Cross-posted on The Stonecipher Report 

 

Well, "retirement" from the top levels of US government service hasn’t exactly been a quiet time for former Vice President Dick Cheney, has it, eh? He keeps showing up in the media, (so predictably) criticizing the Obama Administration, defending his stands on torture (and other "unpopular" decisions) while in power, and – now – apparently settling old scores by picking sides against former allies.

For example, the ol’ Dick showed up on CBS's "Face the Nation" program over this past weekend, and, to host Bob Schieffer's noted surprise, spoke out in support of Rush Limbaugh over former Bush Administration figure Colin Powell. Both the radio conservative and the former Secretary of State have said that the now-struggling Republican Party would be better off without the other figure. And, when posed the choice between the two of them by Schieffer, Cheney stated, "I'd go with Rush Limbaugh."

Cheney continued – in a blank, faux-innocent (and even semi-surprised) way – that his "take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican." He also said that he thought that Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama (which, of course, Limbaugh said was clearly and solely race-related) was "some indication of his loyalty and his interests." And when Schieffer repeated the question directly – "And you said you’d take Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell?" – Cheney replied, "I would, politically."

…Well, I guess this means that a feud is officially on – yeah! big-time GOP feud!! whoopee!!! – so, I thought perhaps that I could sort a bit through the…uh…distinctly different (to say the least!) images, actions, and personalities of the two men involved. So, to help us all choose potential sides in this dispute – fight! Fight!! FIGHT!!! – here are some quick (and quite clear) comparisons between Colin Powell and Dick Cheney…

 

COLIN POWELL Vs. DICK CHENEY

 

Powell:  Longtime military man

Cheney:  Longtime (assumed) draft-avoider

 

Powell:  Respected, admired

Cheney:  Feared, dreaded

 

Powell:  Ran the State Department openly and efficiently

Cheney:  Ran the United States secretly and horribly

 

Powell:  Showed independence and reality by backing Obama for President

Cheney:  Showed obstinacy and disregard for the American people by backing President Bush into a corner

 

Powell:  Thought to be stern but big-hearted

Cheney:  Thought – after 4 cardiac attacks – to have no heart

 

Powell:  Men who served under him remain loyal to him

Cheney:  Men who served under him likely to spend time in prison (perhaps WITH him)

 

Powell:  Sometimes reminiscent of beloved actor James Earl Jones

Cheney:  Too often reminiscent of Jones’ scary voice role as "Darth Vader"

 

Powell:  Shares his first name with a usually not-thought-of body part

Cheney:  Shares his first name with a perfectly appropriate body part

 

Powell:  Might well have been a more successful Presidential candidate than the man his party chose in 1996

Cheney:  Might well have been an ever greater disaster as Presidential candidate than the man his party chose in 2008

 

Powell:  Played by Jeffrey Wright in Oliver Stone’s "W." (who was a lifesaver in "Angels in America"…and who knows James Bond quite well)

Cheney:  Played by Richard Dreyfuss in Oliver Stone’s "W." (who meanly dumped the "Goodbye Girl"…and who the shark in "Jaws" wouldn’t even eat)

 

Powell:  Apparently misled into lying to Congress about Iraq seeking Nigerian yellowcake

Cheney:  Apparently didn’t care if he lied to the American public about nearly EVERYTHING

 

Powell:  Dissed by self-centered megalomaniac Rush Limbaugh

Cheney:  Apparently as self-centered a megalomaniac as Rush Limbaugh

 

Powell:  Chose not to run for the Presidency over concern for its effect on his family

Cheney:  Had to skip running for the Presidency because nearly the entire country hated him

 

Powell:  Can eventually picture him on a stamp

Cheney:  Can eventually picture him on trial

 

Powell:  Career-long military background, so perhaps fired meaningful shots in battle

Cheney:  Life-long meanness background, so perhaps shot a hunting friend in the face just because he wouldn’t move fast enough

 

Powell:  Lightly dark-skinned

Cheney:  Darkly dark-souled

 

Powell:  Served under the first President Bush, then grew in reputation

Cheney:  Served under President Ford, then grew in evilness

 

Powell:  With maybe a little extra weight, award-winning actor Morgan Freeman could probably do a good job of portraying him

Cheney:  With maybe a little extra aging make-up, goofy actor Paul Giamatti could probably do a good job of portraying him

 

Powell:  Likely to be judged by history as a dependable military leader and thoughtful diplomat who got caught up in a tragically failed administration

Cheney:  Likely to be judged by history as the Constitution-ignoring and torture-encouraging ringleader of a tragically failed administration

 

Powell:  May actually be the currently most popular remaining self-identified Republican in the US…

Cheney:  Is probably (quite easily) the least popular remaining self-identified Republican in the US…

 

Wasn't really a Republican, he was just an ambitious man trying to capitalize on his military successes in Iraq to get a political career going. And Bush used him and tossed him aside like a two dollar whore. And then Powell endorsed Obama. I'm going to have to go with Dick on this one, Powell does not represent the Republican Party, which is actually a compliment to him

"misled into lying"?

Can't we take delight in Cheney's (unsurprising) comments without pretending Powell is something that he's not? He signed off on torture and lied us into war. It's hard to measure the gallons of blood on his hands.

and for that, I can never fully forgive him. At least he's acknowledged it to some extent, though, and appears to feel genuine remorse in a way that is only partially self-serving. But agreed that he was, as a minimum, played for a fool, and that his reputation will be forever tarnished to some extent by that.

...ended in January.

All I have for him now is pity. Not the empathetic kind that makes me want things to go well for him, just the hollow kind where all you feel is sad about someone's existence.

if Powell made Cheney's demise appropriately gorey. Pun intended.

in general both confirm and validate General Colin Powell's decision to endorse Barack Obama as President of the United States. Colin Powell has the dignity and class that the Dick and all of his Rethugs will never have or understand. Although I understand that talking about them can be entertaining, they're really just not worth it.

Cheney is getting a lot of media coverage: http://www.newsy.com/videos/questioning_dick_cheney/ but @davidmizner I agree, Powell doesn't seem to have much of a backbone to me. He is an opportunist, taking advantage of his skin color whenever possible. When he could get ahead by finding a niche as a minority in Bush's administration he did. Then when it was beneficial to be black again he hopped on board with the Democrats. Opportunist plain and simple.

"There was a wet sort of explosion, audible for several miles. And that, thank heavens! was the end of the Beastly Baby."

Republicans off my television? I voted them out of office, but the media keeps imposing them on me! Enough!

If I could just have a 60 day Republican free period on my television I would be a happy person.

thought the bullshit meme about Cheney doing this for the good of the country or he really believe in Torture versus the perfect soldier just showed how petty Cheney was and that this was all about Cheney. Remember the moderate Republicans still see Powell as a figure to look up to. Remember this is the party that worships the Military. And Powell fits this bill to a "T". He still has strong street creds with the majority of the American People. And him siding with Obama , just makes those who call him a Socialist look crazy - Would Powell support such a left wing Socialist? No - so Obama wins. so then Middle America has to ask itself who is the crazies on the fringe. If Powell says he's keeping the country safe, they side with Powell and not Cheney - Remember Cheney never wore a military uniform.(deferred 4 times) Powell - 4-stars.

he and Powell and Wilkerson and Baker are total buds. I hope he's urging his son to cooperate with authorities in a trial against Cheiny the Heiny.