Katie Couric's Notebook: Cheney Crossing The Line?

4871340 Did former Vice President Dick Cheney cross the line when he said the Obama administration has made America less safe in the brief time they've been in office?

I asked the new Attorney General, Eric Holder, about that in an exclusive interview.

He stopped short of calling the comments inappropriate. But he did say he respects President Bush for providing a period of silence as this new team formulates policy on tough topics like Guantanamo Bay.

Politics is a rough and tumble sport. After all, then Senator Joe Biden called Mr. Cheney the worst vice president in history when he was out on the campaign trail.

These barbs sound more like the rhetoric of radio talk show hosts than elder statesman.

We should never shy away from insightful criticism. And in the white hot spotlight of the presidency a fair amount of back seat driving simply comes with the territory.

But it's fair to give the new kids on the block a chance to get their learner's permits first.

That's a page from my notebook.

Eric Holder interview: