We’ve all noticed the belligerent criticisms spewing forth from Dick Cheney recently. On Meet the Press Sunday morning when asked about them, David Axlerod commented that:
"If respect in the world is what we're after, I'm not sure that cause was advanced by some of the things that the [ex] vice president has said and done over the last 8 years. What he said here is really irresponsible,"
But if you ask me, this is no accident and it will continue for a reason. Cheney you may recall made a federal case arguing that his communications were not covered by the requirement to preserve communications from the Executive Branch. He argued he was not part of the Executive branch. Therefore, it seems to me he’s not protected by executive privilege. He knows that.
He’s afraid of being dragged in front a Congressional Committee and made to testify. So he’s trying to set the stage to claim that any such call for testimony would be an effort to shut him up, just politics.
All the more reason for a Truth Commission, and soon,but not one offereing immunity. He must be put under oath and made to admit truth, commit perjury or face contempt.
Obama cannot and should not be any part of such an effort. But it must happen. While Jerry Ford has been "sainted" for having pardoned Nixon, what he also did was lay the groundwork for Cheney to come back 36 years later and act like nothing happened back then. We cannot allow Cheney’s legacy to stand unchallenged without leaving open a similar episode in the future.
So kudos to Leahy. Its time to get-er-done.
P.S. I love the Onion's idea - put Cheney in the dunking booth, we could erase the national debt in a few weeks.