The Clinton-Obama dust-up seemed to get most of the attention this week, but there was another noteworthy exchange between two very high-profile political figures this week that deserves another look.<\/p>\n
Dick Cheney, speaking to ABC about the war in Iraq, said<\/a>, “I think if we were to do what Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Murtha are suggesting, all we’ll do is validate the al Qaeda strategy.” The good news is, Pelosi’s office didn’t want to let the comments go unchallenged. The less good news was the chosen response.<\/p>\n Pelosi literally called the White House<\/a> to complain. The Speaker’s office also released a press statement to Bush saying, “You cannot say as the president of the United States, ‘I welcome disagreement in a time of war,’ and then have the vice president of the United States go out of the country and mischaracterize a position of the speaker of the House and in a manner that says that person in that position of authority is acting against the national security of our country.” <\/p>\n This led Cheney to take another shot<\/a>. “I’m not sure what part of it is that Nancy disagreed with,” the VP said. “She accused me of questioning her patriotism. I didn’t question her patriotism. I questioned her judgment.” Cheney also mocked Pelosi for calling the president, but not being able to reach him directly (the Speaker spoke to Chief of Staff John Bolten instead).<\/p>\n I like the fact that Pelosi’s office took a stand, but the response had a “I’m telling Dad” quality to it.<\/p>\n I think we can probably come up with a better response, if we think about it. I don’t know how many times this needs to be said: stop complaining that [Cheney’s] questioning anybody’s patriotism. Or Pelosi’s judgment. Or any of it. I know it’s a dicey phrase, especially when it’s being employed against a woman. But I think explanatory value outweighs other sensitivities. This is a perfect example of the GOP’s bitch slap theory of electoral politics. Cheney criticize; Dems, Pelosi, whoever says it’s unfair.<\/p>\n The point of the whole exercise is not the underlying issue of Pelosi but what the exchange is supposed to demonstrate about both players — that Cheney is strong (he hits) and Pelosi is weak (she complains when attacked.)<\/p>\n Why complain about anything Dick Cheney says? The man is simply too big a fool to hold any job of responsibility in the national government. Think of his history of failure, terrible judgment, reckless endangerment of the country. It’s hard to imagine that there’s anyone in this country not under active federal surveillance who has done more to advance the al Qaeda agenda than Dick Cheney. […]<\/p>\n It’s true. So say it. Don’t whine. Don’t complain. The idea that Dick Cheney is telling anyone what helps or harms al Qaeda is comic. Bleak comedy, but comic nonetheless. Say so.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Barack Obama didn’t come right out and make Josh’s point, but he seems to be on the right track. At a huge rally in Texas the other day, Obama responded to Cheney’s assertion that it’s a sign of progress that the British are withdrawing from Iraq. “Dick Cheney said this is all part of the plan (and) it was a good thing that Tony Blair was withdrawing, even as the administration is preparing to put 20,000 more of our young men and women in,” Obama said<\/a>. “Now, keep in mind, this is the same guy that said we’d be greeted as liberators, the same guy that said that we’re in the last throes. I’m sure he forecast sun today,” Obama said to laughter from rained-on supporters holding campaign signs over their heads to keep dry. “When Dick Cheney says it’s a good thing, you know that you’ve probably got some big problems.”<\/p>\n
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\nJosh Marshall offered a helpful perspective<\/a>.<\/p>\n