Former CIA Chief: Republicans Are Worse than ISIS

 

A journalist tweeted this out.

I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close.

So, this professional media operative must be aware of ISIS, the Taliban, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Janjaweed, Al Qaida (remember them?), the Shining Path… Pick any terror group in this twerp’s lifetimes; and American Republicans are worse.  Heck, this means Republicans are worse than Vladimir Putin.

Is it bad that General Michael Hayden, the Director of the CIA under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, agrees.

I agree. And I was the CIA Director.

This guy just said a third of his countrymen were “nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible.” Still think the Deep State doesn’t hate you?

Mike Pence reaffirmed his support for the Deep State. David A. French thinks this makes him a most excellent presidential prospect. (Because that Ron DeSantis person is just plain too Trumpy.)

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  1. Douglas Pratt Coolidge
    Douglas Pratt
    @DouglasPratt

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Republicans are evil and stupid. Democrats care about you. That’s the message, and they hammer it constantly. Or as Roger Zelazny said, “So they play that on their fascist banjos, eh?”

    Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny, 1967. A fine novel. From a dialogue between the protagonist and the hit man sent to (unsuccessfully) assassinate him.

    One of the authors on my obsession list. I dearly love his insidious puns. “You came to Heaven without a fortune? Unfortunate.” “I stuck my hand in the niche, hoping offhandedly it wasn’t booby-trapped.” And of course, spending half a chapter setting up a minor character so he could write, “Then the fit hit the Shan.”

    Now I remember why I don’t read Zelazny.

    I can forgive your literary taste since you like cats.

    I’m fine. How much A. Bertram Chandler have you read?

    I prefer Raymond. Or Rex Stout.

    • #61
  2. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Republicans are evil and stupid. Democrats care about you. That’s the message, and they hammer it constantly. Or as Roger Zelazny said, “So they play that on their fascist banjos, eh?”

    Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny, 1967. A fine novel. From a dialogue between the protagonist and the hit man sent to (unsuccessfully) assassinate him.

    One of the authors on my obsession list. I dearly love his insidious puns. “You came to Heaven without a fortune? Unfortunate.” “I stuck my hand in the niche, hoping offhandedly it wasn’t booby-trapped.” And of course, spending half a chapter setting up a minor character so he could write, “Then the fit hit the Shan.”

    Now I remember why I don’t read Zelazny.

    The problem with puns is that they can interfere with the storytelling. “The the fit hit the Shan” seems like a good example of this, as it appears in a very serious dramatic scene, not some light comedy.

    • #62
  3. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Republicans are evil and stupid. Democrats care about you. That’s the message, and they hammer it constantly. Or as Roger Zelazny said, “So they play that on their fascist banjos, eh?”

    Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny, 1967. A fine novel. From a dialogue between the protagonist and the hit man sent to (unsuccessfully) assassinate him.

    One of the authors on my obsession list. I dearly love his insidious puns. “You came to Heaven without a fortune? Unfortunate.” “I stuck my hand in the niche, hoping offhandedly it wasn’t booby-trapped.” And of course, spending half a chapter setting up a minor character so he could write, “Then the fit hit the Shan.”

    Now I remember why I don’t read Zelazny.

    The problem with puns is that they can interfere with the storytelling. “The the fit hit the Shan” seems like a good example of this, as it appears in a very serious dramatic scene, not some light comedy.

    That’s a lot of it, especially in his case.  Stuff like that, especially after a deliberate pages-long setup, would have me throwing the book across the room, hopefully into a lit fireplace.  (Because I probably can’t return the book for a refund.)

    My larger problem with Zelazny, though, is that he basically writes only fantasy.  Even his “science-fiction” is really mostly fantasy.  And I have no interest in fantasy.

    • #63
  4. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Republicans are evil and stupid. Democrats care about you. That’s the message, and they hammer it constantly. Or as Roger Zelazny said, “So they play that on their fascist banjos, eh?”

    Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny, 1967. A fine novel. From a dialogue between the protagonist and the hit man sent to (unsuccessfully) assassinate him.

    One of the authors on my obsession list. I dearly love his insidious puns. “You came to Heaven without a fortune? Unfortunate.” “I stuck my hand in the niche, hoping offhandedly it wasn’t booby-trapped.” And of course, spending half a chapter setting up a minor character so he could write, “Then the fit hit the Shan.”

    Now I remember why I don’t read Zelazny.

    The problem with puns is that they can interfere with the storytelling. “The the fit hit the Shan” seems like a good example of this, as it appears in a very serious dramatic scene, not some light comedy.

    That’s a lot of it, especially in his case. Stuff like that, especially after a deliberate pages-long setup, would have me throwing the book across the room, hopefully into a lit fireplace. (Because I probably can’t return the book for a refund.)

    My larger problem with Zelazny, though, is that he basically writes only fantasy. Even his “science-fiction” is really mostly fantasy. And I have no interest in fantasy.

    Over half, I suppose, although I’ve never counted. But on the bright side, his fantasy stories (like his science fiction stories) were often exceptional, far above the norm both in stylistic excellence and in innovative themes. And of course style is essential: Without excellence in prose style a storyteller’s stories will be far less than they might be, and we should honor Zelazny for this.

    • #64
  5. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    The whole point of making “Republicans are ISIS” statements (and Hayden is certainly not the only one saying such things) is to make disagreement with the regime grounds for rounding people up and imprisoning or executing them.

    That’s where this leads.

    • #65
  6. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    The whole point of making “Republicans are ISIS” statements (and Hayden is certainly not the only one saying such things) is to make disagreement with the regime grounds for rounding people up and imprisoning or executing them.

    That’s where this leads.

    Which is why I changed my party affiliation to “unaffiliated” recently. I’m sure my political preferences are discoverable anyway and I won’t be made to lie, but becoming “independent” is more truthful at this point anyway. Republicans — especially of the Cheney, Romney, Bush variety — are pretty uniformly a disappointment. Putting it mildly. 

    • #66
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    The whole point of making “Republicans are ISIS” statements (and Hayden is certainly not the only one saying such things) is to make disagreement with the regime grounds for rounding people up and imprisoning or executing them.

    That’s where this leads.

    Which is why I changed my party affiliation to “unaffiliated” recently. I’m sure my political preferences are discoverable anyway and I won’t be made to lie, but becoming “independent” is more truthful at this point anyway. Republicans — especially of the Cheney, Romney, Bush variety — are pretty uniformly a disappointment. Putting it mildly.

    As long as you can still vote in Republican primaries, I don’t suppose it matters very much.

    • #67
  8. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    The whole point of making “Republicans are ISIS” statements (and Hayden is certainly not the only one saying such things) is to make disagreement with the regime grounds for rounding people up and imprisoning or executing them.

    That’s where this leads.

    Also grounds for dismissing out-of-hand everything we say. And for depriving us of the right to speak, the right to organize, and so on.

    • #68
  9. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    The whole point of making “Republicans are ISIS” statements (and Hayden is certainly not the only one saying such things) is to make disagreement with the regime grounds for rounding people up and imprisoning or executing them.

    That’s where this leads.

    Also grounds for dismissing out-of-hand everything we say. And for depriving us of the right to speak, the right to organize, and so on.

    In the name of “Democracy”.

    • #69
  10. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    Sisyphus (View Comment):

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    The whole point of making “Republicans are ISIS” statements (and Hayden is certainly not the only one saying such things) is to make disagreement with the regime grounds for rounding people up and imprisoning or executing them.

    That’s where this leads.

    Also grounds for dismissing out-of-hand everything we say. And for depriving us of the right to speak, the right to organize, and so on.

    In the name of “Democracy”.

    Well, if it’s “democracy” then we clearly cannot object to it.

    • #70
  11. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Where are all the people chastising me for prediticng a civil war? Where are the people to tell me I am being paranoid? Where is the snark?

    They are very disappointing. 

    • #71
  12. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Where are all the people chastising me for prediticng a civil war? Where are the people to tell me I am being paranoid? Where is the snark?

    They are very disappointing.

    They just can’t believe it can happen here. But, the Left is relentless.

    • #72
  13. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Where are all the people chastising me for prediticng a civil war? Where are the people to tell me I am being paranoid? Where is the snark?

    They are very disappointing.

    They just can’t believe it can happen here. But, the Left is relentless.

    Yeah, but here we are! 

    Demonization of groups proceeds worse things being done to them. That is how it works. Now, the worse things don’t always follow, but they never happen without the demonization first. 

    • #73
  14. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

     

    • #74
  15. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

     

    “Being called a socialist and a communist is on par with being called evil.” made me LOL. Because it’s true! The difference between Right and Left being, communism and socialism *actually are* evil ideologies responsible for mass murder in the 20th century and much suffering in the 21st.

    Make America Great Again is a call to hold American government to her founding principles of ordered liberty. It may be many things, but it is NOT evil.

    • #75
  16. Dave of Barsham Member
    Dave of Barsham
    @LesserSonofBarsham

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Where are all the people chastising me for prediticng a civil war? Where are the people to tell me I am being paranoid? Where is the snark?

    They are very disappointing.

    They just can’t believe it can happen here. But, the Left is relentless.

    Yeah, but here we are!

    Demonization of groups proceeds worse things being done to them. That is how it works. Now, the worse things don’t always follow, but they never happen without the demonization first.

    During the lead up to Trump’s election I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker about this. It was during the popular “punch a Nazi” thing that was going around. She couldn’t quite grasp why you don’t go around doing that since even at the time Antifa was just calling people they didn’t like Nazi’s and threatening violence. “Who care’s? If they’re Nazis they deserve it.”  She could not grasp that it meant anyone could be labeled a Nazi and violence be justified against them, and I’m afraid that disconnect is going to be true of a lot of our countrymen, even if they’re not going to be the ones doing the punching.

    • #76
  17. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Dave of Barsham (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Where are all the people chastising me for prediticng a civil war? Where are the people to tell me I am being paranoid? Where is the snark?

    They are very disappointing.

    They just can’t believe it can happen here. But, the Left is relentless.

    Yeah, but here we are!

    Demonization of groups proceeds worse things being done to them. That is how it works. Now, the worse things don’t always follow, but they never happen without the demonization first.

    During the lead up to Trump’s election I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker about this. It was during the popular “punch a Nazi” thing that was going around. She couldn’t quite grasp why you don’t go around doing that since even at the time Antifa was just calling people they didn’t like Nazi’s and threatening violence. “Who care’s? If they’re Nazis they deserve it.” She could not grasp that it meant anyone could be labeled a Nazi and violence be justified against them, and I’m afraid that disconnect is going to be true of a lot of our countrymen, even if they’re not going to be the ones doing the punching.

    The demonization and hatred expands to the destruction of the country, or, as some might say, “the republic.” If America is inherently racist, sexist, bigoted, homophobic, Islamophobic, xenophobic, racist and all around intolerant, — in other words “evil” — what wouldn’t you do to destroy it?

    What the Left (and Liz Cheney and co.) think about people like Donald Trump being an existential threat to the Republic is the opposite of the truth. MAGA is the opposite of leftism. There is nothing SIXHIRB about making America Great Again. No one cares about your race or sexuality if you’re on board with that agenda. 

    • #77
  18. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    • #78
  19. Dave of Barsham Member
    Dave of Barsham
    @LesserSonofBarsham

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    It’s a little unbelievable how far this has come in just ten years. Even during the Cold War where it was thought (and later found not to be unfounded) communists were seeded everywhere. Now these people view nearly half the country as enemies in that same vein, and they hold an insane amount of power, influence, or both in the government. I’m not sure how any of this deescalates.

    • #79
  20. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Is anyone going to sit Hayden down for an interview and have him explain how his statements aren’t murderous and seditious?

    Or does nobody in the Journo class care? And what about our elected officials? Surely this deserves at least a “hearing”?

    • #80
  21. Dave of Barsham Member
    Dave of Barsham
    @LesserSonofBarsham

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Is anyone going to sit Hayden down for an interview and have him explain how his statements aren’t murderous and seditious?

    Or does nobody in the Journo class care? And what about our elected officials? Surely this deserves at least a “hearing”?

    I think at the “elite” level this is just conventional wisdom now. If you supported Trump, or any polices of Trump (even if they were simply Republican policies before his presidency), then you’re “dangerous to democracy,” etc…   The government’s institutions are now openly and actively turning themselves against one of the two major parties in our country and political leaders of the opposing party are speaking of their opponents (or at least their constituents) in terms like “terrorist,” “insurrectionist,” and “dangerous,” all while ignoring violence, lawlessness, and intimidation from their own side. This isn’t a policy dispute anymore, or a mere difference of opinion about things. Again, I’m not sure how this gets resolved in a way that people assume things “always” have.

    • #81
  22. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    The funny part is, though he’s ostensibly a Republican, I don’t think this bothers McConnell at all. You’d think these RINOs would object to being called terrorists by the CIA, but for some reason it doesn’t seem to bother them. Now why is that?

    • #82
  23. Dave of Barsham Member
    Dave of Barsham
    @LesserSonofBarsham

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    The funny part is, though he’s ostensibly a Republican, I don’t think this bothers McConnell at all. You’d think these RINOs would object to being called terrorists by the CIA, but for some reason it doesn’t seem to bother them. Now why is that?

    Well, they fall into that “elite” category though. They openly dislike or oppose Trump/DeSantis type politicians and their constituents so they aren’t one of “them.” (or at least I think that’s what’s going on)

    • #83
  24. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Dave of Barsham (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    The funny part is, though he’s ostensibly a Republican, I don’t think this bothers McConnell at all. You’d think these RINOs would object to being called terrorists by the CIA, but for some reason it doesn’t seem to bother them. Now why is that?

    Well, they fall into that “elite” category though. They openly dislike or oppose Trump/DeSantis type politicians and their constituents so they aren’t one of “them.” (or at least I think that’s what’s going on)

    Oh, agreed. And that’s part of the big realignment where “Democrat vs. Republican” isn’t really the proper way to see things anymore. “Right vs Left” doesn’t really work either. We’re really right down to the very basic “Freedom vs. Tyranny.”

    McConnell, et al, are part of the “Tyrant Caucus.”

    • #84
  25. lowtech redneck Coolidge
    lowtech redneck
    @lowtech redneck

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Where are all the people chastising me for prediticng a civil war? Where are the people to tell me I am being paranoid? Where is the snark?

    They are very disappointing.

    They just can’t believe it can happen here. But, the Left is relentless.

    After 2020, where the the Woke Left (which includes corporate elites) was literally celebrating and promoting the largest terroristic hate movement since the 1920s Klan, they have no excuse except willful naivity (to put it kindly).

    • #85
  26. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Escalationary rhetoric — it’s everywhere.

    “You have millions of people turning into a propaganda network every night,” Cross said. “As if that were not bad enough, that’s an extremist network itself, you have these fringe pop-up outlets from OANN to Newsmax. Then you have the social media component. The train has left the station. There is no dealing with the rhetoric. At this point, we need serious conversations around preparing for actual violence. People keep saying a Civil War is coming. I would say the Civil War is here.”

    And the “conservatives” yelling at Bryan for pointing this out have no clue that there are targets on their backs.

    • #86
  27. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    The title of the post is misleading.  It says “Former CIA Chief:  Republicans are worse than ISIS.”

    But what Michael Hayden said was 

    “I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close.”

    I would edit Michael Hayden to say “Die Hard Trump Republicans.”

    • #87
  28. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    The title of the post is misleading. It says “Former CIA Chief: Republicans are worse than ISIS.”

    But what Michael Hayden said was

    “I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close.”

    I would edit Michael Hayden to say “Die Hard Trump Republicans.”

    LOL!

    You can try hard to rewrite what he said so it fits your programming, but he said what he said.

    “Today’s Republicans” include your girlfriend Lizzy, man. And if you are still claiming to be a Republican, it includes you.

    You really think you’re going to be safe from the coming pogrom, don’t you? EL OH EL!

    • #88
  29. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    The title of the post is misleading. It says “Former CIA Chief: Republicans are worse than ISIS.”

    But what Michael Hayden said was

    “I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close.”

    I would edit Michael Hayden to say “Die Hard Trump Republicans.”

    For the record, the bolded quote is what someone named Edward Luce said. Michael Hayden agreed with him in a separate tweet/reply.

    • #89
  30. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):
    You can try hard to rewrite what he said so it fits your programming, but he said what he said.

    I’m still baffled how Trump-Republicans are worse than ISIS, Al Qaeda, or the Khmer Rouge. 

    • #90
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