Don't Just Stand There, Do Something

Things are fairly crazy on our lovely planet lately. The following are short pieces about some of the craziness that is cropping up and I’d like to know what you’re thinking. So I hope you will comment on Cheney, Church | State / Bachmann, Qaddafi, how you think Obama is handling Libya and more....

He's Back!

Dick Cheney has a brand new book out with contributions from his wife, Liz, called, In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir. I have not bought this book, nor do I have any intention of reading it. It was enough for me and, I’m sure many of you and other fellow Progressives, to live though eight years of listening to the then-Vice President reinvent reality in real time. According to responses to the memoir from Colin Powell and others who are included in his narrative, he continues taking that liberty when it comes to offering his perspective of history. It seems that Cheney has remained as ill-willed and dark-spirited as ever.
The Sunday talk shows provided a good ground for commentary, analysis and dish. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Face the Nation that he thought the book mischaracterized actual events and took "cheap shots" at colleagues. "It's not necessary to take these kind of barbs," Condoleezza Rice suggested, adding that, "I think they do fall into the category of cheap shots." Not surprising since Cheney accuses Rice of misleading President George W. Bush when it came to nuclear diplomacy with North Korea. And further, he writes that she actually “came into my office, sat down in the chair next to my desk, and tearfully admitted I had been right,” about which she says, "It certainly doesn't sound like me, now, does it?" Though it’s hard for me to admit that Donald Trump might perfectly sum up my feelings on Cheney, he does. "I didn't like Cheney as vice president. I don't like him now," he says. "I don't like people that rat out everybody like he's doing in the book."

I have a long-time delicious fantasy that I want to share with you. This fantasy, along with Jon Stewart's show, helped to get me through endless days of bad news in the papers, in my favorite magazines, and on the nightly and 24-hour news. It starts with a well-planned kidnapping, and might make a good film: Cheney, walking in the dark of night, is grabbed from behind and subdued as one of those black fabric bags that Iraqi POWs were treated to is pulled over his head. Next, he is taken to a secure location where his snatchers turn him over to handlers who will escort him through the rest of his ordeal. Shortly thereafter, he is spirited away to a waiting airplane and flown to The Hague; blindfolded, in handcuffs, in leg irons, and fed only bread and water. His spiriting away is coordinated with that of George W. Bush & Donald Rumsfeld who will, along with him, be put on trial and found guilty by the International Criminal Court of Crimes Against Humanity! Their punishment is to be sentenced to imprisonment at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center (which, let’s face it, isn’t closing any time soon), where they will all share the same small quarters 24 hours a day for the rest of their lives. 


To understand why President Obama never acted on these Crimes Against Humanity, visit The Justice Integrity Project. 

What We Can Do: 

1. Acknowledge that Cheney has the right to exercise his right to free speech
2. Exercise your right not to buy his book should you so choose
3. If so, be sure to let your favorite book sellers about your choice
4. If you buy the book you may want to:
1. Decide how you think we should proceed
2. Let us & let your elected representatives know how you feel