Old Vic Gold Is A Wary Old Soul . . .

[SueScribe]

http://www.msnbc.com/id/19507575/site/newsweek/page/0/

Since we have an Ann Coulter thread, I thought it only fitting to link the latest on Dick Cheney and His Excellent Adventure as Quasi-President of the United States.

Eleanor Clift writes in Newsweek about Vic Gold, an "old friend of the Cheney's":

"I asked [Gold] how he felt reading about Dick's dark adventures" Washington Post series about the Vice President and his dubious role in government.]

"`A tremendous feeling of validation,' he said. In a recent book, Gold described Cheney as a `mega-maniacal paranoid' whose secret empire within the government had captured the Bush presidency and helped bring the Republican Party to the brink of ruin."

"Gold's book, published in April, is titled Invasion of the Party Snatchers: How the Holy Rollers and the Neo-Cons Destroyed the GOP."

According the Clift's piece in Newsweek, Vic Gold, 78, is a "veteran Republican operative", close to both the Cheneys and the Bushes.

"[Gold] once shared office space with Lynne Cheney and in 1996 was prepared to support Dick Cheney for president. When he decided not to run, Cheney told Gold `I don't want to spend three quarters of my time running around raising money.' "

Gold quoted a Swiss writer when he told Clift that "Men do not change, they unmask themselves."

"What happened to Cheney is `opportunity', says Gold. Pushed forward by George and Barbara Bush, who had no confidence in their eldest son, Cheney was supposed to serve as the ghost of Bush Senior hovering around the White House. Cheney took on the job and with George W's acquiescence, made himself the locus of power."

"What nobody anticipated is the extent to which the quiet man with the lopsided mouth would insinuate himself into everything--and the devastating consequences of his influence."

The linked article, as well as the Post series are compelling reads.

As for Gold's friendship with "the Bushes" - Gold wrote Bush 41, telling him about the book he intended to write. He got a letter back, saying:

"We've been friends a long time and we'll continue to be friends. I am sure I will not like what you say about our son." And then, writes Clift, ". . . in a grace note typical of [Bush 41]", the elder Bush wrote:

". . . but I don't think too much of the neocons myself."

[politically incorrect]

I would say that Karl Rove and the White House political team are the ones to blame for bringing the GOP to the "brink of ruin." They have been tone deaf on how to talk to the American people, how to explain the importance of the war in Iraq and the danger we face from Islamists in the Middle East bent on our destruction. That is the real failure. To the extent that Cheney has not done a better job himself in explaining this, then he is to blame - along with President Bush.

George H.W. Bush should remember that at the end of his ONE term in office it also looked like the Republican Party was finished. But just two years later, for the first time in 40 years, the party won control of the U.S. Congress. Don't count the Republicans out this time, either.

[SueScribe]

. . . [t]hey have been tone deaf on how to talk to the American people, how to explain the importance of the war in Iraq and the danger we face from Islamists in the Middle East bent on our destruction. That is the real failure. To the extent that Cheney has not done a better job himself in explaining this, then he is to blame - along with President Bush.

Here's the deal: It's fairly apparent that Dick Cheney doesn't believe he OWES anyone an "explanation." That's the nexus of the Post series and the Newsweek article.

Dick Cheney had no designs on becoming President once Bush's term(s) expired. He doesn't like large groups of people. He doesn't like to "campaign" (recall the 2000 election flap about that?). There are no deterrents for Mr. Cheney. In other words, Dick Cheney had/has nothing whatsoever to:

a) fear
b) lose.
c) explain.

[dollfus46]

Here's the deal: It's fairly apparent that Dick Cheney doesn't believe he OWES anyone an "explanation." That's the nexus of the Post series and the Newsweek article.

Dick Cheney had no designs on becoming President once Bush's term(s) expired. He doesn't like large groups of people. He doesn't like to "campaign" (recall the 2000 election flap about that?). There are no deterrents for Mr. Cheney. In other words, Dick Cheney had/has nothing whatsoever to:

a) fear
b) lose.
c) explain.

Exactly. He has nothing to fear, lose or explain, unless he personally breaks the law. His job is to back/support the President and rule over the Senate. Many had rather be Speaker of the House than President. More power that either the Pres or Vp. Chaney has only the power Bush gives him. Dubya can reject Cheney's suggestions, influence or even pigeon hole him like H. W. did his VP, ole "Potatoe Head" What'shisface. Or, he can call his Dad, H., for advice, which is what I was hoping and assuming he'd do when I voted for the little snot. Beating up on Chaney is as profitable as lighting cigars with dollar bills.

[SueScribe]

Exactly. He has nothing to fear, lose or explain, unless he personally breaks the law. His job is to back/support the President and rule over the Senate.

My impression of Mr. Cheney is based upon two things:

1. Six years of coverage and taped interviews of and with the man;
2. Personal knowledge and experience of and with his like kind.

Whether Mr. Cheney has violated the law or not is likely without question. Proving it is another matter and the Dick Cheneys of The World ordinarily don't get Proven. People with nicknames get Proven. Cheney is in fact a backroom dealer, a phantom of The Government. He is in fact President of Corporate America. Well, that may be a tad overstated. I submit he's likely President of Corporate Oil America. . . . "Oil America". Has a nice, talk-show ring to it, eh?

Anyway. Huey Long lost the fight, post mortem. Standard Oil is back in another guise and Dick is presently at the top of the heap.

Chaney has only the power Bush gives him.

:attack: Df, did you read the entirety of that linked Newsweek article? Did you click-on the link within the article - the Post series? Lou Gold, the source of the claims and allegations in the Clift piece, is not exactly . . Rosie O'Donnell. According to Mr. Gold, it isn't up to Mr. Bush to decide the extent of Mr. Cheney's power. That is, as I see things, problematic when Mr. Gold also describes the man he's known for thirty-plus years as a "mega-maniacal paranoid."

Just me, though. That's how I see things.

Dubya can reject Cheney's suggestions, influence or even pigeon hole him like H. W. did his VP, ole "Potatoe Head" What'shisface.

See above.

. . . Or, he can call his Dad, H., for advice, which is what I was hoping and assuming he'd do when I voted for the little snot.

See above. It is an established fact that Dubya did not . . N-O-T . . speak to his father before he approved Dick's War. He said, in response to a press question about whether or not he had spoken to his father prior to making his decision to go to war and he said, and I paraphrase, "No, I spoke to my Heavenly Father . . ".

Once again, Vic Gold informed Ms. Clift of Newsweek that the elder Bushes didn't have any "confidence in" their eldest son. That is why Mr. Cheney was selected as Veep - to watch over him. "Hover", I think Clift wrote.

My hope is that the next time around, when voters head out to the polls to elect of-all-people the President of the United States, that one might pause for a moment to reflect upon the Vice Presidential choices on the ballot and consider:

Is this man or woman interested in becoming President one day?

Is this man or woman a person who cares whether or not he or she holds public office?

Might this man or woman stand to personally gain and/or be immune to control or oversight or review while acting in the capacity of Vice President?

Is this man or woman a potential "mega-manaical paranoid"?

Is this man or woman allowed to carry firearms?

-----------------

Sue

P. S. Cuban cigars, I wager.

[dollfus46]

My impression of Mr. Cheney is based upon two things:

1. Six years of coverage and taped interviews of and with the man;
2. Personal knowledge and experience of and with his like kind.

Whether Mr. Cheney has violated the law or not is likely without question. Proving it is another matter and the Dick Cheneys of The World ordinarily don't get Proven. People with nicknames get Proven. Cheney is in fact a backroom dealer, a phantom of The Government. He is in fact President of Corporate America. Well, that may be a tad overstated. I submit he's likely President of Corporate Oil America. . . . "Oil America". Has a nice, talk-show ring to it, eh?

Anyway. Huey Long lost the fight, post mortem. Standard Oil is back in another guise and Dick is presently at the top of the heap.



:attack: Df, did you read the entirety of that linked Newsweek article? Did you click-on the link within the article - the Post series? Lou Gold, the source of the claims and allegations in the Clift piece, is not exactly . . Rosie O'Donnell. According to Mr. Gold, it isn't up to Mr. Bush to decide the extent of Mr. Cheney's power. That is, as I see things, problematic when Mr. Gold also describes the man he's known for thirty-plus years as a "mega-maniacal paranoid."

Just me, though. That's how I see things.



See above.



See above. It is an established fact that Dubya did not . . N-O-T . . speak to his father before he approved Dick's War. He said, in response to a press question about whether or not he had spoken to his father prior to making his decision to go to war and he said, and I paraphrase, "No, I spoke to my Heavenly Father . . ".

Once again, Vic Gold informed Ms. Clift of Newsweek that the elder Bushes didn't have any "confidence in" their eldest son. That is why Mr. Cheney was selected as Veep - to watch over him. "Hover", I think Clift wrote.

My hope is that the next time around, when voters head out to the polls to elect of-all-people the President of the United States, that one might pause for a moment to reflect upon the Vice Presidential choices on the ballot and consider:

Is this man or woman interested in becoming President one day?

Is this man or woman a person who cares whether or not he or she holds public office?

Might this man or woman stand to personally gain and/or be immune to control or oversight or review while acting in the capacity of Vice President?

Is this man or woman a potential "mega-manaical paranoid"?

Is this man or woman allowed to carry firearms?

-----------------

Sue

P. S. Cuban cigars, I wager.

Now, Sue, cut me some slack for having a brain bigger than a housefly. Sometimes I don't use nearly that much, but I do have one.:) I can't see the point in any of this VP bashing. Every President surrounds himself with "advisors". No President can be well informed or experienced in every area.
But to try to answer your questions in order: 1. Why does it matter? 2. Why does it matter? How are you going to get them to answer truthfully anyway. 3. They all stand to gain. That's why they are there. Job doesn't pay enough unless there's a butt-load of graft in it. Everybody in Washington is in it for the power and graft.......period.
4. Most can be assumed to be. Hillary is the most obvious one running today. Doesn't matter. Do you think Edwards or Romney need a psaltry $200,000/yr salary. They make that on interest alone.
5. With the hate now between Dems and Reps, everyone should be packing heat. I predict someone will get seriously hurt or killed at the polling place soon.
You're talking to someone who has an extremely low opinion of politicians, period. :)

[hbm]

If the Republicans wanted to really get the Democrats Bush would resign and let Cheney be President then maybe they would really have something to worry about.

[dollfus46]

If the Republicans wanted to really get the Democrats Bush would resign and let Cheney be President then maybe they would really have something to worry about.

That'd be interesting, indeed. Chaney would be P.O.ed cause he doesn't want the job, yet he'd have to keep it or Pelosi would get it. Which is more scary. Now, Pelosi, having lay on the carpet of the Oval Office, doesn't want to give it up. Hillary has a problem now. A female challenger from her own party. I can see Rod Serling in black and white, now: "You have just entered the Twilight Zone." Maybe Sue's post should get more of my attention than I initially gave it. :smt118

[SueScribe]

Now, Sue, cut me some slack for having a brain bigger than a housefly. Sometimes I don't use nearly that much, but I do have one.:)

Just moments ago I read a post of yours wherein you were fearful of having just such a brain. Now? You're flip-flopping on me. :-D

I'm not bashing the Vice President. I believe he is a financial and political genius, even if he is a "mega-maniacial paranoid." He is shielded from press exposure, unless it's on his terms; he has omnipotent policy power; and, I'm quite sure he'll leave office in much better financial position than when he went in - despite the declination of his 2000 stock options in Halliburton at a personal loss of many hundreds of thousands of dollars which, retrospectively, likely looks like Chump Change to the Veep right now.

And, "President Dodo" (Vic Gold's characterization, not mine) probably won't be hurtin' too bad on the financial front, either. He cares nothing about his "legacy" ("History? What history? We'll all be dead . . " responding to Bob Woodward's question about how he believed history would treat him); is dismissive about opinion polls (in 2000 he declared that he didn't "need polls to know what I should do . . "); nor, for that matter, does he appear to care about his political Party.

The thing that aggrieves me most is that the rest of us have to pay for Mr. Cheney's unique and extraordinary tenure as Vice President, some with their lives. However, as my mother once told me about giving birth - You have to remind yourself that it won't last forever, and when it's over?

What a relief.

[SueScribe]

If the Republicans wanted to really get the Democrats Bush would resign and let Cheney be President then maybe they would really have something to worry about.

They already "really have something to worry about." And, according to the latest national polls, not just Democrats feel that way, unless the party has suddenly picked up a sizeable majority out in the hustings.

[dollfus46]

Just moments ago I read a post of yours wherein you were fearful of having just such a brain. Now? You're flip-flopping on me. :-D

Heh heh heh. Damn Republicans will do it every time eh?

I'm not bashing the Vice President. I believe he is a financial and political genius, even if he is a "mega-maniacial paranoid." He is shielded from press exposure, unless it's on his terms; he has omnipotent policy power; and, I'm quite sure he'll leave office in much better financial position than when he went in - despite the declination of his 2000 stock options in Halliburton at a personal loss of many hundreds of thousands of dollars which, retrospectively, likely looks like Chump Change to the Veep right now.
And, "President Dodo" (Vic Gold's characterization, not mine) probably won't be hurtin' too bad on the financial front, either.

Sue, you act like that's a suprise to you, or that it's only Republicans who fill their pockets with gold. Why run for the jobs if you can't get filthy rich. We just talked about the windfall the Clintons reaped not counting the silverware, soap, ashtrays and towels they stole. Heh heh.

The thing that aggrieves me most is that the rest of us have to pay for Mr. Cheney's unique and extraordinary tenure as Vice President, some with their lives.
I don't think Cheney voted. Can't be Bush's war and blame Cheney for the deaths. I really don't understand the rancor toward Cheney.