Jim, I think Cheney was the glue that held the last administration together through thick and thin. I don’t say that to diminish Bush, but to acknowledge Cheney’s contributions.
I think he made the ticket more palatable. I think his sound judgment was needed at times. I think he and Bush made a good team considering their views, and I didn’t always agree with the direction that administration took. It would have been a complete disaster if it had been Bush/McCain for instance.
As for Cheney’s comments concerning the Palin question, I think they hit the right tone. He doesn’t rule her in or out. He doesn’t praise or criticize her. He defers to the election cycle, when his endorsement will matter. Now it would be premature and could cause him to have to backtrack if someone more sound came along.
For that reason I say, full speed ahead for good judgment. And if Sarah turns out to be the most sound and reasoned person in early 2012, good. I’m not convinced she will be. I’m not convinced she won’t be either.
Right now I think she has the inside track, but I do have concerns about her readiness.
IMO she needs to bump up her international credentials. You know I’m not much of an internationalist, but I do think you need to be able to exhibit a grasp of international affairs.
I also see some weakness in some areas of domestic affairs, financial markets and the like. I don’t see these as fatal, but I do want her to round out her pluses with additional understanding.
If we sign on to her too quickly, what need is there for her to grow. I want more growth.
As for Sarah’s general outlook and instincts, I like them very much. It does trouble me greatly that she would support a man for re-election that would more than likely be a thorn in her side, possibly working to defeat her more sound instincts.
Sorry. I couldn’t care less who Cheney supports. Don’t look now but he has just come out for gays in the military. That is not a conservative position, as far as I can tell.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/81047-cheney-supports-repealing-dont-ask-dont-tell
Undertaking a social experiment like that in the middle of two wars because “society has moved on” is the height of irresponsibility, especially for someone who is a former Secretary of Defense and former Vice President. May I suggest a little humility on this score, that perhaps he should defer to actual veterans who have served in a barracks environment and not come out for such a change while two wars are going on, two wars that were not finished on his watch.