“The Republicans are all crowing about what a big win this was for Bush,” Saddam told reporters in Baghdad. “One hundred percent–now, that’s big. These numbers are pathetic.”
Saddam singled out Gov. Jeb Bush’s “squeaker” of a victory in Florida as a serious blow to brother George W. Bush’s prestige.
“Jeb’s victory margin was, what, 13 percent?” Saddam said. “Ouch! Last time I counted, that’s nowhere near 100 percent.”
The Iraqi strongman said that the Republicans’ retaking of control in the U.S. Senate was nothing to brag about, either, since they failed to take all 100 seats.
“What’s with all the champagne popping?” Saddam asked. “If I woke up after an election and saw that I only had the Senate by a seat or two, I’d get out of town!”
Saddam added that the GOP’s campaign was too negative, which kept voter turnout down–“well below 100 percent, from what I’ve read.”
But in Washington, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer offered a tart response to Saddam’s disparaging appraisal of the party’s performance.
“Much as I hate to argue with Saddam Hussein,” Fleischer said, “in America it’s hard to get 100 percent because we can’t run unopposed.”
Saddam, however, fired back. “I saw the Democratic campaign that the Republicans had to run against,” he said. “If that’s not running unopposed, I don’t know what is.”
