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
From CNN Politics
- US Army identifies nine soldiers killed in Black Hawk training accident
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Donald Trump Fast Facts
- Florida legislature passes bill allowing carry of concealed weapons without a permit
- Untitled
- Manhattan DA's office again slams House GOP's efforts to investigate Trump probe, says approx. $5k federal funds used
Cheney + White House = Apocolypse
you to be kidding me. Does anybody remember what lies this man told us and how he deceived this country for over 8 years.
The only place Cheney should be is in prison.
Id vote for him. Although Im looking at Gary Johnson of New Mexico.
Perfect ticket for the PON Party of No in '12...Cheney/Palin. That would insure another Dem victory. Go for it!
Palin & Cheney, an idiot and a lying thief. The fact that these two are popular with whatever is left of the right speaks volumes. Palin is every bit as stupid and controllable as Regan, Quail and the Bushes and will read the teleprompter just as faithfully. Cheney represents the true meaning of the GOP: slavery, theft, war, profiteering, arrogance and financial instability for everyone not "in our set".
Either of these clowns would be a welcome win for Obama in 2012.
You think Palin doesn't have a chance, Cheney running would unite democrats and independents like you have never seen before. I invite him to run so America can truly show him how reviled he truly is, except by the extremists that he cowtows. We democrats only pray that he runs!
I can't believe anyone would suggest that Cheney should run in 2012. Were these people not paying attention when he was the puppet master for the Bush administration which essentially put the nail in the coffin of the once great United States? If I had to choose between Cheney and Adolf Hitler, I'm not sure I'd choose Cheney.
Dick Cheney for president? The guy is a war criminal, he doesn't give a darn for the Constitution's limits on executive power, and he's totally polarizing. In terms of the politics of 2012, this would be great news for the Democratic Party, and a disaster for the Republicans. Even better, let's go with Cheney-Palin in 2012, and turn the Republicans into a party the size of the Prohibition Party.
You have got to be kidding me.
His eight years as Co-President wasn't bad enough? Are these people insane?
Yeah, put up Cheney. Maybe it could be Cheney/Palin. Easy Democrat win in 2012.
I hope he runs!!! That would assure Obama's victory. Mr. Cheney was one of the worth VP's in history,but I think worse than that. He's a liar too, remember the insinsere comment about the role of the VP? It would be a slaughter. Only a fool would trust Dick Cheney.
He should be living in the "Big House" not the White House.
WHAT??!!!
Are these guys suffering from Alzheimers? It was Bush and Cheney who ruined the American economy, it was Bush and Cheney who got us involved in an unnecessary war in Iraq, it was Bush and Cheney under whose watch 9/11 occurred, it was Bush and Cheney who created this rift between Americans so that we stand today as two nations instead of one nation under God.
Bush and Cheney need to be tried for treason, not rewarded with another shot at the presidency.
You know your party is in trouble when the two best choices for President are a sociopath and an ignorant religious fanatic...then again Obama only has the appearance that he is better than any of these two...Republicans and Democrats are all the same vile scum underneath, it's time for a change America.
This could only be because despite her relative youth and moxie, Sarah Palin isn't perceived as being sufficiently blood-thirsty and evil for the GOP leadership, in that she only shoots /wildlife/.
Good idea. Let's elect him and send him back to the White House. Then Congress and declare it as a maximum security cell, put razor wire around it and lock to doors from the outside. The only persons allowed in would be Halliburton contractors to waterboard him.
Justice Served!!!
So, this group wants to draft Dick Cheney? Good luck with that. The government tried to draft him for years during the Vietnam era. The dude is slippery.
All I can say is 9/11 , Katrina , Illegal War in Iraq and Halliborton( war profiteering ) for cheneys.
I'm changing to republican today, where can I mail some money? Cheney/Palin 2012 or Palin/Cheney 2012 . . . Either way sounds like about a 75% popular vote! Obama for sure in 2012!
They'll get only the whack job extreme right, not a single moderate republican vote, not an independent vote. That would be great!
We need him back in the White House, like we need another hole in our heads. What can that idiot do, get us out of the mess he created. Can George Bush run for Vice President? Ha Ha
Oh don't make me laugh.... I think 8 years of a fascist regime was quite enough.... plus Cheney made enough in kickbacks from his secret government contractors like Blackwater to retire in high style.
Dick Cheney could not beat Barak Obama even if Obama invited Osama bin Laden to live in the White House
I have been a Republican for years...this is NOT a good idea. Don't go there. Cheney is inflexible and arrogant...not a good combination for a US president.