Vice President Exempts His Office from the Requirements for Protecting Classified Information The Oversight Committee has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts that his office is not an “entity within the executive branch.” As described in a letter from Chairman Waxman to the Vice President, the National Archives protested the Vice President's position in letters written in June 2006 and August 2006. When these letters were ignored, the National Archives wrote to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in January 2007 to seek a resolution of the impasse. The Vice President's staff responded by seeking to abolish the agency within the Archives that is responsible for implementing the President's executive order. In his letter to the Vice President, Chairman Waxman writes: "I question both the legality and wisdom of your actions. ... t would appear particularly irresponsible to give an office with your history of security breaches an exemption from the safeguards that apply to all other executive branch officials." A fact sheet prepared by Chairman Waxman describes other instances in which the Vice President's office has sought to avoid oversight and accountability. Read here (pdf) -------------------------- .......
I saw mc mark's post in the Nuts thread, but this probably deserves one of its own... I suspect they may argue that because he gets to vote in the Senate during a tie he's not in the Executive Branch. But does that put him in the Legislative Branch? No. And he's certainly not in the Judicial Branch. Sorry Dick, but you are accountable and you can't just say something that flies in the face of American History, Constitutional Law, and the Founders' Intent and have it stick just because you want it to. (At least I hope not.) According to this argument, the VP is less accountable than the President. While that is unfortunately the case in this administration, it is certainly not the way the Constitution was drawn up and implemented for 210+ years. Amazingly, according to this argument, the VP is also more powerful than the Pres because even though he can make the Executive Branch do stuff, like torture, extraordinary renditions, and cook intelligence, he is doing it not under the authority of the president or the voters who elected him, but he is doing it because he is Dick, the all-powerful VP who belongs to no Branch and no Constitutional controls. Sickening.
I'm not a big fan of the Rahmster, but Emanuel's response to this news was pretty damn funny. "Today, we discovered that everything we learned in U.S. government class was wrong. Evidently, the Vice President does not consider himself a part of the executive branch, and therefore believes he can obstruct meaningful oversight and avoid being held accountable. If the Vice President truly believes he is not a part of the executive branch, he should return the salary the American taxpayers have been paying him since January 2001, and move out of the home for which they are footing the bill." http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/...nuel_to_cheney_please_move_out_of_white_house
"Quick!! while they are distracted about thinking how dumb I am, let's torture more brown people!!!!"
I hate that no one is willing to actually persue Dick for his criminal actions over the past seven years.
Why won't the democrats be willing to do so? Could Cindy Sheehan be right when she stated this new breed of democrats is an utter failure? Damnation to the democrats for this!
Olbermann: "... there remains only one possible alternative: Vice President Dick Cheney is a rogue nation. Despite the recent capture of his top lieutenant, Mr. Cheney continues to defy the rule of law, attempting to destroy ISOO -- an office of the U.S. government, after all -- and barring inspections in true Saddam style. Leaving only one possible remedy: Invade him, in order to establish a Free and Democratic Dick Cheney." (Keith's guest, Newsweek's Richard Wolffe: "This is a very rocky path and, frankly, if it's Constitutional, then I'm a banana.")
a lot of european countries allow prosecution of individuals outside their state on crimes committed outside their state. go to law school and do it.
How on earth can anyone with a straight face still defend this administration? What a joke they are making of our government.
Well, there's always the Aaron Burr option, but who's our Hamilton in this one? Paulson? And he'd need to win this time. We know how quick Dick is with the trigger.
Does this mean he no longer enjoys executive privilege and can be forced to testify before the Senate?
I'm not defending the administration. I have criticized many aspects and that is on record, but I do agree with Bush on the DHS, and doing something (going on the offensive) with the War on Terror... To me, the war is all about a war on tactics, and those that contribute to the tactics of terror... (terror tactics with the goal of being used against us...) ...and the way we win is by targeting and neutralizing these tactics which may or may not include termination of personnel... Diplomacy is obviously a tool, but so is a call to arms when that option fails... I felt the ex-government of Iraq was a threat,...and Iran today - no doubt... The failing of Bush was he didn't look at ALL the info. I posted a supported article which stated Bush didn't lie...But I agree there was a myriad of information that should have been looked at better. Bush should have focused just on Afganistan, Iraq was a threat, but not as much considering all the information...A better leader should have looked at that... My contention is on stating "of voting for him again" is that I feel Kerry was not a better choice...Obviously, better republican leadership is needed... A lot of folks on the left make fun of Condi Rice, but I think she has surprising done better than most thought in her position of Sec. of State...(for ex., she has been credited with the better talks and situation involving N. Korea) I would love someone with her experience and better intelligence than Bush as a leader, but she stated she doesn't want to unfortunately...
condoleezza rice!? She sounds like a mexican dish. Why dont we put her on a plate and send her to mexico so the mexicans can eat her...white power! i agree. condi takes a lot of flack but i thinks shes done the best she could given the circumstances.
