Dick Cheney's bold proclamation: Barack Obama's 'a one-term president'

Former Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise appearance this afternoon at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference gathering in Washington after a speech by his daughter, Liz Cheney. And a surprise proclamation.

He was greeted by cheers and chants of "Run, Cheney, Run!"

To which Cheney responded: "A welcome like that almost makes me want to run for office -- but I am not going to do it."

The former representative, White House chief of staff, secretary of Defense and VP then stopped by the hall to chat with an old friend of his and The Ticket's, Scott Hennen, probably the Heartland's most prominent conservative talk-show radio host.

Cheney talked about his continuing concerns over the Obama administration's treatment of the man accused in the alleged Christmas Day bomb plot as a criminal case, not as part of a larger war on terror.

Cheney questioned the integrity of the Justice Department under the Democratic administration, especially its pursuit of investigations against CIA officials and attorneys from the previous administration.

Cheney repeated his support for the military strategy in Afghanistan outlined by Obama, who was off in Colorado today fundraising for embattled Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

And the Wyoming Republican even slipped in a plug for his daughter's website, KeepAmericaSafe.com. (Which has just posted a video of her CPAC speech, btw.)

Of special interest to politics fans awaiting the former VP's 2011 memoirs were Cheney's particularly outspoken responses to Hennen's questions about the nation's political situation in 2010.

This is the first midterm election year since Obama took office, historically a time when a new president's party suffers some membership losses on Capitol Hill.

Here are two Dick Cheney excerpts:

I think it is a combination of things. I think he totally misread the results of the last election.

He really believed he had some kind of a mandate to take the country in a radical direction...healthcare policy, cap and trade, economic policies, size of the government, the counter terrorism policy, and I think he’s been proven wrong on virtually every point. 

We’re beginning to see the ramification of that now, and things like the Massachusetts election where Republicans captured that seat for the first time in 50 years, or what happened in Virginia and New Jersey. I think the year of 2010 is going to be a great year in congressional races, and I think President Obama is going to be a one-term president.

Another Dick Cheney excerpt:

I think 2010 is going to be a great year for Republicans. I was struck by the fact that Sen. Brown (who talked on election night in Massachusetts about his special election), that terrorism was on the top of the list of issues that he felt had been responsible for his victory in Massachusetts.

I think things are going to be very good this year, and for those of us in conservative causes, we need to get out there and do everything we can -- work hard. Lot of great candidates; we’ve got a lot of Democrats that I think are deciding not to run, like Sen. Bayh in Indiana.

You can watch the complete Scott Hennen interview of both Cheneys on video here.

Related item:

A majority of Americans now say NObama second term

-- Andrew Malcolm

No term limits here. Click this link to receive Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item all day every day. Or follow us @latimestot. You can also go to our new Facebook fan page here.

Photo: Cliff Owen / Associated Press

Comments

[Bart Anderson]

I'm sure that some Republican official probably predicted the same thing for FDR in say, 1934. He went on to be elected FOUR times. We'll see what happens when this economy gets turned around and we finally have universal health care with a public option.

By the way, what was Dick Cheney's final approval rating before he left office...was it 10 or 11% ?

[Alan Shore]

Cheney, Bush and Rumsfeld are regarded as war criminals by many people outside the US, as they should be. They went against UN rules and started a war of aggression. Between that and Cheney's links with Halliburton, the corruption and lies fed to the people in the US is at an all time high. Clinton lied but no one died...

[Michael Doll]

We all remember how many times he was right in the past. I am those of us who have the ability to remember way back when he had his chance. This guy is perfect for that whole crowed. Being wrong never bothers them one tiny little bit. To bad these guys can't remember anything more then GBs last show and even that they get wrong more then have the time.

[BWE]

Do people still find Cheney relevant?

[Sven Svenson]

Please, please...just go away. And I even voted for the guy.

[jerry www]

So Dick "Shoot first and then aim" Cheney thinks Obama will be a one term president? I think he's gone off half cocked at best, he's not much more than a small bore for the most part. This is a guy with his sights set on covering up for many crimes of commission and omission as the ventriloquist that was the power behind the dummy, pulling those strings as it were.

www.boskolives.wordpress.com

[Just the Facts]

Cheney has absolutely no class, what a slob. Get a life Cheney, you had your chance for 8 destructive years and you and your dimwitted greedy buddy Bushy blew it bad. Your mouth is big, your brain is small, no one cares what you say, you have zero credibility after what you did to ruin America. You helped to permanently damage our country, shame on you, now sit down and shut up.

[Joseph]

Obama may or may not only have one term...it's hard to predict these things. Clinton looked absolutely certain to have only one term by the midterm election of 1994, when Republicans took over Congressional majority, and I was absolutely flabbergasted (as a Republican) that, two years later, he cruised to victory against the man I supported, Bob Dole.

A lot can change in two years.

[Steve]

Bob McDonnell

Chris Christie

Scott Brown

Regardless of what you may think of Dick Cheney, the Democrats are going to have their asses handed to them come November. If we've seen the best of Obama in the past year, he certainly will be a one-termer.

[Tom McGrath]

LOL. This man has been so wrong for so long about so many things. August 26, 2002, Dick Cheney: "Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction."

[Michael]

This is all the GOP has, lots of criticism, negativity, and slogans, but no ideas. Nothing has changed in the party that put this country into a decline we may never recover from. All they can count on is the short attention span of the American public. Do you think they care about this country? The way they see it is that the worse things are the better for the party.

[tw]

A quote from the man who endorses TORTURE.

[Ed]

I voted for the bum Obama.
Near term I will never vote for a democrat.

Democrats have turned into liars with no vision for the future and lacking leadership. Obama is a selfish clown who only cares about himself.

3 more years is way too long for this lost administration.

[Robbie]

Was it not Mr. Chaney who manipulated the CIA and told them to go back and "look again" at their findings on WMD from Iraq several times till they "got it right"?
Was it not involved with the Wilson betrayal?
If I'm wrong please correct me I would hate to slander his name.

[cme4cbl]

Instead of 7 losers posting, it sounds like 1 loser posting 7 times. The Presidency isn't the place for on the job training. Obama's 0 for 7 when campaigning for Dems. Wake up & smell da' coffee.

[Ron Davis]

The most credible aspect of Cheney's comment is his expertise on the matter; I think it's safe to say he was a one term president himself.

[Tom Kirk]

Unfortunately for the Democrat Party, the former Vice President hit the nail on the economic head. Democrats have controlled the House and Senate for three year now, holding the bank account and the mortgage. A President only requests or asks for spending. The Constitution documents that only the House and Senate can approve taxes or spending. The facts...the truth is that any debt over the past three years is a Democrat issue.

Unfortuantely, with one party in charge, we have no balance and now have the largest debt in the history of our union. That is what has caused the American people, no matter from what party, to be upset. Since the 1930s, when one party (either one) controls Congress and the White House, our economy has suffered. When there has been balance, our economy and the stock market has prospered.

If President Obama can do what President Clinton did...change course...get fiscal responsibiliy in place in his administration and in Congress...be the leader that President Clinton was, he may not be a one term President. For our children and grand children's sakes I hope he follows President Clinton's proven actions. This may take a change in Congress, as President Clinton worked with a Republican majority there....he had the balance working for him, and was very successful.

[awakeinSC]

Dick Cheney is a nightmare that will last for generations.

[tjm]

Cheney and Bush were the leaders of our country when 9/11 tragically occurred. Their plan was to hatch a war against Iraq and miscalculate how important the capture of Osama Bin Laden would be - allowing him to slip into Pakistan. When the economy finally melted down to the vast middle class of America it was Cheney and Bush at the wheel of the floundering ship of state. The republicans had eight years to secure America - and they failed horrendously! Now he talks! Same old partisan hate, same old obstructionist views.

[reilly3]

Well, you, Dick "Armchair Quarterback" Cheney, never were and never will be President, so Obama's got your crybaby azz beat already.

[R5758]

Dick Cheney didn't know shooting his friend in the face was going to happen before he did it.

He claimed to drink one beer before that shooting under an old oak tree.

Who said the fool wasn't drinking before flipping his lips at whatever CPAC is.

No legitimacy given for those comments.

He's on the clock from that date to Nov. 2012 where his uselessness of opinion will be proven wrong.

[Norman]

I wish Dick/Bush were one termer as well. We would have been much better off financially, economically, politically, socially, psychologically, morally. He has done nothing but enriching himself and his war profiteer buddies at the expense of the US and the world. Yet, he is still free. Only in the US a confirmed criminal would be harassing a whole nation continuously with his platitudes. ..

[MM]

Obama's a one-termer.
And the war in Iraq will pay for itself.
And Iraq played a direct role in the 9/11 attacks.
Oh, and Saddam Hussein has TONS of WMD's.

What other wisdom do you have to share with us, Mr. Cheney?

[btinc]

Too bad Cheney wasn't a one-term president.

[ConservativeLiberal]

The thing is, that is all I want is one-term presidents.

I just wish that the president's party could not control congress. There should be a mandatory separation of political ideologies between the president and his Congress. It doesn't take an idiot to see what Clinton, Bush (W), and now Obama have done with the power of a same party Congress.

[APatriotToo]

Dick was a no-term President (although the world would have been a better place if Mr. Bush were). Last time I checked, this is a democracy, and the voters will decide. He is (still) damaging our nation even out of office by the endless campaigning that the GOP seems to push. Who could govern when such vitrolic ranting makes these wild claims one year into what is still a new presidency? There are those who say Mr. Cheney should have faced corruption charges if not treason, and most of the actions/practices by the Obama administration would not be necessary were it not for the calamity following the prior 8 years with Bush-Cheney in office.

[wade]

C'mon guys. The most liberal state has a Repulican now. This is just the beginning. I look forward to the Donkey (an appropriate animal to choose for the party) fading in the next elections.

[Jim8]

Unfortunately, I know some people who seem to be otherwise bright, who seem to not be ashamed of Dick Cheney.

I fail to see their logic.

[MarK]

dick is absolutely correct. how about a 1/2 term.

[Isaiah Opiyo]

I dont agree with Dick Chiney, he is quit of a good commentator than a player. I am a Kenya based in Kogelo village in Western Kenya. Without biases, I do feel that even though he should be criticized to keep him on track, the approach should not be motivated with lots of prototype.
isaiahopiyo@yahoo.com.

[Pete]

Obama done in one.

[Michael D]

This is reassuring. Cheney has wrong about everything else, so I'm hoping he will be consistent. In fact, I hope Cheney keeps speaking out so American voters, who have very short memories, can be reminded of just what an utter disaster the Republicans have been when they've been in power.

[Jack C NYC]

Mr. War Cheney should be in prison... but dictators seldom are.

[J. Chandler]

Cheney is a windbag, plain and simple. His following cannot accept a Black President and anyone who does not have extremist right wing religious views. He is a threat to the nationalism and the teamwork of this entire country by spouting his ridiculous rhetoric in order to destroy instead of build. He is Un-American, period!

[Gopher]

Does Dick Cheney think we've forgotten how he turned the US Govt into a cash cow for his company, Haliburton, wasting thousands of US lives, leaving the economy in a deep recession...? Yea, we really miss you and your kind Dick!

[Jean]

Cheney and the GOP are constantly undermining the POTUS, and by doing s0, compromise our National Security. Where is the NSA?

[reason]

Doesn't matter now if he is a one term president. The republicans are going to retake enough seats in congress to insure that nothing gets done unless eveyone agrees. There wont be another supermajority for decades.

The best thing for america is gridlock in D.C. Those bumbling idiots are almost as clueless and journalists.

[Robert NO longer in LA]

Cheney KNOWS MUCH of terrorism; NOTHING like the home-grown terrorists like the demented Neo-Constipated! Would someone chip in and get him some BIGGER choppers - his chin is about to swallow his forehead - GROSS!

[David Ferraro]

I think it likely Cheney started running before the end of the Bush Administration. I am guessing that he is behind the "Do nothing" Republican strategy in the face of the overwhelming need for change. Sooner or later he will let himself be talked into it. The whole thing has Carl Rove’s stench.

[pkb]

This guy is a radical and those support stockings he wears have stopped the blood flow above the knees. He does belong with this group of so called "conservative radicals". Absolutely.

[hollywoodron]

Dianne Feinstein was in charge of all Military construction contracts during Iraq War. Well until it was revealed her husband was a Military Contractor. So Haliburton? Cheney? Really?

Also, LATimes had to pick the Cheney pictures, why are both, split second moments of any one's face mid scrunch? Why not a normal expression like you have for Obama's pics ALL THE TIME.

[Daniel]

somebody call Kevorkian.......

[Lynn Levine]

When Cheney and Bush flew out of D.C. last January it was a great day. Too bad Cheney took a round trip and came right back to cause as much trouble as he could.
Bush and Cheney were placed in office by election fraud, ruined out country by control of the media. Obama has been disappointing, but I think could have been a better President if the Republicans were not trying to sabotage him (and us).

[TraitorJoe]

That is Cheney's "bold proclamation?" What about his previous claim of unequivocal evidence of WMD in Iraq? He personally made sure that the intelligence data appeared that way. Even after so many lives are lost and so much money is wasted, he absolutely has no remorse. Now, that is bold, or other may call it: shameless.

[Delia DeBacker]

Why does the press continue to give Cheney a forum to speak at all? Why isn't this man being tried for war crimes? Why do the people listening to him have such poor memories? Somebody, please show this reptile back to a rock he can crawl under.

[JP]

Dick Cheney just doesn't pull any punches and gets right down to what he thinks. It's refreshing to see Cheney speak about issues when you juxtapose him to Obama, who does so much bobbing and weaving and contradicts himself from only months earlier. Hopefully Dick's proclamation is right on the money and we won't have to suffer four more years of Obama's blundering presidency.

[Run Cheney run!]

Regardless of how much the msm trys to destroy Cheney with half truths and
downright lies,no American politician rises to his ankles.In the VP debates of
2000 and 2004 Cheney litteraly eviscerated his oponents.The current VP
would be totaly ridiculed in 5 minutes and Cheney would cause Obama's
bubble to pop so loudly your TV screen would explode.How about a debate
opposing Liz Cheney to that crypto-marxist Pelosi ?2010 will see the dems
suffer a historic downsizing and 2012 will see the leftys wiped off the map.

[Conduct unbecoming]

One term that will have set back the USA to near banana republic status.
hopefully a lasting lesson will have been learned.Small government,low taxes,
personnal responsability,free market solutions,promotion of family values,
wall street & msm accountability,balanced budget amendment, strict
enforcement of immigration laws.Strict adherence to state rights-no more
unfunded mandates.

[End of the beginning]

2010 will go down in history as the end of the beginning of the liberal/socialist
attempt to submit history's most freedom loving people to the dictatorship of the proletariat that is bringning chaos and ruin in so many
countrys around the world.Just consider the financial melt down of former
prosperous states such as England,ireland,greece,Spain & portugal& Italy,
some of wich are today blessed with right of center administrations but still
cannot compensate for years and decades of cripling socialist bureaucratic
rule.The current administration will have had the merrit of forever
innoculating our people from the socialist spiritual pestilence.

[Paul Stewart]

Dick Cheney is all they got? They are not going to make much progress and Obama will definitely be re-elected in 2012. I mean, how does Cheney make such a judgment on Obama? He is foolish. He also probably still thinks Saddam had WMD and that water boarding is an Olympic sport.