Subject: Bush Pronounced "Fit" for Duty

Dear Buzz,

The news that Bush's physicians have asserted that he is physically fit to be president just shows that they're still examining the wrong end of his tailpipe. The real question has always been: is he mentally fit to be president? Bush coyly admits that he may have had a few too many donuts while on the campaign trail. So that makes him a slightly overweight turkey, basted in coke syrup and stuffed with Krispy Kremes. Perhaps that explains some of the symbolism behind his coronation menu. Some kind of sick sacrament (at $250 thousand dollars a tongue). I won't even ask about the "sockeye salmon" -- as it's obviously just another contemptuous middle finger towards those who would protect endangered species.

Whether his doctors choose to acknowledge it or not, this is one sick puppy. It's not hard to imagine this brainless bozo challenging an armless veteran at Walter Reed to an arm wrestling contest. He could get away with it -- make no mistake about it. It strikes me as in the poorest of taste to exclaim after his excellent health when so many real veterans are suffering from grievous physical and psychological injuries directly resulting from his 'first this, then that' justifications for a war that has killed and maimed thousands of innocent people, military and civilian.

I wonder if his handlers aren't having some misgivings about further appearances by the "Cheerleader-in-Chief" in front of troops bound for Iraq? He may look trim and fit in a Qaddafi jacket, but is that enough to preclude an awkward "Rummy" moment? An unsolicited question from a soldier with regard to his/her own physical well-being? Should that happen, what does he say? After all, the pathetic lament, "I'm just an old man," has already been spoken for. Maybe he could try "I'm just a retarded monkey," or "I'm just a turkey basted in coke syrup and stuffed with Krispy Kreme donuts." (Anyway, that was all Saddam's fault, or was it Bill Clinton's? Certainly no blame attaches to the spiffily lapeled CIC/presidential seal, George Bush). The body of bush, the blood of bush. The donut hole of bush.

Tim Mooring

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Subject: Re Tom Wieliczka's 12/16 mailbag suggestion for "Person of the Week"

Dear Buzz-

Thought Mr. Wieliczka's suggestion was excellent. Maybe you should have a new feature "Political Hero and Zero of the Week."

Suzanne
San Francisco

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The way it stands now the Republicans will be in charge for a very long time, because they control everything. For the Dems. to say that we have to make our message clearer is dreaming. The Dems' message is clear. In 2006 if the Dems don't learn some of these dirty tricks that the Republicans are pulling they will not get back in power.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: CITIZEN ASSESSMENT: bin Laden winning "War on Terra"

Fellow Buzzers:

I read yesterday that the Iraq War is going to cost another 100 billion bucks and it got me to thinking; You know, Osama is kicking George Bush's ass all over this planet. Hell, he is even winning the PR war. I would be willing to bet that if Zogby or Pew did an International poll in which the question was, "Who is the most despised man on the planet?" the Preznit would win by a landslide.

Didn't I read somewhere that it cost bin Laden about a million to hit the U.S.? How much has (and will) this ill-conceived boondoggle called the "war on terra" cost us? over 200 Billion, and counting. Damn! Talk about kicking ass!

According to Bush, Osama and company hate us for our freedoms. Of course we know that that is pretty much hogwash, but that is his story and he's sticking to it. By that measure, Osama has the winning ticket again. We are now much less free than we were before 9/11, and that has not cost Osama anything. He did not even have to invade and codify the Sharia (or whatever). Bushco has been more than happy to aid him in this cause and a right wing and/or "terrified- by-Anthrax" Congress has allowed them to.

Old "Wanted-Dead or Alive" is still making appearances on TV and sending audio tapes for broadcast. The war in Iraq has made him an Arab hero of mythical proportions. Georgie remains the most universally despised man since Adolph Hitler.

How could anyone vote for this fool based on his performance as a War Preznit? By every conceivable measure, He is losing one battle after another. Just like every other thing he has touched in his life, our country is a train wreck.

(All of the above is true as long as we suspend all suspicions...not to mention common sense...and say that Osama did manage to hit America without inside help, and that he is alive and broadcasting)

I guess that is another thing Bush has managed to lose for many Americans; any willingness they ever had to trust government.

Keep up the good work,

Dot

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Subject: expenditure accountability

how about creating a site that shows how taxpayers' money is being spent every week in layman's' terms? i would like to know the expenditures on a weekly basis. thanks. hope you can.

karin dicker

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Subject: kerik

I think that this whole Kerik debacle is a setup to destroy Giuliani. I think that the Bushies have it in for Rudy, seeing as he's Catholic and moderate and openly had affairs AND he accepted the Newsweek Person of the Year award for 2001 (that SHOULD have gone to the Lord, I mean W). I think it was all a setup to make it look like Rudy is corrupt and has mob associations, and to ruin any chance of him running for prez in '08. That's reserved for Jeb. I think it was all just another Rove Orchestration from the beginning.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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After watching "Fahrenheit 9/11" again, I was struck by the effort of the Congressional Black caucus to contest the Florida electoral vote. They were unsuccessful because they needed at least one Senator to sign on with them, and no senator would step forward. This time around, it's looking like Congressman Conyers is going forward to contest at least the Ohio vote. Can BuzzFlash readers contact their senators and urge them to join with Mr. Conyers? Just getting one senator would get this baby in motion, but what about getting several? I've seen Barbara Boxer's name mentioned, but what about Senator Robert Byrd? Barbara Mikulski? Tom Harkin? Fritz Hollings? John Edwards? John Kerry? (These last two especially! You would think they'd want to put up more of a fight. No Ukrainian blood in them!) Isn't the electoral college vote on January 6, BEFORE any new senators are sworn in? How about getting all those Democrats who got voted out of office, or are retiring to take a final stand, a last chance to redeem themselves and maybe salvage some of our right to vote and be counted? If enough pressure was put on ALL the Democratic senators, maybe some of them will remember what party they're in and do the right (and brave) thing.

Joan DeYoreo
Newmarket, NH

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Subject: Ethical Biscuits?

To be very blunt, I am proposing a letter writing campaign directed towards the major professions in America to take a very public stance against the Bush Administration in regard to its ongoing policy of torture, as well as, the participation of professionals themselves in this, whether actively or tacitly by their silence.

To date, the evidence is simply overwhelming that Abu Ghraib was not an "aberration," but a direct result of calculated and sanctioned torture instituted at Guantanamo Bay. Appalling is the fact that highly educated people from all professions and their subordinates have participated in and facilitated this in direct violation of each profession’s self-established ethical guidelines and principles.

I, myself, am a physician, a child psychiatrist specifically, and I find particularly offensive and unconscionable the participation of psychiatrists, psychologists, and physicians in the so-called "biscuit teams." It becomes the ultimate in hypocrisy when one examines the long honored and well established research ethics and practice guidelines of these professions which have been refined and established over time to protect individuals from the very abuses that the "biscuit teams" facilitate.

Also, to have a lawyer, in the person of Mr. Gonzales, seemingly create new law, which flies in the face of thousands of years of the evolution of civilization and our legal system, at the beck and call of Mr. Bush, is downright frightening. While doctors and lawyers notoriously do not get along very well, I must compliment the ABA for at least trying to speak out in the media about this. The response from the AMA as well as both APA's leaves much to be desired.

In these Orwellian times that we live in, it becomes very easy to forgive individuals, including highly educated people who should know better, for their rigidity, fear, and denial in trying to maintain the status quo, and succumbing to various forms of intimidation. Doctors and lawyers and psychologists are ultimately only human, and to some extent should be forgiven this as well. However, the time when professionals could legitimately claim ignorance, and maintain an active strategy to remain ignorant, has long passed.

As physicians, we have all been trained and apprised as to the importance of what we refer to as "the doorknob comment." Put simply, this is generally the last little remark that a patient might offer to their doctor on the way out the door after a visit. It is well-established that this is often the time that a patient will very honestly disclose the pressing complaint or symptom of which they are the most concerned or fearful and avoidant, and most physicians have been trained to listen very closely. If you truly feel that you have received good care, and have no other pressing concerns at your next doctor or psychologist visit, why not utilize "the doorknob comment" to express your concerns in regards to this issue and awaken whatever professional you are dealing with. Be prepared, for there will likely be a gamut of responses from them, from sympathy to disbelief to outright ire.

I have to believe that the majority of physicians, no matter their party politics, should honestly listen to and discuss this with you. Unfortunately, I tend to believe that the closing comment from many professionals would be something along the lines of a condescending, "It’s just not that simple." I would submit to you that the converse is actually true, and it is "just that simple." Torture is inexcusable, and passive or active participation is unconscionable. This is not a "moral value," but a "moral and developmental tenet" easily recognizable by a child at age 5 and ever afterward, but unfortunately, subject to political or philosophical hijacking. As well, it should not be subject to medical, psychological, or legal interpretation, qualification, or quantification. It is that simple.

Physicians and other professionals are dependent upon their patients and clients as much, or more so than their patients or clients depend upon them. Therefore, I feel that your complaints to these professions through their organizations will carry more weight than complaints from their own members.

I have pulled together below the electronic contacts for the ethics committees of the AMA, both APA’s, and the ABA. Please take the time to click upon each and send them an email expressing your opinion about torture being done in the name of America. Feel free to forward this piece as an Email to friends and family and encourage them to do the same.

No matter your political party, Republican, Democrat, or other, torture has been and continues to be committed and sanctioned in your name. No matter the behavior of "the enemy," no one deserves to be tortured.

While I strongly advocate sending your own thoughts and feelings in your Email, I realize for convenience sake that many might want an outline, or general idea of what to write, or indeed have something prewritten and ready to send. If this is the case with you, might I suggest something simple and brief? Feel free to copy and paste the following if you like:

This is the Email access page for the AMA’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs:

http://www.ama-assn.org/cgi-bin/x-check/fee...

This is the Email address for the Ethics office of the APA or "American Psychological Association":

ethics@apa.org

This is the Email address for the APA or the “American Psychiatric Association”. While they do have an Ethics board, it does not appear that they have a specific Email address.

apa@psych.org

Very hard one to find without a lot of digging, but this is the closest equivalent to an Ethics general contact Email at the ABA, or “American Bar Association”. CPR stands for the “Center for Public Responsibility”.

cpr@abanet.org

My preferred outcome for this would be a joint press conference with representatives of all four associations present, in which they openly condemn the Bush Administration for this behavior, restate their ethical principles, condemn as well those of their respective professions who have participated, and demand an immediate and honest response as well as an open dialog from the Bush Administration.

Thank you in anticipation of your support,

A Concerned Child Psychiatrist

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Subject: Mr. Falwell; Have you no shame lying about the Founding Fathers?

Note the Date: 1791.

In this article here:

The impending death of Christmas? -- Part 2 (World Net Daily)

you try to claim that the Founding Fathers supported Christianity. Your prime example is:

You then go on to make this claim:

I would suggest that YOU read the Constitution and check the dates. It would appear that in 1791, the Founding Fathers had a change of heart regarding their support for Religion. It is you and your followers who are spitting in the faces of the Founding Fathers, and you are spiting in the face of God by cloaking your lies under the guise of Religion.

And your other example from 1803 falls apart under scrutiny.

http://www.alleducationtalk.com/...

...most of the Catholic Priests who received money during that time period for the purpose of converting Indians, were in fact, employed by the government as Indian Agents.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Evil (or ignorance)

Evil (or ignorance) is like a shadow -- it has no real substance of its own, it is simply a lack of light. You cannot cause a shadow to disappear by trying to fight it, stomp on it, by railing against it, or any other form of emotional or physical resistance. In order to cause a shadow to disappear, you must shine light on it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: religious right: christmas

Hi, Buzz!!

Once again, the religious right wing is shocked, I say - SHOCKED - to discover that there are people in the United States of America who are not Christians and think they have as much right to exercise their religions as Christians do. HORRORS!!!! What is this country coming to?

So now they're boycotting stores for recognizing that not everybody celebrates Christmas. This is in addition to their attempts to drag organized prayer (Christian, of course) back into public schools, and remove the teaching of evolution. Their kids might learn to THINK. What next?

I begin to suspect something: Do the self-professed "born-again" types want the schools teaching religion because they can't be bothered to get out of bed on Sunday and take the kids to church? After all, George Bush is born again, and he doesn't go to church (thank you, BuzzFlash, for letting me in on that little bit of information). I am a product of the public school system. We did not pray in school. We were taught about evolution in science class. We were taught that the universe is several billion -- not 6,000 -- years old. And yet I am a Christian believer. My parents took us to church on Sunday, where we learned to read the Bible, pray, and believe in Jesus as our Savior. I have no children, but if I did, I wouldn't want the schools teaching them religion (except for information, such as in comparative-religion classes). That's the church's job, and it is much better equipped to do it than the public schools.

The schools' job is to make informed citizens, and that means kids have to learn that there are more religions than one in the world, and that science is about observing how the universe runs, and that they are capable of reading and writing and thinking and being creative. But maybe that's what the religious right is afraid of -- people thinking.

Jane Emporia
KS

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Subject: review voting machine software

There has been much talk about the unreliability in the electronic voting machines. Why is it that no one mentions the fact that computer programs can be decompiled and reviewed in the form of its original pseudo-code? This of course assumes that the machine has not been violated since the election results have been tallied. It also assumes that the courts would allow someone to extract the eprom from the machine and upload the machine code so that it may be reviewed.

David L.

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Subject: Is this true?!

Has this really happened?

With an obscure provision smuggled without any hearings or public notice into the gargantuan budget bill -- 3,000 pages of pork and chicanery approved, unread, by Bush's rubber-stamp Republicans and that wiggly bit of protoplasm known laughingly as the "Democratic opposition" -- Bush stripped the nation's wild horses of long-standing legal protections against being sold off, slaughtered and shipped overseas for meat. The Bush plan, spearheaded by Montana Senator Conrad Burns -- longtime bagman for Big Cattle interests -- sets a production goal of up to 20,000 wild horse corpses in the coming year, The Associated Press reports.

America is truly, certifiably insane. Its government is engaged in self-cannibalism.

Doug J.

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Subject: Real Men Don't Dye Their Hair

With all the trivial matters surrounding the war and who’s going to be the next Color-Coded Warrior in charge of Homeland Security, I think it’s important to note that gwb’s hair color seems to change a lot. Today, when he was poorly rendering his cliché filled speech, written by others, I could not help but notice that his hair seemed to have a lot less gray than other recent pictures. Tell me that my Commander-in-Chief isn’t some sort of girlie-man who dyes his hair. He’s supposed to be a macho, brush-clearing, horse avoiding cowboy, not some pansy who goes to the beauty parlor. I want my CIC to be bold, steadfast, decisive and deceptive, not some light-in-the-loafers caricature. I’ll bet the liberal media can’t wait to trash him for re-inventing himself.

Turk Meister

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Subject: How much our prez. honors duty

I am a regular reader, but this is the first time I have written. I spoke to my daughter this morning and she was very upset. Her husband is an agent for the federal government [I don't want to say what dept., I am somewhat paranoid] that has been to Iraq twice this past year for 4 months each time. As part of his assignment, he was due to receive hazardous duty pay to amount to $30,000 above and beyond his normal pay. This was stated prior to his accepting the assignment. They were told yesterday that his dept. had over spent its budget and his HDP would be reduced to $9,000. They had planned to pay off student loans with this pay. It was a reason that he took the assignment. Thank you George, you and your tax cut friends have screwed another good American that risked his life for country. Why don't you give out a couple of more medals?

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: A Full House of Jokers

It's unfortunate that Dubya didn't go ahead and add both Condi and Rummy to the list and present them with the Medal of Freedom along with Tenet, Bremer and Franks. He would then be holding a hand which would be unbeatable for laughs -- a full house of Jokers.

Bill Sybert
Dallas, Texas

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Subject: Progressive News

With the "retirement" of Bill Moyers, Dan Rather and Tom Brokow, and the window to any kind of balanced coverage on the television networks quickly closing, maybe we have an opportunity for something new.

Wouldn't it be great if George Soros and other people of means, along with broad-based popular networks, could organize the launch of a new network news channel that would be a bit more open-minded about reporting? Maybe Moyers, Rather and Brokow would join a team that doesn't have to tow the company line, a team that could really investigate and report the news from a more progressive perspective. Air America and Democracy Now! are trying to offer a breath of fresh air on the radio and internet. Why not try to do something similar for the television airwaves?

The fourth leg of the balance of power in this country needs revival. Maybe an opportunity has presented itself. Is there any way we can help get the ball rolling?

Gregg Attleson

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Subject: High Pensions:

Bush has suggested cutting Social Security benefits by a third. Boy money's tight and times are tough. Maybe in the spirit of solidarity Bush will cut his and Congress' pensions in half.

Let's start asking them right now!

R. David Goldberg
Vancouver WA

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Subject: Black and White, or shades of gray?

Exposing mythology as a lie is sort of like playing chess --it is a black and white issue and the white has to win to get at the truth.

I remember a time when the truth versus a lie was a very simple process of "black versus white," and not what it has become as the media and our politicians strive to see who can present the "most convincing shade of gray."

The following link is just a reminder that even after "they" say it, always check later to see if the truth finally showed up. Much of what Bush, and even the Dems in Congress, have said has been shown later to be a lie and it is those lies that are killing this nation and our liberties.

http://www.markfiore.com/animation/corrections.html

Our government has no institutional memory and over time it is as if their myopia has affected the rest of this nation.

They lie all the time, the trick in getting "checkmate" is in making sure they get nailed in their moves and eventually the truth is known for anyone that will take the time to see.

Merry Christmas

Karl W. B. Schwarz

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Subject: CBS coverage of the "social security news"...

Gentlemen:

There should be no need for an old Idaho hillbilly to have to remind you of the commonly accepted meaning of "fair and balanced" reporting of issues of national importance. Neither is there any doubt that an organization as powerful as CBS does indeed have access to most if not all the facts pertinent to the true state of affairs concerning this subject.

It is most appropriate for CBS to take the lead in telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth concerning this issue.....REMEMBER E.R.M!

Sincerely,

Sidney K.

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Subject: Veto Gonzales

Please, please do whatever you can to forestall, impede, or overturn the nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales as Attorney General. This guy is dangerous and could be a disaster for civil liberties in America.

He's even more lethal than Clarence Thomas, because he's probably more intelligent (although that's not saying much). Remember, he's the guy who was feeding George W. Bush all of the legal opinions that allowed Bush to kill more prisoners than any other governor in modern American history (and all of that, with an average of 15 minutes to read the briefs of each condemned person). You don't have to be an opponent of the death penalty to know that that is seriously screwed-up.

Then, Gonzales becomes counsel to the President and tells him that the Geneva Convention is "quaint" and that he should have the power as commander-in-chief to torture (according to his own, very strained interpretations of what "torture" actually is) anybody who is deemed an "enemy" (and, of course, anybody who opposes George W. Bush's war policies is, ipso facto, an enemy). Quite tautological. And also quite un-American (in my opinion). See Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib for examples of their policies.

George Orwell probably couldn't have imagined a Donald Rumsfeld (too unique and bizarrely American), but he definitely pictured the Alberto Gonzaleses of the future -- the factotums of totalitarianism. The servants of power, only too glad to oblige their masters with reasons for their actions. Please help put an end to at least one threat to American democracy. Please work to veto Alberto Gonzales. Thank you.

Best Wishes.

David

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Subject: AARP vs. Big Drugs: Too Little and Too Late

dear buzzflash,

here's a piece i wrote this week after receiving a letter from AARP requesting that i sign petitions and make a donation for their "grassroots" campaign to lower drug prices. you're welcome to post it if you want to...

samuel goodman
rockville md

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Subject: There needs to be a Liberal Flag

Something we can identify with. Do you have any ideas??

Thanks.

Bob Spencer

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Subject: The Politics of Victimization (Response to article that follows.)

It has been my contention for years that people who oppose reproductive rights are abusers, regardless of whether they are male or female. If you follow the list of escalation that domestic abusers follow in order to control their partners, it is the same -- isolation, intimidation and misinformation, making the victim feel guilt and fear, physical restraint (blocking clinic doors), and finally, when those tactics don’t succeed, violence -- only the violence is generally aimed at the "other man" (the doctor) who is attacked and often killed. Killing the pregnant woman would go against their "pro-life" position because she’s carrying a fetus, but killing a physician doesn’t seem to betray their philosophy.

There are two major models of governing. The "feminist" model places power in the governed, which calls for con census of the group with the power flowing up to the top. This is the ideal our democracy is based on. On the other hand, the "macho" model gives power to the person at the top of the pyramid and power trickles down (the military, corporations, public education). Whenever the "macho" model of governing is used (i.e. Bush and Company), the only possible way it can end is in violence because the leaders never admit to being wrong. In order to prove their "manhood" (that they are right at all costs), these people keep escalating their methods of control until ultimately they paint themselves into a corner. They are left with no alternative but the use of violence. In microcosm, you can see it when a macho male is trying to repair something. He doesn’t take the time to reason it out. He thinks that if he hits an inanimate object long enough and hard enough, it will eventually bend to his will! Unfortunately, he applies this philosophy to other human beings, too!

This is just off the top of my head and not fully processed at this point. If you have comments, send them to me at sanitee@cox.net. No curse words, please! Thanks.

Barbara Santee
Moderator
The Politics of Victimization (matthewgross.com/blog)

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Subject: Man of the Year

When I saw Bush as Time magazine's Man of the Year Award Sunday morning, I felt I needed to get an email off to the publication. Even though Editor, Mr. Kelly, described the criteria for their choice (see below) I wanted to add more to his definition of Bush...but guess what... at 10:30 a.m. eastern standard time, Times email contact was unavailable. Imagine that! Do you suppose that editors knew in advance that there would be emails of outrage, thus shutting down their email site? Or do you think that their email box became overwhelmed? Do you think the Pope is Catholic?

My email correspondence to "Time Letters to the Editor:"

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Wow, it has gotten this bad

The Bush criminal gang continues to insist that there is no such thing as global warming, just like Tony Soprano would insist that the gentleman lying in his trunk is merely sleeping. Both have equal credibility but at least Tony keeps his criminality in the family. The Bush mob's actions affect every family. The evidence continues to mount that corporations are doing perhaps irreversible damage to our planet, by pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere unabatedly and paying their shills in the Republican Party good money to continue to be able to legally do this. The article linked below provides yet another bit of proof that the climate is changing before our very eyes as a result.

Once upon a time, for oh all of recorded history, it was dark in the Arctic during the winter. Now, because of global warming, there is a strange light enveloping the landscape in the dead of winter. The Arctic, folks, is the bellwether area of the planet. Global warming effects will be seen there first and radical changes like these have shown up there with a vengeance in the last few years. It is evident that process of global warming is picking up speed.

The question has become therefore whether we are willing to demand right now that action be taken to radically reduce carbon dioxide production before the process is completely out of control. Forget Bush and his band of corporate thugs and christofascists who run the federal government. They could care less if the world is ending because they believe that is what Jesus wants, never mind that I think He may have a contrarian viewpoint on the subject of the deliberate despoilment and ruination of His father's planet. It is high time to push other government entities to act and reduce emissions on a state by state basis and mount a sustained boycott of the corporations who are poisoning this planet and endangering our lives.

Arctic lights blamed on climate change (The Independent)

Dan D.

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Subject: My Comments regarding Bush and his War

Your article on the soldier who has condemned the war in iraq and is hoping to stop this war by means of demonstrations, is worth the battle. We need to stop this greedy war for oil. We are not going to train our future generation to think like the barbarians. Bush has a sure agenda. By creating 9/11, he could change the constitution (excuse, terrorism), play with the tax system or social security, create a police state (maybe Kerik refused his post, probably he knows the danger and doesn't approve of Bush's dangerous policies), restrict freedom of speech, etc. I hate when I hear the words "war on terrorism" from the white house speaker. I wish he could say, who are the real terrorists?

My gut feeling is that this country will face lawlessness and we see that clearly in stolen elections, the lies regarding WMD, and invading countries and killing their people in the name of democracy. I think that Kuwait and S. Arabia were targeted in the 90's by Saddam and for sure U.S. was behind it. I hope Saddam and his cronies will confess everything so we know the real truth about U.S. involvement in the Iran/Iraq war and other weapons programs established in Iraq. I do think Kuwait and S. Arabia could be supporting and financing the expenses on the ground where soldiers are concerned. They were paranoid because of the past war with Saddam. What if Bush is eating our millions of tax dollars in the name of the present war? Where is the accountability? How do we know where the funds are actually spent? Why is he cutting the taxes from the rich one percent of the Americans when there is a war going on? Is it that he would like to protect his own finances while he is in the white house? "Don't give a dime. Let the middle class pay the expenses."

Only God protect each one of us.

Elizabeth

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Subject: Frist's MD and Senate Qualifications?

To Former and/or current patients of Bill Frist:

After having watched your "doctor" stammer around on George Stephanopoulos' ABC program last Sunday, I've got to ask a question.

If he (Frist), as an M.D., doesn't know how AIDS or HIV can be transmitted, how in the hell did he ever "treat" patients safely? I mean if he doesn't know the basics that even my 10 year old granddaughter does about AIDS, where does the AMA get off licensing this quack?

Further: if he is so ignorant about medicine (his chosen field; that he presumably spent at least one year in basic biology) how can he justify representing the people of Tennessee let alone the U.S. in the Senate?

Although there's probably no data, I wonder how many "patients" of his were misdiagnosed, mal-treated and possibly died because he "can't say for certain" something that elementary school children already know?

One thing's for certain, though. He has no compunction about sending someone else's relatives to their deaths in Iraq even when he didn't have all the facts; or rather, all the facts available at the time! I thought doctors did exhaustive testing before they euthanised patients. Makes you wonder if he has the wherewithal or just plain intelligence to handle a job in the Senate.

I feel bad for the people he "misdiagnosed" by sending them to Iraq. I guess it's like the FDA programs run by the Republican majority the last 8 years. They want the drug companies (and military) to get the big bucks from the sheep in America without safe testing (just like the equipment for the Troops in Iraq).

I wonder how he can live with both positions of incompetence? But I guess it's ok, if his wealthy friends get wealthier and he has his own personal feeling of power.

Too bad Senators can't be sued for malpractice in government! Maybe he mistook his Hypocratic oath for a "hypocritic" one. And he's concerned about people! Yeah! Right!

Bruce F.

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Subject: My note to Nancy Pelosi re: Cynthia McKinney

Dear Congresswoman Pelosi,

What better antidote to the ongoing diet of Rice lies, sure to escalate when she assumes Colin Powell's irreparably torn cape, than to restore Cynthia McKinney's seniority? She asked the questions about 9/11 all of us out here in the huskings, and many of you in Congress were reluctant to ask. Watching McKinney grill Ms. Rice about "nobody ever imagined they would use airplanes as missiles," amongst other jaw-dropping obfuscations, is a pleasure I'm looking forward to with the enthusiasm I recently had for getting John Kerry elected. Please, don't deprive me of this small consolation. Do the right thing by the courageous lady from Georgia. Restore her seniority.

Respectfully,

C. Robert Holloway, Senior, Veteran
West Hollywood, CA

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Subject: To the Christian Right

To Christians out there who have accepted Bush as their savior and put their faith in him, I tell you that God tells us not to put other Gods before him. Also, I tell you that there are more moral values out there than you are paying attention to. If you want to follow Christ, then bring us national health care. Jesus practiced socialized medicine regularly when he healed the sick.

mev

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Subject: christmas morning tip:

If your kids appear disappointed as they open their gifts you can curtly tell them, "we go into christmas morning with the gifts we have, not the gifts we wish we had!!!" that will make things OK.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Republiscum not only steal elections. . .

they steal lives and futures and sanity. But at least Halliburton is getting its billions, billions more are being wasted on "Star Wars" for the benefit of defense contractors owned by Carlyle Group and others, the treasury is all but depleted, and the Bushies couldn't be happier. Scumbag of the year.

War on the Cheap (Bob Herbert/NY Times)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Pounding Some Ailes

After watching Roger Ailes on C-Span's new show "Q & A" last night, it leaves little wonder why FOX is a right wing propaganda machine. Ailes...has a long history of close ties with many political administrations starting with Richard Nixon, the king of covert control freaks.

When asked about the difference between a Brit Hume and Bill O'Reilly in the "news" that they report, Ailes' weird response commented about how Crossfire interviews folks about aliens? He also took a swipe at Lou Dobbs, a true conservative, saying that he "was running for something" because of what he reports? The remark further shows that Ailes is a Republican hack willing to denigrate anyone who reports bad news about the current administration.

Another outrageous statement by Ailes made the claim that some people hate FOX because the station loves America. When asked why FOX has such a following his response said it all -- FOX viewers believe that they are getting a balanced reporting of the news. Apparently perception is becoming reality.

YT Cai

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