Liz Cheney is Out! … a tragedy of errors
Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney was once a bright star in the Republican firmament. She grew up in politics as the daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney. She was a rock-solid conservative member of the House. She had a major leadership position as Chair of the House Republican Conference.
Her future was very promising with many options. Speaker of the House in the future. A jump to the Senate or a shot at the vice presidency – and even the possibility of being the first female President of the United States.
Then she joined the Democrats – and a few Republicans – in voting to impeach President Trump as he left office. She voted against the previous impeachment.
Ironically, it was not the impeachment vote that essentially ended Cheney’s political career in my judgment – at least it need not have been. In view of the excellent conservative voting record and leadership qualities, I have always believed that she could have survived that one vote – and gone on to win election in Wyoming in the future.
It all changed when House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy booted Cheney out of her leadership position. I thought it was a mistake at the time — and still do. I opined that McCarthy was potentially creating, unnecessarily, a woman scorned. My only misjudgment in that opinion was how far from Cheney’s anger and bitterness would take her.
I did not lose my admiration for Cheney based on one vote – albeit a rather significant vote. I did not lose my admiration for her even when she was expelled from her leadership position. I thought McCarthy had blundered – and still do.
But when (Dr. Jekyll) Cheney turned into (Mr. Hyde) Cheney – when she allowed herself to be used by House Speaker Pelosi as the Co-Chair of the biased Select Committee — she lost me. She had lost her conservative soul. Like Mr. Hyde, Cheney’s character completely transformed from that rock-solid conservative to a devotee of the radical left.
It was a lot more than one vote against Trump. She became obsessed in her hatred for the man. And even worse. She became a voice of hatred against Republican leadership … Republican voters … and Republican principles. She became an activist dedicated to defeat the entire Republican Party in the upcoming midterm elections. She was now working to promote the empowerment of the Radical left. Cheney became a participant – nay, a leader – in the strategy to defeat the Republican Party by smearing the label and demonizing millions of Republican voters as members of a dangerous cult.
The extent to which she left her political moorings is not only seen in the condemnation she has earned from her former Republican allies, but from the high praises she receives from the most far left elements of the Democratic Party.
Cheney took her impeachment vote from being an exception from an otherwise principled conservative record and made it the gateway to a profound and fundamental political conversion.
And yet she maintained her plan to run for re-election. Perhaps she initially thought she would still win in the Wyoming GOP primary. By the time she understood that her quest for re-nomination was foolish and impossible, it was too late to pull out.
I say it is a tragedy only because I do not believe her career had to end this way. And yes, I do believe that she has blown away any political future.
Some wonder if she will run against Trump in the 2024 presidential election – or run even if he does not. It makes no difference. She has no base of support anywhere in the GOP. Would she put the proper label on her conversion and run in Wyoming as a Democrat for the House or the Senate? Since there is only one congressional seat in Wyoming, both offices are statewide races. With Wyoming being one of the most Republican states in the Union, such a move would be folly.
Cheney is too young and probably too ambitious to join her father in the obscurity of retirement. She was receiving high praise for her “courage” from the left-wing media. They predicted that she would be a huge influence in America as she continues her campaign against Trump and the Republican Party.
In her concession speech, Cheney also heaped praise onto herself. She promised to continue to fight against the windmills of her mind – referring to that nonsensical allusion to a coming civil war and the end of the American Republic.
She compared herself to Abraham Lincoln and the real Civil War. In case you had not studied history, you need to know that one started after the southern states controlled by the Democratic Party seceded from the union even before Lincoln was inaugurated. Then there was the attack on Fort Sumter. I am at a loss to see anything remotely similar to today. In fact, there was a better chance of a civil war in the tumultuous 1960s – and even then, it was an extremely remote possibility.
Not sure what Cheney will do next, but I feel confident even a semi-bright political future is no longer in the cards. Her political career is over. No one likes a turncoat – no matter what side they are on. Despite the farewell praise from the left, she has no place in the radical left Democratic Party after her she has completed her role as their useful idiot.
I cannot help but feel that there is something of a Greek tragedy in the Cheney story – a political tragedy she scripted for herself.
So, there ‘tis.
Liz Cheney brought this on herself.
“I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me.”
Liz Cheney is a liberal’s nightmare. She voted with Trump over 92% of the time, more conservative than most Congress people throwing stones at here. I am glad that Cheney is gone. She not only was unwavering, she was efficient and effective in changing policies, and not in a good way IMO. I respect the person and hate the policies and this will change nothing as far as the Cheney-Trump duel, just punishment for not marching lockstep with the movement. It’s a win all around for liberals, so if conservatives like to eat-their-own, cannibalizing the party, that’s OK with me too.
Now we are up against a newbie ex trial lawyer with little claim to fame and no experience in Congress. She will need years to be anything but a mouth. That’s good IMO.
To throw Cheney out because she called Trump on his Ukraine extortion knowing full well he cheats, and a cheater who gets away with it, especially right in front of your face, will do it again —- and he did —- and she basically voted on January 6th too, to throw her out for telling the truth, or her truth —- seems a loss to the party, if you believe in conservative policies or the policies of Trumpism.
How Wyoming could shift from 72% for to over 70% against in one term speaks volumes as to Wyoming voters and the power of Trump.
Cheney is basically dead as a politician but stranger bedfellows have made it back from the dead. Right now, she can’t run as a Republican or Democrat and doubtful being Independent will help. Perhaps an MSNBC talking head, but FOX is probably out.
I am glad and sad at the same time.
Frank Stetson…. you have shown how Cheney will never be a player with her newfound liberal friends. They used here … and will abandon her when she is of no further use. However, she did abandon her conservative principles by aiding and abetting left-wing Democrats in their seeking office. She fought against the Republicans party — and conservative candidates. Her voting record WAS great but she went to the dark side when she joined the one-sided Select Committee. Not sure why you referenced Ukraine. I thought she voted against impeachment on that one. She could wind up on MSNBC as have Kinzinger and Joe Walsh. Maybe they needed the money — but Cheney does not. We do agree that her political career and influence is nominal in the future …. just as those folks at the Lincoln Project. They can still raise money and give interviews, but the impact is minimal. Like a true liberal, however, you malign hundreds of thousands of voters in Wyoming. What they did was rational and correct.
The seat will remain in Republican hands. And the replacement representative will do a great job. But Liz might run for president. Just so you know, Trump won’t be nominated. You lying liberal asswipes did a good job destroying a great man.