# Victory at Any Cost to the Country **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 28, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753 "2014-08-28T14:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/1 "2014-08-28T14:50:19Z")
> [@Harry Reid](#): > > There can be no greater priority than protecting the Democratic majority in the Senate. [Cite.](http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/06/senate-majority-leader-harry-reid-solicits/) I look forward to the universal condemnation of liberals on the SDMB for this open statement by Reid that he valued political advantage over the business of the country. Obviously Reid is saying that he is willing to do anything - lie, murder, betray his country - in order to hang onto power. Since McConnell was interpreted on the SDMB as he was when he stated his number one priority, and since Reid has stated what his greatest priority is, it stands to reason that both statements ought to be interpreted in the same way. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/2 "2014-08-28T15:04:42Z")
Nice try. But totally different. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/3 "2014-08-28T15:15:52Z")
Doesn’t that sound like perfectly appropriate language for a **campaign fundraising email?** ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/4 "2014-08-28T15:16:11Z")
A for effort. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/5 "2014-08-28T15:24:49Z")
I condemn it. McConnell’s statement is worse (“make this President a one term president” is worse than “protect the Democratic majority”), though. Further, McConnell’s statement goes along with a series of Republican statements and actions starting from the very beginning of Obama’s presidency, in which Republican leaders decided that opposition to Obama was the most important theme. But I still hope the Democrats hold on to the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/6 "2014-08-28T15:30:15Z")
I didn’t bother to click for Reid’s context, but I agree with Reid that dominance of the post-rational GOP in national politics is highly undesireable. [Cite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush). > [@Shodan](#): > > Obviously Reid is saying that he is willing to do anything - lie, murder, betray his country - in order to hang onto power. Beautiful! You should work this gem into your .sig. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/7 "2014-08-28T16:02:03Z")
Since clearly no one would take a statement out of context to create a false equivalence, yes, I condemn the statement. As a matter of legislative agenda, it’s as bad as the Republicans making a pact to obstruct even legislation they agree with (and in many case authored) in order to make Obama a one-term president. Oh, wait – it’s obvious both from context and the–you know–_actual_ text that he meant _fundraising_ priority? In other words, not at all the same thing, and obviously so to anyone with a second grade reading ability? In that case, I condemn Shodan’s attempt do defend the Republicans’ indefensible actions by a deceptive ‘gotcha’ attempt, and the usual “but THEY DO IT TOO!” false equivalency. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/8 "2014-08-28T16:31:09Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Since McConnell was interpreted on the SDMB as he was when he stated his number one priority, and since Reid has stated what his greatest priority is, it stands to reason that both statements ought to be interpreted in the same way. Why didn’t you provide a cite to the SDMB response to McConnell that you comparing this with? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/9 "2014-08-28T16:47:52Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Obviously Reid is saying that he is willing to do anything - lie, murder, betray his country - in order to hang onto power. Weak pitting, but strong fantasy element with absurd undertones. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/10 "2014-08-28T17:43:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Since McConnell was interpreted on the SDMB as he was when he stated his number one priority, and since Reid has stated what his greatest priority is, it stands to reason that both statements ought to be interpreted in the same way. Who said that McConnell’s “one term President” comment was actually intended to imply an attempt on Obama’s life? You’re saying that Reid is implying he is willing to murder to keep the Democratic majority in the 2012 elections (yes, the 2012 elections). Who made a similar comment about McConnell commuting violent felonies to carry out his goal? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/11 "2014-08-28T18:45:10Z")
Don’t suppose **Shodan** is ever coming back to this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/12 "2014-08-28T19:11:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Doesn’t that sound like perfectly appropriate language for a **campaign fundraising email?** Yes it certainly does, providing you want to communicate that you are putting your political advantage ahead of every other consideration. Just like [del]McConnell[/del]Reid does here. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/13 "2014-08-28T19:34:54Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Yes it certainly does, providing you want to communicate that you are putting your political advantage ahead of every other consideration. He is not saying, “Nothing we do here in the Senate is more important than preserving the Democratic majority.” He is saying, “Nothing you can do as a donor is more important than preserving the Democratic majority.” You do see the difference? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/14 "2014-08-28T19:55:36Z")
This, in a nutshell, is the most obnoxious part of being a partisan hack. Your entire life is dedicated to stretching as hard as you can to find a GOTCHA YA. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/15 "2014-08-28T21:51:37Z")
This is fair grounds for a [Pitting](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732394). ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/16 "2014-08-28T22:11:40Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Obviously Reid is saying that he is willing to do anything - lie, murder, betray his country - in order to hang onto power. It’s actually not that obvious to me. I wonder if you could be so kind as to provide any evidence of this. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/17 "2014-08-28T22:12:56Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Who said that McConnell’s “one term President” comment was actually intended to imply an attempt on Obama’s life? > > You’re saying that Reid is implying he is willing to murder to keep the Democratic majority in the 2012 elections (yes, the 2012 elections). Who made a similar comment about McConnell commuting violent felonies to carry out his goal? Seconded. Please, **Shodan** , provide some evidence. Otherwise, we may be tempted to conclude that you made it up. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/18 "2014-08-28T23:40:55Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > This, in a nutshell, is the most obnoxious part of being a partisan hack. Your entire life is dedicated to stretching as hard as you can to find a GOTCHA YA. Well said. But sure, in so far as partisan exaggerations are counterproductive to national interest, I condemn them. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/19 "2014-08-29T01:12:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Doesn’t that sound like perfectly appropriate language for a **campaign fundraising email?** Exactly. It’s election-year hyperbole, nothing more. Is it very, very important to Harry Reid that he remain majority leader? Of course. Is he actually willing to rape Girl Scouts and stomp puppies to hold on to his post? Get real. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753/20 "2014-08-29T01:15:19Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > […] Beautiful! You should work this gem into your .sig. Regardless! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victory-at-any-cost-to-the-country/696753.md?page=2)