Cheney: “In the fight against terrorism, there is no middle ground”
posted at 2:24 pm on May 21, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Actually, there is a middle ground; the point of the torture memos was finding it. That’s the only note that’s a tiny bit off here, though. Read the full transcript at the Standard, as there’s so much to enjoy about this speech that everyone’s bound to have a different favorite moment. For Frum, it was Cheney calling Obama out for covering up information about whether the interrogations worked. For me, it’s the second half of the clip you’re about to see. For others, it’ll be his mockery of the media intoning sanctimoniously about jihadists “abducted” from the battlefield by U.S. troops or his reminder that terrorists don’t need pretexts like Gitmo or waterboarding to attack the U.S. — a timely point given the arrest last night of those NYC plotters outraged by the war in Afghanistan.
It won’t surprise you to know that his approval rating, while still negative, has started to rise ever since he started his media tour. It’s a shame Bush didn’t use him as more of a mouthpiece on this subject over the last few years of his administration: Dour though his Darth Cheney persona may be, he projects gravitas and speaks with understated eloquence. He’s bound to persuade at least a few fencesitters.
Update: In hindsight, wasn’t it awfully stupid of The One to rush out a national security speech to try to preempt Cheney? If he’d kept quiet, this still would have been a hit on righty blogs and Fox News but nowhere else. By jumping in, he created the sensational “terror duel” storyline that’s forcing the media to magnify this. At the very least, he should have waited a week or so and then given his speech as a rebuttal to Cheney’s. For someone so message-savvy, he crapped the bed this time.
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I heard this speech on the radio. It was epic.
rollthedice on May 21, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Are you taking notes John McCain and Lindsey Graham or are you still proud that the messiah uttered your name during his speech to protect terrorists?
HornetSting on May 21, 2009 at 2:26 PM
TRUTH COMMISSION FTW!!!!!!
YAY!
Shorter Cheney: We tortured, but it was worth it.
strangelet on May 21, 2009 at 2:27 PM
I see W grinnin’ that ear to ear grin.
Brat on May 21, 2009 at 2:28 PM
I said this on a liberal blog today.
I personally think we are witnessing a unique and authentic debate. What a breath of fresh air!
I’m impressed that Cheney has decided NOT to take a powder. I’m impressed that Obama decided to respond.
The result is a unique opportunity where the cards are on the table for both sides, clearly.
That is just so refreshing.
AnninCA on May 21, 2009 at 2:28 PM
My respect for Cheney increases each time I listen to him speak.
AZCoyote on May 21, 2009 at 2:29 PM
This is the Cheney I proudly voted for twice. I wish someone of his caliber was in the WH. Sigh.
NebCon on May 21, 2009 at 2:29 PM
How long before MSNBC parodies the delivery styles of the two speeches favoring, of course, The One? Never mind the content, it’s delivery that counts!
Huckabye-Romney on May 21, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Cheney is great for people that respect and espouse reason. For those that run on emotionand empathy, Cheney grates on them. This, IMHO, explains why statists do not like Cheney.
WashJeff on May 21, 2009 at 2:30 PM
“Recklessness robed in righteousness” nails the entire friggin’ Democrat party.
ddrintn on May 21, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Please keep cheney the face of the gop!
The ego-driven, revisionist portrayal of his failed administration is like an arsonist criticizing the fire department after he has set an entire city ablaze.
benny shakar on May 21, 2009 at 2:31 PM
I was thinking the same thing when I heard Cheney say that, but it’s more than a just tiny bit off, because that’s the soundbite of the speech.
Having said that, I’m thankful of VP Cheney for his successful national security efforts.
toliver on May 21, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Look, Ma! No teleprompter!!!
I’d rather go hunting with Cheney than registering voters with Obama.
Heh. Cue “Imperial March.”
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 21, 2009 at 2:32 PM
benny and stranglet get real worked up when dick lays it out, huh?
speaks volumes…
homesickamerican on May 21, 2009 at 2:32 PM
The trolls are out in force today.
They must be very nervous to which I say…..get over it!!!
Knucklehead on May 21, 2009 at 2:33 PM
The Speeches:
The first one was given by a would be law professor trying to confer constitutional rights on enemies of America.
The second one was given by a leader who loves his country.
kingsjester on May 21, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I had several favorite parts, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
therightscoop on May 21, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Really now. I guess that’s why all the lib hacks are going purple in the face telling Cheney to shut up. And why his approval numbers are going up. Yep. LOL
ddrintn on May 21, 2009 at 2:34 PM
God Bless Dick Cheney, and may God help us all now.
Realist on May 21, 2009 at 2:34 PM
No doubt! As a big bonus, he makes lefty heads explode like kernels of popcorn…it’s fun watching it happen here in the comments.
AUINSC on May 21, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Shorter stragelet: “I got no clue”
DarkCurrent on May 21, 2009 at 2:35 PM
AHHHHHH!!!!!….I missed it!!$#^@&&@!!!!
Cheney/Palin/Liz 2012!!!
christene on May 21, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Everyone needs to click the link and read the full transcript. It’s long, but very, very worth it.
BadgerHawk on May 21, 2009 at 2:36 PM
They are very nervous, to which I say…they should be.
ddrintn on May 21, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Cheney is the leader of the republican party. Hands down.
jencab on May 21, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Too bad it was obama that spoke first. He only responded by blaming the Bush Administration for the perceived ills of the nation. Now, that is FAR from refreshing.
HornetSting on May 21, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Release the memos and show the American people how EIT’s worked on these 3 scumbags, Prez Wuss. And stop coddling this country’s enemy combatants while you’re at it…
RepubChica on May 21, 2009 at 2:38 PM
CHENEY GETS RESULTS
youngO on May 21, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Yes. And there’s not a damn thing wrong with it. If we need to torture someone in order to save American lives, we do it. That means that we tortured the terrorist, but it was worth it to save American lives. Welcome to reality.
And don’t look now, but most Americans agree that you torture if you need to. And don’t think for a second that Obama wouldn’t personally dunk Mahmoud if it meant saving his family’s lives. Classroom theories end at the classroom door.
“This is the most terrifying part of your liberalism. You think there are moral absolutes.” — Leo McGarry, West Wing
amerpundit on May 21, 2009 at 2:38 PM
P.S…Thank You God for Cheney!…Someone to speak for the rest of us, those that didn’t drink the kool-aid.
christene on May 21, 2009 at 2:39 PM
As Rush said, Cheney gets results. I hope Cheney draws this out to the 2012 elections.
petefrt on May 21, 2009 at 2:39 PM
AP: Your wrong about the “no middle ground” point.
What Cheney is say is that you cannot choose to address the terrorist threat as both a military matter (the Bush approach) and a criminal justice matter (the Clinton approach). If it is truly a war on terror–and that is the true ideological conflict here, then it must be dealt with the Bush military approach and not some middle ground of mixing and matching aspects of both approaches.
What is interesting is that Bush never really criticized Clinton for his criminal justice approach because it was not an unreasonable approach before 9/11. Of course, the whole point of Cheney’s speech is that a post-9/11 approach cannot emulate the mistakes (even if they were mistakes made in good faith) of the CLinton approach.
RedSoxNation on May 21, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Dayum. This, my friends, is what’s known as a “smackdown.”
Emily M. on May 21, 2009 at 2:40 PM
He’s getting rattled…the whole ‘torture’ debate he let Pelosi unleash was an unforced error…and he’s having trouble making go away.
AUINSC on May 21, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Sorry about the sloppy spelling, etc…
RedSoxNation on May 21, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Does a teleprompter have hindsight software built in?
Rovin on May 21, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Obama is clever. He knows that the American public hates Cheney. By doing this before Cheney he makes Cheney look like the head of the GOP (just like benny shakar eloquently stated earlier). How do you conservatives say it…oh yes, Obama…you magnificent bastard.
nice343 (from the banned Aether) on May 21 at 2:43 PM
WashJeff on May 21, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Children often do.
omnipotent on May 21, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I miss having grown ups in the White House.
creatocon on May 21, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I love Cheney, he doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
beachgirlusa on May 21, 2009 at 2:42 PM
That and there is no republican currently elected anywhere that seems to be doing anything productive. Other than just rolling over.
rollthedice on May 21, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Cheney and Obama in a free-wheeling debate. Obama would be reduced to quivering ash.
ddrintn on May 21, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Dick Cheney gets results period.
mpgrunt787 on May 21, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Yes, the dueling speeches thing didn’t quite work out as well as Team Obama thought it would.
My favorite Dick Cheney speech highlight… Dick Cheney.
myrenovations on May 21, 2009 at 2:43 PM
That was infinitely better than all of the TOTUS speeches put together.
Daggett on May 21, 2009 at 2:43 PM
+ 1 gazillion
Ronnie on May 21, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Cheney is one of the most intellectual and articulate conservative politicians, I think.
TTheoLogan on May 21, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Hey, Y’all. Was nice343 banned?
kingsjester on May 21, 2009 at 2:44 PM
he did it because he is unable to actually speak real-time. he had to have his speech prepared and uploaded to the prompter.
homesickamerican on May 21, 2009 at 2:44 PM
A pretty clear contrast: Cheney explains why what we did stopped another terrorist attack a fact no one can dispute. Obama talks in academic terms about a new approach he cannot prove will work.
For my families sake I’d rather continue with what works regardless of what other countries think about us.
dpierson on May 21, 2009 at 2:44 PM
kingsjester on May 21, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I saw it more as President Obama’s speech was like a high schooler trying to describe “What war should be like”
VP Cheney’s speech was from some one who had been there saying “This is what war is” along with a few smack downs on the limp wristed bum sniffing nancy boy crowd.
LincolntheHun on May 21, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Gibbs just now: “Or, they were picked up mistakenly in the field of battle, finally released, and…….drum roll….
………..THEY BECAME TERRORIST”!!??!!??
Rovin on May 21, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I remember when that doofus rudy tried to stop Cheney from running for a second term with bushki.
TTheoLogan on May 21, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Cheney just kicked O’s flat a** to the curb.
MechEng5by5 on May 21, 2009 at 2:45 PM
I much prefer seeing the top of Cheney’s bald head to the bottom of Obama’s haughty chin.
“Recklessness cloaked in Righteousness…” Damn, that’s Zero’s entire agenda right there!
Maquis on May 21, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Grow up.
bluelightbrigade on May 21, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Dear VP Cheney,
Thank you for your service to our country. You love and respcet our Republic, thank you. Now if you can get many out there like you to help our country, please do so and thank you. You make me so proud of what you are doing and saying, thank you.
L
letget on May 21, 2009 at 2:45 PM
RED F’ING MEAT!
D2Boston on May 21, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Probably just stoned out of her mind in a basement somewhere.
DarkCurrent on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Too funny: Limbaugh mentioned earlier that the man-child-President’s speech was supposed to start around 12:00-12:06, but it was pushed to 12:28.
Coincidentally (LOL) around the same time as Cheney.
Barry won and he shouldn’t have to compete for air time.
/boohoo
VibrioCocci on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
He Gone! Dissed Michelle M in the Michelle thread.
WashJeff on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Yes. In the MM thread, it decided to get all racist on The Boss.
BadgerHawk on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
“Leave the terrorists ALONE!” OBama.
the_nile on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
The best part about this speech (apart from the fact that it is, in fact, the correct framing of enhanced interrogation techniques) is the fact that Obama blew his wad too early on this one (like AP said). It’s good to see that Cheney is getting the air time he deserves on this.
bluelightbrigade on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
WashJeff on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
I saw the comment when he did it. I hoped that would be the result. Another Troll bites the dust.
kingsjester on May 21, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Point of order because I have Gibbs’s presser in the background. Some POS reporter asked for comment on “the Republican response.”
Cheney’s speech was scheduled weeks ago. Obama scrambled to beat him to the punch. So don’t allow that line to go unchallenged. And Cheney nailed too many points to Obama’s forehead.
BuckeyeSam on May 21, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Here’s the funny part about any Truth Commission. The people who want it imagine it will be like Nuremberg, but what will actually happen is that the would-be moral cleansers will go on and on, lay out their case and then the citizenry will simply shrug and say, yeah we know all that. Okay, so what else you got?
Which will just enrage the moral cleansers even more. Hell, they’re still mad about Ollie North, over 20 years on.
Mr. D on May 21, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Alpha Male wins
jp on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
OUT…STANDING!
John the Libertarian on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Kudos to AP for rendering swift justice.
WashJeff on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Does Allah ban people for being complete idiots?
Pass the salt, king. This is getting good.
HornetSting on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
That pathetic attempt to make the thread about you, Obama’s trait as well, is absolutely incorrect. The point of the “torture memos” was not “finding the middle ground” as you misconstrue, Achtgeben.
Exactly what “torture” memos do you reference?
If you are referencing the enhanced interrogation technique memos that Cheney requested for his journal/memoir publication, the content therein was the proof that the techniques worked, that American lives were saved, thousands if not hundreds of thousands.
If you are beating the Pelosi “torture” liar routine, you omitted her name, and she most certainly has nothing to do with any MIDDLE GROUND.
So?
maverick muse on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
AP, Obama is not used to people opposing him or his views head on. And he doesn’t know how to deal with it. Thus, he goes knee-jerk reaction on Cheney. Not to mention he sounded so defensive.
youngO on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
CNN.com has a poll up regarding the speeches.
Conservative_SAHM on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
“Leave the terrorists ALONE!” OBama.
the_nile on May 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
+1000
youngO on May 21, 2009 at 2:51 PM
I don’t believe so. It was here earlier today being stupid in another thread.
lorien1973 on May 21, 2009 at 2:51 PM
I just don’t understand why we have any further problems with terrorists, now that He Who Will Give Us Utopia is at the helm?
I just don’t understand it.
I thought that Utopia was here.
:OP
OhEssYouCowboys on May 21, 2009 at 2:52 PM
AP whacked him there…seems he had some things to say about MM in a typical, tolerant lefty way.
AUINSC on May 21, 2009 at 2:54 PM
And it was promptly executed.
BadgerHawk on May 21, 2009 at 2:54 PM
In addition to that, it sets a bad precent. Once we do one truth commission set up by a party that has overwhelming power in both houses of Congress, we will have more such commissions down the line.
Once we turn to truth commissions on previous administrations, it will make it much more likely that we will lose our tradition of peaceful transfers of power.
myrenovations on May 21, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Watch the reaction of the Left and the Trolls when Vice President Cheney speaks for himself……….
…….. and not some made up SNL skit.
They sound like a pig farm during slaughter time…….
Seven Percent Solution on May 21, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Give em hell, Dick. The boy wonder doesn’t know what hit him. He’s going, How’d this poop get in my pants?
RandyChandler on May 21, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Thank you, Dick Cheney, for having the stones to take on the One. I think its obvious Obama is rattled…he looks ridiculous running out like a petulant child and attemtping to preempt Cheney’s speech. POTUS stepped in it big time by releasing those torutre memos…
changer1701 on May 21, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Which thread?
omnipotent on May 21, 2009 at 2:56 PM
More and more I find myself wishing Cheney and Bush had their roles reversed for the past eight years.
Yakko77 on May 21, 2009 at 2:56 PM
I repeat my offer from a different thread:
We let Barry live in the white house, and continue to pretend he is in charge via teleprompter reading, as long as Cheney is given the actual power to keep our country safe.
Vashta.Nerada on May 21, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Fix it with the truth.
WashJeff on May 21, 2009 at 2:56 PM
HornetSting on May 21, 2009 at 2:50 PM
I just went back to the thread to enjoy the hammer dropping.
Here’s the salt, doll. I bet Obama’s head is still spinning around after Cheney’s smakdown. And now, goofy Gibbs just said he doesn’t believe Obama watched Cheney’s speech. Yeah, right.
kingsjester on May 21, 2009 at 2:57 PM
That’s clearly impossible. Only conservative right-wing extremists are teabagging racists. Liberals are all tolerant and stuff.
Daggett on May 21, 2009 at 2:57 PM
It’s nice to hear an adult speak once in a while.
faol on May 21, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Stupid is as stupid does…..
Yay!!!
Knucklehead on May 21, 2009 at 2:57 PM
So the socialist criminal is now going to apologize for US war crimes during WW2
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/05/outrage-obama-to-apologize-for-american.html
elduende on May 21, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Just voted;
Whom do you agree with most on closing Guantanamo Bay?
President Obama 60% 61292
Ex-Vice President Cheney 40% 41674
Total Votes: 102966
CNN will never give credit to Cheney,…
christene on May 21, 2009 at 2:58 PM
I had the opportunity to hear Cheney speak a few times while he was VP and I was always very impressed with his intelligence and insight…and I wondered as well why we didn’t hear more from him.
DCJeff on May 21, 2009 at 2:58 PM
But then it’d be just fine, make a prompt full recovery, and still be here acting retarded. It was in fact executed. It’s gone.
BadgerHawk on May 21, 2009 at 2:59 PM
I completely agree and anyone with one functioning synapse would understand this statement and agree. However, the Obamabot lefty pacifists will never understand there is no middle ground when fighting a determined enemy hell bent on destroying the west in the name of fascist Islam.
The fact dedicated lefty Obamabot pacifists will never see the light when it comes to our war against fascist Islam makes them at the least naive but what makes them naive and dangerous is their trying to force their pacifist ideology on the rest of the nation that has the net result of dividing of our nation when it’s imperative we stand united, impeding our government and military at every step in this war with their “torture” and “habeas corpus rights for terrorist” memes and their constant protesting of any war no matter how justified that war may be.
Such constant road blocking and divisiveness by the left accomplishes nothing except to drag the rest of us (those of us that understand there is no middle ground when it comes to fascist Islam) into a dangerous abyss to face another attack as badif not worse than 9-11!
If that happens lefties, prepare yourselves for the backlash as there will be hell to pay!
Liberty or Death on May 21, 2009 at 2:59 PM
It does show who really wields power. Barry is focused on trying to remind people that he is the boss. As a wise person once told me – if you have to keep reminding people that you are the boss, you probably aren’t.
Vashta.Nerada on May 21, 2009 at 2:59 PM
*sigh* If only they made a banhammer for liberal politicians.
TMK on May 21, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Gotta love the timing of the terrorist bust in NYC to remind everyone that there’s a danger still out there.
And the more I think about Gitmo, what’s the problem? It’s built. It’s state of the art. It’s off our shores. It’s our Devil’s Island. Why do we care what Europeans think? They’re going Islam in the next two decades. They want them, they can have them. Take the Chinese Muslims and give them to China. Why is the left so opposed to our personal safety.
Obama probably wants to bring these guys ashore so that he can’t claim job growith in the prison-construction and correctional-officer fields.
BuckeyeSam on May 21, 2009 at 3:00 PM
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