Cheney's Blemishes

Washington Post ^

[GulliverSwift]

Dana Milbank tackles the issue of Vice President Cheney's tarnished reputation this morning in his "White House Notebook" column for The Washington Post.

"The word around town is the vice president, once revered as the regent behind the throne of George W. Bush, is becoming something of a liability for his boss. The chattering class is speculating about whether Cheney will be dumped from the ticket in '04, and who should replace him," Milbank writes.

"Of course, there is very little chance of that happening," Milbank adds. But his chronicle of Cheney's "knack for controversy" is bound to stoke the issue.

Just this weekend, Newsweek's Tamara Lipper and Evan Thomas asked: "Is Dick Cheney a drag on the ticket?" and Time Magazine's Matthew Cooper asked: "Is Cheney an asset or a liability?"

Over at the New Yorker, Jane Meyer has an astonishing story laying out the intertwined stories of Cheney and the Halliburton Co., which he used to run.

Did you know Halliburton built the prison camps in Cuba's Guantanamo Bay for suspected terrorists?

Peter Carlson, in his "Magazine Reader" column in The Washington Post, provides a nifty summary of the New Yorker piece, which he calls "a peek into the cynical world of crony capitalism and war profiteering."

[GulliverSwift]

The word around town is the vice president, once revered as the regent behind the throne of George W. Bush, is becoming something of a liability for his boss.

Does that mean dumb old Bush is not being bossed around by the evil genius? < /sarcasm>

[ambrose]

For the life of me, I can't understand why Cheney wouldn't be dumped from the ticket.

W. needs an energetic VP candidate who can barnstorm the country as his designated attack dog. Giuliani fits that bill.

[mallardx]

Must be the DNC strategy of the week. A hit piece from the Washington COMpost? What are the odds, 1 to 1?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In their dreams.

[petercooper]

You Cheney bashers are all wrong.

[concerned about politics]

I love to hear Cheney speak. I have a lot of respect for the man.
It's the left I have absolutely no respect for. They have no honor.

[GulliverSwift]

Giuliani would only do it if he is extremely bored with private life at the moment. Then there's the Vice Presidency, where again he would be extremely bored, or Gored.

[The_Eaglet]

Political Nonprofits Rake in Donations-Campaign Finance Reform Thread - Day 61

[ambrose]

I am not a "Cheney basher". I simply recognize that a VP should 1) help the prez get elected and 2) be a natural successor when president leaves office, either via death or expiration of term. The VP serves no other function (oh, he does break tie votes).

Cheney could continue doing his "good work" as a cabinet officer or White House advisor.

[Frohickey]

Bush/Rice for 2004.

Just the look on both Hillary Clinton's face that she won't be the first female president of the United States, as well as the look on Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton when the black vote goes bye-bye for the Democrats is worth the change in ticket.

[zygoat]

"I love to hear Cheney speak. I have a lot of respect for the man.
It's the left I have absolutely no respect for. They have no honor."

I agree, Cheney has a long and distinguished record of serving the U.S. His low key approach may turn some people off, but I would have voted for him for President.It is unlikely that he will ever run, unfortunately.

[Welsh Rabbit]

If there's another VP candidate on the ticket, it will be Cheney's decision. The Bush's don't dump competent and loyal friends over popularity.

[GulliverSwift]

No, I don't think he's a very good speaker. Then there's John Kerry, who is the worst and most monote speaker in a while.

"The President stated to me personally, just yesterday over lunch, that he wants to make national security the focus of this campaign. Well, I have to words for him, and you in the crowd know them.

"Bring it on!! Bring it f'ing on!!"

Hearing his unpleasant speaking style, with the same phrase over and over again is intolerable.

[Phsstpok]

For the life of me, I can't understand why Cheney wouldn't be dumped from the ticket.

It's so obvious. Everyone must agree. Cheney is BAD and must be dumped. The Washington Post, Newsweek and ABC News told me so.

baaaaaaaaaaaaa