Vice President Dick Cheney enlivened the Washington scene this week by suggesting that two-faced Senator Patrick Leahy should attempt an act of anatomical improbability. Cheney told Neil Cavuto that he had no regrets.
CHENEY: I expressed my dissatisfaction for Senator Leahy.CAVUTO: Over his comments about you and Halliburton?
CHENEY: No. It was partly that. It was partly — also, it had to do with — he is the kind of individual who will make those kinds of charges and then come after you as though he's your best friend. And I expressed, in no uncertain terms, my views of the — of his conduct and walked away.
CAVUTO: Did you curse at him?
CHENEY: Probably.
CAVUTO: Do you have any regrets?
CHENEY: No. I said it, and I felt that...
CAVUTO: So let me understand, he comes up, he sees you, Mr. Vice — he's all nice, shakes your hand. And then what do you do, let into him?
CHENEY: Explain my unhappiness with the way he conducted himself. Ppart of the problem here is, that instead of having a substantive debate over important policy issues, he had challenged my integrity. And I didn't like that. But, most of all, I didn't like the fact that after he had done so then he wanted to act like, you know, everything's peaches and cream.
And I informed him of my view of his conduct in no uncertain terms. And as I say, I felt better afterwards.
CAVUTO: What was reaction from the crowd?
CHENEY: Well, I think that a lot of my colleagues felt that what I had said badly needed to be said, that it was long overdue.
The Washington Post printed the epithet without elision, no doubt for reasons of deep journalistic responsibility and fair-mindedness. They did feel compelled to explain their decision.
All of which ignores the real story of the week, which is that Dick Cheney is a robot.
Posted by Alan at June 26, 2004 10:14 AM