Als Quote by Chris Matthews
![“I still think a reasonable question is, would we be better off with [Muamar] Gadhafi and Bashar al-Assad still in there and Mubarak still there and Saddam [Hussein] there than the crap we have got looking at us now?” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/746/chris-matthews-1682_als_i-still-think-a-reasonable-question-is-w_635184.jpg)
“I still think a reasonable question is, would we be better off with [Muamar] Gadhafi and Bashar al-Assad still in there and Mubarak still there and Saddam [Hussein] there than the crap we have got looking at us now?”
About This Quote
The speaker questions whether authoritarian leaders would be preferable to current chaotic conditions, implying a critique of current governance.
In simple terms: Questioning if dictators are better than current chaos.
Key Takeaway
Consider the costs of leadership choices.
Themes
politics
leadership
stability
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- historical comparison
- media commentary
Key Concepts
Authoritarianism
political analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- Is stability worth sacrificing freedom?
- What alternatives exist to current governance?
A Different Perspective
Authoritarian regimes have severe human rights issues.
![“We need to learn from history. These same leaders - [Barack] Obama, [Hillary] Clinton, and far too many Republicans - want to topple [Bashar] Assad. Assad is a bad man. Gadhafi was a bad man. Mubarak had a terrible human rights record. But they were assisting us - at least [Muammar] Gadhafi and…” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/11c/ted-cruz-487_assad_we-need-to-learn-from-history-these-same_3228031.jpg)
![“When we toppled [Muammar] Gadhafi in Libya, I think that was a mistake. I think ISIS grew stronger, we had a failed state, and we were more at risk.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b2a/rand-paul-606_failure_when-we-toppled-muammar-gadhafi-in-libya_2229182.jpg)
![“In Syria, if [Bashar al-] Assad had just been a statesman and handed over the reigns in time, Syria would not be heading down the nightmare that it is today.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4fb/richard-branson-256_als_in-syria-if-bashar-al-assad-had-just-bee_1405545.jpg)
![“I think we can all agree [Bashar] Assad is a bad and evil actor, but I'm not so sure that we want the Islamic rebels to be in charge of Syria either.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/065/rand-paul-606_actors_i-think-we-can-all-agree-bashar-assad-is_2125585.jpg)
![“[Donald Trump] actually advocated for the actions we took in Libya and urged that [Muamar] Gadhafi be taken out, after actually doing some business with him one time.” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bc8/hillary-clinton-51_action_donald-trump-actually-advocated-for-the_1336740.jpg)
![“I think that the candidates who are doing it [not debating] are doing a great disservice to the party. It's a sign of an unhealthy institution.” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/54b/chris-matthews-1682_candidates_i-think-that-the-candidates-who-are-doin_34506.jpg)
![“I don't sense an [Barack] Obama party. I think politics is transactional for him.” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a21/chris-matthews-1682_barack_i-don-t-sense-an-barack-obama-party-i-th_84737.jpg)
![“I'm closer to anybody who believes that we should lead not from behind, but from the front. Rand Paul is one step behind, leading from behind. So, yes, even [Barack] Obama is more aggressive. Obama believes you can kill Anwar al-Awlaki without getting a court order.” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0fe/chris-matthews-1682_aggressive_i-m-closer-to-anybody-who-believes-that_135609.jpg)
![“The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah (repentance) and protection [from transgression]. It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance. It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is al-Taqwa. It…” quote by Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/454/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya-10803_als_the-heart-becomes-sick-as-the-body-becom_66500.jpg)
