Dick Cheney

Thought this was interesting.

This newspaper is generally the more conservative of the two Chicago
dailies (the Tribune is the other, much wealthier and more elite). Yet
it published this article. And it’s by Father Andrew Greeley, the
Catholic priest and writer.

(See his own web page at
http://www.agreeley.com/articles.html )

Calling the sitting Vice President – who according to most political
experts is far more powerful than Pres. Bush – a “vile… evil
influence” is unusual in the normally tame US media.

Cheney really wants U.S. dictator

July 7, 2006

BY ANDREW GREELEY

In the winter of 1933, before Franklin Roosevelt’s first inauguration on
March 4, there was a clamor in the United States for a military
dictatorship. The banks were closing, a quarter of Americans were
unemployed, rebellion threatened on the farms. Only drastic reforms,
mandated by the president’s power as commander in chief, would save the
country. Something like the fascism of Mussolini’s Italy – viewed
benignly by many Americans in those days because it worked (or so
everyone said) – would save the country from communist revolution.

As Jonathan Alter reminds us in The Defining Moment, his brilliant book
about FDR’s first 100 days, men as different as William Randolph Hearst,
financier Bernard Baruch, commentator Lowell Thomas and establishment
columnist Walter Lipmann argued for the necessity of dictatorship to
reorganize the country’s economy.

The call for a military style dictatorship is the ultimate temptation to
the greatest treason of a democratic society. Fortunately for us, FDR
resisted the temptation and reformed the American economy by a mix of
gradualist changes (like Social Security) and magical “fireside chats.”
Unfortunately years later he yielded to the temptation to a military
dictatorship when he interned Japanese Americans simply because they
were Japanese. In the first case he resisted the demands of the American
people. In the second he caved in to their racist demands.

The United States is caught up in a new campaign for a military
dictatorship – rule by a military chief with absolute power. The White
House, inspired by Vice President Dick Cheney, has argued that in time
of great danger, the president has unlimited powers as commander in
chief. If he cites “national security” he can do whatever he wants –
ignore Congress, disobey laws, disregard the courts, override the
Constitution’s Bill of Rights – without being subject to any review.
Separation of powers no longer exists. The president need not consult
Congress or the courts. Moreover the rights of the commander in chief to
act as a military dictator lasts as long as the national emergency
persists, indefinitely that is and permanently.

Many, perhaps most Americans, don’t mind. The president is “tough on
terrorists” and that’s all that matters. What is the Bill of Rights
anyway? George W. Bush, his supporters will argue, is a good man, even a
godly man. He won’t misuse the powers, even if the power he claims is no
less than Don Hugo Chavez exercises in Venezuela

The Supreme Court in its ruling about a Guantanamo detainee just before
Independence Day was a sharp rebuke to Cheneyism. It dealt with only one
case and left the president wiggle room. He could consult with Congress
about new legislation that would provide more rights for the detainees
in a military trial. But that violates Cheney’s first principle that the
commander in chief doesn’t have to consult with anyone on matters of
national security. If the president was consistent with the Cheney
theory and the Alberto Gonzales memos, he should defy the Supreme Court
and insist that he has the right to establish whatever judicial process
he deems proper for these potentially dangerous people without any
interference from anyone. He may still do that.

Republicans who will seek re-election in November already suggest they
will run against the court’s decision. The court, they will tell the
American people who want the detainees to be shot at sunrise tomorrow,
is soft on terror, just like Democrats in Congress. They could probably
get away with this nonsense because fear will cause the voters to forget
that this is the Republican court that elected Bush.

Richard Cheney is a vile, indeed evil, influence in American political
life. He is a very dangerous person who would if he could destroy
American freedom about which he and his mentor prate hypocritically. His
long years in Washington have caused him to lose faith in the
legislative and judicial processes of the government. The country, he
believes, requires a much stronger executive. Such concentrated power
would have been necessary even if the World Trade Center attack had not
occurred. He uses the fear of terrorists as a pretext to advance his
agenda of an all powerful president, a military dictator. So long, of
course, as he is a Republican.

Copyright ? The Sun-Times Company

Anyone who shoots a lawyer in the face can’t be all that bad.

Hero

[quote]
Calling the sitting Vice President – who according to most political experts is far more powerful than Pres. Bush – a “vile… evil
influence” is unusual in the normally tame US media. [/quote]

This should be your cue to ignore the rest of the post. There’s so much wrong with that introductory paragraph that’s there no point in continuing.

[quote]ChuckyT wrote:
This should be your cue to ignore the rest of the post. There’s so much wrong with that introductory paragraph that’s there no point in continuing.[/quote]

Somebody has to tell George what to think, decide and do…

[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
Thought this was interesting.

This newspaper is generally the more conservative of the two Chicago
dailies (the Tribune is the other, much wealthier and more elite). Yet
it published this article. And it’s by Father Andrew Greeley, the
Catholic priest and writer.[/quote]

1.) It’s the more conservative paper from the most liberal city in the nation (On a per vote basis Kerry had the widest margin of victory in Cook county).

2.) Roger Ebert aside, the paper’s a joke, they can’t get market share and are prone to very loud, whimsical, and superficial news articles. For instance, the headline articles on both homepages at this posting;

Tribune-
-Israel Bombards Lebanon
-Dem. Denounced For Using Coffin In Ad
-Bush OKs Review of Spying Program

Sun-Times-
-Gay Games Bring the World To Chicago
-Man Badly Beaten With Friend’s Leg
-Live Large, Spend Little–Here’s How.

Not that it lessens the article, but (IMO) it seemed like you were trying to pass it off as though a conservative newspaper was publishing anti-Cheney ideas.

[quote]vroom wrote:
ChuckyT wrote:
This should be your cue to ignore the rest of the post. There’s so much wrong with that introductory paragraph that’s there no point in continuing.

Somebody has to tell George what to think, decide and do…[/quote]

Thanks for chiming in Captain Insignificant!

[quote]ChuckyT wrote:
Thanks for chiming in Captain Insignificant![/quote]

Hey Chucky Cheesy, if you are going to insult someone, at least do a better job of it.

[quote]pookie wrote:
Anyone who shoots a lawyer in the face can’t be all that bad.[/quote]

To mangle and try to paraphrase the quote I remember from Gene Hackman in Unforgiven, if I see you I’m going to just shoot first, in the expectation you’ll do the same…

If anyone remembers that line that Little Bill said to English Bob as he sent him out of town, please correct me.

[quote]vroom wrote:
ChuckyT wrote:
Thanks for chiming in Captain Insignificant! Hey Chucky Cheesy, if you are going to insult someone, at least do a better job of it.[/quote]

Sorry. I’ll try again. Ahem…

'Thanks, passive-aggressive, pontificating, pathetic know-it-all coward who likes to refer to decisions by Americans as “our” and Americans themselves as “we”, and holds forth on America as if anyone cared about his uninformed opinions or those of his nation, who through a shameful self-castration by six decades of misrule have shit on what used to be a country known for its principles and bravery, and reduced its standing to a nice little satellite country who no one listens to, for chiming in.

Your opinion on American domestic politics and government is unsolicited, unwelcome, unfortunate, unneccessary, untrue, off-point, disingenuous, ill-considered, and entirely wrong. Once again you have demonstrated your intellectual, personal, and philosophical insignificance.’

Is that a better attempt than, say, ‘Chucky Cheese’?

No, I prefer Chucky Cheese.

[quote]Wreckless wrote:
No, I prefer Chucky Cheese.[/quote]

Yup, it?s a much better soundbite…

[quote]ChunckyT wrote:
Your opinion on American domestic politics and government is unsolicited, unwelcome, unfortunate, unneccessary, untrue, off-point, disingenuous, ill-considered, and entirely wrong.
[/quote]

No, Vroom’s understanding and grasp of American domestic politics and government is considerably more advanced than about 90% of the people who post here, 98% better than any of his detractors, and 100% better than anyone named “Chucky”.

[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:
pookie wrote:
Anyone who shoots a lawyer in the face can’t be all that bad.

To mangle and try to paraphrase the quote I remember from Gene Hackman in Unforgiven, if I see you I’m going to just shoot first, in the expectation you’ll do the same…

If anyone remembers that line that Little Bill said to English Bob as he sent him out of town, please correct me.[/quote]

“I suppose you know, Bob, if I ever see you again I’m just going to start shooting and figure it was self-defense.”

[quote]tme wrote:

No, Vroom’s understanding and grasp of American domestic politics and government is considerably more advanced than about 90% of the people who post here, 98% better than any of his detractors, and 100% better than anyone named “Chucky”.[/quote]

I don’t really agree with vroom or Chucky. But dude, after that post, you did use mouthwash to get rid of the taste of vroom’s ass, right?

[quote]tme wrote:

No, Vroom’s understanding and grasp of American domestic politics and government is considerably more advanced than about 90% of the people who post here, 98% better than any of his detractors, and 100% better than anyone named “Chucky”.[/quote]

Wow - well, that explains the rest of your posts.

[quote]tme wrote:
ChunckyT wrote:
Your opinion on American domestic politics and government is unsolicited, unwelcome, unfortunate, unneccessary, untrue, off-point, disingenuous, ill-considered, and entirely wrong.

No, Vroom’s understanding and grasp of American domestic politics and government is considerably more advanced than about 90% of the people who post here, 98% better than any of his detractors, and 100% better than anyone named “Chucky”.
[/quote]

Firmly grasp your earlobes and haul your head out of vroomies ass. I guarantee this will improve your view immensely.

[quote]ChuckyT wrote:
'Thanks, passive-aggressive, pontificating, pathetic know-it-all coward who likes to refer to decisions by Americans as “our” and Americans themselves as “we”, and holds forth on America as if anyone cared about his uninformed opinions or those of his nation, who through a shameful self-castration by six decades of misrule have shit on what used to be a country known for its principles and bravery, and reduced its standing to a nice little satellite country who no one listens to, for chiming in.
[/quote]

LOL!

[quote]ChuckyT wrote:
vroom wrote:
ChuckyT wrote:
Thanks for chiming in Captain Insignificant! Hey Chucky Cheesy, if you are going to insult someone, at least do a better job of it.

Sorry. I’ll try again. Ahem…

'Thanks, passive-aggressive, pontificating, pathetic know-it-all coward who likes to refer to decisions by Americans as “our” and Americans themselves as “we”, and holds forth on America as if anyone cared about his uninformed opinions or those of his nation, who through a shameful self-castration by six decades of misrule have shit on what used to be a country known for its principles and bravery, and reduced its standing to a nice little satellite country who no one listens to, for chiming in.

Your opinion on American domestic politics and government is unsolicited, unwelcome, unfortunate, unneccessary, untrue, off-point, disingenuous, ill-considered, and entirely wrong. Once again you have demonstrated your intellectual, personal, and philosophical insignificance.’

Is that a better attempt than, say, ‘Chucky Cheese’?[/quote]

If I knew who “vroom” was, that would be the post of the year!!!

That is another example of total, “here comes the throbber” penetration.

Unbelievable!!!

JeffR

Let me start (in an attempt to avert any bashing that I know will come by what I have to say) by saying that I come from a Republican family, in a historically Republican state, North Carolina. Okay here it is, Dick Cheney is a scumbag. If you think otherwise you show a complete and utter inability to think for yourself.

Make no mistake about it, Cheney and his cronies at Halliburton have become rich at the expense of brave young American soldiers and patriots due to the conflict in Iraq. The no bid contracts offered to Halliburton, by the urging of Cheney, was and still is, a gross misallocation of funds (tax payers dollars).

As a taxpayer, I as well as you, should be irrate. It is estimated that Halliburton has recieved over 16 billion dollars in revenue for its actions in Iraq, 16 BILLION DOLLARS. I know that I personally could spend 16 billion dollars more wisely.

The American people, devout Republicans the most, have been duped by this administration. In this era of misinformation it is important that you seek that truth, filter out the bullshit, and get to the root of the issues. Has this administration stretched its use of its executive powers beyond the boundaries of what would normally be acceptable, no doubt about it.

The sad fact is that most Americans don’t mind, care, and/or know enough to offer an opinion on the matter. Unfortunately, the current political arena is dominated by the dumbass Dems and the retard Repubs. Surely, I will rattle some cages when I say that we need a third party to, in essence, slap some sense into these politicos. Return America back to what the founding fathers intended. Vote LIBERTARIAN.