Posted on 05/13/2009 3:42:28 PM PDT by lewisglad
Enough, already. That's the reaction of many Republicans to Dick Cheney's surge of media appearances to defend the Bush administration, especially on national security issues. "I don't think anybody would call him and say, 'Shut up.' It wouldn't work," says a GOP strategist who formerly advised Ronald Reagan. "He obviously feels that his work as vice president is under attack. But he is not our best spokesman."
The concern among Republican strategists is that the public will think Cheney is speaking for the GOP, and this won't be helpful because the former vice president remains an unpopular figure across the country. Another prominent GOP strategist says Cheney should lower his visibility and give younger party leaders a chance to take the spotlight.
Meanwhile, White House officials are pleased that the abrasive Cheney is drawing so much attention. "The former vice president has made his views pretty clear, and the president has made his views pretty clear," an Obama adviser said today. "We had a big debate on this during the campaign, and the president sees it as a debate that has been resolved because the American people spoke so clearly [in the election]."
Cheney's reasoning for going public has become a favorite topic on the political circuit in Washington. Some of those who know Cheney well say he is motivated by a desire to defend his legacy as a principal architect of George W. Bush's national security policies that are under attack from the Obama administration and congressional Democrats—especially the waterboarding of suspected terrorists that President Obama has defined as torture.
Cheney is said to genuinely believe that Obama is taking the wrong approach on national security, leaving America weaker. He is also angry that former Bush advisers may be prosecuted or face disbarment or legal censure because of the advice they gave internally to justify waterboarding. Cheney is described as deeply disappointed that President Bush didn't pardon Lewis Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff, after Libby's conviction for misleading prosecutors trying to investigate leaks. (Bush did commute Libby's 30-month prison sentence.) And Cheney doesn't want other Bush advisers to be punished for, in his assessment, simply doing their jobs.
The former vice president stirred the pot Sunday in a CBS interview, arguing that "enhanced interrogation techniques" such as waterboarding did not represent torture. The former vice president said that such methods were legal and that they generated important intelligence on terrorist activities. He argued that Obama's reversal of some of those policies made America less safe. Yesterday, in an interview on Fox News, Cheney repeated his criticisms. A week from tomorrow, Cheney is scheduled to address the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. His topic: "Keeping America Safe."
Most likely this is a quote from Ed Rollins.
They didn't want to use his name because no one listens to this useless, Gergen-type person anymore.
Steele is worse than an idiot. I supported him. I apologize yet again to everyone here.
“Names please?”
Who? McCain strategists? Who? How do we know if there are any strategists saying this? This could be TOTALLY FABRICATED, which would be nothing in comparison with other media stunts.
I agree with 100% of what you stated. I agree we have no one to articulate our position, etc., etc.. However, there is no single person on the Right that brings out the hate from the left, and the MSM, like Cheney. The more he drags himself out in front of the cameras, the more our image in the MSM is kept alive, and agree or not, they have painted us into a corner. What can Cheney do to help conservatives? Nothing. He will not be POTUS candidate in 2012, nor should he be, and he serves no purpose other than to correct the MSM's berating of the WOT. His admin's domestic agenda was horrid!
As for the question about my suggestion as to whom (is that correct?) would replace him as a spokesperson--I have no idea. But, the fact remains we are in a mess that I believe his admin left us in, and dragging him out only serves to remind the Left of the past.
I promise, a star will rise, but it may take a while. In the mean time we need our congress-critters in front of the camera stating why we oppose the current admin, and move away from the past. Bush and Cheney dug a hole, so it is up to us to stop digging.
Let the Dems define the Republican Party, but more importantly, let them redefine the Bush presidency.
Good lord!!!
I have defended W for a long time, but his seeming disinterest in clarifying the actions of his administration, as the assaults on everyone and everything involved intensifies daily, is edging me closer to automatic-weapon postal-type unhinged.
My opinion is that Cheney is responsible for giving cover to people who want to push back at, 1)Pelosi lying her (likely lifted) ass off about the waterboarding, and 2) Obama trying to criminalize the entire Republican platform.
I was afraid the VP was going fishing, never to be heard from again. The more public appearances he makes, the more he sets the record straight on who he REALLY is (and not the Hanna Barbera villain created by Begala),but more significantly, on what actually occurred in the Bush Whitehouse.
Somebody needs to STFU...just not Dick Cheney.
Well, your initial post was not flammable, and you answered in a reasonable tone.
I disagree with you that Bush and Cheney left us in this mess. I disagree with many of the policies of the Bush Administration, in particular Campaign Finance Reform, Immigration, their TARP legislation, but MOST of all, their continued attempts at “bipartisanship” and their failure to stick up for themselves and let liberals set
the agenda. Their error, and I hold them to it, is that they left the battlefield of the media to their enemies, who made the most of it.
Bush and Cheney did not leave us in this mess. This was a mess created by the ENTIRE Republican party and its leadership, up to and including the President, who is the ostensible head of the party when in power.
But most of all, this “mess” is the cumulative result of 75 years of liberalism, beginning with the “New Deal”.
There is nothing wrong with Dick Cheney or his message, and much that is right with both. To deny this man and his message because he offends liberals is the height of folly.
GOP strategist <— WHO? NAMES or I don’t believe this article.
Yeah, those stratigists have done such a bang up job lately that we should all listen to them......if we want to continue on the road to utter failure.
Name one name who says Dick should shut-up.
Please see #104 for my response.
The Obama administration is cracking at the foundation. Cheney is helping this happen with his clear and concise pointing out of the flaws and weaknesses of this socialistic presidency
It is time to cut through the fawning worship of Obama and let the harsh sunlight of reality expose that the Emperor is buck naked. Cheney is doing this.
Yo, strategists, you got a better one in mind?
And don't tell me Steele or McCain or Romney.
I have no problem with Cheney speaking his mind. It’s a free country.
Yeah, let’s not criticize Democrats. That’s really worked well for us /s.
Thank you,its much more fun to tell them to their faces and watch the reaction.
None of the above. Let Cheney lead the way. He is doing a great job of telling the truth about the left and the Obama administration
No doubts about the legitimacy of the story? Or just another opportunity for you to keep the "RINO" crap going.
If it "pisses" you off, the media has obviously succeeded.
You’re wrong. Rollins has been defending Cheney and denouncing Powell every night on CNN.
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