(CNN) - Top Obama adviser David Axelrod sharply criticized Dick Cheney's recent contention that the president's national security policies have made the country less safe, suggesting the former vice president is not behaving like a "statesman."
[President Bush] has behaved like a statesman," Axelrod told CNN's John King on State of the Union regarding the former president's decision not to criticize the new administration. "And as I've said before, here and elsewhere, I just don't think the memo got passed down to the vice president."
In an interview on State of The Union last month, Cheney said the president’s decision to reverse a series of the Bush policies with respect to the war on terror was putting the country's national security at risk. (Video below)
"I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoy, of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since 9/11," he said then. "I think it's a great success story. It was done legally, it was done in accordance with our constitutional practices and principles…"
But in the interview Sunday, Axelrod suggested the Bush Administration terrorism policies had largely failed.
"I find it supremely ironic, on a day when we were meeting with NATO, to talk about the continued threat from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where they're still plotting against us eight years - or seven years later," he said. "I think the question for Mr. Cheney is, how could that be? How could this have gone so long? Why are they still in business?"
Cheney's blunt criticisms of Obama have differed markedly with comments for President Bush, who in a recent speech said the new president "deserves my silence."
"I'm not going to spend my time criticizing him. There are plenty of critics in the arena," the former president said during a speech in Canada last month.
From CNN Politics
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I liked it and I was more happy the way John King removed him from the screen quickly.......lol!
Would anyone in their right maind invest in a company run by this administration or put their personal security in their hands? Welcome to a third world government who in the end owns everything including the national wealth.
you failed us many times, most recently the last 8 years
rather than fill up some of the 24 hours of mindless tv cable news
how about sliping quietly into the night and retire to a beach, get a tan and a drink with an umbrella
you, Rove, Bush, Rush have done enough damage
John King is a republican who can not help it with his wife Danna Bash. I just liked it the way David Axerold hit back. It was awesome even though he was quickly removed from air........
Did Dick Cheney get the memo. I think John King needed one from American people that we moved on!
John King is carrying the Republican water as usual. When was Cheney EVER a statesman?? He is a Haliburton crony and a war monger and I find him to be very arrogant!!
I love our new President. The US has regained it footing on the world stage again.
It is sometimes disheartening to see the way these Republicans are acting.All the programs Obama has is for the benefit of the American people but yet,some people,because of personal interests and political positioning will just open their mouths and say anything they like without considering the effect of their outburts.Dick Chenney is supposed to be a man of stature but he is behaving more like a child.Meghan McCain is definitely more intelligent and sensible than this ex-vice president who does not know when to keep quiet and when to talk.
General Petreaus when asked about Cheney's comment: "I don't agree with that assessment".
I completely agree with this comment by Axelrod.....
"I find it supremely ironic, on a day when we were meeting with NATO, to talk about the continued threat from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where they're still plotting against us eight years — or seven years later," he said. "I think the question for Mr. Cheney is, how could that be? How could this have gone so long? Why are they still in business?"
How can torture and holding prisoners without charges indefinitely make us safer? We are finding that other countries are doing this to our own citizens now and citing Gitmo as the reason. I am so glad that we have come back to reality and appreciation of the Geneva convention. The eight years of GW and Cheney were some of the most corrupt ever!
The Democrats are behaving so predictably. They are STILL hashing out over a statement made over a month ago. They are going to milk the "blame Bush" crowd as long as they can...but it's getting very, very, old.
Axelrod is a political hack. His comments in his interview are illogical.
So because terrorism threats are not completely abolished that means the Bush/Cheny terrorism policies have failed? That's an illogical argument. That's like saying our attack of nazism in WW2 failed because they're still nazi's around.
Everything Axelrod says should be discounted, since he's just a liberal hack in this administration. And all you liberal hacks should get a clue as well.
How ironic that John King gives the softest of softball questions to all the Republicans, but the moment a Democrat hits back, they get yanked off the air...
Cheney is a war criminal and committer of treason, not a "statesman".
I find it hard to believe Cheney is not in jail, yet.
David Axelrod forgets that we have not been attacked since 9/11. In fact, it was the Clinton administration that had intelligence that suggested that an attack on the U.S. was eminent.
Mr. Cheney is right to criticize Mr. Obama's comments on America. You never go abroad and condemn your own country. It is as if Obama believes that he is still on the campaign trail, but instead of running for the President of the United States: he's running for the President of the socialist world.
To call America "arrogant": he is right. We are and should be arrogant. We pulled the world out of a tremendous world war and returned many people to their homelands. The world has always looked to the U.S. to fuel its economies, heal its sick and to protect its people. Why should we be respectfully arrogant?
I think it’s more about being proud. We are missing this today in America and it isn't going to improve with this President.
Why are we even concerned with anything that Cheney has to say?
He is half responsible for the predicament that this country is in.
Obama is our President now, he is doing a fine job of trying to fix what the last administration broke!
I support our President!
Who is this Dick Cheney they speak of???? He is so 20th century.....The US stature in the world has risen dramatically since Nov 4, 2008 and was just solidified this past week during Obama's trip abroad. The old school Republicans need to come to the realization that the high speed rail change train has left the station and is moving fast so they should hang on for the ride or get out of the way.
Axelrod criticizing an anti-terrorism policy that batted a 1000%? Stating that just because terrorist organizations still and continue to plan terrorist acts around the globe is proof of failure with respect to Bush's anti-terrorism policies?
The last time I checked, Bush's policies were to protect and defend the United States, NOT the entire globe.
And this is news?
When did he ever act like a statesman?
Expecting Cheney to act like a statesman is like expecting North Korea to act like a civilized nation.
It ain't gonna happen.
Dick Cheney was the "puppet master" who introduced the "new world torture techniques" all for the good of America. The Bush Administration permitted the "rape and pillage" of our Financial System by friends on Wall Street, and when the crash of the Financial System was close, the Bush Administration permitted Wall Street to manipulate Oil Futures in an attempt to make back billions of dollars already lost. The Freedom of Information Act will provide access, much sooner than later, of the covert acts of the Bush Administration. Dick Cheney is not now, nor will he ever be, a "statesman".
Cheney is about as relevant as Sarah Palin. Two failures, clinging to failed ideologies, trying to point to other's people's failures. Both will reside in the ashbin of ruthless republican partisan history.
Let's look at history... they were caught off guard by Al Qaeda on 9/11 despite an intelligence briefing indicating covert operations were running and despite numerous on the ground reports of Arabs who were in the country illegally training to fly airplanes. They were caught off guard when they spent $400 billion to get rid of a dictator that had nothing to do with terrorism against the US. Chucklehead was photographed playing a banjo in Crawford TX while a hurricane was swamping New Orleans. They were caught off guard by the downfall of major investment firms who were more interested in short term profits than long term stability despite warnings in 2002 that there were strange bad and unethical things being done in the world of finance and accounting. Are these really the sort of people you want predicting the future of our country? Are they worth any attention at all?
A former vice-president does not have to observe any protocal of silence. Chenney is one of the most reasoned and experienced person in this country to critique the Obama admin. The tax and spend policy of this admin already saddles every man and woman and child more than a hundred thousand dollars worth of debt. Is that security?
If I'm not mistaken, Carter and Clinton themselves were not any better "behaving statesman".
Cheney is just pulling a Carter! When has Carter ever just shut up? Its ok for Carter to spew out BS, but for Cheney Oh my God!!!! Carter is ther real reason for terrorism in the first place! Iranian hostage crisis......... anyone posting here even old enough to remember who was President then?
It's funny how fast Liberals forget history!
These comments are pathetic. Cheney was a great VP. For some reason experience doesn't matter to you people. Obama is the David Dinkins of the White House.
The only reason VP Cheney continually refers to the fact no attacks have happened "since 9/11," is to deflect people away from the fact 9/11 HAPPENED ON HIS WATCH!
If Cheney honestly thought that tortures like waterboarding met with constitutional legality and agreed with our principles, why does no lawful agency in the US use it? Cheney was a national disgrace and now that he has no power whatsoever, he cries for attention like an aging Hollywood starlet.
Let him cry and gnash his teeth in the dark. America is done with the policies of a political and ethical coward.
To say that Cheney was not a statesman is an understatement. He will go down on history as an advocate of the sham-legalization of torture as a national policy.
Is Cheney still alive? I thought he had a stroke or something.
John King gave the SOFTEST interview I've ever seen with NO follow up questions. I think he was scared of Cheney. Or maybe he loved Cheney's opinion and didn't want to question him further. Toughen up John and ask the tough questions!!!!!
Bush, Cheney and the Republicans have done more damage to America and the world in the last eight years than Bin Laden could ever have dreamed of doing himself. Somewhere, he's laughing in his cave, while Bush and Cheney are laughing counting the dollars in their bank accounts, as the American people are suffering more than ever. Pat yourselves on the back Republicans... you've earned yourselves a place in American history books as the worst, most evil and corrupt "administration" to ever dominate Washington. Something to be very proud of.
I am very disappointed in Mr.Chaney's criticism of the administration. I hope he refrains from such comments in the future and behave like a statesman.
When has Cheney ever carried himself like a statesman and why would anyone expect his to start doing so now?
The Bush/Cheney Dark Ages are over......may they rest in peace and IN SILENCE!
For those deluded few who say "Clinton had intelligence about terrorists planning to attack U.S. buildings with planes...." may I remind you that the entire BIPARTISAN Hart/Rudman report was waiting for the Bush administration which warned exactly that. Both Bush and Condy said they considered that "an historical document."
In other words, they ignored that information. And 9/11 is a testimony to their ignorance. This lame argument that "He kept us safe after 9/11" is a pathetic excuse for the ignorance that caused 9/11.
Saying we haven't been attacked since 9/11 is the same as taking a "mulligan" in golf.
Doesn't surprise me that Cheney still doesn't know his place!
Go David Axelrod! Glad someone finally spoke up.
Let's see. North Korea just tested a missile that will hit Alaska or Hawaii. Obama wants to cut down nuclear weapons to make the Russians happy. Billary wants to talk. Yeah, I'd say he is making the US a more dangerous place to live. Of course, Democrats have never been in favor of a strong defense (unless they are getting their picture taken with a military member).
The republicans have broken the usa. Let's hope and pray that we never have abunch of idoits like that again! If Chenney is so smart about or situation why didn't he run for the Oval Office?
I see the corporate sociopath using many names is still defending Cheney here.I feel sorry for anyone whos entire life is ruled by fear.
Obama is acting like a statesmen...unfortunately it's more like Nevelle Chamberlain.
"David Axelrod forgets that we have not been attacked since 9/11. In fact, it was the Clinton administration that had intelligence that suggested that an attack on the U.S. was eminent."
But it was the shrub that allowed the 9/11 attack because his administration both Rice and the dick IGNORED the Clinton briefings 9 months earlier, not to mention the sad day in August when th chump in chief was too busy vacationing to pay attention to daily briefings.
So, save all the "he kept us safe for 7 years" talking points. The truth is he was in Crawford vacationing and cutting brush in August of 2001 when the daily briefing hit his desk and it was entitled "bin Laden Determined to strike U.S.", if he had been working instead of vacationing MAYBE 3,000 innocent Americans would be alive today!
You ditto heads can spin it anyway you want to make yourselves feel better for voting for the previous clown-in-chief that did NOTHING to prevent the killing of 3,000 Americans.
I've always been amazed that any administration would believe that other countries would stop their proliferation of nuclear weapons. The countries might agree, verbally, but I bet they would continue. Unfortunately, I think that this administration would wind down.
With N. Korea doing what they do, Iran being the loose canon it is, and China all but owning us, we should be ramping up our national defense, not cutting the defense budget.
Also, our borders should be fortified, if necessary, to prevent undesirables/terrorists from entering.
I agree with Cheney's statement. I think that this administration is naive, to put it gently. If we survive, it will be in spite of it.
Having said this, I also have many issues with the previous administration, too, but I felt safer.
As a democrat I hate to agree with Mr. Cheney but I am starting to feel less secure with all these new security measures and changes. However, I do agree that Mr. Cheney should not be the one stating this but someone in the higher ranks of our party that will be heard needs to. Now we have even more issues with North Korea and we need to take action immediately. I know we need to show the world that we are changing in how we do things but I think President Obama is doing it for the wrong reason and the wrong time. He is acting more on his campaign promises then what we really need to be focusing on right now. That was the one and only good thing with the former administration when it came to international issues. They were handled and handled right then when they were necessary not just because we talked about doing it. If President Obama wants to change our security we still need to be extremely pro active and not reactive as we have always been! We need to show we are still in control and have power even in tough times. Let's worry about campaign promises when we are a little more secure in our country. Semper Fi and god bless the United States of America.
All the Democrats did during the Bush years was to complain and never offer any viable alternatives to the the problems this country faced. Free to complain but never really do anything. Well, now the shoe is on the other foot, but at least the Republicans ARE offering alternative budgets and economic stimulus packages.
Mr. Obama has criticized Mr. Bush, but I think people will wish for Bush to return within a year.
I feel ashamed that Cheney represented my country for 8 years because he is such an arrogant and shameless person. Bush prevented progress and Cheney fueled hate.
Dick Cheney was and remains an embarrassment to the United States abroad and more importantly to us. His conduct in the administration was unprecidented in it's arrogance, willingness to ignore the constitution and failure to protect the United States against an attack by terrorists.
Anyone who uses the phrase "since 9/11" has blinders on.
What about 9/11? That does not count?
Was there no precident of an attack by Islamic extremists leading up to 9/11? Was there no prvious attack at the World Trade Center?
Who was protecting the U.S. then?
Where there no warnings prior to 9/11. Was there no intellegence to show that terrorists were planning an attack?
George Bush and Dick Cheney were negligent, arrogant and the worst administration we have ever had in the United States.
Cheney never acted like a statesman so I'm not sure why anyone is surprised he is still acting like a dog.
And, I am so proud of Barack Obama and so happy and proud that he is my president.
During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack. That statistic speakes for itself. Time will tell if the Obama administration is up to the task. I think they are just alot of talk and no substance. It is also obvious that Obama is ashamed to be an American as proven by his shameless pandering to the EU. He should just renounce his US citenzship, move to France, and run for office there. Obama and the democrats are the worse thing to happen to the US in decades!!!!!!!! I weep for our nation's future.
Cheney is using his former gig to speak up on issues he feels are important, the same way Gore does – the problem is the two of them never shut up.
This Republican idea that the Obama administration is somehow proactively taking over these American companies is absurd. The companies came to us, on they knees beginning for a handout. But instead of a handout, they are being forced to lose equity. That is how it should work. When this happens in the private sector, it is just called a merger or buyout.
But remember, it was the Republican excessive deregulation that caused the market manipulations that lead to this in the first place.
I am all for conservative management of the government (but not the bedroom). I wish the Republicans had actually done that, instead of lining their crony's pockets.
Happy to note that intelligence still reigns on this blog. It is encouraging to know that I am not the only one who sees the blatant pro 'Cult of Criticism' slant in John King's interviews. He throws out questions that are nothing more than his opinions against President Obama, and waits for his Republican guests (Cheney ) to catch the bait, and run with his (King's) message. Axelrod was ready for his biased games. He was instrumental in helping President Obama win, so he was too strong for King's weak ploys. His presence was too intimidating for King, therefore he abruptly let him go. What a display of non-class. He (King) is not suited for prime time. He belongs on Fox along with the crying man, Glenn Beck. Anderson Cooper, Dana Bash and a few others can join him. CNN is becoming a third world network. But I do like their blog.
In my opinion Cheney has just one admirable quality: consistency. He has consistently disregarded the supremacy of constitutional principles in government, he has consistently acted as if the governance of the US is none of our business and he has consistently promoted military and policy goals that may yet be the ruin of this country. He has had his eight years and he has done his damage. The media is to blame for this story. They should simply stop putting reporters and microphones in front of him.
like everthing about dick chenny its the haliburton contracts he worrys about
the US is now viewed as the whimp of the Universe...do you think that for one minute N. Korea would be able to launch a "POSSIBLE" Nuclear missle right in our eye...just like N. Korea spit at us and we did nothing about it. To deny this is insane thinking!
Could it be that Bush is using Cheney as a fall guy so that he can look good to the public or is Cheney just totally delusional or perhaps in the early stages of Altzheimers? Actually, Bush's position if sincere is the only honorable thing he's done since he was elected.
Let's face it, Cheney is not an American. He is a profiteer who benefitted from Al Qaeda. They did not keep us safe in their tenure. We were attacked while Cheney was in office. So what if we had seven years thereafter. Cheney should just shut up since he never says anything of substance. Better yet, keep GITMO open and send Cheney and his family there for the rest of their lives.
Bev
The Democrats are behaving so predictably. They are STILL hashing out over a statement made over a month ago. They are going to milk the "blame Bush" crowd as long as they can…but it's getting very, very, old.
Bush blamed Clinton and eveyone before him for evert difficulty he came across during the ebtire 8 years of his adminstration.
How could Cheney talk about security? 9/11 happened on their watch because of the incompetence of his administration. He's still a delusional fool! We never needed The Homeland Security Agency. What we needed were the existing agencies to start working together and for the Secretary of State to not ignore important memos and warnings from these agencies. So much for small government. Isn't that what the Republican'ts are all about? Yea right!
Statesman? neither Cheney nor the aide Axlerod fit that definition.
Let's see how much credibility Cheney has: Using his position while in the Bush administration for economic gain (HALLIBURTON); responsible for detaining and keeping individuals at Gitmo for years without trial or legal counsel but with plenty of TORTURE (complete and utter disrespect for the Geneva Conventions); responsible for the use of ILLEGAL wiretapping of US Citizens in our country.(complete disrespect for the United States Constitution); a WAR MONGER...........GIVEN ALL OF THIS AND MORE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY LAUGHABLE HOW ANYONE COULD FIND ANY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THIS PATHETIC FAILURE OF A FORMER PUBLIC SERVANT'S MOUTH, TO BE ANYTHING BUT WORTHLESS HOT AIR. Bravo to President Obama and his administration for demonstrating transparency in our presidency as has been shown thus far, and for turning the tide of world opinion of the US from disdain to whole-hearted support (Turkey, for example) – a far cry from the veil of dark secrecy shown in the shady Bush presidency and ridiculous stupidity of Cheney himself......
I dont believe CNN waset time talking with this clown. Cheney mislead the country. he is the one got us in this mess we facing now. tell this clown go away. We certainly dont want him. It is over
It's amazing to me that Dick Cheney – the man that husbanded CIA reports and cherry-picked the information supposedly linking Iraq to the 9/11 attacks – would try to argu anyone else could make this country less safe.
Because of Bush and Cheney's dogged determination to go to war with Iraq, this country has wasted trillions of dollars, lost thousands of American lives, and wounded and maimed tens of thousands more American soldiers.
Meanwhile, we have created a country that has a real reason to hate the USA for ruining their lives, killing their families, and destroying their cities. We have given Al Qaeda a reason to be and justified their hatred of America to millions of Iraqis.
Dick Cheney doesn't have a leg to stand on in criticizing the Obama administration. Bush and Cheney did the real damage to this country and then walked away – leaving us in an impossible situation. Cheney should take the advice that he gave Senator Patrick Leahy in 2004 – the same infamous quote that was so eloquently handed back to him in Gulfport, Mississippi in 2005 by an unknown hero.
I did not vote for Obama because he did not know what he talking about. I can see our economic getting better. Also, Obama has been broken his promises, and I feel not safe at all with him. You will see, he wont' make any better for us, just only getting worst.
1 – Obama said: " he will bring troops home; now he is sending 21,000 to overseas".
2 – Jobs are outsourcing more (up to 8.5 now).
...wake up peoples!
This country was only attacked once on our soil. Just once. Who was Vice President at that time? Who is the only Vice President to be asleep at the wheel, resulting in such dishonor? These are facts, boys and girls, just plain facts. So, as they say in the good ole' US of A, 'nuff said.
REpublicans love to say america had not been attacked since 9/11. there are two fact about this that are sad in irony.
The first attack on the WTC was early in the Clinotn Admin and was the only aatack during his reign, So i guess his policies worked as well.
And second- depsite no attacks here- 150% MORE Americans have died and 1000% more injured in the Iragi war thanin 9/11. And it helped throw our economy inot a turmoil.
So which philosophiy protects America and Americans more?
Greg forgot about 9-11 and the anthrax letters during Bush's presidency.
Is that why Cheney has not been charged with breaking laws because he's a fake Statesman!!
Chris April 5th, 2009 11:05 am ET
These comments are pathetic. Cheney was a great VP. For some reason experience doesn't matter to you people. Obama is the David Dinkins of the White House.
--
And Cheney was Larry, Moe, and Curly all wrapped in one of the White House.
Dick Cheney is an arrogant and self centered person who makes decisions based on his own personal gain often times in increasing his wealth and political position.
Greg wrote:
"During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack"
And 9/11 was?
So if someone other than an obama follower has an opinon other than your's it's not relevent? Are we supposed to belive you people are the only ones that are right,and know everything. You people keep ranting "war criminal" "treason" they should be in jail. O.K. prove it. Show what law was broken. Come on show it,put some facts where your mouth is.
John King's Program of "state of Division" is the state of republican party. How pathetic is his new Progam!!
If Cheney is not a statesman for speaking out against Obama, then Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter aren't statesmen either since they spent 8 friggin' years bashing the Bush administration.
Even though we should not have gone into Iraq, let's give Bush and Cheney some credit for making the surge work and protecting the U.S. from a second strike. Going into Pakistan and Afganistan with our soldiers is not a nice thought but good to see the new Pres realizes reality. The enemy is not nice so hopefully we don't let our guard down for a second. Let Cheney keep all on their toes. He certainly got criticized a lot by them!
Maybe someone should let the Dick know we're not listening anymore, you dribbling idiot!
The Obama Fascists are at work. They come up with name calling and other vile insults if anyone dare question their policies. They can dish it out but boy can they not take it! Just appalling.
Cheney's great plan was to have the house of cards that was our great financial system,fall after Obama took office.The economic
ruin,also took place on Cheney's watch.
Obviously you don't understand how the government works. With a complete control over the house and senate, the democrats are driving this country into the ground. They ruined the USA with their control while Bush was in office, and now Obama has finally gotten her onto her knees! Pelosi, Dodd, Frank, Geitner, ad nauseum....have all brought her down. Wake up you fools! Instead of raising the other countries up, they are taking this beautiful land down to their levels....you want to be like Cuba? Russia? go there and see what it's like. You won't like it one little bit. but get used to it, as it's coming here.....fools.
The interview with VP Cheney took place last month/Since Mr. Axelrod mentioned that we are still at risk after all the steps taken why not go back to the orignal WTC bombing and ask why a 2nd one was even possible no matter who you might choose to blame 9/11 on. To me this is a smoke screen/why not discuss what was accomplished at the trip abroad this week/as far as I can see there is a lot of style going on over there but no real substance. I am probably one of the few here who do not mind if Europeans do not love us(the dislike for this country goes back far further than the last 8 years) I lived on a small island in between Greece and Turkey in '74 where a small coup was undertaken by the Turkish govenrment and at that time the American Ambassador at the Embassy was killed so we have not been well thought of in that region for quite some time
President Cheney deserves the highest level of respect for what he accomplished while in office! No one can argue this.
Gregg-
"During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack"
Really? Despite warnings from the Clinton Administration during the transition, and a briefing in early August in Crawford, Texas, while he was taking some of his 445 days of vacation, we got hit.
Remember that? It's called 9-11
David Axelrod is delusional. Actually, he's a teamist like most Americans. No one is every will to say a discouraging word about their "side." You don't have to like all of Bush's policies but one thing is undeniable we had ZERO attacks post-911. NK just launched a nuke-capable rocket and Obama "condemned" it. Someone needs to remind Obama his words only work on gullible 20-somethings and Marxist idealists. You can "talk" a rocket down. Couple all this with Al Quaeda promising another attack on the U.S. and we could be seeing a ramp-up in terrorist attacks against us. The question then will be will anyone who voted for Obama have the stones to admit his policies failed? No. They continue to cheer that their "team" scores in the next quarter.
I think Cheney is calling it the way it is, one has to understand the world we live in and complexity of the rogue nations and established nations that want to see us fail. The current Adminstration needs to quit selling the story if we give them money or tell them were sorry for being Americans they will leave us alone, why should we lower our standards to make the rest of the world happy!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's rich coming from the Dem Cheney counterpart.. It takes one to know one, I guess.
TO: Greg April 5th, 2009 11:14 am ET
"During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack. That statistic speakes for itself. Time will tell if the Obama administration is up to the task. I think they are just alot of talk and no substance. It is also obvious that Obama is ashamed to be an American as proven by his shameless pandering to the EU. He should just renounce his US citenzship, move to France, and run for office there. Obama and the democrats are the worse thing to happen to the US in decades!!!!!!!! I weep for our nation's future."
–Wow...yea...9/11 obviously happened when someone else was president....Please do us a favor and do not comment anywhere else.
John King the moron!!! I thought his program is a professional journalism till I figured is Bush/Cheney coverup!!
Cheney should have been president. Have you noticed how countries are now throwing their weight around since we have a less arrogant leadership? Old Osama bin Laden probably comes out of his cave now once in a while to see daylight for the first time in 8 years. Might can let some air in the place again.
The Clinton/Gore administration informed the Bush/Cheney about an upcoming attach on the US, but they did not take it seriously. Other agencies told the Bush/Cheney the same thing, but they chose to look the other way. They were warned but took no action. VP Gore did research and made a report that airplanes were going to be used as weapons,but Cheney would not listen. Only the Bush Administration can be blamed for 9-11 and the Iraq war. The buck stops with them.
If some people are afraid of america turning to socialism or being a third world country,then simply put they are living in a vegetative state.Its not possible to achieve that overnight.I think i understand properly now when folks say GOP uses fear and intimidation to influence peoples opinion,just as they did before.8 years is to short for obama to turn US around,you've got democracy for 200+years,and all it takes is 8yr,STOP the Noise,fearmongering.because its not possible
Greg wrote:
"During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack."
So, if not Bush, who was President on September 11, 2001?
NEWS FLASH!
The Bush/Cheney policies did in fact fail, and someone has to clean up their mess.
I will bet CNN ratings will go up this week. I saw a few right wing comments let into the mix. good show.
I think Cheney is acting more like Mr. Potter from "Its A Wonderful Life" than a statesman.
The World Trade Centers tumbled on whose watch...during what administration?
That's what I thought. You had 9 months to do something about it and did absolutely nothing. By the way, why were we in Iraq again?
You Know, history is constantly rewritten. As I do think that the Bush administration totally messed up our standing in the world and mismanaged Iraq, I think he was trying to defend America as his job description implies. I still cannot fathom why in the world he did things the way he did. I also do not see Obama chasing Bush or trying to bring him to court or in front of Congress. Believe me! There are many things that we are not being told! Public opinion turns on a dime. Wait until we get hit again. (hopefully not) I believe it will happen though. If we get hit again public opinion will change. It won't matter what anybody thinks then. The outrage of another hit on American soil will lock in the public's will, never to be hit again.
Carter was bashing Bush policy for years. BHO is seeing what its like now! Get some thick skin, cry babies!
Come on people, you can't honestly think that we appear as tough on terror as we had before. We can't call it " war on terror" anymore. We don't call it "terrorism" - it's "man made disater" now. The Obama administration appears WEAK, WEAK, WEAK. Cheney is exactly right, it's just whether a former VP should speak out so soon. But, we are talking about saving American lives, so maybe the normal etiquette rules should not apply.
these comments are coming from a person that was not and never was a president of the united states and as much as I hate the bush administration of what they did bush is a statesman and dick is like his firstname states
Sarah Palin with her intelligence should be brought into this shat room. Now is she ain't got a brain...who does? Ya mon...Sarah Palinsky...what a picture of intelligence!!! Maybe she can get a part time job at HOOTERS when she is prez...YA?
@Greg – "During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack. That statistic speakes for itself."
So 09/11/2001 was under the watch of which President? If not Bush, and Clinton was already out of office, which Commander-In-Chief was in office during the falling of the World Trade Center Towers, the destruction of the Pentagon, and the airline crash in Pennsylvania?
Leading up to the election, after the election and every day since the inauguration the current administration has criticized the previous administration – every day. The current administration has justified the vast majority of their actions based on the "failures" of the previous administration.
Now when the former VP criticizes the current administration it's "un-statesmen like"...according to Mr. Axelrod. Alas...Change and Hope ring hollow.
Who the !!*+&%!! needs a liberal-approved "Statesman" ? We need someone who will protect the country from loons. Let's all hope Obama is up to that task. It's too late to elect McCain.
As a NYer – to all those anti Bush-Cheney people, have you forgotten February 26, 1993. This was the day that the terrorists first tried to take the down the twin towers and attacked us. Who was President – Clinton. What exactly was his response for the next 6 1/2 years to quell this? Nothing. As a result, we get attacked again on September 11, 2001. We have not been attacked since, and there have been plenty of plots disrupted in this country because of what Bush has done. Everybody should 1 time come to NYC to look where the towers used to be. Where we were attacked, and 2,974 innocent ,republican, democrat, independent, foreign business men/women were murdered. If you think that just by merely talking with a group of people, whose belief is to kill westerners, is making you safer, so be it. I do not. The Presidents first and foremost goal is to protect the very people he is leading.
doesnt axelrod look like Hitler and Obama sounds like Hitler..and just think they are running this country, dang
Cheney, go for it! I applaud your honest sincerity and I also think the Obama Drama team is turning the U.S. into a "France". A real "meow" of a country. I think you and John Bolton should run for President in 2012.
Carter would make a habit of sticking his nose into international issues on a regular basis without any official standing. I dont recall any one in the Bush Admin openly trashing him like this. This is another example of the Obama machine using personal attacks to punish any body with any status from daring to critque the mesiah.
Cheney can comment all he wants. This just shows the insecurity that swirls around inside the new kingdom.
America can feel safe with the President answering the phone!!! Not so witth his predecessors
Obama in my opinion, has been nothing but an embarrassment. This European trip has been a disaster for he and the First Lady. They do not know protocol or have the manners and classs that it takes to represent the greatest nation on earth. I would sleep better at night if Dick Cheney were president.
You friggin hypocrites!
Where were you when the Clintons and Carter were doing exactly the same for the past 8 years.!
Carter ended the so called "Statesman" protocol.
N. Korea just provide the America is nobody and Obama statement means nothing. Open Borders to the South, Open borders to the North and lets leave illegals alone?????? I think that tells us America is open game and citizens your on your own. We have seen how well the Obama Administration obeys the laws and how they change them to fit their agenda and how Congress bushes it off as its okay!!! Yea why should any Country listen to Obama bark about someone breaking any policy, when he does.
He ( Cheney ) continues to act like the attack dog that he was in Bush's kennel. Long after his master left .
Dick Cheney is a thug, a liar, a torturer, a killer of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in his privately promoted wars; and apparently, from new information coming from Joint Special Operations Command, he may have run his own private assassination squads from the Vice President's office like a third rate, third world dictator.
The American ideals of truth, honor, courage and bravery are as foreign to him as empathy for his many victims is.
To expect civilized behavior from such a creature is irrational.
Responding to Greg (April 5,11:14 am) who is weeping for his nation and cannot understand how David Axelrod can be so critical of Cheney's comments on Obama administration when the Bush administration kept us safe. Is he forgetting that the worst terrorist attack on US soil came on 9/11 under the Bush administration. This attack came after constant reports from our own Intelligence that something was being planned and Bin Laden determined to strike America. Greg does have a very short memory.
I agree with Axelrod that Cheney shouldn't be criticizing. Don't think Carter, Clinton or Gore should either, but no one seems to care when they criticize Bush or Cheney or any of the administrations policies. I find it ironic that Axelrod thinks Cheney should shut up, but it's OK for him and Obama and Hillary and everyone else to continuously bash the Bush administration and America in general. Even in this interview where he says Cheney should be a stateman and not criticize the new administration, Axelrod proceeds to be a non-stateman and blatantly criticize the past administration.
What current aministration policies are working? All I see are dollar signs, higher taxes and a lack of intestinal fortitude that threatens US national security. This is progress?
To everyone who talks about N. Korea and Obama's soft response: N. Korea launched a communications satellite. Thank God Bush wasn't in office or he would probably have bombed them for this. It wasn't a nuke people!!!!!
Cheney is a criminal who belongs in prison. Bernie Madoff is a very small fish compared to Dick Cheney.
is doing the exact OPPOSITE of their job. Instead of holding the government accountable they are it's PR wing and lapdog. Totally shameful and disgusting.
Statesmanship? In washington? I don't think so! The congress and senate are full of self-centered, arrogant, self-indulged hipocrates. Patriotism is a lost art in washington. I hope Mr.Obama can bring some of it back! Please remember when election days role in!
The ponit some on made earlier was wrong a democrat Clinton was in office when the first attack was made. There were warnings then Just as there were warning about the attack on 9\11. For reason not none to us the puplic they were not taken seriously. Other however were taken seriously. You make the call. Bush has acted like a president. Gore and Cheney have acted like vice presidents. They didn't get the job the first time, so now they speak out on what they think the administron would or should do. Its called hind sight . Its 20\20. My thoughts are if the government is buying all these bussiness equity, with tax payers money. When do the tax payers get a residual from our investments?Just a thought. I mean when you invest, shouldn't you get a return for your money?
Lemme see, those nutcases in North Korea just tested a ballistic missile capable of hitting Hawaii. I'd guess that never would have happened under Bush. The thing would have been blasted before it ever took off.
So, yeah, we're in a bad way now.
I Agree!
Dick Cheney is a War Criminal & Should be Tried for Treason!
all you hear now from the right is:
WAAAA WAAA WAAA WAAAA
Hey let's apply the last 8 year rule
if you do not support the president you are not real Americans
if you are not with him
you have to be for the terrorists...
wow..you could be redacted to a pleasant 4th world country and aggressively " asked " a few questions until you confess
No..wait, we don't torture anymore..shucks...just when it might have been a hoot to watch, we suddenly become sane again
To Joe the NYer, April 5th, 2009 11:30 am ET
Bush's first and foremost goal was to steal us blind and destroy our Consitution and political traditions. The mess you see is 100% Bush's creation.
Axelrod? I REALLY want to know why ANYONE listens to what this creep has to say. ANYONE with half a brain can tell this guy is a fool. ONLY CNN would run this crap because they are so desperate to bang away at anything Bush and blindly support anything Obama. They moderate out of all discussion ANYTHING negative about Obama..
If it weren't for the RICH and the IGNORANT, the Republican party would not exist.
First, I am consistently offended by this administration's inability to maturely accept criticism. Cheney offered nothing but dialogue about an area of political disagreement. Rather than engage in discourse, Obama's reaction has been defensiveness and anger. Second, when Cheney made his comments, the White House Press response was "I guess they couldn't get Rush Limbaugh." The administration that offers such a juvenile answer has no room to complain about acting like a "statesman." I disagree with Cheney strongly, but I disagree more with an arrogant and immature administration who responds to any criticism with Ad Homenim and name calling rather than discourse. Axelrod, frankly is not acting like a statesman himself.
Cheney had his days in the sun, he is irrelevant now, who cares what he thinks or does? He might make news one day when he is arrested for war crimes some where outside the US.
Obviously we are all safe now that Mr. Axelrod has everything under control. Besides... if something did happen his boss Obama could condemn them in a public statement like he did North Korea.
That'll show 'em! Who needs the military and CIA when we got the Mouth-in-Chief?
To Phil,
You say that during Bush's term we were not hit by a terrorist attack and that shows the administration's success at preventing attacks.
You must have amnesia, I suggest a doctor visit.
9-11 was acheived under Bush's presidency, please, do not assume that this attack could not have been prevented had a president not been on a summer "working" vacation in Crawford, Texas.
To: Philip, April 5, 2009:
Let me Quote you real quick:
"During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack."
Hey Dippy, maybe you should check to see which administration was in office at the time of the 911 attacks and go all the way back to see how many actually had terrorist attacks during their administration. You should really get your facts right before you start writing and talking smack. Yeah, that was the stupidest remark I've ever seen on this blog. By the way next time finish your quotation marks.
I suppose a man who sends dead fish to his enemies is a step above Cheney in self control. Cheney was in favor of sending things that go boom to our enemies who blew up our buildings and there was never a need for a rebuttal. Lets see how talking does in the next few years. We saw how it did for Clinton's 8 years on 9-11.
i cant wait until cheney is arressted
Axelrod asks "why are terrorists still in business?" That's easy – they have been waiting for America to lose its' nerve, and elect a weenie. So far, their wait-it-out strategy is working for them.
Axelrod looks like he comes right out of an old silent movie, and his naive League of Nations ideas fit his Hal Roach image.
Mr Cheney can hush up, unless he would like the spotlight on all the crimes against humanity he took part in the last 8yrs. I was willing to let us move on from the awful past until he pulled his latest move. Now I say string him up.
Cheny is THE BIGGEST creap we ever saw in the White House. Good riddance.
" , so maybe the normal etiquette rules should not apply."
Of course, why would Republicans not follow the rules, etguette, THE LAW. James, whose watch did 9/11 fall on? I guess it was Clinton's fault. Idiot...
Cheney and bush are right where they shoulda been 8 years ago, at home. They never listened to their bosses (the people). Cheney even answered a question about what the people thought about the Iraq war with a very stern SO. Why should we care what he thinks when he doesn't care what we think, or even listen to what we think. That administration completely disregarded the American public and proclaimed themselves the deciders. Don't criticize when our president is doing things for America as a whole, not just for the wealthy to stay wealthy or for the benefit of the corporations they will return to after their terms are up.
I for one love the fact that Prez Obama is paying attention to domestic issues that bush/cheney ignored for 8 years to put us in this situation along with all the crying republicans who went along with it (also the dems that followed). Stop all the crying and spoiled child behavior and offer up ideas that will help to make the country stronger, not just the same old disproven rhetoric that led to this mess.
PS: the markets are up for the first time in almost a year. Go Prez Obama! Apparently something is being done that is right, maybe that's why we see all the extreme criticism of your administration.
Dick Cheney is a Domestic Terrorist and Traitor and orchestrated the terrorist acts of 9/11, including authorizing the installation and setting off of explosives at the Twin Towers and Building 7, authorizing the flying of dummy remote-controlled aircraft into the Twin Towers, the firing of a missle into the Pentagon...no evidence of a commercial airline there...and the incident outside Philidelpia where no evidence of Flight 93 was found. You've been duped people! Wake up!
Then Obama is the antithesis of a statesman – he has ripped Bush as every turn. Toned it down a bit since he has taken office and realized it is not as easy to 'arm chair quarterback" as it is to truly coach the game and win. But he still side swipes him at every oportune time and also makes negative and derogatory remarks about our country. You can change things without criticizing and condeming them. Personally, I don't want someone on my side who things we are the problem. We have and always will be a major part of the soltuion to every problem. Sure we aren't perfect, but in pointing out our weaknesses, it doesn't gain us any credibility or respect – components essential to being a leader.
I respect the positive approach – but obviously the majority of our country thrives on the negativity that he disguises as "change".
If there is a scintilla of justice in this world, Dick Cheney will go on trial for treason. He and his moron henchman boosh, are responsible for the sinking of the US of A to its lowest depths since slavery.
Despissed and corrupt, Cheney lives in a separate world of billionaires and plutocrats, whose lap dog he has become. He and boosh passed our billions of borrowed money to their friends in the form of obscen tax cuts IN A TIME OF WAR, if this isn't treason, nothing is
You are also another (????). You speak for the oppostion. Why say anything. We all know what your thinking. So why say it; after the fact?
I would discredit anything Dick Cheney would say about anything at all. The man is a maniac !!
bush and cheney are Y the country is in such bad shape.. i dont understand how you idiots cannot see that
Will Cheney and Axelrod stop Bloomberg and the MTA from increasing fares !?
So this is what we have come to in American political discourse...you have to be either a war-mongering, flag-wrapped, chest-beating Fascist/Republican or a bleeding-heart, tax-happy, save-the-whales-and-gays Communist/Democrat, and people in the middle (80-90 percent of the country) are irrelevant because they don't yell loud enough or angrily enough. THAT, and not Obama's or Bush's policies, is what should scare people the most.
Cheney is our hero.
Republicans cheered for years while this country's economic system was being dismantled. Now the Democrats have to fix the mess and do we hear "thank you" or "I'm sorry"? I'm still waiting.
Republicans had their turn protecting the country from terrorists. Are they so bizarrely conceited to believe in their heart of hearts that no one but Republicans can sit in charge of this country's defense?
I for one am sorry for the excesses of liberalism where it failed to protect this great country in the past. Can we hear something from you guys?
As I recall, Republicans went on endlessly about how we have to rally around the President in times of war. How about it people?
Charles Williams
Chicago
I do not understand why anybody would give cheney or bush the time of day anymore, these guys and reagan and clinton all helped to run this country into the ground!
Cheney didn't accomplish anything in office aside from fearmongering the American people into believing the only way to protect ourselves is to sacrifice our individual liberties such as our right to privacy and our right to think what we want. I always assumed domestic warantless wiretapping was a North Korea thing but I stand corrected. I guess that makes me un-American for arguing with him though. If I have to choose between which big government I can live with, I'll take the lesser of two evils with socialism. Authoritarianism doesn't really strike me as an American ideal. I'll take better education over big brother any day. You have to EARN respect so I don't owe a thing to Cheney besides my frustration and animosity at the crumbling of American freedoms under his watch. I better watch out though I don't want him to shoot off my face too.
How funny ... Clinton and Carter get free passes to blast Bush while he's in office, but Cheney gets pilloried. Hypocrites, you make me laugh.
The only thing this country should thank Bush for is that he didn't die while Cheney was VP.
For the record, Carter and Clinton became very vocal critics later in their post-presidential years, not within the first month as Cheney has done. Frankly, if I were Clinton, considering how the Repubs treated him, I would have pointed fingers much earlier at Bush's failure(s).
I love it when Repubs get irritated at being reminded of the many failures of the Bush/Cheney administration. They drove this country to the ground and just can't admit to being wrong on MOST issues and truly are angry at not being listened to. Well, Repubs, there is a reason: You have proven you don't know what you're talking about.
Axelrod better be careful when he talks about how long terrorists have been in business after 9/11. I have a feeling they will still be operating at the end of Obama's presidency....
So whoever thought Cheney was a statesman anyway?He's an evil self-serving,power-hungry idiot that thinks shooting people and blowing up 200 innocent women and children to kill 1 person that MIGHT have a gun somewhere is diplomacy and that mass-murder is the solution to every problem,especially if his buddies are literally making $BILLIONS off of the deal.
Cheney,not Bin Laden,is the most dangerous man in the world and he should be kept in solitary confinment at Guantanamo for the rest of his life!Execution for his crimes against humanity would be too easy on him.Let him suffer alone!
Cheney=most dangerous man in the world.... He'dmake a great hitler too.
Axelrod the Chicago thug has a lot of room to talk! This is the sleeziest guy ever to hit the political spectrum
Cheney has a right to speak his mind, but those so-called journalists who allow him the public forum to do so, had better do their jobs.
Cheney is a snake of the first order who has yet to overcome his obvious bitterness toaward those who have cost him his subversive power.. His true nature can and should be exposed via the TV medium.. But no one has had the cujones to "get him", blindside him in an interview.
Of course the real truth is the Cheney and his ilk have got us into a dangerous band expensive mess, he broke the law and should be in jail.. This is where I would really like to see the president do his job; as a Consitutional lawyer, he should demand we prosecute.
BRAD has a great point. I love it.
It's not wrong for Cheney to criticize the Obama Administration, and
vice-versa. This is what Democracy is all about. But if Cheney had listened to former Presidents and others we wouldn't be in this debacle with Iraq. For all the people who say they feel safe must have forgot the attack on America also was to wreck the economy. How safe is your wallet? And last, N. Korea did not develop this weapon in sixty days and what was Bush and Cheney's reaction- Nothing.
I feel that more of my personal freedom has and will be restored With Bush, and Cheney gone.
Reply to anthony n's statement that "Chenney is one of the most reasoned and experienced person in this country to critique the Obama admin"
Cheney is an arrogant fascist. His "experience" consists of years of formulating his "unitary executive" theory which he and Bush used to try to destroy our system of governmental checks and balances and justify the takeover of the government by the administration in order to establish a new 1000 year reich . He orchestrated the destruction of our international reputation through torture and renditions, generating thousands of terrorists as a side product. Now, why should we listen to him?
From Kim
"if you do not support the president you are not real Americans
if you are not with him
you have to be for the terrorists…"
That's a typical comment from the left. They feel that everytime their controversial opinions on international policy over the last 8 years are criticized by those that don't agree with them, they feel as if their "patriotism" was attacked. Then they go off and concoct this illusion that nearly all Republicans are attacking their patriotism (or however Libs are defining that word at the moment).
By the way, how about all those drones on the left who accuse anyone who criticizes Obama must be a racist? Libs and other Dems have been using the "racist" attack against those that don't agree with them for decades.
Hey VIC People like you make the world dark,dangerous,evil and you,like Cheney,make the rest of humanity cry.
Carte and Clinton may have been inept,although nowhere near the failure that Bush was,but Cheney is flat-out evil!
Axelrod, hammer that bandicoot Cheney and his despicable comments. It is him I am no more a Republican. With Cantor and those lechers from Lousiana and S Carolina – I am DONE with republican party – a party of irrelevant bandicoots.
Dick ?? Dick who. Why is the media even giving the chance to say anything???? He is out of office !!! WAKE UP CNN and let him grow old anlone is a war crime jail where he belongs
It is probably TRUE that by limiting incarcerations at Guantanomo, eliminating "forceful" interrogations ( or torture depending on your definition), and the like, we have negatively impacted our immediate security....that is regretfully the price we pay for living up to our ideals and beliefs in a democratic, law abiding, & free America.
I guess if comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice in order to feel "secure"...
Dick Cheney is the worst man to serve this country ever. Not only is he evil, but he is also vile. Cheney is an enemy of this country and should be treated like the traitor he is. He should be deported.
Why are Bush and Cheney still allowed to roam free? They both should be in prison for crimes against humanity, or, better yet, sent to the guillotine.
rob c
Are you one of those people who really believe that someone like myself, who works 75 hours per week, owning my own business, to maximize my wealth, for my family, should have someone come in (Obama) and basically say – thanks for your hard work, we are going to tax you more, take more of what you worked hard for, and give it to someone who does not want to work, or take risk, and have their han out – what a joke
The following is a common stataement: "During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack. That statistic speakes for itself."
The logic escapes me that we ignore the 4,000 of our chilren dead buried and over 25,000 seriously wounded because it happened to them outside our borders.
Cheney; Keep up the pressure. Continue to speak for those of us who appreciate your effort on our behalf to keep our country safe from terrorism.
why not let him criticize? is that not allowed anymore? I mean, cheney is a slimy, evil, sightless, alien creature – but it's a problem when he gets rebuked for attempting to defend policies he put in place.
Obama will end up destroying this country. How dare he call Americans "arrogant" to Europe. Americans are NOT arrogant, congress is. Go ahead Obama, raise taxes when we are down and then we will take the double hit when inflation from the massive M2 increase from all this spending smashes any purchasing power we have left. Wouldn't it be nice if congress folks like Geithner and Sen Rangel would pay their taxes like we all have to on time. Do as I say , not as I do? Bottom line, It is people like everyone here posting on this board that is going to suffer, not congress. Sad, really sad.
Please read im a 27 year old man that comes from a a great fam. tell me what you think about this idea insted of giving $$ to GM why dont they give that $ to working famillys that have paid taxes for at lease 10 years. And make a law that they can only and I mean only spend it on new cars that are great for the world. So if you think about it the car company gets the $ back in there pocket and saves jobs not just save jobs but make jobs all over. It would make jobs even in auto part stores. And then allso the familly that gets the $ for the new car should even give one of there old cars back for scrap that would once again make more jobs but the best thing of all it helps out on polution. and Global Warming. and ya I no I cant spell.
Why not waterboard Cheney and get the facts straight finally ..
Interesting, we have not had a terrorist atack on our soil in 8 years and Bush's policies are called a failure.
Thank G.W.B. for his service to this country and wish the new president success.
I voted for McCain and I voted for G.W.B. but Obama was ELECTED.
Obama is our president and if I don't like him I can vote again in 4 years.
Traveling and living in other countries has given me a deep appreciation for the USA. The only improvement I suggest is to have a constitutional amendment for term congressional term limits.
Think about it.
God bless the USA.
jK
It is the same-o-same-o . . . too many people only know how to be critical and are unable to show any type of intelligence. Instead of Axelrod stating his comments and trying to rise above the level of the typical liberal comments, he continues to support the hate about what is wrong with others and not trying to improve his own comments. Please politicans . . . accept responsibility for your own actions and move forward to better the USA . . . no not continue to talk about the negatives . . . hopefully some of you may end up being considered a 'leader'.
Sadly most of you on both sides of this issue are terribly misinformed and ignorant of most of the issues. You're opinoins are what ever is fed to u by the mass media. wether it is CNN or FOXNEWS they all are slanted. Why don't you get truly informed and develop you're own opinions!!! All sides have thier own agenda. One thing I will say is this I wasn't Clinton or Bushes fault we where attacked on 9/11. It was the fault of the terrorist. Lets keep that strait please.
Cheney is absolutely correct when he says that Obama is making the US less safe. The security and defense of the US is NOT an appeasement position like Obama wants to take, it is a proactive defensive position and statesmanship be hanged. Statesmanship and appeasement gave us BOTH world wars and I don't really want to be tied up in a third one.
I think Bin Laden has been on Cheneys payroll.
It's interesting how cheney, an individual who represented such an unsuccesful and corrupt republican presidency, feels that it is useful to sit back and criticize efforts towards improvements and focusssing on the real war on terror.
He is truly incapable of changing opinions and is U.S.A.'s most dangerous terrorist. He's forgot about americans and only looks to use political platform as a slimy business venture / forcing religious idealogy into government. He's completely untrustworthy and out of touch. Cheney could care less about America.
Not sure what to think right now, but I'm glad Obama regime is getting some early criticism. I believe Obama does try to stay connected, and will hear people's doubts about him and his administration and respond accordingly. The Republicans (I used to think I was one) have brought the country and most of the world to near ruin due to their "forever majority" Rovian politics, hurtful deregulation of the sub-prime mortgage and other major industries, and active utilization of torture in a made-up war of choice in Iraq. They continued their stupidity to the present day with adherence to those same ruinous principles in Congress that brought us to near ruin. Therefore I'm glad they're in the minority now and their capacity to bring more ruin is thus limited...I agree with the other comment, CNN please take the mike and cameras away from Cheney, he's done enough to hurt the country already...
Where was Cheney the last eight years?? We never heard a peep from this crook while he was in office. He just hid out in his 'safe room' and conducted his dirty crooked business. Now he thinks he's a spokesman for Americans?? HA!! If there is any justice in this world, Dick Cheney should be tried for all the crooked underhanded & illegal cr** he did while VP. It would be interesting to know how many millions he made off of some of the government contracts with companies he had investments in. I feel badly for his wife & daughter– I sure wouldn't want to call this disgusting scumbag my husband or father.
i know how to shut him up! bring him in on war crimes, along with blackwater.
To Greg, on Obama: "He should just renounce his US citenzship, move to France, and run for office there."
You no longer have the right to renounce your US citizenship. The Bush administration and Republican Congress quietly removed it in 1993 or 1994.
But at least in France, he would have free medical and dental care (in the #1 health care quality system in the world, the US ranks #39), his kids would get a free college education, if unemployed he would get 70% of his last salary as unemployment, and could get around the country on the world's most advanced mass transit system. And, yes, he would have to pay taxes for it. The US tax system: lowest taxes int he western world (although no American believes it)...pay little, get little.
CNN – the problem here is not Cheney or Axelrod. THE PROBLEM IS JOHN KING!!! Please replace him. He is NOT impartial. It's so obvious he's slanted toward the Republicans. Please put somebody on "State of the Union" who has a brain. Thank you.
Cheney, Bush, Rice, Ashcroft, Gonzalez,Yoo, and the rest of them...war criminals all of them and should be in orange jump suits making road gravel
so it is that cheney fits into the same category as OJ simpson...it took sixteen yars for OJ to finally go to prison on a misdemeanor...it is probably going to take cheney same unless he goes to church...then he is completely excused...LOL
Dick Cheney's opinions are negative and arrogant, always have been. He and many people in his circle can't possible relate to anything that the citizens of this country work so hard to have a decent and happy life. I wish not to hear this man's opinion again on any subject, his realty is so far beyond the real world.
Joe
You read too much HYPE about the real plan. The republicans will always use scare tactics. Take the time to read the whole plan not just what Rush (druggie) Limpbough says
Cheney belongs in jail, awaiting his trial.
David Axelrod! What a JOKE!
Ha ha! Cheney is like the cranky, crazy old uncle that just sits in the corner ranting & raving while the rest of the family ignores him. Batty old curmudgeon!
Pass that memo on to Al Gore, who has been foaming at the mouth for the past 8 years.
I'm sick of hearing that whole argument of how, because we weren't hit with a terrorist attack on U.S. soil in the last seven years of the Bush administration, that somehow that makes his presidency a success. Had Bush not ignored the intelligence and warnings leading up to 9/11, there's a good chance that we would have had ZERO attacks during his entire presidency. Then, and only then, would he or Dick have any credibility in that whole argument. Oh, and what of all the Americans who have died in the "War on Terror" abroad? That whole argument belittles their sacrifice, which is disgraceful. You Bush/Cheney apologists should be ashamed of yourself for dismissing the sacrifices that people have made for our wars abroad.
Is it lost on only me that the most horrific terror attack in our country's history happened under the watch of the Bush administration? The President was warned in a briefing that he received a month prior to the attacks that we were going to be attacked with our own passenger planes. His hubris prevented him from responding in a responsible manner.
I'm am grateful that one of the darkest periods in our nation's history is over. I'm, once again, proud to be an American.
Talk talk talk , a lot of hot air ! Its just going to get a bunch of Americans killed on our on turf !
Axelrod doesn't have a clue about the unquenchable hatred these terrorists hold for everything Western. All one can do is strive to keep them at bay (preferably by terminating their existence/planning/recruitment). I never liked Cheney myself, and I was genuinely repelled by Rumsfeld, but they did help prevent another attack on the U.S. I hope Obama's team can equal that accomplishment... but with a moron like Axelrod thinking that you can "eliminate" (or convert?) these profound haters of Democracy and western ideals in a decade... that's highly unlikely. And, as another respondent said, they'll still be around at the end of Obama's presidency. God have mercy on us.
Cheney is a better man than anyone on the Obama team, advisors, or cabinet. You yankees are not loyal to your country like you should be.
"Axelrod the Chicago thug has a lot of room to talk! This is the sleeziest guy ever to hit the political spectrum."
Ed, I think you are confused. You must be thinking of Karl Rove.
As for Cheney, the man shot a 70+ year old man in the face while "hunting" quail whose wings had been clipped so they could not escape. And then made the guy he shot apologize for getting in the way! Why should we expect him to have a sudden attack of decency, class, or integrity now?
I will also note that the US has not been hit by a giant asteroid since 9-11. No doubt the dittoheads posting here think Cheney & Bush deserve credit for that, too (and no blame for the economy)!
You Bush and Cheney haters are nuts. Believe me , if their were any way they could be charged as war crininals these majority democrats would have already tried them. I thought that all America had to do was elect Obama the chosen one and everyone in the world would be happy , everybody would love each other, every country would disarm and all we would have to do is talk as our new diplomacy. Well reality has set in. Obama got elected and none of these things have happened. Oh but don't give up. Obama is going to go to the UN and he is going to quit using the terms Terrorist and War on Terror. He is also going to keep looking backwards and continue to blame all of the world's problems on Bush. And in the meantime Obama is continuing to steal all of our rights by eventually telling us what type of cars to buy, how much we can make,etc,etc.
You libs need to get ready for the bumper stickers I TOLD YOU SO!!!
Bush, Cheney, Tennat and hundreds more belong on trial for war crimes and crimes against humans abroad and here that their programs have targeted.
If found guilty they should be hung with the same rope they hung Sadam with.
What short memories people have; "Slam Dunk" That could be the sound of them falling through the trap door.
The republicans definition of "being safe" is having a military prison on foreign soil in Cuba. Well I have a couple of questions about this definition of safe: 1)Gitmo was in existance when we had World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, the illegal Iran Contra affair and 9/11. Obviously it did not make us "safe" when any of those items occurred. But the republicans want us to believe that we are now "safe" after 9/11 because Gitmo is there and we are no longer safe after Bush left office even though Gitmo is still there? Yeah right. Another question: 2) Over 700 "enemy combatants" have been held at gitmo under Bush yet Bush has let 72% of these "enemy combatants" free and we now have reports that they have gone on to attack America again. Didn't Bush's own actions make our country less safe by letting these "enemy combatants" loose? Why were they set loose? If they were a threat to America why did we let them go? Oh that would be because Bush couldn't find any charge against them. Final Question 3) How many of the 700+ enemy combatants have been charged with anything and brought to trial in the 7 years that we have had this so-called war on terror? Answer is 3. Makes you feel real safe doesn't it?
Dick Cheney has been and will always be the spokesman for HALIBURTON. With his comments made after leaving office, he has proved this. No where in the history of this country have we ever GONE to war AND CUT taxes. NEVER. That is what the republicans have done and the mounting debt that Obama was left with is what they are going to blame HIM for. America needs to wake up, read and stop allowing their proposed statesmen act in the best interest of war monger corporations. Wait, did Haliburton do well the last 8 years? How bout' they throw our country some stimulus dollars? Huh, Cheney?
We have not had an asteroid hit the planet since January 20, so I guess President Obama's asteroid-prevention program is a success!
LB! axalrod ran one of the greatest presidential elections in history, but you think karl rove is a smart by using smear tatics.
Why aren't Bush and Cheney both been executed yet? Why haven't we banned Republicans from our country? Shame on us.
It's funny when people like "joe" tell me how I am misinformed and ignorant when he can't even spell a word STRAIGHT. Yes, let's unquestioningly thank Darth Cheney for his contribution to making us safe from terrorists. Killing women and children in the middle east definitely does NOT fuel terrorist ideals in the region. Thank you Cheney.
I wish Chaney would run for president. Obama is an empty suit with zero experience, at it is showing everyday. I think he could reduce the national debt if he simply asks his administration and friends to pay their taxes. Really does the guy know anyone who pays taxes. A week before getting into office he says this..."the economy has not been this bad since the great depression, we need to cut spending". Two weeks after getting into office he says this..."the economy has not been this bad since the great depression, we need to spend a trillion dollars". Unbelievable...who will we elect next, Mickey Mouse?
Uh, a safer place? By distracting us with Iraq and overstretching our resources, Obama now has to deal with the mess of N Korea having a ballistic missle and a nuclear capability. Sorry Dick, I don't think you can see the forest for the trees.
and so it is that these shat rooms dissolve into so much baloney...thing is Cheney and Bush will write books...sell them to US fools like the ones reading all this carp and make millions...and come out smelling like a rose...the truly American way, after all these bigshot comments are so much dust spouting from readers here mouths....half of u idiots blowing all this gas here probably voted for shrub and chaney.
I'm scared of terrorists... please take away my liberties and protect me grandpa Cheney
I'll give him credit for being impatient and unnecessarily embarrassing people by putting his foot in his mouth in public but safety is an issue he became obsessed with, and after 9/11 that was the only legitimate mode of operation and he tried to do his best to stay a step ahead of a potential dilemma without pouring rocket fuel on the terrorist's fire.
All those who say Amrica has not been attacked since 9/11 because of the Bush/Chaney's Policies, you do not travel out of America and you do not know anything about the world. Americans are being attacked all over the world as we speak.
If you as a private citizen travel out of America, you are in great danger. You are not going to travel with bodygaurds or guns. You are out there on your own. Bush/Chaney's policies are causing Americans to not travel and see the world freely.
Well, you won't know about traveling because you just go to work, bar for a drink and home. But for some of us who want to travel freely, these policies have placed a target on us. Those people hate Americans and they will get any American they have in their sights.
Do you think if you put a person in jail without just cause he will be your friend when he gets out and marry your daughter? You must be a
fool if you think that.
Some things in the Bush/Chaney's policies were good and some were bad. So let give the Obama/Biden's policies a chance before we tear it apart. You all act the fool if you die hard republicans or die hard democrats. You need to praise the good and criticize the bad. But you criticize on the line of party which is stupid. Bush was President of America and not of the Republican Party and Obama is President of America and not for the Democratic Party.
Criticize objectively and not on party line. Bush did some great things and some did not go so well. And Obama has just started so give him some time.
I wish somebody would put Cheney in front of a microphone and ask him how much money he's made off his Haliburton's contract re: the Iraq war.
I hope this comes out in his trial!!
What a dark period of time for the United States!! Corruption at its
worst!
Who's Cheney to talk about making America less safe? His administration has diverted American resources from Afghanistan to Iraq so that Al Quaeda now had plenty of time to comfortably relocate to Pakistan. They've also ignored the warnings from North Korea for all their years, even given them aid in return for empty promises to stand down. Now we have to deal with both because Cheney and his lackeys were more interested in Iraqi oil than actually protecting America. Cheney betrayed America!
If Cheney continues to asser that the Bush / Cheney torture program was legal lets prosecute them so we can get all the facts. If they did nothing wrong why should they care ? Isn't what supporters of their eavesdropping program said? He should be in jail.
Of course Cheney is a statement and what gives that him the right to say who is and who is not. When the Obama administration can lno longer critize the Bush Administration what are they going to do? That is all they know how to do and it is time to move on. Bush and Cheney are gone, much to our dismay. I can say I sincerely believe the Obama administration is one of the most arrogant we ahve ever had. Get over Bush and Cheney. Take responsibility for what you are doing, Alexerod, you are noboby and never will be.
Why do the Republicans and Bush, Cheney keep talking about keeping us safe and how Obama is dropping the ball when 911 happened on THEIR WATCH. Do they not understand that terrorist struck the US on their watch. Does anyone else notice that Republicans are always preaching personal responsibility yet when they screw up they ALWAYS blame Democrats, are never responsible and never accountable for anything. Republicans, the holier than thou party of hypocrites.
I only got to the part in Axelrod's article saying that Bush is a statesman for making the decision not to criticize the new administration, indicating that Cheney must not have gotten the memo. Heaven help us! If BHO would stop his constant and bitter demeaning of President Bush and his administration, and would just own his own presidency, maybe we could call him a statesman someday. Whether Cheney got the memo or not, I'm glad to see that his well seasoned opinions and vast experience are still valued enough for the mainstream media to report.
President Bush has always been a statesman and a gentleman because that's who he is.
To TexasAnnie,
To make all of those accusations along with the name calling you are a disgrace, You have no proof of anything. But like most libs you get caught up in the garbage that they spew.
9/11 happened on Cheneys watch and was warned about it ,period.He didnt care,he was in his bunker and ready for it and getting ready to get richer.
We can help ourselves if we take a page out of ancient Egyptian history that removed all mention of individuals who they perceived as unworthy of their place in history. Cheney doesn't deserve to be mentioned, he has earned the right to be shunned.
If any of you people looked for the truth on anything you would remember that Dick Cheney was a servent of this country for over 25 years and everyone , even dumacrats loved him. But when the media tore him up everyone thats braindead and don't care about the truth jumped on the bandwagon. You all need to check out Haliburton for your own dumb self . Every country uses them. Not because of Dick Cheney but because they are the best at what they do! If it were about the money He could have stayed with them. Excuse me idiots don't care about the truth.Or they can't figure it out. but you know what, someday you will. I bet none of you people has served one day for this country. Thats why you can sit on your brain and think you have answers!
Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore should be reminded about statemanship. They spent eight years trying to undermine our government and the President. JImmy Carter is a despicable person and should be reprimanded by Axelrod for his nonsupport of our country. What a shame he had four years in the White House!
Isn't hindsight great? There is nothing you cannot say in hindsight. Were we not attacked again after 9/11 specifically because of George Bush and Dick Cheney? I can think of other things which may have contributed, such as supportive other nations, and even the neccessarily secretive ANd long-term vision of Osama bin Laden. Nonetheless, it makes complete sense that taking the war to the enemy by taking on Afghanistan's Taliban was absolutely the way to go. It is impossible to imagine we would not have done that., and ANY President of the US would have had to do it.
At that point it was also very winnable. But taking our eye off that and turning most of our effort against a tinpot dictator in another place just threw it all away.
Is there anyone out there who voted for Bush Cheney? I've personally never met one of these people. Defend yourselves. Defend your president.
Is this really still America? Freedom of speech applies to all not just those who agree with us, at least not until Obama makes it illegal for anyone who disagrees to speak up. Every time he talks he blames everything on Bush, so why is it Chaney is supposed to shut up? Time is coming that we will all see through the eloquence and realize we are losing our freedom....
I can't believe that people think the people in the White House now think everything they are doing is going to make this country safe. Dick Chaney has it right on the button when he talks about the new policies being harmful to the security of this great nation.What great thing has Mr. Obama done yet that is good NOTHING and he will continue this path because he does not have the leadership to be a great leader.
The only change I have seen from Obama is his appeasement of terrorists and is disconnect of what the founding fathers put into the US Constitution. Bush may have moved the boundaries of what the Constitution authorizes, but did so for the welfare of the whole nation. Obama is wanting to push the limits of the Constitution in order to put the whole nation on welfare and for that he should be condemned.
Republicans are going to keep us safe yet 911 happened on their watch, 8 years later Al Qaeda is still in Afghanistan, we've spent billions of dollars just to bring democracy to Iraq and in effect just produced more recruits for Al Qaeda. When was the last time that we've spent so much yet accomplished so little? Bush spent like a mad man yet what do we have to show for it? NOTHING. That is the definition of failure.
Bush policies have not kept us safe? What are you liberls smoking, besides your usual stuff. If Bush has promised on 9/12/2001 that there would be no more attacks on the US under his watch would anyone have believed him?
Iraq is won, our enemies live in caves yet the man doesn't get a single word of thanks – unbelievable.
If anyone thinks our community organizer in chief will keep us safe you are naive and we will pay the price in blood.
David Axelrod is completely right when he said that Dick Cheney is not acting like a statesman, because he is not a statesman, he is a THUG he is a great LIAR shame on Dick Cheney
The Obama administration has already wiped out terrorism in the world by banning the use of the word. For example, 9-11 was not a terrorist attack, but merely a "man made disaster". Problem solved!
Actually, the real disaster is our bumbling community organizer who sounds more like Jethro Bodean when he doesn't have his teleprompter at hand so that his puppeteers can feed him some semi-intelligent comments.
Are we going to hold all ex presidents/vice presidents to this same standard? As entertaining as this is, the rants of the right and left, I think we forget President Carter and all his derogatory comments about President Bush? If Mr Axel rod applies the same standard to President Carter as he does to Vice President Dick Cheney, then we can say President Carter is not a statesmen either?
We can not hold President Obama's past comments about President Bush to the same level, he said what he said in an election and that is not measured the same as ex presidents/vice presidents speaking poorly about sitting presidents/vice presidents.
If we need an example, let's remember Democratic leadership (Rep. Pelosi, Sen. Durbin and Reid ) all told the President of Venezuela to shut up when he spoke poorly of the President of the United States. We can discuss and argue our views but remember at the end of the day it's our President. When we drag the office down we drag the United States down with it. The President will be in office no more than 8 years, our country will be around well past any Presidents term. All the President really does is sign or veto the bill's congress submits to the president. It's congress that really screws this country, and a fine job they've done so far. Unfortunately they do not have an 8 year limit.
Compared to Biden, Cheney is a world leader. Axelrod "thinks" that a statesman is anyone who agrees with him.
Personally, I think if Cheney had a brain he'd be dangerous! We are
in this mess today b/c of Cheney, it was he, not Bush who ran this
country & see where it got us? Now, Obama has the distasteful task
of cleaning up their mess. I have utmost confidence in Obama & he
will succeed. What you yahoo's out there who have no faith in Obama
ought to sit back & give him some space.....you're quick to judge, my
goodness the man has only been in office less than 90 days! I do
believe tho, that both Bush & Cheney should be brought up on
charges of failing this wonderful country.....the sooner the better!
Let's look back at the historical record: In 1993 Bin Laden's men attempted to topple one of the World Trade Center towers but were unsuccessful. Clinton had seven more years in which to eliminate Bin Laden but failed to do so, a failure he himself admits was one of his greatest. Since he left office he has paraded around the country making tens of millions on speaking tour – millions he doesn't deserve. In 1990 Bush/Cheney 'steal' the first Bush election thanks to Jeb Bush in Florida. Three years later we enter Iraq under the pretense of weapons of mass destruction that didn't exist. Haliburton, the company Cheney was CEO of prior to becoming VP, becomes the biggest and most profitable contractor to the Iraq war effort and over the course of the next six years Cheney cashes in his residual stock options in Haliburton making millions in the process. If you run the numbers Cheney's net worth increased by roughly one dollar for every dead, wounded or homeless Iraqi and one dollar for each and every dead or crippled American soldier. Six months before they leave office the price of oil temporarily quadruples giving big oil unprecedented record profits. After running the American economy into the ground while making the rich in America MUCH richer Bush and Cheney like Clinton retire on their millions and fat pensions while simultaneously tens of millions of American's are losing their jobs and homes. The bottom line: Washington is corrupt and self-serving and ceased representing Main Street a long time ago.
Thanks Frank, too many don't want to acknowledge what you said, most of the Bush/Chaney fan club are being fed Kool Aid from the blowhard who had 6 or 7 deferments.
Frank April 5th, 2009 11:51 am ET
The following is a common stataement: "During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack. That statistic speakes for itself."
The logic escapes me that we ignore the 4,000 of our chilren dead buried and over 25,000 seriously wounded because it happened to them outside our borders.
I live in Iraq, work in Baghdad, and only hope the American taxpayer realizes that the monies spent here – could have re-paid the U.S. debt many times over, rebuilt OUR infrastructure, OUR schools, and alleviated the misery of millions of unemployed. Tax the hell out of Cheney and Bush to pay for their misguided adventures.
You guys are all not seeing this at it is. More people die from drunk driving accidents and Heart Attacks in the US every year than Americans who have died by so called "Terrorist" attacks in the last 20 years. Americans are more scared of Osama Bin "whatever", than the Cheeseburger they are putting down their throats. Does anyone else see what is wrong here? USA has lost over 4000 Heroes in Iraq. Fighting for their country. I believe in that, it is Honerable. Your American, Greedy, Money Grubbing Leaders sending you to your deaths over money isn't honorable, and then brainwashing you to think that you are going to suffer a sudden wave of attacks? - If you were to blank the word "Terrorism" out of every Bush/Cheney speech, every CNN newscast during that time, NONE of them would make sense. Instead replace the word terror with "bad guy" and see how silly they seem. They have just hyped it up. They've got you more scared of an IMAGINARY foe than you should be about your own health. I feel sorry for your Nation. I feel sorry for every person suffering through this economic crisis but all I have to say is that your country brought it upon it self by not acting as a proper democratic nation. Every last one of you sits around waiting for someone else to do something, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE.. remember that one some from where? THE PEOPLE.. key word, not "The Few". It is the responsibility of a democratic people to ENSURE that their government does THEIR bidding, not the other way around. So ACT LIKE IT, instead of talking a big game all of the time.
God Bless America, because if he doesn't, who will.
Why do we keep hearing that the past administration kept us safe? 9-11 happened on Bush and Cheneys watch. They were briefed on the danger and where it was coming from. They KNEW we were going to be attacked. Lies and obfuscation did not make us safe. Torture did not make us safe. Every intelligence person coming out of Iraq say that the terror there escalated as word of GITMO and Abu Grahib got out. Most foreign fighters, (saudis) were there for revenge for the prisons. Bush and Cheney got us into war for profit. Not too surprising as Bush's granfather sold oil to the Nazi's in WWII just for the money.
Hopefully, if all the evidence hasn't been destroyed already, Cheney & Co. will be indicted, tried and convicted in the country for at least civil rights violations. Better yet, in order to regain the image and reputation that the US once enjoyed by was destroyed by the last administration, Obama should sign on to the World Criminal Court and then immediately ship them the last administration for prosecution as a sign of good faith.
I agree that perhaps Vice President Cheney was too public about his opinions. But where was this sensitivity when Jimmy Carter was repeatedly critical of former President George W Bush?
Can anyone explain to me why I keep reading that the prez is weak. How can he be weak when he shows so much strength. Coming from a mixed race background and a time that was so against him to leading the US doensnt amount to weak in my mind. What that tells me is that unlike the last prez we had that came from wealth, we have someone who has the experience and insight into the cultural identity of America to formulate a better path ahead for America. Even though we as a nation could more than likely kick but all over the world to get what we want, that is not the mark of strength but stupidity since we need other countries to keep this world stable. If never use your mind and always your fists like bush/cheney it makes others want a piece of you to prove their strength. Strength with wisdom on the other hand forces others to play their cards in a way that u can counter or predict their actions. Like with NK, had we shot down that missile(that was a failure) there would be another war the US would be tied up in because we have so many assets in that region and are basically responsible for Japans security and SK continued independent existance. And let's not forget China and Russia are players there too. Sometimes showing restraint and hearing the concerns of others is a sign of true strength. I believe this the case here, espescially when one can just runover another with snap of the fingers. One sided and rushed judgements as is the case with bush/cheney almost never involve thoughts about the consequences of actions which to me is a sign of weakness. Most of all globally it only pisses off other nations with real strength even though they may not be as strong as us they still have influences in the world that we don't need to alienate. Ask the US economy, and all of my fellow unemployed who have virtually no say in the matter outside of a vote every couple of years.
God Bless George W. Bush and Dick Cheney! Look at the facts, North Korea was stroked on the Clinton watch. There were no launches over the last eight years. One more thing that the dems will blame on Bush. Take responsibility, dems in power since 2006, they have there PR machine at full throtle. They use scare tactics and LIES!
You wish Cheney would run for president – yea, me too hopefully in 2012. After all he is the most despised VP ever (he didn't dare come out of hiding until after the election), so his chances of breaking 25% vote would be amazing. He's even hated by some of my Republican friends – PLEASE, PLEASE – that would be awesome.
GG63 as a Soldier for the last twenty years, I can tell you President Obama's comments about arrogant Americans is exactly correct. Why do you think we in the military have had such a problem getting things squared away in the middle east. Everytime I sent Soldiers to go learn some of the language of the country we were going to my Soldiers would look at me and say why do I need to learn this jibberish. We have an attitude, that everyone should speak what we speak and act like we act and if they don't they are less than us. That is the textbook definition of arrogant. I am just giving you the military version, cause I can guarantee you that it happens even more for business and tourist Americans throughout Europe. You need to get you head out of the hole and realize this is a planet that is inter-connected and we have to learn to deal with each other. As a Soldier I have been doing it for years, and I can tell you in the School I am in right now where there is atleast one foreign student in each class, they believe that as well. It is only after we let down our attitudes and they begin to see the real us that they realize we are not as arrogant as we appear.
For ALL Republicans who complain about Obama; grow up! The GOP/RNC is the party of right-wing extreme Christianity that borders on siding with the KKK. Cheny, Rove, Rush, and their cronies have destroyed the dignity and confidence of this country. Obama is restoring America's image and confidence in the world.
I am glad I am an EX-REPUBLICAN!
First off, I am a Republican, I voted to Bush, but I did not think McCain was the right man for the job this time, hence I voted for Obama. This country needs serious help. Neither financial times nor terror threats care about who is in office. The fact is that there have been lies over the years concerning real threats, weapons that did not exist and so on. Its over, so lets just go on and learn from our mistakes because we can't change the past. The fact is that the intelligence stunk or somone lied...you pick it. If someone really wanted to kill a lot of people, or blow up a building, there are 1000 ways to do it...its not about that...its about a group of people in this world that do not like us like a big bully...As far as Cheney goes, the man is old, he needs to just fade away into the sunset to Wyoming... I used to like listening to him talk but as he got older, his views changed. I remember when he spoke at Henry Hyde's fundraiser (RIP)...he said China was his big fear...not some knucklehead from the middle east...as far as him being a Statesman...he was never a statesman...he was a bully. As far as Bush goes...I think he was uninformed and made decisions with second string quarterbacks at his side...I thought the second time around that might change...clearly it did not...Lastly, this country does not need a mud slinging contest between the old administration and the new...that just opens old wounds and is clearly not in our best interest...so since we are the ones paying for your lifestyles not, it is real simple..."Kids....if you don't stop it, you can go to your room and you'll be grounded for a week!"
Oh, this "take away liberties" thing is a real winner also.
How many of you PERSONALLY know anybody that has been affected by having their "liberties" taken away by Bush?
I've only heard of one American citizen that has been affected by these laws. I read about it in the newspaper. Some guy went to the library and used the library computer to look at kiddie porn on the internet and he was arrested because the library now monitors their computer uses because of one of Bush's "liberty" laws. Before Bush's law, he would have been able to do that with impunity.
You know anybody that has been negatively affected by their liberties being taken away?
Tom
@matt – I'd like to see the source of your quote that Obama said "the economy has not been this bad since the great depression, we need to cut spending." I highly doubt he said that or anything like that in regard to Federal spending (and no, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh do not count as "sources"). Only the Republicans have been dumb enough to trot that line out. It's as if the lessons of the Hoover administration have been completely forgotten by them...
This is one time Bush's tactic of "do nothing" is actually appropriate. I applaud him in this instance. I am sure he still thinks he is right, but for Chaney or Bush to try to now tell the American people that their course was the best one would be continuing to march to the beat of a very, very different drummer than the rest of not only the U.S. but the world, as witnessed during President Obama's trip!
Cheney is a salesman/cheerleader for the defense industry: His comments come as a surprise ?
If Cheney is not a statesmen, what does that make Jimmy Carter? He was an actual President and all he did the whole time was criticize a sitting President for 8 years. What about Al Gore, He also criticized Bush every step of the away on the environmental front. Obama's people are just distracting us from his failed trip to Europe, diverting news away from the fact that he could not get any combat troops for Afghanistan and that the Europe will not spend any more to stimulate the global economy because they have already maxed out their credit card.
So it was ok for President cCrter to speak his mind during Bush admin, but not for vice president Cheney eh? Typical.
Know the biggest difference between republicans and dems? Dems hoped for bush to fail, no matter the cost to the country. Most republicans hope Obama succeeds, becuase they care about their country.
Bush is "acting like a statesman" because he wants to withdraw from the scene as quietly as possible, letting his critics focus on Cheney. Bush said that the new president "deserves my silence." Bush knows that he could never match wits with Obama and that he has no credibility. It is in Bush's self-interest to remain silent. That is his reasoning; his motive is not to be a statesman.
Greg said: "During President Bush's administration we were not hit by a terrorist attack."
Did you miss that whole 9/11 thing?
Cheney needs to be turned over to the Spanish court which is preparing to indict him and other top Bush officials for war crimes. The only person that stands between him and a trial in The Hague is President Obama. Bush is smart to keep his mouth shut. Cheney is not as bright... Who can blame our new president for throwing Cheney under the bus and saving Bush. Also, Cheney is guilty of treason for outting an undercover CIA agent...and just recently...for undermining Obama to our Israeli allies. He told them that the then president elect was pro-Palestinian and would not support Israel. This neo-con super hawk...who was a chicken hawk during the Vietnam war with 5 deferments...needs to be caged and muzzled. His involvement with the torture of prisoners at Gitmo and the foreign rendition of terrorist suspects needs to be fully investigated. He is a disgrace to public service and has brought shame and disrespect to the office of the vice president.
Can current administration do no wrong?
Can previous administration do no good?
Current administration sounds very similar to the Chinese Communist Party at 1949 when they just started; demonized the rich, share the wealth of others, while every body wants to be rich, and opposition is destined to be Tiananmen-Squared.
The time when the direction of Communist Chinese is leaning and marching toward the direction of Capitalist America, the American is going back to the trail where the Communist Chinese started.
Lesson will be learned only when we actually experience it.
First of all, Cheney is just a bitter old man yelling out his window to the Obama administration to get off his lawn! He's just a fraction of many probs the repub party have. They all should be on bended knee thanking Prez Obama for being so willing to clean up the tsunami of a mess they left behind. Cheney and his followers who take what he says as meaningful, are useless and only make our Prez's job that much tougher. They spout off about "being real Americans" but they would rather have America fail so they can return to power, than support the opposing party now in power. These people would take the last life boat on a sinking ship, while leaving women and children behind, to salvage their bitter agenda. The repubs still cant come to the table with solutions, just sour grapes. This includes their supporters.
I'm supprised that anyone is still taking Dr. Evil seriously. Anyone with a brain should recognize what Dick Chaney is by now. My God !!! When he puts that black hat on that he wears, along with his black suit, he looks exactly like what he really is. Hell, he even talks out of the left side of his mouth.
CHENEY deserves NO respect or even a mention in the media!
He and Bush should be in jail!
Anyone who supports them is as crazy as they are.
The last eight years are proof that they did not have a clue what they were doing, and look at the end result!
I support President Obama.
I simply love reading all of the hate for the previous president and the new president. Both were legally elected. I think both did/will do what they believe is in the best interest of our country. Both men have very different beliefs as do Americans in general. This hatred of one party or the other and the doom and gloom of each party in power is nothing new. Do I think we did the right thing in each and every instance, no I do not. Do I believe that all presidents at some point get bad or misinformation, yes I do. Presidents are elected as all posts are up to the President to accept or change at his discretion. But all individuals below the cabinet level or head of a department are long term employees with their own political ideologies. I think we need to understand that fact and to expect more of everyone collecting a paycheck from our taxes.
Of course Cheney isn't a statesman. He's retired, just like AlGore is. Cheney has just as much right to speak out against the Administration as Gore did against Bush...
So many people out there that can only regurgitate what the biased liberal media has told them for the last 8 years instead of actually looking at the facts. Do many of you actually have the capability to do a little research on your own and come up with your own conclusions instead of just repeating the talking points of the left? No wonder we are in the situation we are in...truly sad that so many lack any cogniti
Whether he is right or wrong about Cheney (and I was never a big fan of the VP), the Obama administration better start looking to themselves for accountability. The blame game can only go one for so long.
I am glad Mr Chenney has a freedom of speech that he and Rove tried to take away from the many of us, unless you subvert the Government the way he did. I am glad he has been compared to O.J. , but I think that is to light a comparison.
The true Bush doctrine is being erased finally "fear is the only thing we have to rule this counrty"
Obama has gone back to Roosevelt "all we have to fear is fear itself"
Fear is not terrorism it is the people who make it worse namely the republican party. Who since thier inception has used fear to get elected.
First of all, let's remember that Cheney claimed years ago that the Iraq insurgents were "in their last throes" and who also just claimed that the Bush/Cheney administration accomplished what they sought out to do in Iraq. Why should anyone believe him at all??
Secondly, his criticism of the incoming Obama presidency to Israel was treasonous.
Thirdly, Cheney must be indicted and tried for all the crimes he has committed, and may still be committing, for the sake of the country's future.
And finally, let's call it like it is: Cheney is a cowardly, greedy, vindictive war profiteer and war criminal.
My wife and I strongly supported and worked to have Barack Obama president. We are so proud of the way our new president has lead our nation! To read that Mr Welch, a very important leader in business, express his impressions that "give high marks to Obama" makes our day.
I only want to know two numbers from Cheney. What was his net worth when he became vice-president and what is it now? Since he handpicked his Haliburton for exclusive contracts in Iraq, I guess that I already know the answer. War is great for business.
Note the overwhelming number of readers think that Cheney should be tried and convicted. That isn’t the liberal media – these are our fellow citizens of every political persuasion. The Cheney-Bush supporters are blinded by ignorance; they don't (or, worse, do) recognize that the entire Bush-Cheney reign was all about raiding the US treasury and borrowing trillions from future generations enrich their friends and attempt to solidify their manic thirst for power. History shall recognizes this will and permanently enshrine this as the greatest theft in the history of the world – those are the crimes of which these evil people a guilty and they will be sentenced in every history book to come.
Mike
Cheney did more harm to this country than any other individual in the history of this country. He essentially raped this country with impunity and enriched his friends (and himself) to an extent that will shock people as the truth eventually comes out. He isn't a patriot, he is a thief and a traitor.
I simply cannot believe that Dick Cheney had the audacity to question the Obama adminstration,. Isn't that treason? Can't we send him into exile or something? Come on people, this Week's trip to Europe should have made it clear that foreign leaders are playing the President like a violin. All smiles and kind words, but no real suppoprt. Popularity does not equal effectiveness.
I'm more scared of people like Cheney.
I disagree with for former vice president’s comments on John King’s program. They were clearly improper and served no purpose for a solution to fighting terrorism. However, I do not think David Axelrod’s statement which very well suggests that the former administration’s policies failed to eliminate Islamic extremism is an accurate assertion because no one can eliminate an ideology.
What qualifies Axelrod to judge statesmanship.
So, basically, anyone who dares open their mouth and criticize the current administration and its idiotic policies is NOT a statesman.
None of the incompetent dimwits in the current administration are worthy of shining Dick Cheney's shoes......and that includes the head dimwit.
On 9/11/2001 the US suffered the worst terrorist attack in history on its soil. Do you all remember that day? Do you remember being afraid? Wanting to pull your kids out of school? Do you remember the anthrax scare after that? People were afraid to open their mail. People were very afraid of another attack on a school, in a mall, in a neighborhood. We thought this was the start of WWIII. Has America been attacked since then? Enough said.
Did everyone forget it was the Bush /Chaney team that ignored memos regarding a potential attack, and did you all forget we were attacked on the Bush/Chaney watch. Talk about safe, give me a break. You can not have a strong defense without a strong economy and where did the last administation leave us, they left us broke
Dick Cheney is no statesmen. He undermined our president in public, therefore he undermined our country. Shame on him.
Talk about hypocrisy, how many times did you hear Bush whine about the recession and the depleted military left to him by President Clinton? Obama can't open his stupid mouth, minus the teleprompter, without blaming Bush, and Americans who don't bow down to him and make their nose brown, for eveything that is wrong in the world. When will this teleprompter in chief just shut up and stay home?
I'm a conservative and don't care for Dick Chaney. With that said, I see nothing wrong with his comments and opinions. I share some of his concern. Just like many of you that post here, you have the right to speak your mind, and so does he. Sounds like a democracy to me.
After reading dozens of your posts, I need to know: Which of those with liberal tendancies actually have a job? Which of you have your hand sticking out?
The American Dream is dying....
I think it was former Vice Presint Al Gore who set the precedent. He was highly critcal of the Bush Adminstration after he lost the 2000 election. So I gess it is OK for Cheney to be critical of the Obama administration.
Its not about Republicans or Democrats its about doing the right thing. Regardless if you voted for Obama or not he is our President and we need to support him and try to get us out of this mess. He neither created these problems or started them but he is going to fix them. Cheney supports big companies making money and our brothers sisters and neighbors are dying as we speak on foreign soil because of this. Because of the greed of the few we are now all paying for not standing up as a community.
Cheney is a coward. He has never had the courage to stand up, pick up a weapon, and defend the things he supposedly believes in. His 7 deferments during the Vietnam war are a perfect example of this. As with many cowards, he takes his fear out on anyone around him. He employs hit squads that report on to him. He sanctions torture. He starts unnecessary wars. He shoots defenseless animals (and his friends due to his excellent level of expertise with weapons). All this is not to keep America safe, it is simply an attempt to hold back his personal fears. Most dictators are cowards and if Mr. Cheney had his way, he would take away our freedoms in the name of "protecting" us... oh wait, he already did that.
Cheney has his right to his opinion, So why is Axlerod so upset,unless what Cheney said is true?..Obama's inexperience is truly showing,closing Gitmo,and now releasing 17 Terrorist in California and giving them Tax Payers funds to start a new life with,Does not make much sense...Pelosi should have ask they be sent to New York City,and spared San Fran.
According to Biden, its patriotic to criticize anyone in power as long as their a republican. Now that the republicans are out, it must no longer be in fashion to question any decisions made by the president. How far we've come when Cheney, a private citizen can no longer express an opinion.
I'm a centrist that voted for Obama. However Bush-Cheney did a few things right. The most important of these very few accomplishments was keeping terrorists away from US soil. Obama needs to be careful and not get too wide eyed and naive about treating suspected terrorists. This is a war and strong actions need to be taken about the radicals. if that means they get shuttered somewhere amongst other drastic actions, sometimes we have to do it. So let's get too far down the daisy path and handle this with kid gloves. Remember there is a war out there against Al Qaeda and they will just as soon cut off your head if they can catch u.
The World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists, and Bill Clinton CAUGHT THEM and protected us from further homeland attacks for the rest of his presidency. It was Bush and Cheney who slept on the job and allowed 9/11 to occur. To keep claiming "they kept us safe" is a hollow lie echoed by the mainstream media.
Mr. Axelrod, it would be nice if President Obama were as much of a statesman as President Bush–and stopped blaming everything on Bush. He shows no class when he continues to do so.
It is the democrats that are tearing this country apart. It was not Bush who failed. Bush "inherited" the housing market back from Clinton's days where it all began. The war in Iraq was voted in approval by just about everyone looking at the information that was given. Lets see if Obama can fix the current situation, but I think he will just make it worse. He will blame it all on Bush anyway.
Cheney just needs to have a massive heart attack and die for the sake of this country...PERIOD...............................
Cheney is one of the reasons the USA has so many enemies. This is oblivious and always has been. Go away, clueless!
Can someone please explain (again) why Cheney, Bush, Rove, Rice, Powell, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, et. al are not at the Hague yet?
During Obama's swearing in, when Dick Cheney was in that wheel chair...all I could think of was how much he reminded of of Mr. Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life" LOL
He never behaved like one when in office... why would you expect him to do differently now?
You can't teach old dogs new tricks.
And CNN, John King's show is awful... I would much rather watch This Week or Meet The Press, even though I can't stand David Gregory.
King lets too much of his own politics (like Gregory) show through.
It's amazing to me that Dick Cheney – the man that husbanded CIA reports and cherry-picked the information supposedly linking Iraq to the 9/11 attacks – would try to argue anyone else could make this country less safe.
Under Bush and Cheney, this country has wasted trillions of dollars, lost thousands of American lives, and wounded and maimed tens of thousands more American soldiers.
Meanwhile, we have created a country that has a real reason to hate the USA for ruining their lives, killing their families, and destroying their cities. We have justified the hatred of America to millions of Iraqis. Bush and Cheney made Al Qaeda stronger – not weaker.
Dick Cheney doesn't have a leg to stand on in criticizing the Obama administration. Bush and Cheney did the real damage to this country and then walked away – leaving us in an impossible situation.
Dick Cheney should take the advice that he gave Senator Patrick Leahy in 2004.