On Monday, American Morning viewers responded strongly against former Vice President Cheney’s continued appearances on talk shows, calling him “irrelevant.” Both Democrats and Republicans believed him to be disingenuous on multiple fronts.

• Sheri: Stop asking Dick Cheney his opinion about ANYTHING!!!! He was almost invisible for 8 years and his negativity is not needed – then or now! I'm tired of turning my TV on in the morning and seeing him complaining about what the Obama administration is doing and how it should be run his way. We voted them out of office – stop parading them around spouting their lame opinions. It only causes turmoil.
• Jim G: For those interviewing Cheney-who is flaunting the miserably failed past 8 years-what his take is on the Iraqi journalist (an obviously real journalist)-who threw his shoe at Bush? That is, does Cheney think he owes an enormous apology to the American people-and why is he not being confronted on this? Throwing Cheney soft balls so he can attack Obama is ludicrous, particularly given the enormous challenges Obama faces-because of Cheney/Bush!
• Jay: I have never believed what Mr. Cheney says on its face value. His intentions are never reflected in his words. I suspect his attacks Powell is because he cannot control Powell. Are all Republicans supposed to blindly agree with Cheney and Rush? Can there be no second opinion?
• Paula: Were I Mr. Colin Powell, I'd deem it a supreme compliment to be "backhanded" by the likes of Cheney! He didn't have 3 words to say, over the past 8 years, and now is as difficult to neutralize as the AIDS virus, now! He is a dark, divisive, and pathetic creature...irrelevant, boring, and lacking in any constructive elements. As in the old vaudeville "stinkers"...someone should "hook" him, around the neck, and drag him off the "national stage"! He is negative message is counter-productive, and his snide "asides" are enervating to the pathetic condition of this severely-crippled nation...
• Jim M: Typical CNN... only put out partial information, just want you want people to hear. The bigger story was how Dick Cheney is sounding the alarm of Obama making us less safe by removing safeguards that have kept us from being hit for the last eight years. This is why anyone who wants honest, fair information must go to FOX NEWS.

What do you think about former Vice President Cheney’s public appearances recently? Is he, as one viewer states, “irrelevant,” or are we only getting “partial information”? Do you believe he is representative of the Republican Party or has the party moved in a new direction?

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American Morning’s new segment, “Wingnut,” generated strong positive viewer response, with some asking for it to return on a daily basis.

• Eric: What a hoot! Whether you are left, right, red, or blue, imagine seeing your own ridiculous words & behavior contrasted against the other side’s equally silly actions. Keep it up, I wish it were a daily event. There's certainly enough material.
• Steve C: While it's absurd to blame swine flu on a political party, as your wingnut of the week did, it may have some validity in my case. As a recruit in US Army in 1976, I received a swine flu vaccination at the order of Republican President Gerald Ford, in his attempt to prove the vaccine was safe. It worked perfectly, and thousands of soldiers including me contracted the flu. So, there's a tiny grain of truth in her theory, but she managed to blame the wrong party.
• Steve K: Keep doing the WINGNUT report! As a staunch moderate, I am convinced they carry more weight with both parties than they deserve. Placed under the harsh spotlight of reason and knowledge hopefully their views will be shown for what they are.
• Todd: Love the new segment! I hope you will continue to report on the important issue of idiots in politics. I wonder how these people ever got elected.
• David: I appreciate your efforts to be even-handed in your weekly selection of wing-nuts from the right and the left. As you move forward with this piece however, I believe it is important to put your selections in perspective by describing the influence that they have within their own parties. I would predict that there are far more Democrats who would agree with your left-wing selections than there are Republicans who would agree with your right-wing choices.

So, what did you think of AM’s new “Wingnut” segment? Tell us what you’d like to see on this segment. We’d love to hear your ideas and stories.

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Thursday's American Morning viewers debated CNN’s decision to air Michael Savage’s rebuttal to his ban in Britain. Some were very appreciative of CNN’s “impartial” interview, while others were outraged that CNN would “publicize [Savage’s] raving hate talk.”

• Bernadette: Thank you for the impartial interview with Michael Savage. Mr. Savage, to clarify your words, once they are out on the airwaves you cannot take them back. Clarifying the use of terminology after the fact does not excuse foul, noxious, vicious, malicious and ferocious pronouncements on your part.
• Michael: I'm sure Michael Savage is happy to live in a country that gives you the freedom to be an ignorant hate spewing bigot. As they say in England, Cheers!
• Manetav: I agree with the British. Listen to his show sometime. It’s time we need Fairness Doctrine.
• Michael R: Why on earth would you give ANY time to publicize the raving hate talk of Michael (Weiner) Savage? He claims that his is a free speech issue, but if you've ever listened to him, he never allows callers who disagree to actually speak freely. He does have the right to say WHATEVER he wishes, but must you help him spread his venom?
• Ed: Your clueless interview with this slime ball was in the same level as a "Hannity" type softball interview. Have you listened to the Michael Savage radio show? Pure hateful ugliness and racist comments. Shame on your naiveté on this sorry excuse for a human being.

How do you feel about the controversial radio host, Michael Savage? Would you, as a viewer, have preferred NOT to hear Mr. Savage’s side of the argument? Was CNN wrong in airing his opinion?

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On Wednesday, American Morning viewers angrily responded to the White House decision to keep the New York flyover photos “classified.” Many demanded financial compensation by President Obama for the ill-fated photo op, chastising the Obama administration for being “totally clueless and just plain stupid.”

• Stephen: I have the solution concerning these private Air Force One pix–let the prez pay for them out of HIS pockets! Ridiculous....1st, he scares the life out of already sensitized New Yorkers...now, he is so embarrassed [apparently]–he decides to keep these private. Well then,,,like someone else has said; he could have Photo-Shopped an image of the plane over NYC at a cost of @ $3.00....That's why we have to fire all the politicians....the regard they have for money is crazy! Can you imagine how much that 300, 000 would mean to a low-income family?
• Claire: Regarding the Air Force One incident, I seriously doubt President Bush would have been so ignorant or insensitive to have it fly over New York City, considering what happened on 9-11 and he saw the destruction first hand. Obama and his "Barackateers" are proving more and more each day they are totally clueless and just plain stupid.
• Cch4m: The White House refuses to release the photos of the President's Airplane scaring the hell out of New Yorkers? Transparent? Who was on the plane? Transparent? Everything about this President's past and present has been locked away NEVER to be seen....Transparent? What are they hiding? Why won't they release the photos and the passenger list? Transparent? And the useful idiots in the so-called "mainstream" press just gives him a pass as usual....NOW if George Bush would have done this hearings and investigations would go on forever........without end...and it would be above the fold news for weeks......but Obama gets a pass.....

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On Tuesday, American Morning viewers passionately responded to the Texas “Highway Robbery” segment. Many shared stories of corruption in Texas, while others felt the piece was assaulting the reputation of Texas lawmen.

• Richard: I am a lawyer in Central Texas. I testified to the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee last spring about asset forfeiture fund abuses. The D.A. in Kimble County, about 100 miles NW of San Antonio, on Interstate 10, gave thousands of dollars to the judge that hears the forfeiture and criminal cases. The judge and his wife also went to Hawaii several times gratis, compliments of the DA. The judge is still there. John Burnett at NPR has been investigating this; he ran a series of stories last year.
• David: The highway patrol in Louisiana and Texas have been doing this for years. They look for minorities as well as people with out of state license plates. The highway patrol finds them to be easy prey. The law that allows the police to do this is ridiculous. The cops are very corrupt and it will only end if Federal authorities step in. Years ago Stone Phillips did an investigation and interviewed quite a number of people. More recently, Howard Witt performed another investigation. I really don't think anything will be done about this until Federal authorities take over.
• James: Shame on Gary Tuchman, and Shame on CNN! While I certainly appreciate the newsworthiness of such a story (law enforcement officers ripping off minority drivers), SHAME on both of you for airing the snippet/preview at 8:50 AM EST on Tuesday 5 May **WITHOUT** identifying the location where this was taking place!! There will be many people who see this report, in which the bad behavior was attributed to Texas, yet the video showed what was obviously a small-town cop and a small-town DA. However, many people will NOT be able to tune into the full report at 10:00 PM on AC 360. Effect? These people have "Texas" in their mind, and you have just smeared the reputations of THOUSANDS of reputable law enforcement officers in a state currently engaged in a front-line border war, a drug war, and under the assault of a wave of illegal immigration. I cannot believe such a "sweeps week" type of stunt would be pulled by a network of CNN's stature. Disappointing, very disappointing.

How do you feel about the story alleging corruption in the Texas highway patrol?  How would you like to see this situation investigated? Tell us your thoughts on this heated topic and be sure to tune in tonight on AC360 for the investigation by Gary Tuchman.

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On Monday, American Morning viewers were most concerned with the issue of red light cameras, debating the merits of such a system.

• George: Saw your segment this morning on red light cameras. We have them located in high accident intersections in Toronto to reduce accidents and it works. Too many drivers run red lights and in my view it makes sense and will save lives. If you run a red, you should pay the fine. Me and my son was nearly hit by a car running a red light.
• Leland: IN DAVENPORT IOWA THE COURT HELD YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO FACE YOUR ACCUSER IN COURT OF LAW AND THAT A CAMERA COULD NOT TESTIFY AND ALL TICKETS WERE DISMISSED
• Gerry: Our yellow light ticket cams cost $96 per ticket if paid within 30 days, then $135 after. They were presented to Columbus City Council as a REVENUE generator FIRST, safety 2nd! The contract company was allowed to pick the highest paying revenue intersections-Not the 12 most dangerous intersections in the city as listed by the Franklin County Traffic Engineers Office. This PROVES that the goal was revenue, NOT safety of the citizens.

How do you react at an intersection with a “red light camera”? Do red light cameras encourage drivers to obey laws more readily? Are they simply “revenue” generators for the local governments?

Former Republicans weighed in on how the party can reinvent itself. Most wanted the Republican Party to return to its original values and veer clear of the “policies of Rush Limbaugh.”

• James: As a disgruntled registered Republican, I can honestly say that until the likes of Eric Canter give up the policies of Rush Limbaugh and the arrogance of Fox News, I will continue to find other individuals to vote for.
• Robert: I am surprised that the percentage is that high for the GOP as many of my friends that have been with the GOP for many, many years are now NP and that is where I am as long as the GOP stays where they are at with their philosophy of Rush Limbaugh and others.
• Dan: I think the Republican Party needs to get away from the religious right, and go back to their fiscal conservative roots to resurrect the party. In the past they were the party of small government, free market, individual freedoms and responsibilities. Not the party of so-called "morality." Please get out of the church and get back into the country clubs and boardrooms where you belong.
• Kevin: The only reason the Republican Party is concerned about the people is they need our votes to gain a majority again. Why weren't they interested in listening to anyone for the last 8 years? Republican policy has put us in this hole. Filling their pockets with lobbyists and big business money, at the expense of the tax payer. It reminds me of a line from "An American President;" they aren’t interested in solving our problems. They want us afraid of it and tell us who to blame it on!

Are you a Republican who has moved away from the current party as a result of its acceptance of policies by pundits such as Rush Limbaugh? How can the party change to better reflect your values and your needs today? Do you believe that a third party is needed in the United States? What would that party look like to you?