ZOT! Can there be a serious challenge to Bush in the GOP primaries?

John Buchanan is a journalist and magazine writer based in Miami Beach ^ | november 29, 2003 | john buchanan

[Republican Challenger]

Thank you for asking. As for ending the corporate advantage over the individual citizen, I would make it illegal for corporations to contribute to canidates, parties or causes. I would band Political Action Committees (PACs) and professional lobbying. Period.
As for war profiteering, I would make it illegal for any former government or elected official to work for a private defense or aerospace contractor and require financial transparency for all defense and aerospace contracts. Where legitimate classified information is involved, a Congressional subcommittee in each house would oversee all appropritations, in detail, and their reports would be independently audited by the GAO prior to public release. As for media reform, I would re-institute a Fairness Doctrine so that fair and balanced reporting is federally mandated. I would also convince the networks to institute more local and educational programming for the general good of the community. I woul;d also roll back the recdent FCC easing of conglomerate ownership, whcih narrows debate and betrays the very purpose of a free and vigorous press as envisioned by our founding fathers. Thanks. Please let me know your reaction.

[HardStarboard]

WYATT....uurp!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Is it really fair to sic Chad on him...?

Oh yes! And fun too!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

There's another option. He's stupid.

[Torie]

The last bit about making cutting edge medical care available to all is an impossibility (fiscally and otherwise, and always will be), but as to the other two, the devil is in the details. So far, the details are absent. Maybe on the latter two, education and the environment, the guy is a Torie/Carry_Okie (the latter being so far one of the few that makes me think hard about environmental issues) cross dresser. Anything is possible.

[Amelia]

You seem to have missed my post #172, since you have responded to posts before and after it already.

I'd really like an answer. For your convenience, here it is again:

To: Republican Challenger

My primary issues are: 1) ending the corporate stranglehold on government and politics, 2) an end to war profiteering by former government officials and Washington insiders, and 3) major media reform.

Just for kicks, how would you propose to do those things? Would you need cooperation from Congress, and if so, how would you go about getting it?

172 posted on 11/29/2003 10:47 PM EST by Amelia ("We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo)
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[Republican Challenger]

To my chagrin -- after making my living as a respected and accurate reporter for three decades -- I found from AP-hating colleagues that it stands for Associated Propaganda. They totally bungled the facts, and had the actual documents, which I gave them! To this day they will not acknwoledge their misreporting. It is truly scary. For the real story, fully supported by the documents, go to www.hnn.us and see the essay by Presidential historian and Bush biographer Herbert Parmet on my Bush-Nazi stories. I'll be curious to hear your reaction.

[Chad Fairbanks]

he has turned Republican against Democrat, rich against poor, Christian against Muslim

Yeah. Bush did all that. When he was born, centuries ago, he got the Muslims and Christians fighting. Then, a few centruries later, he started the whole class warfare thing... But, his turning the republicans against democrats plan in recent years was his true genius.

Tell me - why would I vote for someone who can't even get the basics straight?

[Dan from Michigan]

I will remove the corporate influence from American politics by making it illegal for corporate/business entities to contribute to candidates or political parties.

It's already illegal for corporations to donate to political committees.

I will outlaw political action committees (PACs).

I disagree 100%. PACS are issue orientated organizations. I use PAC endorsements and donations to influence who I vote and don't vote for.

I will make it illegal for any corporation or business entity to in any way influence the vote of any employee or induce involuntary involvement in any political or social cause.

I think that's already illegal.

I will end war profiteering by former government officials and Washington insiders.

How?

I will make the awarding of all U.S. defense and aerospace contracts a public process that includes full disclosure by all participants in a vigorous competitive process.

Good luck. I agree with you actually on this one after the Ed McNamara no bid contracts in Wayne County Michigan. It won't happen though. There's been a spoils system going back past Andrew Jackson.

I will require that all U.S. defense contractors adhere to a strict new policy of financial transparency, monitored on behalf of the American people by new Congressional subcommittees in both the House and Senate, which release public reports audited by the Government Accounting Office (GAO).

Specifics?

I will hold corporations accountable for their actions, including full prosecution of white-collar criminals.

Much of that has to do with plea bargains and judges.

I will introduce new measures to hold corporations accountable to their public charter. Corporations that violate the interests of the public will be either be sued, in the name of the American people, by the Department of Justice – or face revocation of their charter by voter referendum.

What's defined as the 'public interest?

I will strengthen existing regulatory agencies such as the Securities & Exchange Commission and Federal Communications Commission and create new government initiatives to protect consumer rights..

"Consumer rights" to me means big payoffs for the trial lawyers lobby.

I will reform the media by reinstating the FCC Fairness Doctrine, mandating that “fair and balanced reporting” be a daily reality on the public airwaves, not a trademarked slogan for an Australian-born media empire.

The Fairness Doctrince is fascist as are those who support it. It is anti-freedom and anti First Amendment. You lost any chance of my vote right there.

I will create a new “local hour” of required community broadcasting by all network affiliates and independent TV stations, to replace the present “strip” syndication hour of 7-8 p.m., Monday through Friday.

More free speech regulation by government thugs.

I will require the media to better serve its public responsibility by regularly airing first-rate programming analyzing and covering difficult social issues.

What the hell is 'first rate programming'? I personally think first rate programming is a shoot em up or a Sports game.

I will create a Citizens Media Oversight Board, nationally and locally, to represent the interests of the public in the making and management of all media policy. The board will consist of journalists, news and media executives, media historians, and an equal number of citizen representatives from the full spectrum of U.S. society.

A waste of tax money.

I will make the FCC charter renewal process for TV and radio stations more directly accountable to the communities they serve.

Riiiight.

I will create new voter registration drives designed to dramatically increase voter participation in all elections as a basic civic duty, and encourage more citizens to run for office.

People will vote if they have a reason to. If they don't have a reason to vote, they shouldn't be voting, and I do not want them to vote.

I will create a new program for the public financing of national elections so that campaigns can be conducted free of corporate or institutional influence or financing. I will encourage all states and localities to do the same.

Why the hell should taxpayers pay for all elections? They shouldn't. My money should not go to help John Kerry's campaign.

I will shift the financing of the U.S. government from the middle class to the corporations and wealthy individuals whose taxes have been cut too far.

Which will put the middle class out of work.

I will create a new “billionaire tax” so the very wealthiest Americans pay their fair share toward the general good of society.

Fairness...how communist. And supporting the general good of society can start by eliminated the PAYROLL tax completely.

I will ease and simplify the tax burden of the middle class and increase the “floor” for minimum taxation to bring more struggling families above the poverty line.

Again..eliminate the PAYROLL tax.

I will simplify and standardize the U.S. tax code for maximum ease of compliance and efficiency.

Specifics?

------------------------

Bottom line is this. You are against the first amendment, and you are a tax lover, so you are unworthy of my vote.

[dcwusmc]

I read some truths in his original statement, but if these nuggets of his platform are accurate, our Mr. Buchanan is SURELY on the wrong street. Maybe even the wrong country. But in the matter of Medicare, he and Dubya are singing out of the same hymn book....

[Revolting cat!]

Well, this explains it all, doesn't it. Come back when you grow up, kid!

[Wait4Truth]

This guy is clearly a RAT in Republican clothing. He's a joke. I am outta here.

[Ex-Dem]

how did this website come about?

Disgruntled ex-Freepers, people who have been repeated banned, etc.

[jwalsh07]

From your issues page:

Bush lied to the American people about Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction, and about Iraq's connection to Al Qaeda and to the September 11 attack.

You are the liar here Buchanan. A damned liar at that and probably one who hasn't a clue as to "Iraqs connection to Al Qaeda".

Care to debate the issue.

[Chad Fairbanks]

You are against the first amendment, and you are a tax lover, so you are unworthy of my vote.

Bingo. I bet when you get right down to it, he's probably pro-gun control too...

[Gumption]

I would make it illegal for corporations to contribute to canidates, parties or causes. I would band Political Action Committees (PACs) and professional lobbying. Period.

Where would your authority to do that come from? Not the Constitution that's for sure. Does it matter?

[Republican Challenger]

Thank you very much for your open-mindedness. I am, in fact, very much running against the Patriot Act and its even scarier frills, like TSA. As a reporter, it has been and is my job to be well-informed and in possession of the facts. To me, that is what will make my Presidential run very interesting. How can Bush and Karl Rove refute a respected journalist with a long track record of absolute accuracy and thorough integrity? Please let me know your thoughts, and keep the faith. Please go to my web site at www.johnbuchanan.org and make a contribution. I need money to fight. Please help me have a chance. My platform is also there.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thanks for the ping... ;0)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

As I said he ain't getting diddly-squat cause he really messed up this year.

Check out his post right below you. He wants to shred the first amendment along with everything else.

Have you seen an answer on the second yet?

[Kaslin]

Unfortunately your picture did not work, even when I pasted it in a new window