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Oopsie, I guess we really can't count this as a mark for "out of the mouth of babes", but Liz Cheney, perhaps inadvertently, admitted that part of the reason we've seen Dick Cheney more in the last two months than we did in the eight years of the Bush administration is that he is very nervous that there will be investigations and prosecutions in his future:

(M)any in the media have asked why Cheney — someone who had avoided the media at all costs during his eight years as vice president — would be airing his opinions in such a forceful and public way. Indeed, Cheney himself has answered this question, claiming he is speaking out because he believes that torture and other Bush administration anti-terror policies — many of which Obama is abandoning — were “exactly the right thing to do” and that “there isn’t anybody there on the other side to tell the truth.”

In turn, media figures have answered the question in much the same way. “I think he genuinely believes we are threatened now more because of what Obama is doing,” MSNBC’s Pat Buchanan has said. CNN’s David Gergen said, “I think Dick Cheney almost has a Churchillian view of this, and that is somebody has got to stand up and be the voice in the wilderness.” But while the narrative of Cheney’s motives focuses mainly on the righteous, it has all but ignored the selfish — that Cheney is trying to muddle the public debate with the goal of reducing public support for a criminal inquiry into the torture regime that he authorized.

Last night on CNN, however, Cheney’s daughter Liz revealed that fear of prosecution is indeed a motivating factor in the former vice president’s current media campaign:

L. CHENEY: I don’t think he planned to be doing this, you know, when they left office in January. But I think, as it became clear that President Obama was not only going to be stopping some of these policies, that he was going to be doing things like releasing the — the techniques themselves, so that the terrorists could now train to them, that he was suggesting that perhaps we would even be prosecuting former members of the Bush administration.

Sad that this "Get Daddy Out Of Jail Free" ploy seems to have all the news outlets lapping it up with nary a word on what the motives might be for a former Vice President to break with protocol and criticize a sitting President (and by doing so, implicitly admitting that Cheney--not Bush--was in charge). Can you imagine how the right wing noise machine would have gone into overdrive if Clinton had started criticizing Bush for not taking the al Qaeda threat seriously at the beginning of his presidency? By all reports, that's what happened. Richard Clarke was demoted, his reports ignored, and then 9/11 happened on their watch. And now terrorism has increased worldwide four-fold. However, even with this miserable track record (kept from the public by these media outlets eager for a Cheney appearance), Cheney thinks his opinion has any value to the discussion?

Heather has put up the larger Anderson Cooper interview at VideoCafe.

Steve Benen wonders if there isn't a more pecuniary motive to Cheney's sudden appearances (twelve in nine and a half days over four networks). Of course, Liz Cheney may also be trying to establish herself as a credible candidate in 2012 too:

The hottest Republican property out there isn't former Vice President Dick Cheney but his daughter Liz, who has taken to the airwaves to defend her dad and the whole Bush administration on national security and Guantánamo Bay issues. Liz Cheney, who followed the former veep's hard-hitting speech criticizing President Obama's policies with a CNN appearance, is becoming so popular in conservative circles that some want her to run for office. "She's awesome. Everyone wants her to run," said a close friend.

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
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81 Comments
bibimimi's picture

BEGIN!

"(M)any in the media have asked why Cheney — someone who had avoided the media at all costs during his eight years as vice president —"

False. He had numerous appearances with the media during his tenure and not just with FOX News.

Pinotdrnkr's picture

Doing a search I have so far only found Fox appearances listed.

Perhaps you could elaborate on what networks, when and how many times total in 8 years. I can tell you right now that after the 06 elections he never went onto a Sunday morning show other than Fox.

miss_kitty's picture

sunshine.

At this point he's wallpaper. As VP, he was nearly enigmatic, his profile stealthed.

Ummm, the truth of the matter is Dick Cheney avoided talking to the media for 8 years, he was hardly ever seen and when he was it was on FOX the vast majority of the time. He even went to the trouble of having his home removed from Google Maps and any other on line Mapping system. We have seen more of the Dick since he left office. He will avoid taking responsibly for his actions at all costs. Even a blind man can see the truth through his lies. Bless his heart!

aspenaglow's picture

Oh yes, Cheney did go on the Rush Limbaugh show numerous times

Edwin's picture

No Bu$he$, no Cheney's, ever again.


far left loon >.<

calgarylady's picture

What a terrifying thought.

( jeb) Bush and (liz ) Cheney.

Ruffmama's picture

I knew that idea was going to be put on the table after her big media tour this week.

Thanks....but no thanks.

ScandalMgr's picture

Top Ten: Why are we leaving the Republican party?

http://cjsd.blogspot.com/2009/05/top-ten-tues...

I especially like #12 and #13 in comments

popworld7's picture

FEAR.

Only COWARDS TORTURE.

I want to set the record straight: I thought the cop was a prostitute." – Homer Simpson

Liz is using the Homer defense.

Rick's picture

... to give his version of the "truth." During cross-examination. Here's hoping Garzon does what our politicians don't have the cojones to do to this guy.

ump902a's picture

Liz Cheney has taken to the airwaves...Why have the airwaves been turned over to Liz Cheney?

Barbara in BC's picture

that the media are complicit in spinning this the way Bush wants it spun. Cheney has agreed to take the blame for the Bush Presidency and his family is in on it. Maybe it's the price he agreed to pay for raking in all those Haliburton profits.

calgarylady's picture

'Cheney has agreed to take the blame for the Bush Presidency ...'

You can't be serious, Barbara in BC. Bwa-ha-ha-ha! YOU are the one being duped. There really is a sucker born every minute and you just proved it with that moronic statement.

Barbara in BC's picture

your right wing troll status. Again.

Hulk's picture

It's obvious from day one why the cave dweller, darth, has stepped out of his hole. He IS afraid that he is going to be held accountable for his crimes. The damned fool. He had better die quickly if he thinks the world is going to just forget and leave him be. The f*cking moron.

Of course he is afraid they are coming afte him. And I hope to God they do go after him..and all the rest of that crime circle that took this country down the road to hell.

I'm all for trying the son-of-a-bitch...and if found guilty, giving him the same fate Saddam Hussein found at the end of his rope.

paranoid sack of dog excrement?

Barbara in BC's picture

They are hammering the point home that Cheney is guilty and was in charge of EVERYTHING during the last 8 years. Anyone else think that he's taking a bullet for Bush? I mean, his career is over anyway but Bush still has years to go before he retires.

Different Anonymous's picture
.

I don't think he's taking a bullet for BushCo - at least not intentionally. I think the relationship CheneyDyne has with BushCo is much less of a partnership and more of a toleration of each other since they're predators that feed from different spots on the foodchain.

That said, Cheney IS the perfect fall guy for the Bush dynasty. Cheney takes the fall, the chimp disappears for awhile then reappears as the grand old statesman in the next Republican administration and Jeb is poised perfectly for his run.

All of this is over "Dick"'s dead body of course, as I really think he wants a run at the Presidency - or at least a trip for his spawn.

Dick Cheney doesn't take a bullet for anyone.

Instead he will take five military deferments, hunt farmed animals in a cage, and shoot a friend in the face.

Barbara in BC's picture

those Haliburton profits. Killing and maiming all those soldiers in Iraq was also Bush's idea, in fact it was PNAC who planned it all. No, Cheney sold not only his soul but his reputation, allowing Bush to evade all responsibility. Liz Cheney is his accomplice who stands to profit from her father's crimes.

surfjac's picture

..is not necessary. W WAS the President and if he was to stupid to rein in his second in command, then beyond stupid, he's complicit. I don't think that W can be absolved of any crime. He may have been a dupe but then that's what he gets for being one.

Imagine all the trouble that America would've avoided if W wasn't appointed President! Never again! Demand Accountability!


Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"

Barbara in BC's picture

surjac said: "I don't think that W can be absolved of any crime. He may have been a dupe but then that's what he gets for being one."

Just the fact that you think Bush may have been a dupe, means you have been duped. Cheney has done his job well and been richly paid for his scapegoat role.

FLY WHITEY's picture

This time, let's give the friend a gun.

miss_kitty's picture

The jumped up little bastard was positively FUMING that Obama's speech went over the stated time, and his speech was *GASP* delayed.

I say if President Obama wants to really do this country a solid, he should go WAY OVER time next time The Dick is lined up for sloppy seconds, ready to go right after him.

If he doesn't die from apoplexy, I think it'll make it clear to his petulant arse that he is indeed being ruled by a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress. And if the will of the people can be heard on this issue, The Dick should be in a constant state of arrhythmia from here on out.

Dick's biggest problem is his overwhelming sense of entitlement.

Larmar's picture

Republicans are using paid bloggers in an attempt to control the national debate toward their point of view.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/228...

Republicans attempting to control the national debate by influencing direction on certain blogs. One of them being Huffington Post.

More of the same old Republican ideas, now brought to you by paid bloggers.

Michelle's picture

Just what exactly caused the Cheney's to decide that "a full and open debate" was good for America? Certainly didn't seem to be their collective opinion for most of the past decade.

(jeb)Bush/(liz)Cheney made me throw up a little. Enough already.


I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all

"She's awesome. Everyone wants her to run," said a close friend.

Palin/Plumber 2012 is not going to like this. Not one little bit.

calgarylady's picture

Imagine all the spitting and clawing from those two she-devils. Popcorn time!

Plumber quit the party that gave him his 15 minutes. So now I'm rooting for Gingrich/Palin 2012!

surfjac's picture

..to be the King and Queen of the cell block.


Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"

moniker's picture

Dickless Cheneys defend Dick Cheney.

TeaEyeIs's picture

She correctly stated that, " (Obama is) going to be doing things like releasing the — the techniques themselves, so that the terrorists could now train to them..."

This is already happening.

There are training in camps in Grovthel, Afganistan, where terrorists are undergoing waterboard training.
Dr. Arhthel Krachnit has developed a new medication, Forschmelamine, that allows volunteers to grow fully functioning gills. Some trainees were able to stay under water for up to sixteen minutes before their eyeballs blew out of their heads. This is a vast improvement over the results of former waterboard tolerance training seminars such as those led by Mahmoood Simpson in Pakistan in the early 1980s. In those seminars, the tops of trainees' heads blew off in only eight minutes.

Time is money.

CnLfan's picture

Right. Since every chickenhawk knows that the military is overwhelmingly Republican, the Sean Hannities should have no trouble at all finding a SERE program graduate willing to demonstrate the art of beating the waterboard. If they can't find one, then SHUT UP.

Like Obama or the Dems would ever prosecute; they just don't have the ball sack for it. Nail the f*^$!8s to the wall; what do you have to lose, the Repuke base, shit Obama isn't ever going to get that vote anyway............go for it you wimps.
Then again, it is more likely that it is the same old, same old, politics as usual. It's only a game they play with each other to appease the populace, and make them think there is a choice. God I'm getting cynical, but I am not seeing anything more from Obama than any other politician. It really is starting to suck.

..that would ruin OBL's terrorist/suicide bomber recruitment program. It would hold the leaders responsible for breaking our laws accountable. It might finally put an end to torture as an interrogation technique. It might raise our standing in the world. It might make it safe for Americans to travel again.
God, the horror of prosecutions; what are you thinking?
Oh, maybe like me, you are thinking!


Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"

Dick Cheney and his supporters should still remember the mantra:

If you haven't don't anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

fil hussein oaks's picture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Cheney
Elizabeth graduated from McLean High School in 1984. She received her bachelor's degree from Colorado College where she wrote her senior thesis, "The Evolution of Presidential War Powers," in 1988

http://www.slate.com/id/2210084/
By Zac Frank
Posted Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, at 1:00 PM ET
In 1988, while Dick Cheney was Wyoming's sole representative in the House of Representatives, his daughter's senior thesis was quietly published in Colorado Springs. The 125-page treatise argued that, constitutionally and historically, presidents have virtually unchecked powers in war. Thirteen years before her father became vice president, she had symbolically authored the first legal memorandum of the Bush administration, laying out the same arguments that would eventually justify Guantanamo and extraordinary rendition, wiretapping of American citizens, and, broadly, the unitary theory of the executive that shaped the Bush presidency.

I especially like comments about Liz here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/12/73060...
"The Cheney's don't fight the wars they start, they profit from them. It's not personal; it's business."

"I never thought a face would exist that would give me a more visceral negative reaction than Cheney's. But lo and behold, Liz's seems to be doing it for me. I literally can't stand to look at a picture of her, much less listen to her voice. For some reason, what she's doing and saying I'm finding even more horrifying that what her horrid piece of shit father says. I guess somehow the second generation of evil seems even worse somehow. Please tell me she doesn't have kids, so we'll have to be looking at a third generation of evil."

Liz Cheney is one scary broad.

Elizabeth graduated from McLean High School in 1984. She received her bachelor's degree from Colorado College where she wrote her senior thesis, "The Evolution of Presidential War Powers," in 1988

There's that pathological obsession with power again. U.S. citizenship is not about working together to form a more perfect union, it's about WINNING, losers.

Captain Kangaroo's picture

So would these jokers defending Dick Cheney be called Dickheads? Just wondering.

miss_kitty's picture

!

Unfortunately that name's already used by the fans of Dick "King of Surf Guitar" Dale.


Let's see how far to the right they go before they fall off of the edge of this flat world.

Sdubya's picture

This is his lesbian daughter they don't believe should have any right's correct? Cognitive Dissonance, thy name is Cheney.

miss_kitty's picture

not liz. Mary's the one in the same gender relationship.

Michelle's picture

Mary Cheney is a lesbian, her partner had a baby. Liz is married to Philip Perry, the former General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security. They have 5 children.


I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all

Oh Christ, 5 more Cheneys down the road?

calgarylady's picture

The Cheney evil continues ...

Do Sith Lords train younglings?

Talk about a forced sterilization candidate.

Jusker's picture

Do you suppose the real reason that Cheney is out and about is that now that Obama is President he feels it's safer to travel the streets of our nation and not remain hidden in his undisclosed location?

hairlip's picture

That dipstick VP Biden made sure the location wasn't unknown anymore...

Kathy in St. Louis's picture

in Iraq and a bunch of no-bid contracts to friends. Did I say that out loud? When the time is right, they will be prosecuted. And the daughter is another one who has gotten rich feeding at the public trough.

surfjac's picture

..years ago. Prosecutions are LONG overdue.


Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"

project's picture

Is a lying scared shitless coward has always been and always will be.
Poor liz is trying to keep daddy from spending the rest of his miserable life in prison. Where he needs to be.

Liz grips & turns the steering wheel harder to the right ...
... only to make her dad's, and the other Bush war criminals' turning radius smaller by her every appearance on TV.

May I contribute somehow to help get Liz's travel expenses met to enable her to continue to appear on TV? Huh, can I? Hello, (knock, knock) is this thing on?

Colorado Rocky's picture
[Comment Deleted By Administration For Violation Of Terms Of Service]
MountainMan23's picture

Inadvertent slipup? Moment of honesty?

Ray McGovern - Cheney: Support for Israel Feeds Terrorism

.. Oozing out of the sleazy speech he gave Thursday at the American Enterprise Institute was an inadvertent truth regarding the Israeli albatross hanging around the neck of U.S. policy in the Middle East.

There are a number of reasons why al-Qaeda and other terrorist movements wish to attack us ..

Why They Hate Us

Cheney’s explanation of a motive mostly reprised George W. Bush’s old “the terrorists hate our freedoms” canard. Cheney said the terrorists hate “all the things that make us a force for good in the world — for liberty, for human rights, for the rational, peaceful resolution of differences,” an odd set of qualities for Cheney to cite given his roles in violating constitutional rights, torturing captives and spreading falsehoods to justify invading Iraq.

But that’s also where Cheney slipped up. You didn’t notice? Well, Cheney couldn’t resist expanding on the complaints of the terrorists:

“They have never lacked for grievances against the United States. Our belief in freedom of speech and religion…our belief in equal rights for women…our support for Israel… — these are the true sources of resentment…”

“Our support for Israel.” Cheney got that part right. ..


When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?

Not soon enough!

calgarylady's picture

That's why I like it when Cheney flaps his gums ... interesting tidbits of information pop out unexpectedly ...

MF17TN's picture

This post is freaky to me. I didnot see this CNN interview but I was thinking about VP Cheney's frequent appearances and why all of sudden he was so visable. I know VP Cheney couldnot care less about what the general public thinks about him. So today while I was working around the house this was on my mind. Then it hit me. Cheney is trying to sway public opinion in his favor conscerning "enhanced interrogation". And why? The reason I came up with is that hearings or a special commission looking into these techniques use is imminent. I bet someone informed Cheney of this- most likely someone involved with Sen. Pat Lehey's committe would be my guess. And I find it interesting that these Enhanced interrogation techniques, as we found out this week, were being used long before Bibby and Yoo wrote their rediculous legal memo. From their twisted logic many things from the medivial ages could be used so longs as we didnot cause permanent organ injury or death. But wait a minute Liz and VP Cheney, it seems at least 3 people did die from these enhanced interrogation techniques so they were not as harmless as you lead on. Anyways, anyone who saw Frontline concerning what went on At Abu ghrab and the Dark Side knew long ago that Cheney and Rumsfeld played a bigger role then they were leading us to believe.

"So today while I was working around the house this was on my mind."

This is exactly why they don't want us to be informed. I think about this stuff 'in my spare time' too. When I'm quiet and not distracted the dots connect neatly, don't they?


far left loon >.<

It's almost like sacred geometry. The dots connect so much further than this. I can tell you, though, every single one of them should be on trial for Iraq.

hairlip's picture
[Comment Deleted By Administration For Violation Of Terms Of Service]
sixandseveneights's picture

she is definitely her daddy's daugher.

oh really's picture

Who elected Liz Vader to suddenly appear on TV every day to shill for her father?

Shouldn't Cheney's lawyer be filling this role?

ralph's picture

Dick, you shot a rich white lawyer in the face and made him apologize. What are you worried about?

carike's picture

deserves to be arrested and prosecuted.

ConcernedCanuck's picture

get the feeling these bastards all know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they broke multiple laws, and are openly flaunting it in the public's face, knowing that absolutely nothing will ever be done about it?????

darter22's picture

what the Dick really is. A fearful, spineless coward.

I'll bet Bernie Madoff wished he had launched this kind of pre-prosecution PR blitz.

-Bricked-'s picture

Oh boy that'll be entertaining to watch her go up against Failin' Palin in the primaries.

Paranoia's picture

Training the terrorist to resist waterboarding that have nothing to lose is like subjecting the homeless to live in tents!

Beside the SERE program been training our soldier back in Nam! So I think the jig is already out. If anything we have appease the enemies by lowering our sense of justice and to prove to the world we are the bad guys. That piss me off!

DavidinChelseaMA's picture

I am so sick of these jerks. Time for them to get the hell of the stage, for christ's sake. America has had it with them.

Cheney belongs behind bars, and so does that moronic potted plant of a president that last held sway in the White House.

FLY WHITEY's picture

that formation in N.E. Wyoming is named what it is.
It's named after this bastard.

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