Some old stuff about Cheney I like rehashing once in a while.
The current Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney, announced in 2001 that he would never run for president, a statement he re-iterated in 2004. While appearing on Fox News Sunday, Cheney stated: "I will say just as hard as I possibly know how to say... If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve." [1] The 2008 race, therefore, will likely be a non-incumbent or "open seat" election in which neither the sitting President nor the sitting Vice President will be a candidate
Other news....
In June 2004, United States Vice President Dick Cheney replied to criticism about Halliburton's role in the reconstruction of Iraq from Democratic senator Patrick Leahy with "fuck yourself". The media, and opposition parties were very quick to highlight the White House's stance on obscenities uttered in this manner, quoting their reaction to a similar outburst by John Kerry in December 2004. Ironically, Cheney's outburst occurred on the same day that the Defense of Decency Act was passed in the Senate.
DWI arrests
In November 1962 at the age of twenty-one, Cheney was convicted for the first of two offenses of driving while intoxicated (DWI). According to the docket from the Municipal Court in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheney was arrested for drunkenness and, "operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated." A Cheyenne Police Judge found Cheney guilty of the two charges. Cheney's driving license was suspended for 30 days and he had to forfeit a $150 bond posted at the time of his arrest.
Eight months later, in July 1963, Cheney was arrested in Rock Springs, Wyoming and fined $100 for his second DWI conviction. At the time, it was not possible for the authorities in each area to link the two convictions, which would have resulted in the second offense being viewed much more seriously. Since this arrest, Cheney has had no further documented convictions.[27]
Rebuilding Iraq
Halliburton was granted a $7 billion no-bid contract, the execution of which received much scrutiny from U.S. Government auditors along with the media and various political opponents who also scrutinized the awarding of the contract, claiming that it represented a conflict of interest for Mr. Cheney. In June 2004, the General Accounting Office reviewed the contracting procedures and found Halliburton's no-bid contracts were legal and likely justified by the Pentagon's wartime needs.[32]
Plame Affair
On October 18, 2005, The Washington Post reported that the Vice President's office was central to the investigation of the Plame affair. Cheney's former chief of staff, Lewis Libby, is one of the main figures under investigation. On October 28, Libby was indicted on five felony counts.[36]
On February 9, 2006, The National Journal reported that Libby had said before a grand jury that his superiors, including Dick Cheney, had authorized him to disclose classified information to the press regarding Iraq's weapons intelligence.[37] Many people believe that Cheney ordered Libby to expose Plame as a CIA agent to punish her husband for questioning the validity of White House memos asserting that Saddam Hussein sought large amounts of uranium from Niger.[citation needed]
On July 13, 2006, Plame sued the Vice President and several others because he allegedly "illegally conspired to reveal her identity."[38]
On Sept 8, 2006, Richard Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State, publicly announced that he was the source of the revelation of Plame's status. Armitage said he was not a part of a conspiracy to reveal Plame's identity and did not know whether one existed.[39]
On December 19, 2006, news organizations reported that Vice President Dick Cheney would be called to testify as a witness for the defense during Libby's trial in January 2007.[40][41]
Hunting Accident
Hunting incident
Main article: Dick Cheney hunting incident
On February 11, 2006, Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old Texas attorney, in the face, neck, and upper torso with birdshot pellets from a shotgun when he turned to shoot a quail while hunting on a southern Texas ranch. The owner of the ranch stated that, "Mr. Whittington got peppered pretty good."
Whittington suffered a "minor heart attack," and atrial fibrillation due to a pellet that embedded in the outer layers of his heart. The Kenedy County Sheriff's office cleared Cheney of any criminal wrongdoing in the matter, and in an interview with Fox News, Cheney accepted full responsibility for the incident.[42] Whittington was discharged from the hospital on February 17, 2006, and characterized the incident as being quite brutal. Later, Whittington apologized to the vice-president for the trouble the event had caused him and his family. Cheney has stated many times that it was an honest accident.[43]
My favorite...
Under Cheney's tenure, the number of Halliburton subsidiaries in offshore tax havens increased from 9 to 44.[14] As CEO of Halliburton, Cheney lobbied to lift U.S. sanctions against Iran and Libya, saying that unilateral moves to isolate countries damaged U.S. interests.[15]
Discuss
The current Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney, announced in 2001 that he would never run for president, a statement he re-iterated in 2004. While appearing on Fox News Sunday, Cheney stated: "I will say just as hard as I possibly know how to say... If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve." [1] The 2008 race, therefore, will likely be a non-incumbent or "open seat" election in which neither the sitting President nor the sitting Vice President will be a candidate
Other news....
In June 2004, United States Vice President Dick Cheney replied to criticism about Halliburton's role in the reconstruction of Iraq from Democratic senator Patrick Leahy with "fuck yourself". The media, and opposition parties were very quick to highlight the White House's stance on obscenities uttered in this manner, quoting their reaction to a similar outburst by John Kerry in December 2004. Ironically, Cheney's outburst occurred on the same day that the Defense of Decency Act was passed in the Senate.
DWI arrests
In November 1962 at the age of twenty-one, Cheney was convicted for the first of two offenses of driving while intoxicated (DWI). According to the docket from the Municipal Court in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheney was arrested for drunkenness and, "operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated." A Cheyenne Police Judge found Cheney guilty of the two charges. Cheney's driving license was suspended for 30 days and he had to forfeit a $150 bond posted at the time of his arrest.
Eight months later, in July 1963, Cheney was arrested in Rock Springs, Wyoming and fined $100 for his second DWI conviction. At the time, it was not possible for the authorities in each area to link the two convictions, which would have resulted in the second offense being viewed much more seriously. Since this arrest, Cheney has had no further documented convictions.[27]
Rebuilding Iraq
Halliburton was granted a $7 billion no-bid contract, the execution of which received much scrutiny from U.S. Government auditors along with the media and various political opponents who also scrutinized the awarding of the contract, claiming that it represented a conflict of interest for Mr. Cheney. In June 2004, the General Accounting Office reviewed the contracting procedures and found Halliburton's no-bid contracts were legal and likely justified by the Pentagon's wartime needs.[32]
Plame Affair
On October 18, 2005, The Washington Post reported that the Vice President's office was central to the investigation of the Plame affair. Cheney's former chief of staff, Lewis Libby, is one of the main figures under investigation. On October 28, Libby was indicted on five felony counts.[36]
On February 9, 2006, The National Journal reported that Libby had said before a grand jury that his superiors, including Dick Cheney, had authorized him to disclose classified information to the press regarding Iraq's weapons intelligence.[37] Many people believe that Cheney ordered Libby to expose Plame as a CIA agent to punish her husband for questioning the validity of White House memos asserting that Saddam Hussein sought large amounts of uranium from Niger.[citation needed]
On July 13, 2006, Plame sued the Vice President and several others because he allegedly "illegally conspired to reveal her identity."[38]
On Sept 8, 2006, Richard Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State, publicly announced that he was the source of the revelation of Plame's status. Armitage said he was not a part of a conspiracy to reveal Plame's identity and did not know whether one existed.[39]
On December 19, 2006, news organizations reported that Vice President Dick Cheney would be called to testify as a witness for the defense during Libby's trial in January 2007.[40][41]
Hunting Accident
Hunting incident
Main article: Dick Cheney hunting incident
On February 11, 2006, Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old Texas attorney, in the face, neck, and upper torso with birdshot pellets from a shotgun when he turned to shoot a quail while hunting on a southern Texas ranch. The owner of the ranch stated that, "Mr. Whittington got peppered pretty good."
Whittington suffered a "minor heart attack," and atrial fibrillation due to a pellet that embedded in the outer layers of his heart. The Kenedy County Sheriff's office cleared Cheney of any criminal wrongdoing in the matter, and in an interview with Fox News, Cheney accepted full responsibility for the incident.[42] Whittington was discharged from the hospital on February 17, 2006, and characterized the incident as being quite brutal. Later, Whittington apologized to the vice-president for the trouble the event had caused him and his family. Cheney has stated many times that it was an honest accident.[43]
My favorite...
Under Cheney's tenure, the number of Halliburton subsidiaries in offshore tax havens increased from 9 to 44.[14] As CEO of Halliburton, Cheney lobbied to lift U.S. sanctions against Iran and Libya, saying that unilateral moves to isolate countries damaged U.S. interests.[15]
Discuss
