DEEP THROAT: Joan Felt and her father W. Mark Felt wave to the media gathered in front of their home Tuesday, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Felt claims he was 'Deep Throat,' the long-anonymous source who leaked secrets about President Nixon's Watergate coverup to The Washington Post, his family said Tuesday.

Deep Throat of Watergate identified

copyright CNN


Washington, DC -- The legendary source "Deep Throat" in the Watergate scandal that brought down a president was identified Tuesday by Vanity Fair magazine and The Washington Post as W. Mark Felt.
Felt, now 91, was the No. 2 official at the FBI in the early 1970s. The information he provided Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein helped them break many of the stories that led to the resignation of President Nixon in August 1974.
The revelation ended more than three decades of speculation about Woodward and Bernstein's famous confidential source in reporting on the cover-up by the Nixon White House following the bungled break-in of National Democratic Committee headquarters at the Watergate office-hotel complex in June 1972.

CLICK HERE to read the entire CNN story about Watergate's DEEP THROAT.

michael mccafferty comments:

Back in 1973 and 1974 I became hooked on Watergate and the Congressional hearings. At age 22 I was literally a walking encyclopedia on Watergate as it unfolded. Later on I would read the best selling books All the President's Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. And later on The Final Days.

For over 31 years I have been trying to guess who the secret informant DEEP THROAT is.
Truth is --- I guessed wrong.

I belive Mark Felt is a patriotic American who could not stand to see the corruption of Watergate and that was his motive in leaking major information about Watergate to Bob Woodward.

As one who admired Richard Nixon I have mixed emotions about all of this. I have always thought that Richard Nixon was a victim of Watergate. That irresponsible political hacks
led to the break in at the Watergate -- and that Richard Nixon became a victim of this.

At the end of the day I believe in years to come history will be kinder to Richard Nixon -- and yet I believe too that Mark Felt has earned his place into American history as a patriotic citizen who sought to do good.

Memorial Day - President Bush pays tribute to war dead.

President Bush honors war dead

ABC NEWS
Copyright May 28 2005


President Bush is marking this Memorial Day weekend with words honoring men and women who have died in the nation's service to provide freedom for Americans today. "Our citizens live in freedom because patriots are willing to serve and sacrifice for our liberty," Mr. Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address. On Monday, he will lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to those he said made the ultimate sacrifice. He noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, a victory for freedom in which more than 400,000 Americans gave their lives.

CLICK HERE to see complete article about President Bush and Memorial Day.

michael mccafferty comments:

The United States of America can take great pride in honoring the memory of those who died in time of war to defend freedom and liberty. From the time of the American Revolution to the Civil War. From World War I and II and Korea and Viet Nam and now Iraq.... young American patriots have made the ultimate sacrifice for America and freedom.

Abraham Lincoln said:
"...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." ( Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863. )

As a Canadian I salute the memory of those who have served America. God bless them and may God bless America.

Jeb Bush for President ?

Will Jeb be the next Bush in the White House ?

Even his political foes admit that Florida Governor Jeb Bush has had a remarkably effective run over the past seven years if he ever wants to follow his father and his brother into the White House.

He created the nation's first statewide school voucher program, cut taxes by billions, overhauled the election system after the hanging-chad fiasco of 2000, set aside money to restore the Everglades, stiffened Florida's criminal penalties and restricted the right to sue doctors and businesses.

He has also clearly led the Republican Party to its strongest position in modern-day Florida.

CLICK HERE to read CNN report:
Governor Jeb Bush compiles impressive record.

michael mccafferty comments -

Governor Jeb Bush really does have an impressive track record. He is a very remarkable and outstanding American leader who would bring great leadership qualities to the White House.

Governor Bush completes his term as Florida Governor in January 2007. That would give him plenty of time to put together a serious bid for the White House.

Remember you heard it here first - Jeb Bush for President.

My friend - The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney

Former Canadian Prime Minister 'doing well' after surgery.

Mulroney doing 'extremely well' after surgery

Copyright
Canadian Press

MONTREAL — Brian Mulroney was recovering "extremely well" Monday after recent surgery to remove liquid that had built up near his pancreas, said a spokesman for the former prime minister.
"Things are going well, they're looking good," Luc Lavoie said in an interview.
"Mr. Mulroney is doing well. He had the surgery Friday evening and he's recovering extremely well. The doctors are very confident. It seems this is the last obstacle before he regains full health."

michael mccafferty comments:

My friend former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is a man I really admire.
Mr. Mulroney is truly a great Canadian statesman.

When Brian Mulroney was Prime Minister of Canada we had excellent relations with the USA.
Mr. Mulroney was one of the Commonwealth leaders who helped bring an end to apartheid in South Africa, and Mr. Mulroney's government brought in the Canada USA Free Trade Agreement.

It is my heartfelt hope Mr. Mulroney has a good and speedy recovery -- and he will be in my prayers -- because Brian Mulroney is my friend that I admire very much.

Prime Minister Martin and The Honourable Belinda Stronach.

Canadian politics lacking civility

Politics lacking civility says Belinda Stronach

Jim Brown

Copyright Broadcast News
May 22, 2005
CREDIT: Canadian Press


OTTAWA -- Belinda Stronach says some of the personal attacks mounted against her for defecting to the federal Liberals are a disgrace and a new low in Canadian politics.
"It's very interesting to me, in moments like this, how partisan people become," Stronach said Sunday on CTV's Question Period.
"There were a lot of negative comments made, and I find that disgraceful, quite frankly."

michael mccafferty comments:

Never in my entire 40 years of involvement in Canadian politics have I ever been witness to such mean and low class sexist attacks as those hurled at Belinda Stronach. These attacks were absolutely trash talk and disgusting.

In a free and democratic society like Canada surely those who disagree with Belinda Stronach's move to the Liberals could have used creative English to express their disappointmentr in her.

The Conservatives have been hurt by these cheap sexist attacks on Belinda Stronach.

Simply stated: I agree with Belinda Stronach - Canadian politics has lost a lot of civility.

God bless Her Majesty, The Queen.
Posted by Hello

Three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen !

michael mccafferty comments -

Her Majesty The Queen is truly a remarkable and wonderful Monarch for Canada. For 53 years she has been the Queen of Canada as well as Queen of the United Kingdom. During those years she has represented all that is good about Canada and the Commonwealth.

Her Majesty The Queen is the basis of our democratic institutions in Canada. She represents community,family,tolerance,and good will in our multicultural society.

It is absolutely wonderful that at age 79 Her Majesty has come to Saskatchewan and Alberta to celebrate the Centennial of these two provinces in Canada.

As a Canadian I admire Her Majesty The Queen. Long may she reign. God bless Her Majesty the Queen !


Click here
for Official Website of The British Monarchy.

Click here for the Monarchist League of Canada.

Belinda Stronach and Paul Martin
Posted by Hello

Stronach crosses floor to join Liberals

By ALLISON DUNFIELD
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Copyright Globe and Mail
By ALLISON DUNFIELD

OTTAWA

In an explosive development leading up to Thursday's dramatic budget vote, Conservative MP Belinda Stronach has crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party as the new Human Resources Development Minister.


Click here to read the report from the Globe and Mail.

michael mccafferty comments -

Belinda Stronach today put Canada ahead of politics.

Stronach said what a lot of 'conservatives' like me were thinking -- that it is bad to have a deal with the devil -- in other words having an unholy alliance with the separatists -- the Bloc Quebecois.

Partisan Conservatives will attack Belinda Stronach and call her an opportunist. I will not be one of those people.

40 years ago this year back in 1965 I met that great Canadian John Diefenbaker. Mr. Diefenbaker stood for 'One Canada - One Nation' -- and that is what Belinda Stronach stands for.

Belinda Stronach is a truly remarkable woman with a great vision for Canada. At my age of 54 I put Canada before politics and that is why I respect and admire her decision.

Belinda Stronach is a profile in courage ! I wish her well.

Prime Minister Martin is right - let's raise the tone of Canadian politics.
Posted by Hello

I agree with Paul Martin

Paul Martin : Let's 'raise the tone'
Last Updated Mon, 16 May 2005 12:26:44 EDT
CBC News

HALIFAX - The House of Commons should be a place where respect reigns, not where "reputations are casually smeared and anger and personal insults are the rhetorical devices of choice," Prime Minister Paul Martin said on Monday.

Click here for entire CBC News story.

Yes, Prime Minister Martin is right - let's raise the tone in Ottawa !

Three cheers for Canada's NDP for their shining example of good will and decency.
Posted by Hello

The NDP brings some 'civility and decency' to Canada's Parliament

OTTAWA :

Canada's New Democratic Party has said it will absent one of its members from the vote to cancel out Darrel Stinson's absence in next week's vote of non confidence in the Canadian Parliament.

It's a parliamentary tradition known as "pairing."

Darrel Stinson is a Conservative Member of Parliament who is suffering with cancer and has surgery scheduled for this coming Wednesday, May 18th.

"What we're proposing is to try and help any individual parliamentarian, for example, if someone is facing surgery," said NDP Leader Jack Layton.

"That's why pairing was invented. It was to allow these humanitarian concerns to come into play."

NDP MP Ed Broadbent, a former NDP leader, has offered to stay away when the vote is called.
Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper Harper called it a "very generous and honourable offer."

"I do appreciate it," Harper said after telling reporters he called Stinson and told him to stay home "for the sake of his health."

Another former NDP leader, Halifax MP Alexa McDonough, also volunteered to give up her vote.

She made a similar gesture to a Conservative member of the legislature in Nova Scotia in the 1990s, when the provincial Tory minority faced a possible non-confidence motion.

"If members of Parliament can't set partisanship aside to address this kind of situation, then there really is no civility left in politics," she said.

COMMENTS by Michael McCafferty

The last ten days there has been some very heavy duty partisan politics taking place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. For three days Parliament has been shut down and come to a stand still. The Canadian people are looking for our political leaders to show some good old fashioned good will, fair play and decency.

Well today that happened.

Canada's New Democratic Party has set aside petty politics and for that they are to be admired and respected for putting 'civility and decency' back into Canadian politics.

Canada's Ambassador to the USA, Frank McKenna sets the 'record straight' !
Posted by Hello

Is Canada a 'haven' for terrorists ?

McKenna tries to ease U.S. fears
New ambassador reassures Americans that Canadian border security is tight

Copyright - The Globe and Mail

NEW YORK -- Ottawa's man in Washington, Ambassador Frank McKenna,
brought his unique brand of high-energy hucksterism to Times Square yesterday,
seeking to allay U.S. fears that Canada is a capricious, and therefore dangerous, neighbour.

Just two months into his job, Mr. McKenna has embarked on a very public effort to reassure Americans that Canada has taken responsible steps to combat terrorism and secure its own borders from unsavoury would-be immigrants.

To read complete Globe and Mail article CLICK HERE.

***************************************************

I believe Ambassador McKenna is telling the truth because I know him to be a very honest man -- a statesman with great integrity.

Should Hillary Clinton run for President in 2008 ?
Posted by Hello

Hillary Clinton for President in 2008 ?

Joe Klein of Time magazine has written a very thought provoking and interesting column on the question whether or not United States Senator Hillary Clinton should run for President of the United States in 2008.

To read Joe Klein's Time column
click here .

What do you think ?

Proud of my Dutch roots and that Canada liberated The Netherlands in World War II.
Posted by Hello

60th anniversary of Canadians liberating The Netherlands and my Dutch roots

Dutch shower Canadian veterans with flowers, cheers during VE Day paradeBy MICHELLE MACAFEE

APELDOORN, Netherlands (CP) - It's a debt they insist can never be repaid, but thousands of grateful Dutch residents offered their Canadian liberators flowers, oranges, beer and kisses on Sunday during a parade billed as the last big "Thank You."

More than 200,000 people - families representing three generations and some who drove for hours - braved frequent downpours to cheer on the 1,500 Canadian war veterans who basked proudly in the adoration.

To see more of this story
click here.

My grandfather and grandmother were born in The Netherlands in 1894 and 1895. My mother was born at Colemberg, The Netherlands on August 16, 1928. The Haars family lived through World War II and the evil Nazi occupation. Two of my uncles were in Nazi concentration camps.
As a boy I loved hearing my grandparents tell me stories of how Canada liberated the
Netherlands.

In 1946 my mother's sister Billie married a Canadian soldier. My uncle Douglas Matheson. They went back to Canada. Two years later the Haars family including my mom moved to Canada and became Canadians.

I am very proud of the fact that Canada liberated The Netherlands -- and just as important --
that I have Dutch roots !

Emile Roy with Republican County Chairman Bob Zitzow on the day of Emile's 85th birthday. Photo courtesy of Emile's good friend Arthur Langley.
Posted by Hello

Happy 85th birthday Emile Roy

Emile Roy of Sanford in the State of Maine USA is a very special and dear friend of mine. On May 3rd Emile celebrated his 85th birthday.

Emile is a veteran of World War II having served in the United States Navy. Emile Roy is loyal and dedicated member of the Republican Party having been a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1984,1988,1992,2000 and 2004. Emile is truly a good and decent man and a genuine American patriot.

Emile has a 'very special friend' -- his name is former President George Bush.

On the day of Emile's 85th birthday a group of Republican friends made a surprise visit to Emile's barber shop in Sanford, Maine.

Republican County Chairman Bob Zitzow presented Emile with a limited edition print of President George W. Bush with the Maine Gettysburg flag. State Senator Jon Courtney and Maine House of Representatives Republican Leader Dave Bowles were also there to bring special greetings as was Republican Executive Council member Arthur Langley.

God bless my great American friend - Emile Roy.

The 'best' American political website in the world !
Posted by Hello

politics1.com

Ron Gunzbureger is the Founder & Publisher of Politics1.com.
Politics1.com is the most comprehensive guide to American politics on the Internet.

As a person who loves to follow United States politics I highly recommend Politics1.com
as a very outstanding and remarkable website. World class -- first class !

To visit the website click on:
Politics1.com

The Trouble with Islam by Irshad Manji
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Canadian Muslim writer riles, counters radical Islam

Copyright 2005 Associated Press and USA Today.

TORONTO (AP) — Irshad Manji has plenty of enemies among her fellow Muslims. Her critique of Islam is frank and fierce. She defends the invasion of Iraq. She sympathizes with Israel. She's a lesbian and doesn't try to hide it.

What has brought this Uganda-born Asian-Canadian to prominence is her book, "The Trouble With Islam Today," just out in paperback in the United States where she has been touring and talking.

Manji maintains that centuries of dark dogma have silenced many followers of Islam, putting them behind veils while mullahs and terrorists claim to speak for Allah.

For more information about this very remarkable and brave woman visit the website of

Irshad Manji
CLICK HERE.