Dick Cheney finds Obama's inauguration historic, remarkable, also exciting

In what could pass for a remarkable and historic interview during his last 10 days as likely the most powerful vice president in national history, conservative Republican Dick Cheney says he sees the inauguration of liberal Democrat Barack Obama as positive and remarkable and historic.

Even exciting.

No, really.

The conservative Cheney, much villified on the left as an effective partisan and hawk, and called the worst or most dangerous vice president in American history something like that by the next vice president in American history, Joe Biden, was interviewed on tape Friday by CNN's Wolfie.

Portions of the taped interview were obtained from CNN. In the session set for broadcast on Sunday morning's "Late Edition," Cheney was asked his thoughts as he looks at the impending inauguration of Obama on Jan. 20.

Cheney first states the obvious: As a Republican, he voted for John McCain. But then the conservative Wyoming resident and longtime Washington denizen says:

"I have the same feeling that I think many Americans have, that it's really remarkable that -- what we're going to do here in a few days is swear in the first African American president of the United States. When I came to town in 1968, we'd had the Martin Luther King assassination, Bobby Kennedy assassination, riots in the cities, major, major disturbances, a lot of it racially motivated around the country. 

"And in fact, things have changed so dramatically that we're now about to swear in Barack Obama as president of the United States. That's really a remarkable story and I think a record of tremendous success and progress for the United States."

Apparently, momentarily taken aback by the vice president's positive tone on his party losing the White House, Blitzer mumbles, "Pretty historic. Pretty exciting."

And Cheney agrees! "It is," he says.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Eric Draper / The White House

Comments

[madisonhack]

I think it will be historic as well, especially when Eric Holder assigns a special prosecutor to go after Cheney and Bush for war crimes and felony corruption charges.

[stanschurman@hotmail.com]

If Cheney has any decency (doubtful) he will be thousands of miles away during the inauguration.

[Brian Patrick Clarke]

I cannot conjure up a single reason that I or anyone else should care one whit about what Dick Cheney thinks. His track record on "thinking" has been nothing less than an international disgrace. Please, Mr. Malcolm, "make him go away."

[margoharris]

"SO?"

[Paul Olson]

I never thought I would see myself write such words, but, "Bravo, Dick Cheney."

[Shakespeare]

More evidence that most Americans never understood this guy. According to the liberal mantra, he's Darth Vader and George Bush is the evil Emperor.
Obviously, he's an American first, politician second. Maybe some day people will realize that and understand their policies in the light of 9/11.
Basically, "Good luck, Obama." It'll be entertaining to watch Obama and his giant ego make a run of it. This time it's the Democrats inheriting a bad economy, and, just as expected, your wallets will be emptied and the government's size and deficits will balloon to stratospheric proportions.

[reg]

A true blue corporatist will always do and say whatever will advance the cause or profits of his represented company. Dick Cheney is corporatist-general of the world at this time and his present represented corp. is Bushco and in particular it's pitiful and sullied legacy.
Anything gathering favorable light, especially kind words toward the opposition, work in your favor... and the "Head Dick" knows this better than anyone.

[George]

It had to happen . . . Barack Obama has begun morphing into Abraham Lincoln for his reenactment ceremony at the Inaugural . . . see photo at www. georgecurcio.com

[alberta treadway]

I never cared for channey, even as a republican. I voted for Obama because it was time for a change. Historically I wanted to not only see change, but the first african American as President. This is the face of America that will be showen all around our world to those who say that americans can't understand other cultures/nationalities and change-----------I want to say now, " Look toward america for change, it is our time for change as Obama has stated". A new approach to other country's and their people! That is america can change, so can you!

[Russell Manning]

"Exciting?" The most exciting aspect of Obama's inauguration must be seen in conjunction with the departure of the Bush administration and all the cohorts of deceit and treason! Otherwise, who really cares what this criminal thinks or says. And Blitzer is truly only qualified to interview Miss America Pageant contestants. He becomes more irrelevant with each passing day.

[Dan]

I may not agree with his politics or policies, but I don't think that he is the villain the left has made him out to be.

[Keith A. ?Buckenmeyer]

If Dick Cheney thinks that suddenly acting Human is going to somehow stop the the "War Crimes" charges against him and his fellow "Crimes Against Humanity" cohort G. W. Bush....They're both saddly mistaken.

[Gary Head]

Cheney and Obama are puppets. They both work for the New World Order criminal bankers. They both intend to enslave you and murder you in the secret FEMA camps across this nation. Google: US concentraition camps.

Google: ENDGAME.

[afgail]

How ironic. The GOP has been the biggest barrier to racial harmony in this country. Their institutionalized overt appeal to racists and promotion of racism has been a campaign tactic for the last 50 years in the south. Cheney is disgusting. He too is trying to gild his rotten/toxic legacy. Won't work. He is the most evil VP this country has ever had.

[bobo]

Really you got to be kidding

[madisonhack]

Vice President Cheney said in an interview this week with CBS Radio. "If I had advice to give, it would be, before you start to implement your campaign rhetoric, you need to sit down and find out precisely what it is we did and how we did it, because it is going to be vital to keeping the nation safe and secure in the years ahead."

That's good advice, President Elect Obama. You will need to know what they did in order to prosecute the ba*st*ards for war crimes and felony corruption, to name two. Follow the money and the power, it leads to Che*ne*y.

[BestOne]

It is obvious that what Cheney really means here is that he's "entertained" by it all...oh, something new is happening. In the back of his mind, he's angling on how to use the situation to his advantage. This is how all narcissists think.

[cvc]

At least he had some decent things to say...for once.

[The Empress]

For some reason.....this scares me.

[Laura Hubka]

I am a little nervous about what Dick Cheney thinks is exciting. Also that he had to mention the fact in this interview the assassination of two really great people that Obama has been compared to.
It is on everyone's mind. But to seemingly put it right there in an interview. It brings out the conspiracy theorist in me.

[GTFOOH]

The only thing Cheney is excited about, is getting out of the fishbowl and back into his greasy corporate life so he can spend some of the money he a Republican coharts have been socking away for 8 years!

[Amy]

The smiling/smirking version of Cheney is creepy. That dude has to be one of the most effectively corrupt American politicians.

[Jordan]

More are excited for Cheney's departure.

[Karen]

I think Cheney is a dangerous man but he is also a human being who has been part of a momentous era. I can understand that he is relieved to be out of the spotlight (he seems to have avoided publicity the way a vampire avoids garlic) and about to collect a lot of money, a double-dip pension and a lot of cushy speaking fees. Also, the Vice Presidency cannot have been stress less and he has a bad heart.

[Nan Clingman]

Interesting. I don't suppose Wolf Blitzer followed up Cheney's comments with a question about his focus on race riots here -- as if the Obama election is notable because it marks a progression for riotous blacks to civil leadership, rather than what it truly is: a triumph over the nation's legacy of the enslavement and oppression and segregation of African-Americans for centuries.

I only wish there was a way Dick Cheney could be banished to an undisclosed location during the inauguration, so that we wouldn't have to look at him any longer....

Nan Clingman
Canton, New York

[Snakenator]

As the Prince of Darkness would say himself, "So what?".

[Tig]

I just love the 'Dr. Evil' picture of Cheney. And, how does someone keep from vomiting when even writing about Cheney?

[Celti]

I find it amazing that Dick Cheney agrees that this is a "historic event". I keep hearing similar lines used on Fox TV. Shouldn't they be using words like "historic disaster", "serious american catastrophe", etc, considering the fact that this exactly is the kind of history they have fought all their lives to prevent?. The Right just needs to keep it real, as in keeping it "Foxy".

[darter22]

Glad he is thrilled. Probably more than anyone else, this Dick was responsible for helping a black man get elected president of the United States. He deserves a place in the civil rights hall of fame.

[Patty]

Biden referred to him as the most dangerous vp

[Jocee]

Like him or not, Cheney is Barack Obama's family member. Blood is thicker than water, so of course he's excited for his cousin.

[Michael McNally]

he's excited? How does he think we feel?

[winston]

I'll miss VP Cheney so much. I wish him good luck.

[Carlos A. Cueva]

One of the greatest scenes in the world is in Tormina
A Greco-Roman theatre dominates the horizon. Throught the old doors the actors used, one can see the old Vesuvius fumes in the distance. Goethe visited the theatre. It had already become a part of History.
Likewise in a short time, we americans in Washington will be adding a beautiful event to this great History of the World. We will be celebrating democracy inaugurating Barack Obama as president of our country in a unique moment of joy and wisdom, in a great cry for something new. Viva the USA,
Long Live Barack Obama.

[DeSwiss]

He's just being all nicey, nicey now because he' hoping Obama won't have him prosecuted.

[e forest]

I personally would not trust Cheneys comments, he is not a gracious man, and his comments are not needed or wanted, very glad he is gone on innauguration day.

[ARLAUSKAS]

.
.
1)?.HOW DID THE SUPREME COURT RULE ON DEC.5.2008 W/ REGARD TO 'CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS.?
2)?.WAS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ABLE TO VOTE ON DEC.15TH.?
3)?HOW COME ARTICLE II SEC.1 OF THE CONSTITUTION{?NATURAL-BORN} SEEMS LIKE SUCH A BIG 'SECRET'
.
AND WHY ARE WE SEEING SO MUCH FRAUD MEDIA/PROPAGANDA & ..."ILLEGEAL GOVERNMENT PROTOCAL.?."

[David]

A nice sentiment--let's hope it's sincere.

[johnmorrissey]

reading the comments on this site very discouraging for the future of our country.The passion of the haters is exceeded only by their lack of any semblance of knowledge,common sense or decency.Thank heavens these hate mongers are as yet a small percentage of the citizenry.It would be interesting to have a lively debate on the failings or accomplishments of the Bush/Cheney termsIn my opinion,they did a great job keeping the country safe after 9/11,not as good in other areas.I d be willing to listen to others opinions , hopefully backed by sone facts..It is not possible with people whose initial assumptions are that their opponents are evil people.I think someday we may have to choose to split the country up based on political beliefs. The idea of having people who spout opinions like the ones here govern a country is frightening to say the least.

[steve rodriguez]

Don't mess with Dick Chaney! Even the terrorist fear him!
Thank God he's on our side!!!!!!

[ptsargent]

All the left wing loons who have spent the last eight years trashing George Bush and Dick Cheney will soon enough learn that it's much better to have experienced adults running the show than some wet-behind-the-ears adolescents. Wait, and you will see, meanwhile have another lollypop.

[steve rodriguez]

Dick Chaney now has the ear of Barrack Obama!!!!!!!

[City of Tours]

No one doubts its absolutely going to be an historic event and for those still planning to attend, like I said on my forum I wish them all the best getting there. The atmosphere will be unreal and while I am opting to watching the ceremony on CNN and I know I am missing out big time. If any of you made it there then post a message on my forum and tell us all about it.

[jill mccullough]

cheney 's knowlege on government blows all the left
in the water! lets be serious. have you ever seen
any one on the left debate cheney. they always end up
looking like fools!