See You In My Nightmares

Many of you have seen this article: Cheney warns of new attacks in which the former Vice President asserts that:

Protecting the country’s security is “a tough, mean, dirty, nasty business. These are evil people. And we’re not going to win this fight by turning the other cheek.”

First, it reminded me of this video. Poignant, poignant.

Then, I began to wonder WTF is really up with Cheney (besides the obvious mephistophelean villainy, of course)? I remembered reading this article a couple of years ago which may shed some light on the inner-workings of the Cheney psyche.

From the article: Republicans have more Nightmares than Democrats

Scenario 1
The dreams of the people on the political right reveal them to be insecure, anxious, conflict-ridden, and emotionally repressed. When they are not terrified of imaginary threats they cling to the comforts of the status quo. They seek a kind of power through their political views that they lack within their deeper selves.

By contrast, the dreams of people on the political left show them to be creative, progressive, and imaginative. They are confident in their abilities and willing to think beyond the boundaries of the present to envision new possibilities for the future. (Bulkeley, 2001)


But, there's another possible interpretation of these findings:

Scenario 2
The dreams of people on the political right reveal them to be highly attuned to the actual dangers and threats of the waking world. These people are realistic, grounded, honest about the frailties of human nature in the face of danger, and appreciative of the good things in present-day life.

By contrast, the dreams of people on the political left show them to be irrational, naïve, utopian, and deluded by their own fantasies. These people are out of touch with the real world, and they wish for powers they do not have in actuality. (Bulkeley, 2001)

In my view, Cheney fits best into Scenario 1; although he would certainly argue that Scenario 2 most accurately represents reality.