# What the hell is a "catastrophic success?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-catastrophic-success/262684>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [September 2, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-catastrophic-success/262684 "2004-09-02T01:05:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-catastrophic-success/262684/41 "2004-09-02T15:19:17Z")

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> [@Liberal](#):
>
> It is perfectly descriptive of what happened — the nation’s army was conquered so quickly that the US found its hands full of things it couldn’t handle, just like a business that has succeeded more quickly than its operational readiness would allow.

Gee, that’s what I said.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-catastrophic-success/262684/42 "2004-09-02T15:27:49Z")

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> [@Liberal](#):
>
> Thanks, Finn. No problem. Now that Dio is satisfied that he has his answer, I’d like to invite everyone interested in contributing to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=274276), where Acsenray is developing a very fine list of talking points for Democrats.

That \*\*\*rant \*\*\*posted in GD? You’ve got to be kidding. What kind of “debate” consists of: Republicans are bad, let’s list all the reasons.

My favorite talking point is “2004 election”. I guess it’s supposed to be subcategory of the first point.

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-catastrophic-success/262684/43 "2004-09-02T15:34:52Z")

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I take it to be along the lines of witnessing. You’re free, of course, to make it a debate.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-catastrophic-success/262684/44 "2004-09-02T15:59:17Z")

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> [@Liberal](#):
>
> I take it to be along the lines of witnessing.

I thought that association with the Religious Right was one of the reasons not to vote for the Pubbies… 🙂

> [@](#):
>
> You’re free, of course, to make it a debate.

First I need to read “How to Turn a Cirlce Jerk into a Debate in 5 Easy Steps”.

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-catastrophic-success/262684/45 "2004-09-02T16:09:44Z")

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Well, it’s hardly a circle jerk. I’ve already criticized a couple of items on the list — references to the “religious right” for example. They are neither religious nor right.

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