BuzzFlash Mailbag for November 20, 2007

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Subject: Giving Back?

I believe it was about two months ago that I read a rather vaguely worded item about Hillary saying that, if she is elected, she will give back "some" of what Bush has taken. I took that to mean she would give up some of the unitary powers Bush has given himself. At the time, I wondered why she didn't say she would give up all of them and return the government to the way it's supposed to be. Since then, I haven't seen anyone say anything about this.

We know that none of the Republican candidates will give back anything if they are elected. In fact, they, especially Giuliani, will probably expand them. I would like to see all the Democratic candidates unequivocally declare what they will do about these powers.

R. M. Johnson
New Jersey

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Subject: Impeach Now Nancy

Hey...is there a Pelosi aide or democratic party member reading this mailbag? You might want to tell Nancy to read the War Room in Salon.

McClellan implicates Bush, Cheney in Plame lie (salon.com)

She may want to make some room on her table for impeachment. It seems Scottie has some 'splainin' to do. Subpoena McClellan now Nancy. He claims he was lied to by bush et al. He passed along this lie to the American public. This wasn't a cover up for a blow job, Nancy. This is about the lies and cover up of the outing of a covert CIA agent.

Nancy, you have the gavel. Dislodge it from your derriere, give it a couple of raps and start the impeachment process now. You were elected to restore some integrity. Get at it.

Tom Coombs
Kaslo, BC, Canada

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Subject: Sex Scandal At Megachurch In Atlanta

I was a member of this church for almost 14 years and I'd like to point out that the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit was awarded one of Bush 1's 1000 Points of Light awards for work done by the parishioners in some of the poorer areas of the city. Earl Paulk and the leadership of the church took credit for this work but they barely set foot near it; all the work was done by us, the congregation. We weren't the ones who met with Bush 1, though, and we didn't get to hang that plaque in our hall of trophies.

The Paulk family has a long legacy of molesting women and children at this 'megachurch.' It is high time this family be brought to justice. Thanks for having this story listed on the BuzzFlash page.

Sex scandal hits Atlanta-area megachurch (AP/Yahoo)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Kudos

Kudos to Lisa Johnson for her insightful letter on Monday.

Like Lisa I want the government to keep the hell out of my personal life. Just because I have nothing to hide does not mean that I want people pawing through my dresser drawers mentally or physically.

What amazes me is that the Republican Party, which is so insistent on small, non-intrusive government, is now comprised of busybodies that think they have the right to get into everyone's personal decisions.

Large numbers of these folks now embrace Rudy Giuliani for president not because he shares their "values" but because they think he can defeat Hillary Clinton. You might wonder just how important those values are if people are willing to abandon them at the thought of losing control.

This Republican Party base is all about CONTROL. They are control freaks that want to be able to force their "beliefs" on everyone else. That's not small or non-intrusive government. And it's not Democracy.

Republicans would have to take an honest look at themselves, at their motives, and at what it is they truly want to accomplish to understand that. Forced pregnancies? Check. Fewer Civil Rights for some citizens based on race, religion or sexual orientation? Check. Being in favor of the Death Penalty in spite of that old "Thou shall not kill" rule? Check. And war. Endless war. Values? I think not.

It's about control and the "Dick" Cheney Doctrine of government. They have been frighteningly successful. So long as citizens don't bother to understand the issues, vote for the best candidate not the best punch line or party line, and don't find it just as important to stand in line to vote as they do to get the latest electronic gizmo.

We don't just need a better government; we need better citizens that will accept nothing less than a better government. A government that without equivocation honors the oath of office they took to follow the Constitution of the United States. Nothing else is acceptable. Nothing.

Marjorie Swanson
Kenosha, WI 

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Subject: Never Ending Lies 

The never ending lies of this administration and its neopublicratic supporters in the US Congress are nothing but a source of frustration, anger and rage with the way our representative government is now working for We, the People.

The latest salvo is the recently defeated funding bill for the Iraq War/Occupation disaster. The Democratic Party deserves credit for, at a minimum, tying any additional funding to an end to our occupation of Iraq. The neopublicrats, as is par for the course, chose, yet again to take any responsibility for their contributions to the Madness of Boy George et al.

As is the norm, they are blaming the Democratic Party for not passing a funding bill. This is just an out and out lie and yet again demonstrates the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the war mongers. In fact, the Democratic Party DID introduce a funding bill with the condition that troop withdrawal begin within a specified time period.

The truth is that the neopublicrats, who for whatever vulgar reasons, choose to allow Bush to do whatever he wants whenever he wants and to hell with the consequences or the good of the country they are supposed to be serving as public officials.

Now Scott McClellan, former press secretary has come out and said that the top honchos of the administration -- Bush, Cheney and Rove -- were in on the outing of Valerie Plame and they lied to McClellan. When did McClellan discover that they lied? I would like to know. If he found out within 6 months of it happening then WHY did he bother to stick around for so long -- ex post facto -- and not leave earlier in protest? Why did he not come clean with Patrick Fitzgerald (just had a brain fart and his last name slipped my mind so I hope I got it correct).

It was a monumental error on the part of Pelosi, Reid and other Democratic leaders to take impeachment "off the table." Once they articulated that position they gave Bush license to continue on his willful disobedience of the law and his arrogance of power.

There has been a lot of talk about "Bush Derangement." I object to that term. It is NOT Bush Derangement -- it is Bush Fatigue. I am fed up past the point of full with their immoral and vulgar behavior. If they did not have the power they have -- in other words if I were to meet them on the street during my daily comings and goings I would still come to the conclusion that they are, to be blunt, ass****s whom I would go out of my way to avoid.

Try as I have there are simply no redeeming qualities to their characters. There is no evidence of decisions or behavior based on common sense, logic or rational thought. There is not one area in which they have done a credible job.

It is even more alarming that so many people are still blinded by their lack of morals and are willing to give them a pass on their actions.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

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Subject: Pakistan's Collapse Is Our Problem? (copy of a letter sent to the Editor, NY Times OP-ED Pages 11-19-07)

Re.: "Pakistan's Collapse, Our Problem", from Op-Ed Contributors Frederick W. Kagan and Michael O'Hanlon in Washington, 11/18/07

Someone from Dreamworks must be recruiting at the Times; that's the only reasonable explanation why our American Enterprise Institute and Brookings Institution brothers Kagan and O'Hanlon would write things like "...we must face a fact: the United States simply could not stand by as a nuclear-armed Pakistan descended into the abyss." and "Rule-of-thumb estimates suggest that a force of more than a million troops would be required for a country of this size." They're writing a movie script!

"But wait a minute, I say: You and who's Army?"

The failed policies of the folks from these insulated institutions and their influence with the Cheney Administration since 2001 have compounded the damage done by our Government's interferences with so many foreign Governments, and we now find ourselves in a terrible place in History: our enemies are our friends, our friends are our enemies, we want to challenge our Military to succeed without adequate tools and people after the failed Crusades in Afghanistan and Iraq, and now they suggest a million Troops should be sent to Pakistan?

Which Movie Genie do they intend to ask for these Troops?

With all the reasons they use to justify our next invasion, and all the "facts" they use to support their arguments, they write like people who aren't responsible for the problems our once-great United States is facing. But they are as responsible for today's mess as anyone in the White House, and need much better solutions than a million troops we don't have.

Unless, of course, they want to institute the Draft and conscript all the eligible young people who aren't connected enough to obtain deferments. I wonder: do you suppose they plan to sell the movie rights for this nightmare to Dreamworks?

Bill Darbyshire
Galien, MI

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Subject: You Go, Marjorie Swanson!!!!!!! Tell,'em!!

You say the things I wish I had said, Only I don't think of it first.!!!!! In the 90's I despised Chris Matthews...who bashed both Clintons then...he hated them both, he did what the people in the majority told him to do back then...and he is trying the same thing now...it is just that he puts his finger in the wind, and however it is blowing, that is how the blather is going to go on his show. It will be that way for as long as he has a show...so, you gotta take that man with a grain of salt...I sort of laugh at him, most of the time. Once in a while, I have been known to quote him...simply because I could never believe that he would say anything positive about ANY Clinton.

On another plane...I remember so well in the 2003-04 period...going out to every place I could to try to find a Peace Symbol...nada...never ever on your life! I have had people be tolerant, look it up and tell me that it would cost $300 even in sterling silver...knowing damned well that no one but a dummy would pay that for it...after all, it is a symbol of peace...not a gun!

So, sometime in 2005, my darling granddaughter remembered...and sent me one for Mother's day... I was overjoyed...at some time right after that, it went amiss...I have no idea what happened to it, I wore it around my neck...and for about a year, did not get a comment. At a time, when bumper stickers for any kind of peace, were disappearing from your car...It burns me to think that someone stole a solid gold peace symbol from me...but, after going through my dust from my floor out of my vacuum cleaner for a number of times...and not finding it...I had to face the fact that ... alas, it was gone! So, I went on e-bay ..."Precious moments" I think...and found one...it cost $50 which I did not think was too much to replace a symbol that my granddaughter had sent...and I certainly did not want to surmise what had happened to it.

So, now...not one time have I gone out with it on...and I wear it every place I go ... that someone has not commented positively on it. And, many times...gone into a long discussion about how wrong this war was! Today, it was a Vietnam vet, and he told me a lot of things that I did not know, most I did...so, no bumper stickers are disappearing anymore...and the peace symbol is okay to wear...wear it with pride...it is a statement of what we should be!!!! PS...unfortunately, you still cannot find one on sale...anywhere in this city...

Shirley .... St. Louis 

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Subject: Two Sets Of Books

I have written in the past about media whores telling us the budget deficit was being reduced do to tax cuts to the rich. What never was reported in the past was the supplemental budget that has increased 4 to 5 trillion since Bush has taken office.

Social Security has been on the forefronts of the Rethuglicans agenda since day 1 on Bush's takeover of the gov't. Spending millions of taxpayer money to travel the country to friendly audiences wasn't enough to win support. The money spent for lobbying will probably never be exposed, but the money that has been spent on off-the-books emergency spending is now being talked about as the debt. A slightly different wording. Kind of like this debt was approved of by congress so now it is as official as any promise made to the American people.

When their numbers are projected out to 2050 they assume the US will owe out 52 trillion dollars. I do not see how anyone could project that number.

If Bush's plan to bankrupt the USA is successful, there is no need for any further talk. Let's be thankful that the number owed to the fed reserve a finally being talked about. That money, 10 trillion dollars, goes directly to the private fed reserve for repayment Bush has asked for, to pay propaganda machine, to pay for occupying a foreign land and to pay for raises to everyone who goes along with plan to swamp our children with debt.

Scott Sanford
Louisville, Ky

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Subject: Ex-guerilla leader wins elections in Kosovo with 45% total voter turnout & Serb boycott

There ain't nothin like Democracy, is there W?

"The landslide victory of the former rebels PDK will not lead to a radicalization of Kosovo. But neither does the result point to the triumph of a stable democracy ... Kosovo is not a democracy. Power is not with the people but is [exercised] by international diplomats. The elections only imitated democratic techniques. The stifling domination of the bureaucrats leaves little room for responsibility, ideas, change, productive crises or true reconciliation."

German commentators say that could mean that war is on the horizon.

'Peace in Kosovo Was Never More than a Ceasefire' (spiegel.de)

Remember about 5 months ago??

Bush calls for Kosovo's independence (NDTV.com)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: The Letter I Sent To John McCain

Dear Senator McCain

I read with dismay the incident recently where one of your supporters asked "How are we going to beat the b***h? " referring to Hillary Clinton, and that you just laughed.

How about when one of them asks about Obama, "How are we going to beat the n*****r?" Will you fall on the floor in hysterics?

Mike Curtis
Greenbrier, Ark.

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Subject: Threatening Torture

I've noticed over the past few years that BuzzFlash has threatened either suggested that certain people be tortured or has threatened to torture certain people. The most recent example appears at the top of page at the moment, "BuzzFlash Editor's Blog: Bush's Own Agency Funded Terrorists, So Shouldn't Bush be Waterboarded On Behalf of National Security?"

Torture is torture. It's illegal. It's immoral. It's a scourge on our common life on this planet. It's not a joke.

While I appreciate your site, I'd urge you to drop the torture language. We'd all be better without it.

http://www.stoptorturenow.org/site/weblog.php

Yours,

Andrew Wimmer
Center for Theology and Social Analysis
Saint Louis, Missouri

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Subject: A Woman President

Good morning,

We have a good democracy that is in need of continual improvement and there are ways in which we are behind other nations. I'd like to see the point being made to women that there has never been a better opportunity to set a precedent in the U.S. by electing a woman president. I'm surprised women don't see voting for Hillary Clinton as a definite for them. Whether or not they see her as ideal is beside the point and it would open the door for good. I've made the point to some friends by being facetious. "It just proves that the male of the species is smarter because we've convinced the female of the species that they do not want a woman president."

Rick
Kalamazoo, MI

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Subject: Might As Well Advertise

Hey, I don't get it.

Now you are trying to raise $110,000 (or is it $150,000?) by the end of the year. You are asking for donations, but you also sell stuff.

So you advertise on your site for the stuff you are selling. So why not just let others advertise on your site for the stuff they are selling?

You sell books, for instance. But you aren't really in the book-selling business. Why not let Amazon.com, or Barnes and Noble advertise their books on your site? I am not talking about books by Ann Coulter, or Sean Hannity. Screen all of those out and make sure that only books you approve of are being advertised. But if someone wants to promote their book on French cooking on your web site, what do you care?

It seems to me you've got a very popular site, and you have banner ads anyway, so why not let others use those banners for their products? If you don't like the product, for whatever reason, then don't let them advertise.

I would agree that you should stay away from political ads. Hillary Clinton can afford a lot more advertising than Dennis Kucinich, so your integrity would be compromised, since she would likely have a lot more ads to put up....

Anyway my point is, you might as well advertise. You are there already anyway.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: An Even Stranger Plan By The Right Wingers

I have heard...cannot remember where I read this...but the idea is that the Bush handlers are going to 'Swift Boat' Hillary...so she will Win...got that Win the nomination! Just like John Kerry! The point is...it will be easier to blast her...and sleaze her, smear her...than it will be to do it to John Edwards. The reason? For some, God only knows, reason, they are terrified of John Edwards! Anyone else hear this? My daughter in KC says she has heard the same thing... I am trying to see the reason for it...other than the fact that Bill has gone pretty easy on the Bushes many times, to my dismay!

There has to be more to it than that...or does there?

Shirley ...St. Louis

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Subject: Rule Of Thumb

Shouldn't there be some rule of thumb about those folks who have a national stage, either print or electronic, who are consistently wrong? Shouldn't you have to be correct about your assertions frequently or lose you pundit's badge?

Any actor or actress that bombed as frequently as the pundit critters bomb would be out of work, off the stage and back to wherever they came from flipping burgers with much of the American middle class.

Instead these morons spout off, are so wrong so often it's almost funny and are right back mouthing off the next chance they get. They call names and slime reputations without offering proof, seem to find their mind-reading talents a good swap for investigative reporting and presumably have no shame about past failures.

However the problem with these nitwits isn't so much that they are consistently wrong but that their readers, listeners, viewers, accept their inability to get things right.

One is forced to conclude that we will continue to have an onslaught of Pundidiots infesting our newspapers, our radio programming, our news channels and programming so long as a pinheaded public accepts such second rate media. Only a second rate public and a second rate country would accept a second rate media. Scary isn't it?

Marjorie Swanson
Kenosha, WI

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Subject: Six Weeks Or Less!

That's right, I"m proposing a Presidential election campaign, that is SIX WEEKS OR LESS! Someone give me one good reason why it needs to be longer? Remember, when Mukasey was up for his confirmation as Attorney General? Well, we had four Presidential candidates who weren't even around to vote! They were Clinton, Obama, Biden and Dodd. On the other hand, maybe they didn't want to be on record for that vote?

Don't you wonder if they're EVER in their offices? Do they work? Do they ever go to the House or Senate to vote or are they just TOO BUSY campaigning? I get the impression, that they're on the road ALL the time. Who has the time for a job, let alone one you were elected to!

Anyone else besides me, wondering why we taxpayers are paying our candidates a salary? I mean, you're either in Congress or you're not! You can't do both jobs well, one has to suffer. If you ask me, the elected job has been put on the back burner for two years OR 1/3 of the time if you're in the Senate, and ALL the time if you're in the House!

We've gone overboard, TWO YEARS to campaign is way, way too long. It's like flogging a dead horse!

Every other piece of news gets eclipsed by the campaign (sorry Britney and Brad). "What did Hilary mean?" "Obama is getting tough on Hilary." "The guys vs the lone girl!" "Obama pulling ahead of Hilary!" WHO CARES!!!

Day in and day out they try and squeeze news out of this campaign. Isn't there SOMETHING more important happening to OUR COUNTRY? MSM (mainstream media) should be reporting something else BESIDES THEM!

Here's a thought, maybe put the words IMPEACHMENT on the front page of your newspaper. Go around and interview Constitutional lawyers like Bruce Fein, Jonathan Turley (a Constitutional law professor at George Washington University) and John Dean (who was White House counsel to Nixon) and see if WE THE PEOPLE have a case against BUSH AND CHENEY. How about beating a few drums to stir the American public up (like you did during the Clinton era).

Maybe, we'd even start buying newspapers again, because THERE'S NEWS IN THEM! That in turn would loosen up a few tongues in Congress. Reporters asking John Conyers if there was enough evidence to start investigations. Why the paper could even list the abuses Bush and Cheney have done to America, the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Put Dennis Kucinich on the front page with all the reasons he has for impeaching Cheney (ah, for the good old days, when reporters reported AND ASKED TOUGH QUESTIONS and their papers backed them).

These debates are mostly on cable television, which eliminates an entire segment of the population, who don't have cable. Why aren't the debates shown ONLY on the regular T.V. stations, so ALL citizens can become informed? The same goes for the internet, where you can catch a little of the debates, here and there. Not everyone can afford cable and the internet.

Other countries have shorter election campaigns. In England, they campaign for three to four weeks after an election has been called. Australia has about six weeks. The Prime Minister of Australia calls for an election, like they do in England. This year it was Oct.14, 2007 and on Nov. 24, 2007 the electorate will vote!

The French Presidential campaign is for a couple of months when all the candidates campaign (like ours are doing right now). Two candidates are chosen from a national election (this year there were 12 candidates), those two candidates, then have two weeks to campaign! They have a national election for the populace to choose the two candidates who will run for president. We on the other hand, have our political parties choosing the candidates for us, at the Democratic and Republican conventions. The French people, seem to have more say in who will be their candidate then we do.

The ACTUAL PRESIDENTIAL campaign for the two final candidates, is only 13 DAYS! Can you imagine only 13 DAYS of campaigning vs our 2 years or 730 days? I'm moving to France!

See an article "Variations in Democracy: How the French Choose A President" By Yann Jules, 5-5-07 (nhelects.com)

Everything has to be even, steven between the candidates. There's restriction on billboards, posters have to have ALL candidates next to one another, AND they have to have EQUAL TIME on television and radio!!!! There are LIMITS on spending. HOORAY!! Can you imagine what we could do with all that campaign money? Maybe provide FREE internet to the poor or FREE college education to EVERYONE!

Get this one, in France NO CAMPAIGN CAN BE SPONSORED BY A COMPANY! Only individuals and political parties can contribute. Candidates can't spend more than $20 million, but if they get to be candidates for the party in the final round, the the grand total could be $25 million.

Here in America, our politicians fight election reform tooth and nail. What are they afraid of? Wouldn't that be a pity, if they had NO and I repeat NO CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP? That would level the playing field a bit, between the lobbyist and WE THE PEOPLE!

So for our own sanity, let's demand that our politicians give US a break from THEM and let them go back to work and do the people's business, UNTIL 13 DAYS BEFORE the next election!

IMPEACH! IMPEACH! IMPEACH!

Markmyword
Chicago, Illinois

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Subject: The Bush Library [a sad chortle] [Anonymous/Making the Rounds of the Internet]

There's a show on C-SPAN about presidential libraries. Here's what the draft plans for the George W. Bush Library now call for:

The Alberto Gonzales Room - Where you can't remember any of the exhibits.

The Hurricane Katrina Room - It's still under construction.

The Texas Air National Guard Room - Where you don't have to even show up.

The Walter Reed Hospital Room - Where they don't let you in.

The Guantanamo Bay Room - Where they don't let you out.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room - Nobody has been able to find it.

The War in Iraq Room - After you complete your first tour, they can force you to go back for your second and third and fourth and fifth tours.

The K-Street Project Gift Shop - Where you can buy an election, or, if no one cares, steal one.

The Men's Room - Where you could meet a Republican Senator (or two).

To be fair, the President has done some good things, and so the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate them.

When asked, President Bush said that he didn't care so much about the individual exhibits as long as his museum was better than his father's.

A BuzzFlash Reader 

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