A poll by the Democratic Public Policy Polling outfit found that 30 percent of Republicans support the bombing of Agrabah. The only problem is that agrabah is the fictional home of Aladdin. Of course, few would sympathize with Jafar, Grand Vizier to the Sultan of Agrabah (particularly after his horrible conduct in the Cave of Wonders), there are other rather cute cartoon characters in Agrabah who should not be vaporized in the war on terror. Yet, the bombing of Agrabah seems almost tame when candidates are calling for the killing of the families of terrorists or pledging that, if they are allowed to go back in time, they would strangle the baby Hitler.
The poll found 30% of Republicans support bombing the fictional kingdom while only 13% percent were against taking action, 57% were indifferent as to whether Agrabah is turned into a parking lot or left alone.
It is not just Republicans however who appear ready to take the war on terror into fictional settings. Some 19% of Democrats — roughly one in five — want to blow away Agrabah. They answer affirmatively to the simple question “would you support or oppose bombing Agrabah?”
While other candidates and critics have challenged Sen. Ted Cruz over his understanding the meaning of “carpet bombing,” no one could disagree with the effectiveness of magic carpet bombing in a place like Agrabah.
It still remains to be seen if the candidates will now try to outdo themselves on adding other fictional settings to target in the war on terror. Hillary Clinton may want to pledge to wipe out that bed of sexism known as Bedrock while Sanders may want to just target Scrooge McDuck. Someone could pick up votes from the religious right to pledge to flatten that den of witchcraft known as Hogwarts while anti-environmental candidates could target those green do-gooders living in Atlantis.
Indeed, we may have gotten this thing all wrong. Rather than resisting perpetual wars, we could simply require all wars target fictional places. Thus, ISIS could send as many cartoon suicide bombers as they want to level Springfield and those all-Americans in the Simpson family.
Of course, we need to consider the assets of the enemy. Agrabah does have a protective Genie to deal with in any air campaign . . .
I will give an INDEPENDENTS assessment of the main contenders. Bernie is average intelligence and not very eloquent. Hillary is smart and swift on her feet, but she will say ANYTHING to get elected and is pure evil. O’Malley is dumber than a box of rocks. Trump is average intelligence and buffoonish in personality. Cruz is arguably the smartest person to run for prez in my lifetime, the best debater, and creepy. Rubio is average intelligence and quick on his feet. He is the Hillary counterpart in being malleable. Carson is brilliant, nice, and also creepy. Jeb is average intelligence and never more than a governor. Christie is smart as hell, and a superb debater.
it is obvious you are a Dem who buys the stereotype. I have read your comments for a couple years. But, any OBJECTIVE assessment [something I do for a living] of the 2 parties main candidates shows the Rep to be slightly more intelligent. Here’s the complete stereotype that you believe. “Dems are smart and Rep are stupid. Dems care and Rep are heartless. Dems work hard and Rep are lazy.” It’s propaganda and only addled minds buy propaganda. If Hillary is indicted then Biden comes off the bench. The dumbest of them all.
Nick
Watch the GOP debates and then say that. If you still believe it’s a push, then, well, you’re amazingly fantastically intelligent, really, I know because, well, it’s going to be great……
I tire of the stereotypes like Republicans are stupid and Dems are smart. There is PLENTY of stupidity in both parties. It’s a push!
Isaac, The inner cities in this country vote 100% DEM. There aren’t any Mensa meetings going on there. Just sayn’.
They don’t list exactly how they asked the sample question.
Oddly enough about the same amount were unsure of bombing whether they were Democrat or Republican.
It doesn’t even have to sound Arabic. There is a youtube video in which a Canadian comedian talks to Americans on the street who espouse bombing Saskatchewan and Gilles Duceppe (Gilles Duceppe was the leader of a political party)
Justice Holmes…”I don’t find this funny at all.” I agree, it is incredibly sad that the electorate in this country has become so whipped up about war that they want to bomb anything that sounds arabic. Our country has gone completely bonkers.
It’s a double edged sword. In order to represent all in a democratic society you have to take the idiots with those that can read and follow along. A stellar example of what can happen is to be seen in the GOP candidate fight going on right now at your local cinema. These people are stirring up those who don’t have enough brains to get a headache, but still vote. It’s really really exciting, incredibly amazing, amazingly intelligent….
Do you suppose those who want to bomb anywhere that they think they don’t like, are the same people who beat their wives, children, and dogs because they think they don’t like what those physically weaker living beings are doing? It’s savage behavior typical of those with less functional gray matter.
GOP talks about aging B-52. Never stand behind a B-1B during take-off. The B-1B does a high speed low pass & 360 turn. Trump & Cruz need to check military inventory toys already in stock.
This is evidence of the fascist mentality our society has that is infecting our own integrity but more importantly how the rest of the world views us. This means that those people still believe you can trust the main stream media, the government talking heads and even our heads of State. The still have not figured out War is a Racket and these folks are scamming us for a piece of the $600,400,000,000. annual war budget. They are still stuck in the Matrix as libertarians like to calls those who are living in this delusional world created by erroneous propaganda that some still believe despite so much evidence to the contrary. They still can’t believe those honest looking folks like a Brian Williams, Kissinger, Obama, Bush, etc., etc., etc., will look you in the face and lie to you for a buck. Today Cheney is worth at least $60,000,000 as a career bureauRat.
What is the drinking age in this country? In most states? I thought they lowered it to 18 when they started drafting 18 year olds to go to Nam to kill the Cong. Of course I have been in a time warp for a few years living here as a dog in my present incarnation.
As for the Hogwarts dig, you do realize that the author was actually conveying the Christian message in a way meant to open ethical and moral discussion with children and to explore the questions surrounding the afterlife? (The Times– 20 Oct 2007)
And then there are those who want to lower the drinking age to 18 and the voting age to 16. Then the polls would even out.
Pollsters should stop trying to fan the flames. They seem to want to make things even worse by creating controversy. I don’t find this funny at all.
Such a well informed electorate – and we wonder why some real jerks get elected
I know that when I was young, My mom wanted to bomb the Three Stooges. Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!
I was looking for the punch line when I realized it was a the top not the bottom I must be getting slow or it’s too late and time for sleep. Great humor I like the subtlety.