http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/06/22/cq_2938.html

So now we learn that for the past several years, Vice President Dick Cheney — while building his legacy as one of the most powerful figures ever to serve in that office — was actually claiming that he was not fully part of the Executive Branch.
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Congressional Quarterly
News and analysis on CQ.com

This stunning revelation from a House committee yesterday produced a collective double-take all over Washington. Cheney’s claim of “non-executive privilege” was for the purpose of exempting himself from a presidential order regulating federal agencies’ handling of classified national security information.

But wait, this is the same VP who rushed to claim executive privilege whenever Congress tried to get information or documents that he refused to provide.

We still do not know where Cheney’s “undisclosed location” might be, but apparently he thinks it is above the law — and even beyond the reach of his own president’s executive orders.

Contributing Editor Craig Crawford is a news analyst for NBC, MSNBC and CNBC. His new book is “The Politics of Life: 25 Rules for Survival in a Brutal and Manipulative World.”

© 2006 Congressional Quarterly

Great Cheney insane. He can no longer fulfill his civic duties! Down with the administration! Down with Bush, up with HOPE. Restore our reputation globally!

Well I think Polosi, Reid, Shrillery, and the magic negro are all kooks!

What a crazy county we have. I love it!

Great Cheney insane. He can no longer fulfill his civic duties! Down with the administration! Down with Bush, up with HOPE. Restore our reputation globally!

Well I think Polosi, Reid, Shrillery, and the magic negro are all kooks!

What a crazy county we have. I love it!
you keep displaying this disgusting idea that people against the republican party are automatically for the democratic party.

Are you referring to libertarians? They don’t matter, they can be ignored. They are poll sluts, and they have no principles. They take a poll and they side with the majority.

Please enlighten on Libertarians. I don’t think I like them. What do you know about them?

I will stand in defiance to the conquering Democrats, who are flushed with victory and full of self righteousness.

you keep displaying this disgusting idea that people against the republican party are automatically for the democratic party.

Or that every Republican likes and agrees with Bush and Cheney

Cheney has Balls.. He is a tough ole bastard and we have needed someone like him to lead this country behind the curtain. Yeah, he is a selfish politician like most are, but others don't fuck with him.. Will we elect a Pussy team next year or will the American people continue to understand we need strong,shit chewing, hard core bastards to lead this country ? Republican,Democrat...doesn't matter.

Cheney has Balls.. He is a tough ole bastard and we have needed someone like him to lead this country behind the curtain. Yeah, he is a selfish politician like most are, but others don't fuck with him.. Will we elect a Pussy team next year or will the American people continue to understand we need strong,shit chewing, hard core bastards to lead this country ? Republican,Democrat...doesn't matter.

I agree that we need a strong leader, but a strong leader shouldn't break rules because they think they're above the law.

Anybody read the Washington Post series about Cheney "The Angler"? Its an amazing behind the scenes telling of how Cheney operates and how much power he actually wields. For any knee-jerk republican apologist, just read these and imagine if this was Al Gore in the 90s, appointed to run the committee to determine the best VP candidate for Clinton and choosing himself, placing cronies throughout whitehouse and state dept more loyal to him than their bosses, taking his pet global warming initiatives directly to the president to sign without any vetting done if it was thru proper channels, or having secret meetings with fringe scientists, or empowering his own staff to circumvent other cabinet members, etc.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/

among every 10,000 men there is one or perhaps two great statesmen, not 10,000 statesmen

Cheney’s claim of “non-executive privilege” was for the purpose of exempting himself from a presidential order regulating federal agencies’ handling of classified national security information.

Although it *is* an executive order, meaning that if Bush wanted him to be a part, he might say something. This is really a lot of smoke and mirrors that it's such a big story.

Are you referring to libertarians? They don’t matter, they can be ignored. They are poll sluts, and they have no principles. They take a poll and they side with the majority.

Actually it's the majority that sides with the Libertarians, not the other way around. The party platform hasn't changed. Unfortunately third parties are marginalized by the media and their Elephant and Donkey donating status-quo protecting corporations.

you keep displaying this disgusting idea that people against the republican party are automatically for the democratic party.


Conservatives are not a proud of their republicans right now.

Although it *is* an executive order, meaning that if Bush wanted him to be a part, he might say something. This is really a lot of smoke and mirrors that it's such a big story.
From C&L (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/06/27/the-bush-gang-comes-up-with-a-new-one/):
This need not be complicated. Sec. 6.1(b) of the executive order explicitly states that it applies to any “‘Executive agency…any ‘Military department’…and any other entity within the executive branch that comes into the possession of classified information.” To exempt Cheney, the White House has to argue that he a) doesn’t have access to classified information; or b) is not an entity within the executive branch. Those are the only two options.

From C&L (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/06/27/the-bush-gang-comes-up-with-a-new-one/):
This need not be complicated. Sec. 6.1(b) of the executive order explicitly states that it applies to any “‘Executive agency…any ‘Military department’…and any other entity within the executive branch that comes into the possession of classified information.” To exempt Cheney, the White House has to argue that he a) doesn’t have access to classified information; or b) is not an entity within the executive branch. Those are the only two options.
Personally I have always held the belief that the Vice President was essentially the Legislative Branch, as his primary duty is President of the Senate.

C&L, great site btw. Look at the intelligent responses by its readers:
IMPEACH!
IMPEACH NOW!
Oh, and of course:
IMPEACH IMPEACH IMPEACH!

In any event, it's an executive order, so he would be disobeying... Bush. Unless Bush has a problem with it, there is no point in having this endless fist shaking.

Personally I have always held the belief that the Vice President was essentially the Legislative Branch, as his primary duty is President of the Senate.

It's hard to argue with someone who has such a compelling lack of knowledge in what he's talking about.

The "President of the Senate" is largely a symbolic position. He doesn't run the Senate (that's the job of the Majority leader) and he doesn't even vote unless there's a tie. He basically has nothing to do with the Senate unless there's a tie vote or if there's a state of the union speech that he attends and can sit in his chair in the background -- that's it.

In any event, it's an executive order, so he would be disobeying... Bush. Unless Bush has a problem with it, there is no point in having this endless fist shaking.

Well, then that's a simple fix. Bush should just make a new exec order stating "Blah blah blah, everybody dealing with classified info must be subject to oversight -- EXCEPT ME AND CHENEY. OK? OK."

But they won't do that. Why? Because it openly states the glaring hypocrisy and paranoia in this administration.

.. but he doesn't have to. It's his order.

.. but he doesn't have to. It's his order.

Actually, it was originally Clinton's exec order. Bush only amended it to say that the VP gets access to classified info, too.