Liz Cheney in Time magazine

On Budget & Economy: Fighting Smart: focus on getting results to roll back feds

A: When I say fight smart, what I really am focused on is getting results. But you have to know how to do it. You have to know how you can actually cut these agencies, how you can actually limit the regulation, how you can actually roll the federal government back.

Q: There is not a whole lot of daylight between yourself and Senator Enzi in terms of policy.

A: Well, yes, except Senator Enzi's been there for 18 years. When you've been there for 18 years, you have to deal with the results, what you've been able to deliver for the people of Wyoming. And if I thought that Senator Enzi, whatever his tactics, would be able to effectively prevent President Obama from taking the nation down this path to European social democracy--I wouldn't need to be in this race. He hasn't, and there's no sense, frankly, that he will. I think we've got to have a new generation.

On Foreign Policy: Isolationism is a mistake; ignoring threats is dangerous

A: I think that yes, it is dangerous. I think isolationism is a mistake, no matter what party you see it in. We have to remember that there are two threats to our freedom: there's a threat that comes from the federal government, from the Obama Administration policies, but there's also a huge and significant threat from al-Qaeda. The war on terror is still underway. Al-Qaeda is stronger today than it's been in many years. We have to be able to protect our freedom from both of those threats.

On Homeland Security: Obama doesn't believe in American exceptionalism; I do

A: You have to look at some of his own speeches. Look at the speech he made at the U.N. in 2009, when he said no world order that elevates one nation above others can long survive. That's not somebody who believes in American exceptionalism. Going to Cairo that year, talking about how America abandoned its values after 9/11. You don't go onto foreign soil, the home of Mohammed Atta, and criticize us. This is a president who is uncomfortable with American strength, uncomfortable with American power. I believe he came into office intending to take us down a notch. I think he came into office believing we're a force for ill in the world.

On Homeland Security: Balance liberty & security, but don't shut down NSA spying

A: I think if you looked at the differences between my dad and me, I think the biggest difference is he's never been a 47-year-old mother of five. Another area is he's more confident in the NSA program. My view of the NSA program is the following: I think it saved lives. I think it prevented attacks. And I don't think we can be in a position where we're saying, shut the whole thing down. But I do know that today, with a President who so clearly flouts the rule of law and the Constitution, there are legitimate concerns about whether we have the balance between civil liberties and our security right. That's a question we have to ask constantly.

On War & Peace: Liberate nations that have been havens for terror

A: I think there are some instances where U.S. security is threatened by rogue regimes, by foreign dictators, and there are some instances where liberating nations helps to restore our security. Afghanistan, I would say Iraq--places that had been havens for terror. The problem in Syria is that if the President had acted two years ago, it would be different. What was on the table wasn't, "Should we liberate the Syrian people from Bashar Assad?" What was on the table was conducting limited strikes. Basically the President was saying we should do this to send a message. And I'm never going to be for the use of military force to send a message.