Vice President Dick Cheney, in a heated exchange with Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, told the Senator to "...go fuck himself..." CNN.com 6/24/2004. This exchange seems to be news only because a number of people are still unable to comprehend the fact that it is the meaning of words that matter, not the collection of vibrations they make in the air. Dick Cheney said the word "fuck" in his retort, but his response was the same as if he had said "...go to hell..." or even "...get away from me...". It is the meaning of words that matter, not the sounds they are comprised of (see our other commentary here).

In fact, it is not the Vice President's choice of words that matter here, but his inability to have a discussion on the issues. This is the way politics are under the Great Divider, George W. Bush. Cheney, when he saw Leahy on the Senate floor, became incensed about Leahy's calls for an independent investigation of the allegations against Cheney's once and future company, Halliburton. Cheney verbally lashed out at Leahy, the actual words of which are unimportant. When Leahy reminded the Vice President that he had referred to Senator Leahy as a "...bad catholic...", bringing religion into a political debate where it had no place being, the Vice President lost control and ended the "conversation" with his now infamous tirade. There can no longer be a "frank exchange of views" in the Senate, or anywhere else for that matter, without people being labeled as "bad Catholics" or "un-American", or someone just getting mad and storming out.

It is time for us to return to civilized politics, where people who do not get what they want, or think is best, fight the good fight to fix the perceived injustice, but always accept the outcome as the result of our imperfect, but best possible system. Dick Cheney has clearly lost site of that. He has become unwilling to accept anything other than complete victory for him and the administration and has become part of the greatest dividing force in Washington since the Civil War. Remember, this is America. People have the right and the responsibility to disagree and still co-exist peacefully. If we can not have a civilized debate, then it is Democracy that is the casualty. We must be able to make informed decisions based on as much information as we can get. One of the keys to that is an informed dialog amongst politicians, and amongst us average Americans.

Cheney's response to this incident included "...after he'd done so, then he wanted to act like everything was peaches and cream." Of course he did Mr. Vice President. Senator Leahy is a civilized American who understands the importance of debate on the issues facing us. You need to grow up Mr. Vice President, learn to accept criticism, whether you feel it is fair or not, and get on with the task of running this country. Temper tantrums only hurt that ability and are not appropriate, no matter if there is profanity involved or not.

I hope that this incident will help spark a return to that civilized debate. I fear however that it will only serve to highlight for many the fact that Dick Cheney has a "potty-mouth".