Publicity Hound Cheney Makes Strategic Return

Dick Cheney isn’t in an undisclosed location anymore. The former VP is suddenly waging a one-man campaign defending the Bush administration’s interrogation tactics. Even he can’t believe that’s a great political move, writes Michael Duffy of Time, so what’s he up to? It’s possible that Cheney is playing the long game. By arguing now that President Obama is making us less safe, he’s setting Republicans up to point fingers if another terrorist attack occurs.

There are more charitable explanations, of course. One Republican consultant says Cheney’s “trying to rewrite history. He knows that as time goes by, he will look worse. So he’s trying to put his stroke on it.” It’s also possible he’s trying to discourage any probes into his conduct, or even a prosecution. Whatever his motives, Democrats are thrilled; “Bring it on!” one White House official quipped yesterday. (More Dick Cheney stories.)