House Democrats marking the anniversary of the January 6 riot at the Capitol embraced their former nemesis Dick Cheney who, along with his daughter Liz, were the only two Republicans to attend.
“It was the most unlikely of receiving lines,” writes the Independent, “Democrats lining the floor of the House, waiting for their chance to greet Dick Cheney.”
“Democrats, at least for a moment, seemed more than happy to sing the former vice president’s praises,” Salon added.
Indeed, where once political enemies existed in the likes of Cheney and the Democrats, the two factions were united in their opposition to former President Trump and his supporters.
Dick Cheney welcomed with open arms by Democrats on the House floor today pic.twitter.com/VhBQBwjNeV
— The Insurgents (@insurgentspod) January 6, 2022
RELATED: Tucker Carlson Corners Ted Cruz For Calling January 6 A ‘Terrorist’ Attack
Democrats And Dick Cheney – So Happy Together
Dick Cheney, who has alternately been criticized by the Democrats and the media as being a warmonger or even to some extent – a war criminal who enjoys torture – played right into the resistance party’s hands.
He echoed daughter Liz Cheney (R-WY) in his disappointment that others in the Republican Party aren’t feeding Democrat efforts to investigate the Capitol riot and dramatize the events of that day.
The elder Cheney said he is “deeply disappointed at the failure of many members of my party to recognize the grave nature of the January 6 attacks and the ongoing threat to our nation.”
Pelosi walked over to Dick Cheney to shake his hand after presiding over a moment of silence to mark Jan 6 attack anniversary. He and Liz Cheney are the only Republicans in the room
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2022
Dick Cheney said Republican leadership no longer resembles “any of the folks I knew when I was here for 10 years.”
That isn’t quite the insult he was hoping for.
As she ended her remarks, Pelosi, sensing a photo-op, made a beeline to the Cheneys and shook the former Vice President’s hand.
Representative Liz Cheney, who once said Pelosi’s “spine doesn’t seem to reach her brain,” briefly put her arm around the Speaker.
The lovefest was nothing short of nauseating.
The Enemy of her Enemy is now her Friend: CIA torture report: Nancy Pelosi blames Dick Cheney | Torture | The Guardian https://t.co/2i45ydh78L
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) January 7, 2022
RELATED: Pelosi Leads Democrats In Candlelight Vigil For ‘Heroes’ On Capitol Steps
Used To Be Their Enemy
It takes little more than a cursory search to find the past relationship between Dick Cheney and the Democrats wasn’t always so fabulous.
In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that prior to the Trump years, Cheney was probably the singularly most hated and vilified Republican.
Pelosi, for her part, criticized Cheney for a torture report by the Central Intelligence Agency back in 2014. In fact, beyond simply criticizing him, Pelosi accused Cheney of being responsible for the abuse.
“I do believe that during the Bush-Cheney administration, that Vice-President Cheney set a tone and an attitude for the CIA,” she said at the time.
“Many people in the CIA are so patriotic, they protect our country in a way to avoid conflict and violence,” added Pelosi. “But the attitude that was there was very – I think it came from Dick Cheney. That’s what I believe. I think he’s proud of it.”
From ‘proud to torture people’ to being an American hero willing to stand up to Trump and his supporters in less than a decade. What a transformation.
Join Members of Congress and me on the steps of the U.S. Capitol for a bicameral prayer vigil marking one year since January 6th. https://t.co/xn3kwTdMoF
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 6, 2022
The late Senator Harry Reid once said, “Being on the wrong side of Dick Cheney is being on the right side of history.”
Now, being on the wrong side of things is a family affair for the Cheneys, with Liz serving as a political pawn for Democrats as co-chair of the select committee investigating the Capitol riot.
Democrat Representative Adam Schiff was one Democrat who warmly greeted the former Vice President. He could hardly contain his praise for Cheney’s daughter going along with their investigation.
“We were discussing what a sad moment this is in the country, what a trying time it is, and the fact that things are more at risk in terms of our democracy now than a year ago,” Schiff said. “I told him how courageous his daughter had been and how much respect we have for her.”
The people tortured in the camps Cheney authorized and the countries he had bombed and destroyed likely care. The people who claimed he attacked US democracy by stealing the 2000 election should presumably also care.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 9, 2022
“That Cheney was the catalyst for rare bonhomie between Republicans and Democrats was a clear measure of how far his party has veered from the traditional GOP orthodoxy into the decidedly unorthodox grip of former President Donald Trump,” the Independent wrote.
That’s not a bad thing by any stretch.
