George W.'s short political life means that he is not yet connected with a long list of political
crimes. Bush has promoted himself as a "compassionate conservative" -- and morphed himself into
positions that suit his current needs.
But now, by choosing Cheney, the Bush campaign has acquired a long and intense record. Cheney
served in three administrations--Nixon, Ford and Bush. And he was notorious rightwing
"meat-eater" in Congress--known for extreme reactionary views.
Cheney voted against Head Start. He opposed women's right to abortion in every possible way. He
voted six times against sanctions on South Africa's apartheid regime. In one infamous stand, he
voted against a symbolic resolution calling for the release of South African political leader Nelson
Mandela, who had served many years in prison for fighting racist apartheid. And as the head of the
Pentagon, he left a bloody trail from Panama to the Persian Gulf.
His three heart attacks are the only known evidence that he has a heart.
Then, as this system waged war on "government handouts for the poor" during the 1990s, Cheney's
career was a living example of "government handouts for the rich."
After leaving the Pentagon, Cheney became the chief executive of Halliburton, a mid-sized
company specializing in oil production equipment. He cashed in on his official contacts with the
oil industry and the reactionary governments of the Middle East. With Cheney as its $2
million-a-year "rain-maker," Halliburton became a powerhouse almost overnight --with $15
billion in annual sales and contracts in over 120 countries. Cheney ended up with about $43 million
for about five years involvement.
For the masses of people of the world, such a man is an enemy. But for the ruling class, he is a
trusted and experienced representative--and a man who they consider "gentlemanly" in his
partisanship.
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