What would Republicans do?

Question

Imagine this scenario: Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama get elected, and within six months, they locate and apprehend Osama bin Laden.

What would the Republican reaction be?

(And assume that I accept that all you right wing extremists will resort to name-calling and childish retorts in response to this question... I'm interested in hearing serious answers to this hypothetical scenario.)

kirkill: How is it name-calling? What name are you accusing me of calling someone?

Answer 1

It would be a large victory for the entire country.

That would be great. I would hope that bin Laden would be held accountable for his crimes.

Answer 2

I'd actually applaud them. Although I find that to be a very unlikely scenario. After reading Barack's ideas on using the military, we'll never get anything like that accomplished. He assumes if we drops our guns Osama will just turn himself in.

Hillary didn't pipe up when Osama was offered up to Bill, what 7 times?, in the past so I don't know why she'd change her behavior now.

So given your scenario I'd probably just wait for the 'shrooms to wear off and return to reality.

Answer 3

I want our country defended, and its enemies neutralized.

I would applaud ANYONE who does that.

I have to add, though, that the record of the past generation or two, and the statements of the present candidates themselves, leads me to believe that by and large the Republicans are much more protective of US interests (and my safety, and that of my loved ones). Just my opinion, but a strongly held one. I know that other people feel just as strongly that Bush and the Republicans have greatly damaged our reputation, alliances, military and safety.

But your question is very thought-provoking. I would try to remember the lesson some Democrats have taught me these past seven years (and, some would add, some Republicans in the eight years before that) and not downplay any triumphs, or hope for bad things to happen to the US, just because of a political grudge or the fact that my candidate lost the election.

And I'd rather be wrong than have the country suffer. If my candidate loses, I would certainly HOPE that my vote was a mistake and that the other candidate turned out to be the better choice! Shouldn't we ALL want for that to be the case, once the election's decided and the new president takes office?

It IS one country, after all.

PS This is the most "intelligent" answer I can give. But I don't think I sound this pompous in real life! :)

Answer 4

First off,
Changing the President wouldn't change everything so fast that anything that happened in 6 months would be because of the new president.
That type thinking is the same reason Bill Clinton gets all the credit for the economic boom of the 90's. The groundwork was put in place for the 80's and that decade really set the tone for the 90's and has carried all the way through today.
So honestly, I would not think much about it. I would be happy, but I would not be silly enough to think that a new president came to office and everything instantly changed.
.

Answer 5

At this point I don't care who is responsible for capturing Bin Laden- but somehow I doubt we'll see Hillary of Obama hiking through the mountains and deserts of Iraq looking for anyone.

We might see the troops doing it but not Hillary,OBama or Bush for that matter.

Answer 6

That scenario would never happen...... The Elites nurtured OBL and the Dem party is as full of them as the Rep party is.


"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed -- and thus clamorous to be led to safety -- by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."
-- H.L. Mencken

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

Answer 7

Hey I already ASKED this question. My intellectual profanity rights are being GRIEVOUSLY violated....

Although my question was, "If Hillary went to Afghanistan, marched into a cave, came back out dragging Osama bin Laden by the beard while he was holding his JUEVOS in this hands, threw him on the plane, brought him back to the US for trial....

Would you elect her President THEN?"

(the unspoken implication is, not even THEN would most Americans vote for her, and the ones who would show evidence of a MUCH higher standard Hillarys being held to, than Bush is.

But yeah they will do what they always do, Google: They will IMMEDIATELY claim GWB TOLD Hillary where bin Laden was hiding... as a favor to the new President, sorta like a "Welcome to the Office" present. "You blame others for your failings, take credit for others' accomplishments", you know, the whole RNC Platform...

Answer 8

I for one would be pleased. It doesn't matter if it's a rep. or dem that gets him. Here's a question for you, how much name calling will be done by the dems. toward the reps. and the Bush administration if a dem president apprehends bin Laden? And, will he go into the civilian courts or will it be a military tribunal?

Answer 9

WE would be happy Osama Bin Laden was found....People, Mr.Bush isn't bad or "evil" he's doing his job the way he feels fit to do. Finding Osama Bin Laden, is like finding a needle in a haystack, pure luck! Its really what clinton or obama would DO with him.....

Answer 10

Depends on what he says when he gets caught...I dont understand why it is so hard to get him and if ANYBODY else murdered 3000, I doubt if Bush would say "its not important that we get him" and call off the search. I find that strange. Maybe it is just me. Just an independant observation. Guess someone CAN get away with murder.

Answer 11

*name-calling*? Isn't your Y!A name *name-calling*?

I can imagine that if a Dem POTUS keeps troops over in the ME and the *Marines* do capture OBL (Which Bill Clinton could have done in 1998 but he refused because he was busy with other matters), then the Dem POTUS will take ALL the credit. But none of that would be possible without Bush's policy to prosecute the WoT.