OK, I read the entire article, and all the comments which followed.
I remember during the second, or third year as VP, reading in the newspapers that Cheney was still receiving checks. His answer was “deferred income”. This didn’t strike me as “severing all ties”. And later, seeing bricks of cash, in Iraq, being doled out to all comers, and reading about no-bid contracts to Halliburton: Let’s say it did not, and still does not pass the “smell test”.
I’m sure everything Cheney did was LEGAL; most wealthy try to make sure of that. But it is not necessarily RIGHT.
It might have looked better, smelled better, if he had taken all due compensation BEFORE he took office as VP. And, If he was more open about the subject, he might have said, at that time, that he did ask for that income to be deferred, spread out over the next few years for tax-saving purposes. Then the flap would not have arisen.
“Both the President and Vice President are specifically exempted from federal conflict-of-interest laws, for one thing, as are members of Congress and federal judges.”
If the above is true, it was news to me. But then again, not very surprising.
moosemin almost 10 years ago
Say, Dick: Are you still recieving “deferred income” checks from Halliburton?
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
SO TRUE!!!
moosemin almost 10 years ago
OK, I read the entire article, and all the comments which followed.
I remember during the second, or third year as VP, reading in the newspapers that Cheney was still receiving checks. His answer was “deferred income”. This didn’t strike me as “severing all ties”. And later, seeing bricks of cash, in Iraq, being doled out to all comers, and reading about no-bid contracts to Halliburton: Let’s say it did not, and still does not pass the “smell test”.
I’m sure everything Cheney did was LEGAL; most wealthy try to make sure of that. But it is not necessarily RIGHT.
moosemin almost 10 years ago
It might have looked better, smelled better, if he had taken all due compensation BEFORE he took office as VP. And, If he was more open about the subject, he might have said, at that time, that he did ask for that income to be deferred, spread out over the next few years for tax-saving purposes. Then the flap would not have arisen.
“Both the President and Vice President are specifically exempted from federal conflict-of-interest laws, for one thing, as are members of Congress and federal judges.”
If the above is true, it was news to me. But then again, not very surprising.
Thank you for a courteous exchange.
echoraven almost 10 years ago
Cheney never complained about being “dead broke”. Please correct me if I’m wrong.