December 15, 2003

SADNESS ABOUNDS

The anti-war left has mixed feelings about a murderous dictator’s arrest:

"I had a horrible feeling in my stomach when I saw that Hussein had been captured."

By “mixed”, I mean a combination of loathing and idiocy.

Via reader Greg T. By the way, for excellent linkage on SaddamFest 2003, check out The Command Post.

UPDATE. Howard Dean’s supporters are distraught:

"Sigh. All I can think about is the effect of Saddam's capture on the Dean campaign! ... Somebody cheer me up, please!"

I'd love to, but I'm not licensed to prescribe psychotropic medication. Next:

"It is hard to believe this adminstration about Saddam when they are prone to lying about Thanksgiving TURKEYS...and what was that about BA pilots see Airforce One which was also a lie."

It was a plastic Saddam! Canada can evidently expect an influx of peace tards:

"todays events makes me pity our country even more....not that I like Hussein,but that now his capture seems to make us righteous in our invasion to somehow.....I feel the US will sink to newer lows and unprecedented actions globally....and makes Canada even more attractive to me."

And my favourite, which may or may not be satire:

"Damn it, CNN is again showing Iraqi citizens celebrating Saddam's capture. This is not good! Dean shouldn't say anything for now. He should immediately contact Paul Krugman of the NY Times for advice on how to put a negative spin on this."

Via contributor Zsa Zsa, who has never contacted Paul Krugman.

NOTE. Hit the archives and scroll down for other recent posts. Don't miss out on the Saddam-catching glee!

Posted by Tim Blair at December 15, 2003 01:02 AM
Comments

From the comments at http://www.blogforamerica.com/:

Sigh. All I can think about is the effect of Saddam's capture on the Dean campaign!

Gov. Dean and his advisers are going to have to scramble to incorporate this into his foreign policy address on Monday, preferably in a message that they'll be able to stick with. And they probably had a brilliant, winning speech worked out.

Bush and his team will be crowing about the capture in every statement for the next year.

I'm sorry to say it, but in many voters' minds, there may be only one thought about Bush come election day: "He caught Saddam."

And yes, Trippi's TV appearance today may be preempted in favor of something about the capture.

Somebody cheer me up, please!

Posted by Rita in DC at December 14, 2003 07:41 AM

Posted by: ZsaZsa at December 15, 2003 at 01:07 AM

Man, what a toolfest they have going at that sight...

Posted by: Jerry at December 15, 2003 at 01:13 AM

Four more years lol!!!

Posted by: gaz at December 15, 2003 at 01:14 AM

It's going to be fun collecting loony statements today:

You know what's saddest? They found an entire 3 guns and $750k with Saddam. I know there's a lot more real Americans who have more of both that aren't having their homes raided...shepd

Posted by: Randal Robinson at December 15, 2003 at 01:14 AM

They could...

Maybe GWB's Christmas tree will be made out of plastic. They could zero in on that.

Or try the "war for oil" tatic again. That might work.

Posted by: Vikki at December 15, 2003 at 01:15 AM

Cheer up Lefties. Every cloud has a silver lining -

Democrats have a new frontrunner

/gratuitous pimping of my own blog

Posted by: iowahawk at December 15, 2003 at 01:29 AM

Can't wait to see Michael Leunig's cartoon/s in The Age (www.theage.com.au)on Wednesday(?), Thursday and Friday. He seems to have a policy on never mocking/attacking "people" like Hussein and Bin Laden.

I picture Saddam (drawn with tearful, big, puppy dog eyes) being depicted sitting in the corner of the room like an emanciated, abused child (orphan?). Meanwhile Howard, Bush and Blair will be drawn sitting 'round a large circular table full of food, greedily woofing it all down while poor Saddam is left to starve.

What will Leunig's caption to this be? Who knows? Depends how many depressants he has before sitting down to work.

Posted by: Richard at December 15, 2003 at 01:39 AM

Saddam's capture is terrific news -- for the world, for peace, for the Iraqi people, and lastly, for the republicans. Nancy Pelosi and the pathetic democrats won't be able to crow "where's Saddam?" any longer.

Posted by: Rich in NYC at December 15, 2003 at 01:40 AM

These idiots always threaten to go to Canada, but they never actually GO!

It's such a disappointment.

Posted by: brett at December 15, 2003 at 01:52 AM

Christmas has come early this year, I just saw Santa on TV and I must admit he's looking a little straggly and dishevelled. I don't know about you but it looks to me like Santas' been living in a hole somewhere. He's really let himself go. St. Nick needs a haircut and a few weeks in rehab to ween him off the egg-nog. The old guy looks like sh!t. Somebody slap Santa into shape, he's got presents to deliver in a few days time.

That was Santa I saw on TV... wasn't it?

Posted by: Samsung; 100% British Beef at December 15, 2003 at 01:54 AM

On Meet the Press they were noting that Dean is scheduled to give a foreign policy speech tomorrow, and his speechwriters are probably going to be up all night.

Posted by: Anne Cunningham at December 15, 2003 at 01:57 AM

Hang on, Bush knew Saddam had been captured on Saturday, yet kept in secret until now. Is anyone thinking what I'm thinking? BUSH LIED!!!!

Posted by: Ross at December 15, 2003 at 01:58 AM

No, that was Bad Santa

Posted by: John Irving at December 15, 2003 at 01:58 AM

Oh they think they got problems? I have gone on the record saying that Hussein was dead. I had my reasoning and evidence all laid out and everything. Now I look stupid, and I think I can say without exaggeration that I am as big a victim of Saddam as anybody.

Curse you Saddam!

Posted by: Amos at December 15, 2003 at 02:09 AM

Hail Avenger of the Bones.

Posted by: Greg at December 15, 2003 at 02:12 AM

Fox News broadcast a news conference with the same Iraqi Governing Council member who shared the podium with Bremer and Sanchez. It was a bit hard to pay attention because the translation was a bit of a hash. At one point the IGC member indicated that he had spoken with Saddam and had castigated him for his ruthlessness. Saddam apparently replied that it was difficult being the leader of a country and that he felt he had been "just" but "firm". It probably wasn't appropriate but I laughed out loud.

Posted by: ZsaZsa at December 15, 2003 at 02:12 AM

Last night's SNL had Santa on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," with St. Nick getting shaved to a goatee. I see some interesting stuff along those lines for Saddam.

Posted by: Greg Rohrbough at December 15, 2003 at 02:13 AM

Amos, you kill me.

Greg, yes indeed, Hail Avenger of the Bones.

Posted by: Donnah at December 15, 2003 at 02:24 AM

I think that we need a pool to predict the first use of the word "quagmire" by a Democrat or network news anchor after this.

Posted by: Jim at December 15, 2003 at 02:28 AM

Me too, Amos.
I had him 10/1 on as a red smear on a cave wall somewhere.
Now I have to sell my firstborn.

Posted by: Pedro the Ignorant at December 15, 2003 at 02:28 AM

Krugman's spin: Saddam's capture exposes the Administration's contention that conditions for Iraqis are constantly improving for what it is--another pathetic lie.

Posted by: Bernard at December 15, 2003 at 02:39 AM

Amos,
Sorry you were wrong, I really am. But to be honest, until you brought it up, no body was going to remember. We'll all be too busy partying and celebrating, and watching his trial and execution.

What bet? Oh yeah.

Posted by: Ben at December 15, 2003 at 02:40 AM

I raise a question about the unilateralism and multilateralism issue. The libs have been weeping and wailing and nashing their teeth about the US acting unilaterally in this matter. This week they had their underwear in a bunch over us not allowing Germany, France, and Russia to share the Iraqi monetary pie. Even this morning Juan Williams of Fox News argued that since we've captured Saddam the US should do the "mature" thing and play nice with the UN, France, Germany, and Russia by sharing the pie. (Brit Hume looked as if he wanted to remove Juan's head - to check for brain matter I suppose.)

If I were the other 29 members of the coalition, I would be rather upset that in the scheme of things they don't count. Since when does the prefix uni- = 29? Their dead citizens and soldiers don't count. Their money doesn't count. They really have no power in the world whatsoever. But wait I have some theories as to why they're not insulted.

Theory 1. They don't really exist. Karl Rove just made up names of countries (the President being bad at geography wouldn't realize that these weren't real countries) and said "here's your coalition Mr. President." Rove added Great Britian and other recognizable country names who were then too embarrassed to say "no." BTW Are there any British military forces in Iraq? Did they leave after they took Basra?

Theory 2. Rove gave trade mark rights for country names to companies most likely to give a donation to the Republican party. These companies in turn created subsidaries with those names. The greater the donation possibility the more recognizable the country name. For example, Haliburton has a subsidary named Spain(tm). What better way to insure that American companies, especially companies with Republican ties, get all of the lucrative contracts. So those so called "Spanish Intelligence Officers" who were killed a few weeks ago - Haliburton employees.

Theory 3. Karl Rove hypnotized and brainwashed the leaders of 29 countries, including Tony Blair. So that makes them irrelevant because they're just zombified mutants doing the US's evil bidding. Meanwhile, France, Germany, Russia, the UN and the liberal media are trying to stop them from plunging the rest of the world into freedom and democracy - I mean - into similar zombified puppet states.

Posted by: Andrew at December 15, 2003 at 02:54 AM

http://www.adamyoshida.com/2003_12_01_archive.html#107141968702316877

Posted by: Adam Yoshida at December 15, 2003 at 03:02 AM

Can we be certain it's Saddam? He looks exactly like Victor Hugo to me!

Posted by: Kit Winterer at December 15, 2003 at 03:03 AM

Amos, a lot of us wondered if Saddam had died. Barely deploying organized forces and hiding out for half a year in air-conditioned rabbit holes is going to make people wonder.

Meanwhile, the real question remains: how do we know it's not Mel Torme?

Posted by: Michael Ubaldi at December 15, 2003 at 03:37 AM

I wouldn't let him starve.

Nah.

While we're eating, I'd have the cook make him all the ham sandwiches he can stomach.

Posted by: Daniel at December 15, 2003 at 03:46 AM

Saddam was captured to help Halliburton... This and other revealing news compiled on my blog. Click on my name to head over.

PS does anyone know what BFEE stands for? I keep seeing the tinfoil hatters use it on Democratic Underground.

Posted by: Move Along at December 15, 2003 at 03:50 AM

I have been to Atrios and read most (got sick before I could finish) of the hundreds of comments there. I have a renewed appreciation for the brilliance of George Bush when he said "You are either with us or you are with the terrorists."

Posted by: Lee at December 15, 2003 at 03:50 AM

Actually, he looks more like Ted Kaczynski or Charles Manson to me.

Posted by: Phil Winsor at December 15, 2003 at 03:51 AM

Lee- I've also been to Atrios to have a good gloat. Sadly I got told to go and fuck myself, when I suggested that Howard Dean now had the ideal running mate. I'm not saying trolling on left-wing loony sites is a good thing to do but it is fun.

Posted by: Ross at December 15, 2003 at 03:55 AM

>These idiots always threaten to go to Canada, but they never actually GO!

>It's such a disappointment.

Not for the Canadians.

Posted by: Floyd McWilliams at December 15, 2003 at 04:07 AM

A little Googling reveals BFEE to be "Bush Family Evil Empire".

Posted by: Calvin Dodge at December 15, 2003 at 04:11 AM

And what makes you think Canada would accept them????? Canada has enough loonies (no pun intended) of their own.

Posted by: Ruth at December 15, 2003 at 04:25 AM

A rough day for the FedaDean.

Posted by: RBA at December 15, 2003 at 04:28 AM

Hold on that order of ham sandwiches.

Saddam is secular, though, isn't he? Yeah, he took a cue and started blabbing about Allah and stuff near the end, but he didn't allow any religion which might oppose his authority to really be around prior, I thought.

That's partly the problem with a newly freed Iraq, they were going towards the Imans.

Posted by: Andyzero at December 15, 2003 at 04:30 AM

Obviously this is just a scheme to distract attention from Michael Jackson.

Posted by: wageslave at December 15, 2003 at 05:49 AM

With that hairstyle, at least no one will accuse Saddam of being a Metro. Maybe an appearance on Queer Eye would help. Or sould that fall into the category of needless humiliation? I say go for it!

One of the things that popped up was the mention that he'd been driving around in that orange and white taxi, posing as a cabbie. Maybe part of his punishment should be to pull time as a hack in NYC - but no tips, he must pick up anyone that looks so drunk they're gonna hurl, and he has to pick up anybody that hails him in areas no other cabbies would stop.

750K, two AK's, a pistol, and...why is this so overlooked...a pen full of sheep in the yard. The perfect despot's hideaway.

Ewwwww.

Posted by: Wind Rider at December 15, 2003 at 05:58 AM

May pregnant women always give birth in your cab, Saddam!

Posted by: Donnah at December 15, 2003 at 06:10 AM

Thank you Tim Blair for that moonbat round-up..

I'm ossilating between tears of joy, and the richer tears of laughter..

THis is a great day to blog..

HAVE FUN!!

Posted by: Arvin Wallace at December 15, 2003 at 06:28 AM

A Mr. El-Najjar in the US state of Georgia, on his website www.aljazeera.info (no relation to satellite station) is COMPLAINING that "President Saddam Hussein's" rights are being abused because the Geneva convention does not allow photos to be shown of captives.

He teaches at Dalton State. You can complain yourself to his boss, Mr. James Burran--a very nice guy, actually--president of Dalton State:

jburran@em.daltonstate.edu

Mr El-Najjar also includes translations of post-war Baghdad Bob interviews.

Posted by: Jeffrey at December 15, 2003 at 06:35 AM

For me, as a Democrat, the really poignant part was that these people apparently thought Dean had a snowball's chance in the first place. Sans a Nader candidancy, Lieberman or Kerry have the best shot (by which I mean that if Nader doesn't split the Demo vote again.)

At any rate, I'll probably still vote Bush.

Posted by: S.A. Smith at December 15, 2003 at 09:09 AM

was just watching sky news hong kong. a lefty from the A.N.U was taken off air mid-sentence when he started to dribble stuff about how the americans cant prosecute saddam because the CIA used to fund him. classic lefty uni lecturer stuff! like the CIA could give him more money than he already had!!! haha!

Posted by: roscoe at December 15, 2003 at 09:59 AM

And some notable comments from the Republican right:

And to all my former friends in the Democratic Partly I say LALALALALALALALALALALALALALA..............

And

I hereby request a 24 hour gloating period!

And

There will be fewer innocent soldiers murdered by resistance fighters

And

Remember it when the well-fed unfortunates of Guantanamo, with their quality medical care and free Korans, are held up as examples of the utter rot of American ideals.

And

now that saddam has been captured, lets go after billy boob clintoon

And

I was passed out drunk this morning at a friend's house. However, when my dad called my cell this morning, I woke up immediately at the sound of this news. I grabbed a beer, turned on the TV and went to the DU to read about them tearing their tinfoil hats. Not a single one of them complimented our President.

See, it's easy to find dumb asses. Of course, you're missing many who write comments like this:

I marched against the war, and I've been extremely critical of the "postwar" effort, but I feel the only appropriate comment today is: This is great news for the United States and Iraq, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Posted by: Eric at December 15, 2003 at 12:30 PM

Why yes, Eric, it is indeed easy to find dumbasses! Some of them even introduce themselves to you, so that you don't have to go looking for them.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at December 15, 2003 at 12:56 PM

Eric wrote "See, it's easy to find dumb asses".

Yet you posted four perfectly reasonable* comments from (apparent) rightwingers before you got to the dumb ass talking about Clintoon. What gives?

*Okay, the first one was a little childish, but not unreasonable.

Posted by: Ken Summers at December 15, 2003 at 04:13 PM

Yes, they are sad. That's often the case when things go right ... here are some additional comments on this disgusting and all too common behaviour:

"Let's Hope Something Goes Wrong - and Soon!"

Posted by: The Tapir at December 15, 2003 at 09:10 PM

So their only concern with the prospect that a murderous dictator can be disposed and caught is to think of their presidential candidate... How very humane of these mall punks. I wonder if they'll start criticising the Bush administration for having an aids initiative now that they commited resources to it!

Posted by: Joe at December 16, 2003 at 12:15 AM

Heck, I'll help PAY for the dork to move to Canada as long as they promise to switch citizenship AND never come back...

Posted by: Tyler at December 16, 2003 at 12:34 AM

Tyler, it won't work. We ponied up to help Streisand, Baldwin, and several others keep their promises to leave and never come back. They didn't go.

Posted by: Ken Summers at December 16, 2003 at 01:24 AM

As a Democrat, my initial reaction was shock--it was hard to believe that he was actually captured--followed by a feeling of joy that he actually was. I will admit complete hesitation to believe it until I read reports from multiple sources, but I process any information that way. One source never convinces me of anything. Only after all of that did I reflect on the fact that it will be that much harder to get Bush out of office, given this. I don't think that's a terrible train of thought, and I suspect it differs little from the rhetoric I heard from the right concerning the fact that Americans tend to be impatient in matters concerning foreign policy (meaning that military operations would be more drawn out than some people seemed to believe they would be at the outset). The right tended to say that voters would moan and groan too quickly over a war and this might make it tougher for GW to be re-elected. What's the difference between that and saying that Saddam's capture will make the elections more difficult?

If you believe that MOST of us are bemoaning the fact that Saddam has been captured, you're fools. What we're bemoaning is the fact that it will be much harder to get GW out of office in light of this event. The event itself, however, is something to embrace. It’s like some of the political cartoons I’ve been seeing lately, and like the ones I saw while Clinton was in office and the economy was going well. They typically show the opposition somehow hearing or reading positive news (ie Saddam’s capture, a limited economic recovery, or during Clinton the thriving economy, etc.), and their reactions of “Any GOOD news?” So small-minded, that, and silly. Recovery is something to be happy about, no matter what the timing. If one is dismissing people in such a manner, one is founding detractions on assumptions that are both asinine and dismissive. And to defend the right for a moment, fellow liberals who dismiss conservatives as simply heartless and small-minded boil my blood as well.

All these wide assertions without actually engaging the mind...moronic at best and rather destructive at worst.

Posted by: Kevin at December 17, 2003 at 09:37 AM

"It's going to be fun collecting loony statements today"

Shooting fish in the barrel, it is. Like every other day. Of every political persuasion.

See here .

Or not.

Gosh, picking on retards sure makes a political point. It's almost as much fun as Michael Moore has when he cuts up his films.

Posted by: Gary Farber at December 17, 2003 at 08:41 PM