Are republicans dumb? 63 percent of them believe that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destruction when we invaded in 2003, despite even George W. Bush's acknowledgment that he didn't.
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Aw, yes, the party of know-nothings. We are reaching a democratic crisis of some sorts. One major
political party refuses to accept empirical truths. It has become a hall
of ideological mirrors.
WASHINGTON -- How misinformed are Republicans about world affairs? If
presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's assertion that
Russia is "without question our number one geopolitical foe" is any indication, then the answer would appear to be very.
A new poll supports that theory.
The poll, constructed by Dartmouth government professor Benjamin
Valentino and conducted by YouGov from April 26 to May 2, found that
fully 63 percent of Republican respondents still believed that Iraq had
weapons of mass destruction when the U.S. invaded in 2003. By contrast,
27 percent of independents and 15 percent of Democrats shared that view.
Jim Lobe, chief of the Inter Press Service's Washington bureau, reported the finding in his blog on Wednesday.
The Bush administration's insistence that the Iraqi government had
weapons of mass destruction and might give them to terrorists was a key
selling point in its campaign to take the country to war. It turned out
to be untrue.
Debate continues over whether former President George W. Bush and
Vice President Dick Cheney, and other top officials knew there were no
WMD, but intentionally deceived
the American people and Congress because they were intent on attacking
Iraq for less palatable reasons -- or whether they managed to convince
themselves that it was true using cherry-picked intelligence.
There is no reality-based argument that Iraq actually had WMD, after
extensive searches found none, but this is hardly the first time many
Americans have been certain of something that simply wasn't true.
A Washington Post poll
in September 2003 found that nearly 70 percent of all Americans were
convinced that Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the 9/11
terrorist attacks -- even though he was not.
Bush, Cheney and others consistently linked
al Qaeda to Hussein in speeches they gave in the run-up to war, and the
media rarely pushed back. But neither Bush nor Cheney continued to
claim that there were actual WMDs in Iraq once the searches came up
empty -- although they both continued to insist that Saddam had the
"capability" to produce them.
Rather than a failure of the media, therefore, this latest poll
result seems to indicate a refusal -- unique to the modern Republican
Party -- to acknowledge facts.
According to this poll, an even larger proportion of Republican
respondents who said Iraq had WMD -- 64 percent -- said they have either
always believed (or have come to believe) that Barack Obama was born in
another country, which he was not.
Overall, the poll found Republicans to be considerably more militaristic in their worldview than Democrats and independents.
In a finding that would indicate plenty of GOP support for yet
another war in the Middle East, nearly two-thirds of Republicans said
it's very likely that if Iran produces a nuclear weapon, it would use it
against Israel.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/21/iraq-wmd-poll-cluele...
Top Opinion
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Manuel 2012/06/22 18:17:45Other.
+8Actually it's not the Republican congress that is dumb. They are just hungry oil money evil Barrons out for the rich ...it's mostly the upper, middle and lower class conservative people who are the voters of the Republican party that are dumb because they just go along with all the lies of the GOP.
However, to be fair, this was a very small sampling. It would, however, be interesting to know what part of the country the participants were from...or if this small poll was random across the country.
And don't forget that W and Cheney told the American public right after 9/11 some 256 times that Saddam and al-Qaeda were linked as well which they (and Congress) swallowed hook, line and sinker.
Same goes for the story of infants being tossed out of incubators
when Saddam invaded Kuwait.
The GOP isn't great, but it does do a great job of tying to keep that socialist democrat,Obama, out of office
It's as though they see their politics or country as rooting for their favorite team and they are willing to do whatever to win. Even though in the end all the members on their team (Cheney, W,...) claimed that there were no weapons - the Republicons refuse to admit that their team lost. They can't see anything beyond their team colors of red, white, and blue.
Then on the other side they can't see how destructive their actions are to their team or country or themselves. Such as constantly denying Climate Change, not realizing that oil is a dead technology, Fracking, Military Industrial Complex, Homosexuality, Tariffs and buying foreign goods only destroys the Capitalist system, on and on.
Basically Republicons deny the past and can't see the future.
So what did prominent Democrats have to say about WMD's?
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
--Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
--Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effec...
So what did prominent Democrats have to say about WMD's?
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
--Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
--Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by:
-- Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others, Oct. 9, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
-Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
-- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999
"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by:
-- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them."
-- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
-- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
-- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
-- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
-- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do"
-- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
-- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002
"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..."
-- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003
If it is what they believed as a result of all the Intel agencies of several countries in addition to info given by Saddam's defectors, they did not knowingly tell Lies.
Id does however, prove what a Hypocrite the Author of this thread is.
I just looked at your profile to see it you were a fan of Ron Paul or what and something stood out........
You voted ''yes, 0webama-care will make healthcare more affordable''
Even the CBO has stated otherwise and we have all seen our premiums rise....
Ok i'm done hear
Besides the UN was in agreement on going into Iraq.
Really, now, what has changed over the past 100 years or so when either party has been in power?? NOTHING!! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!
By the way, it wasn't only Republicans who believed in the WMD and it wasn't only American intelligence sources that provided that information. You are grasping at straws to try and paint an entire political party in a bad light and you are fishing in the wrong pond. Matter of fact, it is not just getting old, it is beginning to make you look stupid.
"Vote Republican, it's easier than thinking." Very clever, very clever. Splendid moronic humor. I like humor. Unfortunately, though, you are exposing your lack of credible arguments for your particular political choices. Don't forget the one about throwing Granny off a cliff. That's a good one too.
Grow up, Manuel, there are many highly important things that need to be dealt with in our country. She is undergoing tremendous stress and disruptions and she needs her citizens to be intelligent, practical and credible. Stop hurling the one-liners and relying on insults to make your points. Try to deal with the truth for a change. Ooops, there's that word, "change." How's that doing for you so far, Manuel?
Get off your high horse and start acting like someone who actually cares about America and wants to protect her from harm. And drop the ridiculous name-calling.
There are hues and cries today about Syria, as hundreds -- nay, perhaps now thousands of Syrian innocents are being slaughtered, and many people in the U.S. and around the world asking, "Why isn't the U.S. doing something about this?"
I will be the first person to holler out, Hey, America is getting tired of war. Hell, we've been going to war all of my lifetime. I'm tired of seeing so many of our brave citizens die for foreign causes. But some of those "foreign causes" are, unfortunately, potentially linked to us. But whatever the reasons, we went to war and we're tired of it. But there are still people out there who think along the lines of humanitarian reasoning. Just as we reflect on the Holocaust and wonder how in the name of all that's good could the entire world sit back and allow this to happen to those people, the same emotion was stirred when the p...
There are hues and cries today about Syria, as hundreds -- nay, perhaps now thousands of Syrian innocents are being slaughtered, and many people in the U.S. and around the world asking, "Why isn't the U.S. doing something about this?"
I will be the first person to holler out, Hey, America is getting tired of war. Hell, we've been going to war all of my lifetime. I'm tired of seeing so many of our brave citizens die for foreign causes. But some of those "foreign causes" are, unfortunately, potentially linked to us. But whatever the reasons, we went to war and we're tired of it. But there are still people out there who think along the lines of humanitarian reasoning. Just as we reflect on the Holocaust and wonder how in the name of all that's good could the entire world sit back and allow this to happen to those people, the same emotion was stirred when the photographs and reports came back showing the horrendous things Hussein was doing to those people.
So, yes, somebody -- I don't know who and I don't really care anymore -- watched and listened and gave the okay to go in and stop the slaughter in Iraq and its neighbors. And if you will research the archives and find those videos of the villagers murdered where they stood while conducting everyday activities, you will notice there is not one single body of an armed soldier anywhere to be found. That, sir, is a goddamn weapon of mass destruction.
http://www.truthorfiction.com...
Saddam himself claimed he had them..later admitting why he did that when interviewed:
http://www.washingtonpost.com...
People who are so stuck in the one party or the other rut should not be making comments about the other party. Neither party holds a monopoly on ignorance.