# Demonizing the Opposition **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 22, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653 "2004-10-22T19:36:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/81 "2004-10-26T14:38:35Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > And just how many wars did Clinton, Hillary, Gore, Edwards, Albright, Kerry, and Tenet start in Iraq? Zero? It’s one thing to believe the WMDs existed. It’s quite another to start a war over it… From [here:](http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec1998/n12171998_9812171.html) > [@](#): > > “The international community gave Saddam one last chance to > resume cooperation with the weapons inspectors,” Clinton said. > “Saddam has failed to seize the chance. So we had to act and act > now.” > > Less than an hour after American and British forces launched > Operation Desert Fox, the president addressed the nation to > explain his decision. He said the attack was designed to protect > the national interests of the United States and the interests of > people throughout the Middle East and around the world. > > “Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or > the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons,” > Clinton said. The Iraqi dictator has used these weapons against > his neighbors and his own people, he said, and “left unchecked, > Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again.” How quickly people forget [Operation: Desert Fox.](http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/desert_fox/) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/82 "2004-10-26T14:44:18Z")
I’d say Clinton did a fine job- Hussein’s military capability was in decline largely as a result of Clinton’s vigilance. And Bill did it without spending $200B and 1100 American deaths. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/83 "2004-10-26T14:53:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’d say Clinton did a fine job… Heh, sure. Glad to have jarred you memory! If only he finished the job, I would be inclined to agree with you. Alas, Bubba was given to ‘symbolic’ gestures and ‘message-sending’ actions, rather than actually doing anything to permanently resolve problems. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/84 "2004-10-26T14:57:01Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Heh, sure. Glad to have jarred you memory! If only he finished the job, I would be inclined to agree with you. Alas, Bubba was given to ‘symbolic’ gestures and ‘message-sending’ actions, rather than actually doing anything to permanently resolve problems. No, he practiced the doctrine of containment. I defy you to look at Iraq today and honestly say that its problems have been permanently resolved. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/85 "2004-10-26T16:11:44Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > No, he practiced the doctrine of containment. I defy you to look at Iraq today and honestly say that its problems have been permanently resolved. So you are claiming that Clinton solved the problem of Iraqi WMD with his Operation Wag the Desert Fox? And your “point” is silly. You claim quite correctly that everybody thought Saddam had WMD. All were equally sure - sure enough to base a case for military action on. Everyone makes the same claim. But only Bush is lying. Clinton and Bush do the same thing, for exactly the same reasons. But only Bush is lying. Clinton and Hilary and Gore and Edwards and Kerry and the rest of the Dems - well - BushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushlied. Same as always, and just as pointless. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/86 "2004-10-26T16:35:12Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So you are claiming that Clinton solved the problem of Iraqi WMD with his Operation Wag the Desert Fox? > > And your “point” is silly. You claim quite correctly that everybody thought Saddam had WMD. All were equally sure - sure enough to base a case for military action on. > > Everyone makes the same claim. But only Bush is lying. Clinton and Bush do the same thing, for exactly the same reasons. Clinton didn’t invade Iraq, so clearly they didn’t do the exact same thing. When Saddam moved his military close to the Kuwaiti border, Clinton fended him off. > [@](#): > > But only Bush is lying. Clinton and Hilary and Gore and Edwards and Kerry and the rest of the Dems - well - BushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushliedBushlied. Bush did lie–uranium from Niger, mobile weapons labs and all. Why do you defend him? Same as always, and just as pointless. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/87 "2004-10-26T18:59:14Z")
**Shodan** : > [@](#): > > The election is a week from today. The demonization will die down after that. > > If Kerry wins. You gotta friggin’ be kidding! The negative campaign of 1992 lasted the entire 8 years of the Clinton presidency. Remember Rush Limbaugh starting every broadcast with “America held hostage”? If anything, conservatives have become more negative in the meantime (if liberals have as well, it’s because they have a lot more to be angry about–and not just because the “other side” has won). OTOH, if you mean that there will simply be less to demonize, maybe, but it won’t be for lack of trying on the Right. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/88 "2004-10-26T19:31:15Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > but also came to the conclusion that Bush didn’t pressure The CIA or other intelligence agencies to give false or misleading information. 1. They haven’t dealt with the Administration’s use of intelligence yet. There was a political agreement not to do so until after the election. 2. When the CIA didn’t tell them what they wanted to hear, Rumsfeld set up his own operation that would. Look up “Office of Special Projects” sometime. **Shodan** , you need to get your keyboard fixed. That sticking key is making you look foolish. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653/89 "2004-10-27T00:17:47Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > I dont know of anybody, anywhere , who has cut off friendships, refused to attend a wedding, etc, because of the way a friend voted. Now you do. I have withdrawn from a friendship that I enjoyed and was at one time hoping to expand and deepen. Now… no. > [@chappachula](#): > > It’s called democracy, and no matter who wins, we all play by the same rules… You’d think, wouldn’t you? But the GOP has other ideas, I assure you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonizing-the-opposition/270653.md?page=4)