# Romney wants an Evil VP? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 16, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563 "2011-09-16T22:53:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/1 "2011-09-16T22:53:06Z")
What the fuck? He just blew any chance that I might vote for him. Is he really this stupid, or does this somehow play well in Conservative circles? > **[Death and Taxes Archives - SPIN](https://www.spin.com/death-and-taxes/)** > > Culture & Politics [http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/09/romney-says-cheney-has-qualities-would-seek-vice-president-candidate/Qmay6ZCKABZeKrUrdidhFI/index.html](http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/09/romney-says-cheney-has-qualities-would-seek-vice-president-candidate/Qmay6ZCKABZeKrUrdidhFI/index.html) [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/16/2011-09-16\_mitt\_romney\_dick\_cheney\_is\_the\_kind\_of\_person\_id\_like\_to\_have\_as\_my\_vice\_preside.html?r=news/politics](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/16/2011-09-16_mitt_romney_dick_cheney_is_the_kind_of_person_id_like_to_have_as_my_vice_preside.html?r=news/politics) ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/2 "2011-09-17T00:15:05Z")
Well better Cheney than Palin or Bachmann. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/3 "2011-09-17T00:27:33Z")
From the first link, he isn’t actually saying he wants Cheney. He’s saying he wants someone with broad experience, knowledge of relevant issues, and capable of being POTUS if needed. Technically, Cheney meets those criteria, regardless of whether liberals like him or not. In effect, he’s also saying he won’t be choosing a VPILF like Palin or Bachman. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/4 "2011-09-17T00:28:18Z")
He’s going for the Undead American vote. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/5 "2011-09-17T00:28:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Well better Cheney than Palin or Bachmann. That’s doubtful. Palin and Bachmann are stupid clowns, Cheney is a vile excuse for a human being. I imagine Romney just wants to leave all the tough decisions (like who to torture and when) to someone else while he breaks the scum Bush’s record for vacation days. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/6 "2011-09-17T00:54:59Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > From the first link, he isn’t actually saying he wants Cheney. He’s saying he wants someone with broad experience, knowledge of relevant issues, and capable of being POTUS if needed. Technically, Cheney meets those criteria, regardless of whether liberals like him or not. He said that Cheney is “a man of wisdom and judgment.” Even if he has broad experience and knowledge of relevant issues, I certainly have seen no evidence that he has either wisdom and or judgment, and I question the wisdom and judgment of a man who would make that statement. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/7 "2011-09-17T00:58:59Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > He said that Cheney is “a man of wisdom and judgment.” Even if he has broad experience and knowledge of relevant issues, I certainly have seen no evidence that he has either wisdom and or judgment, and I question the wisdom and judgment of a man who would make that statement. Exactly. Cheney is widely reviled as an evil man with bad judgement. Therefore I must question the wisdom and intelligence of someone who would say that he wants someone like that as his second in command. If only for the ‘wisdom’ of publicly stating that you want someone like a man you have to know is so widely hated by the American public. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/8 "2011-09-17T02:54:23Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Exactly. Cheney is widely reviled as an evil man with bad judgement. Mostly by the left. Remember, this board skews ridiculously leftist compared to the general population. The Bush + Cheney = Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-vul mantra doesn’t carry much weight in mainstream America. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/9 "2011-09-17T03:49:53Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Mostly by the left. Remember, this board skews ridiculously leftist compared to the general population. The Bush + Cheney = Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-vul mantra doesn’t carry much weight in mainstream America. Mainstream America tends to believe that God created the Earth in a week 6000 years ago, too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/10 "2011-09-17T05:07:06Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Mostly by the left. Remember, this board skews ridiculously leftist compared to the general population. The Bush + Cheney = Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-vul mantra doesn’t carry much weight in mainstream America. Cheney’s approval rating on leaving office was 13 percent. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/11 "2011-09-17T05:13:16Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Mostly by the left. Remember, this board skews ridiculously leftist compared to the general population. The Bush + Cheney = Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-vul mantra doesn’t carry much weight in mainstream America. Well, there are no polls for evil, but the approval ratings shows the closest thing to that. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/16/opinion/polls/main4728399.shtml](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/16/opinion/polls/main4728399.shtml) > [@](#): > > Vice President Dick Cheney also leaves office amid negative perceptions, as his approval rating stands at just 13 percent. That matches his lowest approval since he assumed office. > > Forty-four percent of Americans now view Cheney unfavorably, while 42 percent are undecided or haven’t heard enough. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/12 "2011-09-17T05:19:51Z")
Forty-four percent, forty two percent, thirteen percent, leaves one percent of respondents in the telephone survey who began shrieking and cursing at the mention of his name. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/13 "2011-09-17T06:02:30Z")
Strangely, despite the low approval ratings at the end of his term, everyone applauded when he left. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/14 "2011-09-17T08:40:07Z")
Cheney pretty much framed Saddam Hussein for 9/11. Using torture. Then the Bush-but-really-Cheney administration invaded Iraq, destabilized it, pretty much invited all the looniest bloodthirsty fanatics to play bloodsports (with collateral mayhem!) with us in Iraq, & gave that previously rather civilized country a religious civil war. When you make me feel more respect for a sickie like Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti, yeah, maybe you’re too evil for the VP’s office. * * * As for Romney, is anyone surprised that he wants someone with a semblance of brain to do the work & the thinking for him? Mittens is a stuffed suit who will do the bidding of his handlers. He just needs the handlers. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/15 "2011-09-17T16:42:59Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Cheney’s approval rating on leaving office was 13 percent. Wow. It was that high? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/16 "2011-09-17T20:16:48Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > He just blew any chance that I might vote for him. Is he really this stupid, or does this somehow play well in Conservative circles? You really were thinking of voting for Romney? Or are you just blowing off some partisan steam? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/17 "2011-09-17T20:19:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Wow. It was that high? This referred to Cheney having 13 percent approval when he left office. The idea that the vice-president can be judged independent of his boss seems absurd to me. I’d refuse to answer if asked whether I approved of the VP’s performance. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/18 "2011-09-17T21:23:48Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > This referred to Cheney having 13 percent approval when he left office. I know. > [@](#): > > The idea that the vice-president can be judged independent of his boss seems absurd to me. I’d refuse to answer if asked whether I approved of the VP’s performance. Cheney was one of the most (if not THE most) powerful and visible VPs in history. I see no reason he can’t be judged independently from GWB. Especially since the latter had a higher approval rating. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/19 "2011-09-18T01:06:15Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Well better Cheney than Palin or Bachmann. Don’t think so. All three have fairly rancid ideas & ways - but Cheney’s got the ruthless, the know-how and the connections to make his happen. All Palin & Bachmann know to do is preen for the cameras, then wonder why it’s not enough. [QUOTE=elucidator] Forty-four percent, forty two percent, thirteen percent, leaves one percent of respondents in the telephone survey who began shrieking and cursing at the mention of his name. [/QUOTE] Or spontaneously combusted. Happens all the time. Mostly to drummers, though. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563/20 "2011-09-18T01:08:29Z")
I am reminded that Cheney was originally tasked by W with finding (leading the search for) a suitable Vice President. He came back and basically said, “I didn’t find anyone - how about me?” Now if I were a boss and I assigned a subordinate to find a suitable person for a job and they came back and basically said, “I didn’t find anyone - how about me?” I would call security to have them escorted out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-wants-an-evil-vp/596563.md?page=2)