Republicans make words

Republicans put words together and call it a speech or a "communications" of some sort, but seldom does it make much sense or have very much to do with the facts of an issue. But it's okay - it makes them feel important and it appeals to other stupid people as well.

From Think Progress

Mitch McConnell On Boston Bombings: Americans Have Become Complacent About Terrorism
By Ben Armbruster on Apr 16, 2013 at 11:20 am

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday commemorating the Boston Marathon attacks said that some Americans have become complacent about terrorism in such a way that is reminiscent to the time before the 9/11 attacks:

    MCCONNELL: On 9/11 we forever disabused of the notion that attacks, like the one that rocked Boston yesterday, only happen on the field of battle or in distant countries. With the passage of time, however, and the vigilant efforts of our military, intelligence and law enforcement professionals, I think it's safe to say that for many, the complacency that prevailed prior to September 11th has actually returned. And so we are newly reminded that serious threats to our way of life remain. And today again we recommit ourselves to the fight against terrorism at home and abroad.

Watch the clip: [follow link above to source site]

It's unclear exactly who McConnell is saying has become complacent regarding terrorism. If he's referring to the U.S. government, intelligence and military officials have thwarted a number of attacks on the United States since 9/11. And the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday that U.S. counterterrorism efforts have all but wiped out the al-Qaeda network founded by Osama bin Laden. Alternatively, is McConnell suggesting that "complacency" by ordinary Americans somehow contributed to the attack?

Internal terrorism

You don't have to be smart to be a terrorist

A noble cause

From Acerbic Politics

What's with the terrorists?

I hadn't heard this story and I guess I'm reading it a day late on Carolina Naturally - click he link to read more.

Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan has had it with the repugican's political games over national security. And, he's been calling them out for it:

Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda. Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. They will, however, be dismantled and destroyed, by our military, our intelligence services and our law enforcement community. And the notion that America's counterterrorism professionals and America's system of justice are unable to handle these murderous miscreants is absurd.

Riddle me this...

Q: What's the goal of terrorists?

A: To terrify.

Q: What was Dick Cheney's response to the failed Christmas Day attack?

A: To claim that Americans should be terrified.

Posted by Jed Lewison over on Daily Kos
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Truer words...

“Think of what it took for the father, one of the most respected bankers in Nigeria, to walk into the American embassy and turn in his own son. The father’s a hero. His visit by itself should have been enough to set off all kinds of alarms."
—Thomas H. Kean, chairman of the 9/11 commission, on Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, whose son is charged with trying to blow up an American jetliner.

(Seen on the NY Times web site - 1/5/2010

Republican terrorist warning chart explained

From Acerbic Politics

Dana Perino On Terrorism

Apparently the attacks on the U.S. during President Bush's term, on September 11, 2001, were such a small event that they aren't even worth taking into account. Just more evidence of the stupidity of those on the right.

Internal Terrorism (News) (Commentary)

With all of the fears foisted upon us by the Bush administration, we have become a jumpy nation. Among them were: the “terror alert system” with all of it’s colors and dire warnings; the big bad wolf scare (bin Laden’s gonna get ya); and the torture scare – we’ve got to torture the enemy to avoid the catastrophic attack (even though no evidence has ever been presented to us of another imminent, major plan).

But it all turns out that our worst enemy might be us. Surprise, surprise.

From ABC News - click the link to read more...

When it comes to fears about a terrorist attack, people in the U.S. usually focus on Osama bin Laden and foreign-based radical groups. Yet researchers say domestic extremists who commit violence in the name of their cause, abortion or the environment for example, account for most of the damage from such incidents in this country.

These homegrown groups are seven times more likely than overseas groups to commit some kind of violence in the United States, a panel reported Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Did You Know - Crazy in Alabama

My mother had a theory about why there was always persistent fighting and political unrest in the mid-east. She said it was due to the constant heat. Her claim was founded on the belief that people who are too warm all of the time lose their patience and start acting ugly. Do you suppose that could be true? Do you suppose it could also explain some of the less-than-rational behavior of many Americans who live in the south?

From the Los Angeles Times...

The Alabama Department of Homeland Security has taken down a website it operated that included gay-rights and antiwar organizations in a list of groups that could include terrorists.

The website identified different types of terrorists and included a list of groups it suggested could spawn terrorists. The list also included environmentalists, animal rights advocates and abortion opponents.

Fun Political Stuff