Thursday, November 17, 2005
Cheney Joins the New McCarthyism
You know, I am so disappointed that I have been too busy and too tired to cover this story properly, because between Bush's childish blowup accusing liberals of hating America and Chuck Hagel's reaction to it, we are seeing the beginnings of what I believe to be something very, very major within the GOP party. I hate to suggest that it might be the beginnings of a third party, but that is what would happen in my fondest dreams.Now we see the ACTUAL president joining in the parade of Democrat-bashing, falling, of course, on the same side as Bush:
Cheney joins GOP criticism of Democrats
MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney added his voice on Wednesday to the chorus of Republican criticism of Democrats who have accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence on Iraq, calling it "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city."
"Some of the most irresponsible comments have, of course, come from politicians who actually voted in favor of authorizing force against Saddam Hussein," Cheney said in remarks prepared for a GOP fundraiser.
Cheney's attack was part of a GOP effort to push back against criticism on Iraq. Bush within the past week has made two speeches that painted Democrats as hypocrites for criticizing the Iraq war after earlier supporting the idea that Saddam should go. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld joined the offensive, singling out Democrats who in the past had depicted Saddam as a threat with weapons of mass destruction, including former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
The Republican National Committee also posted on its Web site a video compilation of past statements by prominent Democrats - including several 2008 presidential hopefuls - supporting a hard line against Saddam.
"These are elected officials who had access to the intelligence, and were free to draw their own conclusions. They arrived at the same judgment about Iraq's capabilities and intentions that was made by this administration and by the previous administration," Cheney said.
He said there was "broad-based, bipartisan agreement that Saddam Hussein was a threat, that he had violated U.N. Security Council Resolutions" and had weapons of mass destruction.
Read or Post a Comment
will they split into more than one faction. There are currently recognized four groups of conservatives (don't have my notes with me), but essentially they appear in this order.
Moderates---Rights----Neo-con----Rel. Theocrats
I could see the moderates (RINOS), and some of the rights leave the party for the dems, the Neocons in their own group, and the more radical religious following to go to the Constitution party
Did you see this gem in the WaPo?
Bush added his voice hours later during a news conference Thursday afternoon in South Korea, where he is meeting with Asian leaders. Asked if he agreed with the vice president or with Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) who said this week that it was patriotic to question the government during a war, Bush's face tightened and he answered sharply, "The vice president."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/16/AR2005111601853.html
Also, Jessica, where does the big business group fit into your four groups?