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highplainsdem

(49,004 posts)
Sun Oct 6, 2019, 08:48 PM Oct 2019

John Brennan Says CIA Would Now Assess the United States as 'Very Corrupt': 'No Longer a Democracy'

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/john-brennan-says-cia-would-now-asses-the-united-states-as-very-corrupt-its-no-longer-a-democracy/


Former CIA Director John Brennan argued the CIA would view the U.S. under Donald Trump’s administration as “very corrupt” and under the control of an “autocrat.”

“One of the things I used to do when I had to travel overseas professionally is read those CIA, the public fact sheets and CIA descriptions of politics and what’s happening in that country. How would the CIA assess the stability of the American government right now?” Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd asked NBC analyst Brennan Sunday.

“We would look at it as a very corrupt government that is under the sway right now of this powerful individual who has been able to just corrupt the institutions and the laws of that country,” Brennan responded. “It’s no longer a democracy if an autocrat has it in his hands, and people like [Ron] Johnson and others are putty in his hand.”

-snip-

“There is just tremendous political instability here, which is consuming the government now. It’s not able to take care of the issues that it need to address, whether it be on the domestic front or the foreign policy front. So yes, I think there is a real question about the stability,” Brennan said about the country.

-snip-



Video at the link.
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sandensea

(21,639 posts)
3. Only a depression could do that, sadly. Or a MASSIVE leak of all GOP crimes since Reagan.
Sun Oct 6, 2019, 11:19 PM
Oct 2019

And even then, half of that same group would deny their own eyes.

But they'd be down to 20% - a manageable, if radicalized, fringe.

William Seger

(10,778 posts)
5. We can't; we need to focus on getting the other 58% to the polls
Sun Oct 6, 2019, 11:29 PM
Oct 2019

Some may figure it out for themselves, but remember very few people peeled of from the David Koresh, Jim Jones, and Scientology cults. We're in a fight for the 20% in the middle, and we need to convince them that we can and must kick Trump to the curb. Fortunately, he's making it easier every day.

Midnightwalk

(3,131 posts)
2. We need our allies to say the same.
Sun Oct 6, 2019, 09:06 PM
Oct 2019

No chance that will happen in the UK under Boris and any government that spoke out would risk retaliation from trump but we need our friends and allies to speak out.

The anti democratic moves by trump, using foreign policy for political and personal profit is the gravest danger to world stability and peace with the possible exception of global warming.

The time to act is now, but we’re hardly giving a good example.

Pepsidog

(6,254 posts)
4. Wow he is absolutely right. We can't even have confidence the next election won't be rigged. Our
Sun Oct 6, 2019, 11:20 PM
Oct 2019

biggest problem isn’t Trump or even Republicans, it’s Fox. If Fox discards Trump and reports the truth then he and the Republicans are finished.

DemocracyMouse

(2,275 posts)
8. Perhaps you haven't heard. Murdoch Jr is now on charge of Fox
Sun Oct 6, 2019, 11:48 PM
Oct 2019

and he's giving the folks more inclined to deal with the facts much more latitude

Pepsidog

(6,254 posts)
9. I did hear Lachlan Murdoch was in charge and didn't have much interest in news.His brother James's
Mon Oct 7, 2019, 12:02 AM
Oct 2019

wife just gave $100 million in PR stunt. I hope you are correct. Fox has destroyed the country. And as as a SIE the HBO show Secession about a fictional media mogul (the Murdochs) the 8th episode Rupert’s fictional brother on the show said before an awards scene that history would judge him worse than Hitler for the carnage climate change denial he promoted will cause. The show is about the Roy family who owns a multi-national media empire that is for all accounts Fox. The Roy clan is headed by Logan Roy from Scotland aka Rupert from Australia and his 4 scheming kids who maneuver for control of the empire. It’s a great show and a total repudiation of Murdoch and Fox. Bottom line is Fox runs the country.

Pepsidog

(6,254 posts)
15. No it is written by Jesse Armstrong who write a screenplay about Murdoch and family but couldn't get
Mon Oct 7, 2019, 01:17 PM
Oct 2019

it made anywhere. But the show is great. An inside look at what it must be like to be a Murdoch. Bryan Cox does a great job portraying Rupert a nasty old bastard who mind F’s his kids to do his bidding. Worth a watch.

ancianita

(36,081 posts)
6. All fifty governors could have a sit down in order to make paper balloting work. It could be done.
Sun Oct 6, 2019, 11:36 PM
Oct 2019

That would leave the fed to cope with its own corruptions while the people's business gets broader help.

Of course, not all governors would go along with this, but enough red and blue state governors have good relations through the Governors Association that the election numbers would be way more accurate than what we may be facing with offline machinery from the same corporations that donate to a certain party.

If Brennan's words get more people to act, that's a good thing.
If his words get everyone frozen in helpless panic, then maybe he should be about solutions.

cynatnite

(31,011 posts)
14. I just can't fully agree with this...
Mon Oct 7, 2019, 10:37 AM
Oct 2019

Don't get me wrong. I think our democracy is in real trouble and standing near a precipice, but we still have a few things to keep hold of what we've got.

Free press, while some of it is corporate and it's enough to make you scream, there's enough of it that's still all about getting the truth out and not letting tRump and his minions get in the way.

Nancy Pelosi & Dem house, it's the one thing left that might be able to do some serious damage to tRump. Throw in the Democratic party in this as well. As long as they live and breathe, they won't stop. They'll fight the good fight.

Here's the most important one:

The voter. Our elections are at risk, no denying that. But I do truly believe that if enough people get out there and vote, tRump and the repubs won't win...at least not everywhere.

Having all of this helps me keep hope that our democratic republic is not dead.

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