, I agreed to become part of a Democratic administration, I tell them that I believe in putting my state before my party. This has created tension at times. On occasion the folks who run the Republican Party have tried to lock me out of their convention, and this year they even tried to prevent me from speaking at the Presidential Primary Caucus in support of John McCain.

I have always taken this treatment in stride. As the saying goes, "All's fair in love, war and politics." But the executive director of the Republican Party crossed the line when he attempted to remove 6,000 voters from the rolls in Montana. These voters are law-abiding citizens and are legally registered. Some are veterans. Others are active servicemen, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or about to be deployed there.

As a Republican, I was ashamed to hear of this. But as a Marine, I was outraged. Why would the Republican Party, which always claims to care greatly about our troops, do this?

It appears that Republican operatives looked to gain an advantage by purging as many voters as possible from counties that lean Democrat[ic]. The director of the Republican Party issued a blanket challenge to validly registered voters based on false criteria, trying to persuade election clerks that a mere change of mailing address is grounds for automatic cancellation of voter registration.

Not only was the effort blatantly deceptive, but the Republicans based their challenge on a national change-of-address database from an out-of-state vendor who sells personal information. Among other problems, this database lists servicemen and women who have been deployed overseas as having moved out of Montana. In other words, if you go to Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Fort Sill, Okla., to report for active duty, you have "moved out of the state" according to this list.

A significant number of the 6,000 voters targeted were servicemen, including Kevin Furey, a former state legislator from Missoula who left the legislature to serve in Iraq; Cindie Kalan-Green, who is also serving in Iraq; and Mathew Robison, who I am told has been deployed to Fort Drum.

Many were college students and elderly people. For example, Babe Aspholm, of Anaconda, an elderly man, simply moved across town from his house to a senior living center. The Republicans tried to void his registration. Tom Detonacour, a policeman from Deer Lodge County who simply bought a house in another county, also got targeted.

But worst of all is the legendary Frank St. Pierre, 86, also of Anaconda, who helped save thousands of allied troops at Dunkirk in World War II and has 10 Medals of Honor. St. Pierre, too, moved from one end of town to the other, and the Republicans tried to void his and his wife's registrations. I have a copy of the signed affidavits from the Republicans, declaring that Frank and Marilyn St. Pierre's voter registrations must be purged. An utter disgrace.

Beyond the outrageous lack of consideration for citizens, patriots and heroes, a significant burden and cost has been placed on county election administrators, public servants who work hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. They have been completely swamped by this scheme.

I am a Republican, and I will continue to be a Republican. But I am appalled at the leadership of my political party. I urge party elders to take action and promptly withdraw this outrageous effort to challenge the eligibility of legitimate voters, and to call for the removal any Republican Party employees responsible for this. This kind of activity has no place in a democracy. Finally, I would urge the voters of Montana whose registrations have been improperly challenged not to be discouraged by this unfortunate effort.

John Bohlinger is Montana's lieutenant governor. He may be reached via e-mail at jbohlinger@mt.gov.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: An 86-yr-old's debate comment

My mom is definitely an Obama fan, but she said she couldn't help noticing that McCain has developed what she called the "old folks shuffle" when he walks.

By the way, just to let people know, my mom is 86, my brothers are 58 and 44, my sister is 60, my husband is 58, my mother-in-law is 85 and I am 62, and we were all supporters of Clinton in the primary and not one of them is stupid enough to vote for McCain and the beauty queen.

My mother-in-law likes Obama, anyway, but she can't wait to vote for the first African American for president.

She said the same kind of thing about voting for Lieberman in the 2000 elections. She wanted to be able to say she voted for the first Jew on a national ticket.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.

Subject: Time for Constitutional Debate

As Mark says, McCain appears to be Forked, The dining utensil signals that he is indeed done.The Republicans are losing in the polls so they will now concentrate on winning in the ballot box. If Obama can make it through the rigged voting irregularities, I believe it's time to begin a constitutional debate. The Republicans showed how easy it is to subvert the present constitution. The House and the Senate have no power. It's time for parliamentary democracy. Get on with it.

Tom Coombs
Kaslo BC Canada

Subject: Tom Brokaw

Tom Brokaw during the debate in Tennessee going on right now. After almost every answer of John McCain Brokaw has said "Thank you Senator McCain" however, not once has he said "Thank you Senator Obama." This is outrageous and fundamentally unfair from a supposedly impartial questioner.

candice vance

[BuzzFlash Note: We checked a transcript where we found that Brokaw thanked Obama twice and McCain seven times.]

Subject: Showtime

See, here we go. The media puts this on as "Candidates Trade Jabs in Round 2". This media ought to be ashamed that they are still blocking candidates that will tell all, and actually talk about the working class. The media ought to be ashamed that they are still using sound bites to entertain Americans as if they are watching a boxing match. Who had the best one liner, who had the best upper cut.

It doesn't matter. What matters is that there is no health care in this country and 18,000 people die every year, due to lack of health care, according to the National Academy of Sciences. That is THREE 911s every year. Obama is afraid to say what is real. He agrees that Warren Buffett would be a good treasury secretary but there are some other "good folks." Just because Warren Buffett supports Obama does not mean he would be anything more than a capitalist. See what happens when Corporations and the rich own our candidates? They can't even tell the truth in a debate. Where are the third party candidates?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: 71 years of rude in one compact package.

If someone had told me earlier this year that McCain would resort to this I would have said they were crazy. Yesterday, Palin was going after Biden while he was at his mother-in-law's funeral. If you are looking for rude as your negotiator on nuclear war then McCain is your guy. If you are looking for "b**ch with an attitude" in a VP then the barracuda is your gal. This pair doesn't have enough statesmanship material between them to fill a thimble. If you want unmitigated gall, then McCain/Palin is your team.

It is a good thing Obama is nicer than I am, because I would have stood up after he called me "that one" and said, "Do you know who voted with Bush 90% of the time, including several times on deregulation? That insanely wealthy old fart, with 7 houses, 13 cars and a cob up his butt." Obama is nicer than I am.

If my printer weren't busted I would be printing a transfer at this moment that says "I can't wait to vote for that one" and a huge pin that has a picture of McCain with "NOT THIS ONE" on it.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok

Subject: Pit bull or Palin

Sarah Palin makes pit bulls look like logical, rational and sane human beings.

Nothing more need to be said.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

[BuzzFlash Note: Perhaps, but pit bulls are much maligned. We are told that many are sweet dogs and many others have been abused.]

Subject: Seniors and Social Security

I forwarded your editorial to several Republicans and couldn't believe the vicious responses I got. Can you please clarify if John McCain gets social security? One person said it isn't true because federal employees don't collect social security.

pamela hannula
saline, mi

[BuzzFlash Note: The McCain campaign website clearly reveals the Senator's Social Security income. It shows he received $23,157 in 2007 from Social Security. http://www.johnmccain.com/mccainfinancial/.]

Subject: Republicans Stealing Votes Already

Greg Palast, in an interview with Thom Hartmann, Air America, spoke in detail about his new book, "Steal Back Your Vote." Discussion included report on Colorado "cleaning" their voter rolls (removed 1 out of 5 voters) and how the methodology for this is being disseminated throughout the Republican Party.

People need to be aware of their voter registration status to ensure that they will be able to vote in November. They might just get to the polls and find that their names have been removed.

Lee Hirz

Subject: Five Former Secretaries of State Disagree with McCain's Debate Stance on Russia

This headline links to a CNN poll not a story about Five Former Secretaries of State....

I googled this title and could find nothing to back up the statement. Wish it were true but I need backup and proof before I can repeat this in "the water cooler wars"

Accuracy?

Phred42
Mundelein/IL

[BuzzFlash Note: The commentary by Max Bergmann was at Huffington Post. The headline there read: Another McCain Dispute with Kissinger -- Now on Russia.]

Subject: Bomb Bomb Iran

Last night during the Presidential debate, John McCain defended his 'bomb, bomb, bomb Iran' statement by saying that he was talking to an old military buddy. That's a lie. He said it during a town hall meeting in South Carolina. I wonder if that will be reported?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zoPgv_nYg

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/political...

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: Raw Story reported: Speaking at Murrells Inlet VFW Hall in South Carolina, McCain was asked when he thought the US Military might "send an air mail message to Tehran." "McCain began his answer by changing the words to a popular Beach Boys song," the Georgetown Times reports. "'Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran,' he sang to the tune of Barbara Ann," the paper notes.]

Subject: Debate miscue/insult

What is it with Grumpy Old Man (GOM) McCain? He referred to Obama as "that one" when commenting on him just feet away! He didn't even name him. Was this a symptom of Alzheimers? At his old age, that would not surprise me. It really does concern me, especially with that Sarah Barracuda just a heartbeat away. Also, those 30% that thought McCain won the debate -- what are they smoking???

Russ Kane
Bellerose, NY

Subject: Sarah Palin

Ohmygood! Is she Dick Cheney in drag?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: CINDY MCCAIN AFTER DEBATE

I have not seen anyone else comment on this. My brothers and I were watching the debate and were struck by how Cindy McCain strained to avoid touching the unwashed masses. At several points she deliberately put her hands behind her back to avoid having to touch the everyday folk. She shook three hands (one person from the crowd and Tom Brokaw's and Barack Obama's). It just seems strange and telling that an aspiring First Lady would not even make the effort for appearance's sake. It was very offensive and telling behavior, we thought. Those people represent us, but she doesn't want to get too close to them? Look at Barack and Michelle's post debate interaction with the crowd and compare it to Cindy's aloofness. The contrast is striking. Country first, so long as you're one of us.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/oliverburkemanblog...

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Where was Palin?

What struck me most about the town hall debate was what McCain never said. He never once mentioned his running mate's name. But he repeatedly mentioned his relationship with Joe Lieberman. I think he was sending a message to the conservative base which pressured him into choosing such a right wing VP. Undoubtedly, McCain now knows he's going to lose. He wanted the fundamentalists to know that they should have let him choose Lieberman. Too late. Although it probably wouldn't have made any difference.

Marc Levenson
San Leandro, California

Subject: The Presidential Debate

I've just finished watching the 2nd presidential debate and there is no doubt in my mind that "THAT ONE" won the debate! "THAT ONE" was more impressive. "THAT ONE" knew his facts and presented them clearly and precisely. "THAT ONE" proved to be a gentleman ... a statesman, while "the other one," McCain, appeared to be angry, and to lack strength of character. "The other one" -- McCain -- also presented himself as a privileged war monger who would like nothing better than to keep us in Iraq as long as possible and then move on to 'bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran,' while here at home we continue to lose our homes, jobs, and health care. On November 4, 2008, I'm casting my vote for "THE OTHER ONE"!

Dee Turner
Atlanta

Subject: Carol McCain

It amazes me that in the biography they showed at the Republican Convention, Carol was not mentioned. If I were her kids, especially those he adopted, I would have walked out.

John McCain is scum. I'll bet he cheated on her before he went to Vietnam. It says that she thought it might not have worked anyway even if he weren't captured.

I agree.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok

Subject: McCain on Nuclear Energy

McCain keeps on saying nuclear energy is clean.

How can he make this claim? We have tons of radioactive waste that we cannot find any place to dispose of it safely.

Nuclear energy is radioactive with half-lifes that are extremely long. Radioactive dust contaminates the atmosphere.

Does it make sense to call nuclear energy clean when it clearly isn't?

BTW, if McCain says "my friends" one more time I think I'll scream -- it is so patronizing and condescending.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

Subject: Missing in Action

This is the second Presidential candidate debate.

Once again I notice that Obama is working an American flag lapel pin, but McCain is NOT.

Why is McCain's flag pin MIA? Isn't he proud of America?

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

Subject: Woman's Choice

"And the rights of the fertilized egg?"

"Invented."

"By whom?"

"Man."

"Why?"

"To enslave the woman."

"And how will her chains be broken?"

"Yes we can."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Jane Hawes

Thanks for offering to run on my ticket with me as VP. Your qualifications are amazing and you have convinced me. What should we call ourselves?

I'm thinking that, unlike the McCain, we could contact John Fogerty (formerly of CCR) and ask permission to use "Fortunate Son" slightly modified to "Fortunate Ones" for a campaign theme song.

Your synopsis of your qualifications gave me pause to think and dig a little more into my own background:

I have known people from Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, so that will give me valuable Middle East experience.

I have also ridden in a T-52 Soviet tank that was captured by the Israelis during one of the wars in the ME in the 70s, so that should count towards Russian experience and actual combat experience.

I also love animals and have met Joan Embery, who was a spokesperson for the San Diego Zoo, so that counts towards environmental causes.

What doors can you open with your Phi Beta Kappa key? Does it work on secret underground locations or would it open Cheney's man-sized safe? No matter, that key could open all kinds of doors and secret whatchamacallits or thingamajigs.

Perhaps we could start our grass-roots campaign right here on BF with their gracious consent and encouragement.

Mr. Karlin, BF Staff -- what say you?

I'll be watching the debate tonight for hints on effective body language and facial expressions! ;-)

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

[BuzzFlash Note: What say our other readers?]

Subject: Why Not Utopia?

"Because that was the story of the twentieth century and look where that got us."

"Yes but it taught us important lessons."

"Such as?"

"Nonviolence is the only way to go."

"Utopia based on what?"

"One equals one."

"Anything else?"

"Everyone being in control of her/his own destiny."

"And then what sort of world?"

"it'll be up to us."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Palin and McCain

KO is on right now and his fifth story is about the hateful invective uttered by people attending the campaign stops by Palin and McCain. This behavior by both attendees and the candidates themselves is, at the very least, uncivilized and anarchistic.

If neither Palin nor McCain is able to comprehend that their rhetoric is inciting people to commit terroristic actions then they are both perverted beyond words and certainly have no authority to try and claim that they are Christians, particularly in the case of Palin -- the born-again Christian.

I have seen this kind of behavior before -- for many years, I attended Assemblies of God churches but found myself becoming increasingly alarmed at the judgmental dogma that was espoused by some members of those congregations.

In my opinion, both Palin and McCain are racists and know exactly what they are doing and saying. They need to be called out by law enforcement for these actions and words that they so carelessly puke out.

How any patriotic American can condone this kind of behavior on the part of a "wanna-be" leader of this country is treasonous on its face.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

Subject: Palin for President?

Here's a simple fact straight from insurance actuaries: McCain has a one in three chance of not making it to 80.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=253B8DF9-18FE-70B2-A8961A86DC5B16C7

and

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/03/harsh-statistics-1-in-3-c_n_123583.html

A certain Alaskan Governor seems to know this. Go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89FbCPzAsRA

to view the full VB debate and scroll forward 1:05.47 to hear the question asked: What if the worst were to happen and you suddenly became president? Listen a moment or two to Biden's response. He is properly grave, talking about continuation of Barack's policies. That's simply how you are supposed to answer such a somber question.

How about Palin's response? Scroll forward to 1:07:45 and listen to Miss Chipper, full of winks and smiles and jovial anecdotes about how glad she is that McCain respects her opinions. She begins her answer by saying, "What do you expect? We're a team of mavericks. Of course we won't agree on everything."

It's hard to predict what a Palin Administration would look like, but we can get a glimpse at who'd be the most pleased. Visit the following link for a description of a Palin rally in Clearwater, Florida.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/06/AR2008100602935.html

Scroll to the bottom third of the article:

"Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy.""

Lenny Blois

Subject: Florida interview

I saw this posted elsewhere. It's true she never answers the direct question even when being treated with kid gloves. I'm gaining a whole new appreciation for Hillary, "fer sure."

Palin - media interview - Florida

Note the non-answer to “are you ready to be president” around minute 7

http://www2.tbo.com/video/2008/oct/06/...

Angela Patterson

Subject: buzzers

HOORAY HOORAY FOR ALL THE BUZZERS. KEEP TELLING THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH. LINK TV DEMOCRACY TODAY NEEDS YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. ONLY TRUTH ON TV B**CH TO THE LIARS FOX NEWS, ABC, LIMBAUGH, OREILLY, NBC, CNN, MEDIA IN GENERAL. BUZZERS RULE ...........

MANNY
TAMPA FL

Subject: The Negligence of the media

The McCain campaign is now out of control. When Palin supporters scream at soundmen to “Sit down, boy” (which is a clear racial slur), when they are waving thunder sticks at reporters and news crews (Clearwater) when are YOU going to bring the news under control? Because McCain and Palin incite this behavior with their comments of hate. And their lies. And YOU are responsible because you report their nonsense.

Only the media can bring this under control. Are you waiting for someone to get hurt? Are you waiting for someone to get killed? Are you waiting for a bigger news story? For God’s sake – quit giving them the tool that incites this! Refuse to cover them if this is how they behave.

Julie

Subject: Inciting the Crowd

I sent this as an email to all of the networks. I suggest other people do the same. You can get email addresses and other contact from the FAIR Media Contact List.

Shame on Palin and McCain for not discouraging their mobs when they shout "terrorist!" and "kill him!" in reference to Obama, thus creating a lynching party.

Shame on you for not discouraging this mob mentality. We all know that people in mobs will do things that, as normal and decent individuals, they might think of only in nightmares.

We do not want our electoral process and our civilization to be destroyed by desperate candidates encouraging murder of the opposition.

Sincerely, L. Perry

McCain is my senator.

L. Perry
Phoenix, Arizona

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG