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TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Liz Cheney: Obama Given Nobel Prize For Opposing American Dominance
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Liz Cheney attacked President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. "Well, I think what the committee believes is they'd like to live in a world in which America is not dominant. And I think if you look at the language of the citation, you can see that they talk about, you know, President Obama ruling in a way that makes sense to the majority of the people of the world," said Cheney. "You know, Americans don't elect a president to do that. We elect a president to defend our national interests. And so I think that, you know, they may believe that President Obama also doesn't agree with American dominance, and they may have been trying to affirm that belief with the prize. I think, unfortunately, they may be right, and I think it's a concern."

McCain: Palin 'Energized Our Party'
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) defended his former running mate Sarah Palin, against the criticism of his former campaign manager Steve Schmidt. "There are fundamental facts ... that cannot be denied," McCain adds. "When we selected or asked Sarah Palin to be my running mate, it energized our party. We were ahead in the polls, until the stock market crashed. And she still is a formidable force in the Republican Party, and I have great affection for her."

Feinstein: Obama Should Approve McChrystal's Recommendations
Appearing on This Week, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said that President Obama should follow through on Gen. Stanley McChrystal's recommendations for more troops in Afghanistan. "I don't know how you put somebody in who is as crackerjack as Gen. McChrystal, who gives the President very solid recommendations, and not take those recommendations if you're not gonna pullout," said Feinstein. "If you don't wanna take the recommendations, then you put your people in such jeopardy."

Chambliss: Obama Will 'Have To' Approve More Troops
Also on This Week, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) said that President Obama will "have to" approve McChrystal's request for more troops. "I don't think there's any question [Obama is] going to have to, and I think it's the right thing to do," said Chambliss. "He sent General McChrystal over there in the spring and said, 'You go see what it's like on the ground. Give me a report, and let's devise a strategy for going forward.' He's done that, and Dianne's exactly right."

Reed: Obama Conducting 'Serious Analysis' of Afghanistan
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) said it was important for President Obama to seriously consider the questions before him in AFghanistan. "Well, right now the president is conducting a serious analysis of the assumptions of going forward," said Reed. "I think this is a critical moment. I don't think we can simply pre-conceive the notion and then just tailor facts and recommendations to that notion. So the analysis is critical."

Levin: Obama Can End Ban On Gays In The Military -- If Done Right
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Carl Levin said President Obama can live up to his promise to end the ban on gays in the military. "I think he, he will and he can. I think it has to be done in the, in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible," said Levin. "Other militaries in the West, the British and other Western armies, have ended this discriminatory policy. We can do it successfully. But it ought to be done with thoughtfulness and with care, and with a buy-in from the military."

Graham: Obama Deserving Nobel 'Depends On What He Does'
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) challenged Obama to live up to his Nobel Peace Prize: "If he can successfully turn around Afghanistan, deter Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, I will build a bookcase for him to put it in. It depends on what he does."

Casey: $250k Cap On Medical Damages 'Insulting To Our System of Justice'
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) strongly rejected Republican calls for tort reform through capping medical malpractice damages. "I don't think the way to go is to limit the rights of Americans who are injured by negligent or intentional conduct," said Casey, also adding: "A $250,000 cap on damages, in my humble opinion, is insulting to our system of justice. That is not justice as we have come to understand it."

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53 comments

Recommend Recommend (2)

October 11, 2009 1:07 PM   

Jesus, Liz Cheney is a weird piece of work.

President Obama ruling in a way that makes sense to the majority of the people of the world,"

Freudian slip there, Liz? Presidents don't rule. Does this illustrate her depth of understanding of the political process, or some feverish rightwing wishful thinking for when a Republican ascends to the "throne"?


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October 11, 2009 1:20 PM    in reply to CT Voter

Liz Cheney....Oye.

She gets so twisted up in logical knots to criticize the President, its just silly. For whatever reason, they seem to have no interest in appealing to anyone except the base that's already in a froth.

Just keep talkin' Liz!

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October 11, 2009 1:22 PM    in reply to Dorn76

Is it me, or is Lindsey Graham having another one of his sensible moments?

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October 11, 2009 1:31 PM    in reply to Dorn76

It'll pass...

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October 11, 2009 1:51 PM    in reply to Dorn76

It's very similar to McCain's response. Both of which, in comparison to, oh, Rush Limbaugh's response, look frighteningly reasonable.

And that's a reflection of the nasty state of our political dialogue. A noncommittal comment seems pretty great!


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October 11, 2009 1:58 PM    in reply to Dorn76

Graham is worried that his BFF John McCain will lose his re-election bid if the teabaggers still are running wild. McCain is getting primary challenged by a far right candidate in a closed primary state, he could be in trouble. So either McCain will have to veer right, which probably wouldn't work and would leave him open to general challenge (even if the Dem bench is weak in Arizona), or he can work the year to both diminish the teabagger voice and paint himself as a party adult.

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October 11, 2009 5:10 PM    in reply to Dorn76

And,with that skewed logic, she, Saint Palin the Pathological and Michelle I see Sex Clinics Everywhere Bachmann are the hopes of the republicans party; who knew.

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October 11, 2009 4:45 PM    in reply to CT Voter

I for the life of me still do not understand why all these shows book her blathering. Is it the cheeeeney name? Why on earth does her opinion matter about anything? It's about as valuable as mine and I don't get booked. What wealth of worldly experience and education does she have? None.

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October 11, 2009 5:14 PM    in reply to Michael A

The MSM loves to referee the manufactured controversies, so they book the likes of bachmann, cheney are they can be relied on to talk and stir up shyt.

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mJJ

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October 11, 2009 5:42 PM    in reply to CT Voter

Yes, so tell me. just why anyone should give a rip for Lynn Cheney's opinion. Remember she was part of the rah rah section for the last administration that ended up making our party practically a swear word and pushing the sti[od Afghan war instead of finishing off Iraq, the real culprits of 9-11. Of course she would bad-mouth anyone who sounded the least bit intellectual about the mess our party left for this new Administration to clean up. My advice to the Cheneys, just fade into the dark and leave comments to someone who has a right to speak because of their record.

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mJJ

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October 11, 2009 5:46 PM    in reply to mJJ

Sorry, typo typo typo - should be starting the Iraq war when the real culprit was in Afghanistan. Sorry for the misstatement.

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October 11, 2009 7:44 PM    in reply to CT Voter

I thought the same thing. And I think Liz Cheney's brain defies the laws of physics since it appears to be composed of anti-matter.

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October 11, 2009 2:21 PM   

When will these neocons learn that getting along with the rest of the world (so they wouldn't want to, you know, kill us?) is in our national interest.

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October 11, 2009 2:43 PM    in reply to Jeppy

Never. To them,it's simple: U.S. has to push people around.

If not, we're weak. If we make people mad by pushing them around, that merely justifies the original aggressive tactics as it shows that the objecting countries need a heavy hand if they are to be brought to heel.

Results otherwise don't matter, just push them around and if the spiteful bastards react, push harder. That's the entirety of the policy.

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EH

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October 11, 2009 4:08 PM    in reply to Jeppy

It's helpful to look at the Terrorist Threat Level (currently: still yellow) as a measurement of how much the rest of the world hates the US. The neocons are always spoiling for WWIII, so any change in foreign policy that risks lowering the threat level is very bad indeed.

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October 11, 2009 7:21 PM    in reply to Jeppy

they wouldn't very well be neocons if they entertained such rational thought, now would they?

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October 11, 2009 3:26 PM   

Someone tell Liz that the world wants a US that is worthy of its de facto dominance.

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October 11, 2009 6:32 PM    in reply to Barry Schwartz

No they just need to tell Liz Cheney to STFU until she possesses cogent, informed opinions.

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October 11, 2009 3:33 PM   

BushCo pissed away whatever stand alone power America had left. The effectively rallies the world against America with it's pre-emptive Iraq war and outright bullying other nations to send troops so BushCo could pretend it was a "Coalition of the Willing", and one America's war of choice.

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October 11, 2009 4:09 PM   

The road apple didn't fall far from the bull in the Cheney family.

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October 11, 2009 4:43 PM    in reply to jeffgee

Road apple? Just curious, I don't get it.

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October 11, 2009 4:51 PM    in reply to Michael A

Turd. Typically refers to horse turds but BS seems to fit the metaphore better...

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October 11, 2009 5:08 PM   

The thing is, cheney is irrelevant but she doesn't know it. Hey liz, why not go keep your father's company in a bunker somewhere on Mars?

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October 11, 2009 5:25 PM   

Because American dominance worked so well during the Bush/Cheney era, huh?

Well, I think Americans elected Obama to tell Bush, Cheney and their minions to STFU.

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October 11, 2009 6:07 PM   

The horror, Liz. The horror of it all!!!! People actually respect us now, as opposed to when your dad...errr...I mean George W. Bus was in charge!!!!

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October 11, 2009 8:11 PM   

If Chelsea Clinton was out defending Bill Clinton the wingnut outrage machine would have been ranting how Bill Clinton sends out his daughter to fight his battles.

Seriously who is Liz Cheney and why should anybody give a damn about her opinion? Did she have top secret clearance? Did she have any special clearence? She's nothing more than Daddies little girl and an obviously biased twit.

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October 11, 2009 8:17 PM   

Liz Cheney is the type of woman who'd turn a straight man gay.

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October 11, 2009 8:22 PM   

Liz, of the 14 year-old hair-do; can only criticize. She is incapable of anything else. And who is she anyway? Where is Chelsey Clinton? Where are the Gore daughters? Where is Amy Carter? Why is only this negative dolt getting air time, as though she has some standing?

Oh. She was some State Department Personna when her father was Vice President! Well, she certainly earned THAT position!

I'd rather see her sister in for interviews, but I'm sure the repubs are keeping her, her lover, her child, and her expected child, out of the headlines as best they can. After all, their main war-loving, America-dominating, screw-the-world BEST BUD, DICK CHENEY has a gay daughter! That he acknowledges! (As if he could do anything else, and as if anyone would dare challenge him!)

What a family of hateful hypocrites!

They are the most disgusting family in the history of our country.

Any other candidates?

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October 12, 2009 6:47 AM    in reply to CVille Dem

I nominate the Bush Clan. I mean start with Babs and then just run the table. Truly grotesque.

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October 12, 2009 8:26 AM    in reply to fpie

No, start with Prescott, or further back.

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October 11, 2009 8:37 PM   

As if, in 2009, it is merely up to the US to maintain "dominance" over the other 95% of humanity.

Perhaps there was a way to maintain hegemony, with skillful diplomacy and being regarded as a benign leader. But Bush & Co. pissed that all away.

Bismarck she is not.

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October 11, 2009 8:43 PM   

This source http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090104231323AACvY2y suggests an average American earns $2M in a lifetime. Other estimates may vary but in light of this estimate, $250K is terribly insufficient for a wage earner who loses his/her wage earning capability through medical error.

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October 11, 2009 9:17 PM   

If Liz Cheney wants to complain to the person most responsible for America's loss of political dominance, she just has to turn over in bed.

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October 12, 2009 5:29 AM    in reply to MollyNYC

I think you're confusing her with MacKenzie Phillips. :)

P.S. Ewww.

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October 11, 2009 9:19 PM   

Wait--I'm thinking of Lynn Cheney, aren't I?

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October 11, 2009 11:52 PM    in reply to MollyNYC

Maybe.

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October 12, 2009 7:54 AM    in reply to MollyNYC

It still gave me nightmares - either one!!!!! :D :D

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October 11, 2009 9:46 PM   

Yes but I think they all study the same scripts.

I just think it's so very rich when someone like Lynn Cheney acts as though she is the mouthpiece for all Americans. NO Cheneys -- I do not care whether America is globally "dominant," I'd much rather the U.S. be RESPECTED and our international counterparts able and willing to work with us. I voted for Obama with the wholehearted expectation of a major shift away from the Bush-Cheney Doctrine. No to American exceptionalism, No to jingo-ism, not to unilateralism, no to saber-rattling -- it's time for some maturity. We can scarcely think of "dominance" when we have plenty of challenges on the home front.

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October 11, 2009 10:06 PM   

So. I quoted Liz Cheney's comment to my 14-year old son and his immediate comment was: "Geez, Dad, how old is she?!!!!!"

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October 11, 2009 10:46 PM   

Its funny how a total idiot who has no actual credentials gets invited on cable news all the time.

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October 11, 2009 10:50 PM   

DiFi is a total asshole. In civilian government, the military takes orders from politicians, not the other way around, fuckhead.

And the MSM is STILL asking John McCain about Palin? JFC, give it a rest. Even talking to the Crypt Keeper, who couldnt possibly be more irrelevent, shows just how out of touch and stuck in the past the MSM is.

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October 11, 2009 11:55 PM    in reply to AnswerFrog

And McCain gave the same answer he gave last time about Palin.

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October 12, 2009 9:01 AM    in reply to GregorZap

LOL. The big suspense for Meet the Press is "will McCain get to 500 appearances"?

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October 11, 2009 11:54 PM   

President Obama ruling in a way

That really just says it all, doesn't it? Ruling?

Poor Liz has been abused by a bully her whole life and cannot fathom there ever being any order in the world unless there is a bully pushing people around.

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October 12, 2009 6:59 AM    in reply to GregorZap

Sadly I think you just put your finger on the root of Right wing thought. The idea that it is daddies responsibility to smack the kids a good one upside the head when they get out of line. It's the natural order of things and it's good fer'um.

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October 12, 2009 11:22 AM    in reply to fpie

It's also why she is unable to provide an independent, spontaeous thought. She brought a three ring binder to a show a while ago indicating what I first perceived was a lack of preparation, but now would consider it a lack of confidence in her own abilities. Either way, it should preclude being given a national platform. The public deserves someone prepared and confident in their ideas.

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October 12, 2009 12:18 PM    in reply to GregorZap

That three-ring binder seems to be making the rounds. Betsy McCaughey must have lent hers.

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October 12, 2009 12:21 PM    in reply to fpie

I recommend John Dean's book "Conservatives Without Conscience." He does an excellent job outlining Authoritarian personality types and how that translates into party ideology.

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October 12, 2009 6:48 AM   

Actually, I think Liz Cheney has really summed up the essence of much of the Republican Party pretty well. In terms of both foreign policy, as well as domestic.

See if this resonates with anyone else:

Well, I think what most Americans believe is they'd like to live in a world in which the wealthy are not dominant. And I think if you look at the language of these people, you can see that they talk about, you know, President Obama ruling in a way that makes sense to the majority of the people of America. You know, Republicans don't elect a president to do that. We elect a president to defend our economic interests. And so I think that, you know, they may believe that President Obama also doesn't agree with dominance of the wealthy, and they may have been trying to affirm that belief with the the last election. I think, unfortunately, they may be right, and I think it's a concern.

Seems pretty much on the mark to me.

Kudos, Liz, for putting it so succinctly.

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October 12, 2009 9:03 AM   

Liz, Lynn ... whatever.

Every time I hear that idiot DiFi speak, I thank god for Barbara Boxer.

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October 12, 2009 10:53 AM   

The Repuglicon women seem to have a fixation on "ruling." Some 35+ years ago, Tricia Nixon Cox, at the height of the Watergate scandal, stated, "My father was elected to rule this country,...." The Repugs feel they're the anointed rulers of the US. As one of the newspapers or mags (I forget which) said in response to Tricia's inappropriate comment, "Tricia, you little minx, it's 'govern," not 'rule.'"

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October 12, 2009 11:05 AM   

Does anyone else think we need more than 8 characters per line for our usernames? Just asking.

SqueakyRat

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October 12, 2009 4:16 PM   

Sounds like they're trying to establish a Cheney Legacy in the commentariat- alongside such mental giants as Kristol and Podhoretz. And what better person to comment on defense than a Cheney- considering a fraction of every DOD dollar spent probably goes directly into their family coffers?

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