Posted on 09/03/2011 5:11:41 AM PDT by Kaslin
Days after an earthquake and a hurricane in the nation's capital, there were no locusts as some local wags nervously joked, but a forecast of "heads exploding all over Washington."
And so they did.
Former vice president Dick Cheney predicted that his memoir, "In My Time," would make Beltway craniums spontaneously combust. And if the man who has been congressman, defense secretary and corporate executive, among other roles, was looking for another career, he wouldn't make a bad psychic.
As with many a Washington memoir, most quasi-readers skipped to the hot parts (if they bothered to consider reading the book before they discussed it) -- the sections that are good for ratings.
But the conventional presentation of the book as a hotbed of controversy is misleading. It is actually not a series of "cheap shots," as has been commonly reported.
For an example: Cheney writes about transitioning from vice-presidential searcher to potential vice-presidential nominee, making sure he broke himself financially from Halliburton, where he was chairman and CEO. And although "there was no legal requirement that we do so," he writes, "Lynne and I set up an irrevocable gift trust agreement that would donate all the after-tax profits from these unvested options to three charities," including one that serves inner-city D.C. children.
That will be news to many.
So much of our public conversation tends to consist of competing spins. With his book, Cheney does a service to students of history. He tells his version of events as he remembers them, as he experienced them, pointing to documents and events that may be even more revealing later, when distance allows for a more sober consideration of the life and times of a man and his politics.
But Cheney provides perhaps an even bigger service: a reminder to read deeper. A reminder that as we hit refresh there is something more out there.
The lesson isn't entirely learned when most of the coverage of the book focuses only on a few small facets.
Cheney's book, in other words, is about much more than the career or legacy -- to use a common Beltway buzzword. Beyond what you think of him or Halliburton or his politics or his policies: it's about reminding us that there are facts, there is truth, and there is a perspective beyond the clashing views of the current news cycle.
Or, as Cheney recalls from an election-season Sunday morning, listening to Rev. Suzanne Harris speak from the pulpit: "'Our faith is not that bad things won't happen,' she said. 'Our faith is that when bad things do happen, God can still use that material to make something holy.' She reminded us that life is short. 'We do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us,' she said, 'so be swift to love and make haste to be kind.'"
He remembers, noting that he saw campaign staff scattered in the pews: "In the midst of a hard-fought political campaign, her sermon made all of us pause and reflect."
In the ups and downs of politics, as we watch polls like sports scores, it's worth remembering that all this activity and gamesmanship should always be in service to something greater and more enduring than a mere campaign or the movements of power.
We won't always agree on issues. We may interpret events and precepts differently. But we must never simply accept what the crowd says without gathering a few primary documents, the light of reason and a perspective rooted in something beyond the hubbub of the chattering class.
You mean it’s not all about self interest and retribution? sarc
Bump
My wife and I have watched at least 4 Cheney interviews, the most recent being Jay Leno last night. We have always felt that he was the person we would want in control if something bad happened and the interviews solidified that conviction. He is a patriot and we thank him for his service and sacrifices.
If I had to choose someone’s version of events (from those eight years) to ascribe to without even knowing the content, it would likely be Cheney’s.
At the polar, opposite end would be the reprehensible Powell.
He is indeed
I have always felt that. Every and any time I have ever watched him speak extemporaneously, he is calm, measured, thoughtful and rational.
Most especially when he used profanity to tell the scumbag Lahey what kind of sexual act he should perform on himself.
How did the audience react to him on Leno?
The left will never care about his Trust, or donations to charities. They will try to destroy him for the rest of time because he was right, and he was effective.
-——Dick Cheney predicted that his memoir, “In My Time,” would make Beltway craniums spontaneously combust-—
Kathryn, Kathryn...... if the memoir causes the explosion the result is not spontaneous, and much more than combustion.
The result he predicted was greater than you acknowledge
Regardless of what one thinks of the Bush Administration as a whole, given the preceding eight years and the following (at least) four years, one can only come to one conclusion:
Thank God at least there were adults in charge of our government. It was far from perfect, but in comparison, we were being run by people before (and most especially after) who were working for our national downfall.
As an example, I use Guantanamo Bay. That was perfectly and logically thought through. As proof, one can look at the actions of the people who demonized the Bush Administration (now in power) for setting it up. Funny, it is still there.
One doesn’t have to wonder why.
One of those rare people who command deep respect. This is an extraordinary man.
I am about 20% through the book and it is excellent. The prologue alone was worth the price. Seeing Cheney’s personal account of the events of September 11th is enlightening. And I have already gained a new appreciation for President Ford.
Powell and Condi...Suck it up...you both stunk!!
Powell certainly did. He was a disloyal, manipulative leaking scoundrel.
I've seen no evidence that puts Rice in the same territory. Cheney himself said they had only policy differences and downplayed the media spin.
Condi has her own memoir of her DC days coming this fall. It'll be interesting to see how it compares. I expect she'll be very diplomatic.
They did, however, try to beat him up when he cashed out of Halliburton, at their badgering, and the timing was such that it was a good move, for Halliburton stock dropped shortly thereafter.
I don't recall anything about the trust the Cheneys set up, or that "Lady Bird" Johnson was a very large (thanks to her father, iirc) Halliburton shareholder at the time.
Anyone who would even think of listening to a Rev. Suzanne while sitting as a captive audience in a pew is a liberal in my book.
Flame away!
Thanks - ". . . primary documents, the light of reason and a perspective rooted in something beyond the hubbub of the chattering class." There is a certain wisdom in these words which, if applied to solving our current national problems, could put America back to "the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety." (Jefferson's First Inaugural)
Jefferson's words followed his outlining of what he considered to be "the essential principles of our Government, and consequently those which ought to shape its Administration."
The American Declaration of Independence, authored by Jefferson, and representing what he called "the American mind" of 1776, and its Constitution, framed by a collection of the best minds of 1787, along with THE FEDERALIST, are "primary documents" which, if examined in "the light of reason," might relight the lamp of liberty for new generations who long to be free.
With reference to "a perspective rooted in something beyond . . . ," we might be reminded of the Pope's speech in Germany a few years ago, in which he observed:
"A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures."
In 2008, Michael Ledeen stated: "Our educational system has long since banished religion from its texts, and an amazing number of Americans are intellectually unprepared for a discussion in which religion is the central organizing principle."
Perhaps the Pope and Ledeen have identified a missing "perspective" we need.
Thank you for sharing this thoughtful piece with us.
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