The funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney, held last Thursday, offered a telling snapshot of the deep-seated animosity harbored by the Washington establishment towards President Donald Trump.
The event, attended by Democrats, Democratic advocates, and traditional Republicans, was ostensibly a tribute to a man who played a significant role in shaping the Republican Party in the early 21st century. However, the attendees were united by a common disdain for the man currently redefining the party and the nation as a whole.
According to the Western Journal, among the attendees was Rachel Maddow, a progressive stalwart of the recently rebranded MSNBC (now known as MS NOW). Maddow, who has built her career on criticizing Cheney and his role in the George W. Bush administration, was captured in a photograph appearing to be in discomfort.
To her right was Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose actions have arguably eroded public trust in health authorities more than anyone since Typhoid Mary. On her left was former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, who led the party during the second Bush presidency, and James Carville, a Democratic strategist who played a key role in the political careers of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Molly Hemingway, a conservative journalist, author, and editor of The Federalist, commented on the photograph, stating, Cant imagine a more accurate picture of what the DC/NYC regime is like. Maddow's opposition to the Bush-Cheney administration helped cement her status as a leading progressive voice in American politics.
Cheney, alongside Bush, was a figure of intense hatred for the left. Even a decade after leaving office, Cheney was still reviled enough to be the subject of a dark comedy biopic featuring actor Christian Bale. Upon winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Cheney, Bale infamously said, Thank you to Satan for giving me inspiration on how to play this role.
The political landscape, however, has been dramatically altered by Donald Trump, a man who is shaking up the Washington establishment and infuriating its entrenched inhabitants. Liz Cheney, Dick Cheney's daughter and a Wyoming congresswoman, served on Nancy Pelosi's committee investigating the events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol.
For her participation, Cheney received a last-minute pardon from outgoing President Joe Biden on January 20, along with all members and staffers of the committee. She was also voted out of office by the Wyoming constituents she was supposed to represent.
Dick Cheney himself reacted to the tension between his daughter and Trump by publicly announcing his vote for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Unsurprisingly, Harris was present at Cheney's funeral, while Trump was not invited. The guest list, which was by invitation only, spoke volumes about the nature of what Hemingway referred to as the DC/NYC regime.
Twenty years ago, the notion of Dick Cheney voting for a Democrat and publicly declaring it would have been unthinkable. Even a decade ago, the idea of Rachel Maddow mourning at Dick Cheney's funeral would have been a source of dark humor. However, in the face of formidable establishment opposition, Trump has gained momentum in Washington, earning the ire of all factions of the permanent bureaucracy that wields power in the capital.
In the convoluted politics of Washington, the adage "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" holds true. For those gathered at the funeral, which was less a patriotic display of mourning than a public demonstration of spite, there is no greater adversary than Donald Trump, unless it's the 77 million Americans who cast their votes for him.
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