Cheney Dismisses Suggestions of Shake-Up

[aquajet]

Link

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer

Mon Mar 20, 1:22 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday dismissed suggestions that the Bush White House, hampered by a weak response to Hurricane Katrina and stumbles on policy questions, needs a shake-up.

"I don't think we can pay any attention to that kind of thing," Cheney said on CBS "Face the Nation." "The president has got a job to do. ... He ignores the background noise that's out there in the polls that are taken on a daily basis."

Bush's job approval in March was at 37 percent, which tied for his lowest rating in the AP-Ipsos poll. Senior Republicans and others have said the Bush team may need an infusion of fresh blood and ideas.

Cheney, in a rare Sunday morning television interview, told CBS that he heard similar grumbling 30 years ago when he was chief of staff for President Ford.

"Administrations go through peaks and valleys," he said. "When you're down in the polls you're going to take shots that you don't deserve, and when you're up in the polls you're probably going to get praise you don't deserve."

Asked if he and Bush had a "good cop, bad cop" partnership in which Cheney took the heat for controversial policies, the vice president said: "It may look that way. It's not conscious."

Added Cheney, who has said he will not seek the presidency: "My job is to do what I can to support him and to support the administration. My advice to him is untainted by any concern I might have on how the folks in Iowa look at me in connection with the 2008 Iowa caucuses."

Cheney chuckled when asked if he himself had ever considered resigning amid low poll numbers and suggestions by commentators that he was a liability for the administration.

"It's been a highlight of my career to be a part of this administration," he said. "I've now been elected to a second term, and I'll serve out my term."

To political strategists who say that he should step aside with a year or so remaining in his term to give someone a jump on gaining the Republican nomination for president, Cheney said such a move wouldn't make sense to him. "Nobody has suggested it to me," he said.

Cheney and the White House were criticized for not immediately notifying the national press corps after he accidentally shot a companion while hunting in Texas last month. On Sunday, the vice president said he still thought the situation had been handled appropriately.

Calling the circumstances unusual, the vice president quipped, "It's probably the first time the Secret Service ever had to worry about a protectee shooting somebody else instead of being shot at."

(my emphasis)

How long has the Administration's numbers been below 50 percent? Since March of 2004 (with the exception of a brief period following the 2004 election). And this is something you shouldn't be concerned about, Dick?

Historical Bush Approval Ratings

Looks like they'll need to change the percentage of approval scale soon. Perhaps a range of 0 to 50 percent?

[zimv20]

you know whose name i've not heard mentioned in a while -- rove. i wonder how much influence he's had on the administration since the election.

[pseudobrit]

Anyone else sensing the full-on bunker mode?

Especially with crap like this and yesterday's denial speeches by Bush, I just get the feeling they're experiencing some sort of collective psychotic episode.

[dornoforpyros]

can't pay attention to background noise? so in other words ignore the very people who elected you.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Why not? they ignored the Cia spy that was in Saddams circle who told them Saddam had no WMDs. This administration ignores everyone including the American people.

[pseudobrit]

Originally Posted by dornoforpyros

can't pay attention to background noise?

Perhaps this is hinting at a reversal of the domestic wire-tap policy.

[StarbucksSam]

Originally Posted by pseudobrit

Anyone else sensing the full-on bunker mode?

Especially with crap like this and yesterday's denial speeches by Bush, I just get the feeling they're experiencing some sort of collective psychotic episode.

I think I am going to have a psychotic episode if someone doesn't find some reason to impeach BOTH of them VERY soon. Not that I think Dennis Hastert would be a great president... eww.

[pseudobrit]

Originally Posted by StarbucksSam

I think I am going to have a psychotic episode if someone doesn't find some reason to impeach BOTH of them VERY soon. Not that I think Dennis Hastert would be a great president... eww.

Well, if an impeachment did somehow happen under a GOP Congress and Bush and Cheney were both ousted from office, whomever took the high throne would likely approach it with a bit of timidity, seeing as how the great electorate pimp slap just came down on the previous officeholders.

[StarbucksSam]

Originally Posted by pseudobrit

Well, if an impeachment did somehow happen under a GOP Congress and Bush and Cheney were both ousted from office, whomever took the high throne would likely approach it with a bit of timidity, seeing as how the great electorate pimp slap just came down on the previous officeholders.

It would be VERY HARD to get rid of them. I think it's 67 votes in the Senate? Not seeing 19 (18?) republicans going that way...

[Dont Hurt Me]

But if America elects a bunch Democrats this year..........................

[StarbucksSam]

Originally Posted by Dont Hurt Me

But if America elects a bunch Democrats this year..........................

Very good point... but I don't know if that could happen. How many senate seats are up? (researches...)

33.

Based on that, yeah... I could see some major changes happening.

[mactastic]

Originally Posted by Dont Hurt Me

But if America elects a bunch Democrats this year..........................

I'm becoming less and less optimistic that we'll see anything more than a pickup of a handful of seats in Congress this year for the Democrats. I fear they will manage to squander any opportunity Bush presents them with.

The longer Bush's poll numbers remain in the toilet without a coherent, sustained, Democratic attack, the more I fear the Democrats will roll over and take it on the chin from Rove et. al. once again. There are fewer competitive districts than ever, and let's face it -- the Democratic leadership are a bunch of spineless *******.

[solvs]

I keep hoping the Dems will strike, but I'm afraid I'll still be waiting after the elections. I don't know though, people hate the Reps so much right now, maybe the Dems are right and they don't have to do anything. The people who really hate Bush and the neocons right now are going to vote for them anyway. They need to focus on the middle. Not that they're doing that either, but people really hate Bush and the Reps are having a hard time supporting the administration and yet distancing themselves from his mistakes. I've heard Frist criticize Bush, then call any criticism of a wartime President traitorous... in the same week!

Just to touch on a few points though. They're either oblivious, or deluded (or lying), but they have been for pretty much the whole time so nothing has changed. But it's pretty telling when he flat out says the Pres. is ignoring everything and everyone around him. That's not a good defense. Neither is comparing Bush to Ford. If I didn't know better, it actually sounded like Cheney was actually talking smack about Bush. I know he wasn't, but he accidently kinda did. Good thing GW's too dumb (and or oblivious) to notice. And Cheney's too evil. Definitely not helping with the rhetoric this time, people are sick of getting nothing but talking points. And worse, the same talking points we've already heard a million times. Rove is definitely off his game.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Originally Posted by mactastic

I'm becoming less and less optimistic that we'll see anything more than a pickup of a handful of seats in Congress this year for the Democrats. I fear they will manage to squander any opportunity Bush presents them with.

The longer Bush's poll numbers remain in the toilet without a coherent, sustained, Democratic attack, the more I fear the Democrats will roll over and take it on the chin from Rove et. al. once again. There are fewer competitive districts than ever, and let's face it -- the Democratic leadership are a bunch of spineless *******.

Problem for the democrats is what do they really represent? I dont know, they dont stand up for anything American if you will. For years with Daschle and others they were simply Mr Opposite. Just say the opposite of whatever the republicans do??? How about standing up for American jobs, American borders, Social Security,freedom & liberty? Instead we just get the opposite thing with no vision. Both partys suck for sure but the republicans are taking us down the drain with the most stupid war the U.S. has ever been involved in. The democrats need a clear plan and a contract with the American people to get govt in order. Im affraid we wont see it and then they will be scratching their heads on why they dont get elected again. Here is an idea, represent the American people & worker? problem is they are bought off by the same ones who own the republicans. Multinational corporations.