Forty years later, four still dead in Ohio
Back when "tin soldiers and Nixon" were "cutting us down" in 1970, a group of Ohio State University students and campus activists started an underground newspaper in Columbus. Driven mostly by the murder of four students at Kent State - Allison Krause, Jeff Miller, Sandy Scheuer, and Bill Schroeder - shot during a demonstration that was opposing President Nixon's illegal attack on Cambodia and the Vietnam War, the Columbus Free Press was born.
Not surprisingly, the Free Press was the first western newspaper to expose Cambodia's killing fields thanks to international law professor John Quigley's reporting from Southeast Asia.
In the first issue of the Free Press, the October 11, 1970 issue, a Free Press opinion attacked a special grand jury's decision not to indict Ohio National Guardsmen for the Kent State killings. The Free Press wrote at the time: "The jury conveniently disregarded the FBI report which stated that the guardsmen were not 'surrounded,' that they had tear gas, contrary to claims of guardsmen following the shooting."
Not surprisingly, the Free Press was the first western newspaper to expose Cambodia's killing fields thanks to international law professor John Quigley's reporting from Southeast Asia.
In the first issue of the Free Press, the October 11, 1970 issue, a Free Press opinion attacked a special grand jury's decision not to indict Ohio National Guardsmen for the Kent State killings. The Free Press wrote at the time: "The jury conveniently disregarded the FBI report which stated that the guardsmen were not 'surrounded,' that they had tear gas, contrary to claims of guardsmen following the shooting."
The return of Ken Blackwell: Mad Hatter back with the Tea Party in Ohio
The panic has set in at the Big D in the state capitol. The staid daily monopoly, also known as the Columbus Dispatch, published an op-ed by senior editor Joe Hallett confirming what the Free Press previously reported – Tea Party activists will take over the Buckeye State’s Republican Party.
By Hallett’s estimate, the 66-member Republican state central committee has 54 Tea Party activists running in Tuesday’s primary. How many are expected to win? A high-level Republican official told the Free Press that he thinks 50 of the 66 seats may go to the Tea Party. However, the official cautioned that he’s not as sure as the Free Press or the Dispatch that the Tea Party activists are “far right.” He claims most are “fiscal conservatives.”
Hallett doesn’t see it that way. He writes that if the Tea Party takes over the Ohio Republican Party central committee, “…the Ohio GOP will die.” Where does Hallett see the Tea Party heading? That direction, indeed, is "right, far right."
By Hallett’s estimate, the 66-member Republican state central committee has 54 Tea Party activists running in Tuesday’s primary. How many are expected to win? A high-level Republican official told the Free Press that he thinks 50 of the 66 seats may go to the Tea Party. However, the official cautioned that he’s not as sure as the Free Press or the Dispatch that the Tea Party activists are “far right.” He claims most are “fiscal conservatives.”
Hallett doesn’t see it that way. He writes that if the Tea Party takes over the Ohio Republican Party central committee, “…the Ohio GOP will die.” Where does Hallett see the Tea Party heading? That direction, indeed, is "right, far right."
Don't tread on the Tea Party
The battle is on in the Buckeye State. The Tea Party is out to banish the statist neo-conservatives that control Ohio's Grand Old Party (GOP). What should political observers make of the fact that there were no statewide Republican candidates on the stage at the massive Tea Party rally at the Ohio Statehouse on Tax Day? One of the reasons why is obvious. The staid statewide GOP candidates are being challenged everywhere by angry Republican insurgents linked to the Tea Party.
In the race for Secretary of State, John Husted, a suburban Dayton Republican state senator, is under fire from Tea Party favorite Sandra O'Brien. Husted is so threatened by O'Brien that he's taken to running faux Tea Party-type ads. The Husted spot begins with the Tea Party's favorite image – the waving of a "Don't Tread On Me" flag. The voiceover claims that: "Defending our liberty begins with leaders who fight for our families."
In the race for Secretary of State, John Husted, a suburban Dayton Republican state senator, is under fire from Tea Party favorite Sandra O'Brien. Husted is so threatened by O'Brien that he's taken to running faux Tea Party-type ads. The Husted spot begins with the Tea Party's favorite image – the waving of a "Don't Tread On Me" flag. The voiceover claims that: "Defending our liberty begins with leaders who fight for our families."
Hypocrisy in the Dispatch's criticism of Eric Brown's appointment as Chief Justice
The Editorial Board of the only daily newspaper of a major city plays an important role in addressing the conscience of the community. Your editorial of April 15 accusing Governor Strickland and Chief Justice Eric Brown of politicizing the court sounds like an appeal to conscience but in its historical context appears more an act of hypocritical political partisanship. The Court was targeted for politicization in 2000 when even though Republicans held a five to two advantage, Democratic Justice Alice Robie Resnick was writing for a bipartisan four judge majority in the most important cases. The Ohio and U.S. Chambers of Commerce spent $7 million of illegal corporate treasury money to defame Justice Resnick with a view to securing a more "business friendly" court.
Tea Party and rail discussion
Listen to the latest "Fight Back" radio show by Bob Fitrakis, Harvey Wasserman, and Connie Gadell-Newton on WCRSFM.ORG Produced by Josh Paulson.
Will the Tea Party take the heartland?
It was Tax Day in the Buckeye State, America's most consistent political barometer. A crowd of around 4000 protesters packed the Ohio Statehouse lawn. Is the self-proclaimed Tea Party movement a mere Republican Party-manufactured astro-turf organization or an authentic and autonomous grassroots populist crusade?
Well, they appear to be neither and both. The people are angry in the heartland and the thunder is almost all on the right.
There were the traditional April 15th anti-taxers and Libertarians and the usual rhetoric from the podium that we're being taxed to death. The "death tax" is emerging as a key issue in Ohio elections this year. Steve Stivers, Republican candidate for Congress in the 15th district has been hammering the issue hard in his race against Democratic Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy. Speakers at the podium solicited signatures for a petition drive to outlaw Ohio's "death tax" or, as the state calls it, estate tax.
Well, they appear to be neither and both. The people are angry in the heartland and the thunder is almost all on the right.
There were the traditional April 15th anti-taxers and Libertarians and the usual rhetoric from the podium that we're being taxed to death. The "death tax" is emerging as a key issue in Ohio elections this year. Steve Stivers, Republican candidate for Congress in the 15th district has been hammering the issue hard in his race against Democratic Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy. Speakers at the podium solicited signatures for a petition drive to outlaw Ohio's "death tax" or, as the state calls it, estate tax.
Chamomile, comfrey, coltsfoot, and...cannabis: (Or what's wrong with the current Ohio Medical Marijuana bill...)
Cannabis is an herb. It belongs to the same class of commonly used plants as Chamomile, Comfrey, and Coltsfoot, known as herbs, which have a long and distinguished history of industrial, medicinal, and recreational usage dating back to the earliest days of human history.
To pretend that cannabis is somehow different than these other plants is to make a major mistake in both classification and characterization.
Under the food supplement guidelines set by Senator Orrin Hatch, (See the "Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)." the above named herbs, (Chamomile, Comferey, and Coltsfoot) are essentially unregulated.
Aside from routine safety and commercial regulations insuring that the proffered items are...
A...Unadulterated,
B...Properly labeled and advertised for what they are,
C...Safely packaged, processed, transported, and stored,
D...Properly taxed at the point of sale according to the routine business laws already in place for commercial transactions, (and I am NOT referring here to the institution of any of the so-called "Sin Tax" taxes such as are routinely applied to Tobacco and or Alcohol.)...
Under the food supplement guidelines set by Senator Orrin Hatch, (See the "Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)." the above named herbs, (Chamomile, Comferey, and Coltsfoot) are essentially unregulated.
Aside from routine safety and commercial regulations insuring that the proffered items are...
A...Unadulterated,
B...Properly labeled and advertised for what they are,
C...Safely packaged, processed, transported, and stored,
D...Properly taxed at the point of sale according to the routine business laws already in place for commercial transactions, (and I am NOT referring here to the institution of any of the so-called "Sin Tax" taxes such as are routinely applied to Tobacco and or Alcohol.)...
Another death row error: Durr awaits death
Editor’s Note: I received this letter from Da'rryl Miguel Durr who is awaiting execution on Ohio’s death row. The state of Ohio plans to murder him on April 20, 2010. There are questions as to Mr. Durr’s actual guilt. This is nothing new in Ohio.
Progressive blunt "Tea-Baggers" attack on Rep. Kilroy!
Hundreds showed up at what was supposed to be a right wing attack on Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy's office yesterday in Columbus. The event, however, proved to be much different from what the "Teabaggers" announced and had planned.
Dueling demonstrations, each with around 200-300 folks, lined Olentangy River Rd., the "Teabaggers" attacking Kilroy for her strong support of health care reform and an equal or greater force of people there supporting her stand.
"We just had to come out and stand with Mary Jo," said Tim Ely, a Business Agent for the Pipefitter's Union. "She's stood up for us in the legislature, and I'm just sick and tired of these right wing thugs lying about health care and going around intimidating people. That crap's going to stop, now!"
Dueling demonstrations, each with around 200-300 folks, lined Olentangy River Rd., the "Teabaggers" attacking Kilroy for her strong support of health care reform and an equal or greater force of people there supporting her stand.
"We just had to come out and stand with Mary Jo," said Tim Ely, a Business Agent for the Pipefitter's Union. "She's stood up for us in the legislature, and I'm just sick and tired of these right wing thugs lying about health care and going around intimidating people. That crap's going to stop, now!"