Cheney: Senate Resolution "Won't Stop Us"

Vice President Says It's "Hogwash" To Say Bush's Credibility Is At Stake In Iraq

(CBS/AP)  The White House reaction to the Senate resolution opposing President Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq came from Vice President Dick Cheney. In a word, he was defiant, saying about the general idea of a resolution, "It won't stop us."

"We are moving forward. The Congress has control over the purse strings. They have the right, obviously, if they want, to cut off funding," Cheney said Wednesday in an occasionally testy CNN interview.

"But in terms of this effort, the president has made his decision. We've consulted extensively with them. We'll continue to consult with the Congress. But the fact of the matter is, we need to get the job done."

If the president was almost humbly pleading with Congress in Tuesday's State of the Union address to give his plan a chance, CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod says the vice president played what has come to be his typical role: the enforcer.

He dismissed suggestions that the Bush administration's credibility is on the line because of mistakes in Iraq as "hogwash."

And he railed at critics for not coming up with a plan of their own for Iraq.

"The critics have not suggested a policy — they haven't put anything in place," Cheney said. "All they've recommended is to redeploy or to withdraw our forces. The fact is, we can complete the task in Iraq. We're going to do it. We've got (Lt. Gen. David) Petraeus — Gen. Petraeus taking over. It is a good strategy. It will work. But we have to have the stomach to finish the task."

Cheney acknowledged the situation in Iraq was very unstable but said toppling Saddam Hussein had been the right thing to do. He said he trusted Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who he said had demonstrated a willingness to take on lawbreakers regardless of their religious or ethnic affiliations.

The vice president said the biggest mistake the United States has made in the war was underestimating the psychological effect Saddam's regime had on Iraqi citizens.

"I think we underestimated the extent to which 30 years of Saddam's rule had really hammered the population, especially the Shia population, into submissiveness," he said. "It was very hard for them to stand up and take responsibility in part because anybody who had done that in the past had had their heads chopped off."

Asked about Osama bin Laden's whereabouts, Cheney said he believes bin Laden is alive, but would not speculate about whether he might be hiding in Afghanistan, Pakistan or along their shared border. "I don't want to be that precise," Cheney said.

On other topics, the vice president said he does not think Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York would make a very good president "because she's a Democrat."

"I don't agree with her philosophically and from a policy standpoint," he said.

Cheney bristled when asked to respond to critics who question his daughter Mary's decision to have a baby and raise it with her female partner. "I think you're out of line with that question," replied Cheney, who said he was delighted about having a sixth grandchild.

[Razzl]

We'll see whether Cheney's arrogance holds up in the docket at his war crimes trial. Make no mistake about it, those of us who care about the future of this republic will pursue these devils to the end of their days and make sure they pay for their crimes. Cheney's conduct will not be forgiven or forgotten no matter how long after his term his punishment comes...

[shedhouserob-2009]

Cheney (If you don't vote republican the terrorist will get you) the most evilest self serving VP this country has and ever will see. Anything that comes out of his mouth is party dribble. He don't like democrats, does he like Americans? This war starter is the one that should be impeached not good ol boy Georgie. somewhere on this guys body is 666.

[shedhouserob-2009]

Cheney (If you don't vote republican the terrorist will get you) the most evilest self serving VP this country has and ever will see. Anything that comes out of his mouth is party dribble. He don't like democrats, does he like Americans? This war starter is the one that should be impeached not good ol boy Georgie. somewhere on this guys body is 666.

[shedhouserob-2009]

Cheney (If you don't vote republican the terrorist will get you) the most evilest self serving VP this country has and ever will see. Anything that comes out of his mouth is party dribble. He don't like democrats, does he like Americans? This war starter is the one that should be impeached not good ol boy Georgie. somewhere on this guys body is 666.

[shedhouserob-2009]

Cheney (If you don't vote republican the terrorist will get you) the most evilest self serving VP this country has and ever will see. Anything that comes out of his mouth is party dribble. He don't like democrats, does he like Americans? This war starter is the one that should be impeached not good ol boy Georgie. somewhere on this guys body is 666.

[hillaryin08]

Non-Binding Resolution Opposing Troop Buildup In Iraq

Is this the UN?

There will be no war crimes trial or impeachment or anything else. Just keep voting Democrat so it makes you feel better. The truth of it all is guys like razzl are jealous of guys like Cheney. They have done absolutly nothing with their lives and blame those that have achieved for it.

Go get yourself a skate board and head back to the park boy and let the real men do the fighting.

[shedhouserob-2009]

Cheney (If you don't vote republican the terrorist will get you) the most evilest self serving VP this country has and ever will see. Anything that comes out of his mouth is party dribble. He don't like democrats, does he like Americans? This war starter is the one that should be impeached not good ol boy Georgie. somewhere on this guys body is 666.

[clestes-2009]

We haven't heard anything out of him in months and what a relief it has been. No surprise that he is still as much in a fog now as ever. He and dubya remain firmly locked hand in hand going to the history books together as the most blind, screwed up, uncomprending, stubborn president and vice president in US history.

Of course Bush's reputation is not tied to Iraq. Hell, dubya is the best president in history. We poor unfortunates are too stupid to comprehend his greatness. Leading us down the path to foreign policy ruin, they blindly go.

[huskerarmy]

"The truth of it all is guys like razzl are jealous of guys like Cheney. They have done absolutly nothing with their lives and blame those that have achieved for it."

Well with daddy's money and all those deferments to get out of Nam, one would hope he could do something with his life. Although I'm not so sure it's something to be so proud of.

[tejasdemo]

*** Cheney is completely delusional and must be stopped before he kills all of us.

He obviously can not handle speaking with normal Americans....only his own Nazi party.

[random_radar]

Cheney is the best reason not to impeach Bush. Cheney is the puppet master who pulls Bush's strings. The Cheney family is one of the most powerful in American politics, but they are shrewd enough to be the power behind the throne.

It is a matter of public record that Bush can hardly string together two cogent sentences and rarely does. Obviously, he has a handler that is calling the shots. That man is Cheney, acting on behalf of the powerbrokers that put Bush in office.

Cheney is a shadow president, just like Hillary was during her husband's administration.

[rbfain]

Good for Bush. He is doing his job, like it or not.

[rafterman1]

Hey Cheney, you say you "won't stop us"? Who's "us" you arrogant f*ck? I thought you worked for the American people in cooperation with Congress. I didn't realize you and Bush considered yourself separate from the rest of us.

[laughop]

This Bertrand Russell quote seems appropriate here: "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." How they have the arrogance to be so sure of themselves after they've been wrong over and over again is beyond my capacity to understand.

[fairandbal]

The Dictator has spoken! Let's get rid of the US Congress, the supreme court, state governments!
The people of America are so lucky to have this man as the supreme ruler/Dictator/Decider!

[notblue]

The defeatist Dems could still stop the President all they have to do is cut off funding or maybe the Dems true agenda is to nothing more than bluster, fingerpoint and blame. That's been there agenda as the minority party and now that there the majority it hasn't seemed to change. There lack of action speaks volumes. Fortunately for the rest of us there are still some in Washington willing to fight the bad guys in the middle east.

[notblue]

fairandbal, after we retreat the radicals will attempt that.

[samthetvcat]

Wow . . . his arrogance just leaves me speechless . . .

[notblue]

rafterman1, when it comes to arrogant ***** you cetainly are the expert.

[johnshaft4]

Cheney is right!
No stinkin' "resolution" will stop him and the PNAC/AEI cabal from leading us all into WW III and assured destruction. Congress needs to impeach tryants Cheney and Bush NOW!!!

[dallison7]

Watching that interview, seeing the scowl on Satan's face... made my skin crawl. This is a truly evil man.

[nativewoman]

Posted by Rafterman1 at 10:47 AM : Jan 25, 2007

EXACTLY, Rafterman1! Who is the "we" he speaks of?

Certainly not the voters of this country, more's the pity.

[racam-2009]

Who is this US Cheney is talking about? As in you can't stop us. Is it the people of America that he is sworn to serve or is he only refering to himself, Bush, and the handful of supporters that still back them? In my opinion this is one dangerous man that should be muzzled. I have never in my years witnessed a more inept administration and I hope to never witness another close to this one. I personally think someone gathered the scum of the earth and put it all into this administration.

[shingles1]

"The critics have not suggested a policy %u2014 they haven't put anything in place," Cheney said.

This is a tired worn out talking point (notblue repeats it for example) that deserves to get be beaten down once and for all.

Off of the top of my head there's the Iraq Study Group's plan and there's Biden's plan. If you surf around for a while you'll find others at right wing, left wing, and centrist Think Tanks as well.

It's an idiotic talking point. Particularly when Bush's plan boils down to 1) more of the same in Iraq and 2) enlarging the conflict by going after Iran.

[johnshaft4]

Herr Cheney and der Fuhrer Bush admit that they are out of control and accountable to no one. Remember, they also control "the button". Be very, very afraid...

[macusweil]

Does anyone really belive with the kind of profiteering Haliburton has been able to achieve in Iraq that our neoconman VP would let a little thing like 'the will of the American people' or Congress stand in his way? This man is determined to milk every last penny $$ from the US treasury.

Main Entry: neo.con (ser.va.tive)
Pronunciation: 'nE-O-k&n
Function: noun or adjective
1 a : of or relating to a person or strategy of pretending to follow traditional conservatism with little or no true interest in such philosophy simply for personal, political or economic gain.

[jimibear]

Of course Bush's credibility isn't at stake in Iraq.

In order for something to be "at stake" it has to exist in the first place. Bush has had zero credibility since the day he entered office.

What a bunch of despicable, murderous war profiteers these scumbags are. And the saddest part is that they will almost certainly get away with everything, because no one in Congress seems to have the balls to start the impeachment process rolling.

Yeah, you can impeach over a *******, but not treason on a massive scale and illegal waging of war. That really makes me feel good about our nation's priority system.

Not.

[dallison7]

Shame the guy didn't have a stroke on live TV. I thought for a minute or two he might, especially when asked about his daughter's pregnancy. The interview should have gone smoething like this: "let's talk about your daughter... Let's talk about your daughter... Let's talk about your daughter... " Until his head exploded.

[jimibear]

I wish Cheney would suffer a massive, fatal heart attack. Then Bush could be safely impeached.

Maybe we can get Russ Feingold to drop a copy of the Federalist Papers on the floor behind him or something?

[jimibear]

How about it, dallison7. What a nightmare for a NeoCon; lesbian, unmarried and pregnant.

Although I have to say, if I were a woman and my dad was Cheney, I'd be a lesbian too. To be fair, though, if I were Hillary's son, I'd be gay.

[dallison7]

Maybe we can get Russ Feingold to drop a copy of the Federalist Papers on the floor behind him or something?


Posted by jimibear at 11:22 AM : Jan 25, 2007

Too funny, LOL.

[kevboom]

I think the Republicans have figured this one out brilliantly. I suspect more of Karl Rove's work. Everyone knows it's a bad idea to put more troops into Iraq, even Bush and Cheney. But they also know when the Democrats complain about it and cut off funding, and then things get worse in Iraq (which they will no matter what), then guess who gets the blame? That's right, the "pansy liberals" who cut off funding to our poor, suffering troops. It's really a brilliant plan on their part to divert attention away from the true culprit in the white house whose shoot-first, ask questions later policies have gotten us into this mess. Gotta hand it to the right-wing, they always find a way to blame someone else for their errors.

[jimibear]

And another question, speaking of not having a plan:

What exactly is the task in Iraq the Bush Assministration wants to complete? How will we know when we're done there? As far as I can see, it's (yet another) open-ended troop deployment.

As of the last count, we have permanent military bases in 38 countries, and that doesn't include "front line" bases in places like Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

How many foreign military bases are on US soil?

Do I hear silence? Exactly.

Maybe, just maybe, if we got our d!cks out of the a$$es of other countries, people wouldn't hate us so much and we wouldn't need to fight this fictional War On Freedom ... erm, sorry, "War On Terror".

But then Sicky Dicky and his crew of soulless murderers wouldn't get any richer.

[huskerarmy]

"Good for Bush. He is doing his job, like it or not."

He was hired by the people. We are his boss and we don't think he's doing his job, like it or not.

"I wish Cheney would suffer a massive, fatal heart attack."

If only it could have happened 6 years ago. Well, better late than never.

[albiyanka]

One thing is for sure %u2026 reading all these comments %u2026 too many lunatic liberals with too much time on their hands writing these comments. No wonder nothing can be achieved %u2026 the misinformed and the superficial and naove liberal conspiracy theorists are dominating or manipulating the airwaves %u2026 the rest is at work and actively playing a part.

[dazer10]

He needs to get his fat butt over there and get r done... he's such a tough guy. They've blamed everyone but themselves for their failures.

[dallison7]

One thing is for sure %u2026 reading all these comments %u2026 too many lunatic liberals with too much time on their hands writing these comments. No wonder nothing can be achieved %u2026 the misinformed and the superficial and naove liberal conspiracy theorists are dominating or manipulating the airwaves %u2026 the rest is at work and actively playing a part.
Posted by albiyanka at 11:31 AM : Jan 25, 2007


Someone please shred this moron.

[albiyanka]

One thing is for sure %u2026 reading all these comments %u2026 too many lunatic liberals with too much time on their hands writing these comments. No wonder nothing can be achieved %u2026 the misinformed and the superficial and naove liberal conspiracy theorists are dominating or manipulating the airwaves %u2026 the rest is at work and actively playing a part.
Posted by albiyanka at 11:31 AM : Jan 25, 2007


Someone please shred this moron.

Interesting. I was expecting such a well-worded reaction.

[dallison7]

Someone please shred this moron.

Interesting. I was expecting such a well-worded reaction.


Not worth the effort... your bulb is too dim.

[jimibear]

Albiyanka, what exactly do yo uhave to contribute to this conversation other than the usual NeoCon claptrap of "liberal conspiracy theorists with too much time on their hands"?

I'm not a liberal. I distrust all politicians. And I'm not a conspiracy theorist. It's just that I have enough knowledge of history to know that this sort of thing (war for money) has happened for thousands of years wherever there have been governments, including in this country, and continues today.

People who regard suspicion of government as "conspiracy theory" are, frankly, both ignorant and mentally lazy. Ten minutes of research would find multiple examples throughout history of nations being lied to by governments to start a war, and another 10 minutes of objective analysis would show you that this Iraq catastrophe is just another in the long list.

But for intellectual and moral cowards like you, who lack either knowledge or the desire to pursue it, it's much easier to sit in your secure little mental bunker and gobble propaganda, isn't it?

Good job. And you call others misinformed and superficial? I'm surprised you can manage those big words with Karl Rove's *** in your mouth.

And if you are "actively playing a part" in what the Bush administration is doing, then you are not just an ignorant coward, but a traitor as well.

[tuckerndfw]

And some people claim the Bush crime syndicate isn't attempting to install a dictatorship in the US.

George Bozo Bush and his evil counterpart *** Cheney should be indicted for war crimes and removed from office before they murder another ten thousand innocent Iraqis and thousands of American soldiers.

Cheney & Bush are both insane and are mass murdersrs, same as Adolf Hitler.

[inventagod]

"Won't stop us"

Who exactly is 'us'?

PNAC?

[drudge2]

Mr. Bush nor his puppet master Mr. Cheney have not admitted invading Iraq was wrong.
Until they do, there is no reason for anyone to help them with a way out.

[huskerarmy]

"...the misinformed and the superficial and naove liberal conspiracy theorists..."

albiyanka,

Spend some time at one of our fine institutions of higher learning and you will find yourself in the company of many of these "misinformed, superficial" liberals. Be that as it may, thanks for your 1.5 cents.

[albiyanka]

Someone please shred this moron.

Interesting. I was expecting such a well-worded reaction.


Not worth the effort... your bulb is too dim.
Posted by dallison7 at 11:39 AM : Jan 25, 2007

Congratulations. A contradictio in terminis.

"No wonder nothing can be achieved."

Of course this is the fault of the party that was completely out of power for the previous 4 years. And disagreeing with policy doesn't make one a conspiracy theorist.
Me: Bush and Cheney are wrong about Iraq
albiyanka: Liberal conspiracy theorist!

And I like the naive comment. Like it wasn't naive to think that a country of 28 million could be stabilized with 150,000 or so troops, or that the insurgency was in its last throws in 2005.

[tuckerndfw]

To those pinheads who continue claiming Bozo's opponents do not have a "plan," the Iraq Study Group provided Bozo with a plan which he chose to totally ignore.

Anyone who supports Bozo is a either a criminal or a pinhead, perhaps both.

Bozo Bush and his supporters have no plan, doing more of the same and expecting a different result is not a plan, it's insanity.

[albiyanka]

...And if you are "actively playing a part" in what the Bush administration is doing, then you are not just an ignorant coward, but a traitor as well...

Posted by jimibear at 11:40 AM : Jan 25, 2007

Sorry, but this one made me double-up. You might want to change your id from jimibear to jibberish.

[dallison7]

Congratulations. A contradictio in terminis.
Posted by albiyanka at 11:43 AM : Jan 25, 2007

Is that you lieberman? You know better that to try to play with the big boys, you're going to get hurt again.