How does Saddam's capture hurt Howard Dean?

[CMT]

I keep seeing this in thread after thread. People mimicking the pundits that this is a great victory for Bush which will hurt Democrats and especially anti-war democrats like Dean. But how?

Was this man who was on the lam, cowering in some hole ordering his followers around and causing the snipings and chaos in Iraq since the country fell to the Allies?

Has this man disclosed where WMD are? from what i've heard this is not the case--that he still maintains there never were WMD.

Will the capture of Saddam stop the killings and bring our troops home any time soon? even Bush acknowledges this won't happen.

I loved what I heard on the Daily Show last night. Jon was interviewing a "correspondent" on the field in Iraq and he ended his report by saying, "at long last after months of searching the United States has finally captured the man who had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11."

That line got huge applause from the audience.

This propaganda victory will be as short-lived as Bush's "Mission Accomplished."

If anything this has just re-shifted focus to the Iraq issue and it is doubtful that people who were opposed to a war which our pResident lied about to involve us will suddenly switch gears and support the war. We may be happy about Saddam being captured but it sure doesn't change anything. At least we know he didn't die in the inital attacks.

[Jerseycoa]

1. Hurts nobody Dem (eom)

[htuttle]

2. Because the media tells us it does?

I honestly haven't been able to figure out that causal chain either.

I think about all that Saddam's capture has 'proven' is that he was obviously no longer in charge of anything, and was not 'running the resistance'. That was no guerilla leader on TV -- that was a tired old man.

[candy331]

5. Should be saying Saddam's

capture hurts Bush. Hurts him because

#1 Evident Saddam was not orchestrating the terror.
#2 Captured alive could spell real trouble for the US and
Bush lies.

[Frodo]

3. The capture "means nothing" but it STILL hurts Dean.

Dean and his representatives made the mistake of associating some level of success/failure with "where is Saddam?". I t certainly hurts him since Iraq will be less-likely to be viewed by voters as a failure and that was one of Dean's big issues.

But I said "hurts". I didn't say "cripples" or "destroys". He's still the frontrunner.


"Where is Osama?" and "Where are the WMDs" leave him similarly exposed if either or both turn up before the election. But what choice do we have? We play the hand we're dealt. If the economy turns around and Iraq is viewed as a big success then we have no shot at the White House anyway.

[Zero Gravitas]

4. It doesn't

The corporate media is trying to spin it as a Great Victory for their Great Leader, but in reality it doesn't change a thing.

[mzmolly]

6. Just wishful thinking on the part of Rethugs and losing Dems...

:)

[denverbill]

7. A radio talk show host in Denver got it right this AM.

Reggie Rivers, who I believe counts himself a Libertarian, but who is pretty liberal and anti-war, was nailing this this morning.

The right-wing is painting Saddam's capture as a vindication of the Bush policy. However, for this to vindicate Bush's policy, the counter policy must have been 'We are anti-war because you will never capture Saddam.'

Nobody who was against the war was against it because they didn't think we could beat/kill/capture Saddam. Here are the most common reasons for opposing the war:

1) Oppose unilateral invasion, lack of proof of imminent threat
2) Fear of high coalition/Iraqi casualties
3) Fear that it would destabilize Iraq and result in more terrorism.
4) Fear that it would push Iraq into civil war
5) Fear that it would result in a long and costly post-war occupation

I'm sure I've missed a few legitimate reasons for opposing the war, however, never, not once did I ever hear one person say they opposed the war cause they feared we wouldn't capture or kill Saddam.

[CMT]

8. exactly right

and when the masses see that this capture isn't going to bring about any fundamental change in Iraq or to our troops they will be disappointed and take it out on Bush--rightly so, for getting hopes up high and hyping this out of proporstion.

[Frodo]

10. Not the point.

"You won't capture Saddam" was never a reason for not going to war, but "you HAVEN'T captured Saddam" WAS evidence used to show that the war was/is unsucessfull. Just as OBL still running around is viewed as evidence we haven't won the "war on terror". WE set that standard.

The war has never been a winning issue because a majority of people think we shouldn't have gone. A solid majority has always been in favor of the war. We were merely sucessfull showing that the price has been too high, or that we are failing. Saddam's capture is evidence (NOT "proof") that we are becoming more sucessfull.

It doesn't prove that those who were against the war were wrong, but they don't need to make that point at this time because the majority doesn't think the case was ever made that they were RIGHT.

[Jacobin]

11. Precisely right

Nailed it.

Catching Saddam has nothing to do with Dean's position against this invasion.

Nothing.

They can spin it until it turns into a web. Once the body bags start piling back up, its going to be another "mission accomplished" embarrasment for the repigs.

[On the Road]

9. It Was Wise for Dean and Other Candidates

NOT to taunt Bush on his failure to capture Saddam and bin Laden. It would make them look like idiots now. bin Laden may still be caught before the election, and that would be an even bigger coup.

When Dean staked out his anti-war position, there was every reason to think that Saddam would be killed or captured in the invasion. In no way was Dean's position based on Saddam going missing. So no, Saddam's capture has nothing to do with an anti-war stance.

But the media tells us it hurts Dean, so inevitably it does. There things do have an effect. It's not fair, but it's political reality Dean and other candidates need a good comeback, or a way of turning the issue around. Dean seems to be the best at this, which is one reason I think he's the most electable.

[Ripley]

12. I just saw a rerun of Dean's speech on foreign policy in LA.

Damn that was a great speech and great answers to the intelligent questions from the audience.

He praised the military for capturing SH, not Smirk. From what I was reading here in GD earlier, you'd think the Doctor had blown the Boy King a kiss. Did not!!

[mzmolly]

13. Agreed!

:toast:

[CMT]

14. I thought it was

a well thought out and executed speech.

[creativelcro]

15. Patriotism Police (Tom Tomorrow)

[webkev]

16. people will forget about it a year from now

the war against Syria will be much more interesting :(