Results tagged “dickcheney”

It's August in a city election year, which means many registered Democrats (and Republicans, but mostly Democrats) are receiving campaign mailings from a candidate basically every day. And this weekend, Manhattan DA candidate Richard Aborn sent out one featuring former Vice President Dick Cheney! Featuring Cheney examining a rifle, the flyer says, "One candidate for district attorney has spent 30 years taking guns out of the hands of criminals"—ha!

With the Justice Department's release of a report on the CIA's abuses in overseas prisons and Attorney General Eric Holder's appointment of a special prosecutor to decide whether a full criminal investigation is needed, former Vice President Dick Cheney released a statement. Cheney says having a special prosecutor look into the matter "doubts about this administration’s ability to be responsible for our nation’s security...The people involved deserve our gratitude. They do not deserve to be the targets of political investigations or prosecutions." The AP's assessment of the released documents: "Interrogators took the simulated drowning technique of waterboarding beyond what was authorized. Mock executions were held." Specifically, "In one instance, suspect Abd al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the 2000 USS Cole ship bombing, was hooded and handcuffed and threatened with an unloaded gun and a power drill. The unidentified interrogator also threatened Nashiri's mother and family, implying that they would be sexually abused in front of him, according to the report." Cheney also said, "This intelligence saved lives and prevented terrorist attacks. These detainees also, according to the documents, played a role in nearly every capture of Al Qaeda members and associates since 2002," but Newsweek wonders if the information gained was useful.

Former Secretary of State—and New York native— Colin Powell was on CBS's Face the Nation and addressed criticism he's received from his Republican party brethren. Earlier this month, former VP Dick Cheney said, "If I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh. My take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican." This morning, Powell said, "I am still a Republican. I'd like to point out that in the course of my 50 years of voting for presidents, I have voted for the person I thought was best qualified at that time to lead the nation. Last year I thought it was President-now Barack Obama." He also said of the GOP, "I think the Republican party has to take a hard look at itself and decide what kind of party are we? I have always felt that the Republican party should be more inclusive than it generally has been over the years." As for the radio host's influence, Powell noted, "If he is out there, he should be subject to criticism...He shouldn’t have a veto over what someone thinks," referring to how GOP chairman Michael Steele had to apologize after criticizing Limbaugh.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made her feelings about former vice president Dick Cheney's known at a hearing today. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) had asked her about Cheney suggestion that the CIA's torture-related memos be declassified (because some, Cheney claims, show harsh torture=success), to which Clinton said, "It won't surprise you that I don't consider him a particularly reliable source." Rohrbacher than demanded Clinton answer the question, suggesting she would want to preserve her credibility with them (the House Foreign Affairs Committee), and Clinton said she would support whatever decision the Obama administration makes, adding, "I am not going to share that with you because I do not know any facts that support what you're describing." You can watch the exchange here.

Last night, the White House announced that then-Vice President Dick Cheney would be confined a wheelchair during the Inauguration ceremonies because he injured himself while helping out with his move to McLean, Virginia. (Naturally, Keith Olbermann was really excited by the news, which broke while he was on air.) During today's Inauguration coverage, former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw essentially said, unfortunately due to his strained back muscle, newspapers will say tomorrow that Cheney had a "Dr Strangelove" appearance because he's in the wheelchair. Tom, you're so helpful with your ideas.

With considerably less fanfare than when the Obamas met the Bushes earlier this week, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden met Vice President Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney at the vice presidential residence, the Naval Observatory. The AFP reports that during the 50-minute visit, "the couples held a private meeting and the Cheneys gave their guests a tour of the" Naval Observatory residence.

Vice President Dick Cheney told Republicans gathered at the midtown Sheraton NewYork Hotel and Towers last night, "If we all put our shoulders to the wheel between now and November, I'm confident we'll see John McCain as the next president of the United States.''

Pope Benedict XVI left New York City this evening, telling 4,000 people who gathered at JFK Airport, "It has been a joy for me to witness the faith and devotion of the Catholic community here." He called his address the United Nations one highlight and said, "My visit this morning to Ground Zero will remain firmly etched in my memory, as I continue to pray for those who died and for all who suffer in consequence of the tragedy that occurred there in 2001."

Yesterday, Senator John McCain was welcomed and endorsed by President Bush. Bush referenced McCain's doubters and past history, "John showed incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance in order to get to this moment. And that's exactly what we need in a President: somebody that can handle the tough decisions; somebody who won't flinch in the face of danger."

John McCain's Straight Talk Express headed into Manhattan today, taking him to Grand Central Terminal where he got the endorsement of former governor George Pataki. McCain, along with wife Cindy, appeared with Pataki, Alphonse D'Amato, Joseph Lieberman and Rudy Giuliani as the Republican candidate appears to be leading in many Super Tuesday polls over rivals Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.

President George Bush gave his final State of the Union address, sounding positive about his leadership but also noting that there's still more to do: "From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done." (You can read the entire text here.)

It’s said that when Dick Cheney was tasked with vetting potential Veeps for the Bush campaign, he carefully considered all the applicants before recommending the best man for the job: himself. Perhaps tearing a page from Vader’s playbook, Dark Lord Balthazar – AKA Gawker Media Czar Nick Denton – has found the ideal replacement to helm his flagship website in the wake of managing editor Choire Sicha’s resignation: an eager young go-getter from sector 7G named... Nick Denton! (We interviewed Sicha in the midst of all that drama.)

Yesterday Imus returned to radio, which means somewhere Al Sharpton was talking about it. Happy with the changes, but not quite certain the controversial cowboy will stick to them, Sharpton announced at a press conference yesterday that: "I can only wait and see if his deeds will follow up his words. I know the statements that he made we will continue to monitor as we'll monitor others." He also commented on the new sidekicks, saying,...

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a water rescue at Atlantic Beach Bridge in Queens, a fall victim onto the train tracks at West 42nd St. and 9th Ave. in Manhattan, and a car in the water on Bay and Edgewater Sts. in Staten Island.
• He didn't have to be shot in the back with a shotgun! Dick Cheney's heart problems continue. Seriously though, best wishes.
• Gov. Elliot Spitzer is going to be sequestered in a Brooklyn Marriott this weekend to hear it from fellow Democratic lawmakers. He'll eventually issue a mea culpa for resembling the party's mascot too closely and the Democrats will try to move on from there.
• "Wii. We need a Wii and world peace, but I'll take a Wii," said Mxxxxxxx Fxxxxx, 43, of Staten Island as she and her two daughters scoured Times Square stores for the red-hot Nintendo video-game console."
• Yep, immigrants are a drag on the economy: "In the suburbs north and east of the city, about 4 of every 10 doctors and more than one-fourth of college professors were foreign-born."
• "SELF" Magazine rated Long Island the second-healthiest region in the country. New York women ranked 8th in the 2nd annual ranking.
• Things to bring to a party: cake, wine, and not a knife to stick in your host's neck. The latter was the choice of one party guest, who surprised her friend with a sharp knife and a quick death.
• Brooke Astor's son Anthony and his attorney have been asked to surrender themselves on criminal charges.

Democrats Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Dianne Feinstein joined nine Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee and approved the nomination of Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey to go to the full Senate. The vote was 11-8, the eight opposing votes from the remaining Democrats on the committee. His confirmation is expected next week. Mukasey - and his supporters - has faced criticism after not declaring waterboarding illegal. Schumer has an op-ed in today's NY Times...

Vice President Dick Cheney had a day of hunting at the Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club in upstate New York - and no one was hurt. However, there is a storm brewing over the fact that a Confederate flag was hanging in a garage on the property.

Quick! What's scarier than a ghost, ghoul, or goblin? It's Dick Cheney...hunting! Everyone around the Valley Rod & Gun Club in Dutchess County better stock up on all the orange clothing they can find because the Vice President is going to be in your back yard. The Poughkeepsie Journal first reported Thursday that Cheney is coming to upstate New York for a hunting trip. He's expected to arrive Sunday night at Stewart airport and to go hunting on Monday.

A look at some of this week's noteworthy television:

The St. John's student who was found carrying a .50 caliber rifle in a black plastic bag on the school's Queens campus and caused the campus to be locked down yesterday afternoon was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Omeash Hiraman, a 22-year-old finance student, had been wearing a Fred Flintstone mask and was stopped by campus security. A guard and another St. John's student who happens to be a police cadet restrained Hiraman.

The Smoking Gun has decided to bookend the weekend with Rudy Giuliani tidbits. On Monday, The Smoking Gun printed parts of Giuliani's 1993 "vulnerabilities study" which, among other things, offered suggestions on how to answer questions about the former mayor's marriage to his second cousin. Today's installment is Giuliani's tour rider for speaking engagements. At $100,000 for one hour Giuliani time (45 minute speech, 15 minutes of Q&A), one also has to provide certain hotel and travel accommodations. The Smoking Gun writes, "We've previously posted the tour riders of Dick Cheney and John Kerry, but those two pols look like pikers compared to the high-rolling, diva-like Rudolph Giuliani, wannabe Republican presidential candidate." Why is Giuliani a diva? He needs at least a Gulfstream IV! And he doesn't like "direct, on-camera flash bulbs," either, but we can't blame him on that count - they do make him look more ghostly.

Fighting words from Senator Hillary Clinton. At the Democratic National Committee Winter Meetings, she passionately proclaimed, "If we in Congress don't end this war before January 2009, as president, I will." She also said that had she been President in October 2002, "I would not have started this war." Yes - the Daily News predicts that'll be Clinton's "flip-flop" soundbite.

Note to all politicians: If you need a shot of adrenalin at one of your events, get subway superhero Wesley Autrey on board. Because when President Bush cited Autrey's amazing rescue of another subway rider who had fallen into the tracks, we feel that Autrey brought down the house. Bush said:

Three weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls, when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the man into the space between the rails, and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he's not a hero. He says: "We got guys and girls overseas dying for us to have our freedoms. We have got to show each other some love." There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey.

A look at some noteworthy programs this week:

With the passing of 38th President Gerald Ford, many are examining how a fateful Daily News affected the New York City's economic recovery in the 1970s and Ford's own re-election hopes.

THEATER: A.R. Gurney’s new meta-play, Post Mortem, takes place in a future tyrannical America where a college student discovers a lost “masterpiece” by the largely forgotten playwright A.R. Gurney. In Post Mortem's cowardly new world, many believe Dick Cheney to be responsible for Gurney’s death, and the discovery of an unpublished memoir reveals Gurney affairs with Cameron Diaz, Katherine Hepburn and Katrina Kerns. (Okay, that last one's from our own meta-memoir.) The student’s willingness to defy the government by producing the banned play wins him both a shot at the Nobel Peace Prize and his hot professor’s affection. - John Del Signore

Last week, in his first career start, Brian Bannister saw his effort go to waste as the Mets bullpen blew his win against the Washington Nationals at Shea Stadium. Yesterday afternoon, Bannister was in cruise control against the Nationals as the Mets spoiled the Nationals home opener, 7-1. Bannister pitched seven impressive innings and allowed only three hits - one of which was Alfonso Soriano's solo home run in the 7th. The most impressive aspect of the rookie's performance was that he faced the Nationals less than a week ago.

JC: ALL RIGHT! I just took extra Vitamin C - I'm waiting for some food delivery.

Apologies to the poor schlub who had to slap together this past week's New Yorker cover-- his rendition of the Cheney shooting incident was just weak weak weak. We much prefer the alternate cover that got shelved-- a nod to the Mardi Gras currently underway in New Orleans. CartoonBrew has the first-hand account by Bill Joyce, who drew the abandoned cover:

- CONTEMPLATE: What transit contract did this guy get?