Pernicious Opportunist - Yup, That'd Be our Veep!

Cheney called Democrats "opportunists" who were peddling "cynical and pernicious falsehoods" to gain political advantage while U.S. soldiers died in Iraq.

Does anyone else find this appalling?

Not only that, but he is doing it on the Taxpayer dime. Name calling, opportunist? Take a look at these remarks from the same speech:

I'm sorry that we couldn't be joined by Senators Harry Reid, John Kerry, or Jay Rockefeller. They were unable to attend due to a prior lack of commitment...

Returning to the purpose of this gathering, I want to thank Frontiers of Freedom for asking me to participate. And I want to thank all of you for supporting this organization. Frontiers of Freedom is an active, intelligent, and needed presence in the national debate. Washington is a city with many short-term perspectives and narrow interests competing for attention. Frontiers of Freedom offers something different - a perspective shaped by the broad interests of the nation, and by principles that are relevant in every time. By advocating a strong defense, limited government, and the protection of individual rights - and doing so in a way that is factual, honest, and well argued - you are making a tremendous contribution. And I thank you for it.

Oh, and who are these Frontiers of Freedom folks? Well, from their web location, we know they have ten tenets. No wonder Cheney spoke here - not a contrarian eye in the audiance:

We Believe...

1. The most basic moral obligation of the federal government is to defend America, which requires military and economic preparation and strength. The only proper use of the military is to protect America's homeland, citizens, borders, and vital interests.

2. Property rights and economic freedom are the fertile soil in which all other rights grow and thrive. The environment is best protected and preserved where free markets thrive, capitalism is robust, and property rights are respected.

3. The Constitution's enumerated and limited powers, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and guarantee of basic rights are the foundation of America's freedom.

4. "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" and each of the other rights guaranteed in the Constitution are necessary to the foundation of freedom - including the right to bear arms and to not be deprived of property without just compensation.

5. The courts have a constitutional duty to faithfully and strictly interpret the law and the Constitution and may not invent or create new law.

6. Justice is the equal treatment of all individuals regardless of ethnicity or religion. Fabricating group rights undermines individual freedom and civil rights.

7. Taxes may be legitimately imposed only to the extent necessary to pay for the essential and constitutionally permitted activities of government. To tax more than this is a form of tyranny and extortion.

8. Government mandates and regulations too often exceed constitutional authority, waste resources, erode freedom, diminish property rights, and produce harmful unintended consequences.

9. To remove sound science from public policy is legislative and regulatory malpractice. To employ junk science in public policy is unethical and irresponsible.

10. Basic standards of morality and civic virtue are essential to maintaining America's economic strength, military might, and freedom. Parents and families, not government, are responsible to rear and educate their children.

But really, shouldn't FF be holding the W, Rove and Co.'s feet to the fire on many issues -not the least of which is the budget busting debt that grows by the billions daily?