Cheney On Terror And Abettors

Those of you fortunate enough to listen to afternoon drivetime today have probably heard the Cheney clips, but I'm still at the office, looking at the transcript.

His conciliatory tone towards critics of the war won't play at all with the hard Left; they'll just scream over him and find quotes that they can use to label him a hypocrite. (example)

But with most of America, the tone will show the Vice President as a man who is not what the Left says he is. For example, he said of John Murtha,

Recently my friend and former colleague Jack Murtha called for a complete withdrawal of American forces now serving in Iraq, with a drawdown to begin at once. I disagree with Jack and believe his proposal would not serve the best interests of this nation. But he's a good man, a Marine, a patriot -- and he's taking a clear stand in an entirely legitimate discussion.

Try to imagine such words coming out of John Edwards' mouth. Try to imagine John Edwards being Vice President.

Back to the speech. All wasn't all hunky dory with the VEEP.

What is not legitimate -- and what I will again say is dishonest and reprehensible -- is the suggestion by some U. S. senators that the President of the United States or any member of his administration purposely misled the American people on pre-war intelligence.

Some of the most irresponsible comments have come from politicians who actually voted in favor of authorizing the use of force against Saddam Hussein. These are elected officials who had access to the intelligence materials. They are known to have a high opinion of their own analytical capabilities.

Oooh, condescention without rancor! I like it, just as I like the follow-up, the questions they can't answer:

In light of the commitments our country has made, and given the stated intentions of the enemy, those who advocate a sudden withdrawal from Iraq should answer a few simple questions: Would the United States and other free nations be better off, or worse off, with Zarqawi, bin Laden, and Zawahiri in control of Iraq? Would we be safer, or less safe, with Iraq ruled by men intent on the destruction of our country?

I enjoy greatly reading well articulated comments from conservative leaders. They are straightforward, calm, calming and forward-thinking. Go back to last Friday's Congressional debates and see if you can apply that to a single paragraph of a single Dem's comments.

You'll find a sentence here and there, but a paragraph? No.