Former VP Cheney Dies - Bush 43 Era

BBC News: Reports in its 3.19pm post on the political career of former VP Richard Cheney.

Lets Get Real:

VP Richard Cheney was a giant of US politics, Deputy Chief and later Chief of Staff to President Ford after the Watergate scandal had bought down Richard Nixon, a Congressman who was a Reagan foot solider in the Congress, defended Reagan during the Iran - Contra scandal, Defence Secretary to Bush 41, was a key character in Gulf War 1, and later VP to Bush 43, and bought political weight to the Republican ticket, Cheney and was firm supporter of the Iraq War.  The close relationship between the VP and POTUS took a hit due to peace disaster that was Iraq, also Bush 43 would not pardon Scooter Libby for breaking the law, in fact Trump in one of the first things he did was the Oval was to pardon Libby.  This did not help with the frosty non relationship between Cheney and Trump.  The former VP voted for VP Harris in 2024.

Last Poll of 2024 - Harris LEADS Trump by 4% - 2024 Candidates/2024 General Election - Biden Era

Well only a couple hours to go before voting starts NH.   This wild ride will be over, Trump can go to Prison or home arrest in the Trump Tower and VP Harris be President Elect Harris. No more polls for some time!

The Hill: Reports " Harris leads Trump by 4 points in final PBS News/NPR/Marist poll; gender gap closes...In their national survey of likely voters, Harris has the support of 51 percent of respondents, and Trump has support from 47 percent. The poll also revealed that among independents, Trump has a 5-point lead. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus we can start to look at how the Harris first term will deal with the Ukraine War and Israel.  One hopes that President Harris will okay the use of long range missiles given to the Ukraine by the US and allow Kyiv to strike deep inside Russia.   At the start the President has to be tough with Putin, he will try to see if she is weak in the early days of her Presidency, then she will support Israel but get them to back off in Gaza, how many places left in Gaza have they not bombed.   As to Lebanon, she must get Hezbollah to back off and stop firing rockets in to Israel, the people of Northern Israel must be allowed to return to their homes with the threat of terrorism by Hezbollah removed, one can expect that North Korea will try something to see how the young Harris Administration reacts, that goes for Iran also.  The US Congress and who controls it will either help or hinder the new Administration.  After the election the hype of the sentences of Trump will come in to the news, CNN needs Trump for its ratings.   If the President Elect is clever she will pardon Trump and Hunter Biden for Federal charges, get it off her table, the States verdicts are outside her power.   At least the Republican Party can then try to find its Reagan soul, 2026 Mid Terms will come up soon. Then 2028, the cycle never ends.

Trump LEADS Harris by 1% in a new New York Times Poll - 2024 Candidates/General Election 2024

The Hill:  Reports " Harris, Trump neck and neck nationally in new poll...The poll, which took place between Sep. 3 and 6, found 47 percent of likely voters backing Harris. Forty-eight percent of likely voters backed Trump in the poll. "

Lets Get Real:

The Vice President has only done 1 interview with CNN since she became the nominee after President Biden withdrew from the race, the BIG Momentum has stalled, the American voters allowed Biden to hide in his home bunker in 2020 that was due to COVID - 19.  The American voters want to see the nominee do tough interviews, also there is the debate with Trump on Wednesday.   Harris has gained the support of Vice President Cheney, Mr RIGHT WING of the Republican Party,  and also that of his daughter, she hates TRUMP.  This blog is not ready to call this race, some have, we shall see if they are right, that VP HARRIS will be the next President.

Last Attacks by the Obama Administration on Trump Administration - Trump Era

CNN - Politics: Reports " Outgoing administration raises alarm bells on Trump readiness "

Lets Get Real:

In the last hours of the Obama Administration the political hacks of the Administration are throwing out their last arrows at the new President and his team.   The process of nomination and confirmation takes time in the US Congress, the Bill Clinton Administration had to go through a few Attorney General nominees before they had a confirmation.   In the Bush 41 Administration they had a problems getting a nominee through before they picked Dick Cheney as Defence Secretary.   It is a political game in D.C the opposition Party tries to knock off a nominee, just to show they have power and political payback.  Both Parties have political hacks, it's the nature of the political game. 

Israel vs. US - Middle East Crisis

The New York Times: Reports " Israeli analysts are now suggesting that Mr. Obama and his aides might be overplaying their hand, inviting a backlash of sympathy for Mr. Netanyahu, and that they may not have clearly defined what they expected to gain diplomatically by continuing to pressure the Israeli leader. "

Lets Get Real:

IF the uber liberal NYT is reporting this, it means that the Obama Oval should back off, the Democrats have to run in 2016, the Israeli lobby is powerful due to its influence and its money, the Dems will not sink their ambitions as to give Obama a foreign policy legacy.   This is what happens when you have a leader like Obama, ALL that matters to POTUS is himself.   As for the 2016 he does not have a dog in that race, if he did would want to make sure that his political actions did not have a negative result for the Democratic nominee.    That is the problem with having an old hand as VP, its the same problem that Bush 43 had with Dick Cheney.   A sitting Vice - President who has political ambitions on the Oval Office would want to make sure that the President was kept in check by the political realities that his or her actions would result in for his or her campaign.   Thus expect more Dems to seek some distance from the Obama Oval, it will be interesting to see how HRC jumps on the issues.   If HRC is the nominee she will want the blessing of the Oval and to use the Oval in liberal States, she does not need a POTUS who's actions could have major negative effects on the campaign trail.    As a famous Democratic Speaker one said, all political is local, just that the Israeli lobby is big and with dollars to back it up, ALL THINGS ARE POLITICAL. 

VP Cheney on CIA Torture Report - Bush Era Politics

Telegraph: Reports " Dick Cheney: CIA operatives are heroes not torturers...Former vice-president says "rectal feeding" was not part of interrogation techniques but used for medical reasons as Bush-era officials flood airwaves to defend policies in wake of damning Senate report "

Lets Get Real:

Both Presidents, Bush 41 and Bush 43 have come out in the defence of the CIA, thus this new defence by former Vice - President Dick Cheney, its a pity that Mr Cheney does not want to be President,   It would be interesting if Dick Cheney got it to the campaign, the liberal left would go NUTS, they liberal Establishment see the Bush Era as criminal, they do not say the same thing about the Obama Oval using drones to take out terrorists.    The liberal left here in the UK and the US can not get over the fact that if your in a WAR, you have to win that War, no matter what, the first side that gives up a weapon losses.    The terrorists from Al Qaeda to IS would use WMD if they go their hands on such weapons, thus the West needs the CIA and MI6 to use what ever dark methods they have,  to win.   This blogger takes its hat off to the Bush Era White House and the CIA/MI6.

The UK and the US Senate Torutre Report - War on Terror

BBC News: Reports " A parliamentary committee is to request the US hands over any material documenting the UK's role in the CIA's post-9/11 interrogation programme. "

Lets Get Real:

The Republicans who take over the Senate next year should deep six this report, the Senate Democrats produced a report that was 100 bias against the CIA.   The liberal base will be kind of happy, but they want more, they want to see Bush 43 in Court, the problem with that is that the next US Administration could decided that drone strikes are worse that waterboarding, thus after 2017 they could go after those from President Obama down who gave the okay to strike even US Citizens abroad, the liberal base would not be happy with that, thus the rubbish or crap report in the view VP Cheney should be thrown in the deepest Water and forgotten. 

Is Obama a Lame Duck President ? - 2nd Term Blues

Washington Post: Reports on the myths of  2nd term lame duck Presidents, and has this advice for President Obama, " Indeed, many lame-duck presidents facing congressional majorities of the opposite party still have achieved successes that boosted their political fortunes and long-term reputations. But they’ve usually done so by tacking more to the center than playing to their base. Obama would be well advised to pursue such a strategy today. "

Lets Get Real:

Ever since the Reagan Presidency ALL 2nd Term Presidents have wanted to be a Reagan, the one that got close was Bill Clinton, thus how does this blog grade 2nd termers, simple really, who is their successor, in the case of Reagan it was Bush 41, this showed that the Reagan Era had the support of a majority of Americans, if not then the Democratic nominee would have won the election.   This blog would argue that Clinton got close because his VP, AL Gore won the popular vote but lost his home State, if he had kept a eye on his own State as President Clinton told him then he would have won the Presidency.   Both Presidents, Reagan and Clinton had a VP who wanted to run after them and they supported their VP for the top job.   That is not always the case, lets recall the famous or infamous remark by President Eisenhower when reporters asked him what had Nixon done in the two terms, the President stated if they gave him a week he would think of something, hardly helpful.   But at least Eisenhower, Reagan and Clinton were not afraid to have  a VP who wanted the job, both  Bush 43 and Obama had Vice Presidents that were not a threat to them in the long term, they would not go off the reservation if it helped them in political terms.   Both Bush 41 and Gore needed some distance between themselves and the boss, with Bush 41 it was Iran - Contra and with Gore it was the affair that Bill Clinton had with an intern, the added problem for Gore was the view that Clinton was a negative on the campaign trail, that was not the case with Reagan.    Thus they ALL want to be the Gipper, few get close but none are really the Gipper. 

Did Obama MAKE mistake in keeping VP Biden in 2012 ? - 2016 Debate

Telegraph: Reports on a new book on the 2012 Presidential Election race, " White House denies Barack Obama considered dropping Joe Biden for Hillary Clinton in 2012...Claims in new book that aides considered replacing Biden With Clinton are untrue, White House says ".

Lets Get Real: 

It can be argued that President Obama made the same mistake as Bush 43, he chose a VP that was not a political threat to him, and would not be looking at his run for the Presidency.   This can be a mistake, the success of the Reagan is seen by the election of his VP, Bush 41 as President in 1988.    It was seen as Reagan's third term, thus the power of being compared to the Gipper today.    In 2000 VP Al Gore had a popular President in Bill Clinton, but due to the scandal and his impeachment the the Gore Campaign thought there needed to be distance between Clinton and Gore, as to if this was the correct strategy that will be debated for years folks.    At the end of the day Bush 43 won in Florida.   In 2008 VP Cheney did not run, and due to the near banking collapse the Obama/Biden ticket won, in 2012 Obama should have taken the risk and asked Hillary Clinton to be his VP, thus she would have been forced to carry on supporting ObamaCare, in 2016, yes its years away, and ObamaCare could be popular then, but what if it is not, and the choice the Clinton's have is either win the election by promising to dump ObamaCare or lose and support ObamaCare, yes this blog knows the answer to that one, so does the Oval.   In 1968 LBJ's VP was kept on tight lead by the Oval, in this case it was Vietnam, thus the Oval has some influence, of course Nixon won, but LBJ still have influence through the process, in 2016 Obama poll ratings could be in the toilet, and if that is the case the Clinton's will dump on him from on high, if Hillary Clinton has been his VP that would not have been a option.   

 

Biden for 2016! - Give ME a Break!!

CNN - Politics: Reports that Vice - President Joe Biden is to visit Iowa State, the 1st caucus State in 2016. 

Lets Get Real: 

The very idea that Joe Biden could be the successor to Obama is a joke, this blog which is not American would win the Presidency over Biden, one can only assume the VP thinks that there might be a chance that Hillary Clinton will not run, well the tea leaves show a different picture, if Hillary wants the nomination she has got it, she has made sure the Oval will back her, Bill supported Obama through 2008/12 races, this is payback, and you do not double cross the Clintons.  Also lets do a counter factual, IF and its A BIG IF, Biden did win the nomination he would face a uphill struggle for the Presidency, one can assume that Obama's poll ratings will be low by 2016, Obama is no Reagan, and the last VP to replace this boss through election was Bush 41.  It is the silly season folks, this story comes under silly stories. 

POTUS and the Pope

White House: Statement by POTUS on the resignation of Pope, the statement reads as follows, " On behalf of Americans everywhere, Michelle and I wish to extend our appreciation and prayers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Michelle and I warmly remember our meeting with the Holy Father in 2009, and I have appreciated our work together over these last four years.   The Church plays a critical role in the United States and the world, and I wish the best to those who will soon gather to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s successor. ". 

Lets Get Real: 

POTUS and the Pope do not share many of the same ideals, from gay marriage to abortion, even ObamaCare has come under critical review by the Church as it would have  forced the Church to pay for the pill for women, at best the Oval is hoping for a reformer in the Vatican, do not hold your breath, this move by Pope Benedict XVI is a great political move, it means that he will hand chose his successor, something that Clinton, Bush 43 could not do, and a future problem for the Oval.   The next successor will follow the conservative line of the present Pope, this clever, cynical move by the Pope, this blog discards the statement that the resignation is due to age and health, its a way for the present Pope to make sure that a reformer does not come next and for the present Pope to control the next one, his previous role was that of enforcer for the then Pope.   If you control the future you control how the past in may respects folks. 

Those 2nd Term Blues - February

CNN - Politics: Reports on its Poll of Polls, the article finds the following, "  ..49% of Americans say they approve of the job the president's doing in office, with 44% saying they disapprove of his performance in the White House. ".

Lets Get Real: 

Of late folks of 2nd Term Presidents its only been Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton that have great ends to their terms, the Gallup Poll had Reagan on 63% approval, while Clinton was  on 66%.  The upside for Reagan was that his VP, Bush 41 was his successor, it was seen a third Reagan term, while Bill Clinton was replaced by the son of the man he defeated for the Oval, Bush 43.   At the end of the Bush 43 second term,  President Bush was on 34% approval in the Gallup Poll.   Thus folks you might ask why note this with a blog post, the power to control Congress comes from the polls folks, if POTUS is down and is not running again then the House and Senate might want some distance from his policies, also Obama does not have a horse in the 2016 race, its not going to be VP Biden, that was the mistake that both Bush 43 and Obama have done, your agenda can only be seen as successful if it is confirmed by the voters after your term is over, one can postulate that if the Obama ratings dive then the Clinton Camp will make sure there is great distance between Hillary Clinton and President Obama, that is the nature of the game folks.   If your voters love you, as with the case with Reagan or trust you on the economy as with Clinton you can get away with a major scandal, if your not the above your in trouble, go ask Bush 43 about that, also Bush 41 when the economy is bad, and it was not as bad in the at the start of the 1990s.   Thus Obama should enjoy these days folks, it could get tricky later, the liberal uber media elite will move on, that is the American election cycle, also there always a chance of scandal or a foreign policy disaster, Syria or Iran folks.   Watch this space folks. 

Hagel US Confirmation fight - Defence Department

Guardian:  Reports on the fight to confirm Senator Chuck Hagel as the next US Defence Secretary, the article notes the following, " His voting record on matters relating to gay rights has riled many of Obama's natural supporters....appeared to criticise the influence that the pro-Israeli lobby in Washington.. ".

Lets Get Real:

Thus folks Senator Hagal faces a fight on two fronts, from the Obama base for his past comments about a gay US Ambassador and from the right for his critic of the Iraq War, his Iran solution to have talks, his perceived weakness on defence, he was a brave Soldier folks, that does not mean he should be US Defence Secretary, one assumes that Obama wants him to be the point man on any talks with Iran, as to deflect any critical reaction, this might what the Oval wants but its the US Senate that gives advice and consent for a nomination, as the article notes US Super Pacs have gotten in to the action, the article notes the following, " seven so-called Super Pacs ....have been formed to derail the appointment of Hagel.. ".   These Super Pacs will place pressure on the US Senators, those feeling the heat will be those up for re-election in 2014, on the whole the pressure will be on Democrats as they are the majority in the US Senate.   The confirmation hearings will be a blood sport folks, get in the drinks, watch a political bear pit, lets see of Hagel can get through, lets recall Bush 41 lost Senator Tower when he wanted to make him Defence Secretary, thus the rise of VP Cheney.   Actions have results folks. 

Susan Rice - NOT Madam Secretary

Guardian: Reports that the US UN Ambassador Susan Rice has withdrawn from the race to be the next US Secretary of State, the blog states the following, " To many seasoned observers it looks like the president has just lost a high-profile fight with Republicans over a potential nominee he has very publicly defended, indeed is personally linked to. ".

Lets Get Real: 

Thus the Obama 2nd term starts with a defeat folks, this does recall Bush 41 wanting Senator Tower to be his Defence Secretary but failing in the Senate, the next pick was Richard Cheney, yes folks that Cheney, in the liberal view the Dark side of the Bush 43 Administration.   In the Clinton 1st term the Oval has a nightmare in getting a Attorney General, this kind of defeat needs good PR and a good replacement and fast as to move the news cycle.   As the blog states the frontrunner for the job is Senator Kerry, this would be a mistake by the Oval, Kerry is a War hero, Lt Governor, Senator and the 2004 Democratic Nominee, very hard to control folks once he is in the job.  Thus good advice to President Obama, pick someone you like and trust, but with no political base, someone who will bring you good advice but has no PR presence if possible, and will allow the Oval to run Foreign Affairs,   This is good advice to the Oval and its free. 

A Town Called Mercy - Doctor Who Review

The Doctor Who News Page: Reports that the good Doctor gained 6.6 million viewers in the overnight tracking. This made the Doctor the top Drama for Saturday ( this discounts reality shows of any kind ).

Lets Get Real:

This was a fun and though provoking episode folks, the Doctor showed his darker side from last week was just not a one off, he threw war criminal or not, depending on your point of view to his death. The Alien was saved by a gutsy Amy Pond and the town law enforcer. It seems that the Doctor is forgetting the nature of mercy, that he has gone from a BIG LIBERAL, the last few hundred years to Dick Cheney, what next water boarding. The the fun side folks, the Doctor talking horse, that was fun, the Doctor doing High Noon, and at the end finding his inner Doctor, mixture of liberal/conservative. It is an episode that require close attention, does the need to end a war mean that you have to do dirty things, does that change you, do we all carry out own prisons in our mind, one we can never escape, one we built over the years, deep folks.

People back in Chains - VP Biden

The Hill: Reports that Vice President Biden has stated that the voting for the Romney/Ryan would place people back in chains in an economic context.

Lets Get Real:

The context of this latest foot in mouth by VP Biden was to argue that that the Romney/Ryan ticket would allow Wall Street off the hook, the people that would pay for this move would be main street. This is typical class warfare rubbish by Biden, it shows how much a mistake Obama did by placing him on the ticket, he should have chosen Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, there is no way VP Biden is a horse in the 2016 race, thus should POTUS win a 2nd term he will find that after the 1st year the spotlight with be on the 2016 race, if Obama has a low poll rating the Democrats will run from him, also Biden as the political appeal of a dodo, thus fellow Democrats will dump on Obama if it helps them, at least Reagan had a horse in the race for his succession, in that case Bush 41 won the Republican Nomination and the Presidency. Thus helped the Reagan legacy. In this context President Obama made the same mistake as Bush 43, they chose a VP that was not a threat to them in political terms and would follow orders, but could not carry the flag on when the 2nd term finished.

Israel vs. Iran

Guardian: Reports that Israel has told the US that time is running out for there to be a peaceful solution to the developing Iran nuclear crisis.

Lets Get Real:

One can postulate that Israel might hit Iran without telling the US, in 1981 Israel hit Iraq when it was developing a nuclear plant, in 2007 Israel wanted the US to hit Syria when it was developing a nuclear plant based on a North Korean design, the then US Vice President Dick Cheney wanted to take action but there was no support within the Bush Administration. The question that Israel has to ask does it TRUST President Obama, will STOP Iran getting the bomb, or we he try and force Israel to accept a nuclear armed Iran. Also the timing is important, if Israel hits Iran before November the Oval will have to support the move or face a political backlash from the Israeli lobby in the US, should Israel wait in till after November and Obama wins the Oval might be more critical of Israel, it would have nothing to lose, Obama can not run for 3rd term, thus Israel might face a hostile Oval. Interesting weeks and months ahead folks.

Rice for VP? - 2012 Race

Drudge Report: Has an exclusive, former Secretary of State Condi Rice is top of the Romney list to be VP.

Lets Get Real:

It would be a game changer folks, but a good game changer, Secretary Rice is seen as close to Bush 43, she was his first National Security Advisor, then Secretary of State, her role in War on Terror, then Afghanistan and Iraq would be a open target to Democrats. Then we have policy battles between Rice and VP Cheney, in this case Cheney in his memoir has stated that the State Department let down the President when it came to North Korea. The Democrats would not be able to question her ability, but they would question her judgement, on the other hand it would get the press off the past business dealings of Governor Romney for a time. This blog has doubts about this story, it is to early for Rice after the Bush years, it could be argued that she should run for the Presidency herself in 2016. On other hand it would be a bold move, VERY BOLD. Does Romney have the guts to be that bold.

The VP with Foot in Mouth - VP Biden

The New York Times: Reports on the relationship between Vice President Biden and President Obama, how after a few up and downs they have a working relationship that works.

Lets Get Real:

If President Obama wants to make sure he gets re-elected he has to dump VP Biden and place Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has his VP choice of 2012. The lack of the Oval doing this does recall LBJ, he could have chosen Senator Robert Kennedy as his VP in 1964 but didn't want to be seen as having been elected due to Robert Kennedy. This was a political mistake by LBJ, if he had chosen RFK he would have had a good chance of winning the 1968 Presidential Election, also as the Vietnam War went badly he could have used RFK to blunt the liberal attack, but that is counter factual history folks, you can never tell. Lets look at more recent history, it can be argued that Bush 43 should have replaced VP Cheney in 2004 with a candidate who could run in part on the Bush record, has Bush 41 ran on being the VP to Ronald Reagan in 1988. A 2nd term President has to face the fact that without this VP running after the first year he becomes less important, if the VP is running he can not afford to burn his bridges with his President. Thus POTUS has some power, if only the ability to hurt his VP, Richard Nixon was hurt when Ike told reports that he would need a week to work out what Nixon has done over eight years. The Reagan legacy looks good because his VP won, the Bill Clinton less because Al Gore lost in 2000. Thus POTUS should consider Hillary Clinton for VP, then he will have some power in a 2nd term win, otherwise he will find he has become a silent screen star with no voice as the press will be in Iowa quite early for 2016.

A Gloating President and the Death of OBL

Telegraph: Reports on the latest Republican reaction to President Obama using the death of OBL in a political advert, the article states the following, “ ..Unseemly Democratic gloating has prompted holier-than-thou outrage from Republicans. ”.

Lets Get Real:

The Oval has to careful, it cant allow the impression to grow that POTUS sees himself as the HERO of the operation and not the Special Forces that took out OBL. Also Obama has to be careful of his left wing Democratic base, they might be quite about this debate, but one can be sure they would not have ordered the attack and would have preferred that OBL had been arrested. The Chicago Re - Elect Committee would be well advice to drop the issue till the later in the Campaign, if they blow this NOW, they cant use it later on. Also the Republicans have a few heavy weights when it comes to National Security, Obama in a head to head with someone like Dick Cheney would lose badly. Thus advice to Chicago, move on and use later on.