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Bill Kristol Loves Dick Cheney

Posted by Satyam Khanna, Think Progress at 11:57 AM on May 16, 2009.


Kristol: "Dick Cheney, most valuable Republican."

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While many Republicans are trying to ditch the legacy of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, one pundit is still clinging to the previous administration. In a column today titled “Don’t Wince. Fight!,” Bill Kristol offers a full-throated defense of Cheney, writing that Republicans cringing at the re-emergence of the former vice president have a “juvenile understanding of political dynamics.” Kristol then prescribes that to regain power, the GOP needs to embrace Bush’s policies and listen to Cheney:

The real question any Republican strategist should ask himself is this: What will Republican chances be in 2012 if voters don’t remember the Bush administration–however problematic in other areas–as successful in defending the country after 9/11? To give this issue away would be to accept a post-Herbert-Hoover-like-fate for today’s GOP. That’s why Republicans should listen carefully when Cheney gives a speech this week in which he’ll lay out the case for the surveillance, detention, and interrogation policies of the Bush administration in the war against terror.

Kristol concludes, “Dick Cheney probably won’t be the glamour quarterback of the Republican comeback. But he’s proving to be a heck of a middle linebacker.” Those considering taking the advice of the Kristol Ball should check out his July 2007 op-ed on “Why Bush Will Be A Winner.”

Digg!

Satyam Khanna is a Research Associate for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.


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Didn't Bill Kristol also predict that the War in Iraq would cost only $50 Billion?
Posted by: kettleblack on May 16, 2009 6:31 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sorry if I get those darn Neo Cons mixed up.

But, I have a problem with his credibility sometimes.

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Propagandaists have been prosecuted for War Crimes Too, Billy Boy.
Posted by: Purple Girl on May 17, 2009 4:39 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Other Operative Word Billy is 'AFTER', but that only relates to US, not any of our allies. Apparently as they were spending their time torturing they had no interest in uncovering any other terrorist plots which targeted other nations. Perhaps Spain is a lil' pissed they didn't pass on any intell about Madrid.Further proof Torture doesn't work- or the Bushies don't give a shit about the 'Global War on Terror'.Give Spain these SOB's to prosecute- perhaps they still have some Toy's of old they can drag out and dust off.Just Show Krystal a thumb screw and he'll sing like a lil' girl.
In Fact Billy boy- please Interview DICK, you rightwingers have been the best example of proficient interrogators yet. You guys have gotten Dick to confess to ordering Torture, using methods only the 'Dark side' would consider and Usurping the office of the Presidency- 'You're A Damn Genius!'.Please 'Interview' DICK everyday, the World IS Watching (and recording).FYI Dick- 'anything you Say can and WILL be held against You in a Court of Law'..Esp the International Court.

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Guess Billy boy doesn't remember his history.
Posted by: GerryAttric on May 17, 2009 5:01 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In that July 2007 op-ed he surmises that there has not been a second terrorist attack on American soil since Bush took power in 2000 "First, no second terrorist attack on U.S. soil -- not something we could have taken for granted. Second, a strong economy -- also something that wasn't inevitable." LOL what an idiotic statement that is.

If Mr. Krystal had a clue he would realize that 9/11 was the third terrorist attack on US soil, second by foriegn nationals, so where does the contention that there has not been a second attack come from. More of that GW doublespeak. There were 2 attacks before GW even considered running for President let alone after. Or did he more accurately mean there was not another terrorist attack on US soil during Bush's tenure. But of course that excludes all the terrorist attacks in foriegn coutries who supported the US invasion of IRAQ. You know like Britains bus and subway bombings and the Madrid Train bombings. No problem if your allies are getting their asses thumped on Bush's trumped up lies about IRAQ huh?

It's bad enough Clinton dropped the ball twice but at least he could acurately use the Phrase "Who could have forseen that." when it came to the first WTC attack in 1993 and then the one from home grown whack job MCVeigh in 1995.

But for Bush to drop the ball on the SECOND WTC attack in 2001 is just further proof of just how ineffective and useless the Bush Administration was. He was warned and should have been prepared and on his toes. Mr. Krystol should stop lying like the rest.

As for the strong economy. Hehe why was Bush passing Stimulus bills to kick start the economy and why was Bernie Madoff allowed to happen under his great economy. I suppose it all started when Obama came to power right?

Can I get an op-ed in the NY Times or does it have to be bullshit, like Mr. Krystol's pieces.

Funny how inaccurate Bill Krystol is. When ya gonna do a piece on Phill Gramms involvement in the deregulation of banks and securities firms BILL.

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» Weathered, you are Posted by: Opinionator
Same old song
Posted by: pkricker on May 17, 2009 5:04 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'm afraid I'm back to singing the same old song. The reason it's important to investigate, and if appropriate, prosecute, war crimes and violations of the Constitution is to discourage future politicians from doing the same thing. Unless Cheney is exposed he's going to keep right on trotting this shit out and some people are going to begin to give him credence again. We need to discredit discreditable people.

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Krystal's a media gimmick
Posted by: weathered on May 17, 2009 6:37 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
a faux erudite talking head of mis and disinformation. The fact he remains a centerpiece for deceit that consumes MSM speaks volumes.

WE should be more concerned w/the true brain trust we're NOT hearing from.

'if it's not reported, it never happened'

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Mother of U.S. Marine speaks out against torture
Posted by: Sister_Lauren on May 17, 2009 6:37 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The latest argument,

Waterboarding can't be torture because we used it on "thousands" of our own troops as part of their training!

Her response,

Yesterday on TV I saw some Republican mouthpiece, some ex-Cheney aide, who has never worn a uniform and has NO idea what the hell he is talking about, say that we never tortured anyone because we did it to our own troops and they volunteered to serve; therefore it isn't torture.

His statement was allowed to stand unchallenged.

My son did NOT volunteer to be tortured. He was NOT told what would be done to him at SERE. He was told he would be taught to survive. Instead he was tortured, humiliated, degraded, shamed, and told to keep quiet about it.


Was he by chance raped, drugged or forced to submit to or engage in any homosexual acts?

I think we have finally found the information that they did not want us to know about.

This is despicable! I hope her son gets justice.

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» RE: I will wear a black armband Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Torture Versus Freedom Posted by: Sister_Lauren
We've got to ask what Kristol's agenda is.
Posted by: Quannah on May 17, 2009 11:31 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And I believe that Kristol's agenda is the same as Cheney's as far as the future of the Republic Party is concerned. He has been in Cheney's camp all along, after all.

They are working HARD to set up a run for President in 2012 of Cheney's daughter, Liz Cheney. She will pick up where her father left off, and her background shows how her father has been grooming her for the past eight years.

Please read the wikipedia entry for Liz Cheney and see what I'm talking about.

We must make no mistake... there is an agenda being built right now, and it's not a good one. She is frightening. She's just as extremist as her father, and her ability to do untold damage should be enough to prompt us to keep a close eye on her.

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Do you really think the American public is stupid enough
Posted by: Ellie1 on May 18, 2009 7:48 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
to let ANY Cheney close to the White House? Aside from the idiot tea baggers, I hope not.

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When you're fighting a war
Posted by: 2thepoint on May 18, 2009 9:36 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
you want Cheney on your side.... you don't want someone who wants to "talk" and pass out flowers to the enemy.

Appeasement doesn't work.. even Obama and co are figuring this out!

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» Oh... I almost forgot.... Posted by: Quannah
» 2 the pointyhead strikes again Posted by: zipper696
» WHAT???!!! Posted by: madmac10
So what?
Posted by: willymack on May 18, 2009 11:51 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
cheney/bush ass kisser praising cheney, news? Hardly.

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Kristol...Cheney...
Posted by: frank69 on May 18, 2009 12:36 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Kristol and Cheney: two peas in a pod. Albeit, a rotton pod, as it contains two rotton people.
Yech! What a stench!

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Name One Thing
Posted by: LeaderofMen on May 18, 2009 1:05 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just one item that Bill Kristol has gotten right in the last 8 years.

Just one thing.

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Bush's Watch
Posted by: robert.noll on May 19, 2009 8:36 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The most important fact is the one everyone overlooks. The World Trade Center went down under Bush's watch. Saying that we were kept safe after 9/11 is like saying Hiroshima has been safe since that one little bomb went off.

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