Barron's (subscribers only) Alan Abelson describes Dick Cheney as "The Godfather" because he is ALWAYS right in his popular column "Up & Down Wall Street" dated July 18, 2006.
Just recently, the veep took some fierce blasts of heat when he averred that even had he known back in 2003 Saddam didn't have so much a toy mock-up of a weapon of mass destruction, "We'd do exactly the same thing."
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This is Barron's. Owned by Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal. They are not known for their liberal tendancies. The headline on the front page said "Why Cheney Never Smiles". If you need proof that the MSM is turning on this administration, you need look no further than this.
At first blush, that's the kind of patently absurd statement that makes Mr. Cheney sound like he's absolutely convinced he walks on water, and tempts the disinterested spectator to try to persuade him on the benefits of complete rest. What both his enemies and his anxious sympathizers fail to recognize is that Mr. Cheney's very special position in the administration prevents him from ever saying he's sorry, much less acknowledging he's ever made even the most minute mistake.
For Mr. Cheney is the godfather of this administration. And as John Gotti or Marlon Brando could have told you, to fill that role successfully demands unquestioned authority, which means simply that you're always right. Always. Period. If at times, your adamancy appears irrational and monomaniacal--no sweat, you're a godfather, in whose menacing presence underlings and enemies alike quake in their boots. If he wanted to be a goody two-shoes, Mr. Cheney confides, he'd have been secretary of state.
He even makes fun of Cheney's scowling presence and penchant to rename actions to make it more acceptable.
Just to show you how rigid the godfather code is, Mr. Cheney recently was caught smiling (we think he was smiling; it's hard to tell.) He got off with a light reprimand when he explained he had just received news that another No. 2 man in al Qaeda had been captured and had broken down under torture (oops, make that alternative interrogation methods).
If only John Kerry had thought to say this
The veep might do well to consider the riposte by that great economist-speculator Lord Keynes when challanged by some smart aleck for changing his view: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
Barron's is the last place I would have expected to find this article. The mood of the country is changing, and so the media is taking note. It was Tim Russert's harsh questioning that brought out the quote that prompted this article.
Abelson, born in 1925, is the former editor of Barron's from 1981 to 1993. Barron's website describes the author as follows
Up and Down Wall Street, by Alan Abelson. A Wall Street legend, Alan Abelson offers his wise, witty and sometimes controversial opinions on business, financial, economic and political news, personalities and events. Plus, he usually zeroes in to analyze a specific company in each column.
The tide is changing. When a bastion of conservative thought can publish a direct criticism of Dick Cheney, callin him "the godfather" than this is news. Perhaps the massive Federal Deficit and wasteful government spending is catching up with the Republicans. Business leaders understand accountability. Are they finally seeing the irresponsibility practiced by the Bush administration? Certainly, Alan Abelson is making it acceptable to challange Bush and Cheney. They might never admit to supporting a Democrat, but I bet there are more than a few that will take advantage of the secret ballot to vote against an incumbent with an (R) by their name.
I realize this diary is not original, but I felt hearing the words from Barron's was important.