The Washington Post details how Mr. Cheney lived up to his nickname "Dick" last week when he told democratic senator Leahy of Vermont to fuck himself after the senator asked some pointed questions about Cheney's connections to Halliburton, the company which has won many major contracts in the rebuilding of Iraq following the war of which Cheney was such an ardent supporter.  Got to hand it to Dick, he's got a way with words.

...On Tuesday, Cheney, serving in his role as president of the Senate, appeared in the chamber for a photo session. A chance meeting with Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, became an argument about Cheney's ties to Halliburton Co., an international energy services corporation, and President Bush's judicial nominees. The exchange ended when Cheney offered some crass advice.

"Fuck yourself," said the man who is a heartbeat from the presidency...

Of course, this would be the same administration that has called for a higher level of discourse and civility.  This would be the same administration that promised to return honor and dignity to the White House.  What a laughingstock.  Hard to appreciate such high aims when the administration vehemently attacks and smears anyone and everyone of consequence who criticizes it, fairly or otherwise.

Nice to know that when you get him a little riled, Dick's true colors shine through.  What a statesman.  What a diplomat.

...The Democratic National Committee has declared this to be "Halliburton Week" to portray administration ties to the controversial company. "Sounds like it's making somebody a little testy," Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton said...

 Ya think?  Y'know given how much mud the administration's lackeys sling for them, you'd think they would be able to handle it better when some gets thrown back at them.  This story would be but minor curiousity if the Vice President came out today and said "I offer my apologies to Senator Leahy for speaking to him in such an unbecoming way.  Mr. Leahy's questions were highly inappropriate and questioned my integrity in a manner which I found personally insulting."

Except that's not what happened.  Remember, this is an administration which NEVER MAKES A MISTAKE.

...Vice President Cheney on Friday vigorously defended his vulgarity directed at a prominent Democratic senator earlier this week in the Senate chamber.

Cheney said he "probably" used an obscenity in an argument Tuesday on the Senate floor with Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and added that he had no regrets. "I expressed myself rather forcefully, felt better after I had done it," Cheney told Neil Cavuto of Fox News. The vice president said those who heard the putdown agreed with him. "I think that a lot of my colleagues felt that what I had said badly needed to be said, that it was long overdue."...

Good old Fox News, the right-wing mouthpiece and propaganda dispenser, gives Cheney a forum in which to defend his telling an elected United States Senator representing the citizens of Vermont to fuck himself.  Not only does he think he should be excused for saying it, but indeed it was necessary and good for him to have said it.  It was "overdue".

I think we're overdue for a new administration, one that represents the will of the people.

...David Carle, Leahy's spokesman, said: "It appears the vice president's previous calls for civility are now inoperative."...

 Ya think?

The politically charged blog Radical Left offered some interesting insights about this little flap.  I encourage you to read it.