Best wishes to Senator Kennedy. Meanwhile, over at Free Republic...

[Bucky]

Ted Kennedy and the KGB
Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:14:49 AM by rellimpank

FP: We’re here today to revisit Ted Kennedy’s reaching out to the KGB during the Reagan period. Refresh our readers’ memories a bit.

Kengor: The episode is based on a document produced 25 years ago this week. I discussed it with you in our earlier interview back in November 2006. In my book, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, I presented a rather eye-opening May 14, 1983 KGB document on Ted Kennedy. The entire document, unedited, unabridged, is printed in the book, as well as all the documentation affirming its authenticity. Even with that, today, almost 25 years later, it seems to have largely remained a secret.

FP: Tell us about this document.

Kengor: It was a May 14, 1983 letter from the head of the KGB, Viktor Chebrikov, to the head of the USSR, the odious Yuri Andropov, with the highest level of classification. Chebrikov relayed to Andropov an offer from Senator Ted Kennedy, presented by Kennedy’s old friend and law-school buddy, John Tunney, a former Democratic senator from California, to reach out to the Soviet leadership at the height of a very hot time in the Cold War. According to Chebrikov, Kennedy was deeply troubled by the deteriorating relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, which he believed was bringing us perilously close to nuclear confrontation. Kennedy, according to Chebrikov, blamed this situation not on the Soviet leadership but on the American president---Ronald Reagan. Not only was the USSR not to blame, but, said Chebrikov, Kennedy was, quite the contrary, “very impressed” with Andropov.

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To: rellimpank

As much as I want this to be true, I think the KGB was\is smart enough not to trust a drunk.

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:24:59 AM by mrmargaritaville

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To: mrmargaritaville

As much as I want this to be true, I think the KGB was\is smart enough not to trust a drunk.

Unfortunately, we can't say the same for Massachusetts voters.

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:29:20 AM by BubbaBasher
Sig line: "(Without the 2nd amendment there would be no 1st amendment!)"

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To: rellimpank

I wonder if the Syrians have a similar document on some of the Democrats visits?
I wonder if the Iranians have a similar document on some of the Democrats visits?
I wonder if the North Koreans have a similar document on some of the Democrats visits?
I wonder....

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:31:59 AM by UCANSEE2

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To: rellimpank

This is the real reason behind the Democrats railing against monitoring calls of terrorists coming in to the US.

During Viet-Nam John ‘I served in Viet-Nam’ Kerry’s group was in constant contact with North Viet-Nam in order to prepare for demostrations against ths US whenever the north would launch an offensive.

I am sure the Democrats have contacts with our nations enemies.

After all Obama had one of his people speaking to leaders of Hamas.

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:44:45 AM by stockpirate
Sig line: "(Purge the RNC and GOP of ALL SOCIALISTS . Starting with Juan McCain.)"

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To: stockpirate

—I am sure we will never find out the truth of the Kennedy-John Tunney escapades in Russia and how effectively the KBG exploited them—

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:48:35 AM by rellimpank

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To: rellimpank

“how effectively the KBG exploited them”

One cannot exploit the willing. I think it would be a mistake to think he and any others didn’t know what they were doing.

Selling out America.

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:54:55 AM by stockpirate

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To: rellimpank

In a better world, that fat traitor would have been hung or stood up against a wall.

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:59:18 AM by Noumenon
Sig line: "(The only thing that prevents liberals from loading us all into cattle cars is the power to do it)"

So charming.

[BayouBengal07]

1. Well that explains it.

Teddy's clearly a Marxist...

[DrDan]

2. well - lets be honest

I doubt if we would see many "well wishes" here at DU should Ted Stephens, Mitch, Brownback, Colburn, or Orrin would fall ill.

[devilgrrl]

3. Nothing could be further from the truth, there's a thread wishing the Free Republic guy well....

he had a leg amputated.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3303297

[DrDan]

4. like I said . . . .

do you there would be a similar thread for any of those senators I listed?

[devilgrrl]

6. Of course there would be...

but at least we offer an alternative. You don't get that over at FR.

[blondeatlast]

11. There have been several. Even when Falwell died, the VAST majority on DU were respectful.

You seem awfully suspicious of us here, yet you joined.

I find that very curious.

And as a longtime diabetic, I wish Jim Robinson the best of health--it's a constant uphill battle that I can appreciate more than most. I hate his politics, but I empathize with his suffering.

[DrDan]

13. I have been here since 2001 - so just talk normally to me

we will see the next time a neocon senator has a health setback.

[DrDan]

15. and while we are on the subject of "respectful" comments

head on in to GD: P. This can be as offensive and as insulting as FR. The lack of respect for any varying opinions is staggering.

[DrDan]

16. since you brought up Falwell - let me share a few comments I found

Is the cemetery at Bitburg full?
*****************
LYNCH-burg seems oddly appropriat, though
Just sayin' ...kind of appropriate for such a hater
*****************
Let me know when security goes home for the day, so I can shit on his grave.
***************
Weenie roast in Hell tonight!
***************
Ha, there is a God..........
***************
We should have a National Holiday - We should have a National Fundamentalist Holiday to Celebrate
his death along with Osama bin Ladin (once we find him) and
Pat Robertson! Any other idiots I left out?
******************
Never talk about the dead without saying something good - He's dead. Good
****************
He'll rest in peace, but . . . - only if you put a stake in his heart first.

Sorry, but I'm glad he's dead.

*******************
Good Riddance
*******************
Uncharitable or not, I am sorry his death was not more painful and drawn out. He did not deserve a relatively peaceful, painless and quick death.
There I've said it..and I am not the least bit sorry.

********************
About fucking time
*****************
As far as I'm concerned, he lived too long.
*******************
Only spite and scorn for this asshole... - NOT a single good thing to say...

Too all those who say/want to say a good thing about this EVIL "man" - would you say kind things about Hitler?...

I am soo ever joyful and heartened at this GOOD news!...

[hyphenate]

5. Well let's examine this

a little bit.

First of all, Reagan was a son of a bitch, so if he was straining relationships with foreign countries, he was as big an asshole as Bush. No contest. Reagan was evil, just not as evil as Bush. I've had it up to my ears with right-wingers and their love of Reagan.

Kennedy was trying to ease tensions between the US and the USSR. Jeez--how awful of him. We never wanted to have a peaceful relationship with them, did we?

I remember most vividly the young girl Samantha Smith reaching out to Andropov, and doing that very same thing. You know, peace is a wonderful thing. It's just not something that people like freeper understand it.

The worship of Reagan is a disgusting thing. Those who do, are just as likely to admire people like 41 and 43, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and other warmongers. They are just as likely to want war, regardless of what nation it is, and are likely to have major prejudice against anyone they perceive as weak. Peace is something that doesn't slide off their tongues very easily--they would rather have children martyred in a war, regardless of why the war is there.

Calling Ted Kennedy a drunk for something that happened many years ago is the kind of slur that these people love. They label someone for some single weakness that happened many years ago, and as long as it was a liberal, they will keep that label as their epithet forever. Robert Byrd is still listed as a KKK member, something that happened over 60 fucking years ago, Kennedy is a drunk because of an incident that happened about 40 years ago. So where does that leave their heroes? Bush went awol, and was a cokehead AND an alcoholic; Cheney was a chickenhawk, Laura Bush was a killer, Babs Bush has no soul and Poppy was a CIA man like those that killed mothers and babies in South America in budding democracies 40+ years ago. I could go on, but the level of hypocrisy at FR is just beyond the pale. It's sickening.

[noonwitch]

7. Cheney had DUIs in the 80s

If he'd gone off a bridge with a woman other than his wife in the car, he'd have just as much to be ashamed about as Teddy does.

I am sick of the Reagan worship and the refusal on the part of some to understand that 9-11 happened due in a large part to the policies of the Reagan administration. He decided to play both sides of the Iran/Iraq war, he chose to fund those fighting the soviets in afganistan (like bin Laden, for example), and allowed the contras to sell cocaine in this country to fund their war against the sandinistas and the native people of Nicaragua.

It was all done in the name of fighting communism-all I want is for them to admit that they made mistakes in fighting the cold war, especially at the end of it. Hindsight is 20/20, and we can learn a lot from the mistakes and the right moves that were made back then.

[MrsBrady]

8. tell us how you really feel :) I agree n/t

[Parche]

9. Right Wing Heroes

Rumsfeld met with Saddam in the 80's

Rep Darrell Issa went to Syria last year

Reagan equipped Saddam with ammunition to fight against the Iranians, including
gas

Bush met with the Saudia terrorists last week

Cheney/Halliburton did business with Iran, when it was 'illegal'?

How soon they forget

:hi:

[notfullofit]

10. Did you see this...?

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:59:18 AM by Noumenon
Sig line: "(The only thing that prevents liberals from loading us all into cattle cars is the power to do it)"

What a mindset.

[flvegan]

12. "...smart enough not to trust a drunk."

Yet, look who they trusted to run their country for the last (going on) 8 years.

[Radio_Lady]

14. LOL, flvegan. Maybe someone ought to suggest that his legacy should be...

Bush's brain. I know it's the name of a very interesting book, but I'm talking about his ACTUAL gray matter.
Leave it for others to dissect once he's dead.

[spanone]

17. please don't smear their feces on the screen.....Yuck!!!!