Unchaining Cheney

[peejay 327]

Unchaining Cheney

by Bill O'Reilly

Posted 05/16/2009 ET

####### Cheney is unleashed! After eight years of being nearly invisible to the media, the former vice president has come forth bearing wrath. He is now a man on a mission, an angry messenger. Very simply, Cheney believes the Obama administration is putting the United States in danger by dismantling the Bush anti-terror programs.

And Cheney has one very large point. Since the sneak attack on September 11, 2001, America has not suffered another violent terrorist episode on its soil. That is not in dispute, and the former vice president believes tough interrogations and aggressive anti-terror moves were the cornerstones of the shield.

Cheney also has two big bullets in his rhetorical arsenal.

First, the Obama administration recently released classified interrogation memos but did not release the follow-up reports detailing what was gleaned by water boarding and other rough stuff. Cheney wants those memos out.

And second, there is no doubt that Democrats like Nancy Pelosi knew all about water boarding and went along with the interrogation program because the CIA told them it was vitally important for national security.

So, believing the truth is on his side, Cheney has launched a one-man jihad against the Obama administration for canceling what he believes are life-protecting anti-terror strategies.

The reaction on the left has been just short of hysterical, with personal attacks on Cheney all day long. At the White House Correspondents dinner last week, comedian Wanda Sykes said she advised her kids to get in a car with strangers rather than with Cheney.

Writing for The New York Times, Maureen Dowd spoke for many liberals when she called Cheney, among other things, "batty" and "jejune" (lacking value). Dowd's disdain poured out as she described the former vice president's "Genghis Khan side," his "numbskull ideas" and his "nasty campaign of fear and loathing."

The only thing missing from Dowd's column was holding Cheney responsible for swine flu.

As best I can tell, the left is growing desperate because they are losing. This week, President Obama announced he will fight the ACLU over releasing pictures of captives hurt by the U.S. military, rightly saying those pictures were part of criminal investigations, some of which led to the conviction and punishment of the American perpetrators. Even though the vile ACLU doesn't care a wit, Obama understands that any damaging photos would put U.S. forces in the field in even more danger.

The president also has no heart for a witch hunt against those who ordered tough interrogations of al-Qaida big shots. Again, this would damage America. Obama understands his own party would be hurt, as well, as Pelosi and others would have to testify under oath about what they knew.

So the vengeance-minded far-left is bereft. They want to "get" Bush and Cheney, but their dreams of revenge show-trials are vanishing quicker than MSNBC's ratings.

To make matters even worse -- Cheney may be the one getting revenge.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31885

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were castigated by the Right Wingers for speaking out against Bush's policies. Double standard is the standard of the Right.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were castigated by the Right Wingers for speaking out against Bush's policies. Double standard is the standard of the Right.

So? Both of them will go down in history as weak on defense.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were castigated by the Right Wingers for speaking out against Bush's policies. Double standard is the standard of the Right.

Too bad they let the genie out of the bottle, especially when they made the attacks personal. But it is not GWB doing the talking. Former VP's from the time of Nixon have been free to speak their minds, and generally do.

[scandal 951]

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were castigated by the Right Wingers for speaking out against Bush's policies. Double standard is the standard of the Right.

Too bad they let the genie out of the bottle, especially when they made the attacks personal. But it is not GWB doing the talking. Former VP's from the time of Nixon have been free to speak their minds, and generally do.

They're private citizens, and are entitled to the same First Amendment protections we all have. That included Cheney too. He can say whatever he likes (subject to not revealing classified information, of course).

Carter also spoke out recently (and wrote a book, too) coming down heavy handed on Israel and essentially accusing it of being an apartheid state. If he wants to lose all possible credibility and make himself look like a buffoon by taking outlandish positions, that's his prerogative. I'll judge what I think of him in accordance. Ditto for Cheney.

On a related note, "not revealing classified information" reminded me of Valerie Plame Wilson, when she wrote her book in 2007 after being outed as a CIA operative. You may recall that Plame was the wife of Joe Wilson, the US Ambassador who had publicly criticized the Bush/Cheney line regarding uranium yellowcake "evidence" from Niger which purportedly was part of Saddam's illicit nuclear program. She was outed (it turns out initially by career diplomat Richard Armitage, then publicly in the press by Richard Novak) which wrecked her career. Anyway, as a former covert agent she had to submit her book for censorship by the Agency. They redacted tons of material that they deemed sensitive. Much of it was dates and facts that were already in the public domain!

I recall listening to Peter Sagal of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" interview Plame. He was able to refer to public online records about the date she started working for CIA, various dates that significant events happen in her book. She could not confirm or deny, on radio, things that are known to be true. And the same facts are blacked out of her book. It made for a very funny interview.

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were castigated by the Right Wingers for speaking out against Bush's policies. Double standard is the standard of the Right.

Too bad they let the genie out of the bottle, especially when they made the attacks personal. But it is not GWB doing the talking. Former VP's from the time of Nixon have been free to speak their minds, and generally do.

I think this tradition goes back to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson ............

[Ban Hammer 14,295]

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were castigated by the Right Wingers for speaking out against Bush's policies. Double standard is the standard of the Right.

when cheney speaks out against bush, you might have a point.

[nowhereman 1]

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were castigated by the Right Wingers for speaking out against Bush's policies. Double standard is the standard of the Right.

when cheney speaks out against bush, you might have a point.

I believe Cheney did speak out about Bush not pardoning Libby. As for Cheney (and the Bush administration as a whole) you have to look at the big picture & overall it was one of the worst administrations in history IMO. Bush started a war in Iraq based on bad (trumped up?) intel & pretty much told the rest of the world to go screw themselves (thus losing credibility with a lot of nations). Right wingers will say "screw em", but we are not as dominant globally as we used to be & we are not in a position to bypass diplomacy. Secondly our economy is in the worst shape in decades & altough the Bush administration isn't solely responsible for this it happened on their watch.

Did the Bush administration policies keep us safe since 9/11? Perhaps... but looking at the big picture their failures far outweigh their successes.

[Danno 1,228]

I'm glad Cheney is speaking out.

One thing I hated about Bush (both Bush's actually) is this passivity toward their political opposition.

For eight years Bush let the Left define him and his policies, it was political suicide .... and damaging to our country.

I think we can see now Cheney was not on board with this style.

I hope Bush never opens his mouth again as the time to do so is over.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Bush let the left "define" him?

This was the guy who went around telling people that they were unpatriotic if they didn't support the war on terror. Cheney did it too. Those two had nothing but disdain for the idea of political opposition to their agenda - and they didn't give a rat's azz about public opposition either.

[nowhereman 1]

I'm glad Cheney is speaking out.

One thing I hated about Bush (both Bush's actually) is this passivity toward their political opposition.

For eight years Bush let the Left define him and his policies, it was political suicide .... and damaging to our country.

I think we can see now Cheney was not on board with this style.

I hope Bush never opens his mouth again as the time to do so is over.

I couldn't disagree more... Bush's actions defined his place in history as one of the worst Presidents ever (not the left). I am so sick & tired of the right blaming liberals for everything & taking responsibility for nothing. The Republican party's downfall has everything to do with failed policies, a lack of responsibility for their actions & moving farther to the right (to the extreme right in some cases). If you want to keep blaming the liberals for your failures by all means please do so, but the only individuals who believe this nonsense are the same right wingers who are preaching it.

As for Cheney he's a heartless ####### who wouldn't have any qualms about water boarding his own mother.

[scandal 951]

Karl Rove is Satan

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

I'm glad Cheney is speaking out.

One thing I hated about Bush (both Bush's actually) is this passivity toward their political opposition.

For eight years Bush let the Left define him and his policies, it was political suicide .... and damaging to our country.

I think we can see now Cheney was not on board with this style.

I hope Bush never opens his mouth again as the time to do so is over.

I couldn't disagree more... Bush's actions defined his place in history as one of the worst Presidents ever (not the left). I am so sick & tired of the right blaming liberals for everything & taking responsibility for nothing. The Republican party's downfall has everything to do with failed policies, a lack of responsibility for their actions & moving farther to the right (to the extreme right in some cases). If you want to keep blaming the liberals for your failures by all means please do so, but the only individuals who believe this nonsense are the same right wingers who are preaching it.

As for Cheney he's a heartless ####### who wouldn't have any qualms about water boarding his own mother.

You need to use more harsh adjectives. It would be more affective

[nowhereman 1]

I'm glad Cheney is speaking out.

One thing I hated about Bush (both Bush's actually) is this passivity toward their political opposition.

For eight years Bush let the Left define him and his policies, it was political suicide .... and damaging to our country.

I think we can see now Cheney was not on board with this style.

I hope Bush never opens his mouth again as the time to do so is over.

I couldn't disagree more... Bush's actions defined his place in history as one of the worst Presidents ever (not the left). I am so sick & tired of the right blaming liberals for everything & taking responsibility for nothing. The Republican party's downfall has everything to do with failed policies, a lack of responsibility for their actions & moving farther to the right (to the extreme right in some cases). If you want to keep blaming the liberals for your failures by all means please do so, but the only individuals who believe this nonsense are the same right wingers who are preaching it.

As for Cheney he's a heartless ####### who wouldn't have any qualms about water boarding his own mother.

You need to use more harsh adjectives. It would be more affective

Hang around the VJ forums more & read what the right wingers post & you will sprinkle in more adjectives as well. Sometimes I think they are just looking for attention but the scary thing is they are usually serious.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

I'm glad Cheney is speaking out.

One thing I hated about Bush (both Bush's actually) is this passivity toward their political opposition.

For eight years Bush let the Left define him and his policies, it was political suicide .... and damaging to our country.

I think we can see now Cheney was not on board with this style.

I hope Bush never opens his mouth again as the time to do so is over.

I couldn't disagree more... Bush's actions defined his place in history as one of the worst Presidents ever (not the left). I am so sick & tired of the right blaming liberals for everything & taking responsibility for nothing. The Republican party's downfall has everything to do with failed policies, a lack of responsibility for their actions & moving farther to the right (to the extreme right in some cases). If you want to keep blaming the liberals for your failures by all means please do so, but the only individuals who believe this nonsense are the same right wingers who are preaching it.

As for Cheney he's a heartless ####### who wouldn't have any qualms about water boarding his own mother.

You need to use more harsh adjectives. It would be more affective

Hang around the VJ forums more & read what the right wingers post & you will sprinkle in more adjectives as well. Sometimes I think they are just looking for attention but the scary thing is they are usually serious.

I think like a right winger. I read your posts and shiver at the thought of the minds running our country. Your view of the world is scary.

Peace

[nowhereman 1]

I'm glad Cheney is speaking out.

One thing I hated about Bush (both Bush's actually) is this passivity toward their political opposition.

For eight years Bush let the Left define him and his policies, it was political suicide .... and damaging to our country.

I think we can see now Cheney was not on board with this style.

I hope Bush never opens his mouth again as the time to do so is over.

I couldn't disagree more... Bush's actions defined his place in history as one of the worst Presidents ever (not the left). I am so sick & tired of the right blaming liberals for everything & taking responsibility for nothing. The Republican party's downfall has everything to do with failed policies, a lack of responsibility for their actions & moving farther to the right (to the extreme right in some cases). If you want to keep blaming the liberals for your failures by all means please do so, but the only individuals who believe this nonsense are the same right wingers who are preaching it.

As for Cheney he's a heartless ####### who wouldn't have any qualms about water boarding his own mother.

You need to use more harsh adjectives. It would be more affective

Hang around the VJ forums more & read what the right wingers post & you will sprinkle in more adjectives as well. Sometimes I think they are just looking for attention but the scary thing is they are usually serious.

I think like a right winger. I read your posts and shiver at the thought of the minds running our country. Your view of the world is scary.

Peace

What color is the sky in your world? You probably have no idea what my political views are, other than the fact that I can't stand extreme views (which tend to be based on stereotypes, half-truths & rhetoric). I'm hard on the right wing VJers only because there are a lot more of them (compared to left wing VJers) & they tend to stir up a lot more controversy.

If being an independent moderate is "scary" to you then I'm guilty as charged.