[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/18/art.cheney.cpac.gi.jpg caption="Dick Cheney made a surprise appearance Thursday at CPAC."]Washington (CNN) - Former Vice President Dick Cheney earned a standing ovation Thursday at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, proclaiming "Barack Obama is a one term president."
Cheney, who was not scheduled to appear, received a warm welcome from the unsuspecting crowd and joked, "A welcome like that is almost enough to make me want to run for office again ... but I'm not going to do it."
During his brief remarks, the former vice president focused on recent Republican electoral success and the future of the conservative movement.
"There are some great years ahead of us. It is very, very important that we succeeed, and I'll do everything I can, but most especially I want to encourage that younger generation," Cheney said. "It really is a remarkable time to be a conservative."
The former vice president was introduced by his daughter Liz Cheney, a former State Department official and founding member of the group Keep America Safe. Liz Cheney used her time at the podium to launch a series of biting critiques of Obama administration policies.
"In the year that President Obama has been in office we have learned a lot, haven't we?" Cheney asked the audience. "We've learned he is not going to govern from the center, we've learned he doesn't believe in American exceptionalism, and he is going to travel the world apologizing for this great nation."
Cheney also singled out Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Obama homeland security and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan over their handling of Al Qaeda in Yemen, saying "there is no polite way to put this, but that kind of incompetence gets people killed."
In the year that Dick Cheney has been out of office we have learned a lot , haven't we ? We have learned that Dick Cheney really did beleive in action , whether it was legal or not ? We have learned that the Obama administration is following many of the same policies as Bush/Cheney , but Cheney believes America is less safe ? We have learned that Dick Cheney likes to show up and say outrageous political statements while he is : ( 1) selling his book (2) out on a speaking tour [3] promoting Liz Cheney
I think someone should "waterboard" Cheney for about 3 or 4 hours to see if that's what he really thinks. He and Bush are responsible for about HALF of our national debt and how many thousands of dead American soldiers and Iraqis ?! Just wait until he meets his maker!
What planet is this guy from?
If it is true that President Obama is in jeopardy of losing the 2012 election, I'm sure Mr. Chaney would be a valuable resource on how to steal an election you were not meant to win.
In the 8 years Cheney/Bush was in office we sure did learn a lot didn't we – the light came down and revealed many unseemly Republican tactics/ideas – and they've proven it to the country and world every day since – they'll keep up the lies and rhetoric to try to milk their base, the misguided religious freaks who behind closed doors even the Publos disdain and deride as easily manipulated pawns upon which to foist their lies – history itself proves it – whenever a Publo admin. is in office – we have a war – we run up billions/trillions to leave to the subsequent Democrats to pay off and scream about big government all the while creating it and eliminating rights of citizens. The future, and those who are awake in this world see it for what it is.
So this is what the conservative movement is? The celebration of torture and the loss of individual privacy and civil rights?
What in the world else does Cheney symbolize as conservative?
Yes, lets elect Dick president. He only got us into two wars, made his company a huge fortune, that they are still making, not to mention himself. With his puppet president he managed to turn world opinion against us after we had the world on our side following 9/ll. And then behind the scenes who knows what he and his skull brothers have done – oh wait, there's the financial meltdown that results from the bubbles his buddies created to make even more money, then left us all holding the bag. Gee Dick, of course we'll vote for you – this is Germany in the late 30's isn't it?
Dick should have been hung right next to Hussein.
Well. Isn't that nice of Dick to address his "people". And these jerks think the Liberals were tough on him and W and showed no respect for Bush when he was in office? This is nothing but a disgusting public display of Obama-bashing that makes anything the critics of Bush said or did seem like a love-fest! When does freedom of speech cross the line to treason? And these fools, with Dick and Sarah leading the charge, think "we the people" are going to put them back in power after destroying America? Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick with President Obama and the Dems who need our support to fix the mess Dick left! Sickening. Absolutely sickening!
"A welcome like that is almost enough to make me want to run for office again ... but I'm not going to do it."
Whew...Don't joke about those things Dick. I almost moved to Canada!
Well you have to say, the dog don't flinch. Too bad he never has anythng substantive to contribute.
"there is no polite way to put this, but that kind of incompetence gets people killed."
AND 9/11 HAPPENED UNDER WHOSE WATCH????
AND THE HANDLING OF NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE HURRICANE KATRINA?????
You might wish that we all forget about that...
Some of your blind followers (that goes to the lenght of calling a torture supporter an American Hero) might already have done that...
But we won't.
Cheney had committed treason. Ordered Scooter Libby to out an undercover CIA agent. Why was he never tried?
Funny, he fits. He's a perfect representation of the losing philosophy of the "conservatives".
Don't be confused. Cheney and Bush hi-jacked the conservative movement. Who wants bigger government that is intrusive to every part of your life while building up a military to proactively bully the world and stick our noses where they don't belong under the veil of we are protecting you. Cheney and Bush (and in that order) don't appear to have a clue about the core of the conservative movement! What he is promoting sounds more like a militaristic state that is arrogant and will eventually be more and more isolated (and detested) from the rest of the world. If you don't think that has some real negative consequences for your family and society not to mention our economy - THINK AGAIN.
Its a little early to predict Obama will be a one term President, but his radical left wing agenda, and the massive corrupt spending, is so out of control that its hard to see how he can survive the damage he's doing to our economy. And the billion dollar NYC trials and Miranda rights for terrorists program is just insane. If I were Obama I would pray that the Republicans take control of Congress in Nov. That would force him back to the center, and give him someone to blame rightly or wrongly in 2012. Its funny that Republican control is the only thing likely to curb the radical left wing agenda, massive corrupt spending, insane national security policies, and give him a chance at reelection!
Just what we need: more Republican Reptiles whining and attacking the opposition with incendiary talk and more divisive words. They completely screwed up the country when they were in power (total idiots, from the mental midget Bush to gun-happy Cheney and the fool Gonzales who ran the Justice Department into the ground) and now that they are not in charge, they try to place all our ills squarely in Obama's lap.
Ludicrous and ridiculous. Crawl back under your rock, Dick and take that flag-draped daughter with you!!!
We can all look forward to many years of Dick Cheney and the neo con crazies. The thought of a heart attack is only a wonderful dream...
Right on Vice President Cheney! I haven't felt this good by comments coming from a true "Vice President" in a long time. The truth feels really good and I wish the current administration would find a way to tell the truth about anything! Say hello to George W. and tell him that yes "we really miss him"!
You are a good man Dick Cheney.
And you are correct. I hope that Barack is one and done.
He was a very big mistake as a president.
Hillary would have been a better choice unfortunately.
Now we move forward and rebuild America.
Bush should have been more thrifty in his spending.
He spent too much and congress spent too much.
Now we all need to cut back immediately.
You're right, Liz. Obama shouldn't apologize for this great nation. Your father should.
Great idea, Republicans – rally around Cheney. His approval ratings were often in the single digits, and he has no appeal to anyone but a small section of yourselves. He's a great way to show us your ideas about moving us forward.
This is one Independent that's washing his hands of the GOP, permanently. I have no use for ignorance-loving theocrats.
Divide & conquer ! When do these people realize that the Country needs to come together and work for the good of a nation not just attack the left and scare the right. I hope that voters are not as stupid as they think, and see the tactic of scare & smear.
Stupid is as stupid does!
The Cheney's need to go back underground where they have been the eight years of the Bush disaster. They are safe enough to travel around and spread their brand of hate, and fail to recognize the advancement in success of our military in killing and capturing many terrorists around the world. The only thing they are missing in this hate fueled and irresponsible speachmaking, is Sarah's particular brand of sarcasism and lying. They fail to mention that the reason we are more unsafe is a direct result of Cheney himself. But please, do continue. The more you speak out, the more votes your party loses.
He should be in prison