Dick Cheney Steamrolls Politico
04 February 2009 11:59 am by Taylor Marsh
Reading this article today on Politico, I was suddenly thrown back in time when the late Tim Russert interviewed Dick Cheney right after 9/11. It basically turned into an open forum for the vice president to say any unsubstantiated thing he wanted because everyone who wasn’t stunned into submission at this early point was rendered mute by the attack. But today, John F. Harris and Jim Vandehei, who started the site after leaving the Washington Post, along with Mike Allen, who spread enough manure during HRC’s State Department nomination to fertilize a field, all basically play stenographer for Cheney. Oh, and guess the message. I know, too easy, America is going to get attacked because Barack Obama policies, but particularly because he intends to close Gitmo.
“When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an Al Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do anything they can to kill Americans, then I worry,” Cheney said.
Protecting the country’s security is “a tough, mean, dirty, nasty business,” he said. “These are evil people. And we’re not going to win this fight by turning the other cheek.”
Citing intelligence reports, Cheney said at least 61 of the inmates who were released from Guantanamo during the Bush administration — “that’s about 11 or 12 percent” — have “gone back into the business of being terrorists.” [...]
According to John, Jim and Mike, Mr. Cheney was in “a self-vindicating mood.” Well, I’m shocked. Stating the obvious after the longest legacy rehabilitation tour we’ve seen in recent memory is hardly worthy of writing, but on and on they go. We won’t even get into the fact that Cheney’s “61 of the inmates” parable is false. But it gets worse, as the Politico boys allow Dick Cheney to do what he did on the run up to the Iraq war. Spin nonsense that forgets one salient element, the truth.
“If it hadn’t been for what we did — with respect to the terrorist surveillance program, or enhanced interrogation techniques for high-value detainees, the Patriot Act, and so forth — then we would have been attacked again,” he said. “Those policies we put in place, in my opinion, were absolutely crucial to getting us through the last seven-plus years without a major-casualty attack on the U.S.”
Dick Cheney, like every other Republican, forgets to mention that it was on George W. Bush’s watch that we got hit, even after warnings, signs and a PDB screaming “Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside U.S.”
The deal with Politico must have been with a tape recorder, with the “reporters” present in order to push record.
This just illustrates one of the reason’s I don’t read Politico anymore.
Depends on the writer, because some over there do try to get it right. However, whenever Mike Allen’s name appears I’m skeptical.
this is not hyperbole:
Cheney is dabbling in dangerous territory when he “baits” the situation with inflammatory remarks that sound like veiled threats to me… He needs to “ay callate ” IMO
The Obama Administration needs to marginalize Cheney and start hitting back before he goes on a roll and convinces some of the less enlightened folks that the Bush/Cheney Administration had it right. The fact that Cheney doesn’t stick to the facts is nothing new. Maybe Holder should openly start investigating the previous administration. God only knows what skeletons they’d find in the closet not to mention bodies.
LOL JA, probably a lot of bodies. I agree though, I hope Holder goes after them. They have done so much damage to this country it isn’t even funny. It upsets me to no end to think they may get away with it.
As long as people allow Cheney to yap the far right will continue to sing his praises and claim that he and Bush were right all along. None of them seem to remember that they were forewarned about Bin Laden and his threats.
LakeLady:
your Avatar is a go!
cute grand-baby LL:
http://tinyurl.com/cwaoac
Betsy says:
04 February 2009 at 12:42 pm
As long as people allow Cheney to yap the far right will continue to sing his praises and claim that he and Bush were right all along. None of them seem to remember that they were forewarned about Bin Laden and his threats.
Not to mention the billions we have borrowed to finance an illegal war. I guess it was ok to finance an illegal war but now the Repubs are going to obstruct attempts to get the American people back on equal footing. If they had their way we’d stay in Iraq regardless of what the Iraqi people wanted or the American people wanted.
Thanks for your clear instructions Geo! That’s my Sammy.
I think John Stewart had the best take on this unreasonable fear of the Gitmo terrorists.
Boy, Cheney and Rush are just great Americans aren’t they? Andrea Mitchell just led with Cheney’s comments.
That’s rich coming from the Administration that bungled the fight against Islamic terrorism and invaded the wrong nation enabling Iran. Cheney please go home and enjoy your loot from the Treasury and all those no bud contracts.
Now dear Andrea is quoting Dowd,calling her brillant. I swear there are some reporters who should be renditioned. Just kidding!
They should link our economic disaster to the 10 billion spent every month on the Iraq War. Why isn’t every Dem telling this to every media outlet?
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 12:49 pm
Love your avatar!!!
Hey JA, need some help with putting one up?
I have been on the fense about going after the Bush administgration considering the shape the country is in but there needs to be some public shaming! Problem is the MSM won’t go along because so many of them have been complicent.
Thanks Taylor!
Iceblinkjm says:
04 February 2009 at 12:51 pm
and all those no bud contracts.
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can’t resist the opportunity:
“Is that what Michael Phelps is getting now?”
Hi Taylor – Hubby said he’d help me put it up (he’s the computer guru in the house) when he finishes classes this week. He doesn’t teach on Friday so I’m assuming he’ll do it then (he doesn’t trust me to do anything with the computer). If he doesn’t do it as quickly as I want it I’ll let all of you know and then you can take me through it. But I think he’ll do it if for no other reason than he doesn’t want to hear me nag and boy can I nag.
Audiegrl says:
04 February 2009 at 12:54 pm
They should link our economic disaster to the 10 billion spent every month on the Iraq War. Why isn’t every Dem telling this to every media outlet?
___________
they should but then again the costs in Afghanistan are about to ramp up so it’s a can of worms kind of thing.
LL – is that Sammy? He’s adorable!
Cute cute baby LL. OT they are saying this was a terrorist attack on the Doctor.
Jane Austen says:
04 February 2009 at 12:59 pm
and boy can I nag.
______
it’s a gift
My brother(the repub) said that pic of Sammy looked like Rush..he started a family email war!
Betsy says:
04 February 2009 at 1:01 pm
Cute cute baby LL. OT they are saying this was a terrorist attack on the Doctor.
it’s become a generic term so it could be anything.
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 1:02 pm
My brother(the repub) said that pic of Sammy looked like Rush..he started a family email war!
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he just needs the golden mic :=)
Like my son-in-law said ..”sure your daughter is liberal, she wanted to eat while she growing up.” Ha! Sammy has NO Rush potential, even though my brother says liberalism skips some generations. As long as I draw breath he will hear about the Repubs!
Betsy says:
04 February 2009 at 1:01
OT they are saying this was a terrorist attack on the Doc
Betsy, that was the local sheriff who said that. He jumped the shark on that one, IMHO. ATF is not saying terrorist. Any violent act like this is an act of terrorism, but he needs to be careful throwing that term around (especially after what Chenney said today). In this country we hear the word ‘terrorist’ and automatically think 9/11.
If they can’t find any type of enemies or dubious financial dealings that might be going on, they will look at his wife as a suspect.
YES!
Children Health Bill passed:
The Senate passed a bill on Thursday to provide health insurance to more than four million uninsured children, as a newly empowered Democratic majority brushed aside Republican objections.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30health.html
Oh God, they are making Kit Bond a mouthpiece! No end of embarrassment for poor Missourians! Claire,Kit and Rush..augh!
sorry, today’s news is the House passed it and sent it to Obama for signing:
U.S. House approves children’s health bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5135HD20090204
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 1:11 pm
GeoT…..YES!
Children Health Bill passed:
The Senate passed a bill on Thursday to provide health insurance to more than four million uninsured children, as a newly empowered Democratic majority brushed aside Republican objections.
keep on brushing!!!
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 1:02 pm
Jane Austen says:
04 February 2009 at 12:59 pm
and boy can I nag.
______
it’s a gift
OT – speaking of the devil, hubby just walked in and I’m ROTFLMAO. I don’t know what he did with his hat but he looks like Klem Kaddilhopper. I can’t stop laughing. He’s always good for a laugh.
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 1:15 pm
sorry, today’s news is the House passed it and sent it to Obama for signing:
U.S. House approves children’s health bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5135HD20090204
Thank God for some good news.
Klem Kaddilhopper….I can visualize it Jane!LOL
Panasonic to slash 15K jobs
I always sit down and say I’m just going to stay an hour and end up staying all morning.
Gotta go do something productive!
Talk to everyone later…thanks for your sweet words on Sam!
Listening to Congress argue about something as asinine as delaying the digital TV transition doesn’t give me any confidence they have any qualifications to do anything about the economy.
They sound like petulant children.
Tip to GeoT and Justien
Scarlett J. will be on Dave Letterman’s show on Thursday night.
justlen says:
04 February 2009 at 1:25 pm
love the puma kitty
justlen says:
04 February 2009 at 1:25 pm
Please explain what the digital TV transition means? I don’t understand.
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 1:26 pm
love the puma kitty
I’m just following Obama’s lead and trying to be inclusive.
Audiegrl says:
TV stations are transitioning from analog to digital transmission. This allows them to transmit more channels and frees up a lot of spectrum for other uses. It only affects people who get TV from over the air antennas.
For over a year they’ve been mailing out coupons for a converter box. Now they want more money to extend the deadline because they fear some people haven’t prepared.
A lot of stations have already switched.
justlen says:
04 February 2009 at 1:25 pm
Listening to Congress argue about something as asinine as delaying the digital TV transition doesn’t give me any confidence they have any qualifications to do anything about the economy.
They sound like petulant children.
______________
Spoiled and self-indulgent children to boot.
So won’t the people who don’t have the boxes be forced to get them, once their TV’s stop working?
justlen says:
04 February 2009 at 1:31 pm
A lot of stations have already switched.
____
did they ever estimate how many households are still on antenna only? Can’t be a big number.
I doubt they can estimate how many people would be affected. All is requires is a trip to Radio Shack. Whoopty doo.
justlen says:
04 February 2009 at 1:38 pm
I doubt they can estimate how many people would be affected. All is requires is a trip to Radio Shack. Whoopty doo.
Does this qualify Congress as representatives of the people? Seems rather mundane stuff and if the MSM thinks this is newsworthy then we’re really in trouble. What happened to the stimulus package?
This is the joke of the day:
California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produce Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic.
It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night.
The new wine will be marketed as
PINO MORE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Jane, the Senate is debating amendments to the stimulus package as we speak. Right now repugs are loading up with as many amendments as they can, and around 5pm the senate will start voting on them.
Jane Austen says:
04 February 2009 at 1:43 pm
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
love it! passing it on
Who’s on new thread watch?
angels81 says:
04 February 2009 at 1:46 pm
Jane, the Senate is debating amendments to the stimulus package as we speak. Right now repugs are loading up with as many amendments as they can, and around 5pm the senate will start voting on them.
Are the amendments geared toward business or the middle class? I’m in the middle of watching Baby Mozart with the little guy.
Taylor should love this:
Russia says it wants to help US in Afghanistan
“full-fledged” cooperation with Washington.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090204/ap_on_re_eu/as_kyrgyzstan_us_base
One statement Cheney made that rang “true” in my gut. The GITMO prisoners left are, indeed, the hardcore.
I presume Obama “gets” this. And where to put them is the issue.
They will do damage if let out, and that would absolutely destroy him, politically and historically.
He’ll be the idiot that let the rat out.
I just can’t see him as being that stupid.
I might agree with most of this post but to blame Bush for the 9/11 attacks is not right. We had been attacked 5 different times by al queda with no retaliation in the 90’s. That was one thing I didn’t like about Clinton. He did nothing to try and disrupt this organization. The reason I believe it was more Clinton’s fault is because of Sandy Berger. You know the guy that stole TOP SECRET information from the National Archives. What did he take? Why did he destroy these documents? This was right before the 9/11 commission. Whatever he took must have been very damning to that adminstration OR why else would he have taken them??? That’s my take on it.
I can’t see why anyone cares about a post-election interview, other than they really secretly worry Cheney is right.
He’s entitled to his opinion.
His opinion is consistent with his choices as VP, so the only reason I can see for the reaction is that people hate it that he really is consistent.
And that’s illogical.