Chicken hawk on the Kitty Hawk

Cheney, on his way to practice the art of diplomacy in Japan (poor Japan),


gave a speech aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, stationed in Tokyo, because the only audiences who will still put up with his shit are 1) captive military audiences, 2) who can’t walk out without falling into the water and going “splash.” They do look like they’re weighing that option very seriously, though.


He told them “the American people will not support a policy of retreat.” He told them “We want to complete the mission, we want to get it done right, and we want to return with honor” and they replied “Sir! Who is this ‘we’ of whom you speak, sir!”

He told ABC that the British decision to withdraw some troops from Iraq with honor, or possibly honour, was actually “an affirmation of the fact that there are parts of Iraq where things are going pretty well.”

He called the Congressional resolution on the war “posturing on Capitol Hill,” said that “it’s important to remember that this is a Sense of the Congress resolution, that it doesn’t have any binding impact or effect” and complained that Senate Republicans were not allowed to present their resolution that wouldn’t have had any binding impact or effect. He said of that, “So there’s a certain amount of politics involved, I suppose.” He then went on to accuse Nancy Pelosi and Jack Murtha of having a “policy of defeat” and validating Al Qaida strategy.

Asked about McCain’s recent criticism of Rumsfeld, Cheney said, “I think Don’s a great secretary [sic].” He also said that McCain is a big pussy: “John said some nasty things about me the other day” [i.e., that Bush listens to Cheney too much] “and then next time he saw me, ran over to me and apologized. Maybe he’ll apologize to Rumsfeld.”

Giuliani: “With a campaign built on traditional 9/11 values, and with the help of every citizen who believes in the 9/11 dream, I want to make 9/11 great again.”

Al Kamen informs us that John Bolton is working on a book, but that it has no title. I believe that means it’s time for a CONTEST! YAY! To start you off: “Memoirs of a Quintessential Kiss-Up, Kick-Down Sort of Guy,” “The Time Has Come, The Walrus Said, To Talk of Many Things.”