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John King Asks Dick Cheney If He Wrote Book Because His ‘Days Are Numbered’

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» 86 comments

“When writing this book, I don’t mean to sound morbid,” CNN’s John King began, while interviewing former VP Dick Cheney at the Reagan Library, “but were you thinking, ‘My days could be numbered?’”

Mission: not accomplished, Mr. King, but Cheney followed up with a retort that would drop the temperature on Hoth by a couple of degrees: “So are yours.”

Say what you will about Cheney, he owns his persona.

King pegs the rest of the segment to Cheney’s famous health problems, pointing out that the former VP, who has had five heart attacks (but, for the record, has live-tweeted none of them), is a walking bellwether of medical advancement. Cheney showed off his vest-enclosed heart pump, which has been the subject of some predictable Darth Vader humor. As The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart noted, though, hearing Cheney describe his health struggles has a strangely humanizing effect.

True to form, though, Cheney pushes back on that effect. King asks him if he hesitates to get a heart transplant because people might think he was getting preferential treatment. Cheney waves the notion off like a bad appetizer. “No, no, I’m not worried about that.”

King manages to further humanize Cheney by getting him to reflect on whether his now-deceased mother would be as proud of him now as she was before she passed. “I would like to think that she would approve of the latter stages of my career. She passed shortly after I left the Defense Department, so she never knew I got to be Vice President. But she would’ve loved it.”

King finishes by giving Cheney an opportunity to respond to critics who think he should have used his book to apologize. Not a chance. “There’s a certain group who don’t think you’ve written a book until you’ve used it to apologize for whatever it is they disagree with that you did. I don’t worry about that.”

Here’s the clip, from CNN:


In case you missed it, here’s Jon Stewart’s take on the humanizing effect of Cheney’s health problems: (from Comedy Central)


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  • Anonymous

    Someone should ask John King if he asked that question because he’s an idiot.

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Come on!! The guy has had more heart surgeries than anyone in history!! Though, I will give the Sith Lord some credit for not backing down and apologising or his past mistakes (still arrogant knowing his days ARE numbered)… even though everyone on the planet knows he made quite a few!!

  • Anonymous

    Wonder if King would ask Oblamer this question? Doubt it.

    Nice none story Tommy…yawn. Must not be abke to find a picture of Palin eating a corn dog.

  • TruDat

    Everyone’s days are numbered.  Why are liberals so stupid?

  • Anonymous

    Is Obama dumb because he is …. a commie?

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    I Found a rare picture of Dick Cheney when he was smiling and happy!!

    http://www.hecklerspray.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/palpatine.jpg

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    And, he does look simply awful. Still, it was an inappropriate question, and I wish both many a high number of days remaining.

  • Darladoon

    i thought king meant “days outside of jail might be numbered”

  • Anonymous

    Due to his age and well known health problems it is clear that Cheney’s “days are numbered” (Hint: it’s an expression meaning that one’s time is limited to a finite and small amount, from the bible).  Why are you so obtuse?    

  • Pretty Sure

    Pretty sure that horse your flogging is quite dead .

  • Multi340

    There will be no tears shed for this monster when the world is free of Cheney’s vile warmongering. 

  • Silgary

    Who will live longer, Cheney or King’s show? I bet Cheney

  • Anonymous

    i understand, how those other war criminals like FDR, Truman and LBJ escaped prison is also amazing

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    Wow!  Not to change the subject but I found this video clip of Joe Biden you may find interesting.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8–lrON9yzs

  • JoeyBagels

    Don’t you people ever give up? Liberals who are supposed to dislike the imposition of morality in public and private life, suddenly don the harsh, Calvinistic robes of a Jonathan Edwards or a Cotton Mather, when it comes to Dick Cheney. Did he repent? His days are numbered! You hate the fact that Cheney is a man comfortable with himself, and his decisions. He is not going to apologize to you.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    As long as he doesn’t set foot in the European Union, he should be fine. The Netherlands and Italy both have standing arrest warrants out.

  • Anonymous

    If I were Cheney I would have ended the interview by extending an invitation to King ( the little bastard ) to come out to  Wyoming ‘ God’s country ‘  and join me for a day of quail hunting….

  • JoeyBagels

    And what has Cheney done that Obama hasn’t? Or FDR, LBJ, or Lincoln? Stop making Dick Cheney the focus or all the evil in the modern world. There are people who admire Stalin, or Castro, or Mao who think Dick Cheney is a mass murderer, and some of them post comments here.

  • SAWB

    You have to respect Cheney.  When he is asked a stupid question he sticks it in the persons ear.  King asked a stupid question and Cheney politely told him “John you idiot you”.  

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    Uh…  No they don’t

  • Hugo Daun

    TEARS? Hell no!

    I’ve stocked up on libations and I already have the venue reserved for one wild party!

  • Anonymous

    Can you imagine the grief the liberal media would have given Cheney if he had announced we were bombing Libya in an undeclared war that was supposed to last “a few days” and then six months later announced another three month extension?

    But instead, the liberal media makes a mockery of itself, by constantly running stories that the “final battle for Libya” is underway, and that Gaddafi is in his final hours.  Then they run another story about a “final battle” the next month, and the month after that, etc. etc.  How many “final battles” have there been? I’ve lost count. 

    Probably the smartest thing the liberal media can do in response to the Libyan fiasco is to follow Mediaite’s policy, and ignore substantive stories that reflect poorly on the President.  Of course, that means no stories on all the leading issues of the day – unemployment, economic stagnation, huge deficits, Afghanistan, the border, rising health insurance rates, falling home prices, etc. etc. etc.

  • Pretty Sure

    The truth matters litle to these two .

  • RW

    I saw Obama is sending in more ground troops.  Since when do we have ground troops in Libya? Did congress vote on this?  Oh that’s right – no Obama never went to congress for approval.

    Add these to the list of storiese that reflect poorly which are also ignored:
    Solyndra, Fast and Furious GunWalker

  • RW

    Don’t forget Che Guevara. 

  • Anonymous

    CNN’s days are numbered!

  • Anonymous

    As if anyone cares what Italy and Holland thinks.
     
    MG!

  • Mandingo ate your baby

    Assuming Cheney’s mother was a virtuous woman, it’s a safe bet they will never meet in the afterlife.

  • TruDat

    Again, everyone’s days are numbered.

  • TruDat

    You might want to start counting the conflicts your pal Obama’s gotten us into.

  • TruDat

    The Real Royal Pain is fond of making stuff up.

  • TruDat

    No worries, we’ll be in Libya for a matter of days, not weeks.

  • JoeyBagels

    What if you go before Cheney? Every family has a least one story where a much younger family member suddenly becomes concerned with the “failing health” of an elderly relative. They worry about their catching a cold, or their increasingly erratic driving, and they set about “making plans” on how to deal with the “inevitable”, which is surely “right around the corner”. You know what happens next. That sick, elderly relative attends THEIR funeral.

  • Anonymous

    Even if you hate Cheney, these sappy media dorks put you in his corner. That’s how disgusting they are.

  • Mare

    Nor you

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F4SPJYSKCY2VVU65IJ2EKYGW44 Bless You

    Don’t wish harm or bad health on anyone – Cheney or King.  What a lame question.  I love Darth Vadar’s persona…he doesn’t back down. Good.  I don’t agree w/him on everything, though, most things. 

    Cheney looks like a guy who has had multiple heart surgeries, and other health issues, and is in his 70′s. 

    Now, if he had the plastic surgery Pelosi or Feinstein or Kerry or Biden have had, er’, botox only, forgot….
    Have you seen half the U.S. Senate and House, they never leave, they just grow old there…and look it.

    Apologize for what?  Doing what they thought was best at the time, and w/the facts they had at the time.
    When will Bill Clinton apologize for not accepting Osama Bin Laden when he was offered up? Will Gore apologize for the factual errors in his movie about global warming, er’, climate change?   When will Obama apologize for misleading statements about Obamacare, or his 20 year relationship with a pastor he never
    actually listened to as he sat in church spewing racial attacks?  Like, uh, never…..

    The force is with you Dicky, may you live long, and prosper – oh wait, I’m mixing up my science fiction.

  • Anonymous

    wow, questions worthy of MSNBC.   That was disgusting.  I suppose next time he interviews Bill Clinton he’ll ask if Hillary trusts him to ever be alone with women or if he has an aversion to blue dresses, or even more like the Cheney questions: if blue dresses turn him on.  Absolutely disgusting.

  • Hugo Daun

    What if you go before Cheney?

    I’m prepared for that contingency.

    The Dick Cheney Death Celebration will go on!
    We’re going
    global, dummies!

  • Anonymous

    OBAMO ‘felt the need’ to have TWO books about him, so I hope his days are numbered TWICE as quickly.

  • Eleni102

    i cant stop laffing..lol
    wht difference does it make who i am…bunch of idiots asking a dumb question

  • Anonymous

    I’m not sure why people have it in for Cheney so much
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meZ8vTmNfQw

  • Anonymous

    Duh, yup.

  • Ralph

    When he showed up for Obama’s inagueration in a wheel chair, it reminded me of the closing scenes in Casino where Remo and the big bosses show up to court in wheel chairs and oxygen tanks.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FZ2FA-epcE

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    He was just looking to get sympathy from the new Administration so they would charge him with War Crimes!!

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Sure they are… they’ve only been around or TWICE as long as Fox News!!

  • Anonymous

    This article is weak for Tommy because he really wasn’t able to demonize Cheney,Republicans,conservatives or any members of each.He didn’t even make any of their policies or actions look bad.

    Ultimately all that was accomplished was to make John King look weak and stupid,worthy of a program cancellation and not supportive of the media.

    As for the book,it’s stupid to think Cheney’s mindset would be “tell my story just in case I actually do die”Cheney isn’t about that,he’s about shock and awe,smash and grab.

  • TruDat

    Again, why are liberals so stupid?

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    In order for Cheney to make his argument for bombing Libya, he would have had to make the claim, like he did with Iraq, that they were involved with Al Qaeda and the 9/11 attacks!!

  • Jp7077

    You know what…..whatever you think of Cheney……you gotta give him credit because he SPEAKS HIS MIND…..without a teleprompter

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Classic!!

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Cheney obviously does… that’s why he won’t leave the country!!

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    It has been stated by people close to Cheney that said he’s worried about leaving the country and being tried for War Crimes!! Plus, he probably figured out Obama just might let the trial take place!!

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Nigeria, too. Issued through Interpol.

    Spain is considering one.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    President Obama is relatively young and fit, so I should think only a fool would ask such a question. 

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Or without having to write notes on his hand like Palin… so I’ll give him that one!!

  • Anonymous

    So was Eastern Airlines. And TWA. Your point?

  • Anonymous

    ObamaGasm !!!

  • Anonymous

    Halliburton !!!  Cheney Lied.  People Died !!!

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    I was comparing cable news networks, not airlines!!

    The point is, who knows how long Fox News will be around… especially with the phone-hacking scandal gripping Murdoch, his son and NewsCorp.!!

  • Anonymous

    FOX NEWS LIES !!!

    *Drink*

  • Anonymous

    I know if I was old Dick I would be worried about one thing. Meeting my maker!!!

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Still a little early, but I’ll have to owe you one!!  =)

  • Lizton

    Cheney has the blood of thousands of innocent women and children on his hands. May he burn in hell for all time.

  • Hypnojive

    Dick always manages to excite the libs.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    No warrants were ever issued, not even those rumored to be coming out of Nigeria…  Show a news article from a reliable source, I am pretty sure that you can’t….  Only threats of warrants.

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Wow!! I don’t like Cheney and what he stands for but those are some pretty strong statements!! Of course, you are without a doubt, entitled to your opinion!!

  • TruDat

    You may want to tally up the number of innocent men, women and children Obama has droned to death, without Congressional approval.  At least Bush got approval.  So if Cheney’s in hell, Obama will be right by his side.

  • TruDat

    Libbies don’t believe in a “maker”.

  • Anonymous

    You are right.  I don’t!

  • Anonymous

    In 2010 a record number of civilians and soldiers died in Afghanistan in what was the bloodiest year since the war began. I am assuming you are also wishing Obama and Biden to hell as well?

  • Anonymous

    He looks like he is already dead.  Not a nice question to ask someone who looks like he does.

  • Mandingo ate your baby

    Cheney’s lesbian daughter was recently asked what she will do when her father dies, she replied, “you mean aftyer the party.”

  • TruDat

    And nobody gives a flying F*ck.

  • Anonymous

    He’s more machine than man these days.  I would say his days are numbered.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for telling me that I can’t believe in God!! Please let me know what other things I can believe in or think.

  • http://impossibledreamsmedia.com Chris Jones

    I don’t need to hear about his heart condition to “humanize” him. Dick Cheney is very much human. He’s also a great American and one of the finest Vice Presidents this country has ever had. Calls for him to apologize are absurd. We were fortunate to have a man of his wisdom and toughness sitting in the #2 seat after 9/11. Incidentally, I’m in the middle of reading his book now. It’s a great read. The fact that earned a full scholarship to Yale, but then got kicked out for partying too much is one of the greatest stories ever.

  • brian

     Think how many people would still be alive if he had died before the Iraq war started, oh well typical rethug coward, always willing to send other people’s children to die but when it was their turn to go, they found a way out of it. wimps.

  • Glutton

    I don’t know if his days are numbered.  I would say it just gives him an out if he’s ever indicted for war crimes or crimes against humanity.  

  • Anonymous

    Everybody’s days are numbered.  It’s just that some numbers are smaller than others.

  • AvengingAngel

    If there was any real justice Cheney would have been hung side-by-side with Saddam for his heinous war crimes.

  • Anonymous

    If anyone would know about “days being numbered” it would be a CNN evening host.  How long do they usually last before getting fired for lousy ratings?  Six months?  A year?

    In other words, Cheney has better odds at being on TV a year from now than John King.  

  • Rick Shoaf

    Maybe he asked him because Cheney’s days as a free man are numbered.  There is a growing movement to have him, Bush and Rumsfeld indicted for war crimes.  And Cheney knows it.

  • Jerry Baustian

    Despite his age, Dick Cheney can still think rings around, well, everyone. Ask Joe Lieberman how it feels to be pwnd by Dick Cheney — and Joe has twice the brains of a Jon King.

  • Jerry Baustian

    Despite his age, Dick Cheney can still think rings around, well, everyone. Ask Joe Lieberman how it feels to be pwnd by Dick Cheney — and Joe has twice the brains of a Jon King.

  • Jerry Baustian

    Despite his age, Dick Cheney can still think rings around, well, everyone. Ask Joe Lieberman how it feels to be pwnd by Dick Cheney — and Joe has twice the brains of a Jon King.

  • Porphyry

    Mr. Sewer calls “Big-Time’s” public-service record “vile.” How does it compare to his own public-service record?

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