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By The Associated Press

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 2:07 AM MDT

Dick Cheney will return to his hometown of Casper on Sunday to raise money for the Wyoming Republican Party.

The vice president plans to attend a fundraising reception for Republican candidates and Republican get-out-the-vote efforts. Tickets cost $1,200, and a photo op with Cheney costs an extra $300.

The event kicks off at 1 p.m. in the finished upstairs of a horse barn owned by Diemer True, Wyoming's Republican national committeeman. Well over 100 people attended a similar fundraiser in the barn with Cheney four years ago, True said.

True said tickets this year are selling fast.

"This may be the last visit the vice president makes to Casper in an official capacity before his term ends, so there's been a lot of interest," he said.

One of those planning to attend is Cynthia Lummis, a former state treasurer who's running for the Republican nomination for Wyoming's U.S. House seat.

"There are candidates on the Republican ticket for county commissioner, and sheriff and legislators as well as our entire congressional delegation," Lummis said. "To the extent that the vice president is able to help the Wyoming Republican Party raise funds to support all of its candidates up and down the ticket, I could not be more pleased."

Two other Republican candidates for the U.S. House said they've committed to be at a Laramie County Republican Party pie social in Pine Bluffs on Sunday. Buffalo-area rancher Mark Gordon said he's checking his schedule to see if he can attend both events.

Gordon said he appreciates Cheney's efforts to counter donations to the lone Democrat in the U.S. House race, Wilson businessman Gary Trauner.

"It's great because this is going to be a hard-fought campaign. Obviously Gary is working hard to raise money and is raising a lot of money," Gordon said.

Retired Navy officer Bill Winney said he won't be able to make it to Casper, but he applauds Cheney's appearance.

"He's a favorite son of the state, and he does have a draw. There's a lot of people who like talking to him," Winney said.

A Cheney spokeswoman said the vice president will be in Beaver Creek, Colo., on Saturday for an annual conference of the American Enterprise Institute.


		Casper briefs

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Comments to this story.

Buford wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:19 AM:

" Lies about WMD in Iraq and gross exagerations about Al Quada links to Saddam. Abuse and torture of detainees. Gross incompetence in the execution of the war. War-profiteering by KBR and Halliburton in the millions and billions of dollars. Plans currently afoot to attack Iran. The politicalization of science and catering to special business interests.
Yes indeed. We owe so much to the vice president. "

Disillisioned wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:39 AM:

" Trust Lummis to rub shoulders with the political insiders than to meet the voters in Pine Bluffs. "

SS wrote on Jun 18, 2008 3:13 PM:

" When is Cheney gonna learn we dont want him back!!! He is an embarrassment to Wyoming and our nation as a whole. "

SS wrote on Jun 18, 2008 3:14 PM:

" When is Cheney going to learn we don't want him back!!!
He is a disgrace to Wyoming and our entire nation. "

Waaaaaa wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:05 AM:

" When are some going to learn there are others who don't agree with your twisted perspective on life? Bet you believe the conspiracy theory too. Perhaps, if we do lose this war and the victors do come to FORCE us to believe something we don't WANT to believe - (we are used to freedom after all) - just perhaps, you will reassess your short-sightedness. Of course, it will be rather too late. I welcome him and those who continue to stand for courage and responsibility. "

georgewashakie wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:58 AM:

" Cynthia Lummis will not be rubbing shoulders with too many candidates for sheriff or county commissioner, unless she brings her own. "

Inky wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:40 AM:

" Dear Waaaaaa,
So VP Cheney stood for courage and responsibility when he took repeated deferments during the Viet Nam war?
And Halliburton's business dealings with Saddam was a stellar example of courage and responsibility?
I don't think you live in any objective reality that I know. Better get your meds checked by a reality-based physician. "

Roxanna wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:08 PM:

" Who would ever want their picture taken with Cheney??? All the lives lost and those maimed physically and emotionally forever! But hey, he is doing o'kay... at least financially.Don't know about his soul.

Cheney does not stand for courage or responsiblity. He stands for all the money he can rack in..

No politician today in their right mind would want any association with Cheney. ......History will not view him kindly. He makes Agnew Spiro look good. Never has there been such a power mongering Vice President who really was the President behind the scenes. "

Liability Time wrote on Jun 20, 2008 12:25 AM:

" Vice President Cheney, thanks for coming. We have a lovely seat for you over here by the mops and the cat litter that we use to soak up human vomit. And don't trouble yourself by getting around any cameras or microphones. Probably not good for that ailing heart of yours, old buddy old pal. Good to see ya. Really. Come right this way. "

A Pleasant Event wrote on Jun 20, 2008 12:38 AM:

" Thank you all for having me. It's an honor being here. As I've said before, we expect this operation in Iraq to take weeks, not months.

'Mr. Cheney, aren't we in our sixth year there now?'

Guards, I want that man arrested immediately. Everyone here can go f*** themselves. Where's my shotgun! As soon as I get the feelling back in my left arm, I'm going to shoot somebody in the face. "

The reality wrote on Jun 20, 2008 2:10 AM:

" I bet you're all really hurting Richard Cheney's feelings, and I bet that he reads all your "witty" and "pointed" comments with a sense of self disdain. Also, those of you who aren't completely incoherent seem well informed, not hopelessly uneducated. Congratulations, "

BooHoo wrote on Jun 20, 2008 6:45 AM:

" i'm surprised the other handful of msnbc viewers haven't chimed in "

SS wrote on Jun 20, 2008 8:37 AM:

" Waaaa,
You probably watch Bill O'Riley and believe everything fox news tells you as well huh? Maybe I do look into the conspiracy theories but I don't have to believe those to know Cheney and the entire administration has done nothinhg good for our future, and its simple minded sheople like you who give such rascist and ignorant people a safe haven in our supposed free country. So free in fact that people in the recent midwest flood can't return to thier homes because police said they can't. So free that peacefull protesting is now a crime. So free almost all of our bill of rights has been erased for false sense of security. Yea Cheney really does stand for courage and responsability. He has the courage to lie to our faces about Iraq and steal our hard earned money, and he responsibly sent our brave American troops to a foreign country under equiped to fight a war for oil and and a lasting presence in the middle east. yes indeed I have a twisted perspective but guess what that twisted perspective you can't seem to swallow is the truth. German Jews had the same mind set as you in the beginning of WWII and look what it got them. Enjoy your cattle car train ride to an undisclosed location where u can be held indefinatly.
cheer m8
SS "

Rance wrote on Jun 20, 2008 9:06 AM:

" Waaaaa may welcome Cheney back to Wyoming, but I'll bet $100 Waaaaa don't have anywhere near enough money of his own to buy a ticket into that obscene greed-fest. And he won't be able to get close enough to the True "barn" to peek in the windows for a glimpse of the evil vice president either. Cheney's Secret Service detail (soon to be replaced by shoot-first-and-don't-worry-about-accountability Blackwater employees) will see to that. ...courage and responsibility? Waaaaa needs to look up the definition of those 2 words because Cheney hasn't demonstrated either during his tenure. "

Welcome Home wrote on Jun 20, 2008 11:11 AM:

" Go on the VP for coming home for the visit. He is a great American and a National Treasure that has surved this nation exceptionally well for many, many years and I would be proud to call him my neighbor. We have few leaders with the guts to take the hard stands and maintain them in the face of so many harsh lies about them and the administration that they work for. Welcome home Mr Vice President! "

Harmon wrote on Jun 20, 2008 11:14 AM:

" Roxanna, The same could be said of Abe Lincoln too, and many did during and immediately after the civil war in America. History will treat both VP Cheney and President Bush very well in time when cooler heads prevail again and we step back to see the great work they did for America and the world. "

Millie wrote on Jun 20, 2008 11:33 AM:

" I hope that we get to see him, maybe even speak with him. He is a wonderful man and he has more than paid hihs dues while serving us all with courage and determination! "

Russ wrote on Jun 20, 2008 1:36 PM:

" The above commenter was right. When Cheney said the war in Iraq would take 'weeks not months,' he was either just lying or he really did make one of the greatest military miscalculations of all time. So he's either a liar or an idiot. Either way, I think we've had enough of old creepy. I voted for him the first time, but did not make that same mistake twice. "

Disgusted Wyomingite wrote on Jun 20, 2008 2:10 PM:

" To all of the above . Right on!!! Oh how
Bush and Cheney tells about worring
about "dirty bombs" coming to
America. We have sent enough DU
(depleted uranium ) to contaminate
that country for a life time. There are
enough cancers and genetic mutations
on both sides of the conflict as well. "

Once Bitten wrote on Jun 20, 2008 2:16 PM:

" You know the party is in trouble when we have to scrape the barrel this hard. Cheney? The guy has had a 17% job approval rating for the last three years. About the same percentage of voting adults who poop their pants. You gotta be kidding me with this. "

Blue Collar Scholar wrote on Jun 20, 2008 2:53 PM:

" Harmon, Abe Lincoln died a hero in the Northern states and in the territories. In the post-confederate South, he is still reviled (Even 150 years later). Cheney is reviled nationwide. He will not die a hero anywhere (except maybe some fringes parts of Casper. Now there's a legacy). So he will be forever reviled nationwide. There are no cooler heads to be had. Sorry. "

Mark wrote on Jun 20, 2008 3:22 PM:

" I cannot think of a single instance when Richard Cheney was not thinking of himself first!. There is really nothing that I am aware of that could make me proud of the Vice President. I believe history will indeed be very accurate and objective about this individual and will portray him as a very poor example of humanity. This is a person who if it were not for the fact that he is an American citizen and the Vice President of the United States besides, would be facing trial at the Hague in the Netherlands for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Both Cheney and Bush as well as Rumsfeld should be charged by the World Court and tried for the unspeakable things they authorized U.S. forces and U.S. military intelligence to do to other human beings, most of whom were completely innocent people who did nothing against the United States or it's people. What the President and the Vice President authorized was at least as wrong as anything that happened during Adolph Hitler's reign in Europe almost 70 years ago. If the same standards were applied today that were applied then, all three of these people would be tried, probably convicted and imprisoned, and possibly executed for the crimes they have committed during this past 7 or more years.

Americans that defend these individuals are at least as sick, demented and immoral as were the NAZI party members who supported Hitler during W W I I. This is not an exaggeration, these 3 people authorized the most extreme measures of inhumanity the world has seen in our time, and these liars and deceivers did all this in the name of fighting terrorism and Al Queda. They are not true Americans. They are some sick, selfish breed of human hatred that is not in the least bit representative of the American people, our culture or our values. There is not one single thing that these 3 people did that was not illegal, not only in the United States but internationally too. The only reason they will get away with this terrible inhuman travesty is because they are OUR elected and appointed leaders of OUR government, and we are not about to be honest to the rest of the world about this. No, we are going to join the lies, the deceit, the inhumanity, and defend it with our dying breath in order to prove our so-called loyalty to America. If any foreign president, vice president or defense secretary authorized the inhumane acts these 3 did anywhere else in the world, we would be demanding that they be brought to justice and held accountable for what they did in the World Court. Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld should be held completely responsible for their part in all of this, and there should be no hiding behind "lower placed individuals" (scapegoats) who acted on their own without official authorization. That did not happen. The military personnel and CIA personnel, along with the foreign contract agents did everything they did because of the authorization given them from Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld, even if it was purposely designed to be indirect authorization. No one in their right mind could possibly be proud of these war criminals.

911 had nothing to do with what these 3 men authorized and carried out against innocent people around the world and the deceptive and unconstitutional things they did and are still doing to the people of the United States. The war on terrorism is a huge propaganda lie, formulated to accommodate certain political and economic purposes of these 3 individuals and their close political and business partners here and abroad. The attack on the world trade center in September of 2001 was just a very convenient means by which these criminals could launch their plans for bankrupting America, enriching themselves in the process, and keeping a base of totally ignorant American supporters defending their insane, greedy and hateful behavior. Anyone who supports the official acts of inhumanity this President and Vice President have done is not a true American. A loyal party wonk perhaps, but not a true American. A loyal idiot to slavery and stupidity perhaps, but not a true American. Fear of terrorism is just the latest hot political bandwagon that these people cultivated in order to gain power and to keep power, and it is absolute power. Anyone who has been stupid enough to buy into and support this tragic political fraud should be committed, not allowed to vote, not allowed to drive a vehicle or operate any kind of machinery, and prohibited from reproducing themselves. Welcome back to Wyoming Mr. Cheney, the place where people will be loyal and kind to your face, but they know the truth. At least most of us do. "

Ex-GOP wrote on Jun 20, 2008 3:43 PM:

" 'We expect the war in Iraq to take weeks, not months.'

-Vice President Cheney, March 2003.

Number of years Cheney served in the military to help him form this assessment: Zero.

Number of deferments received during Vietnam, so that Mr. Cheney could assist with the one-year campaign of Richard Nixon: Four.

What's the hero part again? Anyone who says Cheney is a hero is either blind or stupid. "

Elli wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:37 PM:

" Ground combat against the government of Iraq and the Iraqi army was completed rather rapidly. The insurgency to follow was not anticipated by anyone, not even all of the democraps that voted for the war and funded it each successive year following that. Welcome home Mr. Vice President, we salute you and your steadfast service to America! "

Dallas - Fort Worth wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:49 PM:

" I figured you people in Wyoming would at least give the old man a pass. If Cheney hits this much friction in his own home state, I'd say his national 'legacy' is in trouble. From the outside, it don't look good. "

Marbleton wrote on Jun 20, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Looks like a jerk. Talks like a jerk. Acts like a jerk. Yep. Cheney's a jerk. "

Cutter wrote on Jun 20, 2008 5:28 PM:

" Eli, actually the insurgency was anticipated by dozens of top commanders. So Rumsfeld and Cheney had them fired. There are about three dozen books on that subject out now, written by those commanders. Sounds like you need to start getting your news from somewhere other than AM radio for a while. "

Baller wrote on Jun 20, 2008 5:53 PM:

" Cheney is a proven liar and a crook! We should demand an apology, not welcome him back to Wyoming. "

David wrote on Jun 20, 2008 7:03 PM:

" Privately, Cheney is one of the most despised people in the state. Most people here are not proud of him or what he has done. Careful Elli, you are going to wind up rubbing your own nose in it before long. "

Roxanna wrote on Jun 20, 2008 9:21 PM:

" Blue Collar scholar... You are right there is no comparing Cheney to Lincoln......None.! Cheney is Far From Courageous, more like that of greed.

And Mark .. You are right also! Cheney is the ultimate opportunist.! He has faithfully worked the system quietly and secretively in his pursuit of money and power. What is scary about his intelligence is that he believes it's okay to cause others so much harm..

He would make an excellent study as to what drove him to be so selfish and egotistical about his life. "

Linnea wrote on Jun 21, 2008 12:25 AM:

" Waaaaa You are the NUTS! You are so full of kool aid you can't think straight. You are exactly the die hard kool aid drinking loyalist fool that Mark refers to in his comments. There is nothing to defend! Cheney and company lied about everything and you bought it hook, line and sinker. They did not do anything out of a sense of responsibility, courage or anything else that is truly American. They did all these evil things for money and power! Quit defending the indefensible! What can possibly be so mentally wrong with you that you will continue to defend political sleaze and obvious craziness!! Mark is right, people like you need to be committed before you spread your disease and destroy what is left of sanity and the original American ideals. Go see a doctor! "

Darth Cheney wrote on Jun 21, 2008 5:43 AM:

" he is only coming back for one reason only...... the great "Meth" we grow here...
he HAD to be on "Meth" to make some of the decisions he did.

hey Cheney! if i promise to miss you will you just leave now???

you are unwelcome here!

i pray you get testicular cancer...... oh wait, you have no balls....
i hope you get lung cancer!!

hugs and kisses'
Wyoming "

emjay wrote on Jun 21, 2008 6:50 AM:

" If he is such a crook and idiot, how come he hasn't been prosecuted? How was he able to hide all this new found wealth? You all back up your claims with so much fact!! Who and what are you going to hate when he is out of office? I am sure the mainstream media will come up with something you can latch onto to keep yourselves miserable "

Linch Store wrote on Jun 21, 2008 12:31 PM:

" What an embarrassment Cheney has turned out to be. Record federal deficits. 400% increase in gas prices. An upcoming recession. But at least we caught Osama Bin Laden. Oh wait. Didn't get that done either. Total failure as a leader. "

Murray wrote on Jun 21, 2008 1:21 PM:

" I used to think Cheney was a decent guy. I do think everyone deserves a fair shot. But when he blew up in the Senate that time, and yelled at those other Senators to go F*** themselves, his instability became clear. That is no way to conduct yourself as President of the U.S. Senate. A good leader does not get rattled like that over small things. The guy has had six heart attacks, and lives in a safe under Washington DC. Now that's rattled. I'm not impressed. "

The Big Dodge wrote on Jun 21, 2008 1:53 PM:

" Today's Headline on MSNBC and Fox News.com:

'Obama widens 15-point lead over McCain: Newsweek poll'

You republicans should keep bringing Cheney to fundraisers. It's working great. About as good as Bill did for Hillary. Probably why Cheney has to go hide out in Casper. No one else in the country wants him. "

The Buck Stops Over There wrote on Jun 21, 2008 2:49 PM:

" emjay, Cheney doesn't get prosecuted. He sends his chief of staff, Scooter Libby to get prosectuted for him. Sold out his best friend. 3 years in prison. Another delegating government worker. "

First Cav wrote on Jun 21, 2008 4:21 PM:

" 'I had better things to do.'

-Cheney in 2005, when asked why he requested (and received) four deferments to avoid service during the Vietnam War draft. "

Tim wrote on Jun 21, 2008 4:24 PM:

" The only reason he has not been prosecuted is because he just happens to be the Vice President.
Not being prosecuted doesn't mean you are not guilty emjay! Another brainless kook aid drinker. "

Cassie wrote on Jun 21, 2008 4:27 PM:

" Having your picture taken with old-creepy would be like planning a family picnic at a sewage treatment plant. Yummy. "

Susan wrote on Jun 21, 2008 4:32 PM:

" I love the way morons like elli don't even stop to consider if the invasion of Iraq was even justified or moral. All she talks about is how quickly ground forces invaded and toppled a legitimate foreign government, which by the way is a violation of United States law. Elli since you obviously have nothing intelligent to contribute to the world, why not just stop wasting our oxygen. Talk Cheney into doing the same while he is here. "

dem wrote on Jun 21, 2008 7:54 PM:

" In a city that has a football field named after him he has his own hate blog WOW "

Chopped Liver wrote on Jun 21, 2008 9:56 PM:

" Cheney: Mr. Rove, where would you like me to campaign for John McCain this season? Texas, Florida, .... how about Pennsylvania?

Rove: We've got that covered. Thanks anyway. For you, we have a very special super high priority mission. We need you at the Casper WalMart (preferably in the back) to help out some republican candidates in your home state. Take your time out there. Several months if you need it.

Cheney: I know those guys. Aren't they shoe-ins though?

Rove: Not by the time YOU get done with them. "

Riley wrote on Jun 21, 2008 10:20 PM:

" I can't wait to throw tomatoes at old-creepy. Come on home. We'll fix you right up. "

Jess wrote on Jun 21, 2008 10:41 PM:

" I'm a Republican. Have been since I started voting 10 years ago. But If I was dating a guy, and I saw a framed picture of him grinning with Cheney..... I'd barf in his mouth. Cheney is definitely NOT the future of this party. He is the creepy past. Looks like a perverted preacher or something. Nasty. "

Change of Plans wrote on Jun 21, 2008 10:56 PM:

" dem, my son plays at that football field. Given the fact that things did not turn out too well for Cheney's 'legacy' (17% job approval rating and dropping), they are actually thinking of changing the name of that football field. It will still be named after Cheney, but now they will just use his FIRST name. "

Liberator wrote on Jun 21, 2008 11:11 PM:

" Hey you guys in Casper....can you find anyone who can sandblast his name off of the Casper Federal Building? Rename it the Haliburton Building, eh? "

world forum wrote on Jun 22, 2008 7:57 AM:

" Hopefully, we will get another brilliant VP like algore. Have you radicals bought all your light bulbs and carbon credits? HAHA!! "

Where is the Respect wrote on Jun 22, 2008 9:10 AM:

" I can't believe the level of disrespect and contempt being thrown around on this blog for Vice President Cheney... in his own home state. But I love it. Cheney's a washed-up head case freak. He made his mess. Now he gets to step in it. "

mij wrote on Jun 22, 2008 9:18 AM:

" Let's see, GOP stands for the 'Gas & Oil Party' doesn't it? And Cheney is the biggest cheerleader for that industry. How embarrassing that Casper named a football field after him. "

Rance wrote on Jun 22, 2008 2:19 PM:

" Hey world forum, Al Gore has a Nobel Prize. So does Jimmy Carter. Can you name any Republicans who have Nobel prizes in anything? Anything? "

Peter Schmidt wrote on Jun 22, 2008 3:29 PM:

" You idiots should be thanking God that you have the freedom to slam your elected leaders like you do on this forum. Try that in any other country on the planet and see how far you get.

The Casper Star-Tribune should limit comments about this article to people who actually LIVE in Wyoming. The tone and tenor of most of the nasty posts tell me that demoncrats from everywhere BUT Wyoming are posting here, sometimes several times, using different fake names.

Cowards, all of you. You don't deserve the freedom and safety you enjoy in the USA.

Grow Up! "

Cheney is a famous Wyomingite wrote on Jun 22, 2008 10:54 PM:

" Cheney is also a Great American, a dedicated public servant who has done a wonderful job as Vice President. I'm proud to know him. Hard to believe how ungrateful people in Wyoming are. But there are very few intelligent folks left in Casper I suppose. The smart ones moved away long ago. Left mostly whining idiots apparently. You think it's bad now, wait until Obama, Heaven Forbid, takes over. He'll take you all down the drain with him, you liberal fools. The anti-Cheney people are all liars and fools. Most of what they complain about is made up by lying left-wingers. Pathetic fools. "

withcie wrote on Jun 23, 2008 5:46 AM:

" Cruel, selfish, self-centered, cold, greedy? Any other praise for a "Wyomingite"? "

quit your cying wrote on Jun 23, 2008 7:37 AM:

" He's made it farther than any of you. You liberals can't stand the idea of a single person taking care of themselves. You'd rather pool all your dollars and share equally. It doesn't work that way because none of you realize that it is the conservative dollar you're spending. I say kudos to Cheney! He's what wyoming should be. All you that hate him also hate people like Bill Gates and Sam Walton. Because they made something of themselves and you're still mad because your welfare check has yet to increase with the rising price of gasoline. "

First Cav wrote on Jun 23, 2008 9:14 AM:

" QYC, actually I like Bill Gates and hate Cheney. No one here cares about the wealth aspect of Cheney. Wealth is fine. It's the lying and draft-dodging aspect of Cheney that most people hate. Selling out his own best friend and chief of staff to a prison sentence. Real leaders do not do things like that. "

Military Genius wrote on Jun 23, 2008 9:33 AM:

" 'We expect the war in Iraq to take weeks, not months.' -Vice President Cheney, March 2003.

'We have always known that this war effort would take many many years to complete. We knew that going in.' -Vice President Cheney, February 2008. "

USMC Retired wrote on Jun 23, 2008 9:42 AM:

" I'm a Veteran. So I have no patience for Chicken-Hawks like Cheney. He never served in the military. Received four deferments during Vietnam. Said he had 'better things to do.' Any extremist weirdoes who think that Cheney has anything to do with this nation's freedom are letting themselves be controlled by emotion. Cheney is just another low-life draft-dodging politician. "

A Healthy Distance wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:01 AM:

" You notice John McCain is staying as far away from Cheney as he can get. Any VP who carries a 17% national job approval rating, three years running (which is the lowest in U.S. history by the way).... is poison when he's got his arms around you on TV. Try finding a chummy photograph like that with Cheney and McCain. McCain won't let it happen. He's smart enough to know that Cheney is a loser.... or in McCain's words, 'not the type of image we want associated with this campaign.' At least McCain has got some common sense. "

Cold Shoulder wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:22 AM:

" Healthy-Distance has got a point. When is the last time you saw Cheney and McCain campaigning on TV together, or hamming it up in a picture together? Won't happen. Even the National GOP is embarrassed of Cheney now. After those Congressional results in 2006, I can see why. Don't let the door hitcha, Cheney. "

Kevin wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:38 AM:

" Based on the above post from healthy-distance, I did a google search for images of McCain and Cheney campaigning together. Zilch. Zero. If it existed, you can bet that someone would have posted it. I don't blame McCain for his choice to keep Cheney off the presidential campaign trail. I'm a McCain supporter, and the worst thing for him right now would be to have pictures popping up on the internet and cable news networks with a dead-end mumbler like Cheney. After this last few years, Cheney would drag down any national campaign. "

Richard wrote on Jun 23, 2008 11:15 AM:

" I guess that both Abe Lincoln and FDR are also chicken-hawks?

Neither of them served on day in uniform and both presided over a couple of horribly bloody wars.

Besides, VP Cheney is the VP and not the Commander In Chief folks.

Your hate for this American that has long and well served this nation is unfounded and you've been spun up by the liberal media and rich dems who all merely lust for power, not the betterment of the nation. "

When Distance is Not Enough wrote on Jun 23, 2008 11:16 AM:

" I used to think that the man-sized safe which Cheney had installed in the Vice President's mansion in DC was because Cheney was a paranoid weirdo. Now I realize it was probably donated to him by the National GOP. "

Sweetwater wrote on Jun 23, 2008 11:33 AM:

" Richard, Abe Lincoln and FDR won their wars. That's the big difference. And they never had to sell them in the press beforehand as a two-week long excursion. Cheney has a serious credibility and leadership problem. Like the above writers indicated, McCain is well aware of Cheney's credibility and leadership problems. That's why he refuses to be seen with him. "

June wrote on Jun 23, 2008 12:59 PM:

" Its always a pleasure to have the VP home. A great American from a great state. "

The Slamming Door wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:21 PM:

" June, it's a good thing you feel all snuggly about him, and want him here. The national GOP and John McCain have asked him to stay out here for the summer, and through the fall.... as far away from John McCain and the cameras as they can keep him. So since you love him so much, maybe you can go eat some crow with Mr. Cheney in Jackson. "

Flop wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:25 PM:

" Cheney can't even come home right. 90% of the people on this blog hate him. Which at least gives me some confidence in humanity. "

Tet wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:26 PM:

" Sweetwater, So you too have given up on both Iraq and Afgahnistan? Meaning that the blood and money invested in them, particularly now that casualties and lessness are way down, will have been for nothing? I can't go their, I just don't have the Vietnam mentality. Losing is not an option or OK. The left and thier rabid gaurd dog the media have convinced all of you that this is a waste of time and effort. The truth is that it will only be a waste if we cut and run now snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I would like to know exactly all charges that have been filed and can be substanciated against the VP? Where is the beef? All I have read has been rumor, inuendo and speculation all starting with the rights political enemies. "

Reynolds wrote on Jun 23, 2008 2:03 PM:

" Tet, what you and the other few hold-outs do not understand is that the American public hit the tipping point you are worried about, back in 2006. Now there's no going back. Sure, we all like to win wars. But Bush and Cheney milked this one the wrong way, got caught in too many lies and cover-ups. Blew what was a 70% favorable rating for the war in 2003.... and turned it into what is currently a 29% favorable rating, even with the lower casualties over the last year. These leaders appear to have no real game plan any more... other than babysitting sectarian troubles in some dirt bag country that refuses to step up and form a working government. And calling that a 'war.' Bush and Cheney had a chance. They blew it. Milked it too long. "

Stop Blaming Cheney wrote on Jun 23, 2008 2:16 PM:

" The Iraq war was not lost because of any one person. It was lost because the whole administration has been half-assing its way through since the start. One week we like Chalabi. The next week we want him in Prison. One week we want Sadr in prison, the next week we're negotiating with him and giving him seats in the parliament. Then he takes those seats, uses them as leverage to get new weapons, and attacks his own people. Now he's friends with us again (and Iran). What ever happened to a good aerial bombing campaign? Guess there's no money in it. "

Third Battalion wrote on Jun 23, 2008 2:45 PM:

" I served four years in the Marine Corps. The purpose of wars is to win. Like Britain learned nearly a century ago, you can not win when the military goal morphs into some half-baked nation-building effort in some Shiite Hole in the middle east. That's civilian work. Send Condi Rice. "

Treason wrote on Jun 23, 2008 2:56 PM:

" The liberal left in their hunger to return to power and finish ruining America is who has lost this war. It is true that they were helped by the 24/7/365 media always pushing buttons to keep the dull minded public tuned in to sell more soap. Neither the VP or POTUS blew this one; this is all on the democraps and their lust for control at any cost, even treason. "

Thermop wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:00 PM:

" Stop-blaming-cheney is right about there being more than one person to blame for losing the war in Iraq. Bush blamed the Pentagon. Fired Rumsfeld. The Pentagon blamed the CIA. So Bush fired Tenet. The CIA is saying, 'hey you should have just had us assassinate him and then we'd be done with it.' Bottom line: Any war is too big for one person to lose. While Cheney is not perfect ,he did not lose this war alone. "

Poison Spider wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:15 PM:

" Thermop, I disagree. Cheney had a large hand in how this war was fought, and how it was ultimately lost. On several occasions in 2004 and 2005, Cheney and Rumsfeld advised Bush to disregard recommendations from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on increasing troop levels. Bush eventually fired Rumsfeld and did increase troop levels, but it was too late. Iran had already infiltrated the Iraqi parliament by then. Now that is irreversible. We're basically backing the same Iraqi leaders that Iran is (Maliki, Sistani and Sadr). Bush could not fire Cheney because it would basically look like total disorder in the United States. Make no mistake. While there were several hands in losing this war back in 2005-2006, Cheney is right at the top of the list. "

Von wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:18 PM:

" In the aftermath of nearly every war there is a mess to clean up. And, with the poltical agendas of the rival nations in that economically crucial part of the world the clean up has been greatly hampered by Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia. None of this is the fault of Mr. Cheney or anyone else in the administration. Our own turn-coat liberals and the traditional media, run by liberals helped our enemies and also soured the US public which only has a sound bite attention span these days due to our 40 year social engineering experiment in the public schools also dictated by the left. So if you want to see who lost this war look right into any democraps eyes and you will see the enemy within. "

Obama wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:21 PM:

" Obama will solve all of this. He is so cool, smooth and happy. Obama will not even need to bother consulting the senior commanders on the ground because in his vast political career and long life history he has seen it all. Oh I am so filled with joy that a democrat president is coming to town to save the day over night! "

The Truth Hurts wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:22 PM:

" Treason, I think you give the liberal left far too much credit. The war was actually lost by the same guy who started it. The commander-in-chief was the boss on this one (The 'decider' remember?). If victory was fragile enough that it was actually plucked away by the likes of John Stewart..... then you never really had it to begin with. Repeat after me. Bush is a chump. His dad was right. "

Twentynine Palms wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:44 PM:

" I was in Baghdad and Fallujah for 14 months. The problem we are facing there is that the military mission, for all practical purposes, was completed in 2003. We toppled Hussein and destroyed his Republican Guard infantry units. Job over. There was no planning beyond that, on the part of civilian leaders like Cheney and Rice. They kept leaning on the military to do something about the political vacuums in Iraq. We were saying, 'Do you want us to bomb the whole thing, because we can. That's what we do. Other than that, get off our backs.' We had orders to hit no oil infrastructure. Do you have any idea how hard it is to shell in Iraq and hit no oil infrastructure? These guys have called in a jack-hammer to fix a glass coffee table. But they won't let the jack-hammer guy go back to work outside, because they don't want to be embarrassed for doing it wrong in the first place. Some things are more important than politicians saving face. Time to get the military out of that boondoggle, and let them get back to work elsewhere. "

Platte County wrote on Jun 23, 2008 4:25 PM:

" Vice President Cheney has not been formally accusted of anything yet his character is assasinated around the clock by his unethic opponents. He is a highly successful businessman and public servant, all should admire his resolve and endurance under such horrible defamation. "

FE Warren wrote on Jun 23, 2008 4:30 PM:

" Thermop, why do you try to defend Cheney? You say that it took a whole mess of people to lose this Iraq war the way we did. But it wasn't that whole mess of people cheerleading the war from the start. It was Cheney. Even Colin Powell has said that he regrets his involvement in trumping up the war, and that many top officers who had early doubts about nation-building were shut down by Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Cheney. Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz were fired because we ended up losing the war. Cheney would have been fired too, except that internationally it looks like Bush doesn't know what he's doing if he fires half the Bush-Cheney name. This whole thing was a train wreck from the start. "

Natrona wrote on Jun 23, 2008 4:45 PM:

" I don't think any of these people know what they are talking about when it comes to Iraq and the Vice President. Let me make this clear to all you armchair idiots out there. We did not lose this war because of bad decisions on the part of Vice President Cheney. We lost this war because our service personnel had one hand tied behind their backs the whole time. Iraq was a political and social reform effort, disguised as a military effort. And if you want to blame a politician for why we lost this war, don't blame Cheney. He's been through enough. He's just a face. Blame the Commander-in-Chief. "

Too Old For This wrote on Jun 23, 2008 5:34 PM:

" Seeing you people point your fingers at each other on why we lost the war in Iraq.... reminds me of why we lost the war in Iraq..... too many chiefs, not enough indians. "

Gene R wrote on Jun 23, 2008 9:12 PM:

" Twentynine Palms, Cheney is not the problem. Cheney is a true leader. Whining soldiers like you are part of the problem. End up enslisting because you're too much of a loser to do anything else with your pathetic life, and then complain about the civilians at the top. If you don't like it..... get yourself to the top. If you enlisted turds had done your job and won this war, we would not be in this mess anyway. Don't blame Cheney. Blame yourself. "

Ras wrote on Jun 24, 2008 6:20 AM:

" I would rather have a thousand VP Cheneys than one lying bigot named Obama in office. Thank you Mr Cheney you are welcome in my hame any time you want to come by. "

Headie wrote on Jun 24, 2008 8:30 AM:

" The ground swell against America and the Bush administration we started in America by the democrats. These flames were fanned by the liberal media and frequent negative public statements by prominent democrat leaders. The international media then piled on and our allies began to also suffer at home under massive political pressure driven by the media. Why? Bad news sells soap and the abnormal or aberrant is titillating to people so we all dial in to watch the train wreck. This is all at the expense of the American people and more importantly our men and women in the field. This negative encouragement has emboldened our enemies and other nations to fund and otherwise support those that oppose us or that want bedlam in Iraq and the greater middle east as they seek to come to power themselves. These are the same tactics that the democrats are using in America; they desire to emerge in charge for the debris and ashes of their treasonous actions while trying to retake power for its own corrupting sake. We're all just to dumb to see the forest for the trees people. Turn off the tub and start doing some analysis of all the cr_p streaming into your head 24/7 from talking heads with little actual education. "

Water Under the Bridge wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:12 AM:

" There are a lot of theories on why we lost the war in Iraq. But none of them matter now, because you can't go back in time. Trying to re-figure and place blame after a war is lost, is like Kobe Bryant from the Lakers, shooting baskets in some high school gym right now, saying.... 'It's not over. Hey Celtics, come back! I just hit a 3-pointer. Did y'all see that?' Doesn't count for much once it's over. Bush has said we will seek a dignified pull-out. That's all you can ask for. "

Drew H. wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:17 AM:

" Cheney needs to be tried for treason and sent to prison for his role in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. "

Walcott JCT wrote on Jun 24, 2008 10:24 AM:

" Platte, the Vice President's office has not only been charged, there was a conviction and a prison sentence. You know who Scooter Libby is, right (Cheney's best friend and former chief of staff). You know that Cheney gave Scooter the orders and the information for Libby to conduct the criminal activity that he did, right. Divulge classified intelligence for political retribution, during a covert operation. A felony. Cheney admitted that to the Grand Jury. The plea bargain was to not touch Cheney, but Scooter would go to prison. What a pal. Make no mistake. Cheney is a scumbag politician who sold out his best friend and his own country for an ounce of political flesh. I have no use for the guy. "

The Coldest Shoulder in Arizona wrote on Jun 24, 2008 11:01 AM:

" Still no invitation from John McCain to have Cheney come and campaign with him on the national trail. Maybe he just forgot, being busy and all. Probably going to call any day now, Cheney being a big war hero and all. Cheney's 17% job approval rating has got to count for something in today's world. McCain will probably call any day now. Any day now. "

Low Character wrote on Jun 24, 2008 1:24 PM:

" Drew is correct. Releasing classified intelligence to the press, on the identity of covert agents while they are in the field is a felony. Doing it strictly for political retribution is about as slimey as one can get. Even Bush said it was an 'unspeakable act of treason.' Of course that was before he knew it was Cheney who did it. So that's Cheney's legacy in a nut shell. No wonder this country is so eager to see him leave office. "

Ras Razzer wrote on Jun 24, 2008 1:44 PM:

" Sounds like Ras has a little crush on Cheney. Some brokeback warm fuzzy feelings. You go, Ras. Bring him to your 'hame.' "

Kendall wrote on Jun 24, 2008 1:51 PM:

" Headie, you say 'selling soap' like it's a bad thing. Procter and Gamble employs a lot of people. They've got money to advertise with. They can sell as much soap as they want. You do believe in the free market don't you? Don't go getting all Noam Chomsky on us. "

Wright wrote on Jun 24, 2008 2:10 PM:

" I voted for Bush and Cheney in 2000. But then they blew it. In 2004, I didn't vote for either party. Now I enjoy watching the last few remaining Cheney-lovers get smacked thirty ways to sideways on these blogs. They always take the bait, because their ego can't let it go. I remember how that was before I walked away. They are trapped and they know it. Bush doesn't even like Cheney any more. Cheney has no record of accomplishment. So all the Cheney-lovers can say is, 'Leave him alone. He used to live in Casper.' Now there's a logical defense. "

Tehran to Tikrit wrote on Jun 24, 2008 3:52 PM:

" There is one reason and one reason only that we lost this War. Jimmy Carter. If he had nuked Iran in 1979, and killed those stupid hostages (who had no business there anyway), rather than negotiate with the enemy.... we would be back on top. Now, in Iraq, we're just another Argentina trying to get the Falklands. We all know how that went. "

Drudge-Oriley-Liddy-Reagan-Hannity-Rush-etc wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:08 PM:

" Headie, if real news depresses you, there's always FOX (or AM radio). If you tune into FoxNews, you can hear the latest on Brad and Angelina, plus the riveting details of Britney Spears' medical appointments. Give me a break. What liberal bias are you talking about? Do you know how many conservative talk shows there are on TV, and on the radio these days? The problem is not the media. The problem is the conservative message. It's dying because Bush and Cheney ran up deficits and lied to the public. Clinton just lied to the public. No deficits. Negative two for the GOP, negative one for Clinton. No amount of talk shows can fix that. "

First Cav wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:20 PM:

" 'I had better things to do.'

-Vice Presidnet Cheney in 2005, when asked why he requested (and received) four deferments to avoid service during the Vietnam War. "

Allen wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:25 PM:

" Tehran to Tikrit, The hostages held for 444 days were all there in Iran doing their duty as members of the US embassy staff dope. Yes, agreed Jimmy Peanut did foul that entire affair up and Saint Ronald of Reagan solved it ASAP. It takes a strong republican to clean up all democrap messes is the lesson here. "

How long does America have left wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:29 PM:

" The real problem in America today:

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a
permanent form of government." A democracy will continue to exist up
until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous
gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a
dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith

2. From spiritual faith to great courage

3. From courage to liberty

4.From liberty to abundance

5. From abundance to complacency

6. From complacency to apathy

7. From apathy to dependence

8. From dependence back into bondage

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul,
Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:

Number of States won by: Gore 19, Bush 29

Square miles of land won by: Gore 580,000, Bush: 2,427,000

Population of counties won by: Gore 127 million, Bush: 143 million

Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by Gore: 13.2, Bush:
2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the tax paying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of
governmentwelfare." Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the complacency and apathy phase of professor Tyler's definition
of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already
having reached the "governmental dependency" phase. If Congress grants
amnesty and citizenship to twelve million criminal invaders called illegal aliens (aka undocumented migrants or immigrants euphemistically) and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years. Apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

So, how long does America have left? It is truly up to all of us to decide that by our action, honorable or otherwise or our failure to act. "

Tehran to Tikrit wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:45 PM:

" Allen, you don't know what you are talking about. The stupidity of being at the U.S. embassy in Iran, during a revolution is my whole point. Jimmy Carter should have bombed that embassy and taken away the bargaining material for the Ayatollah. These Islamists only understand hard ball. As for Reagan, he chumped it too: trading long-range missiles to Iran was hardly a solution. Getting those hostages back scored some short-term political points for him, but we had to find out the rest of the story over the next decade. Giving missiles to Iran, in return for hostages that should have never been over there in the first place, is another lose-lose. Bottom line: That U.S embassy should have been blown up by Carter with the rest of Iran.... and no one else in the Middle East would have messed with us again. Ever. "

Del wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:51 PM:

" Once Kim Jong Obama is in office and he instates Cuba political reforms all will be much, much better Komrads. "

Staff Sgt Retired wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:56 PM:

" A lot of theories being thrown around here, as to why we lost the war in Iraq. But here is another theory on why that was: Distance. In hindsight, it is very expensive and difficult to sustain combat operations in a theater that far away. Having a base located far away is one thing. Running a war, and all the communications and supplies that go along with it is another. Rome ran into the same problem in what is now Germany. That's not to say it was not a worthwhile effort. But better planning and more realistic budgeting would have to go into any such future wars. "

Chugwater wrote on Jun 24, 2008 5:17 PM:

" Tehran sounds like a typical right winger. When a republican administration drives the country into recession.... blame Jimmy Carter. Start a war, spend a trillion dollars on it and lose it.... blame Jimmy Carter. Gas goes up 400% since Bush took over.... blame Jimmy Carter. Maybe Jimmy Carter is the cause of those potholes on my street too. I'm pretty sure Jimmy Carter causes ring-around-the-collar and emphysema too. Watch out for big bad Jimmy Carter. If you can't find a way to blame Jimmy Carter... think harder. It will come to you. "

Tammy wrote on Jun 24, 2008 5:29 PM:

" Cheney to attend GOP fundraiser. That'll bring 'em in. The vultures, that is. Talk about death warmed over. "

Realist wrote on Jun 24, 2008 5:38 PM:

" To the above commenters on the subject of McCain distancing himself from Cheney:

What choice does he have? Unless we want this country turned over to liberal leftist hands, McCain can not afford to be seen with a liability like Cheney. May seem cold-hearted, but that's reality. The fact is, Cheney made some critical errors in judgment that led to us losing the Iraq war. That's no small thing, folks. That war was an important one, and now it's lost. To lose the public trust during war time with a felony conviction at the very top of your office and staff.... is a treasonous act. McCain knows that. And McCain has to win. So no Cheney on camera with McCain. GOP orders. Sorry, Casper but that is the way it has to be. "

Idiot wrote on Jun 25, 2008 8:38 AM:

" Tehran to Tikrit, The US Embassy staff had no choice. They, like members of the military, were following the orders of the US Ambassador to Iran. They could no just up and leave even if they wanted to. This includes the US Marine Security Det. All of them are under the command of the Ambassador in the country where they are stationed. This is not a "business" or perrsonal trip, it is an official assignment. "

Greed wrote on Jun 25, 2008 8:46 AM:

" I agree with "How Long."

We've learned that we can secure what we want by electing and reelecting the scum that promise us the most back from our tax dollars as bribes.

As our society becomes more and more dependant, and this usually includes the most votes at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, we will see more liberals elected and reelected that promise more kick-backs and give aways.

These "entitlement" and "benefit" programs will bankrupt the US just as surely as the USSR bankrupted itself in the arms race.

We cannot pay for all of the myriad programs now and yet our elected officials keep passing bills spending more and more money that we just do not have to pay for them.

We have got to learn the difference between WANTS and NEEDS, and we have to become more self reliant as individual citizens and stop demanding more and more government "help."

Being beholden to the government for your existance is not freedom. It is slavery people. "

Lynn wrote on Jun 25, 2008 8:51 AM:

" OBTW; we have not lost the war in Iraq.

We are still winning and making solid progress daily.

We will only lose if we lose our nerve and jump out before the Iraqis can fully take over.

Once we do that, then our investment in Iraq and the greater middle east via Iraq will all be for not. Thrown away.

This includes the lives of all Americans killed and maimed in battle.

That must be what many of you want. And why? Only to disgrace the Bush Administration. You are willing to waste all the blood and treasure and our nations standing in the world for your political gains at home. This makes you turn coats and unworthy of the title American. "

Tehran to Tikrit wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:05 AM:

" Idiot, if it was an official assignment for those American embassy people to be in Iran in 1979, that makes it all the easier to nuke them right along with Iran. In their official capacity, they should be willing to be sacrificed for their country. Not used as bargaining chips for the Ayatollah to extort favors from the U.S.. All I'm saying is that if Jimmy Carter had done the right thing and bombed that country, and Reagan had done the right thing and not traded long range missiles to the Ayatollah.... we would not be in this mess. Because there would be no Shiite power base. "

Willie wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:10 AM:

" The entire Valerie Plame deal was a farce. She was not an undercover operative. She was NEVER a CIA Agent. She was an administrative worker. She herself and her spouse bragged of her employment at parties with friends and acquaintences. This was a case of leftist assault by any means on the Bush Administration to further undermine credibility. I can't wait until we can do the same to Obama and send his ignorant anti-American b_tt packing if elected. And, that will happen hopefully before he can damage the nation to greatly. "

Donald wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:12 AM:

" Tehran to Tikrit, You obviously were no an adult during 1979 and have no clue wht you are trying to discuss WRT the hostage crisis. Also, your analogy to the Faulklands war between England and Argentina is way, way off the mark as compared to the Iraqi Liberation and counter insurgency action now underway. I'd suggest some education before you enter into these discussions. "

Everett wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:18 AM:

" The other reason we lost the war in Iraq, and no one has even brought it up yet, is that we never got China involved. They should be paying too. I supported this war from the start. Because it was my understanding we would at least get some oil from Iraq. Which we should have, as taxpayers, because we made the investment and funded the war (one trillion dollars). But that crude is being sold off to China, which did not contribute anything. So you tell me who got hosed on this. "

Lionel wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:22 AM:

" Willie, if that is true.... then why did Bush call releasing the classified information on Valerie Plame, an 'unspeakable act of treason.' Who are you going to believe: Rush Limbaugh, or the President of the United States. Get your story straight. No one believes you when you make stuff up. "

Tehran to Tikrit wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:42 AM:

" Donald, I'm 58. I remember more about Iran in 1979 than your dad ever will. You leftist Jimmy Carter apologists are a big part of why we lost this war in Iraq. Always confused by the Geo-Politics of Shiite power. Words like 'de-baathification' are just another term for Shiite empowerment, you clueless moron. "

Basin wrote on Jun 25, 2008 10:31 AM:

" Everett, China has little to do with why we lost the war in Iraq. Now you're swatting at imaginary flies. Even Colin Powell said, the reason we lost the war was because of internal political troubles among the clerics of Iraq. Not the fault of any individual or specific action. After the de-stabilization of Saddam's Sunni power base, Iraq simply could not be stabilized in time to prevent infiltration by Iran. Once the Iranian-backed radical Shiites established a majority within the the Iraqi Parliament in 2006, that was it. "

Allen wrote on Jun 25, 2008 11:22 AM:

" Tehran to Tikrit, No long range missiles were ever traded to Iran (can you name the type, model and series of any such missiles?). The Iranians received parts for trucks, F14's and UH-1 helicopters and some other minor hardware. No strategic or theater level weapons were sold to them or given to them. They then used these assets up in their decade of war with Iraq. You are ill informed. Information is readily available from the USDS FMS office. President Reagan made the right decision and the entire affair deescalated rapidly. Your bombing option would have been an enormous mistake and would have thrown the middle east into massive turmoil far beyond anything we've seen so far in post WWII history. The unintended consequences of any action must be considered for they frequently produce results far beyond any desired objective at the time. "

Rainbow wrote on Jun 25, 2008 11:35 AM:

" All of you, oh so up in arms with the jab, counter-jab. We have nothing to worry about. Barak will save us as gods gift to mankind. "

Tehran to Tikrit wrote on Jun 25, 2008 11:53 AM:

" Allen, you're a tool. Truck parts? You still believe that? Yeah, that's what it takes to get the Ayatollah to turn over an embassy full of hostages from the richest country in the World. Some rebuilt carburetors and a four-pack of fuel filters. Don't tell me. You heard it on the Oliver North radio hour, right? Keep dreaming, kiddo. As for not bombing Iran in 1979, you're a tool on that too. You need to grow up and get real. You clearly have no idea how the real world works. "

Allen wrote on Jun 25, 2008 1:18 PM:

" Tehran to Tikrit, stand and deliver; habeus corpus time. Or, is personal attack what you do have (beyond bitter hate and unfulfilled dreams)? "

Carla wrote on Jun 25, 2008 1:28 PM:

" Who would want Cheney at a fundraiser? Certainly not John McCain. McCain has notified the GOP that he wants no contact with Cheney. The last thing McCain needs right now is a scandal showing him on stome stage with old-creepy's arm around him. This race is too important to have Cheney blow it for us. "

Tehran to Tikrit wrote on Jun 25, 2008 1:43 PM:

" habeus corpus time? Allen, you're not only an idiot, you're a nerd too. Bottom line is that Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan let the Iran situaion get out of hand after the Shaw fell.. Cheney and Bush are the only ones who had the courage and the resolve to fix the problem by entering Iraq and moving in next door. Now that's been shot, by the liberal media (which it sounds like you subscribe to with your whining about Habeus Corpus, GITMO, and what ever other bleeding heart concerns you people have). Because of pressure from the leftist media, as we speak, Bush is negotiating a deal with Iran-backed Maliki that prohibits long-term U.S. bases in Iraq. Now where does that leave us, genius? What's the point now? The media has blown another one. First Vietnam, now Iraq. "

Murphy wrote on Jun 25, 2008 3:03 PM:

" Carla, you don't have to be so negative about Vice President Cheney. I've lived in Casper all my life, and I can tell you one thing with certainty: Cheney is twice the man John freakin' McCain will ever be. Listening to McCain carry on about incentives for car batteries, and amnesty for 'guest workers' is enough to make me sick. People like you are willing to sell out a Native Son like Vice President Cheney, for some fly-by-night supposed 'war hero' from Arizona. McCain was offered release six times from North Vietnam, and refused it. Some hero. Sounds like more of a political showboat to me. None of these new guys have the resolve or the intelligence of Vice President Cheney. God Bless. "

Allen wrote on Jun 25, 2008 3:31 PM:

" Tehran to Tikrit, No facts, no argument. Additionally, arguing beside the point using unrelated subjects is juvenile at the very best. Enjoy the name calling while cashing those welfare checks to heat your single wide trailer! LOL! "

Triton wrote on Jun 25, 2008 4:47 PM:

" Everyone needs to just calm down a little bit. There are any number of theories on why we lost the war in Iraq. However; as with any event in history, perspective needs some distance. It will take many years before we know what went wrong. Everyone likes to throw blame around early, but that does not help. It's behind us now. "

Split Rock wrote on Jun 25, 2008 5:00 PM:

" I love watching right-wingers fight amongst themselves over why we lost the war in Iraq. Arguing about whether it was because of Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, or the over-complicated ranking system in the NCAA. Cheney should come to town more often. It's like watching monkies slap each other. Good stuff. "

D wrote on Jun 25, 2008 6:35 PM:

" I wonder if the time Mr. Cheney
spent in NCHS's Jr.ROTC program
might consitute "military service"? "

nannymule wrote on Jun 26, 2008 7:33 AM:

" I am amazed that everywhere one looks, or listens, the "war in Iraq is lost". Well, it is, and has been for some time. But why are our troops and tax dollars still in Iraq? Cheney have anything to do with this? "

Schroeder wrote on Jun 26, 2008 9:10 AM:

" I have to agree with SplitRock. If the Republicans are this divided now, where will they be in four months? Doesn't look good for them. "

Fifty-Cal Gunner wrote on Jun 26, 2008 10:34 AM:

" D, maybe that's where Cheney learned how to shoot. There, or maybe from the phone company. Where ever it was, I think he dropped out of marksman school early. Man-down! Man-down! We're gonna need a medic over here! Gonna need more than that. How about a brain. "

Travis G. wrote on Jun 26, 2008 11:06 AM:

" Tehran to Tikrit, Bush and Cheney never said anything about "moving in next door" to prepare for an attack on Iran. They lied to us!

Since our attempt at overthrowing a democratically elected Mohammed Mossedeq in replace of a pro-western dictator in 1953 (because of oil), and our willingness to support Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war, we have been regarded as a threat to the Shiite clerical authority in Iran. We look like bumbling idiots! We support dictators when they are in agreement with our selfishness, yet we proclaim we want to spread democracy throughout the world.

Because or our selfish actions, and lack of perspective on Iran, bombing them would be a major mistake and would surely create more enemies for ourselves. Is that what you want, Tehran? "

Tehran to Tikrit wrote on Jun 26, 2008 12:09 PM:

" Travis, the answer to your question is YES. "

Travis G. wrote on Jun 26, 2008 12:33 PM:

" Tehran, if you intentionally want more enemies, why bother posting intelligent arguments for and against war. Get over there and take some bullets for the team! "

Inky wrote on Jun 26, 2008 1:38 PM:

" Dear Murph,
Why does any "native son" automatically deserve respect and loyalty? That isn't logical and quickly falls apart when you start examining native sons, of anywhere.
For example, Cubin isn't native, yet I suspect you've supported her through the years. And did I read somewhere that Enzi and Barrasso aren't native?
Besides, demographically, HALF of Wyoming's population came from out of state. "

Give it a break wrote on Jun 26, 2008 2:28 PM:

" I've always admired Mr. Cheney, he's got real gravitas and endurance (honestly, these cannot be taken away from him). I also am a conservative Republican and I will be voting for John McCain whom shares many of the Vice Presidents strong traits. I suppose that many will believe to now "know me" by those remarks, but you couldn't be further from the truth as this media is unidimensional as are most of the minds posting here on. Take a break from the blogusphere and poison pen media (of all stripes), get some fresh air and do some thinking. It'll do you good and may clear your mind. After reading what you've posted here, all of you need some quiet time away from outside influences. "

Pro GOP wrote on Jun 26, 2008 4:26 PM:

" Funny how everything wrong in the world today is due to Bush et all. Never mind that the House and Senate have been controlled by the Dems for the last two years. And that a good number of them followed Pelosi with the promise of a “comprehensive” gas plan in their pre-election promises. After two years gas is at an all time high – great plan those Dems came up with and implemented – but you never hear of that through the media. Also, if Iraq is such a failure then why are we continuing to hand over power to their forces – the media can only show and tell of the “failure”. So lets just elect more Dems so that taxes can be raised, gas prices can continue to climb, and we can pull out of Iraq, which would ensure that we lost. "

Pro-Democracy wrote on Jun 26, 2008 5:19 PM:

" Pro GOP, you've heard of vetoes, right? The regime change will not be complete until Bush and Cheney are out in the cold. Then we can get something done in this country. Finally. "

Trendall wrote on Jun 26, 2008 5:52 PM:

" I consider myself a Cheney supporter, and I have no real problem with his policies. But the real reason we lost the war in Iraq has nothing to do with Cheney or any other politician for that matter. The fact is, it's very difficult to keep foreign elements out of any new government. No one could have anticipated the rush to Parliamentary seats by Iran-backed elements in Baghdad that occurred in 2006. This silent Tet will be evaluated and re-evaluated many times over in the coming decades. But there is not much point. What's done is done. You can't win a war when your own allies are infiltrated. Now we know. "

Disgusted Wyomingite wrote on Jun 26, 2008 7:36 PM:

" I wonder if Mr. Cheney's Ph.D in
Political Science really means
anything? As for the war, we are
there for the OIL and OIL alone. "

mij wrote on Jun 27, 2008 6:35 AM:

" Get real Trendall. This war was lost becasue there was never an exit strategy. First we were told there were WMD's, then it was to remove Saddam Hussein, then it was to wait until they established their own government, then it was to wait until they trained their own military. The list go's on and on. The truth of the matter is Cheney/Bush has always wanted us to occupy Iraq for the oil wells. And McBush's statement that we will stay there for the next 100 years reinforces the Cheney/Bush policy. "

The Goal Has Not Changed wrote on Jun 27, 2008 9:33 AM:

" mij, I disagree. The goal in Iraq was always very clear from the start: To find an abundant supply of sand that can be exported to fill sandbags along the Mississippi. And to secure an alternate location for Nevada's annual Burning Man festival. Bush and Cheney were very clear on that from day one. "

The Real Goal wrote on Jun 27, 2008 11:58 AM:

" The Goal Has Not Changed, I disagree with your offered idea. The goal is to find the "rainbow family of light headed nuts" a place to trash far away from Big Sandy and Wyoming all together. "

Pro GOP wrote on Jun 27, 2008 1:03 PM:

" Pro-Democracy

Have you ever heard of checks and balances? But you are so right, I did forgot that as part of their “First 100 hours” the Dems did such a good job of putting their comprehensive plan for gas into a bill that it passed but Bush vetoed it – dang him and his powers of veto!!! My point, which was clearly missed, was that there are more people involved in the running of our Country, neither side is without fault, you cannot point the finger directly at Bush and Cheney and say EVERYTHING is their fault. "

Pro-Democracy wrote on Jun 27, 2008 3:23 PM:

" Good enough, GOP. If it makes you feel better, not everything is Bush and Cheney's fault. It was that 'decider' title that threw me. Probably just grandiose notions on his part. A fair weather title at best... in hind sight. As for Checks and Balances, you might want to take another look at that. If you'll recall, Cheney has declared that the Vice President's Office is no longer part of the Executive Branch, or the Legislative Branch. Maybe he's a self-appointed judge now. Like Robert Mugabe. What a guy. "

First Cav wrote on Jun 27, 2008 4:59 PM:

" 'I had better things to do.'

-Cheney in 2005, when asked why he requested (and received) four deferments to avoid service during the Vietnam War. "

The Smart Succeed wrote on Jun 27, 2008 11:10 PM:

" First Cav: First of all, Vietnam was not a real war. It was a police action. If you drafted idiots were so jealous, you should have gotten yourself into a better position like Mr. Cheney did. There are winners and losers in this world. Get yourself on top... or get over it. It's been almost 40 years, and you "Vietnam Veterans" still hold a grudge against people who were smart enough to keep themselves stateside and alive. Well it worked. He became the Vice President. You, on the other hand, probably some welfare VA case by now. Plan ahead next time. "

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