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
These people can't be serious!!! What a waste of time and money.
Maybe Sarah Palin will agree to be his running mate, what a joke?
Dick Cheney would bring this country to communism. He would rule like a dictator. Thank God Republicans would not be stupid enough to put this jerk or Palin on their ticket. If they do, it would be smooth sailing for the Dems.
I guess they could not get Hitler since he was dead.
Another roadblock: He should be wearing stripes by 2012.
Only if this administration had some guts.
Well, hopefully he will get a deferment for this draft as well.
Values! What value does that include? Taking us to war under false pretenses? Then your former company (Haliburton) profits the most out of the war? Conflict of interest? Values? Yes those are good ol american values. Talk about wealth redistribution chenney took from the tax payers billions and gave it to Haliburton. Hypocrites!
Draft Cheney? are you kidding me. they couldn't use a better title? i am sure he will ask for multiple deferments. shows you how stupid the republicans are. they are using one of his many worst character flaws as a campaign slogan.
He only had FIVE deferments so he wouldn't have to fight for our country during the Vietnam war. He and "quitter" would make the perfect team to represent the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. They could also get rid of the separation of church and state. Which religion should we have rule the United States?
America needs Cheney in the out house, not the white house. Nazi Germany was nothing but a horror story,,,,,America does not need a HITLER running the show here. Whoever is promoting this idea should be placed in a mental institution.
Good luck trying to draft this gutless coward. It didn't work the last time and it won't work this time!
Simply the most heinous people in America...why not just have Charles Manson run?
Palin/cheney 2012.
It would be an Obama shoe in.
Darth Cheney for POTUS? Now we know there is a struggle for GOP leadership driving the party even further right. They just don't get it.
Please please please Republicans, draft Cheney, and have Palin as the VP.
You'd get the crank vote and the teabagger vote and the apocalyptic Christian vote and the neocon vote and the libertarian vote. That'll put you at about 35%.
Good luck with that. You deserve it.
Dick PLEASE RUN.
That way it won't be a contest. You can even pick a quitter from Alaska to be your running mate!!!!!!!!
I am sure I speak for all Dems when I say: Let him run, Please let him run!
Is this the comedy section now?
I don't know who is being polled and by whom
to come up with the idea that Cheney is a popular
pick for Republicans.
I've been a Republican ever since I voted for
Carter in the 70's. I never made a mistake like
that again.
All the Republicans I know are Sarah Palin
supporters....not Dick Cheney. I have no Republican
acquaintances who support Cheney.
Palin has a proven record of running off entrenched
politicians in Alaska. That's what we need in Wash. D.C.
You got a president last time who promised change
and the only thing that changed was the oval office
guard !!!!!
I really think D. Cheney would make a great candidate for the Repubs–since that is the best they can do–a whole lot better than the 2008 VP choice. Guess, he is better than nothing.The tryst in last administration–now, wants to be the doest in 2012.
I'd like nothing better than a Cheney/Palin ticket. Clean sweep for Obama 🙂
Run Cheney Run! Well, I'm sure that he wouldn't want to. He wouldn't want to end his political life by losing all 50 states. He might possibly be the only Republican who would lose Utah. Even Palin would win Utah and a couple other states.
What?? Is this a joke or something? Dick Cheney is the Prophet of doom.. Believe me.
Not that this needs a comment , but............really? loyalty to an old standard bearer is one thing but blind allegiance to a man who nearly destroyed our country? Stupid republicans.
hahahahah....ahhhhh....hahahaha! is it april 1st yet? hahahaha
Oh yeah, what a great idea. The world doesn't suck enough as it is. Let's bring Darth Vadar back to screw things up even worse. This idea and Sarah Palin for President is starting to make me believe the world really will end on Dec 2012.