Report: Cheney thinks he is exempt from the rules of governing

Part one of a four-day report in the Washington Post about Dick Cheney takes a glance at the extent to which the Vice President's office shields themselves from transparency.  The report draws on more than 200 sources, and exposes the source of secrecy behind inflated Executive Branch power:

Across the board, the vice president's office goes to unusual lengthsto avoid transparency. Cheney declines to disclose the names or eventhe size of his staff, generally releases no public calendar andordered the Secret Service to destroy his visitor logs. His generalcounsel has asserted that "the vice presidency is a unique office thatis neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislativebranch," and is therefore exempt from rules governing either. Cheney isrefusing to observe an executive order on the handling of nationalsecurity secrets, and he proposed to abolish a federal office thatinsisted on auditing his compliance.

In the usual business of interagency consultation, proposals andinformation flow into the vice president's office from around thegovernment, but high-ranking White House officials said in interviewsthat almost nothing flows out. Close aides to Cheney describe a similarone-way valve inside the office, with information flowing up to thevice president but little or no reaction flowing down.

All those methods would be on clear display when the "war on terror" began for Cheney after eight months in office.

This is an extraordinary concept.  Cheney works through both branches of government, therefore he is above all government.  What this all means is Cheney is the decider, not Bush.

Comments

[LaPopessa]

It is good to see something like this finally making its way into the press. I found nothing surprising in today's section (sad to say), and look forward to reading the rest. I just wish the press had taken a better look at this man when it may have done some good.

[granny]

"What this all means is Cheney is the decider, not Bush."

Ding-ding-ding-ding! You got it!

[Chief Editor: Todd]

LaPopessa, right on!!! It's almost meaningless that this report is coming out now....well, unless it can lead to his impeachment and conviction.

Granny, I've been thinking about this a lot -- George W. Bush is a very weak president, but the presidency that Bush has presided over is strong in power. It's a strange paradox, but it's true. Cheney is behind everything, and Bush can't control him.

[granny]

I really don't think there was ever any question of Bush controlling Cheney. Cheney could not have gotten elected, Bush is too stupid to be President. A deal was struck: Bush the puppet, Cheny the power behind the throne.

Bush basks in the limelight, loves the theater, and does what he's told (except sometimes he becomes petulant, and makes trouble). Cheney had no interest in the trappings. For him, it's just about power.

Cheney came in with his man Rumsfeld to "get things done", to further their vision of the new global power structure, and the national conversion. And Bush was set up to divert attention, and hold the line.

The detail of Cheney's construction of fortifications around himself and his staff illustrate precisely the intention to wield power without interference of any kind.

Remember 9/11? You didn't see Cheney flitting aimlessly around the country in an airplane, like a dazed house fly. He knew exactly what he was doing; was totally secure from minute one.

I believe this. I've always believed it.