Cheney blames Congress for failing to help struggling automakers

Here's where the vice president and I part ways. The taxpayers shouldn't be bailing out the Big 3.

"Biden has called Cheney "the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history"

Biden has no class.

Oh Yeah the Bush way with taxpayer monies is to throw bag fulls at any problem and hope that will fix it, no accountability, no benchmarks, no oversight. His irresponsible approach to using other people's money is no different than Wall Street - and conservatives still claim to know how to handle money. They make liberals seem absolutely frugal by comparison.

sarge: the comment may not be as classy as you would like, but it's bang on. Cheney is a fool who has out and out enjoyed pulling the wool over your eyes and screwing you guys over for profit. It's also well known that he's a draft-dodger and refused to fight for his country while demanding people fight for HIM and country, he's a drunk, and he's likely to move to Dubai when this is over to reassume control of Haliburton (already moved there) and avoid paying US taxes.

Not only is he the most dangerous vice-president in the US history, he's also a buffoon. Again, I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's true.

I AM glad that you and dead-eye dick are finally starting to disagree, but still, you really need to see the man for what he is (please, no cut-n'-paste propaganda here!). Bush and Cheney wanted all along to throw out money for the auto industries, but didn't want to be the ones who did it as it would be yet ANOTHER thing they would go down in history as making them the least popular pair in White House. What's more, when the money is burned through and the Big-3 is demanding more in a few months, they don't want to be the ones to blame for a complete loss of 17 billion. Here Cheney is already trying to pin the blame for things on Congress, and when the Big-3 says in March, "Give us more money or we'll collapse!", he'll claim it was delayed action by Congress that led to the ineffectiveness of the aid money he and bush so willingly took from your pockets and gave to the them.

I was wondering whose fault it was. And here I thought it was Cheney's fault for not being able to deliver the Republican votes for the administration's position in the Senate over which he presides.

I wonder what the secret service budget to protect this ass and his puppet is. They could give that in the bail out. Hopefully US tax money wont be spent protecting dick in the sand.

So this is the latest memorandum from the Furhrer Bunker, courtesy of "Dugout Dick," the redneck's Machiavelli. What a buffoon. If the Vice President and Curious George had been doing their job, instead of screwing up America's foreign policy and enslaving future generations with a massive national debt, perhaps it would not be necessary to have a debate about bailing out Wall Street and the automakers.

Sometimes I completely forget that this guy is Vice President of the US. He drops off the radar for months at a time.

SuperLib,

Hasn't that always been the VP's job?

Biden has no class.

Wait wait wait...Sarge? Disapprove of a Democrat? Let me mark my calendar.

At this point, there are some people who will simply never stop or give up. Although appropriate, I'm not talking about Bin Laden. I'm talking about the "old" "Republicans," the people like Sarge who are infinitely more concerned about maintaining their personal sense of superiority than anything that might legitimately benefit America.

Cheney not only knows this, he's playing it for everything its worth. He knows that no matter what he does, his supporters will always...ALWAYS...find something else to talk about, usually a Democrat. Hey, look, there's Biden!

Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne donate millions of dollars to charity. This is an easily verifiable fact, by the way, since like all American politicians their tax returns are made public; but the popular image of Cheney as some kind of greedy mad dog set to flee to Dubai obviously reflects the entrenched bias the corporate US media hold against this man. Judging from the ignorance displayed in some of the comments here it's clear that not many journalists beyond America's shores care much for the truth either.

How much do the incoming Bidens, representing the party that professes to stand for the "oppressed" in America, give to charity? My search produced results that would embarrass and even shock American Democrats and liberals.

I don't think there is any comparison between Biden's income and Cheney's income. Neither is there any proven significance in Cheney giving away millions to charity. That could arise from a noble heart. It could also be conscience money.

In any event, how much Cheney gives to charity has nothing to do with the startling announcement that the automakers might not have survived absent the loan from the White House. Other things being equal that would merit a hearty, "Thanks for the update, Dick." Obviously, however, he can't control what the interviewers ask or what the press chooses to report.

He can, however, choose not to cast blame. He could have easily given the less fractious analysis that the Congress could not reach an agreement and that the White House regretted that but saw no choice but to step in. There is plenty of blame to go around on this issue and it was pointless to single out Congress. That was a cheap shot.

True leaders don't blame others when their myopia, greed, and lust for power masquerading as service to the country leads the country and her people down & backward, rather than up and forward. Cheney is indeed a dangerous person who puts himself above everything else, always has been, and to even think that ilk like him deserve any sort of "class" is extremely ignorant of the kind of person Cheney really is. He deserves exactly what he gets, and America is far better off to get him out of government as soon as possible.

adamantine: So Cheney and his wife give a LOT of money to charity compared to Biden... so what? Do tell us what that has to do with Cheney blaming Congress for the need to bail out the Big-3. Oh, yes, there ARE a lot of comments on here regarding Cheney not having a soul and all that, but at least those comments are directly tied into Cheney's characteristic attacks on ANYTHING Democrat when it comes to his own government's mistakes. What's more, the attacks we make on these comments go further and show Cheney's hypocrisy, etc.

Now, if you want to 'easily verify' to us how Cheney is personally donating a lot of his own money to the Big-3, okay, then it ties in. But don't stand on a soap box and preach about how good a guy Cheney is because he donates money here and there -- while you can easily verify the amount, you canNOT verify his reasons: it could be that he is honestly wanting to give back. It could also be that he feels god-awful about all the butchery he's either committed or let happen on his watch, and money is what he uses to wash his hands of guilt.

It does my heart good to read these postings by republicans talking bad about about dick cheney.

Crap, I may like to hear dick cheney but I'm glad george bush is helping the automakers.

Damn... wash my hands. < :-)

I may NOT like to hear dick cheney

Congress has already bailed out the failed banks & institution. Not to mention trillions of dollars for unwinnable wars & natural disaster relief. Bush & Cheney were the biggest spenders in US history. They are responsible for making US broke. Cheney has to realise that the dollar is just a legal tender. It is not the gold. Using printed money instead of circulated money will not solve the real problems. It will create more problems.

Cheney is wrong to point a finger, but so are the dems and the JT supporters. 20/20 has two great in your face stories that may or may not wake you all up.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Autos/story?id=6402552&page=1

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=6495907&page=1

skipthesong,

I don't know anyone who says that what is happening in the auto industry is all the Bush administration's fault. Who is this "you all" that you're talking about?

Well, the unions gouging everyone else was fun while it lasted.

USARonin,

How did the unions gouge everyone else and what does that have to do with Cheney's criticism of Congress?

Unions have brought significant benefits to all working Americans whether they were union members or not. The UAW even pushed for Detroit to make smaller and more efficient cars:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/16/AR2008121602482.html?referrer=emailarticle

Cheney is criticizing Congress for not legislating a solution. He might as well criticize a veritable train of Presidents for not leading to a solution. Bush and Cheney are not the engine. And they're trying desperately not to be the caboose either. If this train is going to derail on their watch, by gum, someone has to be faulted for not setting a switch somewhere.

Oh this is so good.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/12/21/2008-12-21_ill_be_thrilled_to_see_you_go_dick_chene.html?page=0

Hope the cheer leaders here can stomach the truth.

"Unions have brought significant benefits to all working Americans whether they were union members or not."

Mr. 2, how dya figure that? Non-union members, i.e. the taxpayers, are taxed relentlessly in many locales to pay for these guys benefits.

The incompetence of many union members is legendary and many are beyond firing. New York City has a "school" where union members who've been accused of rapin' and assaultin' children and other crimes go to "work". No kids... just a guaranteed paycheck.

Thank you, unions.

Cheney: Democratic-run Congress = More Than a Modicum of Responsibility

Choo-oo-oooo!

=)

USARonin,

You didn't read the link, did you? That's how I figure that unions are responsible for significant benefits.

The incompetence of many union members is legendary. And that's the difference between legend and fact. And, yes, union members mess up just like priests and soldiers do. Fortunately the sins of one are not visited upon all.

I don't understand what you're saying about Cheney. I think a Democratic-run Congress might bring more than a modicum of responsibility. What are you on about?

Mr. 2, if you were an American who wasn't a union member I don't think you'd use "union", "Democratic-run Congress" and "responsibiity" in the same sentence...about a lot of stuff.

If the auto makers fail, so be it. Other auto-makers will fill in the void. It's not the end of the world for America or auto-maker union members.

It may be time to close the auto-maker union candy store.

Maybe Darwin was right.

If the big three made decent cars instead of the crap mobiles they do, then they'd sell more. Instead for the last 20 years its been the same plastic body on the same crappy engine, year after year. If they can't compete, then bye bye fellas. I don't blame the unions or the workers, I blame the idiots that have run these companies. Blame starts at the top, will you hire any of these geniuses to run your business?

If the big three made decent cars instead of the crap mobiles they do" In all fairness, many of GM cars have been good, perhaps they hve been crap on gas mileage, but still sturdy. (I have myself never owned an American made car).

One area where people are not looking at is how easy it was for Japanese to sell cars in the US and how difficult it was for American cars to enter the market. First of all, the US was open arms where as the Japanese were not and that lead to a lot of Japan bashing.

There are several layers of blame, but to tell you the truth, the government is not at the top four.

sez, the you was for anyone looking for that repub to blame.

I bought a Nissan once brand new. Some ole cowboy scolded me and said BUY AMERICAN. To bad the ole duffer didnt know it was American autoworkers that built it. Now as it has been said a billion times throwing more money after good isnt going to fix the problem. The US heads and chiefs were so busy killing folks that they didnt look out for what they said they were the US tax payer. Look now the government has stepped in to keep these 3 solvent but what if they would have stepped in and put conditions in place that would have made them more receptive to what the market and the consumer demanded would they still be in this predicament. How about if they were forced to spend a little to design something more eco friendly? Funny japan is a long ways away from the states but they know whats on the consumers mind and they have the technology to be more conservative. I would drive a Toyota hybrid any day, whats the US have to compare a flex fuel monstrosity that still cost more to operate. This vice pres should have reigned in his congress and help enact some better laws or guidelines instead of looking for more ways to wage war.

cheney's charitable donations.

The name's change; the lunacy remains the same.

Taka

The auto bailout seems to be less of a boondoggle than the bank bailout was. What is impressive is the blame game that is being engaged in. Leave it to a politician to argue whose fault it was that the Titanic is sinking rather than manning the pumps.

It will be nice to see Cheney gone. He really comes across as an arrogant jerk.

ca1ic0cat,

I agree with you that the auto bailout is being handled with greater care, and it should be.

The banks were simply given the money with no oversight, and what did they do with it? They gave their execs over a billion dollars in bonuses.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2008/12/21/us/AP-Executive-Bailouts.html?_r=1

Amazing, is it not?

Taka

"I don't think there is any comparison between Biden's income and Cheney's income"

Except that they're both super rich.

Sarge,

The estimates that I see peg Biden's net worth at $150K and Cheney's between $30M and $100M. I have greater net worth than Biden and I'm definitely not super rich.

Even so, what does this have to do with Cheney's attempt to lay the failure here at the feet of Congress? Or what does it have to do with his attempt to make a virtue of administrative dithering?

Charitable giving is beside the point.

USARonin,

You said,

Mr. 2, if you were an American who wasn't a union member I don't think you'd use "union", "Democratic-run Congress" and "responsibiity" in the same sentence...about a lot of stuff.

The only thing that I understand from that sentence is that it is either painful for you to address others by their correct name or that you conceive that by mucking with their names you also vitiate their arguments. Aside from that, your idea is a bit inchoate. I understand the sentence but am a loss as to how it applies to your previous attribution to Cheney.

I agree that if the current automakers fail, other automakers will step in. They may not fill the void, but they will ensure continuation of the industry in some form and to some degree. That, however, is neither more nor less than will happen if the current automakers fail.

Nonetheless, this still has nothing to do with Cheney's attempt to blame Congress for not helping the automakers. I get it that you don't like the UAW. Neither did Congress.

Perhaps you think Congress was right in not helping the automakers. I don't, but I wouldn't blame Congress for that. If anything, I would blame an anti-union ideology that turned mostly Republican Senators into overnight auto experts who sought to regulate labor's wages without seeking cuts for management compensation or even volunteering to lower their own.

Even so, there's enough blame to go around without pretending that it's the fault of Republican Senators, of Congress, of the administration, of management, of labor, of the Communist Party or any other loathsome enemy du jour.

"...there's enough blame to go around..."

That's the first reasonable thing you've said, Mr. 2.

Thank you.

"Communist Party"? "du jour"?

Sez - You forgot to include Biden's $3 million lakefront house. Damn, this is gonna get deleted for being off topic - oh, well.

Cheney should just shut his arrogant war mongering pir hole and fo back to wyoming!

Mr. Whale, where does all this antagonism toward strong male figures come from?

Help a guy out and buy somethin' from GM. Heck. Buy a couple if you can afford it.

Until January 20, 2009, you can contact Vice President Cheney personally at WhiteHouse.gov

Dick Cheney might yet become President of the United States. Bush might yet take a shoe right in the forehead in the next few weeks and keel over.

USARonin,

What is your question about "Communist party" or "du jour"? Try using your words. I could guess at your question, but I'd much rather you tried doing a little honest communication.

Moderator: All readers, stay on topic please.

Sarge,

I think net worth is basically assets minus liabilities. It doesn't matter what your assets are. If your liabities cancel them out or nearly so, you are not rich and you have very little room for charitable donations.

I'd still like to know, though, what in the world this has to do Cheney's statement. Cheney was not talking about charitable donations. He was talking about where the blame lies for failing to help the automakers. Changing the subject to Biden and to charitable donations is no defense of Cheney's blather about Congress.

Sez,

Changing the subject to Biden and to charitable donations is no defense of Cheney's blather about Congress.

But...it's the perfect way (in the "minds" of some) to defend the indefensible.

Taka

If your liabities cancel them out or nearly so, you are not rich and you have very little room for charitable donations.

If you're rich and living a rich lifestyle, which Cheney is, you can easily have room for charitable donations if you tidy up the liabilities by living within your means. You know, like the Republicans are always going on about.

That might mean tightening your belt like the great unwashed (god forbid), but it's certainly easier to rectify a misbalance if you're rich than if you're poor.

Taka,

it is amazing and what tops that is that the banks are now saying that they will not disclose what they are doing with the money. At least the auto companies will have to have some oversight.

Cheney has raked in all sorts of cash as an oil man and a Halliburton shill. I suppose all his donations are a way to try to buy his way into somebody's good graces.

The idea that Cheney is still next in line for the presidency is frightening. But the idea of another shoe does tickle my fancy. Hopefully GWB won't go pheasant hunting with Dick.

The bailout to the banks has produced zero results in terms of solving the liquidity crisis. The bailout to the auto industry seems to have quieted the wall street beast long enough that we might have a quiet holiday. I suppose the politicians will want to fight over that as well.

Biden's net worth at $150K" are you sure about that? That can't be right.

Ca1ic0cat,

I think part of the reason the big three execs are more forthcoming and that there will be more oversight is in part because of the mess that was made when the banks were given a blank check (see: golden parachute) and partly because of the issue with the UAW.

As for cheney, I believe in karmic checks and balances and no amount of charitable donations (I almost said "philanthropy" but that implies a love for human kind making it inappropriate in this case) is going to save dick cheney from what he has coming to him. Honestly, I believe it will be so vile that I kind of feel sorry for the guy.

Taka

What a Dick Cheney is. The reason the car companies are in trouble is that Bush and Cheney allowed unregulated banks and finance companies to rape the economy and leave mountains of debt. At the same time both Bush and Cheney were spending billions scratching around in the middle east looking for WMDs which did not exist. What a joke! No wonder Bush is the most despised President in American history.