By Jacqueline Klingebiel

Aug 30, 2009 10:46am

Kerry Slams Cheney on ‘This Week’

In our interview this morning, John Kerry hit back at Dick Cheney's charge on Fox News that the Attorney General's decision to investigate possible CIA abuses is an "outrageous political act."

“Dick Cheney has shown through the years, frankly, a disrespect for the constitution for sharing of information to Congress and a [dis]respect for the law and I’m not surprised that he’s upset about this,” Kerry told me this morning on “This Week.”

Senator Orrin Hatch defended the former Veep's position, saying that the Obama Administration’s probe into CIA interrogation techniques of terror detainees would weaken efforts for protecting national security.

“We don’t want to cripple our ability in very crucial times to get the information we gotta have to save our country and to protect our people,” Hatch told me during our interview this morning on 'This Week.'

Kerry conceded that the issue has caused tension within the administration itself.

“There’s a little bit of tension between the White House and the lawyers (Justice Department) as they see the law and what their obligation is. And in a sense that’s good, it’s appropriate because it shows we have an Attorney General who is not perusing the political agenda, who is doing what he believes the law requires him to do. And we have an administration on the other hand that is balancing those other issues.”

WATCH it here.

- George Stephanopoulos

User Comments

Oh please . . . Kerry has been completely discredited by his lies and fabrications. Only the most pandering of the left wing media would even cite him as a reference.

Posted by: rplat | August 30, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am

Did you know John Kerry served in Vietnam?

Posted by: pauldia | August 30, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am

I normally watch your round table discussion because people actually act civil with each other. Today with Sam and Lynn you sank to the level of other talk shows with the theory of “whoever talks loudest is right”.

Posted by: w.szafranski | August 30, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am

I’m torn on the whole waterboarding (and other methods) of suspected or known terrorists. On the one hand I think there has got to be a drug or a more non violent method to extract information. On the other hand these zealots who are responsible for the death of so many people..not just Americans but many other nationalities as well. They have no soul or compassion for anyone or thing except their own opinions and if something else is going down we need to find out what it is before we see another 9/11

Posted by: Michelle | August 30, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am

Did you know John Kerry served in Vietnam?
Is this suppose to mean something?
Please help me out.

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 11:20 am 11:20 am

It has been a proven that the Whitehouse Lawyers who rendered opinions concerning torture were given appointments as a reward: They tried to circumvent previously agreement with their opinions.

Posted by: Jim Draper | August 30, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am

2nd guessing an administration in the intelligence area is a dangerous act to our country security. Moveon.org would want us to move on.

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am

Why does ABC give Liz Cheney “Face Time”? Let her go to Fox Network, i don’t watch it.

Posted by: Jim Draper | August 30, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am

I am all done waching This Week if they continue to include Liz Cheney. Just because she is the daughter of the main criminal in this situation doesn’t make her an expert.

Posted by: Dan | August 30, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am

Actually I wish there was more voices because the two sides we have in washington have gotten NOTHING done for years and some of you are crying for only 1 pont of view. Come on America, are you only able to hear one side only.

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am

Come on…with Liz Cheney’s participation the quality of the discussion is greatly diminished. It’s apparent that she is not even listening to the discussion but rather awaiting the first opportunity to inject her talking points…ugh…George, you’re the moderator…how about doing your job? I look to your show for reflective perspectives and intelligent disagreement…to make me think. Today it was simply annoying.

Posted by: Hank | August 30, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am

disabling national security is what dems do best. Hey Jim, try watching Fox, you might learn something.

Posted by: teri | August 30, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am

repulicans have always tried to portray thmselves as the sole protector of THE CONSTTUTION. but when Cheny supports cia/fbi abuses, if any, under his admin, Replicans hide behind the n’tl security. Why not they change the constitution to allow cis/fbi to do any thing they wish. Then Cheny can order any things he
wants against the enemies of the state or his personal enemies …..

Posted by: jiten maurya | August 30, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am

“When the law brakes the law then there is no law. All there is left is just a fight for survival.” — Quote from Billy Jack. 99.999% of Politicians are one notch below child molesters so how on earth can you believe a word that comes out of any of these bullcrap rats. The Democrat and Republican party are the main cause of the downfall of our beautiful country. They both want to justify there bullcrap but in the end they are both useless and rotten to the bone. All gov”ts and religions are corrupted and evil. This is not a general statement. This is the truth. “It is better to die standing, than to live on your knees.” — Emiliano Zapata. The world must wake up before it is to late. The big fish are eating all the little fish.

Posted by: cony007 | August 30, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am

The more Kerry says, the less I like him. Can’t he stay silent for at least a few days while we bury the only Senator from Mass.

Posted by: roger king | August 30, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am

Teri, don’t you know you are only suppose to belive one way. An opposite view is unacceptable. Isn’t the way we ae heading

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am

cony007, i agree. our politicians in washington have dismantled our country. term limits should be voted by the people only and not the career politicians.

Posted by: gary | August 30, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am

George, Please tone down the yelling and shouting. Sam needs to move on… Please.

Posted by: dls | August 30, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

Since when does any moral argument, in this case torture standards, allow the ends to justify the means? We, as a country, should stand for the moral or not–but never whether breaking the moral standing gives us a reward or not.

Posted by: kksf | August 30, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am

“Disrespect for the Constitution”, “(dis)respect for the law”? First of all, would mr kerry support changing a law in Massachusetts that would allow a democrat socialist to appoint a democrat socialist(kennedy’s senate seat). Secondly, mr kerry showed his respect for the Constitution when he pitched his unearned medals.

Posted by: Reflect09 | August 30, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

I am a long-time viewer of This Week, and I usually love the balance in the round table… but when you (or any other news show I watch) have Liz Cheney on the panel, I turn it off… she constantly talks over everyone, with the same self/father-serving dribble that we can get on Fox if we want that.

Posted by: Harry | August 30, 2009, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Would anyone argue that we should not have conducted an investigation and prosecution of war crimes after WWII? Maybe we should have just looked forward and not second quessed the acts of certain Germans and Japanese. Problem was, some of these people had broken laws and treaties.
Well, you say, in the world today we had to torture the bad guys to save lives. Three problems: (1) We assume we have the bad guys. Without a trial you really don’t know of a man’s guilt or innocence; (2)We have laws that don’t suspend when it suits our purpose and ;(3)There’s no creible evedence that our illigal activity did save any lives.
A full investigation should ensue if for no other reason to make sure this never happens again.

Posted by: Joe | August 30, 2009, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Yeah, that Cheney doesn’t lie or fabricate. Oh wait. He’s one of the worst.

Posted by: secondlook | August 30, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm

I stated yesterday George, that ABC is the flagship of our unbiased news. To have Lynn Cheney talking over everyone else, louder and faster is not giving the American people what we deserves….the truth. Cheney’s only objective is to defend her father’s disrepect for human rights and any Laws that apply to him or his. Think of Scooter and the praise he showered on this Criminal. No one is above the Law in our country, and if so, who are they talking about…. the rich and powerful?

Posted by: tychisum | August 30, 2009, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm

I am so tired of all the back bitting this country has. Every time a Demorcate gets in office all they do is back bitte. And as for kerry, every time that person opens his mouth is a lie. that man makes me sick.

Posted by: karen | August 30, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm

I found it very ironic that after celebrating Sen. Kennedy’s spirit of bipartisanship, there was one of the worst partisan debates I have ever seen on George during the round table. Lynn Cheney and Sam Donaldson were just yelling at each other — it was just sad to watch.

Posted by: Srose | August 30, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm

John Kerry is the other reason Massachuesets is the laughing stock of the east coast. He is Kennedy light you know all the bull none of the charm

Posted by: rick | August 30, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm

Gary, We don’t need term limits. What we need is a total revamp of our system. The people in our system are purely corrupted and need chemotherapy. We need people who are not just competent but have compassion for their fellow man. Most of the politicians are passionate about themselves and not for their fellow man. Because if they did have compassion for their fellow man, then they would all vote to give every American free medical care and free education. To have a great society which no one in world has you must first take care of 3 groups. The kids because they are the future. The sick because they can’t help themselves. And the elderly because they have paid their dues. What do we do with our kids, our sick and our elderly we throw bones at them. Our priorities as human beings are all @@#$@# up. America needs HEALING.

Posted by: cony007 | August 30, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm

First it’s Michelle Malkin and now Lynn Cheney. Sorry George, your out and I’m switching to Face the Nation

Posted by: Kenneth Lukas | August 30, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

“It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”- James Madison.
Republicans would allow for any Constitutional violation if it was done in the name of “national security”. It’s sad how, deep down, conservatives are the most yellow and fearful people in the world.

Posted by: AnimusVir | August 30, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

Gary! Do realize that fox news viewers out score abc,cbs,nbc,and cnn combined! Which means that you are the last one watching these heavily slanted liberal news stations. The rest of us are getting the real story on fox news!

Posted by: mary | August 30, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm

First of all, “Kerry and his lies”. What? That’s all I’ll say about that because you don’t know what else to say.
Secondly, if drills were use and fake executions to intimidate the suspect, then laws were broken. This isn’t about whether or not you think that suff necessary. I’m not sure it’s not. It may be.
The point is apparently (I’m learning here) we DO have laws specifically forbidding that conduct and if we all believe that we should be able to use thes tactics then we shouldn’t have these laws. It’s too late for that now, though. If the law was broken we must honor.
On more thing, the next person to use the termsn conservative right or liberal left shouldn’t even be honored with a response. Just uising that as your aruement without debating the substance is weak. We might as well be asking ourselves if they’re black or white while we’re at it and blaiming our disagreement on that.

Posted by: DB | August 30, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm

Liz Cheney is a terrible panelist. Surely you can find someone else to represent the conservative viewpoint who will not talk over the others in a condescending manner, prevent them from speaking, and reassert a single point until told to move on.
I have always valued the civilized, balanced discussion customarily heard on your show. Unfortunately, I now shall turn the channel whenever Liz Cheney is on your roundtable.

Posted by: mlh | August 30, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm

There has never been a war that has been fought fairly. Anyone that has ever been in the military that is above the IQ level of moron knows that you meet the evil deed with the same level of resistance. After the level of evil delivered on 9/11, all kindness and fairness on our part was taken off the table. When our enemy brings the “fight” to our shores and to the level of 9/11, they do not have any “human rights”. That right is given up by the deed they do.
I happened to catch part of the show that Reflect09 refers and it reminds me of revisionist history of the liberal party. The show that I saw completely different. It was Ms. Chaney talking over anyone. She was attempting to continue her sentences over those “rude” liberals.

Posted by: FindTheMorons | August 30, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

When I saw Liz was going to be on I decided to find something else to watch. There was something very good on Bill Moyers, in fact. I flipped over once during commercials to find Liz defending her law breaking Dad, what else is new. This is like a show discussing Scott Peterson and having to listen to his Mother say he is a good boy and would never hurt anyone. Liz is such a useless guest to have on. Anyway, if ABC has any smarts at all they will soon find other people to fill the Right Wing punditry chair or lose viewers.

Posted by: John | August 30, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

liz cheney does not belong on tv!! maybe fixed news but thats it!!

Posted by: spears guy | August 30, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm

i hate liberals!!! they respect the constitution, they stand up for the non-wealthy, they reach out to republicans, there reasonable people, god i hate them!! we need more mindless hate mongers like sean mannity and boss limbaugh!! then and only then will this country declare war with the world!!

Posted by: spears guy | August 30, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm

If you’re reading this, you are alive because our government keeps us safe. Let’s hope that it continues long beyond President Obama. the last three Presidents all did the right thing, given the circumstances.

Posted by: mojo | August 30, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm

this week really blew it, LIZ CHENEY! wow, stephanopoulos lost a viewer in me! that ugly hag belongs with her evil father on fox news sunday. go away conservatives your no longer relevant, just join your hate groups and listen to savage nation so you can feel like your important.

Posted by: spears guy | August 30, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm

A nation that disregards its own laws and treaties sets no example for the world. Torture is torture and that is the debate. Everything else is a distraction. Torture is a form of coercion, not interrogation.
If we prosecute other nations’ torture and ignore our own we only set an example for hypocrisy. We cannot hide our dishonesty behind the catch phrase of “national security.” If we have a true regard for national security, we must remember the damage done by the Republication administration of the past eight years, which has done more damage to this nation than in Bin Laden’s wildest dreams.

Posted by: FredSmith | August 30, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm

Sorry George – when Liz Cheney hits the screen, I switch over. That woman is mean and conniving, loud and obnoxious. She is I hope no one decides she’s VP material in the future. I shudder to think what she might do.

Posted by: magif | August 30, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm

Oh please . . . Kerry has been completely discredited by his lies and fabrications———
Any comments on the swiftboaters. “Swiftboating is American political jargon that is used as a strong pejorative description of some kind of attack that the speaker considers unfair or untrue—for example, an ad hominem attack or a smear campaign.”

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm

Cheney knows that if investigations go through he will be found guilty of ordering illegal and unconstitutional actions. His comments have nothing to do with national security.

Posted by: David | August 30, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

Karen, don’t get tired. This is what the two party system has been doing for years. I am 58 and have watched the dems and repubs do this for years. both parties are guilty. we need to get rid of this two party system.

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

Mojo writes: “If you’re reading this, you are alive because our government keeps us safe.”
Really? Then why is it that the government cannot be trusted with providing a public option for health care?

Posted by: David | August 30, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

This country is safe because of the actions of the CIA and our military. Threatening someone with drills and killing their children is not torture. Enhanced interrogation has kept our country safe for years. You would beg for EI if your child’s life was on the line. And if you think Clinton didn’t authorize EI, you are ignorant!

Posted by: Chris | August 30, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm

“Do realize that fox news viewers out score abc,cbs,nbc,and cnn combined! Which means that you are the last one watching these heavily slanted liberal news stations. The rest of us are getting the real story on fox news!”
Fox is number one in the ratings because people love to watch trash.
Fox News is nothing more than the GOP’s mouthpiece. Did you know that on the Fox News show “Happening Now,” they claimed they would take a look at the stimulus plan – its origins and growth. What they aired however, was not their own “fair and balanced” reporting; it turned out to be verbatim excerpts from a GOP press release, typos and all.

Posted by: WWW | August 30, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

“2nd guessing an administration in the intelligence area is a dangerous act to our country security. Moveon.org would want us to move on.”-Gary
——————————-
Perhaps you are not aware of Title 18, Part 1 Crimes, Chapter 113C Torture 2340 but I could be wrong. If I am wrong then the only logical conclusion is that you are not for law and order. Please advise if I have over looked something.

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm

teri | Aug 30, 2009 11:34:26 AM- disabling national security is what dems do best. Hey Jim, try watching Fox, you might learn something.— That’s why Bush had the memo in his hands at Crawford and ignored it! The worst terrorist act ever perpetrated on this country happened on his watch and he had the information. Maybe if you stopped watching Fox you’d know the facts!

Posted by: Try the truth | August 30, 2009, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm

Scenario: A terrorist is being held by the CIA and questioned about his knowledge of a nuclear bomb in NYC. Your child is in a school in NYC. Do you approve of the CIA waterboarding that terrorist to find out where that bomb is? How about pepperspray or shocking with a tazer. Im in Law Enforcement and I’ve been peppersprayed and tazered for training! You can’t honestly disagree with that. CAN YOU? SERIOUSLY?

Posted by: Chris | August 30, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm

john | Aug 30, 2009 12:56:07 PM — Say all you want about him, his service was vilified in the name of politics. But then you all laud McCain for his service whose claim to fame is I got captured and spilled my guts! You repubs want President Obama’s college records, why no issue with McCains military record being sealed? Maybe because he earned the name “song bird”? Honestly, I see McCain as a hero, he served, but the argument goes both ways!

Posted by: Try the truth | August 30, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm

Kenneth, People have different views. we have had 2 views in this country for years and both sides believe they are right. Kenneth, tell that to the families of the 4 men killed then hung on the bridge while crowds cheered. we are in a war and the jihadist want u and me dead.

Posted by: gary | August 30, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm

Why did Cheney think they needed to raise the threat level if the opposition was John Kerry?

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm

The reality of the situation is that this administration does not want to pursue the war on terror.They don’t believe in it; we have the current luxury of living in a period of relative terrorist inactivity thanks to the previous administration’s aggresive attrition of terrorist assets, ie, they killed or captured many,many of them.I fear that America will forget what happened on 9/11 and will make another attack inevitable.

Posted by: Nephron | August 30, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

Amen Nephron. AMEN!

Posted by: Chris | August 30, 2009, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm

Kenneth, People have different views. we have had 2 views in this country for years and both sides believe they are right. Kenneth, tell that to the families of the 4 men killed then hung on the bridge while crowds cheered. we are in a war and the jihadist want u and me dead.
—————————————-
I guess those against law and order could be right in there own minds, but two wrongs will never make a right and appeals to emotion (An Appeal to Emotion is a fallacy with the following structure:
Favorable emotions are associated with X.
Therefore, X is true) make work sometimes but are false.

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm

FOX News should not be allowed to use public infrastructure.

Posted by: David | August 30, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Does anyone on this board believe there is no jihadist war going on in the world. do you believe the jihadist are going to be a peaceful group?

Posted by: gary | August 30, 2009, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm

“Do realize that fox news viewers out score abc,cbs,nbc,and cnn combined! Which means that you are the last one watching these heavily slanted liberal news stations. The rest of us are getting the real story on fox news!”
—————————–
The three bears is a real story. Do you think that people do things exclusively because they are right or true?
I find FOXNews entertianing and watch it. I especially enjoy Glen Beck but not because I think agree with him.

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm

Never liked Kerry much. He’s an elitist and a snob.

Posted by: LongT | August 30, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm

When some one takes action that causes a person or counrty to go against their belief and principles the actor has achieved something.
Those that think that it is OK to not investigate the CIA and associates for breaking anti-torture law must admit that at least sometimes they are willing to over look the law.

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm

It is not the career attorneys with Justice who want this investigation. It is that leftist Holder. Holder is trying to rend the CIA ineffective. He is the terrorists’ best friend concerning this issue. Ask the CIA chief who Obama appointed…..and who has threatened to quit because of this.

Posted by: Kathy in Pa. | August 30, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

Kenneth, you can not expect all americans to read a law and understand it the same way. There are latitudes in people’s minds especially these days. in the 1950′s americans use to believe 75 – 25 on many subjects, but today we have moved to about 50 50 at almost every subject. It is interesting how you said two WRONGS don’t make it right. Assuming you know what is wrong and what is right.

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

tychisum……ABC unbiased? You’ve got to be kidding. They should be referred to as the All Barack Channel. They are so liberally biased it is laughable. They make fools of themselves every single day fawning over their “great leader”. I come here just for my daily dose of laughter.

Posted by: noway | August 30, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

Gary! Do realize that fox news viewers out score abc,cbs,nbc,and cnn combined! Which means that you are the last one watching these heavily slanted liberal news stations. The rest of us are getting the real story on fox news!
Posted by: mary | Aug 30, 2009 12:14:38 PM
****************************************
Jerry Springer seems to have an audience too.

Posted by: Secondlook | August 30, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm

No one “learns” anything by watching Fox. All they do is spoon-feed lies and half-truths to viewers who love to hate just about everyone. If you don’t like our “socialist” programs (Soc Sec and Medicare), then don’t take any money or benefits from them. No one is forcing you to.

Posted by: Lynne in Texas | August 30, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm

Kenneth, you can not expect all americans to read a law and understand it the same way. —————————–Read Title 18 sec 113c and tell me what it means to the single American you. Tell me if it says torture is right or wrong and then tell me if the actions of others change the meaning of the law.

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm

No one “learns” anything by watching Fox. All they do is spoon-feed lies and half-truths to viewers who love to hate just about everyone. If you don’t like our “socialist” programs (Soc Sec and Medicare), then don’t take any money or benefits from them. No one is forcing you to.
Posted by: Lynne in Texas | Aug 30, 2009 1:24:31 PM
________________________________
I won’t be able to take those programs because they won’t exist in a few years. They will be bankrupted by our SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT.

Posted by: Chris | August 30, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm

Iraq was never a threat to us.
And here we are signing a contract with Haliburton to supply the war… Without proper bidding because Cheney (Former Haliburton Executive) didn’t feel like giving out contracts.
And the Rednepublicans don’t see it.
Ignorance is bliss

Posted by: Dabbas | August 30, 2009, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm

Kenneth, do you belive the jihadist in this world will be peaceful people?

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm

The question that should be asked is how did the U.S. get attacked on its own soil in the twenty first century. I don’t think that GWB kept our country safe. If so, 911 would never have happened. It seems that he was asleep at the wheel. Liz Cheney needs to come up with better answers. Her father has put this country in more danger than ever before.

Posted by: Singer | August 30, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Karen:”Every time a Demorcate gets in office all they do is back bitte” – I could say the same of Cheney…. Do you not hear his bitterness? His resentment? If you don’t, then sympathy to you. America is moving on without you… complete with a truly Christian outlook… Judge not, and compassion for those that have wronged in the past.

Posted by: Troy Street | August 30, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

Let’s see, who do I believe more on matters of national security, a decorated war hero or a draft dodger? I think Cheney’s many lies and disrespect for our Constitution and laws more than disqualifies him. Frankly, I’m saddened that he isn’t in jail.

Posted by: JR | August 30, 2009, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm

These democrat politicians are pure EVIL. Instead of investigating the CIA, they should be getting information for our needs. All this stupid investigating is because they said Pelosi lied and guess what? SHE DID. How dare anyone confront and demorate leader. They are ARROGANT, POMPOUS EVIL-DOERS. WE should OUST OBAMA and his THUGS out of there. They are the ones that need investigating.

Posted by: Anna | August 30, 2009, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm

Spears Guy,
Well put. LOL.
For those of you out there whose only arguement over each issue is declare “Republican!” or “Liberal!”, you’ve got nothing really going on in your head and you’re not even capable of thinking for yourself. You’re just blindly following the stereotype that your party has propagated.
This type of rhetoric simply does not help. It’s hurting the country.
Think for yourself.
At times I’ll vote for one party but at least I’m willing to admit when that party screwed up. Judge the issues on their own merit.
Crying “Republican” or “Democrat” is just wasting everyone’s time.
Formulate some of your own ideas about the situation for a change.

Posted by: DB | August 30, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm

Gary read Title 18, Part 1 Crimes, Chapter 113C Torture and tell me what you a single American thinks it means.
And Gary tautologies are not proposition and don’t convey any meaning but only provide a translation.
If you are bright and think about the meaning of words you will find which words of your I am referring to.

Posted by: Kenneth | August 30, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm

Thank you Senaor Kerry as Cheney is not just a liar but a stealth self serving liar. If Cheney cared about the CIA why did he outed a covert CIA operative out of revenge. Cheney is a traitor to this coutry and an outragiously evil man.

Posted by: eyeonyour | August 30, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm

I am sick and tired of shills like George Stepho who is far from a journalist or reporter. He should be on TMZ, wait he’s not even suited for that type of idiocy.
As far as Kerry, he has absolutely no credibility whatsoever, just like his boss ZERO.
And whoever the idiot is who said Kerry was in Nam, yes just long enough to give himself three purple hearts.

Posted by: walt | August 30, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm

Cheney IS a traitor. He should be in jail.

Posted by: David | August 30, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm

Cheney is a lying pig evil sob. I would believe Kerry over Cheney anyday. I say investigate them all including Bush and Cheney. Cheney is just shaking in his panties because he is very afraid that too much of the Bush/Cheney lies and criminal acts will be revealed thus putting one of the last nails in the republican coffin.

Posted by: marschemistry | August 30, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm

I am so tired of all the back bitting this country has. Every time a Demorcate gets in office all they do is back bitte. And as for kerry, every time that person opens his mouth is a lie. that man makes me sick.
==========================================
I actually agree with you except I would substitute Cheney for Kerry in your sentence. If Cheney was doing things completely above board he would have nothing to worry about and would nothing to investigate….Torturing in the name of this country is no trivial matter as much as Cheney would like to make it…

Posted by: indy_voter | August 30, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm

Cheney should welcome an investigation so he can show he had nothing to hide and did nothing wrong. One can debate policy decisions but an investigation should reveal 1) how decisions were made 2) what information went into making them 3); how the information was gathered 4) who was responsible for the decision 5) and what information was presented to them and who presented it.

Posted by: 63tango | August 30, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

Kenneth, from my perspective as a single american. there are 1.2 billion muslims in this world and the marjority want peace. but there is about 10-15% that want to enforce the koran which calls for world control. these are serious times in world history and i choose to be safe then sorry.

Posted by: Gary | August 30, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

Both Will and Cheney demand that the President, Congress and the People in General submit to their personal opinion with regard to the quality of the Nation’s security under the Bush Presidency.
However, Bush should have not been surprised by the attack on Sept. 11, 2001. The attack on the World Trade Center while Clinton was in office, that was a surprise. All attacks following such were expected and should not have occurred, yet they did. However, it should be noted that there were no other successful attacks in Country after 1993 and 2001 and torture was never used to prevent such.
So the claim that the use of torture is essential to the security of the Nation is absurd.
The failure of the Bush administration to prevent the second attack on the WTC had nothing to do with the nation’s ability secure itself using legal interrogation techniques.
We were successfully attack because we elected men who did not have the competence necessary to secure us. History will dam us if we continue to honor these individuals by listening to them and/or their surrogates rationalize away their person failures.

Posted by: d2e2 | August 30, 2009, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm

From 1993, after the first attempt to destroy the World Trade Center, to Sept. 11, 2001 there were no successful attacks on the United States in the United States. The attack on 1993 was a surprise attack, the attack on Sept. 11, 2001 was not.
Torture was not use prior to 9/11 and we were kept safe. So the claim that enhanced interrogation techniques are essential to our Nation is absurd.

Posted by: d2e2 | August 30, 2009, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm

IF JOHN KERRY WERE PRESIDENT, THIS COUNTRY WOULD HAVE TO REDEFINE “RUN & HIDE” AND HE WOULD SPEND MOST OF HIS TIME TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD APOLOGIZING.
EVER SINCE HIS SENSATIONALIZED TESTIMONY TO CONGRESS WHERE HE FABRICATED AND MISSTATED ACTIONS BY US SOLDIERS IN VIETNAM…ALONG WITH THE SMAE STYLE BS HE USED TO DESCRIBE US SOLDIERS IN IRAQ…..HI CREDIBILITY IS SHOT!

Posted by: Kris in AL | August 30, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm

If our constitution really guide the activities of our government, then we should all be happy that the attorney generals office is investigating all of these accusations of illegalities during the Bush administration. People in the Bush administration should be glad that this investigation can finally clear the air regarding the accusations of their unlawful activities. Americans need to pay close attention to what’s currently going on in Israel. An Israeli former Prime Minister has been indicted on corruption charges by the current administration and a court of law, as it should be, will determine his guilt or innocence. Remember, no one is above the law.

Posted by: johnnyle | August 30, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm

What happened to politicians not interfering with the office of the Attorney General? – ITWARZ

Posted by: ITWARZ | August 30, 2009, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

Why is Lynn Cheney on TV? What political office was she elected to? The closer her father gets to being indicted the louder she is going to squeal. That’s not news. – ITWARZ

Posted by: ITWARZ | August 30, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm

So, I gather the next Republican administration can reopen and investigate whether….
—-Holder helped cover-up a Justice order to use military force at Waco
—-Holder exchanged money with Marc Rich during the Clinton pardon
—-Holder had anything to do with creating an enemies e-mail list concerning healthcare under Obama
—-Holder hired Craig Livingstone, who brought FBI files to the WH, for the Clinton’s in 1993.
—-Holder’s involvement in the nuclear technology exchange between Loral Corp and China during Clinton years
…and on and on…..

Posted by: Pat | August 30, 2009, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm

karen wrote: “I am so tired of all the back biting this country has. Every time a Democrat gets in office all they do is back bite.”
I’m glad you don’t back bite “every time a Democrat gets in office”!

Posted by: The_Mick | August 30, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm

If Attorney General Holder Broke laws while serving in the Clinton administration, then it should have been the duty of the Justice Dept. during the Bush administration to investigate and prosecute the law breakers. We’re all equal under our system of justice and we all should be held accountable.

Posted by: johnnyle | August 30, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

So sick of the whole Cheney family – let them quietly go back to Wyoming.

Posted by: yvonne | August 30, 2009, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm

teri Said: “disabling national security is what dems do best.”
================
LOL …”Give me a break!” … I guess that’s why in the U.S. Senate, there are 6 “combat veteran” Democrats, and there is only 1 “combat veteran” Republican:
Military veterans serving in the U.S. Senate who served in combat:
Democrats:
Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI)
Thomas Carper (D-DEL)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI) **Medal Of Honor
John Robert Kerry (D-MA)
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Jim Webb (D-VA)
Republican:
John R. McCain (R-AZ) **Vietnam POW

Posted by: X-Republican Because of Bush | August 30, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm

I think Mr. S. got the message on his website. After viewing the show this morning I had to let him know that if Liz is aboard in the future, I won’t be. After I posted the message, I read at leaast 20 messages – ALL of them were of the same thought.
Is anyone else waiting to see how toture saved “thousands” of Americans?

Posted by: James Hummel | August 30, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

Republican’s don’t like to be held accountable. They call it back-biting and real American’s call it fact finding and shining the light on the cockroaches that defile the American consitution and break the laws that apply to everyone. Pursue and prosecute all of them. Spare no expense. Shame them in history and jail them if at all possible.

Posted by: Scott O'Donnell | August 30, 2009, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm

For education of those who seem to not understand comment “of John Kerry serving in Vietnam”. He was a 27 year old Navy Officer, without adult supervision, who took a movie camera to war on Fastboats (served on 4 in 3 month period) and dressed in Navy version of “Rambo”. Received 3 purple hearts in that 120 (?) day period, of questionable enemy action. Came back and still in Navy, went to Paris to meet with North Vietnam negotiators. Spokesman for Vietnam Veterans against the war, and testified before Sen. Fulbright’s committee of how “military were trained killers, rapists, torturers, which added to anti-war clamour in U.S. Prolonged negotiations 2 more years, while our POWs (my friends) languished in “Hanoi Hilton”. John Kerry lost any and all validity with me, since in my 26 years 18 days I was never taught any of that, and I sure did not teach it to anyone. He has never expressed any remorse for those blatant lies, even when majority of his “winter soldiers” were proved to have never served, or for only short periods and not where they said they had been. I am angry and frustrated that Mass would keep electing someone like him.

Posted by: Frank Whiteman | August 30, 2009, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm

I’m so glad that “Meet the Press” comes on at the same time as “This Week”, so I don’t have to watch George.

Posted by: tom | August 30, 2009, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm

“Bitte” is “Thank You”, in german…is “Back Bitta”, like something else?

Posted by: Hajji | August 30, 2009, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm

I’m a native Texan and Republican and I usually don’t agree with anything the Bush/Cheney Team comes up with, but we need a strong CIA. Kerry was a rich kid who served his country under hostile fire, unlike Cheney or Bush or any of their kids and their ivy-league friends.

Posted by: Terry | August 30, 2009, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm

After reading the content of these comments it’s no wonder this country is going to hell in a handbasket. Most of you are as dumb as boots.

Posted by: Steve | August 30, 2009, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm

George,
Why not have Mark Levin on? Did you know he’s had a #1 non-fiction best seller for 12 weeks on Amazon? Have a real conservative who has tried cases before the Supreme Court on your show for some real entertainment.

Posted by: Woody | August 30, 2009, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm

My take on the Cheneys rising concern: An independent investigator is a threat to the former vice president.

Posted by: msgijoe | August 30, 2009, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm

KERRY LIED ABOUT WHAT TROOPS WERE DOING BOTH IN VIETNAM & IRAQ….WHO TAKES THIS GUY SERIOUSLY?
THANK HEAVEN HE WAS NEVER PRESIDENT.

Posted by: Kris in AL | August 30, 2009, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm

The plain truth of the matter is that this behavior is not befitting the representatives of this country, and should not be condoned. To hold a drill to someone’s head is like a bad scene from a horror movie — the representatives of our country do not need to exhibit that behavior. If we treat human beings as ‘animals’ then that is what we have become ourselves. Just because someone has no morals does not mean we need to throw ours out the window! The reason for ‘due process’ is to ensure the people being detained are truly ‘terrorists’. Once that is determined, then they should be subjected to ‘above board’ intelligence gathering techniques (case in point — the 12 year old held at Gitmo for 9 years!). We have enough technology in this country where we should not have to touch a hair on their human heads. By the way — where is that Bin Laden fellow?? That seems to be one reason they resorted to ‘torture’ in the first place — they could not find him, and it became too hot in the kitchen for a very few bad apples!!

Posted by: gen7sw | August 31, 2009, 3:32 am 3:32 am

Yes, John Kerry did serve in Viet Nam , apparently. BUT does he deserve a Purple Heart for getting a grain of rice in the butt. I don’t think so. Kerry is an anti-American, far-left liberal Democrat (not a real Democrat, actually an embarrassment to the real Democrat Party). Kerry along with Bill Clinton, and others, have and are still demoralizing and cutting apart the U.S. Military and United States for their own Political gain in this country and around the world. Anybody know of an available volcanoe to dump some certain persons into?????????

Posted by: buscommando | August 31, 2009, 3:35 am 3:35 am

The Constitution and Bill of Rights are the law of our land. Respect for human rights and international law flow from our own laws. Democrats respect those laws. Bush and Cheney stand for themselves as dictators. They have lowered America’s standing in the world by not following her own laws and moral values; they have made us more hated and insecure and unsafe. Kerry fought for America and earned his medals. Neither bully Cheney or Bush ever faced real danger except on 9/11 when they ran for safety. Where did they go?

Posted by: stsabc | August 31, 2009, 6:13 am 6:13 am

Go home and ask Teresa for spending money!!!

Posted by: hkdakota | August 31, 2009, 7:22 am 7:22 am

Including Liz Cheney helps me control my weight. Whenever she’s on, I lose my breakfast.

Posted by: David | August 31, 2009, 8:11 am 8:11 am

I normally enjoy This WEEK and consistantly watch, but Liz Chaney took the show over – George? I expect you to do a better job of moderating OR chose guests with manners. Liz Chaney is rude and a bully. I like hearing both sides, but she turned your show into a “Jerry Springer” version – not good!

Posted by: tunetowngirl | August 31, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am

“Milk and cookies” with lots of “please” interrogation tactics should serve our country well over the remainder of Obama’s only term. Who wouldn’t divulge important information under such duress?

Posted by: s | August 31, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am

Oh, Kerry earned his medals,… on his knees. Let’s see, he threw a grenade into a sampan and didn’t duck in time to not get rice blown up his backside,… yeah, purple heart material there, boys. Can somebody please ditch this loser,…

Posted by: Capt D | August 31, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am

George: We have enjoyed your program for years but having Liz Cheney on it is too much. We do not want to turn it off but if she is ever on it again we will.

Posted by: Gordon Rodland | August 31, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm

Milsitary service for your country means a lot to me…..

Posted by: rotanjim | August 31, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm

Karen:
since you feel that way about senator John Kerry, then what are your plans to do about making this country better? Are you serving your community? Do you plan to run for congress? What about city council or state representative? Are you involved in anything besides feeling sick about what senator Kerry is saying?
This is for all you fellows who just keep complaining: DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY BETTER!!!! and stop all your useless complaining….
“Every man/woman must decide if he/she will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of selfishness. This is the judgment: life’s most persistent and urgent question is this: what are you doing for others?” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Posted by: shalom | August 31, 2009, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm

I don’t agree with Kerry, AG, ERIC HODER & DEMOCRATIC craps because if gaining the rights of Terrorists are so precious,importance and rush agenda for the President, AG, and Dem’s Senators of United America, why Obama will increase to send American troops of 30,000 to fight against the Terrorists in Afganistan?
I do support Cheny. AG Eric Holder and Dem. said that “No one is above the law….” except members of Congress! Right now Pelosi is sitting on 11 ethics violations (7 Democrat, 4 Republicans) resisting having them sent to the House Ethics Committee! You have a den of thieves throwing bullets at the CIA, Federal Reserve and who knows what else! And the biggest crooks are the ones throwing them! Look at Obama ! He is from Chicago, he knows all about not being “above the law”. That’s why you create facades, like ACORN, to do the dirty work. FIRST, INVESTIGATE ACORN-FRAUDER-VOTERS, AND PELOSI LIE TO CONGRESSMEN.

Posted by: Sharon-NY | August 31, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

I am glad that the DOJ is looking into the credibility of what happened that is posted with in the documents. What I think Cheney is more afraid of is the fact that when all is said and done what the BUSH/CHENEY administration did was legally and morally wrong. With that there will be legal consequences for the actions that was done not just to the detainees, but the lies that were perpetrated to the American People.

Posted by: K.McClure | August 31, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

John Kerry has not been discredited and is well respected among his peers. The swiftboat tactics unfortunately, tried to tarnish him but if you pay attention you know what is true and what is not. Many of the swiftboaters have already denied what they said about him. This does not take away from the fact that Cheny is wrong. What people fail to remember is that he BROKE THE LAW. Waterboarding and torture was against our law and he cannot pick and choose what laws he will obey and what ones he will not even if he was V.P. His criticism of Bush makes me realize what a sleeze he really is and that even if I did not agree with Bush he was a better man than Cheney. These documents do not actually say that waterboarding helped get information. Most experts like Gates and Petreaus, agree that that kind of torture only produces lies and mis-information. I think I believe them. What they feel is if one of our guys gets caught, they can not be tortured…we did it. If anyone is making the country less safe, it is Cheney by not standing by the Commander in Chief, President Obama.

Posted by: talmag | August 31, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm

What I meant to say is that if one of our guys get caught they can be tortured as we did that to the ones we had in prison. It puts our guys in a bad situation.

Posted by: talmag | August 31, 2009, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm

Soo this is the new panelist that you feel brings a new voice to the discussion.boy, were you wrong. talking loud and not listening is not a pertty site.I guest that is a glimps into the cheney whitehouse.

Posted by: leroi | August 31, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm

It doesn’t make much sense for someone to argue that the CIA will be weakend by an investigation into its use of torture (not the waterboarding, etc., endorsed by Bush’s DOJ, but the stuff endorsed by nobody).
(1) The CIA initiated the original investigation INTO ITSELF because many of its personnel were worried that they were breaking the law. It’s the CIA’s own internal report that’s been redacted and that we see on TV so often. I think we deserve to see what’s under those blacked-out lines and find out who’s responsible. And some within the CIA would agree.
(2) If probes into the CIA are prevented because they would hypothetically weaken the organization, then we’re all in serious trouble. The CIA is required to keep 8 members of Congress up to date on its activities, but we’ve already seen that that obligation can be finessed. Without oversight, accountability, and the possibility of probes, what’s to prevent them from assassinating whoever they don’t like? Why not kill Hugo Chavez, as they did the constitutionally elected Salvador Allende in Chile? How about Prince Charles of England? (He’s shown environmentalist leanings.)
The CIA is made up largely of proud professionals who take their jobs seriously and are concerned about following the laws of the land. Accountabiliy will mostly discourage the zealots that can be found in any organization.

Posted by: Robert Maxwell | August 31, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm

I have stopped watching politics on
television because it is nothing but a
big gossipy mess with no news extant.
I am not interested in the opinions of
people who sit there and elucidate how
they feel about stuff whether it is true
or not. This country has evolved into
a panoply of lies, violence, hate, and
vituperation without facts. Who needs
it? Until we can get some people in
the media who can discern truth and
respect it, I will just find something
else to do.

Posted by: Mildred MIller | August 31, 2009, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm

Republican values, the Golden rule of Capitolisum Him that has the gold rules.
The Oil man and his sidekick raised the cost of fuel, and exsitance while eliminating life of our citizens via a war that was not called for enriching more private armys and back room dealing whether intentinal or not it was criminal They were not protecting our way of life or Moral values they were relining thier pockets with Cash equivlent and removing restrictions on buisness to the point that our nation was taking middle class funds and using them to raise the rich standard of living while keeping the politicians on Political welfare of special interest groups K street and the bias. the Corperate takeover of National communications and the silencing of Local broadcasters thru the compression of ownership. The Big box vs mom n pop local store temporarily dropped prices till Mom n pops failed and then the big box stores monopoly developed choke hold on commerse.. this is all interrelated..
yeha the worlds ills by corperate take over and straining out all profit let the good will of buisness fly out the window for Profit sake.
GREED is the Creed of the CEO.

Posted by: D Ratliff | August 31, 2009, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm

Notice Kerry didn’t defend Holder, just took a shot at Cheney. The CIA people were investigated by career employees in the Justice department and found not to have broken any laws. It should have ended there and those who think Obama doesn’t have a say is drinking too much kool-aid. If the Justice Dept wants to go back and re-investigate crimes, let’s go back and investigate Kerry. He said he committed atrocities while in Vietnam…why not prosecute him? He later said he exaggerated his testimony to congress. Why not prosecute him for it? Kerry is worthless and proven to be a fraud over and over again.
For those of you who say moveon.org would move on, ha! Holder is trying to appease those “hate America” libs and it’s the only reason he is going forward with this investigation.

Posted by: Kevin | August 31, 2009, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm

Anyone that thinks fox news is anything but entertainment is totally out of touch.

Posted by: pt | August 31, 2009, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm

“”Anyone that thinks fox news is anything but entertainment is totally out of touch.”"
They have a couple right wingers on there but I can quickly name 10 liberals that have a regular opportunity to voice their opinion. Can you name 10 conservatives on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, etc? If you can’t see how blindly the other networks have covered Obama, Dems under investigation and the issues of the day….you are the one totally out of touch with reality. The media needs to keep both sides honest and right now the MSM is not keeping the party in power honest. Stop drinking the kool-aid and be just as critical of the administration as were the Bush administration.

Posted by: Kevin | August 31, 2009, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm

“”The Oil man and his sidekick raised the cost of fuel…”
Ratliff, oil is up over 100% since Obama won the Nov election. The Dems took over congress in Jan ’07 with oil at $50. It went to $150 in July ’08. Dems had control of Congress and you know what got the most publicity in those 18 months? Not Freddie Mac, not Fannie Mae, not the bank problems, not the housing problem,….your good ole boy Waxman was investigating Roger Clemons. Now there is leadership at its finest!

Posted by: Kevin | August 31, 2009, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm

GEORGE….IF YOU USE JOHN KERRY AS YOUR FOUNDATION FOR ANYTHING, YOUR SHOW IS IN TROUBLE…
EVEN THE SCUM BAG MURTHA MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE MORE CREDANCE, BUT THEY ARE IN THE SAME LEAGUE!!

Posted by: PAUL WELCH | August 31, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm

I wounder if Cheney is worried about the possibility that the investigation might involve him?…Everytime the government wants to hide or neglect a possible criminal act involving the government they use the scare tactic such as: “citizens are in danger!”… Wake up America, this has been used before. I do not believe Cheney is worried about our country as much as himself.

Posted by: J.P. | August 31, 2009, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm

cheney has to be scared, and for good reason – since when is the truth bad for national security?

Posted by: earth_not_flat | August 31, 2009, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm

Not as sick as it makes me listening to Dickey and Liz Cheney.

Posted by: ilse | August 31, 2009, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm

Methinks it’s time for a second Senate seat from MA to open up. Why can’t the voters of this state elect someone with a brain?

Posted by: Kev from MA | August 31, 2009, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm

We all need to stop this back and forth! The two parties have us going at each other while they steal our money and our children’s money too. Not to mention they are stepping all over the Constitution?? Come on, lets pull together and take our country back.
God Bless America!

Posted by: FoundingFathers | August 31, 2009, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm

Karen and all the rest of you conservatives, how in the world do YOU know that the things that are being said by Democrats are lies? Do you listen to the likes of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh as the masters of truth?? You just can’t stand that an intelligent black man is the leader of the free world and has more intelligence in his thumbnail than most of the Republicans collectively have had in years. All of this rhetoric from you anti-Obama people stems from the fact that Republicans lost, and that a black man is in office, in other words, you are purely racists.

Posted by: dld | August 31, 2009, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm

dld, you do such a disservice to President Obama by calling anyone who criticizes him a racist. If every objection to President Obama is met with a racist label, people will be reluctant to vote for a black ever again. Our ability to voice our objections to our elected officials is what separates us from so many countries and is an integral part of our freedoms. A President, white or black, will likely find 50% of Americans agree with him on a topic that crosses ideological boundaries and 50% disagree. You should defend Obama with facts; to play the race card is for the weak.

Posted by: Kevin | September 1, 2009, 2:45 am 2:45 am

dld, I’m not sure which lies you are referring to so I’ll just jump to healthcare for a couple examples of stretching the truth (lies sounds too intentional). Obama says he wants to cover nearly 50 million additional Americans under a universal healthcare plan and it will save money? C’mon, even a devote liberal has to have more common sense than that.
Obama says you can keep your own health insurance. But if you get your healthcare through your employer and the employer can get healthcare cheaper through the gov’t. you’re likely stuck with the government’s plan if you want the employer to pay for it. If you want to keep your current plan and pay for it yourself, you better hope that insurance company is still around and hasn’t been outbid by the gov’t and not available. Obama says preventive medicine will cut costs; the CBO says it will raise costs. Obama says healthcare will not be rationed but how do you add 50 million people to healthcare; not increase the number of doctors and not ration healthcare? There are too many simple points like this to be made and I don’t have time to list them all.
Do you know the Chairman of the House Judiciary (Conyers) says the healthcare bill is so complicated, he won’t even read it. Given all the fraud and waste identified with the trillions already passed by this administration, wouldn’t it be a good idea to slow down and do this right instead of fast? Do you ever ask yourself why the Dems wanted this passed quickly even though a great deal won’t be implemented for a few years from now? Think about it? If Conyers can’t understand it, why are you so sure you are for it? Just ask some common sense questions and decide what you’ve heard so far is misleading or not.

Posted by: Kevin | September 1, 2009, 3:26 am 3:26 am

I lost respect for Kerry when he failed to defend the right of free speech at one of his post-election gatherings. However, I have even less respect for any of the cheney family members. Liz is an embarrasment to the gay community as well as the straight community. She lives in her own narrow world where she is king.

Posted by: KsDevil | September 1, 2009, 8:34 am 8:34 am

ANOTHER LYING DEM WHY THE LONG FACE ALSO DID YOU KNOW HE SERVED IN VIETNAM

Posted by: daniel | September 1, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am

Too many Americans are not thinking logically about this situation. In what other nation does a new president go after a previous administration with the intent to imprison that previous president? Obama has stated on many occasions that he wants to “transform” America. What did you think that would entail?
The POTUS has a duty under the constitution to protect American citizens from enemies foreign and domestic. Does anyone really believe that this fiasco will result in better protection for American citizens? Now let’s look at what he IS doing; health care “reform”, Cap and trade (I mean “tax”) car industry take-over, etc. Nowhere is the Executive branch of government given the authority to ensure health care for all citizens. So he is very plainly usurping our constitution in reference to the individual rights of citizens, while horribly neglecting the task he is required to do under the constitution. He doesn’t want American citizens to be safe, he wants us enslaved, subjugated, conquered. He wants to destroy capitalism in this country, suppress free speech (shut down talk radio) and make us dependent on the government like other 3rd world countries.

Posted by: KrlyQ | September 1, 2009, 10:11 am 10:11 am

Im with Senator McCain .Wboarding is wrong

Posted by: michael | September 1, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am

It is odd that when I took Army basis training in 1970, the drill sargeants warned us that the North Vietnamese may torture us by waterboarding, sleep deprivation, etc if we got caught. My impression as a 19 year old was that the US would not do that sort of thing. I am saddened by Cheney’s philosphy… he never went through basic training though. May have been good for him.

Posted by: Geolguy | September 1, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am

Kerry is a joke!!
Thank God he never was elected POTUS!!!

Posted by: Jerry | September 1, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

say you drop a bomb ona target in iraq killing or mameing dozens or perhaps hundreds and call it callidrial damage and on the orher hand you water board an indivadual to recieve info that may or may not be of any value i ask which is the most or least etichal

Posted by: JACK SPRAT | September 1, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm

If I wanted to get the RNC talking points, I’d get them direct; I don’t need Fox to serve as an amplifier.
Tychisum— it ain’t about “back biting”— if internatioinal crime was done, we’ve got to have the balls to own up to it. We’ve got to say, “Yep; this is what we did.”
Even your precious Jack Bauer said the same.

Posted by: HonestAbe | September 1, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm

say you drop a bomb on an area in any war zone and kill or maime dozens or perhaps hundreds or you water board one person to get what may or may not be useful info, which is the most or least ethical.

Posted by: JACK SPRAT | September 1, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

ABC is the flagship of unbiased news?????? If that’s true, we’re in trouble.LOL

Posted by: EJ | September 1, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

Kerry, who served in VietNam, gave aid and comfort to our enemy in Vietnam; what would he know about doing what it takes to win?

Posted by: ECMO | September 1, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

Like Kerry has room to talk!

Posted by: Gunrunner | September 1, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm

If torturing a terrorist could have prevented 9/11, would you have supported it, or would you have let 3000 inocent americans die. That is the issue here. Extracting information by any means needed to prevent another 9/11. I say let the CIA do whatever they need to do to protect american lives.

Posted by: patrick | September 1, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm

Dear republicans, if torture was the only way to keep US safe then WHY BUSH-CHENEY ADMINISTRATION ENDED IT ???? Because they did not want to keep US safe any more ? Why that question is never asked from these pro-torture Cheneys?

Posted by: Alex | September 1, 2009, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm

Is getting your legs and arms blown off by a predator missile considered “torture” by the Obama Administration?
If so how can he be doing this to mere “suspects” as viewed from 25,000 feet.
Do Obama’s predator missiles mirandize these “supects” before they “try” them and find them guilty prior to warhead detonation?
What is the appeal process after an Obama predator missile warhead detonates?
Could we re-design a predator that has a loudspeaker giving these “suspects” an option of being waterboarded instead of taking the default option of being disembowed by a predator warhead?
Only upon refusal to consent to waterboarding would the predator warhead detonate thus invoking the default option.
We could supply free remote controls in all the world’s terrorist bazaars so that terrorists could pick one up at will. These remotes could then be used
to signal the terrorist suspect’s preferred option as the missile closes in on him.
On the other hand we could continue blowing them up along with there spawn simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time – this is the current Obama “no-torture” method.
Can you say Body Count in Arabic?

Posted by: SirGareth | September 1, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

I always watch this show and one of my favorite parts is the round table discussion. The discussion is polite and informative, unlike discussions on other similar shows. However,on Sunday, Liz Cheney brought the aspects of the other shows to This Week, and if this continues, I will no longer watch. It’s not a “discussion” when people talk over each other and are generally disrespectful of others. I am upset that this show is turning into just another shout fest.

Posted by: Becky | September 1, 2009, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm

I wouldn’t mind torturing someone who belives in torture. I mean, hey, why not? It might save my life.

Posted by: lucky-liberal | September 1, 2009, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm

Ahhhh……but he has wonderful hair and married a very rich woman. His wisdom is overwhelming.

Posted by: Willie 12345 | September 1, 2009, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm

It’s not much of use or even fun for Kerry to slam Cheney now,an ex V.P,the right time was in 2004 when he couldn’t expose Machiavellian character and Manichean mind-set of Cheney and his boss,Bush,effectively to bar them from second term and save not only America but the whole world from disasterous consquences of their misadventures and gross incompetency.

Posted by: M Saleem Chaudhry | September 1, 2009, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm

If waterboarding is NOT torture, then, can we please waterboard my ex-brother-in-law until his child support payments are met? AS for Kerry being discredited,didn’t the leader of the “Swiftboat Veteran’s” get rewarded with the Ambassador to Belgium position? And let’s not forget that we waterboarded one guy 117 times, and he still didn’t remember his Social Security number! As for Cheney’s character, didn’t he take 20 hours to report shooting his friend in the face? (just about the same amount of time to sober-up from a fierce drunk).

Posted by: able | September 2, 2009, 1:05 am 1:05 am

Just a note, but, the man Kerry saved in Viet Nam admitted to being a life-long Republican, and STILL admitted Kerry was a HERO. A man on a boat that had NO VANTAGE point claimed they didn’t observe any heroic efforts by Kerry. I guess what I’ve learned from this is, Republicans have no HONOR for Viet Nam Heroes. All that agree with them, go ahead and vote for those slanderers and put slandering politicians in charge of the country again.

Posted by: able | September 2, 2009, 7:16 am 7:16 am

Kerry is a decorated war vet, Cheney is a draft dodger.
Kerry served this nation with distinction and returned from war to speak out calmly about what was wrong with Vietnam.
You folks who think poorly of him just don’t get it. He doesn’t have to be in the spotlight, he’s not in Washington trying to get rich. He’ not pushing a socialist Agenda.
He’s a thoughtful man who has not earned the scorn of the pathetic minds that bash him.

Posted by: DewyB | September 2, 2009, 11:13 am 11:13 am

Why is it when he was in office he wasn’t seen or heard and now he won’t shut up?

Posted by: notafanofdick | September 2, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

I wish the networks would stop covering the Cheneys. Especially Dickito, doesn’t he know that his 8 years of unamerican tactics are over!? I blame the networks for his lingering and his importance these days. There is only one place where he should be allowed to talk, in a court of law.

Posted by: AlomaGirl | September 2, 2009, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm

Posted by: Michelle | Aug 30, 2009 11:17:41 AM – “….find out what it is before we see another 9/11.” ….9/11 was an inside job! Do some research and you will find out for yourself! The people who told you that the “Muslim terrorist” attacked at 9/11 are PROFESSIONAL and PATHOLOGICAL liers! And I really have hard time to comprehend the mind set of the people who can believe in all of this non sense. Is the US society brain dead beyond the point of salvage?

Posted by: Rapid_55 | September 3, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am

The CIA, Army, Navy, and Air Force simply cannot operate under the same standards as a domestic police force. A large part of their job is to figure out who must be killed, and kill them. Under domestic law that’s clearly illegal. International law makes very careful distinctions between state actors (who are granted some rights) and non-state actors (who are granted none).
If we wanted to treat 9/11 as a police matter, we should have sent in the FBI. But – oh, gee – the Taliban would not cooperate. So it was a war because there was no other way. And *now* we’re trying to prosecute the foot soldiers??
Mr. Kerry should know better. So should the Obama Administration.

Posted by: Karl | September 3, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

When will John Kerry take his oversize
ego and go home??? He is a publicity
hungry, self-serving dope just like the
rest of those yahoo’s in Washington.

Posted by: wis134 | September 3, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

T.Boone Pickens,told John Kerry if he could prove the Swift boat commericals were wrong about him,that T,Boone would write him a check for 1 Million dollars. T,Boone said he has not heard from John Kerry Since.

Posted by: Marion | September 3, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

rplat: Remind us of Kerry’s lies and fabrications. Be explicit. Dates, places and what was lied about. Note where you got your information from. This needs to be from multiple reliable sources not just your extremist right-wing propaganda machines such as Fox or Limbaugh or Savage, etc. Be ACCURATE. No speculations nor guessing, no distortions, no mind-reading allowed. THANKS! I look forward to your reply.

Posted by: dlboggan | September 3, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

John Kerry is nothing but a joke. He fled to Switzerland for a $10,000.00 hotel the day after he lost the 2004 Presidential election, thank God, and allowed 3 or 4 Democratic women in the House stand up for him and suffer the abuse. That ignorant fool came to El Paso for Pelosi’s buddy Reyes and after a few days of interviews with groups who want to import as many illegal Mexicans as possible and without interviewing anyone associated with law and order, Reyes was a Border Patrol sector chief and he promised to stop illegal immigration to get elected, Kerry and Reyes declared the border safe and apparently didn’t see the thousands of dead Mexicans killed across the river from El Paso in Ciudad Juarez Ch. since 1/1/2008. Kerry is a joke and if the moron were from anyplace else would not be a Senator unless of course that place was El Paso!

Posted by: John | September 3, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm

I am amused at how both parties simply switch sides depending on what they want to get done (get back in power) with no regard to how it affects the People. For example, Nixon wanted Health Care reform and wanted an employer mandate. Now everyone such as Pat Buchanan is against any form of Health Care Reform even though it is something his former boss wanted. Another, Palin coined the “Death Panels” but wanted government help for the elderly in her state for end of life counseling (the language that is in the bills being suggested.) Another, A call for a more robust form of government involvement in education by the last administration (No Child Left Behind) Now a President wants to address the Classrooms and let them know how important it is for them to take an active role in improving their education and to set goals and work hard, now the Republicans are contacting their schools because they do not want their children listening to the president. I am sorry, you can dis agree with the President and what he says. But to not listen is just moronic. It is also obvious that they do not listen, because if they did listen they would not be able to fabricate the lies about what is said or written. Read, Listen, and even disagree if you want, but to make stuff up is just showing that you are an individual who has no intellect and capability to think on your own.
With that being said, if you do not like the Government so much, take your kids out of public school, quite driving on the interstates and highways, do not call 911, do not use the fire department, do not use Medicare, give back your social security checks, for these are all social programs. The hypocrisy has to stop.

Posted by: Richard Fox | September 3, 2009, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm

Nothing will change until the health care situation in the US shifts from a political strategy issue to a moral one. The majority of the civilized world outside the US just shakes their heads at this. (Some of the most silly arguments is when the right wing pundits start criticizing other countries health care systems as if those countries are yearning for ours. Puleeze give me a break). The Obama adm. is looking like it will have to settle for what little they can get and then when the system fails (and it will, if not reformed-plain and simple) the dems can say to the American people “hey, we tried…..twice now recently” and blame it on the repubs, and they can do so justly.

Posted by: Gerald | September 4, 2009, 5:15 am 5:15 am

Yeah, I would just like to say that it’s about time someone stood up to Cheney and the other chickenhawks who’ve never been in the service to begin with. Cheney and others have obviously read too many comic books and watched too many films when they were kids. I’m all for stopping terrorism but not at the expense of my civil liberties. I don’t think the Bush Administration did enough to stop it before it started. I don’t think they’ve really kept America safe at all. To paraphrase Stevie Wonder, they ain’t done nothing. The GOP has grown dangerously complacent and drunk on power in recent years. They’ve lost their way.

Posted by: Mr. Dana W. Carlson | September 4, 2009, 7:21 am 7:21 am

Isn’t this so distracting from the losing health care issue?

Posted by: glenn | September 4, 2009, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm

I learned in my Political Science department at the University I went too, way back when, “that people don’t act unless they get hurt.” That has been problematic for the “left” in this country for a long time,”How do we get enough people hurting, so they will act for our left wing agenda?” So, for the political “Left” to say they are civilized Americans that don’t torture is misrepresenting their Strategic truth. Actually, I believe Americans act when they get the right leadership because every American hurts when other Americans are hurting.
Do we want to live as civilized people with higher standards above torture, I concur that we do. Would I, as an American, use torture to get vital information from a prisoner of War, if I knew that American lives were at stack, and the prisoner had a high probability of having that information. Yes, to a certain degree I would, even at the cost of my job, or imprisonment. We are at War, fighting against an enemy that cuts of prisoners heads, and murders innocent people with bombs by the hundreds and sometimes by thousands 9/11. And if they had nuclear weapons, there is high degree of probability they would murder by the millions.
The democrats got elected because they said they could do a better job. We republicans won’t sabotage your policies like you have done to us for eight years. We want to win this war. Provide the leadership you say you have, and get on with it, instead of telling us, Republicans, how bad of a job we did. We worked with what we had, inside our traditional American principles, you have been elected, do what you said you would do inside those principles as you told the American people.

Posted by: Ronald W. Hrris | September 6, 2009, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm

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