Cheney: The Fourth Branch?

Special Contributor Lloyd Garver Wonders Whether Dick Cheney Really Needs To Hold Down Two Jobs

(CBS)  Lots of people in this country have two jobs to help make ends meet. Last week, Dick Cheney — maybe to demonstrate that he's just an "ordinary American" — claimed that he had two distinct jobs: One was the Vice President of the United States and the other was the President of the Senate. Yeah, I know. It's not really the same as a teacher who sells insurance on the side.

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.

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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.

[sjc_1]

The forth branch are the antlers coming out fo Cheney's head...someone get a hunting rifle!

[lucasnico]

1,250 on a haircut, a little much....but nobody got killed.

7-Trillion on a war......if you can't see the difference, maybe there's a reason you're a "struggling" writer.

[jegibbons]

Another fallacy being perpetrated by the LEFT is that they are the REAL friends of the lower income folks like me.

I'm a struggling writer. When I make a lot of money maybe I'll be able to afford those tax and spend liberals the likes of John Edwards.

Anyone who spends that much money on something as dumb as a haircut does not know the value of money because he has too much of it. He has nothing in common with me.

Sick, Sick, really sick of all the lies coming from the LEFT. This president has his problems, for sure but he's still more trustworthy than the last one and his wife, by a yard and a half.

[rhs648]

I guess you work for Exxon or Halliburton, or know enough to invest in oil when republicans take control. Don't dismiss Bush's failure in catching Osama. I bet I know your job.. You're Ann Coulter and you get paid by the republican party for each article. That woman's accumulated huge wealth, keeping nascar dads (honestly, something going in circles amuses you?) and stay at home soccer moms in the dark as much as possible.

Posted by festes81

What garbage-I went to school, took it seriously, and got into something that is in demand. I watch financial shows on tv, read the financial section of the newspaper, and save and invest my money wisely. This does not make me dishonest. Study, find something that pays well, work hard, and make wise financial decisions and people can accumulate wealth.

[dubby12]

ALL of this is bull. Anyone who can not see that all ofthis is strickly political meant to elivate a few and alleviate a lot is blind in one eye and can not seeout of the other. Bin Laden? what present day administration did NOt help him or his family. Where did he get his education/training/and of course arms originally?
Blame Clinton either on of the Bushes,Reagan,Carter, or Ford, it does not make a difference. Some Americans are better off financially, but the system is in thier court. They subscibe to immorality. Most are far much worse but that is our fault-for not being greedy dishonset and non trustworthy. IF you really do not beleive that governments are "influenced" by private/inclandetine organizations, you most likely do not believe that earth is not the center of our solar system. WHAT A WORLD WHAT A WORLD WHAT A WORLD.

[aaabee-2009]

Did Cheney decide from the beginning that he would not run for president, after his vice presidency, Posted by ianlou at 02:31 PM : Jul 05, 2007

Why run for president when 1) you have accomplished all the energy/contract/oil deals you needed to and 2) have held the most powerful and least accountable seat in the world; namely President of the Senate!

[ianlou]

Question,
Did Cheney decide from the beginning that he would not run for president, after his vice presidency, because he didn%u2019t want the job or because he planned all along to Rape America to such a degree that he knew he would end up unelectable.
???

[jsilver2th]

Right... like I saw San Akroyd say the other night:

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC- WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW...
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC...

[festes81]

Bill Clinton should have dealt with the terrorist problem. He had the opportunity to take out Osama Bin Laden and failed to do so. By not doing anything about terrorism, these groups had another eight years to grow, raise money, and stage attacks. I wouldn't brag about Clinton. He was too busy with Monica.
Posted by rhs648 at 09:32 PM : Jul 04, 2007

umm.. So Bill Clinton tried (as so many republicans deny) to catch Osama and failed. At least he hadn't allowed over 3000 American civilians to die in 9/11. He didn't get over 3000 American troops killed. He didn't put our country into the horrible debt that it is. You can sit there and say how well everything is going for you.. I guess you work for Exxon or Halliburton, or know enough to invest in oil when republicans take control. Don't dismiss Bush's failure in catching Osama. I bet I know your job.. You're Ann Coulter and you get paid by the republican party for each article. That woman's accumulated huge wealth, keeping nascar dads (honestly, something going in circles amuses you?) and stay at home soccer moms in the dark as much as possible.

[festes81]

I love it when people use catch phrases like "drinkin' the kool-aid". It just shows how well marketing works in political campaigns. They repeat their lies over and over and you just drink it up. Try thinking for yourself people. Realize that Di ck doesn't get a double standard. He needs to be held accountable. If you republicans don't want to hold your own officials accountable, then there is no hope for this country.

[rharrin1]

Those of us who were in the military during Reagan's term know that he was "most unkind" to the military as far as pay raises go.

He was known as the great orator == In the contra hearings the only thing he knew was his name everything else was I don't know or I didn't know that. This is what started what we have today from republicans lapse of memory as it worked so well with reagan.

[rharrin1]

Bush's statement made no mention of the term "pardon," and he made clear that he was not willing to wipe away all penalties for Libby.

With all the money bush and cheney have made on their oil war $ 250,000.00 is nothing they could lose that every day and never miss it.

Equal justice for all everybody.

One crook protecting another crook.

Why didn't bush pardon Paris Hilton as her crime was no where near as bad as ole scooters was?

Was he afraid ole scooter would learn how to talk in jail?

How many pardons did he give out as governor?

Once again bush slaps America across the face and spits in her eye.

As I have said before Al Capone would be green with envy to what this gang has got Al had to bribe officials these just say it's ok.

Some justice system

Now bush is talking of pardon if he does wouldn't that be just another addition to the list of lies he has given the American people?
Morals, integrity, and honesty at it's finest.

[rhs648]

You might want to go back and study Nixon's oil policy before you blame everything on Carter. Also, rising interest rates and inflation continued well into Reagan's third year. Do you blame Carter for that too?

Those of us who were in the military during Reagan's term know that he was "most unkind" to the military as far as pay raises go.

Posted by torocaca

I'm not blaming Jimmy Cater for anything. I simply stated that from Reagan to the present, my finacial situation has been good. It is difficult to hold presidents accountable for things beyond their control. For example, look how many presidents inherited Vietnam. Do you blame a president when Arab oil producers hold us hostage by increasing oil prices? A president can influence policy but he can not control everything.

[rhs648]

Remember the Leona Helmsley quote:
"Only the little people pay taxes"

Posted by ianlou

Correct me if I am wrong. She also went to jail for not pating taxes.

[tejasdemo]

D ick is the appropiate for Cheney.

[jegibbons]

=="The National Archives' Information Security Oversight Office isn't a bunch of left-wing loonies." == says ubrew12 at 07:53 PM : Jul 04, 2007
Any office of the government that needs a paragraph to title it is a LEFT Wing-nut Loonie Conspiracy, everybody knows that except maybe the Kool aid drinkers.

[nyteryder2]

"Bill Clinton = 671 pardons 70 commuted sentences..." Posted by processor2 at 10:17 AM : Jul 05, 2007
____________________

You have no credibility, processor2, and posting the same fiction over and over isn't going to get you any credibility.

Also, you forgot to mention the over 3000 clemency cases that Clinton DIDN'T act on.

[down-ndirty]

"George Bush = 114 pardons 3 commuted sentences.
Bill Clinton = 671 pardons 70 commuted sentences..." Posted by processor2 at 11:32 AM : Jul 05, 2007
--------------

Your Clinton pardon numbers are a little inflated (by about 80%), but then you are a typical neo con liar who can't separate fact from fiction. In addition, Bush still has 18 months to go, so you shouldn't be too quick to count your chickens before the eggs are hatched.
LOL!!!

"In total, President Clinton issued 456 executive clemency orders - 395 pardons and 61 commutations - between 1993 and January 20, 2001. The vast majority were issued in the last three years of his presidency - 176 (140 pardons, 36 commutations) were issued on his last day in office."

source:
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/pardons0a.htm

I expect Bush, with all his neo con cronies who were convicted of this or that, to match or exceed Clinton's numbers.

[ianlou]

Truth hurts, doesn't it NeoCommies
Posted by processor2 at 11:32 AM : Jul 05, 2007

If you ever provide any truth, we'll let you know.

[processor2]

George Bush = 114 pardons 3 commuted sentences.
Bill Clinton = 671 pardons 70 commuted sentences,

I FIND IT IRONICALLY AMUSING THAT LIBERALS GET VERY ANGRY WHEN A CONSERVATIVE ACTS LIKE A LIBERAL.

...

Truth hurts, doesn't it NeoCommies