Judge Orders Cheney Interviews Released, Cable News Producers Salivate

speculation

by Robert Quigley | 11:54 pm, October 1st, 2009

» 4 comments

Cheney CBS

Notoriously secretive former VP Dick Cheney may find his face blasted over all of the cable networks all over again, thanks to a recent ruling by a federal judge. The judge, Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled, over the Justice Department’s objections, that records including FBI reports, notes, and interviews with Cheney associated with the investigation of the Valerie Plame leak will have to be made public under the Freedom of Information Act. Here’s why cable news producers must be licking their chops:

During Cheney’s time in office, he was almost theatrically dismissive of public opinion; Barton Gellman’s excellent book on the Cheney vice presidency, Angler, describes him as “the ultimate staffer,” always focusing on his policy preferences over consensus. This is what makes him such an easy political villain. A May 2009 CNN Poll found that only 37 percent of Americans have favorable opinions of Cheney, and even among conservatives, his numbers aren’t high.

And Plamegate records are about as juicy an anti-Cheney treat as a hungry cable producer could hope for. Whereas some of the other controversial moves from the Cheney wing of the White House — broadening the executive branch’s authority to torture terror suspects, or expanding domestic surveillance — are arguably defensible on the grounds of national security, leaking the name of an undercover CIA officer for what seemed to be reasons of spite is indefensible, and could give cable talking heads a chance to thunder accusingly at the ghosts of the Bush administration.

But a Cheney-driven cable news cycle wouldn’t even need to be too rigorously based on substance.

>>>NEXT: What would it be based on then, pray tell?

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CaptainAmerica

Here’s a typical left wing article on Mediaite. Funny how the author fails to mention that his ‘messiah’ was at 65% approval back in May (when he says Cheney in a CNN poll was at 38%). Since then the ‘chosen one’ has dropped below 50% approval.

Cheney and Bush keep looking better and better everyday when compared to JIMMY CARTER II.

He also failed to mention the headlines at the time about Cheneys approval ratings going up as he attacked Obama, but hey, if he pointed that out it would hurt his “cause”.

And if CNN and MSNBC got ahold of these they would somehow start drawing ratings?! LOL They’ve been attacking Bush/Cheney this whole year (and leaving the chosen one alone). Thats why FNC is beating CNN/CNNHN/ MSNBC COMBINED in the ratings.

And as Obama continues to make this country far less safe, his ratings will continue to decline. He’s already shown he can’t stand up to the Russians (missile defense) and he’s losing the war in Afghanistan. Also, he’s letting Iran push us all around. He’s a weak weak President.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Scerpella/1022068347 Dan Scerpella

This obsession with the Valerie Plame Affair continues to amaze me. Special Counsel Fitzgerald knew almost immediately who leaked Plame’s status to reporter Robert Novak. Richard Armitage a former Dep Secretary of State who was not an enthusiastic Bush supporter. The idea that the Bush Administration leaked Plames name to endanger her and her anti Bush husband is laughable. Leaking a CIA operatives name is a felony yet Armitage was never charged. And Joe Wilson’s credibility self destructed after his testimony before congress was proven to be false.

I guess continuing this poltically motivated obsession with Cheney beats explaining rising unemployment, defitcits, the national debt, Irans increasing boldness, and an economy that still hasnt turned around.
CaptainAmerica

Great points Dan and too bad Robert didn’t do a story on why the Plame’s were never charged with LYING BEFORE CONGRESS. They should both be in jail.
ImNotBlue

Remember… the Plame incident is important. The ACLU currently taking photographs of multiple CIA interrogators to show to detainees and prisoners, so they can “point out if someone hurt them,” isn’t. Sure, the current project is going after CIA agents who are ACTUALLY covert… but Plame is, um… might hurt a Republican… so it’s worthy!

Pah-thetic.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/20/AR2009082004295.html