Cheney Speech: Obama ‘Deserves an Answer’
EmailABC News’ Jonathan Karl reports: Former Vice President Dick Cheney today will offer some praise for President Obama in addition to a strong defense of Bush administration national-security policies, in a speech that will be delivered just minutes after Obama outlines his approach to key issues in fighting terrorism. Cheney will make his national-security speech at the conservative American Enterprise Institute immediately following President Obama’s 10:10 am ET speech at the National Archives. "When President Obama makes wise decisions," Cheney will say, "he deserves our support. When he mischaracterizes the decisions we made, he deserves an answer." "The responsibilities we carried belong to others now. And though I’m not here to speak for George W. Bush, I am certain that no one wishes the current administration more success in defending the country than we do. We understand the complexities of national security decisions. We understand the pressures that confront a president and his advisers…" "Right now there is considerable debate in this city about the measures our administration took to defend the American people — and especially about our methods of gathering intelligence. What I want to do today is set forth the strategic thinking that drove our policies…" Cheney has told AEI that he won’t start his speech until Obama is finished. Large television screen will bring Obama’s speech live to Cheney and his audience at AEI. Among Obama’s "wise decisions,” according to Cheney: his approach to Afghanistan and his decision not to release the detainee abuse photos.
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Why doesn’t Cheney go back to Wyoming and just shut up?
Posted by: Bob | May 21, 2009, 8:03 am 8:03 am
And Cheney deserves to go to prison. This is the strongest motivation for all his bluster. This guy and most of the rest of the Bush administration belongs in prison.
Posted by: Buddesatva | May 21, 2009, 8:09 am 8:09 am
Don’t you think it’s time BOTH sides put the last administrations actions aside and move on to the issues facing us today. We shouldn’t sit in judgement of what others thought had to be done in the first few years after 9/11. If the same stories (waterboarding, Gitmo)came out in 2003/4, they wouldn’t even be news worthy. Even if one didn’t agree with the procedures, at the time, most certainly would have turned the other way to stay safe. Waterboarding has officially been banned by the new administration, and that should be the end of the story. If anything the latest arrest of the 4 terrorist who were ready to blow up a Synagague, Rec Center and shoot down Military Aircraft, has shown is that we are still in danger and they are right here in America. No matter how much kissing a$$ we do, the main purpose of these fanatics are to kill or bring to their knees, anyone who is a non-believer, period. They are not interested in co-existing with anyone that does not follow their beliefs.
Posted by: Willy | May 21, 2009, 8:21 am 8:21 am
How is he supposed to shutup and go home if all of you Libs and the Lib media keep reliving the past and talking trash on him constantly???
Posted by: Ha! | May 21, 2009, 8:24 am 8:24 am
The difference is clear. VP Cheney is willing to praise Pres BO when he does what is prudent. The Crazy left can do nothing but tear down ala Pelosi.
Posted by: Bob in Hartford | May 21, 2009, 8:59 am 8:59 am
People won’t care to discuss Mr. Cheney anymore after the prosecutors and the judge make a compromise on the length of his jail sentence.
Posted by: Angry Citizen | May 21, 2009, 9:02 am 9:02 am
“Strict observance of the written law is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to the written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the ends to the means.”
-Thomas Jefferson
Posted by: NoMoreMr.NiceGuy | May 21, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Another point, when Obama declares himself above the law it is all fine and good, as in when he broke the law a couple of weeks ago during the Chrysler bankruptcy, he has also went above and beyond Bush’ Patriot Act with jaw dropping claims of executive privilege if you lefties would care to look into that, there are also his ties to ACORN which will be investigated before it is all over and this is public knowledge and breaking the law against American citizens, he doesn’t even try to hide it but you assume you know what Cheney and Bush did even though you don’t have a clue as to how they were advised by the OLC, the CIA, or Congress because there has been very little fact but a lot of press speculation about what they knew and based their decisions on. No facts, no classified documents have been released only opinions and speculation and a few reports by their legal counsel so how can you even claim to know what went on.
Posted by: NoMoreMr.NiceGuy | May 21, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am
Cheney’s a criminal, plain and simple (I’ll let the judges find this out later)! He’s just trying to cover his own a@# just like all cowards do when they have to stand up for what they have done!
You can just tell how much he appreciates Obama’s decisions (smell the sarcasm?)! If McCain would have won (god forbid) do you seriously think he’d still support Obama’s decisions? Don’t kid yourself!
Posted by: Pete in Boca | May 21, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am
As a Democrat, I look forward to more high-profile speeches from Cheney. The GOP needs a leader, and who better than Darth Vader himself? A silly, paranoid little man who made extremely bad decisions for the country after he and the rest of the Bush administration were caught asleep at the switch on 9/11. I’ll never understand how these guys who failed to stop the terrorists are regarded as “good on national security” by the MSM. Down is up and up is down my friends.
Posted by: SpaceCat75 | May 21, 2009, 9:51 am 9:51 am
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
Posted by: DaveM | May 21, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
Chenney is in CYA Mode plain and Simple.. He knows full well that he’s going to pay a high price for all the illegal crap he and the Bush administration were doing. He Barely spoke in the last year or so of their administration. The Bush administration locked him in some fox hole somewhere so that he wouldn’t stink up their Press Conferences any more then they already stunk.. Now there’s not a single day that passes where you don’t see his Darth Vader evil Mug on TV Ranting and Raving. Question? Where’s Bush? his Boss? Why is Cheney speaking out against Obamas Policies and not Bush? Because it was Cheney running the shop and his hand Puppet George Dumbya Bush was just a Prop…
Posted by: ChenneyIsEvil | May 21, 2009, 10:04 am 10:04 am
Why don’t you go read the Geneva Convention and define what non enemy combatant means when it comes to terrorists, insurgents, POW’s in Iraq and Afghanistan, all defined differently under Geneva. Then go and read it again to determine how non enemy combatants may be defined by military tribunals. Then go read it again and apply interrogation techniques to those covered by Geneva and those not. And then when you get your international law degree come back and tell Bush and Cheney what they should have done. And then go ask Congress to define all of these things for you like Bush did in 2005 and 2006 and they took a pass, maybe rightfully so because they didn’t want to tie the presidents hands in lieu of unforeseen events, or maybe because they didn’t want to be responsible for defining it or maybe it was their usual CYA approach to everything they do. Either way when Bush asked Congress for definition and clarification in 2005 and 2006 it means he wanted a clear cut path and they refused.
Posted by: NoMoreMr.NiceGuy | May 21, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Mr Cheney… Stop, just Stop. The game is up, the days are numbered. The longer we hang on to old vices and old powers, the longer it will take to rebuild ourselves. And this we must do. It seems to me, What Mr. Cheney would have us do is, act scared… Make all our decisions out of fear, from a fearful perspective and this is counterproductive. What we need from Mr. Cheney is … nothing. So stop it already. Go home and retire!
Posted by: dude | May 21, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Cheney is effective and the truth is a disinfectant. Eventually, when the American public finds out how the “jointly approved” interrogation methods were Bush-Cheney will be judged favorably by history. Until then, those invested in gaining power at the expense of truth will do everything possible to muddy the waters.
Posted by: pauldia | May 21, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am
It is ridiculous to even try and put ANY of the Bush administration in jail. President Obama will set an ugly precedence if he tries to put the past administration on trial. In doing this his own actions while in office will then be questioned and scrutinized by the next President who holds office. People on this blog are senseless.
Posted by: dfesta813 | May 21, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
The Bush administration never asked your opinion. The Bush administration never asked for your consent. The Bush administration never asked for your ideas. The Bush administration did not tell you very much, took your money spent it and now it is YOUR debt to pay. This includes rebuilding nations, protecting the North American Union. Protecting the African Union, European Union(already formed) and Asian Union. Whether you know or not is irrelevant.
The Bush administration has never admitted ANYTHING. Oh yea and atleast oone of the Bush administration shot a guy in the face. Demonize demonize demonize! Maybe if we repay the favor and ignore Mr. Cheney then he will be quiet.
Posted by: dude_remitted | May 21, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Can you people stop with the name calling? I am so tired of hearing about the ‘Crazy Left’ and the other various names that are derogatory to people whom you might disagree with. You are not making your point this way. You sound like a petty child whose needs a timeout. Grow up.
Posted by: foerschie | May 21, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Just wait until the truth behind this illegal War, the outing of the CIA agent lady, Quantanemo, Torture, Wire Tapping, Kidnapping, etc etc etc comes out about your Good guy Cheney and the Bush Administration. It’ll really be a disinfectant that this country needs badly.. what we really need is Roach Spray… These are Evil CEOs who cover for Countries like Saudi Arabia while condeming Sadam Hussein with false information.
Posted by: cheneyIsEvil | May 21, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Cheney is a criminal! He should be tried for crimes against humanity! Arrest him now!
Posted by: New Yorker | May 21, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am
Last 2 posts, Do you also want Mr. Chaney to apologize for putting those new york buildings in the way of those poor misguided terrorist?
Posted by: hkdakota | May 21, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am
hkdakota – No, but it would be nice for Cheney and the rest of the Bush administration to apologize for ignoring repeated warnings about terrorism before 9/11. When you receive a CIA briefing titled “Osama bin Laden determined to strike in the U.S.” and do NOTHING, you owe the American people a big apology. Instead, Bush and Co. used their horrible mistake as a campaign issue and took us into the dumbest, most costly preemptive war in our history. Oh yeah, they used their national security failing as an excuse to torture people too.
Posted by: SpaceCat75 | May 21, 2009, 11:07 am 11:07 am
I have a response to the idiot that suggested that Cheney shut up & go back to Wyoming – I guess for the same reason that Al Gore has been running his big mouth since he was VP or why Jimmy Carter inserts his foot into his big liberal mouth every so often. And I would say that Bill Clinton did not to quietly into that dark night after he left office either. I personally think that Obama should just shut his trap every now & then & stop blaming the former administration for EVERYTHING. The liberal Dems have it all right now and all they want to do is look back & blame someone else for everything – no wonder Cheney has come out swinging. You would think that the Dems were completely absent during the Bush years – the knew nothing about nothing (refer to Nancy “Panokio” Pelosi & waterboarding…)
Posted by: LindaZ1 | May 21, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Why do we worry so much in this country about the rights of convicted criminals who were determined to kill US citizens and were a direct threat to our ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We justify killing unborn babies as a “women’s right to chose.” Logic then tells me, at least, interrogation techniques gained at protecting the US citizens safety is also justified. We now live in a country with very mixed up priorities. We value animal rights, and the environment more than rights for unborn children.
The two party system does not work, and until we have people in government who make decisions bases on common sense and adherence to the constitution we will continue to face problems.
Conservative, liberal, or moderate we can all agree that most political decisions in the country today are determined more by adherence to partisan ideas, political gain and special interests than common sense
Posted by: AJK | May 21, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
It was on Bush/Cheney’s watch when America was attacked on 9/11… That will never change & history will record it for future generations to read…
Posted by: Patricia Evans | May 21, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Cheney and Bush are responsible for the single largest terrorist attack ever in USA history.They then started a war that killed and wounded hundreds of thousands more.
May G*d forgive them. I wouldn’t want to live in eternity the hell they will be living in.
Posted by: Lou NYC | May 21, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
I read the posts here and I wonder how many people on here are 30 something,no real life experience yet (a family you can’t feed,no job, health problems ,etc) Momma and daddy put you through college and you think all that book learning will save you if there is another war or depression. Well, are you all in for a rude awakening. All I hear is about our core values and ideals. B.S. is sure to come your way. Terrorist have no values. Why should WE have values when it comes to them. We can make nice to them all you want and they will still want to kill us. Do you want a terrorist moving in next door to you knowing they want to kill you and your children. I think BHO should invite some of them to move into the White House to live with his 2 virgin daughters. He wants to protect these thugs, so why don’t he reward the terrorist now and give his 2 daughters to them. When it comes to protecting my family and children and grandchildren, I would shoot first and ask questions later.
Posted by: Carol in Alabama | May 21, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Hey…Cheney said Gitmo is a good, safe place where people are treated will!!!
For his service to this country we should get him a ROOM there..and use some waterboarding techniques for some truth about his 8 years….and maybe his oil company deals…
Posted by: nisha | May 21, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
Cheney says there is No middle ground there is no Compromise So In other words Cheney wants President Obama and his Admin to do things the Bush/Cheney way AINT HAPPENING YOU OLD NUT CASE!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | May 21, 2009, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
There will be no prison sentences, no trials because there were no laws broken. Democrats love to play tuesday night quaterback because they can not come up with a game plan only a corrective measure to those who can. Look at today’s administration…..no plan on what to do on Gitmo when it is closed, no plan on Iran, no plan to support Isreal and no plan on how to keep the lies from coming out of all their mouths.
Posted by: safetynet1 | May 21, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
And they will also document the 5 times Clinton had to take OBL out. Clinton was a little busy at the time with extra-curricular activities.
Posted by: jodie | May 21, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
Why don’t you go read the Geneva Convention and define what non enemy combatant means when it comes to terrorists, insurgents, POW’s in Iraq and Afghanistan, all defined differently under Geneva. Then go and read it again to determine how non enemy combatants may be defined by military tribunals. Then go read it again and apply interrogation techniques to those covered by Geneva and those not. And then when you get your international law degree come back and tell Bush and Cheney what they should have done. And then go ask Congress to define all of these things for you like Bush did in 2005 and 2006 and they took a pass, maybe rightfully so because they didn’t want to tie the presidents hands in lieu of unforeseen events, or maybe because they didn’t want to be responsible for defining it or maybe it was their usual CYA approach to everything they do. Either way when Bush asked Congress for definition and clarification in 2005 and 2006 it means he wanted a clear cut path and they refused.
Uh, I did take the time to visit all of the chapters of the Geneva Convention, and you sir, have a very eschewed version of the thing and how it relates to Bush/Cheney and their blunders, compounded by more blunders. Oh and by the way, perhaps you’d like to clarify this nonsense you mention about how Bush asked Congress for definition and clarification. I guess you just make this stuff up as you go. By the way, it was a Republican congress back then. Oops.
Posted by: tim | May 21, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
Cheney owns Obama. Obama is a weak, indecisive, inexperienced individual who does not inspire confidence.
Thanks to Clinton we were attacked on 9/11. Thanks to Bush we were kept safe for seven years. Thanks to Obama we will be attacked again.
Posted by: Allan Erickson | May 21, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
The way was never lost. We haven’t been attacked since 9/11. We are handling terrorism just fine, thank you.
Posted by: Creative Plane | May 21, 2009, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
I think Pres Obama is wrong in engaging Cheney in any kind of dialog. Obama is the kind of leader who will talk with any leader in the world who has a valid opinion. I do not think Cheney is a leader or has an opinion worthy of his (Obama)stooping to join in this argument. Conspicuous in this whole situation is the absence of George Bush who has never previously failed to defend his past mismanagements. Kind of makes you wonder who was in charge from 2000-2008
Posted by: toot | May 22, 2009, 5:45 am 5:45 am
It looks to me like Cheney is doing everything he can to sway public opinion so that he can avoid federal prison. When everything finally comes out about the abuses he ordered and the laws he broke, he will be facing some serious prison time.
Posted by: Eric | May 22, 2009, 10:54 am 10:54 am
safetynet1 said, “There will be no prison sentences, no trials because there were no laws broken” That’s what Hitler’s SS guards said at the time too. “Ve vere just following orders”. You obviously haven’t bothered to read up on what exactly is in those torture pictures Obama is now refusing to release.
Posted by: Eric | May 22, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
Allan Erickson said, “Thanks to Bush we were kept safe for seven years.” Maybe you were sleeping when the terrorists hit Madrid on March 11, 2004, or London on July 7, 2005? Bush & Cheney’s anti-terror policies were in place for both of those major terrorists attacks. And maybe it also conveniently slipped your mind that over 4,000 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq over the past 5 years, most of them by TERRORIST bombings. Then of course there are the dispensible people, the 50,000 Iraqi citizens that have been killed by TERRORIST attacks over the past 5 years. That’s quite an anti-terror track record for Cheney, now isn’t it.
Posted by: Eric | May 22, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
Eric, I don’t remember the US being attacked. Maybe you do. please tell us more…..
Posted by: tom k | May 22, 2009, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
The facts are these. For four hundred years their was no Isreal. Now in 1953 their is. And americal has a big problem because of it.
Posted by: Trace Miller | May 24, 2009, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm