'What Has Happened to Dick Cheney?'

[CatWoman]

Is the vice president losing his influence, or perhaps his mind? That question, even if it is phrased more delicately, is creeping through foreign ministries and presidential offices abroad and has become a factor in the Bush administration's relations with the world.

"What has happened to Dick Cheney?" That solicitous but direct question came from a European statesman who has known the vice president for many years. He put it to me a few days ago -- even before the discovery of a blood clot in Cheney's leg and the perjury conviction of Scooter Libby, his former chief of staff, brought headline attention to the volatile

What is unusual is for foreigners to think about a vice president at all and to question what effect the VP's moods and internal policy defeats have on America's standing in the world.

But what goes up must come down. In the first term, Cheney was styled as the most influential vice president in history -- in more lurid versions, an evil puppeteer pulling George W. Bush's strings. So now his irascibility in television interviews triggers diplomatic cables analyzing his equilibrium -- as well as inspiring a booming industry of scathing cartoons and television one-liners here at home.

The Libby trial revealed serious splits between Cheney and Bush's political team, led by Karl Rove, who suffered no legal consequences for his role in the scandal. The trial also served as another exercise in showing how Cheney has empowered his critics at home and his foes abroad: His excessive concern for secrecy and control by the executive branch has given new credibility and fundraising ability to the Democrats and to civil liberties organizations here, and it has won sympathy around the world for prisoners who may well be terrorists.

So listen up, diplomats: However beleaguered, Cheney will not resign over the president's refusal to take his advice. The only force that could drive him to that dramatic step would be that unshakable sense of loyalty to Bush, who desperately now needs a vice president in stable physical, emotional and political health. That is the equation you want to be watching.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/07/AR2007030702044.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. This bears repeating for those of us tempted with losing patience since 2000.

“Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.” - Mahatmas Gandhi

[SledDriver]

2. Yes, but that was said in the days before nu-ku-lar waepons...

n/t

[izzie]

5. Two men with big egos trying to save their power.

We may have a lot of people trying to save Bush's butt and I am willing to bet just as many are doing it for Chaney. Frankly I do not think Cheney will roll over for Bush like father Bush did for RR. These two are made from other stuff. I always wonder in these things that their are so few that will stand up for the country.

[Atman]

3. It's got to eat away at him...he KNOWS he's fucked up the whole world

No matter how brave a face he puts on for the Sunday talking heads...he absolutely knows the turmoil and hell his actions have unleashed on the world. The billions in blood money he's made from his evil ventures might mitigate some of it for him, but it can't be good for one's psyche to know you're one of the most universally despised people on the planet. And he knows.

.

[solara]

6. I respectfully disagree... the Dick knows alright, but he just doesn't give a crap

about what the world thinks and especially what the American people think... they are just ignorant and wrong and he is right. He is convinced of his righteousness and, although it may be tough going now.. he is certain that history will prove him right. Of course having all that cash stashed away doesn't hurt.

You are thinking like a sane person. The Dick is insane. The neo-cons are all insane. They are not 'in' the world as we know it. So they do not have the consciousness nor the conscience of sanity. I am convinced that the only thing the Dick sees when he looks in a mirror is a brilliantly clever, extremely powerful and rich world leader. I am sure he has no trouble sleeping at night.

INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT INCARCERATE

[Atman]

7. I'm sure he has no trouble sleeping...

...once they unplug him, drain his hydraulic fluid, and place him in his pod.

.

[solara]

10. LOL!! Indeed....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[WinkyDink]

11. Since his "whole world" is Halliburton and its fortunes, I think he is quite contented.

Ecstatic, to be more precise.

[Buzz Clik]

4. This is the quote of relevance for me:

Rice is credited by administration sources with having told Bush in January that he should devote his final two years in office to seeking diplomatic agreements with North Korea and Iran and an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord. That account emphasizes that Rice is not simply outflanking Cheney in intermittent internal policy battles but has won full agreement and support from the president on the strategic goals and methods she and her diplomats are pursuing.

Folks here at DU tend to distrust Rice -- a distrust she has brought upon herself. But let's hope and pray that her efforts have some sort of ultimate payoff. It's the only chance we have of attaining any sort of resolution to them mess in the Middle East over the next two years. She also may be our only hope to keep us out of Iran.

[helderheid]

8. They're coming to take him away, HA HA!

[Skarbrowe]

9. I still believe that Cheeeney is in charge. He's been flying all over

the world warning leaders of what he has in mind for the future and if we knew exactly what that was we would be needing some heavy duty diapers. When Sy Hersh said, on, I believe it was Bill Maher's show, that Cheeeeny and Bush deeply believe in their world vision of fighting a holy war against radical Islam and fighting to keep us in oil ( I know he didn't say those exact words, but that's what I think he meant ), I believe that Sy was saying that nothing is going to stop Dick Cheeeney. Sorry for the Cheeeneys. Chris Matthews has simply driven me insane with this pronunciation. Dick and George truly aren't concerned about what people think about them now because they believe that whatever it is they are doing and are planning to do will make things better for this country years into the future. This belief is as solid as their stone cold hearts.

Actually, the only thing that might stop Cheney is his health. I still think he's the guy in charge and he's been running around the world letting people know that Bush's low standing in this country and all this Libby trial business means nothing for the plans they have in store.

Obviously, all of this is personal opinion. I won't feel safe until they are both out of office and I'm not sure I will feel all that safe after they leave. Something wicked this way comes.

[aquart]

12. Nonsense. Bush needs a VP we're scared to have as President.

That makes Cheney just fine.