American Morning
Frum: Cheney should not be criticizing Obama
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/05/12/intv.frum.gop.art.jpg caption= "David Frum says the GOP's strength lies with actual governance and achievement at the state level."]
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh is now standing up for former Vice President Dick Cheney after Cheney took aim at the White House, Democrats and even Colin Powell. Powell suggested that Republicans need to move toward the political center to survive and Cheney took a shot questioning whether Powell was even a Republican anymore.
Limbaugh commented on the matter, saying “What motivates Dick Cheney? Love of country. National interest. He doesn't need this abuse. He's the lone voice. But if we're going to moderate and try to make ourselves look like we're on the same page as Obama, well, he is going to get all the credit for all the good and we’re going to all the blame for all the bad and there is going to be no reason to ever vote for Republicans.”
David Frum is a conservative columnist and editor of newmajority.com and was a speechwriter for former President George W. Bush. He spoke to Kiran Chetry on CNN’s “American Morning” Tuesday.
Kiran Chetry: How troubling is it when you have two very polarizing figures like Rush Limbaugh and former Vice President Dick Cheney taking up a lot of air time for the Republican Party? As a Republican, does that concern you?
David Frum: Look, Dick Cheney is a great man and one of the most effective and knowledgeable people in the Bush administration and all of Washington. The country owes him a great deal. But this kind of dispute reminds me of those t-shirts you sometimes see at boot camps and things like that... the beatings will continue until morale improves. The firings from the Republican Party will continue until the party gets bigger. I don't think what we need is a fight between Dick Cheney and Colin Powell.
A Republican Party that’s not big enough to include Colin Powell – well that’s not a very big party… Many people inside Washington think of Colin Powell as a figure who’s about domestic politics. But in the eyes of America he is the general who won the only unequivocal victory this country has seen in any war since World War II. So if you want to say we don't have room for him, well we have room for all the generals for the losing wars we don’t have room for the generals from the winning wars and I don't think that's a very appealing message.
Chetry: You said Dick Cheney is a great man. And we’re not questioning that. The problem is he is wildly unpopular with the general public. I think he has a 19% favorability rating. Even among the GOP I think it’s something around 50%. When he takes shots at someone like Colin Powell, he said I'm questioning whether or not he is even a Republican, how does that help the GOP brand?
Frum: Well look, we've got a breakdown here in some of the conventions and etiquette of one administration to another. I don’t think most people understand this. The U.S. government isn't very good at preserving a memory between one administration and another. You have to get on the phone sometimes. The new president has to call the old president and the new vice president has to call the old one. If you are shooting at each other, it makes it impossible for that kind of conversation to happen. And the country loses.
At the same time you have the Obama administration talking about prosecuting people from the Bush administration for actions done in the course of their public duties and that is unprecedented, too. I think we all need a drink of cold water. And we need to understand the old president and the old vice president should not be criticizing the new administration. And the new administration should not be threatening to prosecute the old administration.
Chetry: On his radio program yesterday, Limbaugh said the GOP needs to show a strong contrast to not look like Democrats. What is your response to that? You have to stake out some sort of ground that is not necessarily we agree, but here are the slight places we disagree with the president?
Frum: Well, he is right on the principle. A party wants to draw a contrast between itself and the other party. Sharpen the choice. You want to do it in a way that puts the larger share of public opinion on your side and the smaller share on the side of the party you're fighting. Rush Limbaugh seems bent on determining the opposite. There are only about 1 out of 5 Americans who strongly disapprove of the job President Obama is doing.
There’s a larger group who have some anxieties and doubts about it. You need to talk to them. You need to talk to not just your core 20% but to that bigger group in order to get to 51. About a third of the country describes itself as conservative. That would be a great base for a political party in Italy. But in America, you need that 33%, plus another 18 and those are the people Republicans need to be talking to now.
Chetry: If you had your dream face right now of the people we would be talking about for the Republicans, not necessarily Rush Limbaugh and not the former vice president, who do you think you need to keep an eye on?
Frum: The Republican Party will recover from the states. That is where its strength always comes from. I'm very excited about governors, like Governor Huntsman in Utah who has some very interesting environmental ideas. He’s pro-life but open to a softer line on some of these more contentious social issues like same-sex unions. Governor Crist, in Florida, who’s accomplished one of the most important environmental achievements of any politician in America by reclaiming the Everglades from the sugar industry. Those are two exciting leaders, we have a lot of others. Governor Pawlenty. Governor Jindal I think is very promising. So that is where our rescue will come from, from actual governance, actual achievement at the state level. That is the history of the party.
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As a Canadian I am truly amazed that any news organization would give the time of day to any of Bush cronies...after the damage they have done to the world they should go away, shut up and hope that people have short memories..that there are still people in the USA that would vote Republican is truly scary...the only good news is that the Republican party seems to be comprised of old white men...and they should be dying off soon and the world will be rid of them...The entire world looks to the US for leadership...hopefully Obama can provide it...so far he looks better than Bush ever did...
I find it most disturbing when a reporter (David Frum) takes it upon himself to pass judgenment and deny anyone the freedom of speech, especially when the speaker is voicing an opinion that is neither slanderous nor hateful.
Yes Cheney's patriotism has been shown. Let's see...he destroyed american respect, abused and disrespected the power balance of the 3 branches of government, helped hurled us into economic ruin, and took our constitution and ripped it to shreds with his actions. And that's just off the top of my head. You know who keeps him talking? The media that pays attention to it. It's pretty easy to make him go away and you guys have the power to do it. Stop reporting it.
Jerad says ... "If the Republicans want to have a chance in the next elections they need to shut up the closed minded, ultra-right wing people in their party. Nobody wants to hear this stuff anymore"
So I guess the republicans need to shut up their ultra-right wing people, but Democrats can host "Move On.org" and Daily-Kos conventions, invite them up to Washington and give them a microphone, hold mock Bush impeachments, and write in their daily blogs ... and thats OK?
How often is an elected official with a "D" posting in the Huffington Post.
Double standards are the standard of the Democrat party. They are just not exposed because the media is in the bag for them.
Sickening.
Actually, I hope that Cheney continues to shoot his mouth off and hope that Limbaugh, Hannity, and the stooges at Faux News continue to voice their support of their for him. I can't think of a better way to keep the GOP in a box under the bed where it belongs.
I just want to comment on some comments made by several people about CNN. I always watch them because I have found their news coverage to be very thorough and they always include both sides if possible, but, sometimes the other side doesn't want to come on. Quit blaming CNN for the republican woes(altho' that is usually the republican way..not to take responsibility). If you want to go after liars and spinners in the media-try FOX news. They are disgusting!!!!!!!
anyone who would listen to the spineless Rush Limbaugh and the gutless Dick Cheney. Havent these kinds of people done enough damage to this country? Why isnt both Rush and Dick not sitting in jail? Dick should be in prison for treason and Rush in jail for being a habitual pill popper that buys oxy`s by the thousands! Whats wrong with society to put me in jail for smoking a joint but this no good for nothing pill junkie can walk scott free and run his suck about things he absolutely has no idea about much less talking about!
Funny how Cheney always talk about how safe they kept America since 9/11 but the reality is 3,000 people died on Geroges watch in NYC – that is a part of his legacy. Then another 4,300 have died in Iraq a war of choice that had nothing to do with 9/11. Thats over 7,300 Americans that died on the Bush/Cheney experiment that went bad. Grade A losers at best.
I'd be much more inclined to accommodate Mr. Frum's recommendation had former Presidents Carter and Clinton and former VPs Mondale and Gore kept their traps shut during the Bush administration years.
Funny...I seem to recall liberals demanding that dissent be accorded respect. How's it feel with the shoe on the other foot, kids?
I feel like I am taking crazy pills! It may or may not be appropriate for an ex-VP to criticize the current administration... but whether or not that is the case here, the conclusion in this instance is NULL and VOID! Obama and his administration has openly been critical, while in office, of the Bush administration. It's completely absurd, illogical, and irresponsible to think that Cheney can't defend the Bush administration. They are on the verge of having some of their ex-staff members indicted on criminal charges!
Dick Cheney is only out there to defend what his perverted mind sees as his great legacy-torture, secrecy, lies, war profiteering, and the destruction of our economy. It is such a shame that now, out of fear and hatred, he has actually convinced some Americans that torture is ok. If, we dont' set the record straight and prosecute them, torture will soon becoming to a neighborhood near you. How far behind will the police departments be, when they realize torture is ok, if it gets them get the information they need to arrest someone? All those that were involved in the decision to torture need to be prosecuted. Then we can get back to being real Americans and Dick Cheny and the torture supporters will shut up and go to prison.
Point of view...interesting, well, point of view. Its amazing how republican supporters always try and throw the blame back on the democrats or the media (there is a massive difference, just ask Fox news!!!!). The democrats were silenced the past 8 years by the republicans and their massive fear mongering and distortion of the truth. Truly shameful. The reason why the GOP is going down the d.r.a.i.n is simple, the amount of information now available to the population allows its citizens to make informed decisions based on teh FACTS and not the b.s that gets thrown at them. That means the GOP can't rely on dishonest tactics anymore. And just to add before you say I'm a democrat...i'm not.
I have family and friends in Iraq. They tell me about the horror that goes on over there and the evil that our young men and women do to those people. When those new pictures come out, your going to see just how sick and twisted people can be. When my 30 year old friend bragged about beating someone to death, it instantly ended our friendship. He doesn't know what he did wrong either.
Cheney and Bush had very difficult jobs and they served our country with honor and distinction. Can't blame the economy on them – it was greedy Americans and dishonest bankers; can't blame the outcome of the Iraq war on them – it was faulty intelligence and the urge to prevent another 9/11; what matters most is the safety of America. I don't care how we are portrayed by our allies (France, Germany, etc.). It was mostly the left/liberal media who manipulated the news to cast Bush/Cheney as horrible leaders. As an American, it hurts that these men are called "terrorists" by the citizens of nations who aid from the US – not to mention the ilks like Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, etc......
The lack of truth in media is the core problem.
Cheney has to attack Obama so that he can claim it's a political tit-for-tat when more news comes out that we tortured suspects to gin up support for the fraudulent war in Iraq.
Cheney's hoping that the average American can't tell the difference between a war crimes truth commission and the politicized Clinton/Lewinsky affair. Cheney is wrong – most Americans (the 21% that make up the GOP base, aside) can clearly see the difference.
It's a hail mary, but it's all Cheney's got left.
Frankly, I am apauled at the behavior of Cheney and Limbaugh. These people are not roles models for our young people. We never heard Clinton and/or Gore taking shots and Bush/Cheney did we? And the reason was that they were civilized gentleman who knew this is divisive and not good for the country. So, please stop the petty arguing and above all leave our new president and vice-president alone. They have enough on their minds cleaning up the mess left by the last administration.
And, as for Colin Powell, he is a great America, so leave me alone, as well.
Looks like we have a lot of angry people that have forgotten 9/11. I don't think that Bush planned that before he was voted into office. Of course, most people will not volunteer that they voted for Bush twice.
Cheny hid behind closed doors for 7 years and now he wants to be on center stag. What a joke this is and Rush is no better. Rush proclaims to be such a christian and yet every time he opens his mouth his spews out garbage. Cheny and Bush should be tried for war crimes and imprisoned, and before being sent to prison, they should be water boarded first. Maybe they would be signing a diiferent tune.
It's funny how we were attacked on Bushes Watch and you think he kept us safe. We are only safer now because Americans are watching out for Americans and are no longer depending on the Government to do it. BUSH FAILED TO KEEP US SAFE! HE WAS IN CHARGE WHEN WE WERE ATTACKED!!!
EVEN AFTER THAT HE SPENT AN ESTIMATED TOTAL (after calculating his days on vacation if they were taken consecutively.) 3 YEARS out of 8!
We were attacked 8 months into his administration which should have been enough time for GREAT BUSH to Prevent 9/11.
Cheney's arrogance helped divide this country and now he's using those same skills to help divide his party. If "True Republicans" want to party like it's 1989, that's their choice. The world I live in looks a lot different and I want a leader who has visited the 21st century.
It is a compliment to be criticized by dead eye Dick and Hillbilly Heroin Rush. They are what is wrong with our society rather than what is right.
Steve,,,,,, What have you been smoking?????
What does it matter? Whatever a conservative says is wrong, but when a liberal says it: "patriotic." Pathetic. Speaking your mind only matters to the media if you are a liberal. I can read one thing on Fox News and then see NOTHING even mentioned about it elsewhere. I do not get my news from one source, but when Wanda Sykes can wish death on a person and people view it as funny but a sports commentator cannot do the same to a liberal there is a double standard. I vote because it is my right, but that doesn't mean that I have to just believe what is told me because the other half of the United States voted the other way. Where did our freedom of speech go? Wishing death on a person shouldn't be seen as appropriate no matter what side you are on.
It must be said ... we've heard more from Mr. Cheney since January than we heard from him during his entire time in office! Why are we even listening to him at this point?! He's old news.
The entire world breathed a sigh of relief with a new administration; no longer ruled by criminals. I understand that it must be hard to go from being a megalomaniac sociopath ruling the United States, to a has-been, but haven't we suffered enough?
Somebody needs to speak up, most of the media won't since all but one or two of them are nothing more than a propaganda arm for the administration. I kinda remember another time when the media was controlled by the powers in charge, this time they sold out voluntarily. So it looks like Dick Cheney is filling that void.
there are very few completely evil and amoral people out there and Dick Cheney is one of them...and who does this columnist guy think he is...supporting Rush Limbaugh? what an idiot...this just proves that republicans have flying around on cloud 9 for a bit too long...and knowing Rush he probably brought some pills to help them out
More power to the likes of Cheney and Limbaugh. I hope they continue to undermine the efforts to reform the GOP into an electable party. Obama is already grateful to these people. And he will have to send Cheney & Limbaugh a thank you card after his reelection in 2012.
Why shouldn't it be okay for Cheny to criticize Obama? Is he above reproach? We have had too many years of fiscal irresponsibility by both sides of the aisle and that is why we are in the mess we are in. Not because "Bush did" and "Obama didn't" or vice-versa. I never hear anyone mention William Jefferson Clinton, but some of this mess can be attributed to him.
Cheney cannot stand not being in the spotlight and no longer in office. He tries to sell his torture and fear tactics to gain control of the people.
Had he and Bush been looking out we would have never been attacked to begin with and they proved they could have cared less since they lied and said we had to go to Iraq and the heck with the fact we had thousand die. Lies fear and torture.
Why is our government tolerating this man and his behavior.
Is Cheney out of prison already? If you took a worldwide pole as to who the least favorite people on Earth are, Cheney would be in the top 2. Why would a news organization dedicated to "news" even bother covering what Cheney has to say? People like him will have to spend the rest of their lives in gated communities while the rest of us get to walk around freely.
Funny how Rush and Dick love their country so much, but neither was willing to fight for it. Dick took every possible deferment to get out of serving in Vietnam and told George C. Wilson of the Washington Post, "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service." Rush used a private doctor"s excuse (he did not get examined by a military doctor) noting a "pilonidal cyst" on his arse. These are the war mongers, I mean yellow bellies of the Republican party. They are not fit to shine Colin Powell's boots.
if we’re going to moderate and try to make ourselves look like we’re on the same page as Obama, well, he is going to get all the credit for all the good and we’re going to all the blame for all the bad and there is going to be no reason to ever vote for Republicans.”
shouldnt everyone, not just republicans or democrats really be more concerned with simply setting things right in our country rather than who gets credit for it? this is precisely what is wrong with our govt, and i hate to say it, particularly the republicans.
if someone breaks the law, they should be prosecuted. it shouldn't matter if they were running the country or not. we captured sadam hussein and he was put to trial. if cheney broke the law, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. and the same can be said for the generals and whoever else authorized torture.
Perhaps if the Obama administration and their mouthpieces were not constantly vilifying the previous administration (against normal protocol), the previous administration would see no need to respond. Funny how that works. Once in office, how many times did Reagan publicly blame Carter for the mess that he inherited? How many times did he even mention the previous administration. Uhhh...none to my knowledge. You libs can take that as a challenge to find a statement from him post-election. Did Bush blame Clinton policies for the recession he inherited....nope. Obama's words are simply coming back to roost. Too bad.
Hard to figure out which of these two is the national spokesperson for the Republican party. Maybe they both share that role. How sad.
If 0bama can consistently blame Bush/Cheney for all of his woes, why should people from previous administration hold their tongues and not defend themselves? 0bama's regular "I inherited this" line is getting old.
pointofview
Did you read the article at all? I read about a conservative with a working brain in his head speaking sense! We all loose out when Cheney acts like he does, republican, democrat, independant.
"There are only about 1 out of 5 Americans who strongly disapprove of the job President Obama is doing."
You are one of those freightened, old dinosuars. Your political views are almost extinct!!!!!
No one is painting Bush like Cheney now. Bush has decided to help the nation not try to fill it with partisim, division and fear like Cheney.
I would take Powell over Cheney or Limbaugh anyday!!!!!!!!!!!! That least he has integity and values.
Cheney is out there now because someone is actually questioning him, which never happened for the 8 years he was in office. If anyone did try to question him, he basically declared himself and GWB kings and above being questioned. Cheney may be just a little nervous. It's not out of duty, you can bet on that. He and all of his cronies have made a ton of money from the Iraq and Afghanistan "wars on terror."
Cheney took this country down a road we should never had entered and that is the "torture road". I am a retired veteran of 40 years service to this country, it is my love, it is my passion. What Cheney did was to slap the face of all veterans, past, present and future. We have to hold the higher moral ground, always, completely. He did not and that is terrible for all of us. He has no right to even open his mouth.
It appears to me that Colin Powell is by far the most level headed republican out there. If creating contrast between the two party's means one must alienate all moderate republicans, then the republicans have no hope. When I listen to a radio program like Rush Limbaugh I continually here how far to the left Obama has pushed the Dems. If that is the case, isnt a moderate republican a contrast with this far left Democratic party?
In my opinion, people like Rush Limbaugh cost the republicans the election. Cheney will be remembered in infamy, and hopefully republicans and democrats will just ignore these ultra conservative voices attempting to divide congress. We need a congress that works together. And by working together I do not mean we should let the democrats call all of the shots. We need our two party system to make compromises with each other, not expect all or nothing.
Jerry
I do not understand how Cheney can say his administration kept us safe, when 9/11 happened on their watch, the worst disaster in the US since Pearl Harbor. He is an opportunist and is talking now to protect his hind quarter. He is trying to make up for eight years of classical failure in all aspects of the administration. He should shut up and go away and hope he is not prosecuted for allowing and encouraging torture which in turn violated the Geneva convention and made the US no better than Al Quada in the eyes of the world. Even though Cheney does not care what the rest of the world thinks, our reputation does matter if we want to continue to be a world leader. This worthless little man should just go back to Wyoming and become bear meat.
LOL, the only sane Republican left in the party is a Canadian. Figures.
Listen, it was just fine when Carter and Clinton openly criticized President Bush and his administration, so why is it wrong for Dick Cheney to criticize Obama and his!?!
May both sides should just shut up!
the only thing this country owes Dick Chaney is a jail sentence. He should long ago have been brought up on charges of conspiracy. Without bids, his company Halliburton, was given the contract to rebuild Iraq. He's a bad joke.
Should not criticize? Is this not the US of A? Cheney's silence in exchange for not prosecuting him for defending our country against a known threat? The criticism points out problems that could lead to crises, Obama's favorite term. I do not believe this is the time for anyone to be silent, in light of the changes Obama discussed and promised during his campaigns before and after the election. No one should resolve to resign to poll results, given their nature of selective statistics. Please consider Obama's promise of a civilian military force to rise from the enforcement arm of Americorps, and his announcement last month to triple the membership of Americorps. I don't care which party you are, or who you voted for, silence equals death.
I think Dick Cheney is one of the most accomplished people to ever serve in Washington. I wish he had run for President in 2008. He would have had my vote for sure.
He is a great man and his opinions should be listened to by all. Republican, Democrat, Independent, etc.
Cheney has every right to disagree to any negative comment about President Bush and his administration. He as a citizen can voice his opinion and disagree with the way our country is being ran. The left did it all the time the last 8 years. I feel that the Republican party is struggling right now and really it was to the benefit of the left that MaCain was running against Obama because if Romeny was running he would have chewed Obama up on the ecomony and foreign policy. We are spiraling down as a country and our great correspondents don't want to admit that Obama and his cohorts are as crooked as it get. They lie and attack anyone that goes against them. That is way I am looking to move to another country until we get a government that speaks for the majority and not the Left minority.
Cheney needs to keep his opinion to himself. No point in continuing to polorize the country. They showed what they can do and look where we are. I say "zip it," the voters have spoken.
Yet another reason why I can no longer identify with the republican party.
"pointofview" - Enough with the bashing of the media, CNN, and democrats.... This interview was with "conservative columnist and editor of newmajority.com," David Frum. This wasn't CNN interviewing a liberal wacko or something... This is someone in the Republican party!
This country is in a whole lot of hurt right now and things are even going to get worse once the Obama administration is finished with their liquidation of the American automobile industry later this summer. Mr. Cheney should be more concerned about helping our entire country out rather than his legacy as President of the United States.
War criminal. Put a rope around his neck like they did that other guy. America will be better off for it.
He keeps spouting about how Bush kept us safe AFTER the 9/11 attacks. If anyone in that administration had bothered to read the August security bulletins, there might not have been any attacks at all.
Cheney is a small man. We owe him a shiny new pair of handcuffs and a one way ticket to The Hague. I really don't care what he says, the harder he tries to convince us, he did the right thing, the more apparent it becomes that he's trying to hide something.
If the obama administration would put a clamp on it then Vice President Cheney would be happy to zip it.
Comments from people like Limbaugh and Cheney only hurt the GOP cause because it reminds people why Republicans have fallen out of favor. Most people do not subscribe to ultra-conservative ideology (i.e., hate, intolerance, etc), yet the biggest voices in the GOP espouse this unpopular view. Why would anyone outside of a wealthy, white, male want anything to do with the GOP? People like Cheney are so bent on holding onto the past that they fail to see that more and more people are leaving the party as a result. You simply can't remain static in your thinking as the world evolves. Clinging to very narrow, unpopular viewpoints will just kill the party. As a Democrat, I'm delighted.
Frum was a speech writer for the Bush administration and yet Republicans push that aside and blame CNN for bashing their party. They accuse the Democrats for being on vacation the last 8 years when no Republican is to blame for the condition of this country. When Republicans learn to point the finger at themselves instead at the Dems or the media then maybe they will re-gain some respect.
Cheney should be in prison for getting us into Iraq. He weakened the nations military, put us further in debt, and attacked the wrong country. Anybody who tells us of his "greatness" is deaf, dumb, and blind.
I didn't care what he had to say when he was the VP. He, Bush and all the rest of the Bush cronies should all be prosecuted for war crimes.
Frum has it right, whether you like Cheney or Rush is not the point, their position cannot be defended on this, the Republican party must be more inclusive if it wants to have any value and that means taking care of the moderates in the party no bashing them every chance you get. It's ridiculous as usual, personally I hope the GOP keeps up all the bickering and that Rush and Cheney remain in the spotlight (which I am sure they will considering both are too selfish and stupid to understand that they are doing more harm than good) and they can maintain their group of right wing nut jobs, I am liking the way things are.
Leave it CNN.com to make sure every thing that critisizes Bush and Cheney gets noticed and placed on the home page!!!!
I predict the culture war in America will turn into a gunfight if America does not return to its roots of conservatism. While everything is relative in politics, we as a nation have not only gone down the path of liberalism, we have all but declared war on the past. But do not worry left wingnuts, it won't be long....there is a reason the conservatives are stock piling ammo.
This is where you are wrong Frum.... The BUSH administration was nothing more than a bunch of THUGS that need to be prosecuted. We are in a war that was uncalled for. They did so many illegal things that I can't even keep track of. When is the REP. party going to pull their respective heads out and see that Cheney duked you all into believing his madness. Iraqi had NOTHING to do with 911 and all the bickering back and forth will never change that. Look at the polls of how many REP. have turned against your party because of what Bush and Cheney have done. The moral of this story is that justice should be serverd, and served serverely. I think they both should be WATERBOARDED in public!!!!!
The challenge with Cheney, whether viewed as a "great man" or not, is he was a key player in a hugely unpopular, and what some would call the worst, adminstration in the nation's history, and is completely unapologetic. He seems to think if he keeps saying the same things over and over again the public is going to change its mind. The verdict is in on the Bush adminstration, and its not pretty. Cheney's message is a losers' message – if the Republican party listens to the likes of Cheney, Rush and other hardliners, they are going to find themselves with absolutely no voice after 2010... a couple more seats switch in the Senate and the Party is over!
"the issue I have is where the democrats on a 8 year vacation?"
The Democrats weren't on a 8 year vacation, they were watching the worst administration in United States history suck the life out of this country. I will admit that they did a horrible job of trying to stop the Bush/Cheney agenda. That agenda got us to where we are today. We can only HOPE that the Obama Administration can undo 8 years of tax breaks for the super rich, a disasterous foreign policy, an even more disasterous environmental policy, and a total disregard of the United States Constitution.
It's fine for Obama to make comments about everybody else, but when Cheney say something, it is a no no.
Bull!
Blame Bush/Cheney for the country the way it is, but always remember, Clinton the dirtbag let Bin Laden go, or they may never have been a 911.
Obama, the Jerry Seinfeld wanna be. What this country REALLY needs now is a joker, and we have one!
Point,
A fair question about the Dems during the Bush administration. I railed long and loud at them trying to get them motivated. But, that doesn't change the fact that Cheney broke the rules. He outed a spy because her husband exposed the lies about the WMD in Iraq. He authorized the use of torture on enemy combatants, something even John McCain has spoken out against.
As for the last 2 years of the Bush Presidecncy and the Dem's control of Congress, you need only look at the number of Veto's that GW exercised during that time. And, quite frankly, I don't think they did that great a job anyway. And I AM a Democrat.
Ultimately, however, you can't overlook the bad and just count the good. Cheney and Bush only kept America safe by exposing hundreds of thousands of our youngest men and women to harm. Not to fight a just war, but to fight a petty one. And, we can't be sure that we ARE safe. After 9/11, we can't ever be sure again. Not even if we don't suffer an attack for another 10 years. Because one happened.
We are to blame, we chose to not hold our leaders accountable.
Now we have a new administration, who is asking us to help change the mood and the direction of the country.
No matter who is in charge, we all have a stake in this Nation.
To tear down the ideals and leadership, does no one any good.
Right now we need to all work together.
I have little respect for anyone who tells the rest of the Nation
you are unpatriotic because you are of a different party, race
or sexual orientation.
Republicans, Democrats and Liberals all need to work together.
Our nation is only as strong and as resiliant as per people.
I only ask that Limbaugh and Cheney, look at the greater harm they
are doing by being so negative.
What is that old saying, if you have nothing nice to say...
Say nothing at all.
As for the ideals of this Nation in the Global network.
I feel safer and stronger today, then I have in a very long time.
Change is coming.
Frum sounds fairly intelligent. Wonder why he is a Republican? I want Cheney to keep on acting like a deposed leader. Evil little man is getting off easy. Prison would be too good of a place to put Cheney. Let him keep digging the hole so deep that even the 'historians' he is paying to make him look "honorable" will have a difficult time with that fabrication.
Cheney can criticize whomever he likes. Is it suddenly ok for Obama to say anything about Cheney? Read the first amendment, left wing liberal media. This frustrates me.
What was Cheney doing when the Bush Administration was warned in August 2001 about the likelihood of attack by Al-Qaeda? We know Bush was pretending to be a rancher for the month of August and was busy playing politics with stem cell research policy.
Until the GOP treats people equally how can they be trusted with anything else? They seriously need to stop the social war on anyone not extremely religious, GLBT people who just want to move on with their lives like the rest of us, and pull back on the anti-abortion rhetoric. ACKNOWLEDGE other Americans have the right to disagree on these subjects and ALSO the right to follow their pursuit of happiness even if it doesn't match their personal moral beliefs. Then I can listen. Until then, when somoene you haven't met yet is known for being obnoxious and socially rude to others, do you look forward to meeting them? Would you think them trustworthy? Once the GOP removes the tarnish of hateful, divisive behavior then I'd be interested in hearing their ideas. Until then, if you act like a child you get treated like one.
It's odd that Frum thinks the GOP should draw a stark contrast between itself and the Democrats. That's not usually how US politics works. Usually, the two parties do their best to look exactly alike (when they're running against each other) and then fight the political battle entirely based on personality.
What Frum's describing is more like how politics works in his native Canada where the parties try to draw stark contrasts between them and work hard to avoid showing any personality at all.
I don't think Frum's ideas will work in US politics.
Cheney is a psychopath.
Cheney is an un-prosecuted criminal who willfully broke the laws of the United States in misguided attempts to pursue his vision of unlimited power executive power and silencing critics who disagreed with him. What the country owes him is a trip to jail.
Finally, a republican making some sense. Keep listening to this guy and maybe I'll vote republican in 2012.
Only the fringes are represented in the media. The most extreme and most ignorant of both parties. Who wants to read about someone saying something logical and reasonable, when you can print the rants of the lunatics on the fringes. That makes for much better entertainment.
What motoviates Cheney is revenge, bitterness and shame. He will lash out at anybody to protect his brused ego. The American people see right through his persona – it's so old hat. Unfortunately, there are folks that actually take Limbaugh to heart – he's just an entertainer and a slave to ratings and his megabucks income – how else is he to keep his jet running and consuming all those pain killers?
Cheney is just trying to make Dems look bad. He should shut up. Nobody cares what he has to say. You're not the VP anymore!
The problem here is that Chetry and others keep ignoring that Cheney and Bush committed war crimes, drove our economy into a swamp by spending more than any other admistration in history, and through their incredibly stupidity, lost America's position in the world as a leader, and turned us into the bully on the block.
Those that whine about Cheney and Bush being "bashed" need to get a grip. The MAJORITY of Americans (about 80 percent) believe that these two idiots, and their staff are NOT great men, but in fact are the reason we are where we are today. The Republicans whined for years that if they could get control of the government, they'd make things better. They had control of the presidency for 8 years. They had control of Congress for 6 years. What did we get? Chaos. by creating fear and divisiveness, they promoted their own sick agendas, and pandered to the very wealthy. It couldn't be more rediculous. And Cheney, the great man, can't even keep his mouth shut. He is admitting to things that will get him convicted. It does not matter that he thinks his activities were OK. They were and are war crimes.
Bash Republicans? As a former Republican, tell me where to do the bashing. I'm ready.
I totally disagree. If Obama released all of the records and did not politicize this the Cheney should shut up. But since Obama is playing politics Cheney should scream from the mountain tops.
I resent that Obama is saying my Country is a torturer. If that is true please get the justice department to investigate and prosecute (including the President). Quit playing politics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama, release the documents that show the whole story. I thought you were going to e the President of all the people?
How long has Cheney been senile? Was it the entire time he was president? Oh wait...he was the VICE president. I forgot and so does he.
Cheney's not a "great man," he's a power-hungry freak who sold out the best interests of this nation to Halliburton, KBR, and the rest of the war profiteers while lying us into an unwinnable war where we've killed tens of thousands of innocent poeople. Where's the "great" in that? All he does now is bash true patriots like Powell while trying to defend his gleeful use of torture. What a "great" American.
Bush and Cheney WERE the problem for 8 years. Let's not pretend otherwise. And there is a HUGE difference between "the media" and the Democrats. Just ask FOX news. When will conservatives ever wake up? Do you Republicans really want Rush Limbaugh and Cheney to be calling the shots for you? Are you really that afraid of them? Or, more scarily, in awe of them?
CHENEY LIMBAUGH BIRDS OF A FEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frum has it right. If the Republicans want to have a chance in the next elections they need to shut up the closed minded, ultra-right wing people in their party. Nobody wants to hear this stuff anymore. We need to talk about making OUR lives better not giving more tax breaks to the wealthy, improving our environment, and getting serious about energy independence (T-Boone Pickens has a plan that is a good start). If Republicans can jump into the 21st century and moderate they will see large gains in the next couple elections. However, if Obama does well, then...
Cheney belongs in prison. Any prison will do, but the Hague would be ideal.
the man did nothing for 8 years and now he wakes up. Why do we even give him the time of day
Gore slammed Bush for 8 years ! What is the difference between the Cheney/Obama and Bush/Gore
excellent point, pointofview. i thinkzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......
You have whack jobs running the GOP. I am out of the party. Time for a third party, and for now am an Independent.
Good job Rush and Cheney, you have destroyed the GOP!
I have never read such GARBAGE in my life, I think it is something CNN should not report. As far as Rush, He should be jailed and his DJ days shut down for good...What a slime ball
Sure, Cheney has an opinion and was second in command of the most powerful nation on earth during 9/11 he could not help keep this natio safe.
Sorry, I think someone needs to be critical of the Obama administration – given how critical they have been of Bush et al., it is hardly credible now they feel upset that Cheney is criticizing them.
The biggest problem with the Bush administration is that they failed to adequately defend their policies from the hysterical left wing.
Hey Rush, Chenney – you all had your time to ruin the country. Too bad I helped support your first endeavors too because now that I realized I was wrong in voting in 2000 for you, hopefully you'll realize your wrong and shut the F up! Oh wait, who am I kidding – of course I know you won't realize that. Why the media even reports what you babble on about, I don't understand. If both of you got up out of your chairs though and talked, we might be able to understand you better since your mouth is hidden inside a part of your anatomy!
How safe did Cheny keep americans before 9/12?
as an ex republican, it makes me sad to see this Lincoln connected party drift into wall street, help the rich, illegal wars, and to ruin our economy by letting "everyone in America own their own home" no matter what the costs. to let the banks loan money to people who could not qualify for rent payments, then sell the paper, and put huge amounts in their pockets IS the republican way. IT ALL FAILED–A.L.L.
Cheney is like a hangover that just won't quit. He and his party had their chance, and they blew it. They should keep in mind that the American people voted them out; it wasn't unjustly stolen from them by a pack of devious Democrats.
Both of them can say whatever they want (Cheney/Limbaugh). This is America. They are more right than wrong. And if you don't like it, just don't listen. Personally, I say 'fire away'. There's an awful lot to point out that the media surely is not.
Sure, Cheney has an opinion and was second in command of the most powerful nation on earth. After 9/11 he helped keep this natio safe. The media and the Democrats (is there a diffference) have painted Bush and Cheney as the problem but the issue I have is where the democrats on a 8 year vacation? Had the Democrats not run congress the last 2 years? If Cheney want's to talk CNN does not have to listen if they do not want to. But where will they find their next round of republican bashing material...