July 4, 2007
Cheney: The Fourth Branch?
Special Contributor Lloyd Garver Wonders Whether Dick Cheney Really Needs To Hold Down Two Jobs
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In the past, when he has been asked to comply with various congressional requests and orders, Cheney has claimed executive privilege because he's the Vice President. But last week, he claimed he wasn't a member the executive branch of the government, but was a member of the legislative branch. That was because he's the president of the Senate, and therefore he felt he wasn't subject to the presidential order giving the National Archives' Information Security Oversight Office the right to make sure that Cheney and his office have demonstrated proper security safeguards. By the end of the week, he was back claiming that he was actually the vice president, and therefore could claim executive privilege once again as he rejected demands from Congress about information regarding the firing of U.S. attorneys. How does he keep track of which job he's going to claim he has each day? Does he put on a different tie?
As opposed to the millions of Americans who have more than one job, the vice president didn't do this so he could make an extra buck. He went back and forth with these claims just so he could avoid complying with Congress and the law. That doesn't seem like proper behavior no matter which job you want to consider him having, does it?
Maybe he thinks he's a Superhero with two identities. He's Senate Boy and then he changes into Veep Man — both of whom have amazing powers not found in the Constitution. It's as if he's trying to exist in a fourth branch of the government — Cheneyland.
It's gotten a bit silly, as it's become more outrageous. With a straight face, White House press secretary Dana Perino came up with an ingenious defense for Cheney claiming to be a member of the Legislative branch, not the Executive. She said his paycheck came from the Senate. So what? Does anyone think that he lists his occupation on his income tax form as "President of the Senate" rather than "Vice President of the United States?" When his aides make a reservation for him at a fancy restaurant, do you think they make it for the "President of the Senate?" When he ran for office, was the campaign, "Vote for George Bush for President and Dick Cheney for President of the Senate?"
Cheney's dance was an amazingly nimble one. But the fact that he had the audacity to try this Wyoming two-step was not nearly as startling to me as the fact that he got away with it.
Oh sure, his Democratic foes cried "foul." But the American people didn't rise up and say, "Enough already." And why didn't his Republican colleagues say, "Come on, Dick, now you've gone too far?"
That's who really should be upset with this gambit — the Republicans. The foolishness of acting this way and not cooperating with Congress and not making things public makes people suspicious. If you refuse to be open about things over and over again, the public doesn't feel that you're doing this because the office demands that kind of secrecy. After you act this way repeatedly, the public starts thinking that whatever you don't want to tell us must be pretty bad. They suspect that you must have some horrible secrets that you don't want us to know.
And this conclusion by the public might very well be wrong. Generally, cover-ups and refusals to be open end up being much worse than the thing that is being kept secret. But by not being more open, he's just contributing to the erosion of credibility of this administration. So, you'd think that some big Republicans — hey, maybe even the president — would tell Dick Cheney to knock it off.
And I think he should, too. While I'm sure it was fun for him to pretend he had two different jobs, it's time for him to accept that the one he's got is a pretty good one.
Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover.
By Lloyd Garver
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See all 106 CommentsObviously our "leaders" are above the law!
Obviously our "leaders" have no values!
Obviously we need to rethink and rewrite our constitution to prevent these kinds of (expletives) from power...Maybe we need a revolution of sorts.
Obviously we need to IMPEACH Chaney and his underling Bush!!!!
My, oh my, this country is sinking fast...
Yes we did, and still are, but the people we elected to end this madness were simply bought or scared off.
The next rising up may get the point across if it turns violent, those we elected had better start listening, otherwise there might be a rather unruly mob waiting outside their houses when they leave on a break from Washington.
Their long since discredited views on almost every facet of life is still somehow positioned and treated as if they were the majority.
The TV networks then wonder why viewership is declining...
The American Elected Government does not now represent the will of the People! Those elected officials have abdicated their charter to Lobby Groups who direct, manipulate, and plan American Foreign policy for their own countries special interest!
THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, AEI WHICH IS A PRO-ISRAELI THINK TANK CAME UP WITH THE CURRENT SURGE PLAN! NOT AMERICAN GENERALS!
Gen. William Odom discusses the %u201Cworst strategic disaster in American history, the war in Iraq: the view of most generals that the war is wrong, the failure of the politicians to see the consequences of their actions, the centrality of the neoconservatives and the Israel lobby in pushing for the Iraq invasion, the %u201Csurge,%u201D
www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/
05/10/gen-william-odom
Bush is funding Al Qaeda.
http://www.newyorker.com/
fact/
content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh
READ AIPAC BRAG ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE
ON AMERICAN POLITICIANS!
http://www.aipac.org/for
ms/join_aipacClubs.htm
Its time for the American People to Storm the Bastille, March on Washington and clean out this entire nest of rats with their bare hands! That is the American Peoples constitutional right!
THE WORLD HAS TRIED WAR CRIMINALS FOR LESS THESE PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF THOUSANDS, LIEING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE UPHEAVAL OF THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST WITH THEIR COVERT ACTIONS!
But, I also blame us, the American people, for abandoning our principles out of fear.
America's Vice President.
Oh the hatred our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack press has for Bush, Cheney, and Rove...... really sad how America's press has become this corrupt with their lies, smears, distortions, and sterotypes.
No wonder CBS (Corrupt Broadcasting Station) is losing viewers.......just look at them showing off their liberal feathers.
Propaganda does work though as CBS as proven. Milions of Americans want to impeach our President for lying and misleading the American people going into Iraq. There's just one small problem........NO PROOF.......just he said, they said, I say......
As the old saying goes "If you repeat a LIE often enough eventually people believe it as FACT."
How do you like America's "free left-wing press" now?
That's all the Dem's ever do, cry! They never act on anything, which is why no one is really happy with them right now either.
Posted by time2toss at 09:01 AM : Jul 04, 2007
Don't forget Gonzo (also smug faced), Rove and Rice. They also need to be history.
Posted by perception5 at 08:31 AM : Jul 04, 2007
That is a perfect description of Bu$h Administration and how they operate. Look at the run up to the Bu$h war of chioce in Iraq. Lie and then spin the lie, over and over. And all the lies that have painted a rosy picture.
But the truth of failure is increasingly impossible to hide.
We need more people who speak to the truth such as here. Watch the video and listen to the words. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19588942/
Over 70 percent of the American people do not think the Government is representing them!
It is time!
It's probably only a matter of time until Bushit or someone like him proclaims himself President for Life, or finds a way to "defer" our regular election cycle--a fake terrorist attack or something, then seizure of total power under the recent "secret" presidential order that allows Bushit or Darth or whoever to pronounce himself El Supremo. The Second Amendment is there to assure that the American People have the means to defend themselves against tyranny in an effective way. Those H-bombs won't be much use then! And those who say that such arms would be useless against a traitor Army answering to El Supremo Tyranto, well the Iraqis have done pretty well with their Kalashnikovs and home-made explosives, it appears. The "greatest Army on earth" has been fought to a standstill, just like they were in Vietnam by a bunch of peasants wearing black pajamas, who just wouldn't knuckle under.
In addition to a new government, we need a new press that will be independent and not try help force a certain conservative government on the people.
Luckily it looks like the US - bruised, abused and used by those whose sworn duty was to protect it - will survive. January of '09 can't come soon enough.
The indolence and incapacity of Stultus Dumus the Younger being clearly unequal to the burdens of the supreme office, a lieutenant was sought who could stiffen his resolve, supply his want of energy and ensure that the designs of the Oligarchs were unrelentingly advanced. Appointed to preside over the selection of this lieutenant, Imbustus Vulturinus was a longtime servitor whose loyalty to the House of Dumus was cemented by criminal guilt in a numerous sequence of misdeeds (Journandes, op. cit., p. 103). Well ensconced in the Oligarchy, Vulturinus was nimble in the hydrocarbon fuel extraction industry; had profited immensely from his dealings with the artificers of hyper lethal weapons and had served the officials of the Hegemon whenever a deft lie or low stratagem was required. A secretive nature presented the appearance of quiet probity; and the affectation of piety supported an imaginary rectitude. But every sentiment of virtue and humanity was extinct in the mind of Vulturinus. Upon inspecting a series of candidates, he concluded rightly that none were his equal in the deadly arts of rapacious cruelty. Whereupon, Imbustus Vulturinus elevated himself to chief lieutenant, tutor, guardian and keeper of Dumus the Younger.
BULL! Mr. Garver. The American people rose up at the last election. The American people give this administration a less than 30% approval rating. The American people have circulated petitions for impeachment, marched in demonstrations, screamed in blogs - enough IS enough.
The American people also have daily jobs and daily responsibilities that preclude devoting 24 hours a day demanding that our leaders do their jobs. It would take an act of Congress to make this administration accountable and they aren't doing what they were elected to do.
Don't tell your audience that Americans haven't done enough - we do what we can one voice at a time and without big money supporting us. It's our elected leaders that aren't doing their jobs.
What do you want from the "common man"? Revolution?
Um, EVERYBODY hates Bush, Cheney and Rove, except the 21% crowd that can't see their crimes for their blind obedience. This administration now has the distinction of posting the lowest ratings of any administration in the history of the United States.
And as for this commutation/pardon business. Since Bush is running around crowing now about how he's 'ruling nothing out or in', hinting that there WILL be a full pardon in the maybe-not-so-distant-future (which will further infuriate the populace), the next set of poll numbers should show an even bigger decline. The majority of Americans disapprove of the commutation - in both national and local polls. Fully 2/3 to 3/4 of the American public find this to be wrong.
Somehow doesn't sound like that thing Thomas Jefferson once said, 'The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government. And it totally spits on George Washington's statement, 'I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberty'.
Well I say *** THEM and all their policies. On this day that celebrates our independence from English rule, I say we must declare our independence from this governmental rule and take back our beloved country. The hijacking of America and the Constitution MUST be stopped.
Rise up, America, call your congressional representatives and the White House and express your disdain and utter disapproval of the lies and disrespect this administration has for us.
My concern is that these indivduals may decide not to step aside as mandated when there term is up. There arrogant enought to try this. I doubt if they would get away with it, but the damanage to the country would be great.
Anyone who would misled the country to start a war for an agenda that is unrelated to the security of the nation cannot be trusted.
What a misnomer of a handle, you have the powers of perception of a garden slug. After six years you and your kind still haven't figured out you've been lied to about WMDs yet? Talk about slow learners.
When will you people stop invoking Clinton and his past misdeeds to defend the incompetence and corruption of this current administration. What do Clinton's past have to do with this administration legalizing torture and lying to the public to justify invading Iraq?
Haven't you people figured out a $10 dry cleaning bill for lying about a BJ doesn't equate to a lie about WMDs that's killed and maimed 23,000 Americans at a cost of a half trillion dollars?
Six years and you people still haven't figured it out yet? I'm just glad Bush tried to start "No Child Left Behind" even though its been a miserable failure just like the rest of his administration.
This sissy (along with his side kick "Boy George" Bush) can't do anything right and have been abject failures at everything they have touched. Now, as reality has revealed just who are "the dead enders on their last throes"?
BULL! Mr. Garver. The American people rose up at the last election. The American people give this administration a less than 30% approval rating. The American people have circulated petitions for impeachment, marched in demonstrations, screamed in blogs - enough IS enough.
The American people also have daily jobs and daily responsibilities that preclude devoting 24 hours a day demanding that our leaders do their jobs. It would take an act of Congress to make this administration accountable and they aren't doing what they were elected to do.
Don't tell your audience that Americans haven't done enough - we do what we can one voice at a time and without big money supporting us. It's our elected leaders that aren't doing their jobs.
What do you want from the "common man"? Revolution?
Yeah, except there's this disturbing trend of cr*ping in the face of the public and laughing about it. Cheney may just engineer a way to stay in power and tell the rest of us to 'go fvck yourself'.
Think about it. These same "American people" voted these clowns into office. Not once but twice. How would they procure the courage and intelligence to do anything now?
Posted by jimfinster at 02:19 PM : Jul 04, 2007
+ report abuse
That's not fair... first he didn't win the first time and second he LIED through his Teeth and played as dirty as the Corrupt Little Jerk could to win the second time. Let's get real here and stop blaming most American's. The ONLY one's that should come into this is George Bush and his conduct!! His a Incompetent Fraud People, a CRIMINAL of the highest order. Sieg Heil Bush
That's all the Dem's ever do, cry! They never act on anything, which is why no one is really happy with them right now either.
Posted by jjp735
The above is the epitomy of a dead citizenry
That's all the Dem's ever do, cry! They never act on anything, which is why no one is really happy with them right now either.
Posted by jjp735i at 08:38 AM : Jul 04, 2007
What the H-E=L-L does this have to do with the Democrats? Anyone who is watching what is going on with this country and isn't upset and mad at George Bush is NOT an American... you love your party and that's it. Sieg Heil Bush.
"You will know a tree by the fruit it bears". This fruit is rotten to the core. What a bunch of corrupt losers who can't do ANYTHING right.
Republicans, who TWICE voted for this completely ANTI-democratic regime, have proven themselves un-American (perhaps just by being stupid, although I know quite a few Republicans who, in their quieter moments, reveal that they really don't believe in Democracy).
If we're going to save our Democracy from what the Republicans have done to it, we have to agitate and vote appropriately in the next election. They will use the immigration debacle as a wedge issue as well as the old favorites: abortion, gay marriage, etc. Liberal Democrats must be willing to GIVE UP the notion of amnesty of illegals to win clear majorities in all electable branches of government. I believe that will be the KEY to winning broad support.
No, we can't do anything about this clearly illegal regime NOW, and that IS depressing, but, if we don't work to get Democrats elected in a year and a half, nothing much will change... and that TRULY will be tragic for our nation.
2 FRICKIN IDIOTS!!!!!!! THERE IS SO MUCH THAT THESE
2 MORONS HAVE DESTROYED IT IS TOTALLY DISGRACEFUL.
BUSH FOLLOWS A PATTERN OF DIVIDING THE COUNTRY AND
WANTS IT THAT WAY. BUSH DOSEN'T QUITE REALIZES HOW
EMBARRASSING HIS WHOLE PRESIDENCY IS. I'D CRAWL UNDER A ROCK IF I WERE HIM. AS FOR CHENEY, WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT HIM.....
Cheney: The Fourth Branch?
So the Constitution is completely shredded now.
Great job Bush voters (Right wing low IQ evangelicals).
Look what your fear and ignorance have done.
Posted by MityWhity at 04:22 PM : Jul 04, 2007
What mess are you referring to? As I recall, Clinton left us a strong economy, budget surpluses, a shrinking deficit, and a country not at war.
Now compare that to the legacy your man Bush will leave. You must be a total moron.
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