Bill Clinton: Cheney trying to cause 2012 mischief

Former President Bill Clinton says he has high regard for Dick Cheney’s political skills even if the former vice president tries to cause mischief for Democrats.

Cheney recently praised Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as one of the Obama administration’s “most competent” members and said it would be “interesting to speculate” how she might be as president.

Cheney suggested, tongue in cheek, she might want to challenge Barack Obama in 2012, and said he wouldn’t discourage a primary fight.

Bill Clinton tells CBS’ “Face the Nation” he’s “gratified whenever anyone says anything nice” about his wife, but one of Cheney’s skills “is sowing discord among the opposition” and he doesn’t want to help Cheney’s strategy succeed.

Clinton did elbow Cheney, saying, “I admire that he’s still out there hitting the ball.”