Dick Cheney: "holding the line on spending"

From the Washington Post's series on the vice president, we learn from his supporters that he is the go-to guy on economic issues, a "small-government" conservative who keeps George Bush faithful to Republican core principles.

Such stands by Cheney were not uncommon, said Bolten, the White House chief of staff. Cheney often stepped in if he sensed the administration was softening its commitment to Republican "first principles," Bolten said, and he was "a pretty vigorous voice for holding the line on spending and for holding the line on tax cuts." Longtime Cheney adviser Mary Matalin said the vice president brings a "spine quotient" to internal debates.

None of his aides actually cite any instances where Cheney lobbied for spending restraint, but if we take them at their word this is apparently the only area Cheney has failed to get his way.

Bush and Cheney have added over $3 trillion to the national debt and they aren't done yet.