by Mark Silva
Dick Cheney, former vice president and man about the news talk show circuit lately, says he never would have bailed out the automotive industry, he does not consider the interrogation tactics the Bush administration employed to be torture and he likes Jeb Bush -- "I'd probably support him for president.''
"I don't think we ought to change the basic fundamental philosophy of the Republican Party,'' Cheney says. "I personally am a conservative Republican. I obviously believe in my philosophy, and I think that's the basis upon which we have to build any resurgence of our party. I think we will, but I think we'll do it by being true to our principles, not becoming more like the Democrats."
Cheney says this and more in an interview airing at 6 pm EDT, sitting with Neil Cavuto, on the FOX Business Network
"I would have encouraged the process to go forward for a Chapter 11'' for the automakers, says Cheney, whose administration authorized a multibillion-dollar bailout of the banks. "The banks were different, and the reason the banks are different is because they are part of the financial system that is the heart and soul of our economy."
Cheney seeks creeping government in the Obama administration's economic stimulus: "I worry that the current situation is a set of circumstances where the administration is using the excuse of the economic difficulties in order to significantly broaden the power and authority of the government over the private sector. I think that's a huge mistake.
"I'd much prefer a situation in which we did not embark upon a course of the vast expansion of the authority of the federal government over the private sector.
See more on Cavuto, with excerpts courtesy of the FOX Business Network:
On the Obama administration's economic strategy:
"I'd be much more focused on tax cuts and reducing the economic burden on the private sector that the federal government represents as the best way to get the economy up and running again. I think you need to create jobs, you need to support small business, you need to encourage people to go out and save and invest and create the kind of entrepreneurial activity that really has given us the greatness that is the American economy, not expand the size of the federal government."
On "enhanced Interrogation methods:''
"I don't believe it was torture. We had attorneys who gave us a clear guidance as to what was appropriate and what wasn't ... Bottom line is we successfully defended the nation for seven and a half years against a follow-on attack to 9/11.
"That was a remarkable achievement. Nobody would have thought that was possible, but it was. I believe it was possible because of the policies we had in place, which they're now dismantling."
On closing Guantanamo Bay and providing released detainees with welfare:
"I think it's a terrible idea... The ones that are remaining, about 245, are the hardcore, the worst of the worst. They're cases have been reviewed, they were given a review down at Guantanamo, and they were kept in custody because we believe they constituted a threat to the United States.
"I think they need to keep Guantanamo open. I think it's a mistake to try to close it. I think if you didn't have it, you'd have to invent it. If you bring those people to the United States, I don't know a single congressman who is going to stand up and say, gee, send me some terrorists. I'd like to have some al Qaeda-types living in my district. That's not going to happen."
On the administration planning to release photos of interrogation methods:
"The fact of the matter is the administration appears to be committed to putting out information that sort of favors their point of views in terms of being opposed to, for example, enhanced interrogation techniques.
"But so far they've refused to put out memos that were done by the CIA that I've requested be declassified that show the positive results of the detainee program, and all of the information and the intelligence we were able to garner from these high-value detainees."
On the future of the Republican Party:
"I think we need to run a party that is broadly based, where people of a wide variety of viewpoints are welcome. I don't think we ought to change the basic fundamental philosophy of the Republican Party. I personally am a conservative Republican.
"I obviously believe in my philosophy, and I think that's the basis upon which we have to build any resurgence of our party. I think we will, but I think we'll do it by being true to our principles, not becoming more like the Democrats."
"On whether he thinks that the country is at risk for another terrorist attack because of the Obama Administration's policies:
"I think that we are stripping ourselves of some of the capabilities that we used in order to block, if you will, or disrupt activities by al Qaeda that would have led to additional attacks. I think that's an important debate to have. I don't think we should just roll over when the new administration says -- accuses of us committing torture, which we did not, or somehow violating the law, which we did not. I think you need to stand up and respond to that, and that's what I've done."
On Jeb Bush, the former president's younger brother and former governor of Florida, who has joined other Republicans in attempting to refocus the party:
"I like Jeb. I think he's a good man. I'd like to see him continue to stay involved politically... I'd probably support him for president."
Comments
We had eight years of Bush & Cheney doing what they do and it brought us to the brink of economic collapse.
We are beginning to see some positive signs in the economy due to the bold actions that the Obama administration has taken in his first 100 days. The last thing that we need right now is to hear what Cheney would do.
Posted by: Quippy | May 12, 2009 5:20 PM
Don't most former presidents and vice presidents find something charitable to do once they are out of office? I think Cheney needs to find a hobby...maybe he should be paying attention to his wife and grandchildren. He has all the time in the world to go fishing and hunting now and all he can do is stay in DC and try to undercut the new administration. OR what is he afraid of?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | May 12, 2009 5:32 PM
Funny.....I thought one of the principles set forth by Ronnie Raygun was to never talk bad about another republican. I guess ol' Dick can cherry pick the principles like he did the Iraq intel.
Posted by: bill r. | May 12, 2009 5:39 PM
Cheney is the type of person that only cares for himself and is the person that over my life time that I have learned to despise.
Posted by: phil b | May 12, 2009 5:45 PM
"Dick Cheney, former vice president and man about the news talk show circuit lately, says he never would have bailed out the automotive industry,"
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/12/politics/politico/main4664978.shtml
"That was the message Vice President Dick Cheney brought to a closed-door Senate GOP lunch Wednesday, reportedly warning that it’ll be “Herbert Hoover” time if aid to the industry was rejected, according to a senator familiar with the remarks. A Cheney spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny the vice president’s remarks."
Somebody is lying.
Posted by: Herbert H. | May 12, 2009 5:46 PM
Here's some of those Republican "values" that The Dick Cheney is talking about:
• Invasion of privacy when it pleases us
• Constant campaigns of fear to keep the masses controllable
• Free enterprise that benefits the top 1% at the detriment of everyone else
• Religious fringe/narrow minded philosophies (climate change a myth, creationism not)
• Wars based primarily on corporate interests and fed to us as patriotic necessity
The Republican party has veered off into Gattaca-ville. They believe their platform promotes freedom and individuality but their too blind to see the truth - situations like Teri Schaivo, phone-tapping, torture approval methods and pre-emptive wars have, until the last 10 years, been a fringe mentality. Thanks to George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and their Nazi-like followers this kind of thinking about what a democracy is has been pushed into the mainstream. Granted, much of it was pushed through the gauze of fear (mushroom clouds, alert levels, enemies within), but thank God America finally came to their senses.
And that brings us to Cheney. His recent statements prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Republican party has never had any intention of working with the rest of us. They maintained their fringe mentality and always intended to shove it down our throats whether we liked it or not. Lets face it, if we DIDN'T like it, we were branded as traitors. As long as we did, we would cheer for the team and become blindly complacent to corruption (Halliburton), laziness (Katrina) and a lack of oversight and enforcement of laws (mortgage industry) that has undone our reputation and the world's economy.
Posted by: Kathy | May 12, 2009 5:53 PM
Of course one of the loyal BushCo lieutenants (Cheney) would endorse another memeber of the Bush crime family (Jebby). I'm not too surprised. And to tell you the truth I wouldn't be really surprised if a large chunk of the idiots who make up what's left of the Republican base in this country did as well. Daddy Bush being the former head of the CIA really has paid some dividends.
Posted by: BigCheese | May 12, 2009 6:12 PM
If Republicans were to be true to their principles, they would eject Cheney, Bush and the rest of the neo-const from the party. (They can toss out some of the big spenders as well.) It’s not that Republicans weren’t already headed down the wrong path. It’s that the new, big-government, neo-socialist, anti-civil rights, jingoist foreign policy types that came in with the neo-cons led the party into a dead-end detour off the wrong path. Staying true to principles would involve de-emphasizing the Republican’s tepid social agendum, and refocusing on fiscal and institutional conservatism, adherence to the rule of law (including the Constitution), peaceful cooperation with the world, and promotion of free trade.
Posted by: John W. | May 12, 2009 6:20 PM
That is rich.
Shooter "worries" that the present circumstances provide the administration with the "excuse" to expand govt. power, etc. etc.
Which is exactly what he and Bush did with 9/11.
In malign ways.
Posted by: ornery | May 12, 2009 6:41 PM
"Bottom line is we successfully defended the nation for seven and a half years against a follow-on attack to 9/11."
===========================
...and a real crappy one in the 9 months prior to that or are you conveniently forgetting the warning you received?
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | May 12, 2009 11:13 PM
"I personally am a conservative Republican. I obviously believe in my philosophy, and I think that's the basis upon which we have to build any resurgence of our party. I think we will, but I think we'll do it by being true to our principles, not becoming more like the Democrats." ~ The Wise, Indomitable Dick Cheney
--------------------------------------
Dead On Right. There is no point in becoming an Arlen Spector Fake-a** RINO. If individuals are to have NO control over their Own destiny and are to be denied the opportunity to ensure their Own economic security, then this little experiment in Liberty is just over anyway. There is already a party that advocates for that philosophy. No need for two.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | May 13, 2009 1:47 AM
Cheney has no principles or morals. He's unAmerican, unpatriotic and a coward, if there ever was one.
Posted by: Doug R. | May 13, 2009 7:59 AM
"The banks were different, and the reason the banks are different is because they are part of the financial system that is the heart and soul of our economy."
Right, Dick? Bail out the corporate CEO's who "failed" the banks.
But leave the actual hard working Americans (middle class, blue collar) who really drive the economy, hanging out to dry.
It is "products", actual hard goods that get produced, bought and sold that drive the economy. Then, the banks just hold on to OUR money.
This is the big problem, instead of being the nation that works, we try to make money, from money. i.e. the stock market. How about trying to make money the old fashioned way? Hard work!! Instead of just trying to piggy back on someone else's labor through the biggest bookie joint in the land called the stock market.
Posted by: Dvae S | May 13, 2009 8:49 AM
Ruthless and aggressive foes have no reason to take seriously a smiley plastic mannequin like Obama... they know he's not going to do anything... like when the Russians stole the Krgyzstan air base from right under his nose. Barack is asleep at the wheel, and they know it.
Napolitano's appointment to Homeland Security was an early indicator of the complete disconnect between Obama's zeitgeist and the reality of the terrorist threat. Al Qaida terrorists will smell this weakness and promptly move to exploit it. All Obama had to do was appoint a Giuliani, somebody that would have given these 7th-century savages pause before they try another stunt like 9/11... but NO, we get this unqualified partisan toady.
Obama is turning the US into an impotent, irrelevant bystander... while Al Qaida, Russia, China, and Iran will fill the power vacuum. Expect major international embarassements in the months ahead.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican Resistance | May 13, 2009 10:06 AM
Ronald Reagan vehemently insisted that torture is inexcusable in all cases -- no exceptions -- and that those who do it must be prosecuted.
Posted by: ronald truth squad | May 13, 2009 10:21 AM
Giuliani, somebody that would have given these 7th-century savages pause before they try another stunt like 9/11...
Posted by: Reaganite Republican Resistance | May 13, 2009 10:06 AM
Yes that Giuliani is a smart one. That Florida strategy was amazing. To the rabid, republican means more than being smart.
Posted by: bill r. | May 13, 2009 11:39 AM
enjoy;
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/opinion/13dowd.html?ref=opinion
Posted by: C.Morris✈ | May 13, 2009 12:43 PM
Dave S: Spot on. We need to make things again, period. Reaganite Pug: Way to stay on topic their mr. tightpants. Can you possibly be more obvious when you try to spread your phony fear around?
As per topic....I love it when darth talks. I love it when he endorses Jeb for President. Darth is a one man wrecking crew for what is left of the pug party!!! Go Darth Go!!! You can do it!!
Posted by: Xcellentform | May 13, 2009 1:45 PM
CMO.....Had to put it out there for the rabid to see. They don't go out of their way to look at "information". While they chant and dance around Cheney's act of treason, they should read what their own headhunters wrote about a similar happening.
In 2002, when Bush Junior was ramping up to his war against Saddam, Al Gore made a speech trying to slow down that war resolution, pointing out that pivoting from Osama to Saddam for no reason, initiating “pre-emptive” war, and blowing off our allies would undermine the war on terror.
Charles Krauthammer called Gore’s speech “a disgrace.” Michael Kelly, his fellow Washington Post columnist, called it “vile” and “contemptible.” Newt Gingrich said that the former vice president asserting that W. was making America less safe was “well outside the mark of an appropriate debate.”
Hypocrites
Posted by: bill r. | May 13, 2009 2:01 PM