"'The vice president has a choice to make,' [former Clinton flak and current Congressman Rahm] Emanuel said in a statement released over the weekend. 'If he believes his legal case, his office has no business being funded as part of the executive branch.'Actually, Cheney's argument--at least one floated, as I understand it, is that his office is a bit of a hybrid. Whatever. Maybe Bush should issue another Executive Order to more precisely reflect what he says he intended.
Lea Anne McBride, the vice president's spokeswoman, fired back: 'I'd say that congressman Emanuel has a choice to make: he can either deal with the serious issues facing our country or create more partisan politics.'"
And the Dismal Dems continue to play their gotcha game.
8 comments:
Here is the problem. The Vice Presidency, constitutionally speaking, has little to no power, other than to be President of the Senate. However, this Vice-President currently operates with the authority of the President to perform duties not listed in the Constitution. So it should stand to reason that he would fall under the same rules and regulations that Govern the Executive, from which he derives his powers.
Speaking of poll numbers, how's Dick Cheney doing these days?
Cheney contradicts himself:
Cheney 2007: Vice President's office refuses to comply with an order governing the oversight of classified documents; says the order does not apply because the VP is not “an entity within the executive branch.”
Cheney 2001: Cheney asserts that a congressional probe into the workings of his energy task force “would unconstitutionally interfere with the functioning of the executive branch.”
White House Press Secretary Perino lied on Monday, "The president and the vice president are complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material."
In fact, White House security violations are likely widespread. From Rep. Waxman's letter to White House counsel Fred Fielding:
* White House security officials have been blocked from inspecting West Wing offices for compliance with procedures for handling classified information.
* The White House regularly ignored security breaches.
* The President’s top political advisor received a renewal of his security clearance despite presidential directives calling for the denial of security clearances for officials who misrepresent their involvement in security leaks.
* The White House has condoned widespread mismanagement at the White House Security Office.
William,
Well, Dems are the ones who lead with one eye on the polls, so you tell me what Cheney's poll numbers are. As you often do, you miss the point of my post--thinking that I or my readers are interested in your argument on an issue such as "CHENEY SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT AND SHOT FOR BEING A REPUBLICAN AND HOLDING ELECTED OFFICE."
Oh, and it's not "lying" if they believe they are complying with the law--what someone at the Nat'l Archives thinks is required by the law isn't dispositive.
And I'm curious what concerns you have about this administration's handling of classified information (aside from people in the State Dept. who consistently operate without regard for the Bush Administration's policy values). I'm interested to see if you try to run on a campaign theme: You can Trust us Liberals with National Security and Classified Information!
Sean,
I agree, sort of; I think it is a lame (and I perceive short-lived) rationale for not providing access to the documents. Whatever. Bush should just re-issue the Exec. Order to more precisely define what he intends by it.
You don't see a pattern in this GOP culture of corruption? Why would Cheney destroy visitor logs, not even disclose who is on his office's payroll? Today ... as another top Bush Administration appointee, J. Steven Griles goes to PRISON for lying to the senate:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GRILES_ABRAMOFF?SITE=WSPATV&SECTION=NATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-06-26-16-41-55
It must get tiresome, being a so-called religious moral person and carrying the water for a corrupt administration. It's like living a contradiction.
"It must get tiresome, being a so-called religious moral person and carrying the water for a corrupt administration. It's like living a contradiction."
Nahh, not really, because I'm just a so-called religious person.
By the way, you're being awful judgmental, aren't you Pam?
But seriously Pam, I do see a pattern of corruption in gov't and among those with power. It's not a GOP thing or a Bush thing, per se, so it doesn't cause me angst for people to be caught doing something wrong and then punished for it.
The key is whether or not a person has consistency in applying standards and being outraged and demanding action. And while Dick Cheney and his actions only slightly reflect on me and my values, I certainly am not interested in allowing ideological adversaries to use 6-year witchhunts and subpoena-fests to subvert public policy I agree with.
Under federal legislation enacted in 1995, members of the executive branch must work with the Archives to preserve classified documents. The law was backed up by an executive order issued four years ago by Bush. But Cheney and his staff have refused for five years to file reports that are required as part of the oversight process. Why?
I'll tell you why, because he's got something to hide. I'd bet my bottom dollar that in those destroyed Secret Svce visitor's records, you'd find the name Abramoff and a host of other indicted and convicted Republicans, Ken Lay, David Safavian, energy company CEOs, war profiteers, probably Scalia too. You'd find material implicating him directly in the Plame leak. You'd find a trail of documentation of intelligence that was contrary to what he was telling us about 'mushroom clouds'. As an authoritarian, you want to see these checks and balances eroded in the name of giving more power to the authorities you revere... whitewashing any proof of dishonesty and wrongdoing that might end up in the National Archives. You pass off wrongdoing as 'witch hunts'. Very fascist of you Ned, and very authoritarian. Totally contrary to the principles of democracy. I call it false patriotism.
Gosh, you may be right. Regardless, you are engaging in ad hominem argument.
The Democrats' new holy grail: "The destroyed Secret Svce visitor's records for Dick Cheney's office." You better hope you never find them, because like all the other "scandals" you've seen behind all the other trees, it's never quite as scandalous or impeachable or EEVUL as you envisioned.
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