Are They Out of Control Yet?
From The Blotter at ABC News:
Do you remember seeing Alberto Gonzales sitting there in the Capitol, smirking at the Senate Judiciary Committee and telling them that "The Constitution doesn't say every individual in the United States or every citizen is hereby granted or assured the right of habeas?"
This is just amazing, watching this happen to us.
Vice President Dick Cheney has asserted his office is not a part of the executive branch of the U.S. government, and therefore not bound by a presidential order governing the protection of classified information by government agencies, according to a new letter from Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to Cheney.
Bill Leonard, head of the government's Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), told Waxman's staff that Cheney's office has refused to provide his staff with details regarding classified documents or submit to a routine inspection as required by presidential order, according to Waxman.
In pointed letters released today by Waxman, ISOO's Leonard twice questioned Cheney's office on its assertion it was exempt from the rules. He received no reply, but the vice president later tried to get rid of Leonard's office entirely, according to Waxman. Cheney Power Grab: Says White House Rules Don't Apply to Him
Do you remember seeing Alberto Gonzales sitting there in the Capitol, smirking at the Senate Judiciary Committee and telling them that "The Constitution doesn't say every individual in the United States or every citizen is hereby granted or assured the right of habeas?"
This is just amazing, watching this happen to us.
posted by JimK at 3:00 PM
6 Comments:
I just looked at the ABC news report Jim linked. I am scatching my head trying to figure out what the basis could possibly be for the Viced President's assertion that his office is not part of the Executive Branch.
There seem to be readers of this blog who are generally sympathtetic to the Bush/Cheney Administration. Could any of you please enlighten the rest of us as to what the rationale for the Vice President's position could possibly be?
Or is he so arrogant that he thinks he can say that white is black, and black is white -- and that people will accept it simply because he says so?
Since when is an Imperial office part of the Executive Branch? Viceroy Cheney is just calling it as he sees it.
Andrea-not anon
I was thinking more of the Emperor(turn to the dark side)
I heard on NPR this morning that the Vice President's position is that because he has the Constitutional duty of presiding over the Senate, his office is really part of the Legislative Branch. Interesting theory. Would he agree, then, that the Senate could vote to force him to comply with the document retention rules?
Would he agree, then, that the Senate could vote to force him to comply with the document retention rules?
Apparently not. Today's Washington Post reports Cheney's general counsel has asserted that "the vice presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch," and is therefore exempt from rules governing either.
If he's not part of the executive branch, why did he claim executive privilege when refusing to release information about his five meetings with Enron to discuss energy policy?
"Cheney's general counsel has asserted that "the vice presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch," and is therefore exempt from rules governing either."
That means the Vice President is either a part of the judicial branch or just a plain old citizen. Either way, the VP is not above the law.
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