Cheney and Rush's motivation - in the canyons of their own minds they are the true patriots. The reat of us are merely backdrop extras,or nefarious long-haired hippy-type pinko fags! -Kevo

p.s. My best to Charlie Daniels!

Some serial killers don't take money, don't sexually assault their victims, don't torture for prolonged periods of time, they just kill. Why?

Because some people are just pure f**kin' evil.

Why does this rhetorical question remind me of Rush's about Cheney? Dunno, just does.

Cheney is "speaking from his heart"?

OMG - the jokes write themselves!

I agree with Ed Shultz here - Cheney's motivation is pure and simple - to cover his ass.

Cheney hopes that he can change the discourse and/or conventional wisdom just enough, just like they did in Plame matter, to ensure that congress does the same job as they did with Iran-Contra or that the whole lot of them are pardoned, a la Watergate. Richard Cohen and David Ignatius are already writing columns, just like in the Plame matter, to make sure that all this unseemly icky torture stuff gets swept under the rug.

Cheney's probably humming this tune all the time...doodoo-doo-da-doo-da-doodle,da-doo-da-doo-da-doodle...if I only had a heart....

Motivation? The oldest in human history: Self Preservation. (AKA Staying out of Prison. . .)

He is not hot for interns. He is not a torture freak.

Titanium love is complicated.

Those are the official talking points, issued late yesterday from the home office. Cheney is sincere. Cheney honestly believes he is helping keep America safe from Obama's recklessness. Take breath. Repeat.

Pat Buchanan was spouting the same gibberish almost verbatim this morning on Morning Schmoe.

Rush has an audience who believes every lie that Cheney ever told. Why would it matter what Limbaugh says? We all, that includes Cheney and Limbaugh, know that Cheney is trying to persuade people that he didn't engage in amoral foolishness that is slowly destroying the Republican Party. Cheney doesn't want to be the best friend the Democrats ever had.

And what kind of black heart is it which condones torture, oppression, secrecy, aggression, and partisanship, all cloaked as patriotism? Speaking straight from a festering pustule is not a step up from covering-your-ass. Somebody ought to clue Limbaugh in.

What motivates Cheney?

1) Create a political environment where enough people think torture is "good" so that there will be no serious discussion of prosecution, or even investigation or war crimes

2) Create a "truth" that torture works so that if (and when?) there is a terrorist attack in the US, even a small one, it will be because Democrats didn't understand we needed to be rougher with "those people."

It's really a simple question.

Bin Laden 'speaks from the heart' too. Some hearts are black, shriveled, ugly things.

Dick Cheney is a very afraid, cowardly, frightened man. He is doing this as his criminal defense; he is hoping to garner national support to save his own butt. He had 5, FIVE DEFERRMENTS, to avoid placing himself in combat in Vietnam. He hid in his office during the Presidency of Puppet Bush, and literally hid underground during the events of 9/11. He is a wimp seeking to protect himself, because he knows he would not last 72 hours in a prison. Case closed.

I always assumed it was the alien implants guiding him to cause the collapse of civilization, allowing them easy access to our precious bodily fluids and women.
Although fear of prosecution is a simpler explanation.

Dick Cheney does not have an ethical bone in his body, as well as being a coward he is also a bully, as most cowards are when they get in a position of power, he was too afraid to join the military but now he is making like he is brave by sniping at the president every time he opens his mouth.

Maybe Cheney's concerned about spending the rest of his days as a disgraced felon in prison.

god damn dick cheney's shit-filled soul to hell.

Whether Cheney believes what he's saying is of no consequence.

To authoritarians it IS important. The Leader is wise and knowing, but he also must be sincere and correctly motivated. It tarnishes his image if the Leader is perceived as devious or secretive (except of course where secrecy is necessary for the good of the tribe). His righteousness is defense; there is no need for more.

Rush is just peddling the standard stuff to his people. If Bush hadn't left under such a cloud, he'd be getting the same treatment.

What motivates Dick Cheney? That's easy - greed. The strength of the GOP has, is and always will be its fealty to corporate America. No one is more emblematic of that symbiotic relationship than Cheney - career politician and CEO.

"IS it possible that Halperin will write anything worth reading?"

This is a rhetorical question. The answer is obvious.

Motivation? the same motivation that anonymous interneters get into flame wars -- to insist they're RIGHT!

But far be it from Halperin to know anything about human nature -- or the subject he's writing about.

I'll agree it's a CYA campaign intended to ensure any action against Shrub and Darth meets with lots of vocal opposition. Shultz has it about right. The idea is to play the same kabuki that Rove is playing, saying the memos will show he's right, that he'll be happy to testify, BUT under certain conditions, etc., etc., etc. rinse, lather, repeat. So, this is a holding action, but one I think will fail because:
1. Unlike Rove, Cheney isn't holding the strings anymore on memo releases pertinent to his theme. Rove doesn't have as much evidence under investigation (outside of Siegelman, et al. and the USAtty firings) and much of that is either destroyed or under wraps or subject to court arguments under the PRA meaning we won't see them any time soon. Cheney on the other hand has several responsive memos in his dime, all covered under the PRA (and I notice Shrub gets some "friendly fire" as well in the interview), all under actions and decisions he clearly made while in office.
2. Rove left earlier, while W was still able to bury the bones. Cheney still has moles left behind burrowed in, but it's harder to exert the influence when no one fears you (like Rove), and you aren't there to supervise the burials.
3. Cheney's proof isn't as helpful as he thinks it is, according to what FDL has to say. However, I'd say let it all hang out. The Romans said: "Let justice be done, though the heavens fall" [or, in this case, the septic tank overflows], and that is the only way we will be able to FIX this, not just move on. The next time someone tries this they won't be as stupid as W was, and we will all lose.
4. Unlike Rove (as it appears so far from here) Cheney in his position violated several international treaties and covenants, including ones where ANY nation can haul his arse into court. The Spanish judge who nailed Pinochet is already looking at this. So, while Rove's dirtbaggery is easily worth (IMHO) a firing squad, it was also domestically oriented as far as we know. Cheney's emphasis appears to be more internationally based, and therefore he has more uncontrollable [by him] exposure to prosecutions be countries bound under treaty [the General Agreement on Torture negotiated by Reagan] to nail Darth even if Obama lets him off the hook.

The Republican scientific method:
If you believe it, it's true.
If you will it, it works.

Actually, I do believe it matters whether someone really means what he/she says (I avoid the incorrect unisex "they" for TPS.) Whatever else is wrong with a person, it's worse to also be dishonest in what is said.

Also, Cheney has some sense of humor, re "viewed by most Americans as a Vader-like malevolent political force" - he did actually go to a WH Halloween party as Darth Vader (altho other reports say it was his dog.) BTW, cheney + vader gets 303,000 hits on Google. (& BTW, what are other good SEs since I want to take my business elsewhere by now, tx.)

Apropos of which, who's gonna be the next Leader? The GOP's way back will be to unite behind a plausible front-man, to whom the Mighty Wurlitzer will then command obedience.

Folksy grandpa? Sharp young whippersnapper? Bland but rock-jawed company man?

I have an idea....Put the names of the uppermost decision makers from the GWB White House ( Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, etc.)in a hat. Include their "advisors" names....Draw 3 names out the hat and prosecute those 3... Then, put the names of those "legal advisors" who supplied them "opinions on the legality of torture" in a hat....On national T V draw 3 names out of the hat and begin prosecutions on those 3....Some get a break and some get penalized....In any event it should put a damper on future tampering with the U S Constitution.

Hey, Rush and Dick, get a room.

If Mr. Cheney doesn't have a material need to defend torture and useless, failed wars, then what could be his motivation? Mr. Limbaugh seems to think it's an lofty, charitable belief. No it's simply about power. Like the abusive husband, he has no material stake in the abuse of his wife, but just gets off on handing out the abuse. Same with The Dick Cheney and the rest of the Republicans. Unfortunately, the Dems and the country are the abused.

zmulls has it.

Wait...what media doesn't like Cheney? If they don't like him, why do they keep booking him?

Aside: note how Rush and crew have to defend Cheney as, "He is not a torture freak." So, perhaps he is not, but the charge seems to be sticking or the defense against it would not be so robust.

Also, upon reflection ... Maybe Cheney has no motivation, he just says them because he is bored (after running the country for 8 years, life must be rather dull) and is just messing with the country because he can.

And endorsing Rush as head of the Republicans simply adds to the whole idea of "Après moi, le déluge."

What motivates Dick Cheney? Bad chemistry.

Wait...what media doesn't like Cheney? If they don't like him, why do they keep booking him?

they book him because he is a former vice president, a controversial vice president at that. and he is talking about a subject that is vital to the future of this country. that he is wrong on the issue is of no consequence; he is stirring debate and in that sense he is providing a service.

liking him or agreeing with him isn't part of the equation. as a provider of news there is no question i'd book an interview with him; as a consumer of news, i think i'd change channels.

As we used to say 50 or so years ago when I was in college, "He may be sincere, but he's sincerely wrong."

I suspect Cheney isn't so much in love with his country as he is with himself. The whole man love thing between the two angry old white men Cheney and Limbaugh is just a bit too self serving.

If Cheney was willing to torture people to death for false confessions about Saddam's links to Al Qaeda, wouldn't he be capable of arranging another terrorist attack on American soil to "prove" Obama is making the country less safe? Given the dire straits of the Republican party and the possible prosecution of Bush/Cheney Co., it would solve a number of problems for Deadeye. But then, I wear a tinfoil hat where Cheney's concerned. I firmly believe he (and his BFFs the Saudi royal family) had something to do with the first one.

He is not a torture freak.

Since when?

And since someone's gotta say it:

Is it possible that Dick Cheney is motivated by national interest? Is it possible that Dick Cheney is motivated by love of and for his country? Is it possible that Dick Cheney is speaking from his heart and is not speaking politically?

No, no, and no. SASQ.

And by the way, the laws against torture don't allow any excuses for motivation. They specifically exclude following orders as an excuse, so giving the orders is surely criminal.

The flop sweat from Limbaugh and Cheney is getting intense. Cheney resembles a cornered beast more and more.

Hitler spoke from his heart. BFD.

...he is stirring debate and in that sense he is providing a service. -mudwall jackson

Well, there's no real debate. When was the last time a leading advocate of prosecuting torturers was on with Schieffer?

Nah, Bob didn't have Cheney on to advance the debate. He had him on to give him a stage to lay out his defense. He did everything to help him short of blowing him on stage.

This media you speak of that seeks to book relevant people to advance debate? They don't exist.

"Honestly, I haven't the foggiest idea what motivates Cheney."

I'll take a stab. Megalomania? Avoiding the much deserved jail time? Rationalizing his inhuman behavior?

Dick Cheney is a coward and a bully. When he is in a position of power, he was a behind-the-scenes tyrant. He intimidated and cowed others to do his bidding.

Now that he is out of power, he is very afraid--with good reason. Everything comes back to Cheney, and if anyone goes down for this torture debacle, it would be him. This is a man who weaseled out of serving his country, but had no qualms about sending other people's children over to Iraq and Afghanistan to die.

Dick Cheney has never shown any empathy towards any of the people he put in harm's way. He shot his friend in the face, and the friend apologized to him. I feel some pity for him that he is such a shell of a person, but he did his level best to destroy our country. That is what matters in the end.

Cheney has yet to confront the reality of what occurred on his watch. He has fought and continues to fight it mightily.

Dick Cheney: the quintessential definition of a chicken hawk acting chicken shit. I know his speaking out helps the D's, but I still wish he would just go back to his spider hole. At some point even the msm will figure out Cheney has thrown a few too many clots to his brain.

Key word: "believe." It's all about belief. If backstabbing corporate whore Cheney sells his fruit flavored cyanide as good faith "belief," that seals it for the true believers. Done deal, reinforce the base for another day. Remember, evangelicals are the only expanding religious group (of consequence) in America; yes, they're becoming less monolithic but ya gotta believe!!!

It would be completely abnormal for C'thulu, er, Cheney to take any other path. He has no choice; at this point anything less would amount to complete identity dissolution. My guess is this is exactly what lies just beneath the surface of his routine: a highly disorganized identity, rent by the slow rot of his soul. The man's a time bomb, should be on the terrorist watch list.

Is it possible that Dick Cheney is speaking from his heart...

No, it's not possible. He doesn't have one.