From New York Times:
Washington — Dick Cheney became a one-of-a-kind vice president for two reasons: he cared deeply about governance, and not a bit about his future political standing.
Those same factors, for better or worse, have turned him into a one-of-a-kind former vice president. In a sharp break with long-standing practice, Mr. Cheney has emerged as the highest-profile critic of the new administration.
Repeatedly during Mr. Obama’s transition and his first 100 days in office, Mr. Cheney has carried his anemic favorability rating into the ring to slug it out with a successor who enjoys considerable public support on issues from the role of the vice presidency to his trademark issue of national security. On the economy, he complained in a Fox News interview last week, “There doesn’t appear to be any limitation whatsoever in terms of the spending commitments that this administration wants to make.” But if Mr. Cheney seems intent on vindicating decisions he helped shape during the two terms of the Bush presidency, some Republicans prefer that he join Mr. Bush in shunning the public spotlight.
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My Comment: If I was to say that this is another typical biased and slanted report from the New York Times .... I would not be too far from the truth. The Times puts a lot of attention to Vice President Cheney's vocal criticism of President Obama and his administration (which is unprecedented) .... but ignores the fact that since assuming power the Obama administration has been producing anti-Bush rhetoric and criticism .... another unprecedented action.
But even with the New York Times typical reporting, I found this article still worth the time to read. The article's focus on Vice President Cheney's concerns on National Security are a legitimate one ..... but I disagree with its analysis that he is doing this more for the history books and his legacy.
I personally believe that Vice President Cheney is looking at the bigger picture, and what he sees is an Administration that is pursuing a policy that he is convinced will make America less safe and more susceptible to another 9/11.
By being vocal on this issue, he has now placed President Obama's administration in the cross hairs to be "the responsible party" for a national security failure in the event that it occurs. It is dumping this responsibility and consequences if things should go wrong that has made President Obama's administration react the way that they have in the past two weeks. They understand to well the political implications of such a scenario .... and they do not want it.
From my own personal point of view, Vice President Cheney's day in the sun is now coming to a close. I never looked at him as the man responsible for running President Bush's administration .... President Bush was his own man and he ran his own show. As to all this talk of his influence and power .... I personally think much of this was over rated. Politics always screamed for a boogey man, and Vice President Cheney fit the bill perfectly.
So what concerns me today is not Dick Cheney, but the men and women who now work in the White House. If I was 100% sure of what I was doing in regards to National Security, I would not care less what citizen Dick Cheney would have to say. He was/is yesterdays news .... time to move on.
But the Administrations reaction coupled by what their Congressional/media allies have been saying about Vice President Cheney's remarks ..... now this is very surprising and not very reassuring. In short .... the overwhelming impression I now have from this administration is that they are afraid .... and worse .... they are not sure of what they are doing. I can even say that they are getting a bit overwhelmed .... and when a person like Dick Cheney comes around it is clear that this only amplifies this perception.
Sometimes tells me their act is not all there right now .... and if I could spot it .... I am sure that our enemies can also spot these weaknesses. Hell .... even Vice President Cheney sees this weakness.