Cheney's worst thing

The evening's water torture:

COURIC (to Biden): What do you think is the best and worst thing that Dick Cheney has done as vice president? BIDEN: I'm not being a wise guy here about I don't know what he's done. I mean, there's not many things I'd pick that I thought he's done that have been good. But I admire his strength. I admire his willingness to take positions that are completely contrary to popular opinion. But I think that what he's done has been just — I don't think Dick Cheney trusts that the American people can make judgments that are in the interest of the country. But I think the thing I think he's really really think he's done. I think he's done more harm than any other single elected official in memory in terms of shredding the constitution. You know — condoning torture. Pushing torture as a policy. This idea of a unitary executive. Meaning the Congress and the people have no power in a time of war. And the president controls everything. I don't have any animus toward Dick Cheney, but I really do think his attitude about the Constitution and the prosecution of this war has been absolutely wrong. PALIN: Worst thing, I guess that would have been the duck hunting accident — where, you know, that was an accident. And I think that was made into a caricature of him. And that was kind of unfortunate. So the best thing, though, he's shown support, along with George W. Bush, of our troops. And I've been there when George Bush has spoken to families of those who have suffered greatly, those who are serving in the military. I've been there when President Bush has embraced those families and expressed the concern and the sympathy speaking for all of America in those times. And for Dick Cheney to have supported that effort of George Bush's, I respect that.



Full transcript after the jump.

October 2, 2008

"VICE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTIONS" ON TONIGHT'S

"CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC"

Following is the transcript from tonight's broadcast.

Mandatory credit: the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC

Tonight's questions to Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin are:

· What do you think is the best thing and the worst thing that Dick Cheney has done as vice president?

· What previous vice president most impresses you and why?

· What is your favorite movie and why?

COURIC: Back now from St. Louis. Tonight's Vice Presidential debate here will give voters an opportunity to find out where Joe Biden and Sarah Palin stand on a host of issues. But we want to help you get to know the candidates as people with a series we call "Vice Presidential Questions." Tonight, I ask them about the office their seeking and the people who have held it.

COURIC: What previous Vice President impresses you the most and why?

PALIN: Oh my goodness. It would have to be --Vice President--just a candidate, and that would have to have been Geraldine Ferraro, of course. That's an easy one for me because she's--she's the one who first shattered part of that glass ceiling anyway in American politics. So it would be she as a candidate.

COURIC: What about as an actual Vice President if you had to name one?

PALIN: My goodness. I think those who have gone on to the Presidency--George Bush Sr, having --kind of learned the ropes in his position as VP and then moving on up.

BIDEN: Lyndon Johnson. For all the foibles he had as President--in people's minds--he really knew how the system worked. He was able to be a significant facilitator of a--new frontier. New policy. People in the Congress knew him, knew he knew a lot. And so I hope one of my roles as Vice President will be as the person actually implementing Barack Obama's policy. You gotta get the Congress to go along with it. And I--presumptuous to say, but I know it pretty well. And I think I am fairly respected on both sides of the aisle.

COURIC (to Biden): What do you think is the best and worst thing that Dick Cheney has done as Vice President?

BIDEN: I'm not being a wise guy here about I don't know what he's done. I mean, there's not many things I'd pick that I thought he's done that have been good. But I admire his strength. I admire his willingness to take positions that are completely contrary to popular opinion. But I think that what he's done has been just--I don't think Dick Cheney trusts that the American people can make judgments that are in the interest of the country. But I think the thing I think he's really really think he's done. I think he's done more harm than any other single elected official in memory in terms of shredding the constitution. You know --condoning torture. Pushing torture as a policy. This idea of a unitary executive. Meaning the Congress and the people have no power in a time of war. And the President controls everything//I don't have any animus toward Dick Cheney but I really do think his attitude about the constitution and the prosecution of this war has been absolutely wrong.

PALIN: Worst thing I guess that would have been the duck hunting accident--where you know, that was an accident. And I think that was made into a caricature of him. And that was kind of unfortunate. So the best thing though, he's shown support, along with George W. Bush, of our troops. And I've been there when George Bush has spoken to families of those who have suffered greatly, those who are serving in the military. I've been there when President Bush has embraced those families and expressed the concern and the sympathy speaking for all of America in those times. And for Dick Cheney to have supported that effort of George Bush's, I respect that.

COURIC: What's your favorite movie and why?

BIDEN: Chariots of Fire, is I think probably my favorite movie. But the truth of the matter is the thing about it there it's a place where someone put personal fame and glory behind principles. And you know, that to me, is the mark of real heroism, um when someone would do that.

COURIC: Do you remember your favorite scene from that movie?

BIDEN: I think the favorite scene is when he is making the decision and talking to his about do I do this? What do I do? He so desperately wanted to run, but concluded he couldn't.

BIDEN: It was that, you know, that moment of decision, I think that was my favorite scene. I also like the scene on the beach where you know he's just running

PALIN: I love those old sports movies, like Hoosiers, and Rudy, um, those that show that the underdog can make it and it's all about tenacity, and work ethic and determination, and just doing the right thing, so it would probably be one of those two old sports movies.

COURIC: Do you have a favorite scene from either of them?

PALIN: At the very end, the victories! Yeah! Rudy, where he gets to run out on the field and he gets to participate and make a difference. And then in Hoosiers, when they win.