# Everything's cool, Saddam's been arrested. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 14, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934 "2003-12-14T12:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/61 "2003-12-14T18:25:32Z")
How about Clark? [This whole story](http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-11-16-clark-main_x.htm) is about him harping on capturing Saddam Hussein. ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/62 "2003-12-14T18:34:05Z")
Everything is indeed cool for Bush now that they got Saddam. Events have allowed him to play a nice game of “making lemonade out of lemons”, and so far it looks like this is going extraordinarily well. To wit: 1 - Opposition to the war was based not on the idea that Saddam had no WMD’s, but that they weren’t a threat. Now that none have been found anywhere, the result is that if one is found at all, it justifies the war. Odd, but true. **Airman** ’s right about that. 2 - That Saddam wasn’t killed/captured at the beginning is now a positive, because now Bush gets to claim a major victory smack in the middle of a simmering guerrilla war that gets a little worse each day. But that now gets knocked off the front pages for a while, or at least until the next major attack, anyway. And there is the possibility that the guerrilla war will now fade away. We’ll just have to wait and see. 3 - Further to this, there is going to be a trial. During that trial all kinds of truly horrendous things about Saddam’s regime are going to come out. This will completely bury any lingering doubts about this war among the vast majority of the populace. It will be milked for all it’s worth in the political arena. This makes his capture alive a very big positive for Bush. 4- He now has a whole web of interconnected events that will allow him to coast into next November with a nice economy. The economy had already begun to grow, and now that Saddam has been captured, the dollar will rise, putting off the day of reckoning for the deficits until sometime after the election. Actually, it may even allow him to run even larger deficits, for more pre-election stimulus, which will really nail the election. Thus, the fact that the dollar’s been plunging gives it plenty of room to rise, this negative now becomes a positive until the election, and once again its lemonade instead of lemons. 4 - The dollar’s rise will help the stock markets, which are still down about a third from their bubble peaks, as measured by the S&P 500. Like the dollar, the markets have a lot of room to rise because they’ve fallen so far. This will make people feel better, and one of the prime laws of politics will come into play: people with full stomachs, or in the case of American elections, full portfolios, don’t rebel. Hillary, I suppose, is running in 2008. Dean gets to have 2004, poor guy. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/63 "2003-12-14T18:35:58Z")
[Bush Greets Saddam Capture as ‘Enchanting Day’](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=716&e=13&u=/nm/20031214/ts_nm/iraq_usa_bush_dc) Enchanting? What a strange choice of words. Did Condi or Uncie Karl vet this dumbass’ speech? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/64 "2003-12-14T18:39:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vibrotronica \* > \*\*Well, don’t hold back. Share, please! \*\* CNN reported a while back that he was sequestered among friends in a 40 square mile region of Pakistan, and the Pakistani government wouldn’t allow us to look, nor would they look themselves because it was too dangerous. I’ll see if I can dig up a cite for you. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/65 "2003-12-14T18:41:20Z")
Oh, on closer reading Bush said ‘enchanting day’ to Bill Frist, not in his speech. Yay. Everything’s fabulous now. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/66 "2003-12-14T18:48:12Z")
[Here’s what I was referring to](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/US/sept11_OBL_030908.html), \*\*vibrotronica. > [@](#): > > The hunt for Osama bin Laden has been narrowed to a 40-square-mile section of the Waziristan region of Pakistan, senior U.S. officials told ABCNEWS. ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/67 "2003-12-14T19:02:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > > 1. I do remember that Valerie Plame thing. Good that you do too. Does Joe Average on the street? No. Most people don’t tend to remember every specific event that happens during 4 years. Obviously come election time is when people actually look back and remember. > [@](#): > > 1. The economy is adding jobs, not losing them. The growth is the best in 20 years. He wins, even if he doesn’t hit his numbers. The economy added jobs under ever president since Hoover. The economy adding jobs is an absolutely normal state of affairs whether or not the economy is good or bad. Anything less than 150,000 jobs a month, however, is bad. And while one quarter of growth is good that does not make a good economy. History suggests that presidents with less than 1% job growth haven’t been reelected. Do you think that Bush will have 1% job growth 6 months from now? > [@](#): > > 1. I agree the Medicare reform isn’t a very good idea. However, again, most people disagree with us. So there you have it. I agree with most people when I think that medicare reform is good, however, I also agree with most people when I think that Bush’s specific medicare reform is bad. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/68 "2003-12-14T19:31:44Z")
Saddam didn’t happen to have any weapons of mass destruction hidden in his beard did he? Have we found those yet? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/69 "2003-12-14T19:37:45Z")
> [@](#): > > _pantom said:_ > 1 - Opposition to the war was based not on the idea that Saddam had no WMD’s, but that they weren’t a threat. Now that none have been found anywhere, the result is that if one is found at all, it justifies the war. I can’t believe this strawman still floats around. Many people who opposed the war were quite surprised no WMDs were found. We (me being one of them) just did not believe SH/Iraq posed an imminent threat or that war was the right course. > [@](#): > > _later…_ > 3 - Further to this, there is going to be a trial. During that trial all kinds of truly horrendous things about Saddam’s regime are going to come out. This will completely bury any lingering doubts about this war among the vast majority of the populace. It will be milked for all it’s worth in the political arena. This makes his capture alive a very big positive for Bush. We’ll see. As discussed the particulars of a trial are far from clear. I also wonder what kind of ugly truths the admin doesn’t want to hear will come out. Your post is a lot of wishful thinking **pantom**. That is step one I guess. 😉 Sooo, since Stalin never went to trial I guess Saddam needs a new role model… any suggestions people? ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/70 "2003-12-14T20:17:20Z")
I’m extremely opposed to the war. That doesn’t mean that, objectively, for the vast majority of people, number one isn’t correct. Wouldn’t be for me, but that was a strictly political analysis I was offering. As for it being wishful thinking, it was the opposite. More like a doomsday scenario. Lemme put it this way: I’m already making major plans for what to do with my investments post Nov 2004. To say those plans are bearish is putting it mildly. Once this guy gets elected to another four years, there’s nothing going to hold him back. If that ain’t a doomsday scenario, well, I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/71 "2003-12-14T22:12:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pantom \* > \*\*Lemme put it this way: I’m already making major plans for what to do with my investments post Nov 2004. To say those plans are bearish is putting it mildly. Once this guy gets elected to another four years, there’s nothing going to hold him back. > If that ain’t a doomsday scenario, well, I don’t know what is. \*\* You’re welcome to move down to Australia my friend. THe US dollar still buys quite a nice quality of lifestyle down here and all you’d have to do is learn the local politics. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/72 "2003-12-14T22:14:55Z")
Frankly, as horrible a sentiment as some of you may find it to be, I think the world is worse off for us having found Saddam Hussein insofar as it might, just might, contribute to the possibility of Bush getting re-elected. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/73 "2003-12-14T22:30:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\*Frankly, as horrible a sentiment as some of you may find it to be, I think the world is worse off for us having found Saddam Hussein insofar as it might, just might, contribute to the possibility of Bush getting re-elected. \*\* You are right, it is a horrible sentiment that you express. But not unexpected! Don’t forget, the sanity and patriotism of some of you has been in question for quite some time. Regardless, you are in good company. [Palestinians Mark ‘Black Day’ of Saddam Capture.](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=574&u=/nm/20031214/wl_nm/iraq_mideast_dc_1&printer=1) ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/74 "2003-12-14T22:33:52Z")
If that isn’t the most disgusting thing I’ve read AHunter3. Unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/75 "2003-12-14T22:39:19Z")
Mind you, I’m not saying I’d _vote_ for Saddam Hussein if he were nominated to run against George Bush, I just think that a George Bush at large and in charge of the US is more dangerous than a Saddam Hussein deposed and in hiding and serving as an embarrassment to George Bush. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/76 "2003-12-14T22:39:26Z")
Go fuck yourself, **Ahunter3**. No matter how much one may despise Bush, having the filthy butcher Saddam in custody is an absolute good. That you could regret evil being removed from the world in order to further your partisan goals (goals I share, BTW) is disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/77 "2003-12-14T23:08:50Z")
As an Australian who likes to observe these events as objectively as possible, I have to say that quite frankly, I am getting heartily sick of seeing every single event on the world stage these days being turned into yet another “kindergarten like” squabble over internal American politics. For fuck’s sake… it’s like watching two fleas arguing over who owns the dog they’re living on. Give it a miss already… please… ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/78 "2003-12-14T23:12:51Z")
I see **[Baghdad Bob](http://www.pevabe.com/log/141203002.jpg)**, is working again. ---
**Author:** ![GoHeels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@GoHeels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoHeels)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/79 "2003-12-14T23:27:14Z")
Absolutely pathetic, disgusting thing to say, **AHunter3**. You are an asshole of the highest order. ---
**Author:** ![DeadJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@DeadJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadJesus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934/80 "2003-12-14T23:32:59Z")
> [@](#): > > As far as Osama, I thought we already knew where he was. In a certain region of Pakistan where we can’t get to him. If he’s contained, I’ll settle for that. :eek: :eek: :eek: I’m sure many of the 9-11 families will agree with you. :rolleyes: What kind of f’ed-up logic is that??? Have people already forgotten that OBL is the person who is really responsible for 9-11! I hope that Saddam’s capture will divert our attention back to the real war against terrorism going on in Afghanistan. However, the news reports I’ve seen so far don’t give me than much hope. Afghanistan was hardly mentioned, as was OBL. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everythings-cool-saddams-been-arrested/218934.md?page=5)