Cheney Keeps His Secrets

The Skinny: VP Refuses To Comply With Executive Order On Classified Information

(CBS)  The Skinny is Joel Roberts' take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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For the past four years, Vice President Dick Cheney has refused to comply with an executive order governing the oversight of classified material, using the novel argument that his office is not fully part of the executive branch.

That's according to front-page stories Friday in The New York Times, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Documents released Thursday by a House committee claim that since 2003, Cheney's office has resisted routine oversight of its handling of classified material, blocked mandatory inspections and even tried to have the unit of the National Archives responsible for enforcing the oversight rules abolished.

The L.A. Times points out that "at least one of those inspections would have come at a particularly delicate time — when Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and other aides were under criminal investigation for their suspected roles in leaking the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame."

Cheney's argument is that his office is "not an entity within the executive branch," because it also has a legislative role under the Constitution - an interesting position, the LAT notes, from an official who has claimed executive privilege when refusing to provide information requested by Congress.

In an interview with the New York Times, Rep. Henry Waxman, the Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said, "I know the vice president wants to operate with unprecedented secrecy. But this is absurd. This order is designed to keep classified information safe."


CIA To Share The "Family Jewels"

The CIA is airing decades of its dirty laundry, declassifying hundreds of pages of long-secret records detailing some of the agency's worst abuses from the 1960s and '70s, the Washington Post and New York Times both report Friday.

The Post says the records document a "quarter-century of overseas assassination attempts, domestic spying, kidnapping and infiltration of leftist groups."

The documents, to be publicly released next week, include accounts of agency break-ins and thefts, opening of private mail, wiretaps of journalists, and drug tests on "unwitting" civilians.

"Most of it is unflattering," said CIA Director Michael Hayden. "But it is CIA's history."

The documents, known around the CIA as the "family jewels," have been unsuccessfully sought for years by journalists and historians under the Freedom of Information Act.


New Orleans Death Rate Surges

The death rate in New Orleans rose dramatically last year, USA Today reports, as the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina continues to linger in the crestfallen city.

The city's death rate surged by 47 percent in 2006, compared with two years before Katrina, according to a new study. Doctors attributed much of that increase to a severe shortage of medical care and personnel – seven of New Orleans' 22 hospitals and half its hospital beds have been lost, and more than 4,000 doctors have been displaced since the hurricane.

The study included deaths of evacuees who left New Orleans following the storm. Kevin Stephens, director of the New Orleans Health Department and the report's lead author, said poor people who fled the city had trouble getting health care wherever they went.

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[bareemperor]

Fascism and secrecy walk hand in hand...

I mourn our country, and what it once was.

[BlueInWI]

Do you folks realize that Chimp picked Cheney to select a VP, and Cheney $elected him$elf...

[realpatriot1]

Cheney's right...he's not part of the government, he's part of the junta.

[adventurepa]

It's about time CBS that you posted this article!

Sad state of affairs with this vice president.
This should be headline news!
We must Impeach!!!!

[flreason]

I'm not an advocate of using the impeachment process except in extraordinary circumstances. Cheney's specious arguments that attempt to place him outside of any oversight fall into that category. This man is dangerous and delusional. The fact that his influence is waning is beside the point. His contempt for the rule of law is a clear violation of his oath of office, and he needs to be removed to preserve the integrity of the office of Vice President, both in the current administration and as precedent for future office-holders.

[forthepeopl1]

GO AHEAD AMERICA, BOW TO YOUR DICTATORS. TIME TO TAKE ACTON AMERICA,BEFORE WE LOSE EVERYTHING
ALL OUR RIGHTS AS AMERICANS ARE ONLY GOOD IF YOU DONT TIP OVER THE SCUM.


the people party is here already,are you ready

JULY 21 2007 IS WHEN AMERICANS WILL BE FREE AGAIN

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

[j4401]

I think the news media should continually report all the questions of legality surrounding Cheney.
This guy needs a good tar and feathering and ran out of the country.

[steeepe]

Cheney is a dangerous autocrat and should be impeached ASAP, along with his dunderheaded President. These fascists are the biggest hypocrites ever to head the U.S. government. They know nothing of morality, only self-serving power. Less than two years left and counting the seconds...

[macusweil]

No man is above the law. This guy is such a joker. Cheney should go to jail right alone with his felonious henchman, Scooter. There is a simple solution, however, strip the VP of any and all security clearance.

[skyhawk761]

Well when you stack the courts, make new laws as you go along and remove the ones that stand in your way, anything is possible. From day one this SOB has thought he is above the law with the "behind closed doors" energy meetings to secret prisons, he has done whatever he wanted to do. A local yocal would have been put under the prison by now for lesser things!

[forthepeopl1]

UNDER THE HOME PAGE OF THE GOVERNEMNT IT STATES THE FOLLOWING OFFICES ARE UNDER THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF OUR GOVERNEMNT

TIME TO IMPEACH THIS CRIMINAL AND BUSH TO.

Executive Office of the President
The President
The Vice President
The White House Home Page
Offices within the Executive Office of the President
The President's Cabinet

SO GO AHEAD AMERICA DONT DO ANYTHING BUT SIT THERE

[soldat44]

'Cheney's argument is that his office is "not an entity within the executive branch," because it also has a legislative role under the Constitution - an interesting position, the LAT notes, from an official who has claimed executive privilege when refusing to provide information requested by Congress.'

Amazing...

[boatdocster]

Cheney stated he could not reveal the meeting minutes from his oil company energy task force meetings (Iraq war planning) because of Executive Privledge. He uses that excuse a lot to hide all the rest of his dirty laundry.

Yet when he has to comply with the requiremnts of being an "Executive Privledge" office, he suddenly no longer falls in that category? Bull!!!

Cheney needs to be sent to Gitmo as an Enemy Combantant - an enemy of Freedom and Democracy and the U.S.A!

[cindidevo]

Thank God someone from one of the big media companies finally posted a story on what Cheney is up to. He and Bush and the entire administration have been up to this kind of unconstitutional behavior for years and we Americans have turned a blind eye to it all.

Most of us are more worried about what Paris Hilton is up to and meanwhile back at the ranch, these traitors are getting away with literally stealing our rights-right out from under us. Besides trying to scare us into submission.

Do you all realize that Richard Nixon resigned for eavesdropping on the Democrates? He was nearly impeached for that at Watergate. Bush and Cheney are evesdropping on the entire nation! And we are letting them get away with it. It is criminal. It is a violation of our rights and the Constitution. Why haven't they been impeached or at the very least asked to resign? Write to your Senators and Congressmen and let's do something about this nightmare.

If anyone reading this really gives a *** about America and the greatness that she truely stands for please, read Al Gore's new book "The Assault on Reason". It will blow your mind to find out what really has been going on. Scared teh *** out of me that's for sure...

And by the way, is there anyone out there that can help America get rid of Bush and Cheney before 2008? Can America even hold on that long?

Mr. Gore? How 'bout it? You'd have my vote along with everyone I know.

Come on America. Where is your greatness?

Cheney is a dangerous wack job - why is he still employed by us?

[cindidevo]

Well CBS, I think this is your headline story for Katie tonight....

Or are you too scared?

[processor2]

NEW GALLOP POLL RELEASED FRIDAY 06/22/07

President Bush confidence rating is at 29 percent

DEMOCRAT Congress confidence rating is at 14 percent..
an historical record low for any government institution.

THE POINT:

Bush has double the confidence rating of the Democrat Congress.

...

[processor2]

NEW GALLOP POLL RELEASED FRIDAY 06/22/07

President Bush confidence rating is at 29 percent

DEMOCRAT Congress confidence rating is at 14 percent..
an historical record low for any government institution.

THE POINT:

Bush has double the confidence rating of the Democrat Congress.

...

[processor2]

NEW GALLOP POLL RELEASED FRIDAY 06/22/07

President Bush confidence rating is at 29 percent

DEMOCRAT Congress confidence rating is at 14 percent..
an historical record low for any government institution.

THE POINT:

Bush has double the confidence rating of the Democrat Congress.

...

[oleander8]

For Gawd's sake - Congress, don't let him worm his way out of compliance again. He'll wait you out until it's out of the headlines - just like he did with the energy task force. Grow a pair, Congress!!!

[oleander8]

[To:processor2] - you are so-o-o twisted. You bend your numbers better than the administration does.

[richzurb]

I have been a Republican for my entire life but I must admitt that there is now way to justify Chenny's and Bush's tenure in the whitehouse. These two people are an embarassment to thier party and to the American people. I do not see how these two were re-elected without some kind of vote rigging. I just can not wait until they are out of office, Unfortunately for us republicans they have dan=maged the party so much I doubt any republican candidate has a serious chance of being elected.

[usbrit-2009]

Thanks Richzurb for speaking up for all sensible republicans. Can anyone defend the actions of Cheney and Bush? Where are you katg21; lars006; didntinhale? - your dictators need you!

[starleo146]

I just e-mailed both speakers and I think everyone within earshot of this post should do the same overwhelm them with Impeach or Criminal acts against this United States of America. These two dictators have to go. God only knows what they are destroying as we speak, has anyone out there heard of anything so outragious they have stopped government from happening. What was that meeting with the republicans about let no legislation get through no matter what and if it does I will veto it. The energy meetings everything is done behind closed doors well they the congress and senate have to do something NOW. They know the numbers are not there to override a veto it is a shame what they are doing to this country.

[usbrit-2009]

By the way processor2, the only reason that comgress has such a low rating is that it refuses to obey the wishes of the 71% that can't stand Bush and his minions.

[j4401]

Why do the same people keep twisting every story into a battle between Dems and Repubs? Its getting very old, you really need some new material. We all should ignore these types of responses because they offer no hope whatsoever to anyone.

[j4401]

Why do the same people keep twisting every story into a battle between Dems and Repubs? Its getting very old, you really need some new material. We all should ignore these types of responses because they offer no hope whatsoever to anyone.

[gkc99]

The scowling, menacing Darth Cheney, author of the "unitary executive" theory (i.e., that all executive branch employees exist only to follow the Deceiver/Decider's commands) now claims that he's not really part of the executive branch after all? Looks like a Constitutional crisis! Time for Pelosi to grow some gonads and initiate impeachment proceedings against Bushit and Darth immediately! Comeon Nancy, stop playing kissyface with the fascist scum!

Too bad Cheney can't stay at his "undisclosed location" forever. One can only hope for a heart attack or another hunting trip where cheney's shooting buddies are packing Kalashnikovs.

[terrapin78]

IMPEACH NOW!

Avoid the post-Bu$h Administration legal rush!!

[rosesnpearls]

I believe that we elect our president and vice president to do a job, which in recent decades has included preventing terrorism on our soil. there is some information that they have privilege to that we, the citizens do not need to know. This information enables them to make decisions and we have to trust them to make the right choices with the information available at the time. There are things that should not be released to the public because they endanger our troops, our law officers and ultimately our citizens because the release of information tells the enemies what we know and how to thwart our security.

As an aside, it's difficult to take seriously the screaming tirades of people who can't spell and can't tell the difference between to and too, your and you're and other basic grammer usage.

[brianbwb-2009]

to everyone, left and right,

Mr. Cheney is currently in contempt of Congress and the executive order. This is an impeachable offense, and given the possible nature of the information he is hiding, may very well rise to the level of treason.

This is a most dangerous precedent, you may be on his side now, but some future despot that you don't like will use this precedent to commit even greater acts of treason.

This is not a partisan issue, this goes to the heart of America's constitution. Failure to protect it guarantees anarchy on a scale that even the most hate-filled anti American "terrorists" wouldn't dare dream.

Just think, America destroyed from within, the only way it could actually happen...

[usbrit-2009]

Well said gkc99.

j4401 - It is a battle between repubs and dems! Repubs have been riding roughshod all over everything this country holds dear from personal freedoms to the Constitution and the only way to right the ship is to call on democrats in congress TO DO SOMETHING about it!!! This country cannot survive another 18 months of this administration as it exists right now.

[muzzlebush]

This isn't a Republican or Democratic story. It's a story about whether or not the people currently in office are fit to govern. How many of these stories need to be reported before we realize what a gross error putting Bush and Cheney in charge was? What sort of example are these guys setting for children and future statesmen? The continued "above the law" attitude and actions of this administration continue to erode the confidence Americans have in their government and system of government. If we don't hold these people accountable for their actions by bringing their offenses not just to light but also to litigation, the future of the United States as a democratic sovereign nation is going to be subject to upheaval and revolution.

[brianbwb-2009]

to rosesnpearls,

But you can still trust a man who may have committed an act of treason by directing his subordinates to "out" an active CIA agent? Isn't that info that, as you say, "should not be released to the public because they endanger our troops, our law officers and ultimately our citizens because the release of information tells the enemies what we know and how to thwart our security."

Or was your post just some rather dry humor?...

[selenite1]

Throw his tired a-- in prison until he complies.

Power and money are all that these creatures care about.

The time for impeachment, lengthy prison terms and ruinous fines for these criminals (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, etc.)has come.

[pepperp1]

I%u2019m ok with the Veeps approach as long as on Jan 10 of 2009 he is indicted, no the country needs to heel *** from the new President. And for the Judiciary Committees they should forcefully use the rule of law and go after these clowns starting today and use there power as a co equal Branch, if the courts like the USA%u2019s have been corrupted we need to know now no later at election time.

[mimi611]

Hopefully you're right that no Rep has a chance of winning. However, it amazes me that Bush is till at 26%. Who are these fools? And, What does it take to wake them up? If Bush and Cheney haven't done it, it must be a permanent SLEEP.

[usbrit-2009]

brianbwb - great post - agree entirely.

rosesnpearls - under normal circumstances I would agree with you - a lot of Churchill's reasoning behind the strategy in WWII is only now becoming available under the Official Secrets Act. I the case of our current elected leaders (discussions about the validity of the election aside), they have proved themselves so self-serving disingeneous and incompetent in every way, that their every decision needs to be exmined in real time, not in 60 years.

[randalds]

Cheney is GOD!!!!!!

Just ask him or his supporters (worshippers...the ones NOT busy bowing low in front of the new messiah, Bush). They'll tell you.

[realpatriot1]

If you're right(Cheney is God) I might have to become an atheist after all.

[clestes-2009]

Cheney is scared. He knows *** well that he is in deep doo doo, having broken countless laws. this is just an hopeless attempt to hide the evidence of all his wrong doings.

Keep after him!!! The appeal courts have upheld your position. Twist his arm until it breaks!!! He has certainly condone such actions for real.

[pepperp1]

Hopefully you're right that no Rep has a chance of winning. However, it amazes me that Bush is till at 26%. Who are these fools? And, What does it take to wake them up? If Bush and Cheney haven't done it, it must be a permanent SLEEP.
Posted by Mimi611 at 01:33 PM : Jun 22, 2007

Ah......Faith Based tax dollar giveaways, equity and hedge fund tax dollars giveaways, 57 Billion in farm subsidy to millionaires, big oil auto subsidies and then the Neo Cons the faithful..... The crooks reaping the bucks, this family values crowd have been bought and paid for.....must be at least 26% cause the rest of us are footing the bill for this TAX and STEAL, LAW and ORDER for everyone but them crowd.

[infidel_us]

Have you noticed that CBS is strangley silent on:

1) The Boxer/Clinton talk radio rebellion
2) THE DEMOCRAP Congress's ALLTIME LOW approval rating of 14%
3) The 9:1 ratio of newspeople supporting democrat candidates over others?

Very interesting. Biased? You BET!

[stirringitup]

Impeach both of the scumbags now!!!

Congress' approval rating are low for multiple reasons.
The first reason is for pushing an unwanted and unworkable immigration bill onto the American populous. But the bigger reason is the Congress%u2019 inability to standup for right and wrong against this inconceivably corrupt administration. Coincidently, the Shrub is also promoting this immigration bill. Thus, the theory that both parties are corrupt is alive and well.

Rosesnpearls %u2013 Please check my spelling and grammar since this apparently is more important that the substance of the arguments. I would hate for the terrorist to get us due to my oversight

[donnie900]

Richard Cheney is the last true National Security purist. In the world of democratic spin and tabloid hype? This is a man's man.

[pepperp1]

You keep wishing it's about those Dems in Congress, cause what I hear, it's those Crooked Repugs, the party of TAX and STEAL that are the problem. Keep it up, keep staying the course and trying to work that propaganda cause you have nothing, everything the Repugs did has been against the interest of the American people and we the American people will not allow special interest to steal another election, we are awake involved and there is 75 percent more of us than you and we are going to the polls. Repug the party of corruption and special interest welfare tax dollar giveaways, welfare mothers never had it as good as this crowd of leeches.

[harp1963]

Their lies will be exposed in ways they cannot refute them.

[muzzlebush]

Richard Cheney is the last true National Security purist. In the world of democratic spin and tabloid hype? This is a man's man.
Posted by donnie900 at 01:58 PM : Jun 22, 2007

That'll come in handy in prison

[infidel_us]

That's right....you dems just keep ragging on the republicans. Every time you do, your ratings go down even farther. What is it? Oh yeah....14% and FALLING! LOL

[terrapin78]

Does Dubai honor extradition to the US? If not, we have to get chicken-hawk Cheney before he leaves and runs to Dubai and avoids extradition.