Yesterday I received the following email from a fellow Bureau retiree. I believe it will be of interest to regular readers both for what it says about the attitudes of an earlier but now retired and politically active generation of FBI agents, as well as for what it says about conservative and Republican politics generally. I believe the expressed views regarding the Bureau are fairly typical for something like a majority of retired agents—nostalgia for what the Bureau once was, or seemed to be, and fear for the future. I also believe that the views of people at the level of states distant from DC, as described below, is not atypical in many parts of the country. Many people don’t vote unless there’s an issue involved that affects their daily lives where they live, and they regard DC as distant and of little relevance in that regard. I consider this to be a wrongheaded attitude—the Ruling Class as it is currently constituted will not leave these people or their children alone, and the ballot is one of the only effective weapons we have against the Big Money interests who control politics and government. All you need to do to realize this is read the numerous stories about what goes on in local government run schools and libraries—none of this happens by mistake, nor due to grass roots wishes. Still, resignation to withdrawing from politics is a common response for too many.
"...there is a civil war going on in the GOP and it will likely manifest itself in the Trump nomination process." Exactly and he is right about the attitude of traditional GOP voters.
I can't imagine how heartbreaking it must be to see the downfall of an institution whose reputation and integrity you contributed to over many years. Bless him for speaking out and bless you for providing the vehicle for him to do so, Mark.
I relocated to AZ from CA as a retired old fart because I wanted to make a difference in my remaining years for my children and grandchildren. I became a PC as quickly as I could and have been very active at the local level, knocking on nearly 600 doors in the last election cycle.
The AZ state and national GOP have to be abandoned. It is not just the politicians who are not salvageable--it is the GOP administrators, appointed personnel, etc., that do not support the America First agenda. I know all the arguments against it, but IT IS TIME FOR A THIRD PARTY TO SPLINTER OFF THE GOP. This isn't about party ideological 'purity'--it is about endemic, incurable corruption. The GOPe undermines the AF message, confuses voters, wastes contributions and resources. At this point they are a net negative.
The ex-agent’s comment that struck me most was that he doesn’t think that anyone, including DeSantis, have any clue as to just how corrupt and intractable the administrative state has become. I have long maintained that fact is what got DJT into more trouble than all of his “mean tweets” combined. They are not to be trusted or relied upon for anything period.
It will require someone who realizes that the Marquis of Queensbury rules are less than useless in this situation.
How many times have we been lied to and had our collective noses rubbed in deep state betrayal from both sides of the aisle?
It will require someone with an will and stout resolve, but it will also require men and women with the fortitude to faithfully and forcefully carry out the President’s policies.
There’s a great scene in the movie “Absence of Malice” where Wilford Brimley confronts a rogue DA who refuses to acknowledge his wrongdoing and resign. Brimley’s response is perfect, “Elliot, you’re no Presidential appointee, I’m the one that hired you. You got 30 days.” Anything less than this type of approach isn’t going to get the job done.
Probably why the agent didn’t hold out much hope for reform of the FBI.
Don’t see Mitch, Lindsay or any of the other usual suspects getting behind that kind of a virtual pogrom. I seem to recall Mitch saying that he didn’t want to hear anymore talk about draining the swamp.
I personally think that we were played on the mid-terms. Just another nose rubbing exercise.
I wish you, Mark as well as all of your readers a most Blessed Thanksgiving.
I am truly appreciative of your generous sharing of self in doing this pub. Please know your efforts and past service for our Country are genuinely appreciated.
Il y a de l'espoir. There is hope. The crooks and imbeciles now running Washington will ruin the country in short order, and then people might wake up and figure that the only way out of a Great Depression is to throw the bums out. Le pays est perdu, au moins pour le moment. Time will tell if we can recover.
I’m getting old so I can’t remember if I posted this already. I was recently at a retired agents party (NA grads are invited). Several of the agents were wearing “mourning bands” on their creds and passing them out to others. I asked my friend if an agent had died and he responded, no, the whole agency has. Wow.
Waiting for my turkey to be done so figured I'd jump in with a couple of random comments. A few days ago I was in a meeting with several FBI agents. In the middle of the meeting one of the young, long-bearded agents made a comment about "less government being better". I laughed out and took a chance by saying, "aren't you supposed to be chasing J6 people around?" He gave me a look that made me worry I'd stepped in it but said, "screw that crap. All a bunch of BS". We laughed. Gave me some hope.
Regarding whether the FBI or DC in general can be fixed - I wonder. Seems like other, historical examples of corrupt governments indicate it can't be done without violence (from within or without), especially when it is as entrenched as it appears to be. We're probably insulated by our oceans from a takeover from outside though. The DC "elite" have such a stranglehold on the place it seems nearly impossible to fix it. I've said it before but, I really think the only place to work is at the state level. There is evidence that enough federalist sentiment exists that state action is doable. Whether he's President or not, DeSantis set a standard for what a strong state government can do (i.e. telling the Feds to screw off). The battle is right there. Localized fights by grassroots people can have the effect of cutting off DC, slowly.
Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving and God bless to everyone here. Best substack around. Turkey, family and football (Patriots play today too). Be well.
I can vouch for being fed up with both the National and state GOP. However, I live in a closed primary state - Pennsylvania - and if it wasn’t for the fact that I want to vote in the primary, I’m pretty much stuck with the GOP. I’d be an Independent otherwise. And I wouldn’t stay home if Trump is on the ballot again. I probably should have stayed home when Mittens and John McCain were the GOP nominees, but I didn’t then either.
I suspect the FBI got the way it did in part because FBI management concluded that the GOP was no longer competitive as a national party. After all, being the White House Plumbers with badges is a dead end occupation if the other party is likely to be moving into the White House in four years. The GOP has carried the popular vote once since 1988 and that was 2004, under conditions that would be hard to replicate. (Unless they did in 2020, and that vote was so tainted that we are never likely to know)
[That said, I believe that all of the other Republican "also rans" such as DeSantis are woefully unprepared to attack this problem. I don't think they have a clue to the depths of corruption that they face, nor do they fully comprehend that this is a struggle for the very nature of our Republic. I believe that the Republican/GOP establishment has decided on DeSantis as a means of protecting the elite in DC.]
I agree on all points. The problems of the IC are the problems of a rotten ruling class. Reform is impossible until we have competitive two party politics. That requires a national party willing to speak for, and represent what Angelo Codevilla called the Country Class and Hillzilla called the Deplorables.
Happy Thanksgiving Mark. Thank-you for your insight and analysis. I will continue to vote, and if given the chance I will vote for Trump a third time. We desperately need a wrecking ball. I worry that they will kill him before they allow his name to be put on another ballot.
I personally believe DeSantis is the real deal, so I would be happy with him or Trump as the nominee in 2024, however, if the GOP doesn't get a handle on how to utilize mail-in-voting on par with the Democrats, they won't win anything in 2024.
"...there is a civil war going on in the GOP and it will likely manifest itself in the Trump nomination process." Exactly and he is right about the attitude of traditional GOP voters.
I can't imagine how heartbreaking it must be to see the downfall of an institution whose reputation and integrity you contributed to over many years. Bless him for speaking out and bless you for providing the vehicle for him to do so, Mark.
I relocated to AZ from CA as a retired old fart because I wanted to make a difference in my remaining years for my children and grandchildren. I became a PC as quickly as I could and have been very active at the local level, knocking on nearly 600 doors in the last election cycle.
The AZ state and national GOP have to be abandoned. It is not just the politicians who are not salvageable--it is the GOP administrators, appointed personnel, etc., that do not support the America First agenda. I know all the arguments against it, but IT IS TIME FOR A THIRD PARTY TO SPLINTER OFF THE GOP. This isn't about party ideological 'purity'--it is about endemic, incurable corruption. The GOPe undermines the AF message, confuses voters, wastes contributions and resources. At this point they are a net negative.
Sorry, meant to say “iron will”!
The ex-agent’s comment that struck me most was that he doesn’t think that anyone, including DeSantis, have any clue as to just how corrupt and intractable the administrative state has become. I have long maintained that fact is what got DJT into more trouble than all of his “mean tweets” combined. They are not to be trusted or relied upon for anything period.
It will require someone who realizes that the Marquis of Queensbury rules are less than useless in this situation.
How many times have we been lied to and had our collective noses rubbed in deep state betrayal from both sides of the aisle?
It will require someone with an will and stout resolve, but it will also require men and women with the fortitude to faithfully and forcefully carry out the President’s policies.
There’s a great scene in the movie “Absence of Malice” where Wilford Brimley confronts a rogue DA who refuses to acknowledge his wrongdoing and resign. Brimley’s response is perfect, “Elliot, you’re no Presidential appointee, I’m the one that hired you. You got 30 days.” Anything less than this type of approach isn’t going to get the job done.
Probably why the agent didn’t hold out much hope for reform of the FBI.
Don’t see Mitch, Lindsay or any of the other usual suspects getting behind that kind of a virtual pogrom. I seem to recall Mitch saying that he didn’t want to hear anymore talk about draining the swamp.
I personally think that we were played on the mid-terms. Just another nose rubbing exercise.
I am finished with voting for and funding a party that has as its only slogan or plan, "we're not democrats".
Happy Thanksgiving to all I’m grateful to all of the substack community. It’s reassuring knowing that there are many of us ready to resist.
I wish you, Mark as well as all of your readers a most Blessed Thanksgiving.
I am truly appreciative of your generous sharing of self in doing this pub. Please know your efforts and past service for our Country are genuinely appreciated.
Take care, sir.
Wayne (Idaho)
https://donsurber.blogspot.com/2022/11/bill-barr-already-burnt-party-down.html
Il y a de l'espoir. There is hope. The crooks and imbeciles now running Washington will ruin the country in short order, and then people might wake up and figure that the only way out of a Great Depression is to throw the bums out. Le pays est perdu, au moins pour le moment. Time will tell if we can recover.
He's right.
I’m getting old so I can’t remember if I posted this already. I was recently at a retired agents party (NA grads are invited). Several of the agents were wearing “mourning bands” on their creds and passing them out to others. I asked my friend if an agent had died and he responded, no, the whole agency has. Wow.
Waiting for my turkey to be done so figured I'd jump in with a couple of random comments. A few days ago I was in a meeting with several FBI agents. In the middle of the meeting one of the young, long-bearded agents made a comment about "less government being better". I laughed out and took a chance by saying, "aren't you supposed to be chasing J6 people around?" He gave me a look that made me worry I'd stepped in it but said, "screw that crap. All a bunch of BS". We laughed. Gave me some hope.
Regarding whether the FBI or DC in general can be fixed - I wonder. Seems like other, historical examples of corrupt governments indicate it can't be done without violence (from within or without), especially when it is as entrenched as it appears to be. We're probably insulated by our oceans from a takeover from outside though. The DC "elite" have such a stranglehold on the place it seems nearly impossible to fix it. I've said it before but, I really think the only place to work is at the state level. There is evidence that enough federalist sentiment exists that state action is doable. Whether he's President or not, DeSantis set a standard for what a strong state government can do (i.e. telling the Feds to screw off). The battle is right there. Localized fights by grassroots people can have the effect of cutting off DC, slowly.
Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving and God bless to everyone here. Best substack around. Turkey, family and football (Patriots play today too). Be well.
I can vouch for being fed up with both the National and state GOP. However, I live in a closed primary state - Pennsylvania - and if it wasn’t for the fact that I want to vote in the primary, I’m pretty much stuck with the GOP. I’d be an Independent otherwise. And I wouldn’t stay home if Trump is on the ballot again. I probably should have stayed home when Mittens and John McCain were the GOP nominees, but I didn’t then either.
Fascinating stuff, Mark. Thank you for sharing.
I suspect the FBI got the way it did in part because FBI management concluded that the GOP was no longer competitive as a national party. After all, being the White House Plumbers with badges is a dead end occupation if the other party is likely to be moving into the White House in four years. The GOP has carried the popular vote once since 1988 and that was 2004, under conditions that would be hard to replicate. (Unless they did in 2020, and that vote was so tainted that we are never likely to know)
[That said, I believe that all of the other Republican "also rans" such as DeSantis are woefully unprepared to attack this problem. I don't think they have a clue to the depths of corruption that they face, nor do they fully comprehend that this is a struggle for the very nature of our Republic. I believe that the Republican/GOP establishment has decided on DeSantis as a means of protecting the elite in DC.]
I agree on all points. The problems of the IC are the problems of a rotten ruling class. Reform is impossible until we have competitive two party politics. That requires a national party willing to speak for, and represent what Angelo Codevilla called the Country Class and Hillzilla called the Deplorables.
Happy Thanksgiving Mark. Thank-you for your insight and analysis. I will continue to vote, and if given the chance I will vote for Trump a third time. We desperately need a wrecking ball. I worry that they will kill him before they allow his name to be put on another ballot.
I personally believe DeSantis is the real deal, so I would be happy with him or Trump as the nominee in 2024, however, if the GOP doesn't get a handle on how to utilize mail-in-voting on par with the Democrats, they won't win anything in 2024.