Now we know why the Obama administration no longer uses the term terrorism, terrorists, terrorist attacks, or the war on terror. They're trying to move away from the politics of fear, you see, so Janet Napolitano says we're fighting the war on man-caused disasters.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has an explanation about why she never mentioned the word "terrorism" during her first testimony on Capitol Hill.Napolitano tells the German news site Spiegel Online that while she presumes there is always a threat from terrorism: "I referred to "man-caused" disasters. That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur."
Someone please tell me Obama's presidency is one big joke. Seriously, Allen Funt must be around here somewhere waiting to jump out and yell, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera!"
Update: I love how GarandFan offered other non-scary terminology for those words that promote the politics of fear:
Oh Janet! You are so 'with it'. Let's not call them "explosions" anymore. Sounds so yecch! How about "abnormally loud noises". Sounds like something the local cops can handle. And what's with the 'Predator'? Sounds soooooo threatening. How about "Airborne Peace Keeper" or maybe "Tweetie Bird in the Sky"? Now isn't that all warm and fuzzy? And lets avoid talking about "wounded" soldiers, that's such a downer. How about "metal alloy challenged"? No one will know what that means and rather than appear stupid, won't even ask. Wow! This new Hope and Changey thing is wonderful. I can even see magic rainbow unicorns frolicking in the fields under a warm sun.
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Comments (30)
Of course, you mean Allen F... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | March 17, 2009 10:49 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Of course, you mean Allen Funt.
1. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | March 17, 2009 10:49 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 22:49
2. Posted by Kim Priestap | March 17, 2009 10:54 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
There is a Peter Fundt who hosts the online version. But yes, I meant Allen Fundt, and I already made the correction.
2. Posted by Kim Priestap | March 17, 2009 10:54 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 22:54
3. Posted by GarandFan | March 17, 2009 10:55 PM | Score: 9 (11 votes cast)
Oh Janet! You are so 'with it'. Let's not call them "explosions" anymore. Sounds so yecch! How about "abnormally loud noises". Sounds like something the local cops can handle. And what's with the 'Predator'? Sounds soooooo threatening. How about "Airborne Peace Keeper" or maybe "Tweetie Bird in the Sky"? Now isn't that all warm and fuzzy? And lets avoid talking about "wounded" soldiers, that's such a downer. How about "metal alloy challenged"? No one will know what that means and rather than appear stupid, won't even ask. Wow! This new Hope and Changey thing is wonderful. I can even see magic rainbow unicorns frolicking in the fields under a warm sun.
4 years.......arughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
3. Posted by GarandFan | March 17, 2009 10:55 PM |
Score: 9 (11 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 22:55
4. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | March 17, 2009 11:00 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
So Allen's got a boy carrying on the family business. Well kiss my grits. I guess I'm showing my age. I remember Allen Funt when he was on prime time back in the days when cops beat hippies with impunity.
I figure YouTube probably gets him pretty riled.
4. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | March 17, 2009 11:00 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 23:00
5. Posted by Burt | March 17, 2009 11:06 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
hmmm. Allen Funt. Of Course! Silly me, I have been looking all around for Ashton Kutcher.
5. Posted by Burt | March 17, 2009 11:06 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 23:06
6. Posted by Kim Priestap | March 17, 2009 11:07 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
I remember that show too. It was hysterical. I went online to make sure I got the name right and saw Peter's first. Initially I thought it didn't sound right. I went back and double checked and saw that my gut was right and that Allen was the right name.
6. Posted by Kim Priestap | March 17, 2009 11:07 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 23:07
7. Posted by Justrand
| March 17, 2009 11:15 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
GarandFan: "Oh Janet! You are so 'with it'. Let's not call them "explosions" anymore. Sounds so yecch! How about "abnormally loud noises"."
Actually, GarandFan, explosions are generally just rapid oxygenation! i.e., and extremely FAST fire!
Under the Obama Regime we could lose 25 million people to "rapid oxygenation that was human caused" and STILL claim "no terrorist attacks"!!
It is ALL semantics with the Left.
America, bend over and get ready!!
7. Posted by Justrand
| March 17, 2009 11:15 PM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 23:15
8. Posted by JLawson | March 17, 2009 11:32 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
When you have lawyers running the country - then words become meaningless. The imprecision becomes astounding - and may end up being fatal.
8. Posted by JLawson | March 17, 2009 11:32 PM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on March 17, 2009 23:32
9. Posted by Andrew X | March 18, 2009 12:30 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
EXCUSE ME!! It is Man-Woman-Transgendered-Questioning caused disasters!
What's the matter with her, is she some sort of genderist? I hate those people.
9. Posted by Andrew X | March 18, 2009 12:30 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 00:30
10. Posted by STaylor | March 18, 2009 12:31 AM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
"Man-Caused Disaster" she makes the WTC sound like an oil spill.
That is probably the intent. We can now justify anti-terrorism funds directed towards that ultimate "man-caused disaster" global warming. Yay!
Remember, if congress didn't pass the Stimulus bill it would lead to an irreversable catastrophe; this was not politics of fear in action, merely a sober warning. Perhaps it would have been better if they had called it an "economic bad thing" or "international decade of homelessness and starvation" instead of a catastrophe.
10. Posted by STaylor | March 18, 2009 12:31 AM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 00:31
11. Posted by Brian | March 18, 2009 1:33 AM | Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
I went online to make sure I got the name right and saw Peter's first. Initially I thought it didn't sound right. I went back and double checked and saw that my gut was right and that Allen was the right name.
No, keep going. It's Funt, not Fundt.
11. Posted by Brian | March 18, 2009 1:33 AM |
Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 01:33
12. Posted by RightKlik | March 18, 2009 2:10 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Orwellian.
12. Posted by RightKlik | March 18, 2009 2:10 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 02:10
13. Posted by Brett | March 18, 2009 2:11 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Bingo, you have successfully deciphered the mealy-mouthing! There won't be any so-called "terrorist attacks" anyway, now that we are listening to those poor downtrodden Muslim fundamentalists. They just hated Bush, like all right-thinking people. But OH! The world is in immediate danger from Global Warming. Our most corpulent failed politicians and big Hollywood celebrities said so- in a movie, so it's got to be true.
13. Posted by Brett | March 18, 2009 2:11 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 02:11
14. Posted by Edward Sisson
| March 18, 2009 2:28 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
The problem here is that Homeland Security is going to be an agency without a purpose once it is clear that the threat from Islamic-inspired terrorists has been effectively defeated, which either has already happened or will soon. When enemies are defeated, newly-enlarged armies reduce back to original size, but civilian government agencies just look for new reasons to stay the same size or keep growing. What we will see now is a proliferation of efforts to re-define every new environmental/disease scare as a target that has to be dealt with by Homeland Security. Since the mainstream press is always happy to tell us of an endless procession of such scares (global cooling, the ozone hole, global warming) the agency will have as long a life as does the mainstream press -- each will work to keep the other appearing to have a useful purpose.
14. Posted by Edward Sisson
| March 18, 2009 2:28 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 02:28
15. Posted by RightKlik | March 18, 2009 2:48 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
The Obama Administration is now the epicenter of Man-Caused Disasters. What are we going to do about that?
http://www.rightklik.net/
15. Posted by RightKlik | March 18, 2009 2:48 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 02:48
16. Posted by RightKlik | March 18, 2009 2:49 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
...oh and to be perfectly PC, shouldn't we be using the term "person-caused disasters"...?
16. Posted by RightKlik | March 18, 2009 2:49 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 02:49
17. Posted by Weegie | March 18, 2009 6:39 AM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
More style over substance from this image-absorbed administration.
Hey, can we get a "reset" button on the election? All we got was "overcharged".
17. Posted by Weegie | March 18, 2009 6:39 AM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 06:39
18. Posted by retired military | March 18, 2009 6:45 AM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
When Armageddon (or any thing else for that matter) comes the liberals have only 3 things on their mind.
a. How to make it sound more appeasing to the masses.
b. How to get tax money out of it.
c. How to blame it on conservatives.
18. Posted by retired military | March 18, 2009 6:45 AM |
Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 06:45
19. Posted by mag | March 18, 2009 6:57 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
A plague on all who voted for this empty, incompetent, inexperience fool. How could anyone not see through him???
19. Posted by mag | March 18, 2009 6:57 AM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 06:57
20. Posted by RB | March 18, 2009 7:43 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Sorry...a "man-caused disaster" is an unattended pot on a stove that results in a house fire. A suicide bomber is committing an act of terrorism. Period.
20. Posted by RB | March 18, 2009 7:43 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 07:43
21. Posted by The Won | March 18, 2009 8:16 AM | Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
The only thing we have to fear, my fellow Americans, is those racist Republicans.
21. Posted by The Won | March 18, 2009 8:16 AM |
Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 08:16
22. Posted by engineer | March 18, 2009 8:21 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
My sources in Hollywood tell me that next season Jack Bauer will be working for CMCDU. They have an exciting season planned. Jack will be going after a conservative businessman who has three gas gussling, non-hybrid SUV and only has R-13 insulation in his home's attic.
Spoiler alert: The guy almost gets away, but right at the end, the guy grins at Jack, turns on Rush Limbaugh and reves his engine. Jack gets him for hate speach and as an accomplice to global warming.
22. Posted by engineer | March 18, 2009 8:21 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 08:21
23. Posted by tyree | March 18, 2009 9:27 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Engineer - Wonderful.
Those silly Democrats. The next thing you know they are going to change the meaning of "is" and "marriage".
23. Posted by tyree | March 18, 2009 9:27 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 09:27
24. Posted by Stephan | March 18, 2009 10:24 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
I think the "nuance" that she is referring to is not that Terrorism is a "man-caused disaster" (after all, the Islamists who want to kill us are merely misunderstood victims of American oppression who just want to spread the "religion of peace"), but rather that "man-caused disaster", the greatest threat to humanity and therefore requiring the largest sacrifice, the largest outlay of public funds, the fundamental reason that we need that ol' "change we can believe in" is anthropogenic global warming. Just another step towards the United States of Socialist America. Praise be to Allah and his prophet Obama.
24. Posted by Stephan | March 18, 2009 10:24 AM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 10:24
25. Posted by irongrampa | March 18, 2009 10:48 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
One wonders if the Obama Presidency could also be classified as a "man caused disaster"?
25. Posted by irongrampa | March 18, 2009 10:48 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 10:48
26. Posted by _Mike_ | March 18, 2009 12:39 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
How SEXIST! I demand that the proper gender neutral, Liberal terminology of "woman/man-caused disasters" be used!
Also, calling them disasters may stress people, so let's just call them "woman/man-initiated atypical events".
/Orwellian-speak
26. Posted by _Mike_ | March 18, 2009 12:39 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 12:39
27. Posted by xiphos | March 18, 2009 5:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
A man(?) caused is what has happened in this country since the election.
27. Posted by xiphos | March 18, 2009 5:18 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 17:18
28. Posted by xiphos | March 18, 2009 5:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
A man(?) caused didaster is what has happened in this country since the election.
Darn spell checker:)
28. Posted by xiphos | March 18, 2009 5:21 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 17:21
29. Posted by WildWillie | March 18, 2009 6:23 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
This is just so pathetic it does not deserve a comment. This administration should be on Sesame Street. ww
29. Posted by WildWillie | March 18, 2009 6:23 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2009 18:23
30. Posted by elBandito | March 28, 2009 8:00 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
an unfortunate occurance caused by a disgruntled individual
30. Posted by elBandito | March 28, 2009 8:00 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 28, 2009 08:00