GOP Rep: We Might Need A Taliban-Like "Insurgency"

In an interview with National Journal's Hotline, Republican Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas suggested his party could follow the model of the Taliban in its legislative battles.

"Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban," Sessions said. "And that is that they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes. And these Taliban -- I'm not trying to say the Republican Party is the Taliban. No, that's not what we're saying. I'm saying an example of how you go about [sic] is to change a person from their messaging to their operations to their frontline message. And we need to understand that insurgency may be required when the other side, the House leadership, does not follow the same commands, which we entered the game with."

Sessions said the "Taliban" approach was a reaction to a lack of bipartisan outreach from House Democrats.

When pressed to clarify, Sessions said he was not comparing the House Republican caucus to the Taliban, the Muslim fundamentalist group.

"I simply said one can see that there's a model out there for insurgency," Sessions said before being interrupted by an aide. The staffer said Sessions was trying to convey that the Republicans need to start thinking about how to act strategically from their perch in the minority.

MSNBC suggests that Sessions could have chosen a better historical reference. "Wow, we can think of plenty of other examples of insurgencies (American Revolution, Indian resistance to Great Britain), but the Taliban?"

Democratic Speaker Of The House Nancy Pelosi has yet to formulate a counterinsurgency strategy to deal with this rising threat.

Comments

[JustSayMaybe]

Cesca's right, Obama is driving the Republicans batty. They're all unhinged. Copying the Taliban insurgency strategy? Who even goes to that imagery as a thought process, much less opt to say it out loud? He's insane, they're all insane.

[Nick72]

As a member of the military and I've served in both Afghanistan & Iraq I'm very familiar with the Taliban & al-qaeda. They ensure goods provided to the people by the government do not reach the people by destroying bridges & buildings. They ensure government services are not provided either through threats and or murder. They threaten & kill people that want to acept the goods & services. Then they recruit new members by citing that goods & services are not being provided by the government while all along the repub...I mean Taliban & al qaeda are the reason why the goods & services are not reaching the people.

[bob8jv]

Through many generations, congress has built a very high, thick, solid, and a strong brick wall between Republicans and Democrats that causes a dire political divide. We must face the fact that the two ideologies are exact opposites. They will never come together. Whoever could tear down that wall would become a hero and the savior of the United States of America. We are beginning to think only the American people are capable of tearing down that wall. After all, we got the power to hire and fire our elected officials. But we would have to make a massive sweep and clean out all the deadwood.

[sugarpops]

It is arrogant, manipulative and deliberate malfeasance for anyone to advocate this kind of behavior. The contempt with which the conservative element of the Republican party has show for the sincere bipartisan gestures made by President Obama and the Democratic majority in congress is a intolerable. Measures designed to lift our nation out of the financial and ethical morass we are in should receive the diligent and honest consideration of all elected lawmakers.
We can no longer afford the luxury or indulgence of special interest groups to bleed our national coffers and undermine the moral standards put forth by our constitution. It is time now for the citizens of these United States of America to stand up to our elected officials and remind them that they are the servants of the people and not our rulers. This is a Democratic Republic and they serve at the will of the people . If an elected offficial places his/her interest above the best interest of the nation they should be turned out of office.

[ejb4501]

Has it occurred to anybody that we are in the first stages of a Civil War? Rush Limbaugh is a New McCarthy, or Goebbels, "Liberals" are the New Communists­/Jews/Unde­sirables - take your pick - and the Republican Party is making it clear, as they have been for decades, that they are willing to destroy the Middle Class and the country, are williing to escalate the war of words, the tension, and even the tactics - now, to the level of the Taliban - in order to further their narrow agenda as the Party of the Rich. Did anyone think these people would give up without a fight? And as the VERY real possibility of social chaos nears as a result of decades of militant Republicanism, don't think "it can't happen in this country". The whole country will soon become New Orleans post-Katrina, Los Angeles post-Rodney King, Detroit, Newark, Oakland, Seattle, Chicago. When the streets become avenues of anarchy and fire, maybe then Limbaugh & the Republican Party will be happy.

[BrettC]

It is the height of irresponsibility for the Republicans (who doubled the national debt and donated $350,000,000,000 to Wall Street bankers so that their bonuses would be unaffected by their malfeasance....it is the an insult to all US Citizens to suggest that the behavior of the Taliban should be emulated in any way.

Does this mean that they will use US Army artillery to shell Buddhist statues? Stone women to death? Walk into crowded shops wearing suicide vests and detonate them?

In case these fools missed what happened last November, we had an election. An election as prescribed by the Constitution to which these "insurgents" profess loyalty. In that election the voters rejected Republicans overwhelmingly as a result of an abysmal six years of wasteful spending by a Republican Congress and eight years of dim witted leadership in the White House.

If the Republican Party ever wants to regain the national stage, they need to speak and act like statesmen, not like terrorists.

[cmugs]

thats a pretty ballsy statement.
also:
"But they can profit from Obama's failure. And that's their current strategy: Attack the stimulus, try to make it smaller and less effective, express united opposition to its existence, and attempt to wrest electoral advantage if it fails."
its true and thats just - dare i say - evil?

they admit to it too: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/05/gop-rep-we-need-might-an_n_164227.html?page=26

[powercosmic]

Too bad there's no money to be made teaching stupid people how stupid they are, America's economy would be BOOOOOOOMM­MMMING!!!!­!!!!!

[motodude]

Sad but true. The GOP long ago decided on a strategy that treats their politics as war. This is why they are incapable of bi-partisan cooperation. The best course the progressive movement can take is to treat them like a a pest removal project. Only their elimination, incapacitation or marginalisation will reform the American political process as it is now. The republicans are no longer really conservatives, nor patriots, nor interested in serving their constituents. Republicans only seek to extend and maintain their power. Their agenda is to aid and unleash unbridled big business and do its bidding. Their actions over the last 40 years repeatedly attest to this truth. Never mind what they say, just look at what they do.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

I predicted Mullah Pete Sessions would be KO's worst persons omg

[Truby]

Might need to look up some definitions before using words he clearly doesn't understand.

[greatlardini]

A big round of applause for yesterday's WORST PERSON IN THE WORRRLLLLD!!!!!!!!!

[harpen1]

I suspected that all the republicans wanted to do was to be disruptive, now this confirms my suspicions.
Jeb Bush, wants a shadow government, Rush wants us to fail, Cheney is hoping for an attack, now Sessions is comparing them to the Taliban. Does this sound like a group that have our best interest in mind?

[schicklett3]

This statment was simply idiotic - to compare anything to a taliban insurgency is just wrong.

[CRA1]

But appropriate for the RNC.

[jacqmac]

Just when I thought it was safe to be a TEXAS Democrat again-this example of the thought processes of the 'average Texan' is brought up. Can someone translate what the man was really saying up the page? I mean, I got the message that he's either admiring the TALIBAN or he isn't---which is it REALLY?
And again with the 'lack of bipartisan outreach'. Once AGAIN I say: The NEW Congress convened in DECEMBER. BOTH HOUSES were aware that this bill was NUMERO UNO on the Agenda. There was PLENTY of time between convening and the Inauguration to craft Republican bills AND Democratic bills and answers to each from either side. If I recall correctly, the Repubs were INVITED TO THE TABLE in December. THEN--there were Republicans INVITED TO THE BIG TABLE in THE WHITE HOUSE in JANUARY. And then there was PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO CAPITOL HILL. SOUNDS like a WHOLE LOT of bipartisan outreach to ME. And--by the way--the PRESIDENT TOLD BOTH SIDES to come up with NEW ideas--NOT the same old stale worn-out ideas that GOT the economy INTO THIS MESS. So WHAT do the Repubs do? Start waving red herrings ('billions for condoms'), whining about 'lack of bipartisanship' (see above and other examples), repeating the same phrases that haven't worked for EIGHT YEARS--'MORE tax cuts!' 'Don't spend a dime.' 'Democrats are tax and spend.'

[LA2000]

He is only saying what we knew all along: republican politicians hate the american democratic process. They find it inconvenient and ill suited to their thin skins and preening, outsized egos. Mr. Session's reference to the Taliban is indeed accurate. He is part of a band of thugs that refuses to accept a firm no, even when the voters have spoken loud and clear.

And, might I add, it should give us all great comfort to know that our elected republican officials have such admiration for the tactics of our nation's enemies. Maybe if your lucky Mr. Sessions, Bin Laden will even make you an honorary member of the Taliban.

[1differentdrummer]

Yes, well said.

[Foreground]

Quick, get him to talk about Guantanamo! I have the pressing need to hear the word "Nazi-esque" used in a sentence.