CNN

Wow. The Republicans are going back to the "we haven't been attacked since 9/11" rhetoric. Yes, there have been no other airplanes flown into our buildings, thank God (not Bush and Cheney). What they did do was make us significantly weaker by driving us into an economic emergency. Economically we are much weaker, and that is where we can be hit next! The borders are still seeping, tests for airline security have shown failures, what else do you need to see we are no safer? Look at Iraq and Afghanistan! Bush and Comapny blundered that one too. Do you need more death and destruction like 9/11 to show you that Mr. Bush and his administration failed to keep us safe? It must be nice living in your dream world because right now, reality is pretty frighting thanks to Bush and his "Bushies"!

Al writes, "Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bush, if they have any criticism, they should tell it from prison."

I tend to agree.

@ Proud American
If your comments reflect pride in America, please spare me that kind of pride. To call fellow Americans names and wish them unhappiness because their opinion differs from yours shows not pride in our constitution but ignorance of our right to of different opinions. It is the difference of opinions that keeps this country great and does not allow one idealogy to become all powerful.

Jack Bauer tortured people, but it ended up saving the president's life.

We're closing Guantanamo and opening up another facility in Pakistan. And we are still outsourcing torture. Hardly a change in direction.

next time cheney has a comment , he should make it from prison.

Ooops – the last bit got cut off ...

Of course Dick Cheney would continue to spout this nonsense! If there was one consistency of the last Administration, it was their colossal naïveté and inability to admit they were wrong.

If Cheney were to accept the fact that their "war on terror" has been an absolute failure, his whole world would unravel. Unfortunately for the United States and the rest of the world, our country made the mistake of having Cheney and Bush in Washington for 8 years. Fortunately, unlike the afore-mentioned idiots, the American people were able to objectively look at the situation, admit we made a mistake and chose a President who will – with intelligence and accountability – take our country in a new direction.

The terroists will be your next door neighbors!!!!!! For all you crazy nuts screaming terrouist attack is coming because of the President you need to wake up and smell the coffey. YOu can nolonger keep us in fear like Bush and Chenecy did for 8 years. Why should we live in fear from other countries attacking us when we have terroists and our back yawn all ready and they are call THE REPUBLICANS! MOST OF THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ACTING LIKE TERROIST with their hatefull statments of wanted the President to Fail. That's what I call Terriorist becasue if the President fail so do the USA. Most Terroist will die trying to bring this country to it knees just like the Republicans. The Republicans will watch this country fail becasue they don't like the President instead of helping the President out – now please tell me what is the different between a foreign terroist and a Republicans terroist they both will rather die then to help out!

Cheney belongs in Gitmo. Bush belongs in elementary school.

jim March 23rd, 2009 11:28 am ET

You better be right Mr President. Remember we did not have another attack in this country under Bush and Cheney.
____________________________________________________

Key word: another.

If Bush and Cheney kept us so "safe" why did you have to use the word another? Keeping us safe would imply that there was never an attack under their watch.

Of course Dick Cheney would continue to spout this nonsense! If there was one consistency of the last Administration, it was their colossal naïveté and inability to admit they were wrong.

If Cheney were to accept the fact that their "war on terror" has been an absolute failure, his whole world would unravel. Unfortunately for the United States and the rest of the world, our country made the mistake of having Cheney and Bush in Washington for 8 years. Fortunately, unlike the afore-mentioned idiots, the American people were able to objectively look at the situation, admit we made a mistake and chose a President who will – with intelligence

the same pathetic REPubs who predict terrorist attacks and economic collapse on Obama's watch manage to forget that Cheney and Bush failed to prevent 9/11, failed to get the facts straight before getting over 4,000 Americans killed in Iraq, and failed to properly regulate the banking industry which has led to the greatest economic collapses since the Great Depression. So give it a rest already losers.

Heck of a job keeping us safe, Cheney!! If only you were around on 9/11, you could have prevented the whole terrorist attack. Oh wait, you were around and we got attacked anyway. Never mind.

This is easy for O-man to say. He's only 2 months in. I want to see what he is going to say the next time we get hit.

How much do you want to bet that, when it happens, we'll hear nothing of the programs put into place under W that he deleted upon taking office? How much do you want to bet he will only say, "There was nothing else we could have done. We did our very best."

And the media and liberals everywhere will jump to his defense.....like his actions would not predictably bring on the next attack.

Wake up, America.

It is so depressing that there is an argument FOR the use of torture in our country. Beyond any other point, torture is counter-productive. Almost every time torture leads to false testimony because the detainee just wants the torture to end. How do we think the testimony for yellow-cake was produced? The Iraq War is based on these false testimonies. Secondly, the use of torture and improper detainment of innocent indivuals leads to the militarization of previously non-involved individuals. The use of torture is more likely to lead to the radicalization of individuals than gaining useful information through its' use.

@ Dave, who said "Get your guns ready( if Obama allows them), the terroists will be your next door neighbors!!!!!!"

Translation: "I'm afraid of immigrants and anyone who doesn't look like me, and I've completely bought the GOP/Limbaugh fabrications about Obama planning to kill the 2nd Amendment so they can make the mindless, gun-toting GOP 'base' angry and more likely to commit an act of domestic terrorism in the name of defending freedom from 'sochuslizm'...praise be to Chuck Norris, amen."

Obama could stand to learn a few things from Cheney. Cheney knows what he is doing.

Ken Lewis –
How do you know these are killers and not someone a local war lord sold to the Americans? YOU DON'T!!! That's the point. These poeple deserve to hear the charges against them and stand trial. I don't understand what in the hell is wrong with people that disagree with this. Obama isn't simply going to put them on a boat to the US and let them run around free.

Remember when the Americans landed in China and were held captive for over a week? What would you have thought if China took them to some south sea prison and locked them away without a trial because they were terrorists. Wouldn't you scream bloody murder? Wouldn't you have supported any attack economically or physically to get them back? Seriously, what in the world is wrong with given these people a trial? The US is better then the former Soviet Union that just locked people up for the rest of their lives.

Get over Cheney's fear game. These people deserve to hear the charges against them and stand trial. Those of you that support keeping them in detention without trial are sick.

4000+ of this countries finest where killed in terrorist attacks since 911! DO you really think in matters to their families where they where standing when they where killed.

This "excuse making" thinking is no different than tribal people sacraficing virgins to a volcano and then claiming it is working because there have been no eruptions.

We all know Bush >Cheney screwed this country up..!!

over Bush's personal vendetta against Saddam H..

A waste of money..and lives for nothing...

Not a proud moment in our history...

Bush-Cheney... should be tried... for this mess...!!

Bush/Cheney should be in jail! they are responsible for our economy being broken, they lied to us and spent all their time spending our money on an illegal war, with WMD's that did not exist. and Cheney still has the balls to blame Obama for anything...is there no shame!!!
IT ALL happened under their watch ( 9/11, War, Economic collapse...)Americans are not stupid! no we have to clean up their mess. Prison would be too good for him, I have another place he can go...

It would be great if CNN would print all comments. I have commented many times but it does not get printed.

We really are seeing the beginnings of a transition from the old into the new. Obama and Cheney couldn't possibly be more different ideologically, physically, mentally, etc. etc. etc. I hope that this change is sustained.

This isnt news, now if he would have agreed with him, now that would have been news.

Funny how CNN doesn't have anything about Obama laughing about the economy and the bailouts during this interview. Guess he thinks it's funny. At one point, Steve Kroft asked him if he was punch drunk. CNN has always been this goofballs propaganda arm. Second only yo MSNBC. If you want to find out what's really happening you have to to Fox news. CNN is a biased disgrace.

Cheney's right Osama!!! Closing Gitmo is very stupid!! We can't let them rejoin their terrorist buddies and we sure as HELL don't want them in this country......
Wake up Obama!

Only time will tell. We'll just have to see how many attacks on the US happen and how many are Stopped on the Obama watch. But seriously do you think this wasn't going on under your belovid Clinton? He he new there are just time when you have to do things for the safety of the many.

It's not about BUSH keeping us safe for 7 years – IT'S ABOUT THE TERRORIST "KNOWING" WHEN TO ATTACK AND HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT DOING SO!!!!!!

Come on now – Islamic Terrorist are getting SMARTER and are willing to WAIT for YEARS before another attack. And each time they attack, it would be more devasting than the last!!! HOPEFULLY, President Obama's policies – which is definitely DIFFERENT from the last eight years – would TRULY keep us SAFE from within and NOT just on the SURFACE!!!!

Rick March 23rd, 2009 10:51 am ET

You're just wrong! The job of the President and VP is to execute the law. Any constitutional law expert you talk to will tell you that Gitmo and torture and all the rest of Cheney's greatest hits are beyond the power of the President as provided for in the constitution.

If we do this to others, what business do we have complaining if other countries do something similar to our citiziens?

The main reason terrororist attacks happen is that there are too many people in the world who profit from feelings of hate against America and the Western world.
President Obama is contributing a great deal to minimize this universal hate and distrust.
Fighting the roots of such crimes is fighting the crimes themselves.
More power to you, Barak H.O.!

Here we go again!!! It is amazing how many radicals out there can talk about nothing but, Cheney, Bush. I can not wait for this President to
complete his term. Obama has done nothing for this country but bring his Chicago corrupted politics. The president only knows the corruption of Illinois, so who in their right mind expect anything from the Obama Camp, but, his threats and more dragging down the American people. Everyone out there should know that Obama has not paid a dime for all the monies spent on his "taking the Presidential Hoopla" in the Illinois park, also it cost more to clean up after the parks celebration than it did to turn that party into a trash celebration!!!! Oh yes!!! contact Obama and I am sure he will put a couple of the DETANEES in your neighborhood. Please!!! you must not let your guard down while Obama is screwing up everything our country has stood for. God bless America. Betty Phillilps

dont hate on President Obama he wants to unite this country infact he wants to unite this country with the European Union he wants us to be like them which plays into the EU hands

No wonder we stand to be a target.Cheney thinks toture is alright then he thinks it's ok for foriegn countries to torture americans.This is why these countries don't trust the US because of warmongering tactics as these.You better beleive these countries will not forget about Guantanamo and these prisoners that hasn't even been tried and convited but tortured ...this is what makes what Cheney said and did more despicable

@ San Francisco non-believer

ok based on what you're saying, how are you any different than the people you are condemning?

@ Dawn "President Obama is not a warmonger and he would rather end both wars"

You have read the news right? Obama is sending 17,000 troops to war and continues to kill with missles in Afghanistan.

Time to wake up from the dream – you have been lied to.

@ New Yorker: I would use what WORKS: talking and interrogation, not beatings. Here's a scenario. We have a hardcore terrorist that has information about a pending attack 6 months in the future. We know it's one of let's say three major American cities: Boston, LA, and Chicago. If we beat him up, keep him awake, freeze him, torture him, etc, what stops him from telling us the attack will be in Boston when it's really in LA? I mean, we got information out of him, but information from torture has been proven to be EXTREMELY unreliable (remember the Spanish Inquisition?).

If, on the other hand, we appeal to his humanity, subject him to repeated, hard questioning, but don't prove him right about America being hateful and an evil place, over time he may crack. It worked with the Nazis, and it worked with Saddam Hussein. Not only did we get a ton of information from him, but after we did we put him on trial and he was sentenced to death. All you get from torture is more terrorists and bad information. Please explain to me how we know the information we get from torture is accurate. If you kept me awake for 6 months at a time, butt naked in a room where the temperature was 35 degrees, I'd tell you whatever I thought you wanted to hear to get out of there too.

Quintessentially, Dick Cheney represents everything that was wrong for this country during the last eight years. He should be hanging his head in shame and keeping his mouth shut. In another life he would have been tarred and feathered in a public square". The unbelievable nerve of this man......really!!

Jack in DC

You are 100% CORRECT sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As much as the fools screaming for the heads of Bush and Cheney on a platter want to see them suffer, they are no more criminally liable for anything than previous or current administrations. What's sad is that one day in the not so distant future, all of the Obama worshippers will begin to realize that their world has changed radically for the worse because of his arrogant, incompetent, selfish policies. After he's finished destroying our economy, who do you think will take care of you then?

. Dick Cheney says while in office ,they left America pretty safe from terrorist, but they left America very un safe Economically & politically.

Bush and Cheney also left behind Honourable loads of dept, high criminality ,hostile South American Nation, almost all have become communist or some sort of Anti American socialism, A Hostile Russia and a less respected America by even their European Allies.

They carry the stamp of eight years of American Downfall. That's the best legacy of Bush and Cheney. They let Bin Ladin flee, to Pakistan and then gave US tax money to Musharraf to protect him there?. Not to talk of the irresponsible Iraq war which created only enemies for America

Truth hurts, eh Obama? It's a little different than the liberal media slobbering all over you, isn't it ?

Obama has put this country in danger of another terrorist attack.

Wake up and smell the coffee !

Hey, as long as I am apparently back, (the moderator could disengage me at any moment) why hasn't CNN done any stories on the Iranian rebuke to Obama's offer of voice over conflict? Not one word in response from Obama and nothing from CNN.

Get your guns ready( if Obama allows them), the terroists will be your next door neighbors!!!!!!

I always chuckle when I hear Bushies point out that, under Bush and Cheney, there wasn't ANOTHER terrorist attack on US soil. As though that's actually meaningful or significant.

True, there were two during Clinton's term. One of them killed three people in New York in 1993. The other one, up until 2001 the most deadly ever on American soil, killed about 160. And it was perpetrated by AMERICANS.

If this is such a wise choice, then what do we do with them next? Bush has been blamed for not thinking things thru with the war. OK Obama... What are we to do with these very very dangerous people? Do they now have consitutional rights when they move to our soil? Is that your plan? ... A... hello!!!!!! They want to destroy our consitutional rights, and you will protect them with that very thing! They do not deserve our empathy, they do not deserve our decency. They are cold killers... this is not wise one bit. Wake up and smell reality.

Ok, but will he respond to Chavez who called him stupid, or the Russians who are threatening to fly Nuc bombers to Cuba, or the Iranians who totally rebuffed his Carteresque reach-out. C-mon, grow up.

The "torture" at Gitmo has gotten worse under Obama's watch.

Cheney is suggesting that another attack in the US will happen because of Obama's new stance.

Well, under whose watch the first attack happened?

On the contrary, new Obama policies may help America regain its position in the world.

You catch more flies from honey....

Bush,Chenney and Rumsfield took us to war based on total lies and were responsible for 4000 American lies. The best thing they can do is to keep quiet !

For more than two centuries American Presidents have held to the Constitution. Then we got President Bush and Vice President Cheney, whose leadership, or lack thereof, brought terrorist attacks smack dab to American soil and to innocent US citizens. Cheney and Bush have a lot of innocent American citizens' blood on their hands for making us less safe. He should be apologizing. If he were a real man he would be apologizing.

To all the left wingers out there..... If you get your wish and Bush/Cheney get sent to the Hague for trial, it will create one heck of a precedent...... and signal an end to any worldwide respect whatsoever for American Leaders, Obama included. Careful of what you wish for.

On Gitmo:
Constitutional Law Profesor VERSUS Haliburton Executive

Hmmm. . . .
I'm going with the Law Professor. Thanks.

This argument about "we weren't hit again after 9/11" is bull! Remember the anthrax guy? Remember the DC sniper? To pretend that terrorism only counts if it comes from the Middle East is extremely shortsighted. Furthermore, taking credit for that is like saying "well, I deserve a reward since I haven't had a DUI since my last DUI!"

How they can get credit for keeping the country safe when they were in office during the worst attack on America in the country's history is mindboggling. Do we give Hoover credit because there wasn't another complete catastrophic stock market crash after the first one? Do we give credit to Carter because no OTHER Americans were held hostage? We don't even give credit to Clinton for "keeping us safe" after the first WTC bombing. Give me a break. You don't get praise because you kinda kept things going after you watched the first one happen.

This pres is an idiot, smart because he's got so many of you fooled, but he's an idiot.

Anyway you want to put it, there have been ZERO attacks on US soil in 7 years. Why is it so difficult for the left to admit the tactics used by the Bush administration kept us safe since 9-11-01 an event that only occurred because President Bush "inherited" it. Sound familiar?

Obama kept me safe at least for now for 60 days.
Good job mr President at least I know there is fewer Islamic extremist nuts out there trying to kill me.
ASK yourself if FEWER or MORE Terrorists is the best way to protect our country.
If you are for More terrorist out there then you can kiss cheney and if you are for fewer terrorists then say Koudous to Obama because that is exactly why his policies will do.
The Neocons that profit from wars will never agree with the president

Dick should have ran for president.... As well as all others who are making negative coments.

Jim @11:28

You must be out of your mind. The worst Attack on US mainland was under Bush and Cheney. Bush and company ignored the a terrorist-attack-on-the-mainland warning on August 8 only to let America be attacked a month later.

I'm still waiting to hear how Obama and you other wimps would get terrorists to talk if (God forbid) Obama's daughters, or your own, were taken hostage and threatened with torture or death. Do you think you just might consider torturing terrorists then? I seriously doubt it.

Cheney's smack talk about the new administration was out of place and uncalled for. Mr. Obama served him a lesson.
He should be glad he's not behind bars.

jim wrote: "You better be right Mr President. Remember we did not have another attack in this country under Bush and Cheney."
___________________________

9/11 happened under Bush/Cheney's watch. Then 5,000 more Americans were killed by their misdirection in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush/Cheney ignored all the warnings and advice from the Clinton administration, as well as the National Security Briefings. They did nothing. They even stopped looking for Bin Laden. In March of 2002, Bush was asked about bin Laden. He said, "I don't know where he is. Frankly, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about him. He's not a priority."

Got it? They did nothing before bin Laden struck on 9/11, then they were so busy planning & invading countries that had nothing to do with it that they stopped looking for him.

And of course, you can't blame Obama for an attack if you don't blame Bush/Cheney.

Cheney and the republicans need to be rebuked for their gloom and doom fearmongering....they have nothing to back up their claims, and are being aided and abetted by the media.
You people need to stop with the hysterics – either be of use and help our president or shut up.

@Rick
Oh, by the way keep in mind that the economy started to tank AFTER the Democrats took control of the Congress. Everything was going just fine until then and now it is

B-ll crap. Please give us one example of anything, ANYTHING the
democrats were able to get through that Bush did not approve of? They did not have a majority sufficient to override a veto, force a vote, stop a filibuster. This mess had been brewing for a lot longer than two years. And as far as an intelligent society voting for ignorance for a second term…2004 proves you wrong.

Stop campaigning, Obama. Stop responding to every criticism. Go back to Washington and act like a President.

"You better be right Mr President. Remember we did not have another attack in this country under Bush and Cheney."

Right. We only had the one. I'd call that a mixed record at best.

weather the people in gitmo are terrorists is irrelevant.
we are holding these people without trial, without due process.

if they are terroirsts, try them, find them guilty in an american court of law, and punish them up to and incuding execution.
We can't shred the basic fabric of out justice system and expect to be taken seriously abroad.

Holding people without trial, without due process, and with no regard to our legal process is wrong, and it is something every american should be disgusted by.

jim – so since we didn't have another attack, does that mean that Obama is excused for one attack on America and we can judge when afterwards?

People really should be ashamed of themselves. I wonder if Madoff should get another chance since he only swindled us once?

The Cheny perspective/mindset is on its way to becoming obsolete–albeit too slowly, but nevertheless, imminent. Something to look forward to.

Zion,
You are a smart person. Thank you for articulating so well my views.

The core of this man's being is rooted in respect, honesty, and a protection of a fundamental human dignity that should be a model for any free citizen of the world.
Barack Obama should be listened to... not Dick Cheney.

You all realize that Obama hasn't actually closed down Gitmo right? He is trying to, but he hasn't succesfully done it yet. There is a big reason why. No one wants the prisoners, because they are some of the biggest terrorists, who have admitted to several U.S. attacks. No country will take them...yet. Besides, even if he does close it, they will transfer them and they will be in another prison that is exactly the same.

Also, it brings my heart joy to know that Cheney has ticked off all you liberal idiot democrats. You don't deserve to be happy anyway, and so I am glad that you are not now, even though you have all of Congress and the White House. Even though you have all that, you are still angry people. It is quite funny to read these comments.

xenia
Most of those at Gitmo are not terrorists; former Bush administration officials have admitted. The few that have returned to their respective countries and profess to be terrorists were released during Bush's term.

If Bush and Cheney were so wrong on defense why did Obama choose Bush Sec. Robert Gates to continue to be Sec of Defense?
Oh thats right there isn't a capable Dem to fill that role.

No matter what the poor man says, somebody will find fault with it. They are all deep-sea diving for something to pick on every time he opens his mouth. Attacks take years to plan and that's probably the only reason we haven't had another debacle like 9/11. I agree with the President. We mustn't become the monsters we seek. We need international standing. This promotes countries own governments combating hate groups within their own borders, instead of joining those groups and putting them in charge of the governments. Bravo Mr. President.

Bush / Cheney administration did nothing to make the whole world safer. For them, its all about natural resources, and they use WMD as the basis for invasion. My God, Obama has to clean up the mess, not to mention the subprime mess that was left over by Bush/Cheney dessert menu. Americans must be drunk, they vote for the wrong guy for the past two terms.

I think the President is correct. The neo-cons like Cheney got us into a war we didn't need to be in. He made sure his industrialist buddies got their big pay days, messed up a country for no valid reason, and the sooner we get out and devert the billions from Iraq to our own country the better off we will be.

Mr. President.

If you have not noticed, you are president now. Quite blaming others, quite talking and DO something.

We were attacked THREE times by these terrorist under the Clinton's watch there was very little response or no response at all.
When they hit us in Somila we cut and run.

Bush and Cheney used appropriate power to combat them and now they know that attacking us will not help their cuase!

CNN allow for balanced posting please!

Cheney's comments were a cynical political ploy.

Cheney accused President Obama of making America vunerable to a terrorist attack.
If there is another terrorist attack on the USA, the Republicans can say: WE TOLD YOU SO.
If there isn't another attack on the USA during the next four years, Cheney and the Republicans have nothing to lose.

Americans do not torture other human beings – if you disagree with that core principal of American values then you are no better than our enemies!

I don't want the terrorists released from Gitmo and placed in the US prison system. There has to be a better plan as to how to treat them and Obama hasn't thought his plan through.

You better be right Mr President. Remember we did not have another attack in this country under Bush and Cheney.

Way to go Obama!

Under the Bush/Cheney watch and direction, more Americans than ever were killed by terrorists – 8,000 at home and abroad, the US's image and credibility crumbled, al Qaeda created new safehavens where they had never been before – like Iraq, Iran was emboldened, recruitment for Islamic terrorists skyrocketed and very few were brought to justice through their house-of-horrors concentration camp at Guantanamo.

Bush/Cheney only threatened the US and made the world more dnagerous.

March 23rd, 2009 11:11 am ET

@ Lolcat
____________________________________________________
If Bush and Cheney had read the security briefing 9/11 would have never happened.

Bush/Cheyney kept no one safe. It is because of those two why 911 occurred.

Those Crooks should be singing from behind bars. As our current President we should stop the Bailout and increase code enforcement. It's starting to seem like we are letting the crooks off free like buying them out.

Why is Obama wasting his time responding to people like Dick Cheney ?? Cheney, Coulter, Limbua, Bush and Wallstreet fatcats never learn that the world doesn't rotate around them!

I love the flawed argument that somehow because we have not been struck by a terrorist attack that somehow Bush/Cheney deserves a cookie. That's like saying, I purchased a new fire alarm, and because my house has not burned down that fire alarm works. Flawed thinking indeed. Also, it is fascinating that everyone said last week that President Obama did too much, now this week he is not focused enough, and now he's in over his head. I think if we can tolerate the drunken cowboy who destroyed everything including this country, we can put up with President Obama. I applaud his strong stance against that AIG taxing bull.

The two worst things Cheney did during his 8 yrs. as V.P. was pronouncing as royal edict "Reagan proved that budget deficits don't matter" and that "Preemptive war was justified if an enemy posed a 1% chance of harming America or our interests.

i just wish that republicans would make up their minds,if Bush was NOT responsible for something that happened 8 months into his term why is Obama responible for things that happen 2 months into his?As far as blaming Clinton for 9/11 perhaps had the president(Bush)bothered to read his security memo dated august 6 2001(7 months into first term) he would have been told of a mssive terroist plan for the airlines.

As an American, I fell much safer now than when the last administration was in power. The terrorists will not be stupid enough to attack us now, because they will be doing Cheney a big favor by proving him right. We all know how much the terrorist like Bush and Cheney...

First question. Why did CNN give voice to Dick Cheney in the first place?
Second question. Why should the American public care what Cheney thinks of our new President?
Third and final question. Why do people in the Republican party keep under estimating President Obama?

Anyone with half a brain should know by now that the President isn't afraid of very much. Clearly they don't understand how much courage it took for him to even run for office, let alone serve the American people given how many of them are hoping he will fail...

Republicans will just keep saying Obama is doing a horrible job regardless of whether things get better or not. It's understandable though because after all of the naysaying and obstructing they have been doing, if things do take a turn for the better the party is over with.

I believe Obama is doing a pretty good job given the mess the state of the Union was in when he took office. The bank bailouts may not be popular to many, but it has saved thousands of regular people like us from losing their jobs had the banks been allowed to collapse. I also approve of closing Gitmo and ending torture practices. Treating prisoners humanely gives terrorists less of a leg to stand on.

Matthew, Detroit-

Your comment-56% and dropping. Where did you get that poll? The last one I saw on 3/19/2009, had Obama's approval at 65%.

@ Lolcat

Bush was in office for close to a year after the 9/11 attacks. He had plenty of warnings about the attacks also that he shrugged off. I think you should look up Agent Sible Edmonds. The FBI agent that tried to wrn the Bush administration.

And we the people agree 100% with you Mr. Obama. Carry On!!!!

I am glad that the president was forceful in denoucing the former vice-resident Chenye's statements on the current government's policies on security of the nation. People would have more respect for Cheney if he has kept his mouth shut on issues concerning national security and leave them to the current administration to handle. I blame Mr. John King for interviewing Cheney. Forget him. He is yesterday's news who damged the country's prestige a lot.

In previous wars we have convicted other "enemy combatants" for war crimes such as water boarding. It is time we imprison Cheney and Bush for torture as well. The greatness of this country is based on taking the moral high ground, after General George Washingtons tradition. The cowardice displayed by Bush and Cheney, and our great congress for failing to call them to task, is unforgivable!

@ Anonymous, "Do any of you neo-libs disagree?"

YES, WE ALL DO.

Cheney still beats the same old dead horse which created the worst economic failure for our country. I haven't heard Cheney or Bush mention anything about the economy, just war.

There are those who will find fault in anything President Obama does. They do not consider whether it is best for our country, what the previous leadership has done to us or our survival.
The decisions that had been made have stripped our country of respect, moral leadership and created many additional enemies.
Are we safer, not at all. Are we strong? With our financial, medical, education systems gutted, we have lost much.
Yet, they like the republicans refuse to see or do what is right.

great job. mr. president. keep smiling. laugh and the whole world laughs with yuo, cry...and you cry alone. i love you, your policies, and your STYLE

cheney is only trying to form up for his book, stay out of Scooter's book and influence history. We've seen the former vp out of his fortress of solitude more after office than when he was there. It's hard to get a corporate CEO's job when the public views you as the biggest failur sense Agnew.

meme I agree 100% If Clinton would of took action after The USS Cole attack 9/11 would not have happened.
All Cheney was saying is that the combination of reducing interrogations to the Army field manual, reducing surveillance capabilities and closing Guantanamo will weaken our intelligence and ability to defend our country from attack.

Do any of you neo-libs disagree?

Dick Cheney got a well deserved smack down from the President! Next!

Cheney is a seditious traitor who needs to be indicted, tried and executed along with George W. Bush, Gonzalez and Rumsfeld. Until then, the American people need to ignore anything three of most dishonorable people in American history have to say.

Advice for Dick Cheney:

Be quiet you lying stealing murderer - you'll be lucky if you avoid prison or execution for your countless crimes. No punishment that leaves you alive is enough for putting our democracy up for sale.

If Obama knew anything about history himself, he'd stop trying to ride the coattails of Lincoln and Roosevelt.

@ Tom C, who said "Cheney is a despicable human being..."

WRONG. Cheney is not human. He is an evil android built in the GOP's underground labs in South Carolina.

To Meme,

Please quit blaming President Clinton for all President Bush problems. It was not President Clinton who invaded IRAQ it was President Bush. The American people have suffered enough under President Bush watch. Let me guess you voted for Senator McCain for another eight years of Bush!

President Regan said it best in the 1980s election are you better off today than you were four years ago running aganist President Carter.
President Obama should of said in the last debate are you better off today than you were eight years ago he would of won 46 states at least.

Please President Bush was the worst President this country has had in it's history.

I agree with you President Obama wanted the job and let him do his job he won fair and square.

Cheney's push to attack Iraq – motivated by greed and hatred and the desire to add billions to Haliburton's bank account have made us less safe than anything. The mishandling of every aspect of the Iraqi war from its beginning until very late last year is the reason there are more terrorists now than ever who have us in their sights. Cheney has so many things that he could be tried for it's hard to choose:

Corrupt manipulation of energy prices through closed door sessions with industry captains

Leaking the identity of a CIA operative

Haliburton sole-source give-away contract

Manipulation of CIA reports to push war in Iraq

Push to suspend Bill of Rights

Push to ignore Genevea Convention

The man belongs in prison

On whose watch was 9/11? For that you blame Clinton. Cheney and company completely disregarded advise from Clintons administration and focussed on otehr priorities. Now if there is an attack it has got to be Cheney's fault but the current preseident is focussed at the right place so it wont happen.

meme sez: "If Clinton would of took action after The USS Cole attack we might not have had the horrible day."

President Bush was sworn in just 3 months after the attack. Certainly any failure to act falls on his shoulders as well.

Let's keep in mind the number one job of the President (and also the Vice President) is to keep the citizens safe from their enemies. Bush and Cheney have exactly done that. Since 9/11 we have not been attacked on U.S. soil and I credit Bush and Cheney for keeping us safe. Sometimes being firm is the best way to keep a country safe and some don't like Bush and Cheney for doing that but I am very thankful. I worry that Barrack Hussein (the teleprompter) Obama and Joe (put a foot in your mouth) Biden will not be able to say the same in the next four years (I say four years because there is no way an intelligent society could vote such ignorance in for a second four year term). Oh, by the way keep in mind that the economy started to tank AFTER the Democrats took control of the Congress. Everything was going just fine until then and now it is getting worse when you add Obama to the mix. We are blessed to live in a country where the citizens decide who their leader will be and that we have the opportunity to replace this idiot in the next Presidential election.

Pres Obama Is doing a great job cleaning up from the 8 years of the mess that Bush and Cheney left. It is only fitting to see the conservatives be upset because "the days of greed is over". I heard that Americans are thinking that Obama is doing to much. Wow, a president that is doing to much, you never heard that from G W Bush.

If you are upset at AIG, dont be mad at Obama. The republican congress de-regulated the banks during Bush's first term. If you had regulations in place none of this would have happened.

Of course, Bush decided to launch a war at a nation that did nothing to us on 9/11which has cost us trillions of dollars, and thousands of brave American lives. That is the real generational theft Sen. McCain

Americans in the future will look at the Bush years as America's " dark ages", and in time Obama hard work will turn America back on track

President Obama sent Cheney a message in this interview. The message is Cheney shut up, or I will turn lose the dogs of congress on you to investigate and charge you.

Time will tell whether Cheney is smart enought to hear the message.

I wonder why it is that Cheney or any other republican continually miss one important fact-the 9-11 attack was on their watch.

President Obama summed up the fundamental flaws of the last administration's national security policy quite eloquently. Our country does not need to abandon its fundamental beliefs and/or its morality in order to secure itself from threats.

Why was Cheney even making comments ? The only possible petrid motive, coming from him, is to establish ground work just in case a terrorist attack does happen on Obama's watch – then all the neo-cons can come out in full force and say 'We told you so!'

Cheneywas the worst VP ever – hardly at the job.
He acted like the head of some underground oil mafia that has penetrated the US Gov.

Let me ask a question. Have we had a attack since 9/11? No. If Clinton would of took action after The USS Cole attack we might not have had the horrible day. Quit blaming Bush, we have a new president, he wanted the job and he is not doing a very good job himself.

GObama, keep going Mr. President Cheney doesn't know anything, like we didn't already know that. President Obama already the best President we have ever had!!!

Yeah, and his easiest decisions are spending all of our money and eventually raising our taxes to pay for all this spending–give me a break and stop spending our money!

Chuckles, the man is what lies beneath Obama the politician

This was a great interview. He essentially called Cheney an unthoughtful non-thinker, lol! Proceed as planned, Mr. President.

Obama is not perfect – but he's far above any criticism from a war criminal!

Why are the Bush Regime criminal architects still free?!?

Cheney should be in jail for war crimes and for treason – don't forget, he also "outed" a CIA agent.

Who care what DIck Cheney thinks? No one cared during the 8 years he served as the country's worst VP in history.

YAWN!

Mr. Cheney should follow his former bosses lead and be silent ! Fade away enjoy your ill gotten Halliburton millions, give us at least 8 years to forget you.

Cheney is a thug. A coward who dodged the Vietnam War, but sent our kids off to die for a lie. History will not be kind to this creep.

No one cares what Chenny thinks. He and Bush weren't even invited to the republican convention last year. They are both war criminals and should be tried for their crimes. Their arrogance and ignorance has made America less safe.

Cheney should be tried for war crimes and treason. Nothing else to say about that evil, vile man.

Cheney is fascist and a war criminal... who cares what he has to say?

President Obama was absolutely correct in his answer. VP Cheney, as far as I am concerned, should be very quiet. I am still hopeful he will need to answer for the last 8 years from a court room on his way to prison!

I'm not sure why we pay any attention at all to what Dick Cheney is saying about the war his party started. His not party is not in office in great part due to their handling of that situation. Let's allow our new President to try and fix the mess the Republicans have made over there.

Bravo Obama. Very strong and effective verbal take-down of Cheney.

I have no respect for Cheney. Their policies were illegal and immoral, but they rationalized everything they did and tried to teach us to live in constant fear. And yes, Obama inherited an awful mess, and it will take a LONG time to recover.

thank you, Obama!
i hope you continue to take a hard line against these war criminals who think they still have the fear of the country to stir up to rally behind their crimes!

Excellent Job Mr. President

Just Excellent!!!

Primary job of the Gov't is to protect the American People. Obviously that is last on the mind of Obama and Holder. HOlders recently said "American were a nation of cowards", and "Gitmo Combatants might be let out on our streets".
Obama is unqualifield, naive and a menace to our American Society and the Constitution.
Joan B

Bush and Cheney have done Enough DAMAGE Thank you Why is Cheney not In Jail He has no Credibilty to Bash President Obama Cheney is a Criminal That has been let Free!

Agree with everything that the President said in relationship to the Cheney run way of dealing with prisoners, torture and the way we have presented ourselves to the world.
It was a shameful time that lost us more than Cheney could ever claim we benefited.
We had the support of the world and lost it quickly.

Maybe Cheney thinks Obama is making our country less safe but we are safer with Cheney out of office Even better out of Washington.

Smart move Barack,

Better draw a very wide and deep line in the sand which clearly shows that you are 100% opposed to the Neo-Nazi Policies of Cheney.

Criminal acts in the name of Patriotism are still criminal acts.

Cheney should be facing charges.

stick it to him Obama you are 1000 times the man that coward cheney could ever dream of being.

Way to go O – he hit the curmudgeon will both barrels. Well stated.

Although I voted for Obama and strongly disagree with his giving billions to banks and investment companies, I am gleeful that he is "giving it back to Darth Vadar Cheney".

Cheney needs to be put in his place.

And yet Pres. Obama is continuing the Bush-Cheney policies.

I like his confidence. Good job putting Cheney in his place!!!!!!!!!

On one hand I think President Obama should defend himself, but on the other hand he should hold himself higher than that.

Instead of Obama Rebuking Cheney, I'd wish he would arrest cheney and bush for this mess they caused and can just leisurely walk away from it. I hope they both burn in hell.

So the hardest decision Barack Obama has faced since taking office was to live up to one of his campaign promises? This says a great deal about Mr. Obama and his honesty, or lack thereof, while campaigning for the presidency.

Maybe he should have spent a little more time on his decision to bankrupt the nation with a spending spree unlike any we have seen before. He clearly made that one with too little thought.

Cheney is a warmonger and likes blood and guts as long as its not his.

Cheney is a criminal; he belongs in a cell...for life.

The President had every right to denounce Cheney and his torture rooms. Cheney is the one who has made us left safe. Gitmo was and still is being used by extremeist to recruit jihadists. Cheney is the one pinned the bulls-eye on our back.

What Bush and Cheney did in the name of the United States is unconscionable. They broke treaties, disregarded the constitution and made us one of the most hated countries in the world. How can torture be justified when it gives other countries a license to torture our troops and citizens? They became big brother personified, which is ironic considering republicans rallying cry is "smaller government".

I love reading these blogs and hearing people quote organizations, experts and or anybody else giving their opinion on the economy. If these people were so worthy of your praise, why are we in this mess today? They should have seen it coming and done something about it!

That's right Obama, rebuke the devil.

Cheney needs to put a sock in it. The man is evil, and everyone, including his former employees, knows it.

I believe that President Obama should keep GITMO open for the likes of Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, the CEOs of AIG, Citibank, GM, Chrysler and the UAW "leaders".
No need to heat and plenty to eat... grown in the rocky soil of GITMO!

Get them out of OUR America... it's clearly not theirs!

56% and dropping.

When will Obama take ownership and quit campaigning? He wanted to be President, he got it, now quit blaming Bush. It's your administration now Obama. I'm sick of hearing you whine.

Tell me again why we care about Dick Cheney? Did the Bush Administration get Osama Bin Laden and just forget to tell us? Did they catch the REAL anthrax guy? How many terrorists were found guilty during their time in office? What's that? ZERO you say?!

The guy is a complete fraud. For some reason people think he's an expert on terrorism and stuff because he was there for 9/11. That's kind of like saying the mayor of New Orleans is a hurricane expert. Every objective observer has said that Gitmo is more of a recruiting tool for terrorists than anything else. Keeping it open was creating more terrorists worldwide than we could ever keep up with. He should be ashamed of himself.

Listening to Cheney makes me sick. Why have we not put him on trial and then in jail. Bush was bad enough but this guy is true evil.

Good for President Obama. It's about time democrats start hitting back. However, the President's interviewer was on Sunday talk saying he was surprised Obama went after Cheney. So where was the surprise in Cheney going after Obama? If media starts letting Hannity and Limbaugh dictate the talking points, we're in trouble.

If Cheney were so correct about everything, how come the nation is in the dumper?

Cheney has some hell of a nerve offering suggestions or opinions to someone else considering the damage he has done to our country.

Of course President Obama disagrees with Cheney, President Obama respects the Constitution.

Obama is making the nation less safe from an international perspective clearly. Iran openly rebuked Obama's call for peace.

On the domestic front, even the Congressional Budget Office says that Obama's domestic spending plan threatens the stability of the nation.

Obama needs to be completely foolish not to see the writing on the walls.

We are going back to the Clinton era of letting the islamic extremist have a free ride.

Same liberals will be whining that the gov't didnt do enough to stop the next one as well.

He's being too nice to Cheney. I think Cheney is a criminal and every 'mistake' he made was part of a plan to wreck this country for financial gain. That Bush guy had something to do with it too.

Don't forget Obama was left a HUGE mess from Cheney and Bush !!

i wonder why the President is dignifying Dick Cheney by responding to him when we are are witness to what they all represent in eight years!

I thought it was a pretty good interview...and Pres. Obama was pretty frank.....I mean really, how many terrorists have we 'actually' prosecuted? He was right to comment on Cheney's instigation....
the devil is always in the details of the information offered to the mind..best to clarify things. The Constitution is sacred to the American people...it should be protected at all costs and with great thought and not emotional acting or actions
I don't quite get where people are in an uproar over him laughing in the interview....I mean..it was more likely a nervous laugh...

Dick Chaney might never have read that "whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap".

A nation afraid to stand for it's core values is a nation that won't stand for long.

Cheney acted from fear, as a coward would. The result has been catastrophic with our diplomatic relations around the world. He should humbly go to pasture while the current administration fixes the nations credibility with the rest of the world.

Obama laughs at the trillion he printed....he's making a mockery of the country, and laughing about it.....

BHO , I just plain do not believe you and despise your socialist plans

President Obama is EXACTLY right....there is absolutely NO proof that the illegal, inhumane, unconstitutional holding of detainees by the Bush/Cheney administration at Guantanomo Bay has made us any safer from terrorist attack. What the Bush/Cheney administration did accomplish was to diminish our reputation world-wide and increase the chance that Al Queda will strike again.

Dick Cheney should be quiet and treasure his days as a free man as I hope they are numbered. Like the saying goes "what goes around, comes around!"

Saw the interview and Obama was right on about Chaney.......you know what is ruining this country? The politics from the Democrats and republicans in Washington.......they won't work together for the people that voted them into office they are only concerned about their Party and their re-election and in the mean time we go down the sewer..........so it is up to the American people to show them who is the real boss.......we are....vote tthem all out in the next election.....ALL OF THEM

Dick Cheney,George Bush and Donal Rumsfeld are the three most feared terrorists in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Even on Obama's worst day, he will still be better than the shenanigans that happened in the Bush White House.

President Obama has a plan in motion, Dick Cheney was a warmonger and he loved torturing people. Torture is against the law against the US Constitution.... Hey when people yell about the 2nd Admendment, remember we always had one Admendment constantly taken away and that is our 1st, Freedom of Speech.

President Obama is not a warmonger and he would rather end both wars and do what the late John Lennon sang..."GIVE PEACE A CHANCE"

CNN please post this!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last person I care about hearing from is Cheney! Bush and Cheney have done enough to damage this country and the Repubs now in Congress are trying to do the same instead of solving our problems. All they care about is their precious Repub Party and witch hunts. They all need to just shut up and get work done to SOLVE problems...not BE the problem.

This kid Obama is WAY out of his league !

He's right on the target. Republican really makes America safer by making it the enemy of the world.

And this I believe is exactly why President Obama is President of the United States today. Well said, Mr. President.

The President is doing a wonderful job in his first few days in the WH. VP Chaney, even from the outside is still using the same scare tactics he used when he was in office. If it comes to it, we've held prisoner on U.S. soil during wartime before, what is he of all people afraid of? Oh, I forgot, he like all Repubs. is hoping Obama's policies fail...(Rush clones...)!

Cheney is a despicable human being who deserves to spend the rest of his life in a maximum security prison as the war criminal that he is. if I were him, I would want to be keeping a very low profile rather than ticking off the powers that be.

did bush/cheney goverment policy makes america safe?no way. president obama ,do your thing so long the people are behind you.

Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bush, if they have any criticism, they should tell it from prison. Why are they still free?!