BEEN THERE, DONE THAT - AT 12:16 P.M. ET:  You know when the Democrats sense they're in trouble.  They bring in their biggest name - Dick Cheney.  The Dems have taken some hits recently, and some have come from Cheney himself.  His recent, spirited defense of the Bush administration and his critique of President Obama's national security policies stung, and resulted in a sudden boost in Cheney's own poll numbers. 

Now the charges are flying that Cheney ordered the CIA not to reveal details of a secret surveillance program, as The New York Times reports:

The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.

This dovetails quite nicely, don't you think, with our first story today hinting that Attorney General Holder may start major investigations of the Bush administration.  That will certainly bring the country together and do wonders for those involved in defending it.  The Democrats dream of putting Cheney in the dock, but they should be careful what they wish for.  He snaps back, and knows more about intelligence and defense than all of Congress put together.

If you read the whole Times story, and I recommend it, you'll see that it has more caveats than a UN resolution.  It may well be that Cheney, whatever he did, was acting well within the law and wise practice. 

It's time to start estimating the costs of the upcoming investigations.  I'm guessing $100-million.  Other bids are welcome.

July 12, 2009