Talk is sometimes cheap. It all depends. I think the Veep means what he says, and I find it refreshing. In Washington, straight talk can actually be rather expensive. Cheney is willing to be the Rats' and the media's "bad guy." Very few others in this administration are willing to do this. I give him many, many points for his straight talk, and straight thinking.
"Very few others in this administration are willing to do this. I give him many, many points for his straight talk, and straight thinking."
He can afford to. He's not running for the Presidency. He's pretty much figured his health, and the stress of the job, would very likely knock him off in the first term. So he has no problem being a lightning rod at this point.