Dick Cheney on CNN: Please, Keep It Up

It's becoming increasingly clear that former vice president Dick Cheney is functioning as the most prominent voice of the retrograde right. Forget Rush Limbaugh. This is far better. President Obama should thank his stars every time Cheney emerges from whatever hidden lair he's now lurking in to growl about how Bush did everything right. Who could ask for a better reminder of the ineptitude, incompetence, and iniquities of the Bush era?

On CNN's State of the Union show, Cheney claimed that it was "absolutely essential" to torture and besmirch American values -- oh, wait, I forgot. Cheney's claiming that those policies were the only way to uphold the safety of America. And he said that he and Bush did a splendid job reviving the economy. "Stuff happens," he snorted.

Indeed it does. A lot of stuff happened during the Bush years -- the unprovoked invasion of Iraq, the bungling of Afghanistan, and the collapse of the economy. Then again, a lot of stuff didn't happen. No response to Hurricane Katrina. No oversight of contractors in Iraq. No plan, for that matter, for the aftermath in Iraq. So what didn't happen was as significant as what did.
Bush has wisely kept out of the public eye. The more people forget about him, the better off his long-term reputation will be. The best he can hope for is oblivion.

But Cheney's offering a useful reminder of what he and Bush left as a legacy for Obama. Every night Obama should include Cheney in his prayers and say "Keep it up, Dick."

Comments

[GregorZap]

He leaves office and now he doe sinterviews? Yeah, thanks for reminding us where who got us into this mess. All of a sudden the economy does have a brighter future then it did when Cheney was in power. He's not. That was the choice the American people made, to get rid of him and his kind. Now will the MSM admit that and give us people who can make a difference instead of this cranky loud-mouthed spectator.

Cheney is a wimp. He avoided the Vietnam war, he can't admit his daughter is a lesbian. He can't leave a political party whose base abhors lesbians. He can't watch any TV that objects to his way of thinking and he avoids the tough questions. Even when he comes out of his rat hole, he's still hiding. What a wimp.

[Treehouse]

I think we should let all the ""mean people" in Guatanimo go to whatever country will have them. They are draining our resources. Free food and clean warm beds every night. We can't afford this! What are we thinking. France... Italy... Iceland...anyone ... any takers???

[cyclobenzaprine9]

"And he said that he and Bush did a splendid job reviving the economy."

This is hilarious! So, I guess turning the entire the country upside down like a big bully and shaking it for money until every last penny falls out and is handed over to the ultra-rich 1% with no strings attached while millions of Americans lose their homes, lose their jobs, and lose their sanity, is considered by Cheney and his other twisted far-right neocon wrecking balls to be a "splendid job."

[dianhow]

Arianna, Please use any ' pull 'you have to ask CNN why John KIng did such a limp wristed soft interview with Cheney. No tough questions or follow ups. Makes me so mad. No mention of how the Reagan / Bush / policies of deregulation of Wall ST / banks - caused this meltdown. It could not have happened without those policies in place. SInce Reagan, this crisis grew slowly like a hidden cancer- finally exploding in Fall of 2008. We demand to know why Bush's man- Hank Paulson gave 700 Billion-to banks without ANY rules or safe guards for taxpayers !

[notleftnotright]

Where is Sam Donaldson when you need him?

[ObamanextPresident]

I was so sick.ened during the interview. John K.ing sat there with a smile on his face and a big h.ard-on in his pants as he lobbed the softballs to the most e.vil man in our recent history. Also, did anyone notice K.ing's plug for, and admission that he reads,...'Hu.man Events'. Does K.ing balance that tripe with a reading of Huf.fington Post. No, I didn't think so.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

I'm so glad you mentioned that newspaper. I couldn't remember the name... but King almost ' gleefully ' said he follows the paper. Basically endorsing it and it's opinions. And he knew Ch.eney followed it... so He is saying he agrees with Che..ney is some respect.

[VJ2008]

I agree completely. Two minutes in and I turned off the t.v. I couldn't believe John King. He wouldn't call Cheney out on any of his C.R.A.P. I am convinced that CNN has become right-wing. Not too smart in my opinion, but perhaps they think they can 'pretend' to present both sides of an issue, and that enough people will still buy it.

[dianhow]

I had to turn it off-I got so mad at CNN 's John KIng. What's the matter with him-
such a fluff interview.. Really sickening.

[mozeovr]

Cheney, et al do not and never have sought venues or interviews where they may or will face questions of substance or be challenged in any way. Which is why John King needs to stop pretending he's a serious fact-finding, journalistic sort. And CNN needs to keep that in mind too. In an effort to appear a "fair and balanced" news organ, they forget that fair and balanced really means presenting facts, seeking truth, and in so doing asking tough questions and digging for background.

[mcleve]

i totally agree. CNN exposed itself as the messenger for the corporate elite. to give Cheney a platform without questioning any of his revisionist statements was shameful. John King should be fired, CNN should not be taken seriously as legitimate journalism. shameful.

[MThomasNC]

On Sunday, March 8, only Obama's budget director was on the Sunday talk shows along w a ton of rabid right wingers, and MSM outlets picked up repubs talking points all week, except JonStewart stole the week from them.
This past Sunday, Obama's team was on each of the shows. This is good. The team gotta get Obama's message out there and not let the repubs distort what he's doing.
With them bringing out Cheney, they are desperate and desperately trying to protect their legacy. For me, it's too early for them to be out there, but MSM can not miss opportunties to 'kiss their rings'.

[demomntgirl]

Do a count....of how many GOPr's have been on CNN since the innaugeration.
And then while Bushie was destroying our nation in every possible way he could!

You can't count the "pentagon plants' before and during the war though....
the MSM didn't know who they were and what they were doing.
They just all happened to be "hired" at the same time...
by different media outlets!!
uh huh!
King is a plant....taking up space...and sucking up air...while getting the talking points out.
CNN...the news you can't believe in!

But...anyway...
back to Cheney.

Dick...Dic­k...Dick!!­!

that's all I have to say.

[dianhow]

Yes he is ' Dick ' But why does CNN give him air time to lie & misinform 7 revise history ?
Shame on John King & CNN
What a wuss !!

[Scoppertop]

The good guys do all the work, the bad guys talk trash on TV.

[vstar]

Yep Obama is a true champion. He will just steadfastly put one foot in front other and get things done. I send prayers up for his protection almost everyday. Love him so much.

[IllinoisTexan43]

This man has been in bunker mode for 8 years with nary a word spoken and NOW is on his 3rd or 4th interview? Hoping against hope for another attack? Words can't describe the loa thing I have for this sorry human. As my grandma said "Let God take care of people like that."

[logic63]

Oh yes, country first.

[BrickSykes]

Honest...I want Somebody to start a bona fide accounting of the Bushy/Cheney Eight Years and tabulate just WHO ended up with all that US Taxpayer Money!!

Somebody knows how to do that...If not 'Real' names, at least the general direction it went in. WE'VE GOT TO KNOW!! And its NOT the 'Inquiring Minds' that want to know, either. Every American Taxpayer DESERVES TO KNOW!

Brick

[thismachinekillsfascists]

Obviously right into Dick and friends' pockets!

[2008CaliforniaFan]

The days of 'Woodward & Bernstein' appear to be gone forever. All the MSM news wants is a cute 30 second sound bite for 1 hour at a time. They investigate nothing nowadays.
I can't think of an 'investigative reporter ' in the bunch.

They seem obsessed with the first 100 days....which is just the first 50 so far.

I want to see someone put together Bush's ' First 50 days '... to see what He accomplished. Put the records side-by-side... so all these detractors would have no talking points instead of spouting nonsense.

[mtdem4ever]

To complain about CNN's apparent bias to the right: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/

Please write them and express your disappointment and outrage.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

That link is the only way they will ' let you ' reach them. I called on the phone to get a name of someone in charge or a phone number, they said, post a comment online. They don't want to have critisizm or get called on their News reporting.
Their other option was send a letter to Atlanta, Attn: Programming. No telling who opens or reads those letters... or where they go.

I used to email Lou Dobbs about 3 times a week... now I just have to turn it off.
Lou needs to be on Faux. He ruins their reputation... if they have any left.

[skantea]

It's not a government agency, they don't have to be fair.
and since they spotted you as a non-fan you were immediately expendable.
They'll probably answer if you start out asking to "thank someone directly for their wonderful work".

[trisha08]

Cheney saying, "Don't blame me" is like a wolf in the chicken coop saying, I don't know how all those chickens died. Don't blame me. Ughhhh, the wolf (cough-Bush, cough-Cheney) were in the chicken coop for 8 years and they want to blame everyone else for the mess that we are in now.

[zest]

The Republicans put these people on tv because they are the only people they've got; thankfully they are just on tv and no longer governing.