Cheney is a master at political rhetoric.

New York Times

Cheney's words are as damaging as they can possibly be to all Democrats without compromising his calm/assertive leader persona.

I despise his motives, intentions, and actions, but I really admire his ability to control his words so effectively.

Consider:

"It’s an unfortunate development, I think, from the standpoint of the Democratic Party..." - see how he puts a negative spin toward Democrats right up front

"...to see a man like Lieberman pushed aside..." - clearly political posturing. As he points out himself, he is a former rival and known for NEVER supporting a Democrat

"...because of his willingness to support an aggressive posture in terms of our national security strategy." - now he can define himself and the current Administration. Though he admits that he is the cause of the Lieberman loss, he makes the result sound like a Democratic failure.

Actually, he is admitting that the Lieberman loss is a referendum against him and Bush and Lieberman is a casualty of his own policies, yet the listener is left with the impression that the loss is an "unfortunate development" for Democrats.

The NYT does Cheney a favor by separating his fear-mongering, putting it at the bottom of the article.

Now, to demonstrate his own strength, he speaks for Osama bin Laden and all terrorists as though he knows what they are thinking: "(Al Quaida is) betting on the proposition that ultimately they can break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task." Translation: if you are not supporting our currently policies, you are helping Al Qaida. How does THAT make you feel?

Finally, we get a Cheney memorable quote about the state of the Democratic Party.

"And when we see the Democratic Party reject one of its own, a man they selected to be their vice presidential nominee just a few short years ago, it would seem to say a lot about the state the party is in today."

And what would that be? That Americans are pissed at you? That a party tolerant of a conservative six years ago is no longer so lenient? That the Democrats are representing the belief that Iraq is a fiasco - a belief shared by a clear majority of Americans?

Yes, Dick, you're right. Lieberman losing says a lot about the state of the Democratic Party today. That must be why you're trying to change our war crimes laws so quickly.

Peace

NYT. Especially with Miller out of there.

Consider the source.