Cheney has no regrets over use of F-word curse

[Starscream]

To the OP, what Cheney uttered in a moment of anger was undignified and out of place where he said it.

An apology would be nice.

I agree with you 100% Larry.
Like I said in a post yesterday, I'll forget about the whole affair should Cheney muster up the courage to apologize.

Having him act all smug about it certainly doesn't help matters.

 

[dlamberth]

Mounting criticisms of war profiteering by Halliburton have apparently struck a chord with Vice President Cheney. At an otherwise congenial photo session earlier this week, the vice president lashed out at Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for his pursuit of the matter, in addition to discussions about judicial nominees, bluntly telling Leahy, "F--- yourself," according to aides who witnessed the exchange. Leahy and others are investigating charges that Halliburton overcharged the U.S. government millions of dollars for Iraq services and may have received improper assistance in winning contracts. Cheney's office confirmed the vice president's coarse phrasing but offered no apologies or explanation for his untoward behavior.

• Rather than cursing out lawmakers, Cheney should explain to Congress his involvement with no-bid contracts for Halliburton. We now know the vice president's chief of staff received a Pentagon briefing in October 2002, one month prior to directing Halliburton to develop a secret plan for restoring and operating Iraq's oil infrastructure. The vice president's office was also made aware of a second sole-source contract worth up to $7 billion awarded to Halliburton four months later for implementing this plan.
• The administration must come clean about any remaining contacts or involvement with Halliburton. The repeated assertion by Cheney that he was not informed about the Halliburton contracts is disingenuous. The full extent of the vice president's contacts and arrangements with the Pentagon on any matters dealing with Halliburton contracts should be fully disclosed.
• Cheney should apologize to Americans for sullying the U.S. Senate. During the 2000 campaign, Cheney said he wanted "to change the tone in Washington, to restore a spirit of civility and respect and cooperation," and that he was "absolutely determined [to] restore a tone of civility and decency to the debate in Washington." The vice president should live up to these promises and restrain himself in public discourse.

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/c.biJRJ8OVF/b.3456/http://www.americanprogress.org/site/c.biJRJ8OVF/b.3456/

 

[renegade pariah]

here is what worries Cheney.....Leahy and others are investigating charges that Halliburton overcharged the U.S. government millions of dollars for Iraq services and may have received improper assistance in winning contracts.

 

[Doctrine1st]

Although to me this is truly a minor issue given the myriad of other doings and statements by Cheney, but I found this quote amusing:

"Governor Bush and I are also absolutely determined that [we] will restore a tone of civility and decency to the debate in Washington." - Dick Cheney, 8/4/00

 

[propane]

Who cares... the people who criticise this really need to find something to do with themselves . There's nothing wrong with "swearing".

(I'm liberal )

 

[Acquired Tastes]

So Cheney dropped the F-bomb, the guy isn't perfect. Besides, Kerry has been known to drop the F-bomb too. Sure, an apology from both of them would be nice, but I don't expect one.

 

[renegade pariah]

Who cares... the people who criticise this really need to find something to do with themselves . There's nothing wrong with "swearing".

(I'm liberal )

..........not according to my mother.

 

[dlamberth]

Who cares... the people who criticise this really need to find something to do with themselves . There's nothing wrong with "swearing".

(I'm liberal )

To me, there seems to be an apparent bit of hypocrisy with this administration as they try to take the high road with the FCC indecency crackdown, yet the Vice President takes the low road and feels good about it.




.

 

[renegade pariah]

...hipocracy is the moral thrust for the Bush administration.

 

[Scally Cap]

To me, there seems to be an apparent bit of hypocrisy with this administration as they try to take the high road with the FCC indecency crackdown, yet the Vice President takes the low road and feels good about it.

You're comparing apples and oranges. The FCC matter deals with public speech, the Cheney outburst with private speech (albeit in a public setting). Cheney directed his speech at a specific individual; it could reasonably be construed as "fighting words," which does not qualify as speech protected under the First Amendment.

There's nothing wrong with the words he used, but I do have a problem with the context. Had he and Leahy been in a private meeting, it wouldn't have been a big deal. However, since they were on the floor of the Senate and surrounded by other people, Cheney should cough up an apology for violating the spirit (if not the letter) of the Senate's rules on decorum. Right now he's preening about publicly smacking down someone who criticized him. The only thing lacking to complete the teen-punk scene would have been him calling Leahy a b-word besides. It was immature and inappropriate for the setting, and in the exercise of his position as VP and President of the Senate.