Posted on 05/23/2009 9:43:33 AM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON (AP) --
Dick Cheney refuses to be a has-been.
The former vice president's voice appears to carry even more weight than it did in the waning days of the Bush administration.
Some people want him to be quiet and disappear. Others are cheering the public relations tour that Cheney began halfway through President Barack Obama's first 100 days, defending the Bush administration's harsh interrogation tactics and other anti-terrorism policies.
Vice presidents typically fade away quietly.
Not Cheney.
When Obama released memos detailing Bush-era interrogation techniques and wouldn't completely rule out prosecuting or disciplining former Bush administration officials, Cheney couldn't stay silent.
"It wasn't like on Jan. 21, he planned that he was going to speak out in this way," said Cheney's daughter, Liz, a former State Department official who has traveled extensively with her father. "It was driven by events and I think he will continue to do it if he feels it's important to the public debate."
"You just have to know the way he works," she said. "He was watching what was going on. He knew it was wrong and he knew he had an obligation to say it was wrong."
The Cheney camp says it's not about politics.
In Washington, however, everything is about politics and Cheney's decision to make his case on talk shows and deliver speeches at think tanks cuts both ways. His message fires up conservatives, but also rallies Democratic opponents who don't miss an opportunity to portray the unpopular Cheney as the lead spokesman of the Republican Party.
"I would think the Republicans ought to be shy in using him as their front," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He dismisses Cheney's appearances as if they were old TV reruns.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
So how much manufacturing has left the Great Lakes region under Levin’s multiple terms? Most of it.
Yeah, Levin is just a blowhard for the unions.
I would rather enjoy a rerun than listen to his diatribes.
Yep. Still running scared, too.
I proudly accept Vice President Cheney as the leader of the Republican party. I would rather have him than any of the Republicans (except for Sarah Palin)as leader. Cheney puts country above politics, a badly needed trait nowadays.
Cheney has the heartbeat of a Patriot. nuff said
To: the always in spin mode media ..
This Monday Go visit the memorials and graves of those who served and saved this nation and the world from a dark future and reflect on their sacrifices to safeguard and secure your liberties and freedoms.
—
Thanks for posting.
Where’s the heat out here.. looks to be a cool in the bay week-end again. Giddyup.
Cheney for Pres.
Riechmann couldn’t miss the point more thoroughly (and this can be seen in the universal confusion plaguing all leftists and liberals, the confusion which arises from their most fundamental ideological precept) if she were to bury herself under a thousand tons of unread newspapers.
You see, Cheney doesn’t make this about himself. I think if Riechmann could reach a point where she finally understands it’s the principles that matter, not the personalities, she would have no logical choice but to become a conservative.
I've been watching her the last couple of days, doing interviews, and completely shredding the MSM'ers. She is really impressive. I told my husband about her this week and mentioned how intelligent and well-spoken she is; and his response was that with her parents, she had a head-start.
The MSM keeps asking the question about WHO is the next leader of the Republican party. Well, you guys just met her this week and not one of you had a clue.
It must be nice to have a friend who will fight for you when you havent the balls or the energy to fight for yourself.
Now I think Bush was a class act when he said he wouldnt try to interfere in Obama administration, but Obama has brought up Bush over and over, How many times must Bush be crapped upon before he speaks up for himself? Not only that but his people. people who were loyal to him are being attacked. The least he could do is speak up for his friends.
I guess he thinks it’s easier to just fade away, but Obama isnt letting him fade away he is blaming Bush for everything since the Lusitania was sunk.Speak up man tell this Kenyan to STFU .
It’s always instructive with these SFGate stories about republicans to follow the link and read the comments section.
Leftists are ugly, ugly, stupid people. Violent too.
If they had their way, the cattle cars to the camps would be full 24/7.
There is about 28% of the population that will dog who ever the GOP trots out.
You need to write these people off, they will never come along. As soon as the GOP understands they need to do battle for the rest of the people and ignore the chattering from the back rows.
Cheney is only “unpopular” among Riechmann’s snobby liberal elitist circle and the DNC masters she reports to. They have no idea that the vast majority of Americans appreciate Cheney. Notice how they always try to tie Cheney (and Rush) to the Republican Party when neither one of them holds elective office. If he’s unpopular and is dragging down the GOP, then why is the media hyperventilating? This is how Republicans are supposed to deal with liberals. You make your case by simply stating the facts and to Hell with liberal media polls and commentary about you. That’s precisely why Cheney’s approval numbers went up was there any calls of “bipartisan” or “giving Obama a chance” crapola from Cheney?
Any Republican demanding he be quiet, needs to have his (R) stripped.
I would’ve rather had Cheney as the Republican nominee in 2008 than McCain. He would’ve done a MUCH better job of defending the Bush record and giving a vision for a Republican future. Heck, he’s 5 years YOUNGER than McCain...maybe Cheney will make a run in 2012.
If Obama wasn’t bringing up the “previous administration” in EVERY SPEECH, then Cheney wouldn’t need to be out defending HIS administration.
When Obama says that, he is INCLUDING CHENEY. Why the hell is he not allowed to defend himself, President Bush and their policies?
God bless Dick Cheney, Liz and Lynn.
I think he speaks for all conseratives. I wish he had run for president instead of McCain. We would have had a huge advantage, and stuck with our principles and been proud. Now we’re cowering to the gays and unions, as if they ruled the world.
Just a point of order:
He is NOT ex-anything; he is FORMER Vice President.
We only have one (now deceased) ex-President, Mr. Nixon; all others are former.
There are definite connotative differences in the meanings of ‘former’ and ‘ex’.
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