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What has pretty much escaped notice in the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM) is that the former Vice President has also reminded us all that President Bush was the "decider."
That unusual word sounded quite macho as Bush strutted about reminding us often that he was also "commander in chief." But now, it could be the kiss of death - for Bush, as well as for Cheney.
Here's what Cheney allowed himself to tell Face the Nation's Bob Schieffer about "enhanced interrogation techniques" on May 10.
SCHIEFFER: How much did President Bush know specifically about the methods that were being used? We know that you and you have said that you approved this...
CHENEY: Right.
SCHIEFFER: ... somewhere down the line. Did President Bush know everything you knew?
CHENEY: I certainly, yes, have every reason to believe he knew - he knew a great deal about the program. He basically authorized it. I mean, this was a presidential-level decision. And the decision went to the President. He signed off on it.
Small wonder that Republicans are wincing, although the winces have been largely suppressed. The Washington Post reported recently that many Republicans now consider Cheney a major problem, but cannot say so.
The Post quoted one Republican strategist on the Cheney dilemma: "He continues to be a force among many members of our base, and while he is entirely unhelpful, no one has the standing to show him the door."
Spending four days in Dallas last week, I learned that George W. Bush continues to be a lofty hero among many folks there - with the notable exception of the hardy activists of the Dallas Peace Center and Code Pink.
Hefty donations keep pouring in for his library and institute, and any "mistakes" that may have been made during the Bush/Cheney administration are laid at the door of the former Vice President.
Leading Republicans are passionate about this. And the phenomenon is not limited to Dallas. Cheney is smart enough to know that he too may soon be "sort of hanging in the wind" along with his former subordinate, Libby.
It's Also About "Fixing" Intelligence
Approval of torture, assassination, warrantless eavesdropping - hey, there is quite enough to go on, and increasing signs that Cheney will be called on the carpet.
What we have been focusing on, however, glosses over Cheney's key role in purveying lies to get our representatives in Congress to approve a war that qualifies for what the post-WWII Nuremberg Tribunal called the "supreme international crime" - a war of aggression.
We Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) were on to Cheney very early. Six years ago today, we took the unusual step of sending a formal recommendation to President Bush that he "ask for Cheney's immediate resignation."
