BuzzFlash Mailbag for November 17, 2008

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Subject: Detroit Assistance for Auto Industry

There have been many opinions expressed about the proposed loan program to the Detroit 3 automakers but the government has an obligation to help the Detroit 3 automakers since our trade policies have brought on this crisis. While we have encouraged an open market, the rest of the manufacturing world is employing an industrial policy that allows them to target our market while denying access to theirs. All of this is done outside the framework of Free Trade by using non-tariff barriers such as:

Currency Manipulation - Japan manipulates its currency to give its exports to the U.S. a nineteen percent advantage while simultaneously increasing the cost of American goods imported into Japan by nineteen percent! The difference equates to a cost advantage of $4,000 - $10,000 per vehicle, according to Congressman John Dingell. China manipulates its currency thirty percent, a primary factor in our record breaking trade deficit with that country.

Value Added Taxes (VAT) - Most of our trading partners utilize a VAT system that allows Japan for example, to refund all the taxes paid on a vehicle during the production process to the automaker when that vehicle is exported. Imagine the advantage of essentially not paying any taxes. Is it any wonder the Asian nations like to base their economy and trade policy on exporting to America, it pays better than selling to their own market!

A bailout is necessary to save the 1 in 10 American jobs related to the auto industry but the solution is a trade policy that creates a fair and level playing field for American products in our own market. If these changes do not happen, domestic vehicle production will follow millions of jobs in the textile, steel, and other manufacturing industries to the dustbin of history, sacrificed by a government that ignored the consequences of allowing artificially low-priced goods into our market at the expense of American workers and citizens.

Darin Gilley
President, UAW Local 1760

Subject: Golden Parachutes

Hi Buzz & Friends,

How fitting that bush's 700 billion dollar golden parachute should dwarf anything ever seen on Wall Street. With money in pocket those toxic assets don't look all that appealing any more. Surely the money can be put to better use - I hear gold is a good investment right now. Just leave that little toxic problem for President Obama to deal with.

Congress, as the bushco board of directors, awarded bush the 700 billion and then promptly disappeared down a rabbit hole. You have to hand it to them, though, that was a great performance. Personally I've never seen such a line-up of gravitas give such a brilliant performance of the "Sky is Falling". A Brownie Award winner for sure. The Thief-in-Chief deserves some accolades as well. Personally I think it was his best performance since "Mission Accomplished".

Of course, not everyone enjoyed the performance - you know how critics are - some point out that tipping the country into a depression while giving so much money to so few crooks is a fairly steep ticket price. Some people will whine about anything. The consensus is that it was a brilliant performance and with nearly 3 months left in the season who can doubt that this ensemble will be back? Already there are rumors of an encore performance of the "Big Layoff," this time a road show, with first a stop in Detroit, Michigan. The program is being reworked to especially appeal to a mid-western audience and several venues are in the works for that region.

Congress, of course, broke its leg in that last scene of "Sky is Falling" and will not be traveling with the bush company on this tour. Fans will be relieved to hear that they're all doing well and that the medical facilities down in the rabbit hole are quite advanced and widescreen TVs are being set up so that they can enjoy the show in a quiet, private area of the burrow. I know they appreciate all the get well soon cards that they're receiving from their adoring fans - who will be saddened to hear that after an accidental double fracture - all further cast signings have been canceled.

To while away the tedium until the next big performance why not tune into "The Obama Puppy" and reruns of Maverick? And don't forget you can still get your souvenir TARP from "Sky is Falling". This offer is good while supplies last. So call right now!

See you at the Brownie Awards!

Tim Mooring

Subject: naomi klein on democracy now

must read for buzzflash readers

http://i2.democracynow.org/2008/11/17/naomi...

Peggy Bruton
Olympia WA

[BuzzFlash Note: More at BF by/about Naomi Klein: Premium: Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine" The Paperback Edition; Naomi Klein: Wall Street's Bailout Is A Trillion-Dollar Crime Scene 11/15; Naomi Klein: The Wall Street bailout looks a lot like Iraq — a "free-fraud zone" where private contractors cash in on the mess they helped create 11/10; and Naomi Klein: Can Obama Stop The Bush Administration's Final Economic Heist? 11/7]

Subject: TRAITOR LIEBERMAN

If traitor Lieberman votes with Reid 90% of the time, then I think Reid should go also. Lieberman is a traitor to our country and to the Democratic Party and to we Americans. Perhaps he would be happier in Israel where he can freely beat his war drums against Iraq, Iran etc. I know many Americans would be happier. I have to gag every time I hear his name mentioned. PLEASE, PLEASE, strip this man of any responsible position he has. The public has spoken by voting for change. We do not want these illegal wars which are ruining our economy and serve no purpose. GET RID OF THIS BUM.

Lee
West Richland, WA

Subject: Retiring On A 401(k) Plan Is Perilous To One's Well-Being - Sunday's LA Times

"Based on?"

"The fact that the average worker's 401(k) account balance has dropped between 21% and 27% this year."

"Which means that lots of retirements may have to be postponed."

"Doesn't matter to those who designed and saddled us with what's known as the deferred contribution system."

"Why not?"

"What led to the deferred contribution wasn't concern for the well-being of the retiree."

"What then?"

"Advancing the so-called ownership society."

"Which is?"

"Sink or swim with everyone on his or her own."

"And forget about sharing risks."

"Even if such promotes the common good?"

"Especially if such promotes the common good."

"Why especially?"

"In an ownership society private interest trumps the common good every time."

"Otherwise?"

"Yes we can."

"And then what sort of world?"

"It'll be up to us."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Keep Lieberman

I get sick to my stomach at the sight of his face but we can't consider throwing Lieberman overboard until after the Georgia revote.

The veto-proof majority is NO MYTH. Sure, we have blue-dog Dems, but remember, their constituents have moved leftward over the past couple of cycles so they are likely to moderate their votes.

Maezeppa
Los Angeles CA

Subject: The "EIGHT of us"

Palin repeated the above multiple times in regards to the wardrobes purchased.

EIGHT??? Palin, SilkButt Dude and FIVE children add up to SEVEN. Therefore the EIGHT had to include the kid who knocked up young Bison.

Family values at work.

The Odd Lies of Sarah Palin

Nancy Otero
Seattle, WA

Subject: Obama

Hi BF

Since Obama's election I haven't heard him utter a word about his future plans for our economy. He promised he would offer incentives to Multinationals overseas to return to the US and create multiple jobs HERE. Ireland for example has 100,000 well paid jobs given to them by US companies operating there. As of late said companies are very unhappy with the high cost of doing business in Ireland not to mention Ireland's horrendous infrastructure - and given a choice they would NOT relocate to Ireland again.

SO isn't this prime time for an olive branch from Obama to beckon them to come HOME to the USA? I voted for Obama but given his FIRST BIG BLUNDER by not wanting to BOOT Traitor LIEBERMAN from his Chairmanship, I'm beginnng to think this could be insight into an Obama's future administration. ... An OLD JIMMY CARTER soft approach to things and a lot of empty rhetoric/ HOT AIR campaign promises. Hope I'm WRONG.

Bernie Saunders
Wellington Florida

Subject: Joe LIEBERMAN

BuzzFlash...why can't YOU GUYS get a petition going for us poor mortals to sign and send to the 'Good OLD BOYS CLUB' in the Senate? They are all sipping out of the same CUP if you ask me. IF they LET the LIEBERMAN SLIMEBAG disingenuous JERK off the HOOK- WHAT does HE have to do to get BOOTED - murder someone or rob a bank ?????????

Colette Miller
Palm Beach, Florida

Subject: The Leaders Of A Certain Religion Consider Stopping Abortion More Crucial Than Stopping This Mad Dash Into The Abyss

"Based on?"

"The threat of excommunication that they're wielding in their desperate attempt to dissuade believers from supporting Barack Obama."

"Even though, in so doing, they might scare off a few Senators, such that, when it comes to crunch time in the Senate, there might not be enough of them to bring about cloture?"

"And then what chance Congress passing the kind of legislation that'll start the ball rolling towards the change we can believe in?"

"Otherwise?"

"That goodbye, so long, forever, for all living beings?"

"For voting for Barack Obama?"

"First and foremost comes the right of the fertilized egg."

"Before survival?"

"What sort of madness is that?"

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Sarah Palin

I agree with all the people who want Sarah off the front (and back) pages of the media. But first, please publish all her speeches and the DVD of the Couric interview. I request this for the sake of English teachers, who need to give examples of appalling syntax and sentence fragments. (They are NOT sentences because they cannot be diagrammed.) I know this because I"ve tried, as have some English professors.

Elinor Kieffer
Brookline MA.

Subject: Begich vs Stevens

Begich is now ahead by 1022 with 41,000 Absentee and provisional ballots to count. It is looking like there won't be a Palin in the Senate for at least 6 years.

Just my idea, but I think the only way Palin will be on a ballot in 2012 is if the religious right wing of the GOP starts a new party. The Reg GOP are going to abandon her like a discarded rag doll. I think they started doing that at the GOP governor's conference because she didn't seem to be having a good time.

http://divasblueoasis.com/showDiary.do...

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok

Subject: Priests and politics

I read this link on BUZZFLASH.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27705755/

and this quote

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

Hey, Secret Service, how's that investigation going into the churches that sent you copies of their sermons for McCain? Read them yet?

I'm for separation of church and state, but if the church wants to play politics (like here and Prop 8), it's time to pay taxes, too. You cannot play and not pay.

Spoken as one who holds a Baptist Minister's license. I'm also a practicing Catholic, so if I'm excommunicated, the Church will have a higher authority to answer to.

Mike Curtis
Greenbrier Ark

Subject: Message to Barack Obama

I nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be your new attorney general.

Marc Levenson
San Leandro, California

Subject: Rev. Jay Scott Newman threats to parishioners

I wrote a letter to Rev. Newman. You can share it with your readers if you like. It follows:

Dear Rev. Newman:

You are a shining example of the hypocrisy that is destroying this country. All under the name of God. That hypocrisy is a lot more apt to risk your soul than any vote by a parishioner can risk by voting for a politician.

Have you ever heard of separation of Church and State? In case you have not, it is in our Constitution, and it so happens that the abortion issue is only ONE issue our political candidates consider. Many people vote for a candidate based on other issues, many just as important.

For example, suppose they don't support lying muderers such as the ones we had in the Bush administration? Because the Catholic Church used their pulpit with people like you, and Bush was elected, thousands of innocent people lost their lives in his unjust, unwarranted war. All so he and his cronies could make money on oil. And YOU supported that with comments just like you are now making. And the murder was only ONE of his crimes.

Don't you think it is time you recognize that all men are sinners? Or have you forgotten that? Where you disagree with those who look at abortion in a different way than you do, it does not, in most cases, constitute material cooperation with intrinsic evil. You stretch the truth dramatically, when in fact, most who take a differing stance on abortion do not condone killing. There are many arguments to the question, and because a person tends to side with another point of view than what you have, it does not make them evil. In my view, you are much more evil by attempting to use your pulpit to influence political views via the use of "terrorism."

Before you start using right-wing religious scare tactics to scare parishioners into submission, you should first look inward with fear for having assisted the murders committed by Bush of thousands, not only in our own country, but also abroad. You should remember what Jesus said:

"Let he with no sin cast the first stone."

Sincerely,

Curtis N. Coleman
Myrtle Creek, Oregon

Subject: Re: corporate taxes

Give me a break, they have passed enough corporate welfare out to sink the Titanic and corporate has done nothing, but watch after their own tails.

This entire fiasco has deregulation all over it. We were supposed to deregulate them so they could help all of us with trickle down something.

The only trickle I feel is where they have pissed on us again and again. Regulate the hell out of all of them and put huge holes in their golden parachutes.

Send every damn one of them to jail.

I am so tired of this bunko bunch. If you regulate or make us pay anything at all, we will get you for it. Well we haven't made them do anything and they still got us for it.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.

Subject: Constitutional Question

We are all quite familiar with the "no religious test" clause in the US Constitution; what I have never found (but I'm no lawyer, either) is a criminal statute or other remedy when one occurs. And yes, I mean criminal. For too long, we have heard accusations about Senator Obama being a Muslim, for example. Other episodes about him, and other candidates, being Atheists, etc. And where I'm from (West Michigan origins) your religious faith has long ben considered an "essential issue" for worthiness for public office of any kind.

The point is, we need to start putting those who impose such tests in the dock. And yes, although some would say this is a bit far, set an example and start putting these people IN JAIL. They endanger the Constitution, AND all of our faiths. And for that they should answer for it, under the weight of the law, which protects their right to worship in their own way, a right they endanger when they impose such tests on people.

So the question is, what law would you cite in pressing CRIMINAL charges against those who impose religious tests on those who vie for office? Any of you super smart lawyers out there, it's time to put some time on Lexus-Nexus.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: High ranking Democrats

… bush kept saying that “high ranking Democrats” were briefed about his unconstitutional acts, the warrantless wiretaps, the torture and the sundry war crimes. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi blocked impeachment to protect herself and other “high ranking Democrats” who were compliant in bush’s crimes, impeachment would have meant a trial and evidence and that evidence would implicate Pelosi and all the “high ranking Democrats.” It will be ironic when bush pardons all the repug criminals and leaves Pelosi and all the other “high ranking Democrats” out to dry. Ironic but justice …. A criminal is a criminal no mater what political party they belong to!

A BuzzFlash Reader

"The bloodshed has to be stopped and immediately."

"How?"

"President-elect Barack Obama asks the Iraqi and Afghan resistance to agree to an immediate ceasefire."

"In exchange for?"

"His promising to do everything he can to bring all U.S. troops home in advance of the 2011 withdrawal date that's in the security agreement approved yesterday by the puppet Iraqi president along with his puppet cabinet."

"Would the Iraqi and Afghan resistance agree to an immediate ceasefire?"

"For sure."

"Based on?"

"Popular demand."

"And our troops, what would they think?"

"Oh happy day."

A BuzzFlash Reader

*San Sim, lance corporal, Marine Corps; Marques I Knight, specialist, Army; James M. Clay, specialist, Army National Guard; Armando A. De La Paz, specialist, Army; Veron V. Hobbs, private first class, Army; Jose Regalado, sergeant, Army; Corey M. Shea, specialist, Army; Jonnie L. Stiles, specialist, Army National Guard; Timothy H. Wallace, staff sergeant, Army

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