Cheney To Rahm: "Keep Your VP Under Control"

CNN reports on a private meeting organized by White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, where 13 of his predecessors offered future Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel some bipartisan advice.

Vice President Dick Cheney had some blunt -- and humorous -- advice for incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel at a private breakfast earlier this month, CNN has learned.

"The best thing you can do is keep your VP under control," Cheney told Emanuel, according to three sources familiar with the White House meeting that had previously not been disclosed publicly.

One of the sources, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the private meeting, said the room broke up in laughter because of Cheney's reputation for being a hard-charging vice president.

Politico gives the full list of attendees: Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld (Ford), Jack Watson (Carter), Howard Baker and Kenneth Duberstein (Reagan) John Sununu and Samuel Skinner (Bush 41), Mack McLarty, Leon Panetta, Erskine Bowles and John Podesta (Clinton) and Andy Card and Bolten (Bush).

Emanuel got tips on how to preserve his family life; was urged to keep in mind that the most important word in his title is "staff"; pushed to hire only the best and then give them Sundays off when possible; and reminded to be candid with the president (something, one former top aide said, would not be a problem with the outspoken and sometimes-profane Emanuel)

He might have been a former top aide himself in the Clinton administration, but Emanuel took "copious notes" the whole time, one participant recalled.

"There was a lot of camaraderie," recalled Emanuel. "This is a shared experience of just about a dozen people, and it was touching that Josh pulled it together and that so many could attend and wish me luck."

Comments

[kimleehan]

You know that is actually great advice but look were its coming from a V.P. who admitted to authorizing torture, Who minipalated the evidence just to go to a unnecessary war, Gave Halliburton no bed contracts just to raise the price of his shares of stock in that company, Someone who outted a American C.I.A. agent. Now here is a guy that should know what he's talking about when he says the V.P. should be kept under control. The thing is Biden is not like Cheney and Obama's not like Bush thank god.

[NotFooledByDistractions]

Why would anyone with two live brain cells place any credence in anything that Cheney has to say? The only words Americans want to here from Cheney are goodbye, I'm leaving the white house now.

[Eastexgal]

Don't forget "guilty" if we ever get lucky enough to see him standing in front of a judge.

[swellsoire]

Unfortunately, that will never happen. Dubya will issue a blanket pardon for Cheney ,as well as, issuing pardons for most members of the current administration. I hate it!

[1099]

Get s sense of humor and quit being so over sensitive.

[Aroura]

If there is anyone less popular and more feared than Bush, it's Cheney (by many Americans). Bush at least has the excuse of not being overly bright, Cheney on the other hand is clearly very clever. Both his actions and intentions are downright terrifying for many of us.

Try and look at it from a perspective other than you own, and undertand how scarey a man who controls the white house from behind the scenes really is.

[Roafer]

Cheney is not and never has been funny. Humor? I don't think so.

[roshni]

Nothing funny about a recession and dead people.

[loonwalk]

Yet another PeeWee ("I know you are but what am I?") moment for the RNC to build on. c r a z y

[Belisarius]

Cheyney's advice is like a wino on the street telling you to drink in moderation.

Uh, thanks for the advice. Please don't get too close, your odor is a little rank.

[Maezeppa]

That's actually funny in a horrifying, macabre way.

[brynn6]

A line you might expect in film noir.

[Hank10303]

WELL IF ANYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OVER BEARING VICE PRESIDENTS­....

[ChaiKat]

Yeah, because only Cheny can be the only @ss-wipe controlling VP in the White House.

[mocha59]

I'm not laughing.

[ebanks84]

Me neither.

[provgrays]

Genocide, a trashed Constitution and a broken economy is a million laughs, isn't it?

[CheneysACoward]

Nothing this coward can say is funny.

[ebanks84]

Amen.

[walleymr]

Walt to Cheney: "Go @#$% yourself!"

See, I even quote you!

[Obama4change]

Rahm may be qualified to be Chief of Staff, but as a professional he needs to learn to stop cursing so much. I wonder if he does it in front of his children. I wonder if he talks like that in front of the Obamas and their girls? I find this type of language very offensive.

[Mike4Obama]

Yeah, I'm sure Rahm drops the F bomb in front of the Obama's at dinner.

Here's the thing. If you heard it on the MSM, it's most likely exaggerated beyond belief.

[justoverit333]

I am sure he keeps the bad language
under wraps around his kids. no need
to worry about Rahm.

[scottowego]

I don't care what kind of language he uses. It shows he's a human being. I just want somebody who will finally be honest and effective in the White House.

[tailgateshirts]

Eh it makes a point and its his style. Cant cramp it or things wont get done! Plus.. hes made it this far hasnt he?

[ebanks84]

Nobody is complaining so he probably controls it well.

[brynn6]

Well, if he "curses" in public complain then.

[DanniD]

So is he trying to tell us that Bush's COS dropped the ball?

[BalsoSnell]

Again, for the irony-impa­ired... Cheney tells Rahm to keep HIS veep under control. From the most out-of-control VP in our nation's history...

[roshni]

That's the part Cheney thought was funny too.
I'm splitting my sides laughing at the invasion of Iraq, torture, Halliburton and the rest of Cheney's legacy.

[gladys46]

Mr. T or ture himself !!!

[Ldyandrea]

Within the context of the meeting (i.e. everyone breaking up laughing) it sounds as though he was actually making fun of himself, not Biden.

[ebanks84]

EXACTLY!

[roshni]

No, he was gloating about what he has gotten away with and flipping us off.

[naeldwyck]

Yeah, I see the irony, I just don't see how it is funny.

[latoussaint]

Agreed! Too bad criminal Cheney didn't control himself over the past 8 years. Outlandish statement as Rahm's temper and out-of-control profanity. Hopefully Biden will be able to control Rahm. Maybe they should make a "time out, padded room" in the White House for his temper tantrums!

[brynn6]

Since we have yet to hear any profanity from him, it's a bit early to brand him out-of-control isn't it? Haven't seen any temper tantrums either. Why are you trying to paint him as a two-year old?

[donttasemebro]

Wow. Who knew Darth had such a great sense of humor.