What if Bush's daughters were kidnapped?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-28 03:57pm

Would he bend his "we do not negotiate with terrorists" policy? What do you think?

PS. Poll added.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-10-28 03:58pm

Oh for the love of god, if this was anyone else, I'd lock this damn thread so fast it wouldn't be funny.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-28 03:59pm

MKSheppard wrote:Oh for the love of god, if this was anyone else, I'd lock this damn thread so fast it wouldn't be funny.

Well, that's one way of avoiding a direct answer. What do you think he would do?

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-10-28 04:01pm

Darth Wong wrote:Well, that's one way of avoiding a direct answer. What do you think he would do?

Doesn't this violate This?

The Secret Service DOES extend their not-so-unfunny protection to family members of POTUS...

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-10-28 04:04pm

Come on now, Shep. He's CLEARLY not threatening to actually kidnap anyone. This is clearly a what-fi scenario, and a valid question about the president's character.

As for the question, I think Bush has some iron in him. He strikes me as the sort of person who would lash out at such a problem rather than attempting to negotiate. So, no, I don't think he'd change his policy.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-28 04:04pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:Well, that's one way of avoiding a direct answer. What do you think he would do?
Doesn't this violate This?

Oh puh-lease, it's not a death threat. It's a hypothetical question.

The Secret Service DOES extend their not-so-unfunny protection to family members of POTUS...

So? In a hypothetical scenario where they somehow kill the bodyguards and kidnap one or both of Bush's daughters, would the "we do not negotiate with terrorists" policy still be set in stone? Or would there be some flexibility?

I think he would be willing to negotiate, although I don't think he'd just bend over and give them everything they want.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-10-28 04:04pm

Depends on who kidnapped them. Hopefully it was agents of an underground porn company who kidnapped them to film lesbian twin porn. Do you know how much money they could make off that video?

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-10-28 04:04pm

and where the Hell is a Joooooooooooossssssssssssssssss option in the poll???

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-10-28 04:05pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:Well, that's one way of avoiding a direct answer. What do you think he would do?
Doesn't this violate This?

The Secret Service DOES extend their not-so-unfunny protection to family members of POTUS...

Are you on crack? A 'What would happen if this happens..' question is not the same as a death threat, you nutbag.

CJvR · Post by **CJvR** » 2004-10-28 04:12pm

Hard to say. I doubt he would negotiate seriously and honestly but rather as a means to buy time and trace the guilty. Also deeply religous people can get rather fatalistic about thing like that - "it is in Gods hands now". I think not.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2004-10-28 04:13pm

This is a ridiculous thread. Of course Bush is going to negotiate for the lives of his daughters. So would Putin, or anyone else who supports the "no negotiations" policy. Its a natural instinct to protect one's family. If he didn't negotiate, I'd be scared, because that would mean something is seriously wrong with him. The only person I remember right now who refused to negotiate in a similar situation was Joseph Stalin, and we all know that he was batshit insane.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-10-28 04:19pm

Blach clicked the wrong option.

I read it as Would you negotiate...

Anyways I am sure that Bush would negotiate.

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2004-10-28 04:32pm

If Bush's daughters were kidnapped, he would most likely be pressured to step down for the duration of the crisis.

Sam Or I · Post by **Sam Or I** » 2004-10-28 04:33pm

Bush would pull a Kaiser Soze, nuking the city which they were being held to show the terrorist what determination really is................. well maybe not.

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2004-10-28 04:46pm

Most likely I think the duress implicit to having a close family member kidnapped would qualify for the "inability" clause and for the duration the vice president would exercise the office of president.

Hell Bush might simply resign in a pre-emptive bid to reduce the value of his daughters as hostages. Let's be honest here, the odds that the full might of the US government and the terrorists are not going to end in some stand-off where neither side can trust the other to honor promises made under duress is bloody damn high.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-28 04:52pm

tharkûn wrote:Most likely I think the duress implicit to having a close family member kidnapped would qualify for the "inability" clause and for the duration the vice president would exercise the office of president.

Hell Bush might simply resign in a pre-emptive bid to reduce the value of his daughters as hostages.

How would that lessen the probability of their grisly deaths?

Let's be honest here, the odds that the full might of the US government and the terrorists are not going to end in some stand-off where neither side can trust the other to honor promises made under duress is bloody damn high.

True, but that doesn't change the fact that Bush would probably at least make an attempt to negotiate, even if he can't or won't just give them whatever they want.

Boyish-Tigerlilly · Post by **Boyish-Tigerlilly** » 2004-10-28 04:55pm

This is a ridiculous thread. Of course Bush is going to negotiate for the lives of his daughters. So would Putin, or anyone else who supports the "no negotiations" policy. Its a natural instinct to protect one's family. If he didn't negotiate, I'd be scared, because that would mean something is seriously wrong with him. The only person I remember right now who refused to negotiate in a similar situation was Joseph Stalin, and we all know that he was batshit insane.

He very well might do it, but he shouldn't since it wouldn't be right, objectively, but that doesn't mean people actually do what they should. It wouldn't be acceptible for him to negotiate for his own family, but not for anyone else's

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-10-28 04:56pm

He'd be removed from office first due to the overwhelming conflict of interest.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-28 04:57pm

Stormbringer wrote:He'd be removed from office first due to the overwhelming conflict of interest.

Who would remove him and on what legal basis?

Raven · Post by **Raven** » 2004-10-28 05:00pm

I think he would at least try. The question is, would the rest of the government support him?

It seems that politicians have always been willing to compromise their views when the issues actually affect them. (Cheney)

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-10-28 05:01pm

Darth Wong wrote:
Stormbringer wrote:He'd be removed from office first due to the overwhelming conflict of interest.
Who would remove him and on what legal basis?

The Vice President and the Cabinet would be the ones to make such a decision; though it would probably wind up before the Supreme Court. And he could be removed for the simple fact he's not capable of properly peforming his job.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-10-28 05:08pm

It's bullshit that gov'ts don't deal with terrorists anyway. Look at the IRA and Britain for instance. To think the gov'ts don't try to talk first is a bit naïve. This case would likely result in some steely determination to act as if it's nothing special, but I'm sure Bush and his advisors would be planning for every eventuality regardless of whether it meant dealing or not. Even the US president has a price.

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2004-10-28 05:31pm

How would that lessen the probability of their grisly deaths?

Because the terrorists might not ask for quite so "unreasonable" a ransom if they are merely holding the daughters of an ex-president. It is one thing to extort one man against the lives of his daughter, it is another to extort that man's friend.

True, but that doesn't change the fact that Bush would probably at least make an attempt to negotiate, even if he can't or won't just give them whatever they want.

It depends, he has to know that the odds of successful negotiation, even if he completely capitulates are just about zero. He might opt for sending in the special forces before they expect it.

Given the ability of the government to remove him from office (at least temporarily) I don't see how he's going to negotiate except for offering private assets.

Deathstalker · Post by **Deathstalker** » 2004-10-28 05:53pm

I would like to think that a President, no matter who he or she is, will not negotiate in such a situation. The second a President enters negotiations either covert or overt with terrorists, it is open season on politician's families. The only response would be to hunt down those responsible to the ends of the earth. It is cold-hearted and it would be the most difficult decision for not just a President, but any parent would have to make. The difference is a parent could negotiate, the President cannot.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-28 06:04pm

He is a loving parent, and he would have to be a sick bastard not to. He would cave like an elementary school teacher when faced with high priced lawyer.

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What if Bush's daughters were kidnapped?

Would Bush negotiate for his daughters' lives?

What if Bush's daughters were kidnapped?