# "We stay in fight," says Bush (while being awarded Dumbshit of the Decade Award) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 19, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839 "2005-11-19T20:58:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/41 "2005-11-21T02:13:17Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > My mission is to succeed. > > I know know my mission is over when I have succeeded. > > Why can’t you liberals understand this? > > -Joe, duh To which the counter argument is It ain’t over 'til it’s over. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/42 "2005-11-21T02:55:22Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > To which the counter argument is > It ain’t over 'til it’s over. Well, look, can’t we find the fat lady and persuade her to sing? ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/43 "2005-11-21T04:21:11Z")
**Stranger On A Train** Lately, I haven’t been posting to the SDMB as often as I used to, but I couldn’t resist joining a “Dubya-Bashing” thread. Anyway, Stranger, that was a well-conceived and well-expressed essay on the Commandable In Chief. Keep up the good work. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/44 "2005-11-21T07:28:37Z")
I wrote a different post, making fun of Bush’s statements. But I didn’t have the heart to post it. American soldiers are dying. And a lot more are going to be sacrificed before George Bush will be willing to stop and admit he may have made a mistake. Assuming he ever reaches that point - he’s already absorbed several thousand dead and it doesn’t seem to have had any effect on him. It isn’t a joking situation - his incompetence is killing people. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/45 "2005-11-21T08:20:28Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > As it is, in Iraq we don’t need an exit strategy until Iraq has stabilized, so there’s really nothing more to talk about. “We’re not going to stop twisting the knife and take it out of his guts till he stops bleeding”. ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/46 "2005-11-21T13:45:42Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > Establish a stable government in Iraq. I know you have no problem labelling Bush an idiot, but it certainly takes a “special” individual to not understand something so specific. But that is not very specific. What has to happen in Iraq for the situation to be defined as “stable”? Is there a certain number of Iraqi troops that have to be trained? Is there a certain number of insurgency attacks a day that has to be reduced to? A certain number of elections that have to take place? If we are waiting for all violence to cease that simply isn’t going to happen as long as US troops are present. And the violence probably won’t cease after US troops leave until the Sunnis either accept that they no longer run the country (which could take decades) or regain control of it. So just what is the measure by which the US will decide when it is time to leave? It feels as if we have no means by which to make this decision beyond how nervous the Republicans get come election time. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/47 "2005-11-21T13:51:58Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > As it is, in Iraq we don’t need an exit strategy until Iraq has stabilized, so there’s really nothing more to talk about. Dead is stable. I’m just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/48 "2005-11-21T14:03:32Z")
> [@Blackclaw](#): > > We have no means by which to make this decision beyond how nervous the Republicans get come election time. Ladies and gentlemen, no more phone calls please…we have a winner. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/49 "2005-11-21T14:11:42Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Well, look, can’t we find the fat lady and persuade her to sing? Cheney is trying to make it legal for the CIA to torture her, so we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/50 "2005-11-21T15:44:11Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > I wrote a different post, making fun of Bush’s statements. But I didn’t have the heart to post it. American soldiers are dying. And a lot more are going to be sacrificed before George Bush will be willing to stop and admit he may have made a mistake. Assuming he ever reaches that point - he’s already absorbed several thousand dead and it doesn’t seem to have had any effect on him. It isn’t a joking situation - his incompetence is killing people. Can’t. That’s a problem as I see it. Remember, the last election came down to the words ‘Flip flopping’. It made changing your mind the worst political ‘sin’ you can make. Going back on what you said, even if it’s because of new evidence or whatever. It’s called changing your mind. But our politicians have made that a bad, bad thing. Now we must stay the course, no matter how silly, pointless, or life-sacrificing it may be. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/51 "2005-11-21T15:56:55Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > You forgot “Clinton got a blow job”. Get with plan already. :wally Why do people keep bringing this up? Sex is a private matter. Now a President perjuring himself in a sexual harrassment lawsuit that has been brought against him _is_ the public’s business. Unless you think that sexual harrassment is not or should not be a crime. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/52 "2005-11-21T17:50:23Z")
What a fascinating line of inquiry! We really should discuss this at length. Elsewhere. At some other time. That isn’t here. Or now. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/53 "2005-11-21T20:09:11Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > The best we can do is to mitigate the worst and hope that the situation doesn’t unravel like a ball of yarn in the clutches of a kitten. > > Stranger I hear this all the time, and it’s seen as some kind of self-evident truth, but I am increasingly beginning to doubt that we will see a stable Iraq as long as we have troops present in the country. Sure, we could stay there 50 years, but all that happens is that the insurgency changes from a rebellion against the invaders to a rebellion against the status quo. It’s going to be a disaster no matter when we pull out, unless we are very fortunate indeed, and I don’t think putting things off will make much difference in that. We can only hope that a strong leadership devoted to peace and (hopefully) democracy (though we should really take what we can get, short of tyranny and oppression) will emerge to bring stability to Iraq with the departure of American troops. Or, hell, even while we’re still there. But that’s a romantic possibility for which I do not see very much hope :(. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/54 "2005-11-21T21:41:11Z")
> [@Grelby](#): > > We can only hope that a strong leadership devoted to peace and (hopefully) democracy (though we should really take what we can get, short of tyranny and oppression) will emerge to bring stability to Iraq… Mmmm Mmmm; ice cream sundaes with an _extra_ sprinkling of fairy dust. 😛 [Iraq fraud arrests expose criminality of US occupation](http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m18011&l=i&size=1&hd=0) > [@](#): > > The arrest this week of a private contractor and a former US government official in connection with a multimillion-dollar contract-rigging and bribery scandal has exposed a piece of the corruption and criminality that is pervasive in America’s continuing military occupation of Iraq. [Auditor urges Iraq corruption crackdown](http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Auditor-urges-Iraq-corruption-crackdown/2005/10/31/1130607183566.html) > [@](#): > > Iraq lost more than $US2 billion ($A2.63 billion) each year in stolen gasoline and diesel fuel supplies. > > The report said Iraq’s Bureau of Supreme Audit charged that up to $US1.27 billion ($A1.67 billion) from some 90 contracts was lost from June 2004 to February 2005 because deals were given to “favoured suppliers” and cash was given to third-party firms to work out contracts. > > On October 10, Iraqi authorities issued warrants for the arrest of five former ministers and 22 former ministry of defence officials on criminal corruption charges, it said. [Iraq’s interim Prime Minister quickly learned the limits of his office. What awaits the next guy?](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1132799,00.html) > [@](#): > > What is certain is that the next head of government will inherit rampant corruption, stagnant oil exports, a crumbling infrastructure, deadly insurgencies (on Friday and Saturday alone, five suicide bombings killed more than 120 people), an Iraqi army riddled with factional militiamen and a police force suspected of conniving in sectarian violence. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/55 "2005-11-21T22:23:25Z")
No kidding, **squink**. We can wish for it all we want, but it ain’t going to happen. There’s always hope, but… while we’re at it, I want a pony. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/56 "2005-11-21T22:53:41Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Why do people keep bringing this up? Sex is a private matter. Now a President perjuring himself in a sexual harrassment lawsuit that has been brought against him _is_ the public’s business. Unless you think that sexual harrassment is not or should not be a crime. Have you nothing new to say? The Chewbacca defense only works for people much more clever than you. You’ve not go the brains nor the balls to pull it off. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/57 "2005-11-21T23:20:32Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > The Chewbacca defense … Could someone help me out here? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/58 "2005-11-21T23:31:06Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Could someone help me out here? Heavy reliance on red herrings. It’s a _South Park_ reference, from a Johnnie Cochrane parody: > [@](#): > > But ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider: Ladies and gentlemen, this is Chewbacca. > > [PRODUCES PICTURE OF CHEWIE] > > Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk, but Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now, think about that. THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE! (Background: Damnit! What? He’s using the Chewbacca defense!) Why would a Wookiee — an eight foot tall Wookiee — want to live on Endor with a bunch of two foot tall Ewoks? That does not make sense! > > But more important, you have to ask yourself, what does this have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense. > > Look at me, I’m a lawyer defending a major record company, and I’m talkin’ about Chewbacca. Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense. None of this makes sense! > > And so you have to remember, when you’re in that jury room deliberating and conjugating the Emancipation Proclamation… Does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense. > > If Chewbacca lived on Endor, you must acquit! The defense rests. If you do it right, juror’s heads explode. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/59 "2005-11-21T23:48:01Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Have you nothing new to say? The Chewbacca defense only works for people much more clever than you. > > You’ve not go the brains nor the balls to pull it off. Funny you would bring up brains. Let’s see, your post clearly implies that I must have repeatedly posted the same thing before. Not necessarily the using the exact smae words. I grant you, but that I’ve made that point repeatedly. Now let’s see, I’ve posted over 970 times, so according to you quite a few of them would have been posts making the similar point. So, how many times have I done so? Since you made the claim, I ask you to count them. (My guess is two or three, and not recently. But hey, knock yourself out.) Now if you do go back and count them and there are only a couple, should I expect a retraction? And for the record, I did not bring the subject up. I was simply commenting on a previous post that seemed to miss the point of the issue. So, you know, fighting ignorance and all that. There have been many times I’ve let this little propaganda soundbite slide, but I think I’ll take it as a charge of mine to fight the ignorance in this regard. Thanks for pointing out how important the charade is to some. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839/60 "2005-11-22T01:25:34Z")
Thanks, LM. And Magellen01, something isn’t a new thing to say if lots of people have said it. Even if the person now saying it isn’t the person who has often said it before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-stay-in-fight-says-bush-while-being-awarded-dumbshit-of-the-decade-award/331839.md?page=4)