Posted on 12/01/2009 12:59:43 PM PST by caddystacks
I think we should be taking the possibility of a Dick Cheney bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 more seriously, for a run would be good for the Republicans and good for the country. (The sound you just heard in the background was liberal readers spitting out their lattes.)
Why? Because Cheney is a man of conviction, has a record on which he can be judged, and whatever the result, there could be no ambiguity about the will of the people. The best way to settle arguments is by having what we used to call full and frank exchanges about the issues, and then voting. A contest between Dick Cheney and Barack Obama would offer us a bracing referendum on competing visions.
One of the problems with governance since the election of Bill Clinton has been the resolute refusal of the opposition party (the GOP from 1993 to 2001, the Democrats from 2001 to 2009, and now the GOP again in the Obama years) to concede that the president, by virtue of his victory, has a mandate to take the country in a given direction.
A Cheney victory would mean that America preferred a vigorous unilateralism to President Obama's unapologetic multilateralism, and vice versa
No one foresaw Cheney's reemergence as a force in the politics of the 21st century until it happened. So perhaps the pattern is set, a pattern of insistent denial of interest—until it turns out that, hey, he is interested.
Cheney's memoirs are due to be published—and thus due to be promoted—in the spring of 2011, not long before the caucuses and primaries begin. I'll bet you that the Barnes & Noble in Des Moines (there's a big one at The Shoppes at Three Fountains) is on the book tour
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Quote: “Why? Because Cheney is a man of conviction, has a record on which he can be judged, and whatever the result, there could be no ambiguity about the will of the people. The best way to settle arguments is by having what we used to call full and frank exchanges about the issues, and then voting. A contest between Dick Cheney and Barack Obama would offer us a bracing referendum on competing visions.”
Unfortunately, elections are about more than just ideas. They are about the candidates themselves. Sure, heney’s ideas and beliefs are in direct contrast to Obama. But Newsweak knows damn well that his age and health alone would be a prohibitive factor to his becoming POTUS. Newsweak is just looking to pick an unelectable conservative candidate hoping to have a weak candidate lose. Thereafter, they will ignore the weakness of the candidate and, instead, declare that it was conservatism that was the loser.
The MSM hoped that McCain would have done this job in the last election. Unfortunately, nobody and I mean nobody bought into Juan McCain being a conservative.
Yup.
Could NewsWEAK be any more apparent in their “running interference for 0bama” agenda?
This is such a too obvious, luaghable NewsWEAK ploy to split the conservative vote and make Sarah Palin lose in the primaries then tear Cheney apart over his heart condition and over being a “neocon” if Palin loses the primaries. You just gotta laugh at the sheer childishness of NewsWEAK.
In my opinion, Cheney would be a far better candidate than anyone else whose name is floating around at the moment... although that says next to nothing IMHO. I see two main problems with this, however. The first is obviously his health. More important, however, is that one does not get the feeling that Cheney ever truly aspired after Presidential power, at least not at this point in his life. I believe that this is what made him so effective in his role over the past eight years and, sadly, is exactly what would make him ideal for the presidency.
Unfortunately, in this day and age, the qualities that make for an ideal president are nearly the exact opposite of the qualities needed for an ideal candidate. We have few of the former and even less of the latter. While there are many of you out there who are well within your rights to believe otherwise, I consider Palin and Bachmann to be neither of the two.
There is far more involved in being a good president or even a good candidate than being a decent, intelligent person with your values in the right place.
Bingo!
They fear a Sarah Palin presidential run that they’re even pushing the other conservatives.
I admire and respect Dick Cheney, but if Newsweek is pimping him for the GOP nomination, I’d just as soon have the big guy work behind the scenes.
- JP
How about a Cheney/Patraeus ticket?
This is going to be fun watching the Palinistas shuck and jive over the prospect of a Cheney run.
Too old! Bad ticker!
He’s younger than Reagan was and the miracles of modern medicine will protect him.
Maybe even God will watch over him.
“The biggest danger is that the party nominates a lackluster candidate...”
The biggest problem is if the party nominates an UNTESTED candidate.
After Obama, the voters will be looking for tested and true experience.
“They’re still trying to pick our candidate for us and derail the Palin juggernaught.”
Is that why you’re FRIGHTENED of a Cheney candidacy?
He also has 8 very successful years of demonization by the media and the libs (but I repeat myself).
I respect Cheney a great deal, and I might well support him if he decides to seriously run.
But I’ll be damnde if I’ll let Newsweek tell me who I should be supporting for any office, all the way down to dog catcher.
Why are you so frightened by a Palin candidacy?
(I’m good at setting up straw men and giving out backhanded ad hominem attacks, too)
I love that like crazy.
Cheney (Dick) / Cheney (Liz) 2012!
Yes, Cheney is the Chuck Norris of national politics.
That’s the ticket: support Cheney for the primaries. If Cheney wins, yell “Halliburton, Halliburton” all through the general campaign. Excellent plan! /sarc
Cheney is not going to run for president. He was never going to run for president.
You are correct Cheney will not run.
John Meachem from Newsweak?
Yeah let’s let the Newsweak Socialists tell conservatives who they should run lol.
Newsweak really means they would love to see Cheney as the nominee. They love his approval ratings in low 20’s. That assures Zero another term.
Liz Cheney 2012!
Tina fey!
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.