# “Democrats don’t realize what a dangerous world it is” **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 2, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121 "2004-03-02T16:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121/21 "2004-03-03T13:33:22Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Let’s see, Dennis Miller, TV talking head and former stand-up comedian who made it to the big time with no more than a thesaurus and a dream, is making sweeping generalizations about being grounded in reality? I know I’m all ears… The same could be said about Al Franken. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121/22 "2004-03-03T13:52:45Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > Strikes me as more chickenhawk shit. Think about it: Kerry served with distinction in Vietnam, he just MIGHT have some idea that there are people out there who want to kill Americans. Whereas I bet Miller didn’t do any military service at all. Just like a chickenhawk to call a combat veteran naive about the dangerousness of the world. Miller’s an asshole, to hell with him. Never mind that. How does Dennis Miller get that “Kerry in particular” doesn’t know as much as he does about how dangerous the world is? How many terms did Miller serve on the [Senate Foreign Relations Committee](http://www.foreign.senate.gov/about.html) ? > [@stpauler](#): > > He also said at the beginning of the series that he’s pretty muched switched to right-wing politics because they know how to handle the world after 9/11. This is such tired horseshit. The Republicans like to rattle sabres and keep conflict going as long as possible, so they get the reputation among the simple-minded as the the ones who “know how to handle our enemies”. Iraq is the biggest sandbox they’ve ever gotten to play with, now that they have control of all branches. And surprise, surprise, their efforts there have caused twice as many problems as they’ve solved, just as the sane of the world always knew they would. Miller’s problem is that people listen to his statements and watch his career moves of the last few years, and wonder how someone who knows so much could be such an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121/23 "2004-03-03T14:02:48Z")
[NBC reports](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4431601/) that in the run-up to Iraq, we had several opportunities to take out Abu Musab Zarqawi, but the White House killed them: > [@](#): > > In June 2002, U.S. officials say intelligence had revealed that Zarqawi and members of al-Qaida had set up a weapons lab at Kirma, in northern Iraq, producing deadly ricin and cyanide. > > The Pentagon quickly drafted plans to attack the camp with cruise missiles and airstrikes and sent it to the White House, where, according to U.S. government sources, the plan was debated to death in the National Security Council. > > “Here we had targets, we had opportunities, we had a country willing to support casualties, or risk casualties after 9/11 and we still didn’t do it,” said Michael O’Hanlon, military analyst with the Brookings Institution. > > Four months later, intelligence showed Zarqawi was planning to use ricin in terrorist attacks in Europe. > > The Pentagon drew up a second strike plan, and the White House again killed it. By then the administration had set its course for war with Iraq. > > “People were more obsessed with developing the coalition to overthrow Saddam than to execute the president’s policy of preemption against terrorists,” according to terrorism expert and former National Security Council member Roger Cressey. > > In January 2003, the threat turned real. Police in London arrested six terror suspects and discovered a ricin lab connected to the camp in Iraq. > > The Pentagon drew up still another attack plan, and for the third time, the National Security Council killed it. A dangerous world, indeed. But this White House doesn’t seem to be able to keep its eye on the ball, or (see previous post) even have a clear idea of what the real game is. It doesn’t do us any good for Republicans to realize that it’s a dangerous world if they’re not going to address the dangers. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121/24 "2004-03-04T08:22:49Z")
I used to really like Dennis Miller and his rants. Funny as hell. When I watched his first show of the new version, I was stunned. He has lost his instincts. What in the world made him think that a discussion of California politics with the Governor would be of general interest to the public? It was of some interest when the recall was in question, but now…? Bad news. Self-indulgent. If I want a good laugh from the right, I’ll laugh at O’Reilly. ---
**Author:** ![Quint\_Essence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/54ee81/32.png) [@Quint\_Essence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint_Essence)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121/25 "2004-03-04T12:31:37Z")
I think dennis miller’s problem is that he hasn’t been able to quit shitting in his pants since 9-11. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121/26 "2004-03-04T16:01:15Z")
DoctorJ: > [@](#): > > As long as we’re oversimplifying, I’d counter by saying that Republicans don’t realize what a complicated world it is. I was going to make precisely that same point. And it’s Bush who didn’t realize how dangerous the North Koreans are when he blithely called them part of the “axis of evil”. Or how dangerous a situation he would create in Iraq by blundering in with half-assed preparation. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121/27 "2004-03-04T17:50:16Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > And it’s Bush who didn’t realize how dangerous the North Koreans are when he blithely called them part of the “axis of evil”. It’s two years on now, and the president is _still_ doing his best to torpedo any diplomatic solution to the crisis: > [@](#): > > After a Chinese request for greater flexibility during last week’s six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis, President Bush instructed the U.S. delegation to make it clear that the administration’s patience in diplomatically seeking North Korea’s dismantling of its weapons program could run out, U.S. officials said. > … > The instructions, delivered as a third day of talks began last Friday in Beijing, came as the negotiators at the talks struggled to draft a detailed, two-page statement laying out the steps for resolving the crisis. > … > Bush’s answer, once it was submitted by the U.S. delegation, essentially halted the discussions on the detailed statement… [Bush Signals Patience on North Korea Is Waning](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28393-2004Mar3.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-don-t-realize-what-a-dangerous-world-it-is/232121.md?page=1)