[Vice President] Cheney's defense of his co-presidency (Hurlicious)

The San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 2, 2009 | Shirley Anne Warshaw

[2ndDivisionVet]

As the nation watches in bemused disbelief, former Vice President Dick Cheney stridently defends the Bush administration's national security record, particularly as that record involves the euphemistic "harsh interrogation" of prisoners of war from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the question inevitably arises: Why does he feel compelled to do this? Isn't there an unwritten rule that former presidents and vice presidents keep their criticisms to themselves and let the new administration develop its own policies? They tend to stay out of politics after leaving office, using their time to write memoirs and build a financial cushion on the well-heeled speaking circuit. Cheney is breaking the code.

But it's different for Cheney. It's important to keep in mind that the policies in question are his policies. They are not Bush policies; they are Cheney-developed and Cheney-orchestrated. If this premise was ever in any doubt, Cheney's behavior confirms it.

It would be a breach of loyalty - to himself and to the administration he staffed - not to respond to and publicly reject the Obama administration's assertions that his policies in fighting the so-called war on terror caused more harm than good. Cheney masterminded the war strategy, torture policy and presidential actions that he viewed as unchallengeable by Congress. They were his policies and he intends to defend them.

Cheney's national security policies were grounded in the view that the president cannot be constrained by Congress in his decisions to protect and defend the nation. These views emerged in dramatic form in 1987, when Cheney, as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, and David Addington, the committee's minority counsel, authored the Minority Report - which soundly disagreed with the Majority Report criticizing President Ronald Reagan for the Iran-Contra scandal.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Shirley, you are probably alive and free today because of decisions taken by the Bush administration. An old saying in the Midwest goes like this: "Don't gripe about the farmer with your mouth full."

[freekitty]

“As the nation watches in bemused disbelief, former Vice President Dick Cheney stridently defends the Bush administration’s national security record, particularly as that record involves the euphemistic “harsh interrogation” of prisoners of war from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the question inevitably arises: Why does he feel compelled to do this? Isn’t there an unwritten rule that former presidents and vice presidents keep their criticisms to themselves and let the new administration develop its own policies? They tend to stay out of politics after leaving office, using their time to write memoirs and build a financial cushion on the well-heeled speaking circuit. Cheney is breaking the code.”

Shirley, you need to ask Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton the same questions before you get on your soapbox of distraction and stupidity.

Yes, you are alive and free because of this man. You may not be with Obama.

[carcraft]

The other thing to note is that if Cheney really believed what this ditz is writing about why did the Bush White House have Congressional briefings to inform and allow Congress to provide over site? The “torture” etc could not have been that bad since NO ONE IN CONGRESS (including Nancy Pelosi) OBJECTED!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Cheney would be saying nothing had it not been for the strident “bash Bush” movement. This is like cursing a mirror for showing you your reflection.

[wastoute]

I love to hear Cheney doing this but seems to me if he and W had spent the last 7 years doing this we might not have Zero now. I kept asking myself for years "Doesn't Bush understand he is OUR leader?" It might be nice to give a speech saying he is the president of all Americans but if he won't even defend himself we get stuck with Zero and that's it. Game over. Set and match. The time for W and Cheney to say things wqas when it still had an impact. W kept saying he would wait for history to judge but now I think he is beginning to realize the history book will be written by Zero. Too late, W.

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[HiTech RedNeck]

Bush’s domestic “conservativism” was so mushy that the slide into Obamism appeared seamless.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Why does he feel compelled to do this?...

Because the new administration threatened criminal charges and disbarment against Bush administration staff. Next!

[PghBaldy]

Considering much of what Obama has done is reverse Bush policies, that can’t be entirely true. It is somewhat true though on issues like immigration and spending and affirmative action in nominations (to the cabinet in Bush’s case).

[HiTech RedNeck]

Obama is like that “trust in me... just in me” snake in the Disney cartoon about Mowgli the wolf boy. Hypnotized the kid till he was climbing an ever ascending staircase consisting of the snake’s own bendy body. Lion just slapped the snake in the face, commenting brusquely that he couldn’t be bothered.

[McGruff]

Shirley, if you think we're treated those poor 9/11 terrorists to harshly.

GO WHINE SOMEWHERE ELSE!

[Condor51]

Isn't there an unwritten rule that former presidents and vice presidents keep their criticisms to themselves and let the new administration develop its own policies? They tend to stay out of politics after leaving office, using their time to write memoirs and build a financial cushion on the well-heeled speaking circuit. Cheney is breaking the code.

[PghBaldy]

Good metaphor.