New group tries to convince Cheney to run in 2012
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/22/art.cheney1.gi.jpg caption="A new group wants Dick Cheney to challenge President Obama in 2012. "]
Washington (CNN) - A new group wants former Vice President Dick Cheney back in the White House.
The organization - "Draft Dick Cheney 2012" - launched on Friday, and unveiled their new Web site. Their aim: To convince the former vice president to seek the Republican presidential nomination in the next race for the White House. But there may be a major roadblock to the group's pitch - Cheney himself.
"The 2012 race for the Republican nomination for President will be about much more then who will be the party's standard bearer against Barack Obama, the race is about the heart and soul of the GOP," said Christopher Barron, one of the organizers of the Draft Cheney movement. "There is only one person in our party with the experience, political courage and unwavering commitment to the values that made our party strong – and that person is Dick Cheney."
The former vice president has been a frequent outspoken critic of the Obama administration's security policy. He recently suggested that Obama was "dithering" over deciding on adding more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. National polls suggest that the former vice president remains popular among conservatives and Republicans.
Does Cheney want to run for the White House? He was quite blunt earlier this month about whether he had any desire make a bid for the presidency in the next election. At an event in Houston for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who's running for Texas governor, Hutchison was joined by Cheney, who endorsed her bid against fellow Republican incumbent Rick Perry. During the rally, Hutchison yelled out to the crowd "Cheney 2012!" and some one in the audience quickly responded "We need you, Dick!"
Cheney's response: "Not a chance."
Barron says the group hopes to follow up Friday’s Web launch with a more formal structure, which will include building a database and reaching out through social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Barron adds that there is no budget set yet, and that the effort is grassroots at this point. He says the group plans on targeting tea party events and plans on building grassroots chapters in key early presidential caucus and primary states including Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
–CNN's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
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How about a draft Cheney for trial for war crimes and take the rest of his regime with him.
Cheney/ Palin ticket ?- the end is near !
Yes, draft Cheney so we can see the Repugs go down in flames
That's just what America needs, the final flush to closure of what was a good run fo a couple of hundred or so years of the "good life".
Please, oh please get Dick Cheney to run for President in 2012, that will solidify President Obama's second term.
please run, you are just want this country needs right
wow America......slim pickins
Oh, please; this guy is part of the reason the country is in the horrible shape that it is in.
You can't draft Cheney. The chickenhawk will just get another deferment.
I am so amazed at the idiots in this country- Dick Cheney is a traitor, a war profiteer, a liar and a thief. He was a draft dodger, who took us to war in Iraq for his own fortune and the fortunes of his buddies. Hallibruton cost nearly $.40 of every dollar spent in Iraq- Cheney told the military planes to stand down when airliners were attacking the world trade centers –
he outed a CIA agent who had worked for 20 years in the field, he should have been hanged as a traitor and these people want him for president?
I served 24 years in the Army and retired in 06 and that what he needs to do. He has done enough lying and stealing from this country and everyone knows that and he needs more then just the conservatives in his party to win and the american people don't trust him anymore.
Great idea! Then all of the criminal activity perpetrated by Cheney will be highly scrutinized and we may get to the truth about his role in destroying the fabric of our nation. He'll never run for President because he knows it will open up Pandora's box. Leave it to Republican Conservatives to support a guy with a weak heart and no vision.
Draft Cheney? Bad idea and a waste of time. He's known for dodging drafts.
Oh no. You CAN"T be serious.
When I saw "Draft Cheney" I thought there was a group that was trying to get him to finally defend the USA like he'd been requested 5 times previously (5 deferments) and refused.
Former Vice President Richard Cheney had eight years to work with President George Bush to make positive changes in this country. With his great advice and penchant to wage war and to send thousands of men and women into Iraq and Afghanistan where we could not make headway for 8 years, I think he has had his chance. His main aim now is to derail the President, He is constantly negative as he was in his Vice Presidency. Do we really want this man to run for President.
Both parties need to put forth the best candidates to make the 2012 election meaningful. The Republicans have many other choices and they should look to those people.
Mr. Cheney, it is time to retire.
Draft Dick Chaney? Won't he just apply for another deferment?
You just can't make this kind of stuff up, can you? There is no realm of absurdity GOP nihilists aren't willing to barge into, is there? Clearly, the country hasn't been beaten into rubble fine enough by these geniuses – some parts of it are still recognizable. How to remedy that? Why – call in the human wrecking ball, of course – he's still warm from the last shift...
Let him run. He's never faced a vote of confidence from the American people, lets see what the results would be. Then, lock him up for the rest of his unnatural life.
Please, Americans, start a campaign to convince Cheney to run and the GOP to make him their standard-bearer. Darth Vader would be the appropriate embodiment of the dark soul that has already taken a stranglehold of the GOP. Give Americans this clear choice to clear the polluted air once and for all.
OMG Are you Serious??? Dick Cheney and/or Sarah Palin will get Obama reelected in a heartbeat. All Obama will have to do is to blame them both for the current circumstances.
And MIchele Bachman (yes, it's spelled with one L cuz I am from Minnesota and I saw her in the news all over the place) is too much of a loose cannon to run for president. Her candidacy would be a joke. It would be a lot like if Ann Coulter were to decide to run LOL
You should never use the words "draft" and Cheney" in the same sentence.
But it would be a dream come true for Democrats.....in 2012.....Cheney....hahahahahaa
Go ahead! Nominate him! His poll numbers were lower than Georgies!
As a Democrat, the only thing I'd like more than seeing Sarah Palin nominated would be this idiot.
Dear Mr. Vice President,
We miss your leadership. We miss your committment to keeping this country free from radical terrorism.
You would'nt allow these unamerican terrorists from being tried in New York, in American court system.
You would'nt allow party crashers attend amittance to a Presidential State Dinner.
You would'nt give this country false promises, such as finishing the wars and keeping unemployment levels below 8%.
You wouldn't direspect the Office of the Presidency of the United States of America by bowing to lowly asian leaders.
We need your credability & leadership to return this country to its historical greatness.
Without your leadership and the continued path of weakness, as demonstrated in the past 10 months, the American Dream we all work for and aspire to will be long gone.
America needs you. Please run in 2012.
Thank you.