BuzzFlash Mailbag for October 06, 2008

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

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Subject: An Alternative to Capitalism?

The following link, takes you to a "utopian" article, entitled "Home of the Brave?" which I wrote and appeared in the American Daily which is published in Phoenix, Arizona on March 14, 2006. www.americandaily.com/article/12389

John Steinsvolld
Long Island, New York

Subject: Electronic Voting Machines

Why isn't anybody talking about the electronic voting machines any more? This election is meaningless! The machines are going to win! And we know who produces them and controls them!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: rolled up sleeves

My pet peeve. The rolled up sleeves on Obama and McCain. Are they trying to look like they are ready to "get to work" like the common person?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Anarchists for McCain

Listen, I happen to be a lifelong anarchist, and that’s why I’m not going to tell you who I am. What I am going to tell you is why I am one of many, many unconnected Anarchists For McCain. Anarchists for McCain doesn’t exist as an organization, because we’re anarchists – but if Anarchists for McCain did exist – and had a slogan – that slogan could be: John McCain: Good For Anarchy. Why? First of all, John McCain is unpredictable – he’s so unpredictable, he’s not even predictably unpredictable – and that is a fundamental, necessary quality for anarchy – unpredictability. Second, John McCain doesn’t stand for anything – or perhaps he stands for everything – in any given year, month, week, day, hour, you can’t predict it – and standing for everything is the next best thing to standing for nothing, which is, after all, the essence of anarchism. Third, John McCain has cancer, he’s 72, and he picked Sarah Palin to succeed him in the Oval Office – all of which is excellent from the anarchist perspective. Not only does Sarah Palin not stand for anything, she doesn’t know there’s anything to stand for -- Vote for McCain Support President Palin Give ANARCHY a chance.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: McCain

Fred Thompson at Rep Convention said JM can't salute. About 11:14 am Today, on Meet the Press, watch him give firm salute while talking to Des Moine Register...also raising both shoulders high to the crowd while campaigning. Veteran friends in his campaign are all saying he can't salute.....I have counted saluting quite often......so that is a fallacy.

Subject: Sarah and Brad

The SELF-RIGHTEOUS Two

McCain a married man with three kids an admitted adulterer and Cindy a 25 year old girl having an affair with a married man 42 years old. And to top it off, applying for a marriage license before his divorce is final. Cruel!

HAVE THEY NO SHAME ?????

Reference:

Dr. James Dobson CNN/Anderson Cooper Rev. Rick Warren

P.S. Carol McCain worked for President Reagan in the White House and Ron & Nancy never forgave McCain for the way he treated her!

P.S. Now SARAH, did she have an affair with Brad Hanson, three family members said she did!

BY THEIR ACTIONS YOU WILL KNOW THEM !!!

Ross
Oklahoma City

Subject: Sheeplenet

Facts on McCain, Take a Look... http://www.sheeple.net/

J.Magner
Portland, Oregon

Subject: Missing Tim Russert

Has there ever been a vice-presidential candidate who wasn't compelled to go on Meet The Press?

We needn't be so naive and ask why Sarah Palin will not go on the show. We should, however, be asking Tom Brokaw why he hasn't stated, on air, that Sarah Palin has been invited to appear, that he has yet to hear from her, and that there are only three Sundays left (starting next week).

It seems that Brokaw doesn't care to prove himself up to the standard of excellence that Tim Russert set for the show. This may be due in part to the fact that Brokaw finds himself in the dubious position of being the sole liaison between NBC and the McCain campaign. Let's think about this. It is probable that the current host of Meet The Press is refraining from challenging the McCain campaign to produce their vice-presidential candidate in fear of severing all ties to McCain's campaign.

So McCain has won a small victory in his war on the press. He's effectively neutered the hardest-hitting, you-must-be-here-to-be-taken-seriously program that Tim Russert built with bravery and honesty. And the ones who suffer: the American people who deserve to hear our best journalists ask the toughest questions to our highest office-holders in the nation.

Julie Liu
New York, NY

Subject: BuzzFlash

I turn on BuzzFlash first thing every day. You are the best as far as I am concerned. I am 77 yrs old living on a pension that doesn't quite make it these days, but I try to support BuzzFlash as much as possible. Thank you.

Obama in a "Landslide"

Harry Parks
Menifee Ca

Subject: Re: Sen. Sweet Coconut

She has Airspace Foreign Policy Experience.

He Has Another Kind.

I think we should really be proud that Obama is less experienced in some of the things they are coming up with this week. No I don’t think spending long periods of time shooting craps at Monte Carlo should count as foreign policy experience, but I just finished reading something I am still trying to digest.

Richard Fontaine, McCain's foreign policy advisor, was speaking at an Americas Conference panel discussion on Friday talking about McCain’s Latin American interest being of a longer duration than Obama’s. He began with this;

''Talking a little about his personal experience, he was famously born in Panama and has traveled all over the hemisphere for many years.'' Fontaine said. "In fact, I saw, I guess it was last week, that his old girlfriend in Brazil has been found from his early days when he was in the Navy and was interviewed. She's a somewhat older woman now than she was then, but it sorta speaks to the long experience he has had in the region -- in the most positive terms.''

Everyone, including myself, is somewhat older than we were in 1957. Has Fontaine checked with James Dobson about the McCain campaign referring to this sort of experience in Latin America as being a positive?

Maria Gracinda Teixeira de Jesus was recently located and gave an interview to O Globo. According to McCain’s autobiography they met in 1957 when his ship, the USS Hunt, was in Brazil.

''I called him John but also my darling and my sweet coconut,'' she said. "He was a great kisser. I liked it so much that I bought a book to learn how to kiss myself.''

My sweet coconut is right up there with Dubya referring to Laura as the lump in his bed. Did Maria learn to kiss herself? It isn’t difficult, Sarah Palin kissed herself on the hand to begin the debate and threw that kiss to the audience.

They asked Fontaine if he was “suggesting that McCain’s fling with a Latin hottie counted as Latin American foreign policy experience”.

''The only thing I was trying to convey was that his experience goes back a long way.''

Again, does the religious right really consider this type of way back experience as something you might want to see in your own child? Vote for John he was conducting foreign affairs before Obama was born. Sen. Sweet Coconut is known for that stuff.

"He was born in Panama, which illustrates a lifetime spent in Latin America. He has known a lot of people. The thing about the Brazilian girlfriend was in his first memoir, and it stuck in my brain. Look at the two candidates and contrast his extensive experience. That's the only point I was trying to make.''

And we are spotlighting the fact that McCain has a lot more “hoochie mama” experience and that makes him more qualified? For all we know their could be little McCain’s all over the planet. He spent a lifetime in Latin America, what about all those years as a POW? I guess Maria kept her Sweet Coconut in captivity.

She would pick him up in her turquoise blue Cadillac El Dorado convertible, but John remembers it as being a Mercedes. She’s probably right because he was likely boning up on his foreign diplomacy.

''He was not only a good kisser, he was good at everything,'' she said. ``He was a great love of mine. But he left and it ended. Otherwise, I would be up there with him. Only that our lives were different, I was a model and he was a military man who traveled a lot. I'll never forget him, and I would never have imagined that he would write a book and talk about me.''

Oh, my we could have had a Carnival room at the White House. How much is there about her in that book? How long was the Hunt in port there and why? If he wins she is sending him a telegram congratulating him and will sign it, “your great Brazilian love.”

If he wins, I’ll be writing a suicide note and if the right wing spins this as a plus, I will be really surprised.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/03/mccains-brazilian-girlfri_n_131774.html

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok

Subject: Perspective on the Terrorism Threat

FACTS: Number of people killed by international terrorism per year: 1,907 Number of Americans killed by terrorism per year: 70 Number of people that die from peanut allergies per year: 140 Number of people that die from coronary heart disease per year: 450,000 Amount of money US Gov spends on "War on Terror" per year: $162 billion Amount of money US Gov spends on "War on Heart Disease" per year: $3 billion

SUMMARY: 6,600 times more Americans die from coronary heart disease each year than terrorism yet the U.S. Government spends 54 times more money to save 70 lives than to save 450,000 lives each year. (1)(2) Source of data: National Counter Terrorism Center and Government Accounting Office.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Bail out

The mess on Wall Street was basically either ignored or abetted by the Congress and the Executive Branch. We pay these people good money to look after our country. They have failed miserably. There should be a national referendum on whether all elected people who are in the Congress or the Administration should be required to take a 15% pay cut and a 15% reduction in benefits with the money going to pay down our national debt. After all, this is the patriotic thing to do. They should have to feel the pain just like us.

Barry
Hakalau, Hawaii

Subject: This Seems to be the Palin Pattern: Contrary to Debate Claim, Palin Opposed Disinvestment in Sudan to Protest Darfur Atrocities. She Really is Quite Dreadful. 10/5

Hmm... it really looks like the ABC article is absolutely wrong and that Palin gave the bill her support in April:

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/040308/reg_264694274.shtml.

Now unless you're prepared to explain the endorsement as an April Fool's Joke, you should pull your ringing endorsement of a shoddily researched article and remove your headline/link.

This Seems to be the Palin Pattern: Contrary to Debate Claim, Palin Opposed Disinvestment in Sudan to Protest Darfur Atrocities. She Really is Quite Dreadful. 10/5

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: caribou barbie

since the charges against bill ayres were dropped, maybe due to lack of evidence, does that mean sara the josephine 6-pack (cheap date) is a tax evader and abused her power as gov. in troopergate "abuse of power see bush/cheney" without charges being filed yet. I'm back! dictator DUBYA

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: FOX Lies

JUST STUNNED! AT 10:57 AM EASTERN TIME TODAY, SUNDAY, WE SAW ONE OF THE FOX NEWS BLOND BIMBOS SAY THAT THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN HAS ENDORSED PALIN. HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH SUCH BLATANT LIES? THE DAILY SHOW SHOULD HAVE ON SOMEONE FROM NOW AND CALL FOX OUT ON THEIR LIES!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: What the Sarah Craze Really Means. Must Read.

Guys, gals, punditos and punditas - remember Foucault, "Historisize, historisize, historisize," and/or the more popular, "Those who do not know the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them."

To be crazy extreme, we all agree that Hitler could never have happened without the consent and support of a dejected (Post WWI) disempowered but rather genuine mob. The millions who marched to the goosestep were just as much the historical moment of Nazi Germany as was the man himself, our friend Adolf.

Look at the dumbing down of America in the last 30 years. Look at the perversion of government programs into faith-based initiatives that have (if not twisted the arms of otherwise democratic bases) to go Republican -- have made the impression on the children whose mouths were fed in the late 80s and 90s that Republicans and Faith are one and the same. Look at our "gaming" trend and "Grand Theft Auto" mentality of vengeance and the "sexiness" of violence.

Sarah Palin is a dull knife with a sharp eye for power. But there could be no Sarah if we did not have millions of "Average Joe's" sitting around the "kitchen table" (god, how many times does that tired scenario have to be invoked?) feeling like they are not seen or heard. THEY don't know the correct name for the general in charge of the surge in Iraq. THEY don't know what Bush's preemptive doctrine was or is. THEY don't know the capital of Utah or exactly what Henry Kissinger was really about. PERFECT.

Pundits and punditas -- nobody is highlighting or even talking about this agonizing dumbing down of the masses of this country. The NRA makes religion out of outreach and education. For evil, but still. What are democrats really doing that can match their initiatives? The latest mission is the get those 18 and under out their with Dad slaughtering Bambi. Oh joy. I'm not kidding. Just like the tobacco industry targets the Tween set for future revenue, NRA wants bobby sue and jimmy joe out there in the woods with smoking guns and dead fawn. This amazing push for recruiting little future voters is ugly and fierce.

The dumbing down and yes, the perverting of America. This is not about Sarah vs. Biden or Mc-gook (Does anyone recall that McCain "gaffe?") And what exactly is a 'hero' in a war funded by America's continued imperialist domination of the world?. And exactly what is this repeated bowing our heads (Democrats on your knees) in nauseating deference to his Vietnam experience.

Remember -- just before ENRON imploded with scandal and corruption and became yet another big corporate greed-cat -- and it's commercial that ran "WHY ask WHY?" the commercial asked. Just before the company went down in flames. That is what I am asking here -- WHY no one -- none of the pundits or serious bloggers are delving into the foundation of the Sarah and McCain insanity -- It is years of horribly deteriorated public education, a disenfranchizement of the poor supplemented by faith based right wing outreach and a bevy of other seriously smelly social trends.

Let's talk about that when we talk about Sarah.

Johanna Clearfield
Brooklyn, NY

Subject: Bruce Springsteen plays for Obama in Philadelphia, 10-4-2008

It was a glorious day in Philadelphia as the Ben Franklin Parkway filled with folks eager for change. Local hero Bruce Springsteen played an acoustic set that sounded like a prayer service:

The Promised Land The Ghost of Tom Joad Thunder Road No Surrender Does this Bus Stop at 82nd St? (with its line "the dope is that there's still hope") The Rising This Land is Your Land (Woody Guthrie, 1940)

Former governor Ed Rendell said that due to Obama's efforts, there are now 1.1 million more registered Democrats than Republicans in Pennsylvania. C'mon PA, do the right thing thing and vote for Obama!

Deborah
Bordentown, NJ

Subject: ThePalinProblem/GoverningRequiresKnowledge/NotMindlessWinkingTwinkie

The Palin Problem Yes, she won the debate by not imploding. But governing requires knowledge, and mindless populism is just that—mindless.

By Jon Meacham | NEWSWEEK Published Oct 4, 2008 From the magazine issue dated Oct 13, 2008

The question, the McCain campaign later acknowledged, was a fair one. In one of her sit-downs with Katie Couric of CBS News, Sarah Palin was asked to discuss a Supreme Court decision with which she disagreed. "Well, let's see," Palin replied, pausing. "There's, of course in the great history of America there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but …" Couric followed up: "Can you think of any?"

Palin, still pondering, said: "Well, I could think of … any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But, you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today." Asked about the exchange afterward, a McCain adviser who didn't want to be named talking about a sensitive matter said the question was fair, but added: "I wonder how many Americans would be able to name decisions they disagree with. The court is very important, but Palin is on the ticket because she connects with everyday Americans."

Palin is on the ticket because she connects with everyday Americans. It is not shocking to learn that politics played a big role in the making of a presidential team (ticket-balancing to attract different constituencies has been with us at least since Andrew Jackson ran with John C. Calhoun, a man he later said he would like to kill). But that honest explanation of the rationale for her candidacy—not her preparedness for office, but her personality and nascent maverickism in Alaska—raises an important question, not only about this election but about democratic leadership. Do we want leaders who are everyday folks, or do we want leaders who understand everyday folks? Therein lies an enormous difference, one that could decide the presidential election and, if McCain and Palin were to win, shape the governance of the nation. ...

On the phone from McCain's retreat in Sedona, Palin replied: "I think they're just not used to someone coming in from the outside saying, 'You know what? It's time that normal Joe Six-Pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency.' I think that that's kind of taken some people off guard, and they're out of sorts, and they're ticked off about it, but it's motivation for John McCain and I to work that much harder to make sure that our ticket is victorious, and we put government back on the side of the people of Joe Six-Pack like me, and we start doing those things that are expected of our government, and we get rid of corruption, and we commit to the reform that is not only desired, but is deserved by Americans." This is, presumably, good politics: it makes a strength out of a weakness, always a shrewd tactic.

A key argument for Palin, in essence, is this: Washington and Wall Street are serving their own interests rather than those of the broad whole of the country, and the moment requires a vice president who will, Cincinnatus-like, help a new president come to the rescue. The problem with the argument is that Cincinnatus knew things. Palin sometimes seems an odd combination of Chauncey Gardiner from "Being There" and Marge from "Fargo."

Is this an elitist point of view? Perhaps, though it seems only reasonable and patriotic to hold candidates for high office to high standards. Elitism in this sense is not about educational or class credentials, not about where you went to school or whether you use "summer" as a verb. It is, rather, about the pursuit of excellence no matter where you started out in life. Jackson, Lincoln, Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Clinton were born to ordinary families, but they spent their lives doing extraordinary things, demonstrating an interest in, and a curiosity about, the world around them. This is much less evident in Palin's case.

Rose Driscoll
Norcross, GA

Subject: effects of bailout will take time

Bush says effects of bailout will take time. Really? Then why was he is such a rush to cram this bailout down our throats with no hearings? He wanted Paulson to cram it down our throat with complete power to him, a man who was with Lehman, a man who was part of the problem. Yet, neither McCain nor Obama seemed to care what the public thought. They both knew that Americans have been kept away from choices of the other candidates. They have been blacked out in the media so they have been given arsenic or cyanide to choose from.

Why should McCain and Obama care that they are walking over the wishes of the American public. Bush says the bailout effects will take time? You mean like the cleanup in Katrina? Translation: "I just made my last ripoff of the taxpayer to my pals on Wall Street and the Congress and Senate honored my dictatorship once again."

Cynthia McKinney points out that nobody mentions the multiple billions we just bailed AIG out with. She mentions that the recipient companies are selected comanies. She asked where the billions of lost money to Iraq went. She says the answer is that someone received that money for himself. No wonder I have friends in Houston who were without power for two weeks, let alone Galveston. Katrina victims are still without homes. One of my friends asks "Where is our money?" Well, let's ask Bush what he does with it every time we fork over tax dollars to him. Yet, he convinces people that he is giving them a tax cut. So our government just prints more money and we get inflation.

These two presidential candidates, McCain and Obama, forced us into this bailout, as voters, because they had contributions from the financial sector in the millions. McCain and Obama did not listen to us, so you will excuse me if I am not exactly exhilarated about this upcoming election. There is not going to be any good change. People will find that out in time. Yet, we are being told we are not allowed to choose a third party without people saying we are supporting the greater evil? Let me assure you. If McKinney were not running, I might back Nader. If neither were running, I would not be voting in this scam. So no, my vote for McKinney is not a vote for McCain, regardless of the brainwash you hear out there.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Russia's strategic bombers to drill with full combat payloads

The October surprise perhaps?

Bush asks his "pal" Putin to start rattling sabers, people in US remember that McCain is war hero?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: The total sadness of the 2000's

When I think of what has happened in the time from when Bush/Cheney were given the highest jobs in the land....the sadness overtakes me until I almost want to cry...it is so useless...so aimless...they are going to go off into the sunset with their stolen money intact..while everyone else is totally robbed...46000 without health care...Social Security totally pilfered...no promises at all for recovery after the 700 billion. It is the saddest thing in my lifetime. The only thing I have to hold is the fact that I was never taken in by them...NEVER! Just think about the people who were, and feel responsible...I know one person like that. All the others will answer with the lamest things, like"Well, we have not been attacked again...or "Democrats stand for Abortion"! Sick, totally sick.!!! Democrats have not been in office in the time since it was made legal, half of the time republicans have and still, we get the blame. I know the world easily by now..it just does not matter...if abortion is their only complaint...they will use it...its that simple. They can blame their lower standard of living on anything...like they blame the people who were taken advantage of in the housing scandal...that was the people fault. Even the poor college graduates...two married...both with good jobs and two kids...one thought they should take the offer for lower rates..maybe the other did not....so, the one who chose that way..and then was screwed by the lender....got the blame....she is now living in a four room apt. with two kids...and the husband has gone....a marriage broken..like so many others....it is all too sad to even think about. Truly...we hope they will pay some way...but, there is no guarantee...the only time Cheney has showed his face...is when an SOS is sent out by the lame brained president...and the VP comes running...once again begging the people for money, and once again...getting his damned way!!!

Makes me want to vote for no one...are they all blood suckers?

Shirley ... St. Louis

Subject: remember this

These were the people who tried to protect democracy in 2001, from the first crime committed by the Bush bunch.

Alcee Hastings, Carrie Meek, Corrine Brown, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Elijah Cummings, Sheila Jackson Lee, Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Cynthia McKinney, Patsy Mink, Eva Clayton, Jesse Jackson Jr., Bob Filner, Peter Deutsch

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G00/PresidentialElectors.html

Saturday, January 6, 2001: Congressman Peter Deutsch (Florida CD 20) attempted to raise a point of order that a quorum was not present before the tabulation had even started... that is, before Alabama's vote was even counted. The Congressman was gaveled down by Vice President Al Gore as no Senators had signed on. Objections were raised to the counting of Florida's electoral vote [immediately after it was read by teller Congressman Fattah of Pennsylvania] in the following order: Alcee L. Hastings (Florida CD 23), Carrie Meek (Florida CD 17), Corrine Brown (Florida CD 3), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas CD 30), Elijah Cummings (Maryland CD 7), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas CD 18), Maxine Waters (California CD 35), Barbara Lee (California CD 9), Cynthia McKinney (Georgia CD 4), Patsy Takemoto Mink (Hawaii CD 2), and Eva M. Clayton (North Carolina CD 1). Each time, the Chair ruled their objections out of order (as no Senators had signed on). After this, Cynthia McKinney (Georgia CD 4), Maxine Waters (California CD 35), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas CD 30) all tried to move that the House "rise" from the tabulation Joint Session to debate the issue of Florida's electoral vote separately on grounds that the provisions Title 3 of the US Code cannot bind one house of Congress in violation of that house's own rules (and, therefore, they would not need the concurrence of a Senator to do so)-- the Chair ruled against them. (In between McKinney and Waters, Congressman Bob Filner (California CD 50) rose to object solely "in solidarity" with the others who had already objected to the counting of Florida's electoral vote-- since he hadn't even bothered to present his objection in writing as required by statute, the Chair ruled against him). Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (Illinois CD 2) rose to ask the Chair if a Senator could still sign an objection even though the Joint Session was already underway- the Chair answered in the affirmative but, of course, no Senator would end up doing so in any event. The final attempt was Maxine Waters (California CD 35) asking unanimous consent that the Joint Session be suspended for absence of a quorum (a variant on the tactic Peter Deutsch (Florida CD 20) had brought up in the first instance at the very beginning of the Joint Session)-- the GOP side of the chamber erupted with cries of "No" and "Object" but the Chair ruled that even the objections were unnecessary as, without concurrence by a Senator, the unanimous consent request was itself out of order. With that, the objectors (from the Congressional Black Caucus) walked out of the tabulation Joint Session in protest. The count continued from Georgia on without further objection. With 270 votes needed to win, Congress tabulated the Electoral vote on 6 January 2001 2:48 PM EST as follows: Bush: 271 Gore: 266 Abstention: 1

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: 2008, The Year Of Capitalism's Spontaneous Combustion

This marked the inevitable demise of the economic system that was based upon the so-called free competitive market and the profit motive. What happened was that Wall Street, having bought off the president and Congress, came up with a completely out of control pyramid investment swindle in the form of a housing bubble, such that, when said bubble burst, down went capitalism. This despite last minute attempts by the government to save capitalism by way of a trillion dollar Wall Street bailout, which turned out to be nothing less than throwing money down the drain. But now the public was on to Wall Street and its captive government for having brought about the economic collapse and was ready to do something about it. What did the public do? In the November 4th election the public threw out all the incumbents who had been pimping for Wall Street and voted in a president and Congress to serve the public interest rather that private interests. And since then it's been up to us, the what sort of world.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Re: McCain going negative.

I would try not to go too negative and just answer the negative ads. I would use every moment I could tying McCain to Bush. He voted with him over 90% of the time. Tie him to deregulation.

They are planning on tying Obama to people in his past. On Rezko I might consider having Obama answer that one before it starts.

There are more than enough people to tie McCain to, not the least of which is Keating, but they may mention that the other 4 of the Keating 5 were Democrats and were treated more harshly because this was brought out during a GOP administration.

McCain made some crack about Reagan not appeasing Iran during Iran/Contra. We armed both Iran and Iraq during the 80s.

Keep tying him to Bush is what I would do.

Hang on kiddies it is going to be a bumpy ride. I am really happy that a lot of this got played out in the primary because some of it will be old news.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.

Subject: palin time warp

Hi, Buzz!!

A reader has suggested that Sarah Palin made no major gaffes during the debate Thursday night. I disagree; she made many gaffes and told many lies, most of which can be found if one browses BuzzFlash. She did it glibly, so maybe some people (like right-wing pundits) didn't notice....

But what got my head spinning were her references to "Gen. McClellan." I've known for some time that Republicans want to turn the clock back, but all the way to the 1860s?

And which year was she landing in? She kept referring to Gen. McClellan as a commander, so that would suggest 1862 (the year Lincoln finally had enough and fired him). But '62 wasn't a Presidential election year, so maybe she was in 1864, when McClellan ran against Lincoln for the Presidency?

Or here's a thought: Does Palin ride horseback? If she does, maybe she's referring to the McClellan saddle (invented by the same McClellan that President Lincoln fired in 1862). If the Republicans turn the clock back far enough, they will find active-duty cavalry troops using the McClellan saddle (it's actually a very good saddle). Does Palin have a deep-seated wish to bring back the old-fashioned cavalry, sabers and carbines and all? Is she channeling Gen. Custer? Or maybe Jeb Stuart (given her connections to the Alaskan Independence Party, that seems more likely)?

I am so confused I don't know which end is up. But then, I'm not running for VP of the USA.

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

Subject: Video of Palin Repeating Bush's Campaign Talking Points Word For Word

VIDEO: Palin Repeats Bush' Campaign Talking Points Word For Word -- Sarah Palin is the new George Bush

Oct. 3: Sarah Palin brought a folksy, outside-the-Beltway style to the debate that the pundits, politicians and voters across America just haven’t seen before … or have they? Countdown’s Keith Olbermann discusses the many similarities between Palin and President Bush.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27015517#27015517

Rose Driscoll
Norcross, GA

Subject: Thanks for the link.

I can't find it here, but apparently you're linking to my clip of Letterman's Sarah Palin messages.

Always exciting when you get a link from a site you visit all the time without any prompting.

Thanks again.

Joe Bua

Subject: The Gimmick of Last Resort

Is it only in Minnesota that Republican candidates use different versions of the same old campaign ad? First, an unflattering and/or sinister-looking photo of their opponent appears on the television screen. Then, "pop-up" banners appear, hysterically proclaiming, "He (or she) will raise YOUR taxes!", "He (or she will raise your FAMILY'S taxes!", "He (or she) will raise EVERYBODY's taxes!" Why do GOP politicians always resort to this tiresome and obvious "scare tactic"? Because instilling fear is much easier than inspiring confidence!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Palin tax payments appear legit

It is absolutely the right of every citizen to pay absolutely not one penny more in tax than the law demands.

Much as I might enjoy seeing the McCain campaign take a hit over this, I honestly don't see Palin's omission of a tax payment on the per diem as a big deal. So they amend and pay, the way thousands of other citizens correct their mistakes.

Maezeppa
Los Angeles CA

Subject: Sarah Palin vs. eminent domain??? What about Wasilla?

Palin was quoted as opposing an eminent domain ruling by the supreme court:

Palin said, “The Kelso case also, with eminent domain. That affects me, as a governor. It affected me as a mayor, also. Part that property rights are so precious in this nation and for the Supreme Court to have sided with government, instead of the people, the property owners on that.

What about the sports complex in Wasilla? Didn't the city eventually have to use eminent domain to get the property?

http://www.adn.com/matsu/story/474934.html

Liz Johnson
Sacramento, CA

Subject: Lipstick

Guys, will you knock it off with the lipstick headlines, already? It's getting really annoying to those of us who actually wear the stuff.

Tamora Pierce
Syracuse, NY

Subject: Re: Fannie Mae has Faith on their side.

Fannie Mae's spokesman, Brian Faith, says under the circumstances it is appropriate for them to forgive the mortgage debt of 90 year old Addie Polk of Akron, Ohio. They are deeding her house over to her.

Make sure and check how much you owe before you take a long barrelled handgun and shoot yourself twice in the abdomen. If you owe too much you might have to shoot a few more family members.

She is still alive, but you must be careful to do it correctly because you don't want to pass the debt on to your survivors. If you have one of those special clauses where the debt is paid off if you die then that will take care of it.

My father-in-law had one of those clauses when he bought a new van. Now he didn't shoot himself, but he hadn't even made the first payment on the van and it was paid for when he died.

I am not suggesting you shoot anyone, this is satire.

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.

Subject: One very good thing in the Bailout bill - Parity

One very good thing in the Bailout bill (house version) is the passage of mental health and addiction services parity (insurance parity with other health care).

Not sure what it has to do with bailing out Wall Street -- but it is something that could help lots of people on Main Street!

See Dodd's site for more information: http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/4596

Barbara, BuzzFlash reader and fan

Subject: Otto Reich is Reportedly a McCain Advisor

It is not so much this article on Digg.com that is interesting, but just the news that Otto Reich is McCain's Latin America policy advisor. THAT is frightening, and it blew me away to hear it. It's an indication of just how far right-wing a McCain/Palin administration would be.

The news that Reich is part of McCain's camp should be shouted from the rooftops.

I found an extensive article on Reich at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs website:

http://www.coha.org/2004/07/otto-reich-a-career-in-disservice/

Dennis Henize

Subject: Sarah Palin & The Bubba Vote

The "Bubba Vote" could cost Obama the election. I suggest democrats use the works of George Lakoff to form their playbook. Maybe have things like commercials of middle class single white mothers who lost their husbands in Iraq, and then lost their house due to Bush economics. Then have other single white mothers who have benefited from Obama policies. The more emotional hotbuttons they can push to Obama's benefit between now and election day, the better. Then, find counters to the picture floating around showing Palin in a snowsuit, holding a rifle in one arm and her child in the other, beside a fallen moose she's supposed to have just killed. The party which pushes the most emotional hot buttons the best is the one that will win. Do this for all anti-Bush candidates, as well. To avoid this devolving into blowback, hire Lakoff to make sure they do it right!

Frank Starr
Tampa, Florida

Subject: Why John McCain Will Be Elected

I suggest BuzzFlash, from now until November 4th, make your special section What's The Buzz a What's the VOTING Buzz - highlighting/linking to reports/info on efforts to screw with the vote - purging voter registration rolls, Diebold/Sequoia vote tampering, exit polling discrepancies, etc. There is a ton of news out there that people need to be aware of.

We are all getting excited about Obama's growing lead in the polls - we know that the number of people who will be attempting to cast a vote for him will far exceed those who will want to vote for McCain.

However, I fully expect John McCain to be announced the winner on November 5th. Enough votes will be suppressed/tampered with/fixed that America will be robbed of a fair vote for a third straight election. I am appalled that so few Americans seem to be aware of the gravity of this issue.

Please, I beg you, can BuzzFlash put up a special section on vote issues ? Many thanks.

Richard O'Leary
Bronx, NY

[BuzzFlash Note: You might want to use the link at the top of our home page to send links about such news: Click here to send confidential news tips to BF]

Subject: The Good Ship Lollipop

Found one of Palin's old movie clips.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Time for substance to prevail over style

Hey, I'm back in country now from a vacation. Just reacquainting myself with the election stuff, I came across these... and I can't stop laughing. Seriously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy_ItccOIek&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkWebP2Q0Y&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokTjEdaUGg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0YL11H0Pm0&feature=related

Tom Joad

Subject: Value is REALLY what?

I have a question that keeps coming back to me. WHY do those who have bad credit due to whatever reason but especially those who had fallen on hard times despite their best efforts have to pay more especially in Interest Rates or rates in general when they cannot pay well for what they have as it is?

Value is ONLY what some one is willing to pay for something. It's totally subjective.

Doesn't this have a lot to do with the situation we face as a nation and as a world in general?

Maybe some greed but maybe more arrogance and assumption.

Signed,

Hunter

Draco

Subject: Sarah

No surprises for me. Her flag was monstrous...you see, it had to be bigger than Joe's (say it ain't so)

She also fits in greatly....she pronounces the poor beaten country..."Eye...Rack!...or EYE RAN.. which ever she is blasting at the time.

She also pronounces Nuclear..not as a two syllable word...but, as a three syllable word, NU CU LER....just dandy, you betcha! I knew this was proof of a real Bush/Cheney republican!

Where does that kind of 'Down Home" come from?

Shirley............St. Louis

Subject: lisa for president

Hi, Buzz!!

Not only do I agree that Lisa should run for President, I'd like to offer myself as running mate. By Sarah Palin's standards, I know a lot about a lot of things.

I can see the stars from my back yard at night, so that makes me an expert on outer space. NASA, watch out!

I know people who live in Egypt and Australia, so I'm obviously a foreign-policy expert.

I raise tomatoes in the back yard, so agriculture is a piece of cake for me.

I know how to send email, so I could be very helpful with anything high-tech.

Oklahoma is bloody hot in the summer, so climate change is a natural for me.

I also have a doctorate and a Phi Beta Kappa key, but those are elitist credentials, so we don't have to talk about them.

Let me know what you think, Lisa. I'm sure I am READY for GREATNESS.

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

Subject: Biden/Palin Debate

Once again, it's NUCLEAR not NUCULAR. Doesn't anybody notice? Doesn't anybody care? As for her performance, the great Jeff Dunham's puppets speak with more credibility because they create the illusion they have independence from Dunham--something Palin is too dull to master.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: One last grand theft

Dear BuzzFlash:

So the pigs at the golden trough got what they want - $700 Billion in bailout funds. What, pray tell, assurances do we have they won't squander this away too? None. Zero. I feel I haven't been told the whole story, no will I ever know the whole truth about this scam, but I probably don't want to - it'll make me even angrier. Put simply: Wall Street blows hundreds of billions, banks loan out hundreds of billions in idiotic high risk loans, and millions of stupid Americans live off credit cards and rack up massive personal debt because they think the card is free money or just have to have whatever the latest electronic gadget is, or a new vehicle, or whatever, damn the costs.

Here's a sobering reality for the consumer who has so blindly put him or herself and their families in such debt: just because you die doesn't mean that debt will disappear. Your kids, grandkids and maybe even great grandchildren will assume the debts you rack up, and will basically be broke before they ever get a chance to earn a living. Do you think for a minute the big lenders and credit card outfits will cut your kids slack? Bankruptcy may be their only option, and thanks to the lunkhead in office, that's harder than ever to declare.

Meanwhile, I pay my bills, live within my means, don't make stupid investments and impetuous spending decisions, and I get to bail Wall Street's sorry asses out!! George just couldn't resist one more screwing of the middle class before he got out. Thanks a lot.

Scott
Fayetteville, Ar.

Subject: Help us in OKC on poll

It is down and to the left. Right now Palin is winning 60%

http://www.koco.com/index.html

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok

Subject: Biden/Palin Debate

Did anyone count how many times Palin did her sneer and wink routine?

Lucas Noll
Honolulu, Hawaii

Subject: McCain/Palin

We need to see the medical reports of John McCain. Mental reports also. This is so serious that we know what his health is and it has to be done now. A suggestion: Google, The Rolling Stone 10-18 page article on John McCain. This shows us the real McCain.

Sarah Palin is a disgrace to every woman. If she proved that she has a brain in that debate with someone as knowledgeable as Biden, please enlighten me!

She winked??? What's that all about? A new wrinkle in debating?? This alone is a joke that is right up there with the Bush shrug.

Vote Obama/Biden and bring sanity to America.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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