Posted on 06/01/2008 1:34:43 AM PDT by CutePuppy
Good questions. We have to take into account that it was not meant to be a comprehensive analysis of all, or even key players, by Frum.
My understanding is that Cheney was himself somewhat an outsider, though obviously much valued, and did not participate much, if at all, in staffing of non-principals in upcoming administration which was also delayed by Gore’s court challenges and recounts. Same can be said about other strong personalities in principal positions (Rumsfeld at DoD, Rice at NSC, Powell at DoS, Ashcroft at DoJ) - they did not come from Texas Governor campaigns and political circles, but that was pretty much it. None of these strong people depended on Bush or being viable in government service for their [political or financial] future. And there were also many stories about Bush actually looking and asking for different advice from different points of view and varied experience from these principals.
Also, of these principals (with likely exception of Powell) were pretty busy early on, looking to find replacements and/or get through delayed confirmations in their respective or related departments and reshape/establish their policies and shortly after had to deal with 9/11. One might say they did not have much time or choice [to vet] and went with whoever were known and comfortable to Bush.
It seems that Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice (as NSA) were pretty close and for the most part on the same page, including their immense contributions in developing a concept of COW (Coalition Of the Willing) which is much needed replacement of failed NATO (as an organization and a structure) and the need to restructure severely downsized military to fit new budgets and new kinds of threats.
I think Frum in this article only tries to deal with people who are not a part of that very small “decision circle” but rather, as he described, “these subordinated personalities” (which makes his shot at Rice even more puzzling, and more likely refers to her tenure at DoS which he - and many of her detractors, including on FR - may consider disappointing and “damaging”)
We don’t know if Cheney had any hand or input into relieving from duties any mediocrities (such as Andy Card) but this administration had a long list of them, probably not too long a list of better people willing to serve to replace them, and not too much time to look for qualified and willing replacements. Considering that Bush himself was not a movement leader, the problem of finding the “willing qualified” was probably magnified - real conservatives are not known to favor serving in administrative positions in Washington to affect “change”... For Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice and the like it was more like another “tour of duty”.
Plamegate exposed weaknesses and ineptitude and created cracks in the Bush “defense” structure and lack of communication and cohesiveness between him and among “these subordinated personalities”; post-Katrina, Harriet Miers and Dubai Ports World PR fiascoes broke the dam and opened the floodgates.
One of the most profound errors in the Bush Administration was in not using Cheney more -- he could have and should have been the spokesperson for the Administration. He could have been very effective at something that W just had no confidence and no competence. I'm sure the Administration's leaders decided they couldn't let Cheney have that kind of public and prominent role because it would have fueled the suspicion that Cheney was in charge. So W's Administration just went ahead without any effective communication to the American people defending the Administartion's policies and the long-term vision they were following. Compare W's success with that of Reagan -- and I think this inability to communicate is by far the primary reason.
As for you stating you thought "EVERY one knew" Cheney's bailiwick, you would be surprised that there are many who do not know much about him, some who do not even recognize the name.
Dana Perino is as pretty as you can get away with being in public life.
Those people are STUPID.
That's bordering on a violation of the Eighth Commandment.
She’s a hot little number.
Having said that if we say he still was not used enough maybe we go back to the loyalty aspect with the President. VP Cheney has always said that his role within this administration is promoting the President's policy and he would not use it as many VP’s have for furthering their political standing or career. He made it clear that at the end of either the 4 or 8 years that was it for him in an official political/governmental capacity in Washington. I am out of here is a term he has used often.
Bearing this in mind this would therefore the President feel happy in using the VP as a spokesman for some issues with which they did not agree? The marriage amendment springs to mind even that though Cheney the loyal servant he is did promote it a few times even though privately it is known both he and his wife felt it was a State's issue not Federal one. No doubt this is partly to do with sexual orientation of his younger daughter Mary but that aside he was still prepared if push came to shuff to support the President.
I would suspect there were other issues probably one of them is in how to tackle the immigration issue where he and the President did disagree again here there are few speeches where he did push the President's views and wishes but compared with other issues I agree he has not been that outspoken on this probably because privately he did not agree 100 per cent with the President.
Now going back to loyality aspect I would suggest the President would not feel comfortable getting the VP to constantly go against some of his own personal views to promote the President's point of view and that is why I suspect that maybe he has not been used on some ocassions as a spokeman for the adminstration. Again you can say the President maybe was wrong and that as the Commander in Chief he should not have taken this into consideration but I believe that this is part of his character and his own loyalty that he would take it into consideration.
One footnote from me on this take this away from the President and you take away his character and what IMHO makes the man tick and he would be a lesser person maybe not a lesser President but certainly a lesser person.
IMO, your summation is right on the button.
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