BuzzFlash Mailbag for June 24, 2009

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Subject: Obama's Got the Right Stance on Iran

Obama is correct to avoid a public hostile response to Iran’s post-election butchery. He states that such a response would only provide Ahmadinejad with another pretense for attacking his opponents, not that he seems to need one. But in similar historical situations, harsh statements from the White House have given little comfort to a dictator’s opponents, and have only played into the hands of the dictator in question.

Phillip Tofts

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Subject: Learning not too apparent for GOP supporters

Dear BuzzFlash:

Yawn. Another prominent Republican family values man goes down in flames, in reference to the news about S.C. Governor Sanford. "Boo hoo. I've been a bad boy, but I hope the Christian right-wing wacko cult will forgive me." Of course it will. In fact, guv, they'll sweep it under the self-righteous rug so fast it'll make my liberal head spin.

Before I continue, I am not any happier about the Democrats who do similiar deeds, such as John Edwards, whom I deeply admired at one point and has turned out to be a slimeball first class. We as progressives shouldn't give "our side" a free pass - holding our own people responsible as opposed to denying everything like the GOP and Limbaugh lemmings do helps to keep our leaders' noses a little cleaner - not much, but a little. Accountability is one element that is sorely needed in US politics.

Meanwhile, the flagship radio loudmouths are silent as monks when it comes to the continued flood of hypocrites on parade. Gullible fools like James Dobson host of "Focus On the Family", which I refer to as "F***ing Up The Family", consistently praises GOP politicians as Godly men, based solely on their pro-life support, which is nothing but a vote getter. Never mind that once a child is born, almost no pro-lifer is willing to adopt the kid who was going to be aborted, ignores the child if it grows up in an abusive environment, and will gleefully sentence him to death where capital punishment is still carried out, should that "precious life" commit a capital crime. There is no service after this sale.

Why abortion is the only issue the evangelical cult ever raves about used to be a mystery to me, but seeing how so many of their heroes are turning out to be such dirtbags, methinks they don't discuss most other pressing family problems because they don't like having to address their own shortcomings. After all, they're too busy judging everybody else.

The Republican Party is a disgrace, its followers are incapable of admitting any wrongdoing, and yet so many refuse to wake up. With the maniacal interference from the Christian right, we're facing a force that's dangerous in its pomposity, oblivious in its hypocrisy, and a real threat to our freedoms thanks to their theocracy-minded approach to everything. It'd be funny if so many kool-aid drinkers weren't involved.

Scott
Fayetteville, AR.

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Subject: Which is Funnier?

Just read the USA Today article you posted about Sanford's affair.

Now, I'm trying to decide which is funnier -- his having an affair or the lame press conference.

Seriously, Sanford needs to get real. He said in the press conference that this became more of a brouhaha than he thought it would.

Excuse me, Mark, but are you really THAT dumb? You take off for 5 days, no one knows how to get a hold of you and it DIDN'T cross your Republicon mind that people might wonder?? So, they come up with a story about you hiking in the Appalachian (coincidentally on Father's Day weekend) but also on National Nude Hiking Day.

Then it turns out you really flew to Argentina to have an affair! So, did you and your "other woman" make a trip to the Christ of the Andes and do it in the presence of the largest Christ in the world??

Too damned FUNNY!

And these idiots think they can RUN the country? They can't even figure out to commit adultery. And we're supposed to trust them with the country?

Right -- sure -- in a minute!

ROFLMAO!

And ... OMG!

Still laughing my butt off uproariously.

::: cue Queen -- Another One Bites the Dust :::

Ensign, and now in less than what? A week or two? Another one of them, this time Sanford, gets caught living out the Republicon version of "Family Values" Christianity.

But, we must protect marriage from gays. BWAAA. Just exactly WHO does "marriage between a man and a woman" need to be protected from?

I daresay it is not gays, lesbians or anyone else except Promise Keeper right wing, zealot Christians who know better than everyone what is all so holy and sacred.

I'm really trying not to laugh any more -- but DAMN IT! I just can't HELP IT!

L M Johnson
Tacoma, WA

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Subject: Kim Dynasty Going Out With a Bang

National pride is a characteristic of the Korean People. It's hard to believe that people are thinking empathetically about the situation on the Korean Peninsula. If events escalate out of control it will have been the collective responsibility of the powers that fought the Korean War. The northern half of the country has been first orphaned off by Russia and especially China and gradually ostracized by the rest of the world. How can they survive?

At least Iran had an election and a hotly contested one - good for them. I'm sure there are great things in store for them and I wish them well in gaining control of their right-wing religious extremists. We should welcome them to the worldwide cause of keeping religions out of government.

MSM coverage of both Korea and Iran has been God awful. You'd think that it was another country altogether that they're talking about - in both Iran and Korea. Thank God that Obama is President - he at least seems to have some feel of where we stand in the world. While our right wing will settle for nothing short of belligerent talk and militarism. What the President seems to realize is that we may owe the Iranians a first-in-history non-intervention so that their society can sort out its own problems and improve their system of government peacefully and internally. The right wing in this country is chomping at the bit to get "boots on the ground" in Tehran.

It must be that the President is getting bad counsel on the situation in Korea. The need for a special envoy is immediate and critical. Governor Richardson is the obvious and clearly best qualified person to serve in that capacity. And this time reunification of Korea should be front and center in a new round of talks aimed at finally ending the Korean War. The Republic of Korea has been consistently at odds with the U.S. approach (which favors Star Wars). The concept of generating an industrial zone around the DMZ is an approach that achieves many critical objectives at once - the most obvious of which is put vital infrastructure between Kim's army and the south. It also will reduce the economic load on the south when reunification does happen. In the meantime it gives people in the northern half of the country access to employment, electricity and better housing. This is where we should be offering our assistance.

This is almost surreal. Another perfect storm gathering, whirling around us and gathering strength while we (MSM) have our heads stuck in the sand. President Obama is reacting too slowly and is not saying the right things about the Korean crisis - he needs better, more informed counsel in this vital area of foreign policy. China does not stand to gain from a prosperous Korea, Russia perhaps may. Japan definitely will - perhaps the Republic of China as well. There are alignments that could be fashioned with some public and private diplomacy that would permit resolving this issue to the benefit of nearly everyone - especially the hapless people living in north Korea.

Tim Mooring
San Francisco

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Subject: a debate between a 9/11 conspiracy debunker and a 9/11 truther:

The Ultimate 9/11 'Truth' Showdown: David Ray Griffin vs. Matt Taibbi (AlterNet, 10/08)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Sanford

[Sent Wednesday morning] Hmm, so Sanford was in Argentina, huh? How do we know that is even true? We could have lots of fun with this Sanford caper by suggesting where he really was:

-- In the bunker below the Greenbrier Hotel, NC meeting with Cheney (another bunker personality)

-- In Atlanta rounding up people who fled SC to find jobs

-- Does anyone know the whereabouts of Sen. wide stance Larry Craig for the last 6 days?

-- At a meeting with Cheney in Iran

-- At Disney World because he felt deprived as a child

-- Attending a secret NRA meeting in Brazil, shhh

-- At a nudist colony in CA

-- In an Atlanta hospital for a vasectomy. Good. We wouldn't want this whacko to further procreate his genetics

-- At a meeting with other Southern governors on seceeding from the US. Have we checked on the other Southern governors? The South shall rise again, ya know

Add your own theories in the commentary below and have fun.

captain jessie
cincy, OH

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Subject: Networks Avoid Testimony of Cancer Victims

Just finished reading this story (http://mediamatters.org/research/200906220028) and it makes me so damned angry I can scarcely see straight.

Let's see if I have this right: The health insurance carriers want us to buy their coverage as long as we are not ill nor do we need services. However, once you are afflicted with a serious issue, they will look for any reason they can to deny you payment of your coverage. What the HELL is the reason to even HAVE any insurance then?

Aren't we just spinning our wheels in goose poop then?

Unless, of course, you are a "civil servant" in which case your health insurance is paid for by We, the People, then you should have whatever it is you need.

No disrespect here but isn't Senator Byrd stil considered "infirm"? I've not heard that he is still in the hospital or out of it, but is he paying for his bills, or are We, the People paying for it?

Is Kent Conrad still receiving money from the health carrier lobbies? Except, the carriers aren't really paying -- in the end, it is We, the People who really pay for. After all, the lobbyists and the carriers don't absorb those costs as a part of "doing" business.

No, they tack the charges on to our bills in the forms of increased premiums.

I'm just about ready to blow my cork with the arrogance and corruption of our entire system of supposedly "best government" in the world. What a damned farce.

For whatever reasons, this article just made it more than crystal clear to me in a way nothing else has. I feel like I've been slapped in the face by our country and its politicians.

Time to storm the Bastille!

L M Johnson
Tacoma, WA

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Subject: Fork in the Road

Neil Young's new CD, I bought from the BuzzFlash, is SUPER COOL!

I love the videos.

..."in a f**k'n war, who's idea was that"?

As always, he tells it just like it is.

"keep on blogg'n till the power goes out..."

If Buzz is still selling the CD, I say it is a MUST for every loyal BuzzFlash reader! Well worth the money. Don't buy it at Borders, buy it here.

Nancy Lynn
TN Home of the real former Prez!

[BuzzFlash Note: Here it is at The BuzzFlash Progressive Marketplace.]

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Subject: Why?

http://rethinkafghanistan.com/?utm_source=rgemail

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: darth cheney ain't got nutin' over this guy when it comes to evil,

Remarks By James Jones National Security Adviser Obama Administration

Hotel Bayerischer Hof Munich, Germany February 9, 2009

Thank you for that wonderful tribute to Henry Kissinger yesterday. Congratulations. As the most recent National Security Advisor of the United States, I take my daily orders from Dr. Kissinger, filtered down through General Brent Scowcroft and Sandy Berger, who is also here. We have a chain of command in the National Security Council that exists today.

I think my role today is a little bit different than you might expect

Main article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Kissinger

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Remember that great old cult classic, "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers"? Well, I think "they" got him (Obama). He's become unrecognizable after his first five months in office especially when you contrast his current actions (or lack thereof) to his campaign speeches.

Or was he always one of them?

Steve Moore
Camptonville, CA

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Subject: What's Behind Corporate Health Care's Stonewalling A Public Plan?

"It knows it can't compete with a public plan."

"Based on?"

"Corporate health care's at least thirty pecent ripoff for overhead, profit and bonuses."

"Anything else?"

"If there's a public health plan available, who in their right mind's going to want corporate coverage?"

"And what was that sound?"

"The long-awaited collapse of corporate health care."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Today's Far Right Is To The United Nations As Nazi Germany WasTo The League Of Nations

"How?"

"Unless it works to their advantage, both consider international law to be beyond the pale."

"Based on?"

"Self-proclaimed superiority."

"Such as?"

"'We're better than you.'"

"Anything else?"

"'Nothing you can do about it.'"

"Bullies?"

"Exactly."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Healthcare

WE ARE SOOO DAMN MAD! WHEN A PERSON GETS SO SICK THEY CAN'T WORK, LIKE FROM CANCER..........THEY NOT ONLY LOSE THEIR JOB, BUT THEY LOSE THEIR INSURANCE TOO! SO THEY HAVE NO MONEY, NO INSURANCE AND OH LET'S SAY COLON CANCER. TOO BAD, JUST HAVE TO DIE! WHILE OUR SENATORS CAN KEEP THEIR INSURANCE AND THEIR JOBS THAT WE PAY FOR EVEN IF THEY CAN'T WORK!

IF WE DON'T GET A PUBLIC OPTION, WE WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR OBAMA IN 2012!

SIXTY OF US IN FL

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Subject: What is our preident to do about IRAN???

I am so sick of this...hearing from some republican every single day,"Well, I do think this president of the free world , should express some sympathy with the situation?" Actually, what they are saying..as they have ever since Obama was elected...is that he can do nothing right...RIGHT! I have never yet watched a presidential news conference where he did not express concern for the situation in Iraq... One thing for damn sure is that we do not have the money, nor the military strength (since the last mess) to send in troops to beat up the bad guys!!

We cannot even afford health care, jobs.... a decent living....300 thousand jobs were lost just in the last quarter of the Bush administration.....how in any thing that's Holy can we get involved in another conflict. All he can do is sympathize with them...we cannot even seat a duly elected senator in Minnesota...how could we help an election in a third world country?

A buzzer...Mo.

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