Dick Cheney is back. GOP rejoices (not)

By Richard Barry

Several media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, note that former vice president Dick Cheney and daughter Liz intend to be a part of the foreign policy debate in the 2016 election cycle through their advocacy group, Alliance for a Strong America.

As the Times writes, now that the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East has pushed Republicans to embrace a more interventionist foreign policy, the Cheney's want to make sure they don't get weak-kneed about it.

The organization is planning online and perhaps television ads pushing a muscular line on national security, according to a Republican strategist familiar with the group’s planning. The initiative may also pay for polling to help nudge Republican candidates toward hawkish stances in the primary season.

Certainly instability in the Middle East is a concern, and will continue to be an issue through the campaign and beyond, but is Dick Cheney, unpleasant and unpopular bastard that he is, really the guy Republicans want to see as the face of the party's security policy?

My guess is that most GOP contenders would like to see Dick and Liz follow the example of W. and just go away.