09/12/11

Mark Hatfield: Leftist Oregon Senator Was Targeted by Soviets

By: Trevor Loudon
New Zeal

Former Oregon Senator Mark O. Hatfield, died  in Portland last week, aged 89. He served in the US Senate from 1966, until his retirement in 1997.

Mark O. Hatfield

Though nominally a Republican, the Senator was so far left and so committed to non-confrontation  in the face of America’s enemies, the Soviet Embassy in Washington DC marked him out for special attention.

On July 28, 1970, the F.B.I. issued a top secret memo entitled CONTACTS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOVIET, UNION AND MEMBERS OR STAFF PERSONNEL OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS INTERNAL SECURITY – RUSSIA.

The memo stated:

A review of information we have developed through our coverage of Soviet officials and establishments in Washington, D. C., has disclosed a continuing interest by representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to maintain contacts with and cultivate members or staff personnel of the U.S. Congress. There appears below a compilation of such contacts which have come to our attention from January 1, 1967, to date…

Based on a review of the information disclosed through our coverage, it appears that soviet officials are making more contacts with the following Congressmen or members of their staff than with other U. S. Legislators:

Please visit New Zeal for graphic…

Most of those listed above, with the exception of leftist Republican Edward Brooke, were well known leftist Democrats. Almost all were vocal opponents of the Vietnam war and as such were clearly of interest to the Soviet Union.

Why was Mark Hatfield one of the few Republicans singled out for Soviet attention?

Hatfield too was an extreme “liberal” and a vocal opponent of America’s wars against communism.

In 1966, while still governor of Oregon, when the National Governors Association passed a resolution reaffirming its support for the war in Vietnam, Hatfield cast the only dissenting vote.

In 1970, Hatfield partnered with another Soviet target, Democratic Senator George McGovern of South Dakota to propose legislation that would have set a deadline for the end of U.S. military operations in Vietnam. Strongly opposed by President Richard Nixon, the so-called McGovern-Hatfield amendment was defeated, 55 to 39.

In 1979, the Communist Party USA controlled U.S. Peace Council organized a National Conference on Nicaragua, along with several other radical groups, to discuss a strategy to ensure that the Marxist-Leninist Sandinistas took control.

Three Congressmen and two Senators lent support to this Conference: far leftists Ron Dellums, Tom Harkin and Walter Fauntroy in the House and Mark Hatfield and fellow Soviet target Edward Kennedy in the Senate.

Mark Hatfield continued his anti-anti-communism well into the Reagan era.

As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for the first six years of Ronald Reagan’s presidency, he succeeded in diverting $100 billion from Reagan’s military buildup to social programs. He joined Democrats in mocking Reagan’s plans for the space-based missile-defense system known as Star Wars.

He derided as “sheer madness” Reagan’s request to resume production of nerve gas for chemical warfare. In 1982 he joined with Democrat Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts to propose an immediate nuclear-weapons freeze in the U.S. He opposed development of the mobile, multiple-warhead nuclear MX missile, which he deemed “a monument to madness.” In 1986, he criticized as an “immoral act” the U.S. bombing raid on Libya.

He and Charles Grassley of Iowa were the only two Republicans to oppose the 1991 Senate resolution authorizing military action to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

“I’m often pegged as a pacifist. In fact, I am not,” Hatfield  wrote in a 2001 memoir. “I’m not totally opposed to military force (for example World War II), yet I believe force should not be used until all other options have been exhausted. And most critically, we ought to address the causes of war — poverty, lack of education, health, racism, militarism, or conflict over raw materials (such as oil) — and work to prevent war in the first place.”

Mark Hatfield’s pacifism was indeed selective. Fighting fascism was acceptable. Fighting communism was not.

Like current U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Hatfield was also affiliated with the Washington DC based Institute for Policy Studies – an organization so close to the Soviets, it was described in 1978 by Brian Crozier, director of the London-based Institute for the Study of Conflict, as the “perfect intellectual front for Soviet activities which would be resisted if they were to originate openly from the KGB.”

Mark Hatfield endorsed IPS’s 20th anniversary April 5, 1983, 20th reception at the National Building Museum in Washington DC.

The Washington School, founded by the Institute for Policy Studies in 1978, was an important means of influencing Congress and the Democratic Party. Courses on defense, foreign affairs and domestic policies were taught there by IPS officers and staffers and other American or foreign radical “experts.” A large number of members of Congress and staffers attended these schools. Several legislators also taught there including Mark Hatfield and far leftists such as Tom Harkin, John Conyers, Ron Dellums and James Abourezk.

Please visit New Zeal for graphic…

Mark Hatfield was also well funded and endorsed by the US’ largest “peace” Political Action Committee, the Council for a Livable World.

Founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist, atom bomb scientist and reported Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, Council for a Livable World is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to “reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security,” primarily through supporting “progressive,” congressional candidates who support their policies.

Council for a Livable World has supported literally hundreds of leftist Democrats from Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer, Sherrod Brown, Nancy Pelosi, Dennis Kucinich, Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin and Jan Schakowsky.

While claiming to be bipartisan, Council for a Livable World, has besides Hatfield, only funded a handful of Republicans in its 40 year existence – Indiana Senator and START Treaty zealot Richard Lugar being the only current example.

Some obituary writers have described Mark Hatfield as a principled man.

He may well have been, but it wasn’t on the side of freedom.

09/12/11

How Many Times Can Congressional Members Fold Like Cheap Suits?

By: Sher Zieve
Gulag Bound

Derivation:  Cheap suits are normally made of thinner and poorer-quality fabric that expensive ones and they are easier to fold. “Fold” meaning “collapse or give way under pressure” has been in use since the 16th century. Perhaps the commonest use nowadays is in card-playing; in poker, a player who “folds” gives up and withdraws from the game.

It’s amazing how little effect the 2010 midterm elections had on the RINO (Republican in Name Only for those recently awakened and new to politics) establishment members.  Unfortunately, they continue to operate as if they had lost the House of Representatives instead of gaining it.  Most certainly go-along-to-get-along Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) acts as if this were so.

And will any of us truly forget Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) submissive and unbecoming beggings to Obama and the Democrats, as he quickly and willingly joined Marxist-Leninist Harry Reid (D-NV) to help McConnell with his original “I’ll always give up without a fight, Mr. Obama” pleadings?  These McConnell overtures were designed to give the usurper-in-chief virtually everything he wanted in the recently passed “debt deal.”  The same can be said for every Republican who voted to pass the phony “don’t let us default!” bill–supposed newbie (and now proven to be bogus) conservative electees included.  By the way, we would not have defaulted.  And this literally begs the questions “Is Congress really folding like the proverbial cheap suit?  Or, is some other–perhaps very disturbing–motivation in play?”

What has recently happened is that the US Congress with its growing anti-We-the-People votes–votes that have become all too common in the last three years–and most recent unconstitutional formation of the 12 member “Super Congress” has removed any doubt that the US government’s Constitutional Congressional representation of the people of this country has ended.   Instead, this new Super Congress would allow no discussion,  debate or amendments on or to the bills it wants to be enacted.  Only a “Yes” or “No” will be allowed.

In its badly-acted pretense of opposition to Obama’s New Marxist-Leninist-Islamo-fascist Empire (are you aware of how many Muslim Brotherhood members Obama has already appointed to high-level government positions?), the political ruling-class US Congress (RINOs most definitely included) has now gleefully joined it.  Monetary and power gains seem to be the reason (aka “bribery“) for each and every ostensibly ludicrous and supplicant move made by RINOs toward their Big Brother Democrats and away from We-the-People and the US Constitution (which now apparently lies in some shredder…someplace).  Even the uber-leftist Daily Kos challenges the constitutionality of the recent Congressional moves in its article “Super Congress Super Unconstitutional.”

As Congress moves ever more steadily towards an oligarchy, Obama moves ever closer to his Colonial–albeit illegal–Presidency.   Together, Obama and the US Congress, today, comprise an “Imperial Government.”   The coup has already occurred.  We-the-People have now lost two of the three branches of what was once our government.  And…the judiciary is largely leftist, with more and more of US judges’ rulings no longer based upon US law but, rather their own beliefs.  Will SCOTUS be the next to fall into the dark abyss of forcing the American people into totalitarian rule?  Note:  Remember, if you’re not willing to fight for Liberty, you doom yourself to die under Tyranny.

What was written two-hundred thirty-five years ago by our ancestors seems to be as applicable today as it was when it was first written:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Is anyone still reading this document and understanding what was said in it?  Anyone?

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie”
– 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

Is Super Congress Constitutional?
at youtube.com

Super Congress Super Unconstitutional:
at dailykos.com

EXPOSED…Obama Is Filling White House With Muslim Brotherhood Appointees:
at randysright.wordpress.com

 

 

Barack Obama and the Muslim Brotherhood:
at frontpagemag.com

Muslim Brotherhood tag:
in Gulag Bound

US Declaration of Independence:
at ushistory.org


Sher Zieve is an author and political commentator. Zieve’s op-ed columns are widely carried by multiple internet journals and sites, and she also writes hard news.

Her columns have also appeared in The Oregon Herald, Dallas Times, Sacramento Sun, in international news publications, and on multiple university websites. Sher is also a guest on multiple national radio shows.

Sher can be reached at [email protected].

Graphics added by Gulag Bound

09/12/11

Rick Perry vs. The Media on Capital Punishment

By: Cliff Kincaid
Accuracy in Media

In order to damage or even sabotage his presidential campaign, the liberal media have seized on Texas Governor Rick Perry’s record on capital punishment. But the liberal media are facing a major public backlash by doing so.

Recall the public reaction when NBC’s Brian Williams tried to put Perry on the defensive over this issue by asking during the September 7, 2011, Republican debate, “Your state has executed 234 death row inmates, more than any other governor in modern times. Have you… (APPLAUSE) Have you struggled to sleep at night with the idea that any one of those might have been innocent?” The applause suggested that the public won’t accept liberal media bias on crime and justice issues.

The Washington Post took this kind of attack to a new level on September 9, attacking Perry because the state of Texas took “the extraordinary step” of rescheduling the execution of Henry W. Skinner for November 9. The case involves the ability of Skinner, a convicted killer, to test some evidence from a crime scene that may or may not implicate Skinner in the murders of his girlfriend and her two children. But regardless of whether this new evidence implicates him or not, he has already been convicted of the crimes because of crime scene and other evidence that has been tested or confirms his guilt.

The Post insisted, “Rather than focusing on killing Mr. Skinner, prosecutors should be pushing to ensure that he receives justice. That would mean supporting his quest to test the omitted pieces of evidence. These tests could prove conclusively that he committed the crimes for which he is sentenced to die, or they could prove his innocence. [emphasis added]. We oppose the death penalty, but if it is to be carried out, it should be done with a heightened level of certainty that the person being punished is guilty. Anything short of that should cause all people of conscience to lose sleep.”

This is false. It is important to understand, as noted by Dudley Sharp, founder of Justice Matters, that it is impossible to prove Skinner’s innocence through these additional DNA tests because his guilt has already been established through the DNA tests that have already been done.

As a brief in the case notes, “Even if Skinner was granted access to the evidence he seeks to subject to DNA testing, the results of such testing would not prove, or even tend to prove, Skinner’s innocence of the crimes for which he was convicted. In other words, even if DNA found at the scene of the murders did match someone other than Skinner, it would not exonerate him. Indeed, Skinner does not contend that the results of any DNA testing would in fact be exculpatory.”

The untested items or “omitted pieces of evidence,” as the Post calls them, were not tested because Skinner’s lawyers thought the results would further implicate him in the crimes!

“In Texas, a rush to execute” was the headline over the Post editorial. In fact, Skinner was convicted of the crimes in 1994 and sentenced to death in 1995. However, activists from the “Medill Innocence Project” have been working to free him. It is another liberal attempt to delay justice and create the public impression that innocent people are being put to death.

Recognizing the request for additional DNA testing as a ploy designed to buy time for the convicted killer, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, in a 7-0 vote, recommended that Perry reject a reprieve sought by Skinner to allow time for this testing on the other evidence. The board also voted 7-0 against granting Skinner’s request for a commutation of his death sentence.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 7 of this year that Skinner had a federal civil right to return to a Texas court and seek the additional tests that his lawyers did not want at the time he was on trial. It is yet another delay.

But the Post editorial tried to obscure the nature of this evidence. Here’s how the Post described the case: “Mr. Skinner was convicted in 1995 of murdering his girlfriend and her two grown children. A district attorney’s office introduced physical evidence and eyewitness testimony and performed DNA tests, some of which implicated Mr. Skinner and some of which proved inconclusive.”

Some of which implicated Skinner? What might that evidence be?

Here are the “facts of the crime,” as recounted in a legal brief about the case:

“In March 1995, a jury convicted Skinner of murdering his girlfriend, Twila Busby, and her two mentally retarded sons, Randy Busby and Elwin Caler, on New Year’s Eve of 1993. Twila, Randy, and Elwin were strangled, bludgeoned, and stabbed in their house shortly before midnight.

“At midnight, a police officer found Elwin, in bloodstained undershorts, sitting on the porch of a neighbor’s house with stab wounds under his left arm and on his right hand and stomach. He was taken to a hospital and died shortly thereafter. Investigating Elwin’s stabbing, the police went to the home where he lived with Twila, Randy, and Skinner. The police noticed a trail of blood on the ground running from the front porch to the fence line, a blood smear on the glass storm door, and a knife on the front porch. They found Twila dead on the living room floor. She had been strangled into unconsciousness, then beaten on the head with a blunt object at least fourteen times. A bloodstained axe handle and plastic trash bag containing a knife and bloody towel lay nearby. She exhibited signs of recent sexual intercourse. In a bedroom, officers found Randy dead in an upper bunk. His body was lying face down, and he had been stabbed three times in the back.

“On the door frame between the bedroom and a utility room, officers found a bloody hand print roughly two feet above the floor. Bloody prints were also found on the door knob of the door connecting the utility room to the kitchen and on the doorknob of the utility room door opening to the backyard. The prints were Skinner’s. Suspecting Skinner, the police sought and found him at 3:00 a.m. in the house of Andrea Reed, his former girlfriend, standing in a closet wearing heavily bloodstained jeans and socks and bearing a gash on the palm of his right hand. DNA testing showed that blood on Skinner belonged to Twila and Elwin.” (emphasis added).

The brief goes on: “The evidence presented at trial overwhelmingly showed Skinner’s guilt; and his conviction and sentence have been upheld every step of the way.”

It’s no wonder that the audience at the Republican debate erupted in applause when Williams noted the number of killers executed in Texas.

Brian Williams himself seemed surprised, asking, “What do you make of that dynamic that just happened here, the mention of the execution of 234 people drew applause?”

Perry replied: “I think Americans understand justice. I think Americans are clearly, in the vast majority of—of cases, supportive of capital punishment. When you have committed heinous crimes against our citizens—and it’s a state-by-state issue, but in the state of Texas, our citizens have made that decision, and they made it clear, and they don’t want you to commit those crimes against our citizens. And if you do, you will face the ultimate justice.”

The controversy once again demonstrates the liberal bent of the media and how they side with convicted killers over their innocent victims.

Williams wasn’t the only member of the media shocked by the response. “Perry draws applause in defending death penalty, hasn’t struggled over questions of innocence,” was the long headline over an AP story in the Post.

According to Gallup, the public supports the death penalty by 64-29. Most members of the liberal media are obviously in the 29 percent.

09/12/11

HISTORIC TEA PARTY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TODAY!

By: Andrea Shea King
The Radio Patriot

As you can imagine, we are very excited about tonight’s debate. Watch for us in the CNN audience. We’ll be sitting right up front. 😉

Amy Kremer of the Tea Party Express sent out this note this morning to the team and TPX supporters:

Dear Friends,

You should be very proud! It is stunning to think how far the tea party movement has come in just two short years. We have entered a new era in American politics, as conservative and engaged voters have pushed tea party principles of limited government, free markets, and fiscal responsibility to the forefront.

Tonight is an important milestone in the tea party movement, as eight candidates for president will face-off in an attempt to win the support of you in the tea party! The debate will focus on a wide-range of topics, including the role, size and scope of government, with a specific emphasis on issue number one to tea party members and all Americans: the economy. The live broadcast starts tonight, Monday, September 12 at 8 pm (ET)

CNN and the Tea Party Express, along with more than 150 local tea party groups from every state across the country, have teamed up to present a first-of-its-kind debate. The live audience in Tampa, FL is made up of tea partiers from across the country. Questions will be submitted and asked from tea party members in person, as well as at three live watch parties in Arizona, Ohio, and Virginia.

The two-hour event will air live on CNN from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ET) from the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Please join in online by submitting your questions for the candidates via comments on CNNPolitics.com, the CNN Politics Facebook page, and by using the #CNNTeaParty hashtag on Twitter.

The debate will be broadcast live nationally on CNN, CNN International, CNN.com, and CNN Radio. It will also be available via live stream in the CNN Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. It will even be broadcast to military bases around the world!