How Cheney-esque...

We're all Dick Cheney now. Especially the White House:

In an oped in USA Today, John Brennan -- Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism -- responds to critics of the Obama administration's counterterrorism policies by saying "Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda."

Now if this was still the Bush Administration (and in so many ways it is), and someone in said Administration had made such a remark (and I believe a few of them did just that), we'd have been treated to howls of "crushing dissent" and whatnot from the likes of KOS, Andrew Sullivan, Steve Benen, Josh Marshall and a cast of thousands in less than 15 seconds. When the Obama Administration does it? Well, not so much. Seems that lot is busy elsewhere at the moment.

Yeah, I'm shocked, too.

In the words of that most dangerous of demagogues: How's hopey changey working out for ya?

Comments

[David]

I have this theory that Drew Sullivan, like Paul McCartney, died. The death was covered up. Now, at the offices of The Atlantic, there's a computer that generates this content in conformance with what the editors there want. The name of the computer? RAWMUSCLEGLUTES

[Progressive White Liberal, Who's Not Gay At All (Not that there's anything wrong with that)]

If criticizing this administration actually benefited Al Qaeda, this adminsitration would encourage it...

[kansas]

You know Obama is defeating AQ because he is ignoring them don't you? And ignoring people that kill you makes them go away. I think a gay guy named Peter Beinart, no pun intended, said that.

[Robert]

[Homophone! tho' I don't get it]

No equivalence. Bush's dissenters protested with sit-ins, movies, music, CNN reports and NYT headlines that he was taking too many counterterrorism measures. Obama's critics opine in USA Today, blogs and talk radio that he's doing too little.

That dissent and aiding the enemy thing doesn't work both ways. The WH really does think we're stoopid.

[Robert]

Only thing we have to fear is unfounded fear-mongering itself doesn't have the same ring to it

[Dennis The Peasant]

I say it's time to break out the giant paper-mache heads and clown shoes and protest Obama's attempts at crushing dissent.

[Randy Rager]

Hmmm. Might be a very effective bit of street theater. After all, everyone knows that the Right is completely lacking in imagination and therefore incapable of doing something as artistic as fooling around with paper-mache. That arm of the DLC, the MSM, just might mistake us for one of their own and put the message out for us.

It's got a certain appeal...

[Lefty]

The actual quote in context from Brennan's op-ed. Jake Tapper is a wanker. Always has been.

"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."

And how the hopey changey thing workin out for us? Just fine, thanks for asking.

[Randy Rager]

I dare say everyone here has already read the whole quote, thanks. All you've done by providing it is reinforce the point Dennis was making. Not that you needed to, because we've already read it. Being well informed, and all.

But you just go on thinking that if only we knew the truth we'd agree with you!. After all, it's worked so well for you guys in the past.

[Uncle Fester]

"Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering..."

When I first started reading it, I thought it was the Democrat Mission Statement.

[Eric Blair]

anon is Markg8, I'm sure.

[Randy Rager]

"How's that being a total asshole working for you?"

Just fine, thanks for asking.

[Shower Stalls]

his name suits him.