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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
8

Exit Interviews Reveal Bush-Cheney Differences

VP defiant, combative as president adopts gracious, reflective tone

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(Newser) – George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are displaying strikingly different attitudes toward their time in power as its end looms, the New York Times reports. Bush is reflective, acknowledging regrets and speaking graciously of his successor. Cheney, meanwhile, is defiant to the end, defending policies like waterboarding and letting slip scathing comments about the incoming administration.

The difference, associates say, stems from the pair’s clash over second-term foreign policy, and the different paths the two will be taking after January. Cheney aims to be a leading conservative foreign-policy hawk, while Bush is trying to shape his legacy—and hasn’t ruled out serving the new administration in some way. “I will be happy to do it, particularly if I agree with the mission,” Bush told an interviewer.

In this Nov. 6, 2008, file photo, Vice President Dick Cheney applauds President Bush during an event at the White House.
In this Nov. 6, 2008, file photo, Vice President Dick Cheney applauds President Bush during an event at the White House.   (AP Photo)
President Bush makes remarks on the transition, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, as Vice President Dick Cheney looks on.
President Bush makes remarks on the transition, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, as Vice President Dick Cheney looks on.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney walk to the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 11, 2008, following a ceremony observing a moment of silence on the South Lawn.
President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney walk to the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 11, 2008, following a ceremony observing a moment of silence on the South Lawn.   (AP Photo)
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George W. Bush talks to ABC's Charlie Gibson about his presidency.   (WWYSTTP)

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I feel very good about what we did. If I was faced with those circumstances again, I’d do exactly the same thing. - Dick Cheney

The biggest regret of all the presidency has to have been the intelligence failure in Iraq. - George W. Bush

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8 comments
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Lula
Dec 25, 08 8:55 AM CST
Cheney is a cruel man. Bush is bad, but Cheney is worse. History will judge them, and it will not be good. These two men hae gotten us into more S--- than we could imagine. I am just thankful I had nothing to do with putting them in office. Four years were bad enough. Reply
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SEG2821
Dec 25, 08 9:35 AM CST
Dumb and Dumber Reply
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PosterNutbag
Dec 25, 08 1:37 PM CST
The exit interviews showed that the interviewers have not a trace of critical intellect in them. Both are heartless criminals, especially Cheney. Reply
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Doctor_Zaius
Dec 26, 08 6:29 AM CST
No, Dumb and Evil would be more like it. Reply
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wwwonderer
Dec 26, 08 10:05 AM CST
Oh where have the good 'ole days gone. Funny. Remember when they refused to be interviewed separately? Now you can barely find them together. I personally feel Bush is a good-hearted idiot that got played by Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, and let's not our dear friend Ahmed Chalabi. Where is he again? Reply
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