Is this Gitmo, Senator Dirtbin?
Posted on 06/18/2005 6:45:27 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Vice President Dick Cheney slammed number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin on Friday, saying his comparison of U.S. troops to Nazis was so "appalling" that he had to watch his language while discussing it.
Asked about Durbin's outburst, Cheney began by telling WWTN Nashville radio host Steve Gill: " I'm sure [this] a family program, Steve. I have to be careful what I say."
Then the VP leveled both barrels at the reckless Democrat's complaint that Guantanamo detainees are subject to Nazi-like treatment.
"I thought Durbin was totally out of line," Cheney said. "For him to make those comparisons was one of the more egregious things I'd ever heard uttered on the floor of the United States Senate . . . It was so far over the top that I'm just appalled that anybody who serves in the United States Senate would even think those thoughts."
Cheney said that Durbin couldn't be more wrong about how the GI prison guards behaved
"The fact of the matter," he told Gill, "is the situation at Guantanamo is being very well handled by our military. . . . [The terrorist detainees] are well housed. They're well fed. Their religious needs and desires are catered to. They're not being tortured or mistreated, but they are a major source of intelligence for us. Plus, we need to keep them off the streets."
Cheney reminded the Nashville audience that the Guantanamo guards have to handle some pretty rough customers.
"Remember what's happened here," he told Gill. "These are terrorists, these are bomb-makers. . . . these are hard-core terrorists is the only way to describe them. They're unlawful combatants. They're out to kill Americans. And if you put them back on the streets, that's exactly what they'll do."
The VP said it's clear that Durbin's comments have his fellow Democrats squirming, and hinted that he thought the scandal may force the top Democrat to walk the plank.
"I think they're swallowing hard," he told Gill. "We'll see what happens."
Good for you, Mr. VP. But it's not strong enough. And it's only a start.
Is this Gitmo, Senator Dirtbin?
What I like about this is how the administration is apparently handling it.
Remember when Herman Munster, aka John Fn Kerry, made his "Cheney's daughter is a lesbian" comment? Every other day, someone (Lynn Cheney, Dick Cheney, Laura Bush) would make a comment on it, and keep it in the headlines. And America was appalled.
That's what I think they're doing here, underscoring the foul remarks, and I'm glad for it. It will be effective.
Agreed. Good tactic...
the President of the United States should stand up and condemn Richard Dustbin and call upon the people of Illinois to have a recall and fire his sorry A$% now, not wait until the next election cycle!
Remember the RATS complaints after the 2000 election about how they weren't able to 'Get Our Mesage Out"?
It's sure changed, hasn't it? Their message is getting out loud and clear.
"...Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings..."Such are the depths to which the Left has sunk.
The American political and cultural center has shifted dramatically to Middle America from the Leftist power centers. This is the reason.
My parents, grandparents, and great grandparents were all Democrats. My children are all Republicans.
The Republicans need to start comparing this slander to Lotts little joke, and demand Durbin resign his leadership role.
Yes, the du'ers are chirping away about how "the tide has turned". They haven't realized the tsunamis-sized backlash of the last few days yet.
Republicans of today don't have the prunes to do what is necessary. I'm ashamed of them.
If the tide is turning, then the terrorist's fortunes are. Are the folks at D.U. that dense? No answer is needed for that one.
Wont happen. The MSM is providing cover for this idiot.
Cheney's response, much like Dubya's towards Kennedy is much too polite.
Was it too much of him to refer to Dick Durbin as an "F'n wanker who can't tell his brain from his @sshole"?
ROTFLMYKWO!
VP Cheney did give us the word "clymer" --- recall that? lol
There have been some instances where I have felt exactly the same way you do here. In this instance, I see Durbin over the last few days trying to clarify his statements. He is getting a massive amount of heat from his own side, or he wouldn't be doing that.
By keeping our response measured, it keeps the spotlight off of us, and on Durbin. That's the best we could hope for.
As I see it now, if we respond as you and a few others have reasonably suggested, the focus then becomes Durbin and the person who rails against him. The questions to the person who railed against him will then be the media focus. All focus will move off of Durbin, to the 'outlandish' (the media will play it that way) call for him to resign.
I'm trying to avoid that. I like Durbin doing his two-step in the dark with a bold spotlight focused on him alone.
I do understand the reasons for your wanting the right to call for his resignation, or at least to step down his position. You may be right. I'm not convinced at this point.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.