BuzzFlash Mailbag for October 15, 2009

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Subject: An idea for Senator Blanche Lincoln

You know, a lot of us are poor and have lousy medical care, but do you know who has it worse. Movie monsters!

Look at the Frankenstein Monster. He couldn't make a move without seeing his doctor. In fact he owed his life to his primary care physician. The Wolfman was very forward thinking, doing his own onsite research for a cure and assisting medical professionals. In HOUSE OF DRACULA, even the Count called on a doctor to cure his vampirism. After the fire he endured in CREATURE WALKS AMONG US, it took considerable medical skill to save the Creature's life. And let's not talk about how much all that Mummy wrapping cost!

Yes, Senator Lincoln, perhaps you should go represent them -- SINCE YOU SURE AREN'T REPRESENTING US IN ARKANSAS!

Mike Curtis (Uninsured)
Greenbrier Ark

Subject: Internet Polls

Internet polls are very interesting yet disturbing in their own right.

I am on Facebook and there are polls there that people can take. Of course, they are by no means scientific, but with the volume of million who "connect" via Facebook, one has to conclude it represents a "cross section" of not only America, but also foreign countries.

I participate in some of the polls not all. Here are some interesting topics lately:

Do you believe in Creation/Evolution? Some 60% believe in Creation.

Should "In God We Trust" be taken off our money? No, 60%, yes 40%.

Did Obama deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? No, 60%, Yes, 40%.

Should "Under God" be removed from the Pledge? No, 60%. Yes, 40%.

These are general percentages plus or minus a few points.

I find this wholly disturbing -- is it any wonder that we are in such a world of hurt and hate? People are using their religious biases and prejudices to form their opinion not rational thought.

This is so sad and not a good omen for the overall progression of America towards civil rights for equality and justice for all REGARDLESS of race, creed, religion, or sex/sexual preference.

L M Johnson
Tacoma WA

Subject: Clean-up on Aisle Nine

There's something extremely repulsive repulsive about republican criticism of President Obama's handling of the economy. "Where are the jobs" they ask - as if they shouldn't know. They're the ones who sat on their hands as they were all outsourced to China and India. To watch these neer-do-well elitists offer up their same old snake oil solutions - as if they didn't actually cause the problem - is enough to turn your stomach. Why isn't President Obama serving them mint-julips instead of receiving a Nobel Prize? Life can be so unfair when you're a ahole the size of Texas.

Speaking of aholes, there's Dick Cheney, practically begging someone - anyone - to attack this country so that he can utter the words he's so longing to say: "I told you so". By his torturous logic he should be getting a prize not Obama. Why are we wasting tax dollars protecting this guy? No one going to shoot Cheney. The gun nuts are on the right not the left. Just give him a shotgun, seal him in a missile silo and hope for the best. If the President got a Nobel for not being b**h then so what? By not being b**h he earned it. It just tells you how weary the world was of having to smell the deliberate flatulence emanating from the WH.

As Americans we can do better. The republicans know that they must act now before the current team in the WH has an opportunity to succeed. There will be no more of this "business cycle" BS that they're trying sell. Where are the jobs? Oh, there they are - well it was just a normal business cycle anyway - nothing to do with us jay birds. The recovery would have been here long ago if only we hadn't got kicked out of power - please let us back in - we're unifiers not dividers - for real this time.

I believe that President Obama is a man capable of learning from mistakes. Put 21K additional troops in Afghanistan and the situation gets worse. Does that mean that more troops will make it better? America should never be seen as weak. Letting our guys get picked off with cheap IED's makes us look weak. Therefore that can't be allowed to happen. General McChrystal's "protect the civilian population policy" is flat wrong. We hurt the civilian population by setting that as our goal. VP Biden has the right approach - get the bad guys and the Afghans will take care of what is rightfully their business. The problem with McChrystal's approach is that we can't tell a good Afghan from a bad one. They can and will if Americans are not cluttering up the picture with an extensive military presence - that looks everything like an occupying army. We can train, provide air support, cultivate intelligence resources, relentlessly pursue Al Qaeda. We can help Afghan contractors to improve the country's infrastructure - water, power and communications. Whatever we do we must appear strong, fair and be perceived as trying to help - not trying to conquer. If the Afghan people win then we win.

President Obama wants peace in the ME. The road to peace is being blocked by Israel and its relentless "settlements" program. Solve that problem and we'll take the air right out of Al Qaeda's balloon. They're no more invincible than republicans are in this country. I can see a day coming when Dick, Rush, Glenn and all the rest disappear into the woodwork and the religious right once again finds its rightful role in grade-b horror movies.

Tim Mooring
San Francisco, CA

Subject: Thank You for Listening, BF!

I was just heading over here to send a letter bidding BF a fond adieu after many years of faithful reading.

As many others had opined, me included, I was going to stop reading your site because the new site design is simply too hard to navigate and to read. Time is a very valuable commodity, and I didn't like having to "wade" my way through to find what I wanted to see at a glimpse with an "easy to keep track of" way to see what I had and hadn't read. The color selections (dark background, light print, and varying background shades were too difficult to read) were beyond what I wish to deal with.

I came here today planning to write a "farewell" letter. Instead, much to my delight, I see an "easy-to-find" button that says "Classic Buzzflash."

Thank you for taking our constructive criticisms seriously and offering us an option to make the choice which "version" we prefer. I like the "classic" version much, much better and thank you so much for doing this.

I would have hated to say goodbye to one of my favorite news sites. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was a decision on the the part of who or whomever made it.

It's also wonderfully exhilirating to know there ARE people who DO listen -- unlike our creepy congresskritters!

L M Johnson
Tacoma WA

Subject: Thanks for Classic BuzzFlash

I truly appreciate the Classic BuzzFlash, and your responsiveness to those of us who need it. Now I can read the page again. It really hurt to have to give up BuzzFlash.

Jalwyn
Florida

Subject: Thank you!

Thank you for the option to access Classic BuzzFlash! Just for that I'm going to send you some bucks. I wasn't one of those who would "quit" you but it was seriously irritating trying to navigate your new format so I'm grateful to you and I'm sure many others are, too.

Thanks again, Buzz, you're the best on the Net. I feel like I'm home again.

Steve Moore
Camptonville, CA

Subject: BuzzFlash response

Great solution! Having an OPTION of formats is good thinking. I feel like I am home again.

Creed Ballew
Arkansas

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