Florida never had voting problems until Jeb Bush became governor.  And now we have had them for four years. Is anyone connecting the dots?

"A quick reminder to people in Ohio: The crooked voting machines are due back to Florida by Friday." -- David Letterman

"They always throw around this term 'the liberal elite.' And I kept thinking to myself about the Christian right. What's more elite than believing that only you will go to heaven?" -- "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart

So much for the honeymoon.

 
Many Americans and some political analysts expected President Bush to extend a conciliatory hand to Democratic and Independent voters following Tuesday’s election. After all, Dubya himself declared he was a “uniter, not a divider” when he seized office four years ago.

And indeed, this time around Dubya put on his most civil, statesmanlike face for as long as he could maintain it publicly –- about 24 hours.

But by Thursday, he was coming out of his euphoria and returning to true form: “I’ll reach out to everyone who shares our goals.”

In other words, you’re either with us or against us. The same theory of political relations espoused so eloquently by Vice President Dick Cheney on the floor of the U.S. Senate a few months ago.

But some of us never felt such rosy optimism for a second-term Bush willing to seek compromise on at least some issues. Some of us believed long before Nov. 2 that the far right had no intention of giving up power. They controlled the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, and with the help of electronic voting without a paper trail, they planned to stay in power.

Some of us also received indications from extreme conservatives immediately after the election that provided a pretty clear picture of what the next four years holds in store. This e-mail typifies the feeling of many who support the Bush Agenda, and it is reprinted here verbatim as proof that the president’s “No child left behind” educational initiative is working magnificently:

Hey 'DAVE'........BUSH kicked the Electoral SH*T out of Kerry....YeeeeHawwww!
That freakin' traitor Kerry is history now....the Senate??
ohhhh-ohhhh....it's mostly Republican! The House? Oh NO! It's also mostly 'Right-Wing Nut Jobs', too! Ain't it SWEET??
oh yeah...Your 'Left-Swill' Web Page is really sucks....I just 'happened' upon it...Country Hick Leftist BS drool...ha!
'Chewy Baca'
("Rich Bowman Jr." djrich@pe.net)

In light of that expression of compassionate conservatism, let’s look at what the next four years are likely to bring:
At least 1,000 more U.S. troops killed in Iraq.
Further reductions in taxes for the wealthy and for corporations, leading to continued growth of the federal deficit.
Illegalization of abortion.
Prayer in public schools and other dismantling of the barrier between church and state -– at least for Christian conservatives.
Continued roll-back of gun control legislation.
Loss of jobs, health insurance coverage and hope for millions more Americans.

It’s also interesting to examine potential Cabinet changes in the second term of a president. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge all are rumored to be on the way out. And Attorney General John Ashcroft has made it clear that he would like to move on, but the Bush Administration will be hard-pressed to find a replacement for the hymn-singing, talker-in-tongues.

Replacing a towering figure of legal integrity like Ashcroft will perhaps be the toughest Cabinet choice for a president who is so opposed to expansion of stem-cell research. Just think what the administration could have done with a little genetic material from descendents of Torquemada or Judge Roy Bean.
 

The-World-Is-A-Safer-Place-Without-Saddam News

• Bush Vows No Letup in Iraq, War on Terror  AP

• Two U.S. Marines Killed in Volatile Western Iraq Reuters 

• Suicide Attack Kills Three British Soldiers  AP

• Blair faces fallout from Iraq soldier deaths Reuters 

• Tributes Pour into Black Watch Website The Scotsman 

• U.S. Troops Urge Civilians to Leave Iraqi Rebel City  Reuters

• U.S. Marines Set for Assault on Iraq's Falluja  Reuters

• Allawi Meets E.U. After Anger at 'Spectator' Jibe Reuters

• Abu Hafs Group Says Bush Leads U.S. to 'Hell'  Reuters

• Afghan Kidnappers Meet on Fate of U.N. Hostages ABC News

A NEW PLEDGE

I pledge allegiance to the Bush

Of the Fractured State of America

And to the theocracy on which it stands,

One nation, under George

With tax breaks and justice for the rich.

Every one else can wither away and die.

Sent In By Oracle Jones

  "Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen."  -- Mort Sahl

http://www.marryanamerican.ca/

Disturbing News

• Bush in position to reshape entire federal judiciary  Chicago Tribune

• Bush Win Showed U.S. Conservative Values -Overseas Papers  Reuters

• Elizabeth Edwards Diagnosed with Breast Cancer  Reuters

• Jet Fires at N.J. School During Training  AP

• Threat Letter Found Pinned to Murdered Filmmaker Van Gogh Zaman Online 

 E-Mail

Subject: Dubya Wired

Hi Lisa,
Long time - no speak. I've thought that Bush nightmare would be over,
but it looks like another four years with this dumb animal. Also I
wanted to do something else on the net, but so it's picking on Bush, second
term, again.

After recovering from the shock of the Black Wednesday, here is my
first contribution - exclusively for you.

Attached please find a "Bush wired" image.

See u and greetings from this side of the ocean.

Thomas
Frankfurt
Germany
 

Thanks for solving the mystery, Thomas!

Republican Shenanigans

• Bush vows to use 'political capital' Seattle Post Intelligencer 

• Bush Second-Term Agenda Would Add Big Costs  AP

• Bush Wants to Heal Rift with E.U. - Britain's Blair  Reuters

• Privatized Accounts Moved to 'Fast Track'  Los Angeles Times

• Key Senator Denies Warning Bush on Abortion Issue  Reuters

• Election Reinforces U.S. Religious Divide  AP

http://ustogether.org/Florida_Election.htm

E-Mail

Thanks to the election, I finally figured out who attacked us on Sept. 11.

It was homosexual Iraqis. 

 Keep up the good work.

Damn those gay Iraqis!

"When people say flush the Johns, they don't mean these two... I'm sorry, it's the

last day of the campaign, what do you expect?" -- Vice President Dick Cheney,

introducing Senators John McCain and John Ensign to a crowd in Las Vegas

E-Mail

G'day from OZ ...I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your site and other related links and to extend my sympathies to all intelligent Americans who worked so hard to elect John Kerry last Tuesday only to have their hopes dashed by a bunch of lying, cheating, hypocritical Fundamentalist Christian Terrorists otherwise known as the Bush Administration. Keep up the good work and may GOD ( Galactic Organisations and Dominions) help us all.

Regards from Mal Herring in Newcastle, Australia

Thanks for writing, Mal.

Good News

• Council of Churches: God Has No Place in U.S. Politics  Reuters

• Putin Signs Bill to Ratify Kyoto Protocol  AP

• Tuskegee Airmen Celebrate 60th Anniversary  AP

• New Leader of Senate Democrats Is Steady  AP

www.buckfush.com

E-Mail

Hello Lisa,

Hope this is useful for you.

Top Ten Lessons Learned from the 2004 Presidential Campaign

10. War is Peace.
9. If gay marriage is allowed, only gays can be married.
8. Outlaw abortion! We're going to need more troops.
7. Ignorance is Strength.
6. If you talk Christian then you don't need to act Christian.
5. Shedding blood and serving honorably in a war that you don't
agree with is much worse than not serving in a war you greatly support. (A
very good lesson for our troops currently in Iraq.)
4. Disagreement is unpatriotic.
3. My minds made up, don't confuse me with the facts.
2. Facts are for "girlie men".
1. The ends justifies the means.

From Elmern

Today's Republicans love money, war, guns, and Jesus in that order.  They also love to legislate everyone's sex life.

How in the world did they get reelected? Oh, right -- Diebold.

"I'm worried about the state of education in America when 51%

of the country fails a 1-question multiple-choice test after having 4 years to study." -- Anonymous

Biz/Tech News

• Big bottoms crushing airlines' bottom lines Tucson Citizen 

• Vioxx heart risks apparent for years New Scientist

• 'The Late Late Show' Seeks New Host  AP

• Pentagon OKs Lockheed Warplane Move  Reuters

• IBM Supercomputer Sets New Speed Record Information Week

• Microsoft Investigates Reports of New Internet Explorer Hole PC World 

Bush-Prison-Torture News

• AP: U.S. Report Details Guantanamo Abuses  AP

• U.S. Soldiers Face Murder Charges for Iraq Killing  Reuters

 “We here in New York are too close to the terrorism and the homosexuals.  Only people from the red states have enough distance to see things in their perspective.  So on behalf of the blue states, we would like to thank the red states for saving us from ourselves." -- Steven Colbert 

E-Mail

Dear Lisa,

1.5 years working towards a change in Government and I get 

bitch-slapped by the Republicans.

Homophobes & Hanging Chads .... God have mercy on us in Ohio.

Thanks for keeping us from the side of insanity and despair.

One thing is for sure. BushCo. won't win next time. Just 4 more years.

Nick

 Go-F*** -Yourself News

• Keyes Blames Media, GOP for Loss in Ill.  AP

E-Mail

Subject: My donation

Hi Lisa,

I want to thank you for your site. I am an American living in Scotland, and I have watched the developments of the past four years with a sick heart. I hate what this administration is doing to my country and to the rest of the world. Not just chipping away at the Bill of Rights, but so many lives lost -- Iraqi citizens, our soldiers, UK soldiers. Today three from the Black Watch. I dread looking my co-workers in the eye tomorrow.

I spent two days crying over the election, but I figure crying won't save the country or change anything, and I won't give Rove the satisfaction. So I'm starting my rehabilitation by donating to your site and a couple of other progressive sites that have sustained me through the past several months.

Thanks again for your site. I'll donate again when I can.

Sincerely,
 Mary

Thank you for your donation and sharing your experience in 'Old Europe,' as our diplomatic administration refers to our friends across the pond.

“Political experts said that this year's Florida was Ohio. As a result, this year’s spring break is expected to suck.” 
-- Conan O’Brien

Odd News

• Author: Bush Would Be Perfect Kids' Villain Reuters

• Bush Makes Not-So-Good Headlines in Europe

• Rehnquist More Likely to Step Aside Now  AP

• U.S. Forms Prayer Room for Muslim Guests  AP

• Mars Rovers Get Mystery Power Boost ABC News

• Centuries-Old Makeup Reveals Roman Beauty Secrets TechNewsWorld

• Drought Uncovers Memories of Nebraska Village

• Cops: Teens Use Fake Bills for Fast Food

• Yoko Ono Has No. 1 Dance Song in U.S.  AP

The magnificent life size terracotta warriors of Xi'an, China.

Peace.