# If Bush had authorized the Libya no-fly ops, you liberals would have been screaming in protest... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 22, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548 "2011-03-22T01:24:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/41 "2011-03-22T21:34:35Z")
And the total attendance of all of those is less than for a single Glenn Beck rally. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/42 "2011-03-22T21:35:09Z")
Well, me too. Opened a GD thread on that opposition. Got hammered real good, too. Questioned my sanity, my intelligence, my integrity, my patriotism, my sexual orientation, my sexual _dis_orientation, and my momma. Got two bits says you were one of them. But the fever was on us in those days, the bloodlust, the craving for vengeance. Being prematurely right can be a real bitch. PS: Not you, **Elvish**. The other guy. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/43 "2011-03-22T21:42:48Z")
Replying to Shodan, That is still small potatoes by a factor of about 10 compared to the protests against the IRAQ war. For the record I was ambivalent about the Afghan war (I didn’t want to end up like the soviets) but dead set against the IRAQ war (who in their right mind starts a second war of choice before the first one is finished)? ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/44 "2011-03-22T21:50:10Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > …whoosh-erffic.. Yeah, I’m going to go ahead and steal that word for my personal use in meat space, because it is awesome. I don’t pay royalties or rights fees, btw. I may give you attribution (some guy on the Straight Dope!), I may not. I’m like that. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/45 "2011-03-22T21:50:49Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > (who in their right mind starts a second war of choice before the first one is finished)? And then what should be said about someone that starts a _third_??? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/46 "2011-03-22T22:44:47Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Replying to Shodan, > > That is still small potatoes by a factor of about 10 compared to the protests against the IRAQ war. > > For the record I was ambivalent about the Afghan war (I didn’t want to end up like the soviets) but dead set against the IRAQ war (who in their right mind starts a second war of choice before the first one is finished)? So what are your feelings about this one, and why? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/47 "2011-03-22T23:06:41Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > My guess is **Mr Smashy** , like the OP, was being sarcastic and nobody got it. bingo… like how many on this board, if anyone disagrees with them, automatically assumes that they are some W/neocon acolyte and chickenhawk. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/48 "2011-03-23T01:17:29Z")
Hooray for those who got it. I was making fun of a righty meme that seems very powerful right now, i.e. “The same people who skewered Bush for doing thing A are silent when Obama does B.” To which my response is: 1: You know how Bush’s third term went… how, exactly? 2: You understand that A and B are different, right? 3: Same people? What people? You have a list of names, or just, you know, “those people?” 4: You know some liberals are indeed skewering Obama for his true similarities to Bush, right? If you didn’t recognize what I was doing here, congratulations, you probably don’t have to listen to the same idiots I do. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/49 "2011-03-23T02:02:54Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So what are your feelings about this one, and why Before we move on, I’d like to rephrase my earlier claim and state that there was _relatively_ little opposition on the left to Afghanistan (and/or there was “very” little opposition on the _Dope_). Nevertheless, there were significant enough differences in the responses to Bush’s 2 wars to refute any claims that any and all opposition was due to knee-jerk partisanship. Are you willing to concede that point? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/50 "2011-03-23T02:09:50Z")
Probably not, because “Yeah, well, your guys did it too, or would have if they could” is the only argument he has ever known. Regardless of subject, too. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/51 "2011-03-23T10:49:28Z")
The number of powerful whooshes here is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/52 "2011-03-23T13:53:15Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Before we move on, I’d like to rephrase my earlier claim and state that there was _relatively_ little opposition on the left to Afghanistan (and/or there was “very” little opposition on the _Dope_). > > Nevertheless, there were significant enough differences in the responses to Bush’s 2 wars to refute any claims that any and all opposition was due to knee-jerk partisanship. > > Are you willing to concede that point? Sure. I would phrase it that a good deal of the opposition to Afghanistan was based on partisanship or pacifism. But a good deal of the support for the Libyan action is based on partisanship. We had tens of thousands marching against the invasion of Afghanistan - there isn’t [very much](http://m.ibtimes.com/libya-us-125486.html) of that against Libya. Part of that difference is because we aren’t invading (yet), but part of it is IOKIADDI. I think that is most of the basis for **ElvisL1ves** ’ support, as well as **Shayna** in another thread. Sure, there’s some opposition to Obama, but compared to that against Bush in Afghanistan, it is “relatively little”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/53 "2011-03-23T15:43:52Z")
Clearly this is My Pet Goat moment, screwing around in El Salvador when his country goes to war. The fact that his team is all saying different things and nobody’s on the same page, as that Marxist midget [Cohen](http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas_muddled_message_on_the_middle_east/2011/03/21/ABBOa48_story.html?nav=emailpage) detailed yesterday, only makes it worse. When people said he had no experience, that he’s the least qualified guy in any room he walks into, I guess this is what they meant. Not that any of the lefties on this board would consider voting for his opposition though - so it’s pretty moot, as far as the SDMB is concerned. But [this doesn’t help](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html) his re-election any. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/54 "2011-03-23T16:38:49Z")
I don’t know - maybe Obama will get lucky and it will all work out even without any clear goals. But going to war is usually good for a President’s approval ratings. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/55 "2011-03-23T17:06:48Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > But [this doesn’t help](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html) his re-election any. Doesn’t seem to have hurt any, either. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/56 "2011-03-23T17:09:44Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > Clearly this is My Pet Goat moment, screwing around in El Salvador when his country goes to war. The fact that his team is all saying different things and nobody’s on the same page, as that Marxist midget [Cohen](http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas_muddled_message_on_the_middle_east/2011/03/21/ABBOa48_story.html?nav=emailpage) detailed yesterday, only makes it worse. > > When people said he had no experience, that he’s the least qualified guy in any room he walks into, I guess this is what they meant. Not that any of the lefties on this board would consider voting for his opposition though - so it’s pretty moot, as far as the SDMB is concerned. > > But [this doesn’t help](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html) his re-election any. Only a complete moron could compare Obama on a pre-arranged trade mission while lending support to a UN No fly zone as a _My Pet Goat_ moment. Your post is my cite. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/57 "2011-03-23T18:54:26Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Only a complete moron could compare Obama on a pre-arranged trade mission while lending support to a UN No fly zone as a _My Pet Goat_ moment. > > Your post is my cite. I guess you can add noted [WaPo columnist](http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-quick-trip-from-tyrant-to-weakling/2011/03/22/ABpj3qEB_story.html?hpid=z4) Dana Milbank to the list: > [@](#): > > It was perilously close to George W. Bush’s My-Pet-Goat moment, when then-President Bush continued reading a storybook with children on Sept. 11, 2001, after he was told that the second World Trade Center tower had been hit. Bush later said he was trying to maintain calm; likewise, White House officials tell me the decision to proceed with the South America trip was made in part to convey that the Libya bombardment was not a major military action. > > Obama administration officials calculated that he would take a hit for proceeding with the voyage. But they appear to have been surprised by the force of the weakling complaint, coming not just from usual suspects such as Karl Rove but from liberals such as my Post colleague Richard Cohen, who saw Obama “quite literally distancing himself from the consequences of his own policy.” Milbank is not exactly a noted conservative, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/58 "2011-03-23T18:57:14Z")
Lefties say stupid things too, just not as often nor nearly so loud. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/59 "2011-03-23T19:00:27Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Milbank is not exactly a noted conservative, by the way. I don’t really consider Milbank a credible liberal voice, either. He’s a typical Villager. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548/60 "2011-03-24T00:50:20Z")
I think he should have got authorization from Congress and be impeached if he didn’t. He didn’t. Impeach the bastard. TSS, a liberal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-had-authorized-the-libya-no-fly-ops-you-liberals-would-have-been-screaming-in-protest/575548.md?page=4)