Get A Grip, Dick!

Posted by | August 23, 2014 07:24 | Filed under: Contributors Dave Van Slyke Opinion Politics Top Stories


Surprise, surprise. Dick Cheney has been foaming at the mouth again. This time he was growling about President Obama playing golf after announcing the murder of James Foley. Robert Reich thinks all the President’s critics should get a grip.

President Obama is taking a lot of heat for golf. After an emotional news briefing in which he said he was “heartbroken” by the brutal murder of American journalist, James Foley, he went to play golf on Martha’s Vineyard, where he is on vacation. Former Vice President Dick Cheney groused that Obama would “rather be on the golf course than he would be dealing with the crisis,” and even some Democrats winced at what they worried looked like callous indifference. Can we get a grip? Sane people need ways to calm down. When I heard about Foley’s beheading, I stopped work and took a walk. We’re so fixated on optics — on the way presidential behavior “looks” to the public — that we forget our presidents are human beings. Personally, I’m glad Obama is playing golf. I have no idea how he bears all the heartbreaking news right now, anyway. What do you think?

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Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Dave

Dave is the webmaster of StrangerAmerica.com, a website devoted to the greatness that is Dick Cheney.

He is also the creator of RonnieReagan.com, a site devoted to a man considered by some to have been one of the better B-grade actors to portray a U.S. president.

You will find the complete writings of Dave at LookAmerica.com, including his quest for the perfect meatball and his encounters with Pat the Nazi and the Psycho Dentist.

66 responses to Get A Grip, Dick!

  1. alpacadaddy August 23rd, 2014 at 13:55

    Yeah, but never mind that ‘Shrub’ took more vacation than any other president in recent history, including when he decided it was more important to clear brush at the ranch than pay attention to the obvious run-up to 9/11, like the PDB of 23Aug2001 titled Bin Laden determined to strike U.S. with planes (I’m sure he had Condi read him the BIG words while he grinned at the pictures!) Cheney may have cut in line for a new heart, but he still has no soul!

    • BanditBasheert August 23rd, 2014 at 14:55

      He couldn’t pay attention to that briefing paper, he never could read.

      • granpa.usthai August 23rd, 2014 at 16:43

        maybe, but he sure did show a real in depth assimilation of the pictures in the goat book! Gotta give him cudo’s for the extended length of concentration on that one.

    • BarbL August 25th, 2014 at 10:43

      The first time he has had a heart and it belongs to someone else. Horrible man is he.

  2. majii August 23rd, 2014 at 15:20

    President Obama has already told his detractors that he can walk and chew gum at the same time. While he was ribbing Donald Trump at the WH Correspondence Dinner a couple years ago, SEAL Team Six was in Afghanistan apprehending Osama bin Laden. What irks me about those who are complaining about this is that they do the same thing–they deal with bad news all of the time and do other things, too, including go to movies, play golf, go bowling, etc. I’m sick of the “optics” argument because it lacks merit. It’s just a way to keep a RW meme going that this president lacks compassion and is lazy. Cheney and the other whiners are forgetting that no president who sends a special ops team to rescue someone being held by terrorists can be classified as being unconcerned about Mr. Foley. Americans should be capable of learning something, but the more I observe them, I have my about some doubts.

    I’ve never been able to comprehend why many on the right and some on the left place so much emphasis on optics. There should be more to a person/situation than only optics. I clearly recall that optics played a large role in the last administration, and I remember that things didn’t turn out well for us at all. We’re still reeling from the mess attributed to optics that was made in Iraq when a president wanted to appear to be tough on terrorists/terrorism and decided to invade the country. SMDH. Hell, if when I was in the classroom, my principal had come in to evaluate me and I’d not taught the kids anything but looked good playing the role of teacher, I’d have not only received a bad evaluation, my job would have been in jeopardy. Only those capable of looking beyond the superficial can understand that content, hard work, results, etc., are the things that really matter in any situation. Of course, Cheney is not included among these individuals.

  3. majii August 23rd, 2014 at 15:20

    President Obama has already told his detractors that he can walk and chew gum at the same time. While he was ribbing Donald Trump at the WH Correspondence Dinner a couple years ago, SEAL Team Six was in Afghanistan apprehending Osama bin Laden. What irks me about those who are complaining about this is that they do the same thing–they deal with bad news all of the time and do other things, too, including go to movies, play golf, go bowling, etc. I’m sick of the “optics” argument because it lacks merit. It’s just a way to keep a RW meme going that this president lacks compassion and is lazy. Cheney and the other whiners are forgetting that no president who sends a special ops team to rescue someone being held by terrorists can be classified as being unconcerned about Mr. Foley. Americans should be capable of learning something, but the more I observe them, I have my about some doubts.

    I’ve never been able to comprehend why many on the right and some on the left place so much emphasis on optics. There should be more to a person/situation than only optics. I clearly recall that optics played a large role in the last administration, and I remember that things didn’t turn out well for us at all. We’re still reeling from the mess attributed to optics that was made in Iraq when a president wanted to appear to be tough on terrorists/terrorism and decided to invade the country. SMDH. Hell, if when I was in the classroom, my principal had come in to evaluate me and I’d not taught the kids anything but looked good playing the role of teacher, I’d have not only received a bad evaluation, my job would have been in jeopardy. Only those capable of looking beyond the superficial can understand that content, hard work, results, etc., are the things that really matter in any situation. Of course, Cheney is not included among these individuals.

  4. granpa.usthai August 23rd, 2014 at 16:36

    being that this is a monumental crisis the likes of which this nation has never seen before, I think a round of golf in a relaxed atmosphere is most appropriate. We’ve already faced minor disruption by foreign terrorist like 9/11/01 in which the POTUS relaxed by looking at a goat book pictures may be questionable. I recall during POTUS RONALD REAGAN’s trickle down economics tenure a Hostage that would have been taken during POTUS RONALD REAGAN’s term was executed by being hanged. Not sure about POTUS RONALD REAGAN’s response , but records released later showed the arms for hostages deal went through with the same group, and , of course, the C-130 Cargo planes carrying drugs from Columbia continued to arrive on schedule.
    I have been deeply disappointed by this POTUS response to the white racist terrorist attempt to overthrow the US Government in Nevada however. Allowing them to return to work in Police uniforms, as County Sheriffs, aides to WHITE Republican Governors and Congresspersons/Senators, or members of the United States of America Military organizations while doing nothing is not really a response at all!

    MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

  5. granpa.usthai August 23rd, 2014 at 16:36

    being that this is a monumental crisis the likes of which this nation has never seen before, I think a round of golf in a relaxed atmosphere is most appropriate. We’ve already faced minor disruption by foreign terrorist like 9/11/01 in which the POTUS relaxed by looking at a goat book pictures may be questionable. I recall during POTUS RONALD REAGAN’s trickle down economics tenure a Hostage that would have been taken during POTUS RONALD REAGAN’s term was executed by being hanged. Not sure about POTUS RONALD REAGAN’s response , but records released later showed the arms for hostages deal went through with the same group, and , of course, the C-130 Cargo planes carrying drugs from Columbia continued to arrive on schedule.
    I have been deeply disappointed by this POTUS response to the white racist terrorist attempt to overthrow the US Government in Nevada however. Allowing them to return to work in Police uniforms, as County Sheriffs, aides to WHITE Republican Governors and Congresspersons/Senators, or members of the United States of America Military organizations while doing nothing is not really a response at all!

    MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

  6. FanOfTravel August 23rd, 2014 at 17:22

    I’m sure we were all amused at when President Obama put his feet up on the desk in the Oval Office,oh the outrage….well except that appears to be a White House tradition,from presidents from both parties.

    • dave-dr-gonzo August 23rd, 2014 at 19:38

      “Now, watch this drive!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3p9y_OEAdc

      • FanOfTravel August 23rd, 2014 at 21:28

        Good one!!!! bush#2 did give up golf but it was almost one year later. Always so amusing, Obama bows to Saudi King Abdullah and he is criticized,yet bush#2 holds hands and kisses King Abdullah but that’s fine.

  7. FanOfTravel August 23rd, 2014 at 17:22

    I’m sure we were all amused at when President Obama put his feet up on the desk in the Oval Office,oh the outrage….well except that appears to be a White House tradition,from presidents from both parties.

    • dave-dr-gonzo August 23rd, 2014 at 19:38

      “Now, watch this drive!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3p9y_OEAdc

      • FanOfTravel August 23rd, 2014 at 21:28

        Good one!!!! bush#2 did give up golf but it was almost one year later. Always so amusing, Obama bows to Saudi King Abdullah and he is criticized,yet bush#2 holds hands and kisses King Abdullah but that’s fine.

  8. whatthe46 August 23rd, 2014 at 21:48

    Tweets by Knoller himself back that up. On the eve of Obama’s departure for Martha’s Vineyard, Knoller tweeted that “since taking office, Pres Obama has taken 14 vacation trips spanning all or part of 92 days.” Knoller also tweeted that “at the same point in office, Pres. GWBush had made 50 visits to this Texas Ranch totaling all or part of 323 days.”
    and by the way Dick, at least he’s not shooting anyone.

  9. whatthe46 August 23rd, 2014 at 21:48

    Tweets by Knoller himself back that up. On the eve of Obama’s departure for Martha’s Vineyard, Knoller tweeted that “since taking office, Pres Obama has taken 14 vacation trips spanning all or part of 92 days.” Knoller also tweeted that “at the same point in office, Pres. GWBush had made 50 visits to this Texas Ranch totaling all or part of 323 days.”
    and by the way Dick, at least he’s not shooting anyone.

  10. Dcbos August 24th, 2014 at 00:02

    this Dick took a vacation during the vietnam war about a 4 year one with 5 deferments ;coward that he is talks big but when his ass is on the line “oh no I wont go”

  11. Dcbos August 24th, 2014 at 00:02

    this Dick took a vacation during the vietnam war about a 4 year one with 5 deferments ;coward that he is talks big but when his ass is on the line “oh no I wont go”

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