Editorial Of The Day

From the editorial board of the New York Times:

Any credible investigation should include former Vice President Dick Cheney; Mr. Cheney’s chief of staff, David Addington; the former C.I.A. director George Tenet; and John Yoo and Jay Bybee, the Office of Legal Counsel lawyers who drafted what became known as the torture memos. There are many more names that could be considered, including Jose Rodriguez Jr., the C.I.A. official who ordered the destruction of the videotapes; the psychologists who devised the torture regimen; and the C.I.A. employees who carried out that regimen. [snip]

Starting a criminal investigation is not about payback; it is about ensuring that this never happens again and regaining the moral credibility to rebuke torture by other governments. Because of the Senate’s report, we now know the distance officials in the executive branch went to rationalize, and conceal, the crimes they wanted to commit. The question is whether the nation will stand by and allow the perpetrators of torture to have perpetual immunity for their actions.

Hit the link and read the full piece.

Tweet Of The Day

Tweet Of The Day - Mia Farrow

They are very upset with her over at Twitchy.

The Alliance For A Scared America

Dick Cheney And Liz Cheney Blame President Obama For Civil War In Iraq

From an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal:

Rarely has a U.S. president been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many. Too many times to count, Mr. Obama has told us he is "ending" the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—as though wishing made it so. His rhetoric has now come crashing into reality. Watching the black-clad ISIS jihadists take territory once secured by American blood is final proof, if any were needed, that America's enemies are not "decimated." They are emboldened and on the march.

Our president doesn't seem to. Iraq is at risk of falling to a radical Islamic terror group and Mr. Obama is talking climate change. Terrorists take control of more territory and resources than ever before in history, and he goes golfing. He seems blithely unaware, or indifferent to the fact, that a resurgent al Qaeda presents a clear and present danger to the United States of America.

When Mr. Obama and his team came into office in 2009, al Qaeda in Iraq had been largely defeated, thanks primarily to the heroic efforts of U.S. armed forces during the surge. Mr. Obama had only to negotiate an agreement to leave behind some residual American forces, training and intelligence capabilities to help secure the peace. Instead, he abandoned Iraq and we are watching American defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

Today the two Cheneys launched The Alliance For A Strong America, which advocates for even more of the disastrous military interventions that got us to where we are today.

Cheney Vs Cheney, Part VI

“We were surprised that there was an attack launched against Liz on Facebook, and wished it hadn’t happened. It’s always been dealt with within the context of the family and frankly that’s our preference. That’s as far as I’m going to go on the subject. Don’t waste your time." - Dick Cheney, on Mary's rip on sister Liz.

Dan Savage Goes Off On Mary Cheney

Dan Savage went ballistic on Mary Cheney last night on Bill Maher's Real Time.

While Liz Cheney faces an uphill climb in her bid for a senatorial seat in Wyoming, Savage said, Mary Cheney still had a history of supporting not just her father during his tenure as vice president, but 2012 Republican presidential Mitt Romney. Savage repeatedly mentioned that Mary Cheney both voted for Romney and donated $2,500 to his campaign. “Unlike her sister, Liz, who’s saying ‘it’s a state issue,’ Romney wanted to rewrite the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage in every state, even overturning gay marriages in states where it had already been legalized,” Savage said. “Romney was 1,000 times worse than Liz, and Mary wrote that fucker a check.”

There's also a rather delicious attack on "kiddie-fucking Catholic priests." You'll enjoy this. 

Frank Bruni On Liz Cheney

"If Liz Cheney, whose bid for the Senate has always had a stench of extreme opportunism, wants to discuss traditions and values, I’m all for it. Let’s start here: Isn’t there a tradition of close-knit family members’ taking care not to wound one another? Is there not value in that? [snip] But she plunged forward anyway, disregarding the inevitable discord. As Jonathan Martin reported in The Times, Liz and Mary aren’t speaking to each other now, and there’s a long shadow over the Cheneys’ holiday get-togethers. Is any political office worth that? Would victory redeem the public message that Liz just sent to her niece and nephew? I’m imagining her awkwardness the next time that she goes to hug or kiss them (and I’m assuming that she’s a hugger or kisser, which may be a leap). If there’s not a knot in her stomach, then there’s nothing at all in her heart." - Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.

Dick Cheney On Liz Vs Mary

"This is an issue we have dealt with privately for many years, and we are pained to see it become public. Since it has, one this should be clear, Liz has always believed in the traditional definition of marriage. She has always treated her sister and her sister's family with love and respect, exactly as she should have done. Compassion is called for, even when there is a disagreement about such a fundamental matter and Liz's many kindnesses shouldn't be used to distort her position." - Same-sex marriage supporter Dick Cheney, coming to the rescue of Liz Cheney's Senate aspirations in a statement reported today on CNN.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

A special clip about the new ad campaign.

All Kinds Of Americans For Marriage

Another great clip from TheFour.

Cheney Vs Cheney

Dick Cheney: My Standing Up For Marriage Would Have Killed Dubya's Chances

Dick Cheney, who has since endorsed marriage equality, claimed yesterday that he remained silent during the 2000 campaign because he knew if he spoke up it would have damaged Dubya's election chances.

The former vice president suggested it wouldn't have done much good and probably would have sunk President George W. Bush's prospects for office. "Why?" he responded to ABC News when asked in a televised interview whether he should have pushed harder for gay couples to marry. Cheney's daughter, Mary, married her longtime partner this June. Cheney said of the wedding: "I'm sure it was fine. We wished them well. She wanted to avoid having it be a media circus or having it become part of the political debate. So Lynn and I were very proud and happy and congratulated them."

Cheney also remained silent during then closet case Ken Mehlman's campaign against same-sex marriage, which resulted in bans in 21 states from 2004-2006. Cheney finally publicly announced his support in 2009.

Mary Cheney Got Married Today

The right-wing Daily Caller reports:

In a statement provided to TheDC, both the former vice president and his wife, Lynne, said they are “delighted” the couple could have their “relationship recognized.” “Our daughter Mary and her long time partner, Heather Poe, were married today in Washington, DC,” the Cheneys said. Poe and Mary Cheney have two children: Cheney gave birth to a son in 2007, and a daughter in 2009. They live together in Virginia. “Mary and Heather have been in a committed relationship for many years, and we are delighted that they were able to take advantage of the opportunity to have that relationship recognized,” the Cheneys said. “Mary and Heather and their children are very important and much loved members of our family and we wish them every happiness.”

Commenters on the linked site are conflicted about this.

Headline Of The Day II

Details.

Official Portrait

FRC Slams Cheney On Marriage

Right Wing Watch reports that the Family Research Council is furious with Dick Cheney because he supported marriage equality in Maryland.

Consider this thought experiment. Twin brothers announced on a TV talk show that they were gay. Under the laws proposed, can they marry? If not, why not? They’ve certainly had a “committed relationship” since before they were born. What constitutional principle could you invoke to say these twins cannot marry each other? And if these twin brothers may marry, why not a twin brother and sister? Dick Cheney probably never met Mae West. For younger readers unfamiliar with one of Hollywood’s original blond bombshells, I’ll simply say: sailors in World War II called their large life jackets Mae Wests. (This is a family blog, after all.) Mae West famously said: “Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.” How strange that Mae West had a better understanding of civil marriage than a former Vice President of the United States, a man who was twice elected to national office by pro-family voters.

As the kids say: wharrgarble.

Cheney Endorses DADT Repeal

Liz Cheney, as full of shit as always.

Untried War Criminal Darth Cheney Restates Support For Gay Marriage

Woohoo?

Condi Rice Vs. Darth Cheney

"It certainly doesn't sound like me, now, does it? I would never – I don't remember coming to the vice president tearfully about anything in the entire eight years that I knew him." - Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, denouncing one of several passages about her in Dick Cheney's just-released autobiography. Cheney says that Rice got all teary-eyed (just like a woman!) when she allegedly admitted an error. He also says that Rice's reports to the president on the status of nuclear talks with North Korea were "utterly misleading."