Of course, its the Dick Cheney thread. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SypeZjeOrY4 http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Vote2008/story?id=4481249 And this one: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/04/02/BL2008040202171_pf.html
Dough: the stuff that buys me beer; Ray: the guy who brings me beer; Me: the guy who drinks the beer; Fa: a long way to my beer; So, I think I'll have a beer; La, la-la-la-la-la beer; Ti? No thanks, I'll have a beer; And which brings us back to D'OH!! --Homer Simpson
If a majority of Americans were wrong that we should go into Iraq, isn't it possible that a majority of Americans are wrong that we should leave now? I'm no fan of Cheney or the Bush Administration, but I don't necessarily want a president who always acts based on the whim of the masses.
Cheney's response exhibits not only a lack of regard for the voters' will, but a fundamental lack of respect for the American people. How can a leader so blatantly not respect his own people? Would it be so hard to at least acknowledge their concerns, then explain why those concerns are unfounded? No, this is the conversation, as he sees it: "A solid majority of us feel that the fight in Iraq is not worth the price in our lives and our money..." "So?" There is a middle ground, somewhere between following the whims expressed in opinion polls, and "So?"
He thinks their stupid. They only flip on CNN to check on the war during a commercial for "Dancing with the Stars."
Agreed. Thing is, I sorta agree with the point he thought he was making, but that was a Freudian slip moment where he let us all see what's in his calloused, black heart.
whim of the masses?!?! USA citizens have been against this war for the past 2 + years. Hardly a whim. Getting to Chaffee's point, I'm sure that meeting was Cheney pointing out to the moderates that they must get in line. The GOP has a mean authoritarian streak, and Cheney embodies it. Let's not forget that he had a guy arrested in Colorado for challenging him on Iraq. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4436043 Hauled off in handcuffs, in front of his son. Class act, that Cheney.
I'm pretty sure that in a Dictatorship, the will of the people doesn't mean shit, either... Maybe I'm crazy, but general consensus ought to mean quite a bit to our leaders...
Just to elaborate on my earlier point...I don't think leaders should be constrained by polls or public opinion, but in a real democracy leaders have an obligation to try and 'bring the people along'. In something big like a war, it is vital for the administration to make a convincing case that the public is vested in armed struggle, and that their sacrifices will be worth it. Then again, Bush tried to convince people that all they had to do was to take their tax cuts shopping, so now that the chickens have come home to roost and people realize what sort of cost this war comes with, the Bushies don't have much of an answer.
And there's arguments (still!) about the All-Important Lapel Pin that shows how arrogant Obama must be. You could not make this stuff up if you tried.
Remember when Dicky admitted to waterboarding, then he, Tony Snow, and George Bush lied to the public about what he was talking about? And then it was true all along? Classic guy.
When push comes to shove, will Cheney leave at the end of Bush's term? I'm pretty sure McCain would keep him around, but what will Cheney do if a Democratic victory is impending? I'm worried about the damage he does on the way out.
It would be highly entertaining to see him do just that, and have a Dem administration launch an investigation of war-profiteering. If Cheney were Hal CEO he would be fighting the release of 'sensitive National Security' documents from his old office pertaining to his new office.