BuzzFlash Mailbag for November 07, 2008

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Subject: Armageddon in retrospect

I'm currently reading "Armageddon in Retrospect" by Vonnegut and got to thinking how wonderful it would have been if he'd lived long enough to witness this momentous event in American history and then I got to thinking of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King and John Lennon and Malcolm X and the scores of other great people of spirit and passion and vision -- had they only lived to see this day. But I did! And they are the "light" on my mind and spirit right now.

My lifelong black friend in San Francisco called me last night and simply said ..."I can die a happy man now." I tear up as I think of how nobly he has persevered through such darkness of spirit in this country and how he has always inspired me to be a better man. He was never bitter, never angry, while I ranted and raved against the odds. This beautiful black man, my brother in spirit, has been my angel for 30 years and now our great country is going to be led by one. Amazing!

Thank you BuzzFlash and the awesome BuzzFlash community for helping keep me sane since 2000. You are the people that have made this possible and it's an honor to be in your presence.

Chicago rocks!

We still have much work to do!

Steve Moore
Camptonville, CA

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Subject: Blame the Woman

Whether you take the bible literally or as literature, it has strong influence. In the bible, we meet the first man. God says “Adam,....where art thou? asks the Lord God ''(Gen 3:9). Adam says that he was hiding from God. Lord God asks if Adam has eaten the fruit. Just a question. The first man then proceeds to blame God and the first woman. The man answers, ''the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I did eat' (Genesis 3:12). Then God speaks to the woman ''What is this you have done?''(Gen 3:13 NIV) The woman does not hide, elaborate nor does she lie. She answers directly: 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'' (Genesis 3:13 NIV). The woman accepts responsibility.

No wonder women always take on blame. Whether your are Hillary or Palin, you are going to get blamed. It doesn't matter who you are as a woman. I voted for McKinney because as a woman, I am tired of the blame. I will not vote for a man.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: michele bachmann

did michele bachmann of district 6 in MN, that awful congresswoman who made those terrible comments on chris matthews Hardball before the election, ever get elected? Woud really like to know. thanks. A BuzzFlash reader.

Lorraine Brennan
staten island, NY

[BuzzFlash Note: Oh, yeah. She won all right. We are posting a new article about her today.]

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Subject: passage of Prop 8, creating a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in California

MARRIAGE MORES:

Say what you will, marriage IS a religious issue, which is precisely why the question of its “sanctity” does not belong on the ballot in a general election or inscribed in law in our democratic republic. Our constitution proclaims the separation of church and state as a general good for precisely such contentious ethical and social issues.

Personally, as a man living in a committed relationship with a like-minded man for 28 years, I’m quite content with the advent of civil unions. But men must marry and women must be wed to propagate the species, or keep them home after dark. Yet, the new amendment to the California constitution is an absurdity, and an insult to millions of those with a different moral point of view.

Instead, I would propose to adopt a new constitutional amendment to proclaim civil unions as the de facto and only form of marriage in a legal sense at all. But if some poor boob still wants to consecrate his/her union before the altar in white satin and orange blossoms, let us be liberal, as in the sense of generous and open-handed. After all it’s no skin off our queer noses. Anybody wishing to be married under the vows of his/her chosen religion should be free to do so, and to adopt whatever do’s and don’ts that religion prescribes for themselves. But it should not be the legal sine qua non, that is without a primary civil union proclaimed before properly constituted civil and legal authorities. After all, when you want a divorce, you don’t go back to your priest, you go into court and fight it out under man’s law, not God’s law!

Furthermore, with regard to the sanctity of marriage as a legally binding principle as inscribed so simplistically in the current amendment, i.e., the concept that marriage consists of just one man and just one woman, I think one needs to look with a somewhat jaundiced eye at the reality of the institution. With the divorce rate hovering in the neighborhood of 50 percent in the first few years of this god-ordained sanctity, the concept seems to be either a red herring or a lame joke.

After the first man or woman, the divorcee takes another and another and another. This seems a deal-breaker to me. If you were to follow Biblical injunctions, you would have difficulty in allowing for the no-fault breakup of a marriage before a civil judge. But from Henry VIII onward, the rules were bent to accommodate situations for those with the desire and money to break the chains that were meant to bind. In fact if you follow the tenets of most religions, divorce has a multitude of modes.

For literal Christians of the new book, however, one man one woman is meant to be taken literally. There is no “better second time around.” Forget about changing your mind due to emotional incompatibility, financial stress, cruelty, alcoholism, whatever. Don’t forget the “better or worse” clause, which you vowed before God.

For Jews and Muslims it’s enough to say “I divorce thee” three times, at least the man does; at which point the woman is history and makes out as best she can in a cruel world at a point when her declining charms leave her most vulnerable.

And don’t get me started on sexual cheating: the Torah, Bible, New or Old versions, Koran, etc., advise stoning as a proper deterrent for the crime of adultery. There is no justification for a romp in the hay with the chambermaid. No adultery, no divorce. One man, one woman. Period. Jesus sanctions neither. Nor do I. I say, married once, married all.

Strangest of all to me is that Jesus has not one word to say about homosexuality, despite the fact that being a little light in thy strap-sandals was rampant in the Graeco-Roman world of his day. You have to go back to Leviticus to find this “abomination” mentioned, and it is equivalent to the sin of eating shell fish. Jesus did campaign against adultery. I believe he said that even to sin in your heart is equal to sin in fact. So pluck out thine eye, sinner! And give Jesus his due, his chief complaint against sinners was not sexual in nature, it was the sin of hypocrisy; but that is something Christians are loath to discuss.

It’s a good thing Jupiter doesn’t care about such things, since he still commands the lightning bolt. No, It isn’t gay sexual license (either in the sense of a piece of paper permitting marriage, or in the more general sense of promiscuous lack of restraint) that is cause of heterosexual unions gone rancid with multiple divorces, bastard children, tactful affairs, or romps with the pool boy. It’s Television, stupid! It’s the inability of your average heterosexual to keep his pants on long enough to drive to church on Sunday, let alone to take the institution of marriage seriously apart from the tax write-offs.

Frank Ventrola
Los Angeles, CA

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Subject: Michele Bachmann

As a proud Minnesotan, I feel obligated to explain how Michele "McCarthy" Bachmann managed to get re-elected. Basically, her opponent El Tinklenberg - a pastor and former state administrator - was so unknown and underfunded, he remained a virtual non-entity until the middle of October. Before Bachmann's now infamous "Hardball" interview, even local political junkies like me wouldn't have recognized the man if he had knocked on our our front door. We simply assumed any reasonably qualified person was bound to defeat a dim-witted, glassy-eyed crackpot who made a total fool of herself before a national audience. But here, and in all states, Congressional candidates "micro-target" their campaign commercials. Millions of voters outside the ultra-conservative 6th District were never exposed to an onslaught of cleverly contrived television ads featuring "Mommy Michelle" hugging the kiddies or others portraying Bachmann as a kind of modern-day Joan of Arc, the God-fearing champion of downtrodden taxpayers. Over and over, her constituents were reminded that she was one of the few, the brave, House members who OPPOSED, yes, OPPOSED! that loathesome Wall Street "bailout" bill. All Bachmann and her handlers had to do was keep their expensive, well-oiled propaganda machine running at full speed until election day.

By the time Tinklenberg could finally afford to start broadcasting his campaign messages, they were drowned out by a flurry of vicious, misleading attack ads - approved of course, by a woman who admits she "adores" Ann Coulter. No doubt El Tinklenberg appreciated the windfall of financial support he received from so many generous, public-spirited donors. Unfortunately, his story ended with a calvary of heroes on white horses, arriving on the scene a little too late.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: my advice to president obama

Hi, Buzz!!

People have all sorts of advice for our new PRESIDENT (at last we have leadership), and I've seen nothing yet that I disagree with. But what worries me is that the Washington chattering classes don't seem to realize yet that their neo-con Republican buddies have LOST. And that they DESERVED to lose because of their massive betrayal of the public trust. Some of them seem to think they're still going to be running things when the new administration comes in.

My advice to President Obama, therefore, is this: Take a page from Lincoln's playbook. Govern in a bipartisan way, of course; that's what he did. Just look at his cabinet. But never - absolutely NEVER - be less than absolutely clear about who is in charge. That would be you, President Obama. Keep your focus squarely upon your agenda, because it is OUR agenda, the people who gave you money and worked the phones and knocked on doors and got you elected.

You owe nothing to the Republican outgoing (thank God) establishment, and they must be put firmly in their place. Again, look at how Lincoln handled Sec. of State Seward in 1861. Lincoln ceded none of his authority to Seward, and you shouldn't cede any to the Republican agents of failure. They've already proved they can't handle it.

We expect better of you, and I think we have good reason. So, go for it!

Jane Hawes
Edmond, OK (still a red-state Democrat)

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Subject: RNC Joke

Did you hear the one about the clockmaker who is trying to get in contact with the RNC? He wants to tell them that their clock is ready to be picked up at any time. It has been cleaned but still fails to run.

Ken Stahl

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Subject: Rahm Emanuel

I don't know a whole heck of a lot about Rahm Emanuel except that he's a Congressman from Illinois. He and President Obama are, apparently, good friends.

As I understand it, he's a tough cookie who doesn't suffer fools gladly -- and that is a good character trait when there is important work to be done.

Therefore, it is rather amusing to listen to all the complaining being done by some pundits, specifically Joe Scarborough throwing a hissy fit about Obama's selection of Emanuel to be his Chief of Staff.

According to Joe, the selection of Emanuel is "equivalent" to being a "FU" in the face of the Republicans, akin to a "Tom DeLay." My question to Joe (or anyone else whining) is "So what? BFD."

President Obama has the right to select whomever he believes is the BEST person for the position. I have not heard any complaints from Joe et al. about Mr. Emanuel's intelligence or qualifications. Their only quarrel seems to be that Rahm is too hard edged.

Joe just also said that it seems like the WH is going to be a Chicago cabal -- the word Joe wanted to use was "mafia" but he "took the high road" and said he wouldn't use "that word."

Did Joe have any complaints when Bushie surrounded himself with has-beens from older corrupt Republican administrations (Reagan or Nixon)? Did he complain when Bush selected a protege of Lee Atwater (Karl Rove) to occupy a position of trust in the Bush Administration?

Joe and your ilk -- just SHUT UP! You guys have spent the past eight years expecting everyone else to play nice. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, all of a sudden you become so moral and pious and self-righteous.

Just yesterday I read a report on Raw Story that Facebook groups are already springing up to impeach Obama. Gag me with an entrenching tool.

It's fascinating to watch and see just how ugly the Republicans really are in the wake of the resounding kiss-off they received from We, the People on Tuesday.

What's even funnier is how they are now devouring each other and throwing dirtballs at each other. While many others are looking forward and making plans to save America, these guys, still only care about their own self-interests.

And they wonder why they lost? What a bunch of rubes.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

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Subject: Sacred Cows already?

Noticed that some of the media is already trying to protect Texas Monthly magazine from criticism that it sold out to the neo-cons during Bush's rise to power. Are we going to replace right wing media bias and censorship with left wing bias and censorship? Texas Monthly is a media whore. It sold out along with the rest of the Texas press and should be called out for it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: No Matter No More What MSM Puts Out

"What matters?"

"What's on the Internet, the Alternative Media + the Keith Olbermann/Rachel Maddow newscasts."

"Anything else?"

"The change that comes to America."

"Based on?"

"Yes we can."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Now It's The Obama Administration That Makes History

"And the Republicans?"

"They can only react to what the Obama administration does."

"After which?"

"Another action by the Obama administration."

"With the Republicans?"

"Once again having to react."

"Which renders them?"

"Losers."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: More of a question than comment

Has anyone commented on the phraseology in Obama's speeches? They sound an awful lot like Jed Bartlet? Any speechwriter ties?

Neil H. Ferstand
West Hartford, CT

[BuzzFlash Note: That makes us laugh, because we used to say to ourselves, during the dark Bush years, "Jed Bartlet is my real president!"]

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Subject: I wish I could have been with Holly on Tues. night in Houston.

Holly is my friend. We met when my sister paid for me to go to Houston and go with the Harris County NAACP to Miami to protest the 2000 election.

Holly is a professor at Texas Southern University and she is older than I am. She was a victim of the civil rights movement because she is Black. We have communicated since 2000.

We were on the bus on the way back to Houston when we heard that the Supreme Court had given the election to Bush.

Getting ready for that trip they told us we were 21st century freedom riders and it really made me a little nervous. They told us how to protect each other, but we didn't need it.

I remember the freedom riders because I was in high school during that time.

I would have loved to have been with Holly on Tuesday night.

I also thought of Keith Smith from here in OKC. He died right after he helped some OKC Dems get seats in the lege. Most of us didn't even know he was sick. Although he was a lobbyist for every progressive organization in Oklahoma, including those trying to get universal health insurance. He died from AIDS because he couldn't afford insurance.

Karen Webb
Moore, OK

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Subject: Let's Lose the Labels

John McCain was a 20th century warrior caught in a 21st century battle. The message of this election is that the policies that have brought us to these circumstances will not solve them, at home or abroad. It’s time for thoughtful Republicans to join Democrats in finding new solutions that work for the common good and dump the stupid labels on the trash heap of history where they belong. Who knows but that, in that effort, they might even discover they have the makings of a relevant and resurgent Republican party.

Let’s lose the labels.

George Duncan
Peterborough, NH

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Subject: Fight at OKC high school over election.

It started with 2 girls fighting over the election and ended in a kind of free for all at Capitol Hill High School. They ended it with pepper spray and arrested 6 kids.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok

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Subject: Beyond Prop 8

The California electorate has given us a powerful religious weapon. We must use it wisely and with restraint ... Oh, what the heck. Let's go nuts! Homosexuals simply haven't made the case for their right to marry. Who's next?

Certainly non-virgins shouldn't be allowed to marry. If they can't learn from our abstinence-only teachings, they simply won't make good parents. The elderly? They make excellent grandparents, but not such great parents. And then there are the atheists. Atheists!?! How did they slide under the marriage radar?

With the power of the California constitution behind us, there's nothing we can't accomplish. What are you waiting for? Fly, my pretties!

Martin Bell
Santa Clara, CA

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Subject: No Matter No More What The Far Right Says

"Why not?"

"We decide now."

"Based on?"

"Yes we can."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Will Mercenary Firms work with Obama’s “Civilian National Security Force” on U.S. Soil?

Could Americans Control Direction of “Civilian National Security Force” under Obama? No one has yet qualified what Obama meant when he stated in July 2008: "We cannot continue to rely on our military to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded.”

Brief Historical note: Germany under Hitler during hard economic times set up a volunteer neighborhood/community "Civilian National Security Forces" to protect the Homeland. Once established, the civilian force became a “neighbor” Political Enforcement Arm of the Nazi Government. And was subsequently run by the Gestapo.

Could Americans control the direction a civilian national security force might take under Obama? How would local police interact with a "civilian national security force” that is just as powerful as the U.S. Military? Would volunteer civilians have access to Citizens' private records? Could U.S. private mercenary companies now contracted in Iraq work with a "Civilian National Security Force" on U.S. Soil?

Could Constitutional Fourth Amendment rights be trashed including illegal search and seizure. Could Obama's "Civilian National Security Force" members handle neighborhood informants and share like the Gestopal did in seized and forfeited assets from Americans.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: This appears to be a misinterpretation. Here's one blogger's attempt to set the record straight.]

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Subject: What we need to hope for now

I pray the Secret Service is watching over President Elect Obama 24-7.

We need a leader, not a martyr.

Once in my lifetime was enough.

Mike Curtis
Greenbrier Ark

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Subject: Election Unleashes a Flood of Hope Worldwide 11/7

Am I missing something? Aren't any of the great world orchestras and operas--let alone some of our own national symphonies--performing Fidelio to full houses? November 4 wasn't just a day of freedom, but a day of liberation. Or are they waiting for the Bush cabal's ultimate conviction?

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

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Subject: Michelle's dress

No wonder Michelle is angry! Here she is with a beautiful face and drop-dead gorgeous figure wearing that awful Halloween dress.

Please, oh please let me be her wardrobe adviser. Or, better yet, why not get the designer Sarah used?

Michelle's figure is like decorating a beautiful Christmas tree. The last time I remember such a fashion "horse" was Jackie O.

I hope Michelle enjoys every moment of being First Lady. I happen to know and appreciate how hard she has worked. One of my daughters is a licensed attorney (Rutgers) who has worked as an FBI Agent right out of law school.

Hey, I've got an idea! Why not hire Beth as Michelle's private body guard?! No. That won't work. Beth is only 5'2"... she has enough determination to do what it takes, tho.

Dot O'Brien
New Bern, NC

[BuzzFlash Note: Let's not lay into the First-Lady-To-Be just yet for her clothes, okay? FYI, Michelle often chooses clothes by Chicago designer Maria Pinto, but she did not for Tuesday night, and wore, instead, a Narciso Rodriguez dress.]

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Subject: "Socialism"

A Republican colleague of mine once declared that “a conservative is a person with something to conserve.” “Yes,” I replied, “at everyone else’s expense.” Imagine my surprise earlier this month when Times columnist Frank Rich opined, “The whole point of the Bush-Rove way of doing business is that principles, coherent governance and even ideology must always be sacrificed for political expediency, no matter the cost to the public good.”

There could be no group of conservatives more strongly opposed to “socialism” than the mandarins of Wall Street and Washington who crafted the bailout plan for the country’s banks as the market melted down. Yet, they did so with both presidential candidates signing off on it, because, repugnant as it may have been to most of them, it was what they could do halt the slide. It’s a relevant point, for as President Obama moves forward to rebuild confidence in the markets and set the stage for job growth, he’s going need everyone’s support in crafting solutions, and he’ll have a tougher time doing that if we allow ourselves to be tied down by labels.

Frank Zeidler, an American socialist who served as the mayor of Milwaukee from 1948 to 1960 said, "Socialism as we attempted to practice it here believes that people working together for a common good can produce a greater benefit both for society and for the individual than can a society in which everyone is shrewdly seeking their own self-interest." Updating Zeidler, historian Sean Wilentz writes in a recent Newsweek, “Amid what Republicans and Democrats agree is the worst financial catastrophe since the Great Depression, government has become the solution again – the only conceivable one – and it seems that it will remain so for a long time to come.”

A BuzzFlash Reader

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