The newest false meme invented by the Old Media is this claim that ex-presidents and ex-vice presidents have some sort of “tradition of silence” where it concerns commenting on those that take residence in the White House after they leave. The reason the Old Media is pushing this false claim is because Dick Cheney has been commenting on Obama’s security mistakes and the Old Media wants to scold Cheney for his efforts to get the truth to the people.
Certainly it is true that some ex-chief executives have maintained silence after they left office. Still, it isn’t really true that there has been any long tradition of staying silent out of some sort of respect for the new president. But, no matter how many past presidents/vice presidents have remained quiet, the one glaring exception to that so-called tradition is the vp just before Cheney: Al Gore. And this man has been absent in the Media’s attack on Cheney.
Think about it. Can you remember any report by any Old Media outlet that excoriated Al Gore for his constant, wild-eyed, screaming fits against the Bush administration for the last 8 years? Where was the Old Media tsk tsking Gore for, say, his 2004 appearance where he screamed at the top of his lungs that Bush “betrayed this country,” and the “he played on our fears”? (Audio here) Why is Cheney a big meanie as far as the media is concerned for commenting on Obama, yet Al Gore was never reproached even once for attacking Bush and Cheney?
Hypocritically, there wasn’t any such Old Media attacks on Gore. No Old Media outlet shook their heads or wagged their accusatory fingers at Al Gore for the slobbering, uncivil outbursts that he engaged in and still engages in. Yet, here they are attacking Cheney for his outspokenness against Obama’s policies. For that matter, the Old Media have also ignored Clinton and Carter’s constant verbal diarrhea.
Nonetheless here we see the newest Old Media meme against Cheney being promulgated all over the place. The New York Times, CBS, MSNBC, etc., etc. They are all falling in line with the anti-Cheney talking points. Here is a recent CBS report for instance:
As the New York Times noted this morning, former Vice President Dick Cheney has been a vocal and consistent critic of President Obama since leaving office. That’s something of a break from the past: Traditionally, presidents and vice presidents have stayed relatively quiet about the activities of their successors.
But, even the recent example of Al Gore, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter excoriating any president not of their party (heck, Carter even went after Bill Clinton a few times) we can also go back into history and see ex presidents that have attacked presidents that followed them. Teddy Roosevelt, for instance was vicious against Woodrow Wilson. For that matter, he ripped William Howard Taft — his own hand picked successor — too.
But, here is the main point that makes silly this claim that vice presidents have some sort of tradition of remaining silent. You see, for the most part, vice presidents have been meaningless to the greater national debate. They were non-entites while in office and no one cared to hear from them afterward. They stayed silent because no one asked them their impressions. They were silent by default.
Does anyone remember the post White House career of Alben Barkley? How about Thomas Marshall? What happened to Charles Dawes? No one really cared. But, let’s look at a few other ex-vice presidents that were well known for ripping administrations that came after theirs.
FDR’s first vp, “Cactus Jack” Garner was not very happy with Roosevelt and when he left he was known to have harsh words for the man. Another of FDRs vps, Henry Wallace, ripped the next administration and almost won election to the presidency in his own right until Truman started fighting back. Nixon was no shrinking violet after he stopped being vp with Ike, as we all know.
We might even say that Franklin Roosevelt himself fits this bill. He ran for vice president in 1920 with James Cox of Ohio and lost. FDR certainly didn’t remain quiet about all the administrations that came after 1920!
But, let’s face the truth about this newest attack against Cheney. Some ex-presidents have remained quiet out of a feeling of respect for later administrations. Ike and H.W.Bush are some of the few. Also, many ex-vice presidents remained quiet because no one cared to hear from them. Yet, still others went on the war path against later administrations as they attempted to run for office themselves.
In the final analysis this claim that presidents and vice presidents “traditionally” remain quiet about future administrations is just a pile of horse manure. So, why is the Old Media plying this claim over an over again? Why else but to have just one more reason to beat up on Dick Cheney.
But what would you expect?
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
Do not expect much in the way of "reliable " History
Michael M. Keohane (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 7:00AM EST (link)from the media. It is not part of their “skill set.” After all, they do not want to confuse their audience with facts. Also, their audience, most of whom have received the “benefit” of a public school education, are also Historically ignorant. In the early days of the 20th Century, illiterate Irish peasants in South-western Ireland knew and understood more Irish history that most of tody’s American college graduates.
Do not classify the words or deeds of your opponents as being hatefull, malicious or criminal in nature if they can also be easily characterized as simple ignorance or gross stupidity. Anon.
To be perfectly honest...
mikefisk (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 8:30AM EST (link)…seeing what passes for history education in American public schools, I bet said Irish peasants knew more American history than most American college grads today.
“Once within the maw of Leviathan, degree of digestion is irrelevant.” – Michael Fisk
9.25, -4.77
We need a few more ex President to take obama
bobojake (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 7:31AM EST (link)aside by the short hairs and get his attention he may have won the election but over 57,000,000,000 voted against his inconsiderate double speak lies issued by him during his campaign and this is not a South America Dictatorship.
Get over it obama, you didn’t stop crime and poverty in Chicago with your methods and it won’t do nothing but destroy the United States if you don’t stop.
We need a few more ex President to take obama
bobojake (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 7:31AM EST (link)aside by the short hairs and get his attention he may have won the election but over 57,000,000,000 voted against his inconsiderate double speak lies issued by him during his campaign and this is not a South America Dictatorship.
Get over it obama, you didn’t stop crime and poverty in Chicago with your methods and it won’t do nothing but destroy the United States if you don’t stop.
I'm not sure
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 8:39AM EST (link)I’m not sure if that was double, triple or quadruple negatives there!?
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Flash: World Population Explodes...
rbdwiggins (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:05AM EST (link)US experiences a 17,000% increase in its population as 51 Billion are added overnight.
China and India are concerned.
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
I remember another tradition....
NeoKong (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 7:42AM EST (link)The POTUS never used to go to foreign countries and then piss all over America in front of it’s enemies.
I guess that tradition is over as well.
Isn’t is funny now how those on the left do not like to see people get vocal and criticize the White House anymore?
I thought they loved that stuff.
Follow me on Twitter.
I don't know about love...
rbdwiggins (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 8:48AM EST (link)but the progressives insisted that dissent was the highest form of patriotism.
Dissent can be patriotic, but only if you’re right.
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
As of January 21, 2009, dissent is now racist
Next93 (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:37AM EST (link)n/t
Obama was The One in 2008.
He’ll be a BIGGER one in 2012.
Only because the progressives can't win the debate based on substance... nt
rbdwiggins (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 10:14AM EST (link)“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
Bubba started that during his African...
furious (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 11:01AM EST (link)…boondoggle when he apologized for the Slave Trade while in Uganda. As if hundreds of thousands of Union war dead, and the devastation of the offending region’s cities and industrial base, weren’t enough of an apology.
–furious
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” — Darth Vader
Meanwhile, Cheney appears to be winning his battle.
smagar (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 7:45AM EST (link)The Obama administration and its media acolytes are scrambling to make a sustainable case that Enhanced Interrogation Techniques weren’t of value.
In Powerline today, Paul Mirengoff details the gyrations the Washington Post goes through to cast doubts on the value of the EIT methods used against Khalid Sheik Muhammad. The Post speculates that KSM would have talked eventually.
Well, I think most Americans, when they think about it, would prefer that KSM talked sooner rather than later. You see, WaPo illuminati, the longer it takes a terrorist to talk, the more likely it is we’ll FAIL to prevent a terrorist plot.
Most Americans intuitively grasp that. And, Cheney’s criticisms of Obama are causing more and more Americans to come (once again) to that realization.
That’s not good for President Pantywaist. And David Axelrod knows it. Hence the enhanced MSM attention to Cheney’s “rudeness.”
“Who will stand/On either hand/And guard this bridge with me?” (Macaulay)
Substance will always win over vapor in the long run
olsmithie (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 11:03AM EST (link)And Cheney is granite.
Pity it wasn’t Cheney/Bush administration. Oh, well I can dream…
Regards
Mo, I could be wrong
zeebeach Monday, April 27th at 8:29AM EST (link)but this guy sounds like he’s trying to be the poster child for “right wing extremists”. I call BS. And by the way, Bobojake, an extra three zeroes really hurts your argument.
And who are you referring to in this, zeebeach?
Moe Lane (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 8:44AM EST (link)Because as it reads you’re referring to WTH, and I don’t think that you wanted to do that.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
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Right you are, Moe
zeebeach Monday, April 27th at 8:49AM EST (link)I believe I hit the “reply to this” button under Bobojake’s comment, but I could be mistaken? Anyway, I’m referring to Bobojake!
In the State of AZ when convicted of a DUI
mbecker908 (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 8:54AM EST (link)you have to have an interlock device put on your ignition that tests your blood alcohol before the ignition works.
I would suggest that RS install keyboard interlock devices on the “Post Comment” button that checks caffeine levels prior to actually posting the comment. Having been guilty of said offense myself on more than one occasion.
Thanks for understanding!
zeebeach Monday, April 27th at 8:59AM EST (link)Indeed. Coffee brewing.
5
gekster (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:24AM EST (link)They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
Sorry, I meant Moe, obviously
zeebeach Monday, April 27th at 8:31AM EST (link)More coffee, please.
The partisan press attacks Dick Cheney because he's right...
rbdwiggins (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 8:40AM EST (link)he’s an effective communicator, his message resonates with a large swath of the American public, and more than anything else, the former vice president is highlighting President Obama’s incompetence.
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
What's more,
Wayne (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:21AM EST (link)Mr. Cheney did it without a teleprompter. After his comments, and Liz Cheney’s smack down of Nora O’Donnell, the LSM has to get out ahead of this and discredit the Cheney family as soon as possible.
“Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal, and took Iwo Jima, Baghdad ain’t s–t”. Maj. Gen. John F. Kelly, USMC, Deputy CG, First MEF
Where was he from 2000 to 2008?
Next93 (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:44AM EST (link)Can someone PLEASE explain to me why the Bush administration didn’t set the Cheneys loose on the media from 2000 to 2008? I got SO tired of watching the administration do nothing when it was savaged in the media with lies, half-truths, and misrepresentatoins.
If Cheney had been allowed to mount this sort of frontal assault on the media while he was still vice president, Obama might not be president today.
Whoever muzzled Cheney is as guilty for the coming collapse as the Obamassia
Obama was The One in 2008.
He’ll be a BIGGER one in 2012.
The new tone
JoeG Monday, April 27th at 10:53AM EST (link)Bush didn’t want to appear mean so he took all the hits.
I really wish Dick Cheney had 1/10 the influence that the loony left claims he did.
Ah, yes. Far better to be characterized as "terrorist" and "war criminal" than be seen a being "mean".
Next93 (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 3:06PM EST (link)Lovely strategy, that. Worked really well.
Obama was The One in 2008.
He’ll be a BIGGER one in 2012.
And the beauty of it is, Cheney doesn't care...
furious (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 11:17AM EST (link)…about his popularity with the dinosaur media. Mr. Cheney isn’t legacy-obsessed like some of his predecessors/vanquished opponents/successors.
–furious
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” — Darth Vader
Thanks, a little clearer, and a few more thoughts on where to look.
gekster (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:29AM EST (link)already wrote nt
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
Cheney is a good figurehead as any one else in the field
djemi (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:37AM EST (link)At least when it come to national security, and that stricks me as the biggest stick that we have to beat BO with. I do conceed that the economy is the elephant in the room but I think BOs going to suffer death by a 1000 cuts on that one. Anyway as I said Cheney does seem to be able to handle himself in all, 99% of the time (gotto give the guy some leeway), all things that may come up in the current political climate.
“If I can’t shoot rabbits,then I can’t shoot fascist”
“With age, comes Wisdom, but only if you are paying Attention, son” my ‘Old Man’
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Cheney's doing fine work
Joe Cor (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:39AM EST (link)But shouldn’t GWB be giving him some support? After all, these are Bush’s people who are being ruthlessly attacked. Shouldn’t he be defending them? President Bush has no problem going on the stump to say he’s behind Obama and we should all want him to succeed. But why isn’t he going on the stump to say he’s behind Cheney and other members of his administration and defending them and saying we should all be supporting them for their service to the country? Let me guess, it’s “beneath the office of the Presidency?” Strange how that’s always the case when it comes time to stand up to the left, isn’t it?
I agree
zeebeach Monday, April 27th at 9:45AM EST (link)GWB needs to come out swinging on this to support conservatives/republicans/Americans. There is a place where decency needs to give way to reality.
Decency
Joe Cor (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 9:50AM EST (link)would seem to require him to defend them.
Yes.
zeebeach Monday, April 27th at 9:55AM EST (link)You’re correct. But if he is defining decency as not being critical of the new administration, then I say “to hell with decency”. It’s all subjective, isn’t it? I’m sorry if my message was garbled (and it was). Still having that caffiene problem, I guess.
Agreed
Joe Cor (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 10:12AM EST (link)But President Bush, I believe, has trouble sometimes with the idea that he should treat his supporters as well as he treats his enemies.
So true.
zeebeach Monday, April 27th at 10:29AM EST (link)My uncle had a saying that “we should love each other as much for our faults as for our virtues”. I always did think he was an idiot.
This post is incomplete
jimmuy8 (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 10:33AM EST (link)without the photo of fire-breathing Gore.
We ought to have the Cheney-Rumsfeld ticket in 2012–The Empire Strikes Back.
After watching GWB hang Scooter Libby and Michael Brown out to dry,
Michael M. Keohane (Diary) Monday, April 27th at 11:03AM EST (link)I was reminded of two things. The first is that he was raised to share and get along with his playmates. This works fine with the country club set where sharing your Twinkies makes lifelong friends but is almost useless in dealing with Liberal politicians or the Liberal media.
I do not remember who said it but this quote sums it up. “I do not need help to protect myself from my enemies but I do need help to protect myself from my friends. GWB gave “aid and comfort” to his political opponents but screwed his political friends.
Do not classify the words or deeds of your opponents as being hatefull, malicious or criminal in nature if they can also be easily characterized as simple ignorance or gross stupidity. Anon.
jtkell
jtkell100 Monday, April 27th at 3:45PM EST (link)Dick Cheney and his family are one of the most admired families in the US. They are brilliant, honest and have a very high degree of integrity. Dick, with his high thorough knowledge of the defense dept. and world affairs has kept us safe for years. There will not be one to follow in his shoes until 2012. He has more courage in his little finger that all the RHINOs and Socialist Democrats have in their entire body. HE IS A GREAT AMERICAN. I was honered to serve under him in the US Navy in time of war.