Bleep the veep: Angry Cheney tells senator to **** OFF!
Friday, June 25, 2004
WASHINGTON - Posing for the annual Senate class photo, Vice President Dick Cheney had more to say than ``cheese'' - dropping the F-bomb Tuesday in an angry confrontation with a Democratic senator over Halliburton.
The usually mild-mannered Cheney used the profanity on the Senate floor, saying to Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, ``F--- off,'' or ``F--- you,'' witnesses reported.
``I think he was just having a bad day,'' Leahy said afterward. ``I was kind of shocked to hear that kind of language on the floor.''
A Cheney spokesman said, ``That doesn't sound like the kind of language that the vice president would use, but I can confirm that there was a frank exchange of views.''
That exchange came when the vice president challenged Leahy over some of the Vermont Democrat's criticism about alleged improprieties in Iraq military contracts awarded to Halliburton Co.
Cheney is a former CEO of Halliburton but has repeatedly noted that he no longer has any financial ties to the Texas-based oil services giant.
Leahy responded that Cheney had previously inferred he was a ``bad'' Catholic. He was referring to White House support of critics who accused Democrats of being anti-Catholic last year in opposing one of President Bush's judicial nominees, said one Senate aide, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Cheney then reportedly fired off the obscenity. Using such words is a violation of the formal rules if the Senate was in session - but the photo-taking took place while the Senate was technically not meeting.
The episode occurred while senators were having their annual group picture taken. Cheney was present because, as vice president, he also serves as president of the Senate.
But Cheney may have had reason to smile after all. The Supreme Court yesterday ruled the Bush administration doesn't have to reveal potentially embarrassing details about the vice president's energy task force until after the election.
Two groups sued to determine whether energy company executives helped craft industry-friendly recommendations.
By a 7-2 vote, the justices sent the case back to a lower court.
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Lets see, if he did say it and he may very well have said it, it was an exchange between him and another adult, no children around and it was one word. I don't think it is a practice of his to swear in public and he isn't the first person to do it. I don't see a story or an issue here.
Much to do about nothing
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Now you have to picture a combination of PeeWEE Herman and Wally Cox but with less muscle tone, trying to be intimidating None of this is funny! Message edited by Cougar Mag -- 1/7/2005 1:16:42 AM >/b]
I wish he had said it to Ted k or Robert Byrd instead but big deal about nothing. Kerry cursed at a Secret Service Agent during his Ski trip did anyone hear the press ramble on about that.
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Yep, I don't see how this a big deal. Sure, he needs to behave himself since it's an election year, but Leahy wasn't exactly be polite. I think we've got more important things to think about other than the occasional expletive.
Nice mouth Cheney!
