# Cheney Manufactures Excuse to Not Stand for President **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254 "2009-01-21T02:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/41 "2009-01-21T16:53:57Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Just out of curiosity, do you mean “Manchiavellian” here? If not, what makes you call the ex-VP “[Manichean](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manicheanism)”? I think he meant [Monchhichian.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monchhichis). Dick Cheney, Monchhichi, oh so soft and cuddly. ---
**Author:** ![Influential\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/42 "2009-01-21T16:57:25Z")
I was at the inauguration, and the general response to seeing Cheney in a wheelchair was laughter. Laughter at the evil old piece of shit that tried to drive our country into the dirt. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/43 "2009-01-21T16:58:24Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Personally, I don’t doubt Cheney had an injury (or possibly a condition - bad ticker and all) which necessitated a wheelchair, I just doubt he hurt himself moving boxes around. I wouldn’t doubt if the man hasn’t lifted anything heaver than high-ball glass in the last 20 years. On the serious side, you can sprain your back just bending over wrong. The weight of the box doesn’t _have_ to be all that great. (I’ve been there…) Since he’s no spring chicken, I bet his tolerance for ackward angles is less than it was 10 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/44 "2009-01-21T17:02:28Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Since he’s no spring chicken, I bet his tolerance for ackward angles is less than it was 10 years ago. Ooh, his daughter better watch **out!** ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/45 "2009-01-21T17:07:47Z")
I could be misremembering, but I could have sworn I saw a picture of Cheney standing at one point, leaning heavily on the cane he had with him. The shot made him look even more like a supervillain. :eek: Ah, here it is: [http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20090120/i/r2264196025.jpg?x=289&y=345&q=85&sig=FQn3upr7rqk4utDpSShLZQ--](http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20090120/i/r2264196025.jpg?x=289&y=345&q=85&sig=FQn3upr7rqk4utDpSShLZQ--) ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/46 "2009-01-21T17:09:02Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > When I saw the pictures, the first thought that came to mind was: I wonder if that chair was Cheney’s secret project in the basement, like Clooney’s character in _Burn After Reading._ Maybe that explains the uncharacteristically goofy grin on his face. > > Then, with that image in my brain, I had an aneurysm and died. You will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/47 "2009-01-21T17:19:15Z")
> [@Ocean\_Annie](#): > > Cheney probably stole the wheelchair from some poor disabled kid without insurance. What color is this kid? This is important! If it was a black kid, he is disabled by his mother’s crack habit when pregnant with him. If he is asian, well, there is no such thing as a disabled asian kid, as far as I can see. They are all fucking prodigies. I probably should word that last sentance better. If he is mexican, well, he’s probably here illegally and should be sent back immediatetly, along with the 37 members of his family. If he is Middle Eastern, he probably got disabled because his father drove over him in his taxi and their rules for driving read like Vogon poetry. If he is white, well then, that will tug on the heart strings of the nation, like when we have the weekly installment of Missing White Woman.\* That said, I hope that some photogs keep an eagle eye on Cheney and get picks of him in the next couple of days doing things that a man with a back injury shouldn’t do, like roof a house or go bowling. That would be superdoubleplusawesome. \*All of these blatantly racist stereotypes are brought to you to point out how offensive blatently racist stereotypes are. Please do not flame me. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/48 "2009-01-21T17:20:36Z")
Dick who? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/49 "2009-01-21T17:23:38Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Just out of curiosity, do you mean “Manchiavellian” here? If not, what makes you call the ex-VP “[Manichean](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manicheanism)”? To describe someone as Manichean means that their view of the world is black and white (e.g. good people must kill the evil-doers). They are incapable of seeing subtlety or moral complexity. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/50 "2009-01-21T17:26:27Z")
He seemed to get in and out of the car without any problem. Meanwhile, a 77-year-old man with a brain tumor walks in on his own power, stands in the freezing cold, has a fucking seizure, goes to the emergency room, and then brushes himself off and goes on his merry way. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/51 "2009-01-21T17:26:33Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > To describe someone as Manichean means that their view of the world is black and white (e.g. good people must kill the evil-doers). They are incapable of seeing subtlety or moral complexity. I thought of that, and though it’s a reasonable interpretation of what **Beware of Doug** wrote, I don’t think it’s an accurate description of Mr. Cheney’s worldview. Mr. Bush, maybe. But Cheney’s more…devious. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Joe_Meager)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/52 "2009-01-21T17:27:30Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I want to know what was in the box that Cheney wouldn’t allow anyone else to move. That thing in the briefcase in _Pulp Fiction_. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/53 "2009-01-21T17:27:31Z")
“He’s more machine than man, now… twisted and evil.” **KoS** , please tell me this is a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/54 "2009-01-21T17:34:42Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > To describe someone as Manichean means that their view of the world is black and white (e.g. good people must kill the evil-doers). They are incapable of seeing subtlety or moral complexity. I rather think Cheney is incapable of seeing moral **questions.** “Good” and “evil” are meaningless concepts to a psychopath. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/55 "2009-01-21T17:53:36Z")
In Britain (and Canada I think) politicians stand for office, rather than run for office. So I originally read the thread title and wondered why he needed an excuse to not run for President, beyond his approval ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/56 "2009-01-21T18:02:42Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I think he meant [Monchhichian.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monchhichis). > > Dick Cheney, Monchhichi, oh so soft and cuddly. I remember watching that show and I even had one of the toys. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/57 "2009-01-21T18:16:01Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I want to know what was in the box that Cheney wouldn’t allow anyone else to move. Toenails pulled from Gitmo? Naked pictures of Bush and Condi? The hearts and minds of the people. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/58 "2009-01-21T18:18:24Z")
Actually Cheney heard that Obama was going to cure the halt and the blind as part of the inauguration, and was trying to skip to the head of the line. The bastard. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/59 "2009-01-21T18:42:40Z")
[And another reason to hate Cheney . . .](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/19/AR2009011903042.html?wprss=rss_politics/administration) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254/60 "2009-01-21T19:01:23Z")
Nobody here has ever had a bad back? I’ve had my back go out even when I was young and health, just picking up my electric shaver. And standing in such a condition is very painful, although possible for short periods. Cheney’s policies and actions are disgusting and worthy of criminal indictments, but I think this is genuine. OTOH, this is the pit, and I think that with the gloves he was wearing, he was doing his Dr. Strangelove impression. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-manufactures-excuse-to-not-stand-for-president/482254.md?page=4)