BuzzFlash Mailbag for June 29, 2009

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

Want to join the conversation? Share your thoughts with other Mailbag readers by clicking here. You also may comment below; post articles yourself at BuzzFlash.net; or send urls for BuzzFlash to post to: www.buzzflash.com/contact/newstip.html.

Subject: Stonewall redux alert

I don't know if the "mainstream" media will pick up this story but early Sunday morning the police in Fort Worth raided a gay bar (on the 40th anniversary of Stonewell, no less) and arrested from 15 to 20 people for "public intoxication". Right. Anyway, one patron is in the hospital with bleeding in his brain. For coverage you can go to AmericaBlog.com or pamshouseblend.com. I believe the Fort Worth paper has an article, too.

Just wanted to alert everyone to the fact that this is what gays endure on an all too frequent basis in this hopelessly dysfunction democracy without hate crimes legislation in far too many places and FULL equality. Rest assured Obama will not address this with one of his pretty speeches so I thought I should at least alert everyone who cares since I doubt it will gain much traction in the national media.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6502162.html

Steve Moore
Camptonville, CA

Subject: Poem: DO NOT DISTURB

DO NOT DISTURB
by Barbara P. Gordon

stolen election 2009
Supreme Leader collaborates
Iranians take to the street

stolen election 2000
supreme court collaborates
Americans go to sleep

Coleman defeated
Al Franken not seated
it makes you want to weep

cradle of independence
rocks its lethargic children
to a somnolescent beat

BARBARA P GORDON

Subject: the future does not look too bright

Finally, Chris Hedges predicts the ultimate consequences of all this:

"The cost of daily living, from buying food to getting medical care, will become difficult for all but a few as the dollar plunges. States and cities will see their pension funds drained and finally shut down. State and local governments will be forced to accelerate the selling off of infrastructure, including roads and transport, as ever more of our corporations and factories are put on the block as well. We will be increasingly charged by privatized utilities-think Enron-for what was once regulated and subsidized. (Some financially strapped cities have already sold off their parking meters, leading to a fourfold increase in the cost of parking!) As joblessness grows by leaps and bounds, foreclosures will multiply and real estate will soon be worth less than half its current value. The negative equity that already plagues 25% of American homes will expand to engulf nearly all property owners. It will be difficult to borrow and impossible to sell real estate unless we accept massive losses. There will be block after block of empty stores and boarded-up houses. There will be long lines at soup kitchens and many, many homeless. Our corporate-controlled media, already banal and trivial, will work overtime to anesthetize us with useless gossip, spectacle, sex, gratuitous violence, fear and tawdry junk politics. America will be composed of a large dispossessed underclass and a tiny empowered oligarchy that will run a ruthless and brutal system of neo-feudalism (if not complete fascism) from secure compounds. Those who resist will be silenced, many by force.

We will pay a terrible price, and we will pay this price soon, for the gross malfeasance of our power elite."

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/15-0

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Governor Pawlenty

PAWLENTY SAID....... With all due respect Mr. President, if we’re out of money, quit spending it,” Pawlenty added" well in all due respect mr. pawlenty................... why didn't you ask the same question of gw bush over the past 8 years?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: News Black Out About Military Coup in Honduras

I wonder if our media will cover this as closely, and indignantly, as they've screamed about the crackdown in Iran.

If so, it will be quite a big surprise, since the Establishment is not fond of the leftist Pres. Zelaya (whose seizure they may well have blessed, if they didn't engineer it).

CIAP-FELAP denuncia amenazas al periodismo libre en Honduras

La Comisión Investigadora de Atentados a Periodistas (CIAP), de la Federación Latinoamericana de Periodistas (FELAP) denuncia ante América Latina y el mundo las violaciones a los derechos humanos que están padeciendo en Honduras los periodistas que cubren los acontecimientos políticos en esa nación.

La CIAP-FELAP formula un llamado de alerta sobre la situación de riesgo que vive en Tegucigalpa el equipo de reporteros de TELESUR, la televisora multinacional latinoamericana, que es el único equipo internacional presente hoy en la capital de Honduras, donde está siendo hostigado por hacer su trabajo informativo.

El régimen golpista mantiene un cerco informativo, con la televisión transmitiendo dibujos animados, el silenciamiento del canal 8 de televisión del Estado (que tenía su sede en el palacio presidencial), y el corte de energía eléctrica a prácticamente todas las radio emisoras. La dictadura no desea que el mundo sepa que el pueblo se encuentra en las calles exigiendo el regreso del presidente constitucional Manuel Zelaya y manifestando su respaldo al orden constitucional democrático.

La dictadura militar instaurada en Honduras ha silenciado a todos los medios de comunicación comunitarios y alternativos, violentando la libertad de expresión del pueblo hondureño.

Santiago de Chile, 28 de junio de2009

Hernán Uribe, Presidente

Ernesto Carmona, Secretario Ejecutivo

Mark Crispin Miller

Subject: Towards An Average Life Expectancy Of Beyond One Hundred Years

"Based on?"

"Peace on earth and goodwill to all living beings."

"Anything else?"

"Safe and healthy lifestyles plus cloned replacement parts for worn out tissues and organs."

"That'll do it?"

"That'll do it."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: No Planning Necessary

"Prerequisites?"

"Having made up one's mind."

"As to what?"

"Whether indeed it's the right moment?"

"If one decides that such is so and then follows through?"

"Well wadayaknow, who'd of thunk this is what would come to be?"

"But if one decides it isn't the right moment?"

"Best call off whatever's under serious consideration that's in any way connected to the same old same old business as usual status quo of incrementalism."

"Anything else?"

"Yes we can."

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: TORTURE

When prisoners are in American custody and under American control, no matter the location, our values and commitment to the rule of law are at stake," he said, adding:

"Torture and abuse at Bagram is further evidence that prisoner abuse in U.S. custody was systemic, not aberrational, and originated at the highest levels of government. We must learn the truth about what went wrong, hold the proper people accountable and make sure these failed policies are not continued or repeated."

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22925.htm

Truth, Justice, and the American Way

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22926.htm

we should be truly ashamed, but also truly angry enough to put an end to this and to bring truth and justice back to America (I really don't think we ever actually had it, but...)

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: GOVERNOR SANFORD

I left my heart in Argentina, Way down there by the sea. I left my heart in Argentina, Where I was happy as could be.

In Buenos Aires I found Maria, She was like a fresh sea breeze, We talked about religion, We got down on our knees.

The folks in Carolina, Wondered, I am told, Where I might be walking, In the mountains dark and cold.

But state and folks and country, Will have to take a pass, Cause I have found my sweetie, Who is a lovely lass.

Much sea and land divide us, She lives far, far away. But our love unites us, Our romance is here to stay.

I am so sorry that it happened, I much apologize. I left my heart in Argentina, Beneath its deep blue skies.

So long to base ambition, Goodbye to campaign trail. Get another one to lead you, I've found a new female.

Linn
Houston, Pennsylvania

Subject: Governor Sanford

Dear Marky,

Can I call you Marky? I was happy to hear that you finally got some action, albeit it in a 3rd world country, thousands of miles away from home. Just FYI - the rest of us guys in our 40s and 50s are able to find dates in the Continental United States - you might try this; less money, less hassle.

"How do you solve a problem like Maria?" - Sound of Music

What were you thinking? Why did you charge the taxpayers of South Carolina for your dates? Why did you always fall back on religious stuff when you obviously do whatever you want?

As a man, you offend me. I don't care who you sleep with, as long as they are over 18 and not my Mom or daughter. But, or should I say BUTT, Marky - you have to be the biggest hypocrite of 2009. You called Bill Clinton a "rascal" and enthusiastically voted for his impeachment. You, sir, are worse - Clinton committed adultery and lied. You committed adultery and stole from your constituents.

Do the right thing - fall on your sword and resign your office. And by the way - you owe President Clinton an apology.

-Joe Weber
Costa Mesa, CA

Subject: get used to it

nobody has money right now. that too will change, but no time soon. time to downsize for a while. people are just realizing how bad the economy really is, and it is only going to get worse. so your job is to stop cajoling the progressives for not supporting you and finding ways to downsize because we are headed for a deep economic abyss, way deeper then most people think.

Jun

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. You can write to Mailbag at http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contact/mail.html. Guidelines for submissions are at BuzzFlash FAQ #18.

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Mailbag Mark Sanford Iran Stonewall Gay Rights Economy Pawlenty