I’m also with Trent in thinking that the first category of “extremists” is to target domestic political opposition, while Muslims are to explicitly get the carrots-instead-of-sticks approach that Brennan lays out. There is that Stratfor report that intelligence agencies were explicitly instructed to lay off of black Muslim converts (leading, very possibly, to the success of the Black Muslim attack on the Little Rock recruiting station), and there is the State Department employee’s admission that they were instructed to avoid the appearance of profiling Muslims (which is an instruction to reverse profile, raising the bar for scrutiny of Muslims above the bar for other people).

And by “responsible” I don’t mean the-buck-stops-here vague type of claim of responsibility. By it I mean, did the Obama administration do something different than the Bush Administration that led to investigative errors which cascaded and eventuall…

I think your speculation is spot on, as far as it goes.

It just does not go far enough.

American Leftie speak uses the term “Extremist” on domestic political opponents who are practicing Catholic or Evangelical Christians, are Pro-Life or Pro-gun, support Limited Federal Government, are believers in American Exceptional-ism, are Anti-Gay Marriage etc. etc. etc.

In short, anyone who isn’t a Doctrinaire Leftie.

Doctrinaire Lefties also accuse their opponents of exactly what they would do when they get in power.

Given your idea plus the above Doctrinaire Leftie definitions and motivations, you would expect Homeland Security to be publishing lists of domestic political opponents who fit the above descriptions and then begin spying on them as a part of a domestic surveillance state.

A domestic surveillance state where Leftie controlled local cops call Leftie controlled Homeland Security officials to spy on Non-Leftie domestic political opponents.

Now see:

http://blog.taragana.com/politics/2010/02/08/homeland-security-admits-improperly-assessing-threat-of-wisconsin-abortion-activists-17741/

“The report was compiled prior to a February 2009 meeting in Middleton by the University of Wisconsin Hospital board to decide whether to open a clinic that would offer late-term abortions.

“Disclosure would result in the identification and public disclosure of individuals affiliated with groups on both sides of the issue, which would place them in danger from opposing radical extremists,” he wrote.”

Two things pop out here.

First, Homeland Security was so concerned about peaceful Pro-Life protesters — who had no history of violence — that they “bent the rules” to violate their civil rights to make sure this Wisconsin Abortion clinic was opened.

Too the point where they are now hiding documents to maintain in-place domestic surveillance of peaceful Americans lawfully practicing their first amendment rights (A Nixon Offense).

Second, the Obama Administration did not do the same things for either “Muslim Extremists” like Major Hasan and the Underwear bomber.

This means that not only are there “Extremist” rules of engagement (ROE) in Homeland Security different from Terrorist ROE. There is a sub-category of “Muslim Extremist” that is given less domestic intelligence surveillance priority than “Extremists” political opponents by the Obama Administration.

A word to the wise, AJ…you don’t qualify as a Doctrinaire Leftie.

http://www.lifenews.com/state4796.html

“Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) — The Department of Homeland Security admitted today that it improperly conducted a threat assessment on pro-life and pro-abortion groups in Wisconsin. The assessment came before an expected rally last year in response to the University of Wisconsin Hospital board decided to allow abortions.”

A few months later in 2009, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights concluded the investigation was an improper use of department resources.

The conclusion said the department inappropriately directed against activities protected by the First Amendment, in which law enforcement inappropriately engaged in “the collection, retention and dissemination of U.S. person information regarding protest groups which posed no threat to homeland security and… violated [DHS] Guidelines.”

(end quote)

Imagine if even half that much effort had been spent looking into Major Hasan.

Team Obama sent all its forces after it’s political enemies, and forgot all about the real ones.

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2008/09/jamie-gorelick-mistress-of-disaster.html

She was also caught with her hand in the cookie jar at one of the government mortgage guarantee agencies.

My guess is a lot of what has gone on as far as information sharing (or the lack thereof) has her fingerprints on it.

Thanks much for the compliment. Your comments will no longer require moderation unless you include 2+ links are happen to trip over the few key words which trigger the spam filter.