BuzzFlash Mailbag for October 13, 2008

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

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Subject: Disappointed Republican

Disappointed by the recent ugly slurs from the Republican party against Mr. Obama's character. He may have had poor judgment, but that does not make him a terrorist. If Obama does win, the Republican party is setting him up to be assassinated. They are promoting a mob mentality. They are the ones that should be questioning their own character if they are so desperate to win the White House that they would endanger a man's life.

VJ
TX

Subject: Congressional and Senate Races

How come no one is talking about the Congressional and Senate races? I already have a good feel for what's going on with the presidential contest - how about some coverage on the other races going on?

Mick
Dayton, OH

Subject: An Open Letter To Cindy McCain

REGARDING COMMENT THAT OBAMA SHOULD WALK IN YOUR SHOES

Cindy:

Senator Obama would have trouble fitting into your women's size 8 pointy toed high heels to "feel your emotion" regarding a son serving in Iraq. His toes would be severely pinched. That is what the illegal and illegitimate war has done, severely pinched the resources of this country for the greed of a few, frankly, friends of yours.

Talk about walking in someone's shoes, you, Cindy, should walk in the tattered shoes of an Iraqi mother whose husband has been killed, her daughter raped, her home bombed, her entire country devastated. Devastated by a war that you and your kind want to perpetuate indefinitely.

Take a hike, honey, I don't care in whose shoes, maybe barefoot like so many in this world must walk, unable to afford shoes, food, clean water, an education, a home, or any prospect for a better future. These are the people who bare the real consequences of illegal and brutal wars of corporate greed. The wars that you are supporting.

Take a hike honey in anyone's shoes out in the real world. It may be a really awakening and transforming experience.

Peace NOW!!!!

Joel Shaffran
Lindside/WV

Subject: Racism

Anyone who honestly believes that Senator Obama is Muslim has evidently turned a blind eye/ear to all the verifiable history about him in the media. Among those I know who believe this, and perhaps among many others, are people who are too hypocritical to own up to their racism with regard to African Americans, thinking it's acceptable to reject someone who is Muslim. If this kind of thinking resides in those that get power, it won't matter much what state our economy is in; our country will be doomed.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Rick Davis -- McCain Campaign Manager

Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager was all over the tube this weekend. He is a former lobbyist (until at least 2005 by his own account) who has had his fingers in all kinds of questionable pies.

What is wrong with this "man"? Every time I see him he looks like he (1) has just finished chugging a keg of cider vinegar; and/or (2) is in need of a bowel movement.

Would someone in the McCain campaign please spring for a giant fix of fiber and/or a sugar IV for this poor man immediately?

Whatever the problem might be, he always looks as though he is in great pain and needs immediate first aid.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

Subject: Ethical Behavior and Why It Matters

Ethical: Of or relating to ethics; involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval; conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct. Ethics is our discipline for dealing with and understanding good and bad, right and wrong, our moral values. Over the past several weeks we have been confronted with an abundance of unethical behavior. It has raised its head in The Presidential Campaign of John McCain, in the crash of our economy, and in the halls of justice. I do not understand and never have why it is that working people vote against their own best interest as they have done on such a regular basis. We do occasionally come home to our roots under times of duress but it is a mystery of martyrdom. We as Americans need to stand tall and reject those practiced at the art of deception. We need to understand that all of those political ads that attack character and are designed to promote fear are generated in the hearts of liars and thieves, of those whose behavior is “unethical”. The meltdown or crash of our economy appears to have been caused by greed. Greed that started on Wall Street and moved into the Republican Controlled Congress whose members chose a path of deregulation under Ronald Reagan and finally into the White House where George Wall Street Bush spent our surplus on personal political ideology. Perhaps the first thing we need to understand is “We are the economy”. The economy is not some fictional mystical mysterious machine. It is us. We are the components that when assembled become known as the economy (or at least 2/3 of it). Trickle Down Economics do not work, and that is what John McCain continues to propose. He wants to appease the wealthy with the promise to us that they will of course throw us a bone. While Main Street suffers during this economic crisis that this sort of elitist economic policies created, you can be 100% certain that some precious few “greedy” men became ultra-rich. John McCain owns 13 cars and 7 houses, the only time he sees Main Street is when his driver takes a wrong turn. I am of the opinion that we are feeding the wrong end of the horse. When a house needs to be rebuilt you don’t start at the roof, you go to the foundation. We the people are the foundation. We need programs to put people back to work, and not flipping burgers and greeting people at the door. We need jobs that put people in positions of making something, of meaningful contributions, of rebuilding and retooling our country. We need big ideas like “green industries”, and rebuilding our infrastructure so no more bridges collapse. We should not be lending money to the whores on Wall Street but rather to workers on Main Street. We need to reinvest in America and do so through local lending institutions. To expect a different outcome when repeating the mistakes of the past is insane. Ethical behavior does matter and in this example it matters to all of us as we wonder just how we can afford to provide for our loved ones. The Department of Justice has concluded that a criminal investigation may be necessary for the unethical dismissal of U.S. Attorney’s under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The U.S. Attorney’s were fired because they refused to falsely prosecute Democrats and rightfully prosecuted Republicans. They were simply doing what they should have done, they were prosecuting those that violated the law regardless of politics. The Judicial Branch of government is to be non-political. The investigation will go all the way to the White House. These men whose motivation was to win at all costs, violated ethical standards, and abused power. They failed to promote the general welfare. Regardless of what political party you may affiliate yourself with you cannot be fired or dismissed from your job. And that is exactly the sort of immorality that this precedent was setting. And as much as some of you don’t want to hear it or believe it, it was Republicans who behaved in such unethical and immoral ways. They did not care about your freedom, they cared about their lust for power. And finally we have Sarah Palin, who was found by the Alaskan State Legislature to be in violation of “The Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act” for abusing her power as Governor, to have Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan fired. The unethical behavior was not in the choice to fire, which she as Governor had the authority to do. It was the manner in which it was done. It was allowing “Todd” to pressure others to fire a former family member who was married to the Governors sister. It was pressure applied to others in government in Alaska by being made to feel, either fall in line or lose your job. When asked about the findings, Sarah Palin said, “it is good to know that no illegal or unethical behavior took place”, while she was found to be in violation of “The Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act”. For my part I consider blatant lies unethical. But then again this comes from someone who made rape victims pay for their own rape kits. Ethical behavior does matter, it is the gateway to honesty. Ethical behavior promotes a discussion of issues and ideas. Ethical behavior promotes respect for all men. Ethical behavior promotes intellectual debate to bring out the best of us. It does matter.

Jim Ridout
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Subject: The Republicans are Not Conservatives

As each day passes it becomes clearer and clearer what is going on in the McCain campaign...the overt lies and fear tactics that result in McCain supporters referring to our U.S. Senator, Barack Obama as a terrorist, suggesting he should be killed or have his head removed...it sends chills up my spine to think these thoughts have been instigated by the Republican Party Presidential nominee and the V.P. candidate and their campaign. I once thought the Republican Party was a conservative group of individuals that based there views on: - Believing you're on your own....if you want it bad enough you can achieve it without any assistance. - No government is the best option...limited government is second best. - Guns for everyone. - Christianity should be the only religion that should exist and it should be taught in every school. - Paying taxes is not American...therefore all taxes that go to helping people should be cut keeping only those minimal taxes that help businesses.

Well this last week has revealed a different kind of Republican than the one I have identified in the many Republican friends and associates I have met in my short life... The Republicans I know personally don't fit into this mold of what I am about to describe to you and they clearly are not the people you see at the McCain rallies...but it is clear to me there is another kind of Republican than the one I know...Otherwise...the culture of hate that is being exhibited at the most recent McCain rallies wouldn't be happening. I found it odd that people would show up yelling hateful things out of the blue...it just didn't make sense... until I realized the McCain campaign is running an aggressive smear campaign to scare people into voting against Barack Obama...these fear tactics include:

- Instructing State Field Organizers to teach supporters to compare Barack Obama to Osama Bin Laden...[This is outrageous!] - Sending out mailings and emails to Republican supporters telling them Obama has terrorist friends such as Bill Ayers. - Sowing the seed of hate and ignorance by suggesting Barack Obama is not a U.S. Citizen and he is a Muslim. - Continuing to challenge his patriotism by stating he won't wear a flag pin or he was swore in as a U.S. Senator using a Koran! - Connecting Barack Obama to scandal and voter fraud as if he instigates and condones this behavior!

I can't believe or understand how these are considered normal political attacks...THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT! The division these tactics will cause will be here far beyond Nov. 4th! This is hateful and un-American. The media must address this before someone gets hurt. The constant focus on these lies is not what the American people need to hear...we don't hear Barack Obama or his campaign talking about Governor Palin's ties to the Alaskan Independence Party and their goal to separate from America or the hateful statement that is posted on the web page...they don't talk about the hurtful things said by Governor Palin's Pastor regarding God's punishment of Jewish people and rehash the things said by the Pastor that endorsed John McCain regarding Jewish people and the Holocaust ... Barack is not talking about the illegal purging of voter registrations and the mailings of misleading voter registrations by the Republican Party.

You know why Barack is not talking about this just to get votes...because he knows this is not what the American people need! We need a leader to pull us together in this crisis.

LaShuan M. Bethea RN, BSN, MEd

Subject: palin

i'm a long-time Alaskan and am I’m concerned about sarah palin’s ties to the extremist alaska independence party. it’s quite ironic that she has been focusing on obama’s far more remote “palling around with terrorists.” the AIP founder, joe vogler, was about as anti-american as one can get. palin attended enough of their conventions that party officials presumed she was a card carrying member.

as recently as this spring palin gave a welcoming speech (via video) to the party’s convention. (this is not mere protocol, since she doesn’t do this for the greens or even the democrats.) see video of this address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvP...

we do know that todd palin was a party member till 2002 (and from troopergate we also know how closely todd is involved in sarah’s administration). see recent salan.com article:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/

also see salon article on palin’s extremist mentors:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10...

george figdor
haines, alaska

Subject: These Rabid McCain/Palin Mobs Are Equivalent To Hitler's Brown Shirt Mobs

"Based on?"

"Their cries of 'kill'em', 'traitor' + their lynch mob mentality."

"What'll it take to discourage them?"

"Obama winning by a landslide on November 4th."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Please help my new website

Hi BuzzFlash

Could you help me out by linking or posting to my new website? We're on the same page political-wise, and I've been reading your site for years now. (by the way, thanks a lot for all your hard work) I'll be updating this site every day-my first commentary is about universal health care. I'm going to send a message to your news mail link as well-hope I'm not annoying you, but I've worked real hard on this, and I want people to listen to it. I've even got a link to your website among my preferred sites. Thanks Respectfully yours, Mark www.patriought.com What a Patriot ought to do.

Mark
Ohio

Subject: remember

If you didn't like the last eight years, then vote for someone who stood against the election 2000 coup. Cynthia McKinney. Joe Biden was AWOL. He did not stand with the House on that. Neither did Kennedy or any of our other cowardly Senators, including Hillary. I have a long memory. McKinney got my vote on an early ballot. Biden gave us Bush's bankruptcy bill, with the 34% interest, double cycle billing, loss of grace period, and he also gave us good old Clarence Thomas when he approved his seat on the Supreme Court. Biden is all mouth. No wonder he wouldn't stand with Cynthia McKinney and the other house members who had spine, against that coup.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Canadian Election Harpers Image

Dear Editor

Advice to “Mr. Dress-up” Michelle Muntean, Stephen Harper’s wardrobe consultant, is to be complemented for her superb image presentation of her client, the Prime Minister, seen daily on television. He seems always to be wearing the just right jacket, hat, vest (usually) and smile to suit every occasion. Below are some items that Muntean might consider adding to Harper’s make-up trunk to round out picture of “Our Dear Leader”. • Lone Ranger Outfit - to be used in caucus and cabinet meetings as well in Question Period. • Mac the Knife costume - to be used when near friends or foes. • GOP Convention straw hats - to be used as props when explaining when explaining the benefits of tax cuts and deregulation of government services. • Muzzle - to be used all other Conservative candidates when taking part in joint appearances with the Prime Minister. • Comb - incase hairspray fails. • Beret- to wear in Quebec for the next art “gala” as the leader of the opposition. • Lipstick - consult Barack or Sarah for appropriate use. • Adam Smith’s 1776 Book, Wealth of Nations- to explain the appropriate role of the market in modern Canadian economy • Dictionary - to look up the meaning of plagiarism and the phrase “fixed election date” • Hood - to cover John Baird’s smile and sunny disposition. Oh! -- for Jason Kenney and Peter Van Loan as well if they can be found. • Guide to Stock Market Investment - to be handed out by Service Canada in the unemployment line. •Compass (Moral) - to know when to ridicule (if ever) an opponent for faulty logic rather than faulty hearing. • Jack boots - to be worn on Oct 15 in events of a Conservative majority. Henry Wostenberg, Red Deer Alberta

Henry Lee Wostenberg
Alberta, Canada

Subject: McCain and George Wallace

reside in Georgia's 5th congressional district. Georgia Democratic Rep. John Lewis is my congressman in the House of Representatives.He is a true conscience of the nation, a real profile in courage. For several days the McCain campaign had been digging deeper and deeper into the mud with its attacks on Barack Obama's character. Michelle Obama said that she and her husband ignore these attacks, but I, and many others like me, take offense. Thank God that Rep. Lewis spoke up! Sarah Palin and John McCain were allowing their rallies to descend into mini klan rallies. Of course the attendees were responding to negative speeches given by the candidates. ("Obama is friendly with terrorists! Kill him" ) No wonder some of McCain's supporters are frightened of Obama.....he and Palin encouraged this at several campaign stops and in his ads. I had begun to fear for Obama's life and I blame John McCain and Sarah Palin for this. Now that Rep. Lewis has spoken out, McCain wants Obama to rebuke him for it.( To be honest, if Obama repudiates one more former associate or acquaintance I will scream!) Obama should tell McCain that Lewis speaks for himself......and also for many of us who feel the same. The only reason that McCain slowly (and very slowly) decided to stop his distasteful pandering is because of the negative attention that it drew. My hope is that Obama/Biden will have a landslide win and bring a ton of Democrats along with them. ( An added bonus would be for Ga. voters to rid the state of Bush's buddy Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Yikes! How I wish.) As for Rep. Lewis, he has paid his dues. When he says that McCain's campaign is reminiscent of Alabama Gov. George Wallace's racist rallies, nobody doubts it. Repudiate John Lewis for telling the truth? Hell No!

Subject: McCain Jesus attack ad

This is a fake ad. Shouldn't there be a disclaimer? Should the left stoop to the conservatives' tactics?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ1L4eeu5KI&eurl=http://vodpod.com/watch/1076204-mccain-attack-ad-on-jesus?pod=buzzflash

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Why doesn't Todd sound like Sarah?

This story is about their house and it does sound suspicious, but what I found strange is that Todd speaks better than Sarah and is the one who didn't finish college. He doesn't even drop his "g"s.

Is she putting on an act or is she just a valley girl ditz? Please try to ignore Greta's fawning in this piece.

http://www.dailykos .com/story/ 2008/10/11...

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok

Subject: Todd Palin, the FIRST Dude

As Evangelical Christians, I am sure the Palins subscribe to the teaching of St. Paul found in Ephesians 5:22-24, in which wives are directed to "submit to your husbands as to the Lord"; that "the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church" and closes with: "Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." The following is from the web site of the Wasilla Bible Church, which is Governor Palin's congregation in Alaska: The Authority of Scripture

In order to experience and enjoy the centrality of Christ in our congregational life, we will submit to the authority of the Scriptures. They will be the foundational source of information and direction guiding our exploration of Christ’s reality. The Bible will be used to determine our doctrine, to shape our practice, and even, when needed to settle our differences with the conviction that it is the very Word of God. In all the confusion of varied opinions and above all the claims of religious authority we will hold to the scriptures as the Truth for both faith and practice. In them God has spoken and to them we will listen. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

If the McCain/Palin ticket is elected in November, just who WILL be in charge at the Vice-Presidential residence and indeed in the V.P.'s office in the White House, a mere heartbeat away from the Oval Office?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Joan Walsh

I would not give much credence to Joan Walsh and her puny take on how McCain is running a dishonorable campaign. I do believe that McCain is running a dishonorable campaign, but coming from Joan Walsh, it somehow sounds like she wants in with the winning ticket.

Throughout the primaries, Joan Walsh left no stone unturned in bashing Barack Obama. Hillary could do no wrong. She never raised the Bosnia sniper fire faux tale and neither did she comment on Hillary's many cloaked and coded racial slurs, such as "hardworking white people." But she jumped on Barack Obama's comment on "typical white woman" and kept hammering on Obama as some sort of reverse racism.

Give me a break from Joan Walsh. She is a Johnny come lately to the Obama fold, but I do not trust her one iota. After all, she did think that Hillary was right when she opined that McCain had more experience than Obama.

Joan Walsh does not deserve any space on BuzzFlash.

Chhabili
Seattle

[BuzzFlash Note: A BuzzFlash search shows we have posted 3 Walsh pieces during the campaign: Joan Walsh: John McCain's Dishonorable Campaign; How Sarah Palin blew it - Joan Walsh 10/4; and Joan Walsh: Obama and the White Working Class 4/13.]

Subject: NRA's Lies about Sen Obama

I discovered a blatant lie on an NRA website that made some claims about Senator Obama's voting records on guns. You can check for yourself on

http://www.gunbanobama.com/default.aspx?NavGuid=00bdd116-898f-4f21-8e99-a68a40642560&t=Hunters

In a nut shell it goes like this:

THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES:

* Obama voted to ban hundreds of rifles and shotguns commonly used for hunting and sport shooting Illinois Senate, SB 1195, 3/13/03

* Obama endorsed a ban on all handguns Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization general candidate questionnaire, 9/9/96 Politico, 03/31/08.

* Obama voted to allow the prosecution of people who use a firearm for self-defense in their homes Illinois Senate, S.B. 2165, vote 20, 3/25/04

* Obama supported increasing taxes on firearms and ammunition by 500 percent Chicago Defender, 12/13/99

* Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting United States Senate, S. 397, vote 217, 7/29/05

* Obama opposes Right-to-Carry laws Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 4/2/08, Chicago Tribune, 9/15/04

Now Senator Obama was elected to the US Senate Nov, 2004 so he wasn't sworn into office until 2005. So I went to the Illinois Senate Website and looked up the bills and found they don't match.

Again if you can check for yourself at:

http://www.ilga.gov/

Of course I emailed the NRA and called them out on their lies and told them I am going to email every website I can find and tell them the truth. And I hope if this gets posted the readers will do the same. The truth should be known.

Judy Walsh
Springfield, MA

Subject: Financial crisis, moral opportunity

It's the end of the world! (I hope.)

Or, more exactly, it is the end of the world as we've known it; as both a financial and social era.

I may be one of only a very few Americans to, despite the losses to my retirement account, the new caution of my customers, and the flat-lining of my home's value caused by our current financial crisis, feel inspired to hope and optimism, but I am. (Harold Bloom, discussing Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “idealistic glee” in response to the Panic of 1837 in today’s New York Times (Sunday, October 12), appears to be another one.)

I think that's because I grew up in the 50s as a boomer construction worker’s daughter. I never had a view of that era (or any that followed) as one of stability and security. I saw firsthand that it was a period of immense, dynamic change and often painful dislocation (I personally went to 42 schools in 34 states). As a result, I've never viewed the American economy as being able to provide security. In fact, I was taught that security was the one thing our capitalist economy could never provide.

Capitalism can and often does provide vast opportunities, new beginnings and great rewards – but we tend to forget that the only thing it dependably provides is change. Sometimes very painful change -- but also, change imbued with idealistic possibilities.

Today, we all agree that capitalism requires workers and business owners to be flexible, adaptable and good at what they do -- always working to improve and update their skills and knowledge. But we have forgotten over the years that such personal virtue alone isn't enough -- that risk, which capitalism demands, IS RISKY and, no matter how virtuous you are, doesn't lead automatically (by magic hand or otherwise) to reward.

Born into a prosperity we didn’t create, sustained by magical thinking and one bubble after another, we’ve lazily relinquished our personal and collective responsibility, and our commonly shared economic fate, to “the market”; papered over the loss of jobs, industries and decent wages with too much and too easy credit; and devolved the “American Dream” into little more than a Lotto fantasy. All conditions that this crisis, I hope, will make harder to sustain.

I’m not dismissive of the hard times ahead. But I am hopeful that they will enable us to, at long last, see the unsustainable risk and confront hard times suffered by the bottom 50% for decades now.

My father was a skilled craftsman who worked in the energy industry, across the globe and the country, during this country's amazing post-war expansion. His attitude toward the job market was always entrepreneurial -- yet, at the same time, his most valuable possession was his union "traveling card." He knew that the nature and quality of his skills, along with favorable market conditions, were the only things that could guarantee him work. But he also knew that a willingness to stand up for his interests and for others, in his case through a union that gave him a voice in the nation's political conversation as well as at the negotiating table, was necessary to win respect, fair compensation and decent working conditions.

His first and most important loyalty was always to the quality of his work, the one thing that made him valuable in the marketplace. But his other important loyalty was, through his union (the best mechanism he had for making that marketplace more just) to his fellow workers. He believed that selfish devotion to the money, personal prestige or status (rather than to skill, knowledge and justice) were economically short-sighted. And that the expectation of secure reward for loyalty to a company or a boss was naïve; not because the individuals or systems involved were evil but because the ever-changing and dynamic nature of capitalism could never guarantee such a reward.

My father, like others who came of age during the Great Depression, knew that social stability, in the face of capitalist instability, requires accountability (through laws and regulations), compromise among interests, and a social safety net beyond what can or will be provided by the private economy: A safety net that we all, as citizens together, have a responsibility to create and maintain.

If these times wake people up to these realities again -- if they realize that working hard and playing by the rules isn't enough; you have to be willing to stand up for, and if necessary fight for, your economic interest and the common interest -- then we will get through this and come out better on the other side. I believe that, although it has been muted in recent decades, there is a great spirit of creativity, longing for justice, desire for not just personal betterment but for the betterment of all, that resides in the heart of most Americans.

If this crisis forces us to tap into that spirit again, we'll be fine. Perhaps no longer "the greatest most powerful nation on earth" as our politicians have been fond of saying -- but fine enough to put our house in order, meet our responsibilities to each other, and live up to our highest ideals.

Mary Schumacher
Seattle, WA

Subject: Conservatism Failed

The death throes are heard in killing and bombing Obama and terrorism by association.

THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY: Obama is wrong to think we can change by coming together and forgetting past crimes. The damage is too enormous. He doesn't understand that the origin of the terror of the End Times we're hearing about lies directly at the feet of those Christian fascists who espouse it. And if given the chance, they will pull the trigger when they can't get their own way.

We have to find the means of both complete moral and physical ostracism: Banishment to Iraq to indemnify their War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity, and Economic Crimes here at home would be ideal. But in any event, we must learn to selectively PUNISH 40 percent of the white racist Rethug population without harming the good will of the rest. Because it is directly attributable to their leaders in office and their media whores, the terrorism of restitution has to be firmly meted out to all of them. Otherwise, the world will eventually do it for us and will make no red-blue distinctions.

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

Subject: Stop the Madness

Hello, Please hear me out. I know I am just an average American citizen, but what I feel right now is beyond average. I have been watching the McCain/Palin ads on tv and they are horrible. One negative ad after another.

What is really scaring me is the rhetoric that is being portrayed about Obama. My neighbor across the street actually believes that Obama is a Terrorist?!! He told me how afraid he is if Obama gets in. He believes he is a puppet for the Muslims to take over America!

Statements like, "Obama isn't really who you think he is" -- THIS HAS GOT TO STOP! McCain/Palin are inciting hate that could stir riots. Most of all, I fear for Obama's and his family's safety. I heard the reports of how McCain and Palin are silent when an audience member shouts "off with his head", "Kill him" or other hateful and dangerous rants! Can't something be done?

We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to fight back, spread the word about what kind of low campaign he's running, and make sure people know the truth. Kerry Please help! Before it's too late!

Catherine Dougherty

Subject: sarah palin as a mother

My mother worked her fingers to the bone in a cotton mill to educate my brother and I because she wanted us to have a better life than she had experienced. What a contrast with Gov. Palin.

Instead of sending 2 kids off to college, as my mother did, Palin is sending a son off to a war she 'hasn't had time to think about' and she has a 17 year old daughter unwed and pregnant. Palin's goals and aspirations in life are all for herself.

After reading about Palin and all of her actions in Alaska, I have come to believe that she has a sociopathic personality. She is certainly narcissistic.

Joy McClellan
Cleburne, TX

Subject: A Letter to John McCain

October 11, 2008

Senator McCain:

You are of course acutely aware that over the past couple of days there has been a surge. Not the kind you endlessly and fatuously claim credit for, but the one that you genuinely are responsible for. This surge comes from politicians and pundits and people of conscience. It has to do with your campaign, but in fact it’s about you. It’s a surge of condemnation and reproach. It comes from across the political spectrum, but let’s be honest, it comes mainly from your fellow Republicans. As they cringe and recoil from the venom and hate that you and Sarah Palin spew at Barack Obama, they desperately plead with you to cease and desist.

Some argue against the politics of hate for strategic reasons, others for moral reasons. Some argue that it alienates independent voters, others point out the danger of inciting your most “unhinged” followers, citing the history of assassinations in this country.

But really Senator, is any of this news to you? The road you mapped out for your campaign has been clear from the moment Sarah Palin delivered her acceptance speech. After all, she didn’t write that speech, you guys did. The very fact that you selected Palin in the first place is the most concrete evidence that, country be damned, you are willing to do anything to become President.

To paraphrase the old joke: "What’s the difference between John McCain and a lab rat?” … “There are some things a lab rat won’t do.” In the tragic event that you should become President, not since Asculum will the epithet “Pyrrhic victory” be more richly deserved.

You were born to privilege, and you have been carried by the influence and wealth of others your whole life. How galling it must be for you, so convinced of your own entitlement, to be confronted by the antithesis of everything you stand for. Your nemesis is a self-made man who rose from nothing, a black man in a white society who, by superior intellect and hard work has realized the American dream. We are witness as you set out deliberately, with malice aforethought, to destroy a good man. You will fail, of course, but not before you have poisoned the well.

So what to do about the pleas for moderation? Well, you will probably continue to make the transparently insincere remonstrance to the more rabid of your mob, but the truth Mr. McCain, is that it’s too late, the die is cast, set in concrete, etched in stone. Your legacy is written. You have bought a condo in the Pantheon of American demagogues. You will forever be spoken of in the same breath as Joe McCarthy, Father Coughlin and George Wallace.

Assuming you have sane and sober moments anymore, how does it feel when you realize that you have relegated yourself to that assemblage of American hate-mongers?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: If I Were ,,,

If I were a kool-aid drinking, Bible believing, Republicon I sure wouldn't admit it after the shameful display of the past week by not only the candidates McCain and Palin but their moronic supporters who have shown up recently at their campaign appearances.

Right off the top, the above scenario would never be possible because I am a secular humanist and ever a skeptic and freethinker. To even think of being a kool-aid drinking, Bible believing, Republicon is enough to cause wide-awake nightmares and I sure don't need that.

How could anyone, with any sense of propriety, rationality, and even just the slightest sense of so-called Judeo-Christian values be a willing party and witness to this obscene and perverted display of hatred and stupidity that we have seen over the past week?

Waukesha, Wisconsin (the home of the renowned Les Paul), Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Minnesota -- good grief what in the hell is going on? People have called Senator Obama a terrorist, an Arab, a commie fag (I was waiting to hear "Commie fag junkie" a phrase the late great George Carlin used in one of his earliest LPs -- remember those?), calls to "Kill Him" by some, and an AM talk radio jock in Wisconsin claiming he's taken an ass whoopin' for supporting McCain -- please begging McCain to "take it to" Obama.

After all these months of increasingly vitriolic rhetoric and personal attacks, is it any surprise that the Republicons have become so outwardly hateful and violent? Now, all of a sudden within the past few days, McCain has started to put his foot down, so to speak. I don't buy it for one minute. Too little, too late John. You set the tone for this bullcrap yourself so don't pretend to be so suddenly righteous. It has been posited on some websites that perhaps the Secret Service had a talk with McCain. That would make sense.

On the one hand, while McCain was "speaking up" two of his campaign spokespeople -- the vapid, snotty Nicolle Wallace and someone named Brian Rogers were castigating the Obama campaign for "assaulting" the McCain supporters.

But, of course, we must remember that according to McCain's campaign, McCain doesn't speak for his own campaign only his spokespeople do. The level of stupidity that this campaign has sunk to is something I never, ever in a million (oh, okay -- almost sixty) years thought I would ever see or hear.

How absolutely disgusting. No, if I were a kool-aid drinking, Bible believing Republicon I would not admit it. There's an old saying about birds of a feather flocking together and that if you lay down with dogs, you'll get fleas.

What a sad, pathetic, and twisted group of people. Can you imagine what a downer it would be to go to one of these campaign appearances? All that hatred? All that meanness? All that innate stupidity?

Sad, truly sad.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA

Subject: Oklahoma Senate

Letters to the Editor

Gutless Wonder

POSTED BY ARNOLD HAMILTON

As a kid growing up in Oklahoma, we had a derisive term for those who lacked the courage to trash you to your face:

Gutless wonder.

The moniker came to mind watching the second round of this year's presidential debates.

John McCain touts himself as the Straight-Talk Express, unabashedly speaking unpopular truths to power. But he weaseled out when given a nationally-televised platform to say to Barack Obama's face what Sarah Palin and other McCain surrogates have been spewing behind Obama's back.

I just wanted to share some thoughts: more about what I don't see making it into the ongoing campaigns.

The Tulsa World recently ran a piece about a young mother evicted from her home, not because she defaulted on her loan, rather the owner from whom she rented had defaulted on their loan. She even attempted to deal with the bank, to no avail.

The landlords continue to own two multimillion dollar homes in Oklahoma and another state while this woman was put on the street.

She is a victim of the bank crisis, not the people who took out the loan. They are living very well, thank you very much. This is where the bailout issue comes home, to our neighbors and perhaps in the not too distant future to our families.

She is the example of who suffers -- not the bank, not the note holder, the working single mom is carrying the load.

Secondly, I recently met a young woman working at the coffee shop I frequent. She is battling cancer for the second time.

This young woman is working three jobs in order to pay insurance to cover the cost of treatments. This young woman is working three jobs not just to survive, but to literally stay alive.

John McCain and Jim Inhofe don't pay insurance premiums, we pay for them.

Finally, Tulsa taxpayers are already paying for having bailed out American Airlines, which faltered under bad judgment and bad management.

Now, Tulsa taxpayers are being asked to bailout thousands of faceless speculators whose greed brought the country into crisis. The government of John McCain and Jim Inhofe failed the American people by allowing deregulation of the monetary system in order to satisfy the greed of their fellow travelers.

I recently interviewed a young Iraq veteran nurse for a European newspaper. She told me, "Patriotism is taking care of all Americans, not just the CEO. Patriotism, it's not going to Iraq and killing a lot of people and then saying oops."

This is how politics impacts locally. This is what candidates should be discussing -- not sex, race, religion or political labels.

The single evicted mom, the cancer victim and other taxpayers, who are being treated worse that Lazarus at the table [Luke 16, 19-31].

Richard L. Fricker
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Subject: Stupidity and its roll

Dear BuzzFlash:

As I've said many many times before, gullibility and outright stupidity is a force to be reckoned with, and together it's a force that's almost impossible to defeat. No matter how one tries, one cannot educate the blockhead who refuses to allow him or herself to be taught.

I have had it with the right-wing wackos I work with. I don't even bring up the election, so full of hate and vitriol they've become, as coached by those Republican shills and politicians they adore and don't even know why.

Palin may be alarming to us, but the audience she attracts has always been there, full of superstitious morons who in days past supported looneys like Father McCoughlin in the Roosevelt era. For these people, religion has become a drug and because present day Christian leaders are as opposed to criticism of their idealogies as any Crusader in history, and believe in legislating their point of view, the lemmings are totally without independent thought. Those of us who recognize that spirituality, unlike religion, doesn't depend on forced participation and mind numbing ritual, and that religion can be a tool of harm as well as good, will not be swayed by a fringe element the GOP is desperately exploiting.

And, as a humorous tag, I commented to my nephew how annoying campaign signs and bumper stickers were. Regardless of my choice, I consider my vote private, and all the signs in the world won't influence me. Frankly, although I'd like to see intelligence reflected at the polls with a vote against four more years of Bush government, I couldn't care less who you're voting for. My nephew quipped, "Yeah, there's so many signs out now I changed my mind on who I'm voting for 75 times on the way home from work."

Scott
Fayetteville, Ar.

Subject: Voter Verification Fraud

I'd like to re-post this on my Myspace blog and request permission to do so. Also, if so, I need pointers on the technical aspect of it. I believe EVERY American needs to read this. Thanks in advance, Country Lisa

http://gophypocrites.com/2008/10/hyp08041.html
The Republican National Committee (RNC) BuzzFlash GOP Hypocrite of the Week on Friday, October 10. "Around the nation, the RNC has carried on in the tradition of what Karl Rove tried to accomplish with ProsecutorGate at the DOJ: create the perception of massive voter fraud among minorities and the poor in order to justify the wholesale challenging of non-Republican voters at the polls."

Lisa R. Holt
Independence, Missouri

Subject: Money for that 30 minute ad.

That is a lot of money. After this is over the first thing that needs to be done is to get rid of this insane use of money for campaigns.

Maybe not the first.

Karen Webb, Moore, Ok.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.

Subject: karen webb on sarah's picture

Hi, Buzz!!

Karen, I am as bewildered as you are by the flap about Sarah Palin's Newsweek cover photo. I subscribe to Newsweek, so when all the hollering started, I had another look at the cover, and I can't to save my soul figure out what the McCainiacs are so upset about. I had to look pretty hard to see those "imperfections." Even so, the woman is 44 years old - of course she's got some wrinkles. And she's running for VP - not Miss America, for heaven's sake.

It's another indication of the complete poverty of ideas in the McCain campaign: All they can think of to do to get some attention is screech and holler about a magazine cover.

The article ("She's One of the Folks - and That's the Problem") is worth reading, however. It concludes that Palin's "folksiness" won't cut it in office - that she doesn't actually know enough to hold office on this level.

It's what I've said for a long time: I don't want to elect a drinking buddy (nor yet a moose hunter). I want a PRESIDENT, and that person had better be smarter than I, and know more than I do about things a president needs to know.

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

Subject: safety: Obama's and his supporters

I am a 35 year old white female with an M.A. in political science. I want Obama stickers all over my car and I want to wear Obama gear but ... I'm a little nervous about it. Why? Because the McCain rallies are fueling hate and that hate will spill over to people who show explicit support for Obama. These people are madcap...we would be foolish to think that they have boundaries.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: 'Alarm' email, and my response.

[The following is a copy of an email that a (now former) friend sent me, with the subject reading, "We have 4 weeks to get this letter out". It begins with an intro from the outfit who is passing this letter around, then the letter. Following all that is MY follow-up letter to my friend, who sent it to me.]

"I wish I could claim the writing you're about to read. I can't. This piece was written by a Cuban refuge named Manuel Alvarez, Jr. who escaped from communist Cuba on June 30, 1968. You will find his observations very prophetic ... and very chilling. Make sure you get this into the hands of every person you know. Make sure you get this into the hands of every State GOP official you can you reach by email. These remarks could change the election."

The Richmond Times-Dispatch Monday, July 7, 2008 Excerpt from "Letters to the Editor"

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach 'Change'

[letter suggests Obama would turn out to be a leader like Castro]

Let me pose a question: By the time Sen. Obama's much-promised, soon-coming (but never discussed) change takes place, and the American people are forced to take to their boats, rafts and inner tubes ... where do we go? Cuba? Haiti? Think about that when you go out to vote on November 4 because this is the most critical election of your life. And, by the way, remember this, too. Not one single person has thought to ask Sen. Obama to be very specific in telling us precisely what changes he plans to make in our United States of America.

—Jon Christian Ryter

Brought to you by

Bruce Hopkins Best Prices Storable Foods Quinlan, Texas http://www.internet-grocer.net

MY letter to my former friend:

Hi *****,

Oh, thank you for sending me the timely, and alarming piece linking Obama to the Fidel Castro form of fascism. I now see how using the word 'change' in a campaign is so misleading - and dangerous! I mean, atrocious, corrupt and criminal U.S. leadership of the last 8 years do not warrant any change in operations, whatsoever!! I now can't even understand why Obama ever elected to use that word in his slogan! It is so synonymous with the dictatorship of Castro...dah!

Who do we think we are as a country, to deserve the likes of a Barack 'Hussein' Obama? Here was someone who wouldn't even indicate that he was an African American when he applied to Harvard, and thus give him an edge in acceptability. Instead, he wanted to be accepted on his own (brilliant) credentials. And he was. Here is someone who could have quickly paid off his student loans, and amassed a fortune by selecting any number of firms on Wall St. who tried to solicit his employment because of his outstanding academic career. But instead, he went back to inner city Chicago, to give back, and become instrumental in advancing the productivity of the impoverished. He's in another league of leadership altogether.

I would not feel comfortable going out for a beer with him. But I would like to vote for a candidate that I am in awe of; that can inspire me; that can lead us in a vision of unity and progress; and some healing of the destruction of all we held dear in America.

Hmmm. Do I want a president like that? Or, a president who's shown a lifetime of privilege and unaccountable recklessness? Oh yeah, we already had 8 years of such a 'chum'. But 'no mind' that~ the prospect of 'The One' daring to invoke change in our 'so admirable' way of doing things - should never be trusted! And, we should never mind bothering to read all the b-o-r-i-n-g detailed explanations of Obama's proposed programs that are stated on his web-sites for all to read. It is much more interesting and 'sensational' to read desperate slander against him, and accuse him of not explaining his positions on the issues. Let's stay 'entertained'!!

A black man in this society, would have to exceed far and beyond the intellect, academic and social success and mental and emotional stability of the average white male, to even fathom the prospect of attaining the goal of presidency. From the grass-roots level, Barack Obama seems to be achieving that. So, let's continue to find and fabricate all the reasons why we should not elect, and hold in the highest office of the land, a person who is not a white protestant privileged male! That might be a change too difficult for white protestant privileged males, particularly of a later generation, to bear.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Talking to your Republican friends

I'm so tired of Republicans talking about how Obama wants to redistribute the wealth (as if that were a bad thing!). I think it's time to tell them that redistribution of wealth has been going on for the last 8 years. The Bush administration took your money and gave it to the rich in huge tax breaks. Now it's time to start the redistribution going the other way -- take from the richest among us, and give the middle class a break in their taxes.

There has always been "redistribution" -- it's only a question of the direction it takes.

Sue
Palm Coast FL

Subject: McCain and the Economy

It has been the contention by McCain and other GOPers that the drastic fall in the economy is the sole fault of Mae and Mac. McCain has even boasted that he had warned about the dire circumstances Mae and Mac would wreak on this economy. Shouldn't someone question McCain and ask, "Seeing as your party controlled all 3 branches of this government when you issued your warning, never mind about the warning, what did you do about it, what legislation did you introduce to forestall the impending doom?" As McCain constantly crows about responsibility and duty that the military taught him, it seems he would know that he would be found guilty of dereliction of duty by just inactively giving a warning and not actively proposing a bill.

[BuzzFlash Note: Agreed. Barney Frank has been pushing back on the responsibility issue.  The right wing has been trying to scapegoat him.]

Salvatore DiChristina

Subject: Will more Republicans please stand up and endorse Obama?

"Look, this doesn't befit the office she's running for. And frankly, people don't like it." -- Republican Congressman Ray LaHood, 18th District, central and western Illinois (seven-term congressman)

http://www.wbbm780.com/LaHood--Palin-Should...

"He is not the McCain I endorsed ... He keeps saying, 'who is Barack Obama?' I would ask the question, 'Who is John McCain? because his campaign has become rather disappointing to me." --  Former Republican Governor of Michigan William Milliken

http://www.mlive.com/grpress/news/index.ssf...

"That's not my kind of Republicanism ... there are a whole lot of us deserting." On Palin: "There's no question she's totally unqualified." -- former Republican Senator from Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee

http://www.mlive.com/grpress/news/index.ssf...

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Donation

To all at BuzzFlash,

I am going through some financial hard time, rest assured that as soon as I get it under control I will be a big contributor. I love BuzzFlash.

[BuzzFlash Note: Understood, and thank you.]

Rey Faubert
Los Angeles, Ca

Subject: McCain's Ayers smear of Obama

The Board that Ayers and Obama were on at the same time was The Annenberg Foundation.

http://www.annenbergfoundation.org

There are a lot of Republicans on that board (can we get their names and spread that around?) Obama had nothing to do with Ayers being on that board - THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION invited Ayers to be on that board. The Annenberg Foundation has done some good work over the years. HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK THE ANNENBERGS FEEL ABOUT BEING LINKED TO TERRORISM?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Annenberg

Someone should be interviewing the Annenbergs and ask them why they hire terrorists. Let the Annenbergs drive a stake through the heart of this bulls**t. They haven't bothered to step up to the plate on this crap so they are fair game.

Phred42

Subject: Dear John

Dear Senator McCain,

I am writing today on behalf of the entire Nation with a simple message:

Please stop the reckless, dishonest smears; enough with the lies.

I still remember the day you pledged to run a clean, honest campaign about the issues! The American people are hurting. Our country is still at war and we're now descending into an ever deepening financial crisis. We have problems with health care, social security, medicare, education, and the environment.

And you've completely abandoned all talk of the real issues. It is dishonorable and is an insult to the American people.

Please Put Country First.

Thank you,

Ken Traugott
Frederick, MD

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