Trump is "a clear and present danger"

I

Ivan Seeking

Registered Senior Member
Just now, in an interview on CNN with Jake Tapper, Michael Hayden, retired United States Air Force four-star general and former Director of the National Security Agency, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency., one of the 50 GOP intelligence experts who signed the warning letter about Trump, just stated that Trump is a clear and present danger to the United States and the world.

He also specified that the group of 50 who signed the letter felt they needed to issue "a warning".

He also said that Trump's comment about the 2nd amendment people stopping the problem with Hillary's judges, would have anyone else being questioned in the back of a van by the Secret Service.



 
He also said that Trump's comment about the 2nd amendment people stopping the problem with Hillary's judges, would have anyone else being questioned in the back of a van by the Secret Service.
Click to expand...
That isn't true. There is a fairly long list of prominent Republican pundits and politicians and the like who have suggested "2nd Amendment solutions" in various language ("remedies") and pictorial evocations (cross hairs from a gun scope) to the problem of liberal politicians or inconvenient judges, without (apparently) coming under special scrutiny by the Secret Service. It's a familiar trope, in Republican Party political discourse.

Some people have objected, of course - and we have a thread on one manner in which the objections have been handled, by the major media: the objections have been labeled "politically correct", and accordingly dismissed.
 
Last edited:
iceaura said:
That isn't true. There is a fairly long list of prominent Republican pundits and politicians and the like who have suggested "2nd Amendment solutions" in various language ("remedies") and pictorial evocations (cross hairs from a gun scope) to the problem of liberal politicians or inconvenient judges, without (apparently) coming under special scrutiny by the Secret Service. It's a familiar trope, in Republican Party political discourse. .
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll believe you instead of him. But first, your credentials would be...? How many intelligence agencies have you run?
 
"STATEMENT BY FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS
The undersigned individuals have all served in senior national security
and/or foreign policy positions in Republican Administrations, from
Richard Nixon to George W. Bush. We have worked directly on
national security issues with these Republican Presidents and/or their
principal advisers during wartime and other periods of crisis, through
successes and failures. We know the personal qualities required of a
President of the United States.

None of us will vote for Donald Trump.

From a foreign policy perspective, Donald Trump is not qualified to be
President and Commander-in-Chief. Indeed, we are convinced that he
would be a dangerous President and would put at risk our country’s
national security and well-being.

Most fundamentally, Mr. Trump lacks the character, values, and
experience to be President. He weakens U.S. moral authority as the
leader of the free world. He appears to lack basic knowledge about and
belief in the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws, and U.S. institutions,
including religious tolerance, freedom of the press, and an independent
judiciary.

In addition, Mr. Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he has little
understanding of America’s vital national interests, its complex
diplomatic challenges, its indispensable alliances, and the democratic
values on which U.S. foreign policy must be based. At the same time,
he persistently compliments our adversaries and threatens our allies and
friends. Unlike previous Presidents who had limited experience in
foreign affairs, Mr. Trump has shown no interest in educating
himself. He continues to display an alarming ignorance of basic facts of
contemporary international politics. Despite his lack of knowledge, Mr.
Trump claims that he understands foreign affairs and “knows more
about ISIS than the generals do.”
StatementofFormerNationalSecurityOfficials.docx

Mr. Trump lacks the temperament to be President. In our experience, a
President must be willing to listen to his advisers and department heads;
must encourage consideration of conflicting views; and must
acknowledge errors and learn from them. A President must be
disciplined, control emotions, and act only after reflection and careful
deliberation. A President must maintain cordial relationships with
leaders of countries of different backgrounds and must have their respect
and trust.

In our judgment, Mr. Trump has none of these critical qualities. He is
unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not
encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts
impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our
closest allies with his erratic behavior. All of these are dangerous
qualities in an individual who aspires to be President and Commanderin-
Chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

We understand that many Americans are profoundly frustrated with the
federal government and its inability to solve pressing domestic and
international problems. We also know that many have doubts about
Hillary Clinton, as do many of us. But Donald Trump is not the answer
to America’s daunting challenges and to this crucial election.

We are convinced that in the Oval Office, he would be the most reckless
President in American history.

Donald B. Ayer
Former Deputy Attorney General
John B. Bellinger III
Former Legal Adviser to the Department of State; former Legal Adviser
to the National Security Council, The White House
StatementofFormerNationalSecurityOfficials.docx
Robert Blackwill
Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Planning, The
White House
Michael Chertoff
Former Secretary of Homeland Security; former Assistant Attorney
General for the Criminal Division, Department of Justice
Eliot A. Cohen
Former Counselor of the Department of State
Eric Edelman
Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; former National Security
Advisor to the Vice President, The White House
Gary Edson
Former Deputy National Security Advisor, The White House
Richard Falkenrath
Former Deputy Homeland Security Advisor, The White House
Peter Feaver
Former Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security
Council, The White House
Richard Fontaine
Former Associate Director for Near East Affairs, National Security
Council, The White House
Jendayi Frazer
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
African Affairs; former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
StatementofFormerNationalSecurityOfficials.docx
Aaron Friedberg
Former Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President, The
White House
David Gordon
Former Director of Policy Planning, Department of State
Michael Green
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia,
National Security Council, The White House
Brian Gunderson
Former Chief of Staff, Department of State
Paul Haenle
Former Director for China and Taiwan, National Security Council, The
White House
Michael Hayden
Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency; former Director, National
Security Agency
Carla A. Hills
Former U.S. Trade Representative
John Hillen
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
William Inboden
Former Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security
Council, The White House
StatementofFormerNationalSecurityOfficials.docx
Reuben Jeffery III
Former Under Secretary of State for Economic Energy and Agricultural
Affairs; former Special Assistant to the President for International
Economic Affairs, National Security Council, The White House
James Jeffrey
Former Deputy National Security Advisor, The White House
Ted Kassinger
Former Deputy Secretary of Commerce
David Kramer
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and
Labor
James Langdon
Former Chairman, President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, The
White House
Peter Lichtenbaum
Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration
Mary Beth Long
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Clay Lowery
Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs;
former Director for International Finance, National Security Council,
The White House
Robert McCallum
Former Associate Attorney General; former Ambassador to Australia
StatementofFormerNationalSecurityOfficials.docx
Richard Miles
Former Director for North America, National Security Council, The
White House
Andrew Natsios
Former Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
John Negroponte
Former Director of National Intelligence; former Deputy Secretary of
State; former Deputy National Security Advisor
Meghan O’Sullivan
Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan
Dan Price
Former Deputy National Security Advisor
Tom Ridge
Former Secretary of Homeland Security; former Assistant to the
President for Homeland Security, The White House; former Governor of
Pennsylvania
Nicholas Rostow
Former Legal Adviser to the National Security Council, The White
House
Kori Schake
Former Director for Defense Strategy, National Security Council, The
White House
Kristen Silverberg
Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations
StatementofFormerNationalSecurityOfficials.docx
Stephen Slick
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
Intelligence Programs, National Security Council, The White House
Shirin R. Tahir-Kheli
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
Democracy, Human Rights and International Operations, National
Security Council, The White House; former Ambassador and Senior
Advisor for Women’s Empowerment, Department of State
William H. Taft IV
Former Deputy Secretary of Defense; former Ambassador to NATO
Larry D. Thompson
Former Deputy Attorney General
William Tobey
Former Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security
Administration, Department of Energy; former Director for Counter-
Proliferation Strategy, National Security Council, The White House
John Veroneau
Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
Kenneth Wainstein
Former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism, The White House; former Assistant Attorney General
for National Security, Department of Justice
Matthew Waxman
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; former Director for
Contingency Planning and International Justice, National Security
Council, The White House
StatementofFormerNationalSecurityOfficials.docx"
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3007589/Nationalsecurityletter.pdf
 
MICHAEL HAYDEN: Look, we gotta call balls and strikes the way we see them, alright? We all felt strongly enough about what we believe to be a clear and present danger, that we felt compelled to say what we said...
JAKE TAPPER: You just called Donald Trump a clear and present danger.
MICHAEL HAYDEN: Well, if he governs in any way close to the language that he has used in the campaign, I fear for our future.
Click to expand...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vi...and_present_danger_i_fear_for_our_future.html
 
For some reason which I can probably explain, my mind is going over, and over, the song Dirty Creature by Split Enz.

Yes folks, Donald J is that Dirty Creature--the song was written by the brothers Finn, and obviously it's about the bogeyman.
Just to recap:

Dirty Creature come my way, from the bottom of a big black lake
Shuffles up to my window, making sure I'm awake
'S prob'ly gonna pick my brain, got me in a vice-like grip
--He said, "One slip, you're dead, ha!"

Dirty Creature of habit, little horror here to stay
Anyone in his right mind, would tell it to go away!
But the river of dread runs deep, full of unspeakable things
The Creature don't mess around, I don't wanna mess with him

I don't wanna sail, I don't wanna sail
I don't wanna, I don't wanna sail tonight . . .
Even as we speak the Dirty Creature springs a nasty surprise!

Screenshot from 2016-08-10 14:13:09.png​

Sorry, Split Enz is sorta close to my heart, being from Hamilton which is just up the road (as we say) from Te Awamutu.
 
Don Lemon, CNN anchor, just got into a yelling match with a Trump supporter, a former secret service agent, over the interpretation of Trumps comments in regard to the 2nd A people. Lemon was calling him a liar. :D Lemon's basic point was that we're not stupid. Trump clearly said what he said no matter how you try to spin it.

David Gergen who is a highly respected former advisor to 4 Presidents, a Republican, calls this a dog whistle for people who want to overthrow the government. He isn't mincing words.

In fact, the Secret Service has noted his comments and publically said so. That was a clear warning.

Trump is friendly with Putin, has advisors with interests in Russia, and plays games with notions of killing a US President?
 
Ivan said:
Okay, I'll believe you instead of him.
Click to expand...
Why not just check the relevant facts? Then you don't have to "believe" anybody.

Such as Sara Palin - Republican candidate for President one step removed from an old guy with medical issues - publishing a compendium of photographs of various significant candidates for office overlaid with the crosshairs of a rifle scope, centered.

All you have to do is search the net for "2nd amendment solutions remedies responses" or something - this has been a fairly common Republican trope.

The Donald is not saying anything that mainstream, ordinary, respected, upper echelon Republican pundits and politicians haven't been saying for decades now. He's just plain and vulgar, none of this pussyfooting around.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
Just now, in an interview on CNN with Jake Tapper, Michael Hayden, retired United States Air Force four-star general and former Director of the National Security Agency, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency., one of the 50 GOP intelligence experts who signed the warning letter about Trump, just stated that Trump is a clear and present danger to the United States and the world.

He also specified that the group of 50 who signed the letter felt they needed to issue "a warning".

He also said that Trump's comment about the 2nd amendment people stopping the problem with Hillary's judges, would have anyone else being questioned in the back of a van by the Secret Service.


Click to expand...
Why worry let him win he will be impeached in his first year , and so the VP will be the president .
 
That isn't true. There is a fairly long list of prominent Republican pundits and politicians and the like who have suggested "2nd Amendment solutions" in various language ("remedies") and pictorial evocations (cross hairs from a gun scope) to the problem of liberal politicians or inconvenient judges, without (apparently) coming under special scrutiny by the Secret Service. It's a familiar trope, in Republican Party political discourse.
Click to expand...

We hold presidential candidates to a higher standard than talk radio pundits. Secret service personel have already emphasized this. You don't send out dog whistles to anti-tyranny gun nuts in campaign speeches about taking out the opposing candidate. It isn't done. It's verboten. A no no..What else needs to be said?
 
We hold presidential candidates to a higher standard than talk radio pundits
Click to expand...
The Republican base does not. As the popularity of Sara "cross hairs" Palin, George W Bush, and Ronald Reagan, demonstrated long ago.
You don't send out dog whistles to anti-tyranny gun nuts in campaign speeches about taking out the opposing candidate. It isn't done. It's verboten. A no no..What else needs to be said?
Click to expand...
That it hasn't been "verboten" for a long time. Not for Republicans, or their media operations. It's been tolerated, in steadily more flagrant and blatant forms, for decades now.
timojin said:
Why worry let him win he will be impeached in his first year , -
Click to expand...
By whom? For what?
 
That it hasn't been "verboten" for a long time. Not for Republicans, or their media operations. It's been tolerated, in steadily more flagrant and blatant forms, for decades now.
Click to expand...

Go ahead and supply us with those quotes then. I'd be interested in how such candidates' calls for assassination slipped under the radar of the media and the secret service and the FBI...
 
billvon said:
Ah. So you do not understand what dog-whistle politics is.
Click to expand...

Was it claimed that they were dog whistled? I must've missed that part..Here's the part I didn't miss:

"It's been tolerated, in steadily more flagrant and blatant forms, for decades now."
 
Ivan Seeking said:
http://news.trust.org/item/20160810190438-h1647/
Click to expand...
They also looked into the many, many past instances of that kind of threat - like this from 1994: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/23/us/helms-takes-new-swipe-at-clinton-then-calls-it-mistake.html .

We have no evidence that anyone - even one time, one person - in the decades of increasingly flagrant deployment of such threats by major Republican politicians and pundits, has ever spent any time being " questioned in the back of a van, by the Secret Service".

We have no evidence that any of those Republican politicians and pundits suffered any serious bad consequences whatsoever, personal or professional. In fact many seem to have benefitted, and continued their public careers in good standing with their Party, the press, and white men 35-65. That actually justifies a bit stronger term than the moderate, conservative, wishy-washy term "tolerated" - approval and benefit is supported by the facts.

They "had conversations" with one of Trump's flunkies? Good for them. Maybe the Donald will tone it down a bit. Or maybe not - the Tribe has a hero now, and it's hard to resist the temptation to play the hero.
 
Last edited:
Why isn't it a surprise that, when asked to comment about the latest (or any) Trump dump, "many people are saying" it was a joke?
These many people who are saying that, have said it before, so how do they know?

Do they know because, they know all his jokes already?
Wait, wait, I think I'm starting to get it. Everything he says or does is a joke, right? Am I right?
A bad joke, a really bad joke, believe me.
 
Last edited:
WASHINGTON — John Negroponte, a career diplomat who served under three Republican administrations and as the first director of national intelligence, has endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
Former US Air Force Secretary Michael Donley has, too, according the Clinton campaign. Donley was appointed to the position by President George W. Bush and also served under President Barack Obama. In his 38 years in the national security community, Donley said, it was the first time he was publicly endorsing a candidate.
Click to expand...

“In this election cycle, there is no doubt that Secretary Clinton is the candidate best prepared to perform the president's duties as chief executive, head of state, and commander in chief,” Donley said. “Her deep experience in public service, even temperament, willingness to listen to others and unifying message stands in stark contrast with Donald Trump, who has sown divisiveness at home, confused our allies abroad and shown repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, judgment, character and common decency the American people deserve and should expect in their leadership."
Click to expand...
http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...lary-clinton-negroponte-donley-bush/88513482/
 
Know your sources:
Michael Hayden is employed by the chertoff group which is part of the mic.
Hillary hawk is a war monger, Trump might break their rice bowls, so, of course they will try to use scare tactics to insure that they continue to get rich off of war, death, and destruction.

He said: "Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's proposed military cuts... entail a great deal of risk," says Gen. Michael Hayden, the former head of both the National Security Agency and the CIA.

"The first instinct I had was, well, I'm glad I'm not in government anymore..."

This is the same nsa that spied on americans in america. I'm glad that he isn't in government anymore too. Now if he would just stfu...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top