The Politics of Saddam. What Saddam's capture means for the 2004 race

Daily Standard ^ | Dec. 14, 2003 | Fred Barnes

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Sometimes I can't fathom how you good folks think. Sure the capture of Saddam Hussein makes Howard Dean look like a blooming mad fool, which he is. Sure, Howard Dean is now going to lose some of his support. But, let's get this clear. Any American with half a brain realizes that Saddam Hussein was deeply involved with Osama bin Laden in planning and executing the 911 attacks. Fear not, this truth is now surfacing and will become hard fact within the next 4-6 months. In my book, Howard Dean, Wesley Clark, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, etc. are dastardly traitors to and guilty of treason to the USA! How any sane American voter who supposedly loves the USA could ever support these anti-American, secular, Godless morons is beyond me. My point is that it is the entire current Democrat Party that not only needs to be defeated at the polls next year, it needs to be completely destroyed!

[centurion316]

I believe that Barnes' assessment is correct, but that Dean will capture the Democrat nomination, nonetheless. The real winner in all of this is Hillary Clinton, and the real loser is Al Gore. Dean is a throwaway, its hard to imagine how he could craft a winning campaign, despite what Bill Kristol has to say. This is just another nail in the coffin of what is already a likely defeat for Democrats in 2004.

But, 2008 is another matter. Hillary has positioned herself clearly on the pro-war, moderate side of the debate; while Al Gore has signed up with the anti-war, Marxist wing of the party. Al Gore is already crying in his beer and Hillary is once again proving that she is the most formidable political strategist of our age. Do not underestimate this woman. She is a force to be reckoned with, and she has just made mincemeat of every Democrat on the national scene.

[James R. McClure Jr.]

Peace Arkinsaw,

They are working on devouring each other and their supporters are getting hateful with one another about it. Their party is fiercely divided. If Dean wins the "conservative" members of their party will sadly fall in behind him. If Dean loses, the Dean supporters are likely to protest the convention, storm out, spit on the nominee, or....frankly.....do about anything obnoxious.

As one of the "conservative" members of the Democratic Party, I assure you, Dean will not get the support of most Blue Dogs, remember the Reagan Democrats? Unfortunately, the Republicans aren't being very "conservative" themselves lately (look at the ever growing budget, the new entitlements, and the stye full of Republican pork).

James R. McClure Jr.
Anti-Federalist Democrat

[PMCarey]

I think this news will hurt Dean just enough that he won't be able to sew up the nomination before the convention. In fact, I think the most likely outcome now is a brokered convention. If that happens, who is the most likely candidate? Or perhaps more relevant, who is the stiff that is most likely to get stuck with the nomination in a losing campaign? My guess is that it will go the Gephart if that occurs.

[vanmorrison]

I agree with you completely! CARTAGO DELENDA EST.

[vanmorrison]

You know what, I'm beginning to conclude that this "Hillary in 2008" thinking is utter nonsense. After Bush decimates Dean and Gore and Clinton next year, and completely routs the Democrat Party, bringing it to a state of inconsequentiality, how can anyone continue to believe that, after five more years of the new Teddy Roosevelt, that is, GWBush, with his military and economic success unseen in a president in a hundred years, there is any way possible that a has-been, also-ran, baggage-laden, skanky jerk like "Hillary" has a chance in hell to replace whoever Bush's hand-picked successor may be. Right?

[TomT in NJ]

Right! How would Hillary be able to beat Jeb?

[Pokey78]

Fred ping!

[MJY1288]

I wonder who is more depressed..... Saddam or the 9 wannabees?

[Mo1]

"It's a magnificent opportunity for the president of the United States to shift gears," said John Kerry on "Fox News Sunday." John Edwards put it this way: "I hope President Bush will use this opportunity to chart a course in Iraq that will bring our allies in a meaningful way to achieve a democratic and peaceful Iraq."

Are they that stupid??

These are some of the stupidest comments I've heard yet

HELLO .. the reason we went after Saddam was to achieve a democratic and peaceful Iraq ... What Losers

[Mo1]

From what I saw on the news today

the 9 wannabees

[MJY1288]

LOL, I would wager that Saddam has a better chance of returning to power than any of the 9 wannabees have in winning the presidency in 2004

[SBprone]

Somebody will run for the Dems. It might be Hillary or it might not. But consider this: The weaker the Dems are as a party four years hence the more likely they will run somebody like Hillary who is clearly unsuited to the office and who is widely disliked within the electorate even though she is loved by many hardcore Dems. In other words, if they are still acting like losers in four years they will nominate a loser and Hillary fits the bill.

[MeekOneGOP]

Bump for after morning workout read ...

I'm sure Fred is right on the money. He usually is ...

[vanmorrison]

WHat I don't understand is how "blue dog" Democrats can be Democrats at all. Where is the logic in saying that, because Bush is not "conservative" enough, why, I'll just go and vote for the Communist (read Democrat) candidate.

I am convinced that ANYONE who aligns themselves with the Democrat party is fundamentally NUTS.

[MeekOneGOP]

[James R. McClure Jr.]

Peace be with you,

WHat I don't understand is how "blue dog" Democrats can be Democrats at all. Where is the logic in saying that, because Bush is not "conservative" enough, why, I'll just go and vote for the Communist (read Democrat) candidate.

In the same way that Olympia Snow and the other RINOs can be Republicans while being opposed to pretty much all of the RP's platform. Don't put words in my mouth. I never said that anyone should vote for a Democrat over Bush. In fact, I said that I expected that "blue dog" Democrats would vote for Bush over Dean (assuming he gets the nomination), even though Bush and the "conservative" Republican Congress are spending money like they were socialist Democrats.

I am convinced that ANYONE who aligns themselves with the Democrat party is fundamentally NUTS.

Ad hominem attacks aside, I'm convinced that the "spend-like-liberals" Republican Congress is hurting itself and this country, in the long run.

James R. McClure Jr.
Anti-Federalist Democrat