Stupid Howard Dean quote

The diplomat · December 2, 2003, 20:21

On Chris Matthew's Hardball, Dean was asked how he would deal with Iran.

“Iran is a more complex problem because the problem is not as clearly verifiable as it is in North Korea. Also, we have less - fewer levers. The key, I believe, to Iran is pressure through the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union is supplying much of the equipment that Iran, I believe, most likely is using to set itself along the path of developing nuclear weapons. We need to use that leverage with the Soviet Union and it may require us buying the equipment the Soviet Union was ultimately going to sell to Iran to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons."

This obviously was intentional since he used the word 4 times in the same quote. Doesn't Dean know the Soviet Union collapsed more than 10 years ago?

Nubclear · December 2, 2003, 20:25

Sigh. Billy boy of Fox News did the same thing a few months ago.

Ramo · December 2, 2003, 20:26

And of course it isn't a possibility in the least that he neglected to say "former."

Imran Siddiqui · December 2, 2003, 20:27

Quote:

And of course it isn't a possibility in the least that he neglected to say "former."

If Bush gets slammed for his verbal gaffes, so should Dean.

Ramo · December 2, 2003, 20:29

But this is a retarded idea of a verbal gaffe. I mean, honestly, is there nothing better than this in the many, many speeches he's made (he's not a very smooth speaker particularly on TV, so he can get pretty bad).

Verto · December 2, 2003, 20:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Ramo
But this is a retarded idea of a verbal gaffe.

We take what we can get.

mrmitchell · December 2, 2003, 20:41

What's wrong with Soviet Union? Huh?

What? Really? When did that happen? Gosh, I need to keep up with the news more.

Monk · December 2, 2003, 20:46

I'll admit any day that I know next to nothing about Dean, but it's bordering on ridiculous to suggest a man skilled enough to be where Dean is today would somehow be unaware the Soviet Union broke down. You'll have to dig up something better than this, guys, and I'm sure you will as the election approaches.

Caligastia · December 2, 2003, 20:47

Wishful thinking on his part no doubt.

Imran Siddiqui · December 2, 2003, 20:48

Quote:

I'll admit any day that I know next to nothing about Dean, but it's bordering on ridiculous to suggest a man skilled enough to be where Dean is today would somehow be unaware the Soviet Union broke down.

It didn't stop the Bush bashers (not on the USSR, per say, but other countries)... still doesn't actually.

Ben Kenobi · December 2, 2003, 20:51

Can you smell double standard?

The diplomat · December 2, 2003, 20:53

funny how when Bush makes an innocent slip of the tongue, the Bush bashers are quick to tear him apart, but when Dean makes a serious geopolitical blunder, it is "no big deal".

Monk · December 2, 2003, 21:02

The diplomat,

I whole-heartedly agree on your point that we ought to judge our politicians by the same standard no matter our political preferences. That's my problem with your thread.

Q Classic · December 2, 2003, 21:15

the soviet union? but we thought you were dead!

that's what we wanted you to think.

(grass rolls away, berlin wall pops up)
(secret doors open in red square, and soviet troops march out in formation)
(lenin breaks out of his case)

must crush kepitalism.

Sava · December 2, 2003, 21:21

yeah I was watching that...

but Dean is still a great guy, and if there's a God in heaven, he'll be our next president...

GePap · December 2, 2003, 21:47

Oh please..and William Safire called the Russian Army the Red Army not long aog, but of course, see The Diplomat go after Safire? NEVER! Was it a silly thing to say? Yes. So what? When is the last time we had a bushism thread?

Man, you squares are really dated.

Kuciwalker · December 2, 2003, 22:27

As someone (IIRC it was Sava) mentioned in another thread where this was originally brought up, this is reminiscent of a certain Simpsons episode...

Jaguar · December 2, 2003, 22:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
yeah I was watching that...

but Dean is still a great guy, and if there's a God in heaven, he'll be our next president...

As a fellow atheist, I wholeheartedly agree with you.

orange · December 2, 2003, 22:39

haha.

I agree, there shouldn't be a double standard. If Bush said this we'd be making fun of him to no end for it. I like Dean, but that's a pretty dumb thing to say, especially repeatedly.

Tripledoc · December 2, 2003, 22:43

The demise of the Soviet union has been greatly exagerated.

Verto · December 2, 2003, 22:50

I can assure you the Soviet Union has not fallen! The Soviet Bear stands ready to besiege the American infidels!

Jaguar · December 2, 2003, 22:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Verto

I can assure you the Soviet Union has not fallen! The Soviet Bear stands ready to besiege the American infidels!

orange · December 2, 2003, 22:56

"Dean - still angry about the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991?

You provide no source. You PROVIDE NOTHING! And yet you want to destroy capitalism.. you criminal..." - President Bush

Jaguar · December 2, 2003, 22:57

This is a good thread.

Tripledoc · December 2, 2003, 23:07

Kremlin still has Kaliningrad Oblast, White Russia, the Ukraine, Kazachstan, and all the other -stans, under firm control.

The only nations who were truly disentangled from the Soviet Union were the Baltic republics. However since Scandinavia is linked to Russia in so many ways that is of no importance.

Monk · December 2, 2003, 23:10

However since Scandinavia is linked to Russia in so many ways that is of no importance.

What do you mean?

PLATO · December 2, 2003, 23:15

Reminds me of how stupid Carter looked when he was quoting Amy on Defense policy.

The only leverage that the countries of the former Soviet Union want is the one with George Washington's picture on it.

Commie Chocobo · December 2, 2003, 23:27

yes... it never died, it just hhad an unfortunate case oof coma, ut that will soon be fixed.... i hope...

Nubclear · December 2, 2003, 23:33

Quote:

Originally posted by orange
"Dean - still angry about the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991?

You provide no source. You PROVIDE NOTHING! And yet you want to destroy capitalism.. you criminal..." - President Bush

The part that made it memorable for me was the "

" smiley at the end. That is just soooo dramatic

Tripledoc · December 2, 2003, 23:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Monk
However since Scandinavia is linked to Russia in so many ways that is of no importance.

What do you mean?

The Scandinavians, unlike so many other European states, did not allow American bases on their Homeland, only the territories of Greenland, the Faroes and Iceland. Sweden was not a member of Nato. Finland was very much a friendly state.
In Denmark, which was a member of NATO during the Cold War and still is, the intelligence service had files of around 400.000 citizens who were presumably pro-Soviet and considered a threat to NATO security in the event of war.
A parliamentarian majority would not allow American warships carrying nuclear arsenals to enter Danish ports.
The Scandinavian countries were arguably the most socialist countries of Europe during the Cold War.
Cultural and scientific exchange was very high, and is now augmented by commercial exchange. In that regard they were very close to the detente policy of Germany.