Vice President Dick Cheney, wife Lynne and daughter Liz step off Air Force Two upon arrival in Ankara, Turkey, today, wrapping up a nine-day tour of war zones and the Middle East. Cheney said of his active vice presidency today: "George Bush really is the one who has made this possible.'' Photo by Paul J. Richards / AFP/ Getty Images)
by Mark Silva
That time is soon approaching when we will meet a couple of new candidates: The nominees for vice president.
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, already is being asked about his “short list.’’ Will it include Mitt Romney of Massachusetts? It will include many, he has said, refusing to publicly rule out any names proferred in interviews.
And supporters of Democratic Sens. Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton have spent a lot of time shooting down talk that one of them might become the other’s running mate when their marathon campaign for the party's presidential nomination is finished – in a sort of “dream team’’ arrangement. It’s not happening, party leaders say flatly.
Dick Cheney has carved a new model for the role during his two terms – an adviser who conducted a nationwide search for George W. Bush's running mate in 2000 that ended with Cheney himself, a vice president who at times has seemed more influential than anyone in the White House save for the president himself, a No. 2 who has at times faded into the background, but at other times asserted the No. 1 most forceful voice of the administration in the face of criticism over the war in Iraq and other matters.
Lately, Cheney has even joked about his acquired nickman: “Darth Vader.’’
In conflicts with Congress and the bureaucracy, he has both asserted the executive privileges of the presidency and asserted, in refusing to divulge just how much material his office has classified and declassified, that he is not really a part of the executive branch. He may draw his power from the White House, but draws his pay from the Senate.
Cheney, reminded at the close of a tour of the Middle East this week that he has been more actively involved than past vice presidents, was asked if he might have established a precedent, if he has shown us a trend – or if the office will become less visible again.
"George Bush really is the one who has made this possible,'' Cheney said during an interview today with American reporters in Israel.
“It's a very sort of personal kind of thing, with the president, the time in which he governs,’’ Cheney said in a roundtable interview in Jerusalem with reporters following the vice president’s journey through Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank in the past week.
“George Bush really is the one who has made this possible, who wanted me not because he was worried about carrying Wyoming,’’ he said. “He was going to get Wyoming whether or not I was on the ticket.
“But as he said at the time, he wanted me to sign on as a member of the team, somebody who would be an active participant in the governing process, and he's kept his word,’’ Cheney said. “He's been great at it, and the relationship has prospered now for more than seven years because of the understandings we came to. There's no contract, job description, being vice president.
“I think since the Mondale era, when he was Carter's vice president, there's been an expansion of the role of the vice president,’’ he said. “Mondale was the first one to have an office in the West Wing. That helped, that sort of helps integrate you with the operation.
“You talk to Jerry Ford, as I did many times, he always expressed to me the view that the worst nine months of his life were the ones he spent as vice president, he just hated the job,’’ said Cheney. “You can conceive of a situation in the future where, for various reasons, we'll end up with a more conventional kind of arrangement. It will depend upon why the vice president is selected, what qualities it is the president is looking for, the time in which they govern.
“I'm reluctant to say it's a trend,’’ he said. “What I'm struck by, going back all the years now -- it's almost 40 years since I came to Washington -- is the extent in which each administration is different, and each administration -- the nature of it and the way these things work out is driven by two major factors: One, who is the president, and what their wishes and desires are, the personalities, and secondly, the times in which you govern.
“And those two things drive it more than anything else, more than the institutional arrangements. And if you look at obviously the history of the office, it can go either way.’’
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Comments
"One, who is the president, and what their wishes and desires are, the personalities, and secondly, the times in which you govern.
“And those two things drive it more than anything else, more than the institutional arrangements. And if you look at obviously the history of the office, it can go either way.’’ (Cheney)
Of course, if the President is intellectually bankrupt, you get a opportunist like Cheney to pull the strings; however, if you have a president who knows the law and respects the rule of law, you have a President who respects the American people and their wishes. For the past 7+ years we have had two losers who have done nothing but pad their and their buddies' pockets while costing this great nation the lives of 4000 of our finest people along with the lives of thousands of innocent Iraqis plus detroying our economy while they get off scot free with billions in their pockets. Yeah, Cheney did change the role of the VP into one of corruption, disdain for the Constitution and a regular sneer at the American people.
May he get what he deserves, and it is NOT the appreciation of the American people, but a nice ride up the river with his co-conspirators.
Posted by: the truth | March 24, 2008 4:55 PM
This evil war profiteer would be the worst role model every for the vice-presidency. It was only Bush's complete ignorance of foreign policy that made him appoint Cheney as his running mate. The two of them have presided over the most morally bankrupt Administration in history.
Posted by: Judith | March 24, 2008 5:05 PM
While Cheney may have exhibited new activism as our Vice President, the policies and practices of the administration, his alleged misconducts and connections with companies receiving substantial contracts in Iraq, certainly make him deserving of the "nick" Darth Vader. He is certainly no role model for any political office of any kind, and is as arrogant and defiant of the public will and interests as his boss... Please, let us not have another Cheney anything.
So, if Cheney is "Darth Vader," then that would make his "fearless leader" George W.M.D. Bush the "Evil Emperor" wouldn't it? Well, I have to admit, that has a bit of a ring of truth to it. I guess truth is stranger than fiction after all....
Posted by: Eric R. Giliatt, Sr. | March 24, 2008 5:06 PM
One can only wonder if people like Cheney realize the severe damage they do, not only to their office and the people they work for (CITIZENS), but also to their own self-respect.
I will point out, however, that G. W. Bush is a spoiled pawn owned by the oligarchy that is American capitalism. He is far too good-natured and short-sighted to understand what he has done. I hope.
Posted by: Kyle Smith | March 24, 2008 5:16 PM
Thank you dear Bush Sr. and Jr. for bringing this wonderful individual into our presidential and vice presidential political realm. He is a role model for future generations and don't forget our children.
I E> Cheney
Posted by: Weiss | March 24, 2008 5:23 PM
Cheney said. “He's [Dubya] been great at it..."
If it weren't for a lot people dead for no good reason (and counting) in Iraq. If it weren't for Osama bin Laden being still at large. It it weren't for a 1/2 trillion dollars wasted (and counting) in Iraq. If it weren't for the price of gas going through the roof (and counting) because of the Iraq Civil war refereeing debacle. If it weren't for the economy going down the crapper.
And on, and on, and on...
Darth might be funny. But he's not. We're still counting.
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | March 24, 2008 5:27 PM
Help restore the Constitution. Bush said, "The Constitution is just a GD piece of paper." This is treason. After all, he took an oath to uphold the Constitution, not shred it apart. So, hang him and Cheney from high until their feet stop moving. Since Cheney supports torturing people, we should torture him first.
Posted by: Bob | March 24, 2008 5:29 PM
The amusing thing is I was about to vote for Gore in 2000, until one of my coworkers pointed out that Joe Lieberman looked eerily similar to Senator Palpatine (the jaw, face, etc) along with odd policy stances. I proceeded to vote Nader.
It appears either way, we would have had an dark emperor sidekick, whether Cheney or Lieberman. Fascinating how Lieberman is worming himself into McCain side this last year, and allied himself with cheney in 06.
Posted by: Weiss | March 24, 2008 5:36 PM
"George Bush really is the one who has made this possible,''
...by being a puppet.
Posted by: Carl L | March 24, 2008 5:48 PM
Haliburton has made $4.2 billion off the war, or roughly $1 million for each dead American. Dick Chaney is Harry Lime.
Posted by: JIMInNoHo | March 24, 2008 6:09 PM
The article and the comments truly drive home the concept of perspective. While I agree with VP Cheney that he has done a lot more foot-work than past VP's and that the current "team" in the administration has worked admirably together, the commments about moral bankruptcy and such do stand out vividly. I would like to point out, that its not "treason" to call the Constitution a GD piece of paper, just like its not heresey to say the Bible is just a book. Both are true statements, the concepts and ideas contained within them are what matter. Frankly, I see nothing that GW or Cheney has done that would constitute the ugly label of treason. Unwise, most certainly, but not treason.
Posted by: Gregory Adams | March 24, 2008 6:10 PM
I would love to see Dick Cheney and George W. Bush serving another term together. This time it could be a lifelong term resulting from a decision at the Hague...only the trappings would not be as comfortable as those they have enjoyed over the last 7+ years.
Posted by: Alex Singer | March 24, 2008 6:13 PM
Yep, a true "patriotic" chickenhawk has paved the way for future Republican vice-Presidents to be able to rape and pillage their country of it's young people and treasure.
Congratulations Darth!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/firstlight/531018800/
Posted by: John E | March 24, 2008 6:16 PM
"TRICKY DICK SPEAKS"
"WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION..." CHOOSE "TEAM ABRAMOFF" FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES."
JOHN MCCAIN AS PRESDIENT, AND HIS OLD TEAM MATES,
"TEAM ABRAMOFF"
TOM DELAY
JOHN DOOLITTLE
CONRAD BURNS
BOB NEY
NEIL VOLZ
J. STEVEN GILES
OR MR. "SLAM DUNK" GEORGE TENET IF HE IS AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE AS "SECRETARY OF STATE"
WHY NO ONE FROM THE "CHOCTOW INDIANS"
COME ON THAT'S ALL THAT COUNTED IN THE "2ND COVENANT" SO PLEASE SEND 2.00 TO YOUR NEAREST JOHN MCCAIN "TEAM ABRAMOFF" FOR THE PRESIDENCY AND VICE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES, "IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH TRAQUILITY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOMEONE NEEDS TO EXPOSE MCCAIN/SCANLON EMAILS.
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 24, 2008 7:17 PM
Let's hope that future VPs and preznits will use this current pair as an operative example of what NOT to do. It's going to be a long process fixing the mess the Republics have left of this country.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | March 24, 2008 8:08 PM
Doug "John E is my idol" Zook continues to show no understanding of fact and logic.
Gas prices up because of Iraq? No, Doug, gas prices are up because demand is exceeding supply. Supply is up (Wanted to get that out before Doogie and others said supply was down because of Iraq), but demand continues to outweigh supply because everyone, and especially China and India, are using more.
The economy is down, Doug, largely because the housing bubble burst, just like the economy suffered when the tech market bubble burst in 2000.
Anyone with a brain understands that, except for without a clue, the Loony Left.
Posted by: John D | March 24, 2008 8:34 PM
He said Cowboy George made everything happen in the middle east? Cheney or Rove don't want any of the credit for the way everything in this world is so screwed up. Those cowboys in Washington don't have a clue!!! whiteagle38
Posted by: whiteagle38 | March 24, 2008 10:47 PM
dick cheney was the driving force behind the iraq war. all that has happened to us by going there would not have occurred without his overpowering influence over bush. bush chose the advice of cheney/wolfewitz/rumsfeld over colin powell. what a monumental mistake. bush was shown by the cia that in all the 10's of thousands of intelligence documents on iraq and al qaeda there was no link. cheney and his staff cronies quickly formed there own intelligence group and manufactured false links between sadaam and al quada (atta and the czechs for one).
if mccain should win (and i hope not) i hope these events will be on his mind. hopefully through all the rhetoric on iraq and the surge he realizes this was a decision that never should have been made, and realizes the danger when you have a weak-minded president with an evil strong willed vp.
Posted by: carmen | March 25, 2008 10:28 AM