Cheney, Dick—Head cheerleader for Leiberman.

Today, Dick Cheney held a press conference via conference call because, as he said, “It’s suggested I chat with you a bit just for a couple of minutes here about the Connecticut Democratic primary yesterday …”

The Veep praised Joe Lieberman:

I think we can look at it on a personal basis and say I think he’s a good man. And if he were to leave the Senate, that would be a loss to the Democrats.

But then, as if he had caught himself being solicitous of Democrats,

But we’re not embracing Joe Lieberman’s candidacy.

Without actually embracing Joe Lieberman, he did manage to put forth the idea that a vote against Lieberman was a vote in favor of al-Qaeda and an invitation for another 9-11. This is how Republicans campaign; they sow fear, because fear has a well-documented capacity for over-coming reason. Witness this comment from Lieberman’s sub rosa supporter, Dick Cheney:

The thing that’s partly disturbing about it is the fact that, the standpoint of our adversaries, if you will, in this conflict, and the al Qaeda types, they clearly are 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.

Obviously, he’s on the same page as Tony Snow. Bush’s mouthpiece was in front of the podium yesterday. As he put it, Lieberman’s defeat was ratification of “one of the approaches [which] is ignore the difficulties and walk away.”

Now, when the United States walked away, in the opinion of Osama bin Laden in 1991, bin Laden drew from that the conclusion that Americans were weak and wouldn't stay the course, and that led to September 11th.

Here's a question for Tony Snow: If you believe that, what do you have to say about America’s walking away from Saudi Arabia, 17 months after the 9-11 attack? Here’s how it was reported in The Telegraph of Great Britian:

America began a historic reshaping of its presence in the Middle East yesterday, announcing a halt to active military operations is Saudi Arabia and the removal of almost all of its forces from the kingdom within weeks.

The withdrawal ends a contentious 12-year-old presence in Saudi Arabia and marks the most dramatic in a set of sweeping changes in the deployment of American forces after the war in Iraq.

Withdrawal of “infidel” American forces from Saudi Arabia has been one of the demands of Osama bin Laden, although a senior US military official said that this was “irrelevant.”

Since the Republicans control all branches of government, and most of the mass media, it follows that any encouragement that al-Qaida has received is their responsibility. So how is King George reacting to the news that an al-Qaeda planned to bomb as many as 10 trans-Atlantic flights, and that of the estimated 50 terrorists involved, less than half have been arrested?

He’s ignoring it and walking away to Crawford, where there is brush to be cleared.

“… and tell ’em Big Mitch sent ya!”