This is the right approach, in my opinion. People like Cheney don't mind when others are critical of them. They pretty much revel in it, actually. But what they can't stand is when someone ridicules them and makes it clear that he doesn't even take them seriously.

Although I have a feeling that the ironic hyperbole probably flies over Cheney's head. Or at least Liz Cheney's head.

Can Grayson ever give a straight up answer? He's acting like a comedian who thinks they always have to be "on".

I continued to be surprised at how ballsy this guy is. I mean, his district is far from a safe D vote.

This guy is so amazing. He is a rarity in democratic politics.

Did he turn into a bat and fly away? hahaha

Why is Kurtz acting like this is "out of bounds" on the front page?

Newsflash: "blood tripping from teeth" is an excellent way to describe a ghoulish, war-and-torture-happy ex-VP. When the media acts as if such characterizations are "out of bounds," they are legitimizing the murderous schemes of the Bush White House as simply "right-leaning," or "very conservative."

No. Murderous. Ghoulish.

Good for Grayson.

I don't think it's great for the nation to have this sort of "political discussion", but now that Cheney is no longer holding the reins of the country I do think it's probably the most effective means of neutralalizing someone like Cheney.

These comments are akin to the "flip-flop" waving Bush supporters of 2004. Ther comments are mean spirited and don't contribute to any discussion - but they make Cheney into a punch line.

Correct fluid, wrong area.

He's got blood on his hands, not mouth. Starting two wars and watching 4K+ US Soliders die will do that.

Walter: Over the line!!!!!!!
Smokey: Huh?
Walter: I'm sorry, Smokey, you were over the line, that's a foul.

Wonderful. He's nothing more than a male Democratic Michelle Bachmann. Really productive.

I loved the line before this from Grayson in regards to Boehner.

"If you put any of his speeches on mute and read the captions all you will see is blah blah blah blah blah"

Honestly, he is starting get on my nerves. The dude is acting more like a TV personality, and less like a member of Congress. In other words, his shtick is getting old fast.

Don't get me wrong, I am glad that there is a Democrat that will act as attack dog. But Grayson was last month's cause célèbre.

What I want instead is for Democrats to demonstrate their supposed new found spines when they vote for real health care reform. I'm seeing a little more of that lately. But the contrast only exists because there was none of it before.

Less yapping chihuahau and more great dane, if you know what I mean.

I've certainly said worse about Cheney. That said, I do not think talk like this from Democratic elected officials is particularly helpful. It just opens up an opportunity to create false equivalences between Democrats and the crazies in the GOP like Bachmann (who I noticed was Matthew's next guest, who he called a "Hardball favorite").

That said, Grayson seems to get that this is an issue that deeply impacts people's lives. This is live or death stuff, and he was right to draw attention to that fact. But he shouldn't let himself be used for entertainment value by the likes of Chris Matthews in order to extend his 15 minutes of fame, and it is starting to seem like that is the case.

Time to call these guys out. Good on Grayson.

Why is it when Cheney comes out of his cave to piss all over the country, the news just reports it straight up as "Former VP says". If someone like Grayson takes a justified swipe at the evil old troll, the respose is one of "shock!". Suddenly, the news media's dainty Victorian sensibilities are offended! LOL

It's about time to kick these wingnuts to the curb.

I love me some Grayson and I hope he keeps zingin' 'em!

That said, if this was all he had in his arsenal, I'd be getting nervous right around now that he would emerge as nothing more than a smartass with no "there there."

Luckily, that's not the case, he can run circles around them on constitutional issues, banking law, healthcare reform and more. Which make his whack-a-mole routines so effective -- they have absolutely nowhere to run for cover.

I'm savoring this, it's wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy overdue.

Let's put this in perspective: if Dick Cheney had NOT gotten his way on EVERYTHING for the last 8 years, we could have already paid for the current health care reform proposals more than two times over, just from the money saved from his wars of opportunity.

Instead, the money went to Halliburton, Blackwater, and to the various expenses one incurs when one use advanced weaponry all over the globe in a seemingly-intentional effort to ruin the US' reputation in as many places as possible.

So let's count up the deaths. Several thousand on 9/11, because he and his boss couldn't be bothered to pay attention to threats that didn't involve invading Iraq. Several thousand more US troops since, because he wanted to make lots of money off of it. An estimated 48,000 more a year...those Americans who, according to a recent study, die prematurely from lack of basic health care. And, ah yes, a few hundred thousand more of the "enemy" that we killed and maimed because they were unfortunate enough to live in the country that Dick Cheney targeted for profit-mining fake-war operations.

This guy doesn't just have blood dripping from his teeth—he's been immersed bodily in it for a decade. Grayson is being kind.

The gentleman is a quick wit, no doubt, but he is also a quick study, brainy, ballsy and cool under fire. Watch him school fellow congressman Paul Broun (R - GA). Just, wow!
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/22/grayson-grills-broun-constitution/

He's just getting into the Halloween spirit of the season, that's all...

Eric, I take exception to this:

"Even Matthews, no Cheney fan himself, was shocked: "Oh God -- we gotta keep a level here. Let me ask you this: Don't you have any Republican friends?""

Isn't this the typical double standard the media usually pulls? Metthews is part and parcel of the GOP-enabling media culture. His pretences at being "even handed" are bullshit. Take for example how he INVITES ON THE AIR gunnuts who show up with weapons at Obama rallies. And then pretends ot be outraged, all the while enjoying ratings and giving a platform for bigots/haters/crazies.

Sorry, the Chris Matthews hypocricy is a bit too much. I think we have the usual assymetry here of the MSM being "even handed" by allowing all sorts of lies/smear/threats by the GOP, with perhaps some chiding here and there, while deliberately overreacting to mild and measured Dem pushback.

Ex. Cheney can tell Sen. Leahy to "go fuck yourself" on the Senate floor, but a joking reference to Cheney as a vampire is over the line?

Nothing here but typical MSM hypocrisy played out per the usual script.

This guy is a beast!

Since Cheney once again chooses to disrespect the office of the President & the President himself, a tactic which he & his people repeatedly called un-American, then he opens the door to all criticism. It was open anyway but his own actions make him fairgame. Right now he should be thinking sticks & stones & damned thankful he's not imprisoned for a few lifetimes. That's what President Obama is really dithering about & Dick shouldn't stir the pot.