[dirtboy]

Politics is war, dirt, and you either fight or get killed.

Point taken, sink, and I appreciate your keeping this matter at the level of debate instead of questioning motives. But I also think that having Fleischer claim that the charges against Cheney are "without merit" is not the proper use of his office. This may seem like small stuff, but the Bush Admin should be careful to avoid the tar pit that snared both Nixon and Clinton - that a cover-up is more dangerous than the actual offense, if any. I hope they stay aboveboard on this matter.

[sauropod]

Fleischer may have been stating his opinion of the charges. If that was so, he should have stated it as such. You have a point about not being snared in such a morass.

I still am of the opinion that the Halliburton stuff is nonsense. Based on what i know to date anyway.

[mrsmith]

"having Fleischer claim that the charges against Cheney are "without merit" is not the proper use of his office. "

Saying Fleischer shouldn't state the administration position on any issue is as silly as saying the press shouldn't ask it of him.

[sinkspur]

But I also think that having Fleischer claim that the charges against Cheney are "without merit" is not the proper use of his office.

Klayman filed a lawsuit against Cheney BECAUSE he is the vice-president. If Cheney were in private life, Klayman could have cared less.

A politically-motivated litigation against the vice-president has to be answered by the political people. Ignoring false accusations or sending out Mary Matalin (whom nobody knows) to refute them would have been unwise; they must be slapped down and slapped down hard!