My latest article, this time on the " Terror Gap"

[son of the revolution]

McCarthyism alive and well! Bloomberg, Lautenberg and the Terror Gap




In a shameless exploitation of the recent failed car bombing in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg journeyed to the Capitol a few days ago to implore Congress to climb on board with his incessant gun banning schemes with hysterical pleadings to close the so called “ Terror Gap “ that allegedly allows suspected terrorists to purchase firearms legally. Mr Bloomberg enjoyed the full support from NJ Senator and leading contender for the next George Romero zombie movie, Frank Lautenberg.

That Bloomberg, Lautenberg and their cronies in the media are full-throated supporters and fans of anything to do with further infringing on the Second Amendment rights of Americans is no surprise. The shocking thing is this new level to which they are willing to resort. Essentially stripping a protected fundamental right from a Citizen for NO other reason then being suspected of something. But even saying it’s a new level of insidiousness and abuse of power is really something of a misnomer, although it could rightly be called new to a whole generation of Americans that have no idea this type of thing was done once before in the 1940’s and 1950’s and was known as McCarthyism.

For those unfamiliar with the historical context, in the waning period of WWII and the run up of the Cold War, there was significant concern, rampant fear mongering and much yellow journalism concerning the presence of communist sympathizers in the United States. Although there were in fact several high profile cases of actual Soviet spies, most notably Alger Hiss at the US State Dept and Ethel and Julius Rosenberg; Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin suddenly sprang from relatively unremarkable service in Congress to the front and center of the American Political stage when he announced in a February 1950 speech that he was in possession of a secret list of known Soviet sympathizers inside the Federal Govt and in various other high visibility and influential circles such as Hollywood.

McCarthy’s wild and unfounded accusations, with no evidence to support his claims led to the whole sale depriving of Due Process of those claimed to be on the list, the destruction of reputations and career’s, absent any evidence to support the allegations and in many instances the imprisonment of innocent people. In fact, the Tydings Committee, chaired by Senator Millard Tyding was impaneled to explore the veracity of McCarthy’s claims and in their report called the accusations a “ fraud and a hoax” and that the result of McCarthy’s claims was to “confuse and divide the American people to a degree far beyond the hopes of the Communists “

Even more damning a commentary on McCarthy’s claims was expressed by legendary newsman Edward R Murrow during the broadcast of Murrow’s television program “ See it Now” , aired on March 9th 1954 in which Murrow said of McCarthy and his outrageous assertions.

“His primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind, as between the internal and the external threats of Communism. We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men.We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn't create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully.”

One need only take the current Legislation that Bloomberg and Lautenberg and others support and substitute the word Communist for Terrorist and the scathing words of the Tydings Committee and Edward Murrow aptly and correctly apply.

What Bloomberg, Lautenberg and others support is nothing short of denying a fundamental and Constitutionally protected right from an American Citizen based on nothing more then their name appearing on a secret government list, a list well known to be full of mistaken entries, a list that is all but impossible to remove yourself from, although you will be in somewhat good company since at one time Senator Ted Kennedy, Congressman Don Young and Congressman John Lewis all found themselves on the list.

The list has also includes such dangerous “suspects “ as the former top Criminal Prosecutor for the Justice Dept, an 8 year old boy named Mickey Hicks, who has been on the list since age two, resulting in numerous searches of the boy and his family every time they fly and apparently no way for his family to stop the absurdity. As of November 2009 over 1.3 Million names appeared on the list, with an additional 20,000 names added every month. Yet a Justice Dept audit found an error rate of 35 percent. When a list of 216 known terrorists was compared to the list, 35 of them did NOT appear on the list, including Ft Hood Shooter Major Hassan. The criteria for finding your way on to the list? That’s classified.

Bloomberg claims that the legislation he wants to close the so-called “ Terror Gap “ allows for people to challenge the reason why they are there in the first place. This is true only in the sense that someone may apply for a challenge request. But the legislation does nothing to address the fact that the Government is not required to provide any evidence, is not required to reveal to anyone how some one’s name got on the list to begin with or anything else that might tend to actually assist in clearing an innocent persons name.

That ANY elected official, having sworn an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution could so callously show such utter disdain and and contempt for the due process rights of those they claim to serve, no matter what the perceived positive effects is reprehensible and should be grounds for immediate removal from office. If allowed to become law, were would it stop? What other fundamental rights will those in power feel free to legislate against for the “greater good “?

Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you reside on, regardless of your personal feelings about the right to keep and bear arms, proposed legislation of this type must be fiercely resisted by EVERY American. To do anything else, even merely offering implied support by staying silent will only serve to further encourage such actions in the future, to the great detriment of all Americans and unconsciously playing right into the hands of the terrorist viewpoint of tyrannical, iron fisted rule and the complete disappearance of anything remotely resembling freedom.

Freedoms that 100’s of thousands of Americans have fought and died for over two centuries to maintain. We owe it to the memory of those before us, to ourselves, to our children and to all future generations to resist this abominable policy with every fiber of our being. It is also equally clear that it is far past time that Frank Lautenberg be voted from office permanently. New Jersey, one of the original thirteen colonies, host to innumerable Revolutionary War battlefields and home to the turning point of the Revolution deserves some one with a much greater respect for our history, our heritage and our principles then Senator Lautenberg.

The immortal wisdom of Benjamin Franklin seems particularly suited to this topic.

“Those who would give up ESSENTIAL LIBERTY to purchase a little TEMPORARY SAFETY, deserve neither LIBERTY nor SAFETY.”

Benjamin Franklin February 1775

[BSH]

Can't rep you. Nice article, please get it published in any mass media outlet.

[son of the revolution]

Can't rep you. Nice article, please get it published in any mass media outlet.

LOL , Thanks . Im trying like hell. But I wouldnt hold your breath on any big media picking it up. I am in talks with the Associate Editor of First Freedom Magazine about them taking a look at some of the things I've written. They might include one in the " Parting Shot " Column at the back of the mag. Ironically enough, Chris Cox from the NRA wrote a very similar OP ED piece in todays Washington Post. But I beat him to the idea by three days Think I should demand royalties ?

Also heard that this article will be in the next FOAC Newsletter, but dont know when it will come out. By all means feel free to pass it around to anyone you think will take it to heart.

[twoeggsup]

Although I can't help but agree with your description of Lautenberg, I would suggest avoiding personal attacks... You could alienate potential zombie support.

The full throat comment is a little on the edge too IMHO.

Maybe if those comments were burried about 3/4 into the article instead of in the header...

Yes, I know libs get away with personal attacks, however law abiding gun owners or conservatives are only taken seriously (at least patially) when taking the high road.

Other than those points I like your op piece very much.

[son of the revolution]

Although I can't help but agree with your description of Lautenberg, I would suggest avoiding personal attacks... You could alienate potential zombie support.

The full throat comment is a little on the edge too IMHO.

Maybe if those comments were burried about 3/4 into the article instead of in the header...

Yes, I know libs get away with personal attacks, however law abiding gun owners or conservatives are only taken seriously (at least patially) when taking the high road.

Other than those points I like your op piece very much.

Thanks. Although I do have to say I think you might be taking the " full throat" comment the wrong way. I used it in the context of the Anti's are always screaming at the top of their lungs for more,more , more gun control laws. I have a funny feeling you might have been imparting some sort of sexual reference to it ? Never heard of a " full throated roar " as an adjective ?

[DonSmithnotTMD]

Although I can't help but agree with your description of Lautenberg, I would suggest avoiding personal attacks... You could alienate potential zombie support.

The full throat comment is a little on the edge too IMHO.

Maybe if those comments were burried about 3/4 into the article instead of in the header...

Yes, I know libs get away with personal attacks, however law abiding gun owners or conservatives are only taken seriously (at least patially) when taking the high road.

Other than those points I like your op piece very much.

Zombies are likely to be a mjor swing demographic in the fall

[IronSight]

the rep Nazi's are at it again, someone rep SOTR for me, that's an incredibly good piece of work right there

[BSH]

Some smaller newspapers welcome free content on their pages. My local paper publishes EVERY letter to the editor, regardless of topic or content, so long as it's not distasteful.

[XACEX]

damn socialist rep button

[Ecclectic Collector]

I just sent a + rep to you for you opinion piece. I do think that you weakened an excellent piece with that personal attack in the first part when your real point is far more damaging to those idiots In NY and NJ. Your comparison about the McCarthyism scare is really on the mark, as well as getting rid of politicians who engage in this kind of thing (Bloomberg, etc...).

My two cents...